I'm not sure that this review can express my level of love for this bar. It's a down to earth, divey leaning, not pretentious, amazingly awesome kick ass cocktail bar.
First up, the layout. It's sort of like three bars in one. The first area when you walk in is your traditional bar area. Handful of booths/stools/tables. Small bar area (that's maybe my only complaint). And an awesome vibe. If you continue towards the back through the hallway, on the left hand side there's a couple of little hidden tables. If you're looking for a private area for you and your friends, or you and your "friend", this is the perfect spot. And then all the way back it's a bit more mellow with more traditional tables.
Second, the vibe. They had a great music mix playing. Maybe a bit loud, but that's mostly just because I'm 40. (Get off my lawn!) But I totally dug the music selection. And the overall atmosphere was one of just fun. Everyone from the staff to the patrons were a blast.
Third, the service and drinks. I'm not sure who the bartender was but by the time I was done I must admit I had a slight crush on her. Maybe it was just the cocktails. In any event, she was extremely friendly and seemed to truly love her job. And the cocktails she made up were fantastic. I just gave her the flavor profile I wanted, and within minutes I had this amazing concoction in front of me which was exactly what I was looking for.
As with anything that's this amazing expect a crowd. I was there on a Wednesday early evening (about 7p) and I had to fight for space at the bar. But it's well worth the fight and visit.
If you're a cocktail nut in DC you owe it to yourself to stop by The Passenger.
I'm glad I found this place. Â Thank you, Yelp.
First, I've had half a dozen old fashioned cocktails here and they were all spot on. Â I love this place. Â The drinks have been perfect. Â The food is funky and delicious. Â
I've had all the appetizers and to a dish they are all perfect. Â Funky: Â Pork Cheek Nachos. Â My fave: Â Hummus. Â I can't recommend the hummus enough. Â It's by far the best hummus I've ever had. The burgers I've had here were only so so.
A couple of things are a little weird about this place. Â For one, I can't figure out which days are busy days for this place. Â I've been here on a Tuesday for happy hour and the place was a ghost town. Â I've been here on another Tuesday and it was slammed from wall to wall. Â The other think about this place is that when it's full it is LOUD. Â I've always found seating even when it's full which is nice. Â
Highly recommended. Â Buy me a drink when you see me.
Found this place here on Yelp. Laid-back and friendly place. A good place to come with friends. Interior is somewhat bare, like a college bar. Liked that they featured local Chocolate City beers. Classic rock playing may be "ironic" to people born after 1983, but it's just fine for me, and reminded me of listening to DC101 in the '70s and '80s. Didn't eat, but there were lots of promising items on the menu.
Review Source:My favorite bar in Washington, DC - fully, truly, and without a doubt. I can't recommend this bar enough. The owner, Derek Brown, is a mixology expert. The staff will make you the most sophisticated and delicious drinks or you can simply enjoy classics in the best dive bar environment.
What is the most understated element of this bar is the food. The menu is delicious and easily qualifies as one of the highest quality places to get bar food in the entire city. If you are in Washington, DC and looking for a great place to hang out, you'd be stupid not to come here.
Enjoy!
P.S. If you are feeling rich, check out the Columbia Room inside ;-)
DC bar scene: this is how it's done.
The Passenger is exactly what I'm looking for in a bar: classic, well balanced cocktails; a sizable, but not overwhelming selection of craft beer; a small selection of flavorful, quality bar food; good music you don't have to scream over; and an atmosphere intimate enough to not be bothered by other patrons, but busy enough you don't have to worry about quieting your conversations or annoying the group next to you.
We don't need Top 40 club music cranked to 11.
We don't need a book-sized menu offering every possible type of mediocre food.
We don't need TVs on every wall.
The Passenger seems to be one of the few places that wants to be a bar and nothing else. It recognizes that if people want to jam to deafening Top 40 music, they'll go to a club; if people want to eat a hearty meal, they'll go to a restaurant; if people want to watch sports, they'll go to a sports bar. Instead they do exactly what a bar should do (and should do well) which is great drinks and tasty bar fare in a refined yet unpretentious atmosphere.
