The Barking Dog
4723 Elm St, Bethesda, MD, 20814
The Barking Dog Menu
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Appetizers
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Salads
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Good Dogs
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Sandwiches/wraps
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Burgers
Healthy Meal suggestions for The Barking Dog
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Appetizers
-
Salads
-
Good Dogs
-
Sandwiches/wraps
-
Burgers
Visit below restaurant in Bethesda for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Bethesda for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
4723 Elm St
Bethesda, MD, 20814 - Phone (301) 654-0022
- Website https://www.barkingdogbar.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 12
- Mon : 11:00 am - 12
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Late Night
Parking : Garage, Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : No
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Divey
Noise Level : Average
Music : DJ, Live, Juke Box
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : Yes
Best Nights : Wed, Fri, Sat
Coat Check : No
Smoking : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
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Mike B.
New things are afoot!! First- this review is posted from the Yelp mobile app!!! Woot Woot! One of the most requested features does not have to be requested anymore! Second- the upstairs of the Barking dog has undergone some sort of renovation. It was apparent to me and then about 5 different people all independently of each other said the same thing. The walls are much brighter. There are windows where I don't remember windows to be. There's a pool table on the side of the room, ski ball tables, and a game of corn hole set up. Previously I would have compared the upstairs area to someone who was trying to interior design their home "horror-movie-chic". Now it's a lot better and boasts sofas around the room to lounge on. The food that they put out was ... Meh - but I definitely won't hesitate to grab a drink there now. Now that I don't have the feeling like I'm in the middle of a SAW movie :). Good job Barking Dog! Way to spruce things up!
(3)Brian W.
Great place to watch sports in the downstairs bar. I used to think this place was meh.... but they got new TVs and its got a sports bar thing going during the day. I've been here for late night where the open the upstairs for dancing. Its cool, just not my thing so I'll leave it out of my review. I particularly like Barking Dog on week days for lunch when you need to see a game, but want to escape the boss. Its particularly hidden and a good place to let go of work. The food is ok, I would recoomend the nachos
(4)Ruth C.
Three and a half stars. Two lanes of skeeball 50 cents each by the lounge corner, pool $2. One set each of darts and chess. Cornhole on the far side of the dance floor from the upstairs bar. TV channels offer a partial sports package, screens all over. Drinks sized conservatively but the bartenders are ok on efficiency. The mirror on the stair landing seems excessive. A couple decent tap choices.
(3)Brent R.
Nice beer selection, decent specials and the wings were pretty solid - ancho chile and Cajun dry rub were solid....Buffalo style were ok, just above average really but still good, not spicy hot though....and I like 'em spicy...Staff were VERY attentive and friendly. Many TVs, good for sports...will be back to try some other food!
(4)C O.
I had a terrible experience here. I have been to the barking dog many times over the years and while the waiters and bartenders tend to be very friendly and have good service, I cannot support this business after witnessing over and over the way the owner speaks to his employees in front of customers. I've witnessed him make racial, sexist, and just overall rude remarks as he inappropriately condescends both his workers and his customers in front of the public. My most recent and FINAL visit I witnessed him insult an elderly person for miscommunicating their order and that was it for me. I will not be returning here. Very poor customer service skills. He should not be in business.
(1)T H.
Worst Experience EVER! I only went because we had a comingled class reunion and the organizer choose this spot. I ordered 2 drinks, the second Margarita came with a glass full of Ice and a order of wings. After my first drink I was asked if I wanted to open a Tab and I thought sure why not, WRONG! WORST MISTAKE TO DO. When I went to go settle my tab I was GROSSLY OVERCHARGED. When I informed the staff behind the bar UPSTAIRS they said that they would fix it and that they ACCIDENTLY put another persons charge on my tab since we have the same last name. I thought everything was ok until I went to check my account and found out NO THEY DIDN'T FIX IT, THEY JUST AUTHORIZED ANOTHER CHARGED AND LEFT THE OVERCHARGED AMOUNT STILL PENDING. When I contacted the establishment and spoke to a Manager in regards to the situation after I sent an initial email he was EXTREMELY RUDE! He told me that it was my banks faults and not his staff and when they authorize a charge they don't know if the person has money to cover it and it's not their problem. He said he had to look into the situation and wanted me to call back the next day around the same time cause he needed to look at the receipts for the night. He also stated how the wouldn't be in business if they were ripping people off for 15 dollars. I called back the next day and was told that NO MANAGER will be in till 4 and that they would take my number and I would receive a call back. NO CALL BACK AND THE CHARGE IS STILL PENDING ON MY ACCOUNT 3 DAYS LATER and 2 DAYS AFTER I ACTUALLY PAID MY TAB WITH TIP INCLUDED. First and LAST TIME I EVER GO. POOR MANAGEMENT POORLY TRAINED STAFF
(1)Joel M.
Good place to dance on tuesdays but awful place to order drinks. Their margarita and mojito taste like juice. Their salad is ok.
(3)Megan K.
I feel like Barking Dog is the only true *bar* in Bethesda. And sure, it's a little divey (but always clean), and ya they have an off night sometimes, but overall you'll find strong drinks, decent bar food, and friendly service. For food, the Cajun Dry rub wings are actually pretty delicious. The nachos, the bbq, the burgers and sandwiches, the french fries - it's not THE BEST but is all really tasty and satisfying and never too greasy. The service is outstanding. I go there fairly often and every server and bartender has not only done their job impeccably well, but they all have great personalities and engage their patrons. I just wish the upstairs was open more often for off-the-street patrons. And when it is, it's hard to tell.
(4)Greg M.
Place is pretty cool, really digging the in the side of the place. They have a good section of beers on tap that aren't that pricy for the quality that you are getting. Plus their Happy Hour runs till 8:00PM which I am a big fan of. Def coming back here.
(5)Dennis O.
To be fair this is only a review of the appetizers because when I got there the kitchen was already closed: The Good: tater tots with tasty dipping sauce; the mozzarella sticks. The Bad: buffalo wings. They just were not good...like something I could make. Otherwise this place is a typical sports bar. No complaints.
(3)mohammed a.
this is my 3rd time here!! Awesome bartenders and service!! Good food!! 2$-3$ beers on Sundays !!
(5)Karena J.
Unfortunately, I've ended up here multiple times in hopes of a better time. Why do I keep coming back here? The service is variable - okay to horrendous. The worst night was when one of the bartenders stopped serving us to flirt with some girls and turned off the touch tunes after we paid 5 bucks for songs. We were initially okay with this as long as we were refunded the money we just put into the machine. All we got in return was attitude and cessation of service. "Check Please!" The food is just edible. The bright lighting makes me jittery. I love old bars but this one looks unkempt and old without personality. It's like a frat house basement's attempt at being a bar. Beer tap selection okay but not as large as other great places in Bethesda.
(2)Venitra T.
A large group of us visited this bar last night and we had so much fun! It has two levels with different music, and great ambiance! The drinks are not watered down, and they have 3 dollar beer. I didn't get a chance to taste the food but I definately will the next time we go. The DJ upstairs played a wide range of music and I danced the whole time! And the bathrooms were clean! I would recommend this place to anyone that wants to have a good time on a Saturday night!
(5)Lesley G.
The Barking Dog seems like a pretty good place for happy hours. The drinks and foods are average. Nothing to complain about. The staff is nice, as well.
(3)Chris L.
I wish my neighborhood had a bar like the Barking Dog. I expected something pretty snooty (hey, this is Bethesda) but it's just the opposite. It's totally low key, great microbrew on tap (we had Fordham Helles Lager from Dover Delaware), a hum of people talking, a bit of occasional music. Well, and the Wednesday night trivia contest announcements :) that were a bit loud. I wouldn't call this a dive bar, it's too nice - marble-top tables, wood chairs, some leather couches, lots of fancy wood trim etc. Perfect to have a conversation over a drink, maybe watch a game on TV. It's an Irish bar but not aggressively so. Little glasses of Jameson were not cheap at over $6 each but they sure were smooth. Didn't try the food, maybe next time. Spent three nights in town and we came here twice, it's just the perfect place for a nightcap.
(5)Brandon T. L.
