The Passenger

What can I say? My longtime favorite cocktail bar in DC. The mixologists are the best in the business.

Since they've just opened back up there was no official cocktail menu, but the bartender made this Paper Plane cocktail based on the liquor and flavor profile I wanted and it was great. Fun vibe

Passenger is the super cool downstairs bar - Rockabilly style music, beer & tiki cocktails. And upstairs you have Hex, the dark, witchcraft themed bar where you can get the most incredible drinks imaginable. Both spots have a really fun atmosphere, no pretention, good food and damn knowledgeable bartenders. Our favorite place to drink & hangout in DC.

Was there for a friend engagement celebration. I didn’t habrá the food but I had a drink. The atmosphere was very boho Puerto Rico. Love the colorful decor with bike frames. Great bar service. Bartender offered us to choose song selection which was cool.

I highly enjoyed this bar. It's 2 floors but gets packed and will have limited seating. Great drink choices including big shareable bowls. The food was amazing the wings with the house sauce will not disappoint . Friendly and knowledgeable staff made this trip great

Very cute divey bar, fun decor

Decided to check out Hex bar. Great, creative cocktails! Bar decor was appropriately creepy. Definitely a fan.

So happy we stopped in. The decor is dark and eclectic, and Nick is an absolute cocktail wizard. Every drink was expertly made, including a fresh squeezed grapefruit for my Paloma. It was like watching a potions master, as we described what we were in the mood for and Nick used and array of drops, sprays, peels, etc to concoct the perfect drink. I'll definitely be back next time I'm in town.

This was a so-so cocktail bar experience Drinks Zendaya ...good Mule....meh It had a cashew spirit in it which was a new ingredient for me, which is the only reason I wanted to try it, but it was honestly very sour and didn't have a good flavor profile The decor is really what I really liked about the place. Very cool. Artistry and presentation. Upside down bicycles etc. Nice vibe. They were doing karaoke when we were there. Unfortunately we did not partake. If I were to come back I might need a little bit more alcohol in me to do it Parking is on the street so make sure you come at a certain time or make sure you take an Uber Service was okay. Occasionally some of the staff were a bit unprofessional not towards us but just in general with their language. Not something you want to see and hear when you're in and outside establishment but The price is pretty consistent with DC prices. Two drinks cost me about 40 bucks. Overall, I think it was okay but with the competition that's quite strong for cocktail bars speakeasies and what not. I don't think this is one I would want to repeat.

Met up with some friends here to grab some drinks. They don't have a kitchen, but they do allow you to bring in outside food, so that's a great alternative. I ordered two different drinks - Frida's Passion and Stay Off Oprah's Couch. Frida's was way better. I feel like I could have made the Oprah drink at home. The bartender was friendly, which I liked. They also had karaoke, which was a nice touch. Overall, I enjoyed it. The decor was cute and funky, and the crowd was chill.

We accidentally ended up at The Passenger because we were at a nearby event that was WAY too crowded for our liking. Fortunately, The Passenger had a very chill Saturday night vibe that we needed. Our bartender was pretty great, and she even chatted with us for a little bit since the bar wasn't busy. The decorations (even without the holiday decorations) was a potpourri of Latin American randomness - something that I can enjoy in a bar. The Passenger had a very cool holiday cocktail list, especially with the names of the cocktails. For my holiday drinking pleasure, I went with the Mom's in Mexico for X-mas (tequila, grapefruit, lime, and rosemary) and Gringo Dat Stole X-mas (gin, cochi rosa, lime, ginger, absinthe). I thought BOTH drinks were beautifully prepared. If I had to pick between the two, I'd go with the Gringo Dat Stole X-mas because I'm more of a fan of gin over tequila. Compared to other similar spots in DC, I thought the cocktail prices were pretty reasonable. Although I live outside of DC, I definitely will add this place to my list of go-to spots.

This is a dive bar in a fun neighborhood. Drinks are cheap and you can get Puerto Rican food from the restaurant upstairs to eat downstairs at the bar if you prefer. The bar was empty at happy hour and I got there before my friend but when I walked in, I tried to say hi to the bartender and the person they were talking to but they completely ignored me. No one talked to me or asked what I wanted until my friend came and we went up to them. It seems like it would be a good place to pre-game but you might want to go somewhere else if you actually want to have a fun bar experience.

