Stopped in and had a few beers here last weekend. Bartender was super friendly and started off by introducing himself and remembered our names after leaving two hours later !! Recommended a great beer from VA && was quick to help us find another new spot once our new bar friends had left. Menu looked great but we were stuffed-- definitely coming back to try some brunch since we had such pleasant service the first time !
(5)
Kelly T.
I have to preface this that it was during the Women's World Cup Finals and it was busy. I gave it 2 stars because of the service, which, again, it was very busy. We thankfully had a reservation (through open table) because they were turning away people that didn't. There are a bunch of tv's and a huge one in the back, so a great place to watch a sporting event. Their beer list was decent, with a better can selection than bottles or draft. We started with hummus which was thick and nothing special. It came with some feta and olives on top. Not a huge amount, but enough to start the meal. We then ordered our meals - the kids split the kids sliders and I asked for lettuce and tomatoes to be added since for some reason restaurants never have that included with kid's burgers. I ordered the grilled veggie salad and added chicken, and my husband got the rico burger. We also ordered the honey Parmesan tots. Everything came out besides my salad so I munched on the tots which were DELICIOUS!! Really yummy and will have to go back to try different options if we ever go back. While my family was about halfway through with their meal, the waiter came back and I told him I was still waiting on my salad. About 30 mins later, after my family was completely done with their food, my salad came. I ordered a salad that said it had grilled veggies, so I expected different types of grilled veggies. It was lettuce with grilled cauliflower - that's it. Definitely not worth the wait and not that appetizing. There was no apology for the delay, and since we were now watching the 2nd half of the soccer game and not in a hurry, I didn't raise a fuss since I figured he'd take SOMETHING off for the huge oversight of my meal. We also asked for an additional waterbottle (they keep it on the table so you can refill yourself) and he never brought that, we had to ask a bus boy to finally get it when we lost all hope from the waiter. We ordered a rootbeer float for the kids to finish off the meal. The check came and nothing was taken off. Seriously?? I got my food LITERALLY an hour after my family and you see no reason to comp a single thing? Not the chicken upcharge? Not a beer or the float even?? And to make it worse - the KIDS root beer float was $6.95 - the same price as their meal!! Had the server acknowledged the huge oversight of not giving me my meal until well after my family had finished, I would have given another star, but when something like this is brushed over, they lose me as a customer.
(2)
Krystal W.
So here's the thing, I am a short girl with thighs-a-plenty. So, I am always disappointed when I see restaurants with those high bar style like chairs. My leg starts falling asleep and then I am ready to go. Good thing, these chairs were pretty decent. Leg still fell asleep, but food was so good, I didn't care. I ordered the chicken and waffles, based on my seeing someone at another table order it. Chicken was fried crispy and was so moist. Waffles were delicious, though I HATED the syrup that came with it. Made my stomach turn. Had bourbon in it... yeah, not my cup of tea. I'm getting queasy just thinking about that syrup. PROS Great food and selections Nice area in Bethesda, you can walk around on a good day Drinks were mixed well, not too much of anything Wait staff was funny and attentive CONS Those damn high tables and chairs!! Waffles ruined by that God awful syrup Background music was pretty loud. Had to shout in order to hear people next to me.
(3)
Caroline K.
Good beer selection and super chill people work there. The food is pretty mediocre. It closes later than the other Bethesda bars, so if you're looking for something after midnight during the week, this is a good option.
(3)
Chill B.
Everything was great here except for the rude, pompous host. Latin guy wearing glasses. He was so rude I wanted to leave. We were meeting other couples, otherwise we would have left. Any business that has THAT GUY as the first face a customer sees needs help. Food was great. So was the service, except for Mr. Personality at the front desk. Won't be back. Good luck guys.
(1)
Margaret Z.
My office has ordered from here a couple of times for dinner/delivery recently and we loved it! Can't speak for the dining atmospheres or happy hour specials, but we've definitely had some great meals from this place. The specialty fries are incredible and the chicken and waffles entree is one of the best I've ever had. The chicken is lightly breaded/fried with very flavorful seasoning.. plus you pretty much get a half chicken. Have also heard rave reviews about the chicken wrap and Brickside's burgers. Definitely substitute for tator tots because they are crisp and delicious. Also - the portion sizes are GINORMOUS!
(4)
Eric H.
Great food and drink. I came in on a Wednesday afternoon and the place was quiet but still had a buzz about it. They have a decent selection of craft beers and pretty much every mainstream lager on tap. Prices were a little high but not too unreasonable. I had their chili burger and buffalo wings - both great! The wings were lightly battered and seasoned perfectly. The chili burger was just a juicy, delicious mess. Staff were great too and went out of there way to make customers feel welcomed. Probably the best place in the area for wings, burgers and beer.
(4)
Jordan F.
Love this place! Great happy hour, awesome food, and great drinks! The atmosphere is fun and inviting, and I always come back wanting more!
(4)
Ethan U.
The service was absolutely terrible. Had multiple waiters and waitresses, none of which seemed to care about us. Took 30 minutes to get the check, and an hour to get the food. The food was less than great. We could have walked out of there without paying and nobody would have noticed. All the staff were focused on the people at the bar. There were 5 people working the bar, and only one person working the tables. Clearly a problem with management.
(1)
Omar S.
Went here for happy hour and it was terrible. Chicken was under cooked and they refused to fix it. I didn't eat anything and the waitress still tries to keep my change for a $25 tip. Menu is way overpriced for the food they serve. Many better choices in Bethesda....don't waste your time or money.
(1)
Blanca H.
Bar bites were delicious, especially the crab and artichoke dip! Tyler the bartender was very pleasant. Nice environment and not too crowded, happy medium.
(5)
Lily R.
Brickside is pretty great. It was the bar that originally sucked me in- they have a great array of prohibition-themed punches. My favorite is the Pimm's punch. At $8 a glass, they are fairly expensive, but worth it as a new, interesting alternative to the usual drinks. Having finally eaten their food, I now feel qualified to write a review. I've eaten their Cobb salad, various appetizers, and their flatbreads. I haven't had a full entree though. Everything has been great but the real standouts are their creative French fries, offered in several combinations of seasoning and dipping sauce, including old bay and ketchup, truffle oil and hollandaise, and the best, buffalo fries with blue cheese dipping sauce. Ohh that was good, and the perfect thing to snack on while drinking punch. The atmosphere at Brickside is pleasant, and you don't have to deal with the younger drunk crowd that you would find at Caddie's or Union Jack's. It's a classier joint, and the patrons skew a bit older (like 30ish old, not middle aged) but the bar is still always packed at night. They rent out spaces, like the enclosed patio, for private parties. A friend had her engagement party there are it was perfect for that type of casual afternoon gathering. My only complaints are that the service is sometimes slow, and it can be hard to get a drink at the crowded bar. It seems like the servers and bartenders get spread too thin.
(4)
Jason C.
Agree with the three. Very lack luster experience. Both food and service was average. Got the mussels and flatbread. Pretty simple dishes but the favors were not there. Sat at the bar and greeted with some spunk but fell short.
(3)
Mary Y.
I've been to Brickside several times and I enjoy the venue, food and drinks, however, I am extremely disappointed in my most recent experience, so much so that I felt like I needed to share it. I called Brickside nearly two weeks in advance to schedule a soccer game viewing party for 20 people and was told no problem happy to have you. I then called again a few days prior to the event to confirm everything was good to go - I was then told that I could not have my event there as Brickside would be shutdown that day for a private event. Had I not called a second time they probably would have never told me. They were apologetic, but that doesn't help much when you've already set out the invitations for your event. I hope a better system is developed for booking events as I would have really enjoyed having mine there, but after this I doubt I will try again.
(2)
Katherine L.
Pretty good happy hour, nice deals on drinks and bar bites- couple dollars off here and there. Super chill atmosphere early on, almost empty- so the space seems large. Nice decor, friendly staff, food freshly and quickly prepared. Decent options if you like fried finger food with your drinks, but avoid if you have a healthful all the time diet. A great place to meet up for happy hour and eat junk food American style with your beverages. They make it easy to open a tab, even during happy hour. The fare for special diets is highly limited, but maybe the salads are safe for gluten free and the vegan predilection? I asked about dairy and gluten, the server said the menu is limited and could only suggest salad. Good luck if you eat here! Go for the drinks and company- food is not paramount here.
(2)
Dana M.
Came for brunch and light dinner. Both times - food and service were great. Had the apple pie punch (SO GOOD) and all-american burger with fried egg on top and a side of roasted cauliflower for brunch, really hit the spot! I've been back a few times just for the punch. It's soo good. You wouldn't know there's everclear, fireball, and vanilla vodka in it - the cider and simple syrup mask it perfectly. Which, can either go in a good or bad way, depending on what kind of night you want to have! Drinks were also on special during brunch for the football games. For late night dinner/bar bites, had the roasted cauliflower with tahini sauce and shrimp skewers with honey lime dip. Both really good! I've never had a whole roasted cauliflower before (it's probably half the head, which they roast in a small cast iron). It was great by itself, but the tahini sauce was also awesome. The shrimp were a little tough, but the sauce was good - with a nice kick!
(4)
Noelia L.
I had some calamari and a few punch drinks. The calamari was a bit too salty, as for the drinks I did enjoy them. My favorite was the apple pie it truly tasted like apple pie. Defiantly a stamper in my book. The ambience is nice, very lively we went after work so there was many people all seemed to having a great time. Later at night they had a band playing which was quite nice.
(4)
Christina M.
This place could use some improvements... The chicken wing options are nice but they need to do better on the cooking and presentation of the wings...The salmon was under cooked and the Caesar salad was awful... My apple martini was awful and I had o send it back...
(3)
Mike B.
Short review: Solid great drinks, try the punch, appetizers are tasty, great happy hour and service. Long review: After careful consideration, a council meeting, approval from the league of shadows, a celebrity endorsement, meditation, and the reading of tea leaves... I have decided to up my rating to 5 stars for Brickside. When you think about Bethesda and places to hang out - everyone is like "Yeah- Bethesda is FILLED with great places to drink... Perfect for a bunch of spots to get hammer-timed at right." That's what people SAY. But think real hard. Where is a place with creative drinks, nice atmosphere, great service and a bar that says "This is not just a restaurant bar --(aka the bar at Cafe Deluxe) Well after a recent talk post that was created that says "Betheda Happy Hour" - here read the post "Been to Black Finn, Blacks, Uncle Julios and Union Jacks. Where are the fun bars in Bethesda????? i.e. Lively crowd, nice modern atmosphere, good music, strong drinks and cool bartenders." There are very few bars that fit that bill! Brickside is one of them. They have managed to get a crowd that is not full of meatheads or 21 year olds. They have a mid to late twenties crowd on lock and it could even handle a thirty to forty year old crowd as well. Great long bar/ the food I've had is fantastic and the service I've received is amazing! Great happy hour specials coupled with a friendly crowd- is hard to find. The spinach and ricotta flatbread was reasonably priced and delicious. The artichoke and crab dip was great. Love their bruschetta with Brie. Big fan of the antipasto platter... I could just keep on going - Which is why I've upped my rating to 5 stars. Thank you Brickside- your exactly what Bethesda needed.
(5)
Lala E.
Honestly a very mediocre place to be in the middle of Bethesda. I work close by and tried their kale orzo salad at a work lunch and while it wasn't bad, it was not close to being a 20$ salad. Other occasions against my own bad judgement Ive ordered to go lunch from there and on the phone they always say it will be ready in 10 minutes. Once ive arrived (10 minutes later) to find an empty restaurant and Ive had to continue to wait to close to 20 minutes for the same over priced basic Kale salad. I don't see how that can take close to 30 minutes to prepare especially in the lunch hour in an empty restaurant. This has happened to me on 3 occasions with them. Then after work on a Monday evening around 7:30 to a halfway full bar, I was waiting close to 5 minutes before a bartender even addressed me with a quick nod then another 5 minutes before he actually made his way over. For a half full bar with two bartenders, that's just ridiculous. Really all in all not worth the time, literally.
(3)
Christy W.
Flatbreads are awesome- had the spinach one and one with apples. They used to have a cucumber drink that was my fav but the punch is my favorite now The wings are so good!!!!! I come here whenever I crave wings. In the summer I love that the windows can open up the space for a beautiful breeze at night. Perfect place for date night or girls night. Either way it's a winner.
(5)
Navi B.
I hadn't been in this place for about a year so I thought I'd stop in yesterday. It didn't hurt that Spotluck offered me a discount to choose place as well. Keep in mind they only honor the discount in the dining area and not at the bar. Ambiance is good although it gets drafty inside the restaurant from the large closed windows. Beer choices? Pretty mundane stuff with 5 or 6 taps. The bottle and can choices are slightly better. The food? We ordered the mussels, shrimp and calamari. So from best to worst... The mussels could have been cleaned a bit more and should include more bread to sop up the broth. The shrimp were just "okay." The calamari... The breading was saturated with oil to the point it was mushy and falling off the squid. It may be another year before I go back in...
(3)
Nicole G.
I've been here for two separate Happy Hours. Great deals on both food and drinks. $4 rail drinks and house wine until 7pm and $2 off all bar bites. The risotto balls taste like something from a Renaissance Festival. And if you know me, that's actually a high compliment! The hummus is nothing special, but that doesn't stop my group of vegans from ordering a couple baskets both times. The fries are crispy and delicious with a bunch of fun sauces to complement them. I can't say anything about the full menu, but I'll definitely be back for more Happy Hour specials!
(4)
Brian J.
At here for the first time, we arrived a bit later in the evening and were told the kitchen would be closing in 1 hour which was fine. I am pretty sure we were the last order to go in as well. There were only 2 or 3 other tables with people at them so i figured service would be quick, It was just average, very slow for how empty it was. Once the food came out both plates were cold, My steak was cold, and the other dishes at the table were all room temperature. The combination of spices was all wrong on every dish, you could tell the kitchen was in a bigger hurry to close than prepare the last meal correctly. The server was quite friendly despite a little slow, I would not fault his professionalism in any way. I may or may not try Brickside again in the future at an earlier time in the evening (We arrived at 8pm this time) To see if it is any better.
(2)
Shawn L.
I am rarely motivated to post a review online. In fact this is only my second. The first was for an outstanding experience I had at a local automotive related business. Unfortunately, this is not a positive review. A friend and I visited Brickside today to watch football. We snagged a high-top table, with a good view of the two games we were interested in. The business was not crowded at all, which is why we initially chose this over Caddies. It also has a nice open atmosphere. Our expereince: 1) Several minutes before somebody stopped by and just dropped off a list of specials. 2) Several more minutes before we got menus...Drink order placed - One Dogfish Head Punkin Ale, one Vodka Ras/Water. 3) At least 15 minutes later drinks arrive. A Blue Moon Pumpkin beer (not ordered) was brought by the waitress (who wasn't who took the drink order).. When I asked to bring the beer I asked for, they said they don't carry Dogfish. I showed them the beer on the menu, and they explained that the menu was old, and they haven't had that beer in a year. I asked for a Yeungling instead. 4)Took what seemed like forever for the food to arrive. We still didn't have place settings. A few minutes later, the waitress stooped by and brought a place setting, right before I was going to let her know I needed it. 5)The burger I ordered was extremely good, which is the only reason I'm giving 2 stars. The fries would have been above average, but they were room temperature. 6) Our waitress never stopped by to ask how the food was, or to ask if we needed new drinks. In fact, my friend had to walk over to the corner of the bar to get her -- It wasn't that she was busy.. 90% of the time we were there the waitress was just watching football from the service station, at the far end of the bar and not really working. 6) When she brought the new drink, and cleared the old, we had to tell her to clear the empty plate from the table as well. All in all, a terrible experience - the worst I have had in Bethesda. My friend and I left and went to Caddies.
(2)
Julia G.
So I walked by this place lots of times and I was glad that finally I got a chance to check it out ! food that we tried was delicious ! Flatbread , fried risotto balls, roasted cauliflower with tahini sauce - must try!!
(5)
Angela S.
Excellent food, great location. My only issue was the pace of the service. With the exception of the bar area, we were the only patrons there. So I don't understand why it took so long to get our soda, coffee, and tea. The appetizer arrived quickly, but the meal took longer than expected. Chicken wrap was very good. Delicious wings. The steak was cooked so rare that the plate was bloody. If that's your thing you would enjoy it. But my husband wasn't asked how he likes his steak cook so we were a little taken back. The chicken and waffles were fantastic and it comes with a 1/2 chicken. If they serve dessert we weren't told. The waiter asked if he could get us anything else but failed to offer a menu. All an all, it was good food and we will return.
(4)
L H.
