The Birchmere

Went to the Birchmere for the Colin Hay show. It was my second time going with the last being for The Church's Starfish anniversary tour back in 2019. I regret the fact that I haven't been back sooner because this place really is a great little venue. It is general admission with seating and tables on a first come, first serve basis, but the venue is small enough as to where any seat is a good seat. Overall there is something very ethereal and uncanny about the venue as well. It really gives me Bang Bang Bar vibes, even though it is miles away from that little town that is 5 miles south of the Canadian Border and 12 miles west of the state line. I highly recommend going to a show here.

The Birchmere is one of my favorite places to see live music. It has great sound. The staff is friendly and do a great job serving there patrons. Bands start playing on time. Always a Awesome time watching concerts at The Birchmere!!!

Went to The Birchmere to see Tweet and we had an amazing time. It is first come first serve seating. Bar in the lobby while you wait. Drinks were on point and food was good! Great customer service! It was my first time there and I will definitely return.

A great intimate venue. They do serve food that is good and reasonably priced. A couple of points to note. The doors open at 5:00 for a 7:30 show. At 5:00 when the doors the box office gives you a number. At 6:00, they will start calling the numbers in order from 1. When your number is called you show your tickets and are allowed into the seating area. Once in, you may sit at any open seats. This is when you may order food. Because of the use of issuing numbers, folks arrive early and line up outside. If you want to sit up close to the stage, arriving as early as possible and getting in line is necessary. We got there by 4. Also of note, only electronic tickets from Ticketmaster are accepted. Screen shots will not work. Finally, it is a large parking lot but does fill up. A number of folks did use ride shares but the rideshare drivers have to enter when the majority of traffic is going the other way. Definitely a great intimate venue but best to know what to expect.

The Birchmere is one of my favorite venues. It's the appropriate size and space to feel like everyone has a good seat. The acoustics is good. The food is also pretty good.

Great place to see a show. Get there early and get on line. The doors open at 5 PM and they will give you a number. At 6 PM, they will start calling numbers. If you were on line early, you'll get a great seat. The food is excellent too.

This is a nice concert venue. They regularly have great music perfomers, and you're able to see them in a more intimate setting rather than at a large auditorium or arena. The venue sells food and drinks that you can consume during the show. They also have a gift shop if you're interested in getting a souvenir. I recently saw the Ohio Players perform there, and it was a good show. We were able to park on site for free.

It's a good venue to see a show, but you need to be aware of how the seating works. 1st, when you get there, they give you a ticket with a number, then near show time, we will start calling the numbers in order over the loud speaker. That's how you enter, but from there, it's still general admission, so once inside, it's a mad rush to your choice of table/seats. It's kind of crazy. While waiting for them to call the numbers, there is a large area with a full bar. Once seated, you can order more drinks, and they have a full menu. We found the food to be ok, kind of tasteless, really. I asked my waitress about the fish and chips, but she said they were a hit or miss and try to steer people away, so I got the chicken tenders. This was our second time here. We enjoy the venue, they seem to get a good line up. Music sounds good. Only real issue is since you are sitting at long tables, you may have to look over your shoulder to see the stage or even have to turn your chair around. Some people also talk quite a bit during the show. We've enjoyed ourselves both times, even with the little annoyances. Staff is friendly and pretty prompt. No glasses of water only purchased bottles.

Venue where every seat is a great seat. My drink was strong, my food was bland (prime rib sandwich) but fantastic venue nonetheless. The show I attended was awesome and started on time!

Classy, upscale venue featuring dim lighting in the dining room facing the stage. Servers come to your table and bring you food and drinks as you take in a show. This is elegant and historic setting, you can feel reverence for the place by everyone under the roof. Tables are long and are the only seating for the concert so unless you come with a very large party yourself, you will likely be seated with other appreciators of the artist you've come to see and hear. It's a good way to break bread with new people over a shared experience. I loved having a nice date night here and look forward to returning.

