B Side

I have turned this into my version of a Neighborhood pub, and I am always excited to go there.
The food is always at least an 8/​10, no matter what I order. I’m a big, BIG fan of the Fried Green Tomato BLT, and anytime they do Brussels sprouts. The menu changes almost seasonally and I’m always happy to try something new.
The drinks are also great. They have a fantastic beer menu, but the cocktails are criminally underrated. As a former chef, I’m always impressed with what Gina comes up with for me. The last time she made the most amazing sour for my girlfriend, and made me this amazing honey flavored drink. You’ll be lucky if you get her as your bartender!

4 stars for B Side. This is a tiny and intimate restaurant located in the mosaic district next to moms grocery. B Side serves up really delicious speciality drinks and has an awesome menu full of small plates to share at your table.
The fries in duck fat are AMAZING!!! The perfect little side dish to drink with your beer. The chicken platter is well cooked, leaving the chicken pretty moist (sorry I hate that word too) yet crispy.
The only reason I’m deducting 1 star is because service was really bad. When he placed down the meat/​cheese tray, he rushed through the items he knew and never came back to tell us the ones he was unsure about. We waited long intervals inbetween our beer orders and our waters were never refilled.
Will definitely be back here to try other items on the menu!

Really good food, and an extensive craft beer menu. Definitely a Hipster hangout. The bacon pâté is really good. Make sure you ask about gluten free options BEFORE you order because the menu isn’t exactly clear on what the dishes contain, nor does it have items designated as GF, although the beer menu does.

Went for pre-​dinner cocktails on a Saturday night — wonderful drinks. A bit expensive, but that’s not atypical in the Merrifield Mosaic District. I got the Love Street (essentially a tom collins with basil) and my date had a 59^th St. Drinks were strong and tasty.
Only complaint was possibly the waitstaff that just hung out at the bar chatting with the bartender. Not particularly professional for patrons to «hang out» with the waitstaff, but there’s not a lot of other space in the place for them to stand, so I understand.
I’ll likely be back in the future for another round!

This is my favorite American restaurant. My girlfriend and I checked this place out because we live close by and we had a gift card. Amazing selection of wine and beer. All that fancy stuff to eat with wine that came with it was very good too. Cheeses and pâté spreads. But the real low down is the beef fat fries. Facckkking amazing. I love french fries and these bad boys are definite on my list of favorite fries. So crispy and the roasted garlic puts that shit over the top. Another one of my favorite dish was their cheesey polenta. Usually I’m not crazy about cheese but this dish got it. Definitely order the bone marrow and the rotissifried chicken was bomb. Service is fantastic but the place is a bit small. My recommendation is going during a time is not busy like Sunday afternoon.

Located in the always busy Mosaic District, this cute little rustic place gets a well deserved 4.2 stars.
Even though very narrow, this place can accommodate a good number of people either at the bar or their tables against the wall.
Beer lovers, B Side has a ridiculously extensive list of beers. And our waitress was knowledgeable enough to help my friend pick something more up his alley. I’m not a beer drinker, so I went with their cocktails — most of which are bourbon based. Love their creative names for drinks (e.g. Love Street, Don’t Let Me Down, I Don’t Even Know Myself, etc). I tried their Love Street and Don’t Let Me Down and those did not disappoint. While I could taste the alcohol, it was just the right amount of it. They also have an ample selection of wines.
For appetizers, you can pick from delicious cheeses or meats served just like sushi. We tried their Brabander Goat Gouda and Smoked Pimento Cheese. The goat gouda was good, but nothing special. I did want to lick the dish after I was done with scrubbing off the last ounce of the pimento cheese :)
For our entrees, we ordered the Smokehouse Burger and Butcher’s Cut. My burger was alright, but wasn’t too impressed with the bun. My friend’s butchers cut was quite delicious, however it was pretty cold as if it’d been waiting for the waitress to pick it up. Our waitress also recommended we tried their fries, didn’t taste anything special.
Overall had a pleasant evening at this tiny, perfect for a stress free date.

Cool atmosphere and concept, but our experience was below average. We ordered the risotto fritters, they were tasty but only 3 to an order and literally smaller than the size of a ping pong ball, it was actually laughable how small the order was. Also had The rotisserie chicken which came out cold. the kitchen corrected our order but it was still pretty average when considering the price point. Extensive beer and wine list, with a serious upcharge on draft beer and smaller pours, 10 ounces on average.
Overall a cool concept and atmosphere but very overpriced for a suburban mall type restaurant.

