Bethesda Theater

The theater is nice. The event I attended wasn't sold out so that created a more comfortable seating experience. Whether you purchase a table or just a seat you can have your drink and or food inside the theater. Parking is conveniently around the corner from the theater and is very reasonably priced.

We really enjoyed our night out to see Will Downing. The hostess was polite as she walked us to our table. Our waiter was super nice and all of the young men who assisted with bringing the food and drinks were very friendly. Great atmosphere. I look forward to returning to see more concerts. The only concern is the sound system seemed a little off.

We had a blast on New Year’s Eve at the Raheem Devaughn Concert! Renee served us and she did a fantastic job, the venue was clean and fun, easy to get to and parking was free! Renee served so many tables and didn’t forget us one time, she was polite and friendly! We had a blast! Yes it’s an 20% gratuity addition and not for the server but we didn’t come to drink we came to be entertained so it’s ok when you’re ordering two waters or a coke! No bag check, no long line and assistance with being seated and served! 10/10 recommended!

We were here for the first time in December for a show. I bought tickets online the day before and there were not many seats available - all the table seats were sold out. I checked other peoples reviews on Google before buying the tickets to see what the view might be like from the seats in the back and it didn’t look bad. I can verify, it’s a preset small theater and we could see and hear pretty well. When you buy tickets online it advises you that there is a $20 minimum food and beverage purchase required per person. This applies to the table areas. We were in the seated section so I can’t comment on the quality of the food or table service. We could have ordered food at the bar and ate it back in the seats but we ate prior to coming plus really it would have been a bit awkward to eat dinner in the seated area also we basically met the minimum with two cocktails. 20% gratuity is added to your bill automatically and that was fine with me - just noting here so you are aware. The musicians were great and the sound was good. The only thing I will say is other patrons in the seated area were doing a lot of talking during the performance. I’m not sure if that is typical for this venue or if a lot of friends and family of the performers were in attendance and that maybe was why but it was distracting. We were in section W and people in the two rows in front of us were having conversations the entire time. I don’t know why people do this but don’t be that person. Come and enjoy the show and discuss your personal problems before or after or maybe go out in the lobby to talk. Anyway - nice theater to see a show and maybe get dinner.

We only had appetizers! We put our entree order in before the show started and about 45min. later we were asked to close our bill out. Our server forgot our order. Oh, they ran out of what we ordered, so we didn't get an entree according to our server. You might want to order everything at once well before the show starts to reassure you get the full experience.The appetizers were decent, and came out pretty quickly. The show was great! Service was below expectation. I would go again, but on a full stomach.

Bethesda Theater is wonderful place to see a show. Lots of seating options, tables up close and seats in the back. The sound quality and sight lines are great. The food options were tasty.

It was my first time there, and seeing MC Lyte was the best way to do it! Lyte put on a amazing show! She took out time to welcome us into her "living room" and talked about her love of music and her mom (may she RIP). She shared some of her favorite old school songs (and mine) which was so refreshing. Bethesda Theater is a nice place. The setup, the staff, and Bangal Shrimp were great! However, their collard greens need some hot sauce. I had to send them back because they were cold. Never again. I suggest you eat before you go.

We went to a concert (Sunshine Anderson and Christopher Williams). The venue is fairly nice. There is a MANDATORY minimum order amount of $20 so we ordered drinks which were okay. On top of the mandatory minimum order amount, they also add an additional 20% gratuity but it does NOT go to the servers. I paid $50 for two drinks. That is absolutely absurd!!!! I know everything is more expensive these days but I feel like this is a bit much.

I've been to the Bethesda Theatre for a few concerts and I have no complaints! It's clean, the staff is friendly and the food!?! I mean, I didn't know "theatre" grub could be so tasty! I've tried their Jerk Wings, Shrimp, and both Caesar and House Salads. The Jerk Wings are a 5/5. The spice was great, spicy but still enjoyable and the meat was tender. The Shrimp were made like "bang bang" shrimp. It came out crispy, but a little too salty. I'd get it again though. The shows I've been to were nice. Will definitely visit again should there be an act that interests me.