This little dive bar off 7th Street has a unique atmosphere. The decorations are pretty cooky and the people are different than who I am usually around. They were playing some good 90s R&B which I loved! The drinks were overpriced in my opinion, but they were pretty yummy! The bartender was nice and made sure that we were ok. Overall, it's a cool spot if you are looking for something different.

Fabulous neighborhood bar with the nicest staff! They have a unique collection of spirits and can whip you up anything you want and will make something fun for you if you tell them what you like. One of the bartenders made me a fun drink with a house made raspberry syrup I really enjoyed. Seems like they change their menu often to feature new cocktails. Drinks are reasonably priced. COnsidering the quality I'd expect them to be more expensive but they fall in the $12-$15 range. Amazing place to get a quality cocktail that isn't $20. Fun decor and chill vibe. Came on a Friday night around 8pm. Not too crowded and space to sit at the bar. A great spot and can't wait to come back!

Great neighborhood bar, cocktails are decent and cost less than dc cocktail bars - a nice, laidback space to hang out, even nicer when weather is good and they open up the doors

I ended up here with a colleague sort by accident and I'm so glad we did. The space was super chill and has great music. There was lots of space for a nice range of cozy or more energetic options. Cory (sp?) was super friendly and knew the tap list really well. Cory made it an awesome visit and made sure we were well-cared for. Definitely a fun spot to check out!

I can't rave about Passenger enough! Been going for years. Lovely bar staff. Amazing delish cocktails. Decent bar food. I love the decor and vibe of the place. It's never stuffy and the staff are super friendly.

Weak bar service. You are lucky if the bartender looks at you before they go take shots with their friends.

The Passenger is a nostalgic cocktail haven with a casual twist; a breath of fresh air compared to the overly trendy and pretentious establishments that dominate the scene. The bartender was a true mixology enthusiast, skilled in her craft, and passionate about recreating the magic of timeless drinks. She suggested personalized recommendations based on my preferences, and each cocktail was delicious. The patrons were a diverse mix of regulars and first-timers, all united in their shared appreciation for a great drink and good company. This small bar is a hidden treasure that shouldn't be missed.

I'm a fan of the ambience here for sure. Love the music being played. Lou Reed, Bowie and so on. I'll tell ya the cocktails are nothing to laugh at. Super strong and that's ok with me. Two drinks and I was done! Really fun decor and a fun staff too. Local place which was great to drink and hang with locals rather than a toursity dump.

Fantastic hole in the wall, neighborhood bar with a great drink selection. The bartenders are friendly and provide quality service. The eccentric, lovable decor really creates a mood and this place was packed! I will definitely be coming back soon.

Honestly a little disappointed. I loved their original location in Mt. Vernon a couple years back and was excited to try this place in Shaw. They only had a couple beers on tap (interesting canned selections, though. Tried a Moo Stout and saw there was a Pork Slap ale available, too. cute animal logos = awesome). I thought there would be more daily experimental cocktail specials like they did before. But they do have a set menu of cocktails, some that are even $9 (lower for DC cocktail prices) and shared Tiki drinks like their Volcano bowl, which is about $28. Service was a bit on the slower end, but I understand that it gets pretty busy with 1 bartender on a weeknight. The seats were wooden, uncomfortable and surprisingly small. My friend had to squeeze in next to someone on a half seat. For such a popular bar, I would think they would have more seating options. Next time, I'm curious to try their Tiki bar upstairs, called Hogo. It was less crowded up there and the hostess was more attentive. I also ordered Passenger's Korean chicken wings, and was excited at the thought of some savory goodness -- but they were .... gross (sad). Don't order it!! Too much sweet sauce poured on thickly to mask overcooked wings with a truly odd chemical aftertaste. Thankfully, they took it back! Was surprised that you could mess up chicken wings, of all things.