This is a great old venue, with two performance areas. Most shows are in the seated area, capacity 500. Wait staff delivers drinks and a full dinner menu to your table. There are minimal vegetarian options and not much for vegans- check the menu before you come. Important to know; tables seat 2-6, you may end up sharing a table with people you don't know. It's best to get to the venue ahead of doors opening time - people line up outside, and as you enter, each group is given a number for order of entry. You will have some time to get a drink, then the numbers are called in order. No seats are assigned, so you'll quickly see why getting there early helps assure a good view. The sound is great here - generally not too loud, good lighting, and nice staff. Most shows I have seen here have been very special and intimate. The place has a reputation among artists, and many acts return regularly. There's also a good variety of shows, from folksy singer-songwriters to metal, blues, and comedy.

We saw the band Toast (the Ultimate Bread experience). They sounded great. The songs selection took us back to the 70's. The venue has seating roughly 500 people. I believe all seatings can see and hear just fine. We brought tickets earlier. On the day of the concert we showed up at 4:00pm (for a 7:30pm concert).We were 26th in line. At 5:00pm the doors open and we would go to the box office and grab a number. Then we wait in a holding area where we can order drinks and food. At 6:00pm The actual concert hall opens up and we can select a seat on first come first serve. We ordered food and drinks. The concert started at 7:30pm sharp. The food is ok. The cost is $20 per dish and $5 for soda. We had front row seats. Next time I would show up 5 mins before show time. I am in my 50's and it is August 15,2025. If I can buy my ticket ans select the seat I would be happier.

If you are looking for a small intimate venue the Birchmere is that place. Great music, service is quick and food is great. The place has tables that are shared so would encourage getting there early to pick a prime location. No matter where seated you can see the stage amd definitely can hear the music. I have had the opportunity to see numerous great artist at this spot. Great for date night, but please note the shows normally start about 7;30 pm and they end food service about an hour after show starts. Drink service continues. The lights are turned down when show starts. I think this is done so servers are not trying to deliver food with low light and ruine the show with traffic to and from the floor.

What a delightful venue! Stopped in last night for the first time- absolute gem of a venue. Very friendly and helpful staff. We were there for a 7:30 start (to see legend Marty Stuart). We got there around 6:45 so I can't comment on arrival/issuing if number process but we had no issue getting 2 good seats together (usher/staff helped us). Crowd was very friendly and we made new table friends. Took time to look around to see the posters of previous performers. Huge parking lot, we used Uber but good to know for future shows. Support Live Music! Birchmere makes that easy to do.

We went to the Birchmere to see the Laurel Canyon show in February 2025. We enjoyed the evening very much & we're glad that such a venue for musicians exists. That being said, we had quite a bit of anxiety before going because of what I'll call the protocols the Birchmere has in place. To get the best seats in the house, people need to go at 5 & get a number. Then they need to go back at 6 when the doors open & show their ticket. People are then allowed to enter in order--the first person in line at 5 gets to enter first, the second person, etc. We live in DC & weren't keen on driving back & forth, thereby turning the evening into a 5-hour event. So we got to the Birchmere at 6. Our seats weren't the best in the house, but we could hear the music very well & see the stage. We weren't able to find a space in the main parking lot when we first arrived. But shortly after we arrived, they opened an auxiliary parking lot very close to Mount Vernon Avenue. We backed into a space in that lot & walked to the theater. It was a fairly short walk & it meant that after the show we were among the first cars to be on our way home. The food is a solid mediocre. We had fried catfish & ate every morsel. I left most of my fries.

I've been here several times throughout the years and it's one of my favorite venues in the dmv to catch a show and have some dinner. The food isn't exactly gourmet but it gets the job done. I recently saw After 7 there, most seats are good but if you want to be close you should be there 60-90 minutes before showtime

This is a great intimate venue to see a show. View of the stage is hard to beat and the sound is spectacular. It's worth showing up early to get excellent seats. Fill the time with a meal and drink. The food is nothing to write home about but it's "good enough." They have some great beers on draft and canned, but the wine leaves a lot to be desired. In short, eating and drinking here is nothing to write home about but the service is super friendly, fast and efficient. The staff are superbly choreographed to get a big job done in a short amount of time. Parking is easy and onsite. If you have experienced The Birchmere, it's a must do!

