The Front Porch

The Front Porch is a nice, easygoing spot with a relaxed neighborhood vibe. The outdoor seating is comfortable and welcoming, the food is flavorful and well made, and the drinks are smooth and refreshing. It’s the kind of place you go to unwind, enjoy good conversation, and not feel rushed. Simple, casual, and always a good time.

This place is fantastic. Wife and I stopped in for a quick bite on a Saturday morning. Great service, amazing food and reasonable prices. Their drinks aren't really anything special, but the food is delicious. The prices are in line with the area (perhaps a bit below the norm giving a slight bump to value). Highly recommend the breakfast sandwich if you're there for brunch time.

A cool local place and it’s just off I 95. If you are craving for some coffee it’s worth the detour. The staff were very friendly. I highly recommend it. We got the Berry Lemonade and Sweet Citrus coffee. Both were amazing. They are a bit pricy for the quantity though just a heads up.

The Front Porch/Evening Star Cafe is a lovely area. The patio extends behind the building, so there is a lots of seating. Our order was placed and paid for via our phones (no servers physically taking orders), which was pretty cool. The drinks and food came out promptly after our order was placed. The food was good - not excellent, but solid. I’d go back for the atmosphere alone.

So this place has been on my bucket list for a while!! Always loved passing by and seeing the fire and lights :)). Online says it’s closed Sunday & Monday but as of now it is open! We went today on a Monday. Have to come try!

So the Front Porch is a combo of the Evening Star as well. Recommend getting a reservation just in case it’s full. But the staff were very friendly and informative. All we had to do was scan to order. The system charged per person so very simple and easy. Can order multiple drinks at once which was very nice. The biscuits and gravy were delicious!! And everything was spaced out well.

I would like to say that this place, the food, and staff are excellent! @Jenny is a PHENOMENAL server. I would gladly brings friends and family, to this place again!

Great location in the heart of Del Ray. Some good wines. Hit and miss food. I'm writing the review because of a salad we ordered with chicken as the protein. The chicken on this salad looked like a crostini. It had been cooked, microwave and doused with gamma rays. See pic. Come on, Front Porch. I live in Del Ray and appreciate our great non-chain restaurants. But if you're going to serve an expensive salad, at least make an effort with the protein. Even IHOP would be ashamed to put this out.

Stopped by for brunch. Amazing location outdoor seating. The server was amazing she was very attentive and made sure we had everything we needed. Hats off to the chef the food was amazing. Definitely will be back for dinner.

The food is always cold, the service is poor and the steak might as well be Salisbury. We tried 3 times and and thats all we can bear.

All in all, this place is *just* OK: +1* for our server who was super nice but I'm pretty sure we only got two refills of water for two hours we were there :-( Food came pretty quick though. +1* for the ambiance since the inside restaurant is cute and the decor outside is adorable -1* for the super bland pork schnitzel with flavorless gravy. Friend said that he wished it was just slightly thicker. Way too bland for the price +1* BF said the chicken and fries were bomb. I believe him. I kept grabbing his fries because it actually had taste compared to the incredibly bland bread that accompanies the schnitzel Del Ray is a cute area but I likely won't be coming back for this place. The outside area was cute though.

The food was top-notch and tastefully done. Service = meh. Super friendly in training servers with one knowledgeable person hustling. 3 different tables ordered Gnocchi and each was surprised to see Polenta. No one mentioned the deconstruction of a classic. Manhattan up. Got one on the rox! C'est la vie en rose. Life's too short to be annoyed. The food was near-perfect, the drink was delish both ways. Just a little more patience.