I got an order to go. Chesapeake wings, chicken tenders, medium well burger and Chesapeake fries. Got the food home and the burger was so rare, the bread was wet from the blood. The fries were plain, no old bay. Wings were okay but could've used more seasons and tenders were completely burnt. I would've given another star if they had salt to go. I asked for them to throw in some extra salt and was told we don't have salt packets. You would think they would at least put some salt in a small container. I may try them again but there are plenty of options in Bethesda to rush to give them a 2nd chance. It's not like they only screwed up one item.
(2)
Chase R.
I'm surprised at how low the reviews are. This place is trying to be an upscale sports bar and accomplishes just that. The food is above average, they have a good amount of TVs and the big projector. Yes, it's a little more expensive than Caddies, but it's a different vibe. If the weather is nice they open the front garage doors and let in the fresh air which is great. Nice place overall, I visit frequently.
(4)
Phil D.
Very surprised by some of the lower rated reviews -- they seem to indicate poor table service of which I wouldn't know much about because I am more of the "sit at the bar" type. I am not a "table person" I think because I don't really like people looking directly at me when I eat, but I digress... I really like the food and drink here - has good daily happy hour specials on both. It has a full bar and the food is high quality bar food. The bartenders are really very nice and attentive; especially Pat who is an all-around good guy and true professional. It does have sort of a generic vibe and variety that appeals to a large swath of personalities - did I use the word "swath"? Anyway, that actually works really well if you are looking for a place to do an after work gathering with a large, diverse group-- and Brickside has become my go to place for those types of deals. Most everyone seems to enjoy it.
(4)
Dan Y.
I almost never write reviews but I could not believe what a bad experience I had last night at Brickside. I met a friend for dinner there and we both ordered the flank steak with chicken enchiladas. I have never had worse service. Ever. Had to flag down the waitress for everything, which consistently was a ten minute process. After I asked her where are food was (45 minutes after ordering) she brought out 2 cold steaks that had clearly been waiting for her in the kitchen for about half an hour. Just finding her to pay the bill took forever. It seemed even worse since the waitress was training a new employee. As I told the manager on the way out, I will never go back. No apology from anyone. Terrible service, mediocre food with absolutely no healthy options.
(1)
Ian R.
I wanted to like this place. The decor is really cool, prohibition-era style, and they have a nice bar and great TVs. The food was the disappointment. The waitress took our drink order and brought over menus, but forgot to mention that their pizza oven wasn't working. My friend had decided on pizza until he was told that it wasn't an option when she came back to take our order. We ordered a hummus appetizer for 4 of us, and they brought enough pita for 2 of us. That's fine, but it's usually standard to bring more pita out if requested... at no charge. At least at the places I've been to. We were charged for the additional pita. I ordered a grilled chickened sandwich, which I requested blackened (which was an option on the burgers). The waitress said that the chef is "temperamental' about doing that, so that wasn't a possibility. The sandwich itself was 70% bread and 30% chicken. The french fries were soggy. Everyone else said their meals were fine, but nothing special. I'd come back to get drinks at the bar, but it's unlikely I'd have dinner here again.
(2)
T R.
I can't say I will ever review their food, but I will review the drinking. Decent spot to catch a drink if you are cool with crowds. I guess if you aren't cool with crowds your preferred drinking hole will probably go out of business. At least in Bethesda. We were intrigued by the punches and came on the night they were $5. They were decent little fruity distractions. I am glad we went on the $5 night though. I probably would prefer the more adult martinis and will try those next. (I would probably prefer gin with ice but that is boring). Nothing wrong with the place. From my seat at the bar. Maybe next time I will delve a little deeper.
(3)
Catherine M.
I'm surprised this place does not have better reviews. It's not my favorite bar in the world, but it definitely has the top qualities I look for in a bar: it's clean, the bar tenders are friendly, and they have a great selection of drafts.The front windows open up in the warmer months to get a nice air flow going (wish every bar had this). The only complaint is that their menu could use a revamp. The food is not terrible, but it could be better. Regardless, one of my favorite bars in Bethesda.
(5)
Mariya H.
Love, love, LOVE this bar. I frequent this bar probably once a week, and I keep coming back for the creativity of the menu and drinks, the friendliness of the bartenders, and the cool atmosphere. The owners have started creating seasonal dishes, and I urge you to try them - they are great! My favorites (there are a lot) on the menu are: mussels (BIGGEST MUSSELS I'VE EVER HAD), crab and artichoke dip, the wings (old bar dry rub is phenomenal and the seasonal pineapple and siracha flavor is delicious), risotto balls, chicken wrap, wedge salad, ANY of the burgers with shoestring fries, shrimp and grits, salmon....do I need to go on? You pretty much can't go wrong on this menu, and if you are having trouble, ask one of the bartenders - they know their stuff! Although I am a HUGE fan of this bar and will continue to come here once a week, I will admit that the wait staff needs improvement (some seem to have an attitude/indifference) and there is not someone to greet you and seat you when you walk in. However, since I feel like a "local" at this restaurant/bar, I normally just grab a seat at the bar and order my food and drinks directly from the bartenders. Highly recommend trying out this place - it's also great for work happy hours and get togethers.
(4)
Elizabeth D.
I was pretty underwhelmed by Brickside. The space is cool and I love the big windows that open in the bar area, but the food left a lot to be desired. Wings were good (and I appreciate a large shallow bowl of blue cheese), but pricey for just six. House salad was heavy on the lettuce and not much else. My ravioli was good and filling, but I could have made it myself honestly. My husband really disliked his burger - he thought everything was overcooked. Otherwise the service was pleasant and prompt and the drinks were fairly inventive. I'd probably stick here for happy hour rather than dinner.
(3)
Jeffrey G.
I went to this place when it first opened and thought it was so-so. The drinks were great and the food was average. Unlike other places in Bethesda this restaurant & bar has drastically improved with time. Not that it was bad at first but now it is great! Food is the best in Bethesda, drinks are spot on and the service was very attentive. I will always pick Brickside as my go to place in Bethesda. Get the wings and a burger -- you will not be disappointed!
(5)
Candice H.
I came here on a Saturday night with my bf. We didn't have to wait long and got seated right away. My bf got a steak dish which was amazzzzing. I highly recommend. It has some kind of seasoning that really hit the spot. I got a crab cake sandwich and it was good, pretty standard crab cake. Their drinks were strong which was great - woo Saturday night! I'd come back for sure.
(4)
Jaime C.
My husband and I tried out the new Brickside Food & Drink last night at their "soft opening". We went because the Capitals were playing and we heard they had a lot of TVs. The set up and decoration of the restaurant is very nice. Also, being their first night open, the service was good. It did get pretty busy. We were quickly seated and shown the menu. We peppered our waitress (Theresa) with a ton of questions and she was reasonably knowledgeable about the menu. It is a pretty standard mix of Bar and Grill fare. Pizza, burgers, ribs, and some fish dishes. The menu reminds me of the Majestic's - bar food with a fancy twist - the pizza has Armenian cheese, the sliders are a mix of shrimp, lamb and beef, etc. For ambiance and service I would give Brickside four stars. The reason for the two stars is the prices are quite high for the food. I understand the high beer/wine/liquor prices because I know Montgomery county has a monopoly and charges restaurants a lot. However, the entrees do not come with any sides, those have to be ordered a la carte which gets to over $20 a dish. Which is too much for the quality of food we experienced last night. We started off with the calamari ($8.95) and it was well cooked but otherwise pretty standard. The sauce that came with it was advertised as spicy but it was not. A little lemon would have helped. I had the pork tenderloin, which is basically a Milanesa. It was a little salty but overall good but at $18.95 I expected more. My husband got the ribs and he was very disappointed. There was a lot of gristle, it was a bit over done and the BBQ sauce was not great. As a side we got the roasted cauliflower ($5.95 more). It also didn't have a lot of seasoning and was sitting on top of some sort of sauce that we think was just mayo. We then ordered dessert. I got the Blood Orange Creme Brulee ($6.95) and my husband got the Chocolate tortino ($7.95). I was disappointed with the Creme Brulee - It was a fine Creme Brulee but I didn't really get any blood orange flavor. The tortino was good but the marinated berries was just a few strawberries on top. For food a solid two stars and since this in the end is a restaurant I will go with that for the overall score. We will probably return but just for the bar side or if they run some decent happy hour specials or a half price burger night but I don't think the entrees are worth the prices.
(2)
Lindsey W.
We stumbled upon Brickside during their soft opening and sat at the bar. We spent time during dinner chatting with one of the owners who was lovely and remembered us on our second visit a week later. They were still testing out the menu but everything we had was great! the menu has a American feel with a Mediterranean twist to it. I had the coconut shrimp appetizer and a pasta entree. My boyfriend got their wings special and a pizza. I posted photos of our meal on yelp and everything was great. I like that the owners gutted the building from the previous tenants and they installed garage doors on the front to allow it to be open air in the spring and summer. Garage doors seem to be the theme with Bethesda restaurants. I can't wait to go back for their hard opening on the 15th!
(4)
Kelly M.
This was my second time visiting this restaurant. This time my server was Julienne. Pat seated us and he was super helpful and friendly but im leaving this because i was impressed with Julienne. She was fantastic, knew the way to ask if you needed things without being overly present or interrupting and always with a smile on her face. She was also incredibly honest. I asked about a dish and she didn't bs me and tell me she had tried it, rather she was honest, told me she hadn't had it before but gave me a recommendation based on what she had tried. My first experience was great as well but I unfortunately didn't catch the name of our server. The bussboy Wayne was always on top of things while still not being overtly present or interrupting. The food was also great on both occasions. I had the roasted mushroom Flatbread this time and the burger the last time and my friend had the stuffed french toast (julienne made sure to tell us it was the last oder available and got the order rung in right under the wire). I hung out for awhile longer and Brittany the bartender was busting her butt, running around and doing great as well. It was a great experience overall, a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere with a number of screens tuned to the football games and I look forward to coming back again soon :).
(5)
Bill H.
I dropped in because it was a beautiful day outside, the large windows were open and folks were having a good time. Service was decent and friendly. I had the big max burger. It was cooked perfectly medium rare - just as ordered. I tried the Pimms Punch. It seemed watery to me but I like my Pimms with lots of Pimms, fruit and just a splash of soda. I'll eat here again.
(3)
James R.
They got 3 stars because their food was amazing, but their service was terrible. Why 3 then, not 1 if the service was lacking? Well here's why. Our waitress was polite. Incredibly nice. Just terrible at time management, and she forgot orders multiple times. Like when we order a second round of drinks, which we never received. The food though I can't say enough about, probably the best "bar" food we've had in several years. I read some other reviews, which didn't like the food, so maybe it's hit or miss (like the service?). If I were the management I would have a heart attack thinking about how much money walks out of that place due to the service. The table next to us, and ourselves had to leave cash on the table since the waitress never bothered to come back after getting our checks. Another table by us had a server chatting them up the whole time (his friends we think), but they had a different server too. If we stumble past this place, and can make sure we don't have the same server twice we might give it another shot, just since the food was so good.
(3)
Maria D.
NICE
(4)
Robin U.
We went on a Saturday night for dinner. The place was surprisingly empty around 7:00 PM. The room is dominated by a gigantic TV screen, which was showing a football game. Other TVs are over the bar. The cocktail I ordered was quite good. I would go back, just for drinks. We both order flank steak with sides and split their specialty fries. For the specialty fries we chose truffle oil fries with hollandaise. The "truffle oil" was oddly sweet. The hollandaise did not taste like hollandaise. I put them aside. The rest of the food, when it arrived, was luke warm, not hot. It tasted okay but when I asked for steak sauce the waitress looked at me like I had asked for ketchup on porterhouse at The Palm. I was snootily told "we don't have steak sauce" The waitress looked horrified. Okay, no A-1. Given that I was at a neighborhood bar-like restaurant eating flanksteak in a room with the restaurant equivalent of a Jumbotron playing football, this kind of snobbery was ridiculous. Give me a break. Given the wide number of choices in this area, I doubt we will be back for dinner. For drinks, and especially to watch a game, its fine..
(2)
Rachel M.
I stopped in on a sunday for drinks. I didn't realize they dont open until 4pm and I was there around 3:30. The staff was nice enough to take down a chair for me and served me while I waited for my friend. The decor is really cool. Concrete floors, nice bar and garage doors that can open into a patio when its warmer. I had the Pimm's punch which was delicious- i could seriously drink a gallon of that! My friend had a different punch but mine was the favourite. The bartender was really friendly and even brought over some fresh cookies from a bakery they had gotten delivered. Major points. Definitely a good addition to Bethesda. I will be back to try their food.
(4)
Jerrod B.
I've been here twice now, and I won't be returning. There is nothing horrible about Brickside, but also on the other hand they don't do anything well either. If you're just going to drink and watch sports it might be a good venue because they have a massive HD TV. Both times I've been here service has been extremely slow, and annoyingly aloof. The first time I went I got what is think was called a BBQ chicken pop, and a cheese pizza. The chicken pop is a piece of KFC slathered in bbq sauce. Not terrible but obviously I can get it much cheaper at any chicken place. The pizza is awful, I mean Sbarro or Little Caesars quality. I chalked it up to just opening and the ambiance was nice so I decided to give it another try a few weeks later. The second time, unfortunately, was just as bad. Once again there was slow, uninterested service. This time I ordered the sliders. Had I seen them beforehand I wouldn't have because they are tiny. For 14.95 I got three sliders that were literally no bigger than a half dollar in diameter. One was supposedly black angus, it was very well done though so all I tasted was the burnt exterior. The other two were lamb and crab cake, they were mediocre at best. All in all, I will not be returning to Brickside. It has a lot of potential, but until it steps its food and service game up, I cannot recommend this place to anyone.
(1)
Sara K.
Tried out this new restaurant for the first time last week. The owner picked up the phone when I called to say I was running a few minutes late for my reservation. He was extremely friendly on the phone and even chatted with me for a minute when we walked in a few minutes later. The beer menu was good, and I definitely appreciated the inclusion of a non-sweet rye "punch" on the menu. Our server was very good; she answered all of our questions and didn't rush us even though a couple members of my party trickled in late. My husband gave their buffalo wings a thumbs up, but wished that the size of their dishes (minus the pizza, which I thought was pretty generous) could be larger for the price. But in the end, we didn't really have too much to complain. Everyone was full, and happy with their drinks. The restaurant and bar have large TVs all around, so I'm sure we'll be heading back soon to watch some March Madness. When we went, they had Caps hockey on their screens.
(4)
Lisa P.
Only got bar service. The phyllo crusted shrimp was terrible, so so bland, even the relish was bland. I think they ran out of the regular shrimp and I was served four mini shrimp, double negative. Drink service was fine. Definitely wont come back for food.
(2)
Mike M.
First visit, drinks and apps, very good. Great service. Very nice looking place. Try the wings, very unique and tasty. Looking forward to going back soon and trying some more menu items.
(4)
Molly A.
Atmosphere is beautiful, especially when they open the large windows on a nice day. That said, I won't go back. Have dined here once a week for the last 5 weeks. The menu is very limited, the food -although beautifully presented- tastes only OK and is WAY overpriced, the wait staff all need to learn to smile and the stool-seats are very uncomfortable. The last straw for me was when they over charged my bar tab by $50 for drinks no one in my party ordered (who does jäger bombs anyone, seriously)?
(2)
Jonathan E.
Ok, so the fact that its across the street from Freddy's Lobster and Clams makes sense because both restaurants stink. I took my wife and 2 kids here for dinner. It was a Wednesday and beautiful outside. They had their windows open and the restaurant is nicely appointed. Restaurant was empty. That's the only nice things I can say as the food is very very bad. Got cheese pizza and it tasted worse then a Totinos frozen pizza. Got the sampler that comes with the mini burger, crab cake and bbq. Terrible. The burger was overlooked and tasted like eating a brick. Crab cake was terrible. Ordered several apps and they tasted full of oil right out of the fryer. Shame...
(1)
Bella A.
I really, really like this place! Not for the food-omg it sucks! Really..why spend so much time making this place look great and hire a chef who can't cook? French fries are good, but don't order any real food. The bartenders are good..quick and friendly with some great signature drinks..the servers are good-even on busy nights! Love the cute little red-head..she has a great attitude under pressure. So come here for drink or 2 and some light food, but don't make it a "real food" night..you're not going to be happy.
(4)
David B.
This place is really cool. The bar is nice and large and they have an incredible projection TV screen above the kitchen. I am thinking that this would be a great upscale place to watch Monday night football. Well one can dream of football in July. Alas I digress, I ordered the risotto balls and they were quite good. I also order the chicken sandwich and to be honest was a bit disappointed. Regardless the setting with the open air etc is what one me over. The bartenders were great as well. I am looking forward to my next visit.
