JV's Restaurant

Absolutely amazing and memorable experience I had at JV's Restaurant & Bar. I live in Pittsburgh. I was on a solo road trip to Raleigh and I stayed at a hotel nearby. I decided to venture out on a Wednesday night to explore the area and was shocked at how cool this place was. You don't really find low-key spots like this one anymore. There were folk artists playing music, which really set the tone for a great vibe. The bars aesthetic is so pleasing and the bartender was so sweet! I'm so happy I stopped by JV's while I was in Virginia for a day. Hopefully one day I'll be in the area again and can make a visit!

Visited twice now, both experiences were great. Live bands Saturday and Sunday both playing a good mix of classic rock/folk songs. Tried the desserts of chocolate mouse and Peanut butter pie. So impressed we bought a T-shirt. Great place, not pretentious, live music since 1947. Must be doing something right!

I've been coming here for years. This is a dive bar with great live music and OK food. The music is always great. The bar serves bottle/can beer and wine only but no tap beer or liquor service. I'd love to see them double down on a great plate of nachos (theirs are dry and tasteless) as well as offer a draft beer option but if they did that, they wouldn't be a dive bar now would they? I've come back here over and over again over the year to see fantastic bands. My advice is absolutely come for the music but eat before you go or at least know what you're getting. Have some beer or wine, dance with a partner or all by yourself because it's all OK here. Folks are friendly, the bartenders are great folks, the patrons are easy going and nobody gets rowdy in a bad way. Drop any pretentiousness you have when you walk in and plan to have a great time and enjoy the show.

The place is amazing! Food was really good, Staff were amazing! Even customers were so nice and they all knew each other 😇 The live music was great, I highly recommend trying it out.

I'm visiting from Louisiana and looked up this place seeking a live band and was amazed!!! The band played a variety of music from the 60s-80s, and the majority of people were up dancing! Very friendly staff and regulars. My friend ordered the veggie sub, and it looked AMAZING!!! Plan on visiting again before I leave for the food and ambiance. There was a $10 cover, but the band was 1000% worth it.

Awesome dive bar! Wide selection of food -- mainly traditional bar food. Beer selection could be better -- no draft beer at all. The music is really good and fun. Crowd tends to be older -- like really older. Overall great joint!!

Great local family owned pub restaurant with love for all patrons, and a special love for Veterans. Friendly and diverse crowd! Great live music, karaoke, dance floor and jukebox! Steak kabobs and cheeseburgers are good and made as requested.

JV has the best bar food in the area. The music is always entertaining and heartfelt. Especially the open mic nights which have become legendary.

For the last 15 years, I've been going to JV's to play, and to hear other musicians. It pains me that people think it's just a music bar. Last night, the ham platter was on blackboard, so I dove in. It was fantastic, better than I had a right to expect. I've had a lot of really good meals there, and fun gigs. This place is a national treasure. You get to fill your stomach and your soul at the same time. Judy is wonderful at the bar. If you're visiting the Washington, DC area and you love live music, you have to stop here. You can thank me later.

Nachos: Perhaps the saddest nachos I have encountered. The dim lighting makes this sordid image look slightly less unappealing. I looked at them with guilt and disbelief, they looked back at me drenched in fake cheese, shredded lettuce from a plastic bag, unevenly cut tomatoes, sketchy Mariana sauce, Kalamata olives pleading for death, and some random green seasoning that could've easily been mistaken for something scratched off the walls. All else: Gorgeous place though, super fun and the music is always incredible. Service is quick and great. Drinks are great. Folks are the friendliest in town. This bar is timelessly cool. I love the atmosphere here. Other food seems more appetizing. Unfortunately, not a safe space for nachos.

If you want great local music and good comfort food this is the place! They also occasionally have some amazing rhubarb pie. The meatloaf dinner is filling and can be split with two people if needed. The burgers are good and the gyros excellent.

JV's used to be a good spot, but most of their customers have died or are too old to go out anymore. JV's hasn't changed though. The vibe is music night at the nursing home. The bands are old and tired and wrap up early because old people don't stay out late. They have to charge a big cover because the place is always empty. The menu is even nursing home stuff. The big special is meatloaf with nice soft vegetables. The pictures here that show a couple geriatrics playing to an empty joint with a few gray hairs nursing their beers tells it all. It's kind of pathetic. There are lots better places to go with livelier crowds, better bands and no cover charge. JV's has become a boring waste of time.