Our first visit to the venue. We arrived early and there was plenty of parking. We waited for the box office to give out seat numbers and we were able to get a table right at center stage to see Don McLean. The bar opened at 5 and we were able to get coffee !! That was a plus. We had some nice conversation at our table while waiting to go in. They call your seating number when the hall opens. Our waitress was fast, efficient, and checked on us throughout the show. Food was like bar food, but it was not the food that matters. The crowd was polite and created a very different atmosphere. We certainly want to see another show in this venue.

Had an amazing night at The Birchmere. Truly enjoyed listening to Gerald Albright! It was worth the cost. The service was great. Our waitress was very friendly. Every employee was courteous and professional. The food was hot and good. Love the atmosphere. You can see the stage from any seat. I will definitely visit again!!

First time to a live performance here in many years. Was super excited to see Patrice Rushen and bought tickets months ahead as a gift to a family member. The entry and parking situation is annoying but livable. Met someone who said she got to the venue to get a number to enter at 4:30 pm for this show which started at 7:30. She had seats up front. I live 45 mins away and arrived at 6:30. We were able to park on the lot although it was far away from the actual venue. It was maybe about an 8 minute brisk walk and it was super cold out. We were meeting friends who had arrived at 5 and they were seated way in the back near the sound people in an effort to save 2 of us seats. I was annoyed at first cause the seats were jammed tightly at long tables. Fortunately no one sat immediately to my left so I could breathe. I would say there are too many seats at some of the tables (think Blues Alley). The staff person who served us was pleasant and easy-going. I could tell she's a pro server. Stuart at the box office was kind and generous. We ordered gingerales, waters, fish and chips and a pulled pork sandwich. Both were edible if not memorable. The show was amazing. The sound and acoustics and ability to see the performers is what makes this place great.

Went to see Little Lies, a Fleetwood Mac tribute band at The Birchmere and had a phenomenal experience. The food was much better than expected for the venue and the service was decent given how hard a task it is to serve everyone at the same time. Not a bad seat in the hose and the band was excellent. Parking was easy and the venue did a great Jo's of seating everyone with when you arrive. .

I have been several times over the past few years and it's always a good experience. The parking seems to have gotten easier, both getting in & out. Also, the food seems to have improved. The red beans & rice meal is hubby's regular and he felt it had improved. A friend and I ordered two items from the specials menu. The bourbon chicken was pretty good and the mac & cheese wasn't bad. Sheila E was great but I feels like that's a given however the venue makes a difference. I hold my previous assessment there are no bad seats as long as you are facing the stage (& you can always turn a chair around to face the stage). This time we found three seats together facing forward in the rear of the center. But as I said their are no bad seats, especially when the guests will often leave the stage. Great venue, if your interested in a show a Birchmere my advice is get your tickets & enjoy the show (but be sure to show up early enough to get your seats, especially if there are multiple folks in you party).

This was finally my first time visiting the Birchmere. I say finally, because I've been getting their emails since (checks email) 2015 - ten years ago. That's kind of embarrassing. It's not to say there haven't been acts that I wanted to see. But the act that finally got me out was Hank Azaria and EZ Street Band. He joked during the show that the people who work here will tell you about the history of the venue whether you ask or not. I laughed because I did ask an employee how to order food, as it is my first time here. I asked, ya'll got an app or something? lol. He said "we've been around since so and so and this and that" and long story short, no app. Why can't you have an app? I feel like it would make life so much easier to order. But alas. Speaking of food, it's kind of a pet peeve when people rate the food at places such as this. You're not going here for a Michelin star dining experience. You're going for the show. The food is secondary. Would it be nice if they had some sort of amazing cuisine? Sure. Is it really expected? No. Am I fine with mediocre bar food and good music? Sure. Adds to the experience. Now that I've been there and kind of know the lay of the land I'm going to try to get out there to see some more shows. They have some great acts lined up.

Visited the Birchmere for the first time to see an artist that I liked. It's tucked away from a busy street so it could be hard to find initially but there's parking available. The venue itself is a nice size, not too huge. They have a few different stages and there's a bar area. My friend and I showed up a few minutes after the show started but were able to find seats with the help of an attendant. We did order some drinks that were good but did not order any food as we had dinner right before the show. Our waitress was quick and efficient, no issues with service. Would visit again to catch another show in the future.

