My friend who lives in DC wanted to meet up at this place for drinks on a Wednesday. Sadly all the outdoor seating was taken so we sat inside. Despite just coming for happy hour - we were able to sit in the front part of the restaurant by the bar in a 2 person booth. Well drinks were $5 and beers were on the happy hour menu as well. Drinks were just the right amount of strong. And we were able to grab another round before 8pm. We got hungry so we got menus - as we were looking, my friend said "I didn't realize they were vegetarian only" He said we could leave but I said it was fine and I was hungry. I ordered grilled marinated tofu skwers while my friend ordered the persian salad. Both were good. His persian salad (cucumbers, tomatoes, dill & feta)came with bread. I liked my tofu which came on top of a salad. The service was not good - very slow, took a while to order drinks and food and to get the bill. Overall, casual dining and bar space.
Review Source:This bar kept popping up on my Yelp search for cool places to go to in Dupont Circle. We initially had reservations at the Dirty Martini because there was a 30% off your check deal on Groupon or LivingSocial and the menu seemed interesting and of a wide variety. However, they had a private event and it turned into a huge huge bust. This place is adorable though! On the outside it looks like a quaint little historical house with small tables around the entrance. Inside it's dark with mood lighting, a beautiful bar area adorned with science lab measuring cups, weird statues, and a periodic table in the basement dance hall.
Drinks are pretty affordable for the atmosphere. We didn't make it for happy hour when you can get a decent bottle of wine for only around $20-25; but a bottle was still at a good price. We went with the red Carmenere, Santa Rita from 2007. A very dry Chilean wine. Two of us liked it a lot and one of us did not. But you have to like those super dry cabernets I feel to really get into it. We also ended up doing two shots. Which I was just reminded was actually three because one of our amazing bartenders made us a round of complimentary pineapple upside down shots for the birthday girl. They were delicious! Note also that all of the shots were the size of an actual cocktail. Our bartenders were fantastic and really very social and entertaining with us. They even gave us a small sample of these vegan brownies, which if you hadn't told me beforehand were vegan I wouldn't have believed you. They were moist and I think had these toffee chocolate bites inside; mouth watering. I hate vegan food but this may have temporarily converted me. If you get an order of maison frites make sure to try the garlic vegan aioli dipping sauce because its out of this world. This place is so geeky chic and I love it.
Another day, another bar. Such is the life of a lush.
Last night was a monthly fundraiser for a non-profit organization with which I find myself affiliated.
Science Club has a pretty good happy hour: wines, PBR, rail drinks but it didn't seem like any food was included in HH which was a bit of a bummer because some of plates seemed a bit pricey. I ordered fries and the garlic ailoi was pretty gosh darn amazing.
The crowd was interesting but that may have just been who this event attracted. I don't understand why its called the Science Club though but its cool enough and I dig their veg/vegan friendly menu.
As a tourist in DC is was hard to find a Vegan friendly restaurant that was actually open on the weekend. I've never seen so many closed restaurants on Saturdays and Sundays.. back on topic..
It's usually difficult finding good Vegan food anywhere, but Science Club delivered. My wife and I shared the chips and guacamole appetizer. I live in San Diego so we know guacamole since we are only miles from the boarder. I also love to cook and guacamole is something I make extremely well. They made it like chunky salsa so the avocado was in chunks/cubes vs being mashed. It wasn't traditional guac for sure, but man it was good. Think the chips were Tostitos, but hey they are actually my favorite chip off the shelf.
I had the vegan margherita tortilla pizza and it was very good. The sauce they used was very tasty. My wife has the quinoa tabouli and she said it was delicious. We also finished the meal with the sticky fingers brownie.. also great! Our waitress was a little shy but she was sweet and got the job done.
I went on a slow Friday night. There were not many people there, which can also be a good thing depending on you. I didn't eat but instead ordered a couple cocktails. I was really disappoint on my tequila shot which was $14. It had sweet/sour mix in it!!! Who puts sweet/sour mix in a Premium Patron Silver tequila shot? Unheard of! I got other drinks which were alright. Nothing blew me away.
The waitress kept coming to our table and asking if we wanted the check! I was really getting annoyed because I felt as if she wanted us to leave or something. But It turned out that her shift was ending and she wanted to close the table so she could get her tip and go home. I can deal with that.