"God Save the District" indeed.
This might be my favorite bar in DC.
First off, the drinks. The bartenders know what they are doing. Proper techniques are used, good liquor is the norm, and some of my slightly obscure requests that would have befuddled the average bar (Bijou please?) were made perfectly and consistently. Prices might be a little high, but the drinks are strong and delicious.
Second, the food. I haven't ordered a ton of things here but let me tell you about the Pork Cheek Chili Nachos. They might be my favorite snack in DC. Flavorful meat and chili, plentiful sour cream and gobs of cheese. Dang... I've dreamed about them before. No lie.
Third, the ambiance. I like how this place is set up. It's usually busy and loud, but there are a few places you can sneak away to for more quiet conversation. The two booths near the front, if you are lucky enough to snag one, are great for large groups. The humble decor makes you feel a little less pretentious when sipping on your perfect martini.
So, in review, this place has good drinks, food and ambiance. Imagine that as a three circle Venn diagram. Passenger sits in the center. That's a small space. That deserves 5 stars.
One of my go-to places for Saturday late nights. The Passenger has a fun selection of beers as well as some pretty high quality cocktails. The atmosphere is always lively and the service is as good as it gets when it comes to bars. Oddly, what really won me over with this bar is their delicious bar food! Some of my favorites include Chicken Cutlet Hoagie, Passenger Burger, and Duck Confit Tacos. I have never been disappointed by the food here nor the cocktails which is saying a lot considering how many times I've gone.
Tip: Pick one of the featured cocktails on the blackboard, a lot of classics and they're all beautifully made
Oh my, how have I not written a review for the Passenger?! Â Let's fix that shall we...
I've come here a few times. Â I'm not one for the hipster hangouts, but everytime I'm in the Passenger, I let out a slight "yay!" Â ....Mostly due to their Battered Fried Bacon wrapped Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups. Â Yes ladies and gentlemen, you heard right, i did not stutter! Â Bacon. fried. chocolate. peanut butter. BOOM! Â Your cholesterol is most definitely bound to go through the roof but it's totally worth a cheat! Â You get two mounds of hot, ooey gooey goodness of sin on a stick! Â Cardiologists would most likely not approve, so be sure to schedule that appointment BEFORE you come to the Passenger.
I've had the chicken and biscuits and not bad but then again I'm a friggin' NY Yankee so take that as you will.
The staff is pretty knowledgable and every experience I've had has been a positive one. Â I like their old fashioneds...they even make some specialty ones with a certain flair. Â Go and order something different, something you wouldn't really order and couldn't order anywhere else, you will not be sorry!
But like I said, definitely go for the Battered Fried Bacon wrapped Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups, OMFG!
This is a cocktail place. They do have some unique beers here as well though. You will pay more than most places in DC though. I went into this place being told that the bartenders were wizards and if you tell them what liquor you like they can make you something good. One of the members of our party asked for a tequila cocktail and they brought her what she thought was a margarita. Nothing truly creative in that. Geez. Â Some of the other cocktails were more novel and were truly enjoyed.
Bottom line: 3 star place overall. I wouldn't return here personally, but live and learn.
I'd never been out drinking in the part of town before (the Mt Vernon Square area, near Chinatown), but The Passenger far surpassed my expectations. Â The three of us ordered the same drink - a cocktail whose name I cannot remember now. Â The bar was crowded for a Saturday night and we somehow miraculously found a table inside a small alcove to the side of the bar. Â We had quite an interesting experience, as we talked to the guys at the table next to us, who had ordered some really zany foods, including Deep Fried Bacon-Wrapped PB Cups cola tempura batter...
This bar was definitely a great first stop (of many stops, which somehow ended up at U Street) on our girls' night out.
The perfect spot for a night cap. Casual, but more of an after dinner crowd than a hipster in t-shirts crowd (which we really appreciated). Met up with some other people, grabbed the tables in the "hole in the wall" and it was perfect. Service was prompt and friendly. Drinks were good (good beer selection, not great; good mixed drinks, not great). Food options are unique and tasted very good (the few we tried were not great, but certainly good). Â I would go back.
