It's cute, small but good selection of beers. I don't make it out to FC all that much but definitely feels like a mini galaxy hut. Ha, I never thought the Galaxy hut could get a or find a smaller version of itself but it did. We where here early on a Saturday so am not sure what's like when fully packed?
Review Source:As a seasoned DC beer crawler, Space Bar is my new favorite. Â It has the best combination of tap handle variety and yet is cozy and friendly. Â Barkeeps are quite patient as I taste new offerings before landing on my pint. Â All that before even mentioning the world class grilled cheese.
Review Source:Yet again, excellent food and service from Spacebar.
I took wifey and Mama-bear for a casual dinner and everyone was pleased.
The tuna melt was great. It didn't get soggy thanks to thoughtfully places cheese and tomato.
Mom had a salad with a few add ons. she was more than pleased and was all too happy to off-set her healthy decision with my expertly fried tots.
The staff is always really pleasant and helpful. If you are having trouble deciding on one of their million draft beers they quick to offer samples.
Sorry Mad-Fox, Spacebar is the best beer spot in Falls church proper.
I enjoyed my time here and feel comfortable recommending it without tasting one of their signature grilled cheeses or tots.
The space is small and fits the "dive/casual" yelp designation while the name Spacebar belies the interior which doesn't have much of a spacey theme. This is fine to me though because I'm all about the beer which is in great supply at this bar. The beer list is large and varied and beers are offered in pints, goblets and "minis". This way you can try several types of beer and get good bang for your buck.
Added to this the staff was very chipper and helpful which kept a smile on our faces. Overall I'd put this spot at about Lost Dog level for drinks but maybe more interesting at night. Not quite Churchkey levels of beer selection but still a solid bar!
I came here stoked for what I hoped was an interesting atmosphere and good food.
I was sorely disappointed. The "space" theme starts at the door and ends there with a hanging rocket ship in the window. (The tarot reader next door had more interesting window dressings)
You had to stand at the bar to order (which I hate when there is no clear designated spot to do so) and I was ignored for a while despite them not really being that busy for a Saturday night. The seating was cramped, so much so the "waiter/cook" couldn't fit through the aisle to bring our food. Our table's food was all wrong---how the hell you mess up a grilled cheese I don't know. And of course their most popular sandwich (the meatloaf), I ordered and was then told after waiting that they were sold out. Lame.
I'm sorry but if I wanted to pay $12 for half-a** grilled cheese in a Christmas light string lit room, I'd just hang out in a 14 year old's basement.
P.S. The tots sucked. They're basically cheap frozen school lunch tots---nothing special in the slightest. Virginians have got to get their taste buds seriously checked.
Happily updating to a four star rating. On my most recent visit, the service was stellar. The husband and wife duo do a great job at managing beverage and food requests. She was pleasant and friendly even given the number of patrons seated at the bar.
The tater tots are crunchy and never greasy. The grilled cheese sandwiches, regardless of the variety, come out just right each time. The bread is buttered just right so it ends up with a perfectly crisp bite. The cheese is perfectly melted over your sandwich selection.
Love the rotating selection of taps and that they play Turner Classic Movie channel non-stop.
I went in for a beer and a sandwich and doubt I will ever return. I sat by the griddle & fryer so I could see all the cooking action (didn't sit there on purpose, just coincidence).
I'm not quite sure why everyone is up in arms about the tots; they're standard frozen tots tossed into the deep fryer. On top of that, they don't salt them. I limit my salt intake and I even thought they needed salt (general rule of frying is that you salt it when it comes out of the fryer - basic rule here).
Onto the sandwich. Ordered their version of the Rueben which had Pastrami instead of corned beef. The pastrami was so chewy that when I took a bite my teeth wouldn't even cut through it. On top of that, none of their meats or other ingredients are made in house - all store bought.
