I really don't get why this place has so many good reviews? This is my second time at Northside Social. The barista is not rude but she's not friendly either. I prefer service with a smile. I like that they use organic, grass fed and no cage products. I also like the specialize menu and the combination of flavors you will not find anywhere. Yet I feel the items are over price. I give one extra star for the nice atmosphere.
Review Source:Next time you are in the über busy Clarendon area of Arlington, make sure to pop by Northside Social - for a latte, glass of wine, or smidgen of Wi-Fi.  There are plenty of savory treats to tempt your palette - whether for breakfast, lunch, dinner or snack.  Soups, salads, quiches, sammies, pastries, cheese plates, coffee, tea, espresso, vino and hot chocolate to boot, all housed in a quaint and unassuming location in betwixt Clarendon and Wilson Boulevards.  What else can you find at this gem of a coffeehouse?  Live acoustic music, mini art exhibits, and possibly men in tight jeans and thick, black-framed eyeglasses.  But beware on the weekends - the lines can get long and the wait a bit nettlesome.  Come through during off-peak hours for a relaxing time on the patio or kick back at the wine bar upstairs.  Or come early with your laptop to claim your spot in the morning.  Mucho dinero not necessary - only paciencia.
Review Source:Love this place. It has a great mix of space where you can sit down to order, pay at the register, sit inside or outside. The selection of wine and beer is pretty great too. When I was studying at GMU's Arlington campus I often stopped by there before class to study, work on papers, and sip some wine.
It's the perfect place to spend your afternoon.
The coffee and other beverages here are great. Whatever beans/roasts they use are top notch. Probably the best coffee drinks I can remember. The food I've ordered there is of very good quality, but the portion size is a bit small for the price. Really the only thing I really don't like about Northside Social is how popular it is! Each time I've been there is a longer than normal wait time and has been very hard to find seating. Don't even think about going on the weekend.
Review Source:The counter culture iced coffee here is very good, but be sure to get a large because the regular is too small (for me at least).
The baked goods here can be a hit or miss. My sister LOVED their donuts (the pecan one), but I wasn't particularly impressed -- I found it a bit mushy. The morning glory muffin is a bit too moist in an oily kind of way for me. The bacon gruyere brioche is pretty good, if you can get it heated up.
They serve egg sandwiches before 3pm. These are delicious and make a good breakfast or lunch even. The one with bacon is good, although I prefer the honey IPA bun to the Italian leather loaf. The menu should also indicate that the egg sandwiches are pressed lightly on a panini grill; that is a key detail we customers need to know. The first time I went, I didn't order it, but then I saw other people had these cute little pressed egg sandwiches, and I wanted one too. So I got one the next time.
But what I really like here and what will bring me back here on a weekly basis is the whole milk they sell from Trickling Springs Creamery. I'm really particular about my milk, so I was thrilled to find a place that sells grass-fed milk so close to where I live. While I would prefer they sell a non-homogenized version with cream on the top, this definitely works. Get the whole milk, for the full flavor and all the goodness. For milk at this level, you gotta go all in. I'm also convinced it's better for you, too (if the rest of your diet is healthy).
The atmosphere of this place is great. The line can be a little slow when it's long, so avoid peak hours. Wi-fi hear works really well. Spent a whole afternoon working here once, and wasn't frustrated by intermittent internet or anything like that.
BTW: What's available at the bakery counter seems to change based on the time of day. In the mornings, they'll have muffins and scones. In the afternoon, they'll have more cookies and maybe offer muffins BOGO. Don't go in the morning hoping to buy cookies because you won't succeed (or maybe you will, if you're connected. i don't know). After 5pm, the upstairs area turns into a wine bar.
Make sure you have a place to sit before you order, and ask them whether or not the upstairs seating area is open. Â It's incredibly frustrating to see empty seats up there and be told that, no, it's not available tonight, and you should just stand around downstairs holding your tray indefinitely until someone leaves and a seat opens up. Â Not cool. Â Seats do not open up often at this coffee house. Â It would have been nice if they had offered me the chance to put my tea in a to-go cup at that point, or treated me like I wasn't a crazy person for not wanting to have to try to drink it standing up while balancing a tray in the other hand. Â
That said, on nights when they've got free tables, it's a good place to hang out. Â The coffee and food is better than it is at the major chains, and it's nice that they're open late. Â They're also usually pretty nice about not kicking people out the second they close, which is cool. Â Just make sure to order to-go on busy nights.