Normally come here for salsa on Tuesday, and normally is a lot of people with beginners and intermediates. Fun place and drinks are moderately priced. Haven't been here on a normal night, but I'm sure it can't be as bad as some people are suggested.
(3)Joe S.
Nothing spectacular. Burger was good. I dont know why they ask you for a temperature for the jucy lucy. The middle is filled with cheese. The food was good, beer was good. Nice little neighborhood bar.
(3)Greg F.
Not much else to say. Bethesda classic.
(3)Jennifer F.
I had my son's Bar-Mitzah here and it was amazing. The owners took care of everything and the food was delicious. It was so great that I planned my next work outing here.
(5)Daniel A.
One of the better trivia nights in the area. Wednesdays starting at 7:30, trivia consists of 5 general knowledge rounds and 4 bonus rounds ranging from picture identification to a music round. The difficulty of the questions also range from insanely obvious to ridiculously obscure, which is ideal in my opinion. The rounds move relatively smoothly and score updates are frequent enough. They do not have a team size limit which may slant the odds in favor of larger teams. However I find it terribly obnoxious to have to split up a group of friends for an arbitrary team size, so I prefer Barking Dog's solution. The beer selection is very agreeable. You can get pitchers of PBR or Bud if you are feeling a little thin in the wallet, or you can opt for the nicer drafts like their selection of Heavy Seas or some craft IPAs. Happy hour runs until 8 on weekdays. The food is what you would expect at a bar: nothing to write home about, but good enough for a happy hour after work. The wings were good, but I always feel a little shafted if I pay more than 50 cents/wing. After several failed attempts at trying to find decent trivia, I think I have hit the mark with Barking Dog. This should provide me with some Wednesday night plans at least a couple times a month.
(4)Elizabeth H.
Supposedly the upstairs level of this place is available to rent. I can't review how it is, because the guy that answered the phone was so surly and difficult I couldn't even find out if it was available, or what the charge is. If that is the type of bartender that is going to be working my event, no thank you!!
(1)Seth S.
Barking Dog is a great place. It's pretty much as divey as you can get in Bethesda. That is to say, not that divey, but it's something. Some of the people that can go in there are pretty douchey (hence no 5 stars) but the bartenders are always cool. The place is big enough, though, that you can avoid most of the people you don't want to deal with. They have some pretty good beer specials and a very nice tap list. They have happy hour from 4-8 pm Monday-Friday plus a $3 beer special at all times. The beer that is on special changes. I don't know how often but it's usually different every time I go in. There is a lot of dark wood in the bar, which is typical of a lot of bars. There are two levels. Downstairs is the main bar with several tables and tvs. Upstairs has a few games and a dance floor as well as a smaller bar with a somewhat smaller beer selection. This is probably my favorite bar on this side of Bethesda. So I recommend stopping in if you get a chance. What's the harm? If you don't like it, finish your drink and move on.
(4)Dan M.
I haven't gotten involved in the salsa or skee ball leagues (whaaaa that sounds awesome) they have going on here, but if you're in the area and just looking for a drink, this is a solid option. It's always welcoming, and there's plenty of room to either sit at the bar and chat with the bartender or find a table and get some privacy. The bartenders make it here - always easy to talk to and ready with great recommendations if you're not sure what to get. They have some decent all-night drink specials, too - they change every night, but if you're not too picky, you're bound to find a drink for $3 or $4 that you'll enjoy. And if not, they still have great selections and a happy hour with $3 domestic drafts. This is a no-frills bar, but I always have a good time.
(4)Jason B.
This is not your typical Bethesda bar. As for decor this is what an old school bar looks like, old wood bar, old wood and tile floor, that old school tavern look. Something far out-of-place then the rest of the place in Bethesda, something more that would think to see in the Fells Point section of Baltimore. I happened to visit on a Friday, not long after working hours were over. I would have though it would have been busier. A pretty good crowd was on one side where the tables were, but their was practically no one at or around the bar. Was greeted pretty quickly and would have to say that the bartenders were pretty friendly and engaging. The beer selection, at least draft wise, isn't to bad. Usual mix of your macro brews, but they have several craft brews on tap to balance it out, from some local brewhouses to some of the bigger ones. To my surprise they actually ran a drink special on a Friday, i say that because well you don't usually see a drink special on a Fridays as much as you used to, unless you go early and this one was an all day thing, and particularly less so in the DC area, at least that has been my experience. My drink of choice, and the special, was Red Hook ESB, which as much as a drink beer i have passed on a number of time before. And to be honest, i liked it. I did order food while i was their. ANd the only thing i could tell you is that it was a burger and it came with fries. Can't tell you which one, but they do have several. It was cooked to order, wasn't that bad, but noting impressive, which is why i perhaps can't recall which one i had. All in all it wasn't a bad experience. So why didn't i score it higher. Well several things. While it was a pretty warm day outside, the Barking Dog was like an ice box. Seriously AC felt like it was on full blast. I considered going back to may car to grab a hoodie. Next the vibe, i just didn't feel it. It seemed like their should be something more to this place, but i couldn't say what. But something was missing. Perhaps it was the time of day, maybe things are different later. Or it could have been how i was feeling, didn't have that great of a day. Granted the DC vibe is a bit different then what i am used to, but still, i just didn't feel it. Last was the price. While the drink special was good, think it was $3 for a pint, which for a DC area bar, and for a craft/micro beer (if you want to place Red Hook in that category, which some don't), that's a pretty good price. The food though, well that's another story. The burger ran almost $14 including a couple extra toppings that added to the price. Now ok, it's the DC area, yeah i figured it was gonna be a bit more pricer, the type of establishment besides the fact. What i wasn't expecting was the portion size. Pretty much a normal serving of fries. The burger however, ugh, was in between a slider and a what one would think of a regular sized burger. For $14 i would have expected not only something bigger, i mean a regular sized one would have been nice, but also something a little more impressive and less pedestrian taste wise. Would i go back? Yeah, maybe. Perhaps things are different later in the evenigs/night or on the weekends. But you have a grab bag of establishments in walking distance and nothing really makes me say that the Barking Dog is a must go to.
(3)Lauren M.
We've been here a couple of times with friends. The downstairs has a great local bar, Irish pub vibe. There was an ample number of T.V.s scattered around so you could easily watch games at the bar. The drink options were solid and prices reasonable ($5-6 a beer) for Bethesda. The food was also surprisingly good. I ordered pretzels with crab dip and enjoyed them. My friends' food (burgers) and crab dip also looked yummy. The upstairs of the bar seems to aspire to be a D.C. bar. The booths on the sides are cozy, but the whole room, with its large dance floor and loud music on weekends, gives off a different vibe than downstairs. Note that parking can be a pain on weekends. Look out for parking garages that charge $4 flat rate until 1 am (there's one not too far from the Barking Dog.) Otherwise, you are either going to pay an arm and a leg or circle for hours until you find metered parking. You may also want to bring quarters. The municipal garages still have old-school meters. Also, this bar seems to frequently have kickball parties and other large events. When this occurs, the bar can be unusually loud or crowded.
(3)Tu-van L.
Just your average laid-back chill bar and grill in the heart of downtown Bethesda. Not much of a draw with the food or drink specials, and this place has a fratastic vibe to it with the beer pong and flip cup that usually goes on during my visits. Still a fun place since they have trivia night and other social sports (cornhole! skeeball!). Don't expect anything revolutionary at this place, but for a chill time it's all good. Wow - can't believe it's been that long since I last visited/reviewed this place. Shows how TOO dedicated/crazy I am Yelp world - get used to it!
(3)Rachel P.
This place is cool for just grabbing a beer with friends. It can get a tad crowded, but generally a decent crowd of people. Dancing upstairs can be good depending on the DJ and the music he/she plays. With that being said, I refuse to go their during football season/during a game. This is a D.C. area bar, right? Then why in the hell would you ever have to BEG to have the Skins game on the big screen as opposed to the Giants/Cowboys/Eagles?!?! Absolutely ridiculous. And even after asking several time, they still wouldn't change it. It's a damn shame.
(2)Ali E.
