City Tap House DC

 

City Tap House (Penn Quarter)

Overview:

City Tap House is a lively new American restaurant located in the bustling Washington DC neighborhood of Penn Quarter. They have many craft beers on tap and a nice selection of food. You can sit inside at one of the tables or booths. Also, there is a large bar when you first walk in. City Tap House also offers takeout and delivery through Uber Eats, DoorDash, Grubhub, and Postmates. One thing to note here is that they do not have a full wait staff. Instead, you order all your food by scanning the QR code at your table. The water and food are brought to your table by servers, but you do not have a waiter who comes by to check on you. Below are the hours they provide on the website.

HOURS

Serving BRUNCH every Saturday and Sunday from 11 am - 3 pm

Sunday: 11 am - 11 pm

Monday: 11 am - 12 am

Tuesday: 11 am - 12 am

Wednesday: 11 am - 12 am 

Thursday: 11 am - 12 am

Friday: 11 am - 1 am

 Saturday: 11 am -  1 am

The Food & Drinks:

Draft Beers

My group went to City Tap House twice in the same trip to DC. The first time we decided to do all the beers to see what they had. One was a classic Naragansett, and the other two were craft beers. 

Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich

The Nashville hot chicken sandwich was really good. I was able to try the sauce and it made for good dipping with the fries.

Fish & Chips

The first time there, I had fish and chips. They used beer-battered haddock with coleslaw and Cajun remoulade. I thought the breading on the outside was super crispy and flavorful, while the inside was super tender and tasty.

City Tap Chop

The City Tap Chop salad has bacon, egg, blue cheese, olives, roasted tomatoes, croutons, crispy shallots, grilled focaccia, and white balsamic vinaigrette dressing. I only had a bite of the salad and thought it was good, but not amazing. For me, it's really hard to find a restaurant salad that is top-tier. 

French Fries

On the second visit, we got only appetizers and drinks. First, we tried the French fries with sea salt. They also came with ketchup and some kind of horseradish mayo. This really hit the spot, and the mayo stole the show as our favorite sauce here. I only wish they gave you a bigger portion especially if you want to share with a large group.

Pretzel Sticks

The pretzel sticks were the other appetizer we tried. There were three on the board, and they came with ground mustard and pimento cheese dip. I thought the pretzels were buttery and salty with a nice crust on the outside. When you bite in, the center of the pretzel is very soft and delicious. My favorite dip was the pimento cheese, which was smooth and easy to dip with the pretzel. 

Mashed Old Fash

I decided to get an old-fashioned on our second visit. It was listed on the menu as including New Belgium Fat Tire beer syrup, bitters, and Woodford Reserve bourbon. I enjoyed the drink, and it was smooth and sweet. 

Service:

The service both times was good for the most part. Instead of having a waiter, you need to order your food on your phone. So they only come by to give you drinks and food. No one comes around to ask if your food is good. The first time our food came out quick, the second time the service was a little slower. 

Atmosphere:

The inside of City Tap House is very relaxed and casual. You can sit in one of the large dining rooms in the back. They also offer a big bar when you first enter. The walls are decorated with stained wood and tile flooring. Overall, it feels like a modern brewpub with music, sports games on, and lively conversation. 

Rating: Good |⭐⭐⭐⭐✩|

City Tap House in Penn Quarter, Washington DC is a solid place to go for drinks and a good dinner. It is not as expensive as other places in the area, which can easily top over $100 per person. This is more comparable to a Firebird or Yardhouse-type restaurant. You can eat here without spending an enormous amount of money. I enjoyed my food and thought everything was really good. Our only complaint was the salad being ok and the service being slow on our second try. If you are a D.C. local or in town for a short stay, give City Tap House a try if you want a good meal.