I would recommend you buy a nice microbrew sixer and learn how to make a grilled cheese rather than come to this place, especially when a sandwich, a side of tots, and a beer will run you around $16.00 before tip.
Love this place! Best tater tots I've ever had. I dream of them, crave them, and salivate just thinking about them. Awesome beer selection.
Favorite grilled cheese? Meatloaf! Have also tried the pastrami/reuben grilled cheese, as well as the bacon/feta/tomato one. But meatloaf is still my fav. Super tasty meal, but definitely on the heavier side, so be ready for it!
We usually go earlier in the evening to avoid the crowd and guarantee we can get seated in a booth. We are always greeted with great service and a nice laid-back environment. Parking kinda sucks, but you can always park on the side streets too.
Spacebar is consistently one of my favorite places in Northern VA. The vibe is great (all of the bartenders are happy to help you choose among their EXTENSIVE selection of beers) and the (many, many, many) taps are constantly rotating. On top of that: the grilled sandwiches and tater-tots are consistently delicious.
I will say: the space is a little small, so if it's full it's FULL - but if that were a deal-breaker for me, I don't think I could ever eat or drink out anywhere.
I don't usually drink in Virginia. I'm the classic Maryland-er who treats venturing over there as some long pilgrimage.
So now I have a problem. I would really like to go back to Spacebar.
This place has a very cool vibe. I was a little nervous that the space them would be hokey, but it's subdued and just kind of cool. It took me back to some of my nerdy teenage Star Wars years. Other than the touch of space (mostly in the fonts used), it's got a easing, homey backyard bar feel.
I didn't try the grilled cheese, but they looked AMAZEBALLS!
They had probably 20 beers or more on tap, including many that microbrews that I recognized and many I didn't. The prices were typical for DC, about $7-$10 for a pint. Some good standards like Alagash, DC Brau, etc.
I really liked our bartender, Joe, who made good recommendations and was just the right amount of chatty. He even let us take over the playlist at the end of the night and didn't push us out of the bar when we were the last people in there.
Just a very cool place that I'd definitely go to again. Actually, may be my favorite bar in DC now (from a very short list, granted).
I tried to go to Space Bar last winter with a group of five around 9 pm on a Saturday night. Â We should have known better since the place is so small, but after downing some pitchers at the Bowl America around the corner, we were feeling lucky. Â Sadly the place was absolutely packed so we had to go to Mad Fox instead. Â I may or may not have let loose a Coors Light fueled rant in the parking lot about effing Falls Church hipsters. Â I think being in Falls Church kind of cancels out any hipster cred, doesn't it? Â Let's be real.
Anyway, I'm so glad I decided to give Space Bar another shot last week--I was not disappointed. Â My boyfriend and I hit it up around 6:30 on a Wednesday, a much better time to visit. Â The place had a decent crowd, but we were able to get a table by the window. Â Their happy hour runs from 5-7 and offers several tasty beers for $3/pint. Â Not a bad deal. Â
You order at the bar and the bartender was very friendly and helpful while we perused their huge beer menu. Â They have a TON of beers on tap or in bottles and also some non-beer options if that's what you're looking for.
I really struggled to pick a grilled cheese because so many of them sounded tasty. Â The sandwiches had a lot of interesting and unique combos of ingredients, which I appreciated. I went with the havarti, turkey, and avocado, which was very generously sized and a great choice. The tater tots were equally delicious, duh.
I will definitely be back to sample more from their extensive beer and grilled cheese list. Â But probably on a week night and with a small group. Â Don't want to cry any more beer tears in the parking lot!
If you're looking for constantly-rotating craft beer taps in Falls Church, your options are limited. Lost Dog, Whole Foods, Mad Fox, and Westover are the main venues.
Spacebar opened up last year and has been a largely pleasant addition to the WFC scene. While a bit on the pricey side, they feature a wide variety of styles, and stay busy enough to cycle through them regularly. Plenty of fresh IPAs, stouts, ambers, belgians, etc to keep you interested.