The bottom line: Food has gone way downhill and the price has stayed high. Although the kids enjoyed the 20 pieces of buttered pasta for $8, the smash burger was flavorless and disappointing. The fries were probably the best part of the meal and the ambience was great, as always. The Brussels sprouts looked like they were a day old and reheated and the cocktails were poorly made. The service, however, was helpful and replaced the terrible drinks with beer and wine. Sad downhill days for the front porch and hope they shape it up soon.

my wife and I ate lunch today around 1:30pm. the server was obviously having a bad day, she was short with her comments and not at all welcoming. we ordered, the food was fair but not up to usual quality. items were offered but we were told they ran out . "who runs out of cornbread ?" I paid the check and added a 40% tip. this was not because the service was even passable but an effort to improve the attitude of the server toward her next customer. v

My wife and I met old friends for dinner. Great drinks and delicious food. The atmosphere -- open air dining on the "back porch" is what will bring me back.

Came here for brunch during the week. It is packed on the weekends so come early! Highlights: THE CROISSANT. Best I've had... maybe ever? Same as their homemade jam. Must try. The atmosphere was also really nice and homey. We also tried the lox and spinach with eggs which was tasty, and the quiche was good. Not as good as the croissants.

Today was a beautiful Fall Sunday and we couldn't have chosen a better brunch spot than the Front Porch! Lemme share with you why. You're literally on a porch area and the other outdoor area is a driveway, but you don't feel like it. They have a hippie garden vibe going and I'm all for it! Plus, look at the divine salmon eggs Benedict we had for brunch (see photo). We also shared chai french toast, mimosa and beermosa (which they called manmosa). It was a beautiful experience. Thank you, Front Porch! We will be coming back for more...

Really impressed with this place! We strolled over on a Sunday night and there was lots of CUTE outdoor seating. The back area is completely social distanced and service was great. We ordered the zucchini fries to start and then both had the salmon with brussel sprouts. Not only was the salmon beautifully presented, but there were soooo many delicious brussel sprouts served with it as well. The entire meal was amazing.

We love coming to this place. The food, ambiance and service is always on point. Our server Parker is very attentive and takes cares of our furry baby Vader. Great frozen drinks!

Love so much about this place. Love the big igloo during covid and always great drinks. First time for brunch in a while and the chicken and waffles were damn good. The chocolate and whiskey tasting was also well worth it. You can share one tasting and go back and add pours of the whiskey.

Outstanding service but was disappointed in the chicken and waffles. Waffles were good but too many bacon bits (I know. I can't believe I said that too) the chicken was too salty tho but the home fries are boss

My feelings are the same as everyone else. Though I enjoy Evening Star and its offerings, for some reason I don't enjoy the Front Porch as much as the restaurant and Majestic Lounge. Oddly enough, I'd think this is what I'd enjoy most since it is an outdoor patio with both unique beer selections and food from the restaurant, but the vibe is off putting. I cannot put my finger on it. Maybe it was the waitress, the manager, or maybe just how they did things. Either way, I didn't like the vibe nor their demeanors. It's not going to stop me from coming here. It is still a quaint place with a large patio where you can enjoy a beverage and listen to hipster music. It's a good adult place in Del Ray where you won't be swarmed with kids under 5 running around disturbing your peace after 8pm. For that alone in itself, is worthy of your visit. Lastly, it's open seasonally.

My husband and I went to Front Porch for a light dinner with drinks on a Tuesday evening. The weather was great so sitting outside with a beer seemed like a perfect evening out. We were seated at the front right side of the porch on the street side so we got a great view for puppy watching. I got a glass of frose and a beer both of which were cold and delicious. We also got the croquettes and chicken wings. The croquettes were crispy, topped with shaved fennel, and came with a creamy sauce. We both really enjoyed them. The chicken wings were smoked with a bbq sauce so they had a deep flavor. There were SO many wings, it was a great value considering how many we got. We had a nice time and would go again.

