Duke's Counter

We went to Duke’s Counter after visiting the Pandas today. They had a Panda - themed menus and they decorated the restaurant like Panda habitat. The Food was really good. Service was excellent and all people who worked there were super friendly.

From Duke's Grocery is a small restaurant/bar across from the Smithsonian Zoo. There's a bar and several tables for locals and tourists alike. They are famous for their burger, but don't sleep on the cocktails. They sometimes do fun pop ups with very creative cocktails. For example, they have a panda-themed popup indefinitely in honor of the Zoo's Great Panda exhibit opening.

My wife and I shared the starter hummus plate and the chicken Tikka. Very good. Not too spicy, if anything it could have been more spicy. The chicken was good cuts, tender, no mystery meat. Highly recommended.

Easy spot for a drink and a quick meal after the zoo. Plenty of kids options. Pricey but the portions are huge. So maybe sharesies? Cubano was okay. BLT was better, and would recommend. Quinoa salad with Tuna was a 10!! Fantastic French fries. Great cocktail menu. But just had a beer. Very friendly staff and service. Pictured kids toasty and fries. Also pictured the cubano.

Solid burger and fries. The wings were great, loved the spicy kick. The truffle mac had the right bit of truffle but was missing a little salt. Our services was great and quick, perfect meal after a day at the zoo!

Love all Duke's locations! One of the best burgers in the city. The vibe here is also very quaint and fun. Great place to stop after exploring the National Zoo.

Ordered the Wagyu burger with fries. Took 30 min to get the food and the patties were pretty bland. Quite honestly, 5 Guys burger tasted better in my opinion. I’d definitely not try it again.

We had lunch there after visiting Smithsonian Zoo (which is right across the street). Delicious food! We didn’t expect much but were really impressed!

Went for the Bamboo Bar pop-up! The bar was decorated in a cute panda theme and they had a special menu of 5 drinks. The "Bao-zy Hot Chocolate" was v good and came in a cup that revealed a panda face as it was exposed to the hot drink! I was pleasantly surprised by the "Don't Forget the Red Panda" drink as I'm not a Red Bull fan by the lychee & raspberry liquor made the drink super fruity but not in a sweet way! I also thought the cup was cute as well! The truffle mac & cheese was good (as always) & loved the crunchy cheese topping. The proper burger & fired up chicken sandwich were both very good and loved the cute panda brand on the bun! Service was fast and the staff checked up on us often.

I was in the neighborhood of the zoo picking up a bottle of cheer for a friend's birthday. This place is a little difficult to find, I think i walked past 3 times before I saw the sign. Then it was like right there. I was cold too so finding it was a blessing. I went inside and asked about a table for one. I get seated toward the back of the restaurant near what I'm thinking is the entrance to the kitchen. The place is like one long closet, not a cut just an observation. I could smell food being cooked the entire time I was at my table. The lighting is interesting to say the least. I was glad to be out of the wind. The menu has a variety, something for everyone. I cheated and looked ahead of time plus I have been to Duke's Grocery near GW hospital. The proper burger with fries (they're extra with the burger) and a Yuengling to wash it all down. The restaurant is as busy as I would expect for a Saturday night. I finish off my first beer and the waitress is bringing me food so I order another. Decent size burger, and a generous portion of the fries. The first bite and you know you found one of the best burgers in the city. Definitely a place to try if you have never been. The fries are pretty good, still hot from the fryer. Definitely a repeat for me now that I know where it is. Convenient to the zoo and a neighborhood with other restaurants and things to see and do. The kicker is I left my phone in the car. Doh! I will have to visit again for pictures.