(4)
Evonne L.
cute venue for a date, mediocre food. loved the exposed brick and casual but classy vibe, but unimpressed with the menu. fiance and i shared the all american and big max burger (and by share i mean we gave each other half of our burgers, not that we shared one burger- i am a foodie and i do love my food fyi) both burgers were similar and similarly dry. friend got the sliders, which looked unappetizing with mini slabs of lamb, shrimp, and ground beef and nothing else. i wouldn't recommend. friend got the beef and veal braised filled tortellacci which looked like a good choice.
(3)
Demi D.
I was really rooting for Brickside, but ended up being pretty disappointed. I made a reservation for me and a girl friend for a Saturday evening. Upon arrival at our reservation time, I told the hostess that I had a reservation, gave her my name, but she didn't look it up at all. This was probably because there were several tables open (not a great sign btw) and she was able to seat us right away. The only reason this disappointed me was because I made the reservation via OpenTable and received an email from OpenTable the next day saying that I "missed" my reservation and did not receive points for the reservation I'd made. Not a huge deal, but a bit annoying that the restaurant penalized me for "missing" a reservation. Anyway, once we were seated, it was clear we'd be shouting throughout our meal if we wanted to have a conversation. I'm more than cool with a loud environment when a place is hoppin, but the fact that there were about 6 different tv's were blaring a basketball game and then at 10pm a DJ started playing club music struck me as an odd combination. I still can't tell whether this place is more of a sports bar or a club atmosphere or what, really... As far as the food goes, we had a few appetizers that were okay but pretty bland and nothing special, unfortunately. Drinks were pretty good. I ordered something called Pimm's Punch which was delicious, if pretty weak. However, when I ordered a second one, it not only tasted much sweeter, but was definitely much stronger. Still delicious, but way different. Odd. Service was pretty good. Very kind, very helpful staff. This gives them the 2 stars. I hope I'm not being too harsh, but I was very unimpressed with this place, and will not be returning.
(2)
Veronica J.
I went a few months ago for a late dinner with my boyfriend so they may have gotten their act together by now. Service was good. I think our waitress was overwhelmed and they were short staffed as a former waitress I understand so im not gonna hold it against them. I ordered a chicken ceaser salad but the flavor came up short. How do u mess up a Caesar salad my question exactly. We also ordered the rissoto balls to split and they were good but the portion was comical in size. Overall great for drinks but so good for dinner
(2)
Ryan B.
Went here the other week to try it out with a friend and see what it is like. Pretty cool spot. It's definitely cleaner than some of the other bars, and the service was great. The only problem with that was there was no host/hostess to seat us when we got there and had to wait a little bit. The food was pretty good, but the prices I think were too high for the food and alcohol. It ended up being a bit pricy for just a quick stop at a bar.
(3)
Megan K.
Wow. This place really is LOUD. Uncomfortably so. But, we bought a Gilt City coupon before we read reviews. It's going to expire soon, so off we went. We sat down and told our server we had the coupon for pizza & punch. He said the pizza oven was broken. And then he just stared at us. So we got up & left. Dear Brickside, if you know you have people coming in to use a pizza & punch coupon, make sure your pizza oven isn't broken. And if it is, then proactively think of something else to offer in the pizza's place. Don't let new customers walk out without trying anything. Also, make it not so loud. English was clearly not out server's first language. Nothing is wrong with that, but trying to understand someone with a very thick accent while you're going deaf from the noise in the room is a painful experience. We'll be going back because we don't want to waste our coupon, but we already have a bad taste in our mouths. ***Edited to add actual dining experience. I had given 2 stars, but after dining, I knocked that down to one. Went back to Brickside. We called ahead to reserve a table and let them know we had our coupon. They happily took our reservation and said nothing about restrictions. When we walked in & gave our name, the host told us we couldn't use our coupon in the dining area and it was for the bar only. Fine. But I would have expected that first server and the host when we called to have told us this earlier. The bar was packed, but there were two seats allllllllll the way at the end, by the bathroom. It actually worked out, because it was much quieter in that one spot. Again, this place is LOUD. We had the punches, which were all tasty & decently strong. Usually pre-mixed, novelty drinks are pretty weak, but these weren't too bad. The bartender gave us top-notch service, but she couldn't do much to change how loud, uncomfortable and the food quality. And yes, the food. We got the pizza to share, as per our coupon. It was good, but the crust had the distinct flavor of frozen pizza crust. You know the kind - really well seasoned to try the hide the fact that it tastes like frozen pizza? So that was disappointing. We saw some other apps going out, but nothing looked too special. I also witnessed a server waiting for drinks wasting time flirting with a guy who was clearly not interested. Her drinks were up, but there she was, chatting loudly & obnoxiously with some poor guy who was trying to get back to her friends. Other than our bartender, I was very underwhelmed by the quality of service and the lack of prepardness & knowledge from all staff. The place was packed and I can't imagine why. I have no intention of ever going back to Brickside.
(1)
Scott K.
Great drink specials during happy hour. Soups and Pizzas are great too.
(5)
Annie S.
The ambiance attracted us to this beautifully designed restaurant but, unfortunately that was all it had to offer. As with many restaurants in Bethesda the food was pricey and underwhelming. We started w/ the risotto balls stuffed w/ mozzarella. The texture was fine but once you bit into them all you could taste was a metric ton of rosemary - it over powered the entire dish. After our perfume-ladened risotto I experienced something I've never experienced before in the roasted cauliflower with tahini - it was both burned and raw at the same time! The sauce was this bland and bitter tahini paste, not tahini sauce but tahini paste! It had no lemon, olive oil or any seasoning what's so ever - just bland, bitter, raw & burned on top. If you want great cauliflower go to Bacchus a few doors down - it's by far one of the best restaurants in Bethesda. There's no need in going into great detail over the rest of the meal - I can just tell you to avoid Fireside they need to take a serious look at their menu and hire a chef that knows what they're doing!
(1)
Sabrina M.
I have wanted to try Brickside since they were constructing the restaurant. I am always excited by a new restaurant in the Bethesda area. I went here when I wanted something new to eat and a nice atmosphere. I went on a Friday around 6 pm. I made reservations, but didn't need them. The table seating was abundant and the bar was packed! And it was loud. The fact that they had the outside seating windows open too made it too humid for my taste; especially when it was 93 degrees outside. Poor thinking in my opinion. The loudness and humidity was the Only reason I gave it 4 stars and not 5. The place itself is small from what I imagined, but not a big deal. The menu is small, but the food is packed with flavor and deliciousness. I usually never order appetizers and an entree but today I had to. I heard raves about the rolled risotto and boy oh boy were people correct. The rolled risotto has a nice shell, moist and cheesy interior and the sauce is to die for! Honestly I could eat just this and be completely satisfied. I know for a fact that every time I return, I will order these. My bf is a picky eater and even he ate 1. They come 3 placed in the sauce. Eat slowly and enjoy. One minor/picky issue I had was the water being served. They pour it for you out of a chilled pitcher with no ice into very small water glasses. I prefer a taller glass with ice so the servers aren't coming back to the table every 5 minutes to pour water. I get it, but the place can do without it. For my entree, I ordered a pepperoni pizza. I wanted just a light pizza because I honestly wasn't very hungry and wanted something that would reheat well as leftovers. My bf ordered the chicken sandwich with fries. We shared a bit of our food. I didn't taste his sandwich but he ate it up and said it was fantastic. They give you the option to add BBQ sauce or buffalo sauce but my bf likes his sandwiches dry, but he said the marinade they use was good enough. The fries were good,nothing spectacular. The pizza imo was big enough to share, but then again I don't eat that much to begin with. It was quite good. I enjoyed it much better than a matchbox pizza which tends to be burnt a lot when ordered. Honestly had no complaints about the food. The atmosphere was right up my alley. You can go there after a hard days work and enjoy great food. Didn't get an alcoholic beverage but next time I go I will have to sample. If you're looking for a nice atmosphere and good food, go. Prices are extremely fair
(4)
Abbey A.
What a wonderful new place in Bethesda. A coworker and I stopped by for happy hour this evening and I will definitely be back. Great happy hour specials, tasty apps. I look forward to trying their cocktails and exploring their menu.
(4)
Megan P.
We have been here several times and enjoy the atmosphere and the nice happy hour specials. The food is average, doesn't seem to ever be enough food and not great. We went today (Saturday for Happy Hour which is why we like this place). Even though there was a sign out front saying there were happy hour specials, we were informed at the bar that they just got a call to not offer happy hour specials and they were about to remove the sign out front. It was 4:30 on Saturday and we were 2 of 4 people in the entire place. We decided to leave after one beer.
(3)
Deni P.
Service was subpar; it was obvious they were trying to get you out as quickly as possible. The busboy continuously walked by our table trying to see if we were finished making our stay very uncomfortable. Food wasn't great either and way overpriced; I had to pay $1 extra for BBQ sauce. Won't be back.
(2)
N C.
The food is really good here. I love their pizza and their shrimp linguine. The brick wall with Against Prohibition painted on it is very unique and a great touch. I have only ever sat at the bar but I can say their bartenders are fun and friendly and always very attentive. This is definitely a good place to grab some quality food and some drinks. I think this is a fantastic addition to Bethesda.
(4)
Kate O.
Second visit and I've had to drop a star off my rating. Food was really not good at all. Hot dishes came out cold and not really done. Then when I wanted to just pay the bill and leave, my waiter was nowhere to be found. The manager however, was standing right there and was looking for tables for people- "Hey, I'm five feet from you, please take my seat, I can't take this food- let me just pay and go", but no, sadly nobody could be bothered. Bad service and bad food. Eventually the new go to Bethesda attraction will wear off and this place will be left with, well, bad service and bad food.
(1)
Tyson M.
so I am not sure who came up with the concept, but to me it just does not really work. The menu is just plain weird. If you are going to be a sports bar, be a sports bar, if you are going to be a gourmet restaurant..... Location - check, layout - check, food - not so much.
(2)
Sincerely H.
My friends and I just happened to walk by the large open window seating and were immediately pleased with the bustling scene. Servers were prompt and friendly. The hostess was very kind in getting us to a window table as soon as it opened. Great viewing from the window seating. I had a hamburger which was fine. It looked great...could have been a bit juicier. Overall will return there again!
(4)
Suzanne S.
Pretty good food, friendly staff. Painful noise level
(3)
Carmen D.
Great atmosphere, service and staff but the food was ok. BBQ chciken pop are giant size drumsticks that were a little undercook, very messy. Also, the pizza roll the dough wasn't baked thoroughly but flavor was good. They also ran out of hummus, I guess it's not freshly made maybe store bought? I think in time the food will improve.
(3)
Carolina R.
I will not give up trying to find jewels in Bethesda, since all the restaurants here are chain-like and offer expensive bland food. Brickside is typical of a Bethesda place. Nice place with mediocre and expensive food. It's a bit of a glorified bar with an ambitious menu that they don't quite deliver well. We had the crab artichoke dip, which was dripping in oil and lacked taste. I had a glass of a shiraz that was quite good though 8 dollars on happy hour is expensive for a glass of wine. We shared a burger with fries. The fries were alright. The burger was tasty but tiny, and with not the right burger-bread ratio. Too much bread! I wouldn't necessarily go there again. Also because their HH specials were not that special.
(3)
Sweet B.
Good happy hour. Food was the worst. The pizza was actually worse than any microwaveable pizza any of us had ever had. Go to drink cheap, not to eat . . .
(2)
Natasha B.
This is the first place I've been in Bethesda and it was a Wednesday night... but I liked it. When I sat down I was a bit surprised at how long it took the bartender to acknowledge me, since it was slow, but after that, it was great. I had the piedia flatbread, ceasar salad, and a couple of DC Brau beers. Really liked the corruption IPA. The bartender was nice and checked in at appropriate intervals. It was a yummy and chill dinner. Will go again.
(4)
Sonj H.
Bethesda Bar with good energy and service, basic bar food and a good happy hour. They have a bunch of fun drinks that are really inexpensive.
(3)
J J.
Great atmosphere, friendly service, big tv over the kitchen plus more TVs throughout, and the brunch was awesome. Our table had stuffed French toast, waffles, scrambles, wings, fried chicken and waffles, bacon, really delicious toast, mimosas, americano coffees, and amazing bloody Mary's! The Bloody Mary was spicy and so so delicious, with bacon! I'd suggest the waffles and chicken and waffles. :)
(5)
Collin S.
Arguably, Bethesda's best bar. Actually, I'm just kidding, there's no argument. You want to catch a game? You want wings? You want to get drinks? Well, you could go to Rock Bottom, but really, why would you do that?? Great staff, decent food, awesome atmosphere. Check it out.
(5)
Savannah G.
Looked forward to having brunch here, but never get the chance. Walked in and was not greeted, didn't know if we were to seat ourselves or what. A young man in a brick side tee shirt stood by us and said nothing for a couple minutes, then walked away. Finally a waitress asks if we had been helped, and I ask if we seat ourselves and she said she could seat us, and we followed her to our table. We waited at the table for ten minutes and finally decided our money was better spent elsewhere. Definitely felt like an outsider in that restaurant and didn't get a very good impression of the local restaurants here in Bethesda. We came here for my husband's treatment at Walter Reed.
(1)
Erin B.
Brickside is a welcome addition to downtown Bethesda. There are plenty of places in and around the Cordell corridor that provide drinks to the sports-watching masses. Brickside serves that crowd and their girlfriends too. Brickside's Prohibition theme has created a nice atmosphere, with warm exposed brick and gleaming white subway tiles. The Edison bulbs give off a warm light that's not too bright for late-night, and they're a welcome change from the neon glow of most bars. While I was busy pointing out the decorative touches, my boyfriend was staring happily at the large projection TV showing the Capitals game. There's a few smaller flat screen televisions above the bar, and one in the front room. No matter where you are in this place you'll be able to keep up with your team. Brickside carried over their Prohibition theme to the drink menu, and thirsty patrons benefit. For $8 you can have your pick of the house punches. They're mixed with period moonshine, Pimms and Rye and served in mason jars for added authenticity. I've had all of them, and you really can't go wrong, but if you forced me to choose I'd suggest the Pimms Punch or Pink Murder Punch... or Moonshine Punch. Alright, I can't choose. Have them all, but not in one sitting... those punches pack a wallop. The rest of the drink menu is very extensive, they've got a beer for everyone and every price point- from $3 tall boy Pabst Blue Ribbons to $7 pints of imports and microbrews. They've got 2 ciders to choose from. Their wine list is respectable. My indulgence is ordering a glass of Cava, mostly because they serve their bubbly in retro wide-mouthed glasses. It's a small touch that doesn't go unnoticed. I've eaten here a couple of times and had good experiences. The first time I went my boyfriend and I split the Aged t-bone steak alla Fiorentina. It was a generous portion and perfect for 2. The steak came out slightly overcooked, but not enough that I raised the issue. On the side we ordered the fingerling potatoes with artichokes and they were delicious. I kind of wish that we had ordered 2 so that I didn't have to share. The second time we were there for a friend's engagement party and were able to sample several of the appetizers from the menu. The risotto balls were moist and flavorful, the hummus had a nice creamy texture and the perfect amount of garlic. The Anitpasti had a nice variety of fresh meats. All in all, everything we tried that afternoon was delicious and we were a very happy group. Since so many people have raised the issue of pricing, I feel compelled to comment. While buying the side to your dinner at an extra cost is a bit uncommon, I didn't find that it priced our meal out of the range that we would usually pay. If you're really against the concept I suggest that you stick to ordering pizza or pasta so that you don't feel the need to have an extra side of veggies or starch. In my opinion the drinks are priced perfectly- high enough to keep out the rowdy and the newly 21 crowd but low enough to encourage young professionals to stop by. It's nice to have a neighborhood bar that caters to the 25-35 crowd. Things that go into this space have traditionally been cursed, but I think Brickside will finally make a success out of it. I know that we'll be back.
(4)
Greg B.
Very good burger place. excellent flatbread very good service
(3)
Doug B.
I hold monthly luncheons and happy hour events at this location and the food is always great and the staff is very friendly. From wings and burgers to specialty pizzas... they do not disappoint. Can't wait for the next event.
(5)
Lloyd S.
after a long wait for 3 salads in an almost empty restaurant, one salad came out totally wrong. another salad came without the skewed shrimp. after another wait, 4 puny tasteless shrimp were served. the waiter agreed they were pretty underwhelming, but communicating to the manager brought no action. the only vegetable in a grilled vegetable salad was cauliflower. the grilled chicken was mostly tasteless. the salad otherwise was just greens. no cukes, no tomato, no onion, blah. the wedge salad was a pretty skimpy wedge of iceberg lettuce and otherwise disappointing. but salads were pretty pricey nonetheless. the salad was served with a single sliver of toasted baguette that was inedible, and no other bread was offered with salad. most importantly, management could care less. despite telling the manager of the kitchen problems, he never appeared to apologize, ask if he could do anything, ask if things were okay or offer to make anything right. a bar masquerading as a brunch spot. don't be fooled.