*** Drink review only*** We stopped in the Front Porch after deciding to go out for drinks. Located in Del Ray, Front Porch is an extension of Evening Star Cafe. It's an outdoor patio space with places to sit and drink or grab a bite to eat. We were able to get some spots on the wall and perused the drink menu. They have a decent beer list, wine, and frozen cocktails for summer. I chose a frozen rose and the husband chose a beer. Our drinks were good and I enjoyed my frozen rose. However it took awhile for us to get our drinks. I actually had to ask twice to make sure they were coming. I'm not sure if it was just busy, staff was overwhelmed or what. But the drinks itself were good. The vibe at Front Porch is relaxed and it's a great spot to enjoy a drink outside. I don't know how the food is though. It looked promising but again we didn't come for the food.

Place is cool. Good vibes and nice booze selection. Outdoor seating. And they have an excellent soundtrack playing every time I come. Great playlist. Kid and dog friendly. Def worth coming for a couple of drinks. Not sure it's the place in the area to come if you're coming specifically for the food but if you're looking for drinks and good vibes, it's a cool place, especially with a kid and/or dog in toe.

Came here recently to enjoy their awesome expanded patio (Front Porch is part of the Evening Star Cafe) and drinks. Had a pleasant experience overall! The outside area is really beautiful with cool pergola things, wooden picnic tables, and lots of gorgeous string lights strewn about. They have a totally contactless ordering system, where you can scan a QR code on the table and then order & pay directly from your phone. Imbibed on a couple of frose slushies, which were amazing, and we got some apps as well. Their tater tots are super crispy and the fried zucchini and shroom sticks were great! We also tried the dandelion and goat cheese fritters which were not exactly what I was expecting. They were a bit bland, not sure I'd order those again especially given how few you get in the portion. The main hiccup that prevented this from being a 5-star experience is because there was a bit miscommunication from the staff. We had called earlier, and were told by a staff member that though the restaurant hours are stated that they close at 8, we can order right up until 8 and can hang out until 9. So we tried to place an order for additional food at like 10 to 8, and were unfortunately informed that they had already started breaking down the kitchen and so they couldn't place our order. We understood, and our server told us our food orders would be refunded but the kitchen was able to get started on two of the items (more apps), and that they'd be comping those for us for the inconvenience. Really nice of them! Unfortunately, those items never came out anyway. All in all, it was an understandable miscommunication but it was just a little disappointing to be told one thing and then have another thing happen -- twice. The frose's were damn good though, and it won't prevent me from returning in the future! We'll just make sure to get there earlier and put in our order with lots more time.

The atmosphere is great! The food was above average but not amazing. The service was fine. Now, back to the atmosphere. I love the feeling of dining outside at twilight with those soft out door string lights overhead. It's almost magical.

Came by with a friend after a volleyball game and since I was a hungry bear, I wanted a standard burger and fries. Burger was OK but the fries were on point. I'm no fry connoisseur because I think all fries are beautiful and should be appreciated but these were especially crispy and salted well. I even text my friend a few days later to talk about them completely unprompted. This same text conversation devolved into an hours long debate about sandwiches and whether wraps can be considered a sandwich because it's an item that contains things inside a wheat product. But I digress. I also ordered a beer, though I forget which one is was. Something peachy? I'm not a fancy pants beer person either, or at least I've stopped trying to impress people with vocabulary that describes beer when I just want something good and drinkable. The beer was good. There were lots of ants crawling around on the tables. I'm not that annoyed though because they're easy to pick up and shoo away, and we were outside and we're on their turf when you think about it.

Soooo much outdoor dining! That's one of my favorite things about this place. Great food and friendly staff, no complaints. For COVID, they have mobile ordering which was also nice. I've come for brunch and for a casual drink and have always enjoyed the menu.