This is a really convenient stop before or after a trip to the Zoo as it sits just across the street from the main entrance. Friends who live in DC recommended Duke's as they enjoy the Dupont location. We stopped in right around 11:30 on a Saturday. The outdoor seating was full, but there seemed to be plenty of open tables inside. We sat inside the front window, close to the bar. The service throughout our visit was unpleasant. Even though we were promptly sat, we didn't receive menus. When we were finally greeted by the gentleman who served us 15 mins later, we had to ask for menus. He seemed like he'd rather be anywhere else and treated us as if our presence was an annoyance. Questions were met with a huff and quick response. We ordered a good variety of items. I had the quinoa bowl, which was ok. It had barely any squash and too much goat cheese. The dressing was tasty. Little one had mac and cheese, which she didn't like. It was very heavy on the cheese and very light on the seasoning. Hubby had the Proper Burger, which he liked but was slightly overdone for his taste. It was disappointing to be told that they only offer medium rare and well done as options for cooking temps. Our friends had a Proper Burger + egg, Avocado Toast and fries. Burgers also don't come with fries. I would say that it you're charging upwards of $17 for a burger, fries should be included. But no.. it'll cost you $4 for fries. Other add-on prices are also insane - $3 for an egg, $4 for avocado. Between the poor service and the ridiculous prices, it is very unlikely, with all of the great options in this area of DC, that I will return.

I went during the ZooLights themed cocktails and the Bamboo Bar, and I have to say the cocktails are always very creative and well thought out. Duke's Counter is great at incorporating a theme and there's always a good amount of people here from the zoo! The cocktails usually have a heavy pour and are very instagram-able, the service is fast, and the food comes out hot. The Proper Burger and Fired Up Chicken Sandwich are very good and our favorite Duke's menu item has to be the truffle mac and cheese! Definitely recommend stopping here for a great cocktail and sandwich!

From Duke's Grocery is a small restaurant/bar across from the Smithsonian Zoo. There's a bar and several tables for locals and tourists alike. They are famous for their burger, but don't sleep on the cocktails. They sometimes do fun pop ups with very creative cocktails. For example, they have a panda-themed popup indefinitely in honor of the Zoo's Great Panda exhibit opening.

Finally made it around to trying the famed "Proper Burger". Man was I pleasantly surprised...this was an awesome burger and the service was great! Next visit will be for brunch...can't wait!

Got the chicken sandwich and it was really good. Came after zoo lights and sat at the bar. Was perfect for a cozy winter night. Good service

Visiting from Southern California and came here for lunch after a visit to the zoo. The food was great! Proper burger was delicious as was the chicken milanesa sandwich. The kale and pear salad was very tasty too. Fries were crispy and fresh. Friendly staff all around!

If you're going to the zoo, you NEED to come here for lunch. It vibes like a mom and pop joint but with bigger flavors and great deals. The owners/servers are so kind and have great suggestions for whatever you need. Our table shared a pitcher of beer (deal 1), had many burgers of the day with fries (deal 2), and had a constant flow of water. I would argue the only downfall were the bathrooms because they weren't the nicest. Back to the food... the burgers are smash burgers which normally my kid complains pushes all the "good stuff" out but not here. According to my family the burgers were moist and perfectly seasoned. The buns held up to the burgers for everyone except the kiddo. The avocado BLT with cucumber was so fresh and so good I had no regrets not getting a burger. This place is worth the hype and I'm glad it wasn't busy while we were there because I could see how it could get full quite fast any other time!

We got a Dukes Grocery gift card for Christmas and went online to look at the locations and hours. Dukes counter was listed on the Dukes Grocery website and was closest to us, so we went there. We told them we had a gift card and ate a meal. They told us that they don't accept Dukes Grocery gift cards (even though they are all listed together on their website).

Cute little place! The proper burger was delicious! Had mine medium rare, which is not how I eat my burgers, and I was pleasantly surprised! Great crispy fries, and a nice Margherita! The customer service was great!

Amazing proper burger and addictive posh BLT. The fries are also delicious. My go-to indulgence!!

It was not busy on a weekday evening, but it became busier as the night went on. The server recommended what they're known for - their burger. And it was incredibly juicy. Paired with an IPA and the elote corn appetizer, and it was the perfect warm summer meal. We also enjoyed identifying the international flags hanging, and were in and out of the place in a decent amount of time.

Great ambiance with the panda welcome theme, but the food and service were mediocre at best. The spicy chicken sandwich used "patty" grade chicken. The impossible burger was fine, but lacked flavor in the aioli. Red Panda drink was waaaay too sweet.

