Brasserie Beck
1101 K St NW
Washington, District of Columbia, 20005-4210
United States
(202) 408-1717 | map
beckdc.com
Notes:
Reviews: 43
| Ratings: 60
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Reviews by cratez:
cratez from Canada (ON)
4/5 rDev -9.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4
What I had: Boulevard Tank 7 Farmhouse Ale on tap, can of DC Brau The Corruption IPA, bottle of Stillwater Cellar Door, Seared Spiced Tuna for me, Belgian Endive Salad to split, pasta entrée special and a few glasses of sauvignon blanc for my fiancé.
What I liked: Swanky upscale atmosphere, plenty of seating available, love the wino artwork above the bar, excellent and well-presented food, very good bottle list, great spot for a date night or just to hang out at the bar.
What I disliked: Waiter initially brought me the Stateside Saison when I ordered the Cellar Door and didn’t offer to rectify the mistake until I pushed it, like most places in D.C. the prices are fairly high.
Would I go back? Yes.
Overall Rating: 80
Jan 30, 2020
4/5 rDev -9.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4
What I had: Boulevard Tank 7 Farmhouse Ale on tap, can of DC Brau The Corruption IPA, bottle of Stillwater Cellar Door, Seared Spiced Tuna for me, Belgian Endive Salad to split, pasta entrée special and a few glasses of sauvignon blanc for my fiancé.
What I liked: Swanky upscale atmosphere, plenty of seating available, love the wino artwork above the bar, excellent and well-presented food, very good bottle list, great spot for a date night or just to hang out at the bar.
What I disliked: Waiter initially brought me the Stateside Saison when I ordered the Cellar Door and didn’t offer to rectify the mistake until I pushed it, like most places in D.C. the prices are fairly high.
Would I go back? Yes.
Overall Rating: 80
Jan 30, 2020
More User Reviews:
mcbridec6 from New Jersey
4.69/5 rDev +6.1%
vibe: 4.75 | quality: 4.75 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.75 | food: 4.75
Aug 16, 2018
4.69/5 rDev +6.1%
vibe: 4.75 | quality: 4.75 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.75 | food: 4.75
Aug 16, 2018
zonker17 from Texas
4.31/5 rDev -2.5%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 3.25 | food: 4.75
Went on a slow Sunday night. Only 12 Belgian drafts is a bit limiting and about half of them Belgian standards. Still no issue finding something to drink. High ceilings and beautiful interior. Extremely warm service. Excellent food. Had the steak tartar which was top notch and the Croque Madame that was herbed wonderfully.
Mar 28, 2017
4.31/5 rDev -2.5%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 3.25 | food: 4.75
Went on a slow Sunday night. Only 12 Belgian drafts is a bit limiting and about half of them Belgian standards. Still no issue finding something to drink. High ceilings and beautiful interior. Extremely warm service. Excellent food. Had the steak tartar which was top notch and the Croque Madame that was herbed wonderfully.
Mar 28, 2017
VABA from Virginia
4/5 rDev -9.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4
An upscale restaurant with a good selection of Belgian beers. The food was good but pricey, as was the beer selection on tap. Never-the-less I am glad I visited.
Feb 05, 2017
4/5 rDev -9.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4
An upscale restaurant with a good selection of Belgian beers. The food was good but pricey, as was the beer selection on tap. Never-the-less I am glad I visited.
Feb 05, 2017
Kunnskap from Virginia
2.49/5 rDev -43.7%
vibe: 2 | quality: 3.5 | service: 2 | selection: 2
I'm not sure why this establishment has such stellar reviews. I can appreciate a small and carefully crafted tap list, but this place falls flat. If one of the handful of beers they have on draft looks enticing, you might have a hard time getting a bartender to notice you, even if the place is empty. That's ok, you can take in the ambiance of the place while you wait; the old mirrors and clocks are beautiful. However, watch your butt. Literally. The seats are made from a pretty, weaved blue and white plastic that (on several stools) were coming undone and poking patrons in the rear or snagging their clothes. I'll walk a couple blocks to Maddy's the next time I'm in the area and save my behind AND my wallet.