Older crowd. Food was ok. No cocktails just cans or bottles. Service was ok. Live music was great!

had the pork barbecue sandwich patter that was a supposed fresh special and recommended by server. it was old and tough. also if you want water with your purchased beverage ( beer) it's bottled water and additional charge.

O.M.G. This place is amazing! I didn't know places like this still exist. Live music, great ipa's and just the 'get down' of it all. Service with a smile and just oh so fun!!!

JV's is an institution when it comes to northern Virginia, Maryland, and D.C area. In existence for over 75 years, the place is the scene for rock n roll, blues, folk, bluegrass, jazz, and R&B music. Full dinner menu and full bar also! Open 7 days a week with music shows 2x/day most days.

Always good music, food is good, funky vibe, what more could you want? And ambiance everywhere

Had so much fun hanging out listening to live music and chatting with the bar tender. So much history in this place. Can't wait to go back next time I'm in town.

Live music 365 days a year. What more could one ask for? no draft beers. They serve only beer and wine. and the Kitchen always has some specials. You can never go wrong with the wings or chili.

I went to jv's tonight and I was treated differently because of how I look. The owner saw me and my friends and attempted to charge us $10 cover charge but other women that were there did not have to pay because they resembled him more. My friends and I were very offended and taken back. We will NEVER come here again. Not worth it. It's 2023. Get it together.

I was bored and looking fir something fun then I found this place. They had open mic night! So in a day like Tusday there is nothing to do but that place made my night! Very good chessburger :) will come back for sure!

Great environment! The live music is really fun and everyone gets into the music. Drinks are relatively cheap as well.

This establishment is a dive bar, but thats what makes this so unique. On first impression you ask what did you get yourself into when you enter, but it grows in you. Some of the staff is friendly and the others can be rude. *Update: 4\Thursday. Stopped in for a quick dinner at 6:30 while heading home. A band was setting up to start at 7:30, ($10 Cover) At 7:00 I was told to get out, while still finishing my dinner and waiting for my check, since I wasn't staying for the band. I'm stopping in here less often now.

Falls Church favorite for 75 years. Not 75, but have enjoyed live music and fabulous "comfort" food for 40 yrs.

Live music every. single. night. JV's has been around for about 75 years. Awesome family owned business with some really fantastic bands. Docking because the food is not very good. But the beer is cold and it's a really unique place in many ways. Definitely worth the visit.

Take off your sunglasses before you go in. I used to throw darts out of there back in the 80's. They had the best juke box in the DMV back then. Live music and open mic now. Pay attention to when the live music starts as they charge a cover. Don't be cheap, just pay it. Recently went there for burgers and beer for lunch with a friend. Beer was ice cold and the burgers were delicious and huge. Neither of us could finish but oh, we did try. The place was mostly empty around 1pm in the middle of the week so naturally service was amazing. Regulars at the bar were friendly and they're not a afraid of strangers. Fun place, great burgers and damn cold beer. The burgers are huge but the steak & cheese is colossal.

JV's is a great historic Restaurant in center of Falls Church, Virginia with great food , life music, life band every day. Part of the American history, opened 73 years ago by Greek American Mr. Dross and is run now by his Greek POW's daughter Lorraine Campbell. Food is good quality at very affordable prices and real classic American, wine and beer only. They have several great bartenders and special one is long timer with JV Ms name Patty she knows how to make Best omelette with spinach and mushrooms. There is one very unprofessional and Nasty Bartender name Sandy or Cindy. She is nasty and has very bad karma. She need to be terminated ASAP. Nasty bartender name Sandy or Cindy she will be fired same day in any 4 star hotels or any upper restaurant. I am food and wine and hospitality expert and I know what I am talking about.

Ever dream of singing on stage like Sinatra or Bobby Darin in front of a live audience? Well, JV's can make it happen for you on Monday nights! Tom Saputo will be there, and he can accompany you to just about any pop song in any key. The crowd on Mondays is very welcoming to new talent--that's what they come to hear. And there's no cover on Mondays. And there's dancing, too. We also go there for the food. It's always served fresh and hot, and be sure you try the soup du jour, no matter what it is.

