Slash Run

This place was so awesome for brunch. I am really wanting to go back now. I recently visited Slash Run this past Sunday (¹⁄₃₁) for brunch with a couple of friends and the hubby. We were actually expecting more of a grungy, dive bar due to them describing themselves as a hair metal place.haha. But we were pleasantly surprised when we walked in. The place was pretty small, but had cute, comfortable seating and a bar area. There were not many people in there, so we easily grabbed a booth for the four of us. Our server, Noah, was on point and quickly greeted us with smiles… he was so on top of things, we had to keep asking him to come back because we were so busy talking and distracting each other from deciding what to order.
But I think he understood (plus we were the only people in there for a decent amount of time). We all ended up ordering a burger from the brunch menu. I went with the simple breakfast burger with the fried egg on top. Between the four of us, we ordered medium and medium rare burgers, and let me tell you THEY ACTUALLY ROCKED OUT THE BURGERS PERFECTLY! How often do you go to a restaurant and order a medium cook on your burger and it didn’t come out well done? ALL THE TIME. But they killed it! Kudos to the chef for cooking 4 perfect burgers!!! My fried egg should have been the poster child for fried eggs all over the country. PERFECT. The pretzel bun was banging, though I wish it would have stayed together a bit better, but if that means my burger was so juicy that the bun fell apart, I am perfectly okay with that. They have a helluva bottomless drink deal including bloody marys, mimosas, pbrs… and something else for $ 13. Most of us ordered bottomless, but the husband (and I) kept ordering beers. We were so impressed by their beer menu, that we could not resist drinking those. I think my husband ended up only drinking 2 mimosas and drank 4 beers. haha. oops.
The place is really laid back, comfortable, welcoming and just an over all cool place to go. I will be returning for brunch and/​or happy hour soonish.
Oh…and it’s sooo not hair metal. They played the best, eclectic selection of music… and we were quite happy.

Great neighborhood joint! I needed to get out of the house after being snowed in for days. It wasn’t super busy inside and we sat ourselves. Pretty dark and eclectic decoration. I can’t remember what music was playing but it wasn’t off putting.
I got a vodka with pineapple and orange which was about $ 5. The BF got a craft beer… they had a pretty large selection.
We started with chips and salsa. The salsa said it was homemade. It tasted like roasted crushed tomatoes. I was thinking I was going to get a pico type salsa but can’t complain really because it was only $ 3.
My burger was amazing. I got the rodeo burger. The meat was juicy and not packed so tightly that it’s hard to chew. I could taste the hint of coffee and the fried poblano was a marriage between a green pepper and super mild jalapeño. The BBQ sauce was nice and it tasted homemade. The waffle fries tasted like they came from Chick-​Fil-​A minus the salt. As a condiment I think they mixed the ketchup with sirachi which was awesome.
Only compliant was that the waiter was super slow and had no sense of urgency. He was super nice but could have used a little pep in his step getting our order, bringing our drinks and giving us the check. But, it won’t stop me from stopping by for another juicy burger!

Morning glory burger is so so good. It hits all of your taste buds at once, sweet savory, spicy amazing. Stop what you’re doing and get one now.

In town for the weekend and had dinner here. They have a fantastic selection of beers. They take basic bar food to a new level. A very creative burger menu and the wings we awesome. Will definitely head back here next time I’m in town

Terrific beer, wonderful burgers, kind and responsive service. I’d give them 5 stars if they moved their establishment next to my house.

Great food, great beer selection, great service, great Thursday trivia night, normally I’d give them 5 stars but I’m giving them 4 because they have the worst door in the business. you gotta like turn the knob around like 50 times just to have a good time. that’s way too much knob turning for me.