Something in the Air
It has the right buzz of people chatting, music playing, and chairs moving. Many people bring their laptops here to work during the day. Free Wifi is available.
With seating outside, upstairs and downstairs, people can choose where they want to be. Go outside for the breeze or the sound of passing cars. Go upstairs to find a quiet secluded space. Go downstairs to watch as people line up to order.
After 5, the upstairs transforms into a wine bar and the signs tell you to pair your laptop with a glass of wine. On Sunday nights, I discovered that they have an open mic night.
Service is polite and fast.
Food
Although the food is not the most important thing here, my favorite so far is the quiche. It's  fairly light with a salad and fresh fruit on the side. I've also had their mediterranean lamb soup ($7). The tomato based soup was chunky with plenty of lamb and paired with slices of rye bread. Nothing special, but great if I'm working through a meal. Among with the wide assortment of drinks are Mexican Cokes,  Sprites, and Fantas.
Next time, I'll have to try their spread of baked goods.
Ambiance and Service 5
Food 4
Value 5
I came here in a group of four on a Saturday night. Just walking up the sidewalk to the shop I had a feeling I would like this place. A nice sized outdoor seating arrangement with a wide variety of people enjoying different types of drinks and food. Once inside, I felt like I had walked into a normal coffee shop offering different types of snacks, drinks and pastries and lots of people hanging out and/or on their laptops. Â After climbing the stairs to the second level I knew I was going to like it here. Candles on the tables and decorated nicely but simple with an extensive wine and beer menu and a waitress who was very clearly knowledgeable of all drinks on the menu. By the time I saw the roasted mixed nuts appetizer I was in love. This was a great place to relax, enjoy a drink and an appetizer with good company. I would definitely come back next time I'm in DC.
Review Source:One of the WORST meals/experiences I have ever had !! Â I have absolutely no clue why this place gets such high reviews based on my experience. Â
We stopped in for a quick brunch/breakfast on a Saturday around 11:45 am. Â The place was busy but not overwhelming. Â Waited over 30 minutes for an order consisting of a quiche and a sandwich. Â That's all....2 items. Â Many people had come in after us, received their orders and already eaten, but we still did not have our order. Â
So my boyfriend inquired about our food in the kitchen and was told they were busy and it would still be a little while longer. Â Another 5-10 minutes transpired and he finally comes back with a burnt quiche, which was not edible. Â A 30+ minute wait only to receive a 4-inch mini quiche that was burned. Â I took it back to the kitchen and asked for another one, which took another 12-15 minutes. Â However, they did offer to give me a pastry while I was waiting. Â
The second one arrived in the specified time and was not burnt. Â However, nothing to warrant returning for this menu item again. Â And the complement of fruit salad and mixed greens were disgusting as well. Â The fruit salad should have been thrown in the garbage at least a day previous, if not sooner. Â 85% of the fruit was not edible !!! Â Â I picked out a few pieces of the least offensive honeydew. Â The mixed greens were drenched in a vinaigrette, which the quiche was sitting on top of so that the bottom crust of quiche was soggy.
Bottom line......if you are twenty-something looking for a cup of coffee and a place to surf the internet or read a book, Northside Social may be just your place. Â If you are coming for the food, don't bother wasting your time or money.
Location is fantastic, and the ambiance is really great. The outside seating on a warm night in Clarendon is unbeatable.
That being said, their coffee is just awful, their food and drinks are incredibly expensive and small and mediocre.
It's the kind of place you order the cheapest thing on the menu so that you have an excuse to sit outside and enjoy the night.
This is a nice coffee shop. I stopped here on a Saturday morning and it was pretty packed but the wait wasn't long to order. I had a vanilla latte with soy milk and a walnut coffee cake muffin. Both were delicious! I sat outside to enjoy the nice weather and there was plenty of seating.
Review Source:On my first visit to the much talked-about Northside Social, I found some things to love, and some that are not quite my cup of tea (or coffee).
When I walked in, I noticed that they had cases of cold drinks and to-go salads. Â This is great, because I love working at coffee shops, but don't always want something hot or brewed. Â I was thrilled to be able to grab a Capital Kombucha from their case for later.
I ordered a cup of drip coffee, and it was delicious and came with a free refill.
After I paid, the cashier was very obvious about checking the "tip" line on the slip, and when she saw that I didn't tip her, she let out a loud sigh and slapped the paper down. Â Not very professional or mature, especially considering the fact that I had only ordered a drip coffee; not an elaborate drink on which a tip might have actually been merited.