(1)
Taylor B.
Came here for date night around 7:30 on a Wednesday. The seats by huge open windows were great, and what had originally attracted us to the restaurant. The air unfortunately didn't keep us from being unwitting participants in the trivia night happening in the restaurant, which was very loud. There was a huge group of folks packed in for trivia, although aside from them we were almost the only people there. We both ordered punches (I got the Pimms and he got the Pink Murder), both of which were incredibly weak and tasted like juice more than anything else. Yuck. The punches were on special for $5 each, but that was still too much for these sugar-loaded drinks. Despite the lack of patrons, food took 40 minutes to get to us after ordering, and I was underwhelmed especially considering the wait. He got lobster ravioli which was decent but a little bland/over-salted, and I got fried chicken that was undercooked in areas (I know, I should have sent it back - but I was starving! I just ate the one well-done piece and left it at that). The waitress was almost entirely non-existent, and once the sun set at 8:30 it became so dark in the restaurant I could barely see my food. I'm rating two stars because the ambiance of the window seating was wonderful, and you get a nice view of the street for some people-watching. I'd definitely consider going back when it's quiet to grab a beer and maybe an appetizer.
(2)
Ruth C.
Conservative beer options, painfully sweet cocktails-- skip the 12-mile limit. Clean bathrooms and friendly service, enough screens to fill the small, naturally lit space. Margherita pizza was alright, but the potato gnocchi knocked my socks off: earthy flavors complementing chewy pillows of goodness. Rib meat was sparse but reasonably tender. My only knock on this hit was not enough sauce. I'd get it again, but I'll be back to try the polenta fries too.
(3)
Ling W.
We'd reserved a large space near the bar for a large party. Instead of being overwhelmed by our numbers, the staff were quick and attentive. Nice job!
(3)
R M.
This is the best pub food in Bethesda. Good drinks, great bartenders. The burgers are fantastic. Crab dip and artisan fries are awesome. Great place to go for a night out or to watch a game on a Sunday. Great neighborhood bar.
(5)
Ashton T.
I only came here for a burger and a bloody for brunch. I'm so glad I did! The black and blue burger (bacon and blue cheese) was the most amazing burger. I actually called my boyfriend to tell him how great it was. The bun is super fluffy and not at all bready or over powering. The Bloody Mary was old bay rimmed and incredible as well. Soooo awesome and such a cool place! I sat in the cocktail area and had Theresa. She was sweet and kind, didn't feel like she was pushing me out, which happens when you dine alone. All around, great great place.
(5)
Will B.
If you love wings come here. Honestly they are insanely good and different from anything else you will try. They have specialty fries to choose from as well that are awesome and that you won't find anywhere else. Did I mention the wings? They are huge.
(5)
Brandy H.
My husband and I had visited Brickside before, actually 3 days after their grand opening. We enjoyed ourselves and so we made it a mission to head back to actually eat here instead of just drink. We had some errands to run in Bethesda, so we took this opportunity to revisit Brickside. We arrived right as happy hour was starting (Happy Hour starts at 4pm-7pm). Hey, guess what? Their happy hour prices are in the entire restaurant during that time and not just at the bar! Awesome huh? The hubby and I decided to sit at one of the great high top tables by the open/bayish windows. The weather was perfect and the view was of a cute Bethesda street. The happy hour prices are pretty good, draft beers on special, $2 off appetizers, $4 house wines and rail drinks. I was wanting a beer, but not any of the drafts they had (which were pretty good, but just wasn't in the mood). The house wines were Pino Grigrio (meh) and Cab Sav (I wanted something light, but not sweet, so neither of these options were working for me). So I opted for the Brut for $9, not on happy hour special, but oh well. The hubby ordered a Corruption from DC brau and we placed our orders for food. I decided on the mussels appetizer and the shrimp skewers app. The hubs ordered the bruschetta appetizer and the black and blue burger. Honestly, everything was great! My favortive part was the perfectly sliced bacon pieces placed beautifully in each little open mussel. Now that is what I call quality control. It was quite yummy. G's burger and fries were good and the shrimp was perfectly cooked. The bruschetta was light and flavorful. The only disappointing item we had was the Brickside cocktail, which we both did not care for. It was supposed to be a spin on a martini with absinthe, but just ended up tasting like lemon juice, too weak and had nothing going for it. Our waters were always full, our waitress was fine and we left satisfied and ready for the rest of our evening.
(4)
Victoria V.
Ate here for dinner. The chef (who is a woman!) delivered our food which was a treat and it all came quick and hot. We had the American Burger and Fried Chicken and Waffles. Best burger in Bethesda hands down, and fried chicken was juicy and crispy. Awesome little spot. Server was a little slow with drinks and checking back to us (we wanted more ketchup and a side of mayo, took a while before our server came back to check on us).
(4)
Corey W.
Food was great and the drinks were fantastic. Service wasn't bad, but not great. $3 PBR tall boys and my wife had some sort of Apple Moonshine drink...which was great. Calamari flatbread was really good; my burger was middle of the road.
(3)
Libby F.
I've only been for Happy Hour, but if you are looking to do it on the cheap, Brickside is your place! Here's the deal (as of this review date): HH 7 days a week $2 throwback cans $3 Miller Lite and Yuengling drafts $4 premium drafts $5 craft drafts $4 rails $4 house wine $5 bombs $10 lite buckets 1/2 off select apps (not all apps; selections vary day by day) It's a fun place to gather with friends. Food (apps I tried ) is mediocre at best. I like sitting near the front of the bar on a nice day when the walls are opened to expose the street. The rest of the decor adds to a great atmosphere: exposed brick walls and high ceilings. If you drive here, there is a county garage down the street. Be sure to park on an upper level (marked Long Term Parking) for cheaper rates, since Bethesda charges you until 10pm.
(4)
Sarah M.
Drink specials are ok for happy hour but the food isn't that great. Also super pricey for what you get. It's my least favorite place to eat in Bethesda. Very nice staff and service though.
(1)
Albert L.
Brickside is a relative newcomer to the Bethesda area, but the owner is a seasoned veteran in the industry. The ambiance and decor is simple and straightforward - exposed brick, large lettering, a long bar with plenty of seating, lots of wood everywhere. It's cozy and large at the same time. I only had drinks during HH here, but the service was very friendly and attentive. So far, it's an average place that has lots of potential. If they can figure out something that will really make Brickside stand out from the rest of the crowd (such as expanding their in-house cocktails offerings), it could really do well.
(3)
Chris J.
Surprised by the low rating, but I guess I have come here on good days. Excellent food, great staff. I have been here for brunch and champagne, great experience. The main projector for sports games is perfect for viewing with friends. I plan on coming back here for Wizards games and college football playoffs. Meaty wings and good specials at late night as well as weekly happy hour deals. Will come back!
(4)
Stewart W.
At least this place has life, in what seems to be a declining old Bethesda. Friendly, efficient service, busy. A great place to be anonymous on a business trip. Mussels edible, which is a bonus.
(4)
G C C.
Despite the owners/chefs' attempt to make this something more than a sports bar, dining there at 6:00 p.m. on a weeknight turned into a somewhat-noisy affair. Separated from the bar by a partial wall that the sound came pouring over, there was no way to escape the Happy Hour crowd at the bar. Fortunately, the TV's (only one with closed captioning, alas), tuned to sportscasts, were not also contributing to the din. Service was very attentive--hence three stars. The menu--sports bar/bistro, but one won't starve if you crave not a burger. I just wish I could have been able to read what was being said on-screen when I did care about a sportscast, and to not compete so much with the energetic bar-seated crowd so to converse with my dining companion. As mentioned, the faux-rustic interior is ecclectic and fun. But a speak-easy...not quite. No real distinction in the three "classes" of draft beers was evident. Perhaps one must ask, but that sounds like a beverage choice is being made based on price. The list should be ample enough for anyone not expecting a brau-haus. Happy Hour prices make it affordable for more than one round. I took the suggestion of other reviewers and tried the spinich & ricotta flatbread, and it did offer that European-esque crispness to the bread, and ample flavorful ingredients. The noise level was so high to make conversation a bit difficult--we opted to move elsewhere for dinner, unfortunately. I hope to give B's F&D a try another time, certainly not during any special sporting event, unless I just want to join the roar of the crowd. Given a chance to sample more of the menu, I'd like to give them the chance for a fourth star. But the Happy Hour noise level (which has driven me out of another Ballston/Bethesda chain establishment, to remain nameless) will keep them forever without five stars.
(3)
Samantha L.
This place opened up just across the street from me. It caught my attention mainly because of the HUGE TVs and projection screen they put in for sports fans. I had a pasta dish, dad had a burger. Food was good. Service is lacking. Our food took a very long time to come out... I did think my pasta dish was a little small tho... I needed a snack about an hour later when i was back home watching TV. Its literally across the street -- and has good food. So -- i'm sure I'll be back!
(3)
Pam N.
VERY delayed review: I ended up there with a group for my birthday after a mishap with another bar in Bethesda (that will not be named) when they double booked parties and didn't let me know until the last minute. She was nice enough to call the owner of Brickside, who honored all of the specials they had offered us at the other (not to be named) bar. Most of the group had never been there before - the ambiance was cool - upscale sports bar, but not too upscale and not too sports bar. Everyone had a great time there. The service was excellent, food was delicious (truffle fries -- yum!) and drinks were STRONG (so watch out!). The owner couldn't have been nicer and really salvaged what could have been a big disaster!
(5)
Maja M.
The decor was really nice. Kinda contemporary/industrial. Really liked the decor, & they had these really great large mirrors in the bathrooms & right outside of the bathrooms. This is a very aesthetically pleasing restaraunt. Unfortunately, that's were is ended for me. We went on a sunday afternoon. When we arrived there were only 4 other tables. But the waitress was not very attentive. There was this guy refilling our drinks, but either he was new to the restaraunt buisness or improperly trained. He would only refill one persons class & then leave the battle on the table, and he did not even refill the person's glass that was empty. (We all ordered water, and they serve it in these glass bottles). Then one time he brought out a new bottle but didn't refill any ones glass. But as he was putting the bottle on the table he reached directly over my glass and as he placed the bottle down his arm actually literally touched all over the entire rim of my glass. After he put the bottle down he just left. He did not apologize or bring out another glass. I was so dumbfounded. I have never experienced this. Now lets get to the food. It was just okay. My aunt had the pizza which was really preatty good. I had the potato gnochhi w/ beef which I did not like. I kinda ended up scavenging off everyone elses plates. My cousin had the slider trio, she said it was just okay. I had some of her crab cake slider because she did not like it. It was blandly seasoned. The sauce that was on it was pretty good. My mom was the only one that really enjoyed her meal. She had the grilled chicken salad. We all said that all in all we came, we saw, we experienced, but none of us enjoyed the food enough to want to return to this place. The only thing we all liked was the decor. Like I said the service was bad, and the food was subpar. This is a new restaraunt/bar that only opened a few months ago; so, there may be some issues they need to workout. The space looks like it would be a good place to hangout, but not a place that you would want to go to for good eaten. Also, their music was way too loud. That is one of my pet peeves. I hate when the music at a restaraunt is so loud that you have to yell to hear what each other is saying.
(2)
jordan f.
The answer is no....what is your question? Lame...beyond the TV's, no reason to visit. Went to watch a world cup game Saturday at noon. Told only the brunch menu is available...asked about kids options. Server left and came back after checking...no kids menu. Asked about sliders. Server left and came back after checking....no sliders. Asked about other options from lunch menu, which sounded amazing....server checked and came back...nothing beyond the brunch menu. Clearly we were not happy, but no manager came over. Ended up ordering side of fries and a flatbread. Fries were good, flatbread was small and not appetizing looking. Left at halftime and went over to pizzeria de marco.....what a difference! All they wanted to do was please. Unlike Brickside, they wanted to help. They wanted to our business. It's too bad that Brickside has this poor approach to customer service and business.
(1)
China S.
My sisters and I threw a party for our sister at Brickside a few weeks ago. The staff was super accommodating with all of our requests, even helping us hang decorations. I felt compelled to write another review though to call out our server, Theresa. We had a HUGE group, definitely filled our section to overflow at times, and Theresa was completely on top of things. Even with all those people there, she refilled waters without asking. She was there asking if I needed a drink refill before I even noticed my cup was empty. The whole party was a success but Theresa was the standout star!
(5)
Larry G.
I actually liked this place and they had a good variety of specialty drinks ( I had the "apple pie" drink and it was the BOMB) to choose from and they have good prices for drink. Unfortunately I didn't stay long because I was too busy being CATFISHED by a chick from Tinder (dating app). Man Listen she was twice as wide as me and I'm 300 lbs (pure muscle of COURSE lol). Anyway, the drinks were good. the waitress was as attentive as she needed to be and the seats by the window on a nice day are the move to make. Check it out. I'm going to go back one day, but never on a first-date/meet because that chick ruined the potential for an awesome night! If I go back I'll give y'all an update on the food and more drinks.
(3)
Stephen M.
Wings and beer at Bethesda prices. Appeals to sports fans who don't want to stick to the floor when they walk around. Good place to go early in the evening, either for a quick drink or to meet up with friends. Can't see this place as "the destination" for the night, but it's a nice stop-by.
(3)
Chinita A.
I met my friend for happy hour on a Wednesday around 5pm. It was just us and a guy at the bar. Man I wanted to like this place. I loved that you can get the HH specials everywhere, not just the bar. I liked that our waitress was attentive as she was training a new girl. I liked how the manager or so I think came to us to ask about the Maryland crab dip AND take the constructive criticism for the new menu item. Did I mention it was just us and a guy at the bar? What got me to go 2 stars was the food. My drinks were ok but the food.... Minus the crab dip disaster I kept my order simple - a bacon cheeseburger. Sadly only the bacon was good. My fries tasted straight from the frozen bag and my burger was hard to chew. I asked my friend about his chicken sandwich and his wasn't as bad as mine. Hopefully the next time the food will allow me to up my stars. If you get there early enough and the weather is warm sit near the open window.
(2)
Emilee K.
I LOVE Brickside! It is always a top choice for eating out or happy hour with friends! Great food and reasonable prices! The bartenders are always very attentive, even during busy games!
(5)
Anthony C.
I have been here twice and really want to like it due to the nice decor inside and great indoor/outdoor seating, but it falls flat in multiple areas. First off, this is really a bar and not a restaurant. Their menu is very limited and there doesn't seem to be much of a focus on putting out good food. The food is what you would expect at a dive bar even though the decor makes you think it is a finer establishment. As to the bar side, this is a great place to come to for happy hour and over the weekend. It is usually pretty packed and has a great mix of age groups, but don't expect great drinks. When I saw the "Vote Against Prohibition" sign, I got excited thinking that they would have a mixologist working behind the bar with fresh house-made mixers and signature cocktails, but alas that is not the case. Their specialty drinks are "Punches", which is just a variety of highly sweetened drinks that taste exactly like the jungle juice you used to drink in college. Besides that it's your typical beer and wine list. I give Brickside 2 stars for food and drink and another star for atmosphere.
(3)
Adam S.
We went there to watch football and they only would let us order from the brunch menu, when my buddy tried to order two things off that menu they didn't even have it, which I find odd since it was empty. I ended up ordering wings which were a special at 1 pm just because football was on and they were soggy and covered with sauce. This was my second time there and both times were awful.
(1)
Amanda F.
I've been to Brickside on several occasions, twice for meals and all other visits to meet friends at the bar, and I'm usually underwhelmed each time. The atmosphere is comfortably industrial, casual yet aesthetically appealing, but the noise level is overwhelming even when it's not busy. They could benefit from adjusting the decor to alter the acoustics. Service is inconsistent. Those at the bar are usually awesome, helpful in your drink selection and overall friendly. The table servers get the job done, but without the intention to exceed your expectations. For example, the server forgot to enter one of the orders to the kitchen so one in our group waited longer for his meal. The manager came and apologized, which was nice, but nothing was comped, reduced in price or an extra beer wasn't tossed our way. The food is good, but nothing to write home about. Burgers and sandwiches, pasta and pizzas dictate the menu; flavor is definitely derived from fat sources-meat, cheese, oil, etc. The potato pizza is a highlight. Overall, I use this location for a casual group get together.
(3)
Richie G.
Really good burgers! Its very expensive, but it has a pretty nice atmosphere. Not sure I would come back though, there isn't a whole lot on the menu.
(3)
Jennifer P.