Stopped by to take advantage of the 20$ Bud Light, wings an nachos special during football last Sunday and found a pleasant sports bar slash pub type atmosphere. The beer flowed freely, and the wings were decently spicy though a touch on the greasy side. The nachos were of the pourable plastic cheese variety so I steered clear. Football was on every available surface, though having the volume up on just one of the games made it difficult to focus on one of the other games. I'd be interested to give the hot dogs a shot, but if I come back I think beer will be of primary focus.
(3)Toby R.
I remember when it used to be fun to come here because the club upstairs was awesome. They had this DJ who would take all kinds of requests. Anyway, I haven't been here in a minute; I need to know the 411.
(3)Sarah T.
This review is specific to hosting a party at the Barking Dog, although we have eaten in the restaurant and the atmosphere is great as is the food! My (now) husband and I were looking for a laid back location for our rehearsal dinner, walking distance from our Bethesda venue. After an endless stream of vendors who weren't quite right for us (couldn't work within our price point, didn't seem right for us) we e-mailed Paul, at the Barking Dog. Immediately, he was enthusiastic and a joy to work with. The space, the second floor of the restaurant is very cool, with windows, a dance floor and a 1970's party in a haunted house sort of vibe (we didn't decorate it - I'm sure the vibe is easily converted). The menu was completely flexible, and we were able to change it several times with no problems (thanks so much Paul!). Although our guests loved the food, thought the wait staff was the friendliest ever, and the venue very cool, our favorite part was how much fun the kids in the wedding party had! After a long rehearsal (and a lot of travel), our many young wedding party members (and siblings, ages 1-5) tore around the space, laughing and playing games! Many of our guests commented that this was the first time they had been at a rehearsal dinner where the children were having a blast, as opposed to miserable, and that is all thanks to the great staff and setting at Barking Dog!
(5)Natalie F.
4 stars for the fun sports bar atmosphere and the excellent service, 3 stars for the food. I came here last weekend to watch the Ravens game and it was a fantastically fun time! The waitresses here don't mess around, they are constantly checking on you to make sure your glass is full of delicious delicious booze. There was a private party going on upstairs so I only got to see the downstairs which is perfect for watching a game. They have about 10 TV's in the place with great, loud volume up so you don't miss anything. I ordered the crab dip and tator tots. Both were pretty average and your typical bar food. They have a pretty solid selection of great beers on draft and a full bar. Prices are decent and the location is fabulous. Will be back this Sunday for the Ravens game for sure!!
(4)Jessica H.
This place is a great spot for locals. They play all the local sports (including hockey). The salad I had was HUGE. Well worth the money. Happy hour deals a good too. I went another time for a late night dance scene. It was cool, and there were a bunch of people. However, the dance scene did not start until after 11pm, and by 1 the crowd had dispersed. Def a good happy hour place, but late night maybe dull. I'm going back....Nice bartenders too.
(4)SnackMaster S.
Friendly bartenders in a comfortable laid back dive bar. Has "charm" and a worn in feel. Some people will adore it, others maybe not. To each their own. Not pretentious or a chain like the rest of the strip here. Open an hour later than everything else near it too. 1am weekdays and 2 am weekends. Oh and they serve food all night until they close!! Great for late late night. $3 and $4 beer specials everyday and 20 beer taps with a very good selection of beers, some local. They rotate drafts very often. Post up at the bar and have a few beers and relax
(5)Sahar R.
***Review of Tuesday Night Salsa**** Despite what Patrick Swayze says in Dirty Dancing, sometimes Baby does want to be in the corner. Hidden. Far far away from all other dancers. At least that's what I experienced at salsa night at the Barking Dog, at first. First of all, I made alot of assumptions about this place, especially about salsa dancing here. I mean it's Bethesda, how wild and sexy could salsa dancing at a sports bar be? Secondly, I somehow go all Pruderella while social dancing with all those sweaty mens touching you, ewwww. Third, I always go dancing with intimidating people (I was a dance major myself though), this particular night went out with a couple of amazing dancers/former NFL cheerleaders. The night started off fine. I entered this brightly lit bar and headed upstairs, paid $10, dropped in on beginners class, taught by the every funny Michelle Reyes, where the guy to girl ratio was a little off. Definitely more guys, which means you will not be sitting at all the entire night. Then there was the intermediate class with another instructor, which kinda felt more like a jazz dance class with the tempo and bouncing steps. Me and my friends, promptly got confused and dropped out to watch. Then the lights went low, and it was time for a salsa party. That would be when the salseros come out to play. My friend and I were approached by the sweetest looking little old lady, who sheepishly asked us if we thought the crowd was more advanced. As a beginner, I said it looked to be that way. She blushed, looked nervous, and said "oh well, I'll just give it a try". That lady threw off her shawl and tore up the dance floor with every young guy there. No, that wasn't intimidating at all, especially when she was being spun upside down. And then my friend pointed out a guy in an actual unbuttoned silk shirt and bell bottoms, and said "look it's John Travolta". When I looked, he broke away from his partner, flipped, did the splits, and bounced back up. That wasn't John Travolta, he's some sort of latino James Brown. The hardest working man in the salsa business. As the night continued, the crowd got more skilled, more diverse, and more fun. I won't lie, I sucked, I tried to hide, but found out quickly that there was no parking allowed on the dance floor. And just to give you an idea of how friendly the people are here, as I was walking out people remembered my name and asked if I was coming back to dance. Heck yeah. Next time I won't hide! Oh yeah, the $6 mojitos were pretty good.
(4)Andres S.
Tuesday's salsa music is terrible. Mainly instrumental songs. Where is the "Gran Combo" or "Marc Anthony" or "Gilberto Santa Rosa" or "Victor Manuelle". All the avid dancers think that salsa is just spinning around. Some dancers look like they are breaking free from a straitjacket. And the door lady is like a pitbull with poor memory. You can't go to the bathroom on the first floor and return to the salsa area without her jumping around to check if you paid. Come on, if I'm paying to get in, at least use a wrist band so you don't have to jump out of your seat to check the tiny smiley face drawn on my hand!
(1)Lindsey W.
I love coming to Barking Dog because it's a great neighborhood bar, the bartenders remember your name, your drink, and are willing to talk. I go to the Barking Dog following my Happy Hour Kickball, United Social Sports league games and as well as to watch college or NFL football. I was psyched last NCAA Basketball season they actually were willing to search for my college teams game on the TV and found it (most bars won't even look since I went to a small school). They have $20 unlimited draft, wings, and nachos during the 1pm NFL football games ($30 if you stay for both games) which can't be beat anywhere!! The upstairs bar and room can be rented out and the bar really helps to facilitate activities, events, and private parties upstairs. I've attended Kickball parties, Halloween parties, salsa night, and trivia downstairs and the staff has always been friendly and helpful! District Trivia generally packs the downstairs bar and I know they also had a poker night this past year not sure the details on it. For HHKB they provide tables and cups for flip cup and pong. Salsa night was pretty interesting and I recommend going early for the lessons instead of just showing up later in the evening. The menu changed quite a bit about mid 2011 for the best, I'm a huge fan now that tater tots are on the menu *we got a basket full with a candle for my birthday* and I love to get their grilled chicken sandwich (the bourbon BBQ sauce is the best!). Monday-Friday (4-8pm) they have good happy hour specials with $3 domestic draft & bottle, $4 micro brew, and $5 rail drinks and wine. On Saturday nights they sometimes have live bands or DJ music upstairs depending on the weekend event/band there may be a cover (check the website for the schedule of events). Once the DJ is up and rocking its a loud dance party upstairs on the weekends and is great to attend with a group. Oh Barking Dog you know I'll see you soon!
(5)Ryan B.
Came here with a few friends after playing football. The table was broken, but we're not hard to please. Got our beers relatively quickly, rest of the service was passable, and the food was okay all around. I've been to the upstairs bar for events, but the bartenders the one time I did drink up there weren't very responsive or friendly. Maybe I just had a bad experience. Doubt this will be a go to bar for me, but I won't turn down an invite if others want to attend again.
(3)Kim A.