Overall a good experience. They have a pretty early happy hour and the drinks are LARGE. Had two mixed drinks and was feeling myself. I got the Taken with Liberty to soak up all my spirits. It didn't not disappoint, it was like a sophisticated Chopped Cheese. Really good, not exactly what I anticipated but good nonetheless. Highly recommend stopping by here for food or drinks.

Five Stars for the food, which is really quite tasty. The proper burger really hit the spot and the onions, cheese sauce, and all the fixings were done to perfection. My wife loved the corn dish and the arugula salad with radishes and tomato Also hit the mark. So why only four stars? For some folks, it may not matter, but the ambience and set up is a bit down market. Tables were pretty sticky, kegs of beer were stacked up at the front entrance, and the music was probably more for the staff than the customers. Service was adequate, but nothing to write home about, and the person at the front door looked bored out of her mind, staring into an iPad video for most of the evening. My guess is that this is a great lunch spot after a visit to the zoo, but I probably wouldn't come back for dinner. Then again, the burger was really pretty darn good.

If you're in the mood for a burger-- this place has got a tasty one for you! The proper burger is BIG. You could split it in half and have an appetizer :) The French fries are great-- andddd addictive! You have to order them separately from the burger unless you're ordering the children's size which comes with fries. The service was good and they have an awesome happy hour. Will definitely come back!

Had an excellent meal at dukes following a visit to the zoo. We were really hungry and forgot to take pictures but we got the waygu burger with fries. The burger was super tender and juicy. Easily one of the best burgers I've had in the city and the fries were a good fix of crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. Will definitely be going back.

Duke's Counter is a decent pub, which is right across the street from the Zoo, making it a great meet up spot. The pub has a bit of an old school restaurant/bar vibe with a touch of British flair. Be aware, that the inside of the pub is a bit tight; however, Duke's Counter has some outdoor seating. Since we were meeting at Duke's to grab a couple of pre-zoo beverages, I did not have a chance to try the pub's main plates. However, I did order small plate of bbq (I think) turkey wings, which I thought were quite tasty. I think there was a bit of a miscommunication with ordering, which might have been my fault. After I placed an order for the wings, the bartender asked if I wanted a side salad or fries. I was under the assumption that the side salad or fries came with the dish, so I was a bit surprised to see the approximately nine-dollar salad on my check. Something told me to ask if the salad or fries were going to be extra while ordering. Oh, well, I guess I'll know for next time. Ordering mishaps aside, I was quite pleased to see that Duke's Counter has a nice list of beers and cocktails. Overall, I thought the prices for beverages and appetizers were in line compared to other places in the area.

Very convenient if you're going to zoo before/after your meal. (Which is what my siblings & I were doing) they have a wide variety of food options. I got the Cubano, my brother got the fired up chicken, & my sister got the quinoa salad. Honestly, the quinoa salad was our favorite! The sandwiches bread was not the best & got soggy quick & fell apart a few bites in. I appreciate the unique Cuban sandwich twist, the buffalo chicken sandwich wasn't anything special. The service was not the best as our server came over minimal times & you would have to wave him down any time you wanted something. The food came out quickly though & it was still hot so that's definitely a plus too.

Had the fired up chicken which is a sandwich with two chicken tenders. Very low quality sandwich as the tenders had a spongy consistency, kind of similar to those you would have at your cafeteria in grade school. Overpriced food and drink. Our main waitress was very nice however another staff member gave us a very rude remark. Very clean ambiance with clean bathrooms though.

Swung through after the Zoo with my family to watch the soccer match, ideal right ? Unfortunately, I'm watching our server (big dude) take shots while I'm there and just seem generally uninterested in serving with any smile. Food was good but $11 beers were trying way too hard to appease an euro crowd with high cost. Bartender was cool until he got way too damn pushy for us to buy more drinks too. Cussed in front of two children which wasn't cool IMO.

Oh my goodness! Let me build your menu for you. The proper burger, the wagyu burger, share the fries, and share the elote corn dish. Add an orange drink with vodka and soda water. Done!! The service, the atmosphere, the food.. Oh My! I can't wait to come back.