Loved the open air seating. Drink menu was interesting and comprehensive. Would definitely return for drinks only. Food was disappointing to say the least. The hummus was chunky and too tart, both my husband and I had sliders. The burgers dry and not cooked to order. Service was slow.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Garage, Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Loud Music : Background Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Fri, Sat Coat Check : No Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Melanie M.
Stopped in and had a few beers here last weekend. Bartender was super friendly and started off by introducing himself and remembered our names after leaving two hours later !! Recommended a great beer from VA && was quick to help us find another new spot once our new bar friends had left. Menu looked great but we were stuffed-- definitely coming back to try some brunch since we had such pleasant service the first time !
(5)Kelly T.
I have to preface this that it was during the Women's World Cup Finals and it was busy. I gave it 2 stars because of the service, which, again, it was very busy. We thankfully had a reservation (through open table) because they were turning away people that didn't. There are a bunch of tv's and a huge one in the back, so a great place to watch a sporting event. Their beer list was decent, with a better can selection than bottles or draft. We started with hummus which was thick and nothing special. It came with some feta and olives on top. Not a huge amount, but enough to start the meal. We then ordered our meals - the kids split the kids sliders and I asked for lettuce and tomatoes to be added since for some reason restaurants never have that included with kid's burgers. I ordered the grilled veggie salad and added chicken, and my husband got the rico burger. We also ordered the honey Parmesan tots. Everything came out besides my salad so I munched on the tots which were DELICIOUS!! Really yummy and will have to go back to try different options if we ever go back. While my family was about halfway through with their meal, the waiter came back and I told him I was still waiting on my salad. About 30 mins later, after my family was completely done with their food, my salad came. I ordered a salad that said it had grilled veggies, so I expected different types of grilled veggies. It was lettuce with grilled cauliflower - that's it. Definitely not worth the wait and not that appetizing. There was no apology for the delay, and since we were now watching the 2nd half of the soccer game and not in a hurry, I didn't raise a fuss since I figured he'd take SOMETHING off for the huge oversight of my meal. We also asked for an additional waterbottle (they keep it on the table so you can refill yourself) and he never brought that, we had to ask a bus boy to finally get it when we lost all hope from the waiter. We ordered a rootbeer float for the kids to finish off the meal. The check came and nothing was taken off. Seriously?? I got my food LITERALLY an hour after my family and you see no reason to comp a single thing? Not the chicken upcharge? Not a beer or the float even?? And to make it worse - the KIDS root beer float was $6.95 - the same price as their meal!! Had the server acknowledged the huge oversight of not giving me my meal until well after my family had finished, I would have given another star, but when something like this is brushed over, they lose me as a customer.
(2)Krystal W.
So here's the thing, I am a short girl with thighs-a-plenty. So, I am always disappointed when I see restaurants with those high bar style like chairs. My leg starts falling asleep and then I am ready to go. Good thing, these chairs were pretty decent. Leg still fell asleep, but food was so good, I didn't care. I ordered the chicken and waffles, based on my seeing someone at another table order it. Chicken was fried crispy and was so moist. Waffles were delicious, though I HATED the syrup that came with it. Made my stomach turn. Had bourbon in it... yeah, not my cup of tea. I'm getting queasy just thinking about that syrup. PROS Great food and selections Nice area in Bethesda, you can walk around on a good day Drinks were mixed well, not too much of anything Wait staff was funny and attentive CONS Those damn high tables and chairs!! Waffles ruined by that God awful syrup Background music was pretty loud. Had to shout in order to hear people next to me.
(3)Caroline K.
Good beer selection and super chill people work there. The food is pretty mediocre. It closes later than the other Bethesda bars, so if you're looking for something after midnight during the week, this is a good option.
(3)Chill B.
Everything was great here except for the rude, pompous host. Latin guy wearing glasses. He was so rude I wanted to leave. We were meeting other couples, otherwise we would have left. Any business that has THAT GUY as the first face a customer sees needs help. Food was great. So was the service, except for Mr. Personality at the front desk. Won't be back. Good luck guys.
(1)Margaret Z.
My office has ordered from here a couple of times for dinner/delivery recently and we loved it! Can't speak for the dining atmospheres or happy hour specials, but we've definitely had some great meals from this place. The specialty fries are incredible and the chicken and waffles entree is one of the best I've ever had. The chicken is lightly breaded/fried with very flavorful seasoning.. plus you pretty much get a half chicken. Have also heard rave reviews about the chicken wrap and Brickside's burgers. Definitely substitute for tator tots because they are crisp and delicious. Also - the portion sizes are GINORMOUS!
(4)Eric H.
Great food and drink. I came in on a Wednesday afternoon and the place was quiet but still had a buzz about it. They have a decent selection of craft beers and pretty much every mainstream lager on tap. Prices were a little high but not too unreasonable. I had their chili burger and buffalo wings - both great! The wings were lightly battered and seasoned perfectly. The chili burger was just a juicy, delicious mess. Staff were great too and went out of there way to make customers feel welcomed. Probably the best place in the area for wings, burgers and beer.
(4)Jordan F.
Love this place! Great happy hour, awesome food, and great drinks! The atmosphere is fun and inviting, and I always come back wanting more!
(4)Ethan U.
The service was absolutely terrible. Had multiple waiters and waitresses, none of which seemed to care about us. Took 30 minutes to get the check, and an hour to get the food. The food was less than great. We could have walked out of there without paying and nobody would have noticed. All the staff were focused on the people at the bar. There were 5 people working the bar, and only one person working the tables. Clearly a problem with management.
(1)Omar S.
Went here for happy hour and it was terrible. Chicken was under cooked and they refused to fix it. I didn't eat anything and the waitress still tries to keep my change for a $25 tip. Menu is way overpriced for the food they serve. Many better choices in Bethesda....don't waste your time or money.
(1)Blanca H.
Bar bites were delicious, especially the crab and artichoke dip! Tyler the bartender was very pleasant. Nice environment and not too crowded, happy medium.
(5)Lily R.
Brickside is pretty great. It was the bar that originally sucked me in- they have a great array of prohibition-themed punches. My favorite is the Pimm's punch. At $8 a glass, they are fairly expensive, but worth it as a new, interesting alternative to the usual drinks. Having finally eaten their food, I now feel qualified to write a review. I've eaten their Cobb salad, various appetizers, and their flatbreads. I haven't had a full entree though. Everything has been great but the real standouts are their creative French fries, offered in several combinations of seasoning and dipping sauce, including old bay and ketchup, truffle oil and hollandaise, and the best, buffalo fries with blue cheese dipping sauce. Ohh that was good, and the perfect thing to snack on while drinking punch. The atmosphere at Brickside is pleasant, and you don't have to deal with the younger drunk crowd that you would find at Caddie's or Union Jack's. It's a classier joint, and the patrons skew a bit older (like 30ish old, not middle aged) but the bar is still always packed at night. They rent out spaces, like the enclosed patio, for private parties. A friend had her engagement party there are it was perfect for that type of casual afternoon gathering. My only complaints are that the service is sometimes slow, and it can be hard to get a drink at the crowded bar. It seems like the servers and bartenders get spread too thin.
(4)Jason C.
Agree with the three. Very lack luster experience. Both food and service was average. Got the mussels and flatbread. Pretty simple dishes but the favors were not there. Sat at the bar and greeted with some spunk but fell short.
(3)Mary Y.
I've been to Brickside several times and I enjoy the venue, food and drinks, however, I am extremely disappointed in my most recent experience, so much so that I felt like I needed to share it. I called Brickside nearly two weeks in advance to schedule a soccer game viewing party for 20 people and was told no problem happy to have you. I then called again a few days prior to the event to confirm everything was good to go - I was then told that I could not have my event there as Brickside would be shutdown that day for a private event. Had I not called a second time they probably would have never told me. They were apologetic, but that doesn't help much when you've already set out the invitations for your event. I hope a better system is developed for booking events as I would have really enjoyed having mine there, but after this I doubt I will try again.
(2)Katherine L.
Pretty good happy hour, nice deals on drinks and bar bites- couple dollars off here and there. Super chill atmosphere early on, almost empty- so the space seems large. Nice decor, friendly staff, food freshly and quickly prepared. Decent options if you like fried finger food with your drinks, but avoid if you have a healthful all the time diet. A great place to meet up for happy hour and eat junk food American style with your beverages. They make it easy to open a tab, even during happy hour. The fare for special diets is highly limited, but maybe the salads are safe for gluten free and the vegan predilection? I asked about dairy and gluten, the server said the menu is limited and could only suggest salad. Good luck if you eat here! Go for the drinks and company- food is not paramount here.
(2)Dana M.
Came for brunch and light dinner. Both times - food and service were great. Had the apple pie punch (SO GOOD) and all-american burger with fried egg on top and a side of roasted cauliflower for brunch, really hit the spot! I've been back a few times just for the punch. It's soo good. You wouldn't know there's everclear, fireball, and vanilla vodka in it - the cider and simple syrup mask it perfectly. Which, can either go in a good or bad way, depending on what kind of night you want to have! Drinks were also on special during brunch for the football games. For late night dinner/bar bites, had the roasted cauliflower with tahini sauce and shrimp skewers with honey lime dip. Both really good! I've never had a whole roasted cauliflower before (it's probably half the head, which they roast in a small cast iron). It was great by itself, but the tahini sauce was also awesome. The shrimp were a little tough, but the sauce was good - with a nice kick!
(4)Noelia L.
I had some calamari and a few punch drinks. The calamari was a bit too salty, as for the drinks I did enjoy them. My favorite was the apple pie it truly tasted like apple pie. Defiantly a stamper in my book. The ambience is nice, very lively we went after work so there was many people all seemed to having a great time. Later at night they had a band playing which was quite nice.
(4)Christina M.
This place could use some improvements... The chicken wing options are nice but they need to do better on the cooking and presentation of the wings...The salmon was under cooked and the Caesar salad was awful... My apple martini was awful and I had o send it back...
(3)Mike B.
Short review: Solid great drinks, try the punch, appetizers are tasty, great happy hour and service. Long review: After careful consideration, a council meeting, approval from the league of shadows, a celebrity endorsement, meditation, and the reading of tea leaves... I have decided to up my rating to 5 stars for Brickside. When you think about Bethesda and places to hang out - everyone is like "Yeah- Bethesda is FILLED with great places to drink... Perfect for a bunch of spots to get hammer-timed at right." That's what people SAY. But think real hard. Where is a place with creative drinks, nice atmosphere, great service and a bar that says "This is not just a restaurant bar --(aka the bar at Cafe Deluxe) Well after a recent talk post that was created that says "Betheda Happy Hour" - here read the post "Been to Black Finn, Blacks, Uncle Julios and Union Jacks. Where are the fun bars in Bethesda????? i.e. Lively crowd, nice modern atmosphere, good music, strong drinks and cool bartenders." There are very few bars that fit that bill! Brickside is one of them. They have managed to get a crowd that is not full of meatheads or 21 year olds. They have a mid to late twenties crowd on lock and it could even handle a thirty to forty year old crowd as well. Great long bar/ the food I've had is fantastic and the service I've received is amazing! Great happy hour specials coupled with a friendly crowd- is hard to find. The spinach and ricotta flatbread was reasonably priced and delicious. The artichoke and crab dip was great. Love their bruschetta with Brie. Big fan of the antipasto platter... I could just keep on going - Which is why I've upped my rating to 5 stars. Thank you Brickside- your exactly what Bethesda needed.
(5)Lala E.
Honestly a very mediocre place to be in the middle of Bethesda. I work close by and tried their kale orzo salad at a work lunch and while it wasn't bad, it was not close to being a 20$ salad. Other occasions against my own bad judgement Ive ordered to go lunch from there and on the phone they always say it will be ready in 10 minutes. Once ive arrived (10 minutes later) to find an empty restaurant and Ive had to continue to wait to close to 20 minutes for the same over priced basic Kale salad. I don't see how that can take close to 30 minutes to prepare especially in the lunch hour in an empty restaurant. This has happened to me on 3 occasions with them. Then after work on a Monday evening around 7:30 to a halfway full bar, I was waiting close to 5 minutes before a bartender even addressed me with a quick nod then another 5 minutes before he actually made his way over. For a half full bar with two bartenders, that's just ridiculous. Really all in all not worth the time, literally.
(3)Christy W.
Flatbreads are awesome- had the spinach one and one with apples. They used to have a cucumber drink that was my fav but the punch is my favorite now The wings are so good!!!!! I come here whenever I crave wings. In the summer I love that the windows can open up the space for a beautiful breeze at night. Perfect place for date night or girls night. Either way it's a winner.
(5)Navi B.
I hadn't been in this place for about a year so I thought I'd stop in yesterday. It didn't hurt that Spotluck offered me a discount to choose place as well. Keep in mind they only honor the discount in the dining area and not at the bar. Ambiance is good although it gets drafty inside the restaurant from the large closed windows. Beer choices? Pretty mundane stuff with 5 or 6 taps. The bottle and can choices are slightly better. The food? We ordered the mussels, shrimp and calamari. So from best to worst... The mussels could have been cleaned a bit more and should include more bread to sop up the broth. The shrimp were just "okay." The calamari... The breading was saturated with oil to the point it was mushy and falling off the squid. It may be another year before I go back in...
(3)Nicole G.
I've been here for two separate Happy Hours. Great deals on both food and drinks. $4 rail drinks and house wine until 7pm and $2 off all bar bites. The risotto balls taste like something from a Renaissance Festival. And if you know me, that's actually a high compliment! The hummus is nothing special, but that doesn't stop my group of vegans from ordering a couple baskets both times. The fries are crispy and delicious with a bunch of fun sauces to complement them. I can't say anything about the full menu, but I'll definitely be back for more Happy Hour specials!
(4)Brian J.
At here for the first time, we arrived a bit later in the evening and were told the kitchen would be closing in 1 hour which was fine. I am pretty sure we were the last order to go in as well. There were only 2 or 3 other tables with people at them so i figured service would be quick, It was just average, very slow for how empty it was. Once the food came out both plates were cold, My steak was cold, and the other dishes at the table were all room temperature. The combination of spices was all wrong on every dish, you could tell the kitchen was in a bigger hurry to close than prepare the last meal correctly. The server was quite friendly despite a little slow, I would not fault his professionalism in any way. I may or may not try Brickside again in the future at an earlier time in the evening (We arrived at 8pm this time) To see if it is any better.
(2)Shawn L.
I am rarely motivated to post a review online. In fact this is only my second. The first was for an outstanding experience I had at a local automotive related business. Unfortunately, this is not a positive review. A friend and I visited Brickside today to watch football. We snagged a high-top table, with a good view of the two games we were interested in. The business was not crowded at all, which is why we initially chose this over Caddies. It also has a nice open atmosphere. Our expereince: 1) Several minutes before somebody stopped by and just dropped off a list of specials. 2) Several more minutes before we got menus...Drink order placed - One Dogfish Head Punkin Ale, one Vodka Ras/Water. 3) At least 15 minutes later drinks arrive. A Blue Moon Pumpkin beer (not ordered) was brought by the waitress (who wasn't who took the drink order).. When I asked to bring the beer I asked for, they said they don't carry Dogfish. I showed them the beer on the menu, and they explained that the menu was old, and they haven't had that beer in a year. I asked for a Yeungling instead. 4)Took what seemed like forever for the food to arrive. We still didn't have place settings. A few minutes later, the waitress stooped by and brought a place setting, right before I was going to let her know I needed it. 5)The burger I ordered was extremely good, which is the only reason I'm giving 2 stars. The fries would have been above average, but they were room temperature. 6) Our waitress never stopped by to ask how the food was, or to ask if we needed new drinks. In fact, my friend had to walk over to the corner of the bar to get her -- It wasn't that she was busy.. 90% of the time we were there the waitress was just watching football from the service station, at the far end of the bar and not really working. 6) When she brought the new drink, and cleared the old, we had to tell her to clear the empty plate from the table as well. All in all, a terrible experience - the worst I have had in Bethesda. My friend and I left and went to Caddies.
(2)Julia G.
So I walked by this place lots of times and I was glad that finally I got a chance to check it out ! food that we tried was delicious ! Flatbread , fried risotto balls, roasted cauliflower with tahini sauce - must try!!
(5)Angela S.
Excellent food, great location. My only issue was the pace of the service. With the exception of the bar area, we were the only patrons there. So I don't understand why it took so long to get our soda, coffee, and tea. The appetizer arrived quickly, but the meal took longer than expected. Chicken wrap was very good. Delicious wings. The steak was cooked so rare that the plate was bloody. If that's your thing you would enjoy it. But my husband wasn't asked how he likes his steak cook so we were a little taken back. The chicken and waffles were fantastic and it comes with a 1/2 chicken. If they serve dessert we weren't told. The waiter asked if he could get us anything else but failed to offer a menu. All an all, it was good food and we will return.
(4)L H.