I will not go back to this bar without buckets full of cash. If you start a tab with a "debit card" you will unknowingly be paying the cost of your tab as well as a separate $50 charge. The charge will be refunded to your bank within 2 full business days. The bank, however, may not have the money processed and back to you for another 3-5 days. This means you are out $50 you were not expecting to pay...hopefully no one overdrafts their account :) I almost did. -------- Response to Bob B. (below) It's great that you have installed an ATM to address this issue. I do however think holding the card would be less of an inconvenience. If you're already in the bar there's very little other reasons you would need your card. If that doesnt work a warning would be helpful. Had I known I would have $50 behing held against my acct. for about a week (a few days until you guys took off the hold and a few days for the bank to actually process it and give it back) there's no way I would have agreed and nearly incurred overdraft fees. I've asked other bars about this (so it doesn't happen again) and haven't found another one who does this yet.
(3)Katherine K.
Another shitty local bar. Boring and bland. At one end of the bar you have a couple of young guys in their power suits drinking their Heinekens, and at the other end you have the old beat up housewives, who look like they should have rollers in their hair and a Newport hanging out of their mouths as they delicately sip on their beers. It's crowded, and most of the patrons look to be only a generation or two away from trailer trash. Maybe this is the kind of bar you need to go to if you get beat up by your 9-5 job. First time, and hopefully last time setting foot in this establishment. OH, the review: Beer, same as the beer you find at your local liquor store Food, same as the food you find at a TGI Fridays Staff, same as the food you find at a TGI Fridays or at your local liquor store. HO-HUM experience!
(2)Alicia G.
On Friday's, I order my lunch from the Barking Dog - usually a turkey club. But I've since switched to order their Friday lunch special - a cheesesteak with handcut potato chips for $5. Love the chips. Tasty and cheap - Go to the Barking Dog! :)
(4)Jae S.
If you are the owner and you are reading my review, please, wash down the whole bar with some bleach. This bar smells like hobo's lounge. When I drink, i want to taste the sweetness of finely blended Scotch whiskey, not wet dog down my throat. It is a local hang out, so they hold local events and functions i.e. kickball, softball after hours. If you see pink, yellow, blue and fuchsia colored shirts, RUN!!! They are rowdy, drunk and all over the place. It will ruin your night, trust me.
(2)Kate A.
A casual bar where you can just chill out with your friends.
(3)Jen S.
Great place for a party! The upstairs room of The Barking Dog is built for fun. Complete with a full bar, delicious hot appetizers, friendly and helpful staff, pool table, sports on big screen tvs, all in the heart of downtown Bethesda. Thanks to "The Dog" for making our event a hit!
(5)Merida F.
I enjoy coming to the dog on a casual weeknight or for a weekend night out. This bar is a way more laid back than other bars in Bethesda, especially on a Saturday night. This would be great if you are just looking to chill out and drink some good beers. I love that they serve woodchuck cider(apple flavor cider) but these can be dangerous since you can't really taste what you are drinking. This is also where I had my first "white gummy bear" which is an excellent shot and I suggest trying it. I joined Happy Hour Kickball and this is the sponsor bar. Great specials on Sundays for food and beer ($8.00 pitchers of Miller lite. ) If you join any of these leagues- they will usually have flip-cup and beer-pong tables laid out upstairs for the players to enjoy.
(4)Amanda F.
Pros: Food...perfect for a dive bar. Cons: Disappointing since the prices were much higher than in a dive bar. Beer...also not cheap. Service...leaves a lot to be desired. Summary: Go somewhere else, unless you like to pay a lot for cheap beer and food.
(1)Morgan G.
This place is great. I went last night for the first time with a friend, and it was trivia night. We had a blast. Our server (can't remember her name ... but she has AWESOME pink hair) was really nice the whole night. We had a question about our bill at the end of the night, and another employee, Bob Brooksbank, went out of his way to help and accomodate us. Great place, great staff, will definitely be back!
(5)Robin M.
First let me start of by saying the only we came in here was because it was called "The Barking Dog" ... hey, we judged a book by its cover and were very pleased. We got in right before the Happy Hour ended and our waiter was charismatic and friendly. The drinks were made very well and the food wasn't bad either. The place reminded me of Cheers in some ways, like everybody knew my name, it was crazy. But forreal, I'd recommend it if you're in the Bethesda area.
(4)Fred W.
Great latin dancing on Tuesday nights, but how do they get away with refusing tap water, and insisting we pay for bottled water? Isn't that illegal? I'd give them 2 more stars if only they were less stingy about that. The DJ'd music was great though, and plenty of people to dance with. Lots of good dancers, and plenty of amusing characters who were almost as incredible as they seemed to think they were.
(2)Izzat A.
Went here for lunch today. Got the blackened Mahi Mahi sandwich to go. It was very very good. It included a ton of fries and a pickle for $9. Service was kind of slow to go and I've heard the owner can be a jerk. I love a place that doesn't have the Bethesda pretentious feel to it. I really liked the place and will definitely come here again.
(4)Will M.
We loved this authentic joint on a Friday night with all the over-trendy places surrounding it. Great draft beer options and BBQ brisket and hush puppies to die for. Desperate fo a good breakfast Sat. Morning, I went back. They don't do breakfast but owner John whipped up a great omelette, accompanied by a good breakfast beer. It was a perfect moment!
(5)Scarlette T.
barking dog all of the times i've been here is darkish and very college bar. if i ever end up here again, i will take pictures of the inside since there don't seem to be any. split-level and empty most of the times i've been here. their beers are decently cold, liquor selection average. plus side: they have decent hours. if i remember correctly, they close at 2? please double check me because actually a bethesda joint closing at two doesn't sound right to me. probably 1am, max.
(1)Monsieur F.
Not a bad spot. Their beer specials are pretty good and the taps taste clean. I only ate here once and that was the $20 all-you-can-eat wings and nachos with all-you-can-drink draft Bud Light. It was for a Ravens game sometime in January. I wasn't blown away by the food. It was an abnormally cold day for this abnormally warm winter. Food wasn't amazing, but it was all-you-can-eat. I also wasn't feeling well since I had been drinking the whole weekend and was trying to start again on Sunday morning. But, if you wanna come here and get some beers and just hang out, not a bad spot by any means.
(3)Jenn T.
Came here on a Saturday early evening, after finding out the bar nearby that was supposed to be showing our college's football game, wasn't going to have it. We heard that Barking Dog had the game, and scouted it out on behalf of about 100 other alumni. The place was empty, which was great for us, because we could take over the whole downstairs. We asked if they would put our game on and if they wouldn't mind us bringing about 100 of our alumni and friends, and they were MORE than accomodating. They had an awesome $2 beer special that they let us have all night, and the food looked pretty good. Our server must have been so overwhelmed, but it didn't phase her at all. We had a great time here, and they really took care of us when we were in a pinch and 10 minutes from kickoff. I would definitely come back if I were back in Bethesda for anything.
(3)M M.
A regular hangout, when my co-worker and I have had a rough day and just need a beer/jack n' coke, and a witty bartender (Christina is the "shizznit"). No pretentiousness here. Drinks are cheaper than most other downtown Bethesda joints. Nothing special regarding the food, though the cajun grilled chicken sandwich is pretty decent. You're not here for the food though.
(4)Cynthia T.
Closed on Sunday which sucks, but we came back for lunch during the week. 20 wings for $14.99 wasn't bad --- liked the regular buffalo flavored wings the best. The best though, was their burger. I think we just got the regular burger but seriously, best we've had in a LONG TIME. Something about the type of bread that they use and the juiciness of the patty just made the burger to die for. My co-worker and I who were in DC on a business trip from Cali have still been talking about that burger.
(4)John K.
For a bar in Bethesda on a Friday night, you figure you can't go wrong. Well, we all can't be right all the time. This place was empty. 1st floor is set up like a bar and the 2nd floor has a dance floor where no one likes to dance. The music choice is schizophrenic (changes between hip hop and euro-trash techno). Beer selection is ok.... My hearing is starting to go really really bad and the fact that I'm not in a crowded place and I still have to yell over the way too loud music....it's overkill.
(2)Spot S.
