Quarry House Tavern
8401 Georgia Ave, Silver Spring, MD, 20910
Quarry House Tavern Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Silver Spring for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Silver Spring for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Silver Spring for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
8401 Georgia Ave
Silver Spring, MD, 20910 - Phone (301) 587-8350
- Website https://www.quarryhousetavern.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :5:00 pm - 1:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner, Late Night
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : No
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Divey
Noise Level : Loud
Music : Live, Juke Box
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : Yes
Best Nights : Mon, Fri, Sat
Coat Check : No
Smoking : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Drive-Thru : No
Caters : No
Categories
Burgers
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Shane T.
Good bar and great beer selection.
(4)R S.
Re-opened Apr 20th right across the street in the old Piratz location. See the article in the Washington Post Going Out Guide blog on Apr 21. Later hours now! Outdoor seating and brunch soon! Real sunlight coming in the windows, which the WaPo considers a plus . . .
(5)Mai N.
Monday is half off burgers! So all I've ever had is their tater tots (fried to perfection) and their burgers (tasty & juicy!) I'm really impressed with their beer selection and their servers are really down-to-earth (although it might take a while for your server to come by cause the place is always bumping). The only down (or up) side is that you have to fight for a table on busy nights, but its all definitely worth it! I always leave drunk/tipsy so you know you're in for a good time.
(5)Luke B.
Seriously rude staff. The dude with the collar was extremely rude about food coming out wrong, Then preceded to bring back the exact same order with more wrong with it. I've never had worse service in my life. Also the bar tender required 3 forms of identification for me to purchase a beer, including my credit card. It's a great location and looks like it would be a excellent bar of the staff picked up there game and manners.
(1)Sarah B.
Quarry House was one of the first places my husband and I checked out after moving to Silver Spring, and we have been back many times since! It is located underneath an Indian restaurant , and there is very little signage. If we hadn't been visiting with a friend, I am fairly certain we would have gotten lost trying to find the entrance. For as difficult as it is to find, this place is packed! Almost every night of the week it can be a challenge to find a seat, especially if you have a large group. There are two or three chairs available by the jukebox for people waiting for a seat, but the best strategy is to search out someone who recently got their check and ask politely if you can have their table when they are done. People who come here know what it is like, so no one has ever been annoyed with that request, and I have had couples even offer to move to a smaller table so that my larger group could have seats. The service is hit a miss. There have been a handful of times when we just couldn't hear our server because the place is so loud and crowded, especially when the band is playing on a Saturday. Other times we have gotten a lot of attitude from servers, particularly during our first visit when we accidentally asked our waitress to split the check three ways. They only split checks two ways, and we were snarkily informed that this information was located on the menu. It didn't bug me though, if I was a waitress at a place constantly this busy, I would probably be tired of explaining checks too. Still another time we had a great experience with our waiter. It was a calmer night (Taco Tuesday), and he took the time to chat with us and checked up on us often. The food is pretty good, my favorite so far has definitely been the fried oreos. The tater tots are also yummy and crispy on the outside! There are a decent number of cool beers to try, and tons of whiskey if that is your thing. I love spicy food, and I have read that the 4 alarm wings are some of the spiciest wings you can get in the area. They are. Three adventurous people at my table tried them and we all ended up tearing up and pretty much just in pain. I only ate two, I could have had more if I had to, but it wasn't worth it. They were just so incredibly spicy (the kind of spicy that stays on your hands after you wash them and makes it impossible to take your contact lens out that night without momentarily blinding yourself). They had no other taste or merit to them, the sauce seemed like it was pretty much just crushed up habaneros...I mean at least throw a little lime or something sweet in there! It was probably worth it for the experience, but I doubt I would ever order them again. If you want to try the four alarm sauce without committing to six wings, it comes on the side with the chicken tenders now that they have a new chef. Be careful! We have also gone for Taco Tuesday and tried their tacos. I had heard so many amazing things about the tacos that I was surprised when three teeny, boring, soft shelled tacos were brought out to our table. I was told by the server that they changed the recipe when QH got a new chef, and he said himself that the tacos had become a lot less popular. I understand why, they definitely weren't worth the money, there is better stuff on the menu. It was nice to get a three dollar mojito though as part of the deal! Something I also am inclined to mention is the girl's bathroom. I know this seems pretty ridiculous, but I think it is cool! It reminds me of the bars I went to as a college student on spring break in Florida (unbearably divey). The walls are completely covered in messages written in sharpie and pens. When you are a little drunk, some of the quotes (you have to look hard) can seem really insightful and lead to ridiculous conversations about the meaning of life. Or maybe I am just weird. Regardless, Quarry House is pretty rad and definitively worth checking out!
(4)Flora W.
My favorite bar in Silver Spring. Friendly and helpful staff, good music, and great food. It does get very crowded on weekends though.
(5)Ruth E.
I'm a beer snob and this is my favorite bar in the DC metro area: really folks, when was the last time Brickskellar actually *had* the brew you ordered in stock? Quarry House carries what's on their wonderfully diverse "Beericulum Vitae", and even stuff that's not - when you get in the door check out the fridge to see what might be hiding in there! I've been to QH with 1 person for an intimate evening where they let us hang all night unbothered, and I've hosted a HH night with 25 friends where the waitress took excellent care of us (every last one of us was happy w/the grub) and the bartender was knowledgable and attentive. Let the crusty folks crowd into Birreria Paradiso begging to get a drink, or pay through the nose at Brasserie Beck (as the bartenders sneer)! I'll be 13 steps down, enjoying a fine ale and yummy burger as I bask in the glow of Quarry House Tavern... sigh. Is it quittin' time yet?
(5)Jordan J.
Great food and beer. Love their Old bay wings and Old Bay tots. Whenever a friend comes into town, I take them here. It's got character and it's super divey (and it's got delicious beer!). The only drawback is that it can be a little noisy because it's basically a huge cement basement. Also, the takeout service is not the best. Sometimes, my takeout orders get a little messed up. If you're in town, definitely hit this place up though!
(4)Roy S.
I had the five alarm wings last night (habanero paste) and they were tasty and hot!! Warning: if you think sriracha/Tabasco are hot then DO NOT eat these wings. Get the BBQ flavor like an infant. If you can take some real heat get this flavor. Be warned that if you get this sauce anywhere on you're skin it will burn for two days. Love it!!!
(4)Lisa A.
The prompt for this asks me to describe my experience at the QH. INCONCEIVABLE! Food is good, bourbon is better, the staff is the best. They're not open right now...if they had any windows I'd go stare in them like a creeper till they let me in. Instead I'll just stand at the bottom of the stairs and wait.
(5)Chris N.
One of the gems of Silver spring. This places serves up some of the best burgers which should be paired with one of their lengthy list of available beers. Definitely try the fried pickles ! It is also a good note to consider that Monday is half off burgers! Please check this place out.
(5)Vivian E.
Ordered a half smoked burger, got a hot dog. Husband is still hungry. Very disappointed
(2)jada w.
Everything I ate here was good. (the Rachel reuben [what an awesome meal for my namesake] , the wings, and tots). The burger, though, was just okay. An absolutely wonderful surprise. They have the cleanest bathrooms (ever heard of that in a flipping dive bar?!). The service, though, left a lot to be desired. But overall, a great spot. I'd return.
(4)Jeffery S.
This was my second visit to the Quarry House Tavern and, once again, it did not disappoint. What's not to love about a dive bar below street level packed with locals, a cold Brooklyn Brown to wash down a juicy mushroom swiss burger and TOTS! It may not be the only reason to live in Silver Spring, but it's definitely on the list.
(5)Kristina R.
I agree with the dirty, dark, smelly comments... however, it's a pretty cool place to chill for a drink and live band. Its a dive bar at its best. I have never ate here, however, have heard good things about the food from others that I have gone with that have gotten food. HUGE beer selection both on tap and bottled. Hard to find.... underneath an Indian Restaurant with some sketchy lookin stairs leading to the door. If you didnt know where it was, you would never fine it.
(3)Bryan W.
I have been here dozens of times for the beer and maybe a few short glasses of Jamesons Irish Whiskey. The things that impressed me the most were the selection of beers, which are paralleled to none in Downtown Silver Spring, The appropriate glassware used for specific beer like Triples and the "No nonsense" bartender Kate. She gets the job done and has an impressive handshake! I started with a Corsendonk and then another. I wanted something like a Straffe Hendricks Triple but no dice! I settled for the Westmale instead. My only complaint would be the glassware. I am sure that the glasses were clean at some point but the staff should maintain that cleanliness! Oh!! Did I saw that the offer Pabst Blue Ribbon?! Yessiiir! Mkt. Price! No! Really!! Mkt Price!
(3)Megan R.
I've never ordered beer and grilled cheese at a restaurant, but here it felt like that was okay. Also, the homemade chips were great. The underground tavern has a GREAT atmosphere of a super chill tavern. We really only went out to eat because we didn't want to cook, so this was the perfect low-key solution. Prices were unbeatable, water is self-serve and the food was feel good and made well. The live music was about to start when we headed out but from the warm-up it sounded like it was going to be pretty good. The impressive part of this place was the beer menu. It's several pages long and separated by category and location. It was kind of overwhelming so I asked the waiter and he was very knowledgeable about it. Kind of an eclectic atmosphere but for a low-key dinner and drink out with good company, it can't be beat.
(4)Stephanie S W.
Dark and delicious, just the way I like it. I went here for the first time with a friend from out of town and the intimate, pub-style setting was perfect for getting to know new friends. The selection of beer was amazing and the back room had a live band. Although I was seated in the front room, I could hear the music (and still hear my company). Our waitress was extremely helpful in ordering beers that were new to be, with an extensive knowledge of each flavor we were bound to experience. They have food, but I didn't try. I would suggest this place for evening or late night drinks with friends. Since it's underground, it feels late no matter what time of day. [I gave QH $$ because I'm assuming you're like me and will have MULTIPLE drinks, otherwise it's inexpensive]
(5)Liz G.
I'd been hearing about this place for a while. Growing up here... well, let's just say that Silver Spring used to be kinda blah. So when a lovely lady suggested this place for dinner/drinks, I jumped in it. It was awesome. Set in a no frills basement, it's cozy yet loud, but not too loud, and basically everything I want out of a dive bar. The cheeseburger was awesome. Tots? Rivaled Sticky Rice. (Plus, they have tots with cheese and bacon. That's a whole star right there.) Incredible beer selection, and Wednesday night is 1/4 off whiskey. I just wish it was closer to H St so I could go there more often.
(5)Sonia C.
Great dive bar. Whiskey Wednesdays are the best. As for an appetizer get the tatter tots so freaking good. Service is very slow so don't run in thinking you will get a few drinks and dash out.
(3)Desirea S.
Love The Quarry house...like the food, music, jukebox, rockabilly saturdays, different types of crowds, good social place, and ALWAYS busy. BUT...theres a BUT..........thier bartender, one in particular gets 1 star. When I walk up to a bar, I notice whos been waiting, whos hanging out, when its my turn, and whos behind me.... BECAUSE I USED TO BE A BARTENDER. With that being said, I am getting quite tired of the female brown haired "bartender" with the stupid peircing on the back of her arm. She is TERRIBLE. Totally ignored my friend and I for about 10 minutes and everyone else around her..when she was completely free to make a drink she wasnt looking up to take the next person....the people infront of me had to WAVE her down and she was suprised I wanted something DUH IVE BEEN STANDING HERE FOR 10 MINUTES. She is INSANELY SLOW, DOESNT know her bar, and ISNT paying attention. I could count the entire colony of roaches on the freakin back wall while shes in la-dee-da land. FUNNY because I shared my story with a friend the other night and he said the same thing about her! SO IT ISNT JUST ME!!!! I have worked my own bar, head bartender @ The Marlin in South Beach, Miami, 20 foot bar, totally crowded 3 people deep ALL staring at me with quenched party-mode thirst before.....You take people as they come, you point " you, you , you" "okay got it".... make the damn drinks and serve them......IF you are a GOOD BARTENDER you know what I am absolutely talking about. FIGURE IT OUT. You have to be "on" at all times and tend your bar, thats your bar and you run it honey. She dont run it.
(1)Sammy A.
Great Beer & pheneomanal whiskey Selection :) Down to earth venue, with a different special every night The burgers & tots are out of this world. Delicious, perfectly cooked, and humongous. (specially when they are only 5 dollars on mondays!) 4 Alarm Wings are INSANELY spicy, just how they should be. Perfect kickback spot on a cold night.
(5)Jeanine S.
Please don't go here! Do not crowd my bar with your fat head! The beer and whiskey list are embarrassing, the food is terrible, and don't even get me started on the tots with bacon and cheese. Please take your wanna be urban hipster ass back to the BK. Thank you, QHT lover and supporter of the finest dive bar in America.
(1)Mary K.
Love this place for drinks!!! Good place to kick it and the tater tots are yumm!!! Check out the jukebox if you can :) Go for the alcoholic drinks or the rootbeer floats! Staff is very friendly!
(4)Robert B.
This place is silly good. The burgers, the taters, the wingers, the ambience, the beer, the live music...it's all top-notch. If you're in Silver Spring, hit this place up before you wonder, "What the hell am I doing in Silver Spring?"
(5)Sarah F.
I like this place, it's one of the first places we went when we first moved to this area, and we've been going ever since. What stops us going more often is the fact this it's often very busy and a bit noisy, although part of the draw here is that the atmosphere is fantastic. We often take friends and family here when they visit, because we know they'll like the beer selection and the ambiance. It has a great beer selection, although it can get a bit pricey. I also love their burgers, a lot of people rave about the tater tots, but I'm not a big fan. They often have live music and I've heard from other regulars that they trivia quiz is a good time. My tip is to e zen about the over crowding, you have to go with the flow and just know that you might have to wait for a table and that it's the kind of place where you and your mates are going to probably have to huddle together. Finally, you should know that you can easily miss the place the first time you go, the entrance is right beside the Gaylord Indian Restaurant on the corner. There is often a crowd of smokers congregating outside. There's no sign, and the legend goes that it fell down and they never put it back up preferring to cultivate the speak easy feel. The long and the short of it is, if you haven't been, you should probably give it a try.
(4)Emily D.
This hidden gem in the heart of downtown Silver Spring has no big flashy sign announcing its existence. What tipped me off were the groups of smokers always loitering late outside when nothing nearby appears to be open. So walk down the 13 steps of stairs and enter the QHT... You may initially notice a faint mildewy odor lingering about the air. Deal with it - it's after all a basement bar that has been in business for over 76 years. Grab a menu and peruse the 3+ pages of Belgian beer - not just Chimay either! Order some Old Bay tator tots - damn yummy. The wings are definitely freshly made from scratch because they are succulent, juicy, flavorful, and quite large. Hot is actually HOT. If it's a Friday night, there may be a live band playing that old time rock 'n' roll in the back. If not, the jukebox seems to have the Pixies on repeat. And that's not such a bad thing.
(5)Danny F.
Not being able to go underground somewhere in Miami, this place was instantly cool to me. The entrance is out of the way and hard to find, but once you're down there you don't feel like leaving. You want to settle in and order anything this tavern offers. The guys who work here take their time with you in finding a proper beverage. Anything you're in the mood for, they can help you find it. They help you like it's a priority. Weird. I didn't have a chance to try any of their food, but next time I will. I will also use the jukebox again. Otis Redding makes it easier to bear.
(4)Rachel G.
Expected an affordable bar experience with yummy bites. The bill was definitely more expensive than expected and the food (grilled cheese) was not delicious. How do you mess up grilled cheese? Good beer selection, but probably would not go back.
(2)Lauren M.
The Quarry House Tavern is a neat, dive-y basement bar in Silver Spring - my favorite bar in the area. I think it was the first bar I ever went to when I moved to the DC area and it instantly fell in love. I have never had issues finding a table before, but I usually get there before 10pm on any given night. My only gripe with this place is the service, which is slow as heck on most nights. It doesn't take long to get your order, but it definitely takes time to get attention from a server when you first sit down and between drinks. I almost always have to flag down the server to order another beer or get my check at the end. If it weren't for this, I'd tack on the extra star. They have a small food menu, but inexpensive and delicious. The tater tots are where it's at! It's also my favorite bar to order fried pickles from because they slice the pickles rather than serve it in spears. The beer menu is fantastic. My roommate loves their whiskey selection, too. The Quarry House has a fabulous variety seasonal beers - especially in October! It should also be noted that the Jukebox has a preeeeeetty rad selection of tunes. ;) You are basically guaranteed to have a really fun time at the Quarry House!
(4)Kristina K.
Quarry House, a little localites' bar some 2 blocks from mainstream consumer establishments of SS (i.e., Red Lobster, Cosi, baby-and-me gymboree studio), is located in the basement. No, not the kind of just-a-foot beneath street level sort but the full-floor (with high ceilings) down & under kind necessitating navigation of a narrow, dark-colored staircase that might freak out the uninitiated. Happily, the uneasiness ends there as QH is as awesome as I've heard so many gush about! Aside from having a head-spinning variety of Belgian beer selection (note, this is a hats-off, bonus level compliment to the place since I am a beer-neutral gal), QH has very knowledgeable, friendly staff that has actually sampled many of their offerings and happily offers quality recommendations, an invaluable factor given the breadth of choice. For those familiar with the area beer scene, QH has a selection dominating enough to trample--or at least match--Belgian behemoths like Max's in Baltimore or Brickskeller in DC. Further, owing to its out of the way, truly hidden gem, nearly by-invite-only location, QH has a European beer hall feel that was quite nostalgically reminiscent of past travels. Offering bar trivia on Sundays and happy hour specials even on the weekends, QH is an excellent choice for just about any day and tends to pack a mixed gender crowd in the upper 20s to mid 30s range. While I might not necessarily go there for mixed drinks, this is not because of little faith in the staff's abilities--it's more that I haven't tried such an adult beverage here yet because, to be honest, there hasn't been a perceived need! Perhaps surprising for a cavey-dungeony place with very low ceilings in odd locations (ladies' room barely clears 5.5 feet) is their culinary might in the wing department. If you're into spicy foods, prepare several glasses of iced water and sample their uber hot extreme wings that are made from chunks of jabaneros. Whewwwww....the hottest wings I've ever had, though the consistency of overwhelming heat varies by cook. The variety that does not leave one's mouth begging for mercy are quite good, too. Tots are nice but a toss up for best ever. Quarry House gets mad props for attracting me--a female wine drinker who likes cute couches, preppy bar stools, and lots of light--on numerous occasions. Maybe it's something in their water...or, more likely, their beer, staff & environment. Bravo!
(5)Sarah M.
Quarry House Tavern is a good spot. I've been there twice--once for just a beer, late one Saturday night after hitting up Austin Grill, and once for pub trivia. They have pub trivia every Sunday night. For some reason, my pub trivia skills have gone WAY downhill since moving to DC (I kicked ass at it back in Boston) but it was still fun. It's definitely a dive bar, but hey, sometimes that's the best kind of place! They have a bunch of different types of burgers, and homemade tater tots, and a menu just for the beer. I had a mushroom and swiss burger, and the tater tots with melted cheddar and bacon. Healthy? Most definitely not. Delicious? Oh yeah. Burgers, tater tots, and a ton of different beer. Really, what more could a girl want? I will DEFINITELY be back.
(4)Bennett T.
Quarry House is one of my favorite bars in town. The atmosphere is great: warm and patently "divey." They have excellent beer and whiskey lists, the beer being updated often and seasonally. Their food is also excellent -- generally quality American fair -- but their burgers are particularly good. They also serve tots, which is an absolute plus. My one complaint is the service isn't always great and suffers considerably when it's busy. However, this has never deterred me from going and enjoying myself.
(4)Kinnari A.
My fiance and I just moved into the neighborhood, and I have to say, this place wasn't what we expected at all. He was a little hesitant walking down the stairs into this joint, but then we saw the beer list and then magic happened. The beer list was amazing, and super extensive. We were happy with our beers and the service. I can't comment on the food because i haven't tried it yet. Also, they had this ridiculously large whiskey menu, but we didn't try any, so I can't really comment on that either. All I know is that I think we found our neighborhood bar.
(4)Anna K.
Best beer list in the D.C. area. Thank you for being awesome!! I love the burgers and the fried pickles. I wish they served fries but the extensive beer and whiskey list makes up for it. If you like hot wings, order the medium. I'm all about hot wings but their "hot" is WAY too hot. The good waiters will warn you. I don't enjoy the basement-ness of it all but when I need a good burger and some GREAT beer I'll go to Quarry House.
(4)N S.
I mean, look, I'm just not into dives. Skeeve - verb 1. to cause disgust (in someone). 2. +that: to be disgusted by (something) From Italian schifo
(3)Jarrett B.
Quarry House is the kind of place that you walk right past on the street without even realizing that it's there. Then someone points it out to you and you stare at them like they're crazy. (And, considering the Pirate Tavern across the street, they very well might be.) But, once you've ducked down under Georgia Avenue it all starts to make sense. The place is charmingly decorated in broken church pews and wooden cases of beer - the alcoholic's shabby chic, if you will. The burgers are awesome, the wings will burn your face off (but it's so worth it), their beer list is as long and inspired as a Dostoevsky novel and the jukebox is loaded with awesome music. Oh, and the tater tots are the absolute key to successfully winding down a night out in Silver Spring. There's good live music here - hip but unpretentious. Summation: It ain't pretty, but it's a strong choice for a Silver-Spring home-base bar. Soup of the day: Whiskey.
(5)Katie S.
Speakeasy in Silver Spring? Yes. I am just as confused as you are. I had no idea about this place until my friend suggested we meet here for drinks before visiting her new apartment in the area. What a pleasant surprise and what an odd location: it's underneath the Bombay Gaylord and right around the corner from the Town Center. The place isn't fancy or anything, it's just as if you've walked into a popular small town bar. We got there around 630 so there was no wait and we seated ourselves, but the place started getting pretty packed after a few hours. The beer list is pretty extensive and prices I'd say are pretty average- around $6-8 for a beer. Food was pretty good too. We got wings but just warning you: if you like spicy wings don't get the spicy, just get medium. This is also coming from a person who loves spicy food and puts tobasco on pretty much everything. Even medium was a tad spicy for me, my lips were on fiya! My friend got the burger which also looked good and I pretty much stole all her tater tots. Who doesn't love tater tots?! They were extra crispy and the best I've had in a while. This is a great place to come with friends for a few drinks. Whatever beer you're craving, they'll probably have it. Even though I'm no longer in MD, I foresee many future visits to this place whenever I come back to visit!
(4)Moritz R.
A trip down the stairs under Bombay Gaylord and you come into a great dive here in Silver Spring. Wings are great and the selection of drinks is better. It gets loud and cramped up here but it's fun. I have always had great service here.
(4)Amber Z.
I love this place! Basement! Tater tots! Huge beer menu. Good juke box tunes. Just a good, chill, hipster vibe.
(5)Rachel B.
Probably my favorite bar in the DC metro area. Burgers are excellent, food is very afforable, beer is averagly pricedd and the selection is amazing! It is also diverse, so all beer lovers can find something special. Perhaps the only down side is that the service can be rather slow, even when they are not busy. That said, I am never in a hurry to leave this place!
(5)Jack F.
This bar rules. I have a good friend that grew up in the area, and every time I'm within an hours' drive of Silver Spring I make it a point to stop here. Awesome punk rock bar vibe, kickass jukebox, the food is absolutely incredible, and the tap is awesome. Unlike the punk bars in Philly (I say as a Philly native) the staff is helpful, polite, and generally makes excellent recommendations (even if you're buzzed and kind of being a jerk to them). I would absolutely suggest Quarry House to anybody visiting the DC metro area, it easily rivals any club I've been to in downtown DC. These guys get it.
(5)Matthew H.
Lousy service. Took ten minutes to get noticed and another ten to get our beers. Waited another ten minutes for our check. It never came, so we put down money and left.
(1)Libby F.
Back in the days before the smoking ban this place was a real dive. Now it's just a dive. The back room was the only escape (smoke-free) from the fumes and there was never anyone in there b/c all the patrons smoked! Now it seems that all the days I've been this dive is always packed, especially on Mondays: half-priced hamburgers. Carnivorous Yelpers appreciated that on a past rainy Monday. My neighbor lured me back here again by offering me a draft on her if I sat with her while she consumed one of Jackie's hamburgers at a Quarry House price. Hey, I have no shame in accepting free drinks. This is the place to go if you don't feel like showering, don't feel like heating up the flat iron, or shaving off that scary Joaquin Phoenix beard. You'll fit right in. Shoes required though.
(3)Chabi B.
I used to work across the street from the Quarry House fro 2002-2004, when it often got compared to British pubs, and it was a common after hours hang out. It was bought out, and I went there with my soccer team before they closed from about 2006-2010. I have had firends play in bands at the Quarry House, and my wife and I have fond memories of the location as as place where we learned to dance jive, and have seen numerous groups perform there. I am close to 40 years old, have a daughter at home, and was allowed to go out this evening. I was strangely told tonight by their server that "we are being watched by Montgomery County," and "please behave". This from a place that serves 22 oz beers at over 9% alcohol. I had been there for about 10 minutes. I left in the 11th. I must've gotten hammered by the fumes. This is really sad. I used to feel the Quarry House was a great example of a place that was run by people with perhaps hipster sensibilities, but not a hipster attitude. But instead I was insulted tonight. They had no problem moving me from another cleared out table, that, as we were informed "was being held by people who had bought very expensive scotch" which they also spilled on me as I as moved from one table to another (and who never returned). But the fact that those scotch lovers were treated presumably well, when I wasn't even allowed to order tater tots before being told I was too loud in a place with over 200 people in its location...well it bodes poorly for the Quarry House long term, and positively for someone else who wants to take a crown from a location that has lost its luster. I read yelp reviews, and know how this comes across. But seriously, do you want to go to a place that prides itself as "Silver Spring's oldest dive bar", but considers itself too uppity to serve someone who has been in the establishment for two minutes? Ask yourself this, does this look like a review that was written by someone too hammered to type a sentence? Go here if you are new to the area, and haven't learned about the other locations in the area with similar servings and less attitude. If you are going to bother with the Quarry House, DC9 and Black Cat have much more to offer and are a mere 15 minutes away. Look there are over 300 people who have rated this place highly in the past--myself included. My hope is that they talk to their wait staff, and have a change in attitude. That is why I write this. Otherwise, it will be a long slow decline.
(1)Juliana C.
Considering I loved this place the first time around, and it's a scant 15-minute d(r)ive from my apartment, it's kind of criminal that it took me 10 months to return. But like a moth to the belgian microbrews, return I did! My friend Krissi suggested we meet up at QHT for some catch-up conversation last night, so I happily agreed. There's a metro parking garage around the corner that doesn't charge after 7 pm, so I left my car there, strolled on over, and descended into.... a madhouse. 7:30 pm on a Monday night, and the place was packed to the gills. Don't you people have better things to do? Oh wait. It's BURGER NIGHT. $4.63 got me a burger topped with bacon, cheddar and ranch dressing, lettuce, tomato and onions, with a side of tater tots. $6 got me a bottle of Troegs Mad Elf Ale (brewed with honey and cherries!). One sip, and I was happy. One bite, and I was in heaven. They nailed the medium temperature request. The salty bacon and smooth cheddar did a foxtrot with the tangy ranch. The burger, in a word, was perfection. I gobbled a 1/2 pounder in two minutes flat. In the past few months I've hit the Burger Joint, Good Stuff Eatery and Five Guys. The Tavern blew them all away. If Ray's Hell can do any better, I'll be bowled over.... but I doubt it will be for under $5. Quarry House.... will you marry me?
(5)AJ G.
This is definitely a cool place to go if you're in Silver Spring, MD. The Quarry House is synonymous with dive bar, but in the best way possible. It's the kind of hole-in-the-wall place you'd find in a big city that gives the city character, except this place is in small town Maryland, which is cool. First, it's hard to find because there isn't a big sign that says "Quarry House." There is a small sign above the stairs that has "QH" on it, that's as good as it gets. But that's part of this place's character....hard to find. This place is in a basement which makes for a nice atmosphere, they have a great beer selection, especially if you like Belgium beers, music is usually good, and the crowd is good too. This place can get a little busy at times and when it is busy it usually means standing room only with a lot of noise. This is a cool date place on non-peak hours and just a cool place to go to for relaxing with friends. If you haven't been there, I would definitely check it out!
(5)Cristina M.
Not gonna lie, one of the main factors of me living where I live now is because it's right down the street from this bar. The atmosphere is the best I've found here in the DC area. The music is always awesome. Yes, it's hard to find but that also makes it cooler. The TATER TOTS are amazing. The drinks are not over priced. It's hard to find something to complain about. There is one thing though, on certain nights for whatever reason it's super hot in there. I mean so hot that I just leave. Still my favorite tavern though.
(4)Christina M.
I love it for the no frills no nonsense dive bar that it is. You get these older Bang Theory type guys who tend the hog the bar up and talk loud so you can hear them as they try to sound "smart". The bartenders know their drinks and the burgers and tots are great! Go but do not dress up.
(4)Krystal D.
I have died and gone to tater tot heaven. Here's the thing. So many bars (both in DMV and beyond) claim to have the best tater tots. But when it comes down to it, they're really all the same. Shredded potato, shaped into a cylinder, and deep-fried to a delicious golden-brown. Granted, I've never met a bad tater tot, but they're usually all the same. No bar has ever blown my mind with their tater tots...until I visited Quarry House and had my tater tots covered with cheese and bacon. And we're not talking cheez whiz and bacon bits. We're talking real melted cheese and real crispy bacon. If I had a heart attack and died during that meal (which, let's face it, was totally possible), I would have died a very, very happy person. And that's just the tots. The burger, which I ordred topped with cheese, bacon, and BBQ sauce (are you seeing a theme here?) was cooked perfectly to my requested medium-rare. My boyfriend's chicken tenders were simply chicken tender perfection. Light, crispy batter, real chicken (no Franken foods here), and delicious sauces. We are obviously suicidal because we rounded out our meal with the deep-fried Double Stuf Oreo a la mode. Yes, you read that right. And yes, it's even better than it sounds. Oh, and there's a killer beer/cider/lambic selection, too. Why are you still reading this? GO!
(5)James M.
This is probably the Best bar in downtown Silver Spring. It's very low key and you would walk right by it. They have great burgers, wings and best of all tots! They also have a very large Scotch/Whisky selection. It feels like you are in your own little secret club house where your friends hang out with you. 100% locals here and it is a chill hip crowd leaning more on the mid 20's early 30's side.
(5)Shabaka P.
I went to Quarry last Friday for a friend birthday celebration. There were A LOT of people so they must be doing something right. Warning!! Seating seemed to be left up to the patrons so we lurked like vultures and grabbed the 1st table that became available. If you know nothing about beer your head might explode. This is for the seasoned beef/whiskey vet lol. The list is like 15 pages long. I don't think my waiter was please with me just pointing as he looked at my group like "what are you n00bs even doing here!!?" The hamburger I had was simply amazing. I would have to say it's in my top 10. I had the fried Oreos and ice cream for dessert. I think they need more servers for sure on busy nights. Would I go again? Yup!!
(4)John G.
I have only gone for drinks and apps with friends after work. The service is a little lacking for me, and you really have to flag down your server. They do have a ton of beers, but I like draft beer and they were a little restricted there, but once they kill a keg, they move to the next beer.....I was really hoping they would get to the next beer, but it didnt happen in the 3 hrs we were there.
(3)Sophie U.
I've only been there once and I'm already a super duper fan of this place. BEER The beer list is pretty extensive; you will not walk out of here disappointed. FOOD From what I sampled, the food is delicious. The fried pickles are perfectly battered and come with a ranch dip that has a wonderful, sour-cream-like consistency; the $5 hot dog is good and the toppings (extra $) make it better; the chips are, from what I understand, housemade -- my guess would be that they are baked, because they are very minimally greasy, and I love them. MENU They have quesadillas, burgers, hot dogs, and a variety of other things. I hear that their burgers are amazing and that their tater tots are good, too. For desserts, they offer fried Double Stuf Oreos a la mode, brownie a la mode, blondie a la mode, Guinness float, and Lindemans Framboise float (when available, but a source tells me he's never once ordered it and not gotten it). SPECIALS I seem to remember that Monday is half-price burger night; other than that, there are also specials on Tuesdays and Wesnesdays. Saturday night is Rockabilly Night, and I think Sunday night is Trivia Night. SERVICE The service was fine. Note that there is a self-serve water station, so you don't have to ask your server for water. AMBIANCE It was a Saturday evening when I went and the place wasn't crowded. There was no wait for a table and the noise level was kept to a minimum even with the music, allowing for brain room to let your thoughts and other people's voices bounce around the walls of your skull. It's nice to be able to hear the music AND other people talk to you. Nice jukebox; dig the tunes. CLEANLINESS Quarry House Tavern is not the type of place you typically picture when you think "dive bar". Yes, it's dark, cheap, and located in a basement, but it's also got a good menu full of beer and tasty food -- which you might not get around to sampling if you don't feel comfortable eating there. This place doesn't feel like there are roaches crawling all over the place and the fixtures aren't sticky; this is simply the cleanest dive I've ever set foot in, and that includes the spacious bathroom. Four stars after first visit. If the burger makes me happy the next time I go, this will be a five-star establishment in my book.
(4)Lara S.
Whoever rated Quarry House as a one star joint was probably made fun of by the regulars. This place is the epitome of a kick ass dive bar. 13 steps underground, there are no windows and no ventilation, sassy bar tenders and rowdy regulars- what more could you ask for?! Their specials are quality, their food is even better and if you get to know the waitresses you might even get a shot of jameson thrown at you. Any night I need a bar where everybody knows my name (or nickname at least) I head down those stairs. If you're not into rowdy/loud bar scenes, at least give Sunday night Pub Quiz a shot. The quiz masters are classy as hell and obviously spend a lot of hard work coming up with challenging yet fun questions. They have great prizes and even do guest hosts on occasion so it's a great scene to break into. If you do come in because of my review, let them know that Soups sent you. Haven't been back in a while but at least the veteran waitstaff will know who you're talking about :)
(5)Nick S.
Have you ever had a tater tot that made you want to leave your wife for it? I have - at the Quarry House Tavern. Which is to say nothing about their incredible whiskey and beer selections (they have Speyside, for crying out loud, like it's 1840's Britain), or their incredible burgers (which can be had for half price on Mondays). If you can get past the somewhat-claustrophobic 7-ft ceilings, or the uneven floors (two things that thankfully don't bother me in the least), this is the place for you.
(5)Jessica P.
Returned to QHT recently (on a snow day...) and they had added the PBR battered chicken tenders back to the menu! Praise! This alone is worth re-visiting the dive, and increasing my Yelp stars :)
(4)Steve J.
They are not closed. They moved across the street from their regular location. I went to the old location a few times and always had terrible service. I decided to try the temp location the other night and the service was ok, but the hamburger was terrible. Greasy and tasteless. The tater tots tasted like they were cooked in old grease as well. I think this place has really slipped.
(2)Matt L.
Great neighborhood spot and all types of people go here. I miss the old spot but the new spot is still very nice. Same crew and customers to make the nostalgia go away! Always a great spot for whiskey and a hard laugh.
(5)Viral D.
A 16 page Whiskey list, a Speakeasy kind of feeling, a Dive Bar and some really good Tater Tots....what more can you ask for? Going here on a Wednesday night to hangout with a friend who was visiting fro afar, it was a great place to meetup, and also the most happening place on a Wednesday night. It is hard to find this gem, but once you do, you will not regret it :). The only thing is the noise level was a little louder than expected, otherwise, a great place for whiskey lovers and other drink lovers alike
(5)Neil R.
You may miss the staircase that leads down to Quarry House but once you find it and enter I think you will be pleased. Huge selection of beers (bottles and drafts) and scotches - wow ! The place is the epitome of dive - dark, somewhat dingy, pretty much the look they are going for. I found the service, both table and bar, pretty good. They have good weekly specials - for example half off burgers on Monday! So now to the food. The first time I came on a Sunday and had the veggie quesadilla - I gotta say I wasn't expecting much but they delivered. Pretty solid. Then came other time on Monday so partook (sp?) in the burger Monday deal. No doubt, very good price - comes with their apparently famous tator tots. Well, the burger was just OK in my view. I would try it again as its a good deal and hey, at that price and with the selection of drinks, it's a good time. The tator tots were not impressive at all - my friend agreed. Overly fried with zero taste of potatoes. I think this was a bad tator night for them - so I may need to verify next time I come by. Nice joint to grab a casual drink and meal with friends. Really dark inside so don't expect to see who you are taking to - but if you are cool with that worth stopping by especially on the nights they have specials going on (check website).
(4)Elodie T.
I love Quarry House- I don't think I've ever gotten anything that I haven't liked. The beer and whiskey lists are huge- I've always found something that I like on draft. Tater tots are AMAZING although sometimes inconsistent, especially the Old Bay ones where you could get them with either too much or too little Old Bay. :( I haven't found any issues with the Bacon & Cheese one yet. I also really like the food menu- 1/2 price burgers are great on Monday nights, although you may want to get there early just to get seats (seating is first come first serve). The buffalo chicken wrap is another favorite of mine, although it's not great if you bring it home after you've gotten too full on the tater tots (at least not if you microwave it. Note to everyone- don't microwave the wrap. It hurts that perfect balance of buffalo sauce and bleu cheese and it just all becomes... too bleu cheese-y). I would say service is hit or miss, but honestly don't care much. As long as I'm having a good time with friends. :) Note: The check can only be split with 2 credit cards so bring cash if needed!
(4)Daniel S.
Great little underground bar stuffed with people. The beer menu is extensive and the staff attentive, if only the ladies were a bit more attractive..... Get there early to get a spot at the bar or table.
(4)Jung-Ah P.
My favorite underground dive bar! Not only do they have the best wings in the land - try old bay wings with hot BBQ sauce on the side - they have the best selection of beers. On my most recent visit, I discovered Captain Pumpkin's Maple Mistress which is the best pumpkin beer I've had! I've been looking for it all over Maryland, DC, and Virginia stores that sell beer but have not been able to get my hands on them yet. They have a great rolling draft beer list, and a book of bottled/canned beers - good way to try new stuff! Their whiskey menu is quite extensive as well - check out Whiskey Wednesdays. Tips: Monday nights = half price burgers Tuesday nights = 3 tacos and a margarita for $12 Wednesday nights = discounts on whiskey Saturday nights = live music There are other specials on the other nights too, I just can't remember what. It's across Georgia Ave from the Silver Spring metro station - go check it out!!!
(5)Benjamin M.