I've lived in FC for 11 years, I'm a huge live music fan, and I never knew JV's existed until Monday (3/20) night. I looked around at the POW/MIA flags and thought, "I'm really going to like this place!" I had looked at the menu before coming, because I have food sensitivities, specifically egg and gluten, and I brought my own salad dressing so that I could at least have a salad with grilled chicken and not have to worry about egg in the dressing. The menu claimed to accommodate food allergies, and boasted home-cooked meals. When I got to JV's, one of my dinner buddies suggested getting something off the weekly Specials board. I saw flounder and vegetables, and figured that was entirely safe. If the flounder is a special, logically it will be fresh for that week. The waitress finally showed up, and never read out the specials. She was an older woman (maybe 60s, but dressed like she was 20) with blonde curly hair that was very obviously dyed. She wasn't too familiar with the menu, but I asked her what came with the flounder, and she said, "veggies and rice." Well, when the flounder landed on the table, it was breaded (can't have gluten, can't have egg); it had a side of coleslaw and a side of potato salad (mayo is made with egg yolks); that mix of vegetables you find at military chow halls or in the frozen aisle--carrots, corn, lima beans, and green beans--and rice. I immediately asked her if there is egg in the breading on the fish. Her response: "How should I know?" I asked if she'd check with the kitchen, because I have an egg allergy and a gluten sensitivity (I would have pushed through the discomfort of the gluten sensitivity if the breading didn't have egg), and said I didn't realize how the fish was prepared. She said, "Fine," and stomped off. When the waitress came back, she said, "The kitchen staff has no way of knowing how this flounder was prepared because it comes frozen in a box already put together." So much for home-cooked meals. "OK," I said, "then I need to send it back. I cannot risk consuming egg." The waitress said, "Well I can take it back, but I'm going to have to charge you for it." I said, "Seriously? Can't I just get something else?" She replied, "I could swap out the entree for you," and I jumped in with, "Yes! that sounds great!" but the waitress finished with, "but I'm not going to wait around here for you to make your decision, because I have a job to do and we're busy." The place was half empty, and most were at the bar, where the bar tender was taking orders. I snagged her back and said, "Yes, I'd like the lamb chops, instead." The waitress's response was so condescending and fake sympathetic. She said, "Sure. But I'm going to have to charge you for BOTH full entrees." The guys at my table were shocked. I said "never mind, I'll take my check." With a smirk, she turned on her heel and brought me the check for my uneaten meal. She had taken 30 minutes from the time we sat down to get to the table and take drink orders, but the check took her 30 seconds. I paid exact change and walked out. By the way, JV's takes a credit card from EVERY GUEST the moment you sit down. I'm willing to bet they do this to make sure every guest gets charged despite the lack of service. I understand that waiters and waitresses have a tough job. I understand it's annoying to work around food allergies and food intolerances (which is why I hadn't been out in months). I was nothing but polite to this woman. I should have said up front that I couldn't have egg or gluten, but I didn't even order something that typically comes with either. And, if a restaurant is putting on their menu that all the food is home-cooked, and that they work around food allergies, I would assume that the waitress would at least be familiar with the menu enough to SAY whether the dish contained allergens, as should the kitchen staff if they're allegedly preparing it. I should have asked to speak to a manager, because it wasn't right to be charged for something I couldn't eat AND full price for a replacement. I will never go back to JV's Restaurant.

This place has been here forever for a reason. This is a true neighborhood bar and the crowd's age ranges from 21 to 81 and everything in between though it seemed to skew a bit older when I was there on a weeknight. You won't find the annoying DC pretense and accompanying $10 pints and $15 "craft" cocktails prepared by a sigh....mixologist here. This place has friendly bartenders who serve bottled beer and wine, no liquor here. The food is tasty bar food with a larger menu than I expected. I enjoyed my burger on a pretzel bun and it was plenty filling. They have live music very often (with a cover at least at times) and I'll come back to check out some shows.