So this was a pleasant little surprise in the back of Mosaic, just a few doors down from Mom’s Organic Market. We arrived Saturday evening, we were running late but our friends were already there and got a spot in to request a table which was about a 45 minute wait with a 6PM arrival time (of my friends). The place is quite small so I can see why the wait can be a bit, and the place is crowded.
They work in conjunction with Red Apron the butcher next door. They also pride themselves on locally sourced meats. They have nice starter options you can order a charcuterie tray with assorted meats and cheeses, as our server described its sort of like ordering sushi style. We skipped over all that because frankly we were hungry and thirsty. They have some lovely looking specialty cocktails, although one of the members of our group ordered on and for $ 12 the glass just seemed rather small although she did say it was really good. They also have a huge beer selection that basically takes up 1 page of a legal size piece of paper that the menu appears to be on but in a rustic brown color. They also had a nice wine selection which is what I went with. I got a glass of rose which was good.
As for our food, most got the burger who all said it was quite yummy. I got the rotisserie fried chicken, also really yummy, perfectly cooked, and my husband got meatloaf which he loves meatloaf, the waitress told him that was a good call because its coming off the menu soon. Not sure perhaps they keep with a seasonal model. We also got the beef fat fries which were really good too. We got the brownie dessert which was just ok, I think next time I return I’d probably skip dessert since it wasn’t much to write home about.
The portions are on the smallish side for what you pay so that’s part of the reason for knocking off a star, also its really loud in there you can hear your dining companions speak only if they speak loudly.
Would I return absolutely for a special occasion or a fun date night which it sort of was for my husband and I although we were celebrating my friend’s birthday and frankly we’ve been living at home depot most Saturdays for the past few months so this was a much needed change of pace.

Ok, we had a great dinner at B Side. We were in the area to see a movie at the Angelika, and since we got out of the movie at prime dinnertime we decided to see what was in the area. Obviously, Unilocaled it and settled on B Side for one reason: «fries fried in beef fat.» Yes, please.
We walked down to B Side, and popped in on the butcher side. It was a little unclear where to go to get food — so if this happens to anyone else, B Side is a restaurant in its own right so if they have the front door closed and you need to go through Red Apron, just head immediately right into the restaurant, the host stand is in the corner by the window. They have a communal table, a bar, and many 2 – 4 seaters. Despite being fairly crowded (and small!) we were seated right away. Our initial server wasn’t great, but she only brought our water and menus and thankfully the woman who came after was FANTASTIC. She complimented our choices and offered recommendations when she found out it was our first time. She checked in regularly, but we never felt rushed. Some of the best service I’ve had in a long while!
We ended up ordering two cocktails to start, and both were fantastic. Even when we ordered our second round we tried two different drinks which were also great. Leads me to believe you cannot go wrong when it comes to cocktails at B Side. For an appetizer we got the pork rinds — my dining partner was in heaven. They’re made in house, and are fried to perfection. They’re so good, in fact, when I mentioned going to B Side while at work the next day the first question I got was, «did you get the pork rinds???» For entrees we got the rotissifried chicken and the butcher’s cut, which that night was a 4 oz cut from the top of the round served with a garlic butter and sauce. The rotissifried chicken is like the better cousin of KFC (juicy and perfectly fried without the breading), and the honey hot sauce complimented it perfectly. The butcher’s cut was cooked perfectly to my requested medium, and I wish I had a whole jar of that garlic butter. Obviously, we got the fries and holy cow — frying things in beef fat is the way to go. Other than beef, it’s got cloves of garlic and rosemary as well. Loved every bite and we shared back and forth the whole night.
The food is very reasonably priced, it’s the cocktails that will get you. It seems like $ 12 cocktails is the norm for NOVA, which is a shame when 1 drink nearly equals your entrée! So although they’re competitive and the drinks were very well crafted, it still feels strange to pay the same amount for 1 drink as a meal. If you don’t want liquor, they do have tons of bottles of beer accessible, just allow for some time for them to be chilled just for you.
The ambiance is perfect for a casual date night, or a night out with friends. We’re very much looking forward to returning.

Got the mushroom bolognese for dinner and though it’s a bit pricey, it’s not a bad dish at all. The portion size may catch you off guard as its perfect for one person (and one person only) which is not the norm at many restaurants these days. I would definitely recommend getting the beef fat fries! They come out freshly fried and delicious. My boyfriend tried the pork meatball as an appetizer and don’t get shocked bc it’s only one meatball, literally only one. The meat was pretty good again as they are known for their meats here but this small dish was not anything that I would crave. If you love Red Apron’s burgers then you won’t be disappointed as its the same burger here.
B-​side also has an enormous collection of drinks so get ready for your mind to be blown by their drinks menu. Love the intimate atmosphere and will def come back for food and drinks soon!