I loved the DJ. I loved the music! Great loungy, hipstery, and hot/cold mixes with throwbacks and music of today. Great place to come with friends to kick it.
This place is great!
The stuffed portabello mushrooms with toasted quinoa, huge veggie burgers, and warm vegan brownie sundaes are all delicious.
I like that there are so many different areas to try out (basement, front patio, main area of first floor, back area of first floor, second floor, and third floor!)
Yesterday, when I was here, I saw a couple making out with each other while they sat at a table in the back of the first floor. And it made me think, if you go here on a week night, you can easily get a table so secluded that it really is a great place to make out! Haha.
Another thing: once I organized a group of people who would all be meeting one another for the first time to all come drink here, and the owner was very nice about it. He even printed out a sign for us (without me asking him to), and hung it up so that the guests would know where to meet. :-)
Not sure why people are calling this a hipster spot. Just because you don't go out for drinks in your DC shirt and tie does not mean you're a hipster.
The reason this place is so chill is because there is no scene...you'll have fun in a suit and tie or shorts and sneakers. Unpretentious crowd for the most part and awesome bartenders. Totally underrated food also. Even if it is vegetarian.
Best bar in this area.
Listen, I would probs give this place 3.5 stars if I could because I do really like it, get excited if anyone else suggests it, etc. The ONLY reason I don't is because I think the food is a teensy bit overpriced and also they don't have draft beers. But I really do like the vegan menu options - a LOT! I love being able to choose an awesome salad with chik'n strips on it (Gardein, no less, so I guess I can understand the price there), a veggie burger that was certainly not dry like some other reviewers have said, and veggie skewers that were tasty (yet definitely overpriced at $12 for three scantily-clad skewers).
The ambiance is kind of variable depending on the night, and the service is just kind of meh. However, we did get a chance to chat with the manager who was an all-around good dude and made sure to treat us special when the neighborhood was otherwise filled with drunk mobs of college kids that night.
DC Hipsters are a sneaky bunch. They aren't like the ones in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn who openly embrace irony or whatever they call it these days, in its full glory. DC Hipsters wear blazers over their plaid shirts and those thick rimmed glasses are legitimate. Not the mock ones their Brooklyn counterparts wear in the name of style. You will find LOTS of business suit clad DC Hipsters at The Science Club.
With an extended Happy Hour that runs till 8 pm, and proximity to DCs midtown business area this place is unsurprisingly popular with the after-work crowd as well. The drinks are very standard and unexciting, and so is the all-vegetarian food menu. But somehow it all still works. Maybe because the staff here is friendly and will promptly get you seated and keep the food and drinks coming. And they play great music here. Any place that plays The Shins gets my seal of approval. Instantly.
I'm probably leaning toward 2.5 stars now, but I enjoyed my recently visit and decided to round up. Â I still wish the Science Club lived up to its steampunk/science potential, but it remains relatively plain in my eyes, despite the wonderful doors and some kitsch in spots along the walls. Â That said, there's a good selection at the bar (wines, whiskies, and scotches, especially), and the bartenders are warm, friendly, and knowledgeable. Â Crowds continue to stymie my efforts to try food.
Review Source:Been meaning to put in a quick review. Â I had a birthday party here for my girlfriend a few months ago, and they made it easy and fun. Â We had a nice space, service was good, and food was readily available. Â A lot of other places wanted a lot more cash for a Bday party, Science club hooked it all up for a good price, and a great time for all. Â
Also, the HH isn't bad if you're in this 'hood
Fun, low key spot. Lots of room to mingle and dance although there was no one dancing. Came here on a Saturday at around 1 am so that could possibly be why. Great music and atmosphere. Funny Einstein picture in the basement. It actually read "closed" online when I was trying to get here but we called and they told us it was open. Not sure why it said that. Anyhow, I would definitely check this place out if in the area.
Review Source:This place was all around terrible. I was excited to sit down and see a vegan friendly menu, but afterward, it made me think, this place is the reason why people won't convert to veganism or vegetarianism if it's this gross!