The food menu is great, featuring the best tater tots west of Churchkey (Galaxy Hut being of the same ownership doesn't count). I've had pretty much every single grilled cheese sandwich and never been disappointed.
The bartenders are always friendly and willing to chat about whatever. Larry and Erica the owners are sometimes around working the bar/grill and interacting with customers.
The crowd is decidedly young professional, with a very subtle, but not overpowering, hipster vibe. Generally nice people who will strike up a conversation and not interfere with your experience. It can definitely get pretty crowded on Fri/Sat, with very little dedicated parking, but there is nearby on-street parking in the neighborhood.
The only reason I don't spend 5 nights a week here is because there are cheaper places nearby, even for Falls Church.
Spacebar is a funky, casual, and laid back place. It is small, but I have never seen it too crowded, which is a good thing. They have a thoughful rotating selection of unique beers, which you can get in different size pours, and tasty grilled cheese options and tots. There is nothing pretenious about Spacebar, and you will feel comfortable by yourself at the bar, on a date, or playing a board game with friends.
Review Source:I had the veggie meatloaf with mozzarella and provolone on sourdough. It was fantastic, very tasty and very filling. Great texture and flavor. I will definitely go back and try every sandwich on the menu! The staff here is also very friendly. Just a great place to grab a bite and a beer. Beware of the tots, they are a plenty and very addictive.
Review Source:Let me start off by saying that based on the exterior, I didn't think this place was going to be all that great, BUT I was pleasantly surprised!
It's a chill place for a few beers, food, and great conversation with friends. The decor is... Well it's fitting for the name of the place - Spacebar. Very low budget. They had some spray painted art on the wall that was ridiculously priced, but hey to each their own.
The beer selection was pretty decent - no name brands like Buds, Stella, Coors, etc. But they were actually pretty good, just go in willing to try something new because the taste of some beers are quite unique!
Love love love their grill cheese sandwiches! I really didn't think they were going to be fulfilling, but boy was I wrong. The chef really does get creative with her sandwiches, because they are not a regular grill cheese. We also ordered a basket of tots and added cheddar cheese for a little extra.
I will say that although you can tell this is a low budget bar (i.e. decor), I did notice they splurged by purchasing an iPad and attachment to allow their clients to pay via credit cards - Cool!
I checked out this place last night with a friend who wanted to check it out before he returned to Chicago.
The bartender was wearing some in your face shirt about being a local. Â Let's just say I'm not a fan of people that need their t-shirts to do the talking.
As another Yelper noted, it's full of the suburbian wanna-be hipsters, which I also found laughable.
I liked the beer selection, but if you're gonna keep the place so dark, must you have the menu microscopic as well?
Back to the bartender, who was not young, hip or attractive, and a bit surly for a bartender, and also ON HIS PHONE THE WHOLE TIME WHILE TAKING OUR ORDER.
When we left, my friend asked for his card back (he was still on his phone btw). Â First, he said he hadn't given it him, then he gave him the wrong credit card back!
The only plus, and I'm reaching here, is they had TCM on all the TVs.
We left here and went to Dogfish. Â This place is a phase.
It's Sunday night, a friend and I are looking for a decent bite to eat and a place to hang out. Spacebar filled that gap quite nicely with countless combinations of grilled cheese sandwiches and sides of freshly fried tater tots that beat out most of what you can get at 11PM on a Sunday night. The number of beers on tap less than 10 minutes from home are the icing on the cake. Keeping the menu simple while giving a variety of choices for your beer (4/9/12 oz portions available for each) it was just what this neighborhood needed.
I can't speak for what goes on other times/days of the week but a quiet night enjoying beer with a buddy and chatting with the owners of the place made for good experience in my book. Â Also just a head's up: Kitchen closes 30 minutes before last call.