I got an order to go. Chesapeake wings, chicken tenders, medium well burger and Chesapeake fries. Got the food home and the burger was so rare, the bread was wet from the blood. The fries were plain, no old bay. Wings were okay but could've used more seasons and tenders were completely burnt. I would've given another star if they had salt to go. I asked for them to throw in some extra salt and was told we don't have salt packets. You would think they would at least put some salt in a small container. I may try them again but there are plenty of options in Bethesda to rush to give them a 2nd chance. It's not like they only screwed up one item.
(2)Chase R.
I'm surprised at how low the reviews are. This place is trying to be an upscale sports bar and accomplishes just that. The food is above average, they have a good amount of TVs and the big projector. Yes, it's a little more expensive than Caddies, but it's a different vibe. If the weather is nice they open the front garage doors and let in the fresh air which is great. Nice place overall, I visit frequently.
(4)Phil D.
Very surprised by some of the lower rated reviews -- they seem to indicate poor table service of which I wouldn't know much about because I am more of the "sit at the bar" type. I am not a "table person" I think because I don't really like people looking directly at me when I eat, but I digress... I really like the food and drink here - has good daily happy hour specials on both. It has a full bar and the food is high quality bar food. The bartenders are really very nice and attentive; especially Pat who is an all-around good guy and true professional. It does have sort of a generic vibe and variety that appeals to a large swath of personalities - did I use the word "swath"? Anyway, that actually works really well if you are looking for a place to do an after work gathering with a large, diverse group-- and Brickside has become my go to place for those types of deals. Most everyone seems to enjoy it.
(4)Dan Y.
I almost never write reviews but I could not believe what a bad experience I had last night at Brickside. I met a friend for dinner there and we both ordered the flank steak with chicken enchiladas. I have never had worse service. Ever. Had to flag down the waitress for everything, which consistently was a ten minute process. After I asked her where are food was (45 minutes after ordering) she brought out 2 cold steaks that had clearly been waiting for her in the kitchen for about half an hour. Just finding her to pay the bill took forever. It seemed even worse since the waitress was training a new employee. As I told the manager on the way out, I will never go back. No apology from anyone. Terrible service, mediocre food with absolutely no healthy options.
(1)Ian R.
I wanted to like this place. The decor is really cool, prohibition-era style, and they have a nice bar and great TVs. The food was the disappointment. The waitress took our drink order and brought over menus, but forgot to mention that their pizza oven wasn't working. My friend had decided on pizza until he was told that it wasn't an option when she came back to take our order. We ordered a hummus appetizer for 4 of us, and they brought enough pita for 2 of us. That's fine, but it's usually standard to bring more pita out if requested... at no charge. At least at the places I've been to. We were charged for the additional pita. I ordered a grilled chickened sandwich, which I requested blackened (which was an option on the burgers). The waitress said that the chef is "temperamental' about doing that, so that wasn't a possibility. The sandwich itself was 70% bread and 30% chicken. The french fries were soggy. Everyone else said their meals were fine, but nothing special. I'd come back to get drinks at the bar, but it's unlikely I'd have dinner here again.
(2)T R.
I can't say I will ever review their food, but I will review the drinking. Decent spot to catch a drink if you are cool with crowds. I guess if you aren't cool with crowds your preferred drinking hole will probably go out of business. At least in Bethesda. We were intrigued by the punches and came on the night they were $5. They were decent little fruity distractions. I am glad we went on the $5 night though. I probably would prefer the more adult martinis and will try those next. (I would probably prefer gin with ice but that is boring). Nothing wrong with the place. From my seat at the bar. Maybe next time I will delve a little deeper.
(3)Catherine M.
I'm surprised this place does not have better reviews. It's not my favorite bar in the world, but it definitely has the top qualities I look for in a bar: it's clean, the bar tenders are friendly, and they have a great selection of drafts.The front windows open up in the warmer months to get a nice air flow going (wish every bar had this). The only complaint is that their menu could use a revamp. The food is not terrible, but it could be better. Regardless, one of my favorite bars in Bethesda.
(5)Mariya H.
Love, love, LOVE this bar. I frequent this bar probably once a week, and I keep coming back for the creativity of the menu and drinks, the friendliness of the bartenders, and the cool atmosphere. The owners have started creating seasonal dishes, and I urge you to try them - they are great! My favorites (there are a lot) on the menu are: mussels (BIGGEST MUSSELS I'VE EVER HAD), crab and artichoke dip, the wings (old bar dry rub is phenomenal and the seasonal pineapple and siracha flavor is delicious), risotto balls, chicken wrap, wedge salad, ANY of the burgers with shoestring fries, shrimp and grits, salmon....do I need to go on? You pretty much can't go wrong on this menu, and if you are having trouble, ask one of the bartenders - they know their stuff! Although I am a HUGE fan of this bar and will continue to come here once a week, I will admit that the wait staff needs improvement (some seem to have an attitude/indifference) and there is not someone to greet you and seat you when you walk in. However, since I feel like a "local" at this restaurant/bar, I normally just grab a seat at the bar and order my food and drinks directly from the bartenders. Highly recommend trying out this place - it's also great for work happy hours and get togethers.
(4)Elizabeth D.
I was pretty underwhelmed by Brickside. The space is cool and I love the big windows that open in the bar area, but the food left a lot to be desired. Wings were good (and I appreciate a large shallow bowl of blue cheese), but pricey for just six. House salad was heavy on the lettuce and not much else. My ravioli was good and filling, but I could have made it myself honestly. My husband really disliked his burger - he thought everything was overcooked. Otherwise the service was pleasant and prompt and the drinks were fairly inventive. I'd probably stick here for happy hour rather than dinner.
(3)Jeffrey G.
I went to this place when it first opened and thought it was so-so. The drinks were great and the food was average. Unlike other places in Bethesda this restaurant & bar has drastically improved with time. Not that it was bad at first but now it is great! Food is the best in Bethesda, drinks are spot on and the service was very attentive. I will always pick Brickside as my go to place in Bethesda. Get the wings and a burger -- you will not be disappointed!
(5)Candice H.
I came here on a Saturday night with my bf. We didn't have to wait long and got seated right away. My bf got a steak dish which was amazzzzing. I highly recommend. It has some kind of seasoning that really hit the spot. I got a crab cake sandwich and it was good, pretty standard crab cake. Their drinks were strong which was great - woo Saturday night! I'd come back for sure.
(4)Jaime C.
My husband and I tried out the new Brickside Food & Drink last night at their "soft opening". We went because the Capitals were playing and we heard they had a lot of TVs. The set up and decoration of the restaurant is very nice. Also, being their first night open, the service was good. It did get pretty busy. We were quickly seated and shown the menu. We peppered our waitress (Theresa) with a ton of questions and she was reasonably knowledgeable about the menu. It is a pretty standard mix of Bar and Grill fare. Pizza, burgers, ribs, and some fish dishes. The menu reminds me of the Majestic's - bar food with a fancy twist - the pizza has Armenian cheese, the sliders are a mix of shrimp, lamb and beef, etc. For ambiance and service I would give Brickside four stars. The reason for the two stars is the prices are quite high for the food. I understand the high beer/wine/liquor prices because I know Montgomery county has a monopoly and charges restaurants a lot. However, the entrees do not come with any sides, those have to be ordered a la carte which gets to over $20 a dish. Which is too much for the quality of food we experienced last night. We started off with the calamari ($8.95) and it was well cooked but otherwise pretty standard. The sauce that came with it was advertised as spicy but it was not. A little lemon would have helped. I had the pork tenderloin, which is basically a Milanesa. It was a little salty but overall good but at $18.95 I expected more. My husband got the ribs and he was very disappointed. There was a lot of gristle, it was a bit over done and the BBQ sauce was not great. As a side we got the roasted cauliflower ($5.95 more). It also didn't have a lot of seasoning and was sitting on top of some sort of sauce that we think was just mayo. We then ordered dessert. I got the Blood Orange Creme Brulee ($6.95) and my husband got the Chocolate tortino ($7.95). I was disappointed with the Creme Brulee - It was a fine Creme Brulee but I didn't really get any blood orange flavor. The tortino was good but the marinated berries was just a few strawberries on top. For food a solid two stars and since this in the end is a restaurant I will go with that for the overall score. We will probably return but just for the bar side or if they run some decent happy hour specials or a half price burger night but I don't think the entrees are worth the prices.
(2)Lindsey W.
We stumbled upon Brickside during their soft opening and sat at the bar. We spent time during dinner chatting with one of the owners who was lovely and remembered us on our second visit a week later. They were still testing out the menu but everything we had was great! the menu has a American feel with a Mediterranean twist to it. I had the coconut shrimp appetizer and a pasta entree. My boyfriend got their wings special and a pizza. I posted photos of our meal on yelp and everything was great. I like that the owners gutted the building from the previous tenants and they installed garage doors on the front to allow it to be open air in the spring and summer. Garage doors seem to be the theme with Bethesda restaurants. I can't wait to go back for their hard opening on the 15th!
(4)Kelly M.
This was my second time visiting this restaurant. This time my server was Julienne. Pat seated us and he was super helpful and friendly but im leaving this because i was impressed with Julienne. She was fantastic, knew the way to ask if you needed things without being overly present or interrupting and always with a smile on her face. She was also incredibly honest. I asked about a dish and she didn't bs me and tell me she had tried it, rather she was honest, told me she hadn't had it before but gave me a recommendation based on what she had tried. My first experience was great as well but I unfortunately didn't catch the name of our server. The bussboy Wayne was always on top of things while still not being overtly present or interrupting. The food was also great on both occasions. I had the roasted mushroom Flatbread this time and the burger the last time and my friend had the stuffed french toast (julienne made sure to tell us it was the last oder available and got the order rung in right under the wire). I hung out for awhile longer and Brittany the bartender was busting her butt, running around and doing great as well. It was a great experience overall, a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere with a number of screens tuned to the football games and I look forward to coming back again soon :).
(5)Bill H.
I dropped in because it was a beautiful day outside, the large windows were open and folks were having a good time. Service was decent and friendly. I had the big max burger. It was cooked perfectly medium rare - just as ordered. I tried the Pimms Punch. It seemed watery to me but I like my Pimms with lots of Pimms, fruit and just a splash of soda. I'll eat here again.
(3)James R.
They got 3 stars because their food was amazing, but their service was terrible. Why 3 then, not 1 if the service was lacking? Well here's why. Our waitress was polite. Incredibly nice. Just terrible at time management, and she forgot orders multiple times. Like when we order a second round of drinks, which we never received. The food though I can't say enough about, probably the best "bar" food we've had in several years. I read some other reviews, which didn't like the food, so maybe it's hit or miss (like the service?). If I were the management I would have a heart attack thinking about how much money walks out of that place due to the service. The table next to us, and ourselves had to leave cash on the table since the waitress never bothered to come back after getting our checks. Another table by us had a server chatting them up the whole time (his friends we think), but they had a different server too. If we stumble past this place, and can make sure we don't have the same server twice we might give it another shot, just since the food was so good.
(3)Maria D.
NICE
(4)Robin U.
We went on a Saturday night for dinner. The place was surprisingly empty around 7:00 PM. The room is dominated by a gigantic TV screen, which was showing a football game. Other TVs are over the bar. The cocktail I ordered was quite good. I would go back, just for drinks. We both order flank steak with sides and split their specialty fries. For the specialty fries we chose truffle oil fries with hollandaise. The "truffle oil" was oddly sweet. The hollandaise did not taste like hollandaise. I put them aside. The rest of the food, when it arrived, was luke warm, not hot. It tasted okay but when I asked for steak sauce the waitress looked at me like I had asked for ketchup on porterhouse at The Palm. I was snootily told "we don't have steak sauce" The waitress looked horrified. Okay, no A-1. Given that I was at a neighborhood bar-like restaurant eating flanksteak in a room with the restaurant equivalent of a Jumbotron playing football, this kind of snobbery was ridiculous. Give me a break. Given the wide number of choices in this area, I doubt we will be back for dinner. For drinks, and especially to watch a game, its fine..
(2)Rachel M.
I stopped in on a sunday for drinks. I didn't realize they dont open until 4pm and I was there around 3:30. The staff was nice enough to take down a chair for me and served me while I waited for my friend. The decor is really cool. Concrete floors, nice bar and garage doors that can open into a patio when its warmer. I had the Pimm's punch which was delicious- i could seriously drink a gallon of that! My friend had a different punch but mine was the favourite. The bartender was really friendly and even brought over some fresh cookies from a bakery they had gotten delivered. Major points. Definitely a good addition to Bethesda. I will be back to try their food.
(4)Jerrod B.
I've been here twice now, and I won't be returning. There is nothing horrible about Brickside, but also on the other hand they don't do anything well either. If you're just going to drink and watch sports it might be a good venue because they have a massive HD TV. Both times I've been here service has been extremely slow, and annoyingly aloof. The first time I went I got what is think was called a BBQ chicken pop, and a cheese pizza. The chicken pop is a piece of KFC slathered in bbq sauce. Not terrible but obviously I can get it much cheaper at any chicken place. The pizza is awful, I mean Sbarro or Little Caesars quality. I chalked it up to just opening and the ambiance was nice so I decided to give it another try a few weeks later. The second time, unfortunately, was just as bad. Once again there was slow, uninterested service. This time I ordered the sliders. Had I seen them beforehand I wouldn't have because they are tiny. For 14.95 I got three sliders that were literally no bigger than a half dollar in diameter. One was supposedly black angus, it was very well done though so all I tasted was the burnt exterior. The other two were lamb and crab cake, they were mediocre at best. All in all, I will not be returning to Brickside. It has a lot of potential, but until it steps its food and service game up, I cannot recommend this place to anyone.
(1)Sara K.
Tried out this new restaurant for the first time last week. The owner picked up the phone when I called to say I was running a few minutes late for my reservation. He was extremely friendly on the phone and even chatted with me for a minute when we walked in a few minutes later. The beer menu was good, and I definitely appreciated the inclusion of a non-sweet rye "punch" on the menu. Our server was very good; she answered all of our questions and didn't rush us even though a couple members of my party trickled in late. My husband gave their buffalo wings a thumbs up, but wished that the size of their dishes (minus the pizza, which I thought was pretty generous) could be larger for the price. But in the end, we didn't really have too much to complain. Everyone was full, and happy with their drinks. The restaurant and bar have large TVs all around, so I'm sure we'll be heading back soon to watch some March Madness. When we went, they had Caps hockey on their screens.
(4)Lisa P.
Only got bar service. The phyllo crusted shrimp was terrible, so so bland, even the relish was bland. I think they ran out of the regular shrimp and I was served four mini shrimp, double negative. Drink service was fine. Definitely wont come back for food.
(2)Mike M.
First visit, drinks and apps, very good. Great service. Very nice looking place. Try the wings, very unique and tasty. Looking forward to going back soon and trying some more menu items.
(4)Molly A.
Atmosphere is beautiful, especially when they open the large windows on a nice day. That said, I won't go back. Have dined here once a week for the last 5 weeks. The menu is very limited, the food -although beautifully presented- tastes only OK and is WAY overpriced, the wait staff all need to learn to smile and the stool-seats are very uncomfortable. The last straw for me was when they over charged my bar tab by $50 for drinks no one in my party ordered (who does jäger bombs anyone, seriously)?
(2)Jonathan E.
Ok, so the fact that its across the street from Freddy's Lobster and Clams makes sense because both restaurants stink. I took my wife and 2 kids here for dinner. It was a Wednesday and beautiful outside. They had their windows open and the restaurant is nicely appointed. Restaurant was empty. That's the only nice things I can say as the food is very very bad. Got cheese pizza and it tasted worse then a Totinos frozen pizza. Got the sampler that comes with the mini burger, crab cake and bbq. Terrible. The burger was overlooked and tasted like eating a brick. Crab cake was terrible. Ordered several apps and they tasted full of oil right out of the fryer. Shame...
(1)Bella A.
I really, really like this place! Not for the food-omg it sucks! Really..why spend so much time making this place look great and hire a chef who can't cook? French fries are good, but don't order any real food. The bartenders are good..quick and friendly with some great signature drinks..the servers are good-even on busy nights! Love the cute little red-head..she has a great attitude under pressure. So come here for drink or 2 and some light food, but don't make it a "real food" night..you're not going to be happy.
(4)David B.
This place is really cool. The bar is nice and large and they have an incredible projection TV screen above the kitchen. I am thinking that this would be a great upscale place to watch Monday night football. Well one can dream of football in July. Alas I digress, I ordered the risotto balls and they were quite good. I also order the chicken sandwich and to be honest was a bit disappointed. Regardless the setting with the open air etc is what one me over. The bartenders were great as well. I am looking forward to my next visit.