"Oh, here it is," I said, cautiously looking down the corner, cement steps. "Are you serious," she hesitantly questioned while looking over my shoulder and intentionally remaining a few paces behind me. I won't lie. I was asking myself the same question, but then quickly reminded myself there are plenty of diamonds in the rough, thankfully dug up by my fellow Yelpers. Welcome to Quarry House Tavern. After self-motivating us to walk down and inside, I was relieved to see a nearly packed house of Happy Hour Power patrons. We quickly found a table for two near the bar and were handed beer, whiskey and "grub" menus. I was already warming up to what has already been repeatedly classified, quite accurately, as a "dive bar." After deciding on burgers, tater tots and drinks, I went up to the bar to place our order (no table service). It's worth noting, the multi-page beer menu here is beyond impressive, with a ton of craft beer variety. Plus, their prices are reasonable. Once our meals arrived, we dug in without hesitation. My half-pound, Black & Bleu burger was excellent, as were the tots, which would even impress Napoleon D. She thought the Mushroom Swiss burger was equally delicious. After eating, we hung out here a little longer than I anticipated, having a couple of drinks and taking everything in before heading over to The Fillmore for a show. Even though they have a "F*%# Yelp" sticker behind the bar, I'm very glad I followed all the solid recommendations and reviews down into this dark and hidden Silver Spring gem. 4.5 Stars.
(4)Natalia M.
Hmmm......so came in on a busy Saturday night. Sat at a dirty table waited 10 minutes before anyone came to the table to clear the previous persons dishes. The table was never wiped. Sat for another 10 min, was never offered a food menu. Then someone walks up and says did we want any food. Well how would we know? We were never given menus..... Its too bad too, because the food certainly looked good. Hopefully this was just a bad night. Step it up, guys.
(1)Jenn B.
I love this place. It is super packed on Monday nights for $5 burger night because the birgers are just that good. Also they are served with tater tots, which are hard to find and always expinentially better than freblnch fries. In terms of beer, they always have a good selection. They will have 2 or 3 pumpkin beers in the fall, and I like most girls love this. The entrance seems a little sketchy because it's in the basement down the ally behind an Indian restaurant. It's much larger than you'd think with 2 rooms, and it's a little dark. I love that it has that neighborhood bar feel but is also a place you can take your kids for a burger.
(5)Chrystalle B.
While at a beer festival, I asked a group of ladies from MD where I should go to find some great tips. The all, and I'm not even kidding about this, they all looked at each other and then back at me at shouted "QUARRY HOUSE!!!!l". I called my husband, who was meeting me in MD after said beer festival and told him that we apparently HAD to go to this place and he replied, "I'm already here. :)". And so my love affair w/ Quarry House began... Yes, this place is a dive bar/ hole in the ground. Those are the best places. The food here is really really good. The tater tots are awesome and they have a pretty bangin burger. Juicy, just the right size- awesome. Their beer list is pretty spectacular. I definitely recommend coming here on a Sat afternoon. Minimumly crowded and plenty of time before the bands start to try a few brews in a very chill setting. Quarry House. Go there.
(5)Alex C.
There are few pubs left where you can just sit and chat with friends or read a good book over beer. Quarry House is one of the few. No TVs, no pop music and definitely no nonsense, this is hands down the best pub in the DMV and I wish I could give it 6 stars! The staff is direct but at the same time they are helpful and attentive. The burgers are incredible and the tots will challenge your world view. I don't want to get all lengthy and spoil the experience you're sure to have but let's just say I could write a novel about their beer and whiskey selection where there's a type and price for everyone. When I'm broke, I go to Quarry House Tavern. When I just got that bonus, I go to Quarry House Tavern. Quarry House Tavern is where the commoners of the Capital are kings.
(5)Kathleen W.
Hits the spot when you want a burger. Their tater tots are the way to go. Tried the side salad once...what an awful awful mistake, not that it was bad but far inferior to the crunchy goodness of tater tots. And get this, burgers are half off on Mondays!! Beer selection is good. My guy often frequents QH on the weekends for a few beers. Go if you're in the area!!
(4)Sumantha H.
relaxed atmosphere w/ low lighting and great service. The bacon and cheese tater tots are morsels of heaven and the list of scotches...endless and yummy!
(4)Alyssa A.
My boyfriend and I love coming to this place. The last time we came here was for dinner and drinks. We sat near the bar at a table, but you still order from the bar. My boyfriend get the regular burger and I got the veggie burger with blue cheese and hot sauce. The price is good, and the service was fine. I really just did not like my veggie burger. Next time I come here I'll probably just go for something different. My boyfriend thought his burger was okay though.
(3)Gretchen H.
Note: This would be a 5-star review if not for one thing: their inane "no vertical IDs" policy. I had a close friend visit DC (South Carolina native), who had been eagerly looking forward to her first time at QH, but she was denied service because her ID (legally issued by the state of South Carolina) was vertical. The waitress was evasive and said it was a blanket policy, and that it had been recommended by the county. It was pretty bogus (my friend is 24, had multiple credit cards in her name, and a past college ID), and they made no effort to verify the ID (do they not even own an ID scanner?). So, we left. On a happier note: I love this place, and have brought many friends of mine with me to enjoy some golden brown tots, delicious beers, and live rockabilly music. The bar is unremarkable from the outside, and resides beneath an Indian restaurant. QH is a dive bar, and one many locals love dearly. The basement is filled with church pew benches and formica tables, and when you sit down you get four menus: the current draft beers on tap, the full beer menu (many pages long), the whiskey menu (multiple pages as well), and the food menu. I mainly stick to the drafts, because there's always something I like available. There's usually several local beers on the list, and if you desire more choice, their full beer list will not disappoint. From lambics to German smokebeers, they've got you covered. The food is simple, greasy, and delicious. I usually get a 1/3 lb burger with grilled mushrooms, bacon, and ranch, with tots. DO NOT FORGO THE TOTS, they are golden brown morsels of potatoey goodness. Don't get the chicken tenders. They are beer battered, but the chicken itself is basically unseasoned, and the breading was a bit soggy the one time I got them. Sunday night is trivia night! It's a good time, but gets really busy, so be forewarned: if you want a table, show up early.
(4)Zach R.
This dive bar is awesome but always seems to be crowded. The tater tots, buffalo chicken wrap, wings and burgers are all great! The beer selection is awesome and reasonably priced. The place lives up to the hype but it isn't divey in the "off the beaten path" kind of way. Here are some useful tips if you've never been before so you don't seem like a newbie: -The place is located under the Bombay Gaylord restaurant with the staircase down running along the side street -Don't ask for water! There is jug of water and cups in the farthest corner from the bar where you can get your water. - There ARE both men's and women's bathrooms! The men's room is hidden away right at the entrance and the women's room is in the back corner. Try not to look confused looking for the bathroom ;-)
(4)Lee O.
This is the diver bars of dive bars. Awesome beer selection, though pretty common bar food. The place is not great for conversations as it's very loud, but if you're in the mood for good beer - this is it. The happy hour prices rock as well and the clientele is varied. Overall an awesome place to visit if you're into the non-pretentious, laid back bars. The door people could be a little better, but it's a small thing. For now.
(4)Evan P.
Went out to Quarry House on Friday night to get some burgers, tots, and whiskey. Was not disappointed. Background: I'd read about this place on Yelp and found that it was one of the higher-rated bars in the area, so I had to check it out. I'm also an aspiring wanna-be whiskey and a wanna-be craft-beer snobisseur, so this made QH a must visit. I took the lady-friend with me to make it a night of boozing and burgering. We live only 3 blocks from this place so it's ultra convenient. Pros: 1. Atmosphere: Felt like I was back drinking in Cambridge, Somerville, and Brookline up in Massachusetts. Definitely had a hipster-underground-celler-bar type of feel that I can dig. There was nary a soul in the confines of this basement tavern that was NOT wearing plaid of some variety. 2. Drink selections: If you like scotch, whiskey, scotch-whiskey, whisky, or beers you've never heard of, this is the place. 3. Food: Good (albeit unspectacular) burgers and wings. The tots were fun, and you can get them seasoned, or have them with cheese/bacon. They dumped Old Bay on my tots per my request, but in hindsight I think I'll ask for just a dusting in the future. That got spicy after a while. 4. Prices: Reasonable, but will probably limit my return visits to during the week for happy hour deals in the future. Cons: 1. Popularity: For a tiny basement bar, this place is packed on a Friday night, even as early as 6-7pm. Hipsters from around DC use this bar as a gathering point, and QH undoubtedly plays a key role in their mating rituals. It was difficult to find a seat, and there aren't a lot of places to stand around while waiting for one to open up because the inherent challenges related to population density. If I want food with my beer/whiskey I'll either come much earlier, or on a non-weekend evening. 2. Exterior signs: If you've never been here before, you might very well never find it. Maybe that's the point. Conclusion: Great local bar that turned out to be much more popular than I had anticipated. I'll definitely go here again.
(4)Skyler K.
Best beer, whiskey, drunk food menus ever. Our servers have always been nice and good at suggesting beers. Many of the international beers don't really give you any idea what they are, so it's cool that the servers know. Their draft menu changes all the time and usually has a good mix of flavored beers and interesting styles. I really like getting the veggie dogs with the tzatziki sauce and tots. It's also funny that they have fuck yelp stickers all over the bar, but everyone loves them on yelp.
(5)Will F.
I loved going to the old location but I have had nothing but bad experiences lately. I have gone three different times and experience awful service each time. I tried to give them the benefit of the doubt as I have worked in the restaurant industry for years and know every restaurant has its off days but after the third time going it was very apparent it was a common trend. First time I went no body explained that you need to go get your own water so after waiting a while for the serve to even just bring us the water glasses we still had to ask someone about the water. After that we ordered our 3 beers which arrived about 5 minutes after our food which took an average length of time to receive. But seriously beers should never take that long. Especially not bottles. Another time going there we waited for about 15 minutes before being acknowledged by anyone. The music outside was so loud we could not even have a conversation and even after asking several times if the speaker right above our table could be turned down nothing happened. And the rest of the time there the server was super slow to do anything. The most recent time I was there we sat at an open table for around 30 minutes without being acknowledged at all. Even the other tables around us were very apparently ignored. Even as we got up to leave not a single employee said a thing to us. The bus boy who very clearly saw us did not alert any server to us being there. Don't get me wrong the food is solid and if you can deal with awful servers its a good place and I would love to have a good experience there but the staff makes it very difficult. There are only about 20 tables in the entire place and should be no problem for a well equipped wait staff but it seems like they just do not care. I liken the place to a restaurant that is opened by someone who just hires all of his friends regardless of their work ethic or abilities. On top of that any time you ask for something it seems like you are a burden to them. If I was to rate this place on food and drinks alone I would give it 5 stars but I just can't give them that based on the service. I mean I am not asking for perfect service I just want service that is good enough and they have never even done that. Also for some reason they don't answer the phone whatsoever after a certain time.
(1)GT W.
Short: A hidden dive bar that specializes in unfresh bottles of beer Long: QHT is one of the only places you can actually go out in Silver Spring. It is underneath an Indian restaurant and has no sign to help you find it. It has a nice speakeasy feel with low ceilings and an Irish pub type of decor. Its specialty is craft beer, but they only have 5 taps that are usually not interesting and their massive beer list is composed of old/stale bottles. Cases upon cases of refrigerate only IPAs languish all over the floor where live music is usually set up. Service is slow. There is food, but I would not recommend it. Still, it gets the job done to wind down after a work day in Silver Spring. But given the upsurge in higher end apartment housing in the area, there needs to be another late night dive bar to offer some diversity. Good For: Feel like a bad ass in this dive bar speakeasy Bad For: People who love beer
(2)Maria P.
This place deserves 5 stars for the tots...and wide selection of beer! The selection changes from day to day, so I like to try a new one every time. Oh yeah, and don't forget those delicious burgers and fries. Now let's move on to the ambiance. The seating may be somewhat cramped and the location might be a little strange...but the people make up for it! Walking down those stairs into a hidden door makes it feel...exclusive. They sometimes have live music which really adds to the whole hipster/divebar/random vibe you get from this place. The pricing is very reasonable considering how delicious the food tastes. It's kind of like a high school party, with a ton of alcohol, good food, and ages that range from 21-51. And a jukebox. Please remember the jukebox.
(5)Brian D.
Great choice on a Thursday night, found a table easily and the burgers are spot on. The beer selection could be better and cheaper, but it's certainly acceptable. Burgers are less than $10 WITH TOTS though, so very reasonable. Tots are better than chips, FYI
(4)Eugene C.
Quarry House is one of the best local hole-in-the-ground (literally) places in Silver Spring. I always come here on Monday nights because their burgers are half off which makes for an amazing an filling meal. Their meat is hardly ever overcooked and pretty on point with what you request, whether it being medium, or medium rare. The 1/3 lb and 1/2 lb-ers are definitely the ideal sizes of burgers to eat here. The 1 lb-er is two of the 1/2 lb patties and it looks like a challenging and awesome mess to eat. Tater Tots are simply delicious. Old bay and Honey BBQ Wings were very flavorful. QH is definitely a spot to check out.
(5)Sizana E.
Great burgers, food is well priced The drink menu is awesome and it definitely has loads of character. It's a very chill, fun place to go even if you are alone. Read a book at the bar while having a drink and enjoyed the atmosphere. The only reason I am not giving it 5 stars is because of the lighting. It's a little too dark in my opinion but other than that, everything here is awesome!
(4)Elena S.
This is a dive bar, which is awesome. But this is a dive bar with a very wide selection of beer, which is awesomer.
(4)Andrea C.
Interesting because I don't drink, but I love it here! It's a hole-in-the wall dive bar with an extensive menu of beers and wines. They have great daily deals that just can't be beat, especially when the food is delicious. I love their burgers and it's one of my favorites in the local area. The service is prompt and the laid-back atmosphere definitely satisfies after a long day or hard week. The seating is limited, so anticipate a wait on weekends. I wouldn't say it's the ideal place for large groups or families, but they are more than accommodating. If you can't find it, it's a small entrance on the side of the restaurant, Bombay Gaylord. Walk down the steps and enter on the left. It's self-seating so pick a spot and enjoy.
(5)Timir D.
I like this place a lot, though for first timers it can be a little bit difficult to find. But that also adds to the appeal of the place. Very nice atmosphere and really polite staff. The food items are quite reasonably priced, and there are nice daily specials. The beer and liquor menus are quite extensive and the staff are very knowledgeable and helpful with recommendations. One of the reasons that I go here is for the 4 alarm wings. This is simply the hottest food that I have ever eaten in my life. And I regularly eat and cook with some of the hottest peppers known to man. I think they pretty much just blend habaneros to make the sauce for these wings. My friends and I come here specifically to eat these wings for the painful yet pleasurable experience. So if you are a hot food junky, you should definitily try out the 4 alarm wings.
(4)Nat L.
literally couldn't find the place. went exactly to the address listed and there was some chinese restaurant. tried calling a few times and no one picked up. signage would be awesome because i really would have liked to have gone here. we even asked around and other people had no idea what we were talking about.
(2)Chris B.
Yelp has this place listed as closed. Definitely not closed, they re-opened across the street. Still going strong and still the coolest bar in MoCo.
(5)Meg H.
Deep Fried Oreos...YUM! For the location, the beer list, the tots, and the oreos...it gets a 4. The bathroom ladies...is disgusting.. I mean imagine your basement frat parties but with dead bugs and dust everywhere. It is a rough bathroom. That being said they were PACKED on a Sunday night so they must be doing something right!
(4)Michael J.
Great beers and terrible food. What more could you ask for-- oh wait, I guess decent food would be a plus. I guess they've got good tater tots. Wait-- why the hell do I care? Quarry House is about beer. They've got that sorted.
(4)Elizabeth S.
Went a few months ago and had an amazing burger and fantastic wings. So sorry to hear about the fire - eagerly awaiting their return!!
(4)Anne D.
The best burger and tots ever!!! Also have a wide selection of beer and drinks. A+ the only thing you gotta look hard for a table. Lol
(4)Ian S.
Not happy, beer was okay, but service was subpar. We had Julie as a server and not sure why, but she did not check up on us once and would come to our table once a blue moon for reorders. We tried to be overly friendly but this still did not work, not sure what was up. Management did not help.
(2)Scott K.
Best dive bar in DC area. Been coming here since 1980. Not a yuppie filled bar. Great drinks, great beer, awesome burgers. 200+ whiskeys, 200+ beers by the bottle, 8 good drafts, and great burgers. Oh, and an awesome jukebox.
(5)Cedric C.
This is the true definition of dive bar. Dark, basement with no idea of what the Surface People are doing. The beer list is good, the food is good but seating can be a nightmare if you come when it's crowded. Seating is first come first served, no hostess you just sit when someone leaves. It can get loud since seating is really close. The servers can be a bit snippy but you'll forget all about that when you get a couple of beers in ya. I've had better burgers but I've definitely had far worse burgers. Same can be said for the wings. So why the 4 stars? I love the atmosphere of the place and again the food is decent. Did I mention the beer? I think the prices are reasonable. Did I mention the beer selection? It's definitely worth a try.
(4)Tara L.
You know that old sweatshirt that you let sit in the washing machine for 3 days after it was washed? Yea you know, the one that smells extremely questionable? Just go ahead and put it on, because Quarry House will still love you. That's right. Quarry House will take you in, feed you with some great bar food, fill you up with beer and let you marinate in your own juices. I actually had a great time here in this dark little cave below ground. The beer selection was awesome, but I didn't feel like dropping $10 on a specialty beer. I just wanted something to wash down my oh-so-delicious $4 cheeseburger and tater tots. And I must add, it was great to go out wearing my hoody and dirty boots. It was freeing in fact. Next time though I will rock the mildew hoody, to fend off any predators. Although, at a place like Quarry's, that may be like bees to honey.
(4)Brett K.
Awesome as long as you can find a table! Great bar with a wonderful selection of beers and good live music, the only reason I don't go more is that it's so popular that it's often very hard to find a seat or even a comfortable area to stand during peak times so consider avoiding peak times when you visit.
(5)Anne L.
This place was recommended to me by a few friends so I decided to check it out with a group of people. I absolutely love the atmosphere. I've only sat in the back and it's dimly lit with nice Christmas lights lighting the stage area. It is a first come, first serve type seating system so if you're coming with a big group make sure you go early enough to ensure yourself enough seats for your guests. This place also only can split the check two ways so that was the main problem when I went because I went with a big group. Other than that, this is an awesome place and I highly recommend it!
(4)Keisha C.
The food is great. I'd recommend getting the burgers slightly more done than you are used to (my medium well was very pink throughout). The tots are delicious though. I also tried the tacos (3 tacos and a margarita on Tuesdays for $10 - excellent deal). They were a little spicier than I expected, but I love spicy food. I'm not a beer drinker, so I can't comment on their selection. The margarita I had was nice though. The only downside is that it's hard to know when the bar will be too crowded. sometimes, it's pretty quiet. other times, you can't get a seat. fun atmosphere though. nice place to catch up with old friends. it's definitely one of my favorite places in silver spring. also, it's 2013. update your website! hell, I'll do it for a plate of tots.
(4)Brenton W.
The first bar I went to when I moved to the DC area and it's become a place of choice that I now bring friends from out of town to. Best night to go is a Monday for half price burgers -- which are arguably the best in the area. Their menu is limited but everything I've tried is phenomenal. The food choices that are available are nothing exceptionally unique, they just taste wonderful. The wings are some of the best in the area (only complaint is that they're a little too pricy). Where Quarry House shines is it's alcohol selection. A surplus of beer and whiskey options (about a dozen pages worth) will leave you taking several wonderful minutes to make a decision. One of my favorite perks of Quarry House is the unique rotating draft choices that are changing daily. To be fair, it is best to go early within a few hours of opening and grab a table. It is a small, hidden place along Georgia Ave that fills quickly for their daily food happy-hour specials. Without a table, you are standing over a stranger's table, shouting to your friend next to you in conversation, over a speaker blaring music, that's right next to your head. Nevertheless, it's a wonderful place to go for drinks and great conversation with friends.
(4)Jess Y.
Come in, find a seat, & sit down (self seating). [...Good to know for the no0bs that wait for a seat and get mad when someone else sits before them...] Oh, & make sure you order at the bar if you are sitting at one of the tables right across from it. Quarry House Tavern has to be one of my favorite dive bars. First off, I'd like to say.... I really really really appreciate the selection of whiskey & beer that they have. My two favorite types of alcohol! The old bay wings are perrrrrfect, make sure you get hot sauce on the side. It's spicy as hell! 1/2 burgers w/ tots on mondays, taco Tuesday's(I think), whiskey Wednesday's, live music on Saturday(love). I forgot what was on Thursday and Friday. Service is o-k, I know the servers are working their asses off. It's just THAT busy. Overall I'm content. I would definitely recommend QH to everyone. If you want to skip the busy rush / waiting for a seat, be there at 530-600. Seats fill up very quickly!
(4)Veronica J.
Five words... Whiskey Wednesdays and tater tots
(5)Semra E.
The nights I've gone have been fun. Best part is that they sell TOTS there!!! Who doesn't like tots!?!?!?! So that was great, what's HARD about this spot is how crowded it gets on certain nights because of the great deals you get, on top of that it IS in a basement of an Indian Restaurant, so there's that cold moldy funk smell to the place and it's cold down there no matter WHAT time of year it is. But it can have that CHEERS feeling because there are soooooo many regulars that hang out there on a daily. I believe that they have $3 burgers on Monday nights up until a certain time, and THAT'S when it's the most crowded there. But definitely worth the experience. Try it out for yourself!
(3)Matt A.
The food is much better than you would expect from a 'dive' bar, the staff are friendly and knowledgeable, and the beer list is excellent. They rotate the tap beers regularly and there is always a good variety. The only downside is the crowd on Friday and Saturday. The classic story of being a victim of your own success, the place can be a bit of a mob scene on weekend evenings.
(5)Michael M.
Great hipster bar; dirty, smelly, loud, and crowded... but inspired. Its got the best tater-tots in town, not to mention the fried pickle spears, or the wings. You want a PBR? They've got it, want some $45 Belgian brew? they've got that too.... plus everything in between. The only catch... if you don't like loud and crowded... stay away on weekend nights... If you dig loud live music ... head on over.
(4)Sam W.
First, the good, already noted by many reviewers: incredible beer and liquor offerings at reasonable prices. Good food (I especially recommend the wings). Great jukebox. Unfortunately, QH has a huge problem with understaffing. Virtually anytime you visit the QH, you will wait a LONG time to be served. Perhaps all the people posting unequivocally positive reviews have discovered some secret method of getting the servers' attention. In five years of intermittently stopping by QH, I have not. Consequently, my visits have become less and less frequent. Also: QH has about as much in common with an actual dive bar as a Ren Faire does with the historical Renaissance. It's transparently shtick, aimed at attracting hipsters (which it does quite successfully). Don't really care, just find it kind of silly.
(3)Yomphana A.
You should go for MONDAY 1/2 price Burger night!! Listen, this recession ain't going no where and unless your Donald Trump you should seriously consider coming here. There's loads and loads of beer, a punk rock atmosphere and pretty good eats here. There is a study group of patrons and this is the local Silver Spring dig to eat and hang out. The tab this past Monday for 1/3 lb black and blue burger, 1/2 lb black and blue burger and a beer was $13 and change. You can't beat that. Plus the burgers come with tater tots. You can jazz it up with ketchup, mayo or old bay. Really good stuff. AND the BEER menu is EXTENSIVE, plus there is a whiskey menu too. The ambiance has a frat house/pub vibe, ala wood panelling. There's a juke box and a bar. Note - Mondays can get pretty busy if you are 4 people and under you should be fine. However if you are bringing a small army you may need to send folks over early to stake out a spot. If you are looking for cheap eats, good beer and a fun place to hang, this is your spot.
(4)Billy O.
This dive bar has taken a dive in service. Two stars because I have enjoyed previous visits. We asked for a recommendation for a beer since the menu is easily 10 pages. The beer they delivered was either skunked or just plan nasty. We didn't consume it and asked for something else and the waitress took it away - yet we were charged for it on our bill. Waitress refused to remove it or get the manager, until we threatened to take it out of her tip. Manager, who literally looked like the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (nothing wrong with that but she smelled like she had not showered in days) agreed we should not be charged for beer if it was taken away by waitress, however, then returned to the table two minutes later to inform us that the waitress claimed she had removed the beer right before the check was delivered so her previous offer to remove the charge was rescinded. In reality, the waitress had removed it long before that and was clearly trying to cover for herself - but more importantly, so what! This went on for 20 minutes about technicalities of when the beer was removed and what exactly was wrong with it and so on. And the boneless chicken strips which are normally good tasted like they were over cooked in oil that has never been changed. No matter if QH has a great beer selection or appeals as a dive bar, you can't treat customers like that. And to the manager who shouldn't be one - take a shower or wear deodorant!
(2)This Mac Kills Fascists A.
I go to this place after work when I'm tired, cranky and I want to crawl into a hole and not be bothered. It's Silver Spring. There's no one here worth talking to, and I appreciate that. The margaritas taste like cough syrup. The $5 hotdogs are, well, $5 hotdogs. The whiskey list is expansive - but it all tastes the same after the first few. The non-profit interns like to wave Kurt Vonnegut novels in the air and cry about Libya.
(4)Sara M.
It's good to have a local dive bar with excellent food! The Quarry House is definitely dive-y, and you may initially miss it on the corner of Georgia and Bonifant because the sign to their creepy staircase is missing and has been replaced with a piece of paper tacked onto the plywood overhang. If you find it, you'll descend those stairs into a dark basement bar full of tables and booths. Don't be afraid. The burgers are delicious, and they serve tater tots as a side - total elementary school cafeteria throwback! I'm not hot for the tots (in any meaning of the phrase), so I prefer chips or fried pickles to accompany my burgers. They've got plenty of beers to choose from, and it's not too loud around dinnertime on a weekday. The music is largely tolerable and the service is friendly. It's not classy, but it's reliably good.
(4)Landon C.
If you looking for a nice bar where you can have a conversation, this is not the place to go. If you want to meet some friends for some beers or you want to try some unique beers that no one else has, this is the place to go. The deep fried oreos are also amazing. The one thing this place is lacking is cleanliness. We had a cockroach go across our table one night. Also, the bathrooms are very dirty.
(4)Brian D.
Quarry House is an awesome bar in downtown Silver Spring! Technically a dive bar (go down a flight of stairs from street level to enter), it lacks any pretension or stuffiness. Really a refreshing place. QH is known for its beer selection. When you get a menu there it is as thick as a diner menu, but just full of hundreds of beers. I have tried something new every time I have been there, and could probably do so forever. Just an A+ beer menu. On the same level is the whiskey menu. I may not be as knowledgeable about whiskey, but they have just as many varieties of it as they do with beer. Finally the food, while definitely just bar food, is not that bad. QH's famous food item is the tater tots (get the Old Bay Tots - you will not be disappointed!). Can't really speak to the rest of their food though. The place loses a star because it can get very crowded later in the evenings (not that big) and that makes it super hard to get service. But if you get there for like happy hour, snag a table, and hang out, QH is a 5 star in my book. Also on Saturday nights they have live music (typically of the country/rock variety). Definitely worth checking out!
(4)Monsieur F.
I always get excited coming here. I like dive bars where you don't need to wear anything special just to get smashed on some tasty brews. The burgers are amazing and you can get Old Bay on your tater tots. Some people complain about finding tables on a Friday or Saturday night. Guess what? You live in one of the most populated areas on the east coast. You are going out on a Friday night to one of the only good bars in Silver Spring. It will be difficult to find a table. I think my only gripe is that they use an outdated billing system. I'm a man so I just deal with it by preparing ahead of time and getting cash to simplify the paying process. They will probably never update it, but IDGAF this place is great. So, if you like a nice selection of beers that continually rotates, a delicious burger at a reasonable price, and just an all around chill spot, come here.
(5)Linda B.
Quarry House deep fried Oreos, I think I love you so what am I so afraid of? This place has tons of personality. Awesome selection of beers, a Danny Masterson lookalike behind the bar, the weirdest ladies room in DTSS, killer burgers and tots, and an even better margarita and three taco deal that reaffirms Tuesday is the new black.
(5)Spencer H.
Love Quarry House, definitely my go to spot in Silver Spring. It's the quintessential "dive bar" in every sense, but I've never had a bad meal and the beer/whisky menus are AMAZING. Service is kind of hit or miss sometimes, but overall I've had pretty good experiences. The whiskey selection more than makes up for it, IMO.
(4)kevin c.
The first visit to this bar was during the week and it was great. Went on Tuesday when the special is tacos. Tacos were good. Both chicken and beef. Tuesday you get three tacos and a margarita for $10. They also have half price burger Mondays. We also tried the wings. They were very good. Hot wings here are hot. Hotter than most places that label there wings as hot. Beer selection is pretty good as well. They have decent variety of bottles. Over all a good comfortable place to come to regularly.
(4)Patrick T.
An absolute gem and easily one of the best bars in the DC region. They have an extensive beer list, and they are always rotating in new draft beers. It's about as close to a bar-bar as you'll get in Montgomery County. While the food menu isn't that expansive, it's all very good and reasonably priced. They also have good vegetarian options and the deep-friend Oreos are a real treat. Quarry House Tavern is a dive bar in the best way possible. It's literally underground, the interior is really outdated and the place itself isn't that great. But the place has great beer and food, is always packed and has good live music once a week. And you'll come to like the unique interior. The only negative I can think of is that it can be hard to get a table on Friday and Saturday nights.
(5)Shon R.
Bottom line - where have you been the last two years? I needed you! Normally, I wait until at least the third visit before posting a review unless a place is so bad or so good I can't wait. Well, Quarry House is so good I have to go ahead and post the review now. I walked in with my girl and was immediately taken back to my college days. This is a dive bar at its finest, dark with no windows. But the food. Oh the food. My burger was excellent. Easily one of the best I have had in a long while. Perfectly cooked and seasoned. Add to that great service and you have a perfect place for some grease anytime the mood hits you. Highly recommended.
(5)Julie L.
If you are looking for an upscale ale house, do not even consider visiting QH. If you love beer, trying new things, great food, rockabilly and dives then this is most definitely the place for you. A couple of highlights (and lowlights): Beer selection- phenomenal and varied. I try to find something different every time I go Food- I am not a big burger fan they are so good here I get one every time. Incidentally half price burgers are on Monday nights. And don't get me started on the TATER TOTS yummmmm Music- Rockabilly bands on Saturday nights. If you are sitting in the back room expect it to be real loud. Ambiance- if you don't know what a dive is, visit Quarry House. I have heard people there for the first time complaining about it being grimey. They promptly left and freed up a table for someone who knew great food and beer could be served in a non upscale environment. I will say that I would love to give the bathrooms a one star rating. I walk out feeling way grosser than when I walked in
(5)Hibah H.
Hands down my favorite place to drink in the DC area. A great beer selection + perfect bar food + unpretentious setting = everything a girl could want.
(5)Christie W.
This place is just cool! You feel like you are in some type of dungeon or pirate ship. Although that might not be appealing for most, this place has a TON of character!! Not to mention a very impressive beer list. I went on a Monday night for the 1/2 price burgers, we started off with the fried pickles which were tasty, then I ordered the blue cheese burger, it was great, hard to finish because they are pretty big, but I was happy. They had some pretty interesting burgers on their menu, not just the standard w/ cheese or w/o. I have been meaning to get back here for quite some time now. I thought it had a lot of charm! :)
(4)Victoria S.
D-I-V-E! Total effing dive...it doesn't get much divey-er than this! In the basement of the Bombay Gaylord restaurant it's a bit watership down (rabbit tunnels) mixed with Appalachia charm. The walls are all wood and the ceiling is low. It's shaped like a U with the bar in the middle -- on the other side you will find tables and the woman's bathroom near the "stage" where they had some kind of country/bluegrass band playing. There were plenty of people dancing and enjoying the surroundings. Haven't tried the food, however, they have an extensive drink menu - very impressive. I have heard they have great tater tots. :) The service was spotty and the patrons were ummm interesting including the guy wearing the sailor hat and his buddy in the peach colored polyester suit. (Which was awesome!) There are dark corners in this place so be ready for some weirdos coming out of the woodwork.
(3)Jane Q P.
Met some friends here when I was visiting... it is one of those places you would only go to if you know it exists, which is often the best kind of place. Dark. Dingy. Downstairs. HUGE selection of beers and a good burger. I think they are supposed to have the "best" burger... the burger was good, I don't know about the best. ALSO they have TATER TOTS!!!! how awesome? I tried the fried pickles at the urging of my pickle loving friends, but am not really a pickle fan. The ceiling of the ladies room is so low I had to stoop over to avoid hitting my head. For first timers, there is a whole backroom too, just navigate through all the patrons in the front section!
(4)Claire L.
One of my old friends took me here when I was up in DC visiting. I understand why. This is a true dive bar in the most dive sense of the way, with stellar beer and whiskey selection. They were out of a bunch of stuff on draft, but it was Sunday night. The bottle list was more than plenty: anyplace that stocks 21st Amendment is good in my book. Service was slow, but the staff was friendly. I'm not sure if the grill has ever been cleaned, but that makes for some excellent tots. For a downstairs dive, the bathroom was actually not as bad as I was expecting. I only wish I lived closer. This is a place I could love to become a regular!
(4)Shane B.
As other people have stated, this place is hard to find. However, it is very pleasant (albeit VERY LOUD)!! I really like their music selection, and my fiance, myself, and 2 friends walked out with 4 burgers and a beer for only $26 on half-price burger night (Mondays). The best thing is their insane # of burger toppings. Jalapenos, pico de gallo, avocado, a butt load of different cheeses, bacon, mushrooms, onions, etc. etc. And the burgers are good, and huge. Going back tonight!
(4)Lloyd B.
one of my favorite places in DMV area. been coming to this place for a few years now. reminds me of a divey bar you might find in NYC. Pros: Huge beer and whiskey selection jukebox some of the best bar food i've ever had fun people watching atmosphere Cons: if never been here before, easy to miss entrance gets a bit crowded some nights so hard to find seating crowded nights leads to longer service time but thats to be expected
(5)Jay G.
Used to be our go-to years ago. Went back for a nostalgic visit tonight. However, it is not the Quarry House of old, unfortunately. Service/waiter with attitude set us up for an evening that left us yearning for what it used to be. Our appetizer came with the full meal, delivered by someone other than our waiter. The Patty Melt was overdone and not on the traditional rye bread. Wings were...wings that you could get anywhere. The egg that accompanied a burger was so hard cooked that it was dark brown all over and crispy on the edges (unlike the description given by our surly waiter when asked how the egg was cooked; he said it would be soft). Tater tots were good, as was the blue cheese with the wings. Our waiter was non-existent after he took our order. Came by toward the very end to see if we wanted another drink, but at that point I was not willing to add any more $$ to the order. Though the egg was left uneaten on the side of our plate, waiter did not question, so when we made mention of it, laughingly, he said nothing (not "oh, sorry about that", for instance). Basically, he took our order and left us the bill. Thanks, dude! We were sorry we hadn't opted for another restaurant, like Guapos in Bethesda, at that point. Left the Quarry House for good tonight.
(2)Ryan M.
Awesome dive and I could sample a different beer here probably for the rest of my life. If you feel like wearing jeans and a T-shirt to get a good beer and laugh with friends while taking in some local live music, this place is for you. If you like martinis with a "splash of huckleberry!" then it's not. Kinda hipster, more grunge. Guy in a cowboy (not Cowboys) hat fit in better than a fedora. Saw my motorcycle mechanic here. Hopefully you get the vibe. If not you'll still be welcomed by a very cool staff and talkative patrons. Note it's hard to find on Georgia. It's just a set of hidden stairs going down so keep your eyes peeled.
(5)Stephen M.
I've enjoyed their burgers, beer, and juke box. But there's more; nobody seems to have picked up on the live music. This is currently home base for JP McDermott and Western BOP. They are very busy with fine gigs around the area and well beyond. They are a fine rockabilly and honky-tonk band, and they fill the small dance floor on the Saturdays when they are in the house. He won the WAMMIE (Washington Area Music Association) awards as the one best country vocalist in the area for 2004, 2005, and 2007. This aint Nashville, but this is a fine band. And it sure adds to the great scene.
(4)Ric L.
This is a dive bar, make no mistake, but this is also the best beer bar in the Maryland burbs. They have a 12+ page beer menu with an extensive selection of Belgians and a great selection of Italian brews. Their prices are generally better than that famous beer bar in DC. The Burgers are discounted on Monday nights and are fantastic. A warning, the HOT level of seasoning is very spicy. I'm a chili head and had to rinse my wings. Many weekend nights they have a live band in the back room. The place does get full, so be ready to be turned away if you show up after 9 on a show night.
(5)Ed H.
I love this bar. It is in every way perfect. I almost want to rate this with one star so not many people discover it and I get to keep it to myself and a few select locals. It really is my favourite bar on the planet. In fact, when I heard it was changing ownership a few years ago, I blogged my plea to keep it just as it was: kstreetblues.blogspot.co… kstreetblues.blogspot.co… kstreetblues.blogspot.co… I'm happy to say it still is the best bar on earth. The owners describe it as a "a cross between a speak-easy and a rec room." Which is pretty spot-on. I might say it's a cross between the fellowship hall of a 1960s-built Methodist church and a speakeasy. And maybe a dingy Belgian hole-in-the-wall bar. Great beer, the best burgers in Washington, excellent bar staff (shout out to April and Lindsey and Nick), great jukebox. Woe to you if I am there and you want to play something: chances are I've commandeered it for two hours. Some have questioned my claim that the QHT has the best burgers in Washington. But I mean it. They're perfect. Good, juicy and perfectly cooked, with a variety of topping options. I usually go for jalapenos, pickles, lettuce, tomato, mayo and mustard. Oh, and did I mention they come with TATER TOTS!? Yes. You can get them plain or with Old Bay seasoning, which is what I do. Perfectly cooked, too -- crunchy on the outside and good on the inside. I love the burgers so much I rarely get anything else. But I have had the chicken wings, which are excellent. The hot are almost too hot for me, and I have a great tolerance for spicy. Beer selection is quite heavy on the Belgians, but very extensive. I mean, they have a "Beericulum Vitae," not a beer menu. Tap choices vary week to week, so be sure to ask. A lot of American microbrews, as well. Added bonus: JP McDermott throwing down the rockabilly.
(5)Yovi F.