I can honestly say that this place made me like beer. Usually beer is not my thing, but their selection is so fantastic that I have never had a bad one here. The drink menu changes frequently, but it's always easy to find a new favorite. The food is solely variations of grilled cheese- you pick your cheese, meat and other toppings and they grill it. Simple & yummy. Extra points go to them because they offer TOTS as a side!
Spacebar is on the small side with a bar that stretches the length of the place and tables on the opposite side. However, it still manages to seat a good amount of people and I've come close, but never actually had a problem finding a seat. I wouldn't plan on going with a group larger than 4 people. I LOVE that they play classic movies on the TV over the bar and the music selection in the background is always good.
Almost all of the staff is knowledgeable and friendly and are usually pretty helpful in suggesting beers.
I really can't think of any negatives to mention. This place is fantastic!
Good times!
Finally! Falls Church gets a hipster neighborhood bar.
I find it a great after work treat for me and my co-workers and a nice place to drop in before spending my paycheck at CD Cellar, which is right next door - dangerous endeavor to shop for cd's with a buzz on, I should warn you, but fun!
The servers behind the bar are good peeps and look after you.
There are somewhere between twenty to thirty microbrews on tap, and the menu displays about a dozen different varieties of grilled cheese sammiches, tater tots, dogs, reubens, etc.
The place has an unusual ambience - the lights are dim, there's a wide screen above the bar which usually runs classic movies while the soundsystem cranks out a random (I assume!) playlist of alt, punk and classic bands like Husker Du, Misfits, Sleepy Jackson, African Head Charge, Minor Threat, JD McPherson, Eagles of Death Metal, Talking Heads, the Cure, Clash, Tame Impala, Howlin' Wolf, Bob Marley, Wilco,Talking Heads, Bowie, Kraftwerk, Fela Kuti, PIL... you get the idea.
Average age of clientele - it seems to be getting a little older as time marches on but most of the crowd is usually in the 21 to 30 bracket, and the average profile is anywhere from hipster tech to girls' night out to college jean types, with a fairly low douche ratio, although there are always a few - it is a bar.
I run into a lot of music people at Spacebar - the guys and gals from CD Cellar, State Theater peeps, an engineer or two from Cue, guys from Guitar Center, most of the folks from Let's Play Music, Action Music dudes and a mess of people in bands and/or performers in the area.
It's usually a nice place to hang - sometimes the music's a little loud (one of my only complaints) and I find myself shouting just to have a normal conversation - the air conditioning is prone to being absoutely frigid (my other major complaint) and on weekends the place can get nuts to butts packed  which is when I simply find someplace else to hang where it's a little more laid back , but hey, it's a small place - good for them to be packed and doing well - it says something about the joint, yes?
I like Galaxy Hut a lot, so when someone mentioned that Spacebar is like Galaxy Hut, but in Falls Church, it was worth a trip. Â It had a similar vibe, but was a little more spacious than Galaxy Hut. Â The beer selection was good (they had an Imperial IPA from Green Flash on tap... mmmm!) and there is an extensive grilled cheese sandwich menu that I will have to try next time. Â I hear they have tater tots too.
The only downside is that it's not close to a metro, so you need to either rely on the bus or find yourself a designated driver ;)
Falls Church Respite. Â Good beer. Â No children allowed (THANK GOD). Â For people who like good beer, noisy music, and don't mind a small bar.
Don't think you're in for some gourmet experience. Â This place is all about beer. Â Much like it's sister, galaxy hut, you pay reasonable prices to drink a plethora of really delicious craft beer. Â Yes, you're eating a $10 grilled cheese. Â But if you're expecting anything other than greasey cheese yum town, you should probably shove something into your gullet before coming to drink the delicious beer. Â Did I say the beer is delicious? Â Because IT'S DELICIOUS. Â Something for every type of beer lover (there's even some piss water in a can if some of your friends suck and don't like good beer). Â Sometimes it's really crowded, sometimes its not. Â It's like pretty much every other dive-esque bar that way (wait, I mean every other bar ever).