(4)Evonne L.
cute venue for a date, mediocre food. loved the exposed brick and casual but classy vibe, but unimpressed with the menu. fiance and i shared the all american and big max burger (and by share i mean we gave each other half of our burgers, not that we shared one burger- i am a foodie and i do love my food fyi) both burgers were similar and similarly dry. friend got the sliders, which looked unappetizing with mini slabs of lamb, shrimp, and ground beef and nothing else. i wouldn't recommend. friend got the beef and veal braised filled tortellacci which looked like a good choice.
(3)Demi D.
I was really rooting for Brickside, but ended up being pretty disappointed. I made a reservation for me and a girl friend for a Saturday evening. Upon arrival at our reservation time, I told the hostess that I had a reservation, gave her my name, but she didn't look it up at all. This was probably because there were several tables open (not a great sign btw) and she was able to seat us right away. The only reason this disappointed me was because I made the reservation via OpenTable and received an email from OpenTable the next day saying that I "missed" my reservation and did not receive points for the reservation I'd made. Not a huge deal, but a bit annoying that the restaurant penalized me for "missing" a reservation. Anyway, once we were seated, it was clear we'd be shouting throughout our meal if we wanted to have a conversation. I'm more than cool with a loud environment when a place is hoppin, but the fact that there were about 6 different tv's were blaring a basketball game and then at 10pm a DJ started playing club music struck me as an odd combination. I still can't tell whether this place is more of a sports bar or a club atmosphere or what, really... As far as the food goes, we had a few appetizers that were okay but pretty bland and nothing special, unfortunately. Drinks were pretty good. I ordered something called Pimm's Punch which was delicious, if pretty weak. However, when I ordered a second one, it not only tasted much sweeter, but was definitely much stronger. Still delicious, but way different. Odd. Service was pretty good. Very kind, very helpful staff. This gives them the 2 stars. I hope I'm not being too harsh, but I was very unimpressed with this place, and will not be returning.
(2)Veronica J.
I went a few months ago for a late dinner with my boyfriend so they may have gotten their act together by now. Service was good. I think our waitress was overwhelmed and they were short staffed as a former waitress I understand so im not gonna hold it against them. I ordered a chicken ceaser salad but the flavor came up short. How do u mess up a Caesar salad my question exactly. We also ordered the rissoto balls to split and they were good but the portion was comical in size. Overall great for drinks but so good for dinner
(2)Ryan B.
Went here the other week to try it out with a friend and see what it is like. Pretty cool spot. It's definitely cleaner than some of the other bars, and the service was great. The only problem with that was there was no host/hostess to seat us when we got there and had to wait a little bit. The food was pretty good, but the prices I think were too high for the food and alcohol. It ended up being a bit pricy for just a quick stop at a bar.
(3)Megan K.
Wow. This place really is LOUD. Uncomfortably so. But, we bought a Gilt City coupon before we read reviews. It's going to expire soon, so off we went. We sat down and told our server we had the coupon for pizza & punch. He said the pizza oven was broken. And then he just stared at us. So we got up & left. Dear Brickside, if you know you have people coming in to use a pizza & punch coupon, make sure your pizza oven isn't broken. And if it is, then proactively think of something else to offer in the pizza's place. Don't let new customers walk out without trying anything. Also, make it not so loud. English was clearly not out server's first language. Nothing is wrong with that, but trying to understand someone with a very thick accent while you're going deaf from the noise in the room is a painful experience. We'll be going back because we don't want to waste our coupon, but we already have a bad taste in our mouths. ***Edited to add actual dining experience. I had given 2 stars, but after dining, I knocked that down to one. Went back to Brickside. We called ahead to reserve a table and let them know we had our coupon. They happily took our reservation and said nothing about restrictions. When we walked in & gave our name, the host told us we couldn't use our coupon in the dining area and it was for the bar only. Fine. But I would have expected that first server and the host when we called to have told us this earlier. The bar was packed, but there were two seats allllllllll the way at the end, by the bathroom. It actually worked out, because it was much quieter in that one spot. Again, this place is LOUD. We had the punches, which were all tasty & decently strong. Usually pre-mixed, novelty drinks are pretty weak, but these weren't too bad. The bartender gave us top-notch service, but she couldn't do much to change how loud, uncomfortable and the food quality. And yes, the food. We got the pizza to share, as per our coupon. It was good, but the crust had the distinct flavor of frozen pizza crust. You know the kind - really well seasoned to try the hide the fact that it tastes like frozen pizza? So that was disappointing. We saw some other apps going out, but nothing looked too special. I also witnessed a server waiting for drinks wasting time flirting with a guy who was clearly not interested. Her drinks were up, but there she was, chatting loudly & obnoxiously with some poor guy who was trying to get back to her friends. Other than our bartender, I was very underwhelmed by the quality of service and the lack of prepardness & knowledge from all staff. The place was packed and I can't imagine why. I have no intention of ever going back to Brickside.
(1)Scott K.
Great drink specials during happy hour. Soups and Pizzas are great too.
(5)Annie S.
The ambiance attracted us to this beautifully designed restaurant but, unfortunately that was all it had to offer. As with many restaurants in Bethesda the food was pricey and underwhelming. We started w/ the risotto balls stuffed w/ mozzarella. The texture was fine but once you bit into them all you could taste was a metric ton of rosemary - it over powered the entire dish. After our perfume-ladened risotto I experienced something I've never experienced before in the roasted cauliflower with tahini - it was both burned and raw at the same time! The sauce was this bland and bitter tahini paste, not tahini sauce but tahini paste! It had no lemon, olive oil or any seasoning what's so ever - just bland, bitter, raw & burned on top. If you want great cauliflower go to Bacchus a few doors down - it's by far one of the best restaurants in Bethesda. There's no need in going into great detail over the rest of the meal - I can just tell you to avoid Fireside they need to take a serious look at their menu and hire a chef that knows what they're doing!
(1)Sabrina M.
I have wanted to try Brickside since they were constructing the restaurant. I am always excited by a new restaurant in the Bethesda area. I went here when I wanted something new to eat and a nice atmosphere. I went on a Friday around 6 pm. I made reservations, but didn't need them. The table seating was abundant and the bar was packed! And it was loud. The fact that they had the outside seating windows open too made it too humid for my taste; especially when it was 93 degrees outside. Poor thinking in my opinion. The loudness and humidity was the Only reason I gave it 4 stars and not 5. The place itself is small from what I imagined, but not a big deal. The menu is small, but the food is packed with flavor and deliciousness. I usually never order appetizers and an entree but today I had to. I heard raves about the rolled risotto and boy oh boy were people correct. The rolled risotto has a nice shell, moist and cheesy interior and the sauce is to die for! Honestly I could eat just this and be completely satisfied. I know for a fact that every time I return, I will order these. My bf is a picky eater and even he ate 1. They come 3 placed in the sauce. Eat slowly and enjoy. One minor/picky issue I had was the water being served. They pour it for you out of a chilled pitcher with no ice into very small water glasses. I prefer a taller glass with ice so the servers aren't coming back to the table every 5 minutes to pour water. I get it, but the place can do without it. For my entree, I ordered a pepperoni pizza. I wanted just a light pizza because I honestly wasn't very hungry and wanted something that would reheat well as leftovers. My bf ordered the chicken sandwich with fries. We shared a bit of our food. I didn't taste his sandwich but he ate it up and said it was fantastic. They give you the option to add BBQ sauce or buffalo sauce but my bf likes his sandwiches dry, but he said the marinade they use was good enough. The fries were good,nothing spectacular. The pizza imo was big enough to share, but then again I don't eat that much to begin with. It was quite good. I enjoyed it much better than a matchbox pizza which tends to be burnt a lot when ordered. Honestly had no complaints about the food. The atmosphere was right up my alley. You can go there after a hard days work and enjoy great food. Didn't get an alcoholic beverage but next time I go I will have to sample. If you're looking for a nice atmosphere and good food, go. Prices are extremely fair
(4)Abbey A.
What a wonderful new place in Bethesda. A coworker and I stopped by for happy hour this evening and I will definitely be back. Great happy hour specials, tasty apps. I look forward to trying their cocktails and exploring their menu.
(4)Megan P.
We have been here several times and enjoy the atmosphere and the nice happy hour specials. The food is average, doesn't seem to ever be enough food and not great. We went today (Saturday for Happy Hour which is why we like this place). Even though there was a sign out front saying there were happy hour specials, we were informed at the bar that they just got a call to not offer happy hour specials and they were about to remove the sign out front. It was 4:30 on Saturday and we were 2 of 4 people in the entire place. We decided to leave after one beer.
(3)Deni P.
Service was subpar; it was obvious they were trying to get you out as quickly as possible. The busboy continuously walked by our table trying to see if we were finished making our stay very uncomfortable. Food wasn't great either and way overpriced; I had to pay $1 extra for BBQ sauce. Won't be back.
(2)N C.
The food is really good here. I love their pizza and their shrimp linguine. The brick wall with Against Prohibition painted on it is very unique and a great touch. I have only ever sat at the bar but I can say their bartenders are fun and friendly and always very attentive. This is definitely a good place to grab some quality food and some drinks. I think this is a fantastic addition to Bethesda.
(4)Kate O.
Second visit and I've had to drop a star off my rating. Food was really not good at all. Hot dishes came out cold and not really done. Then when I wanted to just pay the bill and leave, my waiter was nowhere to be found. The manager however, was standing right there and was looking for tables for people- "Hey, I'm five feet from you, please take my seat, I can't take this food- let me just pay and go", but no, sadly nobody could be bothered. Bad service and bad food. Eventually the new go to Bethesda attraction will wear off and this place will be left with, well, bad service and bad food.
(1)Tyson M.
so I am not sure who came up with the concept, but to me it just does not really work. The menu is just plain weird. If you are going to be a sports bar, be a sports bar, if you are going to be a gourmet restaurant..... Location - check, layout - check, food - not so much.
(2)Sincerely H.
My friends and I just happened to walk by the large open window seating and were immediately pleased with the bustling scene. Servers were prompt and friendly. The hostess was very kind in getting us to a window table as soon as it opened. Great viewing from the window seating. I had a hamburger which was fine. It looked great...could have been a bit juicier. Overall will return there again!
(4)Suzanne S.
Pretty good food, friendly staff. Painful noise level
(3)Carmen D.
Great atmosphere, service and staff but the food was ok. BBQ chciken pop are giant size drumsticks that were a little undercook, very messy. Also, the pizza roll the dough wasn't baked thoroughly but flavor was good. They also ran out of hummus, I guess it's not freshly made maybe store bought? I think in time the food will improve.
(3)Carolina R.
I will not give up trying to find jewels in Bethesda, since all the restaurants here are chain-like and offer expensive bland food. Brickside is typical of a Bethesda place. Nice place with mediocre and expensive food. It's a bit of a glorified bar with an ambitious menu that they don't quite deliver well. We had the crab artichoke dip, which was dripping in oil and lacked taste. I had a glass of a shiraz that was quite good though 8 dollars on happy hour is expensive for a glass of wine. We shared a burger with fries. The fries were alright. The burger was tasty but tiny, and with not the right burger-bread ratio. Too much bread! I wouldn't necessarily go there again. Also because their HH specials were not that special.
(3)Sweet B.
Good happy hour. Food was the worst. The pizza was actually worse than any microwaveable pizza any of us had ever had. Go to drink cheap, not to eat . . .
(2)Natasha B.
This is the first place I've been in Bethesda and it was a Wednesday night... but I liked it. When I sat down I was a bit surprised at how long it took the bartender to acknowledge me, since it was slow, but after that, it was great. I had the piedia flatbread, ceasar salad, and a couple of DC Brau beers. Really liked the corruption IPA. The bartender was nice and checked in at appropriate intervals. It was a yummy and chill dinner. Will go again.
(4)Sonj H.
Bethesda Bar with good energy and service, basic bar food and a good happy hour. They have a bunch of fun drinks that are really inexpensive.
(3)J J.
Great atmosphere, friendly service, big tv over the kitchen plus more TVs throughout, and the brunch was awesome. Our table had stuffed French toast, waffles, scrambles, wings, fried chicken and waffles, bacon, really delicious toast, mimosas, americano coffees, and amazing bloody Mary's! The Bloody Mary was spicy and so so delicious, with bacon! I'd suggest the waffles and chicken and waffles. :)
(5)Collin S.
Arguably, Bethesda's best bar. Actually, I'm just kidding, there's no argument. You want to catch a game? You want wings? You want to get drinks? Well, you could go to Rock Bottom, but really, why would you do that?? Great staff, decent food, awesome atmosphere. Check it out.
(5)Savannah G.
Looked forward to having brunch here, but never get the chance. Walked in and was not greeted, didn't know if we were to seat ourselves or what. A young man in a brick side tee shirt stood by us and said nothing for a couple minutes, then walked away. Finally a waitress asks if we had been helped, and I ask if we seat ourselves and she said she could seat us, and we followed her to our table. We waited at the table for ten minutes and finally decided our money was better spent elsewhere. Definitely felt like an outsider in that restaurant and didn't get a very good impression of the local restaurants here in Bethesda. We came here for my husband's treatment at Walter Reed.
(1)Erin B.
Brickside is a welcome addition to downtown Bethesda. There are plenty of places in and around the Cordell corridor that provide drinks to the sports-watching masses. Brickside serves that crowd and their girlfriends too. Brickside's Prohibition theme has created a nice atmosphere, with warm exposed brick and gleaming white subway tiles. The Edison bulbs give off a warm light that's not too bright for late-night, and they're a welcome change from the neon glow of most bars. While I was busy pointing out the decorative touches, my boyfriend was staring happily at the large projection TV showing the Capitals game. There's a few smaller flat screen televisions above the bar, and one in the front room. No matter where you are in this place you'll be able to keep up with your team. Brickside carried over their Prohibition theme to the drink menu, and thirsty patrons benefit. For $8 you can have your pick of the house punches. They're mixed with period moonshine, Pimms and Rye and served in mason jars for added authenticity. I've had all of them, and you really can't go wrong, but if you forced me to choose I'd suggest the Pimms Punch or Pink Murder Punch... or Moonshine Punch. Alright, I can't choose. Have them all, but not in one sitting... those punches pack a wallop. The rest of the drink menu is very extensive, they've got a beer for everyone and every price point- from $3 tall boy Pabst Blue Ribbons to $7 pints of imports and microbrews. They've got 2 ciders to choose from. Their wine list is respectable. My indulgence is ordering a glass of Cava, mostly because they serve their bubbly in retro wide-mouthed glasses. It's a small touch that doesn't go unnoticed. I've eaten here a couple of times and had good experiences. The first time I went my boyfriend and I split the Aged t-bone steak alla Fiorentina. It was a generous portion and perfect for 2. The steak came out slightly overcooked, but not enough that I raised the issue. On the side we ordered the fingerling potatoes with artichokes and they were delicious. I kind of wish that we had ordered 2 so that I didn't have to share. The second time we were there for a friend's engagement party and were able to sample several of the appetizers from the menu. The risotto balls were moist and flavorful, the hummus had a nice creamy texture and the perfect amount of garlic. The Anitpasti had a nice variety of fresh meats. All in all, everything we tried that afternoon was delicious and we were a very happy group. Since so many people have raised the issue of pricing, I feel compelled to comment. While buying the side to your dinner at an extra cost is a bit uncommon, I didn't find that it priced our meal out of the range that we would usually pay. If you're really against the concept I suggest that you stick to ordering pizza or pasta so that you don't feel the need to have an extra side of veggies or starch. In my opinion the drinks are priced perfectly- high enough to keep out the rowdy and the newly 21 crowd but low enough to encourage young professionals to stop by. It's nice to have a neighborhood bar that caters to the 25-35 crowd. Things that go into this space have traditionally been cursed, but I think Brickside will finally make a success out of it. I know that we'll be back.
(4)Greg B.
Very good burger place. excellent flatbread very good service
(3)Doug B.
I hold monthly luncheons and happy hour events at this location and the food is always great and the staff is very friendly. From wings and burgers to specialty pizzas... they do not disappoint. Can't wait for the next event.
(5)Lloyd S.
after a long wait for 3 salads in an almost empty restaurant, one salad came out totally wrong. another salad came without the skewed shrimp. after another wait, 4 puny tasteless shrimp were served. the waiter agreed they were pretty underwhelming, but communicating to the manager brought no action. the only vegetable in a grilled vegetable salad was cauliflower. the grilled chicken was mostly tasteless. the salad otherwise was just greens. no cukes, no tomato, no onion, blah. the wedge salad was a pretty skimpy wedge of iceberg lettuce and otherwise disappointing. but salads were pretty pricey nonetheless. the salad was served with a single sliver of toasted baguette that was inedible, and no other bread was offered with salad. most importantly, management could care less. despite telling the manager of the kitchen problems, he never appeared to apologize, ask if he could do anything, ask if things were okay or offer to make anything right. a bar masquerading as a brunch spot. don't be fooled.