The work space was nice and bright, with indoor and outdoor tables. Â One thing I would like to see is more outlets in the main space right where you come in, and more comfortable seating options, as the only thing currently available are tables and chairs. Â I was there to do a reading for class, but it seems like their work spaces are set up primarily for people on laptops (yet without the outlets).
Overall, a few minor issues, but I will definitely return the next time I'm looking for a coffee shop in Arlington.
I come here too often, but when you have a sandwich that evokes a religious experience how can you just walk away? I haven't had anything here I didn't love. The iced tea is amazing! They have even thought about the sugar issue that ice tea posses and provided simple syrup. The coffee is always spot on, but sometimes it does take a little while to get.... All of the baked goodies are amazing! Some interesting combos on the cookies, but, again, I have never gotten a cookie I didn't LOVE! All in all, my study habits will continue to include this lovely little cafe with funky flavors and a variety of music always playing!
Review Source:Truly independent coffee shop in the Clarendon section of Arlington. Very close to both Clarendon and Virginia Square metro stations. Â
I usually come here to get work done on my laptop when I want a more lively atmosphere than my own home. Â I can see how this place is distracting for some as there's often a lot of people, many of whom are socializing.
I'm a fan of the drip coffee. It's usually Peruvian/Ethiopian/Guatemalan and the flavors range from spicy to dark to robust.
Free one-time refill for coffee that you have in-house.
After 5pm the top floor becomes a wine bar and no laptops are allowed. Â
Sometimes local artists (spoken word, acoustic guitar) perform.
Sorry I am not writing a longer review. Â I come here at least once a week and always enjoy. Â I usually just get a cup of coffee, which I think they typically have a different roast every time, but I always love it. Â They need to figure out a better way to sell their beer though. The self serve beer cooler is a good idea, but when the beers range from 5$ to 15$, the list is outdated, and when I've never heard of may of the beers, it makes it difficult to pick and choose what to get.
Other than that, a great spot!
Good coffee, but overpriced. I know this bothers people, but I always compare the value of coffee shops to Starbucks. The way I see it, if Starbucks can charge $2 for a 16oz coffee, pull a profit, and still manage to provide health insurance for all of their full- and part-time employees, local coffee shops should be able to at least match the price (I believe this size coffee runs to about $2.75 at Northside Social).
If I had reviewed this two years ago, I would have mentioned that this is a great place to grab a beer (self service from the cooler), but their beer prices have also skyrocketed to the point where it is actually more expensive to serve yourself a can than having full service at other bars in the area. $4 for a Genny cream ale? Are you kidding me? This beer costs $7 for a 12-pack in New York.
I understand this is Clarendon, and there is a premium to be placed on buying local, but I don't like to feel as if I am being ripped off every time I buy a cup of joe.
On top of this, the service is pretty rough. Slow, pretentious, and chaotic would be the adjectives of choice.
There is a lot to like about this place (a highlight are the cheddar chive biscuits)
Here are some problems:
-Espresso drinks take unreasonably long times -- longer than food, think 25+ minutes
- Alongside some really good food, they serve a lot of pretty lame food. Â If you order a "spring vegetable quiche" that means a quiche with carrots, and the side of salad and fruit is literally some baby greens pulled out of the container (no dressing, seasonings, or other vegetables), with a very bland and cantaloupe heavy mixed fruit blend
Convenient to the Clarendon metro
Excellent coffee, food and desserts. This place was super busy on a Sunday early afternoon but I can understand why. Northside Social is pretty awesome indeed.
Their Cafe Macchiato was really good and I highly recommend their chicken salad sandwich. The bread was so fresh! Their dark chocolate gluten free cookie was damn good as well - but it tasted more like a brownie.
Not a huge fan of the layout of the place,it's too chaotic & busy for me so I wouldn't see myself hanging around for an afternoon. But, this place is perfect for a quick pit stop.
Wow I don't hand out a lot of poor ratings because for the most part it's hard to screw up as a restaurant in my opinion. Â
You serve good food with a good attitude and provide a good atmosphere in which to enjoy it. Â
Where to start on this place...
How about the fact that the wait time for the line to order coffee was 15 minutes...then let's add the 20 minutes it took to get the coffee. Â
Then let's talk about the downstairs that was way to hot and the upstairs that was way to cold. Â How does that even happen? Â Is this place a freak of nature where heat stays collected at the bottom and cold air rises?
