Barcode DC: Restaurant, Bar, Lounge and Chameleon?
It’s no secret that Barcode has been a smash-hit since its opening, but what remains a mystery is how this versatile chameleon can seamlessly change between a Restaurant, Bar, and Lounge and still flourish and thrive without mushing together.
Being right in the middle of DC’s Golden Triangle, it is surrounded by offices and foot traffic in a vibrant, pedestrian heavy neighborhood. But location alone isn’t enough to attract a crowd in the corporate paradise. It takes a little bit more finesse and substance, which Barcode has in spades, and as one Yelper put it “The decor is sleek and modern, but without a pretentious air”.
Lunch
During the afternoon, it’s a prime lunch spot. It’s bright, warm, clean, and professional. It’s a place people feel comfortable bringing their coworkers, friends, and even their bosses without giving it a second thought. The service is quick and responsive, the menu has something for everyone, and it all comes out of the kitchen in a hurry.
Sandwiches, Small Plates, Burgers, Pizzas, Pastas, and Full-Fledged Entrees. You can actually get a complete real lunch for under $15. There’s even freshly brewed coffee, espresso, cappuccino, latte, tea, and Red Bull to give your day a boost.
Happy Hour
After the lunch crowd has retreated back into their offices, the Happy Hour crowd starts trickling in for the half-price drinks weekdays from 3pm – 7pm. The atmosphere is lively and casual as people put their workday behind them and raise a pint to toast the end of another successful day.
The large communal booths and ample seating means people don’t have to stand on their feet all evening, and the music barely chimes above the din of chatter, so you can actually sit, relax, and enjoy a conversation with friends.
When the weather is nice, most of the facade of Barcode opens up like a pavilion to the spacious outdoor patio out front, providing a great space to hang out and enjoy the evening.
Dinner
As Happy Hour winds down, the dinner crowd picks up as people from all a cross town migrate over to have dinner. The vibe is relaxed, the air is casual, the mood is perfect for an exquisite dinner without the pretentiousness of a formal restaurant. It works well for a date, a group outing, or even a big birthday event. With the large communal booths and huge tables, they can accept reservations for parties as large as 24 people for dinner.
The menu is a great mix of culinary masterpieces and simple hits. On the fancy side there are things like: Grilled Atlantic Salmon, Filet Mignon, Grilled Calamari and Mussels.
On the traditional side there are things like: the Burger, Margherita Pizza, Blackened Organic Chicken, French Fries, and Mushroom Soup.
Cocktails
By the time dinner is done, this part of DC is a total ghost town. The offices are abandoned, the streets are vacant, the stores are dark, and the tumbleweeds blow down Connecticut Avenue across K street and eventually come to rest at the top of the eternally broken escalator at the Dupont Circle Metro. But it’s at this hour that, revelers from the area start making their way out for a night on the town, and Barcode is the ideal spot for Cocktails, Wine, and Cheese as the night picks up.
The lights go down and the music comes up a little as people enjoy refreshments and light hors d’oeuvres over candlelight in a laid-back setting. It’s not in-your-face or pretentious, but rather quite chill. And if there’s a big game going on, you better believe it’ll be on all 10 HDTV screens and the big video projector! One can even get a bottle of wine and enjoy the ambiance on their heated outdoor patio.
Late Night
Late Night fun starts as the Cocktails crowd makes its way to the next stop on the tour or heads home for the night (depending on their age). Now it’s time to party like a professional. Barcode is the serious lounge for people who are in-the-know about DC nightlife. VIP tables, Bottle Service, DJs, Sports on TV, Mixed Drinks, and even a little Dancing dominate the late night feel of Barcode.
DJs Saam, Kidlucky and Kam keep the party going strong into the night alongside special guests. And yes, the kitchen is open till at least 12am! So if you’ve got a late-night craving for some damn good food, but don’t want to leave the party, Barcode’s got you covered.