Review Source:I had only one cocktail. Â It was called "Ricky Bobby" something or other. Â It was basically 99% bourbon with %1 sugar cane. Â I fell in love. Â I'm sure you just fell in love with the description.
My husband had the "Toronto." Â It was a fancy as f*ck Old Fashioned--and Old Fashioneds are already pretty fancy.
I hope this convinced you to go to The Passenger and get a drink. Â Please let me know what it's called and why it blew your socks off!
**I gave only four stars because the ambiance just wasn't quite my style. Â It was too dark and dank for my liking. Â Plus, I think their bartenders are too talented and creative to be working at a place that has "bacon wrapped peanut butter cups" on the menu. Â But maybe that's just me. Â If you like those things, then please count this as a five star review for your purposes.
The Passenger is a rarity when it comes to good cocktail bars in DC. Â For the most part, most good cocktail bars are usually part of a sit down restaurant or is primarily, a cocktail bar with minimal noise and crowds (although that is changing now). Â
However, The Passenger aims to be a "normal" bar but serving up great drinks. Â And to my knowledge, this is the only bar that I know of that is very lively, yet delivers great drinks. Â Take for example the actual "decor" of the bar. Â All wood interior with a few tables to sit alongside the bar seating area and a wide area to stand around while mingling with other people. Â Very basic, but reminiscent of most of the cocktail bars I've been to in NYC, such as Huckleberry Bar in Williamsburg. Â
The Passenger is what you make of it too. Â I've noticed that many people that go there usually order a beer or a typical rail drink like a rum and coke. Â But then again for people like me, you can order up a very well made Old Fashioned along with their cocktail list up on a chalkboard near the bar. Â They also offer some pretty good takes on your typical bar food. Â I had the kimchee hotdog with Carly C and it was much better than the one at DC3. Â The fried peanut butter cups wrapped with bacon are also excellent. Â
Now granted, if you're not a fan of noisy bars The Passenger is not for you. Â However, if you don't mind like me, then its a great place to hang out and grab some really good drinks.
I'm not a cocktail drinker but I've been impressed with the Passenger Bartenders' ability to custom make a cocktail for someone's specific taste. On my several visits, my friends would tell the bartender what types of drinks/flavors they like and the bartender would create something just for them. My friends have never been dissapointed!
The food here is excellent and reasonably priced. I've tried the Duck Carnitas which came with a healthy serving of well-seasoned and tender meat. I'd recommend this dish!
My friend tried the kimchi hot dog, which was told was very good as well.
Can't wait to come back!
When you think of high end cocktails, you almost instinctively conjure up images of fancy, sometimes pretentious places, with a very well dressed older crowd. Which is probably fair, because ultimately constructing a great cocktail that is well layered with smoky high quality liquor and fruit based flavors is a craft in itself. Â Otherwise it tastes like the fruity drink we've all tried to spike, at some point in our prepubescent lives, with just a splash of alcohol when being forced to attend a dinner party with our parents. Or maybe that was just me.
The Passenger serves brilliant cocktails with a low key vibe, prepared by Tom Brown (I'm fascinated by his tattoos) who has a bit of a legacy in the DC nightlife scene. It's the kind of place where you can drop subtle or not so subtle hints to the bartenders and they can whip up a concoction that will serve your mood perfectly. Ideally, you should leave it open ended; they're far better at it that you probably are, so let go and let them do their thing. There's also a regularly updated list that's chalked up on a little board that features more recognizable cocktails including the Lion's Tail which was deliciously smoky and Love Letter which was probably a bit too sweet and citrusy for the chilly evening I was there on.
The long seating area at the back is cramped and poorly laid out and doesn't work well if you have a big group. But it's also usually empty, which explains why everyone seems to gather around in a bit of a cluster fuck, smack in the middle of the main bar area. Stuff like that doesn't seem to matter though because this place exudes a cool factor anyway, and those drinks call for your attention instead.
Ah, and they play lots of Bowie here, which frankly deserves a sixth star.
Might be great, but I wouldn't know. Came in at 6 on a Saturday with two other people and the place was half full. Bartenders ignored us for ten minutes, a server told us to stand at a table and she would wait on us. She ignored us for ten more minutes before we decided to leave. Her laughing "have a good night!" as we put on our coats was a nice touch. We won't be back.