Front Porch is an extension of Evening Star cafe next door. It's a very simple concept. They have metal frame chairs, patio furniture and long wooden picnic tables, coupled with an interesting cocktail list, wine list and a very robust beer list. They serve only appetizer type foods, though if you tried you could make a meal out of it. While I didn't sample any of the food, a friend and I stopped here for a couple beers and it was very nice (weather permitting as it's entirely outside). If I had any complaint it may be that the decor is perhaps TOO simple. I don't necessarily want to sit on cheap metal furniture for too long, or a bench without a back on it, before I'm anxious to move on. Maybe that's the point. This isn't a destination place, it's somewhere you go for a before or after dinner drink to kill an hour or two, maybe when there's an hour wait to be seated or your reservation isn't for a while yet. It was also a little obnoxious that there were strollers and children running around here. It's a bar. Just because it's outside doesn't mean you should be making it a park with screaming children. That is the kind of thing that would keep 21-35 year olds away for sure. Stop by, have a beer, enjoy the fresh air. That's all this is, and accomplishes these goals pretty successfully.

Man, it's about time Front Porch got it's own listing. It's an extension of Evening star, but is so philosophically unique it really should be discussed individually. FP is an outdoor, no frills homegrown organic hangout where folks can gather at picnic style tables and adirondack chairs. it's great for socializing and meeting locals. who LOVE this spot. The food is all locally sourced, frequently from the property itself, and they offer interesting bar foods like tacos, mini pizzas on flat bread with clever names, and jambalaya. The best part of the front porch is the drinks. The Majestic lounge has 15-20 great craft beer taps and a slew of old fashioned cocktails which are all available outside, but they ALSO feature (only at the porch) bourbon slushies and other frozen drinks. That's right, you heard me; bourbon slushies. They've been featured in Thrillist and other know-it-all local publications, and they are a special treat on warm summer nights. Very unique, and wholly delicious. I'll always have a soft spot for front porch, because there just isn't anything quite like it. Very similar to a friends beautiful outdoor deck space, but with great finger foods and tremendous drinks.

Ordered the smash burger - simple: just patty, cheese, and their secret sauce but it was THE BEST burger I've ever had in my life. Perfectly cooked, juicy, and so flavorful. I will be coming back! Only complaint is the beer was a little warm - glasses should be chilled more

It's really simple people. Good weather. Good drinks. Sure throw in good food and friendly staff, and you just get 5 stars! Absolutely a place to bring loud friends, outdoorsy dates, or your journal/book. The Front Porch has their draft beers listed on the board, a full bar in the back, and a small menu of simple to complex appetizers to keep you sitting on the front porch. Now remember, on a bad weather day, don't choose this trendy spot, because, guess what... there's no indoor sitting!! Thankfully they are owned by the same restaurant and bar located 2 doors down so you can always enjoy the owner's accomplishments in food and drinks in those two spots as well. Nevertheless, cheers for the great weather in the mid-atlantic and the quaint neighborhood of Del Rey.

Cute outdoor space. Good menu with vegetarian options that can be made vegan. We had small plates. Very visually appealing. The hummus and fries were tasty. The cauliflower was good texture but the sauce on it was overwhelming, it tasted like straight gochujang. Spray on some bug spray before you go!

Cutest outdoor venue. Love the relaxed atmosphere, great beer selection and simple delicious food. My boyfriend and I shared the mussels and fried chicken sandwich which came in the perfect portions to share between us. They have a great beer menu including a cask beer and my favorite local brew - Optimal Wit by Port City. Their crushes were very popular amongst guests as well. Perfect place to bond with friends and make new ones. Between the young families and puppies in the neighborhood, this place is cuteness overload x100. Will definitely be returning again. And again... and again.

Disappointed! While the contactless ordering app is good for keeping distance, being ignored and not getting the food you ordered for over 30 minutes, and then only after literally having to chase a server is less contact than is acceptable. They said the server brought our food, but we said we did not order it....however, that never happened. Other than delivering our drinks, we were never visited by a server, at all. And, when I waived and made eye contact with a server (manager?) he tried to turn away, even tho he clearly saw me & made eye contact. Contactless service is great & all, but, come on, you are in the restaurant business, pay even the slightest bit of attention to customers who have already had to pay, & tip you before you even lifted a finger.