One thing for sure is they didnt have Internet working and didn't seem to care at all. Â Not even an apology by the employees for it...the attitude was like "oh well". Ummm it's a freaking coffee house...you don't just "oh well" the lack of Internet...it's like going to eat Italian dinner and there is no pasta...hello! Â Kind of a big deal. Â Call qwest and get it fixed!
Let's see then top that off with some woman sitting 2" inches from me shoveling food in her face like she was a damn refugee...gawd yuck! Â Have some damn class...seriously.
I won't be back here. Â I enclosed her pic! Â Get some manners.
This place is hopping! The coffee is Counter Culture (as other have pointed out) but the baristas still know their stuff. The baked goods counter is amazing, and the array of cookies is hard to resist. Whole-wheat apple turnover? Yes, please!
Now the bad: service is indifferent. It's  always crowded. Hard to get a table. The food is terribly expensive for what it is. Don't expect to park nearby. Still gets a full 4-stars but my experience varies between a full 5-star and a measly 3-star.
Though I've lived in Arlington for years now, I made my first visit to Northside Social this past weekend. Â It's an awesome, chill place for everything from studying to a date night. Â I love the coffee shop on the bottom/wine bar on the top combination. Â I had a soy chai that was one of the best I ever had (bonus points for having soy milk! Â How about some almond milk too?!). Â I will definitely be back on a regular basis. Â My only wish is that they had vegan desserts!
Review Source:#42
Busy-Busy-Busy.
Would love to consider this my regular spot to study but it's just too distracting. They've got excellent teas, coffees, and salads. However, I can see how the "social" part of the name comes in. This is definitely a spot that people come to to meet up, catch up, read a book, and even study. Personally, it's hard for me to study here but for everything else, it's a great spot to be. They have a great outdoor patio, an excellent wine bar upstairs, a small but "do-able" study area in the back, and rows of tables once you walk into the building.
I LOVE their outdoor patio, where I've set up shop once or twice with my little pup at my feet. I've been lucky with their round a bout parking and my church is literally right next door. Great location and I've already become a regular!
P.S. Get their Mocha Fudger? (something like that) cookie. It is A-W-E-S-O-M-E! and match that with their Americano and you are good to go!
This place should be called "$20 and lots of Laptops" because whatever you order will end up costing you $20 and there will nowhere to sit because of all the laptops. Also, the other reviewers noting the holier- than-thou service are spot-on. If you are into any of this, come on down!
Review Source:Northside is a nice hipster coffee shop in the middle of Arlington. There are plenty of seats inside and outside, but prepare to wait because the lines are long and food takes a while. My boyfriend and I ordered the Black Forest Ham Quiche, Roasted Turkey Sandwich, and a Large Vanilla Latte.
The quiche was one of the best I've ever had... it had plenty of meat to fill you up and wasn't too fluffy but not too thick either. It also came with a side salad and fruit. The sandwich was pretty standard (and pricey at ~$9/each) but the coffee was amazing! One of the freshest richest tasting espressos I've ever had! They also make cool designs for you if you have it there.
The only minus is that there is only paid parking in the rear, but I guess that's Arlington for you.
I'll definitely be back when I'm in the area!
Northside Social is a funky coffee shop and wine bar (two of my favorite things) in the trendy Clarendon neighborhood but it works. They have a relaxed vibe inside and outside. You seat yourself like any other coffee shop. They serve counter culture coffee which means= quality coffee and baristas who know what they are doing! Shocker but I have had the unfortunate experience of coffee made by not so great baristas at other places....
They serve a variety of things from different pastries, breakfast sandwiches, home made poptarts and quiches. We went for brunch, which is why I listed mostly brunch items. I had the spinach egg and cheese sandwich, house coffee (with free refills, always a plus) and split a Chunky Monkey scone. Everything was delicious; the sandwiches came out quickly which was great considering how packed they were on  a Saturday morning. Great spot to come in for a quick bite or to linger on a weekend morning.
I've been going to Northside Social for some time. The food is excellent, but the service has always left something to desire, and as the place has become more popular has reached the point of intolerability. If you value social interaction and wish to be respected as a paying customer this is not the place for you.
Today they took approximately 30 minutes to make a cup of coffee. I noticed multiple people who were in line behind me being served before me. I asked the barista what was going on and he said I was number 4, and proceeded to make what was definitely more than 4 drinks. The area around the barista station is poorly designed and chaotic, and very unpleasant to wait in. While I was waiting, the food which I had ordered went stone cold. Doing this to customers is literally the biggest sign of disrespect that someone in the hospitality industry can give.