I went here for salsa on a Tuesday, since I wasn't able to go to Lucky Bar, where I usually go, on Monday. Well, I had to pay $7 just to enter, and then they don't even give you free tap water! WHICH IS TOTALLY ILLEGAL: ccwater.org.uk/server.ph… They make you buy bottled water (a smaller than average bottle for $2). The bartender was very rude as well. If we pay $7 cover just to enter, they should AT LEAST give free water. Main point: Lucky Bar is 100 times better than this place. I still had a fun time dancing, but I'm dissatisfied with the establishment.
(2)Shruti M.
I truly wish this bar had better happy hour specials. Typically they have $2 beers and $1 off drafts...but nothing food wise to munch on. I do recommend the onion rings - very nice done, and the crab dip...yummy!! Be careful of the front steps....after some serious drinking, those steep steps can be quite treacherous. One nice benefit there are a couple $4 flat rate parking lots nearby.
(3)Nat C.
I went out there, because folks had been telling me it's one of the best Salsa nights during the week, and was promptly disappointed. The music was ok, the floor rubber a bit disorienting, and there were just a few good dancers there. If I was really bored, I would make the trip all the way to Bethesda, but honestly, it does not beat places like Lucky Strike on Sunday. That said- as a neighborhood pub it's probably a lot of fun.
(2)Erik F.
Great bar food, drinks, and fun crowd. I visited with a coworker while working in the area. We were seeking a laid back, good ol' bar, within walking distance from our hotel (who really likes to hang out in hotel bars anyway?). We hit a jackpot with the Barking Dog. The sparky young lady bartender was tough enough to handle my banter, and dish some out in return. Our service was excellent and we returned another night. We enjoyed beer and wings during our first visit. The wings were excellent. All in all an excellent american bar with great atmosphere, food, and service.
(5)Marianne D.
SETTING: A few nights STAFF: Train the waitress on a few more drinks and knowledge of your specials and we'll get along much better, but at least the bartender knew what I was taking about and she fore-warned on the Stoli girls. (Kudos) DECOR: Old-School wood. Irish, dark. You know.... Thank you for offering A jukebox to save myself from the TLC you were otherwise trying to offer. Too bad I spent a drink and a half on feeding it. Then again, we all have different tastes so.... DRINKS: Stronger next time, please. But, bravo on the double B-52. Judos for having Stoli girls. ENTREES: Delish. Colorful. Not Irish (Thank you, since they don't like vegetarians very much.) VERDICT: See you again soon.
(3)Sandra S.
Great Upstairs!!
(3)andres l.
I am a fan of the place. Still do not know exactly why, but I like this place. Service is okay, food is very good for a bar, and the beer selection is great. The selection is change constantly and the draft list is about 13 all the time. This is a bar to go with friends and stay there to have a good time. Also, the upstairs dance bar is good to just go crazy and dance a little.
(4)Brena H.
The bartender was fabulous! I had such a great time with my buddy. It was a laid back quiet Tuesday evening. The crowd was diverse and wonderful. The young military man sitting next to me had great music taste and really set the joint in the mood for a good evening. A great diverse beer selection (the only bad choice was the Kansas city wheat beer which should be classified lower than bud light or PBR, MUCH lower) and I enjoyed my dinner perfectly! I had the cajun Caesar wrap and it was delish! The lighting made the place comfortable. The only thing you have to be careful about is the sobriety steps for when you leave! HAHAHA Not your average 7" step! What else can I say? The sports were on the TV, the atmosphere rocked, and the service was fab! I had a great time!
(4)Paul M.
Bless me Father for I have sinned. It has been 5 years since my last confession. These are my sins: 1. I think impure thoughts. 2. I abuse my body. 3. I have walked past The Barking Dog one thousand times before I ever went in. Today I went in and I loved it. First of all, this is the perfect American bar. Not too fancy, not too shabby, they have great beers on tap and they do all the basic bar food well. Flat screens and sports channels. No New York Times behind the bar, and it's not an island bar, but hey - if it was perfect I would be living there. Secondly, at least this afternoon, the bar staff consisted of the smoking hot Caitlin. Imagine a blonde Brianne C. without the ciggie and the eye shadow. I was in awe. Ruthlessly efficient, not much chat and working hard. I admire people doing their work and doing it well. Kind of made up for the fact that I was not working at all. All of that combined with a few friendly faces around the bar made for a marvellous afternoon. I'll take three Hail Marys and a Glory-be and be on my way.
(4)Patricia P.
One of the few independently run bars on this side of Bethesda. It's a breath of fresh air among all of the other corporate/large restaurant group options. Many of the other options in this area claim to be bars but are really restaurant focused, this is a good old dive bar where you can go after work and enjoy one or two or five drinks in a comfortable laid-back environment. It's a popular spot for the Bethesda hospitality industry professionals to kick back when they finish their shift. My best experiences here have always been Monday to Thursday when Owen's bartending. He really is one of the greats. More often than not the service I receive at many places is pretty lackluster so it's nice to go into a place as unassuming as the Barking Dog and receive service that would be top notch anywhere. Owen is one of the few bartenders around that bothers to introduce himself and gets to know you. It's amazing...he actually cares about who you are and what's going on in your life! Whether you're the only person at the bar or one of a hundred you'll always receive the same standard of service and he'll do it with grace even if it is 10 deep at the bar. If you come on a first date or have friends in from out of town he will make you look like a total boss. So I recommend going in for a beer at the bar after work - maybe stick around for trivia, karaoke, or catch the game - you'll have a good time.
(5)Shaun O.
I finally made it here for Salsa night (Tuesday nights starting at 7:30pm). The beginner class had a nice mix of guys and gals. The only thing was it also had some intermediate level follks mixed in, which made it a little bit intimidating for someone who is just starting out. We went over a few basic steps and kept adding a lot of new steps on top of that. I tried the intermediate level as I had one gorgeous girl pull me into the class....however I came to my senses and realized that I was out of my league (with the class that is). Open dancing at 9pm brought out a lot of people to the dance floor. It was impressive to the see the number of folks out there dancing. I just hope one day to get better at salsa so I don't embarrass myself....practice practice practice.... My only critiques were that the beginner lesson seemed to go a bit fast, and it seemed like a lot of people there had done salsa already (while it had been 4 years for me).....anyway, i hope to bet here next tuesday night.
(4)Melissa C.
I am new to Bethesda and I have been to the Barking Dog twice. While the place is nothing fancy (unlike most other places in Bethesda) it's a great place! If you're looking for a local place to kick back and relax in a very casual atmosphere - this is the place! Good food and great service.
(4)J C.
I really like this place :) It's nice when you inadvertently stumble upon something you've been looking for: an honest-to-goodness "regular folks" bar. No fuss. No pretense. It's not trying to be anything: it just is. I met a buddy of mine in Bethesda for some Pizza Zero goodness recently, and when we got done we realized that it was only around 8 and would be criminal just to call it a night. So after finding our first few choices packed tighter than a brick sh*thouse, my friend remembered The Barking Dog. This ain't a fancy place, and it's not a first-date place. But it's got a certain charm. Beers on tap are decent, and I saw one of the bartenders pour a few ounces in a whiskey glass to a customer who had never tried a pale ale before. Nice touch! The bartender I had was also surprisingly honest. I asked if they had any IPAs on draft, and he said they did, but that the tap was giving them some trouble, and in any event, people didn't seem to like that particular brand. I didn't have any food, but it's typical deep-fried bar munchies. The prep area was directly to the left of my barstool, so I got a good glimpse of the food on offer. Onion rings seemed to be a big seller, and they looked decently-sized and had a nice, golden coating to them. Now, my view is that no matter how many beers they have on tap, no matter how good their food is, it's the patrons that really determine whether or not you want to go back. Let's face it, you can drink cheaper at home, so you're really going for the environment. The people I saw were refreshingly normal, plain-jane/joe types. People just out to drink and have fun. Not one "so what do you do" type that I could discern :) The verdict: I wish I could find a place like this in Ballston. But even if someone tried to recreate The Barking Dog, I'd have to give it a month before one of the following groups took it over: 1. pink shirt and flip-flop guys with hedgehog hair with their overly-hoochied girlfriends in shoes they have no idea how to walk in. 2. kickballers!!! 3. some lameass college alumni group. Not the good kind, but the "can't let go of college" kind. Having said that, I can recommend this place, and will gladly return if I'm in the area.