How have I never reviewed The Passenger? We have been regulars since Fall of 2011 at the former location. We have spent at least two NYE there, including the closing of the first location. We have been to several of Tom and Derek's creations, including Mockingbird Hill (sherry) The Columbia Room (my birthday) and the rum place. But The Passenger we return to whenever we: Have an out of town guest Want to escape the house Close out the evening See some cool event posted on Facebook. We almost always get the nachos, some of the best in DC! I usually get something (or two somethings) that are spirit forward and whiskey based. My tummy isn't the size it was, but I used to also get the half smoke or the fried chicken sandwich. I love the punk vibe, the mixed clientele, and the family behind the bar. The Passenger is definitely a #dcessential

We happened on The Passenger in its newer location than the one we used to frequent about two months ago on a trip back to DC. Somehow by magical luck, Cori, our favorite bartender from another regular place (Atomic Billiards), was behind the bar and served us up some delicious cocktail treats. It was such a delightful experience to catch up after a few years and see how one of our old favorites had evolved with the time. They had the windows wide open so we felt more comfortable with indoor cocktails than we had otherwise on this covid-era trip. Will be back on every DC trip from here on out and I hope Cori and the rest of the team are doing well!!

If you're looking for a low-key spot, this is your place. My boyfriend and I came here on a Friday night before dinner plans at Beau Thai and were pleasantly surprised at how chill it was. The drinks were great--I had the rose parade cocktail, while my boyfriend had a cider. The yucca fries were delicious but kind of overpriced for the portion size (we ended up ordering them again). The service was excellent and the staff were attentive. It gets a thumbs-up from us!

Had a couple drinks with a friend, and after a few rounds we decided to leave. I also had mystery water droplets coming down on my head, which happened the last time i was there, and seems has been reported by other Yelpers. The bartenders had been hard to flag down, even when I was standing at the bar, and had been a bite rude. When I went to ask the bartender to close my tab, she told me the entire system went down and I couldn't close out. I waited 20 minutes patiently for the system to be rebooted, and the bartender gave me some attitude and offered to close my tab out with 20% tip. I was disappointed with the service and lack of care that I had been waiting so long. I didn't feel a 20% tip was appropriate but felt I had no choice. I left because I didn't want to spend another 30 minutes waiting for their system to be rebooted. Would not go back.

This should not be called a "cocktail bar". It's just a regular bar with a grunge feel & hard rock music. The music was extremely loud, no one could hear each other or the waiters. Now I like loud music....if I'm in a night club or somewhere where there's dancing. But this bar was too small for that. They only have about 5 "cocktails"....not enough to be called a cocktail bar. I did have the fried chicken sandwich & it was pretty good but that's the only good thing I have to say.

Great for casual drinks, not a fancy place but great attention. It's a little bit noisy but it's normal because is a bar. The place doesn't have and extended coctel menu but offers diferente beers.

I was selfish enough to not share one of my already-crowded favorite watering holes, but here I am with a loving eulogy in the intermission before it gets resurrected elsewhere in Shaw... hopefully with the cubano. Columbia Room concoctions were available at the Passenger bar for CR prices. Julia was my favorite bartender, even if aggressive hovering was necessary for decent service with anyone else most nights. Craft beers, a rotating list of special cocktails, and all the hipster bar food one could've hoped for: pork cheek chili nachos to be devoured while hot, a gimmicky kimchi hot dog that was still more interesting than the slaw dog, and a chili half smoke on par with BCB. Duck confit tacos for the win if you disregarded the weak tortillas, and honorary mention went to the reasonably flavorful chicken hoagie. Even the cocktails I didn't care for were at least reasonably balanced. You came here because they knew how to mix a proper drink for typical-to-upper DC prices, and were willing to accept that grabbing a seat was a pipedream on the weekend.

Passenger 2.0 is much better than the first. I don't usually go to bars like this since the whole alchemy thing isn't my "thing". I'm more of a traditional guy when it comes to cocktails. However, I made a stop at this bar while a friend from turkey was visiting. It was lovely to get everyone together and this was the perfect bar for it since it offers something for everyone. From craft beers to inventive cocktails and a decent wine list even the pickiest person will be pleased. We had a lot of people in our group and the staff was wonderful at accommodating everyone and was very helpful with suggestions as to what the person may like based on their tastes. We had a lovely choice of political based cocktails to choose from as well. The food was wonderful! It was the perfect twist on bar food. The nachos and Korean wings were the biggest hit with our friends. Overall, it's great for groups but not necessarily my type of watering hole. I will go back if someone makes a suggestion to meet there though!!

Like a true fatty, I'm not even going to talk about the drinks. 1) Duck carnitas - I die for these, especially for the surprising crunchy bits. 2) Pork Cheek Nachos - As I mentioned before, tender, smokey and flavorful...You will not want to share these (unless you're angling in for some of those duck carnitas). 3) Beignets - Not as airy or light as I would have preferred but the drizzle of condensed milk and pork belly dust makes me want to dance on air. Love how low key this place is, it has been officially solidified as a Kristina V and Kimberly S favorite.