The seating method is unconventional. Get there at 5 to get a good number. We got seats 3 feet from the stage and had a good dinner off of a very long menu. You sit at long community tables either your new best friends. The bacon grilled cheese and the chicken thighs were the stars. Excellent service from a well practiced staff. Dinner for 2 and 4 drinks was about $80 plus tip The show was Ricky Skaggs doing blue grass and the sound and lights were very good. Very well behaved crowd stayed seated for the entire show. Shockingly clean bathrooms. I ubered because getting out of the lot can be a challenge.

Attended a show here. It wasn't reserved seat. And the seats were at tables. You can line up outside until the box office opens. Once the box office (which is inside) opens, you grab a line number (just like at the deli counter). You then continue on inside to a large area with some seating, a bar, and a gift shop. The bar has a decent beer, wine, and cocktail list. You can also order chips and salsa. Once the doors for the show open, they call out each number and you enter according to your number. And then you sit anywhere. There are servers who come around throughout the show and take food and drink orders. Our server was super nice and attentive. I had the King Kobb salad and it was pretty tasty. Similar to a wedge salad, but topped BBQ-sauced chicken tenders. It was yum. The sound quality was good and a great time was had.

Second time attending a show at the legendary Birchmere (we live out of the area). Rodney Crowell, one of the finest songwriter from Nashiville brought Mary Karr, Rob Icks & Trey Hensley as supporting musicians for a two hour set of his career spanning songs (and a Townes Van Zandt "No Place To Fall"). Great show,glad it was rescheduled The venue is well managed with a unique entry and seating procedure handled by a friendly and professional staff. Get there early for less-stress parking. Looking forward to returning.

Lovely intimate show venue it's spacious with enough parking to not be annoying to leave. And for the really important thing: the bathrooms were clean, had enough soap, and the hand towel dispenser gives out an ENTIRE sheet of paper towel to dry your hands! Top tier behavior

Great venue for musical artists. Food was surprisingly good. Enough parking. Free parking! Not a fancy place but staff is attentive and accommodating.

Surprising as I never heard of this place before after living in the area for over 10 years. It's like a supper club with pretty legit live acts. Depending on what type of activity, I recommend arriving at 5pm. Also surprising for DC area, there is a lot of parking available. Line up at the door and get your number. it is first come first serve. Grab (buy) a beverage / snack at the bar and have a sit in the lounge. They will later open the main doors and start calling #s. When your number is called, hand them a ticket for your party and make your way into the dining/stage area. Tables close to the stage will fill up. Be prepared to meet new people at your table. Food was good. Menu pretty varied but quick. I had the flatbread. it was huge. I tore it up. We saw the Cowboy Junkies. Very good. Good food, good vibe, good service, good acts. Highly recommended.

Came here on a Friday night to see white ford bronco. Prices for tickets are slightly higher as a they charge a service fee for this location. I wish this concert had had more standing room as the 90s pop/rock wasn't reality for sitting. Our server was great. Food was awesome with large portions. Slightly on the expensive side at $20 for chicken tenders. Drinks were reasonable. The location needs to be updated a bit, bathrooms and seating were old and slightly in disrepair. Overall, would come back for a concert experience again!

Saw Drew Lynch last night. Great show, cute place & friendly staff. Easy parking on-site. Really enjoyed our evening. But do not order the fish & chips! The fries were really good but the fish was thin slabs of pre-frozen, old rubbery garbage. Couldn't eat it. The Shiner Boch was delicious.

I like this venue, the acoustics are very good. It's more of an intimate venue. I was here to see Kevin Ross, he did not disappoint! The service was great, I didn't order food, but I ordered a Lemon Drop Martini and it was delicious. Free parking on sight but get there early or you will be in the back, like me :/ I'm all seriousness, I like this venue and I will return to see more shows. I love the artwork outside and all of the cool photos hanging up inside.