The food:
My friends and I ordered lentil soup. First of all they have an option in the  menu for a cup or a bowl. I  wanted the cup because I didn't want too much soup but when I asked, they said they only offered the bowl. Whatever, I ordered the bowl. But when it came, it was tiiiiiny so I asked what I was paying for it because the size was not worth $8. They never got back to me so I had to just see the price on my check. That was the soup. Next my friends got veggie burgers. This sucked because I rave about veggie burgers and they were terribly dry and flavorless. My friends pizza looked like it was made on a thin piece of rice paper. He said it was good...I think he was just being polite.
The service:
We watched several groups sit down after us but get served way before us. We were hardly checked up on throughout our meal, and I felt like the waiters were deliberately avoiding us. They took about twenty minutes to bring us the bill...that made them lose any kind of tip.
I'll never revisit this place. It sucked.
Came here for happy hour that turned into a nice vegan dinner/snack.
We had the flatbread pizza which was yummy. We also had the tortilla chips and guac which went fast, although the guac was a little bland in flavor and very chunky. Its a preference thing.
Food was good in general and the venue definitely has its own style.
Ambiance: very dark and bar/club atmosphere, but managed to get a table that was suitable for catching up/conversation.
Would like to try some other menu items next time, maybe at the bar?
I actually really like this place. Nice digs, but without the pretentiousness that a lot of bars in DC have. The decor is nice, but it's been worn in enough so that it feels kind of cozy. The drinks are good, the menu is intriguing, and the crowd diverse. I've been here when its just so packed you can't move, and I've also been when it's just a chill crowd and perfect for conversation over drinks.
Review Source:Went here a few weeks ago for a birthday party in the basement. Â No minimum, no covers, nothing. Â The bartender was awesome and friendly, the atmosphere was cool. Â The prices were a little steep, but I guess it's to be expected of a bar in DC. Â It's pretty close to Dupont and Farragut North metro stops, so public transit isn't too bad. Â If you wanted to go bar-hopping, there seemed to be a ton more down the street (along with a Pinkberry!) Â Overall, I spent a ton of money, but the awesome bartender & atmosphere were pretty well worth it.
Also: Try the fries!
Last weekend boo and I journeyed down 95 to visit some friends in the nation's capital. The last time we were in DC was on NYE and I had remembered seeing the  Science Club and I thought it looked cool so I requested we at least start the night there. Wellll as is usually the case with awesome bars we never went anywhere else.
We started out at the upstairs bar and my buddy put me on to Old Fashioneds. It's a whiskey drink and that's about as much as I know about it but it's delicious and gets you were you wanna be. The bartender was extremely friendly despite having to make a drink that seems would rival a mojito in ease of assembly. The bar had a decent crowd for a Saturday night but was far from packed. The music was cool and added to the chill vibe. And then we went downstairs....
I was in a frat in college. Every now and then I'll see something that transports me back to the bro life whether it's an orange beer bong, Â a keg bucket, or maybe even a fist bump. The downstairs at Science took me right to the basement parties of Slippery Rock University. Dark and narrow with low ceilings except the same cool crowd from upstairs is down stairs to class it up a bit. No chants, or shotgunning beers but everything felt really familiar in the best kind of way. People were dancing there was a bar in the back and it was just a really good time.
All in all I had an absolute blast and I plan on making it back to Science Club when fall arrives.
Had been once before until last Friday, when two coworkers and I headed over for the "Chicks For Gays" fundraiser event during lunch. We went early (around noon) to beat the crowds, and it was nearly empty. The special for the fundraiser was a "chicken" sandwich. Turns out the coleslaw, the sauce on the sandwich, and the BREAD were not vegan, and their staff seem utterly confused as to what vegan is and is not. Isn't this a VEGETARIAN place? Isn't this 2012? I can almost (almost) see having to explain things in an omni restaurant, but I'd assume a vegetarian bar/restaurant could make a vegan meal on their own. I would assume wrong.
Overall, the food is mediocre and expensive for what you get. I guess they're going for the dive bar look (without the dive bar prices) because the seats are all cracked and ripped, and the place is starting to look really shabby. Will not be returning. Would prefer to give my vegan dollars to an omni restaurant that can get it right.
3 stars based on their friendly staff and music.