I'm an absolute fan of The Passenger. This place has an incredibly hipster ambiance with amazing food and a diverse, rotating drink list. My dining partner ordered the fried chicken sandwich whereas I order their BLT which has duck bacon and pork belly on it. For a small upcharge, you can add a fried egg or avocado. I decided to keep it the way it was and I am very happy that I did so. It's was sinfully delish. My dining partner was just as happy. For drinks, he ordered a beer and I had one of their drinks off of the rotating cocktail menu. Drinks vary between $8 to $12 both in cocktail and beers. Wine is varying also by the bottle or by the glass. We were happy with our service. He had the best handlebar mustache I'd seen in a long while. If you want something low key, but still with a bit of bass (dj jmusic upstairs) and a chill vibes - The Passenger has your back.

Being just a tourist here tonight, this bar was as welcoming as one could wish for. 10/10 would go again. Juan and Cory made our night!

Passenger is the opening I've been waiting for all summer. Tonight summer peaked: warm weather, no storms, cocktails made by Jade. I'm now ready for fall. We came this evening on opening night and split the nachos for dinner. They are as good as they were at the former location and after two years, I was definitely ready for that pork cheek and cheese. We couldn't resist having three rounds of cocktails, even on a school night. The daily menu this evening consisted of classics but I strayed a bit and put my trust in Jade to make a couple of rum drinks I was craving and my husband requested a chartreuse smash, using the chartreuse they have on tap (yellow and green). The cocktails never disappoint and the new Shaw location is no different.

"The King is dead, long live the King." Rarely does the saying ever come true, but as of tonight you can count at least one occurrence. While the original Passenger location, and my corresponding review, might read as a swan song to single life, the new iteration is a bit more mature, with a bit of the old sleaze brushed off...for better or worse, depending on your point of view. For me that means coming with a lady who for sure appreciates what we're about to drink, and a staff that has years of knowledge now under their belt. Even with the change of venue, to a more up and coming neighborhood, you won't find a better made drink for a better price than at The Passenger. Obviously quite a bit has changed in the year and a half since the old Passenger closed its doors and the new opened up. For starters, the entire neighborhood of Shaw has blown up. The old Passenger wasn't quite divey, but also had a charming DGAF vibe, partly due to its location on a seemingly random corner next to virtually nothing else of note to locals. It's now squarely in the middle of some of the hottest real estate in the city, and only time will tell whether these new residents will alter the atmosphere. The space isn't as dark or as cramped as the old location, even though it's supposedly smaller. Personally I preferred the former, but that may just be nostalgia. And that's not a knock on the new space, the murals, seating, bar, and everything else are dope for sure, but you can't create charm which old Passenger had in spades. One thing that hasn't been altered is rock star bartenders who can whip up whatever you're craving, and offer suggestions if you're stumbling for creativity. The food menu is almost completely intact too, notably carrying over one of the greatest bar foods of all time, the pork cheek nachos. Hopefully the top notch Cuban sandwich joins it on the menu in the future. To come are live bands upstairs, weekend karaoke, and eventually a roof deck. That's all nice, but as long as they keep hiring some of the best staff in the city and turning what might be seen as low-tier liquors into top quality drinks while maintaining some of DC's most reasonable prices then consider me a regular once again. Even if I do have to Uber both ways now. (And if you want something fancy they still got that too. Like an absurd rye selection and both Chartreuse varieties on tap.)

Love this place! Quintessential neighborhood bar but with cocktails that are much better than your average neighborhood bar. Staff & regulars are friendly and it's a good crowd: I'd say it's around 70% neighborhood locals and 30% people from other areas - which is a fun ratio. No more in-house food since Covid, but you can bring food in. There is a Puerto Rican restaurant upstairs that is great, or you can do what we do and get Chicago dogs and pizza from Ivey & Coney next door, and bring it into Passenger.