Mosaic Mall has been growing rapidly and has been adding on cool new restaurants including this one. It’s away from the hustle and bustle of the main street but definitely more relaxing and intimate. I like the skinny long bar where you can park yourself, order your choice of beer, cocktails, wine or whiskey while chatting up with your bar neighbors and friendly bartenders. If I lived in the area, I will probably come everyday and just make it one of my secret getaways.
Food can get better but somethings are worth trying for sure:
Burgers are amazing. The right size, good sauce and simple. Burgers are too complicated these days with too jam packed with «other» stuff. I’m a simple guy.
Brussel sprouts are over fried in my opinion and can also be little bigger in size. It should have been less fried and more filling.
Meatballs served inside of tiny pot is truly the winner here. It’s a big meatball stuff inside the kettle pot with polenta and cheese has the right texture and taste.
Pig Wings are ok. It could be cooked little more and less seasoning or perhaps more glaze. It just felt undercooked and tough. Great idea. I had something similar in TN and they did it right.
I hope to come back soon.

Came here to finish off our new years eve meal with some beer and a charcuterie plate. I loved the dim lighting, gorgeous bar, and as an ardent meat and beer lover, I felt like this menu was made for me.
For our beverage of choice we opted to get something on draft, my boyfriend ordered the Allagash Curiex and I ordered the Nikassi Noir and we loved both. The tripel was my personal favorite over the stout, but both packed a punch and were delicious.
For our plate, we ordered the salami, beef jerky, goat gouda, and olives to share. The plate came out with bread, fruit spread, and mustard. My favorites was the beef jerky which was smoky and had this fancy cheese whiz sauce on the side to dip. The fruit spread and mustard went very well with the meat and cheese.
I can’t wait to come back to try out the dinner menu. I got my eye on the Pork Belly!

We figured that we would get to B Side at some point. What prompted us to finally try it was Zagat’s list of the 10 best burgers in DC:
B Side came in at number 5
We decided to have an early dinner on a Saturday around quarter to 5. Since we heard that it gets really busy as the evening progresses, we were glad that we did go early. At that hour, there were still plenty of tables available. Upon entering, the bartender told us to sit wherever we liked. So we chose a 4 top at the end of a long banquette.
Our server was prompt in getting to us. She was friendly and knew the menu quite well. They have quite an extensive beer menu so she said should we get beer to point to the one on the menu that we wanted. My husband chose a beer called Devil’s Backbone which is described as being «crisp» on the menu. He liked it and said he would have it again.
I chose a mixed drink called «love street». This drink consists of: «citadelle gin, simple syrup, lemon, basil, black peppercorn». It turned out to be a very well made drink. My husband, who usually doesn’t order mixed drinks, took a sip and said that he liked it. The lemon and basil went well together without one overpowering the other. That said, I didn’t taste any black peppercorn but I didn’t mind.
Of course, we both ordered the Red Apron burger which consists of: «cheddar, iceberg lettuce, island sauce, onion, pickles, tomato». I asked the server what island sauce was and she said it was similar to Russian dressing. So we both asked if we could get the sauce on the side and our request was honored. As an aside — why is it that so many places have a special sauce for their burgers and that sauce always seems to be a riff on Russian dressing? — I ask rhetorically.
We shared an order of beef fat fries which consist of: «garlic confit, Rosemary, ranch aioli». Much as I looked forward to trying these fries there’s something about hearing they are cooked in beef fat that has you just about feeling your arteries clogging. Ah… but everything in moderation…
We both got our burgers cooked medium. I must say that when we bit into them, we noticed just how juicy they were and we enjoyed them. Yet, I found myself thinking that they weren’t out of the ordinary — decent and tasty, yes — but top 10 worthy? We didn’t think so. Still, if we were in the Mosaic District and wanted a burger, we would go again.
The fries were, indeed, tasty — of course they were — most high fat foods are LOL! There was a generous amount of fried garlic cloves and fried Rosemary which went very well with the fries. The fries were crispy on the outside and soft and moist on the inside. We found that sharing a side of them was just enough.
Before the tip, dinner was $ 46 + change. My drink cost $ 2 more than the burger. I imagine when the place is very busy, it can feel really cramped so we’re glad we went early. The background music is on the loud side. We don’t regret going and if we go again, I would try something else.