We happened to eat here the same time as their Thursday trivia night, and decided to get dinner and stay for a few drinks/​trivia. It was casual and fun without being pretentious or making anyone feel out of place. What a great neighborhood joint. My dinner mates both got cheese burgers which they customized to suit their preferences. I had a Korean BBQ tuna burger (something shrunken head? I promise you it was a cute name). My «burger» was a delicious slab of tuna cooked to perfection with a great pineapple salsa and BBQ that was complimentary rather than overwhelming. That was a damn good sandwich. We bombed at trivia, but who cares? A good beer list and great food more than make up for that.

Hooray for Slash Run! Kudos to the owners who took a chance and opened up on the east end of Upshur St. NW. How great is it to have a decent burger joint just blocks from my home? Did I say burger? Make that burgers! There’s at least 4 on the menu that I’ve tried and enjoyed.
Thumbs way, Way UP for the breaded poblano rings! But subtract one star for Sunday ‘Brunch all Day’ and a pair of breakfast burritos so dull they put my stomach to sleep.

I can’t say anything about the food yet, but it’s a cool spot! We went the night before Thanksgiving for drinks. Good service and great beer! I like the décor too, very different than the typical DC spots.

There is a new thing — dining alone. This is my favorite place after work or a work-​out to get some me time. Great burgers, beers, and people that don’t bother you.
I love it.

I will admit I was apprehensive when I heard this place described as a «hair metal» bar. Rest assured– this is one of the most comfortable, unpretentious places on Upshur Street– come as you are. Great place to catch up with an old friend.
I tried their South of the Burger, and it did not disappoint– delicious avocado, pico de gallo, jalapenos and other good stuff. A friend got their Jucy Lucy, which is evidently a Midwestern tradition of putting the cheese inside the patty– she also enjoyed it. And their beer selection was solid– and reasonably priced, and includes Crabbie’s ginger beer! As has been said, the waffle fries were great, but beware the mango habanero wings– they were incredibly spicy, not for the faint of heart.

So excited to see an interesting bar/​burger/​whiskey stop was only a five minute walk from my new place. I was not disappointed at all. I had the morning glory burger, and it was freaking delicious. There was a lot going on with it: maple aioli, jalapeño cream cheese, an egg over easy. .. messy but joy-​inducing. Another reviewer complained about the waffle fries. Honestly, I liked them. They even have a garlic and rosemary fries option. The whiskey menu is impressive. My drink had a good booze/​soda balance. Kickstart My Heart by Motley Crüe came on the jukebox. Man, loved this place!

Decent burger spot, a welcome addition to the neighborhood.
Had been wanting to try this place, so stopped by with a couple of friends on Sunday. Arrived at 730, and they were packed. Barely made it there on time; they’re open late enough most nights, but they close at 8 on Sundays.
It’s seat yourself, so we jumped in the one remaining open booth. There were only two hurried servers working, so we had a little time to wait before the server was able to get make it to us. I used the time to take the place in.
I get that they’re going for an 80s glam-​rock vibe, and the place definitely has the feel of a tiny, LA concert venue. But I was really surprised by the number of families there. (I feel like I almost never see kids around when I go out to eat in this city.) It’s a little hard to go along with the rock theme when there’s a toddler balling her eyes out three tables away.
The wait gave us time to get thoroughly acquainted with the menu. They have a huge beer list, with a unique selection of constantly changing draughts. The wine drinker in our group felt a little left out, but eventually she was able to find a watermelon beer that left her satisfied. The food menu is all sandwiches, mostly burgers. I ordered the Power Lunch, a burger topped with blue cheese and steak sauce.
The verdict: meh. If you’re gonna open a burger joint, you need to start with an outstanding burger recipe. SR offers a lot of variety when it comes to the different ways they dress up their burgers. But the base, the burger itself, is only just okay; about what I’d expect if I were ordering from a roadside diner. If you’re gonna charge $ 12 — $ 16 bucks for a burger, it should be better than, or at least on par with, what I could get from a chain. I finished the burger, but wished that I had opted for one of their dressed up sashimi tuna sandwiches.
Despite the burgers, there is enough to like about this place that I will give it another shot; perhaps at a later hour, when the kiddies are in bed.