Went for the first time and loved it! Trust me on this, the burgers are prob great, but go on TACO TUESDAYS - $6 buys you three of the best damn chicken tacos I've had in this area, period. They come with a green cilantro sauce and a red sauce and are packed with flavor, chicken breast chunks, real cheese and jalapenos!
(4)Amanda D.
My favorite dive bar. I love the selection of beer! They have so much to choose from I almost never order the same thing twice! Tots are great and the cheeseburgers are quite good. This is definitely a favorite in my bar book :)
(5)Thenameless C.
Beer selection - Excellent! 1/2 price burgers on Monday Night - Bravo! Roaches climbing up the wall - Yep, they have that too. It's a great dive but they obviously need to do more about cleaning the place. It's a bar/restaurant under a restaurant. Went back last night - still had roaches climbing the walls. Will wait a few weeks before trying again. Burgers still delicious, just wondering what the flavor really is...
(4)Alex O.
This is my favorite bar. It's the place I've been going to a couple of times a week for years. The ambience? Well, it's a sort've small seventy year-old basement tavern and that's exactly how it looks, feels, and smells. For some people, that will make them turn around immediately upon entering, for the rest of us, it's exactly how a bar should feel. The beer selection is among the best in the DC region, and unlike the Brickskeller, it's actually quite rare for the QH to be out of a beer that they have on their menu. They also have one of the best whiskey and bourbon selections in the region.. The menu isn't that diverse - it's bar food and doesn't try to be much else, but even within those confines, the Quarry House generally makes a damn fine burger. The staff have a really good knowledge of their beers and liquors (April in particular is a walking encyclopedia of beer and Scotch knowledge) and while table service can be a bit slow on crowded nights, it's more than acceptable. The crowd is mostly locals, with an age range of mid-20s to forty-somethings and pretty social. This is the kind of place where you can go by yourself and quickly get involved in conversations with complete strangers. The jukebox is good, if not exceptional. One of the real highlights is the live music. After the sad demise of the Half Moon Barbecue, which was about a block over on Georgia, I thought that we'd lost our only place to see straight-up rockabilly bands. Not so! The Quarry House quickly took up the mantle and although it's not exactly an ideal live music venue, they have become the best rockabilly bar in the area, with fridays and saturday nights featuring a rotating cast of great rockabilly and garage rock bands. The venerable J.P. McDermott and Western Bop play there every other saturday. Honestly, there isn't much else to say, other than to reiterate how much I love this bar.
(5)Kelsy S.
AWESOME selection of beer. Hole in the wall, seemed like you were in Europe. However, with my sensitive sense of smell, there was a distinct urine odor. The boys I was with did not smell this however, so I'm just really sensitive to smells :)
(4)Allyson P.
Wow...Best Burger Ever! Now, I know what you're probably thinking, and the answer is yes, I have tried Palena, and I assure you, Quarry House Tavern does in fact have a better burger. Maybe the bun isn't as good, but who orders burgers for the bun? As long as the bun is decent enough to not detract from the actual burger, I'm happy. On top of the really good burgers, they have an enormous beer selection, as everyone else has mentioned. The ambiance is perfect for a bar-dark, sort of divey without being gross, good music. The bar was rather crowded for a Tuesday night, and the only bartender was also the only waiter, but the service was nonetheless quick and friendly.
(5)Aaron S.
This place has a great beer selection and USED to be a great atmosphere. It no longer is. The service absolutely sucks. It takes forever to get a beer, they serve fine beers in the wrong glasses (sometimes with no glass at all), and the servers know nothing about beer! How can you have a belgian beer tavern with bartenders and servers that no absolutely nothing about beer? Once Emily (former server) left this place, it's gone downhill ever since.
(1)Christopher M.
I declare, if it were closer it'd be my absolute favorite dive bar! This place is very chill and laid back with great music on the jukebox and friendly staff. The food I had was amazingly awesome and unexpected. I just figured it'd be something to eat but it was actually enjoyable, which is rare for a dive bar. My friend had the Old Bay Tater tots; I snagged a couple and they were excellent. My companion got a jolt when eating a tot with a little too much Old Bay and scrambled for her beer; a little shocking for her, but very entertaining for me. I had the half pound burger with provolone, onions, and mushrooms. I don't know what I was thinking! I was way full. In addition to my burger I had the Tater Tots with cheddar and bacon. Ohhhhhhhh my gosh those things are addictive! To drink I had the Ommegang Three Philosophers, the remainder of my friend's Rochefort 6, and a Duvel; all of which were priced as low as can get! I was there for quite a while and never felt rushed to leave. They have a huge variety of beers at superb prices, and a wide range of 750s. As a matter of fact, yesterday when I went in I was informed that they had just added 15 new beers that morning. Even if you don't live in Silver Spring QHT is worth going to simply for the modestly priced, very modestly I might add, beer! On the plus side, its walking distance from the metro and stumbling distance back. I just wish the ceilings were a little bit taller, being over 6'0 could be a hazard here. Higher ceilings, a desire; good affordable beer, necessity. I can't always get what I want, but I get what I need. I'll be content with that. P.S. The last train to Shady Grove on weeknights leaves at 11:40 something. So be mindful if taking the metro. I made it to the train with 3 minutes to spare!
(4)Alex A.
I just went to the QHT for the first time after living in Silver Spring for a while. I'd been told about it by a friend, and was interested just based on the visual appeal of the place from outside (it's a sign and then a set of steps leading down to a door well suited to a place whose name starts with "Ye"). Inside it is more spacious than I expected. No mold, dreariness, dampness, gloomy-ness, pub patrons who turn and glare at anyone who dares let the light of day into their lair, or any other unwelcome surprises. As far as welcome surprises: PBR on tap, good food, getting in to see the band for free (sorry QHT, I'm not trying to rip you off, but one must be slightly less scrupulous in these trying economic times-if you get there about an hour before the band starts playing and go to the back part of the bar you'll be there before the doorman arrives and won't have to pay to watch the band), and good music on the jukebox. Best of all, Guinness Floats on the dessert menu (the proper name of which, FYI, is the Mike Cnossen, that's Mike Keh-Naws-son). We went on a Saturday night, and the house band (I'm assuming) was playing, a Rockabilly group called "Western Bop". Not bad. The band was entertaining, but paled compared to watching all the old people dancing to the music. Where did they come from, and how did they hear about this? Is there a real interest in Rockabilly among baby-boomers, or was this a fluke? Who knows. Anyway, last word: Great beer selection for reasonable prices, and the atmosphere is what it is. I just wish they opened earlier in the day. I'll definitely be back.
(4)Ian N.
QH is my favorite place in DC (I'm not big on pretention). A rotating half-dozen good beers on tap, giant beer menu, giant whiskey menu, great dive tavern atmosphere, great crowd (got into a yelling match about Battlestar at midnight), non-corporate (SS what?). Always under-staffed. The previous posted had it right - the service is never fantastic - but it's a zoo on ... half-price burger Mondays! You'll see the staff running and just pray you get their attention. Ignoring the bun, which is just average, I haven't had a better burger in the DC area. Not that I eat out a lot. My friends and I have had nothing bad on the menu (except ... maybe I just don't like deep-fried pickles ...), but that might be because we stopped sampling after we had the burger. Fantastic jukebox! Just having a burger here counts as bass practice. Second to-previous poster - there IS a dance floor - right in front of where they have bring out live music on the weekends! (If you count a differently-floored area without tables in front of the band stage as a dance floor. The stage is used to store boxes for their giant menu during the weeknights). Third-to-previous poster - if you sit in the room where the band is playing, it's loud! My ears aren't great, and I choose this bar specifically because I *can* hear my friends over the jukebox. I like the tots, though I can't say I have totsperience. Come in, get a great draft beer to start, get one of the best burgers in the area for a good price (or half that on Monday) and finish with cheap PBRs.
(5)Joe J.
stunning!---a dive bar at its best. i know food and know it well--i was taken here by an amazing woman-(4zylw)-who lives down the street and adores food as much as i do--we sat we ate and we drank--A lot!!!!! let me say this as not to waste your time--bens chilli bowl has got nothing on this places Half smoke!!!--Rays Hell burger may give you more with cool ass sauces but their burger isnt as good as this place!--5 guys is wack!!!!--tater tots simple and good--fried oreo's-ughhhhh-i fell in love with woman for bringing me here--if she doesn't marry me--ill never go back!!!!--ya so fellas on a cold rainy day--with your lady--keep it simple rugged and raw--bring your lady here and be a man--and let her know--especially with a great selection of music in the juke box!!!
(5)jane d.
Best place to hang out for the night and great selection of beer!
(5)Stacie C.
BEER N TOTS!!! That's what we affectionately call this place. I love any place I can go and get tater tots and feed money into the jukebox. The food we had the last time wasn't up to par and they didn't have cider which always upsets me but it was still a good time. I love sitting in the back room with all the old cash registers and I always get a kick out of using the ladies room and having to step up to get to the toilet only to stare at the lone chair across from me. It's like peeing on a throne.
(3)Erika C.
Oh, Quarry House how I love thee....let me count the ways. 1) Awesome burgers. The Black and Bleu is my favorite and they always cook it just right. 2) The tots are so delicious. They are deep-friend to perfection. 3) Fried Pickles!!!! Wow, just wow!!! 4) The beer selection rocks. Every once in a while they will have a Lambic on tap and I think that is such a treat. 5) I can almost always get a table (except when there is a band playing but I avoid those nights in general). 6) The staff is sweet. A little slow at times but they get the beer and appetizers out fast so who cares. (Also, you can't really set the bar too high for service at a dive.) 7) The atmosphere is dark and a little grimey but it fits like an old, comfortable shoe. It's in a basement and it's perfect. 8) The customers are great too. It has such a nice mix of young, old, rich and not-so-rich and everything in between. 9) Great jukebox. A little bit of everything. 10) Parking....yes, you can drive and actually park (because it is not in the District!!) It has street parking but I have never had a problem. It is also about a 5 minute walk from the Silver Spring Metro. I've been a faithful customer for almost 2 years now and they have yet to disappoint! Oh yeah, the women's bathroom is really weird (a little creepy). If you are taller than 5'8" you will not be able to stand up straight. It is a little uncomfortable but hopefully you will be sitting down so it shouldn't be a problem.
(5)A. E.
Possibly the best trivia in Silver Spring (Sunday nights), this is a fun bar with a great selection of beers. I also like the food - burgers and grilled cheese sandwiches are good. I also used to love the tots... But, I have gotten sick twice after eating the tots here so I steer clear of those now. One of my friends has also had the same illness problems after eating there. But as long as I stick to grilled cheese and salads I have had no issues. Come for the beer, come for the trivia, come for their other nights with dancing and fun.
(3)Dustin H.
The Quarry House has a great beer selection and some pretty decent bar food in a setting that seems like your friend's basement. This isn't the Brickskeller but the beer selection is probably comparable to Birreria Paradiso. The food is pretty standard bar fare, and I was happy with the burger. It wasn't quite the "best in the world" that the waiter promised, but the novelty of the fried pickles appetizer made up for it. The Thursday night band was pretty good, and it was nice to be able to sit in the back room by the stage or move to the front area and hold a conversation while the band provided background music. Ultimately, my decision to go to the Quarry House again will depend on convenience. If I'm in the neighborhood I'd be happy to swing by, grab a beer, and listen to some music in the basement.
(3)EdWord E.
Dirty, dark, loud ,and lots of interesting people. The quintessential dive bar. Love the cheese tots and the beer selection is by far one of the best around. This is a must go if you are a fan of good beer. Make sure not to miss the entrance on the corner leading below the streets.
(3)Amanda B.
I won't repeat what everyone else has said about the beer selection and the atmosphere. It's all true. I want to tell you how much I love the hot wings at this place. I'm originally from the South, so when I order wings in this area I always order them extra hot and pay no mind to "warning" the waitress gives about how hot they are. They never are. Enter QH...finally, wings that cleared out my sinuses. Good beer to wash them down. On another note, they lose a star because the joint always smells. I don't know what it is, but there is a distinct odor in the air. The ladies room is also right next to the stage, so if you have to go while the band is playing, you end up walking on the stage. At least it isn't an elevated stage, but more like a dance floor, so it's not so bad. I continue to come here, smell and all.
(4)Grace C.
Quarry has the best veggie burgers in the DC Area and the beer list is excellent with an extensive list of bottled beers and exceptional rotating taps.
(4)Bettie P.
I have mixed feelings about this bar. I love the dive bar atmosphere and I've seen some really great bands there, but...the service is terrible. It's nearly impossible to get a drink at the bar on busy nights. As far as the alcohol selection that has been noted in other reviews, well, every single time I have been they have been out of many of the liquors. They were completely out of every single vodka exept for rail one night. How can you explain that? There is also a major fruit fly issue. In fact, the tv {which appears to be there just for show- t's never on} is covered in them. It's too bad. It's a really cool space.
(2)Mari L.
The Quarry House is a great beer bar if you have patience and want something a little different. They have the most extensive beer list imaginable - something for everyone. We just recently tried the old bay tater tots and they are wonderful. QH has a really fun group trivia night and live bands on the weekends. Do not expect great service, you're just not going to get it.
(4)Capital B.
Quarry House is one of the best places in Silver Spring for a burger and a beer. The burgers are great, but the bun was lacking. The food menu at Quarry House is only about two pages long, but the beer menu seems to be never-ending. We probably had about four different beers each. There are about 20 choices for burger toppings, and being able to customize your own toppings went over well with everyone in the group. The custom toppings were a nice touch, and the atmosphere and beer menu were great. The burgers come in red plastic baskets which is a little disappointing. The tater-tots here are awesome though, so the basket can slide. Standard french fries are an option, but the tater-tots are not to be missed. The burger is great, but the atmosphere here is also very unique. It's a very old bar located down dimly lit steps, but inside it's warm and cozy with wood-paneling on the walls and great service that makes you feel right at home. Quarry House is probably the best thing in Silver Spring. A must visit for any burger or beer aficionado inside the beltway.
(5)A P.
My most recent visit to Quarry House was on half priced burger night and let's just say we left almost two hours after arriving when we still hadn't gotten our burgers. I understand that their kitchen is the size of a closet, but if you don't have the capacity for the business half price burger night brings in, then don't have half price burger night. Really annoying, I'll certainly never visit on a Monday again (but my initial review in terms of great beer and any other night still stands).
(2)Becky F.
This is my favorite bar in the D.C. Metro. Love love love the beer and scotch selection! Less complicated than venturing out to the Brickskeller (for those of us living in Maryland). Not full of the stuck up 20 something crowd that can be found in and around Bethesda. There isn't anything NOT to like, even the jukebox is awesome.
(4)aidan m.
when my brother and i lived right by here, before the whole of downtown earth of silver spring was scorched, we drank here on a daily basis. it had that warm fuzzy feeling, not unlike the appollo in rockville. and a place called bombay gaylord is next to it. pretty neat.
(4)D S.
What a great bar! The juke box rocks. The bartenders are friendly, professional, and efficient. Good times.
(4)Mimi X.
The Quarry House has delicious burgers and tater tots, a large selection of beers (often including my favorite, Strongbow cider on tap), a slightly grungy but welcoming atmosphere, a variety of ages and "styles" (some soccer moms, some facial piercings), a cool jukebox, live music... I, for one, am thrilled they are in my neighborhood. Brave the sketchy-looking stairwell down to the basement and see for yourself! Hint: If you are looking for their menu online, they don't seem to have an official website, but they have a myspace page that includes the menu and upcoming bands.
(4)Jamal P.
Great dive bar. It is very easy to miss b/c it is in the basement of another restaurant( I believe an Ethiopian or Spanish place). The place when you walk in can only be described as a dive the ceiling is very low and if you above six feet tall you will defiantly notice. I walk up to this place with a buddy and the sign for it is really hanging with one screw in it on front of some very steep stairs, which I am sure somebody must have greased before I left. It is a small place with a tiny bar with a couple of tables in front of the bar and in what I would call the storage room about 30 more seats very close together. The bottle beer menu is one of the best. It is important to remember that a lot of theses beers are above 15 percent ( not your average 5 percent beer) so it is easy to leave here drunker than you thought you would. The kitchen is no bigger than a walk-in closet and you can see it b/c it is right next to the bathroom that you can't turn around in. I like there burgers and homemade chips. I like this place b/c it is a true dive. Don't take a person here that wants a mixed drink, but take beer buff and someone who drinks their Jameson straight.
(5)Leigh S.
I love QH. Compared to the chain restaurant/faux irish bar/big box store strip mall that downtown SS has become, I love it for just being as it has been for the past 80 years (or at least the past 6 I've lived here). The food has markedly improved since the Jackie's ownership team has swept in - yes, the burgers and tots with old bay are A+ but the grilled chicken sandwich and hummus app deserve a shout out too. Between the jukebox and the live bands that come through, I always enjoy the music. I'm tempted to give QH a low rating just to keep the crowds away... as mentioned, the service can be a little slow, but it kind of goes with the vibe of the place, which is to chill out, grab a good beer and talk with your friends.
(5)jax g.
kudos for quarry house. they rock.. their bartender and staff are on top. live music, welcoming, engaging, lovely young people. everyone is welcome here.
(5)karen r.
i'll preface this by saying i never experienced quarry house under the old ownership, which previous reviewers have mentioned. i did enjoy the place, but i can see it is probably in the midst of a personality change (like all of downtown silver spring, come to think of it) i like the atmosphere, sort of like a mix between an underground bunker and a pizza joint. the beer menu is great--i think the selection is just right, enough to make for some difficult choices but not so expansive that it is overwhelming (hello, brickskellar). plus, they have all the old standbys if you're not feeling adventurous. but let's cut to the chase--the real jem in this joint is the jukebox!
(4)Nicole M.
this is a pretty cozy spot, though hard to find what with it being down some hidden stairs off of georgia. and i liked the tater tots (until they got cold). the jukebox was pretty rockin, but my friend lost a couple dollars on it when they pulled the plug at closing time and refused to refund (for shame!). the boys thought the burger was great, and the girls slurped up the framboise.
(3)david m.
"Silver Spring's favorite dive for over 70 years." a truer statement has never been spoken: it's in silver springs, it's a fav, it's a dive, and it's over 70 years old. live music in the back room (cover most nights) but no cover to sit in the bar area. it's a dive in a normal neighborhood... great cheap burgers... i'll take a wild guess that about 3/4 of the people there on a given night are regulars. the owner is a laid back young guy who hangs around at the bar with his buddies when he's not working. leave the pretense at home, kick back, and soak in the good times with people from 21 to 70... and listen to the regulars' stories... they have some good ones.
(4)Monique M.
All that a dive bar should be: IN THE BASEMENT. Yessssssss! I want to feel like I have crawled into the wet warm underbelly of the universe when I go to a dive bar. CHECK. A beer menu I could weight lift with. CHECK. And I don't really drink beer. That's beside the point. It's a dive bar. TOTS. Hot perfectly golden deep fried goodness. CHECK. Fries are so 90's. I'm a child of the 80's. And they'll top them with Old Bay, cheddar and bacon???? I really could stop the review here. Bartenders that remind you eerily of your uncle Bob. They are cool, laid back, FAST. There are times you just don't want to deal with these DC premiere "mixologists" with fanclubs and mailing lists. Bathrooms that are just as entertaining as the crowd. Seriously. The writing on the walls gives Real Housewives a run for the money. I love this place. There's no other place in silver spring like it. The crowd is always laid back and friendly. There isn't a stiletto in sight. The wings are the business and come in like 8 different varieties. The tenders are too large and watery to not be GMO, but oh well ... Some of the most beautiful faces in the world have a mole. Enjoy!
(5)Robby B.
LOVED Quarry House Tavern and had a great time here. I'll be back next time I'm down in Silver Spring. The beer was great. The bottle selection was fantastic. Lots of solid mainstays and tasty surprises. They only have 5 or so taps but were great brews. Can't speak for wine or liquor. Really enjoyed the food too. My burger was thick and juicy. Tots on the side hit the spot. PBR Fried Chicken tender appetizer was great too. The batter was perfect. The atmosphere is fun, hipster, and divey. People around us were having as good time too! It was packed the Saturday night that we went. Was hard to get a table, but worth the wait! A band started a set around 10:30 or 11 which was pretty cool.
(5)Alyssa K.
I would give Quarry House Tavern a 4 for the food, beer selection, and vibe. I would give them -1 for the douchey waiter who ruined our night. My friends and I went here last weekend for happy hour. I have a lot of coworkers who live in Silver Spring and Quarry House has been seriously hyped up. Since I happened to be in the neighborhood (which is rare), this place was somewhere I had to try. I got a couple delicious draft beers ($7) and a veggie burger ($6) which was awesome...probably one of the tastiest I have ever tried....and I am an avid veggie burger consumer. The tots were average, which was a little disappointing because of the rave reviews I had heard. It was okay though because I loved the feel of this place and all their cleverness, like the berriculum vitae. I definitely dig that kind of stuff. We had a fabulous time until we went to leave....and then things went down hill,real fast. Our bill was much higher than it should have been and we were charged 18% automatic gratuity since we were in a group. I am always a 20% tipper but including gratuity to plop down some food and a couple beers is pretty presumptuous. Once we all divided what we had, we were off by a considerable amount. We realized they didn't include the happy hour discounts and charged us for more beer than we received. The bill itself was a hot mess. It was handwritten chick scratch and the print out made no sense. We informed them of the error, and they took off a few dollars, but swore it was correct. The waiter blamed us for the error and insisted that it must have been one of my friends not paying what they should have rather than accepting personal responsibility. It was classy. He would not bend and we all ended up paying more than we should have just because we wanted to get the hell out of there. My two beers and veggie burger ended up costing $35 when it should have been $29 tops. This place made me really glad I don't live in Silver Spring. I am so glad I am able to get good beer, food, and service in Colombia Heights without getting ripped off or insulted. If you are in Silver Spring, this isn't a terrible place to go but I certainly wouldn't go out of my way to hang out at Quarry House. And if your waiter is a blonde dude with a beard, just leave. You will be better off.
(3)Tu-van L.
Small but casual, laid back basement bar with some pretty good food. Came here with the friends for burger and Monday night trivia. Burgers were actually really good - I really shouldn't be surprised bar burgers are getting good but they are. My third-pount bacon cheddar ranch burger was solid fatty goodness with the ranch dressing. The accompanying tater tots were perfectly fried and absolutely delicious, especially if you scoop some of that ranch dressing off the burger for it. I have faith in bar food after having this burger and tots - dive bar food isn't necessarily synonymous with dive-y food. Our attempt at playing trivia didn't turn out very successful. Trivia in other room - shout out with no microphone. Note: if you want to partake be sure to get there at least an hour earlier. Kinda hidden in the basement of the Indian restaurant, but the bar is pretty low key, laid back and the burgers are pretty good.
(4)Wendy L.
Marked by one very hidden sign, I found QHT to be an odd mix of hipster, dive, and speakeasy, but with decor that feels like this place should be a pirate bar, it's surprisingly unpretentious. (Oddly enough, the bar across the street IS called Pirate Bar, go figure.) If you like beers and whiskeys, then this is the place for you. They've got an insanely comprehensive list of both, including both local and imported varieties. And to accompany the liquids, QHT also has killer burgers and tater tots. Yea, tater tots. Get them with cheese and bacon. Eat them fast. The burgers aren't too cheap at $8-9 but they're half off at happy hour (except on Fridays) and you can choose from a huge selection of toppings, including my favorites: pepper jack and pico de gallo. In terms of service, the waiters were really polite and helpful, especially when it came to recommending a beer off their ridiculously long list. Just a heads up that this places gets really crowded around 6 or 7 and it seemed like they only had two waiters for the busy back room, so it was sometimes difficult to flag anyone down. To sum it up, if you come to QHT, expect benches that feel like they'll fall through and loud tablemates but also expect beers/whiskeys galore and solid food.
(4)Mitali T.
Yay Silver Spring! I really like this bar, the huge beer selection, and the friendly & chatty bartenders. The Old Bay tater tots are great but sometimes a smidgen salty. I haven't tried any of their other food yet. The whole vibe comes off to me as kind of Baltimore, a friendly and low-key place to come with a small or large group.
(5)Jack W.
This place is great. I've come here twice on Saturday for the music. Each time I've gotten a great burger and the tater tots. The tater tots were soo good! Great selection of beers and it's right off the red line metro. It might be divey but it's definitely worth it.
(5)Andrew S.
I am going to give QH a 1 simply because I need poeple to stop crowding in there and destroying the fun I have there, whilst making it impossible to get a seat. The beer selection is the best you are going to find outside of DC, and usually won't involved going to or talking to people from DC, which is a huge added bonus. Seriously Quarry House is my favorite bar, and I love it so much to give it a 1 star review to deflect attention from it.
(1)Andrew R.
My wife and I went to Quarry House last night (2/28/14) and the place was packed. We grabbed a beer and waited in line for a table (the entire place is seat yourself) for a little over an hour. As people finally started to leave, the couple ahead of us got a table and we were up next. We saw a table opening up and waited for the people to leave, but then a waiter told his friends at the back of the line to cut the line and grab the open table. I couldn't believe that, after waiting so long for a table, the waiter would disrespect me and everyone else in line like that. The place has good bar food and a limited, but good, selection of beer so people will probably keep going there. I just want you to know what type of service you can expect.
(1)Jamie W.
I like this place. I've been with friends and then on several dates here. It's in a basement, which is super cool (and can get kind of steamy/muggy), and they have a huggge selection of craft beers. There's one that tastes like cinnamon toast crunch. Their food is also pretty good. Although I wouldn't suggest the fried pickles. My date got them and they are literally whole pickle spears, deep fried!!
(4)Tracy V.
Much of downtown Silver Spring feels soulless, with its national chains, contrived "walking mall" and concrete. Quarry House Tavern is a welcome, gritty reprieve. We found the service to be great at dinner/happy hour time (make sure to see if you're sitting at a bar-service table, ours had a nice picture of Betty White telling us so.) It's great bar food - the veggie quesadilla was awesome - and as has been mentioned, great bottled beer selection (and hard likker for those who roll that way). And in the DC area it's hard to beat fifty bucks for 4 microbrews and three meals.
(5)Kyle L.
This place is straight up my alley. Literally underground, dark, with a great selection of whiskey/bourbons and beer. The draft list is changed with pretty good regularity, and the bottle list always seems to have something new to challenge me. Go in for the tater tots, stay when someone puts on a great selection from the jukebox, and maybe get pulled into trivia on Sunday evenings.
(5)Tanya G.
Everything I mentioned in my last review is still legit. Mmmmm mmmm mmmmmm burgers and tots!!! Oh deliciousness :-) So let's talk about TRIVIA NIGHT!!! Sundays at 7.30 pm, first come first serve in the back dining room area past the bar. As a big nerd, I love trivia nights; it's a great way to eat, drink and bond with fellow nerdy friends. I LOVE trivia nights at QH, great categories with a wide range of difficulty so I land in that sweet spot of being challenged without feeling stupid and inadequate. The hosts are hilariously entertaining. I can't stand ppl who aren't really funny trying to be funny. So what do you have to know?? -Go early, seats fill up as early as 6.30!! -Prizes are your usual dollar amounts off the bill for first and second places. Third place will get to pick the trivia category for the following week. The day we went, somebody picked "Horses" as the category. WTF?? Yeah exactly. -Max ppl per team to qualify to win is six ppl. I've seen large groups break into two small groups to meet this requirement. I'll say this again. . . Love, love, LOVE trivia night :-)
(5)Mary L.
What can I say about Quarry House? Do they have an awesome menu selection (as in a couple of pages) of beer? Yes. My favorite: the Lindemans Framboise Belgian beer. Is their food good? They have weeknight specials like Taco Tuesday where you get like 3 tacos for a cheaper price. I'm not sure what each night is specifically but you won't be disappointed. Now, their tater tots. Remember in elementary school when you bought lunch and the day you looked forward to the most was when you got tater tots? Well, every day is tater tot day there. They make them nice and crispy, everything I love in a tater tot. The burgers here are also really good. Big and juicy, just the way I like them! The first time I tried to find this place, I got a little lost. It's located on the corner of a building and you have to go down a sketchy flight of stairs to get to it. You seat yourself when you get inside and there's a lot more seating when you go around the corner. Water is self serve here. The wait staff is friendly but overtly friendly. Lots of characters and sometimes hipsters grace the tables here. Overall: good beer selection + dive atmosphere + awesome, throwback, delicious tater tots + friendly staff = I'm coming back when I'm jonesing for some tater tots and good beer!
(4)Richard I.
How should I begin. Quarry House is a dive bar...a real dive, not one of those new weird wannabe ones you find in certain "hip" neighborhoods. Being a dive bar, it's not very clean, people aren't the only zoa that frequent this place, and the quality of service can be spotty i.e. some of the staff seem to forget that they are at a business and not at their friend's basement party, so they actually have to serve you and can't just ignore you and shoot the breeze with their buddies. Now that we have the bad out the way, let's get to the good. The place has an absolutely amazing whiskey and beer selection. Before whiskey bars were the trend du jour and every trendy resturant/bar had their own seperate whiskey list, this was one of the few places in the DMV to go and try rare, hard to get whiskeys from all over the world. They also have a small, but suprisingly tasty selection of bar food. The wings are especially delicious but, remember its a dive bar so eat the food at your own risk. In closing, if you want to get a taste of the old Georgia Ave. before its completely gentrified then this hipster paradise is your spot.
(3)J C.
Best bar in Silver Spring, MD. They have a fantastic whiskey selection and a rotating micro-brew menu. The food is fantastic and the atmosphere is perfect.
(5)Cynthia R.
As Mos D said....this is the type of place that makes me wish i lived in the DC area. My cousin and her fiance live at most 2 blocks away and brought me here one night. Sad part is I was supposed to move in with them and this place makes me really regret it! Beer selection is great! And they have gluten free beers...AND more than 1 kind! haven't eaten here. came on a very hot summer night. no air circulation but i still loved the place, that says a lot. definitely fun place, atmosphere is great.
(5)Brandy K.
In the mood for a burger? GO HERE. You won't find another tastier burger!! In the mood for a beer? GO HERE. In the mood to just get drunk after a long day at work? GO HERE!
(5)Sam W.
QHT barely fits the bill of a craft beer bar. My main gripe is their over-reliance on bottles. Yes, the selection is long, but the selection is also long at Whole Foods, and there you would pay a fraction of the price. There are only 5-6 mid-range craft beers on tap at any one time. We're talking MIDDLE OF THE ROAD: Brooklyn Brewery, Fat Tire, Magic Hat quality. Dogfish was the only one that stood out to me are truly artesanal. Prices are inflated as well. Carlsberg was on tap for $6/pint. Carlsberg is the Budweiser of Danish beers and there is no reason on this earth to charge that much for it.
(2)Bianca R.
My favorite "hole in the wall" place. They have an Amazing selection of beer and bourbon. The wings are mouth watering and their tater tots are delicious. I come here at least once or twice a month, sometimes more! I highly recommend it!
(5)Katie C.
I am so happy I stumbled upon this dive bar! It was refreshingly laid back (especially in the DC area) and the live music was fun. I'll be back!
(4)Jethro T.
My favorite bar! Great beer selection, the best jukebox in all of the DMV, good tater tots and brownie sundaes, friendly bartenders, trivia nights, and a total lack of pretention. This is where you go when you just want to drink and unwind with friends.
(5)Anita W.
A fun basement dive bar with pretty good food (same owners as Jackie's) and live music.
(4)M B.
Great dive bar. Don't eat the food, the place is infested with mice and roaches. Just go for a drink you can see for yourself. The mice come out when the kitchen shuts down. Other than that, its one of the best bars in Silver Spring. Yes, we are lacking...
(3)Sahar R.
This is a story about 4 girls, K,J,H, and B. On two seperate nights as pairs, they go to the Quarry House for some beers and to replenish their boyfriend supply. Night One J meets a sculptor, who wants to sculpt her beautiful hands, to this day the 4 am texts still come in. K meets a teacher, who likes to play banjo on his porch, they date for awhile Night Two H meets an artist, they date for months. B meets and dates a banjo player Can someone else explain to me how two seperate pairs of female friends end up dating the same pair of guys from one bar? Ahh the magic of Quarry House and double dipping. This place is everything you expect a dive bar to be. Dark, a little funny smelling, great staff, questionable but entertaining patrons and one hell of a mean burger. It's completely unexpected for a Montgomery County bar, and I would recommend the bar food, not the men.
(3)Seth S.
Quarry House is one of the few true dive bars in the DC area. I'm sure some people will disagree with me and say that there are dive bars all over the place but these people need to redefine their terms. Let's go over the Dive Bar Checklist (that I just decided to make up) 1. It's actually been around for a long time, not just looks like it has - check 2. The bar is mostly a bar - check (in fact there's not much else to the place) 3. Cheap drinks - They're at least cheap for the area 4. Smells like booze - check 5. People who come in just about every day - check The bar is sort of hidden by an Indian restaurant. In fact, if you weren't looking for it I doubt that you'd ever just notice it. The entrance to the bar is down a small flight of stairs. Upon entering you are immediately met by a smell of somewhat stale beer and cooking burgers. The bar has a sort of yellowy light to it that makes it more intimate feeling. Every time I've been the place has been packed. Not so much that you can't get to the bar for a drink but I've definitely had trouble getting a seat on more than one occasion. The staff is extremely friendly, as are most of the people sitting around the bar. I have two small complaints. The first is that if you're sitting at a table you don't tend to get great service. They usually have 2 waiters running around for the whole place. Secondly, sometimes the bottled beer is not very cold. Both the food and beer are delicious. The menu is sort of small but they have awesome burgers, wings and tots. They have about 6 or 8 rotating taps and the bottled beer list is extensive. There's definitely something for every kind of beer drinker. They also have a large whiskey selection. This would definitely be my bar of choice if I lived within walking distance.
(4)Sarah T.
Will definitely give them another chance, but if we wind up with the same server probably won't be going back anymore after that.. Our food was fantastic! Biggest juiciest chicken strips, awesome tots and chips! They had an eclectic music selection and a pretty friendly crowd. We had a good time with the exception of our very rude waiter - whom seemed to ignore us a much as possible, was short and snide when he did talk to us and took forever to get everything (drinks food, and the bill!)... It was definitely a bit of a buzz kill. Hope to have a better time next time!
(3)Johnny A.
True and tested dive bar with a twist. Greasy food and excellent beer selection with the added bonus of some of the best whiskey/bourbon selection in town. The jukebox magically plays great tunes, or maybe the clientele have good taste. The staff is also great and very friendly.
(4)Izzy O.
This place is so laid-back and comfortable. The beer selection is great and the service is pretty decent. I like their burgers and fried Oreos with ice cream. Did I mention the beer selection is great? The only reason I'm not giving it a 5 is because my friend once had bacon in her "veggie" burger. That was a real bummer but all my other experiences have been good. Oh, and trivia night is lots of fun!
(4)Jaelynn D.
In town for a capoeira event. Came here after an awesome workshop and roda. The place is located on some unmarked stairs near an Indian restaurant and I love it. Loud, great energy, dark, dank and full of character. I love how their menu is just 2 pages and the Belgium beer section is several. I love bars that know their shit and they clearly do! We rolled with a party of close to 20 and on a Friday magically 4 tables freed up. The waitress did a FANTASTIC job on getting all of our orders and settling the check was conflict-free. I ordered the fried pickles, chips, and burger with mushrooms and swiss with a Guiness float. The Guiness float tasted SO RICH. Thick and creamy and then sweet at the end. My burger was moist and juicy, cooked medium and came hot and fresh. The chips were tasty. I would have liked them more thick, but definitely made on site. Their pickles however were steak-cut in sections and battered. I would have liked them to be cut thin like chips. (Oh well, HOOTERS is still the winner). They also have a massive water jug so you can get your own refills. Their bathroom is decent and a jukebox with a ton of songs. Definitely a great hipster hotspot in DC!
(4)Brett M.
When I first came to the DC area I lamented they there were few good neighborhood bars. Twenty five years later, we have loads of great watering holes, and Quarry House is among the best of them. The crowd here is out to drink, eat and talk. The food menu is comfort/bar inspired. The wings are fantastic. The atmosphere is pure dive, and amped up by being in the basement, beneath an Indian Restaurant. Yet, it's clean and reasonably lit. My only wish is that I could walk to the Quarry House, but perhaps that will keep me from going there every night. Come early, get a seat, fill your belly and leave a little wobbly!
(4)Sam G.
This place was kind of hard to find. We parked down the street but we would have passed it if we weren't waiting for the pedestrian light to change at the corner of the street. I turned around and saw the initials QT above a staircase that descends to a basement. The venue is quite cramped and warm. I guess this is typical for a dive bar but My friends were not expecting this. The food was pretty good, I ordered the tater tots with a sandwich along with a unique brew of Sam Adams. The people there were also dressed weird, I don't know what's it about QT that might attract such a peculiar population.
(3)Ryan N.
This place is everything I desire in a bar. It is in a dark basement, they have a fantastic beer selection, and their burgers are awesome. The atmosphere is as laid back as it gets and the service was good. Most patrons seem to be in there to relax and knock a few back - can't beat it!
(5)Lauren F.
Quarry house on a Monday night for half price burgers is quite good. Be sure you go slightly later, as it can get quite packed during dinner. The burgers and tots are delicious. HOWEVER, the table service is awful. AWFUL. The past two times I've been there, my table has been cleared and I've still waited up to 40 minutes for my check... At 1030 at night on a Monday, that's a little ridiculous.
(3)Chelsea W.
I have a long, long history with QH that spans most of my life. Growing up down the street my parents used to take my sister and I here for food all the time. I have a soft spot for the place for sure. My family moved out of the area, but when Jackie bought the place and I became old enough to drink I started coming back around, and often. Seriously, good on Jackie for leaving the place looking almost exactly the same as it did 20 years ago, but making it so much better in other ways. The beer and whiskey selection is almost infinite. The food is the same greasy bar fare as it always was, but it is truly the best bar food in the whole area. Half price burger Monday's are kind of a staple in my life. Also, contrary to some other reviewers, as long as you are friendly and not a pain in their butt, the staff are truly some of the loveliest folks I've met in silver spring!!! Stop the haterade.
(5)Bridget C.