Since I’ve recently moved into the neighborhood, my goal is to try every restaurant in Mosaic District (that I haven’t already tried yet). B Side is attached to Red Apron Butcher and next to Mediterrafish, in the same vicinity as Mom’s and Floyd’s 99 Barbershop.
I’m not really a big fan of cocktails (I’m more of a beer and wine girl) but I decided to start off with Don’t Let Me Down. The heat and muskiness was felt with every sip and I regretted my choice after seeing their extensive beer menu that I’ll try next time around. But like I said, I’m not much of a cocktail drinker and my roommate finished my drink and said it was tasty.
We started off with the roasted cauliflower, risotto fritters, and beef fat fries to share amongst the 6 of us. All of the appetizers were a hit — especially the beef fat fries! I ordered the sweet corn spaghetti and everybody else ordered the Red Apron Burger. The portions were small (we shouldn’t be overeating anyway) but the overall quality and taste of the food was great!
The décor is rustic and intimate, and the lighting is dimmed throughout the whole restaurant. There aren’t any TVs at the bar which was a nice touch for those who would like to have their next date night here. I’d love to come back again soon to try their beers and the other dishes on their menu.

B Side is a small, intimate, bar/​restaurant (emphasis on small) that is right next door to the Red Apron butcher. There is a rotating menu of various bar snacks and entrees along with nightly specials that all come from the inspiration of the team behind The Red Apron Butcher. I really liked the small atmosphere with the neon bar lit up in the backdrop, reminded me almost of a speakeasy, however, I can see the place getting packed quickly due to this for happy hour.
What did they have to offer?
Charcuterie: Extensive meat selection with all the fixins to come along with them. There were a lot of experimental meats ranging from bright, herbal, spicy, smoky, spiced, creamy, and earthy. I honestly forgot which we ordered since we just asked the waiter to pick ones he liked but they were all very tasty!
Small plates: What a neat selection this place had to offer for small plates, which is what we dined on mostly, but what stood out to me were the…
–Pig Wings: Looked like chicken wings but were tiny spare ribs in a hot sauce and side of bleu cheese.
–Pork Roasted marrow: Came with fried shishito peppers, a side salad, and crostini.
–Beef Fat fries: Garlic confit, rosemary, ranch aioli… need I say more? I can eat these all day!
I also heard the pork meatballs were good, but we opted out, however, I will take their word for it.
Dinner entrees: There were various types of meat entrees that looked tasty (pork schnitzel, pork belly) but I opted for the smokehouse burger which was a pulled pork burger with smoked BBQ aioli, cabbage slaw, and american cheese. I inhaled it! Even though it was not the type of burger I normally get, I was hungry and wanting to try something new and I am glad I did!
The beer menu was… overwhelming, I am all for an extensive drink list like World of Beer, but this was overkill and I ended up just ordering some house wine. The cocktail list was a little more reasonable and although I did not order one, I looked at other diner’s drinks and they looked as intricate as they did tasty.
B Side is a nice addition to the Mosaic district and would be the perfect place for date night or some after work drinks/​small plates… just make sure to get there early!

I’ve had this place bookmarked for forever, but when I worked evening shifts, it would always close by the time I was out of work. I was finally able to give this place a try and came with my friend yesterday.
Upon going into the restaurant, it had a very romantic and warm ambiance. I would say it’s a bit dark, there were little hanging bulbs and candles that were lit on each table, but what really gave it’s brightness was the illuminated backsplash type wall near the bar. While the setting seemed good for a date, it was so loud! And cramped! The wait was 20 – 30 minutes before getting seated.
The beer selection is awesome, as they sport over 200 bottled beers (but go for the draft because you can just buy bottled beer). We first got the charcuterie (coppa, summer sausage, and something else I forgot, oops along with cheese red row, pecorino mastorazio, and goat gouda). If you ever get the chance, especially if it’s your first time, go and experience the charcuterie, although pricey, you won’t regret it.
For sides we ordered the beef fat fries; it was DIVINE. crunchy, warm, and it had a lot of kick to it. Extremely flavorful, please note that it is on the heavier side, but it was amazing.
I got the smokehouse burger while my friend got the butchers cut.
We both got our meat in medium rare.
Here’s where it felt like the experience wasn’t worth it. First, while the smokehouse burger was outstanding and full of flavor, and it was a burger I haven’t really experienced before, it was SO. TINY. For 14 dollars… common.
And my friend’s butcher cut… (see photos) the saucer was bigger than the meat itself. It was like 5 slices. It was definitely not enough for him, as he works out, but honestly, I don’t think it would have been filling for anyone. The quality of meat is great, there’s no doubt about that. However, I don’t think it was worth it for the price. Because it was so disappointing that the serving size was ridiculously small for a «B-​Big.» It left us disappointed and overall did not leave us feel satisfied.
Service was exceptional. The server checked on us multiple times throughout our meal and filled our glasses frequently and promptly. The host also had a great sense of humor and made us feel welcomed.
What I suggest is, because apparently the owner of B Side is also the owner of Red Apron Butcher, skip B Side and head over to Red Apron right next door. They have sandwiches there for cheaper, plus the same beef fat fries are at a portion of the cost. In other words, you get the same quality of meat, for cheaper. Sounds like a win.