Just had a flawless burger, fries & hard cider with friends at this splendid addition to Petworth DC. Service was prompt, friendly, highly attentive. How nice to also run into three sets of other neighbors and friends there. Perfect! I plan to return to give lots of attention to the jukebox. Very family and child-​friendly for those with little ones.

The girlfriend and I decided to forgo the usual Monday night haunt (Petworth Citizen) to try Slash Run, excited at the prospect of a new joint in the neighborhood.
First, the positives: Good jukebox, funky vibe. Something sorely lacking in culturally «greige» DC. Bonus points for the Chief Ike’s mural. It feels like a spot you have to go to Baltimore to find these days.
But atmosphere, a good restaurant does not solely make.
First beef: The drinks. Vodka, soda, and lime. Granted the bar is a beer and whisky joint, we were feeling a VSL. so we ordered only to be told by waiter that «they weren’t a vodka bar». Fair enough… surely you have some Stoli or Absolut or something for the rare occasion that someone orders something other than a beer or whisky?
No dice…
He offered up some strangely named vodka. No problem. But apparently «not being a vodka bar» also meant the bartender may have had no idea how to pour a dram of vodka in a glass of soda water and throw in a slice of lime, because our burgers showed up well before the drinks. When the drinks finally showed up? Not sure how you ruin a vodka, soda, lime, but it tasted weird and not pleasant.
But vodka drinks — adamantly stated by our watier — are not their thing. Pass granted. On the burger front, I was less disappointed but, bottom line, it was just «OK» — nothing to write home about. The fries were waffle fries, devoid of all moisture and tasting like the straight out of the freezer, McCain variety. No thanks.
My girlfriend had a tuna steak sandwich. Kudos for the gluten-​free bread option, but the «sushi grade» steak was gristly and weird.
If it were a super cheap place — awesome. I’d forgive the «mehness» and go there for a cheap burger, gnarly fries, enjoy a good beer, and call it a night. But the burger was about $ 12, the tuna steak was $ 14. The place is not exactly cheap, not very fast, and not so good. But hey, the jukebox.
We quenched our Sahara waffle fry induced thirst with the dregs of the weird vodka drink and hit the road.
We finished our night at Petworth Citizen, with the usual awesome $ 5 Monday night Manhattan. I felt like I had cheated on a faithful partner, and wished we had stayed true and had their amazing burger and fries instead.

They’ve only been open for a couple weeks and I’ve been *dying* the last few months waiting for them to open. So excited!
The Good: Great jukebox (down with internet jukeboxes!) Good food. Cool vibe. Music is perfect volume. Did I mention they have a great f’ing jukebox? $ 5 gets 18 plays on the jukebox — but they randomize the songs people play so people can’t take over the playlist! Good beer selection (I really liked the Lucky Buddah!)
The Meh: Bartender (s) seemed a little distracted. 10pm — only six people drinking at the bar and 2 or 3 employees; I shouldn’t have to struggle to order a drink. WiFi named «slashrun» but customers can’t use it? No signal on AT&T on T-​Mobile either — that means I can’t tell my friends to meet me at the great bar. Artichoke dip was tasty but seemed like it had been frozen and thawed.
The Bad: I saw someone in the kitchen move the last of some food from one container to another with his bare hand. (Looked like slaw, blue cheese or a dip of some sort.) Ick.
Overall I really liked the place! Will definitely return asap!
#JUKEBOX.