I had a great experience here. Went to see Tower of Power with my family. You have to be patient because the way they let people into the venue is through a number system, but the wait is worth it! For dinner before the show I had a vegan burger with fries, Jameson, and a Lagunitas on draught. I would have preferred a non-vegan burger, but since the food wasn't the purpose or focus of my visit I didn't mind too much. The venue makes sense for bands. I thought the sound system was too loud, but I still had fun! I do wonder about the seating arrangements - I would have preferred to sit just with my family as opposed to sitting across from strangers at dinner, but once the show started it didn't matter so much since we were all watching and listening to what was going on onstage. I would definitely recommend this venue to anyone. Thank you Birchmere for hosting great live music!

This place is a staple in the community and keep dope artist in rotation here. For the amount of patrons they serve service for me has never been a problem. Prompt and accurate, no issues. Spacious and the have tvs in the lobby like area by the bar to watch the show if you don't want to sit among the masses. Early arrival is highly suggested, I always sit toward the back it has more room for me and I can dart out to the bathroom without interrupting people. Eric Roberson puts on an AMAZING show!! Check him out if you haven't. He reminds me of Anthony Hamilton and Raheem DeVaughn smooth very creative. If you want to catch great artist for a fraction of the price this is the spot for it. The food wasn't horrible either. The catfish beans and rice was good. The southwest salad was good salmon was like woodpecker dust dry as cardboard. Our drinks were solid since it was nothing but alcohol for an old fashion and Jameson with ginger beer

If you want to have a close and intimate musical experience then this is the place where you want to be. The Birchmere is unique in that it provides a way for you to experience music and artist up close and personal. There is not a bad seat in the house. Also, there is a full menu of New Orleans inspired and Soul Food Cuisine; including vegetarian options. So there's no reason to go somewhere else, when you can enjoy dinner and a show all in one. The food is good too. For me, the Fried Catfish w/ Red Beans n' Rice dish is one of my favorites and I do recommend. Doors open at 5pm and there is a bar with seating available before the concert hall opens. The sound system is incredible. The staff is very friendly and parking is free! This, plus good food and performances.....make for a great night and time spent out on the town. * YELP ELITE INSIDER TIPS: 1) Get there early! At least an hour before your show. Most of the seating is general admission and on a first-come, first-serve basis. 2) The Table seating in the center of the venue offer the best viewing experience in the house! Also, the tables alongside the railings within the venue.

AMBIANCE for the Asleep at the Wheel Show we attended ------ AMERICAN FUN, great Music; it makes you dance! The Birchmere was very easy to find, I was on vacation, staying in DC . Someone noticed that ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL was playing there! We bought tickets at the door, we had a GREAT EVENING! Being we needed to drive back to our hotel in DC we just drank beer. Yes, it was cold, the beer. YES, we would go back to the Birchmere! Service was friendly, crowd was friendly, parking was easy. Sound system perfection AATW - Always GREAT

Always a pleasure spending the evening at the Birchmere! Good food, folks and fun! can't wait until the next time!

The great thing about the Birchmere is it's a venue that books a wide variety of great artists or comedians. Singers and bands from many genres. And it's a pretty large hall in a "dinner theater" style. I've come here twice in 5 years to see my man, the talented Eric Benét. He never disappoints. I'd go anywhere to hear/see him entertain. Location is decent. The building itself is old and campy/kitschy. Outdoor reminds me of an old skating rink or amusement park theater that was never updated or refreshed. You have to get there hours early, go in and grab a ticket which gives you your place in line come 6 pm. Then you go back out to the car and w-a-I-t. At 6 they open the doors and either sit inside or stand waiting for them to call ticket numbers. The waiting /holding area also looks like an old amusement park theater waiting area with a snack bar. It's dark and kinda scary--it could be a great haunted house. Once your number is called, you can go in and pick your spot/table. The higher your ticket number, the worse your chances are to get a prime seat. Really latecomers will be disappointed. Most tables are rectangles and you probably will have to sit with others. No big deal, lots of folks are friendly and in a good mood. The food is overpriced and not memorable. The "bar" food is standard and the entrees are just okay. Desserts are small and average tasting. Full bar. Our waitress was kinda ditzy and left dirty plates as well as forgot things. And as others have commented-there is NO free ice water, even to take a pill. They plunk down a bottle when you request water. So yea, I will come here if it gives me a chance to see my favorite artists. But if you're coming for the ultimate in ambiance or for the food...reconsider seeing them elsewhere.