Came here to start a birthday bar hop and get one drink at 8:55 and waited outside to be seated after standing here for 5 minutes a man who had obviously seen us and goes we stopped seating at 9 sorry. I said oh we've standing here for awhile and he was not apologetic what so ever and then the seating sign was passive aggressively turned in front of us. I understand now why this place has bad reviews!

Pros: Simply the best place in del ray to sit out side and have a drink in good weather. List is adequately diverse without being overwhelming. Selection is solid with a couple of good house items like bourbon slushee. Cons: Almost always swamped. Service is spotty, though I get the feeling this has more to do with how busy it is than with the quality of the servers themselves who have always been friendly and helpful. Getting their attention can be tricky as they seem to have to go into the restaurant to get the drinks. Also the bathroom is really far away.

We moved to the Old Town/Del Ray area back in November, but our spring/summer exploring was a stifled due to COVID. We have been to Front Porch's sister bar, The Majestic a few times during the winter, and LOVED their beer list and food. So when VA moved into phase 1, and we were desperate for a tall cold one, my husband suggested we check out FP (we'd walked by at least 2 dozen times but they were closed over the winter/when COVID hit). We were blown away by their COVID safety protocols! Everyone is asked to wear masks unless at their table, your order/payment is done completely through your mobile device, they do a deep cleaning of the tables between guests, the tables are VERY far apart and they handle everything very carefully. We were so impressed and came back again this past weekend :) Thank you for creating an environment where we feel safe and welcome at the same time!

The service and bourbon slushy were fabulous and it felt very safe during the Covid craziness.

These guys have it figured out for COVID. The outdoor seating they created is really impressive and the menu-less ordering works really well. I've had both the burger and the chicken sandwich there and they are delicious. And you can get their signature frozen drinks with your meal and also get them to go when you leave.

Front Porch has a 5 star atmosphere. Great outdoor seating area and music. Lights are hanging between the trees and the building above you. The Frose is delicious and really refreshing on a hot night. I had the Taiwanese Pork Bowl and my friend had the Burger. I will absolutely be back to have the bowl agin. Pork belly, rice and beans, and pickles all come together for the perfect flavor profile. This is where you want to be on a summer night!

Came by on a Thursday evening and tried to get a table at 8:40. They said they weren't seating any more even though over half of the patio of full. Online it says that they close at 10 am.

Three stars is generous. Evening Star used to be a real cocktail bar with great food. Front Porch is a shadow of that. Pina Margarita was watered down and seemed non-alcoholic. Fried cauliflower and zucchini fries featured raw veggies. Arugula salad was fine. I hope they can return to past standards. If not, I don't expect this to outlast Covid.

Atmosphere: 5 stars - The atmosphere doesn't get much better than front porch on a sunny afternoon, especially for parents. The kids can hang out and color while the adults get twisted on bourbon slushies. Food: 2 stars - We ordered the hummus, fries, hush puppies, pork croquette. All were pretty terrible except fries. For the price, it was not what I expected. I don't even know what else to say about the food. The bourbon slushy was really good and they have a great selection of beers. Service: 4 stars - It's a casual place so I had no expectations to be coddled and checked on every few seconds so it was on point. Overall: 3 stars. For the price, it's really underwhelming. The food was just so not what I would expect from a restaurant in this area at this price point. It might be worth going for parents looking for a good balance for a kid friendly place that serve cold drinks.

It's a very comfortable setup and the food and drinks are great. The outside area is very nice and they have heaters for each table. The staff were super nice and the food and drinks came out almost Immediately. My Caesar salad with steak was perfect but my husband felt his hamburger tasted bland and basic - not worth the $17.00 they charge. I'd recommend getting some of their specialties like the gnocchi and short ribs instead.

I fall in love ... they have good drinks, food is really delicious and the price are not that expensive. The venue is really romantic, specially in the summer nights! It's easy to find. I can't wait to come back here!!!