Stopped here to other night after seeing on Facebook people rave about the steak and cheese. Most places are closing now at 10, but they are open until midnight, with kitchen closing around 11. I got the steak and cheese and it was amazing. Lives up to the reviews. Tater Tots were amazing. They really didnt have a lot of seasoning on them but they did not need, they were the most perfectly cooked tots I think I never had. Great crunch and flavor. The bartender could no have been nicer. So welcoming, friendly and helpful. Everyone was wearing masks. Me and my friend were the only 2 there. But here is some things that concern me. Covid steps. Masks yes. Sanitizer yes. They are not really doing social distancing table wise, but limiting guests to about 30. The normal occupational limit is 100 and now its 50, with live music and staff that brings the guest count to about 30. The one thing that concerned me was the bar. I did not think they were allowed to have people sitting at the bar. Most other restaurants put tables next to the bars so people can still "sit" at the bar, but not actually at the bar. The bartender did sanitize the area of the bar we were gong to sit at, and I could tell they were really big on sanitation. I don't know the actual covid restrictions for bars but form the other restaurants in VA I have been in. This was the only one that allowed sitting at the bar. The menu was amazing. so many things on there that looked good so I def will be back and want to try so much more. This place has been open since 1947 with the same family owning it. I was amazed by the photos on the wall. 3 letters from Bill Clinton. A signed photo from George Bush, signed photo from Dan Aykroyd with a photo of him and the owner under it. George Thorogood has been there. I have never been here before. And for a place that has been open as long as it has, its clean, well kept, great food and staff and still family owned. Highly recommend the steak and cheese and tater tots. Will update my review once I go back and try more. Stay tuned for updates soon.

I actually wandered into JVs by accident only because I was looking for lunch and I remembered hearing they had live music. I was in for a big surprise--/ the music was amazing and surpassed my wildest dreams. In case you have any doubts, don't hesitate. Only thing I would warn ya is don't expect to be able to drink much at this establishment. It's great for teetotaler folks. Enough said. Thanks

Had so much fun at this local dive bar with live music and dancing. Kind of a biker bar with vintage/old school booths and tables. Had a grilled chicken salad which wasn't the best, but who orders salad at a bar anyways, right? :) They do give you plenty of chicken so it's a great deal. They have live music/band performances daily. $10 cover. Feel like this could be my cheers bar. Local, small business. Come show your support and have fun!

Bartender was very nice his name was Michael it's my first time being there and he seemed very happy to introduce me to the bar and let me know the history of the bar they've been there for 75 years they have a live band there everyday and the beer is super cheap and the food is amazingly good especially for a hole in the wall type of bar Good spot to hang out at

The hidden music venue...with an open mic which showcased numerous musicians from solos, duets, to full bands. All without a cover charge that night. It's a full night of music so no worries if you can't make it at the start 8pm. I don't know about you but I always get hungry watching musicians sing their hearts out. JVs daily specials like chile and grilled cheese, meatloaf, and fish tacos. Beer is bottled which guarantees it's COLD. Saturday night has a reasonable cover charge and again a great music show for your money. Take a seat, eat, dance, repeat!

Cool place that pays homage to US Veterans and Rock & Roll through pictures and memorabilia. This is a combination bar, restaurant and small live music venue, tucked into a small strip mall. They have music every night of the week and weekend afternoon. The drink and food menu is rather extensive but don't expect it all to be great. Had a cheeseburger and meatloaf sandwich. Both were good and filling. Onion rings were good too. Stick with the basics and you'll be fine and have lots of choices. The staff was really friendly and took time to tell us the JV story which started back in 1947. Some patrons have been coming here for 40 years. We were not able to stay for music this day but we'll be back.

This is a great venue for live music - it always has been. Let's hope it stays that way!

Old dive bar w/beer & LOTS of food choices!!!! Bar, tables, booths, dance floor & small stage for various bands & open mic nights. Very cool atmosphere!

Bartender/waitress a bit curt. Food was good and they do have good bands. So, if you want to hear outstanding music, go for it. That and the food kept this from getting a one rating.

This place recently expanded but is still pretty tight inside. Currently the stage area is central and visible (really close to the entry door). The bar is in the middle with seating to the left and right of it (to the right are old booths and to the left are more current tables). I was told it was / had been a biker bar and although there were a few leather jackets & Sons of Anarchy logo outfits it had more of a vintage feel which was legit since it has been around since 1947. Their slogan is "Ageless Charm Without Yuppie Bastardization" We asked the waitress what she recommended from a couple of items we were looking at and she said the burger. The menu said not frozen and I believe it. The burger looked homemade and tasted pretty good (hubby gave it a thumbs up). They have a meatloaf meal, bbq pulled pork as well as a steak topped salad. We saw The Young Relics and plan to go back to see the Crimestoppers next week. We may try some more menu items, updates to follow...