I've been to this theater for some shows a few times, even before they rebranded to the Bethesda theatre. Parking is fairly easy because it's just behind/underneath the theater and there is easy access to the street using an elevator inside a building. The food/drinks are a little on the pricier side, but it's to be expected when attending shows here. I believe there is usually a minimum purchase depending on where you sit but I don't think they enforce it (at least I haven't seen it). For the higher prices, I expected better food... the food came out cold and somewhat tasteless. You'd be better off eating before coming and just buying drinks on-site. On the other hand, I think they make drinks well and have a great selection of specialty drinks. Service isn't as attentive as you'd expect and can be slow, even when it isn't too busy yet. Though I want to mention that the ushers and hosts are really friendly and welcoming, so they definitely start the evening off right! Sitting towards the front or in the middle makes for a fun experience and gives you the best view. Great lineups coming up too

Bethesda Theater has very good performances but they really need to get this gratuity tip thing in order. They charge a 20% gratuity fee on your receipt but your server will tell you its not a tip when paying your bill. FALSE Advertisement! I find that very rude to feel you have to ask for an additional tip and when one is left for you in cash you don't have the decency to say Thank you. Did you think We were going to pay a 40% gratuity. I don't think so. Homey don't play that. On another note the performers were excellent. Short ribs were good as usual but my fried catfish batter was overly salted. I had to take off most of the breading. Included is my bill which states gratuity. Take that off the receipt if that's not what it is. That's very misleading to say the least.

We had a great and enjoyable time enjoying the beautiful sounds of Deborah Cox, and eating delicious food with awesome Customer Service!

I was excited to land great seats to see Dru Hill. Wife and I had a table in the floor near the stage. The seating area was a little snug but understandable and a non-issue for me but for those who wanted to dance by their table did so while blocking the aisles for the servers. Getting through the line was easy and relatively fast given they are a little behind technologically. They could benefit from digital tickets and scanning versus print outs or sharing the picture from your email. The drinks were EXPENSIVE. $83 for a double 1738, their Sisqo drink, and two bottles of water gratuity is included and I added a $7 tip. Bathrooms were clean! Parking wasn't an issue. It was a good night out. I heeded the warning about the food. I would eat before arriving as we did. The menu limited and the food over priced. Don't worry about Dress code unless publicized I was sitting next to a dude in a white tshirt and elastic sweat pants and a baseball cap.

I came here for a comedy show and recently and thoroughly enjoyed myself. I received a ticket at a separate table then my +1 and they made sure to seat us together. This was possible because it wasn't a sold out show. There was a minimum $20 food/drink purchase per person so I had the red sangria and mocktail (only one option). The venue is a bit older but that did not take away from the great service. I found metered parking right by the CVS and it was free since I was there in a Sunday. I was very proud to support this black owned business and will be back soon go some of the great shows coming up

First time, we enjoyed it! A lovely "dinner and a show" type situation. The food was good, the staff were friendly and the entertainment was on point. There is also a parking garage right beneath the theater which was definitely a plus. Three stars because the restrooms were not the cleanest and the women's restroom smelled horrible, we had a wobbly table that took 30 minutes to correct and our waiter was not as attentive as I prefer, I shouldn't have to ask where my waiter is so I can order a refill for my drink. There is also a 20% "house charge" (no it's not gratuity as the percentage do not add up and you are still expected to tip your server) for all tables FYI. We will definitely be back. If you are there for the entertainment, the front tables by the stage or the middle section tables are best, there was a lot of movement where the side tables are located (tables 98, 99, 100) which impeded upon our table and dancing space. Meal details: Spinach and artichoke dip with pita chips... decent. Bang bang shrimp... yum. Two orders of the salmon and Alfredo... delicious! Two blueberry mocktails that were really tasty.

Nice, intimate venue. Great place to see a show. There are tables on the lower level, and a small section for theater-style seating directly behind that. The menu is limited and the food/cocktails are a bit on the pricey side, but unfortunately the quality isn't exactly commiserate with the price. I give the kitchen and wait staff a ton of credit because orders come out very quickly, however most the food that my friends and I ordered was cold... or a very least lukewarm. I ordered spinach dip, which I'm used to it coming out piping hot and bubbly. What I received was tasty, but it was lukewarm at best. The servers are expedient, efficient, and welcoming. They did a great job of getting us everything we needed in a timely manner without disrupting the show. The acoustics of the venue are great and it's hard to get a bad seat here. They also have a really great lineup and there are at least three or four more shows that I plan to see here. There are parking garages just a short distance away as well as limited street parking. There are also several restaurants nearby if the eye watering prices for food and drink are a little hard to stomach... Or if lukewarm food is just not your thing.

