Blue Banana DC

I’ll really miss having cheap beer on Thursday…

As a resident of Petworth (for almost a year), I’m ashamed to admit that I didn’t give Blue Banana a chance until recently. At night, the place is very dimly lit and often seems empty, so you can’t blame a girl for passing it over for DC Reynolds or The Looking Glass.
I finally came in on a Sunday afternoon with some friends. Most of the people were there to watch the playoffs, but I liked that the bar never felt overly crowded. They have a limited menu of fried foods (curly fries, mozzarella sticks, and wings), but it was all delicious.
I’m sorry I’ve misjudged Blue Banana in the past.

To be fair, 5 stars is difficult to give out. However, if I really like a place I feel like it deserves the 5. 4 is good, but it still looks like something is left to be desired. Not so here.
First off, awesome place for sports. Lots of TVs (maybe 10?), and on football sundays every game is on with the most popular controlling the audio.
Secondly, staff is great. Jamie, the owner, talked with me a bunch the first day I cam in as I was new to the city (had been in DC for 16 hours) and wandered in based on another Unilocal review. I also used to be in the business so we had some common points of interest but regardless just a talkative and friendly person. Exactly who you want around running a place. Bartenders also very cool, Adam is seemingly there every time I come in and does a solid job. Also has funny stories, such as a debate on how many 12 year old it would take to beat you in a fight. One of those debates that has no definitive answer but is fun to b.s. about for shits and giggles.
Thirdly, the patrons. It’s one of the more diverse crowds of people I have encountered in quite a while, and everyone is friendly. No one cares about skin color or politics or other crap that gets in the way of people hanging out and enjoying drinks. Which brings me to the last point…
Specials! Admittedly now that I’m more secure financially I won’t go to any bar just because it has super cheap drinks because, generally, those places suck or smell like vomit. The $ 4 anythng special (minus Grey Goose and Patron) means there is something available for everyone at a manageable price. And Sundays when watching football $ 15 Yuengling pitchers (being new to the east coast I love this stuff. You all take it for granted!)
I have brought my gf here, my work buddies, and friends visiting from out of town. Each one has left saying «that bar is super cool». That says something.

Oh Blue Banana, how I adore thee, let me count the ways…
1. Great Staff (Adam is one of the bartenders, and is so nice to look at while sippin’! Jaime who owns the bar is so personable and FUN!)
2. Drink specials are tops (home of the $ 4 anything!!)
3. Jams are diverse and keeps the party going
4. Crowd varies by night, but everyone is super cool and very friendly.
5. Ok, enough counting…
I could go on about this spot, but i’ll refrain and let you experience it for yourself! Let loose, no need to get all jazzy (unless you want to), I promise you’ll have a good time. Blue Banana is my escape from the douchebaggery of DC and is just an all around good time. It’s intimate, as so many of my fellow Unilocalers have mentioned but still spacious enough to roam. Seating lines the walls, so if you don’t want to post up at the bar this an option. Lots of TVs playing sports matches and also music videos too!
This place had my heart when I asked the DJ to play «Show Me Love» by Robin S. (anyone who knows me knows this is an all-​time fave) and a gracious soul let me dance on the bar! I can die a happy woman! Since I’ve only been on weekdays I can’t comment on the weekend vibe, I can’t imagine it being any different though.

Since I live in the area, I was able to take a nice drunken stroll to my house!
My only complaint is parking. There’s limited parking on Georgia, but some side streets have a few spots. Good luck with that! Georgia-​Petworth Metro station is just a block away so that’s an option as well.
Blue Banana is a cross between Cheers and Coyote Ugly, but that’s just me! It has something for everyone!