Overall
It’s really an impressive place that progressively steps up its game as the day wears into night. Like a chameleon, it changes moods and styles to match the changing world around it. Surprisingly, it’s daily cycle of change was dictated not by management, but rather by the people who came to hang out.
For you see, the owners never set out any rules or guidelines for when Barcode should be what. They just opened the doors and let the place take on a life of its own.
Barcöde Celebrates One Year of DC Nightlife
A new approach to nightlife in Washington DC
Bar-Cöde celebrates its 1 Year Anniversary
The highly anticipated November 2010 opening of Barcode Restaurant, Bar and Lounge brought with it a slightly new concept to DC nightlife.
While many DC restaurants, lounges and bars focus on one specific niche, Barcöde has attempted to penetrate three.
Catering to 21+ young professionals, the DC lounge has an extensive selection of bottled and draft beers, wines and specialty cocktails.
The kitchen, open ’til midnight, features reasonably priced American classics with a twist. Customer favorites include the Avocado Dip; the wide selection of brick oven, thin crust pizzas; and the Tiramisu.
The popular happy hour features half-off drink specials and carries into the night with DJs and sporting events and fights. The DC bar features ten 42″ HDTVs and two 70″ HD projectors.
Barcöde’s Tuesday happy-hour was voted Best in DC by the Washington Post!
Barcode’s 1 Year Anniversary event happens on Saturday November 5th and features complimentary cocktails and hors d’oeuvres from 10PM-11PM.
The party kicks-off with DJ Saam and DJ Kam on the decks! A Champagne toast will be held at midnight.
To your left, Bar Manager and Beverage Mixologist Ari Wilder explains the ‘how-to’ for creating the Barcode specialty cocktail known as the Orchard Storm.
I’m very proud of what Barcode has become over the last year. I’ve witnessed the food, staff and clientele evolve. The place has a comfortable feel, and the customers respond to it. We now have many regulars that love the food and atmosphere. Sports have become a big attraction by popular demand. For 2012, we’re focusing on consistency and improved service.
-Antonis Karagounis, Owner
The Bar
- Specialty Cocktails
- Over 30 different beers
- Vast Wine Selection (by the glass or bottle)
- Happy Hour Specials – half priced drinks from 3-7PM (M-F) and 5-7PM (Sat), half off wine Tuesdays, and Sunday $1 beer specials
The Restaurant
- Headed by Chef Giovanni Orellana
- Dishes like the Butternut Squash Tortelli, the Spicy Organic Chicken, and the Pancetta Macaroni and Cheese
- Small plates, custom Neapolitan style pizzas, sandwiches, pastas and desserts
- Kitchen open until Midnight
The Lounge
- Past acts include DJ Pauly D, DJ Enferno, Pleasurekraft, Saeed Younan, Havana Brown
- Frequented by local professional athletes and world-class DJs
- Parties range from Top 40/Mash-Up to Latin, House and Hip-Hop
- Bottle Service
- Valet
The Game
- Two 70″ projectors
- Ten 42″ HDTV’s
- $1 beer specials for NFL Sundays
- UFC fights nights
- Free WiFi for your fantasy needs!
A sophisticated and comfortable atmosphere sans red velvet ropes, dress code, uptight VIP nonsense. Barcode has been a refreshing addition to clubs in DC. It’s one of the few DC venues that offers something for everyone – all at the same time! Whether you’re looking for a relaxed lunch, after work cocktail, lavish dinner, the game, or a night of dancing… guests will find everything they’re looking for at Barcode.
New Year’s Eve Gala at Barcode Lounge DC
Barcode provides a completely different atmosphere for celebrating New Year’s Eve in DC, combining the energy and partying of New Year’s Eve with the relaxing yet upscale Bar and Lounge experience that’s made Barcode famous!
Its the perfect spot for those who want to rock out on NYE in DC without dealing with the loud music, long lines, and big nightclub feel.
