J. Brian’s Tap Room

I give 5 stars across the board, maybe 1 out of every 200 reviews - Madi is a top notch bartender, that I’ve come across my travels. Her counterpart - from Jersey - is quite the character. Food out in timely manner; delicious; one of the best sandwiches I’ve ever had. Terrific pasta salad. Good local beer. I’ll be back for sure.

Unbelievable food, service and quality. The onion peddles alone are a starter for 3 or more. Burgers were top notch. It was catered to very well, plenty of attention, time to plate was unexpectedly fast.

I'll give a five overall because I love the atmosphere and architecture. I went at noon on a weekday with four friends and it was pretty quiet. Really enjoyed looking around the 1866 building. Service was great, my Ruben was excellent. highly recommended.

Really great spot in downtown Fredericksburg and I would definitely recommend a visit if you are in the area. The food was amazing and freshly cooked. I had the pork burger, which was a little different and tasty but definitely worth a try for something different than the typical burger. All the food was amazing and the service was top-notch

Menus were in short supply, so our table had to share. The service was timely, even though they were pretty busy. The food was good and the beer was excellent. It was noisy because there were college games on in the bar and the sound carries well inside. I would like to try dining outside next time.

Cool pub with dining room. I didn't eat there, but my buddy met me there had a burger, said it was awesome. An eclectic collection of stuff on the walls. Cool old building. Good bartender.

My husband and I visited on Labor Day 2025. We arrived at 12:45 pm and were seated outside as it was a beautiful day. We were in the shade and it was beautiful. The waitress, Rachel, took our drink orders and explained that she and the bartender were the only ones serving today so she may be delayed, but she will do her best. She didn't complain, whine, or pity herself. She stepped up and tackled it like a Rockstar. She talked with us and explained the menu items we asked about as if we were the only customers. She was patient, kind, professional and on point. She was frazzled on the inside but was all about customer service, and our dining experience, on the outside. We watched as she chatted with other guests and served us all without showing that she was clearly stressed to be the only waitress handling all of us. Kudos to you Rachel and to the owner who was smart enough to hire an amazing waitress and a fine young lady. Thank you Rachel for making our Labor Day Lunch a memorable one. You are a ROCKSTAR!!!

Start with this: the blonde lady was SWEET and genuine, and kool. The fries, which was all i ate, came with phenomenal mayo stuff! 1st time there, although i have been walking passed it for 15 years now. I felt super judged and stared at by one particular waitress. And then the other patrons seemed super annoyed by our presence at the bar so much so we moved to a booth. I will try again!

Decided to stop in with some friends for a drink and maybe some food. The pour of Guinness was great however the waitress we had really spoiled the time I was there. It was obvious she didn't want to be there and her attitude showed it. Ended up not ordering food and went to another place to eat. Will not be returning.

I'll give this an average rating. Certainly not an authentic Irish Pub. The website shows Guinness in Guinness Gravity Pint glasses, yet the bar did not serve Guinness in the traditional correct Gravity glass, but in a regular beer pint glass, and the bartender did not provide the correct Guinness pour. They did have Red Breast which was good, and the bartender did a respectful pour for it. Fairly full bar of customers, yet I think only 1 other person besides myself was drinking Guinness, which I have rarely seen in an Irish Pub??? It did seem like a pretty friendly crowd. Just not what most expect of an Irish Pub.

For the cheese pizza! Very good! Just the right amount of zing, and the aftertaste is so well balanced you'll just want more.

We have been there twice now. The wife, baby and I. It's seems like the service is lacking but I take that for being a tap room and not a fine dining experience. They could use a little more training and attentiveness, however, overall they have been very accommodating, professional and keep the environment casual. The beer selection is good and I like the ambiance of the restaurant itself. After our second visit we will definitely be returning for the Big Bad Wolf Burger.

Very good food and quick service..simple but varied menu and a good beer selection. Better than the rating and exceeded expectations.