I decided that I want to find a bar to call MY bar to watch Sunday games at this football season. So I was going to hit up a different bar every Sunday until I found one i liked. My first stop was Blue Banana since it was a few blocks away from where I live and it had pretty good reviews.
After spending my first football Sunday there, I didn’t need to look anywhere else. This is officially MY bar. It’s not too big and is intimate enough for you to get to know other people. The bartenders were cool, talkative without being OVERLY talkative, and weren’t afraid to get «sassy», give the customers sh*t, and call the customers out on things (which i LOVED). For it being my first time there i didn’t feel like a newcomer. I felt like i was already part of the gang. In fact, the bartenders and I are already on a first name basis. I liken the place to Cheers or Maclaren’s from How I Met Your Mother, but the sports bar version.
There are a large amount of TVs. I was able to watch every game from the corner of the bar I was at and wasn’t overly crowded by all the people who were there. The bathrooms are SURPRISINGLY clean for a bar. The cleanest I’ve ever seen outside of The Hamilton (which isn’t REALLY a bar, but it is). The food was also good. Their fried wings and waffle fries, I couldn’t stop eating them!
if I’m not tailgating at a redskins game, you’ll find me at the Blue Banana every Sunday. I’ve met a few cool people who stopped through and told me it was because of this review. So if this review is the catalyst to you coming to The Banana, be sure to say hi and tell me so. I’ll be the guy at the end of the bar with an iPad looking at the game and my fantasy scores :-)

There is something for everyone here folks. I kind of miss the days when fewer knew about this spot, but shouldn’t be so selfish.
Serious drink specials and cheap bar eats. There are more than enough TVs displaying everything from tournament poker to cricket. Live performances (DJ’s, comedians, live bands) for those who care not watch TV. Major cooling system to avoid this current DC heat wave so wicked, it caused Metro to lift their ‘no drink’ policy, and a sweet little patio for those who relish in it. Seriously, I can’t think of another place in the GA Ave/​Columbia Heights area that has managed to consistently stay cool during this heat wave.
More than anything else: staff + owner = great company.

Blue Banana now has open mic, stand up comedy on Tuesday nights!
There is no cover, and since the space is of modest size, there is a nice little sense of community.
Sure, the acts are hit or miss — but it’s great to see local, amateur comedians garner up the courage to give it their best shot. If you sit close to the stage, just know that you are very much fair game to become part of the comedian’s schtick. If you’re cool with that, gravy. If you’re not, I’d advise sipping at the bar in the back.
And if you check-​in via Unilocal’s mobile app, you may just get an offer. When I checked in, I scored 25% off my tab!

This place seemed like more of a man cave than a sports bar. Don’t get me wrong, as man caves go, this would be spectacular. There’s are plenty of HD flat panel TV’s everywhere you look and there’s a decent beer selection. But as far as service goes, it more like you’re at your grumpy, quirky friend’s house than a business.
Dallas and NY were playing Sunday night and it seemed like a perfect opportunity to check out Blue Banana. I roll in a little before 8:00 and the place is kind of dead, but it’s over 20 minutes before game time, so this wasn’t a complete surprise. I order a beer and ask about food and I’m directed to a menu on the wall: Tater Tots, Buffalo Wings, Chicken Tenders, Mozzarella Sticks and Veggie Spring Rolls. Throw in some Papa John’s and I could be in my best friend’s basement.
After a few minutes, I place my food order. The owner send my order to the back, then a minute later tells me that he’s probably going to be closing early. He says that he doesn’t mean to be a d*ck, but they’d been there since 11am. Seriously?! You advertise yourself as a sports bar with Sunday hours to 1am and you tell me that you’re closing less than 20 minutes before a big Sunday Night, regular season, NFL game between divisional rivals with playoff implications?! And to top it off, you wait until after you’ve taken my drink (and 5 minutes later) my food order to tell me this?! I don’t blame a man for wanting to shut down early after a long day when business is slow, but at least have the courtesy to let me know within the first 5 minutes and BEFORE you take my drink & food orders.
NOTE: If you ever tell someone that you’re not trying to be a d*ck, chances are that you’re being a HUGE d*ck.
At this point my food order is already in, so I decide to stick it out in hopes that enough people will show up to get this guy to change his mind. By game time, enough people show up that he decides to stay open. Not that he announced this decision – he simply stopped telling people that he was probably going to lose early. I’m annoyed, but at least I don’t have to find another place to watch the game. I finish my beer, and then wait. The owner walks back and forth past me several times. Nothing. The other bartender stands there doing nothing right in front me. Nothing. Maybe it’s this bar’s «style», but at some point I expect to be asked if I’d like another beer (especially when I’ve only had one and I still have food in front of me).
It’s a shame too because this is a nice looking place in a neighborhood that needs the action. From what I’ve read, they even seem to try to make up for the meager food options by having a food truck come by (this truck had already left for the day when I showed up for the Sunday Night game). Still, the attitude of the owner was enough to make me never want to set foot in this again.