Review Source:Private party success at The Passenger in the Train Room this past Saturday night! Â Thanks to Alisa for helping to organize prior to the party, and very, very special thanks to Danny, the most awesome server in all the land! Â
We had 35+ people in the Train Room for a private party. Â The room does open up to the main bar which is advantageous for overflow. Â We had one server, Danny, who was a total rockstar and kept everyone happy. Â She was super attentive and quick with all orders. Â Cocktails took a few minutes longer than beers as the bartenders are still making the drinks, but overall the service was stellar! Â
From the catering menu, I ordered the cheese & charcuterie, southwest spring rolls, and pecan chicken skewers. Â All were super tasty and cleared by hungry partyers in a flash. Â I saw lots of others ordering additional fare and heard nothing but accolades for the nachos, duck carnitas, and really, all the snacks. Â
Thanks again to The Passenger for an awesome time! Â Looking forward to returning to try some other cocktails and explore the menu.
I love this bar! Â I credit (blame?) the Passenger with my new obsession with Hemingway Daiquiris. Â Really good cocktails, without the pretentious "mixology" vibe that seems to follow any bar nowadays that uses a single fresh ingredient. Â Plenty of tables for big groups or small groups. Â Also, seats at the bar. Â Bartenders were all just the right amount of chatty.
Also, the kim chi hot dog is <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fbomb.gov&s=be9b4623b2cbc7f974d7c7f0a5dbf48b1d8db708cdaba431c4473fb73f0f4ebc" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://bomb.gov</a>. Â
I haven't tried the Columbia Room in the back, but I am definitely inclined to do so after falling in love with the main bar.
Thank God this place was open after the inaugural ball. So many places in the neighborhood were closed as 30,000 people poured onto the streets. We were all drunk and hungry, so I'm sure they made a crazy profit.
We were able to get there early enough that we snagged one of the booths in the back. The service was friendly. The cocktail list was great - lots of innovative drinks mixed with some classics.
The menu for the food was small, but had some decent items. Very few carbs, which I remember only because after drinking for 5 hours, that's what I was looking for! Burger was good - cooked to the right temperature and the shrimp and grits were tasty, but cold. I feel like there may have been another menu at the bar - as I saw someone with tacos and tacos were definitely not on the menu I received. At that point, it was too late for me to inquire.
On our next trip to DC, we will definitely wander back in here.
Oh I loved this place.
A friend was in town visiting and I'd had The Passenger on my radar for a while as a spot to try. We went fairly early, about 9-ish. There was already a crowd at the bar but nothing too crazy.
The decor is simple and austere. Some prime real estate booths and lots of standing room. The bartenders know their stuff; it's almost a waste if you DON'T get something elaborate. While my friend was waiting for the bartender to come by, I happened to turn around at just the right time to see that a booth had opened up.
We grabbed it fast like whoa and started looking at the menu. The Passenger was the first stop on a three-place crawl, so we weren't too ambitious. We ended up getting one cocktail each (a rain something -- rum and apricot liquor and something else) and some bar nosh. The specialty drinks are all pretty reasonably priced at about $9 a pop, not bad when a lot of other places go for $12+. The server was a pro, moving in a circuit down each booth and then back again.
The best surprise of our experience, though, wasn't even the drinks. It was the hummus plate we ordered. I honestly wasn't expecting much. We just wanted something to nibble on. But it was legitimately one of the best hummus plates I've ever had. A huge helping of the stuff, with olives and lots of spices, and a generous portion of warm, soft, flavorful pita bread. It was fabulous. They even came around to offer us more bread but we were ready to go by then. We also had the fried peanut butter cups, which were delicious in an "Oh my lord I'm committing a foodcrime" sort of way.
I'd definitely recommend stopping here. It's convenient to both Mt. Vernon and Gallery Place Metros, has a great atmosphere, good food and a great drink menu. Lots of fun and one of my new favorite places to hit in the city.