Another show at one of my favorite music clubs. Nice to see they made it thru Covid well intact. Food offerings are similar from the past, nice quality, a bit pricey but very large shareable portions. Excellent service as usual. Check out their calendar at Birchmere.com Long live The Birch.

My fiance took me here to see Jon B and we had a good time. The place is clearly historic but the seating arrangement was not ideal. We didn't eat we just had drinks. The drinks were strong and the show was awesome. Overall I would go here again to see a good show.

It was pleasant experience with dining and entertainment. Price of food and drink was reasonable, havent been to a place like this before. Watching live performance while dining at a table is amazing

I love the Birchmere, however, at the Dave Alvin concert we left early to get home to our babysitter and we were boxed in by another car. Either the Birchmere was negligent, incorrectly, parking people, or the people behind us were extremely rude

This was a great venue!! Very friendly employees and quick service right to your table without having to get up and go to the bar. The bathrooms are large, so no waiting in lines for long and there is plenty of parking outside. Tickets were sold as general admission so it pays to arrive early and have dinner before the show.

We enjoyed our concert here. Very large music hall. It's seat yourself. No assigned seating. My girlfriend arrived early to find us seating near the stage. We was really close to the performers. Our sever was on point. Checked on us regularly. Not an extensive menu but enough to get by. I had the fish and chips. It was good with enough to have a takeaway boxed to go. The menu doesn't show all the drinks but they do have a bar. Our server said she could mix us up some drinks so we went with the Apple Martini. It was good. So good I had two. I could definitely see myself enjoying another concert here in the future. There is plenty of outdoor parking available.

Fantastic experience, as always! Excellent comedy performance , comfortable for the comedians and musicians and the audience alike. Good menu, very good service. The vibe is down-to-earth and inviting -- come together to enjoy comedy and music together! Easy, free parking right there at the venue. The Birchmere is a special, locally grown place for live music and shows for everyone to enjoy.

Went to see Maysa Leak perform yesterday evening with a friend. The place was packed and servers were everywhere. We were served shortly after seating and our server Rain was excellent and friendly. Our food was delicious, came out in reasonable time and we were consistently checked on. The excellent service paired with an incomparable performance by Maysa and her band made this was a wonderful experience.

Great venue to see entertainment of any kind. Dinner was good, I highly recommend the chicken tenders or the King Kobb salad or BBQ Pork sandwich as those items I have personally tried. The process of admission is fair with a general audience admission; however it can be long if your goal is to get a particular seat since it's important to arrive as soon as the box office opens at 5 to get your # in line for the main hall admission at 6p. Other than that, the process works well and smoothly. Restrooms are clean, staff is helpful and hard working.

I have been to the venue a few times, last night to see Eric Benet'. Very good performance. It's a hit or miss when it comes to seating, first come better seats. It can become uncomfortable with the arrangement being quite tight and most likely you will be seated with other people. It's best to park off street without a time limit and walk, getting out after the show is brutal. The food and drinks are okay, depending on your choice. Overall I'd say will be back again.

4.5 stars for sure!!!! Baybeeeehhh! Let me tell you, get here early cause you will find yourself scouring the hills and valleys for a sold table/seat, especially if it's more than one party needing a seat!! The parking lot is vast but I'd say get there early; I uber'd over just to avoid waiting to leave the parking lot after and they dropped me at the main street wherein the building is a good walk from the main street, it's down and around the corner. I ventured into the unknown solo and I found a seat relatively quickly and as time lingered on, the table I was sitting at filled quickly. Shout out to the couple that allowed me to join their table lol and didn't make me feel like a weirdo cause I was solo. Musiq is one of them ones that will get me out the door plus I hadn't seen him in concert soooo it was the vocalzzz for me!!! He hit most of his hits and to be honest, I jammed out the whole night! The tables are close and you have some chairs facing the stage and others facing away from the stage as there is an option to order drinks and food. So the people that had chairs facing away from the stage simply turned their chair towards the stage and all was well. The food looked good too! I ordered a drink and that satisfied me + the prices weren't super expensive either. Overall, this is an intimate venue and I thought I'd be bothered by people eating and clinking dishes or whatever but that wasn't the case! The range of talent is also wonderful and I will most certainly be back!!!