As other Yelpers have noted the speed of service seems to be tied to the tip amount. I am normally a gracious tipper, but I tie the tip to the quality and amount of service. Northside does not provide seating, waiting, or bussing service, and their counter service has always been poor. I find this attitude to customers, given the lack of service, to be particularly pretentious and obnoxious.
In addition to the poor counter service, my wife and I have recently contacted their managers several times about purchasing a piece of art and have repeatedly been blown off by several managers on duty about the purchase in person and via e-mail. If you are an artist, do not attempt to sell your art by displaying it here because their staff will not sell it.
Try their hot chocolate! It's superb and comes with a home made marshmallow.
The bf and I have been here on several occasions and always try something different. We have yet had anything we didn't love. From espresso to sandwiches, hot chocolate to mini pies they just seem to get it right.
My only complaint, and it's kind of a big one, is that there aren't enough outlets for computers and the back room is terrible. Slap some paint on the walls and get a couple of lamps for crying out loud. It's depressing! Honestly the bf and I would go more if the seating situation were better and more inviting. Such a shame since the food and drink is brilliant!
A great spot for a cup of coffee or a glass of wine or even a beer.
Downstairs is the traditional cafe to order beverages and food, while the upstairs is a wine bar. They've got great pastries as well as a competent menu put together by an actual in-house chef. During the warmer months, Northside Social is a popular spot for the Arlington scene with the outdoor seating. I really enjoy this place because of the laid-back casualness and the friendly staff.
Believe it or not,
I'm walking on air.
I never thought I could feel so free-.
Flying away on a wing and a prayer.
Who could it be?
Believe it or not it's just me.
So what does Northside Social Coffee have to do with the theme song from "Greatest American Hero"? Â Absolutely nothing, it's just been stuck in my head and I hoped by writing it down, I'd get rid of it.
This is a nice coffee place. I came here with my friend after Silver Diner. Â She went in first and ordered some fancy thing and she got me a regular coffee. Â I liked my coffee because it was strong but not too bitter. Â However, it was really scalding. Â I like hot coffee but not so scalding it's almost like it's burnt. Â When it cooled it was good.
And I had plenty of time for it to cool because her drink took LITERALLY FOREVER. Â In fact, I'm still waiting with her as I write this....clearly that's not true but you know what I mean. Â She really liked it but it was seriously like 12 minutes to get this coffee and she'd already ordered it by the time I got there and there had only been three people ahead of her. Â Nothing is worth waiting for for 12 minutes, in my book. Â At least from a coffee perspective. Â
If you can give me a cup of Folgers in 15 seconds, I'm all over that.
To sum up, good coffee but very wait-y. Â If you're a coffee snob, you won't have a problem with that. Â If you're purely focused on caffeination functionality, you'll go nuts like me.
PROTIP: don't get their pastries!
They look really enticing, and theyre right by the cashier, and there's so many of them...BUT DONT BE FOOLED.
I've had many of the cookies, the poptarts, and the regular tarts and they are either just 'meh' or too sweet or too dry. They don't have a way to warm them up which probably contributes to that.
Their food on the menu though....DELISH!
Their soups are excellent (and come with 3 pieces of bread and butter), their sandwiches are humongous (and also very delicious..comes with either potato salad or chips) and their salads look amazing. Â
Also just a great, cozy atmosphere and I love the benches outside when it's nice out.
Nice coffee shop. Â I'm a bit spoiled having lived in one of the better coffee towns in the country (Seattle) and also having lived in crappy towns with great coffee shops. Â
Overall, its a nice space, with good coffee and a decent selection of food and pastries. Â In nicer weather the patio's great.
3 stars instead of 4 or 5 because I always sense a bit of 'tude from the baristas...esp. if, god forbid, there's a refill request. Â Maybe better not to offer it and just have a bigger cup to start off with.
I hear there's wine tasting...I may have to try one out and update the review  afterwards
So my husband kept bugging me to give Northside Social a try again. Â YAY, I'm a fan!
The wine bar is a hit. Â I still don't like the coffee part of NSS but upstairs is an adult enclave with intimate seating and a really good menu. Â The sommelier may have changed, which may be good in the long run. Â This one, also a woman, seems more casual and less judgmental. Â
With a crazy work life and a full family-based schedule, this is a wonderful place for my husband and me to take some time over small bites, a glass of prosecco, and spend time (re)connecting.
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