RFD in Washington DC?

[champ]

Friends -

Has anyone here ever been to RFD, in Washington DC? I have some out of town friends coming for some brew festivals and it has become tradition to go to Brickskeller with them the night before the brew festival. This year I'm thinking about trying something a little different and doing RFD - I hear they have 30 - 40 taps. But I've also heard the atmosphere is kind of lame and the service is so so.

Anyone care to share their experience?

[imperial]

RFD isn't a bad place. Sure, it doesn't have the dark, dankness of the Brickskeller, but they do have the best tap selection in the area and a decent amount of bottles as well. It has more of a sports bar feel, with several big screen TVs behind the bar. When I used to work downtown, I'd go there after work for a few beers. Now when I go to the city, it usually isn't my first choice, but I do stop in occasionally for a beer or two. Last time I was there, I noticed they raised their draft prices a bit, with pints now in the $5-$6 range.

[MeridianFC]

Originally posted by champ
- I hear they have 30 - 40 taps. But I've also heard the atmosphere is kind of lame and the service is so so.



That's the place in a nutshell. Great beer, crap facility. Service varies widely, usually not for the better though there are some top notch people. Pray they're on.

Oh, the food absolutey sucks. Eat at Matchbox around the corner they have some really good drafts too.

[chazwicke]

You can take metro there easily and it is an easy, short walk to District Chophouse and Gordon Biersch. You can hit all three places.

The Brickskeller holds a very soft place in my heart.
It is where I started my good beer journey nearly 30 years ago.

Is the Bricks still doing the monthly tastings with Bob Tupper as MC? I think I'm off the list but would not mind attending a few again. I went to every one for a number of years in the 90s.

[GooseIslandFan]

When I was at school in DC, we used to go there occasionally. The beer was always good, but the food is hit or miss. Several of my friends got violently ill after eating there. I never had that problem. Like Meridian said, you are probably better off eating somewhere else and then just going there for a few pints. Suprisingly enough there is a really great Texas BBQ joint around the corner run by a transplant Texan.

[Insidious Rex]

Do both! Why limit yourself. Or do like Chaz said and hit the bars/breweries in the china town area that are all within 3 square blocks of each other. RFD is worth a stop for sure if for no other reason then PLINY THE ELDER! *drool* Ahem.. but they usually have plenty of other interesting stuff on tap and of course a lot of the Brickskellers bottle list since they are sisters. But dont expect much as far as service or food really. Best bet is get a spot at the bar. And go there for the beer.