The staff are friendly. Â They will graciously give you suggestions if you tell them what kind of beer you like, and what you don't. Â They'll even let you try one before you plunk down $6-8 on something you end up hating.
My only criticism is that I don't think there is any happy hour. Â That totally bums my wallet out, but I'll still throw my money at this place.
When I heard that Galaxy Hut was opening a sister restaurant, Spacebar, I immediately got into my car and drove to Falls Church. Â Galaxy Hut is by far my favorite restaurant in the Washington DC metro area because it has a familiar neighborhood feel which seems to be lacking in much of the surrounding areas. Â
Perhaps because it is such a new location, I felt like Spacebar hasn't found its "launchpad" yet. Â (Wow - that was a corny thing to write). Â The bar was pretty crowded since the space was so small and as the night wore on the music got loud so it was tough to talk with friends (which would be one of the reasons I'd go to a bar like that.) Â
The selection of beers was impressive and the waitstaff was knowledgeable and friendly. Â They let me taste one of their beers before buying which was helpful in identifying a good brew from their fantastic selection.
Like Galaxy Hut, this is a good bar to go if you are on your own. Â It is easy to strike up a conversation or huddle up in a corner - whatever makes you happy. Â
The tots are always fantastic and it seems like their sandwich selection (which is advertised as only grilled cheese) is fairly robust. Â You can get any kind of grilled sandwich there although I think they promote grilled cheese for the marketing pull.
This place is decent, but go to Galaxy Hut instead.
2.5 stars
I took a friend here for her birthday. Â I will admit I was less than excited about trying it, being heavily lactose intolerant and all, but we choose our friends and they choose their birthday dinner locations.
The restaurant itself is very chic inside. Â Like a cool kids 1940's coffee shop, open only at night.
You order at the counter and then they bring you your food. Â Other reviewers have complained, but for me this is a genius innovation that cuts a lot of the slack and "waiting impatiently for food while hungry" time off the experience.
The beer is good. Â The service is cool, good and friendly.
My sandwich was, eh, not so good. Â The birthday girl's grilled cheese did look amazing. Â Me, I was trying to be good to my stomach so I ordered a cheese-free sammy. Â At the grilled cheese restaurant. Â Kind of like ordering steak at a seafood house -- a real gamble.
I had, basically, a turkey, avocado and bacon club. Â The main problem was the turkey. Â It tasted very chemically and processed. Â It was yuck and I took it out of the sandwich. Â The rest of the sandwich was fine although the oil/butter it was fried in didn't taste so great on the bread.
All in all kind of a bleh food experience. Â I would return for a drink, but since I live nowhere near Falls Church it may be a while, or never.
When I heard what was going into this defunct coffee shop location, Â I said to myself "there's no way that will work in that tiny location!" Â I've gotta hand it to the owners, they are true visionaries and when i came to,....A.... Transforming 600 sq ft of coffee shop to a workable Dining/Bar space...B...Keeping it simple with 20+ different types of Grilled Cheese served with TATER TOTS!!! Â (very outside the box idea)....& C (The Biggest concern I had...where to fit in a Keg Room??? They have answered that question with Portable, Tall Beer coolers with the Tap handles ON THE DOOR! Â Talk about a space saver. Â
The Bar staff seemed friendly and sociable, they have craft beers on tap I think the only "regular beer" was Yuengling Light , which is what I prefer, so "Happy Me" (I'm just a simple guy) Â The owners also stopped by for a quick chat & checked up to make sure I was enjoying myself. Â
They also have the only kind of table service that will work in that type of small environment. Â It's called "get your lazy butt up to the bar & order...your only 3 feet away from me;-)) Â Which is how it should be;-) Â
My favorite part about this new establishment is...it is within walking distance to my home!