Jul 05, 2015
2.49/5 rDev -43.7%
vibe: 2 | quality: 3.5 | service: 2 | selection: 2
I'm not sure why this establishment has such stellar reviews. I can appreciate a small and carefully crafted tap list, but this place falls flat. If one of the handful of beers they have on draft looks enticing, you might have a hard time getting a bartender to notice you, even if the place is empty. That's ok, you can take in the ambiance of the place while you wait; the old mirrors and clocks are beautiful. However, watch your butt. Literally. The seats are made from a pretty, weaved blue and white plastic that (on several stools) were coming undone and poking patrons in the rear or snagging their clothes. I'll walk a couple blocks to Maddy's the next time I'm in the area and save my behind AND my wallet.
Jul 05, 2015
DavidHume from Virginia
4.36/5 rDev -1.4%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4.75 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
May 02, 2015
4.36/5 rDev -1.4%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4.75 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
May 02, 2015
Tsar_Riga from Indiana
4.59/5 rDev +3.8%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.75 | food: 4.75
Mar 07, 2015
4.59/5 rDev +3.8%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.75 | food: 4.75
Mar 07, 2015
wahnee86 from Massachusetts
4.58/5 rDev +3.6%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.75 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4.75 | food: 4.75
While you'll pay a lot, the quality of what you get served can't be beat if you're looking for good Belgian beers. Their Happy Hour specials sometimes contain some real gems, but if you're looking for the best variety, look in their book of beers. The bartenders are generous in letting you sample what's on tap and very knowledgeable about all the options. Take advantage and describe what you like and you're sure to be provided a great beer in the right glass-ware.
Jul 29, 2013
4.58/5 rDev +3.6%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.75 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4.75 | food: 4.75
While you'll pay a lot, the quality of what you get served can't be beat if you're looking for good Belgian beers. Their Happy Hour specials sometimes contain some real gems, but if you're looking for the best variety, look in their book of beers. The bartenders are generous in letting you sample what's on tap and very knowledgeable about all the options. Take advantage and describe what you like and you're sure to be provided a great beer in the right glass-ware.
Jul 29, 2013
Sludgeman from District of Columbia
4.65/5 rDev +5.2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.75
9/1/17 - Visited many times since this original review. Sit at the bar for the best service. They have a certified cicerone on staff, so ask for him if you need help. The mussels are great, try the red spicy thai version. Reduced the vibe from 4.75 to 4.5.
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Visited on a Thursday afternoon, after the lunch rush before dinner, the week before Christmas. Only spent time at the bar. A very polished clientle.
Food - I did not sample the food on this visit, but from past visits BB has a very tasty menu, albeit one that can fill you up quickly. What I might consider high quality, but typical brasserie food.
Beer - An excellent selection almost exclusively focused on Belgian beers, both on tap and by the bottle. I did find a Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Stout, which I ordered since I had never had one before.
The bartender, a young lady in her twentys was very knowledgable. She indicated that she was studying to be a cicerone. It was a pleasure talking beer and an opportunity to learn which I did not pass up. If only all my bartenders were this friendly and knowledgable.
Thursday afternoon also happen to be that time when one of the distributors made his visit to show his new wears. Staff kindly invited me to sit in as the distributor showed off about eight new beers. I was asked my opinion and I gave it. What a wonderful treat!
Very pleased with the BB. It is a regular stop for me when I need a good beer.
Dec 21, 2012
4.65/5 rDev +5.2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.75
9/1/17 - Visited many times since this original review. Sit at the bar for the best service. They have a certified cicerone on staff, so ask for him if you need help. The mussels are great, try the red spicy thai version. Reduced the vibe from 4.75 to 4.5.
-----
Visited on a Thursday afternoon, after the lunch rush before dinner, the week before Christmas. Only spent time at the bar. A very polished clientle.
Food - I did not sample the food on this visit, but from past visits BB has a very tasty menu, albeit one that can fill you up quickly. What I might consider high quality, but typical brasserie food.
Beer - An excellent selection almost exclusively focused on Belgian beers, both on tap and by the bottle. I did find a Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Stout, which I ordered since I had never had one before.