The night starts out with a big buffet showcasing the very best of Barcode’s Menu. From the Grilled Salmon Fillets and the Beef Strip Loin to the Risotto Croquettes and the Cheese Platter, there’s something on the menu for everyone.
After the buffet clears out, DJ Saam cranks up the music as people get a little crazy for the impending new year! The Ball Drop will be on all the TVs and Projectors as people dance in the aisles or chill at their tables with a cocktail. The music will feature the wide range of Dance, Top 40, and House that has made Saam such an awesome success as a DJ in DC.
Get your tickets now: Barcode New Years Eve Tickets
An inside look at Barcöde, DC’s newest Restaurant, Bar, Lounge!
Located in the heart of the corporate section of downtown DC on the corner of 17th and L, Barcode Restaurant, Bar, Lounge is already creating quite a stir among all the DC Restaurants, DC Bars, and DC Lounges because of its unique nature. By day, its an upscale restaurant and bar perfect for a quick lunch or happy hour after work. By night, its a luxurious bar & lounge that’s great as a dinner and cocktails destination or just a place to get wine and cheese. Late at night, its a great place to lounge, hang out, and party in style.
Inside, you’ll find Marble bartops, Leather seats, 10 HD TVs, Heated outdoor patio, Hardwood accents, Glass walls, LED lighting, and candlelit tables. With the simple touch of a button, the entire venue changes color as thousands of LEDs throughout the walls, ceilings, and floors change colors, flooding the room with brilliant light in a dazzling display of technology. And yet even with all these refinements, cutting edge effects, and upscale amenities, its still a place where you can always find the big sports games on the TVs. Its a place you’ll have to see to believe.
What To Eat
The first thing you’ll notice when you see the barcode menu is that this is no ordinary bar menu. If you’re looking for something to snack on while watching the game or enjoying a few beers with coworkers, try the Avocado Dip with parmesan cheese, dry tomatoes, and fresh oven bread cracker or the Grilled Calamari with spicy olive oil, roasted garlic, and lemon. You could also go with a glass of wine and the Fontina Melted Cheese and Fresh Bread.
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If you’re looking for a real meal, Barcode’s got you covered. Try the Beef Strip Loin or the Grilled Salmon. Both of which are delicately seasoned and flame grilled to perfection for an intense mouth watering flavor. The Pesto Pasta is also a great choice, lightly seasoned with basil, its a guaranteed hit. If you’re up for something simple, get the Barcode Pizza, made the way you like it in our real brick pizza oven from fresh dough made right here at Barcode.
Happy Hour at Barcode is also ridiculous, with Half Price Beer, Wine, and Rail Drinks, the place gets packed with nearby office workers looking to blow off some steam after a long day in the office. It runs daily from 4pm – 7pm, and has already become a staple in the neighborhood after only a few short weeks. There’s even a heated outdoor patio to sit back and enjoy with friends when the weather is nice.
There’s also late night entertainment with DJs and performers playing in the Lounge! Tuesdays feature Glow Presents: Saeed Younan, Thursdays feature the sounds of Chris Stiles, Fridays showcase DJ Saam, and Saturdays have DJ Kam. All the nightlife events are strictly 21+, no dress code, no cover charge. The best part about the late night events is that the Kitchen is open ’till 12am, which means you can drink, party, and dine late into the night!
Barcode is a pretty impressive spot. Where else in DC can you find a single venue that is a fantastic spot for a quick lunch, then a perfect happy hour bar, then a great dinner and cocktails destination, then a full-fledged bar and lounge? Only Barcode.
Open Daily: Noon – 2am (weekdays), 5pm – 3am (weekends)
Kitchen: Open ’till 12am
Happy Hour: 4pm – 7pm, Half off all beer, wines, and rail drinks.
Location: 1101 17th Street NW Washington DC (Entrance is on L street, next to the coffee shop)
Website: www.barcodedc.com
Barcode: DC Restaurants, DC Lounges, DC Bars