I first encountered Science Club back when it first opened, I think it was back in 2007 or 2008. Â My friends and I were getting sick of the crowds and same old bars during the Nightmare on M Street pub crawl and decided to check out Science Club. Â I remember the atmosphere being very chill and much more mature and it helped us wind down after a night of drinking, elbowing through a crowd and there were places we could actually sit down. Â That was the last time I had stepped foot into Science Club.
Fast forward to this past Friday night. Â My friends and I were looking for a place to go that we haven't been to in a while and I suggested Science Club. Â When we arrived there were a few folks sitting outside, a private party happening on the 2nd floor and a few other stragglers inside. Â When we got to the 2nd floor, all I could hear was some old school Jay-Z and Scarface, A Tribe Called Quest and other glorious music from the 80s and 90s. Â I was in music heaven. Â I went over to the DJ (I don't remember his name unfortunately), complemented him on his music selection and he told me he spins every other Friday. Â The bartender on the 2nd floor was very cool, he kept two pitchers of water at the end of the bar and kept telling us "feel free to have as much water as you guys like" and also sang along with me when Biz Markie came on. Â I like that. Â
All this to say I'm glad I stumbled upon Science Club and I plan to stop by again next time I'm in Dupont. Â I agree with the other reviewers when they say this place is very underrated. Â Sounds like I need to try their happy hour as well!
Science Club is so underrated! Time to change that.
This is one of my favorite happy hour spots in DC, and one of my favorite unpretentious bars for that matter! It's got that rowhouse nostalgia that makes DC so charming. I've been here twice on the weekends and both times the DJs in the back room have made me wanna dance even in that tiny space! They also have cool videographics on the walls too, set to the music.
For happy hour, their house wines are great, although warning: your beer will be bottled. The flatbread pizza is the perfect accompaniment to your happy hour, and a great place for your vegetarian friends. The patio is small and intimate, the basement is also cute, and the upstairs portion is quieter, when they don't have groups booked there. Their DJs are great, but sometimes the music can be too loud for happy hour if you're just trying to chat with friends.
All in all, this is the place to meet up with a friend after work, and a great place if you're looking for a good time on a weekend night without the pretentious crowds that pervade the rest of Dupont circle.
Haiku # 21
Biology class
Was never really my thing
But Science Club is!
Where can you find great veg food (a plethora of veg options = one happy flexitarian), good drinks, and a giant blackboard with chalk for your doodling pleasure all in one? Â Why Science Club of course! Â Despite the nerdy name, the place has a swanky bar vibe--dark and sexy bar, nooks and crannies for intimate occasions and communal tables for groups. Â As for the food, I've only been to Science Club for happy hour (good drink specials) but the crowd seemed to thoroughly enjoy the tofu skewers and the (bottomless? --we were slightly confused about this as we had two waitresses who kept bringing out more guac but also seemed confused about it as well) guacamole (a bit chunky for some people's taste). I'll be back.
Um, at least they had seats available?
Science Club is a kind of claustrophobic bar in Dupont that seriously lacks appeal. Is the music okay? Yes. Was it relatively clean and non-scary? Yes. But other than that, this was a forgettable and overpriced bar.
The other reviewers were correct after all: the bartenders *do* charge different prices for the same drinks depending on who/when/how you order them. Also, Science Club favors what is commonly referred to as a "hipster," with all the style and attitude that that term implies. If you are not a hipster and are not a hipster admirer, I doubt you will much enjoy this place.
Overall, I probably won't be going back here-- the prices and the clientele get beat by innumerable other bars in the immediate vicinity.
For my friends Science club is that place you always end up at but kinda don't want to be. Well to be honest there are some good reasons why we we started coming here. A. It's like 5 mins from GWU campus. B. it's devoid of the mcfaddens crowd and loud top 40 like at mcfaddens. C. Your friends are there already.
The ideal time to go to Science Club is happy hour in the spring. Decent happy hour prices on drinks (I'm not eating their food-this place is dirty!) cool outdoor seating, and eclectic music make this place feel effortless.
Now there are some not so great qualities about science club. It's way too dark. Not sexy dark, just batcave dark. Unless you are a vegan (thus devoid of taste buds...sorry but true!) then this food is NOT going to look at all appetizing. If I've had 2 cocktails at happy hour I want to chow down on some more hearty foods.