I have eyed this place for 2 yrs looking forward to an upscale pub/tap house and I was very much disappointed. The sign accompanying the name says fine dining. Look at my pic this isn't fine dining. Their was no one in there, strike one! I wouldn't not have gone except I saw a last sitting at a booth as I peered through the door. Thinking people were in there it turned out to be the hostess/server sitting in a booth playing on her phone. The positive, they sell Guinness on tap...It's an Irish pub. The service was ok. I can see how some people complain but I had a young female server and she was ok. The food...I ordered the crab bisque and fish and chips (server said this was their specialty). The soup was like crab pudding. Decent flavor but it was so thick, it had the consistency of pudding. Fish and Chips were ok, Cole slaw the worst I've ever had, one fork full and couldn't go further had too much Mayo. The fries were edible, nothing special. Taste like a cross between taster wedges and Cajun style fries just not spicy. I really wanted to like this place but it didn't meet my expectations. All in all it just wasn't good. Capital Ale House down the Street and around the corner is far better option and even Sedonas. This is not fine dining don't let the exterior fool you. Might be a decent place for friends to meet, drink, and socialize.

Oh holy hell. I usually have a lot f good things to say about this place. but a certain individual had something to say about my general existence there, so I was unceremoniously told to leave when I was not the proximal cause of concern. Everyone be wary of their conduct in this place. If anyone has an issue with you--real or imagined--you will be thrown out immediately.

Small but homey. Great place to kick back with some good buddies and talk. Service was adequate and the bartender was pleasant. Would recommend if you are looking for a mellow vibe.

We have been coming to this restaurant for years...in spite of the same unfriendly waitress. We overlooked her because the food was good and we liked sitting outside. Today was our last time. She was her usual rude, unfriendly self but in overdrive. When she ignored us for 5 minutes and then came to her perch and said "what do you need?" I looked irked and said "a table for two." She grabbed the menus and snarled, " I am the only one here right now" and huffed ahead of us to an outside table, plopped the menus down on a random table and huffed off. As I was following her out, I knew this would be the last time we eat here. Her nasty attitude was too much. We walked away and went to Capital Alehouse and ate. I don't know who she is or why she has been allowed to waitress here for as long as she has. Management might want to revisit that decision. Sad, because we always likes the food.

Margherita pizza is legit. Also, they have the good beer battered crispy style fries. Prepare to spend some time, it's not the fastest place but we weren't in a hurry. Nice chill spot for a low key Friday night dinner.

On a rainy Friday night, J Brian's Tap Room was one of the few spots offering covered, outdoor dining in Fredericksburg, VA, and one in our party was craving fish & chips, so after assembling a four-top from the two-tops on the front porch, we ordered said fish & chips, a blooming onion, a Greek pizza, a pepperoni pizza, and some beers on tap. The blooming onion wasn't bad and the Greek pizza had some flavor from the toppings, but the sauce on the pepperoni pizza was overly sweet. Service was fine, though hostess/server was, as others have noted, sitting and otherwise occupied upon arrival and checkout.

Me and some friends came here for lunch and had some appetizers and drinks. Their beer selection is great and they have $4 mimosas/$5 bloody Mary's on the weekends!

Ordered the mushroom Swiss burger with a side of pasta salad. I could tell the pasta salad was left out all day because the ends of the pasta was dark and hard. Also, all it was was spiral pasta tossed in balsamic and sprinkled with a few crumbles of feta. The burger didn't look like much, but the meat was surprisingly high quality and it was cooked on an open flame. No frozen patties here. The burger was a bit dry, but with a little A1, it hit the spot. Zero stars on the pasta salad but 4 stars for the burger. I would recommend asking to upcharge for a side of fries.

Great food and a nice beer selection. Service can be iffy at times, but to be honest varies widely. Overall, we have mostly good service. It's definitely a place one can take friends. The small bar is also pleasant. The building was formally a hotel. It has a lot of character, but the garden area out back is usually a more pleasant experience. Try the crab cakes - excellent! The corned beef and cabbage for St. Patrick's was very good, but the potato leak soup was fantastic.

Not good. The environMent is dated and dirty. The wait staff isn't friendly. The food. . . The lobster bisque tasted sour and soapy The bread on the Ruben was old and very dry. The sauce on the Ruben was off. The steak sandwiches were dry. The sodas were flat.