I've been going to Quarry House for some time now. I usually make a visit at least every few months. I used to dream about the disgustingly delicious, heart attack inducing, menu selections. Well, I went there this past weekend to find that they have a new cook, with a somewhat modified menu, and modified ingredients. My friends and I almost always get the fried chicken tenders and fried pickles. The batter WAS, last I checked, soooo delicious! Beer battered, I believe. Well, we order the chicken tenders and they come out in this "batter" that reminds me of shake 'n bake...but worse...like healthy-ish and weird. And the chicken was so rubbery. They sucked. I wanted to leave immediately. If I'm going to eat mega calories I better like what I'm eating. I was not happy This was not the Quarry House quality I often dream of. Talked to server about it, and this is when I found about the turnover. Went ahead and ordered the fried pickles to find out if the batter had changed for those as well. They came out in the same batter they always have...so why did they change the batter on the chicken?!? It doesn't make any sense. Oh, but the batter was sliding off the pickles and was under cooked on a couple pieces. Still tasted great, but we had them remade with the batter fully cooked. It is clear that the kitchen is suffering. I know it's a dive, but it's a dive that has been serving amazing fatty, greasy food with consistency. I don't like change! They also changed the burger meat. No one was happy with their burgers. We usually love them. And, they don't let you add fried egg anymore! I actually didn't get a burger when I learned about the changes in the kitchen, and instead got another one of my favorites - the veggie quesadilla. It was amazing as it always has been. But, I really wanted a burger with fried egg... Anyway, I will likely come here again for drinks and such because it so close. I can still give it major props for it's bar selections (even though often times they're out of whatever you order). But, when it comes to the food...my heart is broken. I'll do what I do at other dive bars - eat before going, and then snack on some tater tots and fried pickles when I get the drunken munchies. Very, very sad.
(3)Mohan S.
Super cooool place!!! I enjoyed getting together with friends there very much. At first you could be frustrating finding the place because it's actually in a basement. So you have to walk downstairs and get into it. If you come at night on any of the weekdays, you will find out that it's filled with people. The place can get very noisy when people are getting high after drinks and talking to each other. But it is the environment that makes you more excited. The food is good. Basically traditional American food such as burgers and chicken wings. I don't remember the name of the chicken wings we ordered. But it's super hot and spicy. You should really try this one if you want to challenge your tolerance. Never forget to order beer here. They have the most completed beer collection. You will be surprised by their Alcohol menu!!! Personally like strawberry beer. Its soooo good, especially for people who enjoy fruit flavor but don't want to have too much alcohol.
(5)Ling W.
Best place in Silver Spring for both craft beers: locally, nationally, and from around the world.
(5)Phi N.
Beer menu here will give you a headache, lol. But there are plenty of good ones... I also tried their burger and tater tots. Both were excellent. The burger was big and juicy with good flavor and the tater tots were nice and crispy on the outside. There is no sign on the outside. If you follow the address, you'll only see the indian restaurant. You'll think your google maps is messed up as it often is, haha. But don't worry, it's there. Just walk down the staircase on the side.
(4)Shaun B.
Cool place, lots of atmosphere. Good luck finding the entrance, it's tricky...
(5)Gloria T.
I liked this place till I went one night and got a server with a shitty attitude. We were with some friends and we got a table but before we ordered we asked the server if we could do separate checks, he said it could only be split two ways. So instead of doing that, two of our friends ordered and the rest of us just went to the bar, we got our drinks and hung out there. About 15 mins later we went to check up on our friends. Literally we sat down for 5 seconds when the server came up and said we needed to order from him or else stay at the bar.. That's what we were fucking doing anyway! Before we could even get up the ass went to go close out our check and drop them at the table with out saying a word or even looking at us, he just tossed it down. Won't be back to this shit hole.
(1)Thomas J.
Went here because the Post weekender said they had a house band (and some visiting bands) that played rockabilly music and that they had a good selection of beers and whiskeys. The Post wasn't lying. What the Post left out was that the place was not easily seen from the street. We had to circle the block it was on several times before we finally figured out that our GPS was just guessing. Once we got on foot, we ran into another group that was looking for the place, and then, all at once, we stumbled on the poorly-marked stairs that led down to the Tavern. It's a divey little underground - in the most literal sense - watering hole. If you're tall, prepare to be hunched over most of the evening if you can't find a table. Oh, and it's a busy place, so finding a table ain't gonna be easy. We happened upon a table just as a group was getting up to leave. The music was nice. The beer and whisky list was a tome. Much pleasure was to be found in the reading of that tome. Even more was to be found sampling the wares featured in that tome. Only down side to the evening was the wings. They were a touch on the weird side. Definitely not the hot wings preparations I'm accustomed to. Sufficient heat, just a weird flavor. At any rate, we'd probably go to this place regularly if it was more convenient to where we live.
(4)Joseph K.
Great for a late night. The drink list is awesome. Beer snobs will enjoy. Food is decently priced and tastes decent. Nothing amazing but tasty. The burgers are hefty. Cooked well and the combos are a nice touch. around $10 with the combos. The PBR chicken tender appetizers are a great deal for the amount of protein. It's very tender and the breading is a crunchy fried goodness, but the flavor is a little lacking here. Needed a little more salt (And I usually complain about oversalting ...it has to be just the right amount of salt) Friday and Saturday nights seem to get pretty crazy. There isn't someone putting your name on a list so you just form a line and hope other people don't screw you over. A little stressful, but in the end, this is a place where you can finish the night, chill, relax.
(4)Alicia G.
Holy smokes. I honestly can't think of a place where I've had a better burger than the one I had here last week. I'm still thinking about it- 1/2 lb. of ground beef, grilled to a very pink medium (ended up being more like medium rare), topped with crisp bacon, perfectly melted cheddar and a cool, thick and tangy ranch. The bun was packed with beef juice but didn't fall a part which impressed me. Paired with an order of tots, this was seriously the perfect way to end a week of eating mostly salad. Next time I'm craving a ridiculously good burger, this is where you'll find me.
(5)Kathy B.
This place is hard to find if you're not looking for it, but once you do, it's a nice place to hang out. I'm not a huge drinker, but with that said, it's a nice place to come with friends. It's not a super fancy bar scene if that's what you're looking for. It's a chill place to come and relax with friends. It can get loud and crowded depending on the time you come. They have simple eats, but they're also delicious. I love coming here for the grilled cheese and tater tots. It might seem "dirty" if you're used to fancier, upscale restaurants, but I consider it more down to earth than anything.
(4)Jesus J.
A great basement bar in the downtown Silver Spring area. It's a decently-sized bar, but it can get packed quickly. The drink menu is impressive, and I've discovered a few, new favorite beers here. They have an extensive list, regardless if you're an IPA lover like myself or prefer the Pilsner or lighter beers. The service here has generally been pretty good, both at the bar and for table service. The food is really good: half-priced burgers on Monday, taco Tuesdays, wings on Wednesday, etc. The burgers are great and come with fries, tots, or a side salad. The tots are tasty, but they're tots - not sure why people go gaga over them. Any kind of fried potato is delicious. They also have veggie burgers for our vegetarian friends. The prices are really good (burger + tots being around $7). You won't break the bank here. The only con I can think of with QH (and it's no fault of the bar) is it's difficult to tell when there will be an influx of people and not be able to get a table or stand even remotely close to the bar. I've been here on Friday nights when there's barely 10 people, but have been on a Tuesday and the whole place is packed. Out of all the bar options in Silver Spring, I'd say this is your best bet. Friendly staff, good food, and many different beers to try. Never had a bad night.
(4)Matthew C.
The epitome of a hole-in-the-wall dive bar. Unless I had been told it was here, there is no way I would've known to go down the dark, narrow, somewhat sketchy staircase to get some awesome beer and bar grub. Quarry House Tavern has a great selection of beers from around the world, and they are very reasonably priced, even when it's not happy hour. And especially by DC standards! They had about 10 beers on tap, though I wish there were more. And the staff serves up some unhealthy (read: delicious), dirt-cheap food to go with your beer. Try to go on Monday evenings when they have half-off burgers. (And Quarry House is particularly known for their tots.) It was a little on the dark side for my tastes, but I suppose that gave it more of an authentic, Old World pub feel. Considering how close it is to Downtown Silver Spring, it's a great place to refuel with drinks and food after a full day of work (or shopping).
(4)Gregory O.
The bar food is very yummy - tater tots (with Old Bay, please), burgers, half-smokes, wings, etc. It's hard to go wrong. The alcohol menu is quite extensive too. Unfortunately, the service seems to have gone downhill. The last time I was there, one waitress covered the entire dining area. As you can imagine, you had to wait a long time to get her attention and get your bill (I never got a refill on my drink). But the food and atmosphere is so good that I'm always willing to give this place another chance.
(4)Yuri R.
Number Two of Silver Spring's dynamic duo. That's 'cause there only are two decent bars in these here 'burbs. But they're a pair of aces. This old-man-bar turned hipster haven is the place to take in your local, and the not-so-local, bands - saw my friend's Kentucky based rockabilly outfit StarDevils rock out between the beer case lined stage walls. Typically crowded as all get out, tables draw out the local color for prime people-watching, and a swipe at a deep and colorful beer and scotch selection. So hard to find in outskirts and the district alike, an all-around divey good time's hiding out behind QH's basement door.
(5)Traci V.
I would give them 4.5 out of 5 stars. The bar had the exact laid back atmosphere we were looking for, and a huge selection of beer. We both tried something new with some helpful suggestions from our server, and ordered a couple burgers during their Monday night special. Our food came out So Fast, it took longer for us to decide what beer we wanted than it took to get our meal! The burgers were excellent, thick and juicy, and the tots were pretty good (not quite as amazing as other reviews have lead me to believe, could have used some seasoning) all in all a great place to eat and have a few beers, the drinks were a little spendy and we didn't see any TVs so we won't be going back to watch sports, but it's a great place to meet with friends and grab a bite and a beer.
(5)Ness O.
We moved away from the DC area a few years ago, and one of the things I regret is that we are now far away from the Quarry House. I hate that area, and the Quarry House almost makes it worth living there all by itself. This place has been a fixture in the area for years, and it's still there and doing great. The beer menu is huge and fantastic. Every time we go, we're always in it for the beer-- but for whiskey drinkers, there's plenty of selection too. Good Beer and Good Whiskey is what they do. If the food wasn't so fantastic, it would be an afterthought. It's not- the food is great. Fantastic burgers, tater tots, and wings. My favorite thing, tied with the beer, is probably the fried oreos. It hosts live music regularly and it tends to get crowded at night, so finding a table-- especially with a large crowd, can be difficult. Lines sometimes form outside the bathrooms, too, because of the crowds. That said, neither of those issues are enough to make me drop it from 5 stars. I don't think it's a place everyone will love, and they make no bones about what they are: A local bar without a sign that serves damn good beer and burgers. IF that's what you like, this is the place for you.
(5)Sarah L.
I. love. this. place. It's the dark, dank basement bar of my dreams, complete with a stellar juke box, a phenomenal whiskey and beer selection (don't order a PBR just because you see a hipster doing it to look like a regular), awesome burgers and some of the best tots in the world (or... at least DC). It's not large and the service leaves something to be desired when it gets crowded on the weekends, but it still remains my favorite bar within the DC metro area. Check, check, check it out.
(4)Ro K.
Overall it was a pretty low key and hidden gem, just the kind of places that I like. The ambiance on the inside was very simple, reminds you of that cool basement that your teenage friend used to have with adult collectables of cases of beers and wine stacked agains the walls and christmas-like lights hanging from the ceiliung. The brews that they had available were awesome, their prices were reasonable, and their fried pickles were awesome. If there is a downside to this place is that the crowds are not diverse at all, good place to go zone out with some friends or significant others, but dont expect much in the offering of crowd diversity.
(3)F A.
We went there the night we got back for our honeymoon because we were craving some good old amerian burgers. Quarry house tavern delivered! We had trouble finding the place because the entrance is obscure (it's to the right of Bombay Gaylord in a little black door with stairs leading to the basement). We love the divey feel, they had a great selection of beer, and the service was excellent. We had hummus to start and it comes with awesomely delicious pita. It's pretty large for an appetizer. The burgers were delish and we both got the hash browns. I personally like my hash browns undercooked and these were pretty heavily fried so I wasn't a fan, but overall I will definitely go back! I hear they have live music too.
(5)Cory C.
Met up with a few friends at the QHT last night for a birthday celebration. We used to go to the Quarry House pretty frequently some months ago, so this was going to be a revival type event. I was actually looking forward to a burger, some tots, and some beers. When I got there, 3 of my friends had a table in the entry room near the bar. I said my hellos and sat down, and after about 5 minutes of chitchat, no waiter had been over to take my order. I then noticed none of my friends had drinks -- or even menus -- either. When I asked, they had been sitting there for about 20 minutes, and no one had even come to the table yet. Getting frustrated, one of my friends approached the bar and asked the bartender(some generic hipster looking dude in a plaid shirt) if we could get some menus and service. The bartender gruffly pointed to a sad-looking pile of dirty, water damaged paper menus laying on the bar, which my friend then brought to our table himself. After about ten more minutes of waiting with NO SERVICE and paging through the menus(most of which were missing pages or entire sections) and a few more friends arriving, we all had had enough and got up and left. We ended up heading across the street to the campy Piratz Tavern, where they weren't above, you know, actually coming to our table to take orders. The QHT used to be one of my favorite spots in DTSS, but the fact is that the service has been deplorable for months and there's no sign of it getting better anytime soon. There's too many competitors in the area to keep patronizing an establishment that so blatantly doesn't care about its customers. I'll probably never walk down those stairs again.
(1)Anh H.
The beer selection was great. It felt like I was in Belgium again. They even had a Guinness Ice Cream Float. It was okay. I mean, I'm a fan of beer, but not so much with the ice cream. I prefer root beer, or just the ice cream by itself. A good friend of ours was visiting from out of town, and I would have liked to have a good conversation with him, but nnnooo we had to go on like Redneck Night. The live band was all up in my ears. So if you like country music ALL UP IN YOUR FACE and good beers, come on down. Personally, country music is okay, just not when I'm trying to enjoy a good drink.
(4)Katie R.
Blue Cheese. Let's talk about that. It should be thick with lots of... oh you guessed it BLUE CHEESE! I hate places that serve watery/gewie blue cheese, what am I supposed to do with that?? Not eat it I hope! Quarry house has the perfect blue cheese. I was tempted to just sit there and eat it straight up, but I then I wouldnt have had any for my chicken. Next. Hot Sauce. :D It should have flavor and heat together in perfect, marriage like harmony. My lips should feel a little burn and my taste buds should dance. You take a piece of chicken. Add Heat. Add Flavor. Add perfect Blue cheese. Omg, hold me back! Good Solid work Quarry house, u gots it! They happen to have rockin tots that assisted my beer in cooling down my mouth, much appreciated. I also saw grilled cheese on the menu, which leads me to believe the owner of this bar understands perfectly what comfort food means. As a bonus, on this random Sunday at 2pm they had live music. I have no clue if thats the norm or not, but it was fun. Hot sauce, blue cheese, tots and tunes. What more could a girl ask for?
(4)Morgana A.
I like dive bars, so this basement hole-in-the-wall is toatally my style, and they have THE BEST scotch selection I have ever seen. Unfortuantely, the crowd gets weirder than the pirate bar accross the street. At piratz people are at least intentionally acting, but at quarry house I encountered a 60-something old man in a cheeleading uniform complete with wig that looked like he was definitly on something. Disturbing. But even so, my biggest complaint is that you CAN NOT have a quiet drink alone in this place if you are female. It's just not going to happen. If you're out to be flirted with, I promise you, you'll be the hottest thing in the bar (or at least the only thing with boobs). But if you really just like scotch and wanted to spend some romance-free time with friends. It's not your place.
(3)C B.
This is an incredible speak-easy style dive bar with a mind boggling selection of whiskeys and boutique beers, ales, and ciders. The place is enormously hard to find if you don't know where it is because the entrance is an unmarked stairwell leading to the subterranean hideout getaway with very low ceilings and exposed plumbing. When you do find it, you feel as though you now know the secret entrance to the place and hope your password and special knockity-knock-knock works at the door (this is the fantasy--no password or secret handshake needed to enter --just valid ID). Prices are very reasonable and ambiance is completely unique and not corporate. There was a live band playing popular 60's and 70's music on stage in front of a small dance floor, during our visit. If you enjoy going off the beaten path and whiskey, this is a MUST SEE FUNSPOT. Highly recommend for at least one visit.
(5)Katlyn Y.
Great little bar with tons of hidden potential. Amazing beer list, with real thought put into the selections. The food is cheap, but amazing. Grilled cheese, hamburgers and tator tots? Who couldn't be sold on that. The only negative is the lack of windows and therefore perception of time. not bad on a Friday night... Monday may be a tough sell.
(5)Jesus V.
I LOVE THIS PLACE!! Not just because they make a good burger, and not just because they have a good selection of beers, but I love going here because I hold a soft spots for places that are humble, friendly, and you just feel at home when you walk in. Granted if you go in for the first time on a crowded night you will feel a bit overwhelmed if you can't find a seat and have to stalk people that may or may not be leaving. SO BE WARNED. But their mostly knowledgeable staff, (mostly only because I have gotten some very annoying staff), is friendly and can give you advise on what beers to order. They also have good specials, like whiskey Wednesdays and half price burger Mondays, that make me feel like I need to go their more often. I will always support this establishment and hope they continue to give great service and deliver on their selection of good beers, great food, and fantastic experiences.
(4)Sarah O.
Awesome burgers! And as mentioned, they have tator tots! What's not to like? The place can be a bit deceiving when you first get there, but it gets better. Walking down the window-less stairs to the basement can be a tad freaky, but you won't have any regrets. I haven't been there yet when they have had a band, but always looking forward to going back.
(5)Rachel P.
I went to the Quarry House last night for the first time after hearing about it for a while. It was a nice, unpretentious, laid back place. I only had one beer with friends. Red Stripe is one of my favorite beers, so I was happy that they had a 24 oz bottle! I'm not a huge beer connoisseur, so I did not apprectiate the pages of amazing beer selection that they had- but it was amazing for those of you who enjoy a selection of less common beers! I was so excited to see that they have veggie burgers, veggie dogs, and tater tots on the menu. I will definitely be returning to try these out :)
(4)James R.
Oh Quarry House I have tasted your sweet nectar and your sour milk. The great beer selection, low key atmosphere and awesome juke box are definitely sexy. But you disappoint me with your spotty service, inflated prices and deflated response to the twig (or unidenified item) in my Monday half priced burger. For this I take a star from you.
(3)Barry S.
I mean ... essentially this is a five star dive bar ... great beer selection ... great pub food (grilled cheese then burger then chicken tenders then tater tots) ... great juke box with ... what are those? ... real CD's ... with ... who is that? the Pixies? Huh? Wish there were a few TV's to watch some sports too ... but other than that it's a killer place. Why four? Well, the food ain't THAT good and the selection is limited ... but again ... great LOUD place to drink and eat some pub food.
(4)Rin H.
I try to make it out to 1/2 off burger night almost every week, partially because it's cheap, partially for the crowd (local friends, friendly strangers). It's a dive bar, and I love that I have such a great one nearby. The staff is friendly, even when the place is packed, and they have never ever fudged up any of my orders, even the ones I've made while drunk. Way to go, Quarry House. Keep making delicious burgers and pairing them with a hefty beer menu. Some people seem to think that QH should have more food on their menu...but honestly, I don't care about the selection as long as they keep doing what they offer right. I've had everything from burgers to fried Oreos veggies and hummus and it's all great!
(5)Christopher P.
Beer. Burgers. Basement. The tag line of the Quarry House elegantly sums up the entire persona of this bar: they indeed serve tasty burgers, and they are located in a basement. And yes, there is beer. Lots of beer. So much beer that you will think you have died and gone to beer heaven. Ok, maybe that is a bit of an exaggeration, but there are well over 500 choices of bottled beers on their menu from all around the world, along with a very decent selection of whiskeys and other libations, enough to serve a lifetime of sampling. The food here is quite decent: excellent fried choices ranging from fried pickles to delicious tater tots to wings. The burgers are quite good and cooked to order, and the ambiance of the place (if you can call it that) is definitely that of a dive-bar...but in a nice way. After all, it IS in a basement, so low-light levels are to be expected. Oh yeah, and they have live music every weekend that is usually pretty rockin'. Now, it is not all cherries and cola here. Unfortunately, the bathrooms are cramped and feel quite dirty, and the tapline is only 6 strong. Certainly the bottle selection makes up for that, but it would be nice to have a few more selections for drafts. It is very tough to get a table on a weekend, due to limited seating, and the music can sometimes be a bit loud for the space. And you'll drop a bit of cash on the beer, since it's all from so far away. I have definitely spent over a hundred dollars on a night of drinking here without realizing it, so pay attention to prices and sizes. All in all, though, this is one of the worthiest bars in Silver Spring. They don't need to advertise their whereabouts with a neon sign, you just have to be cool enough to know where it's at. I always leave happy.
(4)Amanda B.
If I lived in downtown SS, I would probably visit this bar a couple times a week. I love the beericulum vitae; they have a bigger beer selection than they do food, and a rotating selection on tap. However, you can't beat the burgers and tots. Yes, more tots please!! Their wings are also pretty tasty. I love that it's in a basement (no sign out front), I love the atmosphere (beer cases are piled high against the wall), I love the crowd- people at the bar are friendly and chatty. Loud rockabilly music fills the bar most Saturday nights. Get there early on Friday or Saturday if you want to hang out at a table or the bar for a while- it gets packed. The downside of this place is that there are typically only one or two people waiting tables in the back, making their visits to your table few and far between. I've definitely received bottled beers that were at room temp before, 20 minutes after I've placed the order and the bottle is cold so they've obviously tried to chill them. Also, the bar. Is. Loud. I don't mind this, but some people I've gone with seem to. Don't go there for intimate conversations on the weekend.
(4)Kate F.
My coworkers are really into this place. There's less love for me. This place feels like a friend's basement that floods whenever there's a heavy rain. It feels a bit musty and damp. The wood paneling adds to the feeling that an older woman is about yell down the stairs to ask if you want snacks and what you're doing down there. It's a little weird that they stole some little league's water jug. Drink prices are fine. I'm not a big beer drinker, but they have Yeungling and cider that isn't woodchuck (Strongbow and pear). I stick with rail drinks more often than not. I think the big draws of this place are: beer selection, half price burger Mondays, and assorted fried foods. One time, out of 8 burgers at our table, two were raw in places. NOT OKAY. I like my steak with the moo just barely cooked out, but ground beef is a different story. When we brought it to the attention of two different servers it was like we had told them it had unexpectedly rained that day. I contacted the health department. They conducted an inspection and got back to me with basically, "We told them that was bad." I swore off this place for a while. Eventually my coworkers wore me down and I came back. I've had burgers here since then. I recommend ordering it at least medium well to cut down on the chances of getting raw ground beef. They don't split checks because apparently their register is older that I am. The receipt items will be labeled with "grub" or "drink" so it's not much help when tying to figure out what you owe. It doesn't help that you get booze before the math. I stopped coming here with friends who are "bad at math" or legitimately mediocre at arithmetic. C'mon, QHT, if you make people promise not to move its not hard to give separate checks.
(3)Maboud E.
Best burgers in the area! And tots make everything better. Plus, one of the biggest beer and whiskey menus in town. I've gone there over 3 years now and rarely have the same thing twice. Service isn't so hot but the food and drink are worth it.
(4)Allison W.
I'm going to start by saying the burgers are delicious. The tater tots with old bay were also amazing. The reasons I am only giving 3 stars are -- they were totally understaffed. The server was super nice and he did a great job under the circumstances. We had to wait forever to place our drink order and even longer to get the drinks. The food did come out in a reasonable amount of time. Also, it was hot up in there. I will definitely be coming back, but much more prepared for what I'll be getting into next time. This is a place to go with a group to better enjoy the atmosphere. The beer selection was great and very reasonably priced. Food was great, service was lacking. It is a dive bar, so you can't expect much, but the wait was painfully long.
(3)Bex G.
We have been coming here for about three years now. The beer is always good but we have noticed that the burgers are lacking. We used to love the cheddar bacon ranch or thousand island burger combo because they used to make their dressing from scratch. We went on Saturday, and the sauces tasted like they came from the bottle. I know food prices are going up, but in DC where you pay $14 for a burger, I would rather have the quality of the sauces and toppings and pay a little more than to save money. The service was good this time but I would rather got to the Classics for a burger now in SS. We used to love coming here for a burger but since the quality has decreased, we will only be coming for wings and beer now.
(2)Reisa T.
Great local spot! Food is decent and prices are comparable considering other local joints. Very dive-y with a nice selection of whiskey and bourbon :)
(4)Sara P.
This place is awesome. Overwhelming beer menu, including rotating drafts. I had Cisco Grey Lady, my biffle had a Flying Dog Raging Bitch, and we both ordered a grilled cheese with tots. The grilled cheese was perfect. The cheese stayed melty and warm even when our convo caused us to leave dinner sitting on our plates for a long time. The tots were good, but tasted like the same ones we had in elementary school. Again, not bad, but nothing to write home about. Pretty standard. The vibe was what really sold me. Totally chill, delicious, and pleasant. I didn't feel nearly hip enough to be here, but it didn't matter (and I settled down when the 40-something crowd started to roll in for Saturday Rockabilly Night). I'll definitely return and try one of the burgers that everyone raves about!
(4)J W.
ALERT! the people who have posted on this yelp page are people that work here. I was visiting from the UK, was told this place was a good time. Went on a Saturday night and ordered a drink at the bar with my mate. The bartender ( a woman working on 11/2/14) refused to serve us because we were not AMERICAN ENOUGH. She asked where we were from, we said Ireland and she rolled her eyes and said, oh ok and never served us. We asked, 10 min later for a whiskey....she said, sorry but you must leave because you are too drunk!! we were not "drunk" at all! She told us to leave because she didn't appreciate our "foreign" attitude. Such discrimination. I shall never go back here and hope she gets fired!
(1)Sean H.
A solid four star experience. The 1/2 lb burger with sautéed onions, mushrooms, and provolone really hit the spot, but frankly I didn't think the tots were anything special. The assortment of craft beer was great, but the prices were painful ($10 for several of the drafts). The location and decor is hipster funky. It's worth being a repeatable experience, just don't get carried away ordering too many beers here, it'll really cost ya.
(4)Whitney M.
One of my favorite bars in the DC area. They have a 17 page whiskey menu, delicious old bay wings and old bay tots, extensive beer menu, and live music from time to time. Their Monday night burger special is unbeatable. It's a very low key, dim lit bar for a casual outing. Be prepared, however, because they only split the check two ways, so take cash.
(5)Julie L.
The star is for the tater tots. They're good and the portion is large. Service on the other hand, pretty much sucks. This was not my first time at Quarry House with sub-standard service. Our hipster waiter seemed way more concerned with maintaining his apathetic attitude than actually being good at his job. When we sat down, my coworker ordered a beer and I ordered a water. He brings her beer, but no water and doesn't say anything to me. Then I remember that you have to get your own water from the cooler in the back room. Fine, but it would have been nice to be told this. Then, when more coworkers arrived, we had a long conversation with the waiter about the check and what our options are since the menu says 2 cards per check. He finally agreed to let us use multiple cards because he said he didn't want to deal with separate checks because they have dial-up (which I didn't know is still a thing). He was not at all accommodating, which is fine, since it's the policy or whatever, but once you agree to take more than 2 cards, you should really stick with it. When my boyfriend handed him a credit card and asked him to put $20 on it, he said, "There's an ATM across the street." and walked away. That really pissed me off since he'd already said we could use cards, but I figured, fine, if he wants to lose his tip by being an asshole, that's his business. Turns out, since we had a group of 6 people, 18% gratuity was included, so he figured he could be as rude, lazy, and condescending as he wanted. Is 18% gratuity really appropriate for a mostly beer order? As much as I prefer the atmosphere of Quarry House to Piratz Tavern, I won't be dropping any more money there. Make sure you check your bill carefully as well. The waiter told us our beers were happy hour prices, but turns out he charged the full price.
(1)Ethan G A.
They went back to the way things were and I have no problem giving them my money
(5)Nicolaos K.
This restaurant gave off a creepy back alley vibe, but like they say, "Never judge a book by its cover." While the outside was nothing to write home about, the food and beverages were. This restaurant pub had a great selection of foreign, craft and domestic beers as well as healthy selection of Bourbons and liquors. The food was spot on and the 1lb burger I ate, left me stuffed for the night. However, I did indulge in some fried oreos with ice cream and it was too good to stop eating. If you're wondering why it is only receiving a four star rating, look no further than the service. While our waiter was helpful with alcohol and food selections, he rarely made an appearance to our table so we were stranded for long periods of time without beverages. Highly suggest eating here!
(4)Tina B.
I love this place. It's a dive bar type of scene. If you are a sport fan, this is not the place for you to go and watch a game. They don't have a television. This bar is for the social crowd who rather carry a conversation. Their food is always pretty good here. Recommend the tater tots with old bay seasoning. Burgers are pretty awesome here too. They have many varieties of beer. Belgium beer, German, local, & some beers you wouldn't get at normal bars. They have a live band once a week I think, also a jukebox. Older ambiance, but still great. They also got trivia night. Overall, I always liked coming here. I finally wrote a review for this place! So definitely should come to this place if anyone is looking for a chilled hole in the wall dive bar!
(4)Erik W.
A group of us stopped here before the Flogging Molly show (Fillmore) on 2/28/14. Like others have said, find the Indian restaurant, then look for the sketchy portal to hell (staircase) and take it all the way down. About the closest you'll find to a sign is the letters QHT on a few banners. Fortunately, we arrived around 4:30 p.m. on a Friday, when only a handful of people were in the joint. Upon walking in, I noticed very little due to the extreme darkness in the place. To say this place is poorly-lit would be generous. The rest of my group was reduced to indistinct shadows, although standing only a few feet from me. If you look at the pics of this place on this site, don't be fooled by the well-lit picture. You'll experience nothing like that. On the other hand, our eyes adjusted within a half-hour or so, and we all felt we could go toe-to-toe with a vampire bat and be able to hold our own. We grabbed a table and were an unruly mess, half of us three sheets to the wind already, the other half unsure of whether we were there for drinks, food or both. Our waitress was understanding and gave us ample time to coordinate our plan of attack. At no point did we feel rushed at all. The beer list is amazing, but be aware...it's mostly bottles. They had maybe a dozen (?) taps in the joint, and there was plenty of quality micro-brew stuff on hand, but your best bet will likely come in a bottle. I'm not much for harder alcohol, but the bar appeared well-stocked. And my whiskey-drinking friend was happy with the selection. I opted for cheaper beers (around $5-$7 per), but there was also plenty of expensive stuff, some bottles getting up into the $20-$30 range. Yes, the tator tots are THE thing to order here. A giant basket of plain ones was a mere $3.50, and the jazzed-up options (chili and cheese, bacon and cheese) only bumped the price up to $5. The tater tots are a meal in itself, although they'd be a fine appetizer to complement any meal. There was a jukebox playing the entire time we were there, and we heard some obscure stuff, perfect for freaks like myself. I heard some Misfits, some Ramones, even some hip-hop (Tribe Called Quest, I think) and some Gogol Bordello, among others. The bathroom was a graffiti-filled mess, and there was a giant hole in a chunk of paneling hanging directly overhead. The bathrooms are also near a small kitchen window, and there was plenty of hustle and bustle, so make sure you don't get run over. By the time we left the joint, this place was packed. Seating was at a minimum, and as soon as we got up, we had people bum-rushing us for our seats. I can't speak for this alleged inconvenience regarding cash/credit cards. I was part of a huge group and, when I was told my portion of the bill was $20, I forked it over to my friend, who was collecting from all of us. Easy-peasy, son. This was one fun experience, man. I can't wait to get back here the next time I'm in Silver Spring. P.S. The "FUCK YELP" signs were a nice touch.
(5)Roman K.
I love bringing my friends here. It's just as famous locally for the atmosphere as for the food: a dark, close bar with live music and a laid-back, familiar wait staff. Their burgers are absolutely phenomenal; I first heard about the place on a "best of" show for burgers in the DC area, and I never even knew this place was there, right below my favorite Indian restaurant in Silver Spring. They have crazy chicken strips too! I've never seen ones that big before, huge chunks of chicken breast in a strong beer batter unlike any I've tasted anywhere else. You really have to check out their beer menu to appreciate what this place has to offer, though. There are so many, and such a huge variety! No complaints, all wonderful experiences.
(5)Ethan L.
Why in the heck have I never written a review of this place? This is without question one of the most iconic dive bars in the DC area I've been to (unless you want to call pre-expansion Asylum) in one of the most NON hip areas you could ever think of. Situated in downtown Silver Spring, the place at first is actually quite easy to miss. It's better now as the downstairs staircase currently has QH hanging banners, that in the past used to be absent. As a result you would stumble outside an Indian restaurant in the middle of nowhere, with a Pirate Tavern across the street, wondering where the heck this place is? You enter a very dimly lit basement, and from the outside it feels like being in somebody's reckroom basement. Dark, but then there are many places to sit, and the jukebox is usually playing something forboding and nasty. In short it's a place you are either going to love right away or be scared of. Great bottle list for beer, truly a beer lovers and owners bar, but the taps are only 7 offerings and pedestrian. Food is pretty good, just classic simple burgers and such, nothing fancy. The place is popular and even on early opening it gets packed quickly. Filled with many crashing singles and trash talking guys blowing off steam from the days work. Yup fun place for what it is. Then you leave and hit the streets and feel lost again not sure what just happened.
(4)Hannah M.
This is most definitely my favorite place in the DC area. the burgers are amazing, the beer list never fails, and the servers are friendly. I would be here every day if I could.
(5)Brian D.
Recently moved into the Silver Spring area. My girlfriend and I discovered the quarry house by talking to a few locals, and it has been our favorite spot ever since. Burgers and tots are fantastic, and we love the atmosphere and the bartenders. The one downside to the restaurant is the live rockabilly band on saturday nights. The music is usually too loud to have a conversation. Also, they seem to perform exclusively rockabilly, and it's usually the same songs over and over just with a different sub par band performing. I love the bar, but it seems as if I'll be headed to McGinty 's on Saturdays from now on. If there were a bit more variety in their live music selection this would be silver springs hottest weekend bar.
(2)Diana J.
A true dive bar. Very unpretentious. Located in the basement of an Indian restaurant. Decent live music on the weekends. On Wednesdays whiskey is 20%off and the tater tots come standard with the burger and are to die for
(5)Phil D.
Whether you're in the mood for a good beer, a good burger, the most amazing tots this side of the moon, or the brilliant "deep fried oreos a la mode," Quarry House is a fantastic establishment. Just a few things to be aware of: -it is often packed, so arrive early if you've got more than 4 people -it is quite dark, especially in the back seating area -you'll have to serve yourself water (not too inconvenient) -they don't like to split checks (so plan accordingly and bring cash) I was frustrated with the latter point for some time, but decided that the food and beer is worth the hassle. The taps are always rotating, but you're sure to find something up your alley.
(4)Kelsey C.
My boyfriend and I frequent Quarry House. It's a really cool atmosphere and they have incredible beer and whiskeys (more for my boyfriend's enjoyment). They even have music playing some evenings which was a total shock to me when I brought friends there one night. The food is surprisingly good. At first I thought there was no way it could be good and the place doesn't come off as the cleanest, but oh boy do they have the best tater tots in the world. I've never been obsessed with tater tots like my boyfriend is but he has me hooked on theirs. And their wings are perfect, except that the mild are more like hot and the hot are like extra hot and I can't even comprehend what their extra hot taste like. I love it though because I'm usually a mild-type and I love the extra kick that their mild have. My only issue with this place is that they turned my friend's ID down because it was vertical. She was 25 and from North Carolina and our boyfriends were already waiting downstairs with food and we couldn't get in to see them. So our boyfriends had to get the food to go and my friend never got to experience how awesome it was. That was a big disappointment. So a note for any out-of-staters - make sure you have a horizontal ID. Definitely one of the best places in Silver Spring!
(4)Karen M.
Great burgers and beer served in a dark cave. The first time I ate there, the burger I had was on my mind for days after. I've eaten there two times since and the burgers were just as amazing. This isn't a place that prioritizes decor or atmosphere. It's pretty much a dark bar in a basement, but if your open to places that have character and serve really good food, you'll be more than pleased.
(4)Bryan L.
HOT DAMN!!! Literally, Damn hot. I had the 4-Alarm wings. Came here on an odd week night, Monday I think. No live music, but the place was packed none the less. I waited a few minutes to get a seat with a server (non-bar seat) and was rewarded by getting above average service from the staff. Being from out of town, I found this place using Yelp. Glad I read some reviews otherwise I never would have found the door!! Those reading this: The door is on the corner of the block! Very small opening and you go down the stairs. It's worth the trip!! You can also tell it's highly Yelp'd by the number for young, hip(ster) people inside. It's a Dive bar. No doubt about it. Dark, dingy, slightly dirty... PERFECT!!! I had almost off of their draught beers they had available that day. Gotta try em to know if you'll like em, right?!! I Ordered the Hummus, it was good. I ordered the Hot wings... GREAT! The Old Bay wings... SUPER! The 4-Alarm wings.... GOOD GOLLY MISS MOLLY!!!! The server warned me ahead of time. Even talked me out of it for a minute. The guy that brought the wings merely shook his head and commented that I was an idiot. While that might be true, I'm still gonna eat these wings!!! First bite... Kinda sweet? Why are these devil wings sweet? huh.. Ok. I keep going. Oh.. There's the heat. I like it! I get about one full wing in. (Large wings BTW, Great value!) and the heat really hits me. OK.. These wings don't want to be eaten. I am traveling with a business associate from Mexico that considers himself the Latin Adam Richman. He's a heat seeker type. He is crying after one wing. I keep my composure.... I'm sure my face is red though. I choke down a few beers to cool it off. Then go in for another. MUCH HOTTER THE SECOND TIME AROUND!!!! lol I'm so stupid..... I finished the night off with the special for the night, the Burger. Nom nom nom. Give me a beer. And i'm out!
(4)Matt W.
If you're looking for a gastropub, a refined experience, a "sit down" sort of bar, you need to keep looking. If you're looking for a dive bar with awesome food, iffy service, a huge beer list, and music blasting to rock your face off? Come in and sit down. It's a seat yourself kind of place, but anything near the bar means you'll be ordering drinks and food from the bar instead of the servers, which I didn't find out until I'd been sitting for about 10 minutes. The beer / cider / spirits lists are huge and focus on a lot of local breweries. I decided to go for an oatmeal stout that was their draft special the night I visited, and wasn't disappointed. They do daily specials for food as well, but I decided to skip the taco special and go for some wings and a burger. The wing sauce is as spicy as advertised, but has a ton of flavor, not just a burn. The burger's kind of average, honestly, but it hit the spot and wasn't too expensive. The old bay tots were a nice side, but honestly I don't get the raves some people have posted for them. Since I was walking to the Quarry House from my hotel, I decided to be bad and go for the fried oreos, which are just as carb-bombingly delicious as that sounds. Absolutely worth the trip if you're in the mood. The food orders were a bit slow, but the actual bar staff did a great job taking care of me, even on a fairly busy night, but I can see where people would get frustrated by the pace of the regular servers, so give yourself some time. This isn't a "in and out in 20 minutes" sort of place unless you just want a beer and a shot.