(4)Allan H.
Service was really slow and the bar was not well staffed. There were only two bartenders causing a 20+ minute wait for a drink. There were over 10 people washing glasses. They couldn't take a couple of those guys and have them pop open some beers? Stupid management of resources. If you walk out to smoke, you basically have to wait in line again to get back in. There's almost no way to push past the crowd and into the skinny ass door. And apparently, they get overcrowded very fast and if you're trying to get back in, having a hand stamp does nothing for you.
(2)Sam H.
I just like this place for some reason. THis is a bar where you want to go to kinda hang out with your friends. It's kinda weird that it has nights when it's totally dead and nights where there is an actual good crowd. No idea what dictates it.I guess the one good thing is that it's usually slow enough that you can get to know the bar tenders pretty quickly. Which means.... you can get the hook ups a little bit sooner. Seems like a good place to set social activies.
(3)Ray W.
Racist establishment? Nice place to have a beer after work, but only if you're Caucasian apparently. I walked in around 8 pm on a Wednesday night and was ignored by three different staff members (not sure of their positions). Two of them I asked about seating and they walked past me as if I weren't there. Then I looked around the place and didn't see a person of color ANYWHERE, not so much as a busboy! In their defense I will say that the place was very crowded and the staff appeared very busy. Still, it's no excuse not to at least acknowledge me. Will NOT be returning.
(1)Ju L.
Pros: Tuesday night salsa lessons + dancing for $10. Cons: Go on the last Tuesdays of the month if you want to deviate from traditional salsa. Overstay your meter if you want a $45 parking ticket.
(2)Alex O.
Let me be straight-up honest in saying that I don't think there are any truly great bars in Bethesda. Some of the restaurants have bar areas that do double-duty as decent lounges, but as a whole the real bars are basically interchangeable generic sports bars that morph into nightclubs at night and on weekends. I've worked here for five years so I've seen more of them than I'm proud to admit: what can I say; sometimes convenience trumps the effort of travelling to other areas with better bars after work. So with that in mind I'll just say the Barking Dog is my favorite Bethesda bar. I usually come here after work once every couple of weeks with a co-worker or two and I like the feel of the place. The bartenders and staff are attentive and friendly. The beer selection is better than average for Bethesda (which, I'll admit, isn't exactly saying a whole lot) and IMO it's reasonably priced. Most nights have some sort of very cheap beer special on watery domestic stuff. They have an internet jukebox, so I can load up mixes featuring everything from Carl Perkins and Wanda Jackson to Magic Sam and Otis Redding to Pavement and the Replacements. Finally, at least when I go, the downstairs is never uncomfortably packed, and there is a decent enough amount of space that you never feel cramped. The old wood feel of the place has a warm, worn-in charm. Crowd is generally a little older and more "happy hour office worker type" as opposed to the young, drunk, post-frat boy preps that tend to dominate Caddies and Blackfinn. I think it contributes to a mellower, more casual, friendly vibe with a decidedly lower douche-factor, which is quite unique in Bethesda. That being said, I really don't know what this place is like on a Friday or Saturday night after six or seven o'clock - for all I know, it's as lame as everywhere else in B-town. Food is typical bar grub but the burgers are usually pretty good and the wings are above average, especially the Cajun dry-rub wings.
(3)Roz D.
Horrible salsa lessons, good beer, blah food.
(2)Dan B.
This place was a lot cooler when they had $2 Natty Boh's all day. Other than that it's pretty much the dive bar of Bethesda (whatever that means)
(3)Esther O.
Eh. I was not impressed. Went for a drink, which was fine, and the onion rings were perfectly good, but... eh. That's my overall impression of this place. Just nothing special or particularly worth returning for. So many better, nicer places to hang out.
(2)tamar m.
I constantly hear horrible things about this place, but the one time I went I had a ball. A group of us went on a Thursday night to get a drink before heading to older Bethesda. Our waiter, Asa? was not only funny, but also extremely catering. My only qualm was that they initially had no idea what a tic tac was. So after trying their version of one, peppermint schnapps and sambuca, our waiter brought the real version (sort of like a jager bomb, but the jager is replaced by stoli-o). Asa happily took the first round of shots off of our bill, although we told him to keep it on, as i am a strong believer in you drink it you buy it. All-in-all, it was a lot of fun, and we managed to leave a little more prepared for our night out.
(4)Jason L.
I come here every week for Salsa Tuesdays. It's hosted by Michelle Reyes, one of the finest instructors and dancers. Generally it's a good mix of guys and girls, although we can always use more girls (us guys always have the hard part)! The beginner and intermediate lessons are great and allows opportunity to switch partners, so you can come solo with no problem. At 9PM, there's an open dance floor with a good mix of beginner/intermediate. The better dancers start to come on the floor in the latter part of the event, and close to midnight you will see some real Salseros!
(5)Becky T.
My class had an end-of-the-year party here and we had the upstairs room to ourselves for the first part of the night. The appetizer trays that were ordered were mediocre, but it's not a place you go to for food. The upstairs event room is where the dance floor is. If you have a private event then your party has it all for yourselves until ten o'clock, which is when they open it up to everyone. The music that they played was all popular music that everyone has heard before and had fun dancing to. At least I certainly did!
(4)Rico C.
Decent sports bar with a slight dive bar feel for a yuppie neighborhood . Where ever there's heffeweisen and Guinness on tap, HDTV , and buffolowings and Friendly service with no accents, you'll find one happy yelper=)
(4)Mel B.
I agree with every word of Tu Van's review- Bethesda needs more places like this. I love Levante's, Mon Ami, and Jaleo, but it's a relief to have such a no frills place in an otherwise froo-froo neighborhood. I've only done happy hours here- good chicken sandwiches and if you wash 'em down with a beer it runs you $8. Nothing super fancy and that's what I liked about it, especially in this neighborhood. This is just the right place for this bar otherwise it might get swallowed in the sea of mediocre bars IN DC. This dog definitely barks up the right tree.
(4)Kenna T.
thank you barking dog for having that great poster of all the bars from the 80s, since i am way more familiar with those than the ones that are around now. our server last night was nice and attentive, and she didn't make us feel old considering we were compared to everyone else there. my two gf's and i had a bottle of red, laughed and people watched, and then left. the barking dog was a great post jaleo pit stop. thanks!
(3)Hilary J.
I heart this place. Happy Hour is just a smigen cheaper than other places and the douche-factor is definitely lower than neighboring places (not like Tommy Joe's sets the bar really high). The staff is really friendly and attentive. It has a jukebox, so you are not forced to listen to the staffs selections if you have some spare change on you. Stick with bar food that is deep fried or the homemade soups. Look around- does it look like the kind of place that makes a killer salad? Tuesdays are $5 burger days. I use to go to karaoke all the time, but I'm not a fan of the scene and the new guys that run it now.
(4)M P.
I didn't know people ate food here before 10pm. I thought it was just a place that people from my high school went (before and after being 21). Not bad as a bar, dance floor, pool things like that. Pretty standard bar really.
(3)Steve G.
Man, the reviews on this place are as divided as the guests on a Jerry Springer show! I sat at the downstairs bar, as my great goal that night was to drink beer. I give this place three stars because they carry local microbrew Hook and Ladder, not something you find all over town. The rest of the beer selection is extraordinarily average, with but one or two decent offerings outside the usual suspects. I came on a Thursday and it was very much unpacked, which I love, but still enough people to have atmosphere---the perfect combination for drinking a brew and watching a game on TV. Our bartender was efficient and before I knew it, my friend and I had poured our way through four hours of beers and cheers. This is a no-frills bar; straight up, long wooden bar, some decent taps, the usual artery killer bar snacks to accompany the carb-bomb brews, and good, down-to-earth company. Bar service was good. My kinda place. And it's 2 blocks from Bethesda Metro.
(3)Justin W.
Fratboytastic
(2)Mark D.