Went for the Beat Street 40th anniversary and Hip Hop Holiday Honors Ceremony and Concert. We had table floor seats and had a good view. Service was good but food was lacking (cajun chicken pasta $35) and too expensive. I suggest eating a better dinner elsewhere of better quality. Just go for drinks to fulfill your tab obligation. Server also noted that even though a 20% gratuity is added - take home is only 6% of that which doesn't make sense. Venue is older and bathrooms are clean but the mens bathroom is in the basement.

Food is always amazing. However, I prefer to add my own gratitude. They do an automatic 20%. Servers was very great. I love the variety of shows. Only thing I dislike in the winter it's cold until you start moving to the music or hot in the summer because the air is turned off until doors open.

I love this place. It's been so kong since I have been here but it was such a beautiful suprise to see the quality is still there. They have exceptional service and the food is delicious. The drinks alone deserve their own mention. I love when the name of the drink actually matches the taste of the drink. I ordered two separate drinks and they both were made to perfection. Parking Tip: Use the garage for parking its very affordable and just a few steps from the entrance of the theater. Seating: If you are attending a show with seating you will have a great view from any table. Our table number was 54 directly behind the railing on the evaluated first floor level which honestly was a perfect spot. You weren't right up front too close to the speakers or too far away to see the performers.

This is a great venue for music but the food is horrible. Menu is limited and bad. Menu in google is wrong. The servers are nice and try but food gets missing, drinks forgotten, kitchen backed up or messes up orders. The servers work hard to make it right. There is a 20 buck minimum, Plus the venue ads 20% service fee to your bill. This is not a tip. So you have to tip on top of that. My advice is to eat dinner elsewhere and only get drinks/desert. But for music it is great place to see a show.

My partner & I came with a group of about 10 ladies to celebrate a birthday. Now mind you, we had no clue as to the show. It was a live taping of a podcast called, And then we.... I kept asking who knew these folks or who listened to the podcast. nobody. One of my friends really loves the venue so she got us all together for this night of....... anyway, we were here for my friend. As for the food (there's a $20 order minimum), it wasn't bad. I had the crabcake with mashed potatoes and green beans (they were out of asparagus and the other veggie). The potatoes were instant tho. From the time we ordered to the time we received our food was a quick 15 minutes if that! It's a well-oiled machine. So, don't expect nothing fresh. It did the trick though. I was a big munchie. The set up for this show was mostly dining tables. But there were also 'stadium seating'. There was only a handful of people seated there. Our server was friendly and attentive. The bathrooms were clean. And the food was decent. You can tell by the previews of who is coming to perform that this is where all the old heads come to keep on keepin on. I get it though. It's not a large place so they can definitely fill the space. The Ohio Players though? Wow. So, yeah, I've been there done that. It's nothing to write home about. I could see myself coming to see Stokley.

Earl, the owner should truly be ashamed of himself. The staff reports not being paid, not receiving their personalized tips and preparing to go on strike due to the horrific conditions they've undergone. It is indeed a beautiful, intimate venue for a perfect mature crowd, but the owner (Earl) must really improve if this business flourishes. It is really a shame when black so called professionals do not take care of our own people. Due to complete negligence on his part, many menu items were not available (to include SALAD) due to staffing issues. Do better Earl. Not a good look.

If you are looking for some great live entertainment, in a dinner theater style setting, then the Bethesda Theater is the place to head to! (This is the old Bethesda Cinema and Draft House, which was popular in the 70s and 80s.) This venue has a lot of R&B acts, ranging from back in the day to current day. They also have comedy shows here. You can order your tickets online and arrive early. The doors open about 2.5 hours before the show. This is a dinner theater with a full dinner and drink menu. (You have to spend a minimum of $20 in food or drinks while here,) I have to say that the food here is surprisingly excellent, although it's a bit on the pricey side. Nevertheless it is worth it! I ordered Blackened Cod w/Cajun Lemon Butter and a Raspberry Delight drink. The dinner was delicious but I have to say I didn't taste much alcohol in the drink. You might be better off ordering a glass of wine.

The theater is a great place to watch older bands while enjoying a seated dinner. Service is attentive and good. The crowd is older and elegant. Parking is on the nearby streets. The interior of the theater has been well-maintained, and the acoustics are excellent. A mandatory service charge of 20% is added to the tab.

Friendly staff and great vibes. It's perfect for either a night out with friends or a date night. I came for a show and it was fun! The food and drinks here are good as well.