(4)Kal B.
This past winter I got a phone call from my husband who had fought to find parking and was now wandering around aimlessly exclaiming to me that this blankity, blank, blank place didn't exist. He was trying to find the Quarry House Tavern where our daughter and the School of Rock (shameless plug) would be playing soon. I tried looking up the directions and walking him there and kept telling him that it emphasized downstairs. Did I say he is freezing? I am at home with a rescued great dane with anxiety so I'm missing this fun. Then he tells me there is a set of stairs that he HOPES our then 15 year old daughter hadn't had to go down but he hears music. Yep, that's the spot! And our relationship with the Quarry House, their awesomeness in letting the House Band of the School of Rock come and play and feed us copious burgers, those world famous tater tots (hey, we're military so any time we have something and love it and share it forward it is world famous) AND drink at 3 in the afternoon on a Saturday or Sunday (because these are kids under 21 and most bars won't let them be there after the real partying starts) begins. How is that for a run on sentence?!* The burgers and those tater tots and the complete awesomeness of the Quarry House is world renown. My fav are the deep fried pickles. I have to try those if they are on the menu where ever I go as a benchmark comparison. Yummy. Can you say bar food? They don't blink when I order up a burger animal style (no bun) and try to healthify it either even if nothing on their menu is even close to being healthy. Head down those sketchy, dark, windowless stairs peeps; you won't be sorry you did! Be brave - be bold - be glad!
(3)Samantha G.
Awesome so many times over. If I lived in the SS, I would take up residency here. I would have my own bar stool. Everyone would know me by name. The QH is pretty much everything you want in a bar. It's got an excellent beer list, great food, live music, an interesting crowd, and it's totally dive-y and unique. Any bar that has so many beers they have an entire menu devoted to their beer offerings is my type of place. And any time I spy a menu with beers I haven't heard of before (a difficult thing to accomplish with me), I pretty much fall in love. And while not cheap, the unique beers were very reasonably priced. I have no issues paying $5 for a great beer that I can't really get anywhere else. For food, we opted for the homemade chips with dill dip and hot wings with both ranch and blue cheese. The chips were great. Not particularly original in and of themselves. But the dill dip was absolutely delicious. And the serving was huge. Definitely worth $4. The wings were superb ($6 for 1/2 dozen). The hot (they also have Hot BBQ, 4 Alarm, etc.) was the perfect balance of heat and tastiness. The wings were meaty, cooked just right, and perfectly coated in sauce. And the ranch and blue cheese dips were 100% kitchen-made. Thick and yummy and the perfect wing compliment. And then there's the music, the money from all around the world, the graffiti, the bathroom, the music, the conversations, the fact that's in a basement, etc., etc. Freaking love it! THIS is so my kind of bar.
(5)James C.
So far, so good. I just moved to the area from Baltimore, and having come from a place where I was within walking distance to the Brewer's Art, I was a little disappointed that, for the first month, I hadn't found any really good bar scene in the area. That changed last night. My friend and I got into Quarry House, noticed that it was as full as a dive can get, as divey as a dive can get (it has a similar basement feel to Brewer's Art's basement), and still we managed to have a great time even in standing room. I mean... despite the crowd, we always had full drinks, or drinks being poured, the tater tots were awesome, and the suggestions for Bourbon that we got for both sipping and shooting were spot on, as well as the beers on draught. I will be going back, and I will be making this my new local haunt. Cheers to the bartending staff there, especially Kate and Joe. Team effort, but you managed to turn a skeptic into a fan in a matter of an hour and a half.
(5)Mo A.
This ultimate dive bar in a basement will clog your arteries when it comes to food. The burgers are good, but expect 90% of the menu to be fried. As for the drinks, this place has a spectacular selection of whiskey and its cousins (Bourbon and Scotch) along with an excellent beer selection. If you like excellent whiskey in a dive, this is the place for you.
(4)Ritzie C.
The Quarry House is the dive bar that EVERYONE loves because it is the exact opposite of pretentious. There's no sign indicating its entrance (but if you know where to go - you'll see a wooden sign lightly chiseled with "QH"). In fact, when my boyfriend first brought me down the dirty stairwell into this basement, I was pretty sure he was planning to murder me. But what a surprise! Unlike my favorite dive bar in Arlington (Jay's Saloon), this bar has a beer menu so vast, you'll keep flipping back and forth through the pages, trying to figure out what you want to try next. And it's not just a great bar - the food is the perfect accompaniment for a belly-full of beer. I've noticed recently that the Washingtonian has twice mentioned the QH's grilled cheese and I can vouch for it - the melty goodness between buttery grilled bread will not disappoint. You might want to try tomatoes on it. Also, while you're getting your grub on, toss in some tots. The Captain and I actually visit this place a lot. It does get crazy crowded and obviously there are no windows (it's a basement, after all) but I've never felt claustrophobic here. And finally - Quarry House attracts such a fun crowd! Young, old, men, women - everyone loves this little dive bar. (Pssssst! Sometimes the skank-tramps behind the bar will ignore you to piss you off. Get back at them with a tiny tip. Maybe then they'll get their heads out of their asses). But still love it here!
(4)Will S.
This place gets five stars because it's a great dive bar in a place where I thought there were no dive bars left. A friend insisted that we go here after going to a concert at the Filmore. I didn't want to do any drinking in Silver Spring because Silver Spring is terrible. This place really makes you forget you're in Silver Spring though. It's an honest dive bar and not some stupid reimagining of "dive bar ahm-bee-awnts" that you'd expect in a place like this. You get to it by a little concrete staircase cut into the sidewalk, the walls are covered in old wood paneling and tacky pictures and the beer is cheap (for Silver Spring at least). I was only drinking PBR which came in at just under 5 bucks a pint-can including tip. Like I said, cheap for Silver Spring. They had a really good selection though, including some really high gravity stuff that a lot of bars stay away from. Didn't try the food but it smelled awesome If you're unfortunate enough to be in Silver Spring and you don't want to drink somewhere that thinks misspelling your name or using lots of five-cent words to describe your selection is like, totally edgy, then go to the Quarry House. If you do think those things are cool, go to Piratz and stay the fuck out of the Quarry House.
(5)Dana M.
THE dive bar in silver spring. Gotta know where it is to find it. Half priced burgers at happy hour, and a HUGE selection of beer, whisky (an entire menu), and even a handful of ciders for us gluten intolerant folks! Usually you go to a place and they have one, maaybe two choices of cider (angry orchard and woodchuck or strongbow) but quarry house has some great choices other than those as well. Good for a chill night to hang out with friends.
(4)Mike B.
In the words of Aunt May from Spiderman, "Peter listen to me. Secrets have a cost, they're not for free. Not now, not ever." You're so right Aunt May! Which is why I just feel obligated to tell you about Quarry House Tavern. Quarry House was described to me as, " the basement of Bombay Gaylord." Those are pretty good instructions. Seeing as there's no sign, address, or arrow; you might want to keep that little tip in mind. It's amazing that this little place can stay hidden among all the hustle and bustle of upstairs Georgia Ave. Walking down beaten down raggedy stairs past the banners that are monogrammed 'QH', you don't know quite what to expect when you get to the bottom. You walk in the door to find a dimly lit and strong walled bar that reminds you of being in a mine shaft. It also reminded me of the "Prancing Pony" where Aragorn met Frodo in the first Lord Of The Rings (but swords aren't as much of a necessity). Quarry House can only be described as a dive bar. It actually gives the term "Dive Bar" a run for its money. No frills, lots of beer, and good tots. My friend and I ordered a 1/3 pound burger which was well received by us both. The extra super turbo crispy tots that were served with Old Bay were divine. I really let the cat out of the bag on this one. Really spilt the beans all over the place. There are no more wraps to be under. The tongue has slipped. Go enjoy good food, good company, and a bunker that is surely strong enough to protect you from anyone who might want to interrupt your good time.
(4)Katie M.
Went here on Friday night with some friends and I'm so glad we did! Our server was friendly and attentive. Great beer selection. For food - we had the chips and fried pickles which were delicious. The real winner was the wings! So delicious! The blue cheese that came with the wings was probably the best I've ever had.
(5)Austin N.
First, finding this place is like something straight out of a harry potter book. There is a very hard to find staircase near the corner of the street leading down to the bar. Sort of feels like your walking through (and down) a wall. Second, if you like your bars dive and not trendy, this is the place. Beer and whisky selection was amazing. They change the beers on draft selection regularly and I discovered a great hefeweizen beer from portland on tap. Food wise, lets face it - your here for the beer and good company. The tater tots were good to munch on, as recommended by many here. 5 stars. But I wish the jukebox had better selection.
(5)Matt W.
How does this place get such high ratings? Truly one of the worst restaurant experiences I have had in a number of years. The only positive about this place is the very diverse crowd which was awesome. Firstly, I like diver bars a lot. But this one is kind of unkempt. The chair I was sitting in had a hidden nail sticking out of it that could easily stick into anyone. There may be one thing to have a rustic, divey bar, but unsafe is uncalled for. This is just one example of how they need to do a better job taking care of this place. The service was so unbelievably terrible and with huge amounts of attitude. I asked kindly if the waiter could wipe down the table and he acted like I was asking him to do something horrible. The table was clearly very dirty from the last patrons and had not been responsibly cleaned in between. It took asking 2 times in order to make this happen over the course of 10 plus minutes. He even brought our drinks over about 5 or more minutes after ordering and then STILL did not bring a rag to wipe the table. Then he asked someone else if they would do it and about five minutes later they came by. Finally, we tagged our waiter down who said he was "just so busy" (and he typically had a lot of attitude like he was better than us), and we ordered appetizers. While the apps came relatively quickly, the waiter never took our order for our food! We were almost done the appetizers by the time he rolled around for our food order. This was just really getting old at this point. The appetizers were terrible. I understand that the breading they use is "their style" but it is truly terrible. It is super greasy and puffy and has no flavor. Somewhere lost inside the breading was a pickle. It was just a big pile of grease. We were given no plates either (which they may not have or use and if so that is fine) but it was hard to share a grease-piled basket of long pickle spears across a 4-top table. So we had to lay them on napkins which were then covered in grease. The chicken tenders were the same. There was virtually no chicken in the gigantic puffy, flavorless breading. It was also a big grease mess and not enjoyable. Also, we thought you would get one dipping sauce complimentary with the chicken and he ended out charging us for it. I thought that was kind of lame. The only good thing served were the tater tots. They were pretty good. The hamburger was relatively awful as well. It was greasy and nearly completely flavorless. People have mentioned the burgers are great. I just do not get it. It was so uninteresting that I did not finish it. It was just like eating a flavorless lump. The "homemade" dressing on the salad, thousand island, tasted like tartar sauce for fish. Yuck! It was just a really disappointing meal. I feel bad writing such a negative review. Most of mine have so much positive in them. But this place is completely and utterly NOT a winner! Service is unfriendly, place isn't nice for a diver bar, the server rudely told us to fetch our own water (which I understand is how it is done here, but he didn't even tell us where it was located), the food isn't good, etc. Find another location for a hip "hidden" sort of cool dive bar-- this surely isn't one!
(1)Andres M.
Big fan of their Burger Mondays!
(5)Paul L.
The beer, whiskey, scotch and bourbon lists are huge. I don't think you can find a larger variety of these types of alcohol in the DC area. The food is your average bar quality but you can't go here without getting the tater tots. Service can be a bit slow but is worth the wait.
(5)Dan M.
So one of my favorite dive bars have closed in SF about 6 months ago and since then I have been looking for a great replacement. Unfortunately the replacement had to come 2600 miles away which is unfortunate but I will take it. Just as a disclaimer this review has nothing to do with the food besides the tater tots so I have no comment on that. This place is downstairs in the basement and really easy to miss if you walk by the entrance. Once you go downstairs I was surprised by how spacious the actually area was. It is self-seating so do not be shy and walk on in. The vibe of this joint is pretty cool, they also have a jukebox in the corner and quirky signs up all over the place. The vibe is casual without being too dingy so fan there. The drinks that were coming out were solid and I was pleased with my manhattans. All the prices were reasonable also but the show stopper here was really the tater tots. Nothing no one has not mentioned in other yelp reviews but this is a legitimate tater tot heaven. The servers were all cool and laid back so glad that I found a good dive bar atmosphere in the DMV area.
(4)Rachel C.
7 reasons to go to Quarry House--one for each day of the week! 1. Great happy hours and daily specials 2. Fun atmosphere ("basement chic", we'll call it) 3. CHEAP FOOD ($5 quesadillas, which are so great when you're drunk off cheap beer) 4. While we're on the subject, cheap beer (with a decent variety) 5. Interesting graffiti in the bathroom (you will find yourself laughing and distracted as you're going about your business) 6. Sort of typical Silver Spring bro-ish crowd--my friends and I had an incredibly fun time messing with the heads of the table of bros next to us last time I was there. 7. Snarky servers (one of them gave me crap when I told him I generally don't love tater tots, he talked me into getting some Old Bay tots anyway, and I have to say, they were really great).
(4)Amber H.
u have to try their burgers and tarter tots. Waiters are sometimes busy, but they will finally get to u, being warm and patient. If don't know what to drink, ask the waiter, describe what u like and they would recommend just the perfect one
(5)Elisabeth S.
Tater tots on point Kate is the best bartender I love qht they are amazeballs ender
(5)Brittany S.
I've never written a review for this place? Are you sure???? This place is a dive for sure, if you don't know about it you'll definitely walk right past it. Doesn't look like much, its kind of like a old, dirty, basement dungeon but don't be afraid! It's all fun :) The beer and liquor selection is extensive! It's almost overwhelming but I've gotten to the point where I just go with whatever is on special and then whatever name I like, it works. They have daily specials during the week so make sure you check them out! Their burgers are good and can't forget about their tater tots. I got the Old Bay taters again last night and for some reason they didn't hit the spot like they use to... I was also a little disappointed I went to Whiskey Wednesdays and the drinks were pretty week. I hope this place isn't falling off because it's definitely a favorite in DTSS.
(4)Zach B.
Quarry House has a lot going for it. Some of the best burgers you'll ever have, a massive beer and whiskey selection - and I do mean massive - and addictive Old Bay tater tots. So why are they getting two stars? Because putting up with them long enough to get to the food and drink is the kind of experience that almost makes you not want to go back. The service has never been good, but it's gotten worse in recent weeks. Yes, it's usually packed, especially on half-price burger night, but that's what you're supposed to plan for. Getting someone's attention or getting food or drink delivered is a hassle. What makes it worse is that the chef seems to basically play tater tot roulette - there's a very good chance your Old Bay tots won't end up with any Old Bay on them. Other times, others I've gone with have had burgers cooked the wrong way - and I mean asking for medium rare, ending up with not a bit of pink in the meat - or the wrong beers delivered. I know, I know - it's a dive joint, and what am I supposed to expect? Well, Old Bay tots when I ask for Old Bay tots. If we're judging places based on bad service now, then we pretty much deserve it. Quarry House may not be trying to be in the Michelin guidebook, and it doesn't have to be. But the service shouldn't be so bad that you're talking about that instead of the admittedly wonderful burgers. So sorry, Quarry House. Looks like you and I are taking a hiatus.
(2)Valeria S.
Awesome food, BUT the wait on a slow night far outweighed the tacos and tater tots. It took 2 hours to get through 2 rounds of drinks and basically begging for the check. 1st round- 5 margaritas (took 30 minutes). 2nd round (which took another 30 min for him to come back once) was 4 beers, 2 of which were the same, and 1 of which the waiter forgot about. We all had the $10 taco & margarita deal, so it was not a complicated order at all. I have been a waitress/cocktail waitress/shot girl in a crazy busy bar, so I understand waiting while it's busy. I felt bad for the waiter....but, when your waiter says it's a slow Tuesday and I have to wait 30 minutes for my check and another 30 min. to order a beer, then it gets ridiculous! The people next to us got up and ordered at the bar and sat back down....in about 5 minutes. 2 other people just left after waiting 20 minutes for anyone to come by. Other guys asked for the check several times. QHT- update your system. There are SO many menus and SO many items! I watched my waiter look up the individual price of everything we got and it took him about 10 min. just to ring out order up. With an updated computer system, there could be a faster turnover of tables = more business. It is insanely outdated and inefficient. This is my second time here and I truly wanted to like it. I gave it a second chance, but I will not be coming back. If I wanted to waste 2 hours to get 2 drinks and be infuriated, sure I will go there. Please save yourself if you actually have things to do/places to be. Maybe carry out from here would be better since the food is great. Sorry Quarry House Tavern, you lost business from 5 Silver Spring Residents.
(1)Nick A.
This is my go to watering hole in Silver Spring; my home away from home. It's got everything I could ever want in a bar, and then some - and just like me, it's dirty, dark, smells like booze, and has an uneven floor. It has an amazing beer selection, a great whiskey selection, and it's in a dark, dirty basement. The food is spectacular every time I have eaten here (although I have often been pretty shithoused when I was eating) and the atmosphere just seals the deal for me. There are rotating daily specials that make it even more of an inviting option for killing my emotions with greasy food and inebriates (1/2 burgers are my favorite,) and live music on weekends. Granted, you will be pressed ballsacks to buttcheeks because there isn't a lot of space, but it is still a good time. The bands are really all over the spectrum, but it's always a good time. I highly recommend this place to anyone that asks. Seriously, it's my favorite. .
(5)Nick H.
Go there for the huge craft beer selection (as well as the cheap stuff too) and people watching. Great dive bar with fun eats. Live music on the wknd. It's our home bar in Silver Spring.
(5)Mos D.
This is the kind of places that makes me wish I lived in the DC area. Well, that is until I stepped outside and realized I hate the area... but Quarry House makes you forget all that. The no sign, basement bar, no windows, shady bathroom situation? Perfect. We snagged a 2 top Wednesday night, had a few draft beers, and ate our brains out. HUGE burgers, cheesy bacon tater tots, papusas, hummus and pita, and the best salad I've ever had? It was all amazing. Service is great, atmosphere is great, prices are great. I think I'll spend my birthday here.
(5)Chanel G.
I enjoyed their beers although the drafts were limited. I had to order from the bar-- which caused the service little slow. The food was meh. Too much dressing in the buffalo chicken wrap and tater tots were greasy. If you are in the mood to escape from the sunlight and wrap around in a corner, this is the place to go. Otherwise, definitely not a place to go to unless you are in mood for greasy pub food.
(2)Jeff L.
Place was great. The diviest dive bar I've ever been to. Monday nite half off burger meals including sides. Paid 4.50 for a 1/2 lbs burger with 1000island and grilled mushrooms with a healthy portion of tots on the side. You serve yourself water which wasn't so bad. Huge selection of beers and whiskey. Overall good experience.
(4)Andrew S.
A highly recommended causal burger spot with a really cool environment, right on the outskirts of DC! The old bay tater tots, fried pickles, and half price burgers on Monday nights make the Q House a Silver Spring favorite!
(4)M L.
Never disappointed - always get to try something new! Grab a basket of tots. Better yet, grab a half price burger on Monday.
(5)Joshua B.
This bar gets 5 stars because it is just that awesome. If you're a beer loving, whiskey sipping, burger scarfing, chicken wing aficionados then this place is for you! By the way everyone should fall into that category. If you don't then we probably shouldn't be friends. So it's loud, so the service is some times a little aggressive, and you have to get your own water. Oh we'll! Get over yourself. It's a dive bar with a kick ass menu and a great jukebox. I come here for the the four things I mentioned in the opening and they have those in spades. The beer list is amazing. Definitely the best in Silver Spring and rivals some of the bigger beer halls in The District. The burgers are also top notch and go up against the heavy hitters like Good Stuff, BGR, and Black and Orange. If you ask me, they're better. Best part is Monday is half off burger night. You'll end up paying $4-6. The chicken wings are my favorite thing on the menu. They do them the right way, fried nice and crispy while keeping the meat moist. Whiskey, what can I say they have tons. Stuff you probably haven't heard of. If you're still reading this, you've messed up. You should already be there. In full disclosure, there are no TV's so this isn't your game day spot. However, that makes the place even better.
(5)Brian F.
Great dive bar, good location, reasonable prices, laid back atmosphere, and a good amount of character. I have been there several times and enjoyed it.
(4)J P.
Good beer. Great food. You MUST get a burger here if you like burgers. I personally like the Black and Blue the best. Add bacon to it. And get the tots with it. During busy nights, the server will probably seem like they're everywhere but your table. But with a team effort, this place keeps your table clear of stuff you're done with very quickly. I'm not a hipster - the real kind or the kind you can buy at Banana Republic - but I will keep going back for the beer and burgers. The seem to get everyone from suits to sweats. MONDAY NIGHT half off burgers!
(5)Denise K.
I loved this place. It was hard to find but totally worth it. Definitely a 5 star as far as dive bars go. The burger and tater tots were delicious!
(5)Brett M.
It's great for what it is. I love the food so much. Highlights are the tots, the onion doughnuts, and the burgers!!!!
(5)Evan L.
Excellent, relaxed environment. Dive-y but not dirty. A basement full of happy. Amazing beer selection, tasty snacks. My fav spot in Silver Spring.
(5)Kristin M.
I hope Bombay Gaylord never shuts down... because it's a super useful landmark for finding Quarry House, which is underneath it. Look for the stairs and the QH flags. This is a true dive for dive-lovers. Underground, unpretentious, full of noise and regulars and random shit on the walls. The bathroom makes for great reading - just watch your head as you walk in. There's often live music, they're fine with you bringing and getting down with a board game (I've lost a few games of Monopoly here), burgers are good (and 1/2 price on Mondays), tots are cheap, grungy tshirts are appropriate, and pickle-backs are served without questions. Another major reason to come is to hit up the beer list, which is actually a beer menu - pages upon pages sorted for easy perusal with tons of options at every price point and level of alcohol content. Not a beer connoisseur? Turn to the section labeled "Beers You Can Get Anywhere Else." Yep, they'll let you be lame, but they call a spade a spade, too. Go to Jackie's Sidebar for cocktails and pool, come to Quarry House for beer and board games.
(5)Chi Z.
Four stars just because it's so cool...dive bar...Silver Spring, beer, tater tots and fried oreos, jukebox, need I say more? I love the atmosphere here and we can walk!!! Again, we are partial to downtown Silver Spring, I happen to grow up 10 minutes north so I can say I am a true Silver Springnian. But seriously...OLD BAY WINGS, perfectly cripsy and hot, it's not battered to death either. A perfect marriage between old bay and chicken, and we don't like chicken either!!! Burgers and beer selection are bonuses too.
(4)Christopher B.
Delicious! Great ambiance and generous portions...but you get what you pay for.
(4)Joe G.
This place has a really nice atmosphere and a decent beer selection. A fun place to hang out with friends. I just have a couple of serious problems with this place. Their "Happy Hour" is basically full price beer. The happy hour menu was charging $5.50-$6.50 for a pint. Also, you could buy 9 wings for $9. They usually are 6 for $6 so the happy hour is basically just a word they use. They don't bother actually having any specials. Whiskey was 20% off I guess, but meh, still a really lame happy hour. Then they don't have enough wait staff. It wasn't so bad at first when it wasn't that busy but once it picked up you could just forget about seeing your waitress. Our friend told us taking a long time to get the check was a "thing" here. He wasn't kidding it took quite a while. It wasn't our waitress' fault though. Looked like she was responsibly for nearly the entire place. This place needs more wait staff or better management. I also ordered medium wings and they were super hot! If you get the wings make sure to go 1 level lower than what you are used to. They were very tasty though. So if you don't mind paying full price at happy hours and don't mind waiting a while for your check this is the place for you. It has a fun atmosphere and is alright I just won't go back here unless I have to for a friend or something.
(2)K G.
This place has a great beer selection, and the burgers are really good. When I was in town for AIRP I came here every Monday for the burger special (this place is just a few blocks from the AFI Silver Theatre).
(4)David M.
If you looked up dive in the pictionary, you would find a photo of this place. What does that mean? One hell of a whiskey selection in a depressingly communistic county when it comes to alcohol? Check. The best burger in Silver Spring, one where they know what medium means and one where you can specify how big it is and have it with provolone and fried onions? Check. Browse a decent draft list of 5ish beers and a stupidly large beer selection, the latter of which is impressive in MoCo? Check. A dark bar in the basement with low ceilings? Check. An impossible to find entrance for first-time patrons? Check. Staff that is often overburdened and sometimes neglects your needs, but otherwise are rather cool? Check. Yep, this Quarry House. Quite the place. Check it out. PS: It is down the staircase to the right of Bombay Gaylord.
(4)Darren M.
This place is awesome. Thank God for Yelp or I would have never found this place. I gave it 4 stars because of the huge selection of beers and the atmosphere. The foods good, but it's just good bar food. Nothing to get overly excited about. You owe it to yourself to check this place out for the beer, crowd, and the'tavern' atmosphere.
(4)Ruth C.
Many thanks to the reviewers who pointed out this dive bar is downstairs from Bombay Gaylord. Even though I parked right down the street in the Bonifant garage, that blessed backlit sign still saved me from the cold when a certain chu didn't answer his phone. Met Juliana and some mutual Yelper friends for half-price burger Monday and camaraderie. Table-nabbing was a free-for-all endeavor that we failed at, so we ended up invading the lounge area at the very back. Beware those funny dips in the floor! I'm glad I drained my radiator at work before the drive, especially after witnessing the cutthroat line for the bathroom. We were more than surprised to find a willing server to take our orders from our perch, and I gladly ordered a Sterkens White while Hyunoo and I perused the menu. We ended up splitting a 1/2 lb bacon cheddar burger with a side of tots, and an order of PBR battered chicken tenders. The former was proof of decent bar grub, hot and fresh to line our tummies. Ketchup never hurts when you're eating fairly tasty tots. The latter is best eaten with knife and fork to protect your mouth from the pockets of fry oil hiding between chicken and batter. BBQ sauce didn't really help much since it just tasted greasy instead of flavorful. Most people kept to their own groups. Music was a little sporadic, and the background hubbub from the carnivore crowd made it challenging to talk to multiple people simultaneously. I liked the beer selection, limited but nicely varied. Not really my scene. I'd come again but nothing about the place is hugely compelling for me.
(3)Clare D.
Awesome dive bar with fabulous beer and whiskey selections, and delicious food! Live music on weekends, friendly yet laid back waitstaff, the only dive bar I've seen kids in and not felt uncomfortable. Being in Silver Spring, you get all types of people that you wouldn't expect to see in a basement bar. Wings, tater tots, and burgers are DELISH. Also great draft beers, and all-in-all, not too pricey. I come here every time I'm in the neighborhood. Also, best bathroom graffiti I have ever seen, even after living in NYC for a year.
(5)Danilo A.
I have been to this place a couple of times in the past month since I went there with my friend for Burger Night (1/2 priced burgers) for the first time. For starters, let me just say how thankful I am that I went there with my friend instead of meeting him there. The Quarry House has no signs and is located in the basement of a building, down a set of stairs that made me question my friend's judgement even before I set foot inside. Once inside, I was happy to see that the restaurant was filled with plenty of customers (the majority of which are in their 20s and 30s) just having a great time and enjoying their drinks. The inside does feel like a dive bar, with wood paneling, low lights and the low ceiling. However, all these elements just add to the ambience that make this place so unique. I'll be honest, I didn't expect this atmosphere to be paired with excellent food. Maybe it was the sound of The Door's playing on the juke box, the vintage beer posters or the other dive bar elements, but, I couldn't have been more wrong about this place. When the waitress emerged, and set a very hot and delicious burger in front of me, all of my preconceptions about this place vanished. The burgers are made to order and you can choose from a couple different topping combinations. With burgers that taste this great, your Monday night dinner plans are a no brainer. In addition to the burgers, the Quarry House is also known for is expansive beer menu, which totals 8 pages and some interesting food items such as tater tots and fried pickles.
(4)Brodie W.
Huge fan of this place. Incredible beer selection and the bar food is great. Some of the best wings I have had in the entire area. I can eat things pretty hot too but their regular will crush!
(4)Johnny R.
This is one of my favorite hangouts. No attitudes. Miraculous spirits and beer selection! Saturday night Rockabilly is always a good time. When you go on a week night and get change for the amazing juke box, be kind and ask the server if they want to hear anything...get yourself a little good karma.
(5)Shristi S.
Quarry House deserves 4 stars for their amazing/extensive selection of beer and whiskey. I'm not giving it 5 stars because it had a funky smell when you first walk in (even for a dive bar). But fear not, you eventually get used to the smell and can go on to enjoy your evening :)
(4)Jennifer L.
I had a friend recommend this "Hole in the wall" to me while I visited DC. This is a wonderful place for beer and food. Do not be shy when you walk in. Find a seat ASAP, as they do not seat you and it is first come, first serve. If you need a menu, ask for them from surrounding tables. The only reason they get 4stars is because they forgot our beer until we were done eating. The food is delicious!
(4)Merida F.
Some people might consider this to be a dive bar but with the limited options in silver spring this place is a gem. They have a great on tap selection but the amount of different bottled beers is worth making the trip. My favorite is a raspberry favored ale... Awesome! The food is pretty good as well. Great place to come with friends to chill out. They also have live bands at times.
(5)Joseph K.
I've been to the QHT about 6-7 times and I'm going again tonight. I can't speak to the live music they have there as I've never stayed for it, but I do know it has an "indy" feel. Overall, it's a really great place and one of my favorites! PRO's Their vast whiskey list has to be one of the biggest around. There are always a handful of good drafts available and the bottled beer selection is very expansive. Good food (in order): 1. Chicken Wings -their sauces are one step hotter than most places so a medium here is a hot somewhere else -I think their bleu cheese dressing is homemad, and I personally think it is outstanding 2. Burgers are juicy, delicious, and a very good value. 3. Tater Tots are a change-up from normal french fries, a major hit and one of their most popular dishes. You can get sweet potato tots or regular tots with cheddar and bacon on top! 4. Fried Oreos are delicious, no matter how unhealthy they are. Interesting atmosphere: basically just a cluttered basement, but it works! QH is very close to the Silver Spring metro stop and a public parking garage. CON's: The entrance is hard to find so it's hard to give friends good directions. There is a nondescript QH hanging on the wall near the corner of Georiga and Bonifant. It's extremely popular, so if you don't get there at a good time, it can fill up quickly. The service is average. The servers are usually well-versed on the beers and whiskeys, but have often lacked charm.
(4)john s.
I read a lot of the reviews for this place before going...and after one trip I might have made my last visit. Anytime I see more than 6 people drinking Pabst Blue Ribbon, that is the first warning sign. Now if it's a bar that has something like 8 pages of beer, then I know it's a case of hipster douchebag infection. Add to it the crappy music that people kept playing on the jukebox (which at one point literally made a woman scream "make it stop! this music is horrible"), and you have a recipe for me to find somewhere else to drink. The one waitress that we talked to was cool as hell. Service was about as prompt as I would expect at a place with people standing around waiting for tables. My food was okay (black and blue burger), one of the guys with me couldn't finish his burger (bacon cheddar) because it was so greasy- it didn't even look like cheese on his burger, it was like a grayish orange cheddar sauce on it. If you are a douchebag that thinks it's cool to drink PBR in a bar that is so loud you almost have to yell conversations at your table, this might be the place for you. (this was on a Friday night)
(2)Shannon D.
I have a soft spot in my heart for this joint. I have had so many great times here, and have met many awesome friends, as well. They have an extensive beer list, great music, and very loyal patrons. My favorite thing to order foodwise is the mixed greens salad with blackened chicken and the BLUE CHEESE DRESSING. Seriously, best blue cheese I've had in my life. It's amazing. If you're not into salads, don't worry, it also tastes fabulous on their wings and burgers. I love my Quarry House people. FOR LIFE.
(5)Evan H.
After hearing a lot about this place, I decided to check it out. It was a Sunday afternoon, so the only people crowding the bar were DC United fans ready for the season opener. Enough about that though. The Bar is a dive, plain and simple. It has a bit of an odor, which is why I dropped this to 4/5 stars. The beer selection for a place like this is great. Some really nice IPAs on tap and great service. If you've ever been to London, this is a very similar feel to it. Dark, cool stuff on the wall and great beer. If You are looking for decent food for a dive place, they have that too. Great tator tots (i know, you aren't in 6th grade anymore) and a fantastic blackened chicken sandwhich made my afternoon. As far as cost goes. For 2 of us to have a round of beers and filled stomachs, we paid $27+tip. Not bad if you ask me. Don't expect the best meal you ever had, but if you want a nice beer, in a dark basement bar with good people, this is your bar. oh, an the music playing was Awesome.
(4)James R.
More different beers than you could every try, tater tots, and half price fantastic burgers on Monday nights. The place is a total dive bar, but it is exactly what a dive bar should be. Live music on Saturdays. Rockers and hipsters coexist with the occasional business persone here. Try the Pickle back!
(5)Chris A.
Great place for a post-work drink and pub food. Generous pours from the large whiskey and spirits menu. Go on Whiskey Wednesday. I like that they give you an advance look at what's coming up on tap. The food is good. Typical pub grub. The hot wings are hot! Consider yourself warned. Friendly staff.
(4)Jessica Y.
QHT is a tad hard to find since you need to turn around a corner and head down a flight of stairs. At first, my friend and I thought that we had to walk through Bombay Gaylord Indian Cuisine in order to get into QHT, but there are in fact stairs on the right side of the Indian restaurant. The place itself is a bit crowded - I was told that it was a speakeasy back during the prohibition era, which is why it is small and narrow. I'm not a huge fan of beer, so the happy hour specials on Friday did not really appeal to me. During happy hour, all beers on a specific list are $2-$3 off, I forget the exact amount. No food is happy-hour-priced on Fridays, I've been told that on different days of the week, they have half off burgers and other specials. One thing to remember when heading over here is that they do not split checks. They can only split a check 2 ways if you're paying by card, so make sure you bring some cash with you. I was told that there is an ATM across the street from QHT. The service was not exceptional, but the food made up for it. The tater tots were a little inconsistent in regards to the seasoning. The first batch my friends and I ordered, they were a little too salty, but the second batch of chili cheese tater tots were absolutely divine. They do pack food for you for takeout. I ordered a Blue Cheese, Jalapeno and Bacon burger to take home for my boyfriend. It came with a side of tater tots and was cooked to medium-rare perfection. The vegetables were fresh and the burger itself was very juicy. I definitely recommend their burgers here. Overall, this was not a bad place for a happy hour gathering. If you like beers, this is definitely the place for you. For anyone else, the burgers are great.
(3)Emily A.
My friends and I love this bar. In addition to their amazing selection (always at least five kinds of hard cider, my favorite) they have great food. We typically get fried pickles, hot wings, and deep-fried oreos a la mode.
(5)Debbie C.
smells like a bar--like wet, beer drenched wood. Once, a cockroach crawled across the table. It's very loud on their popular MOnday night half price burger days. it's a dive bar. go for the beer, go with a group of friends, don't for an intimacy as you're practically sitting on top of the stranger in the next table over. he servers are hit and miss. some are nice and others are snooty. one spilled beer down my jacket, my friends coach bag and my purse. the manager offered to take $20 off the bill but that was it. we tried to get him to pay for dry cleaning off my trench coat and he got pissy. total dick. on the positive side: DELICIOUS burgers. if you can overcome the smell, noise and roaches, the burgers are amazing. the tator tots are okay. the ranch dressing that comes along with it is packed with dill and chunky--actually a very delicious combination. oh god, the fried pickles are something else too... :) so long story short: it's a hipster juke box joint that serves a good burger. you have to decide if the burger is worth the rest. some people like the noise and the scene. I prefer to enjoy a burger without the hassle. three stars for the food, minus 2 stars for ambience...
(3)Kevin M.
I'm amused by the variation in reviews here, which seem to indicate vastly differing standards or criteria of evaluation. For me, what it comes down to is the the QH has friendly staff, a large beer selection, and a veggie burger and tater tots, all for a reasonable price. Given that it's a dive bar in a basement that serves food, I actually find it kind of remarkably non-disgusting. A totally comfortable place to drink with friends without paying out the nose. I think it's worth a Metro trip from elsewhere in the DC area or worth a walk from anywhere in a 1-2 mile radius. It's pretty much the best thing in downtown Silver Spring, possibly excepting Mandalay down the street (for food, anyway). Busy times: Monday half-price burger night, Saturday night rockabilly.
(4)Steve L.
Things our server said to our party last night: "I can't give you any more doubles" "OK, but this is your last single" "Sorry man, this is probably going to be your last one" Jarrett B's thoughts? "We come here all the time and we've never been cut off. Good work!" The tater tots really are that awesome, and those wings are really nuts. IE, if you order medium wings, you're basically getting habanero wings. It's going to be a while before I ring up another $400 bar tab here, but I'd definitely come to hang out with the great crowd.
(4)reid S.
It's hard to find, it's dark, it smells, anything resembling a crowd and the service takes a nose dive and I love it. Let's start with the food and get to the good stuff later: If you plan on eating here don't look in the kitchen. I imagine the only reason the health department hasn't shut them down is because they couldn't find the place either. The burgers are typically under cooked (ie, I prefer medium rare, here I ask for medium) go ahead be a stud and ask for medium rare if you want - you'll be eating a beef jelly donut. The tater tots are little chunks of fried gold! I suggest you dress them up a bit with Old Bay, cheese and bacon. We all know about Mondays being half price burgers but frankly I don't think saving the $4 is worth it, maybe I'm old and crowds scare me but I prefer going Tuesday-Thursday. The good stuff: The QH is more of a beer bar but they do have an excellent selection of whiskey and rye. The draft selection is good but limited. They rotate out beers so be sure to ask what's on tap. The bottled beer menu is fun to peruse and you can find some lesser known brews. I hope for the women's sake their bathroom is nicer than the guys (I wouldn't know I have never been invited). When first entering the bathroom you notice you have to walk up a few stairs, you get the distinct feeling of being Gene Wilder in the good Willy Wonka movie when he appears to grow larger as he walks into the room. And it's HOT, Jesus is it hot in the bathroom! I actually think I get a good ab workout trying to pee as fast as I can so I can get back to the bar. It may not be for everyone but you should check this place out, at least once.