Swung by for some appetizers and beer and it was okay. The spinach dip had the right amount of cream and the mini crab cakes were tasty. All washed down with pint of Guinness for $5...
(4)matt L.
I use to come to this place all the time, in fact, I highly regarded this place as "the spot" for my friends and I. But they stopped serving $2 natty bohs and PBRs. Once they stopped selling cheap beer, this place lost all appeal to me.
(3)Sarah P.
I love the atmosphere. The servers are friendly and the specials are fantastic. Live music and events on the 2nd floor, along with a pool table and skeeball. Affordable drinks and food. Chill place to hang after work.
(4)Jared W.
this place would be great if i was 19, in a frat and wore my collars up. but alas, i am not and thankfully so. i'd rather go to a liquor store, buy a bottle of tequila, and sit alone in my car while i drink it than end up at this place. i'm sure it's fine for some people. not for me. they serve food there?? wouldn't know
(1)rupa l.
Good place to go for a couple of pints!! Thats it!!
(3)shawn d.
downstairs is a standard yuppie bar, upstairs can get livelier but is frequently too empty. good happy hour snack specials, great place for a professional happy hour, not incredibly distinguishable from the barking dog
(2)Thugnificent M.
If the dog is barking someone should kick it. I hate this place. I used to know a bartender there. I got free drinks, so I went. She quit, now I hate it.
(1)Gordon K.
Make sure to wear your polo. Then again, I've never had a bad time here...
(3)Jonathan B.
decent, not great but the closest thing to a real "bar" in bethesda.
(3)Tom F.
love the dog! great bar in downtown bethesda where you want some food and some tasty drinks
(5)Jennifer S.
I only have the greatest things to say about this place. I planned a sales award/ year-end event here in April. The owner, Bob, and his staff were AMAZING. First of all, I am the most anal, picky, horrifying person to work with - and they took it all in stride, even cutting up some jokes about me and my 'list of particulars' that I sent over. I created my own menu, which was a complete and total departure from anything on their menu, and they executed it PERFECTLY, even having their chef make a recipe I submitted. They were THAT good. And the food was absolutely delicious. I was beyond pleased. They were also extremely HELPFUL - allowing me to keep a helium tank there days before and days after, accepting deliveries and helping me set up the room for our construction theme- and the set up was A LOT of work! Hanging the pinata in itself was a MAJOR ordeal and they were wonderful about it all. They were also extremely gracious about other vendors I had coming in - despite the fact that they could have handled it themselves. I would not hesitate, not even for a moment, to recommend this place for an event in their upstairs private party room. And as a side note, by the time our event ended, the downstairs was absolutely PACKED so clearly others like the place too!
(5)Soulman B.
Its about 10:30 my buddy and I went in for a drink at the bar. We were on our way to Bethesda Metro. I've been in this place before for happy hours and it wasn't to bad so I thought grabbing a drink there wouldn't be so bad. Until I met the bartender from hell! When you think of a bartender you imagine someone who is willing to be your therapist for the night. Well put it this way, this lady was the bitch for the night. My friend was in town visiting and I wanted to show him Bethesda. Unfortunately this was the bar on the way to the metro. We order two beers and started our conversation. We asked the Bartender for her opinion (she has short black hair, nose ring, about 5'8 and thick) in a snappy attitude she started stating her opinion. Obviously the opinion was respected but the attitude was not. Later we asked a waitress who happened to be behind the bar the same question (the question was what do you think the most common name in the world is?) she rudely rolled her eyes and stood there. After a brief moment we asked the bartender what their deal was and she said we don't have to speak with you if we don't want... Obviously this bartender did not understand the concept of customer retention. With that kind of attitude I would rather walk the extra block to the neighbouring bar down the street then spend my money to see her awful face or attitude. My buddy was surprised by the customer service especially for Bethesda. Never will recommend nor will visit. I've had the food here before typical bar food. The customer service from my past experience didn't excite me either. Please don't waste your time or money there are other local bars with better food and service.
(1)Barbara B.
Awesome pulled pork sandwiches and steak and cheese....great wines by the glass....and they serve food late, unlike a lot of places in the area.
(5)Ann P.
I came here on a Thursday night after 10pm for a friend's birthday party. We really wanted to go upstairs where they have a corn hole game set up. However, today the upstairs was closed. The birthday boy was pretty bummed about that. However, we decided to stay because the bar was hosting a karaoke night. The karaoke was so fun, yet so dingy. But that was the fun of it! Bad karaoke is always a fun thing. The singing was horrible. The TV images accompanying the songs were on the retro end. But you know what? I had a blast and I think everyone else was having fun too. The drinks were such a good deal. It cost me $25 for three drinks. I am completely shocked by the cheap drink prices. But then again, I'm used to the abnormal DC drink prices. At the same time, this place feels dark, small and a bit dirty. The bar almost feels like a college bar, if you know what I mean!
(3)Priscilla Y.
Came here for a beer on a Friday night. It wasn't too crowded so it was pretty easy to get a spot by the bar. I saw a sign for appetizers ranging from $4.00-$8.00. It's a typical bar with the usual selection of beers. We decided to check out the upstairs area, which was a lot less occupied than the lower level. There's was a bar upstairs AND two SKI BALL tables! It said $.50 per game, but when we put in a dollar, it allowed us to play three games! They also have a pool table. This bar seems kind of out of place since it's like a stones throw away from the ritzy Bethesda Row area. It is still a nice little place if you just want a beer and don't care for anything else.
(3)Kathryn A.
Finally, a place that serves Stella at a reasonable price! It's bad enough the only other place downtown Bethesda that sells imports charges outrageous prices. Looking to cool off on a hot summer day with a cold import and some decent bar food, this is your place!!!!!
(5)Danielle L.
I gave it three stars cause I've only been here twice. I don't want to get too caught up to soon. Plus it would be tough for me to be a regular since I'm really only interested in the Latin Tuesdays...and I work so... As mentioned, I've been to the Barking Dog twice now, both for Latin Night on Tuesdays. My second time was on Cinco de Mayo which fell on a Tuesday in 2015. Seemed like a perfect setup to me. The cover was $7. Not sure if that is normal or if it was only for Cinco de Mayo. But I loved the atmosphere. Everyone is friendly and there is absolutely no drama. I'm not too picky about the dance floor conditions or the music selections but I've read some reviews of people being a little too dramatic and complaining about that stuff. As for me, you could play salsa music in a graveyard and I would dance like there is no tomorrow. We all have our preferences I suppose though. It's a bit of an older crowd I think. Middle aged, and average to seasoned dancers for the most part. But very diverse. I went on my own and was asked to dance very often. I always tell my partner that I am not that good, so that we can start off slow and then work our way up. I'd say I'm more than a beginner...less than intermediate. Regardless, by the end of the dance my partners always claim that I am way better than I say I am. $6 mojitos and margaritas on these nights. There are other specials too, but I usually just go for something tasty and quick that will get me "nice." Nothing like twirling around when you are a little faded. ;) The mojitos are pretty good but I'm sure the more snooty types would say otherwise. It really doesn't take much for me to have a good Latin night out. I just went after a long work day, wanted to do something special for Cinco de Mayo, and I got everything I asked for. Great music, great dancing, great drinks, and great fellowship with complete strangers that really took me for a spin on the dance floor. What else do you need?
(3)Anthony B.
Thought it would've been a great local bar. Unfortunately, the co-owner was there tonight as a patron. John was a complete douche who also talked badly about customers to his bar staff in front of other customers. Additionally, he was racist to a staff member and made homophobic remarks. It was sad and disappointing. But mostly he was absolutely unprofessional.
(1)Fenny L.
It's not yet March and it has already been a huge year of "firsts" for me - two of which happened here at the Barking Dog. The first, is that for the first time in my life, I joined a sports league, which meets here every Thursday evening. If you are my husband and is cracking up over the idea that skeeball is a sport, I got news for you buddy, it's run by United Social Sports ( yelp.com/biz/united-soci… )...and if it wasn't a real sport, it wouldn't be run by "United Social SPORTS", would it? Secondly, is that I have finally played "beer pong". Yes, it's true that I went to college for seven years. And yes, it's true that I never saw sobriety during the entirety of those seven years. However, my feeling has always been if you need to make a game out of drinking you're clearly not doing it right. So up until last week, I had escaped playing "beer pong". But my team mates were keen on playing, and I couldn't say no...and yeah...I stick by my statement - if you need to play a game to drink, then you clearly need to switch to a better brand of alcohol. *shudder*. However, the staff here is pretty friendly, even though the poor bartenders are clearly overwhelmed by the number of players demanding cheap beer (seriously, what is wrong with drinking a delicious and cold martini while playing sports?!).