Such a jiving place and so much nostalgia! Just being under the same roof as all those famous folks was a incredible. Being so close to the stage, while eating dinner and sipping your drink, makes it feel more like a family celebration. Like no other venue I've been in--It's one of a kind! Great food is served up in expedient fashion too. You must go experience it for yourself -please!

We were at the Birchmere to see Peter White. We got in the queue about 4:30, waiting for the doors to open at 5. People in the queue were friendly and were chatting about past experiences at the Birchmere and who'd seen who there in the past. At 5 the doors opened, we got our number to be seated and ordered a couple of libations from the bar. The drinks were fantastic. The barkeep was generous with the alcohol. The doors to the hall opened at 6. We waited for our number to be called and located a table we were happy with. Once seated our server introduced herself and took our beverage orders. We ordered the artichoke dip, catfish dinner w/beans and rice and the fish and chips. Our dinner was promptly served. The service was great, the food was flavorful and hot. Peter White put on an excellent show and the ambiance was great from the time in the queue until we left the building. We can't wait for our next visit.

The musicians were excellent. Food: pretty bad except the French fries. Food Prices: way too high for the quality of food served. I think there are fire code violations with this place packing people into the venue like sardines. It's my first time hear and definitely my last. I heard so many things about the Birchmere but was so disappointed.

We've been coming to the Birchmere since we moved to Alexandria over 9 years ago. It's our favorite entertainment venue. In fact, the Mary Chapin Carpenter concert we saw several years ago was probably the best live show I've ever seen and I've been to a lot. That said, last night I had a service experience that really upset me. We were there for the Burt Bacharach/Hal David tribute. The show was great and the performers were fun, talented and energetic. We also ate dinner there which was fine. In the middle of the show, I had to slip over to the bar to get a small drink of water. I use a cane due to mobility issues from metastatic breast cancer that is also in my bones. I need to take a chemo pill at the same time every day. I asked for a small sip of water to take my pill - they don't 'give out' water - you have to buy a bottle. I told the very uninterested bartender that I just needed a sip for medication. He poured me a small glass. I also grabbed a glass of wine for my husband and quickly paid to get back to the show. It was then I realized he charged me $1 for literally 3 sips of water. It just took the wind out of my sails that a venue couldn't offer me a small sip of water for medication for free, after we'd already spent almost $175 on tickets and food. (I walked up myself because I also need to stretch my hips occasionally to avoid keep them from locking). Overall, I'm doing great on treatment and I'm not looking for pity. I was just really disappointed that I was charged for a small glass of water that clearly was for medication. Not me trying to 'game the system' for some free water. I was going to write this but I woke up still thinking about it. I should have said something to management and would have said something to the bartender if I'd noticed but like I said I was in a hurry to get back to the show. Maybe it's a management issue or maybe a training issue for the bar but it just left a bad taste in my mouth.

Today, June 12th, 2024, I came to see Eric Benet. The show, food and service in the hall was great! The only thing I didn't like was that when we arrived at 6:15pm mind you, the show was scheduled start at 7:30pm so we were looking forward to getting great seats. We had to wait almost 10 minutes to go in because now you have to get a ticket and wait for them to call your number to go to the hall. The lady was at 8 and we were #77!!!! I don't like unnecessarily waiting. It should be first come first served, now have people wait in the lobby. It will be a while before I come back.

good venue for a show. no bad seats, really. food options are very limited. Lasagna is new addition and it was pretty tasty. Good option if you want to avoid fried food. They should offer option of meatless lasagna as vegetarian options are limited on an already simple menu.