(4)Amy R.
Loud and dirty. The echo was so bad in this basement dive that I had a splitting headache. Plus I had beg them to bring me the check. I could have walked out of there without paying actually, since they didn't seem to care much. Not worth the effort. Don't we deserve better than what cockroaches get for a cheap beer.
(2)Jennifer T.
First time visit and Loved the place,
(4)M J.
First of all, the rumors are true - this isn't really a dive bar at all. The only thing really divey about it is the location, which is a high-ceiling'd basement. Still, I'm not really a dive diva, so that's not a problem for me at all. The beer list is extensive, but best suited to people who already know their beers (people who think Stella is super fancy shit don't count). You will definitely be able to find something you love on this list, though, and the waitstaff are happy to go through it with you and answer any questions. The burgers are pretty much perfect. I recommend pepperjack & bbq sauce, but there are all sorts of combinations, both menu-recommended and choose-your-own-adventure style. They run you $7-9, depending on what kind of toppings you get. Also, do not pass up an opportunity to eat the bacon & cheese tots. This isn't that shitty nacho cheese that dives smother their fries with. This is real melted cheese, and it is very delicious. I'm coming back here as soon as I can.
(5)Neeraj M.
Epic burgers with a killer beer selection!! Best of all .. Tator Tots!!! Really?!? Gotta luv that!
(5)Ron M.
Overheard at the weekly Belgian Beer Drinkers Anonymous (BBDA) Meeting: Hello everyone, my name is Ron and I'm a Belgian beer addict. Sure, it started off slowly at first in college. Slipping a Koningshoeven here, a Tripel Karmeliet there, instead of the regular cheap watery crap that everyone else in college drinks. Pretty soon I was hooked, forgoing bud lite and natural ice completely, drinking every and any Belgian beer I could get my hands on: Dubbels, Tripels, Quaddrupels, Bruns, Lambics...I wanted them all and there was no stopping me. I even flew to Belgium and spent an entire week in a haze of amazing beer. I was out of control. But that was ages ago. Since then, I've cleaned up, gotten my act together; I'm a reformed man. Its been 18 weeks since my last Belgian beer. Ok... ummm.... alright you got me, I'm lying. It hasn't been 18 weeks since my last Belgian, more like 18 minutes. I had a relapse..it was a moment of weakness. I stopped at this unassuming bar near my house called the Quarry House Tavern. From the outside it doesn't look like much, its in a basement, I was expecting 2 maybe three different types of crappy domestic beer here. I thought I'd be safe. How was I supposed to know that this place would have a book (seriously, this thing is several pages long) of beer available. I open the book with trembling hands the first thing I see front and center is a listing of Belgian Trappist beers, I flip a few more pages in and now I'm faced with exotic beers I've never even heard of. Well I can try just one, who will know? 5 beers later, I'm the happiest I've been, the staff are friendly and very knowledgeable, recommending new beers for me to try based upon my previous selections. All that beer worked up an appetite so I ordered a dozen hot wings and 6 of the 4 alarm wings. The hot wings were tasty with a little bit of zing, but not quite the fire I was craving. The 4 alarm wings were serious fire! They were incredibly hot but you could still taste the hint of sweetness and complexity of the habanero. Everything was delicious! As I was washing down down my final beer I had a realization. Drinking Belgian Beer isn't a problem, and now, thanks to Quarry House, finding good Belgian Beer isn't a problem either. So why not just enjoy these tasty beers. I know I'll be back here again.
(5)Gregory A.
I like QH. They have a great selection of bottled beers (for Silver Spring at least), and decent food all at reasonable prices. I've been going here for over 2 years now, with no complaints. However, I had the worst customer service experience of my life there yesterday evening. Our waiter was very inattentive, making trips to and from the bar to one table at a time; he would walk by my table and others without even taking the 5 seconds to ask whether we needed anything. When the bill came, I asked to put half the cost on a card and use cash for the rest. When he returned with the check to sign, I discovered that the leftover change wasn't there. Granted, it was $0.19, but that's still my money and I think it's reasonable to expect that I should get my change back regardless of the amount. When I called the waiter back over and inquired as to the whereabouts of my change, he responded angrily and in a huff threw down a dollar saying "you really want your 19 cents back? Here man, just take this dollar. I don't really care." And as if this wasn't unprofessional and immature enough, he had the audacity to come back moments later and inform myself and my guests that in his 5 years of working there, he had never been asked for less than $0.25 back in change and that receiving less than that back wasn't something I should expect at Quarry House. I believe that as a patron of an establishment, I have the right to not only tip the way I choose, but to also not be STOLEN from by the wait staff simply because the amount was small. Stealing is stealing, plain and simple, and if Quarry House finds it acceptable to employ people who think it's reasonable to seal from customers, I will never return.
(2)Frank G.
I can forgive many things about a dive bar, but roaches scurrying across the table isn't one of them. Sorry, Quarry House, one visit was enough for me. Do you know who else has a great selection of Belgian beers? My local liquor store. My friends and I can enjoy these tasty beverages in the comfort of my home, and not have to contend with roaches trying to run off with our tater tots.
(1)Kat L.
Wow- a dive I don't hate. I bought apprx 6 vodka drinks, 2 burgers, and a beer or two, on a monday night and my tab was $45. Not too shabby. Also $5 will get you 18 songs on the juke box. DJ kitty in the hizzouse. They have awesome music ranging from the cure to ray charles. DO watch out for meth'd out creepers who infiltrate tight groups of people and try to rape DC's CM. Staff is really nice, and the food comes out hot and QUICK! Awesome burger.
(4)Mister B.
This bar, I must put forward, is the best bar I've been to in the DC/VA/MD area. If you're a fan of beer, they've got a mad selection, and it's a rarity to find a well good stout or lambic at a pub around this way. I've only found my seasonal flanders red ales here. The underground vibe, whisky bottles adorning the walls, and chill staff really make this my fav. My wife loves the food here, as well - she's had the deep fried oreos and chicken wings. I can tell that some people have issues with service, and I gather that maybe they're not accustomed to "dive" bar...stuff. Heh, if so, the "Irish" pub up the road may be better for you- polite but cack spot. If you've ever a chance, check out Q. House. Guarantee you can't legitimately be regretful with the visit.
(5)Ami C.
As far as drinks go, they are right on point. Their menu is like a curriculum. Actually, it's a Beericulum. As far as service goes, the previous poster who said that it leaves something to be desired hit the nail right on the head. I had a waiter last weekend who was slacking. By the time he got back to the table, "The kitchen is closed." "Well, yeah, that's because you took a whole human gestation period to get to the table..." was the only thought left on my mind. I'd recommend the Ace Pear and Strawberry Fruli. It's the kind of place where the girls who don't like beer end up finding a beer worth liking. Like the Leinenkugel Berry. With all of that said, they get four stars. I'm keeping a star because the service just isn't on 100.
(4)Maya C.
..to start, I have worked in the Silver Spring area for years and always wondered where that tiny door led to. I knew it was to a bar, but I always imagined it filled with an old crowd of not so pleasant regulars!.....but I was wrong!! I descended the stairs, opened the door and entered into this very friendly, age appropriate, dark bar with plenty of tables, 80s music, and great burgers! The place is old, and the bathroom is like stepping into Alice in Wonderland as you take a couple of steps to the toilet and your head is so close to the ceiling.You cannot help but to read the many funny inscriptions on the walls! We were a nice crowd, Gloria and Libby both greeted me at the door. Bumped onto Scott at the bar and in the back room we met with Juliana, 2nd Ben, Tony, Krissy, Kat, Nas, Hannah, Buki, Mic and the special appearance by our own CM Tara! We had a great time, 80s music in the background, delicious juicy burgers with tater tots. Nas and I went to the bar and some random guy treated us our first drink..we said thank you, then never saw him again. The downside is that we had to get up from our lovely area to order our food and drinks. My second drink was a Strawberry beer called Fruli, is Belgian.... I am not a beer drinker at all, the bartender gave me a sample and I was sold! Now I am obsessed looking for bottles...if you happen to know where they sell them...please send me a message! I found Fruli in Toronto, Canada...heard the Reef has it...help! It was awesome seeing Yelpers, and too bad that a weird guy at the end who he thought he could sit down and whisper on Tara's ear, but glad that nothing more happened! I will definitely come back for the burgers and the strawberry beer!
(3)Lam Ngan L.
I was searching for a new bar to go to around Silver Spring to celebrate my birthday, St. Patrick's day and I discovered this new gem on Yelp. This bar is located in downtown silver spring, walking distance from the movie theater garage. The bar is underground and the sign was not very visible so it is very easy to miss it. When you first walk in, the space is going to look VERY small. I thought I wasn't going to find any seats but it turned out there was another section if you keep walking straight in. You just help yourself to any table you find empty. The place looks VERY laid back and casual with tons of beer cases stacked against the wall. I was so impressed with their Beericulum Vitae. I felt like I was in beer heaven. Since there were so many choices, we asked the waitress to bring each of us a type that would be suitable to our taste. I loved all the different looks and flavors of the beers. Buffalo Wings????? The best I've ever had... It was so spicy which I absolutely loved. The meat was juicy yet the outside was crunchy. We killed 3 dozens wings that night. We also ordered chiken quesadilla and that was also a delight as well. I absolutely love this place.
(4)Tony P.
If your friend had a basement man-cave and he stocked it with quality beers, would you go hang out there? That's the question you should ask yourself when you decide to come here. Because that is exactly what this establishment represents. A cozy local spot that you and your friends can get together and throw back a pint or five without breaking the bank. The decor is nearly non-existent, but you didn't come here for that, did you? The food is typical fried bar fares and the service is sporadic but acceptable. The beer selection is eclectic and broad. Go nuts..
(3)Don K.
I'm a huge fan of dive bars and this is our current favorite. I like that you can get cheap PBR tall boys on some nights and a fancy beer when you feel like splurging. Their selection of beer is pretty impressive (and they usually have it in stock on most nights). I can't get a beer here without getting some awesome tater tots (I dare you NOT to order them). Our favorite food is currently ordering a grilled cheese sandwich with tomato and bacon. You're welcome.
(5)Mark M.
The 4 alarm wings are probably the hottest wings I have ever eaten. They are absurdly hot. To the point where they should probably get you to sign a legal waiver before serving them to you.
(4)Beth B.
The Quarry House Tavern is not actually a dive bar. Nor is it particularly inexpensive. The burgers are tasty, but overpriced once dressed. The beer list is extensive, if only mildly informative, but it is virtually impossible to waltz in and simply buy, like, a 12 oz beer for $5 or less - which is fine unless you're claiming to be a dive bar. My real issue with the Quarry House, then, is the affect. Well that, and the fried pickles are bizarre: they fry whole spears, big, fat spears that retain the heat of having been fried. Indeed, pickles would apparently make for excellent insulation, because those spears stay uber hot for as long as you care to attempt to wait them out. In short, for a dive bar with a single "$," this place is overpriced and incredibly pretentious.
(2)Francesca R.
It's definitely a DIVE, and I love that! Thirteen or so steps underground, and no sign. From the outside you'd never know anything was down there. The bar itself is loaded with atmosphere. Once you're through the front door you'll see the wood bar along with the typical assortment of spirits, and a few tables along the wall. It looks small, but walk to the back and you find another long room with tables and an area where live bands sometimes play. The walls of the back area are lined with wood benches, behind which is dark wood panel with a slight shelf upon which sit boxes, canisters and bottles that once held fine scotches. The "grub" menu is only three pages and no hoity toity fancy shmancy stuff, just good burgers and a few other things. They do have dessert, your choice of fried doublestuff Oreos a la mode, or a Guinness float. However, the BEER menu is the real star here! Dubbed their "beericulum vitae", it is EIGHT PAGES of beers, barley wines, and ciders. Beers hail from Belgium, Scotland, herbed beer, and even gluten free beer. Guy, you gotta' see this place. Quarry House has been a well-known local favorite for over 70 years. I've personally been a fan for the last ten of those years. Definitely recommend!
(4)Dan W.
Can't say much that others haven't said; its a dive bar, but isn't too dirty & without good beer. Instead, they have: +a great whiskey selection (whiskey Wednesdays = 20% off) +a large & delicious beer selection via their "beericulum vitae" +delicious versions of standard bar food at a good price. Very enthused about the $5 BLT that came with some near perfect tater-tots -Unfortunately close at midnight on weeknights, but that's understandable since there's not really much reason to be in this area late night anyways. Definitely coming back.
(4)Kelly J.
OMG, why have I never heard of this place before!! After a day of bowling with friends, one mentioned getting burgers and this place came up. I was so skeptical at first. There were no signs for this restaurant and our friend led us down a set of sketchy dirty stairs to what I thought was going to be our doom. This place looks like hell. Boy was I mistaken at how awesome the food and service was at this place. Clearly this restaurant is by word of mouth and boy does it get swamped in there. The selections of beverages are never ending, I've never seen such a selection list. There is something for everyone at this place.The prices are reasonable and the staff was more the friendly even as packed as it was. I am making a vow that this place is my now go to burger joint!!
(5)Elizabeth R.
This is the neighborhood bar you wish for and dream about--amazing tap list, delicious burgers, dark corners to just hang out and socialize. The burgers are amazing, especially on Monday nights during half-priced burger night. Happy hour is also great, I think it's around $3 or $4 a draft usually. Overall,just a great neighborhood hole in the wall for great beer and great burgers.
(5)Geo N.
it's my basement before I renovated it - but worse! It smells, the bathroom is horrid. The beer and whiskey selections tho are AMAZING! The food is fried - it's not a healthy place, but the people and vibe make it a place to chill and hang out.
(4)Eduardo L.
I wrote this email to Jackie, the owner of Quarry House Tavern. It of course went unanswered and pretty much sums up my feelings toward QHT. "Dear Jackie, I write this email with mixed feelings. I am an avid supporter of locally owned businesses, especially those that use their business model to foster a network of local farmers and breweries. As such, I am naturally drawn to your fine establishments. However, I have tried over several visits to truly enjoy and take in the amazing food and the wide range of beer selection at Quarry House Tavern. It shocks me that your other three establishments, Jackies, SideBar and El Chucho, have always over exceeded my expectations with service and friendliness but yet Quarry House Tavern underperforms on a consistent basis. For example, on Monday August 13, my girlfriend and I went to try out and "give QHT another chance" but sat waiting for 10 minutes and decided to get our own menus because no waiter had come. We waited ANOTHER 10 minutes without anyone having stopped to bring us at least water or greet us. We decided to leave and eat at Paccis down the street. This is not a abnormal event when I have had a chance to go to QHT, and by seeing the dismay of other patrons who were waiting, like us, for basic service I know I am not alone. Now I know some say that if you don't like QHT then just not come back, as I have been told after asking a bartender where the service was, but I truly do love the atmosphere and the food at your bar. Must we sacrifice quality service for the "hipster" feel? As a businesswoman I know what your answer is. Your other establishments do not sacrifice that service for a cool factor. Quite the opposite is true, since they excel. Like I stated, I want to like QHT, but I am afraid you likely will lose me as a patron because in my eyes the sacrifice of good service has been had. It has not been an isolated incident as I have gone several times and experienced the same pattern, save once. I wish you well because I want you to succeed as an entrepreneur and as someone who is changing the culinary scene in Silver Spring, so I hope you take this email not as a complaint but as a positive way of keeping customers. Thank you for reading my email and hearing me out. I look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely, Eduardo"
(1)Krissi H.
I've only been to Quarry House on burger night. I really can't pass up $4 burgers - especially $4 burgers that don't suck! Bacon, ranch and cheddar piled on a patty of beef? Yes please! You can pick from a number of toppings, but you really can't go wrong with bacon, ranch and cheddar. Also, the tater tots are delicious. There's nothing particularly special about QH's tater tots. They're just good tots. And, I've been known to wonder aloud why we all stopped eating tater tots when we grew up. Seriously. Tater tots should be a food one can eat at any age. The service at QH is hit or miss. Especially on Mondays. The place is severely understaffed. I think there might be two servers and two bartenders for the entire bar. And on Mondays, the place is packed. People line the walls waiting for a table to open up. Be prepared to wait or have to walk to the bar to order (depending on where you sit). The beer menu is quite respectable for a place this dive-y. Yes, it's a dive bar. Dark, dingy, somewhat questionable - everything a good dive bar should be. And this one has the added bonus of good beer. Lots of Belgians. Some of the beers are a bit pricey (like said Belgians), but it's nice to have so many options. When you're in the mood for a yummy burger and good beer selection - and it's a Monday night - you really can't beat Quarry House.
(3)Russ M.
Really? I failed to see the attraction for non beer drinkers. Beers are their thing. Food was fine but prepare to use the bathroom with the door open and don't expect awards for cleanliness. Grubby best describes this place.
(1)Ronnie C.
What do you get when you combine your average "hipster" bar (The Raven, Red Derby, Wonderland Ballroom, et. al.) with Brickskellers and then inexplicably move your bastard hybrid to the suburbs? Obviously, you get The Quarry House Tavern, and an enjoyable night. Let the comparison to Brickskellers continue. The beer menu here is extensive, but unlike Bricskellers, I didn't have to ask for three or four things before I found something they actually had in stock. I also prefer the way they've arraigned it. At Brickskeller, the beer is categorized by country, which is fine, if you know exactly what you want. The beer menu at Quarry House, on the other hand is organized by type of beer (Pumpkin beer, Pilsner, Lager, Ale, IPA, etc.). I found this much more helpful, since you can choose your beer based on color. I ordered a Pumpkin beer from NY and it was like drinking a 6% alcohol pie. The food here is also amazing. I got a half-price burger (Mondays!) with bacon and 1000 Island dressing on it. Fried Pickles also came into play and were delicious. As others have pointed out, the Blue Cheese dressing could be a meal all in itself. Its chukiness could drive a lesser man insane. Beware, if you're not an experienced cheeseologist. The space was ample and dark, as I prefer it. Our waitress was attentive, but mocked us for coming from the Pirate Bar across the street. Oh, I'm sorry we went to the wrong suburban bar first, Ms. Waitress, but were you going to paint a whale and a giant squid, respectively, on me and my girlfriend's faces? I doubt it. I wish this bar were in DC. As it is in the Maryland suburbs, the clientele cannot accurately be called "Hipsters" because hipsters do not live in suburbs. It's like a vampire living on the beach or a chicken living in a conch shell. It's impossible. Find yourself in Silver Spring? Look for the basement bar with the paper sign. I hope to return someday, if I can get someone to drive us there.
(4)Sean H.
I wanted to give this place 4 stars at first but the reason was something purely outside of the bars control. I give it 5 because the place is awesome and I can't hold its limited capacity against it, because if it was any different, it wouldn't be QH. It's small and it gets full. that's good, it will stay in business. If you love beer, basements, and a jukebox that your daddy probably rocked out to then awesome, stop in. It gets packed full, and often. Weekdays before the usual bar rush is the best time to hit this place up. Vegans: My pretentious vegan friend likes their vegan options.
(5)Deadline S.
Great place. Great beer. Great Juke. Great staff. The tots and old bay kick ass; and I don't mean toddlers. If you don't like dark dives, good music, and great beer stay away. Please stay away. If you own a Lady Gaga song, please stay away.
(4)Leann P.
This place is awesome. I had never heard of it before, but my friend wanted to go there, she said you really won't be able to find it unless you have been there, she was right. The place is literally underground, it's a dive bar. There was only 3 of us that went, and we were lucky enough to have a group of people tell us that we can have their table. A band was playing, it was mostly a cover band with a blues/ jazz twist. They were really good. I think there was about 5-6 pages of beer as well as 6 pages of whiskey/bourbon on their menu. I don't do beer, but I saw this cider and decided to try it, I am so glad I did. It was called Ace Pear Cider. It was really good and sweet, they served it so cold, which is the only way I can drink anything. I am getting some next time I go to the liquor store. We shared a basket of their awesome tater tots, with the Old Bay. They were also so good! I probably could have had an entire basket myself. I also ordered the hummus and pita plate, they gave me so much pita! That never happens!! Awesome. I am definitely going back.
(4)Meredith P.
Listen up. I just moved from Los Angeles to Silver Spring, and let's face it - I was kind of bored. I spent about two full months living here before being introduced to this....paradise. It is perfect - QH totally reminds me of my home on LA's east side and they have an amazing beer selection (including $2 miller high life ponies). The atmosphere is comfortable, even when packed. You get the feeling you're in your own basement and the jukebox has the most amazing collection of albums... it's like they're spinning your own iPod, or what you wish was your iPod. The crowd is great - laid back, creative, and respectful. I've lived here for 5 months, and I don't understand... I don't see these people anywhere else in Silver Spring... but I guess nighttime is the right time. The food. The food is so good! The burgers are juicy and perfectly cooked to order and here's the kicker: tator tots are their famous side dish, and it's beautiful. They also serve fried pickles, which I've found to be kind of a dying breed. Not the best I've ever had, but the fact that they tried goes a long way for me. Great beer battered chicken tenders, too. Please patronize this place! They deserve it!
(5)Kristen H.
Five stars, for being exactly what it means to be: Quarry is a dark, stale dive bar located underground with the only entrance at the bottom of a gloomy, semi-hidden staircase- and I love it for that! This place has been around so long that I have had friends tell me their parents used to go their when they were dating, and the decor stands to prove it. Dark wood paneling, concrete floors, low ceilings, wooden tables, chairs and benches, and a jukebox full of good (and a little not-so-good) music fill the place. Good for a relaxed weeknight hangout or a busy weekend night without going into the city, it's a great place to meet people or being friends. The beer selection is awesome, full of varieties for every beer drinker, and they'll usually have something good on tap too. The whiskey selection isn great too, but other liquors will only have an option or two. Service is not always great (read: table service is DAMN slow) so I often choose to start a tab at the bar and wander around since you'll always find cool people and usually run into someone you know on a weekend. Food is run-of-the-mill bar picks, burgers, wings and tater tots, with amazing fried pickles being my highlight of the night every time!
(5)Brook B.
Great drink selection, good service, knowledgeable staff, much better food than expected. If you a looking for great beer and good pub food this is the place to go. The Quarry House is located under an Indian restaurant and is only open in the evenings. In order to get in, you have to go on a side street and down a poorly marked set of stairs that look like they lead to a basement. So keep that in mind when planning your outing. But if you are looking to go out and have a few drinks with some already close friends, this is the place. The majority of their menu is dedicated to the expansive beer and whiskey selection, I have been about 20 times and still have not put a dent in the list. So far i have had the half smoke, burger, bacon and cheese tater tots, quesadilla and they were all very good. the wings are especially good but be careful. The atomic wings are the hottest I have ever encountered by a wide margin.
(4)Natalie F.
Can't believe I have been living in Silver Spring for 4 years and am just now discovering this hidden little gem! Have been here a few times for drinks and once for dinner and every time I have been delighted by the service and quality of the food and drinks. They have an enormous selection of different beers to choose from as well as Whiskeys galore! They also have a wide variety of burgers to choose from as well as a really delicious veggie burger and the tator tots are not to be missed! It's definitely your typical dark dive bar atmosphere with a super friendly crowd where you feel right at home. It looks way smaller when you are sitting at the bar but just around the corner is a much bigger room with lots of seating and a "makeshift" stage for when they have live music. They also have a Jukebox filled with an incredible music selection. The bathrooms are kind of hilarious. Looks like it was designed for Bilbo Baggins with the exception of all the profanity written on the walls. All in all, hands down the BEST bar in Silver Spring!
(5)John D.
What a tavern! Belgian beer galore, amazing burgers, and hidden away enough to feel like you've made a special secret discovery. In short, STAY AWAY!! This is my dive!
(5)Jules J.
There are many things I dislike about The Quarry House but I have to keep coming back because.. well.. it's the one and only Quarry House!! Service is hit or miss. I have had some of the WORST service here but on a few occasions (literally only 5 times) I have had exceptionally good servers who are friendly, quick, and most importantly know their beer. Do not expect good service here. I recommend you order drinks 2 at a time if they're busy since it'll be hard to get your server's attention. The drink selection is awesome. It is always changing and there's always something new to try. They offer something for every budget. The food is usually good. Burgers are half price on Mondays. The tots are absolutely delectable. I always order honey BBQ wings. The past couple times that I have ordered wings the sauce has been inconsistent. Too sweet, too hot.. always good but it's annoying it's not the same each time. The worst tragedy occurred during Snowmageddon - I trekked through a couple feet of snow only to find they were SOLD OUT of wings!! It was really devastating, but I forgave them. I have been fortunate not to spot any rodents or bugs here, but many people do. And another warning - if you come here when it's rainy the moldy smell is worse.
(3)Matthew H.
Dive bar alert. Seriously though, this place is a dive. It is dark, everything is kind of dirty, its a big hipster doofus hang out. Lots of plaid, skinny jeans, and buddy holly glasses in the place. Interesting place though. We sat at a table that the bartenders covered so we had good service until the bar got busy, then no one came to talk to us. We had to go order at the bar like everyone else. The beer selection was decent, and the menu was broken up into style rather than region like most beer bars. I spent the majority of the night trying to decide if this was a good thing or not. I'm still conflicted. There were a fair number of beers available with a healthy mixture of European and American craft. They were not above serving crap like Bud, but I guess it's a bar. They also had a full liquor bar. We both ordered hamburgers because it was half off (if it wasn't half off with some of the outrageous prices they charge for SOME of the beers, this place would have gotten $$$). The burgers were good, and at half off quite a bargain. Beers were served in appropriate-ish glassware and I have no real complaints. I regret that I have not found my DC area beer bar yet, but I'll keep looking. This place is worth a look if you like beer, darkness, and low ceilings.
(3)Carson H.
"HOORAY BEER!" Seriously the best place in Silver Spring to grab a beer with a friend that has a refined palette . with half price burger night this place can't be beat. Tends to be WAY too crowded, but I really like the feeling of being in a cave with Beer and burgers... Great place to chill with the fellas or to just talk for hours.
(4)Koko O.
This bar was not for me--I have to say that first. I think I hated almost everything about this place, however, I'm willing to accept that it's not really tailored for my tastes and thus, it serves it's purpose for its usual clientele. I came here under recommendation after dinner from a nearby spot. I was advised that they have an "extensive" beer list. First notes when you enter--dark, dank basement. Okay, not the worst thing. As we perused the the "extensive" beer list, a roach was spotted inching its way across the bar and towards and unsuspecting patron. Okay--charm? I was with a beer enthusiast and his top 2-3 requests could not be met (the bartender explained that the manager was out of town and so the bar was not fully stocked). Fine, whatever. There were plenty of places to sit, and it appeared to be a place where most people kept to themselves or stuck with the people they came with, which is fine. At one point I had a "what the hell is that smell?" moment. It was the food. So yeah, minus two stars because the food didn't appear to be that awesome, but I think if I lived in the area I would frequent this place regularly for afterwork beers.
(3)Stacey G.
YOU CAN EAT THE BLUE CHEESE DRESSING WITH A FORK! It is THAT good! My best friend found out about this from her job and took me and some of her other friends. Armed with a blackberry currant Stella Artois, quarters for the jukebox, and napkins for the chicken wings, I eagerly found a new favorite place. The burgers are always cooked precisely to order and the tots and even the potato chips are fresh and hot. The waitresses are very hip, but not jerks, and they have live music a lot of the times. It is a hole, but a homey one, and the clientele is always a lot of fun. The prices are great too! 5 stars all the way!
(5)Paul T.
The best burgers in Silver Spring, and maybe in Maryland. It's a dive, but the burgers and tots are matched only by the extremely extensive beer and whiskey lists.
(5)Dean J.
Burgers, beers, and tater tots, in a basement bar. They dont serve liquor; only beer. The burgers are good. The beers are good. Tots are impossible to screw up, but a rarity that I love quite a bit more than fries. Everything is moderately priced; not cheap, but certainly not expensive. Probably the best bar in Silver Spring, hands down.
(4)Beth K.
This isn't a dive bar like other dive bars. It is a decent bar that wants to be a dive bar. This isn't a bad thing, but other than the dark nature of the room, its pretty trendy. Its popular with the young crowd so don't expect to find a very wide chunk of humanity here. Food: They do fried stuff really well. The tater tots, of course, but they also have fried pickles and they were just epic. I can't remember what else we got, it was simply overshadowed by the fried pickles. Drink: The have a really extensive whiskey selection so if you like that kind of thing (which I do) and want to try out a bunch of different types its a good choice. Music: The live bands are nice, but so is the juke box, and its never so loud that you can't carry on a conversation.
(4)Bro H.
I like this place. I'll probably never come here again because it's in Silver Spring, but I can only imagine that the fact that it IS in Silver Spring makes it that much more valuable for people stuck living in Silver Spring. The burgers (which I got for a ridiculously cheap half price because it was Monday) are great, the beer list is good, the music is pretty good (discouraged dancing/bubbly people), and the atmosphere is divey without being overly dirty. There were really only three downsides. Expected downside: We received pretty bad service all night. Unexpected downside: We drove all the way out to Silver Spring and hung out in a basement and still paid DC beer prices. Downside that doesn't matter all that much: Tater tots are simply not an acceptable fry alternative. All in all, though, the great burgers and atmosphere make this place a winner. If I lived near the Qdoba/Panera/Macaroni Grill/Red Lobster hellhole that this bar is located in, I would guard the place with my life.
(5)Ari R.
A dive bar (in every sense of the word) and silver spring institution. Down a sketchy flight of stairs below Bombay Gaylord, it's dark and usually crowded. Giant selection of beers and typical pub food. Monday night is 1/2 price burger night. Crowd is generally college age to post-college young adults Also known for it's whiskey
(3)Tiffany M.
So so so happy we found this hidden little place! It's a great little dive bar and certainly the best in the area! They've got a huge selection of drinks and it's one of the most reasonable places I've been to in the D.C area. It's literally in the basement of the building it's in- you've got to go down these narrow dingy looking stairs, with low creepy lighting and you'll probably think you're lost or making a terrible decision to come here- but rest assured, you'll be pleasantly surprised =) If it hadn't been for all the great Yelp reviews we would have never even known the place existed. If you live (or work) in the area you should definitely give this one a try.
(5)Beth L.
I'm glad Yelp has a "dive bar" category cuz, dats what this place is! And mang...the beers! Menu o' beer, with emphasis on Belgian and German. So many Belgian beers...by the end of the night I was drinking red wine (WEAK!) cuz I was actually beer-ed out. Their burgers were deeelish - the perfect sustenance for many hours of imbibing...and tots. Tots with bacon and cheese. OMFG OINK. Oh and fried pickles. Double oink. Those didn't do much for me though, flavor-wise. I don't really think pickles should be deep fried. The tots on the other hand. This place would be my weakness if I lived in my best friend's hood. We enjoyed the jukebox and atmosphere, too (if you can call it that....dark and sorta underground and a bit stanky). Can't wait to come back!
(5)Monica T.
Great place to go with friends. Plentiful beer and extensive whiskey selections. The tator tots are nice and crispy with the old bay seasoning. Everyone I was with enjoyed their burgers.
(4)Shelley J.
Pros The food was pretty good. I had the famous tator tots and the Tuesday Taco Special. Food is super cheap here. Cons While the food was good I didn't appreciate the uncomfortable chairs, having to get my own water (which was luke warm out of a cruddy Gatorade cooler), and crummy margarita (store bought mix). It's also just stupid to not have one sign up outside letting people know where you are. I guess when I go out to eat I want it to be fun and enjoyable and this was not.
(2)Amanda V.
Go. You will love it if you are into dive bars with great music, whiskey, burbon, and beer selection. Like you've never seen. Its not a fancy mixed drink place though so if you want a fancy martini, go to DC.
(5)Sara J.
Awesome burgers, very fun vibe. Always crowded, but easy to snatch a table if you wait.
(5)John T.
I've been going there for over thirty years. I'm glad they didn't change the look of the place with the passage of time and change of ownership (yes... it's a dive, but it's my dive). My ONLY complaint is that they changed, and severely limited, the menu. Quarry House was known for its chil, Rasputins and Attilas... but alas - no more. Maybe they'll come back? I'll never forget the time I got a table by the window (at ground level with the entrance steps) on a bitter cold night. A mouse approached the window from the other side, pressed his little paws against the glass and stared in envy as I ate....
(3)Adam Z.
The service is sometimes horrible and sometimes there's not enough light too see, but we love Quarry House. There's a good selection of beer, many on tap. And the homemade chips with dill dip is yummie. And the burgers come with tater tots. What more could you want. For a place with no sign thats in the basement of an Indian restaurant what else do you want.
(4)Thoreau B.
For my wedding, I got a $100 gift certificate to this place, if that tells you anything. It is awesome. HUGE beer list. Amazing burgers and tots (plus they are half price on mondays). And the best dive feeling you will ever find. It is in a basement under the bombay gaylord indian restaraunt (which is always empty) but it is always hopping. Its sign fell down a few months ago, and they just haven;t gotten around to putting it back up yet-not that they need it-they get all the business they need from their regulars who know where it is. A total hole, but that is what I want out of a bar. Love it.
(5)Beth K.
The essential info... awesome beer selection, relaxed atmosphere, live music. I went to the Quarry House about 9 months ago for a friend's birthday and I'm kind of amazed that I haven't found a reason to go back out there. I will need to do so soon because I suspect that I might give it five stars upon returning but I just can't give out a five star rating from one visit. It has a huge beer list that includes lots of American craft beers, like Rogue, Dogfish Head, Flying Dog, Troegs and more, plus almost as many Belgian beers and a smattering of brews from other countries. If I recall correctly, there was also a large selection of whiskey. The atmosphere the night we were there was definitely thrown off by a 10-year high school reunion wrapping up as we arrived but it was easy to see that on a typical night, it would be pretty relaxed and somewhat divey. There was a rockabilly band playing that was pretty good and I think they have live music pretty regularly. Definitely need to make it back soon!
(4)Jennifer A.
My boyfriend and I decided to try QHT on a random Saturday night because of all of the great reviews on Yelp. This is a great bar. I would definitely recommend anyone living in the general area to give it a go. We had juicy burgers, crispy tater tots, and beer. Yum!
(4)Clifton B.
This is my all-time favorite bar in the neighborhood. Almost 200 different kinds of beers with a constantly rotating selection of drafts of many different styles. The hamburgers here are awesome, and so are the tots and the handmade chips. It can be hard to get a seat during peak hours, and there is a bit of a hipster crowd, but it's still my favorite place to get a drink. Half-price burgers Tuesday nights and trivia Sunday nights. I would avoid Saturdays after 830 since they do have live music and the place is very small, so its going to get very loud.
(5)Diana C.
I've come around on the tater tots. Go for the Old Bay ones. Mmmmm. Half-price burger night also gets me in there very frequently. Skip the beer-battered chicken strips. Too much gooey batter with bleh chicken meat.
(5)Matthew C.
Definitely a dive bar, down to the generations of defunct ducts and pipes jutting from the walls and ceiling, and the cardboard on the floor whenever it's wet out. I stopped in for beer and food last Monday during the snowpocalypse. Good to see they were open, when most places weren't. They were doing their best with a packed house, and I should say also that the clientele (can I use that word for this place?) was in a good mood - well-behaved and even polite. It was a free-for-all with seating, meaning no help from the overworked waitstaff, but that was understandable. We actually had a group of strangers offer us the open seats at the end of their table, just before one opened up for us. But maybe that was just because my wife is cute. Anyway, they were on rations, so only burgers and tots, but both were fresh and tasty. Tots were nice and crunchy, burgers big and medium-messy. The beer selection, always good, was not reduced due to the storm and so we enjoyed some nice high-alcohol European brews to warm us up before heading out into the cold. I've been before last week, of course, and so I can say that 3 stars is really about 3.5 - it could be cleaner, better organized, and just notched up a tiny bit given the prices. But it's a decent place to hang out, there's music (live and an actual jukebox), and the food is good for what ails ya.
(3)Rebecca K.
Love, love, love this place. Best beer AND whiskey selection in the DC area! On the weekends it can get packed so get there early for a seat.
(5)Vixies V.
Go to this bar if: you appreciate beer, like the idea of having a huge selection of beers Don't go to this bar if: you're not a beer drinker Go to this bar if: you're looking for a good jukebox and the company of people who aren't looking for your company (this is no Front Page, so If you're looking for a phone number, get outta here) Don't go here if: The word "dive bar" invokes fears of hipsters and perhaps, pools Go here if: You are not in a wheelchair, you don't mind B.O., and you just want to have a good time! I absolutely love the Quarry House. It's one of a kind, and a good place to go when you just want to hang out. Don't feel daunted by the low light and vast drink selection - rather, you should just dive right in.
(5)Annie D.
This place is always busy yet we always score 2 seats at the bar. The food is perfect dive bar beer drinkin' fare and the beer list is awesome. This place is easy to miss, look for a small group of buzzed smokers who don't looked like they came out to enjoy fine Indian dining at Bombay Gaylord.
(5)Adrian S.
I hate Silver Spring. I really do. Maybe if I lived there I would feel different. But I live in College Park and the trek to Silver Spring makes me cry a little every time. One of the few reasons I'll go is to go here. Good beer selection. Cool juke box. Awesome food. Service is slow, so they lose a star. I've been there for their Saturday night rockabilly show once. It was cool. Dude, give me your tots.
(4)Zachary H.
I am definitely a fan of Quarry House. Like others, I love their drink selection (more than one hundred whiskeys and a very respectable beer menu), love the divy atmosphere, enjoy the crowd and am so happy that Silver Spring has a place like this. Also - though I have never experienced it, I hear their Burger Mondays (half off all hamburgers) is extremely popular. I will point out that on my last visit -- a Saturday night -- we had terrible service. To be fair, our waitress, a twenties woman with a tattoo on her lower back, seemed swamped. I did not feel, however, that that justified her pushiness and neglecting our table. I LOVE Quarry House, and have a special place in my heart for good dive bars, but I also appreciate service. Hopefully, we'll have a better experience next time.
(4)Shine S.
Fried everything... I love fried foods.. Thankfully I don't weight 100000 pounds or relatively overweight. But, it's great. Fries were good Fried Pickle - first time, and will not be my last Hamburger was good Wings were mediocre Parking is street parking but you can probably find a local business lot which may not tow. But it's located under the Bombay Gaylord Restaurant.. in a lil stairwell going downstairs. Try it out! But, I would recommend to go again, great hang out spot.
(4)Dylan H.
Sublime! First off they hand you not a beer list.. But a book! The selection is crazy! Properly poured pints, dark wood, low lighting, and some of the best atmosphere you'll find in the area. I've been searching for a place like this for an exasperating long time like an squirrel dodging in and out of traffic making it across to the other side my heart is at ease!