SLOW!!! Then they have the NERVE to charge a MANDATORY 20% gratuity...that supposedly doesn't go to the server! On top of that, there's one bartender to serve the bar and tables! O ordered the same drink twice, and they both had a different taste. However, they have great venues and the staff is very professional. Also, great tasting, overly priced food.

Easy venue. Fine service that came around a few times to see if we needed anything. Acoustics and views are all great here. Not too loud. Drinks were good. Food is served in boxes so I don't order food here often. Was there to see El Debarge. Enjoyed the performance. The host (didn't catch his name) was great. The opening act local comedian, who I won't name, was pretty bad (same old jokes on repeat and seemed tired and uninspired).

First and foremost, Jeffrey Osborne was amazing, as usual; however, the additional 20%, unbeknownst to us, took us to $600.00 and money is still coming being charged to my husband's card. Two appetizers, five drinks, and two entrees. This price is not including the concert tickets themselves.

I am a regular visitor of Bethesda Theater and I usually don't have any complaints. However, the temperature has been unacceptable for the last 2 shows I've attended. The most recent was the Miss Kim Experience in June 1st. There was no air. I asked one of the host about this and he said "he tried to have the air turned on but they don't listen to him". It's disheartening to see an owner/manager see a room of people using their menus as fan instead of making them comfortable. I'm pretty sure if it was a different demographic that evening it would have been different. Otherwise, the show, customer service, drinks were great.

Interesting place....the venue is great for music and the food was very good. The negatives, the staff was overwhelmed by what I guess was a large crowd. Of particular annoyance was the check settling process. One, it appears an automatic 20% gratuity is deed to every check. This was explained by the waiting staff....along with a solicitation for an additional gratuity. I asked...don't you get the 20% gratuity? The response was no...they only get a portion. Maybe the gratuity is spread amongst the entire staff..bus boys, kitchen staff...I don't know. The waiting staff having to explain the tipping policy and subsequent solicitation for an additional tip...took up a lot of time.

I went to Bethesda Theatre last night to see comedy. At the theater, I had two sets of six wings and two drinks. The price was $93. This was in addition to the ticket. The food came out approximately one hour after the ordered. It's mandatory that you pay a 20% Gratuity. Ridiculous. Never again.

theatre was nice but they try to close too soon! for movie staring at 1030p they should stay open for snacks && other things at minimum 30min after last movie starts so you can at least decide if you really want something. my only complaint. didnt really speak to any employees && the few who we did encounter - wasnt the nicest (not taking away from it being a saturday and they just want to get off work im sure) but stil should treat each customer from beginning to end kindly is all.

Enjoyed War concert last night (too short though) but Bethesda Theater seats are VERY cramped and the air temperature VERY warm. They need to check their HVAC system and add door staff checking in guests (only 1 person checking tickets AND security check of purses/bags). So many of us had to wait a long time on the street to enter. IF we return will prob get a table and spend add'l $20 minimum so not so cramped.

Sherri Sheppard and Kim Whitley should be ashamed for having guests stand in line for a show that was to start at 9:30 pm. Entrance was at 10 pm and at 10:20 pm we are still waiting - really?? No consideration for the older crowd of supporters who may or may not have health constraint that standing is challenging. Never again! After inside the staff is simply rude, the floors are dirty with tables too close. Bang bang shrimp for $18 is rip off and not hot. Plus, they ran out of wings. This is a hopeless night, it's 10:51 and the show has not started. Good grief !

I've been going to Bethesda, jazz and blues for many years. Unfortunately, I am watching it go down hill in Quality. What's so sad is a lot of brothers and sisters. dont notice it because the shows are great! At one time there were white table cloths with candles on the table. You had real plates,, forks, and knives. You could watch the show while you have dinner. It was awesome.. Today there's so many levels of ghetto. I've discussed them below.. I see why the name has changed to Bethesda theatre. After you purchased your ticket, you must purchase $20 worth of food or drinks. The waitress convinced me to purchase a seafood pasta. It was $42. It took so long for the food (an hour?) to come that the lights went out completely before they brought it to the table. I don't believe in eating seafood in a sauce in the dark. I want to see what I'm eating. I canceled my order. When the check came the Latino server added gratuity for the order that I sent back. She told me that Bethesda Theatre charges gratuity for both meals? Even the one I sent back. When I ask for the manager, she changes her mind on that bullshit. Her tip went from $12 back to the $4 dollars that it was supposed to be. While the entertainer was singing on stage Bethesda shows advertisements for upcoming shows on a big screen over top of the entertainers head. That is the most disgusting and disrespectful thing that I've ever seen at a show. There's no way that we should be looking at upcoming shows while someone is trying to performing. It was very distracting. The food is brought in a take home container. Can you believe that? You get plastic fork, knife, and a container to go home . There's no longer linen on the table. When the lights go off, the place is dark. You can't see what you're eating. The shrimp I ordered was salty. My suggestions are to eat before you go to the show. And Bethesda Theatre, please stop advertising upcoming shows while someone is performing on stage.