I just can't understand why there are only 3 stars!! This place is a local gem!! Their fish & chips is scrumptious!! They have a well curated beer selection, too. The restaurant side has a lovely atmosphere. The pub side is more relaxed and fun. Be sure to give them a try. You won't be disappointed! I used to live nearby. Now we drive an hour to visit Fredericksburg and eat at J Brien's!!

Worst customer service ever. Sat at small side table for nearly 20 minutes - bartender/waitress never once acknowledged my existence. Spent too much time telling the bar patrons a story about her fake boobs. Highly recommend you travel elsewhere for food or drink. This place is definitely not worth it.

Well I don't know about these other reviews but we had the fish and chips with fries and cole slaw for lunch, along with the local Alewerks Tavern Brown Ale and it was fast and DELICIOUS. I'd post a picture but all that's left is the lemon wedge. The fish is clearly not from a frozen bag: the breading was light and fresh and just right.

I had my second experience at the tap room on new years eve. After work one of my coworkers and I went for an early dinner/ late lunch, we were originally going to go to Sedona, but I remembered how incredibly loud it is in there and made the last minute decision to go to j Brian's. First and foremost, the best part of the experience was my server, Macie. She is my spirit animal! She was so bubbly and personable and just gosh darned sweet! I loved her! My friend and I sat there for almost five hours and she never rushed us out or anything, so that was awesome. I ordered the Rebly sandwich, which was grilled chicken, bacon and cheese on ciabatta served with fries. The fries were basic, but the sandwich looked great! I didn't eat it until it was cold, but it was good cold so I imagine it'd be amazing hot and fresh! My friend ordered the grilled cheese with gouda, fontina and cheddar cheese, it was so gooey and delicious, she said. I actually took a video of her pulling it apart, but I'm not sure I can post video on here, but we will see. Our table was pretty slanted and we were concerned our alcohol was going to slide right on off the table, but it didn't! So that was good. Oh! And the bathroom was so clean! I mean it, SO CLEAN. I was drinking, so I had to use it several times, I was blown away! Most bathrooms downtown at so old and rickety and you wonder how old the plumbing is, but this one was perfectly modern and spotless!

Stopped in for lunch while walking around Fredericksburg. This place was cute - vintage, authentic beer bar interior with big chalkboards on the walls displaying all the food and beer specials. My husband and I had local brews from 6 Bears & a Goat Brewing. He got fish and chips and I had the black and blue burger. Both were delicious - better than what we expected for bar food. Stop in here for lunch and you won't be disappointed!

My wife and I spent most of the holiday weekend moving, we had grand ideas of going hiking or hitting he sights, but alas we spent it moving. It was 3:00 in the afternoon and we realized that we were hungry so we hit downtown Fredericksburg and discovered that most of the restaurants were closed on Monday, but J Brian's Tap Room was open for business. I had a great Rubin sandwich, bread toasted to perfection and the corned beef had a bit of a grilled flavor. My wife had the special: Brie & Roast Beef Pizza... it was also fantastic. The brie had a great richness, the beef added a bit of flavor and the crust was just buttery goodness. We still had some cleaning and final moving to do so we didn't get any wine or beer. I've had a hard cider at the Tap Room before and it was tasty. Again, if you like beer and good food stop by J Brian's Tap Room.

J Brian's is my favorite stop when i get to the area. I love the pizza and the local beer on tap.

Okay, it is the first week of schools and many business closing because of the virus. We chose J Brian, for lunch, because it was locally owned and we want to be intentional about where we are spending our money at this time. After 3 contacts with our server there was almost no conversation and absolutely no smiles. At first I thought it might be her personality, but then I heard her laughing with some of the staff and a bit later I watched as she had quite an engaging conversation with the only other customers in the same area as us. I am NOT overly sensitive to this kind of behavior in general; I am VERY appreciative of pleasant, conversational waitresses and waiters, to e.v.e.r.y customer. It was probably a good thing my husband paid the bill, my tip would have certainly reflected my experience with her. On a better note, the food was prepared quickly, she got it to our table quickly and followed up to refill my husband's tea. Fish n Chips and a burger were our choices; both meals were quite tasty. There are a lot of other family-owned restaurants around for our next meal out. Today's experience did not create a desire to return soon nor were there any loyalties developed on my part.