The bartender, a young lady in her twentys was very knowledgable. She indicated that she was studying to be a cicerone. It was a pleasure talking beer and an opportunity to learn which I did not pass up. If only all my bartenders were this friendly and knowledgable.
Thursday afternoon also happen to be that time when one of the distributors made his visit to show his new wears. Staff kindly invited me to sit in as the distributor showed off about eight new beers. I was asked my opinion and I gave it. What a wonderful treat!
Very pleased with the BB. It is a regular stop for me when I need a good beer.
Dec 21, 2012
Beerenauslese from California
4.6/5 rDev +4.1%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 5
I've been here about a dozen times in the past two years and ALWAYS make a visit here on a trip to DC.
This looks and feels like an upscale Brussels brasserie. The food is great, and it is always entertaining to watch the entire kitchen prepare the food in the open. There is a large bar area, with usually about 10 draft beers. They alternate between commercial (Palm) and artisinal (Alvinne), I go for the latter. They have a daily happy hour from 5-7 with half-price beers. Not to be missed.
Great mussels in a bunch of different varieties and superb twice-cooked frites. Good choices of fresh oysters in season, with the seafood chef working right at the bar in full view. Entrees are delicious. I used to come for the rabbit cooked with kriek, but that has unfortunately dissapeared from the menu.
Draft beer choice is limited, but they always have some good beers that are available for happy hour. Some of the draft beers get pricy, such as St. Feuillien blond at $11--you can see how happy hour matters.
Extensive beer menu with bottles to satisfy many a beer connaisseur. Very pricy with a wine markup. A bomber of Stillwater Stateside saison will put you back $27. Lambic choices are rather pedestrian, with St. Louis, Giradin, and Oud Beersel being the only entries. C'mon, get some 3 Fonteinen and Cantillon in there.
Sep 16, 2011
4.6/5 rDev +4.1%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 5
I've been here about a dozen times in the past two years and ALWAYS make a visit here on a trip to DC.
This looks and feels like an upscale Brussels brasserie. The food is great, and it is always entertaining to watch the entire kitchen prepare the food in the open. There is a large bar area, with usually about 10 draft beers. They alternate between commercial (Palm) and artisinal (Alvinne), I go for the latter. They have a daily happy hour from 5-7 with half-price beers. Not to be missed.
Great mussels in a bunch of different varieties and superb twice-cooked frites. Good choices of fresh oysters in season, with the seafood chef working right at the bar in full view. Entrees are delicious. I used to come for the rabbit cooked with kriek, but that has unfortunately dissapeared from the menu.
Draft beer choice is limited, but they always have some good beers that are available for happy hour. Some of the draft beers get pricy, such as St. Feuillien blond at $11--you can see how happy hour matters.
Extensive beer menu with bottles to satisfy many a beer connaisseur. Very pricy with a wine markup. A bomber of Stillwater Stateside saison will put you back $27. Lambic choices are rather pedestrian, with St. Louis, Giradin, and Oud Beersel being the only entries. C'mon, get some 3 Fonteinen and Cantillon in there.
Sep 16, 2011
DWolf from Pennsylvania
4.58/5 rDev +3.6%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | food: 4
Hey, this is DC. Therefore, the price is "reasonable". More importantly, the selection of Belgian beers is top-shelf and the food is good ... and, equally as important, the wait staff is knowledgable. Not much is worse than asking the server about a particular beer and he/she responds, "it's fizzy or I like fruity beers." You won't get that here. If you're a Belgian fan (or a beer fan), stop by, if you are in the area, and you won't be disappointed. Note: BB has an extensive and quality wine list as well.
Mar 28, 2011
4.58/5 rDev +3.6%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | food: 4
Hey, this is DC. Therefore, the price is "reasonable". More importantly, the selection of Belgian beers is top-shelf and the food is good ... and, equally as important, the wait staff is knowledgable. Not much is worse than asking the server about a particular beer and he/she responds, "it's fizzy or I like fruity beers." You won't get that here. If you're a Belgian fan (or a beer fan), stop by, if you are in the area, and you won't be disappointed. Note: BB has an extensive and quality wine list as well.
Mar 28, 2011
Brasserie Beck in Washington, DC
Place rating:
4.42 out of
5 with
60 ratings
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