Many people probably remember this place as the Bethesda Cinema N' Draft House which opened in 1983. But, it actually premiered in 1938 as an art deco movie house called the Boro Theatre. Now in 2008, the Bethesda Theatre, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, has been restored close to its original art deco integrity. Last night my colleagues and I saw "I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change". It was well acted by the cast of four and most skits were very funny. The actors all wore mouth pieces which you don't see at places like the Round House Theatre nearby. The sound was good although the 650 seat theatre was only about 20% full. Parking is available in an adjacent Montgomery County lot off Cheltenham. It is also an easy walk from the Bethesda Metro. I was not totally impressed, but I intend to come back if there is a good show to see. I would not pay $70, as some performances cost. We paid a "New Years Special" of $20.08 (plus a $7 Ticket Master fee). I hope the Bethesda Theatre does well. Bethesda will benefit from this cultural addition to the community.

As one of the theater goers and the Art Performing Lover, Bethesda Theatre is definitely on my top ten list of the place for the performance that always worth to see. The first performance I see in this theater at their Opening Night is I Love you, You're Perfect, Now Change. At that time, I tell the friend I went to see the performance with, "Wow! That sounds like mother!" LOL! But it's true, this performance were showing the real life example about how the people that we close to, how they said that they love us and tell us how perfect we are but at the same time trying to change us to be just the way they want us to be. That sounds familiar isn't it? The second time I went to see the performance in this theater which is recently, Smokey Joe's Cafe, was very interesting, funny, refreshing and exciting! The compilation of Broadway Musical Hit performance that they project in this show! But unfortunately during some problem of leaking water in the theatre, they have to cancel the remaining show, until the next time they ready to have another performance in their theater.

Came here for the first time earlier this week to partake in Free Night of Theater. I was so excited when I was actually able to score some of the free tickets because they go so fast! I live pretty close to the theater so I'd always wondered what it was like inside. It was a cute little place and still has the old movie theater feel. I had pretty good seats for the show (Altar Boyz) but as far as I could tell, you'd get a pretty good view no matter where you were seated. Aside from a few minor sound glitches the experience was fantastic. The show itself was rather amusing... Matthew, Mark, Luke, Juan... and Abraham... haha, love it! I can't wait to come back to see more shows here!

I was fortunate enough to score tickets to the Opening Night of "I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change" at the brand new Bethesda Theatre. Although it's unfair of me to say "new" as the theatre actually opened it's doors in 1938, as a stylish Art Deco film theatre. A brief history from their website indicates that it remains one of the few examples of Art Deco in the Washington area and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1999. Recently renovated and restored to the original Art Deco design, the theatre opened it's doors on October 4th with Off Broadway's longest running musical, "I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change." To begin, the theatre is beautiful- the restoration of the Art Deco motif takes you back to an era when getting dressed up in your best and going to the theatre to see a live performance on a weekend was the norm. It's intimate, but not small- I don't think there's a bad seat in the house, although admittedly I got seats in the center section about 10 rows back (which were fantastic by the way!). There is a bar with both drinks and light food fare in the entrance lobby with friendly, welcoming staff- and the bar not only was open before and during the show, but after as well, for as long as folks wanted to linger. The actual show was brilliant- funny, charming, a fabulous collection of vignettes on romance, dating, love and marriage. Opening night was not without it's glitches, but the show was so entertaining that when leaving the theatre, I could not commit to memory what any of those glitches were, which must mean they were so small or insignificant to the audience and to myself that they really were not that noticeable. I highly recommend the show for a date night, a couple's night, a girl's night- any night. Grab some dinner at any of the great restaurants within a 3-4 block walk of the theatre. For the price of the ticket, you will walk out feeling very entertained. I for one, am very much looking forward to seeing the next show!

Decent looking theater, the seats were nice and comfortable. The acoustics were okay, could have been better. My main issue was that there was no sort of barrier between the theater and the bar in the lobby and there were loud people at the bar which were so loud we could not hear the performers on stage.