All-in-all, I see great thing in the future for this new Neighborhood Gem. Â Great Job & I look forward to many more visits
There's one very important thing you need to remember when coming here: it's a BEER BAR. Â It may *technically* be a restaurant because it serves food, but it is really, seriously a bar and they think of themselves as such. Â As one bartender said to me, "We are not now, nor will we ever be, a kid-friendly establishment." Â Because it's a BEER BAR. Â What does that mean?
* It's small and often crowded.
* It's loud. Â Sometimes very.
* No table service, you order at the bar and they bring you your food.
* They serve beer. Â Yes, they have a couple wines and some soda, but they mostly serve beer. Â There is not a full bar.
* Their food is not fancy. Â It's grilled cheese and tater tots. Â It is very awesome grilled cheese with a wide variety of things to put on it, but don't come here expecting filet mignon.
* They don't open until 5 PM.
* You have to be 21+ to come in. Â So, yes, that means you cannot bring your children.
Personally, I'm very fond of the place. Â The grilled cheese was delicious, staff was attentive and friendly. Â We sampled quite a few of the beers and, though not many really suited our palates, we know we can just wait and come back and they're be different ones available.
If you like Galaxy Hut, you'll like it here. Â (Naturally, since they're the same company.)
We'll be back.
I'm a big fan of small businesses but I can't in good conscience write a favorable review about this place. I'll break down my impressions in to categories:
Food: I'm not squeamish, but I've been conditioned to have food handlers use gloves when preparing my meal. That was not the case here. I nearly walked out, but the Mrs. thought that would be rude. The sandwich was underwhelming and very greasy. The side consisted of tater tots which apparently functioned as a cooking oil absorption mechanism. Mrs. did not even finish 1/2 her meal and I quote "Perhaps the birds and mice will like it." We took it in a doggy bag to feed the local wildlife, hopefully they will be OK. Additionally, she does not drink beer so I had asked for a glass of water. The water was tepid with no ice. Thanks guys...way to think of the customer.
Atmosphere: The room was dark and quite chilly. Personally not a problem for me, but for others who don't like the cold, wear a sweater. The denizens consisted of suburban wanna be hipsters, who frankly couldn't hold their overpriced high ABV beverages. Quite laughable really, and this was the most entertaining part of the evening. Watching a guy in a plaid shirt whip out an Amex Platinum from his 99 cent rummage sale jeans nearly had me in tears. It seems they are going for some sort of a Brooklyn / Lower East Side grunge bar style in the middle of the richest municipality in America and failing miserably.
Beer: Decent selection, overly inflated prices.
In closing, Spacebar defines what is wrong with the beer world today. They have tapped in to the microbrew craze and sucked in all of the idiots who are willing to pay double prices for what in reality is quite a simple beverage. I will never go there again.
I love the simplicity of this place. They serve cheap grilled cheese and good beer and burn-the-roof-of-your-mouth tater tots. They offer you seats on which to enjoy these things. But you have to come to the bar to get them. That's EVERYTHING they offer. They're not mean about it, they're just trying to keep it simple. Going there felt like being in your college friend's living room, just hanging out with absolutely zero pressure. You could go there in your bathrobe.
Review Source:Tap Room Alternative
We've been to the new Spacebar a half-dozen times and the place is really coming together. There's a very well curated craft brew selection on 24 taps. The sandwiches are creative, well made and quite tasty.
This a classic tap room boiled down to its essence - great beers served quickly by bartenders who know their beers and offer some assistance if asked. I love having choices from local brewers Port City, Lost Rhino, DC Brau, Stillwater, Heavy Seas, Devils Backbone, Starr Hill and Blue Mountain alongside the best craft brews across the country like Firestone Walker, Green Flash, Boulevard, Great Lakes... rotating constantly. Always something safe to start with and then something interesting to branch out to. The Port City Pilsener was particularly tasty late last night - open late in Falls Church!