Why I like it:
25% off tab when check-​in on Unilocal
$ 12 pitchers of Sierra Nevada
Buck Hunter game
TVs everywhere and very easy to watch 2 – 3 games from a single spot without moving
A sweet BBQ food truck was outside for several hours to feed bar patrons
Owner and bartenders are friendly
It’s not the largest space, but I never felt uncomfortably cramped.

I had no idea what to expect but soon as I walked in, I liked it. Everyone was just having a great time.
The drinks are cheap and it’s next to petworth (if you don’t have a car or dont want to drink and drive.

Pretty decent beer selection. The service was only OK, a bit slow considering we were really the only ones there on a Wednesday night. TVs are everywhere and they were on, but would have preferred closed captioning vs. no sound and no words.
The kitchen was closed for whatever reason, that’s a bit annoying, but generally this place was ok. Seems like the place next door might have been a better happy hour selection.

Loved the décor. Even though the place was pretty small, it was really well laid out. They actually had a live band playing (that was actually pretty good) when I went there so it was an added bonus, being that I love live music. Apparently they recently added a few items on their menu, which gave them just enough items to make it a cool place to go to catch a game. We had a little of this and a little of that. We ordered a cheeseburger, which was grilled on the spot right out on the patio. We also had wings and veggie spring rolls, both of which were pretty good. I really loved the atmosphere there…

Blue Banana, I do so love you.
I think the location is great; it’s within perfect stumbling distance of my house for me and the Metro for my friends. The neighborhood is transitioning, but I’ve never felt threatened or bothered when walking around alone at night.
I like the non-​pretentious, relaxed vibe, something you don’t always find in a place with a sleek, modern look (think lots of exposed brick and stainless steel). The outdoor seating is a huge bonus; however, I do wish they had a few more chairs. It’s a great place to sit, and obviously, a lot of people want to enjoy it. And as a gal who does like sports, I definitely appreciate the number of big TVs and the fact that they aren’t all playing the same thing.
My bartenders have always been super-​friendly and attentive. When it’s crowded, it may take you a moment to grab their attention, but my service has always been great.
Yeah, they may not really have food (but the beer and a burger deal is awesome!), but there are so many places on that block that sell great food with big portions at good prices, and the bar is cool with you eating it there. So, honestly, I fail to see a problem.
Most importantly, I have never left feeling ripped off. Thursdays are half-​priced drafts (all night!) and they have a nice draft selection. Of course, this is easily my favorite night to go. They also sell a drink called «the Stinger» that is highly delicious.
Thanks for being in the neighborhood, Blue Banana!

It is really hard for me to figure out why this bar isn’t more packed. They have cheap drinks ($ 2 cheaper on average than the bar next door), pretty good music (bands, dj’s or the owner will change the music to please the masses), and they grill in the back until 2am on Friday and Saturday.
The only downfall is that the bands get kinda loud inside, but then I head to the patio where I am closer to the great smell of the bbq and the volume is perfect.
I probably go to this bar about once a week just to hang out. I don’t know why people said that the bartenders aren’t friendly because they definitely provide good service and smiles. But then again, I don’t really go to a bar to hang with the bartenders… so I don’t expect them to entertain me.
All in all, this ia a pretty good hangout spot. My friends and I have shut the place down a few times recently and they were even polite about telling us the bar was closing!
And they were showing the Women’s World Cup!

The Parkview/​Petworth area is in dire need of entertainment options, and things just got a little better. Despite it’s silly name,(it’s the name of the bar where the «working girls» hung out in Pretty Woman) The Blue Banana is not a bad place. It purports to be a «Sports and Rock Bar» and although I can’t attest to the latter (they did have a band booked for the weekend), it was packed for March Madness when I was in, so they do appear to be successful on that account.
As for the actual space, I I would call the interior «industrial modern» in sharp contrast to the neighboring Looking Glass Lounge’s Prohibition era look. Long bar with 12 bar stools, eight large flat screens on one side, exposed brick wall on the other. 12 fairly safe drafts including Victory Prima Pils and Southhampton Wheat. Another eight or so in the bottle/​can including, natch, PBR. Tip: ½ price drafts of Thursdays. That means about $ 3 for a micro, $ 2 for a Lite. No food yet, but you can bring you own (Manny and Olga’s pizza is next door and Sweet Mango is just up the street).
And yes, they have hooks under the bar for your purse/​jacket.