And most importantly science club has abitrary pricing. WARNING if your liver does not function like it did when you were 19, you will spend a fortune at this dive! Â Yes a cocktail can...but not necessarily will be cheap here if you are willing to drink velicoff. Â I was charged 13 dollars for a Cosmo here...and bartender used Smirnoff!! Â I can go to oyamel, Blue Duck Tavern, etc and get a nice cocktail for that price.
My first time visiting (or even hearing of) Science Club was during a Media Bistro Cocktail Party.
Good times!
This place is always jumping! If you're walking/driving by, you're gonna wanna stop in and stare, just to see what fun you're missing. The crowd is happy, the music pumps, the staff is accomodating and the food is tasty (NOTE: it's rare that I eat a meatless meal, but...I MUST say, the veggie quesadilla with a side of Lebanese/red pepper hummus was on-point). The ice cold white wine was nice, too :-)
The scene is all-the-way live. Would highly recommend meeting up for Happy Hour here.
Outdoor seating is available.
Crowded and confused service. Â Strange feeling for a place called "Science Club". Â Since I think of order and logic when I think of Science.
Nonetheless, this is a nice little lounge. Â I really went there to try out the vegetarian cuisine, since I have quite a few veggie friends, and it's always good to have a veggie option in your DC repertoire. Â This place is definitely part of that veggie scene now. Â Especially if you're looking for unhealthy veggie options. Â You definitely feel like you're eating at a higher end version of late night drinking food. Â But, it quenches those desires if this is one of the last stops for you on a pub crawl around Dupont.
I walked into this place last friday night for the first time. Â First impression.. "oh this is different.. Not like all the other places in the area.. cool.. let me get a drink"
Then the problems came. Â I ordered the same drink 3 different times from two bartenders. Â Each time a different price. Â Maybe I should of started a tab.. but I don't have too. Â I'm straight cash. Â
So instead of making a big deal about it.. i just let it go. Â There were a lot of lesbians around looking at me weird like i was invading their turf. I didn't feel like making a big deal. Â
Alright.. I've been bitched by this shitty ass place three times.. so i did something stupid again. Â I ordered shots.. 4 of them.
Bartender gives me my shots then charges me 40 dollars.. 10 dollars each. Â Huh? Â Is this a club? Â
So the bartender walks away and I turn to my friend and explain to him how i've been charged different prices every time i ordered.
Right before I was about to muster up the courage to complain about the different prices.. bartender comes back and says oh i'm sorry.. it's only 35 dollars. Â
Ohhh so now i've been charged 4 different prices 4 different times. Â
Screw this place. The bartenders are figuring out ways to steal from customers that are not Vegan Lesbians and ways to steal from their own bar.
Kind of a strange hole in the wall, dive type of place. I don't really understand the name- it's not really science-y..I think I was expecting a full blown nerdy place, instead of a chilled relaxed bar. haha.
It's a tad dark in the basement, but it has a cool, chill crowd feel and it's a good place to go if you just want to chat with some friends. A little cramped in the basement, but not too bad. I just wondered where all the nerdy stuff was, to make it a legit science club?
Cool hole-in-the-wall spot with an upscale dive kinda feel. Dive because of the interesting beer options (they didn't know what a sidecar was, but beer turned out to be a solid way to go), the aesthetic (dark, with wood, concrete, exposed pipes and a big open chalkboard across one wall), and the bartenders (friendly, super laid-back, and not in much of a hurry). Upscale because they serve stuff like baked portobello mushroom stuffed with quinoa (delicious), and you could actually have quite a nice dinner date here and feel in-the-know doing it. This place manages a nice mixture of nerd chic (periodic table motif, all vegetarian menu) and edgy (def felt like I needed more tattoos). If I knew any hipsters who rode motorcycles instead of retro bikes, they'd probably hang out here.
Their main level has space for dining as well as a bar area - full menu at bar as well as the tables. Downstairs is bar only, dance floor, bathrooms. I haven't been upstairs, but I think it's more dining space. The weekend night we were there, it was pretty quiet around 7pm or so, with only a handful of drinkers and diners, but the main level bar and the downstairs was getting pretty packed by about 10:30 or 11. Definitely looking forward to returning!