One of my favorite places in DC. Kimchi hotdogs (not that tasty sausage, but good kimchi), good beer selection, and amazing cocktails as all the other reviews attest. I just wish the bar had more seats. It's always so crowded there, and it can be difficult to get a drink.
Bonus points for the bartenders that have unusually amazing tattoos (insanely jealous) and the dim light wagon atmosphere.
The Passenger is a pretentious/not-pretentious (depends on who you are) bar located in the Mount Vernon Square. Let's just say if you are a fan of whiskey, bourbon, craft brews, darkness, and sweat you will enjoy this place. Â Ya get what I'm saying?
Try the pork cheek nachos - - tender, smoky, and flavorful this is a dish that you will not want to share!
I really want to like the Passenger - I love the concept of the low key bar with high key cocktails.
Unfortunately my first experience was less than stellar. Around 7 on a recent weekday night, they were absolutely slammed with people. I completely understand that if you're making the effort to craft cocktails, it's going to take time. However, the bar staff made zero acknowledgments to anyone waiting and from time to time were only focusing on cleaning glasses. Again, all well and good, unless you have a crowd three people deep. Â If I'm going to wait 20 minutes for a drink, I'd prefer not to have an attitude as a garnish.
The other major problem for me were the bugs. Seriously. If you're standing along the wall, the shelves where you're probably putting your stuff have bugs. The guys next to me were making a game of killing them - and I'm not talking butterflies and lightning bugs - it was more of the spider and cockroach looking critter variety.
The Passenger is the kind of place where you can say "I like grapefruit" and they will make you the most amazing drink you've ever had in your life. Â I definitely recommend it for a place where you give them a vague idea of what you want and prepare to be amazed, as opposed to ordering something specific. Â Trust them, they know their sh**.
Only complaint is that it gets SUPER crowded on weekends. Â Great minds think alike?
I really love the Passenger. I will tell you why:
-good beer selection.
-excellent cocktails. (I aim to try one of their cocktail specials every time I go)
-fun space (hey those new floors look great!)
-friendly staff
-delish food. (three words: MAC N CHEESE)
The only thing I don't love about this bar is that everyone else knows how awesome it is (so it gets busy). Passenger is good for groups due to the two large booths in the front windows, so long as you ARRIVE EARLY to beat the crowds!
Unquestionably one of my three favorite watering holes in DC and one of my ten favorite Temples of Imbibery in the nation.
Drinks are well-crafted, the staff is eminently knowledgeable/helpful from mixologist to server, and they're a damned good bet for supporting the community in DC and the troubled tradition of well-done cocktails and spirits.
Almost single-handedly responsible for reviving the Rickey, I find that even if I choose to wade into unfamiliar mixtures that I appreciate the effort and complexity that goes into every glass.
If you haven't been to The Passenger, you should. If you have, it should be on your regular circuit.
Came in after being at 9:30 Club - came by to get a few handcrafted cocktails along with the shrimp & grits; and the burger around 11 or 12 PM on Tuesday October 16th, 2012 and was thoroughly impressed. The shrimp & grits were amazingly prepared and the handcrafted cocktails by Laura I believe were spot on as I really have come to enjoy Derek Brown's establishment. He truly as found a great bartender in her.
Overall - I spent about $80 for a few rounds and these two dishes and felt it was an impeccable value.
Located off a dark side street of Chinatown, I probably wouldn't have given the Passenger a second glance if my friends hadn't told me about it. Â They entryway was dark and non-spectacular, but as soon as you step inside, the charm is imminent.. Â Although it was packed, all of the patrons seemed to be enjoying themselves, happy to be in on this little secret called the Passenger. Â Every other person was enjoying a martini or a cosmopolitan - I'm bummed that I didn't get to try any of their specialty cocktails, but was equally satisfied by their selection of beers. Â We did get to order the Pork Cheek Nachos, which were so delicious that I almost couldn't believe they were nachos. Â The Pork Cheek was flavorful and so tender that it melted on top of the nachos right in with the cheese. Â These are a must try!
Despite being a little crowded, we were still offered prompt and courteous service by this staff. Â They also serve DC Brau beers, which is from DC's first brewery founded in 1956. Â Grab a pint and a history lesson!