\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/ To quote another Yelper, "Front Porch is an extension of Evening Star cafe next door. It's a very simple concept. They have metal frame chairs, patio furniture and long wooden picnic tables, coupled with a... cocktail, wine, and a very robust beer list. They serve only appetizer type foods..." Now not quoting--This is a cool little place that yelpers can come and relax after a long hard day in the office or kick it on the weekends. This is an entirely outdoor location associated with Evening Star Café (part of NRG: ChurchKey, Rustico, etc..) As the other yelper described, this little place serves only appetizers so don't come here looking for a full meal. Ambiance: 5 Stars, can't get any better than kicking it with a quality craft beer and sitting in the late afternoon sun. Beer: Just like all NRG locations, this place has a quality craft beer list. Food: Appetizers only and buyer beware--some of these are amazing (right taste & portion is the correct size) but others are way too large and lacking flavor. The price on all of these currently is less than $10 so that is good... Brand Name: NRG has lived up to their reputation by adding this place onto Evening star. The Good: Ambiance -- there isn't a better place in Del Ray to kick it and have a relaxing drink alone or with some friends. There are no TVs here so face to face communication is key. The Bad: The food is hit or miss for the time being. I am sure they will figure it out but as for now, I wouldn't depend on this even if you are a little hungry--just go inside and pick something up. The UGLY: Even though they have a great beer & wine list, Planet Wine (also owned by NRG) is right next door (between Front Porch & Evening Star). Any yelper can grab a bottle of wine and bring it on over to Front Porch but not the same with the wide selection of craft brews--There are some weird legal reasons why wine is acceptable but beer is not. I wish I could just have the beer list from inside Planet Wine (but not NRGs fault). Over all--3 stars mainly because of the hit or miss food.

Amazing! The food and drinks are delicious and Ace is an incredible GM!! She made us feel so welcome and chatted with us. Definitely recommend going here you will not regret it!! We had the most amazing evening :)

This is a nice and relaxing atmosphere. I liked the jams they were playing. Frozen rose was fun, and the loaded tots were super good! We will be back.

Had a nice time with friends hanging out here on a late summer evening. The wait staff was pleasant, and attentive, making sure our water glasses were full. We ordered a few beers, and there list is definitely better than the average place. It felt comfy, relaxed, and the food was enjoyable. We got the brisket sandwich. If you are in Del Ray, check this place out.

The portions are tiny, but the prices are high. I would not recommend this restaurant. Pictured in my review is the beet "salad." That was a $10 entree I finished in a few bits. Also pictured are the old bay wings. They look and taste gamey.

They have expanded outdoor seating which makes for a wonderful festive atmosphere. A great place to grab a drink.

Came here for a drink the other day and I have to say that I fell in love. This place has the cutest setup with family style picnic tables on gravel, placed right along Mount Vernon Ave (which is ripe with people watching potential). The have a great rotating beer selection and, as expected since they are adjacent to a wine shop owned by the same people, a great wine selection as well. The wait staff was VERY friendly and quickly got my friends and me our drinks. Not much else to say here except that if you are looking for a place in one of the cutest suburbs of DC to enjoy a drink on a sunny, warm day, look no further than Front Porch!

We've been to Front Porch five or six times since it opened a couple of years ago. Don't go if you're expecting edible food. This place is a great spot to sit and enjoy a beautiful evening, but please don't go for if you're hungry. I feel bad for those who sign up for the 60 - 90 minute waits and then expect to be fed properly. Unappetizing menu choices, with disappointing platings. Stay away, foodies -- you'll get better Tater Tots at Sonic, better wings at Hard Times, and better sausage at Cheesetique. What a shame!

Winter respite very clean and correct level of background music, not crowded. Coffee is fresh and of course food is responsibly prepared.

Great food! Great drinks! We had the frozen rosé and brain slushie. The tater tots were the bomb. Super accommodating. Would come again. We would definitely come again.