The décor is a bit of an inside joke with a vintage spaceship light in the window and some toy rockets. The rocket-shaped wall pieces are from an old fireplace andiron. The globe shaped light fixtures are salvage. Plus a classic Galaxy Hut starburst on the wall. Lots of interesting details once you start to notice, but we're usually camped out in front of the stainless steel wall of tap goodness.
Some of the new neighbors are still getting used to the pared down service model with all ordering at the bar. That will come with time. The service model at older sister location Galaxy Hut had 20+ years to evolve. I'm betting the Falls Church folks are hip enough to figure this out. A big arrow with "Order Here" like at Galaxy Hut may be in order.
We were pleasantly surprised by the food choices. Tater Tots are a must and taste so much better than they really should alongside a cold beer. We've had a couple of sandwiches and the standouts were the meatloaf, pastrami with hot dog and sauerkraut and the roast beef with horseradish. The meatloaf was very light and served with a bit of tomato sauce and melted mozzarella and provolone. The bread is buttered and toasted and gets a nice brown glossy crunchy surface. My daughters heard us talk about them and asked for their own, carryout only since this place is 21 and over.
The AC was cranked too high the first couple weeks, but was perfect last night. Lary and Erika mentioned that they made some adjustments and they're doing some fine tuning on the AC. It's great to see the entrepreneurial spirit at work with owners who do the construction, painting, cooking and serving. I think what will make this place a long-term success is doing a few things really, really well - great beer selection, good food and working to please people looking for an alternative. Well, I've found my Falls Church alternative.
Let me start with the good news. Â They have good beers. Â Now on to the rest of the review. Â Again, I find myself saying, "I really wanted to like this place" about an establishment in my neighborhood. Â And again, I was disappointed. Â
I understand having to check IDs. Â But there could be some other things for a hostess to do. Â
I know it's summer, but does the AC really have to be that frosty? Â Can you get some diffusers so there isn't a jet of cold air at the booths?
I know you probably saved some money and are trying to earn cool points with the iPad and iPhone register, but here are my qualms with that system:
1. Plenty of people ignore me by tapping on their iPhones on the metro, Bartenders should not be those types of people. Â Get a piece of paper to write down my order if you need to. Â Please serve me my beer before asking me if I am already in the system, rooting through four menus on the phone, then checking the price of the beer on the menu, then tapping through the phone again, then looking up to realize i'm trying to hand you cash for the beer I'm still waiting for.
2. That system loses orders, specifically mine.
3. Â You are losing money on that 'iRegister' system due to slow service, lost orders, and lost customers. Â A real merchant account would take care of that for you.
Thanks though for the uninterrupted hour I got to spend with my wife while we waited for our grilled cheese that evidently 'never made it in the system'. Â Even though it was loud, cold, and we left hungry, it was still nice to spend time just the two of us.
Everything else though, you should work on, I'll check back at the end of the summer to see if you've gotten your act together. Â Although if the learning curve is anything like Mad Fox, I should probably wait a bit longer than that.
If you know me, you know I rave about Galaxy Hut to anybody who will listen (<a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/galaxy-hut-arlington#hrid:v3mMhIxOFYwnCKVmoBwMYQ">http://www.yelp.com/biz/…</a>). Of course, I could not wait until Spacebar opened in my former neighborhood of Falls Church.
Given that Falls Church is pretty suburban, it's understandable that things are run slightly differently. First difference - no pitchers. Smart decision, given that most patrons probably drive here; there's a little lot that's shared with the neighboring CD Cellar and local psychic, which is convenient. Street parking is plentiful. Second difference - no funky local art. Boo! The arcade tables and slightly morbid artwork were some of my favorite things about the Hut; since Spacebar just opened, perhaps it'll just take them a while to acquire this funk/character. Last difference - no jukebox. The music is still great, but alas, you can't select it on your own.