For me, B Side is unquestionably unique. The beer menu is vast, containing some brews I had only read about online, and others that I had never heard of.
The décor is cozy, yet somewhat cramped. A long row of tables falls in parallel behind the bar, and a smaller group of tables are bunched towards the end. When it’s busy, I’d expect to get to know the stranger sitting next to you if you’re on the long table.
When you look up B-​Side on Unilocal,the food listing comes first. American (New), it reads. The problem with B-​Side is one of identity. First and foremost, this is a bar that just happens to serve some food. Not the other way around. In D.C., Barrel is an example of this format done right. An exceptional bar/​drinks menu is combined with exceptional food. B Side has half of that equation.
Unfortunately, the food here really isn’t anything special. The burger I ordered medium came out a nearly bloody red, and while I don’t mind a little under done-​ness on my burgers, a good number of people would have sent it back immediately. Additionally, this was one of the smaller burgers I’ve had in some time. If the patty is going to be that small, it needs to be backed up by an exceptional flavor and it needs to be cooked properly. This dish had neither.
From the B-​Small menu, the N’Duja Risotto Fritters had an interesting flavor profile. Orange peel, sriracha, and heat all come through. I enjoyed this dish, but wasn’t blown away.
Service was great.
If this was a bar review, I would be tempted to give five stars. The beer menu is that good. But since we’re talking about the food, a three is all I can give here.
Recommended with reservations.

Have you tried the beef fat fries? These fries are beyond amazing. Charcuterie is wonderful too. Beef tenderloin is a definite must try.
The atmosphere of this restaurant reminds me of a restaurant you’d find in Brooklyn/​Williamsburg area.
They do get busy on the weekends, so try to come early if you want a table or a seat at the bar.

Gradually working my way through the menu. Favorite place in the Mosaic, with reliably good food.
Their drool-​inducing Beef Fat Fries with Garlic Confit, Rosemary, and Ranch Aioli are my favorite item. Crispy and flavorful– that’s all I really ask for in most of my food and they never let me down.
A close second is the Pork Meatball with Polenta and Grana Padano. Best meatball I’ve ever had. The N’duja Risotto Fritters aren’t my thing, though could be yours if sweet and spicy sounds good. Burgers are solid, though I prefer the one I had to the Red Apron Butchery next door more. Pork Belly with Baked Beans, tasty.
Of course I’ll be back.

TL;DR: 3.5 stars. 4 for good food but 3 for service (bar only). Limited seating and noise level is really loud.
We called ahead to see what the wait time is as this is our first time trying out the restaurant. The person picking up the phone was honest about their limited seating and wouldn’t really give us a wait time because it’s hard to tell. We decided to give it a shot anyway after we got to Mosaic for there’s many other restaurants in the area even if this doesn’t work out.
The wait time was around 20 – 30 mins when we arrived at around 8:30. Luckily 2 seats opened up at the bar and since it’s full menu there, we decided to give it a try. Water and drinks menu were given right as we sat down but food menu was an afterthought. Had to wait a while to be served again. My beer came but wife’s cocktail didn’t.
We waited and waited and waited more even after the small plates arrived and half eaten, but her drink was yet to be seen. At least 5 other people who ordered their drinks after us got their drinks already. It was not until I asked the bartender again that he answered he’s making it right then…
After we were done with our small plates, there was a lull. We waited for another 15 – 20 mins for our main dishes to arrive. Bartender had to go to the kitchen and get the dishes himself. Though the bartender did check on us once or twice during the meal, we were really not impressed by the restaurant at this point.
Food overall was good but pricey for the quantity and quality. The pig wings was a disappointment. The Red Apron burger was cooked as ordered and the beef fat fries were tasty. The Rostissifried chicken was a little on the drier side but the flavor was good.
Service definitely lacks, though, including communication between staff. This place is really noisy and hard to have a conversation even when we were sitting right next to each other. I would recommend this restaurant with reservation.