My party arrived at about 1530 on a Monday. Understandably, it's quiet, and we are okay with this. I notice the copper tables, the board of beers on tap and I get hopeful. But when the drinks arrived, one just felt off, like it was the bottom of the keg/flat. We go on, the food arrives. The fries were decent, if greasy. The cheese curds were delicious. But the simple chips and salsa I ordered ended up stale and watery, respectively. And the crab soup we got tasted like it came out of a can, which feels unfortunate as it's Virginia, we are so close to the Bay. The rest of our drinks were fine, so I don't want to go too negative, but I don't know when, if ever, I'll be coming back when there are better alternatives.

Arrived at 630PM on a Saturday with a party of 5. Host looked at us and walked away , never to return.....end of story! No Food. No Service. No business from me!!

This is definitely not an Irish Pub. Food is ok. Service is slow. Nice beer selection. There are better pubs in Fredericksburg. Not much else to say. Disappointed this time.

Went to J Brian's Tap Room yesterday to find out about the great outdoor seating area I had heard about. Unfortunately after sitting outside for 15 minutes it started to sprinkle and we were forced inside, but it wasn't upsetting - inside was cozy and slow so it was relaxing inside just as much as outside. I ordered the Cheeky Monkey beer and the Rebley sandwich. The beer was bold and flavorful. The sandwich was fresh with every ingredient and also very delicious. I appreciated that it wasn't heavy at all and the fries along side of it were crunchy in all the right ways. For the price paid for each item and the meal as a whole, it was a great price. I will be going back next time on a weekend evening/night as the relaxed atmosphere during a weekday lunch makes me think that the weekend evening/night will be a good time as well.

So. Stopped in for lunch with my family. I'm in town from LA.. Service was good..place is cool. Better beer than food. We tried pizzas, Bisque, burger, BBQ sandwich, and a salad. Pizza was good, salad was bad..a bit wilted and not enough fruit.. Burger was good and bisque was decent. A bit too salty, even for crab, and a bit too oily. Not bad..not great..roll the dice.

The back patio is where it's at! They really did a great job of gardening and using really creative receptacles for plants back there (old cookware, sinks, etc) so that they made a little patio garden oasis. The beer selection was decent - a good amount of microbrews, both local and national. The portions of the food are rather large - don't attempt the fish and chips dish on your own!! Best of all, dogs are allowed on the back patio!

Came in on 7/9/16 around last call with a few of my friends. We ordered beers and a few shots. It was a little busy as it was a Saturday night. Everything seemed to be going fine and we were all finishing up our drinks because it was about 1:45 and it was time to go home. (We all work in a restaurant so we didn't want to be campers). At this time after I finished my drink I look up and see the bartender (I believe his name was Mike, older man) turns to someone and loudly and angrily says, (while looking directly at my friends and I) "I wish these motherf***kers would leave!!" At this point I paid and walked out. Seriously the rudest experience I've ever had. Beyond trashy. Will never go back to this bar.

We've been going to J. Brian's for decades. We have always loved it. Over the last two years, it has been less and less reliable. The menu is smaller, the prices are higher, and the quality is just so-so. The last five times we have gone, we have had to send items back or complain about things and nothing is done to correct it. Tonight we ordered a past favorite - the steamed shrimp. They no longer have easy peel and it was not deveined. It was nearly impossible to peel those shrimp. The taste was great, but the work to enjoy it made the experience unworthy of years past. We also ordered the buffalo wings and they were very good, but the celery served on the side was very old, falling apart, and rotting. We love the beer selection and the patio, but the food is just not what it used to be and costs more.

My husband and I ate here yesterday. We walked in and there were about 5 works standing at the podium discussing something while we stood there waiting for them to stop talking (2-3 minutes). We were sat and the menus were dirty and the paper napkins were dirty. The server was nice and the food was just ok. This place looks so nice from the outside and the food is just ok. The burger I had I could have made at home. If I were you I would bypass this place and eat at one of the other fabulous places nearby.