We got there about 3:30pm on a Saturday- in time for the 4pm live music. There were plenty of seats at the bar, at tables, and in booths. By 5:30pm, the place was packed. Today 40 Dollar Fine was playing. Charleen our waitress was great. She talked about the best on the menu. Lots of bottled beer choices. We started with fried onion rings which were awesome. Hot crisp not too bready. Then I ordered a cheese steak with extra Provolone cheese and lettuce and tomato . The bread was warm and fresh. There was plenty of steak and lots of cheese on top. Very little lettuce and tomatoes were cut in chunks. Food was served in no order. No one seemed to get their food at the same time. And our deep fried pickles got forgotten but eventually arrived. My friend said the special black bean soup was good. Her salad looked really good; she got it with the blue cheese dressing. I want to get that next time. Everyone is having fun and many seem to be regulars. This place is going in the regular rotation.

Live music is always a plus when going out for drinks. Place was busy! There were two bartenders who also waitressed on duty last night. They did great but I feel like there should of been more staff on. They only serve bottled beer and wine but there are plenty of options. Their food I never got the chance to try but the portions were huge at a reasonable price. Bathrooms needed to be cleaned and only one stall so lines can grow fast in an already crowded area. It was enjoyable watching regulars dance together as the music played.

This place rocks, literally. Live music most nights, good food and cold beer. Bar food was all tasty, served quickly. The bartenders are helpful and knowledgeable. JV's loves military and veterans, first responders and policeman, and people of all races and persuasions. They were celebrating 69 years in business this past weekend. As a Veteran I got in free--no cover. Nice. If you like live local music, want a place to dance or just hang out and have fun, you have to experience JV's.

Some people may like this for the music! I just got their steak & spinach salad! It was the best I had a round town! What a fabulous group of people. I will always return.

Love it. It has a unique personality. The food is basic diner fare but who complains about well prepared old fashioned home cooking at super reasonable prices! Attentive waitstaff and quirky but fun decor round out the experience. By the way, they have live music seven nights a week for very reasonable cover charges. To round it out, they even have an entry in Wikipedia as members of famous bands from Eric Clapton's to Lynyrd Skynyrd have played here.

This place is tons of fun if you can get past a few things: - Domestic beer such as Rolling Rock *is* $6.50. It winds up costing more if you choose to tip. - The place is dark. That's probably good; some things are better left unexamined. - Everyone there but you is a regular. - The guy that pushed up to the bar next to me was literally insane. I would usually be bothered by this and for some reason wasn't. Besides, he was a regular and everyone knew him. - If fact, scanning the room my first impression was I had walked into the post office from Men in Black II (or any other post office for that matter). Then I realized it was just a bunch of people out to have fun with no pretense or agenda. OK, if you're still here then there's hope. Let's consider some of the finer points: Everyone is having fun. The food looked and smelled great. Unfortunately, after paying the $10 cover (for what turned out to be an awesome band) and setting aside the small fortune for some Rolling Rocks (Rollings Rock?), I was tapped out. Don't worry, things will pick up when I get my social security check in a few years. A lot of other people did order food, remember, they're regulars, and seemed to enjoy it.

Great neighborhood bar! Huge menu, and always entertainment. This is the most underrated Falls Church Bar

It's a BAR people! Live music and cold beer. Good vibe . That said, it's a great bar and the people who work here are friendly and just plain awesome. Selection of live music and when I was there, the joint was jumping. This is not a kid club. It's for those of us who have a bit of life experience and still like loud music and cold beer. The onion rings are great and I added some blue cheese dressing on the side. They did not last long at our table. For my main, mostly to offset the beer, I went with the wings. So good you would think buffaloes really do fly! Big basket and I don't think I spoke to the rest of the table while my face was in the basket! I tried the deep fried pickles and was not disappointed. There were other dishes at the table but I frankly can't remember them all because I was in hog heaven. Short version: Awesome place Awesome people Awesome music Awesome food Give it a try!