Walking distance from our hotel and was perfect when craving a burger. I had the "taken with liberty" (seared ribeye/swiss cheese/garlic aioli/tomato/banana pepper/red onion/rocket/ baguette- $17). My husband had the proper with an order of french fries. Our food came out very fast. Both burgers were fantastic. Fries were plenty but had nothing special to them, and needed a dash or two of salt to eat. Staff were very friendly and attentive. They have a full bar with happy hour specials.

It's really hard to eat beef for me. So I tried the Impossible Burger and trust me when I say WOW. Customer service was on point, music, and ambience, made it a really good place to eat!

They got the good stuff here if you're nearby. Outstanding service in a cool spot. Ordered the Proper burger because everyone said it was great and it was. It had everything going for it. Full of flavor and had to be messy but so worth it. Also got the rib eye steak sandwich and it was delicious too. Super cool place that was clean and had great customer service .

Slight upgrade over standard food inside the Zoo. Pros: location! Online reservations and usually not crowded. Patio seating. Customer service. Good variety of food and beverage options. Cons: Prices. Kids cheeseburger is $16. It includes fries but no milk or fruit. Regular burger is $17 without fries. Beers start at $10. Food. Fries are mushy and some are cold inside; not crispy (or fresh). Burger is okay, but meat needs more seasoning. Two temperature options: medium rare and well done. I've tried both and well done is more flavorful. Patties are too thin for medium rare to be the right call. Bottom bun always too thin and breaks apart due to moisture from burger. Bottom line: I'd come here if entering the Zoo from Connecticut. But as a solo dining destination, I'd avoid and go somewhere else north or south of this place.

We stopped for the DC voted best Proper burger but the Truffle Mac and cheese was the best out of what we ordered. The proper burger was good as well. We also ordered 4 Shots of Jameson which were nice and smooth.

This establishment was nice. The customer service and staff were nice and friendly as well. The food and the amount received was good.

Went for brunch. Overall, good service and decent food but probably not worth the money--the sandwiches and burgers are not cheap and don't come with sides, not even fries. The "posh BLTA" was served on ciabatta that wasn't toasted and wasn't fresh enough to be served that way. The bread and avocado buried the taste of the bacon and tomato. My companion got the bacon and egg breakfast sandwich and was also underwhelmed. The French fries, it must be said, were absolutely awesome.

After a quick trip to the zoo, my friend and I crossed the street to Duke's Counter for a quick late lunch. At 4pm on Sunday it was surprisingly crowded! We had a nice lunch with some big highlights. The spicy aubergine sandwich was mind blowing! It had delicious crunchy eggplant, herby goodness, and delicious melty Gouda. The pickle pots was okay but probably not worth the price. And the fired up chicken sandwich was just fine; the mayonnaise was so tasty, but the chicken tasted kind of like a frozen tender smothered in Buffalo sauce. I would come back for that amazing eggplant! Yum!

We went to the zoo on a rainy Wednesday and EVERY food option within the zoo was closed. We thought we were out of luck until we ran into Duke's Counter, which was advertising just what we were hungry for (burgers!). We sat at the bar and were spoiled with good service. We ordered a burger to split (note: it was a $20 burger) and it was served to us within minutes (definitely less than 10). I ordered the Orange Crush (which was on the happy hour menu) and watched them juice oranges by hand to make the drink, which really made a difference. Delicious, and just what we needed!

We stopped here after a long day at the zoo. I had a half order of chicken wings, and my husband ordered the Korean barbecue "pork wings" (they're like those little pork lollipops on the bone from cooking shows). All the wings are fantastic! They're large and prepared very well. I couldn't finish my last one. We split some fries, and they were very good! The ketchup here is high quality, also. The service was friendly and efficient. We sat outside so didn't see much of the place, but the outdoor area is nice. It's small but the views and seeing lots of dogs and families walking are nice.

**The food was alright, but it was extremely overpriced--the most we have spent so far on our trip to Washington. Great atmosphere for kids, with both indoor and outdoor seating. They also offer highchairs for young children. The kids enjoyed the Mac and Cheese and the burgers. It was mediocre. Be prepared for large portions as they serve generous servings. Additionally, their hand-cut fries are delicious.