4 stars for pub atmosphere and comfort food. Locally-owned establsihments make all the difference along with a fantastic beer selection and rotating taps. If you like pubs and pub atmospheres along with great food and specials, you won't be disappointed.

I was looking forward to trying this place. We stopped during the 4th of July parade and was NOT impressed by how we were treated. We felt very unwelcome by the bartender. I'm glad we only wasted money on a drink. We weren't drunk we weren't obnoxious so not sure why we received that kind of attitude from the bartender. We love Irish bars and their food. I guess this is one we can mark off the list!!!

wow i can't believe this place has 3 star rating on yelp. Came here tonight and to our luck it's restaurant week. My boyfriend and i shared the blackened chicken alfredo. The chicken was so moist and the flavor was spot on and not over seasoned by any means. We also got fresh baked chocolate chip cookies for the 3rd course and it did not disappoint!!! On top of excellent service from our waitress. Can't wait to return!

The waitress here was a rude girl. My husband and son ordered a pizza from Bennys. I wanted a salad so we sat down and I ordered my salad. Then the manager comes out and tells us we cannot sit there it is not Bennys seating. I said I ordered a salad. He said "A SALAD "? I said yes but cancel the order because your an ass. I guess a salad wasn't spending enough to warrant sitting at their table. I would never recommend them to anyone. As a matter of fact I hope they go broke! I would leave zero stars if I could. Don't go!!

The beer was amazing. The food was amazing. But being from Vegas, the service exceeded my high expectations. Marissa exemplified southern charm and service. I will be back.

If I could rate lower than a single star I would. Our waitress was a hot mess, out of beer I wanted and couldn't make me a Moscow Mule! Abysmal service. Do not go!

I'm at an Irish Pub so I figured get the corned beef. I ordered a reuben. The rye bread was toasted so hard I couldn't bite it. I complained but the bar tender made a grunt and walked away. The corned beef was good, but I could only find a small quarter sized smidgen of thousand island and maybe 3 stands of sauerkraut. The meal was a disappointment to say the least. I'm at an Irish Pub so I figured better get a black an tan. I ordered one. The bartender first went for a bottle of black and tan. When I said no, I wanted Harp and Guinness, he poured 80% Harp 20% Guinness. He also didn't slow pour so it was delivered with nothing but foam. Overall a disappointment. To top it off the bartender stayed on his cell phone the whole time. There were times I'd try to get his attention but he was so involved with being on his phone and not working I couldn't get service until he was ready to. It was a disappointment. So overall a disappointment! The 2 stars are because, even though I had to throw away the rye bread, the corned beef was good. I just wished I could have had the meal I ordered.

The fish and chips were good, but make sure you ask for fresh chips. Mine came out cold unfortunately, but they were quick to bring a fresh chips!

Folks live by hearsay. Keep doors open past closing time for the 'good family friends'. Come here if you want lackluster food and drink.

This my favorite place for wings in Fredericksburg. It is an Irish Pub, but their mango habanero wings are off the chart. They also make their own homemade blue cheese. I could take shots of that stuff. They have a wide range of draft beers, local and beyond. Shrimp and grits are delicious, pricey, but worth it.

This time of year the best place in town to sit outside and enjoy the summer evening is J Brian's. Great selection of beer, decent menu and great service. Can't beat the location in downtown wether you are just stoping in for a cold beer or grabbing dinner. A great local spot to check out if you are visiting FXBG!

With all of the choices that are available in the Fredericksburg area, I'm really surprised that J. Brian's Tap Room is able to survive. Pro first: Great bar, lots of local/regulars in attendance. Great selection of beer and scotch. Ok. That's it. Negatives: This is my second try at J. Brians. The menu looks great but the quality simply isn't there. I ordered a blackberry salmon entree tonight that I just had to send back (I rarely, RARELY, send food back). Gad but it was awful! It was a brick, guys!!! The potato side looked like nothing more than a well done potato that had been smashed on the plate backed up with greens that were... well, suffice it to say, just bland and very much on the "ick" side of yucky. Server(s) were well intentioned but overworked. Lots of empty tables inside, lots of full tables outside. More of a drinking place than an eating place. I don't know who was running the store tonight, but I suspect that's where the problem originates. Servers were running over each other. We were served a substandard product. Bad food going out means that means that someone isn't watching the kitchen or the front. Hey...Gordon Ramsey taught us that! Again, there are too many great places for dining out in Fredericksburg to have to settle for mediocrity. Would I come back? Not at this juncture, I'm afraid. Second time is the charm. You know how that "fool me once"thing goes? Who knows, maybe with new management or a reset I would... One last thing that might seem trivial, but it absolutely factored into the experience, or lack thereof... Please, please, please invest in some decent wine glasses! Red and whites in the same discount store quality glassware, really?