Great menu, top-notch veggie burgers and fries, dark/slightly steampunk vibe, intimate if slightly awkward floor plan, yadda yadda, but here's why I REALLY love this place.
Last year I came here with a friend for dinner. We were sitting next to the customers from hell. About 9 of them were there at first, then all but 3 of them left. These 3 were not nice people. Like metrosexual vultures, they proceeded to fly across the room and descend on a plate of abandoned black bean burgers from another party's vacated table...weird, but OK, the food had been paid for, even if not by them. Waitress definitely raised her eyebrow when she saw them chowing down, but said nothing. Go freeganism?
Metrosexual Vulture Trio eventually ordered guacamole for themselves. Guacamole with a side of rage. They spent the next 20 minutes angrily shouting at the harried waitress about when their guac would get there, and when it arrived, the lead vulture sniped that they didn't even really want it now and could they just have the check please.
Upon receiving the check, lead vulture freaked out yet again because - what fresh hell is this?! - there was a mandatory 18% gratuity attached to the bill for the guac. (He was shouting so loudly this whole time that my friend and I couldn't help but eavesdrop, which we did with total relish.) The waitress, still unflappably polite, explained that since they originally were a party of 9, the large-party mandatory gratuity applied. He said that that was balderdash (a saltier term might have been used). The waitress said she was happy to get the manager. He insisted she do so.
The manager came in looking pretty much how you'd expect the manager of a quasi-steampunk vegetarian bar to look: bookishly attractive, but not exactly intimidating. He asked the vultures to tell him what was the matter. They did.
"So just to make sure I have this right, you're objecting to paying her a $3 [or so] tip when you don't feel like she's deserved one? Or that you deserve to pay it?" he said.
Vulture said yes.
The manager took a $5 bill out of his pocket. "Okay," he said, his voice steadily rising. "Let's make a deal. I will pay her the tip she's earned, and in return, would you NEVER!--"
My friend and I broke into grins.
"--NEVER!--"
Lead Vulture's jaw was pretty much on the floor.
"NEVER COME HERE AGAIN!!" The manager was yelling at the top of his lungs.
As the three of them walked out of there - the leader angry, his two friends just looking horribly embarrassed - my friend and I broke into spontaneous applause. The waitress looked at us and giggled nervously. The manager grinned and was like "Thank you! Oh my God, Â I didn't know if I was doing the right thing, I just...!"
Yeah, he was. They were terrible customers. The moral of the story is that Science Club's staff is fantastic.
I've been going to Science Club almost every Wednesday for nearly two years, now.  I like the atmosphere, and there's something for almost everyone.  On a nice night, you can sit outside and enjoy the weather, along with friends, drinks, and various types of music. The basement bar is my favorite on cold nights, it is so warm and cozy, and is lit by tea lights.... That switch to battery operated candles later in the night, to avoid any accidents as patrons continue drinking.... Haha.  On the first level, the front area has tiny 2-person booths, the center is a bar area, and the back is a room with the DJ and dancing, if you are so inclined. (not really my thing) The next  level is more dining and a great area for larger parties, and the top floor is home to a couple of very quiet tables, which are nice if you want a more intimate setting away from all the crowds and noise.
the bartenders here are friendly and talkative, and make great drinks! I usually go on Wednesday nights, when happy hour goes until close. Â I love weeknights at Science, when you can have an actual conversation with someone. As a Washingtonian, I try to avoid most bars on Friday and Saturdays. Â Science club is home to a diverse crowd. I almost always end up meeting someone new and having a terrific conversation for the rest of the evening!
The food is SO tasty. Â I dare say they make THE best guacamole in the entire city - super fresh and chunky, not mushy paste. Â Salt to taste. Â The pesto pita and margarita tortilla pizza are both super tasty too. Â I haven't had the veggie burger, but have heard terrific things about it, and recommend it to newcomers frequently. Oh.... And the fries....*Drools*
Located in the heart of the business district on 19th street makes it an ideal spot for post-work happy hour with friends or colleagues. Â
All in all, this is my favorite chill place to go on week nights. Â I can wear whatever I want, whether it's my business suit, or my hiking gear, I always find people I can relate to and have great conversations with, and it is kind of my own personal Cheers. Â I love it here!!!