I really wanted to like this place after all I've heard. Overall, I agree, it has a nice, relaxed vibe that was enjoyable, especially on a lazy mid-week afternoon. We especially avoided going there on a weekend, because we heard the place becomes a zoo.
The beer selection is pretty decent, especially that of the Belgium variety. The cocktails were OK, but not crazy good. But this might be the result of a bad bartender experience.
Speaking of bartenders, they usually make a or break an experience. We grabbed two seats at the bar and the bartender couldn't be any less disinterested if we had cow bells on. He was busy chatting up a couple of girls sitting in the corner and acting like a frat boy douche bag. Â When we managed to get his attention, the conversation was kept to a minimum as if we were imposing with our questions about their drinks. We were directed to read the board for the cocktail specials. A good bartender would have explained how some of these are made and what's special about them. No, not this guy.
We stuck around though and watched as the other lady bartender at the inside end of the bar was crafting some interesting cocktails and being friendly to her customers. To say that were jealous is an understatement. We wished we had moved to that side of the bar when we got the chance.
Bottom line, we weren't expecting a PX experience, but we were hoping for a fun first time experience on a slow weekday and to have the bartender show us what they've got and what they can do. Clearly we caught dude on a bad night and it was a bust.
****4.5 stars****
I've been to The Passenger on several occasions and have always had an enjoyable time with good drinks. Â I'm never too inclined to review places I know I'll be going back to frequently since I can always do it "after the next visit" but this last trip sealed the deal with their chicken and waffles. Â Having grown up very far from the South, I never understood fried chicken, let alone chicken with waffles. Â That is no longer the case; I finally get it. Â And for that I have The Passenger to thank.
As a general discussion on the food, everything is great. Â This isn't bar food, it's an awesome restaurant that just happens to be configured into a bar setting, hence the limited seating and the chance you're standing up against the back counter to eat. Â But do not fret, the height is right for not spilling food stuff all over yourself, unless maybe you're a giant. Â Or a little person.
The pork belly chili nachos are my favorite item on the menu. Â That's arguably three of the best things in the world combined and delivered with impeccable quality! Â Joel McHale and I should refer to it as "chat stew" because it's "sooo meaty." Â The Cubano (roasted pork, country ham, pickles, mustard and swiss) is also stellar and is something I'd be happy to eat any day of the week. Â Plus the prices ($8-13 for the entrees) are so reasonable for the quality of the food.
But on to the whole reason for this review: the chicken and waffles. Â The two dishes noted above would certainly be my preference, but the chicken and waffles are still excellent. Â I wish I could say what made them so good, but I'm quite a novice on the subject. Â All I know is the waffles were soft, the chicken was flavorful and moist and the syrup added just enough sweetness and stickiness to act as an adhesive, holding it together on the journey from plate to mouth. Â Sure, I've been told that's the whole appeal to begin with, but most of the dishes I'd tried up until this night had done a pitiful job of trying (note: Justin's homemade 30 lbs of chicken with bacon waffles was the only exception, but I wasn't there to eat them fresh. Â Damn work getting in the way of good food).
The Passenger's drinks are mixed by some highly acclaimed bartenders and certainly taste like it. Â The chalkboard with the daily features always has several winners on it and as such, I've never had the same drink here twice. Â Perhaps the most memorable, on my very first trip to The Passenger, was the flaming basin of liquor that was the Lava Bowl: aged dark rum, maple syrup, grapefruit and lime. Â It was the drink I wanted to try the most on the chalkboard, and even though I couldn't have too much since I was driving, Justin appeased me and ordered it...then drank all that I couldn't. Â Definitely a win-win.
The pros are the great drinks, the fun atmosphere, and it's a very short drunken stumble from my apartment.
The cons are the hit or miss food, it's sometimes a madhouse, and it's a very short drunken stumble from my apartment!
This bar seems right for everything and everybody. Bad date? End the night well at Passenger. Pay raise? Celebrate at Passenger. Since it's so close I spend more money here than I should, but every dollar feels well spent. You couldn't ask for a better experience at a neighborhood bar.
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