(4)Kevin P.
They have tater tots and their menu has a "Beericulum Vitae." In other words, Quarry House is great. It is a tiny bit difficult to find, but not really... It's just downstairs and there is a sign out front. I guess Quarry House qualifies as a Dive, for lack of a better term. The only problem is that it is way cooler than the vast majority of dive bars out there. It's not dirty, smelly, fratty or emo-ey. It's just fun. You'll know the music on the jukebox (yes, there's a legit jukebox) but you probably won't hate it because it's not shit. The bartenders and waitstaff are generally pretty great. The only problem for us DC crowd is that it is in Silver Spring. Good news is that it is completely walkable from the SS Metro stop - max 5 minutes. And not through any weird areas. Definitely check it out. It's a fun and relaxing bar. It gets busy on friday/saturday nights at 10-11ish though, so be prepared.
(4)Jimmy O.
A great bar but hard to find. Currently, there is no sign. You need to look for the Bombay Gaylord Indian restaurant, then look for the stairs on the side of the building that go into the basement. In the stairway there is a flag that says "QH", but that's it. As difficult as it is to locate, they are almost always crowded. For beer, I don't think any other place in Montgomery County can beat them. They always have at least Hoegaarden and Guiness on tap, and they usually have about four more, but they are different every time. In addition to the draft beers, they have an enormous selection of bottled beer, from stouts to lagers, to Belgian wheats. Their selection of whiskey is large enough to warrant their own menu. Their food can satisfy everyone looking for greasy bar food, or even those looking for healthier options like the hummus platter or Boca burger. The bar attracts a wide range of clientele: gay, straight, black, white, emo, punk, and even families around dinner time.
(5)Greg L.
Terrible place, worst service I have ever had. We left after 30 mins without even putting a drink or food order in. It was a joke.
(1)Paul M.
So last night, my neighbor , buddy and, sadly, Steeler fan, calls me up and says "Hey - the Steelers are on TV tonite - wanna go to a bar and watch them?" "Sure - where do you wanna go - usual Ri Ra in Bethesda or something different?" " let me try to find something different" so 5 minutes later he calls me back and says: " you will never believe this - S. told me there is a Steelers Sports bar in Silver Spring - a madhouse of Steeler fans - it's gonna be great - let's go." He agreed to drive so i am in like Flynn. We are going to the Quarry House. My Steeler-loving friend had been given misinformation by a Redksins fan. Quarry ain't a Steelers bar. Quarry ain't even a sports bar - " yeah - sure we show football - we put the TV onto football during every Superbowl" said the barman. It is one fantastic freaking bar nonetheless. One star for having a staircase that you go down into the windowless basement to drink there. One star for being absolutely jam packed with locals on a Thursday night. One star for not having the TV on, but having people who actually talk loudly to one another about important subjects. One star for an outrageous selection of beers. One star for having the bar about 3 feet from the door as you walk in. a fantastic five star bar,
(5)Aaron A.
I can't get enough of this place. Sure, you're sipping world class micro brews/imports in what amounts to your neighbor's basement man cave, BUT - I wouldn't have it any other way. The beer and whiskey selection is top notch - reasonably priced for the interesting stuff you never knew existed. The food is solid and I have more than a few favorites here. Burgers (cooked to order - do yourself a favor and don't get them well done) are as good as they come. I've been verbally dueling with coworkers about the best burger in the DC area and I always come back to the Quarry House. The wings are great, but a word of warning - the heat level runs higher than other restaurants. Not a criticism, just a warning. Tots and homemade chips are delicious. Parking can be a hassle - there are a number of county lots within walking distance. Do not park in the Capital One lot across Bonifant Street from the corner, they will tow you. I'm pretty sure most of the meters/lots stop charging after 7pm or 8pm so later nighters should be OK.
(4)Travis D.
I was excited to try Quarry House out as my local friend really likes the food. Unfortunately my first time there we cleaned off our own table and then proceeded to have what I unusually experience only as "discriminate service". Receiving our orders incorrectly from one waiter in particular who seemed downright rude a homophobic who also told my friend "no" he wouldn't get him another drink (coca cola). We had to switch waiters to get the rest of our order because it never came out. We waited 20 minutes after our cards were taken and had to go up and ask for them back. I left with extremely forgettable food but I did like their deep fried pickles. Now, I wouldn't have taken the time to write a negative review and would have just forgotten about that place had I not went or more time in hopes of less than homophobic and rude service and possibly show some, how cheesy, street cred with my NYC type a personality and more tattoos than everyone in their combined. Maybe that would get me service? Maybe I wouldn't be a leper in a sea of lepers? No. Sat down. Water damage. No service. No signage. Not a single helpful person. Again, I want to like this hole in the wall and add to my list of places I enjoy while I travel but even if I let it IT would not let me.
(1)Travis M.
Good burger (best I've found in silver spring, but that's not saying much) and an extensive beer selection. The only real complaint with this place is the service (and the hipster clientele, but that's a different rant). After finishing eating and drinking we didn't see our server for about 20 min. After we asked for the check, she disappeared again. We finally gave up and left cash on the table with no check in sight. This place would be great if the service were better, or if you had no other place to go in the foreseeable future.
(3)T S.
A so-so tap, but good bottle selection makes this an out-of-the-way local spot worth searching out. Great divey atmosphere with lots of locals. Live music on the weekends. Food is better than your average bar fare - make sure to try the tater tots with their dill ranch dressing.
(3)Stephen L.
I love a good dive bar. This place delivers. Large beer selection. Craft beers on tap. Half-price delicious greasy burgers on Mondays. The tots are extra crispy. Ambience somewhere between your grandparents' musty wood-panelled basement and that random house party you wandered into in college. Good selection of tunes on the jukebox, including Cash and Willie Nelson.
(5)J D.
Plus: great tator tots, huge beer selection, friendly patrons, quaint, dive bar, dinner for less than $10. Cons: slow service, spilled beer on me, roaches, lots of roaches.
(3)David G.
This is a place I like going to when visiting friends in Silver Spring. It's fairly nonchalant/nondescript from the outside, but once you get downstairs and go inside, it's got that very cool, cozy basement pub feel. Their food is pretty great. Fried pickles anybody? Awesome. They've got a wonderful beer selection, too. If they don't have your particular favorite (and it'd have to be pretty particular, at that) then there's most certainly going to be something either very similar or better. Sometimes when it gets busy, the speed of service can be hit or miss; but they do get to you as quickly as possible. It's also a great place to go to check out some live music (their jukebox isn't bad at all either).
(3)Ashley E.
Awesome drinks. Best beer selection in area. Food is fresh, made to order.
(5)Myaa V.
Dank bar, low lights, bitchy waitress. Great burgers, wings, awesome selection of beer. Make sure to try the deep fried oreos, they are heaven. Fun place to get a bunch of friends, drink and hang out. Pretty packed on a Monday night. The food comes out pretty quickly and is better than I expected. I suggest ordering the burgers medium-well instead of medium because they cane come out undercooked. All in all, I love this place!
(4)John W.
Best dive bar in the area. Great burgers, wings and tater tots. If you like a little heat for your wings, stick to medium. Hot is damn hot and 4 alarm stings your lips. They have a huge selection of beers and whiskey. Servers are friendly here too. Definite recommend.
(5)Laurie W.
It feels silly to repeat what others have said so I'll just say, "Yeah, that's really how it is" because it is. The Quarry House is my favorite place to go in Silver Spring and my favorite bar in the area. It's relaxed and fun and there are generally lots of interesting people to watch or talk to depending on your preference. The burgers are that good. I could go for a better bun, yes, but the tater tots kind of make up for that. The beer list is outstanding and Gordon the bartender is always there with a good recommendation.
(5)Amber A.
Holy whiskey menu! We went here after a show the new Fillmore looking for a night cap and were not disappointed. Any bar that serves enough scotch to have it's own menu (separated by region) is five stars in my book. The place has that dive-y, comfy, people sing along with the juke box-y kind of atmosphere that is perfect for a late night hang out. We weren't in a beer mood that night, but they also had a huge beer menu.
(5)Anjaly P.
Silver Spring is a bit far for me to regularly visit but with good friends that are local to the area, I'll ask that we return back to Quarry House Tavern next time. The beer selection was great! This was a post dinner hang out, so I didn't try the food but I saw the basics of burgers, hotdogs, hummus, etc. My choice was a seasonal 21st Amendment Hell or High Watermelon Wheat. Tasty, refreshing and summery. It was a rainy day and it was perfect. I want to go back when I'm in the area, it was an excellent dive bar.
(5)James B.
Perhaps MOCO's best kept (Dive Bar) secret! Ya get Beer from around the world, top shelf liquor, incredible burgers with tater tots, and hand made potato chips! Go on a Saturday night, and you'll get some ahem, "interesting" talent rockin da mic. Post-Punk fav's on the Jukebox keep me showin up. I only demote it 1 star cus I can only go there on a date night or guys night out. Not really kid friendly IMO... IF you can find it, =) you must go!
(4)Sarah N.
Descending a dimly lit stairways of a barely marked basement in some corner of downtown Silver Spring...SKETCHY! Open the door to a gazillion noises of chatter, live music, and movement. This dive bar is packed every night of the week and seating is almost impossible at times. What I love is the huge selection of imported beers, huge servings of tator tots and other bar grubs. You'll see the strangest people here, but also the most down to earth, all in one place. Prices are cheap so it's like happy hour all the time. Would not recommend if you're germaphobic or claustrophobic. Waitresses actually spill and break stuff here, had it happen 5 times with a freebie coming right after. I'm usually very picky and uptight about service but what can you expect from a dive bar. The staff look like they just woke up or had some crack beforehand. Other than that, Quarry House is a must-stop after hitting the movies or dinner nearby.
(4)Ari C.
I have yet to decide whether or not I like when a bar gives me a large range of liquor and beer to choose from. On the one hand, I love beer so much that there is a little tingle down there. However, there are so many choices that part of me feels so overwhelmed I want to leave. I guess the former is true for the Quarry House (and so I stayed). It's a great subterranean bar, located in Silver Spring not too far from the metro. I had a great time and the bar definitely was large enough to accommodate my posse. I have yet to try their food (I can't justify breaking veg for 1/2 off burgers), but the beer selection is wonderful and the dim and dank atmosphere is actually quite comforting. For the ladies: the bathroom is a trip, but mainly it's just a catalogue of girls asserting their nerdiness. If you want to help me relive my senior year of high school, please partake in basic stoichiometry or do derivatives. But save some room for my years in college--I need some space to talk about alternative menstrual products or something.
(4)Bob B.
The Burgers are amazing. They have an awesome selection of beers on tap and a huge whiskey/burbon/scotch selection. This is a really cool spot to hang out and it almost feels like an old school speakeasy because it's underneath of a indian restaurant and it's pretty hard to find if you have never been there. Definitely worth checking out if you haven't been. Mondays are half off the burgers.
(5)Matt W.
Amazing beer selection at great prices, and REAL PEOPLE! Having recently moved to DC from Baltimore I have been experiencing a bit of withdrawal from being around actual human beings. DC tends to have an overwhelming amount of people that seemed to have popped out of this pretentious robotic mold. So even though it took a trip to Silver Spring to escape it, the trip was well worth it. With a $4 burger on burger night and a great selection of dark beers and prices nearly half of what you pay in DC, you can't really go wrong. I will be back.
(4)John J.
Quarry house is a great tavern, just went last night for the first time. While I thought that their selection of beer on tap was poor (although they did pour a fine Guinness - better than 90% of the DC area) they have a terrific bottled beer selection: they stock about 100 Belgian Beers, 100 American micro brews, and a bunch more from around the world (although I think they could stand to beef up their German selection). I got the burger, which was nicely cooked (medium rare) and a great deal, as it comes with tots. Bun was great, meat was good but needs more seasoning. Atmosphere is great, if you like dark, small bars (I do). Lots of wood all around, with a strong basement rec-room vibe (that is meant as a compliment). No TVs in the bar, which I don't really like because I enjoy watching games at bars, but I will definitely return. Websites below for those who are interested. quarryhousetavern.com myspace.com/quarryhouse
(4)Alexander L.
Windowless basement that doesn't have a sign and does not advertise. Yet it is always bustling and full of people. The trick is good cheap bar food, lively atmosphere, firendly service and a huge selection of beer, wine, scotch, gin, bourbon, tequilla, etc. The meny is limited but everything on it is good.
(4)Hannah C.
I have mixed feelings about quarry house. Their food and beer selection is great, so it keeps me coming back, but the service is usually pretty lousy. It's not that the waiters are not friendly, but they are extremely slow. It usually takes at least 15 minutes for me to get my beer once it's been ordered, and a minimum of 10 minutes for a waiter to bring menus or acknowledge that we've sat down at a table. It also take s a really long time to get the check, or get a waiters attention in general. This doesn't just happen on weekends, which i could understand becuase it gets so busy, but it also happens on week days when it's not super packed. I keep going here becuase I think overall it's a good bar, but becuase of the service I have to take away two stars.
(3)Kevin M.
If I was grading on a Silver Spring curve, then this place would get three stars since it's A-OK for the area. But big picture-wise, it's just not that great. The burgers and beer selection are good but the place is tiny and almost always reeks. Since it's a popular place in Silver Spring, it's always crowded and feels claustrophobic. It's the place to go if you have to go out in Silver Spring but that's also the reason why you should always try to not have to go out in Silver Spring.
(2)Becky T.
Cool dungeon-like pub with crazy big beer selection that goes for pages. It was dark and danky and the floors were sticky but the crowd was nice. Jukebox had some great music and no one minded when my friends started dancing even though there was no dance floor and no one else was. Great place to hang out; not sure if I'm brave enough to try the food there though but then I went there with bleary eyes and it was after midnight. Update: Had an awesome burger with provolone and sauteed onions. The best part though was the side of tater tots. The tots were nice and crispy and not the least bit oily. My buddy ordered the hot bbq buffalo wings which were awesome. He was only able to get through two of them cuz the heat was too much for them so I was able to snag at least three of his. Although the tip of my tongue was burning, it was definitely one of the best wings that I've had in the area. From 4-7, it's happy hour which means $1 off drinks but no food specials.
(4)Kelly M.
I love the dark, and almost hidden feeling of the Quarry House. Yes, the quarters are somewhat cramped and it often has a "hipster" vibe to it, but the beer selection as well as whiskey selection is fantastic, and who doesn't love a great tater tot! This isn't the best place if you're looking for quiet conversation, but it can be a great place to just have a really good beer. Sometimes there can be waits to get the food or the beer, but this place is always packed, and it has always been worth the wait.
(4)Arthur F.
Very unique environment. I guess some would consider it a dive bar, but most dive bars I've been to don't sell all the fancy beer and scotches this place has. It's a dark and dank little basement establishment and a nice change of pace then the average bar and a good place to listen to rockabilly music! haha. It's fun.
(4)Snow T.
Writing this review just to note that the veggie burgers are vegan. The tots are fried deliciousness. Lots of selection on drinks. It has been really loud in there every time I've ever been.
(3)Christy H.
An extensive beer menu with the dive atmosphere? Yes, please!
(5)Dak F.
I love it for all the same reasons others have listed. Tater tots and Hoegartens. Rad. I remember when the Quarry wasn't nearly as popular, before it had a liquor license. Though I can understand why some lament that it has now become somewhat of a Johnny-Cool-Guy bar of S.S., it still is a classic dive. It is best during the week. Weekends are too packed for my liking. It boasts an awesome selection of beers from around the world. And, thankfully, the staff don't suffer from the "I -work-at-the-somewhat-of-a- Johnny-Cool-Guy bar" syndrome that seems so prevalent in the district.
(5)Kate M.
Good food and a great beer selection, but crappy service. The Washington City Paper named Quarry House's burger the best in the area, and I have to agree that it's really damn good. It's not really greasy, has lots of pepper, and is perfectly seasoned. Yum. The beer selection hits a nice balance: it's varied, but it's not overwhelming or intimidating. They've got something for everyone, beer snobs and Miller drinkers, cheapskates and high rollers. The atmosphere was good, cool without being pretentious, and astoundingly busy for a Monday night. QHT was bumpin and you'd never have known it from outside. It seems like every 20-something in Silver Spring hangs out here, plus a few middle-aged folks. I would have LOVED this place, but the service just killed me. My friend waited 45 minutes for a burger. The waitress took forever to clear off the previous party's glasses and baskets and the tables were disgusting. She did manage to bring our drinks pretty quickly given the crowd, though, and I guess that's what really matters. It must have been busier than normal cause it seemed like they were a little slammed by the number of people in there. Like I said, it was crowded on a Monday, so maybe I went on an odd night. I rarely go out in Silver Spring, but next time I do I'm definitely going to give Quarry House another shot. I had a good experience, and I think they can do even better.
(4)Amanda B.
Great atmosphere - a dungeon full of some very laid back and interesting people. Quality of the bands in the back varies, but you can always just hang out in the front part. Bartenders and servers are great and never tire of telling you again what's on tap. Speaking of which, in addition to classics like PBR or Guinness, they always have a few really great beers on tap that you won't find anywhere else. The beer list itself is massive and offers a huge variety of choices in every type of beer from Hefeweizens (what I like to tell my boyfriend is the "appletini" of beers) to ESBs. As for food, the burgers and tater tots can't be beat. Although the burgers used to be better (cooked just as ordered and awesome buns) they are still the best in the area. Burgers are half price on Mondays and they do have a veggie-burger and grill cheese on the menu, so bring your friends. Always a good time.
(5)Martha L.
I like this pub quite a bit. The beer list is interesting and always changing. I have never tried the food because they fry things in peanut oil and I have an allergy, but I have heard good things. I went with some friends on trivia night and it was a lot of fun! I'd recommend giving that a shot. One thing to know about this place is that it's difficult to find - there is no obvious sign. But I wouldn't consider that a downside. It's kind of like an old school speakeasy in that respect. All in all, Quarry House is a fun, relaxing place to hang out.
(4)Christie C.
If you read nothing else in this review.. read this: Quarry House is UNDER Bombay Gaylord. There may or may not be a sign made out of notebook paper telling you it's there. You may or may not break your neck climbing down the flight of stairs. You might want to consider the walk back up the stairs before you order that last drink. Resume regular review already in progress. Went to The Quarry House for a birthday 3fer.. celebrating 3 birthdays in one! The group consensus was 2 or 3 stars, so I'll round up. Good: Extensive selection of beer, including many, many that we could not pronounce. Jukebox kickin.. it was playing the Cure maybe 80% of the time. (You can't go wrong w/ the Cure!) Not too loud so we could still hear each other, but a real nice vibe. Tater tots! Enhhh: Definitely could use another waiter. I know it was only Tuesday, but with just one waitress, service was on the slow side. The food took a really long time and I need my food to come quick to help me process my booze! Maybe some bread or peanuts or something while we wait? The food was decent, nothing spectacular I think, pretty standard bar fare of burgers and wings. I didn't venture into the quesadilla territory.. living 50 feet from the real thing in SF has gotten me spoiled :) Not a bad spot. Definitely the place to go to kick back a few beers w/ good company in downtown Silver Sprung. I could see frequenting this place if I worked/lived down there.
(3)Natalia S.
The Quarry House is the only place to go in Silver Spring after hours. Saturday nights are the best-go early and listen to some incredible rockabilly. Get a beer and tater tots! During the week you can steal the backroom and the jukebox for a great time with old friends and the new ones you'll met there.
(4)Jane P.
I angst every day over how it is that the best (only?!?) bar in the DC area for bottle selection and greasy food is in Silver Spring. It says something about our city. But before I digress... the Quarry House is bad-ass. The menu is totally fun to pore over, with a deep, interesting, and reasonably priced bottle selection, a few decent drafts (Clipper City Red Sky at Night Saison was on the last time I was there) and some really solid (if uncreative) bar food - the half smoke with roasted peppers and onions, the bleu and black burger, and the homemade chips come to mind first as totally reliable and well-executed standards. If this place was in the city, I'd be there every day. As it is, there aren't many (any?) more places within Metro distance with a bottle selection like this, so I'll keep going back.
(4)Josh O.
I went here last night on the recommendation of a coworker. It's the first bar in the are I've gone to as opposed to being taken to (by family, coworkers, or whatever), and definitely my favorite bar in the area so far. They had an awesome beer selection including, last night, Victory Hop Devil, one of my favorite hard to find beers. The prices were good, the food was good, and the bartender looked like Natalie Portman. The only real down side was when a large group of, I can only really think to describe them as yuppies, showed up with a professional photographer in tow to record their night of slummin' in. Hopefully that doesn't happen very often, though the photographer seemed nice enough.
(5)Edward A.
As a long-time visitor of this place, I'm stunned by all the great reviews. I continue to go (breaking my own "never again" pledge after most visits) because the beers are just that good. If you're talking about that alone, it's definitely a 5-star joint. For everything else it's a dismal 1-star failure. Why? --The jukebox, while good, hasn't changed in, oh... ever. --Frequent gigs by a jug band. Nothing kills the ardor of a fun night like a bunch of long-bearded old dudes with a friggin' scratchboard. --The service is terrible. TERRIBLE. I cannot state that enough. And before you go thinking it's because I'm a lousy tipper--stop. I still, like an idiot, give at least 20-percent unless it's unspeakably awful. --The service is so slow and indifferent that I'm mentioning it again. --The place itself is a disgusting crap hole. Unless you happen to be up for that sort of thing, which I am on occasion. So in short: Not a fan. But I'll probably be back there in a couple weeks because the rest of the bars in Silver Spring are even worse. Yay!
(2)Leigh-Ann F.
My boyfriend from Buffalo, home of the chicken wing, says that these are the best wings he's had outside of Buffalo. And I have to agree -- they are DAMN good. I get the honey BBQ wings and they pair perfectly with their delicious blue cheese dressing. Go on Sunday evenings when it's not as crowded and you'll have a ball.
(4)Michelle B.
I'll start with the good because this is gonna go downhill rapidly. They really do have a fantastic beer list, the bulk of which I had never heard of. The bartenders were so friendly and helpful if you have questions about which beer to select. But.... OMG this kitchen is nasty. Having read about the tater tots, I had to try them. You can order tater tots with bacon and cheese on top and that sounded mighty tasty to me. Since it was crowded, we were standing by the bar in front of the kitchen. I happened to look around into the kitchen in time to see the cook blow her nose into a rag, then reach into the bacon canister with her BARE HANDS, crumble it onto the tots, reach and grab the cheese, again barehanded, and put everything in the microwave. Now, some of you may be willing to take chances with the radiation killing whatever this chick was spreading, but not me. I'm no germ chaser! She made a couple of trips in and out of the kitchen to grab supplies; the chick did not wash her hands AT ALL. She starts shaking up a container of BBQ sauce or something and some of it must've spilled a little, because she LICKED HER HAND and proceeded to continue her business about the kitchen, putting burgers together and whatnot. This is the main cook! I'm not a fan of E. coli or Ebola or whatever this kitchen is breeding. Consider yourself warned.
(2)Wendy R.
The separate beer menu is 10 pages long. The food is standard bar fare - you won't find many entree selections beyond the sandwiches. Their homemade potato chips are quite tasty, though. Stick to sandwiches and appetizers and you'll leave satisfied. The bar counter and main table area is quite small, but the QHT has a side room that has plenty of table space. The ladies room and the men's room are on opposite sides of the bar. Quite a challenge to locate if you are expecting them to be side by side. My significant other tried a Guinness float - he loved it. I thought it was okay, but stout and ice cream is not to my palate.
(3)T R.
I have been to many so called dive bars that I enjoy. The "dive bar" aspect seems to be forced and an excuse not to try harder. Yeah the economy is tough but hire a few more bar tenders to work on busy Saturday. A few of the customers seem to really embrace the whole "dive bar" mentality by being kind of trashy themselves. An "excuse me" as you jam your elbow into me continually as I try to have a nice conversation would be nice once in a while folks. Food was tasty and well priced I must admit. Perhaps I'll add a star there. Beer selection would have been more fun to try out if they went for a diverse affordable selection and not a diverse expensive collection. Call me weird but this place didn't seem like the place I would want to try out a 15 dollar bottle of beer or 7 dollar shot of whiskey. The mixed drinks appeared strong from my observations of the pours. Maybe I should go for the rail drinks on a quieter weekday night and I will like the place better.
(2)Kate O.
Dive? You bet? A little stinky on walking in? Yep. Best burger I've ever had- damn close! And an awesome beer selection. You can't go wrong here and I'm picky on the bar front.
(4)David B.
They made my order incorrectly twice for take out, and did nothing to make me wanna come back. The service sucks and hope their company fails!
(1)Ixpata I.
This is basically a dive bar, but it's got an awesome beer selection and that alone is worth the visit if you're a beer geek. The beer menu is several pages long and is helpfully divided into styles. And they also have several beers on tap, including some seasonals. The bartender staff was very knowledgeable about the beers and was pretty good at answering any questions about flavor, etc. The food was decent and it hits the spot if you're in the mood for semi-upscale pub grub. But I wouldn't go there for the food alone. Update for Kevin L.: Yes, they have a good selection of Belgians. I don't recall seeing any Rogue brews on tap or whether they carried any in bottles (on an unrelated note: if you haven't tried Rogue's Chipotle ale, I highly recommend it, well, if you like the flavor of chipotle anyway). Also worth noting is that Quarry House apparently usually has Dogfish Head 90 minute IPA on tap. Any place willing to carry that beautiful beer deserves the full support of beer geeks, in my humble opinion.
(5)dee w.
Um, roaches? I did not notice any when I was here, but after reading some of the reviews, it looks like I might not be going back. One star off for the roach infestation. I had the grilled cheese and tater tots, and it was pretty good. They also have an extensive beer menu.
(2)Aaron J.
Awesome, awesome dive. Definitely of one the best beer selections around, even better than some very popular beer bars in DC. They even have a variety of whiskeys! Great food, good prices and live music make the Quarry House worth the Metro ride out to Silver Spring. A wonderful place to spend a few hours.
(5)Letitia H.
I wish I had something good to say about this place as so many people seem to like it, but the staff attitude has kept me from coming. I had a group of about 20 people who wanted to meet there, so I tried calling. And calling. And calling. They never answered their phone. I checked their website to be sure I had the number right and was calling during business hours. I called about 15 times over a three day period. The phone was never answered. So I went there in person. They told me that they would not make tables available for us, but that we could show up and claim a whole bunch of tables - so as a business they prefer that customers come in and claim space rather than work with customers so that they have some assurance that those spaces will be filled? Then they told me that our group could not have separate checks because if they did that they'd be handling checks all night and no one would get served. Really? When the restaurant is filled with groups of two and three they are too busy with checks to serve food and drink? Because that's what the separate checks for our group would be. I asked to speak with the manager and I was given an email address for "Keith." I emailed to see if the Tavern was willing to work with me to host this group of 20 (some months closer to 30) people and he never responded top my email. We went to another restaurant down the street. One of our group went in to the Quarry House that night and told me it was pretty quiet there. Now that it is time for our next dinner I have been asked why I don't arrange to meet at the Quarry House, but why would I take my business to a place that doesn't even answer its phone? They are telling me they don't want my business or the business of my 19 friends.
(1)Sarah L.
Love this dive. It has a tremendous beer and scotch list. Yes, it can smell a bit dingy sometimes but that's part of the appeal. Their food is good greasy bar food and well priced. A very chill place to hang out.
(5)Kafi L.
I have to admit, this place is a little sketchy the first time you go there. You have to go down these dark stairs, and you feel like you have to know the secret knock to get into the speakeasy. Nevertheless, this place has a really wonderful selection of beers from all over the world. The staff is really knowledgeable about their beers, and they have awesome tater tots and burgers. Definitely a place where you can dig in and enjoy some drinks and some good food. Service can be a little slow, but it is worth it.
(4)Abby M.
My favorite bar in Silver Spring, if not in DC. Nestled beneath Bombay Gaylord this neighborhood gem features the most extensive beer menu in the area. It is a welcome breath of fresh air from the stale chains that pervade the Silver Spring area, and the bar attracts a diverse and youthful crowd ranging from math grad students to sports fans to rockabilly enthusiasts (does the bar have rockabilly night every saturday? I think so!). On weekends it is loud and crowded, the perfect place to get drunk and dance to the jukebox, and on weekdays it is more subdued, conducive to sipping a beer and contemplating your navel or doing homework.
(5)Mic X.
i haven't written a review of this place yet? why? maybe it's because it's been around for 70 years and i kinda figured that everybody just knew about it. kinda like the zoo bar. it's one of those legendary institution type things. now, when i was a lad, the quarry house was for old guys and booze hounds, so i can't say that i ventured much down the stinky old stairs that take you into the basement of liar of the quarry house, but when my wife and i moved to silver spring 6 years ago, it was one of the first places i took my wife to hang out. she wasn't very impressed with it, but while she was with child, she sure did love it when she sent my butt out at 10pm to get her a chili dog, in order to satisfy the child bearing cravings. since the chili dog time to this review, the quarry house has changed ownership a couple of times, and now that the owner of the mondo popular, Jackie's, has taken control of the ship, it is more popular tiger wood's voice mails. it is no longer a little, local dive bar. it's a 20ingsters pose fest. that doesn't mean it's not a great bar - it is, but on the weekends, it gets so packed, that there is barely a place to sit. i used to love sliding into this place at last call, after a long day of work, and being able to snag a couple of beers before i headed home - can't do that any more. what does make this bar worth while: *the jukebox that is lathered in alt-type music *the beer list that has beers from Germany, Belgium, England, Ireland, and a boatload of US micro brews *they have a strong selection of bourbon (and i think there is a weeknight where they have 20% off all bourbon) *tater tots - yup, they are good *they do have live music some night on a tiny stage in the back sure the ceilings are so low that you feel like you are in a scene from being john malkovich, but drink a bourbon and have a tot - you won't mind. i would be woefully remiss, if i didn't mention that i also had some good drinks and good conversations with fellow yelp folk here, as well. good times.
(4)Michael J.
Stunningly good beer and whiskey selection for a dive bar, better than average bar food. A bit hard to find the first time, but parking in the area is easy and usually free. (The stairwell is next to the Indian restaurant on the corner of Georgia and Bonifant; I've seen it both with and without signage.)
(5)xj o.
Yes this is a dive bar. Bathroom is sketchy as hell. First you have to walk up stairs to get to the toilet. Then you hear a TV/radio in the background -- probably in the kitchen that's just behind the 1-inch thick wall. Then you go to take a leak, and notice the sink is literally 10 inches away from the urinal (why have the urinal at all?). Then you wash your hands and look in the mirror only to see your silhouette -- yes, it's so dark you can't even see your face. I hear the lady's bathroom is a similar "Alice in Wonderland" experience. So the rest of the place is pretty okay. Great selection of beers. Tater tots are addictive. Service was very cool and attentive. But fried pickle is soggy. And the hot dog is just meh. But here's my favorite part... Get their "4-alarm" wings. Easily THE hottest wings I've ever had. And I've had Cluck-U's Grim Reaper/911s. I've had Wing Stop's Atomic. They don't hold a candle to QH's 4-Alarm wings. I kid you not, it hurt just as much going out as it did going in. I dared not sitting down for 15 minutes after going to the bathroom for fear that my booty hole would collapse onto itself.
(4)Joye P.
I visited QHT last Saturday night. A rockabilly band from Kentucky played; they were pretty good, and people were doing the "white man shuffle" on the dance floor. It was $5 cover to sit in the room where the band played. It's a pub, so I had low expectations regarding food. The menu and service were cute and smart. Food was moderately priced and barely creative. I ordered a grilled chicken breast sandwich that came with blackened spices and blue cheese. It was mediocre. Memorably, the meal was accompanied by Tater Tots. Unfortunately, there was much more "tot" than "tater." That means that they had been fried in grease not-quite-hot-enough, so that they soaked up a lot of the grease before being cooked through. The result were hard, grease-filled former-tater nuggets. I'm a tater tot fan and couldn't even finish them. Sad. If you go there on a date, keep this in mind: it's really loud and really casual in there. Lots of local-yokels hang out there, and the music made me unable to have a conversation all night with the person across the table from me. I do not recommend.
(2)Grace P.
Awesome loaded tots, great burgers, fantastic chicken tenders, chill atmosphere. They also have a looooong beer list. You can't go wrong here for a low key night. Plus, Mondays are 1/2 priced burgers. On the downside, it's literally a basement, so prepare for that. And the service? Meh, at best. I'm usually a stickler about service, but some places are worth the wait. For a local, I-can-wear-sweats-if-I-wanna kind of place, this more than fits the bill.
(4)Robert G.
It was so hot and humid in there! I don't know how anyone in there stood it. We couldn't stay there for more than one drink.
(1)Robert B.
QH is one of the best bars in the region. Unless you're a pretentious ass, there's no way you won't enjoy your happy hour or late night time here. Best: burgers are great and the beer and liquor selection is amazing. Worst: service. They are always understaffed. I understand that profit margins are razor thin in the biz, but Jackie, you need to hire an extra server or two. disclaimer: I've been dozens of times, but none have been in the past few months. Here's hoping my "worst" has already been corrected with the new year!
(5)Kate F.
Best. Chicken. Tenders. EVER! I want to steal their recipe. Great dive bar too!
(3)Stephen R.
Quarry House Tavern is one of my favorite places to grab a burger and a great beer after a long day. As a guy and a lover of dive bars Quarry House Tavern is as good as it gets. If I am going out for a guys night or if my father-in-law is visiting I know where I am going. Besides the great burgers which are a good enough draw in themselves. I have also been impressed with their quesadillas and their hot wings. If that is not good enough you need to check out their beer menu.
(5)Nate L.
I have to thank my fellow yelpers for an accurate positive review on this place. I wanted wings and once I checked out the menu, couldn't choose between wings or a burger. I asked which was better and received a laugh, 'they are the two best things on the menu'. So I got both. I was so happy with both decisions, and the blue cheese was so good, I would have put some in my coffee if I wasn't drinking beer. This leads me to my next point of contentment...the beer selection is second to none! I am definitely going back to this place. This is in my top 3 dive bars ever, the other two are in California. The service and music was awesome too. I can't wait to go back in the evening to check out the night scene.
(5)Josh M.
I've never been to a more filthy, dingy, disgusting place that serves food. It's actually humorous just how gross this place is! In fact, I'm not sure how they have a permit to operate at all. Having said that, I had a burger here and it was actually pretty good. Their homemade chips are also good. Water here is self-serve.
(2)Zach G.
Ended up here on a Sunday night following a dinner at Roger Miller restaurant around the corner. I wouldn't have even noticed that it is here, but a friend of mine who lives in Silver Spring recommended it. What a gem. Tucked under a building, down a dark little staircase is a great little bar with a lot of great beers. Definitely not a true dive with the beer list they have, but any snobbery this place may have is limited to the beer, which is quite alright with me. Lots of great beers available, but not everything on the list is probably available, but that's to be expected when you try to stock that many. The old, cheap pine paneling, the exposed pipes only inches above your head and general griminess of the place give it a great dive bar feel. If I lived in Silver Spring I think this place would be a regular hangout for me.
(4)Jim T.
Great selection of beer. Tasty half-price burgers on Monday nights. The place is a dive, but if that doesn't bother you (or if you like that), this place is great. It's also a Silver Spring institution.
(4)James C.
You can't go wrong with old bay tator tots, a giant beer selection and great live music that you usually don't have to pay for to enjoy. My favorite local place in Silver Spring to get a drink and chill out with some great friends / cohorts.
(5)Lindsay Y.
I've been here twice late night on weekends and I'm definitely a fan. This place is a beer drinker's haven for sure but I can appreciate that they still offer some cheap brands (beer that you can find anywhere else as it says on their menu). There's liquor and wine too if that's your thing but it doesn't seem like the kind of place that caters too much to those items (other than whiskey). I haven't tried the food so can't comment on that but the service was excellent and the waiter was knowledgeable. It's more a upscale dive so don't expect immaculate bathrooms or eye-catching décor (the scribbles in the bathroom are amusing though). This is a venue for those who actually want to have a decent convo with friends. If you're bored you can always make fun of the patrons shouting from their political soapboxes or just being intellectual snobs. Actually overhead: "I've decided not to speak to anyone with an IQ of less than (fill the blank.)" Who says that?
(4)Dan J.
Great beer selection! Love this little place - the food is okay, but you don't come here for the food. It's the beer and a place to hang out.
(4)Ariel L.
Quarry House was one of the reasons I knew moving to Silver Spring from DC wouldn't be awful. QH is a great place to hang out, especially on a weeknight. On Saturdays and Sundays it tends to be pretty busy, hard to find a table, much slower service, but that is a reasonable expectation for the only decent bar in Silver Spring. The food is good, solid vegetarian options, great home made potato chips, and an awesome beer selection, including some local options.
(5)Lawrence H.
The QHT is Silver Spring's best bar and, taking into account the DC area's lackluster efforts on this front, one of the better bars in the region. Authentically gloomy, good jukebox, great beer selection, tasty tater tots, and a varied clientele.
(4)Kris K.
I know there are tons of reviews for this place -- but I can't help it. About 20 years ago I used to go to the Quarryhouse when I was just out of college - cheap eats, cheap beer. Well it's still true but WOW has the quality changed. I love seeing what crazy beer selection they have on tap each time I go. The wait staff is quite knowledgable about the drink selection if your not quite sure what you are craving. I love the burgers - juicy, hand-made and cooked just like you ask. The chicken breast sand also yummee. And the tots! Who doesn't love tots? And sometimes if your lucky there's a band - no cover - just good music. It is a perfect neighborhood bar, no pretention. Tho' sometimes a bit crowded. Oh, and I don't miss the smoke.
(5)Maya E.
Lets get it straight: you're not going to like the Quarry House if you are in the mood for an arugula salad and a Napa Valley pinot. If thats you, there's this little neighborhood called Bethesda not far from here... BUT, if you are looking for a laid-back, dark, basement neighborhood bar that happens to have great burgers (and awesome deep fried pickles) and a VERY long beer list, this is the place for you. Moving to DC from Colorado, land of delicious micro-brews, we were a little disappointed with DC's beer selections until we found this place. But we have now been there several times and love it.
(5)S R.
best bar in silver spring and probably in MoCo. They have fried pickles and a huge beer selection. They even have yamazaki whisky! some may call it a dive bar, but to me, that's what a bar is.
(4)Nafiseh S.
really great chill spot, hard to find but its super cool! great collection of beers (def try the peach and raspberry flavored ones!) and great wings!! they have great specials too!