Why is everyone freaking out about the décor? It’s a bar, and as far as décor in that category I think the Blue Banana is doing really well. It’s clean and modern with a laid back feel. If you are watching TV, you have a good angle from anywhere in the place.
Service was good when I was there. Bar tender was really friendly and the have a wide selection of beers that I think are fairly priced. One downside is that it can feel a little empty, even on a Friday/​Saturday night. I think that will change once people get used to it being there, and some of the Looking Glass loyalists decide to give it a try. Overall, I am excited to watch this place expand and think it is a good addition to the neighborhood.
P. S. Really? Stab wound district? Go back to Cleveland Park and chill with the all-​white crowds there «Bro». Maybe you will feel safer. I, as a female resident of the area, feel safe, especially near the two bars here, and have never had any problems walking home.

I wasn’t keen on this place at first, but I recently was there when one of the bartenders (I forget his name, Sean or something) was serving and it was an excellent experience. Not only did he top off his drinks, he was super-​friendly and interested in building the community. That gets them four stars right off the bat.
I’m not much on sports, but this would definitely be the place to watch a game.

YAY! I am a fan.
So I went to the Blue Banana not knowing what to expect. From the reviews I was very nervous because the ambiance was «confusing», and I am easily annoyed…
When I walked in, I realized (if I am not going to a club) the first thing I do NOT ask myself when entering an establishment is:
«What is my motivation? What am I feeling? How can my immediate environment dictate my feelings and future actions?»
It is a bar with TVs and booze. I watched the game, drank, had a good time with friends, the bartender and even strangers! It took a minute for the bartender to warm up, but once he did = fun.
The clientele was polite and I do not understand why this is a shady part of DC. It is DC… any corner can be shady. This is not.
I think people were pretty harsh on this page, but we all have our own opinion. Personally, I like to associate with people who refrain from using the words «bro», «rad» and «gay» — I like grown up words with multiple syllables. It is all subjective…
Food would be nice — but the pizza I ordered was yummy, so that was no skin off of my nose either. Actually, more preferred than fried bar snacks.
All in all I would go back, bring friends and hope people can calm down a bit. It is a sports bar with bar chairs and couches — you bring the fun — it is not an enigma.

Come get drunk at the gayest sounding straight bar in DC, the blue banana. This place is a Chinatown Sports bar clone located in the heart one of DC’s major up and coming stab wound districts.
I honestly don’t know who this bar is trying to appeal to since die hard sports bros don’t live in petworth and hipsters don’t watch sports.
Rad:
A lot of big tvs.
Located directly across from «Fish in da’ Hood»
Bad:
$ 9 beers in petworth? Are they going for the literal definition of irony?
This place can gargle my Blue Banana.

I’m so happy this place is in the neighborhood.
Blue Banana opened tonight, 12÷21÷10, with an opening night special that included an OPEN BAR from 8 – 9 PM! There will be specials for the rest of this week, too.
Inside, it looks great. The exposed brick, the nice bar, the lighting and the cool tables all add to the nice atmosphere.
I can tell this place is going to be a great sports bar. This probably has the highest square-​inches-​of-​HD-​TV-​to-​chairs ratio of any sports bar in DC. Every spot at the bar or at any table has a great view of tons of TVs.
They have the philosophy that they are going to be a neighborhood bar that really aims to suit the needs of the neighborhood, rather than imposing their idea of what their bar should be like.
I’m really happy about this place. With a dearth of sports bars in the area, this place really fills a void.
It also attracted a really diverse and representative crowd of people from all over the city and especially from the neighborhood.
I think beers here will start at $ 4 and go up as you ask for higher quality brews.
They won’t be serving food for the first few weeks, but you might be able to get away with bringing your own food in during that time.
Overall, I can’t ask from much more from this place. Of course I’m giving them 5 stars — I’ll leave it to the people who didn’t just drink for free to give them anything less than a perfect rating!
Thanks for coming to Park View!
Edit April 2013: I was very happy they came back in 2010. but now that they are closed I can say. Man that was one incredibly stupid name for a sports bar… Good luck with the relaunch guys