I got the spicy aubergine sandwich which was pretty good and filling. I would say the portion was really big I only ate about half of it and fries. I didn't realize the fries were an extra four dollars. I thought they were included when the waiter asked. So just FYI The waiter was really nice and the service was super friendly . It probably took us 30 minutes to get our food though, we were there on a Sunday for brunch. The place was pretty crowded, but not super loud.

They need to work on their service! All of their servers have limited English, making it difficult to communicate when ordering and asking questions about the menu. Also, if I order an appetizer, it should come first, not with everything else all at once!

A great burger in a cozy, casual DC eatery. I was surprised at the quality with the proximity to the zoo, but I was pleased. Service was fine.

We got takeout from here after going to the zoo. I ordered the wagyu burger, which was juicy and flavorful. I absolutely loved the bacon jam in the burger. What a great complement! Be warned that this is a tourist trap, though: it cost me $17 for a burger and it didn't even come with fries! I see it's up to $19 now. If you don't mind shelling out extra cash for a delicious burger, then you will enjoy eating here.

Looking for a place to eat on the way to the Zoo and stumbled onto Dukes and I can't be happier that I did! We were sat quickly (without a reservation, but also early for dinner on a Wednesday), the service was outstanding, and the burgers... it was legitimately the best burger I've ever eaten! My son also loved his burger (altered for plainness), and my daughter enjoyed her spicy chicken sandwich except for the sweet pickles. She's more of a dill pickle girl. If you have the opportunity- eat at Dukes! You won't regret it!

Great food, service, and atmosphere. Located right across from the DC Zoo. We will come back! Thanks!

Great food! I stopped in for a quick to go but ended up staying at the bar. Friendly relaxed atmosphere.

Great staff. Great recommendations. Ordered kids burger, proper burger and liberty sandwich. Only difference between kid and proper is an extra beef patty! The liberty sandwich was good too. Plenty of fries

This place is nothing to do with British food. The food was literally inedible. The chicken sandwich was like a chicken nugget and the fish and chips were vile. And it was expensive. Wish I'd never been

We got a proper burger and BLT. The burger was fairly loaded and you sometimes needed a fork to eat it, but it was full of good flavor. It can get a bit crowded. Travis' Rating Taste - 3.5 Quality - 3.5 Ambiance - 3 Overall - 3.5 Isabel's Rating Taste - 3 Quality - 4 Ambiance - 3 Overall - 3

5 stars for the food. The BLTA was excellent and the burger was very good too. The fried eggplant/squash was nicely breaded and fried to a good crunch without being soggy. Note that sides are not included with the sandwiches and fries are an extra $4 for what turned out to be a small portion. The inside is bare-bones. If this were somewhere in the southwest US and not DC I would have expected to see discarded peanut shells on the floor. Service was slow -- we waited 35 minutes for food after our order was placed and the place was only about 1/2 to 2/3 full.

Made a reservation to have Sunday brunch here and came all the way from VA. Did not get to try the food because there was a bug infestation inside the dining room. Our first table before we sat down had several flies swarming around (very surprised the other guests, not a lot though, could stand flies flying around their heads/food.) we asked to be reseated. And the. The second table had mosquitoes now in addition to gnats! We felt sorry to have to leave after being seated twice but I don't think we would have enjoyed our meals swatting at insects. Understandably it's the summer but the restaurant needs some better insect management knowing their door is naturally going to be swinging open whenever guests enter/exit next to the zoo/rock ceeek park.

I really hope the guy with long blonde isn't Duke, because he really soured our dining experience. Besides that, Pros: Sandwich was good, and the back server was friendly. Cons: Beer on tap was limited and the bathroom gave more of dive bar vibes thanks to the stench.

A great place to enjoy a meal of grab a snack, especially after a day at the zoo. They have a wide variety of food on their menu to placate everyone from foodies to kids. Their fries are delicious too. I'm a big fan of their pork shank "wings." Just be careful, the Korean BBQ sauces has a kick. For those tennis fans, their Proper Burger has been available at the Citi Open in recent years .

They're a strong contender for best burgers in the district. The Proper Burger is hard to beat. Casual, cool vibe. Casual, decent service. Pretty good cocktails and cocktail list. (For a midday meal when you want to sip something but don't want to go hard, the Proper Pimms is great). Duke's Counter is very good.