Went last night to catch a buddy's band at JV's. While the space wasn't huge, I wasn't expecting a dance hall. The service was on top of things, even though the place was packed. I liked the fact that it has been in business under the same family ownership since 1947. For a small, "dive" bar, they have a good mix of beers in bottles, and four on tap: Bud, Pabst, Yuengling, and Lorraine's Brew (a specialty ale from Dominion for JV's). I gave the Lorraine's a shot and it wasn't too bad. Their menu was basic, so I gave the pulled pork sandwich a try. Mind you, I'm picky about my pulled pork. The sandwich came out with some fries and a small cup of coleslaw, and I didn't see BBQ sauce dripping from it. I was concerned. Upon my first bite, I was smiling. The pork had a mild vinegar and garlic sauce that complemented the meat nicely. I'd definitely get it again. The music was good, and the place has live music every night. If you're in the neighborhood and want something simple, give JV's a shot.

Josh Allen Band tonight, May 8th 2015, at JV's starting at 9:00. JV's has good food and great service. Come by and join the fun. If you haven't been there for a while they have expanded with a larger stage and dance floor. Their support of local musicians is second to none.

We ventured out on a rainy night to hear some live music but a very rude doorman made us return back to DC. Napoleon syndrome should be a deterrent from a business owner to hire a front door person that is the first impression for an establishment.

JV's is about to celebrate 60 years in business. In this area, for being in the restaurant business that long..something is going on right here. If you watch Fox local news, you may have seen a story on JV's and veterans a few weeks ago. Vets hang out here on that day (and other times besides) because it is a friendly neighborhood type of spot. Other than serving some darn good chili and other in house stick to your ribs type items, there is live music here almost every night. Tuesday kicks things off with a live band, typically blues. Wednesday is an open mike jam session. They also have a monthly "Lord of The Strings" show with fiddlers, guitarists, banjo players..you get the picture. I hit one of those and it was great. Get there early if you go to that, the place fills up really quickly, The weekend of December 2nd is JV's 60th anniversary festivities which should be a lot of fun.

If your idea of live music is sitting with 20,000 people listening to musicians you can only see on a Jumbotron - JVs isn't for you. Why? Because JVs books the best musicians in the region, playing authentic live music free of Autotune, drum machines, and computer generated lyrics. Good live music is Food for your Soul! Feed your Soul with quality food instead of that sugar based, carb heavy, nutrient- free crap you get on the radio.

I recently read a review saying the writer had negative experiences at JV's due to what was thought to be poor race relations. As a frequent Black patron of JV's, I must say nothing could be further from the truth. While yes, the majority of the patrons on any given night may be white, everyone is friendly. I've always to found the employees, from the man you pay at the door, to the bartenders, wait staff and the owner to be extremely friendly and attentive. JV's is a staunch supporter of various forms of the blues, which draws me there 4 or 5 times a month.

Fantastic! Everyone friendly, Always someone to dance with, great bands 7 nights a week (& 3 times on sundays & twice on Friday & Saturday), delicious food, wonderful cheerful wait staff. My favorite dive, Even though it's 35 minutes from me without traffic. I go to dance, & usually order food to take home-the portions are large, reasonably priced & soooo delicious

Sitting on US 50 in an aging strip mall, you wouldn't think this is one of the best bars in Northern Virginia for live music, but it sure is. Since they expanded the operations and developed a new menu, business is booming and it's not hard to see why. On the down side: 1. JV's has a very regular customer base and newcomers may feel out of place; 2. A more mature crowd; people under 30 ... or maybe even under 40 ... may be put off by a bar full of people older than their parents.

JV's Restaurant is a great place to enjoy all kinds of music including the musical stylings of Dave Chappell, the Blues, British Invasion Rock with the Old Relics band, Country Rock/Country, and good ol' American Rock and Roll with Wicked Jezebel and then some. It is unassuming and they have a delicious varietal menu from which to choose. JV's Restaurant is a family owned business for more than 60 years and Lorraine is the Madame in charge. She is absolutely wonderful and beautiful in how she operates the restaurant and entertainment. She is instrumental to making JV's what it is. I highly recommend this place for anyone looking for a fun, unassuming place to hear great music, dance, and possibly hang out with a bit of an older crowd and diverse crowd.