(4)Benjamin G.
I was really disappointed in coming here. I was excited to try a karaoke event in Bethesda, because I usually have to travel really far This one, however doesn't seem worthwhile, although I've only been there once. We were initially greeting by a grumpy short guy with a dead-ringer resemblance to Anton LeVay. That kind of thing is always a red flag to me, because in customer service, why are you going to try and look mean or evil or whatever? Anyhow, of course he demanded, rather than asked for an ID while glaring up at me. "Really?", I kept unnecessarily asking myself, "What did I do?" The waitress was also rather abrasive, and she certainly wasn't cheerful, to say the least. I think she tried to do a good job though. She was at least attempting to be communicative, for example, when we asked about a particular beer, she frankly stated, with little expression, "It tastes like watered-down piss." How professional. Anyhow, I chose a different beer- call me crazy.... The food was mixed... my barbeque sandwich was okay for the North, but the wings were really dried out. My girlfriend felt like she was gnawing on an old mummy or something. The Cole slaw and beans were okay. They really need to clean the bathroom too- unfortunately we could smell it during the meal. The atmosphere was kind of an older, yet snoody crowd, kind of like washed out ex-fraternity people, etc.-very vanilla. A couple of fair attempts were made, but we weren't impressed, and of course a few rednecks were there singing country music and all that, but that's common in karaoke for some reason. We take part in a fair amount of karaoke ourselves, but really couldn't get into the vibe there. Potomac Grill often hosts a much more amicable karaoke crowd and there are several better places in Arlington that I would recommend instead. Freddie's Beach Bar is the best.
(2)Justine K.
I come here weekly since I play in a cornhole/skeeball league sponsored by United Social Sports (they rent out the 2nd floor bar on Thurs nights). There are two skeeball machines on the 2nd floor and the bar sets up cornhole at the other end. They don't have the greatest selection of beers on draft at the 2nd floor bar so my beer of choice up there is yeung ling. Considering there is a league playing every week you would think they would offer better HH specials but the menu is pretty limited... We usually meet for happy our elsewhere and arrive for our games. On days I come straight from work and haven't had a chance to eat dinner, I've tried their dogs and I have to admit I was thoroughly satisfied. The first time I had their Chicago style dog with homemade chips which totally hit the spot. They give generous portions on the chips. The next time I tried their dog with guacamole and jalapeno peppers and they allowed me to switch out the chips for the tator tots. I love tator tots. Again, the hotdog was good and OMG..the tots are awesome! How can u really go wrong with tots? On the main level bar they have karaoke on Thurs nights as well. Fun times!!!
(3)Denise T.
Where the bite is worse than its bark...ouch! I began attending weekly events at the Barking Dog a few months ago with two dear friends. I'm not a drinker but did enjoy meeting with regulars who shared similar dance interest. It has always been my practice that when placing an order to always pay my account as soon as the items arrive. This practice maintains a level of trust and respect (please note the word Respect as it will come into play later) between establishment and customer. As a female it's (sometimes) awkward to show up at a place (let alone a bar) alone. I did so on one particular night when my friends could not attend the event. I was sure there were enough dancing partners to alleviate any awkwardness. As I entered the room, crossing to place my items on a table, the Bar Keep shouted across the room that I had an unpaid bill that needed to be settled. I jokingly told him that as a matter of courtesy he could have politely called me over to discuss the matter. He instead insisted that it was not big deal that it's just the way he talks. He maintained that another Bar Keep informed that fries and a drink had been ordered and not paid for during the previous week's event. He added that he knew (from her description) that it had to be one of the three within my party. Totally embarrassed I dialed members of m group that had attended that week and handed him my cellphone. Well wouldn't you know ...the party in question had stopped by to pay her bill, left all her information which was clearly attached to the bill. The Bar Keep then flipped over the bill to find the information clearly written. At that point, I grabbed my sweater and left. To me the incident was closed and I vowed to never return. However, the party in question informed management of the incident. Management responded that the Bar Keep did nothing wrong and that I had over reacted. Hmm...let's see...woman unknowingly walks into a room full of people, is accused of not paying a bill, only to find out the bar keep can't read or just doesn't care. So as a blogger there's only one route...the internet. In closing, any establishment that cares so little as not to reach out to a dis-satisfied client is one thing. However, not to address any woman (black, white, Asian, or purple) right to walk into a their establishment and be treated fairly is outrageous.
(1)Ling W.
Came here for a private event upstairs. It's a great space, with high, decorated ceilings so you don't fell like you're in a dank, loud pub.
(3)Maxine J.
The food isn't good, but I do like the karaoke. The drinks are alright, but you have to go to the bar to get them. They never seem to have the 2nd level open.
(2)Elizabeth D.
This bar is pretty awesome for people-watching. The patrons are all over the place in terms of age, the music ranges from BSB to Justin Bieber, and the crowd is all there to have a good time. Pretty decent beer selection (high five for Yuengling - woo PA!). Lots of servers running around too. And darts!
(4)Michael M.
My friend and I decided to meet in Bethesda for dinner on a Tuesday night. He was running a little late as he was coming from Virginia, so I decided to stop in here for a bit to protect myself from the cold. I had been here once before but had been significantly more inebriated, so that didn't give me a fair judgment. The Baking Dog is an old school type of bar. In a place as yuppified as Bethesda, that's kind of refreshing. The bartender wasn't super attentive, but it's not like he ignored me either. Seems like a lot of the clientele there were regulars, which is cool. They have a few screens for sports games, and if you ask nicely, they can turn on whatever game you're interested in watching. And the best part is that I got a $3 Dundee Honey Brown. It's not like a premium beer or anything, but that's a damn good price for a decent beer, especially in this area. Bottom line: If you're looking for a relaxed, no-frills bar, this might be your place. If you're looking for something more upscale and contemporary, there are about a 1000 other places in the DC area you can try.
(4)Tim B.
Under whelmed... Sold to me as a beer place but just a regular bar. Kinda like hanging out in a really big living room at frat house. Service was fine...I guess a good place if you don't have a house suited for roudy hang outs
(2)Chuck L.
Mediocre bar food. Not worth the owner yelling at you about multiple credit cards, splitting a check. He said it was too costly, so I'm saving him the trouble and not taking my card or business in there anymore.
(1)Steven R.
We randomly picked this place that we found on our GPS. We wanted a snack for an early lunch. We had the slider combination plus The Barking Dog hot dog. The food was awesome. Loved how the chips were freshly cooked. It was all so good. For the size of the portions we got the price was a bargain. The cranberry juice I had was not watered down like a lot of places and got two glasses for what I consider to be quite cheap. I believe the owner served us and he was very friendly & chatted with us. The ambience was pretty divey but certainly had atmostphere. We would go here again.
(4)J G.
Pros: - Cheap Beer - Good selection - lots of activities to do (corn hole, dance, karaoke) - Friendly staff Cons: - Sometimes can feel a little dirty Conclusion: If I go out in Bethesda I prefer barking dog for all the pros listed above.
(4)Judith D.
Simple dive bar. Server was very nice and attentive. Reasonable prices; I would go back again.
(3)Silvia R.
Tuesday night Salsa lessons are good and well worth the money. Nice group of people, it appeared like most people go alone. Only a couple of up tight couples that would not follow instructions. Staff was nice, only had an issue with the parking garage next to this location because they close it at 10 pm on week days and 12 pm on weekends. My car was locked in and I had to wait till the morning when they open to pick it up. The garage opens at 7 but the machine was not accepting the credit cards, luckily I had cash and noticed the parking attendant walking around. Park on the street or at any other location. Salsa social are from 7-12:30 pm.
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