(5)Joe G.
Great selection of great beers. They also have food to match it.
(5)Adam S.
All I can say is awesome beer selection, I was drinking Flying Dog Snake Dog IPA, but the beer menu is quite extensive. My friends tried a variety of beers mostly dark, some very good and some just not my style but bottomline is that you will not get bored with the beer selection here. Great little dive bar tucked away under Georgia Ave. Nice crowd, no one pretentious; at least it appeared that way. Service was a little slow but understandably because they seemed really busy. We only spent about an hour here but am excited to go back for a late night.
(4)Jen T.
I used to adore the Quarry House. I'd argue that they made the best, most delicious, juicy, flavorful burgers I have ever eaten in my life; they were perfect in every way, and were delivered to the table sitting regally upon real plates with real silverware. Now that it's under new ownership, I tear up at the thought of what has been lost to the world. Their burgers now are average bar fare that come in plastic baskets with checkered wax paper underneath. The patronage has shifted from a spectrum of folks from all walks of life to basically what you now find all over Silver Spring more than ever- a bunch of 20- and 30-something young professionals out for a drink after work. Boring. I'll never go back.
(1)Sean l.
Hands down, my favorite bar in the D.C. area. Live music, great beer selection and good food. You will hear bands and taste beer that you never knew existed and love it. Even if you don't like the bands you will meet some interesting folks. Don't forget to try the deep fried pickles. They are wonderful. I get at least 2 orders every time.
(5)Lisa D.
Ummm bacon and cheese covered tator tots, need I say more? Well actually I do. Love this place. It is def. a hole in the wall (well actually it is a basement) and only within the last six months did they start playing sports on their two small TVs but it has an amazing beer selection (think the Brickskellar in DuPont). Surprisingly, this is one of my bf and I's favorite date spots. No one can find us and we sit there and try 1000 beers and talk. Also on Monday they have $5 burgers (with tots of course!) and the burgers are fabulous.! Beware if you are eating wings, even their medium are hard to get near your face and my friend felt horrible for an entire day after eating 6 diabolical!
(4)Kyle S.
Went again recently after a long layoff. The burgers are still excellent (cooked correctly as well), and while I was down on the tater tots initially, I've reversed my stance on them (especially if you get them with the bacon and cheese). The beer selection is much better than you see at other places in Silver Spring. Always a favorite, and I'll continue to come back often.
(5)Eric G.
The best honest to goodness bar in the area. Great honest and simple food (tater tots is just the icing on the cake), a tremendous beer and liqueur list, an exemplary jukebox (although Appetite for Destruction tends to skip a lot), and a nice downstairs basement like environment. Only minor gripes are that the staff can be a bit inconsistent in the speed department, but generally they are great and very nice. Also the place can get a bit packed at times making it less fun and relaxing. I guess that's the price of a successful bar.
(4)Katie W.
Holy dive bar, Batman! I have an unusual love for underground bars after working in one for six years so I felt very much at home walking down the dark staircase into the Quarry House. There is an initial waft of funk that greets you at the front door, which the stellar beer menu soon helps you forget. The servers are attentive and know a great deal about the beer. Prices are decent and they have tots. Score!
(4)Sassy B.
A ten-page beer list and the most incredibly over-the-top fabulous bacon & cheese smothered tater tots I've ever tasted. Beware the hot chicken wings: they're not kidding about the spicy heat of that sauce. Of course you can always just order more beer to put out the flames. ;)
(5)Nicky B.
I unfortunately lived in Silver Spring for an entire year before I found this place and only got to go there once before I moved. I always thought that Silver Spring lacked a good pub that offers good beer and greasy bar food...little did I know about this little gem. Good music, good beer/alcohol collection, and the best wings in the area. I haven't been able to find decent wings down here but Quarry House Tavern definitely satisfies the craving. Since everyone else mentions the tots I'm gonna throw in a shout out to the fried pickles. Delicious. Basically, if you're looking for a chill, low-key place to sit, drink, and eat good bar food, this is it.
(5)Mahsa K.
Gotta love their scotch selection, gotta gotta gotta love it! Fun beer choices on tap too, as they become available when the previous tap runs out. But best of all "sauteed mushroom, onion, and swiss" topped TATER TOTS.
(5)Christine T.
New (temp.) location, new patio, some new grub, but same ol' Quarry House. Let me start by saying I cannot be happier to see them back in business. I've gone every week since they moved across the street, in fear of never being able to come back and also because I am addicted to their tots. So happy to see the familiar faces. If you have never been to QH, you have been missing out and please run, do not walk, there now. They've added some new signature burgers and chicken sandwiches on the menu and I have to say, I love it. Their tots and burgers still hit the spot every time. I know, I know, what's so special about tater tots. Let me tell you, EVERYTHING. I've never had a soggy tot here and I'll never expect to. Their tots are perfect golden little nuggets and their homemade ranch is a GOD SEND. Their wings also do not disappoint and I love their hummus and veggies too. Something for everyone. Beer list is pages long and they're in the process of re-building their whisk(e)y list. Wednesdays are my go-to nights since it's Whiskey night and I will never turn down a discount on the fine liquid. Until then, I will be returning weekly to consistently great bar grub and always friendly service. To new comers: Please remember that you are attending a dive bar. Children are welcomed, but do not give me a side eye for ordering my 4th drink and complain that the music is too loud. Also, do not expect to come sit down and be out. QH is first and foremost a DIVE BAR. A place to sit back and enjoy a few drinks and frivolity. If it's busy, cut your waiter a break. They're doing their best to get you out, but they will not rush you. My friends and I have been here for 3+ hours watching the turn over, but were never once urged to wrap up or rushed out the door. There is a reason why QH patrons are so loyal.
(5)Kelly M.
I have been to Quarry House several times in the past. The atmosphere in the back is fantastic for hanging out with friends. I've had the food on occasion (the tots were nice, but not otherworldly), and a general pleasant experience there. But for a supposed dive bar, the prices aren't that low. Service in general is nothing special; when ordering from waiters drinks can take a little too long. I would have given Quarry House four stars, but-for the experience my friends and I had last night. We had a server last night who turned our night around from fun and relaxed to tense, angry, and pissed off. He took over 20 minutes to deliver two simple drinks. He double-charged us for several drinks and charged us for drinks we did not order, and even though he'd taken our names and orders separately to split the bill, we ended up with one giant, incorrect and confusing bill at the end of the night. The drink orders were put in wrong (tequila went in as vodka, kamikaze went in suaze, what on earth is suaze??). He accused us of under paying, which was ABSOLUTELY incorrect. Several of us have worked in the restaurant industry, and we never short staff on the bill or on tips. He got angry and temperamental when we were trying to sort it out, then left and told the bouncer (who despite all this I give 5 stars!) that we shorted him and Mike ran off. All in all, Mike was an absolutely terrible waiter! both in his timeliness and service during our stay, and his maturity and demeanor while we were trying to solve the bill issue. We left with a horrible taste in our mouths from him and his terrible service.
(2)Lauren T.
Had a great night here. The ambiance was awesome, the drinks were good. But back to this guy who tried to charge us twice for drinks...Mike, what's good?!?!
(1)Eunice K.
street parking or there's a parking garage nearby. the store moved across the street. so i went expecting delicious burgers and tots. it was okay. everything was a little salty. i like that you can customize your burgers and tots. i decided to keep my tots without any extra sauce but the tots were salty. there were some that weren't too salty and some that were extremely salty. the tots were crispy and good minus the salt factor. it was a little greasy but that's okay cause it's expected that tots are fried. the bottom bun of my burger was super soaked.. maybe from the meat or the toppings. i'm not sure. i was a little disappointed, but it's probably cause i had high expectations. the food was good for the price.
(3)Chris S.
I wonder how often the Indian place that share this address get people walking in trying to find Quarry House. This place is located on the side of the building, down the stairs into the dungeon. Once you make your way down the steps, the lights are low, the place looks sketchy, it's not though as kids are allowed and a few were there surprisingly during my visit. Apparently the tots are world famous, well maybe not world famous but apparently they are the go to item on the food menu and I admit they are quite tasty but then again when are tots amazing. Also had the burger, it was decent, nothing to write home to about but it nice compliment to the tots. Place is cool overall, nice place to kick back and relax with a group of friends, grab a beer and a order of tots and have fun.
(4)Dan S.
Parking nearby is easy (street or SS metro) The food was decent, but the service was extremely slow one time I frequented the joint despite it not being a very busy night. This is a temporary location so I do cut them some slack, but it seems they were having some major challenges staying on top of all the food and drink orders. It's what you pretty much expect from a dive bar, and that's exactly what this place is. Perfect for me. I like the casual atmosphere and casual feel of the place. Even with the water dispenser you have to grab a cup and fill it yourself.
(4)Sarah P.
Long.Live.Quarry. I was gutted when I found out that the basement burned down a few months back. Despite the change of locations, the service, food, and deals are so damn solid. Mondays, like everyone else, is my favorite day to go. Half price burgers with tots is the best thing ever. The burgers are huge and fulling, you can really see the quality. The tots are seriously something else. I am pretty sure more than half of the times I go to QHT(T), it is because I am craving totchos (tots with nacho toppings, best bar food a person can ask for) The selections of beers are incredible. The rotating tap has really interesting beers I love tasting during happy hour. Staff is pretty solid with helping you out if you don't know what you want. They suggested some of my new favorite beers. Shout out to QHT, keeping Silver Spring alive.
(5)Madhu D.
this place is my favorite restaurant/bar in all of silver spring. the beers, as well as the whiskey and scotches, are kicking. they always have something new for me to try. plus, the waiters and bartenders are very knowledgeable, and can help guide you if you feel lost. their food is so good. i LOVE their burgers. it's actually my favorite burger ever... in all the lands. it doesn't matter the combo, they're all good. i've literally had them all. they understand that it's about the meat. all i ever get is the 1/3 because it's the perfect portion amount, and ratio with the veggies. i get a perfect medium rare every time. plus, on mondays it's half off!! as if this place could this place get any better. but it does! now in their new location they have a patio! what!?!?!? yea, it's that awesome. no matter the night of the week, this place is always packed and a fun place to be. definitely a spot i take all my visitors. as much as i didn't want to write this review and share it with the world, they need the props. i love you guys!
(5)Paul M.
I went to the Piratz location the other night. Two things: (1) It was whisky Wednesday, which meant 20% off their more than solid whisky collection. (2) They were playing complete Beatles albums in reverse chronological order from Magical Mystery Tour to Revolver. Lend me your ears and I'll tell you about my time at Quarry House. Picture yourself in a boat on a river, with tangerine trees and marmalade skies. Somebody called me and I answered quite slowly, "Yeah, I'd be up for some burgers, whisky and beer." I had a peach sour ale, which was quite good. I ordered the burger with cream cheese and pickled jalapenos. I was pretty hungry when it came, so I devoured it in seconds flat. The whisky menu is pretty impressive. I started with the Talisker 10. I ended with a Rittenhouse, but if that's the cheap whiskey to end the night, you've got to get this place into your life. Was this review a convoluted way to paraphrase Beatles references? I think I know I mean a "Yes" but it's all wrong. That is I think I disagree. Or at least I had absolutely no complaints about my night. Good food, good beer, good whisky, and the bartender has a tattoo of a pterodactyl asking for a slice of pizza. All the Beatles music sealed the night for me.
(5)Melinda S.
I am at Quarry House every Monday that I can make it for 1/2 priced burgers! Their burgers are the highlight of my week, the best burgers in MARYLAND! They cook the burger perfectly according to your liking, not like other places where you ask for medium and it comes out burned. I love the toasted buns with an abundance of sesame seeds. I love the completely melted cheese and the options of cheese (I get provolone) DO NOT get me started on the tater tots perfectly fried!!!! Their beer selection is out of this world and the ambiance is a breath of fresh air for uptight Montgomery County. I am a die hard fan of their burgers and their hot laid back often bearded waiters.
(5)Sara M.
Belated review - I've visited Quarry House a few times both at their old and new locations. No complaints about their food/beer (though what's all the rave about their tater tots? Pretty sure they're just frozen ones you could buy at the store..) but their service is the absolute worst. I called it after my first visit, but each subsequent visit convinced another friend. Staff act as though you're inconveniencing them by giving them your business. Or that they have better things to do than their job. My last visit: staff is sitting at the host stand - granted there is a sign that says to seat yourself, but even after making eye contact he didn't bother to greet us. We seat ourselves and spend the next few minutes (I'm being generous) looking around for our server. We see staff standing around at the front - none of them are actively helping any customers - when someone finally comes to tell us that our server is busy so he'll take our order. We weren't approached by our "real" server until we received our food and realized 1) he was one of the staff who was just hanging around earlier and 2) he had been attending to parties that arrived after us.. Dare I say that those parties were a shade lighter than us? Hmm.. I should note that by the time of my last visit, I went without any expectations of service (note I didn't say good service, just any kind of service). But I just can't pay to get discriminated against. Sorry, but not sorry.
(1)Jason F.
Came here before a concert so I assume it was more packed than a normal Tuesday night. We came down the stairs to the basement bar and found a standing spot at the bar since all the tables were taken and there really isn't room for bar stools. The staff seemed annoyed about the crowd that preceded my friend and I. The bartender was curt and blunt and I heard another server complain that everyone is going to ask for their check at the same time. I wasn't turned off by the staff as I A) Don't care and B) I've worked in a restaurant so I can relate. The draft beer selection is solid. They have about 8 rotating beers on the draft menu and there was a whole fridge full of bottles on display. I ordered a 1/3 lb bacon swiss burger with tots based on the reviews here and was very underwhelmed. The burger was very generic and reminded me more of a burger from Checkers. Nothing unique or gourmet about it. I also don't understand what is so special about the tater tots? Just your standard tots that are seasoned with salt. Big deal. Would I come here again? Yes, but I wouldn't go out of my way.
(3)Amanda P.
This place is pretty dive-y, if you don't know what you're looking for you'll probably miss the entrance. I've only been here once for Taco Tuesday (three tacos and a margarita for $12), but it was amazing. I got the chicken tacos and they do not skimp on the tacos at all, so delicious! The margarita was also good. I also got the old bay tater tots, which were a generous portion, enough to split three ways. I'll definitely be back for burger night, but overall it seems like a great place to get a reasonably priced bite and a drink.
(5)Marten S.
They were not willing to give me (25 years old) a beer, although I had a drivers license as well as an ID (both foreign) with me. Only my passport would have sufficed, which I - of course - don't carry with me all the time. I left without ordering anything. Big disappointment, won't go here again!
(1)Christopher O.
This was the first time I've been strongly displeased with my service at a restaurant. My friends and I sat down at 6pm. The restaurant wasn't particularly busy. Another server passes us our menus and let's us know that our server will be right over. Ten minutes later, the server shows up. My friend orders a burger and a beer while my other friend and I tally up our brews with no ideas of what we wanted for entrees. Ten minutes later, the beers are still not at the table but the food runner has already dropped my friend's burger. At 6:30, our server drops our beers off, saying he just has to ring up some food and he'll be right back. 6:40 rolls around and still no food has been ordered. Shortly after, we catch a glimpse of our server and he makes his way to us. We place orders and they are cooked in a timely manner. We immediately asked for checks in fear we might have to wait another hour. I'm not sure what was going on with Quarry House this time around, but this service was unacceptable. I've never had to wait more than 15 minutes to get beers to the table and food ordered. The food, on the other hand, was delicious. The Reuben was tasty and the Old Bay Tots were perfectly seasoned. The menu has always been phenomenal. I'll gladly go back, but I will avoid the server with the thick beard and tats (Sean might have been his name).
(2)Katelyn S.
We walked in, seated ourselves and waited for about 10 minutes for someone to give us menus, though several members of the staff walked by while we waited. But I'm so glad we stayed. The beer selection is incredible, and the food is insane. Once our server started talking to us, he was super friendly too. The beer menu had globs of ketchup all over the back of it (before we had napkins) and water, salt and pepper are all self-service from a crate with a water cooler on top of it. The service is more in line with what you'd expect from a cheap dive, but the pricing is more inline with a mid-scale restaurant. I'm picky about restaurants and service, and the positives of this place are totally worth all the negatives.
(4)Stef M.
WAHOO! No longer closed! Quarry House experienced a fire that temporarily closed the business, but they are open again in a temporary spot just across the street. The new address is: 8402 Georgia Ave Silver Spring, MD 20910. It's the former site of Piratz Tavern. The owner has said that they will stay in this space until their original space can be reoccupied. Great news for beer, whiskey and burger lovers alike! This place is a neighborhood gem. I love their rotating taps, and I also love that I can basically find any beer I've ever loved on their bottle list. If you want a fantastic belly bomb, get the bacon/cheddar/ranch burger and tots. I enjoy the service here. It's hands off - you get your own waters from a cooler - and some of the seats used to be bar service only so you'd have to order with the bartender. Doesn't bother me. It's a bar. The servers are also just cool. I've gotten some good book recommendations and tips for other places to check out in the area.
(5)Koral S.
The burgers are BOMB! And on Mondays they are 1/2 off if you have them there. Also heard their Tacos on Tuesday are really amazing but have not tried them yet. The dill dip they make is really tasty too with their home made chips ... but the TOTS, Yummy! The drinks are good, what you expect - and the service is decent. Don't expect much and you'll be good.
(4)Rhianna B.
Quarry house is a unique, no-nonsense diamond in the rough. If you don't know where it is, it's difficult to find--it doesn't have a sign outside and you have to go down some creepy stairs into a dark basement to get in. There is no hostess and it's extremely loud so don't expect a 5 star restaurant. Service is hit or miss. My server the first time I went there was extremely surly and almost rude, but the server the second time was much better. My only complaints would be the volume and the service. The food is great. There isn't a ton of variety and it's all typical bar food--wings, burgers, etc--but it's good. Make sure to try the tater tots! They come with the burgers. The beer and whiskey list is the best in silver spring. They have at least 6 pages worth of beers, some of which are expensive but probably worth it. They sell the typical big name beers but most on the list you've never heard of and it's great to branch out! I'm not a whiskey drinker but the whiskey list is pretty extensive as well.
(4)Duane M.
I went to Quarry House on a Friday night about 11:15 and it was free to get in and the guy at the door was pleasant and gave me a quick review and answered my questions. I walked in and went down the long hall to the bar and found a table. It was not crowded, maybe 9 people sitting at the bar and there were more people outback on the patio, but there were more couples than singles. I did order a bacon cheeseburger and chilli cheese tots. Not bad, not great either. The crowd looked as if Woodstock from the 60's just walked in and started hanging out. Very relaxed atmosphere and the music was "groovy" that's the only way I can explain it. Honestly don't expect upscale. If you want a laid back, low key place to chill and drink, this is your place. I will go back again, will try it on a Saturday next time
(4)Rob W.
Went there for the first time a few weeks ago. Great menu, great service. The beer and cider selection is awesome. The place had this cool Indy vibe. It was a good hang. Elliot and the other waiter that attended to our table were casual yet professional.
(5)Alexandra P.
Is the first time since I've been in DC, and why not, in other states, in where a restaurant REJECTS, not one, but any kind of foreign ID. I'm sorry, but for me that was rude, for not saying something worst. The funny thing is that my credit card was well accepted. This time I don't care about the waiter's service or the food, just that fact was more than enough for me to just simply never come back again.
(1)Ingrid H.
Quarry House bouncer unbelievably rude. As a mature person, with children all above their mid twenties, none of my family will likely patronize the place again. It's too bad, because we don't live far away, and it has been a place we have liked in the past. ,
(1)Annie T.
I felt like I was going to a secret underground club when going to Quarry House Tavern. There are no signs and you go down a set of stairs to get to the pub. I almost expected to have to give a secret knock to get in. Once I entered, I felt like I was in the Hobbit, a dingier version of Bilbo Baggins' house. I liked the decor of books on the wall and the place is a lot bigger than I thought it would be. A cool hangout for hipsters. It has a cool, chill, laid back atmosphere. I went here on a Monday for their 1/2 price burgers. I got the 1/3 lb with the pepper jack cheese and pico de gallo combo topping. It was delicious. I got the tatter tots as my side and it came with a lot! The tatter tots were cooked perfectly! Crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The tatter tots totally brought me back to the elementary school lunches I loved as a kid. All of that was $4 bucks!!! I didn't order a drink and if you want water, you have to get it yourself. I can't wait to go back to Quarry House to try their Taco Tuesdays!!! FYI: The check can only be split with 2 credit cards, so don't forget to bring cash!!
(4)Morgan M.
The service was poor. Of the three options they had on a draught, two of three were terrible. The Laughing Dog "beer" was disgusting and not labeled properly as a sour peach "drink/beer." The place is a waste of space and Silver Spring needs better.
(1)Simona P.
The perfect place to get a great beer and good beer food. O bay wings r the best. A fantastic selection of beer. Dont let the look or lacation of the place stop u from going in.
(5)Brian B.
2nd time to this temporary location. Honestly - the only reason this place is so popular is there is little competition. The room was VERY hot, the food is bar food - but nothing special. The hamburgers were frozen patties. It was SO DARK I could not read the menu. Service was friendly but too slow to be serious. And the best part - you had to go up to a water cooler and get your own water. Seriously. I admire the fact that they are open late - but if Silver Spring gets a few more restaurants to go with its population explosion - I think we're going to be REMEMBERING this place - NOT coming to this place - because it will be closed.
(2)Kassity L.
This review is overdue and is largely for their old location (before the fire). I imagine the food fare at their temporary location is still the same. Good burgers and wings. They have discounts on the burgers and wings on different days of the week (check their menu online - if it's still the same at their new location, their burgers are half live on Monday and they have wing deals on Wednesday). They also have 20% off whiskey on Wednesdays. They used to have a great selection of whiskey at their old location. Their new location doesn't really have that much of a selection. Hopefully they're able to recover from the fire and built up their whiskey collection again.
(4)Kassie E.
I title my review "Wait, am I in 'Little Hipsteria?" Hipsters UNITE! This is FOR YOU. The scene? Divey. Like the divest of diviest. Underground. "Speakeasy". As a girl who lived in Providence for a year, I am the EXPERT on hipsterism. This place goes BEYOND PBR and thrift shop threads and into the realm of uber hipster. I keep using this term but ppl once u visit and hear Johnny Cash and Neutral Milk Hotel and Ray Lamontague playing on the patron selected jukebox you'll know your in hipster paradise. As a woman of color raised by Jamaican immigrant parents I can assure you Im no hipster but damn it live in RI for a year and you become an expert. Lets start off with the food. Fried. Meaty. Pubby. Fair style food. I had the burger, tots and fried pickles. The burger was juicy and very well seasoned. Tots were average. Fried pickles were amazing!!!!! They were a bit chunky, Im used to them being cut smaller but i loved the experience of biting into this big glob of pickled cucumber. Our waitress was short with us but effective. Lets talk about drinks. I could write a 4 tiered, 6 book, adventure saga on the beer selection alone. I have NEVER ever in my Year-Long Providence experience seen sooo many beers!!! And trust me ya gurl has been to many a beer gardens in RI. Whatever creative, pretentious, demiurgic, inventive, innovative,annoyingly unique beer you want this place wrote the book on it. IM SERIOUS. The book of beers and scotches is at least 20 pages long. So why did I give it three stars? I could give two flying squirrel f^cks about beer and dive bars. The lights were dim and the atomosphere looked like a cross between Rosanne's basement and a hobbits hollow--not for me. So why did you go? I like a lil diversity in my outings (and my friend Andalisa made me go) haha. Will I go again? Methinks Not, but it was a great experience. If you love dive bars, pretentious beers and pub food in a dimly lit establishment then this place is for you.
(3)Shakiba R.
Delicious food, friendly staff, at good price ; all I could have asked. (The music may be a bit loud for some people)
(5)Dana C.
I love the Quarry House. It's dark, it's dank, and it's a dive. The food menu includes the ubiquitous tater tots that everybody else mentions but I have to add that this ancient dive bar has a veggie hot dog on its menu. How can I not love this bar?! Their beer menu is extensive; no excuse for ordering mass produced American piss water. Be forewarned that on weekends it is JAMMED. QH offers live music, an awesome jukebox, and pub trivia (Sunday evenings), too. Head down (13 steps down, to be precise) and squeeze into the packed space. You'll have a good time!
(4)matt s.
Great little hole-in-the-wall basement bar. Very comfortable, good bottled beer and bourbon lists, and really quite tasty burgers. I'd recommend the black and blue burger with a good Belgian quad. Yum.
(5)Adam H.
I LOVE the food here. I've been coming to QHT since 2010, usually on Sundays for Trivia or Mondays for burgers... but damn does the service here suck. After making my way down the dark, rapey stairwell I swing open the big wooden door and meander in. We manage to get a table within 15 minutes (a feat in itself, on burger night!) I ordered a drink and 2 burgers (hoping to take one home to my gf who wasn't feeling well enough to come out) and ask the second be placed in a to-go box. "If you want it to-go it's full price" "Fine," I reply, "bring it out in the basket (left unsaid: and I'll put it in a to-go box myself at the end)" I order both burgers with bacon, tater tots with old bay on the side, and a side of ranch for dipping. 30-40 minutes later when the food comes out, the old bay is unceremoniously (and heavily) dumped on half the tots, the other half completely bare. Neither of my burgers have bacon on them. I try to flag down the server, no luck there. I have to approach him at the computer while he's ringing in another order. "Hey man, they left the bacon off both of my burgers" "You didn't ask for bacon." "I did, but whatever. I don't want to send them back, can I just get bacon for my burgers?" He rings in the sides of bacon. 15 minutes later, still no bacon. My friends are now more than half done with their food and I see him again, "Hey man, can I get that bacon?" "Yeah, it's coming" 10 minutes later (now an hour after ordering) some guy walks out from the kitchen with ONE side of bacon, that's cold. "Keep your burgers, I'm not paying for this shit. here's 6 bucks for my $5 drink" I left. Service here is horrible unless you're sitting at the bar. Getting another round of drinks, near impossible unless you ask them when they bring your FIRST round. QHT: I get it, your servers are busy on burger night. And they're pissed that so many people show up for discounted meals... Doesn't excuse the fact that your staff still has a job to perform. And they suck at it. And for all the people raving about the tots: they're overcooked. don't mistake crispiness with being dried out and over-fried.
(2)Ravon H.
Awesome dive bar. If you aren't worried about having a fancy place this is a spite for you. It's a little hard to find because the sign is so small and it's in the basement of 3801 Georgia Ave. First impression is that this place is a dump just by looking at it. It's dim and drab with paper napkins and food baskets. The menu is simple American pub fare. I had a burger and half smoke sausage. Both were phenomenal. You can customize the burger to you liking with a variety of toppings. They both were cooked to perfection. The tater tots are to kill for. I mean crisp on the outside warm and soft inside, and not too greasy. I was full but could not stop eating them until every last one was gone. Draft beer menu is goo and they have nightly specials. Fully stocked bar if you want any cocktails as well. I will definitely be back. I kept hearing about the wings from other patrons so I need to give them a try. The only thing that kept it from a 5 star rating was the restroom.
(4)Chad H.
Oh Tots!! How I love thee!! Next time I promise to take better care of you and eat you right away!! xoxo This place is seriously difficult to find!! Enter through the alley behind the indian place...had to go into the coffee shop right there and was almost extorted by the owner...haha!! Tried the fried pickles and a burger as well which were good...but the Tots!! Oh My... I'm going back and will be eating there because the Tots deserve that kind of special attention...ok...I'll stop...tots...
(4)Sisley C.
This is definitely the most popular dive bar in the Silver Spring area. It's definitely easy to miss - there's no signage outside for it! But a tip for you newbies: There a slightly sketchy staircase on the side of Bombay Gaylord that you go down and then you're there! I come here every so often and it's definitely a cool place to hang out on a weeknight with some friends. Large (and interesting!) beer menu as well as a "grub menu," as they call it ;) They have wraps, wings, fried pickles, tacos, burgers, tots, etc. I highly recommend their tacos, tots (with old bay!), and burgers. The burgers are definitely really good and juicy... 1/2 price on Mondays! They also partake in Taco Tuesdays, where you can choose between chicken, veggie, or ground beef tacos for just $7 (for 3 of them). I'm not sure if you're allowed to mix and match though. I got the ground beef (as usual) and wow, these are amazing. Loaded with flavorful pico de gallo and a decent amount of meat (and cheese, but mine barely had any... bummer). Definitely worth the $7. Okay... now the tots. THESE THINGS ARE AMAZING. People say, "Oh, you can't mess up tots." Yes you can. They can be soggy, un-flavorful, oily, and the list goes on. But these (along with old bay) are so f-ing good. The only downfall to this place is that their cash register/receipt printing machine is so old school. Instead of listing each item that you ordered, like 1 taco special for $7, 1 Stella for $5, etc., the receipt says "1 grub for $7, 1 booze for $5, etc." Um... It is 2014. Get your s*** together and get a real system in place! This is so annoying to deal with when you're with large groups. Oh by the way - another downfall - they can only split between two credit cards maximum at one table. Also annoying.
(4)Kate M.
Chill bar. Good food. Awesome drink selection (including cider and alcoholic ginger beers!) What more can I say?
(5)C. H.
Loved this place at the old location. Even with the Get your water out of a cooler business model they have. But now. they have removed specials. No more discount wing nights. no more 2$ tacos. Waiters dont properly wipe a table down, dont check in on you dont clean the menus. Also the food quality is down hill since the old chef isnt cooking anymore. Trust me.. this IS NOT THE OLD quarry.
(1)Opie M.
DC Brau tap takeover thursday... 9-19 This time with an awesome guitarist melding old school blues with newer ear bleeding clapton slow hand skills. Love to go here for the live music, and can count on some kind of rockabilly on saturday night, With DC Brau on tap and Cask Ale on special occasions this place rocks. Then I ate a rubbery chicken tender, With the PBR semi coating, The honey BBq sauce is fine, The hot bbq sauce was too hot. Came back for live music Had a saucony creek stonefly Ipa Will be replaced with a Brickinridge lucky u Ipa
(4)Pooja K.
The essence of a dive bar without the grime. I really enjoyed visiting my friend here. We went in on a thursday night and spent some quality time together. There are two rooms, the bar area and a sitting area in the back that looks like it has the set up for a band to play. Its spacious despite being underground. The entrance is a bit hard to find, its just a staircase on the corner of georgia and bonifant ( near bombay galord) and if you're by the pirates den, you are right across the street from it. We got 2 angry orchards( 6$each) , one glenlivet with soda and one makers mark with soda. Total : 28$. Really an affordable place. I havent tried their food but im hoping to get my hands oily with some of their tater tots. Their ambiance was divey-consistent : a mix of alternative rock, some jazz towards the end and a little bit of metal. I enjoyed the jazz towards the end. Last call was at 1:30am. Also, if you're sitting at a table, it doesn't matter- you walk to the bar and order ( there are signs by the table that indicated this, however, my partner missed the sign, so i thought to mention). Women's bathroom was extremely clean, located near the back of the seating area ( where the band set up is). Parking: side street. Or theres a parking deck on Georgia and wayne that was free to the public. Its about a 1.5 block walk from there, def recommended. Super friendly bartenders, decent prices, whats not to love? If im in the area, this is where im headed!
(4)Ana P.
I was not sure what to expect coming to Quarry House Tavern (QHT), so I was excited to read a bit on Yelp to get an idea. The reviews about this place are spot on. BP and I met a bunch of his friends here for Wednesday Wings Night. BP ordered one batch of Spicy BBQ and another batch of Old Bay wings. Silly me, I ordered the Ruben (with the tots). The wings were $9 for 9 wings, but if 18 are ordered, they come out to $17. The tots of course were mind-blowing and worth all the hype read here on Yelp. They of course, were the perfectly bite-sized , so very crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. They were not overly greasy or even salty. I just loved them and wish I could have them more often. Moving on to the wings: The Spicy BBQ wings were a bit too saucy. We both have had messy wings, but these were smothered in sauce. It was very overwhelming at times, especially because we were not provided any moist towelettes. We also expected the wings to be a bit hotter, but they were very mild. BP and I enjoyed the Old Bay wings a lot. These were a dry-rub, not a sauce (just FYI). The wings were fried which were very crispy on the outside and well-cooked on the inside. Because the wings were crispy, they were a bit rough on my lips. Scraped lips and Old Bay don't mix! In fact, they burned! But, I kept eating since it was all so delicious. Since I was distracted with the tots and BP's wings, I ignored my Ruben. The sandwich had a lot of sauerkraut and my bread was basically soaked because of it. I did not like the sauerkraut as much as I though I would have.... Perhaps I should have gotten the Rachel (coleslaw instead of the kraut). The meat on the sandwich was delicious so I ended up scraping the kraut off the soggy bread and ate the meat with some yellow mustard. Something to know is that the wait staff do not serve water. QHT has a pretty cool watering hole. Just bring your glass and grab your water whenever you want a fill. I cannot wait to come back here! We got a bit lucky with the parking. Parked in a Public Parking lot where the normally metered parking is free after 7pm. The lot was well lit, spacious, and close to the restaurant. I am sorry I did not note the street x_____X
(5)Timothy C.
I like to think that Quarry House doesn't want to be discovered, and that's what makes it popular. A little staircase leads you under an Indian restaurant, and you open the door and you are in a basement with a bar and a kitchen and a small back room stacked with beer and whisky cases, with probably too many tables and an old-school jukebox. Everything is kind of claustrophobic, but I get the feeling that the guests like it that way. There are about a BILLION whiskies, and a small, but good and unique beer selection. I've had a bacon burger with tots, which was pretty good, and a quesodilla that was better than I thought it would be. I also ordered some fried pickles one time, and the pickles were long, thick slivers with a light breading, but they retained too much of the fryer heat and burned my mouth. They didn't cool down to eating temperature for 10 minutes; I feel like that's on the kitchen, not me. A pretty cool vibe, and they have live music every once in a while. The service is spotty and minimal (you get your own water out of a cooler) and I won't stay away because of the pickle incident, but I would be wary of anything fried - just give it a test first to spare the roof of your mouth.
(3)Mayra O.
Really good burgers. The new location has lots more room. Wings are really good and so are the tots. Super crispy and not greasy. They also have a wide variety of beer. Monday nights is half price burgers!!! I just wish they were open for lunch :(
(5)Michael H.
Love this place. I went to the basement a week before the fire for some burgers. could not believe it when i hard the news. Still need to go to the new location but i'm sure it's equally amazing. Love the selection of burgers, booze, and tots. But best of all, the waitstaff is so friendly.
(5)Carl n.
4 stars after 390 reviews seems about right. A lot of places try too hard to be all divey and comes off as tacky and/or forced and/or insincere..If this place is trying, you dont see it..They just pride themselves on a great beer selection which gets plenty of stars from me!
(4)Ivan S.
*This rating only reflects my most recent experience which left me bitterly disappointed, because this was always my favorite place to meet friends for burgers and beer. Up until recently I would only give this place 5 stars.* Like I said, this place was always considered legendary by my friends and I. The Mondays we could all drive or metro from Rockville to get the BEST burgers, tater tots, homemade ranch, and great beer will remain as some of the best memories from my college years. I could never imagine a place with such a warm atmosphere, great beer variety, and phenomenal food all tied up into one package. The fact that The Quarry was always such a cherished place to me is why I am left so devastated by my most recent visit (the visit my rating is based on, and a visit which is likely to be my last). We arrived to the same welcoming buzz of activity and made our way to the long area of dining tables in the back. The table furthest back where the stage is, surrounded by various crates of beer, was unoccupied so the three of us sat down and started eagerly browsing what was on draft that night. Everything appeared just as great then. Lot's of beer to choose from, and the promise of delicious half priced burgers to come. The waiter brought us all beer and started taking our food order. When my turn came to order, I went through my preferences (medium-rare, tater tots, toppings..). I ended by saying like usual that I want a fried egg on my burger. To my surprise, the waiter interrupted me and said "We have a new cook, he doesn't do the egg". I didn't know what to say. "Doesn't do the fried egg?". I asked if he doesn't do it out of principle, or why, but got no answer... So I thought to myself "ok, no egg, but surely other than that the food will be as amazing as usual". In the back of my mind there was a sense of worry though, and that sense turned out to be justified when the food finally made its way to our table. Just looking at what was laid out before me I could tell that the burgers I was always in love with were a thing of the past. The patty was completely round and flat, and looked like it came prepackaged rather like the hand made burgers I always had before. The bun looked different. the tater tots were not golden brown and looked undercooked. The homemade ranch which was always so amazing still looked like ranch, but came in a different container. The feelings of anxiety were now bubbling with increasing intensity. I began to eat and that's when it became clear that everything about the food I once loved so much, was gone. The bun: soggy, starchy and enormous, diluting the other sorry ingredients the burger had to offer. The bacon was hard as a rock and flavorless. The meat was ok, but not nearly as juicy and flavorful as in the past. Even the tater tots were ruined. They were of a much cheaper brand and not cooked properly. Where as before the tots would be perfectly crisp and golden, these were soaked in oil and mushy. I pleaded for the ranch to at least be the buttery whipped perfection it always was, but even here I was slapped with disappointment. It was made from some cheap seasoning mix and tasted acidic, and not the least bit creamy. So I sat there on the verge of tearing up (I'm not exaggerating), reminiscing of the old days but knowing that the magical blend of happiness was gone. It was like saying goodby for the last time to an old childhood friend. Still, I wanted answers... When the waiter returned I asked him: " Can you provide me with any reason as to why there's a new chef? The food was always excellent." He hesitated for a moment, then spoke: "Yeah the food was always great....there's a good reason.....S**t went down..." I suppose that was his way of saying its none of my business, but we know it's not the same, and there were serious issues between the kitchen and management on some kind of level. The feelings of profound sadness followed me home that night and I knew I had to write about them to get things off my chest and warn all others who consider The Quarry House Tavern a sacred place.
(2)Herschel S.
Half-off burgers on a Monday is the reason I love going here. They cook the burger to order. Burgers are delicious as well as the tots. I agree with one of the reviewers here that this place got a four stars from me because of the funky smell when you first go in. Also,I saw a cockroach by the wall. Bathroom is a little icky too. But hey for the yummy food, music and price, you'd enjoy it here.
(4)Erin B.
I happened upon this place with some friends. Super-intimate basement bar. I went on a Saturday so there happened to be an awesome rockabilly band. Only drawback was that I had NO CLUE where my server was, another server I flagged down actually helped me out a few times and showed me who my own server was. Wish I'd sat on the other side of the room so I didn't have to go hungry and thirsty. It's a fun place, but whoever my server was needs some serious intervention.
(3)