Spacebar specializes in grilled cheeses. A regular grilled cheese actually works out to be more expensive than at Galaxy Hut - whereas $7 at the Hut will get you a regular grilled cheese and a side of tots, that same grilled cheese gets you only the grilled cheese at Spacebar, and tots are $1.50 extra. I also noticed slight differences in topping prices (e.g. adding a tomato is $.50 at the Hut, but just $.25 at Spacebar).
Price differences aside, Spacebar offers an enormous variety of grilled cheeses - lighter fare with feta, mozzarella, spinach, tomatoes, etc. and meatier options with pastrami, roast beef, meatloaf, and bacon. I chose to get fresh mozzarella, basil, tomato, and balsamic glaze on sourdough - the bread is perfectly golden, with a crisp crust, and the mozzarella came out in gooey strings just like on TV. DEEELIIIISHUSSSS. Somebody sure knows how to work a flat top grill!
Big minus for me, at least on this visit, was the AC blasting subarctic breezes into my booth. I somewhat unwisely chose to sit at the second booth from the window, and was buffeted by winds from 2 AC ducts. By the time I realized my mistake, it was too late. Note to self - find rooftop bar when it opens, or take cover further inside.
Expect the same friendly service, great selection of beers, and great great great tots. (see linked review above... I'm seriously obsessed). It's a good thing I no longer live in Falls Church, otherwise I'd be here every week.
Spacebar has finally landed in Falls Church, VA, and what a fine addition to the area. I remember when I first started frequenting CD Cellar, next door/down stairs, and they had a place called Caffeine, which had a similar vibe as Space bar, but served coffee and tea. I was sad when Caffeine closed only a year after I moved out this way, and was replaced by a coffee shop that was nice, but totally different.
In a strange twist of synchronicity, today, as I drove to CD Cellar, I had the song "Numbers" by Kraftwerk running through my head. I was even singing it in the car. I didn't realize Spacebar had finally opened until after a long and fruitful crate digging session at the Cellar. It was five-o-clock at this point, and Spacebar had just opened its doors. What song was playing when I decided to walk in? You guessed it! Spacebar is that kind of place, and I heard lots of good music playing - not too loud at all frankly.
I love the options Space Bar offers for vegans, vegetarians and meat eaters, and they do a damn good job with their grilled cheese sandwiches - not the same you had as a kid, that's for sure. I opted for the mozzarella, tomato and basil on sourdough, tater-tots (yes, very excellent taters too!) and a very good beer of which I've never seen or heard of before. The food was delicious, filling, and well priced, and they emphasize good, quality food - no garbage. Yes, this place is hip and cool, but it's also very friendly and welcoming, and there was a variety of folks eating there, so come as you are, please. This place is unique, artsy and down with serving good food & drink. If you want the ordinary and predictable, there's a Burger King across the street.
Ehhh... All I an say is ehh..  The beer was fine, maybe even  a really great selection if you're into that.  The set up is just odd.  You walk in and there's a girl with a book checking your i.d. before you even enter the restaurant which at 5:30 on a Thursday is unusual.  The set up is booths all along the left side facing inward and a long bar.  Behind the bar are giant refrigerator units filled with beer.  There seem to be bartenders but no waiters.  You order everything at the bar.  Service was fine.  I sort of think though if you're sitting at a booth and it's not like the place is packed that you should get a little bit of wait service.  One woman, hostess, manager, bartender?  Did stop by to ask us how we were doing which was nice. Â
The grilled cheese menu looked extensive, not a big grilled cheese fan though so I didn't order anything. Â
The beer prices were fine, average I think about 5-8 a beer. Â
I was excited about a new restaurant opening up in Falls Church, but I think I'm going to keep going to the 4Ps. Â I wasn't wowed. Â I wanted maybe some decoration, some theme, if you're named space bar there should be something. Â Not just a t.v. playing some strange black and white movie above the bar.
The parking situation is absolutely terrible. Â 8ish spots out front and no clear sign to go in the back. Â Apparently it's parking but I couldn't tell if it was an alley or not.
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