(1)Taylor B.
Came here for date night around 7:30 on a Wednesday. The seats by huge open windows were great, and what had originally attracted us to the restaurant. The air unfortunately didn't keep us from being unwitting participants in the trivia night happening in the restaurant, which was very loud. There was a huge group of folks packed in for trivia, although aside from them we were almost the only people there. We both ordered punches (I got the Pimms and he got the Pink Murder), both of which were incredibly weak and tasted like juice more than anything else. Yuck. The punches were on special for $5 each, but that was still too much for these sugar-loaded drinks. Despite the lack of patrons, food took 40 minutes to get to us after ordering, and I was underwhelmed especially considering the wait. He got lobster ravioli which was decent but a little bland/over-salted, and I got fried chicken that was undercooked in areas (I know, I should have sent it back - but I was starving! I just ate the one well-done piece and left it at that). The waitress was almost entirely non-existent, and once the sun set at 8:30 it became so dark in the restaurant I could barely see my food. I'm rating two stars because the ambiance of the window seating was wonderful, and you get a nice view of the street for some people-watching. I'd definitely consider going back when it's quiet to grab a beer and maybe an appetizer.
(2)Ruth C.
Conservative beer options, painfully sweet cocktails-- skip the 12-mile limit. Clean bathrooms and friendly service, enough screens to fill the small, naturally lit space. Margherita pizza was alright, but the potato gnocchi knocked my socks off: earthy flavors complementing chewy pillows of goodness. Rib meat was sparse but reasonably tender. My only knock on this hit was not enough sauce. I'd get it again, but I'll be back to try the polenta fries too.
(3)Ling W.
We'd reserved a large space near the bar for a large party. Instead of being overwhelmed by our numbers, the staff were quick and attentive. Nice job!
(3)R M.
This is the best pub food in Bethesda. Good drinks, great bartenders. The burgers are fantastic. Crab dip and artisan fries are awesome. Great place to go for a night out or to watch a game on a Sunday. Great neighborhood bar.
(5)Ashton T.
I only came here for a burger and a bloody for brunch. I'm so glad I did! The black and blue burger (bacon and blue cheese) was the most amazing burger. I actually called my boyfriend to tell him how great it was. The bun is super fluffy and not at all bready or over powering. The Bloody Mary was old bay rimmed and incredible as well. Soooo awesome and such a cool place! I sat in the cocktail area and had Theresa. She was sweet and kind, didn't feel like she was pushing me out, which happens when you dine alone. All around, great great place.
(5)Will B.
If you love wings come here. Honestly they are insanely good and different from anything else you will try. They have specialty fries to choose from as well that are awesome and that you won't find anywhere else. Did I mention the wings? They are huge.
(5)Brandy H.
My husband and I had visited Brickside before, actually 3 days after their grand opening. We enjoyed ourselves and so we made it a mission to head back to actually eat here instead of just drink. We had some errands to run in Bethesda, so we took this opportunity to revisit Brickside. We arrived right as happy hour was starting (Happy Hour starts at 4pm-7pm). Hey, guess what? Their happy hour prices are in the entire restaurant during that time and not just at the bar! Awesome huh? The hubby and I decided to sit at one of the great high top tables by the open/bayish windows. The weather was perfect and the view was of a cute Bethesda street. The happy hour prices are pretty good, draft beers on special, $2 off appetizers, $4 house wines and rail drinks. I was wanting a beer, but not any of the drafts they had (which were pretty good, but just wasn't in the mood). The house wines were Pino Grigrio (meh) and Cab Sav (I wanted something light, but not sweet, so neither of these options were working for me). So I opted for the Brut for $9, not on happy hour special, but oh well. The hubby ordered a Corruption from DC brau and we placed our orders for food. I decided on the mussels appetizer and the shrimp skewers app. The hubs ordered the bruschetta appetizer and the black and blue burger. Honestly, everything was great! My favortive part was the perfectly sliced bacon pieces placed beautifully in each little open mussel. Now that is what I call quality control. It was quite yummy. G's burger and fries were good and the shrimp was perfectly cooked. The bruschetta was light and flavorful. The only disappointing item we had was the Brickside cocktail, which we both did not care for. It was supposed to be a spin on a martini with absinthe, but just ended up tasting like lemon juice, too weak and had nothing going for it. Our waters were always full, our waitress was fine and we left satisfied and ready for the rest of our evening.
(4)Victoria V.
Ate here for dinner. The chef (who is a woman!) delivered our food which was a treat and it all came quick and hot. We had the American Burger and Fried Chicken and Waffles. Best burger in Bethesda hands down, and fried chicken was juicy and crispy. Awesome little spot. Server was a little slow with drinks and checking back to us (we wanted more ketchup and a side of mayo, took a while before our server came back to check on us).
(4)Corey W.
Food was great and the drinks were fantastic. Service wasn't bad, but not great. $3 PBR tall boys and my wife had some sort of Apple Moonshine drink...which was great. Calamari flatbread was really good; my burger was middle of the road.
(3)Libby F.
I've only been for Happy Hour, but if you are looking to do it on the cheap, Brickside is your place! Here's the deal (as of this review date): HH 7 days a week $2 throwback cans $3 Miller Lite and Yuengling drafts $4 premium drafts $5 craft drafts $4 rails $4 house wine $5 bombs $10 lite buckets 1/2 off select apps (not all apps; selections vary day by day) It's a fun place to gather with friends. Food (apps I tried ) is mediocre at best. I like sitting near the front of the bar on a nice day when the walls are opened to expose the street. The rest of the decor adds to a great atmosphere: exposed brick walls and high ceilings. If you drive here, there is a county garage down the street. Be sure to park on an upper level (marked Long Term Parking) for cheaper rates, since Bethesda charges you until 10pm.
(4)Sarah M.
Drink specials are ok for happy hour but the food isn't that great. Also super pricey for what you get. It's my least favorite place to eat in Bethesda. Very nice staff and service though.
(1)Albert L.
Brickside is a relative newcomer to the Bethesda area, but the owner is a seasoned veteran in the industry. The ambiance and decor is simple and straightforward - exposed brick, large lettering, a long bar with plenty of seating, lots of wood everywhere. It's cozy and large at the same time. I only had drinks during HH here, but the service was very friendly and attentive. So far, it's an average place that has lots of potential. If they can figure out something that will really make Brickside stand out from the rest of the crowd (such as expanding their in-house cocktails offerings), it could really do well.
(3)Chris J.
Surprised by the low rating, but I guess I have come here on good days. Excellent food, great staff. I have been here for brunch and champagne, great experience. The main projector for sports games is perfect for viewing with friends. I plan on coming back here for Wizards games and college football playoffs. Meaty wings and good specials at late night as well as weekly happy hour deals. Will come back!
(4)Stewart W.
At least this place has life, in what seems to be a declining old Bethesda. Friendly, efficient service, busy. A great place to be anonymous on a business trip. Mussels edible, which is a bonus.
(4)G C C.
Despite the owners/chefs' attempt to make this something more than a sports bar, dining there at 6:00 p.m. on a weeknight turned into a somewhat-noisy affair. Separated from the bar by a partial wall that the sound came pouring over, there was no way to escape the Happy Hour crowd at the bar. Fortunately, the TV's (only one with closed captioning, alas), tuned to sportscasts, were not also contributing to the din. Service was very attentive--hence three stars. The menu--sports bar/bistro, but one won't starve if you crave not a burger. I just wish I could have been able to read what was being said on-screen when I did care about a sportscast, and to not compete so much with the energetic bar-seated crowd so to converse with my dining companion. As mentioned, the faux-rustic interior is ecclectic and fun. But a speak-easy...not quite. No real distinction in the three "classes" of draft beers was evident. Perhaps one must ask, but that sounds like a beverage choice is being made based on price. The list should be ample enough for anyone not expecting a brau-haus. Happy Hour prices make it affordable for more than one round. I took the suggestion of other reviewers and tried the spinich & ricotta flatbread, and it did offer that European-esque crispness to the bread, and ample flavorful ingredients. The noise level was so high to make conversation a bit difficult--we opted to move elsewhere for dinner, unfortunately. I hope to give B's F&D a try another time, certainly not during any special sporting event, unless I just want to join the roar of the crowd. Given a chance to sample more of the menu, I'd like to give them the chance for a fourth star. But the Happy Hour noise level (which has driven me out of another Ballston/Bethesda chain establishment, to remain nameless) will keep them forever without five stars.
(3)Samantha L.
This place opened up just across the street from me. It caught my attention mainly because of the HUGE TVs and projection screen they put in for sports fans. I had a pasta dish, dad had a burger. Food was good. Service is lacking. Our food took a very long time to come out... I did think my pasta dish was a little small tho... I needed a snack about an hour later when i was back home watching TV. Its literally across the street -- and has good food. So -- i'm sure I'll be back!
(3)Pam N.
VERY delayed review: I ended up there with a group for my birthday after a mishap with another bar in Bethesda (that will not be named) when they double booked parties and didn't let me know until the last minute. She was nice enough to call the owner of Brickside, who honored all of the specials they had offered us at the other (not to be named) bar. Most of the group had never been there before - the ambiance was cool - upscale sports bar, but not too upscale and not too sports bar. Everyone had a great time there. The service was excellent, food was delicious (truffle fries -- yum!) and drinks were STRONG (so watch out!). The owner couldn't have been nicer and really salvaged what could have been a big disaster!
(5)Maja M.
The decor was really nice. Kinda contemporary/industrial. Really liked the decor, & they had these really great large mirrors in the bathrooms & right outside of the bathrooms. This is a very aesthetically pleasing restaraunt. Unfortunately, that's were is ended for me. We went on a sunday afternoon. When we arrived there were only 4 other tables. But the waitress was not very attentive. There was this guy refilling our drinks, but either he was new to the restaraunt buisness or improperly trained. He would only refill one persons class & then leave the battle on the table, and he did not even refill the person's glass that was empty. (We all ordered water, and they serve it in these glass bottles). Then one time he brought out a new bottle but didn't refill any ones glass. But as he was putting the bottle on the table he reached directly over my glass and as he placed the bottle down his arm actually literally touched all over the entire rim of my glass. After he put the bottle down he just left. He did not apologize or bring out another glass. I was so dumbfounded. I have never experienced this. Now lets get to the food. It was just okay. My aunt had the pizza which was really preatty good. I had the potato gnochhi w/ beef which I did not like. I kinda ended up scavenging off everyone elses plates. My cousin had the slider trio, she said it was just okay. I had some of her crab cake slider because she did not like it. It was blandly seasoned. The sauce that was on it was pretty good. My mom was the only one that really enjoyed her meal. She had the grilled chicken salad. We all said that all in all we came, we saw, we experienced, but none of us enjoyed the food enough to want to return to this place. The only thing we all liked was the decor. Like I said the service was bad, and the food was subpar. This is a new restaraunt/bar that only opened a few months ago; so, there may be some issues they need to workout. The space looks like it would be a good place to hangout, but not a place that you would want to go to for good eaten. Also, their music was way too loud. That is one of my pet peeves. I hate when the music at a restaraunt is so loud that you have to yell to hear what each other is saying.
(2)jordan f.
The answer is no....what is your question? Lame...beyond the TV's, no reason to visit. Went to watch a world cup game Saturday at noon. Told only the brunch menu is available...asked about kids options. Server left and came back after checking...no kids menu. Asked about sliders. Server left and came back after checking....no sliders. Asked about other options from lunch menu, which sounded amazing....server checked and came back...nothing beyond the brunch menu. Clearly we were not happy, but no manager came over. Ended up ordering side of fries and a flatbread. Fries were good, flatbread was small and not appetizing looking. Left at halftime and went over to pizzeria de marco.....what a difference! All they wanted to do was please. Unlike Brickside, they wanted to help. They wanted to our business. It's too bad that Brickside has this poor approach to customer service and business.
(1)China S.
My sisters and I threw a party for our sister at Brickside a few weeks ago. The staff was super accommodating with all of our requests, even helping us hang decorations. I felt compelled to write another review though to call out our server, Theresa. We had a HUGE group, definitely filled our section to overflow at times, and Theresa was completely on top of things. Even with all those people there, she refilled waters without asking. She was there asking if I needed a drink refill before I even noticed my cup was empty. The whole party was a success but Theresa was the standout star!
(5)Larry G.
I actually liked this place and they had a good variety of specialty drinks ( I had the "apple pie" drink and it was the BOMB) to choose from and they have good prices for drink. Unfortunately I didn't stay long because I was too busy being CATFISHED by a chick from Tinder (dating app). Man Listen she was twice as wide as me and I'm 300 lbs (pure muscle of COURSE lol). Anyway, the drinks were good. the waitress was as attentive as she needed to be and the seats by the window on a nice day are the move to make. Check it out. I'm going to go back one day, but never on a first-date/meet because that chick ruined the potential for an awesome night! If I go back I'll give y'all an update on the food and more drinks.
(3)Stephen M.
Wings and beer at Bethesda prices. Appeals to sports fans who don't want to stick to the floor when they walk around. Good place to go early in the evening, either for a quick drink or to meet up with friends. Can't see this place as "the destination" for the night, but it's a nice stop-by.
(3)Chinita A.
I met my friend for happy hour on a Wednesday around 5pm. It was just us and a guy at the bar. Man I wanted to like this place. I loved that you can get the HH specials everywhere, not just the bar. I liked that our waitress was attentive as she was training a new girl. I liked how the manager or so I think came to us to ask about the Maryland crab dip AND take the constructive criticism for the new menu item. Did I mention it was just us and a guy at the bar? What got me to go 2 stars was the food. My drinks were ok but the food.... Minus the crab dip disaster I kept my order simple - a bacon cheeseburger. Sadly only the bacon was good. My fries tasted straight from the frozen bag and my burger was hard to chew. I asked my friend about his chicken sandwich and his wasn't as bad as mine. Hopefully the next time the food will allow me to up my stars. If you get there early enough and the weather is warm sit near the open window.
(2)Emilee K.
I LOVE Brickside! It is always a top choice for eating out or happy hour with friends! Great food and reasonable prices! The bartenders are always very attentive, even during busy games!
(5)Anthony C.
I have been here twice and really want to like it due to the nice decor inside and great indoor/outdoor seating, but it falls flat in multiple areas. First off, this is really a bar and not a restaurant. Their menu is very limited and there doesn't seem to be much of a focus on putting out good food. The food is what you would expect at a dive bar even though the decor makes you think it is a finer establishment. As to the bar side, this is a great place to come to for happy hour and over the weekend. It is usually pretty packed and has a great mix of age groups, but don't expect great drinks. When I saw the "Vote Against Prohibition" sign, I got excited thinking that they would have a mixologist working behind the bar with fresh house-made mixers and signature cocktails, but alas that is not the case. Their specialty drinks are "Punches", which is just a variety of highly sweetened drinks that taste exactly like the jungle juice you used to drink in college. Besides that it's your typical beer and wine list. I give Brickside 2 stars for food and drink and another star for atmosphere.
(3)Adam S.
We went there to watch football and they only would let us order from the brunch menu, when my buddy tried to order two things off that menu they didn't even have it, which I find odd since it was empty. I ended up ordering wings which were a special at 1 pm just because football was on and they were soggy and covered with sauce. This was my second time there and both times were awful.
(1)Amanda F.
I've been to Brickside on several occasions, twice for meals and all other visits to meet friends at the bar, and I'm usually underwhelmed each time. The atmosphere is comfortably industrial, casual yet aesthetically appealing, but the noise level is overwhelming even when it's not busy. They could benefit from adjusting the decor to alter the acoustics. Service is inconsistent. Those at the bar are usually awesome, helpful in your drink selection and overall friendly. The table servers get the job done, but without the intention to exceed your expectations. For example, the server forgot to enter one of the orders to the kitchen so one in our group waited longer for his meal. The manager came and apologized, which was nice, but nothing was comped, reduced in price or an extra beer wasn't tossed our way. The food is good, but nothing to write home about. Burgers and sandwiches, pasta and pizzas dictate the menu; flavor is definitely derived from fat sources-meat, cheese, oil, etc. The potato pizza is a highlight. Overall, I use this location for a casual group get together.
(3)Richie G.
Really good burgers! Its very expensive, but it has a pretty nice atmosphere. Not sure I would come back though, there isn't a whole lot on the menu.
(3)Jennifer P.
Loved the open air seating. Drink menu was interesting and comprehensive. Would definitely return for drinks only. Food was disappointing to say the least. The hummus was chunky and too tart, both my husband and I had sliders. The burgers dry and not cooked to order. Service was slow.
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