Do you like sparkling bar counters? Jukeboxes? Neon? Do you long for the days when you would awkwardly do hand stuff with the person you were with (but didn’t really like, it was more just a summer thing) in the back of the car while Eddie Money quietly sings of paradise and his tickets?
Then come on down folks. This place is a cutesy clash between early 80s charm and just the right amount of grit to make it seems like a place Kerry King would trash in his early 20s. The interior is pretty small, so expect to sit close to people if you don’t nab a corner table, and you have to sit yourself, so expect some chaos if it’s real busy.
However, when I and the lady went there, it was fairly slow and we got down to eating immediately. The server was attentive and talkative (in a good way), and the beer selection is wonderful and priced reasonably (lots of $ 6 – 8 beers and loads of styles). I got the Bar Stool and the Lady got the South of the Burger — both medium-​rare and cooked perfectly with a great amount of toppings. The fries were tasty and benefit a lot from the spicy ketchup at the table.
Our company got the tuna burgers, and I had a bit of the tuna steak — legit. Will get that or a hotdog next time. They don’t have brunch of anything yet, but there is an option to get bottomless bloodies with certain burgers. No worries, and not having brunch ain’t a big deal when you open at noon.
I’ll keep an eye on this place considering I live a few blocks away and will check in soon enough to see if there are any happy hour developments and expanding menu.
As it stands, it’s great, and you should check it out.

We went on the second night they were open. I felt our service was pretty good for it only being the second night. The process in place to be seated (basically first come, first serve) is a little confusing. A hostess to help guide people to open tables or a wait list might be helpful.
The inside is rather dark, but fits with the vibe. Somewhat divey, somewhat rock & roll. It’s a little isolated, so if you drive, be prepared to have to search for parking. It’s also pretty small on the inside so you’ll be sitting on top of people.
The good news is that the burgers we ordered were top notch. The South of the Border and Juicy Lucy were as good as the menu made them sound. You can tell the type of hamburger they use is of a high quality. We also ordered waffle fries, but while good, they were fairly standard.
There beer list gets a 10 out of 10. Excellent. What’s better than a beer and a burger?
We’ll definitely be back. Judging from how many people were there and the wait for a table, this place will do well. Nice to see a quality casual, family friendly place in the area.

So I really wanted this place to be great but was unfortunately disappointed. I say unfortunately because Slash Run is only 2 blocks away from my home and I love burgers. When we got there we expected a wait because it was its second night open. When we walked in we waited a while standing in the place awkwardly waiting for the hostess to just put our name down. Not great but we were hopeful that once we got in there it would be fine.
It did not get better. My girlfriend and I were seated at a 2 person table right next to another two person table that was empty when we first sat down, but was quickly filled. While we waited 15 minutes to get any kind of service the table of men next to us got their order in, got their drinks and shortly thereafter, their burgers, while we had only beer and still no water.
We then waited 40 minutes for our food and were about to leave when it came out. And the first bite was a cold and hard fry. Not so happy.
I do give this place two stars only for the fried mushrooms we got. They were hot (unlike the rest of the food) and had an amazing dip.
My burger could have been good but it was sitting so long that the avocado had made the bread all soggy.
We ended up just leaving cash because we couldn’t bear the thought of how long it would take to get our check…
Really bummed about this.

I would recommend coming here if you are looking for a relaxed bar that doesn’t take itself too seriously!
The glitter bar is pretty hilarious. (Though I expected it to be more glittery). In general, the décor gives off a vibe that is half old diner, half old dive bar. For a place that is one day old, I call that a success.
They had a soft opening 7÷15÷15 and officially opened today 7÷16÷15. The place was totally packed for its opening night! Every seat in the bar was filled and most of the dining area too.
I don’t think people will complain about the prices. A few cheap items that caught my eye are the $ 5 16 oz DC Brau draft, a $ 4 Natty Boh tall boy from «Maryland (sort of)» and $ 6 for a 2 oz shot of Bushmills whiskey.
Jackie Greenbaum has done a great job with her other businesses. Jackie’s in silver spring, El chucho on 11^th st, Bar Charley on 18^th st. Looks like Slash Run will be continuing the trend. Very nice addition to the Upshur St corridor and Petworth in general.
Bonus: They have waffle fries too.
(December 2015 update: half price burgers on Mondays!)