Context: I delayed in writing this because I really didn't wanna do based on the good music I heard that night. But after revisiting my draft I couldn't add on the injustice of what I was served that night. Hence my late but thorough critique and totally honest review of the eats. He's back!!! Outta town and back on my BHA -VEgan'ish and they know not whom they are serving is in their presence. First let me say I'm not an avid concert attendee but watching Ms. Sylenna Johnson rip the damn roof off the venue tonight whilst celebrating my baby sister's vanglorious 55th born day was the "what got me here". Having their Vegan offerings meet my obtainable standards following "betta be better than what a brother can we whip up" aka the de facto BHAVE (Big Hungry A$$ Vegan Eat'in) mantra, would've been that proverbial icing on the birthday cake!! Let's just say we won't be blowing out no candles for their Vegan menu items this night. I'll be the first in the guest book at the Vegan menu's "ROASTED VEGETABLE STACK" (RVS) re-pass and gladly pay all burial expenses. From what I was served I'd be remiss not speculate that the party solely responsible for my order surely missed their calling as a crematory tech!! Shall we begin? Let me give credit albeit taunting a salad as Vegan is the lowest hanging fruit and no feat. The "CALIFORNIA VEGAN CHEESEBURGER"--being I'm from Cali I'm not being biased--hit the mark as the wife ordered it. Aside from the heavy handed lettuce the burger passed the BHAVE criteria and should be the only Vegan offering on the menu!! Now to the star--no not the aforementioned Sylenna Johnson stage ripping show--that "RSV" aka crematory escapee with a statewide BOLO (be on the lookout) for a menu item impersonating a palatable dish. I must've "grilled" the very attentive and polite waitress on the validity of it being Vegan and what would I be receiving a lil too much? Apparently her reassurances didn't reach special FX tech in training aka "The Torch" or whomever wants to be held in contempt of the Supreme Vegan Food Court for actually plating and sending that seemingly misplaced stage prop from the recently wrapped filming of the forth coming soon to be cult classic "The Vegan Menu Cemetery" to my table in the guise of my order!! Had I not been in a club venue I may have broke out in an ear piercing scream and gripped my wife's arm with my eyes closed. What I saw can't be unseen--and from what I attempted to fork to mouth, eaten. Being a savvy and Level 9 Board Certified BHAVE Founder and President, I purposely requested the balsamic reduction drizzle on the side so I could see what it really do in here on the Vegan side? Had I not the aforementioned balsamic reduction would've surely been looking at doing 15yrs. via mando sentencing guidelines for premeditated aggravated veggie assault and assisting and knowingly covering up the 1st Degree Veg assault the took place in the kitchen!!! Ever attempt to consume the eggplant, pepper strips, zucchini and/or squash had me reenacting Denzil's Oscar winning scene reciting those now infamous lines: " Aww, you motherf***ers. Okay. Alright. I'm putting cases on all you overcooked veggies..." I digress. Every attempt to consume anything but the portobello mushroom caps and couscous had me eyeing my wife's order!! Notice I didn't mention the caramelized onions. Why you may ask? Cuz caramelizing onions entails cooking them for nearly an eternity to get 'em correct. Following that logic the dish should've be named "Caramelized RVS" and then maybe I could've kept my expectations along the line of "you bout to get some overcooked veggies that won't resemble their pre-cooked form." And this is me being kind!! Again giving my credentials I pivoted and focused on what survived the abusive treatment and ordered only a side of portobello caps because I knew the covert and secret "VATF" (Veggie Abduction Task Force) had been notified via the Vegan Amber Alert system went off when my order hit my table and were en route to rescue the abducted parties being held against their will in the kitchen's fridge or pantry. And to ensure those responsible would be at the least legally forced to register in the "National Veggie Offender" database. I will be pushing for the VATF to send in vegan and non-vegan informants to order the "RSV" and see if atrocities in the kitchen has changed anything? In closing, I hope and pray anyone who has control of the menu really look beyond my BHAVE prose and actually run some blind taste test to see if they can differentiate their RSV from an acceptable, palatable and properly cooked Vegan offering? If they do and can, please give them my blessings and I'll gladly testify on their behalf when the case reaches the Supreme Vegan Food Court as long as they don't take the 5th!! I'm outta this piece. Go Vegan--unless the RSV converted you then I can feel you.