My husband and I spent the day antiquing around town and J Brian's caught our eye for lunch. (It says "Fine Food and Ales") We were only the 2nd table to be seated after they opened. My husband had to wipe food off his chair in order to sit, then after placing our order, we noticed it wasn't just a chair that was neglected. I took a few photos, but they don't do it justice. Their menu is "OK". Some items need to be revamped so the name matches the actual food they claim it is or just rename it to match what the food actually is. For example: a "Reuben" sandwich has a counterpart called a "Rachel". The difference between the two is that a Reuben has corned beef, swiss cheese, sauerkraut & Thousand Island dressing on rye bread and a Rachel has turkey, swiss cheese, creamy coleslaw, Russian dressing on rye bread. This menu has a Rachel wrong with corned beef. Their crab dip was ok, but the accompanying "pita chips" were either rock hard or falling apart. When we tasted them alone, it was like eating a fried wonton. Just odd. I will say the Greek salad was very good. Now to the service...our server wasn't overwhelmed with tables as nobody else came in after us and the other table was being served by a girl. We were never offered another drink after we finished our initial drinks, never really came back to check on us. The two servers had a nice little conversation at another table while the girl applied make-up. It was unprofessional. Bottom line is that I think it might be fun to have some drinks at the bar at happy hour and after, but I just cannot recommend this place for food. Just eat becore you go there.

The food was definitely less than ideal. Food didn't taste fresh, wife's steak was way overcooked, burgers were very dry. Everything took so long. Waitress seemed nice enough, but way too busy. Definitely need more servers on if you are too busy to give good service. All in all, it was disappointing.

I really enjoyed this place. Came across it while on our way to Fredericksburg battlefields. I got a Caesar salad which was amazing! And French fries with chicken fingers. That was actually a kids meal but they let me order it anyways. The meals are pretty big. My friend got a hamburger with bacon and everything on it.. BLT etc. We also got the macaroni and cheese balls which were so delicious! Must try! They have a nice garden you can sit at in the back of the restaurant or you can sit inside. There is also a bar entrance as well. Our waitress was very nice and always checked on us. The menu seemed like it was not completed yet, so there were several unanswered questions such as pricing. Not a whole lot on the menu, but you got some yummy choices.

***WARNING***, impending rip off. DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY AND TIME AT THE J. Brian's Tap Room in Fredricksberg VA. I ordered wings to start the meal, bit into one, ok...got into the second one, chicken Still RAW. The waitress assured me that it was just the fryer. Red under cooked, under cooked. Evidentially, Virginia does not require the pot heads in the kitchen to be trained food safety workers. Out with the wings and onto the grown up macaroni with crab. No crab to be found and the portion ($15.00) was served in an iron skillet that was 4.5 inches in diameter and about an half inch deep. The portion was a complete crap fest rip-off. The entire experience was crap. Don't go there, and never mind that the wait staff are bunch of stuck-up stupid, cant fucking work without my face buried in i Phone. "Like u know what im saying". I hope the "F" ing place goes out of business.

Got off I 95 looking for a lunch spot, ended up here in middle of afternoon... did not try their beers so can't comment, but service and food lacking.. waitress not engaging and service was not good.. ordered Crab Bisque, bowl.. over priced and very little crab.. too spicy.. then, since that wasn't enough food, ordered something simple. Their special which was two coneys with chili and cheese for $9... restaurant not busy and this should take less than 5 minutes to prepare.. took 20 minutes and two requests on its whereabouts to our server..finally got it.. and could not wait to leave.. maybe caught them at a bad time but skip this place..