They have a shot ski. We asked if it was operational and Jordan proceeded to bring it over and offer shots on the house. He made shots - we had no idea what they were - and drank a shot with us. He was clearly trying to flirt with my friend. My friend was not interested. At the end of the night we closed our tab to find that we were charged for the shots of who knows what that were supposedly "on the house". Not cool Jordan, not cool. We still had fun - but like NOT COOL

Cool bar! Cool decoration! Nice drinks! Nice service! Nice music! Nice ambiance! I went to Dacha Beer Garden and it was packed, the decided to check out the area and give it a try to The Passenger, that was a wise decision, the had a great time. We are coming next time to check out the food! Recommended for drinks and small group of friends!

My husband and I stopped here on a Friday evening. I got a vodka gimlet on the HH menu and it was great and strong. He got a few beers and took advantage of the beer and shot deal which is a steal. The bartenders are super friendly; I could see us hanging out here a lot if we were locals. We snagged some Yuca fries, chicken wings and the spicy chicken sandwich. The wings were breaded like chicken tenders which was interesting and unexpected. They were good but I could have used some alternative sauces for them since they were a bit dry. The fries were amazing. Husband said the sammy got the job done. I don't know if I'd come here specifically for food but I'd meet friends here for some drinks for sure.

I have a thing for gastropub that serve unique, gourmet food. Beignets? Pork cheek nachos? Duck tacos? I am there! My husband and I stopped in for a quick grub early Saturday night. First impression - awful music choice + barely functional speakers = we were in for a headache. Turned off by the ambiance, we debated for a bit if we wanted to stay. But after being warmly greeted by our sweet waitress, we decided to stick around and give it a try. I went with their most popular dish, duck carnitas, while my husband went with their slaw dog with crab chips. Although duck carnitas were recommended again and again, I thought they were just okay. The duck flavor was one dimensional (straight salt) and the corn tortillas were only lukewarm/soggy. My husband's slaw dog was good but not as unique as we thought it would be. Perhaps, the BBQ sauce flavor was too overpowering. Lastly, the crab chips were just stale Ritz chips - waste of stomach space. The place got ridiculously loud as our dinner progressed. Although we were still pretty hungry after our two dishes - we decided to skip on ordering more dishes + desserts and look for a second dinner elsewhere. Overall - underwhelmed, perhaps the glowing reviews were geared towards/combined with their cocktails.

My partner and I went to the new Passenger location to try it out because we hadn't been for food. Overall, I much preferred this location to the previous one further down 7th Street from where they started. There's a lot more room here in the menu is larger. It was basically empty for brunch, so we were able to easily snag a table. I would say it's wasn't ever even half full, so it's a good option for a large group for brunch. The pork nachos were great, and some of the best nachos I've had in DC. It's rare when you get to the point where there's more toppings than there are chips. The duck carnitas tacos are also very good! Passenger is known for their cocktails, but we opted for a bottle of cider. They had a few ciders actually, and the waiter helped us pick one that fit what we were eating. Overall, this is a great place for some food and drink either for a weekend brunch or late night. It does get more crowded at late night.

Great spot for drinks and snacks. It's kind of a tight spot, but if you can find space at the bar or an open table, you're in luck Grab the donuts with pork and a makers old fashioned. You'll be glad you did :)

Nice casual place. Reasonably priced. Good bar menu. Friendly bartenders too! Good hang out for the 30 something crowd

Recently came here for cocktails and a quick bite to eat, and really liked this place! Downside? It was crazy crowded, especially for a Wednesday night. I had the kimchi grilled cheese, which was A+, and our server was the absolutely best. The drinks we tried were only ok, so I'd recommend sticking with the beers on tap. If you're lucky enough to snag a table, hunker down, because it only got more and more crowded. Guess it's a popular spot!

This is one of my favorite dive-y DC bars. They have a solid happy hour, great drinks, and their food is also quite good. The staff is extremely friendly, and you can tell that they take pride in making quality cocktails. My go-to at Passenger is the old fashioned, because they do it phenomenally here. I will say that I used to adore their chili nachos, but they have since changed their menu and their "pork cheek nachos" are not nearly as good. They're decent, but Passenger if you're reading this BRING BACK THE CHILI NACHOS!!

Service: Popped into this bar because the line across the street at Dacha was too long and very glad I did! Glen was our bartender and he was awesome! Glen took the time to let us try some of the speciality liquors that they use and shared his mixology knowledge with our group, which made the whole experience really fun. Drinks: I don't even like whiskey and I enjoyed the whiskey mule with their house-made ginger soda. All of the drinks were crafted well and had interesting flair and flavor. Food: I ordered the wings and was talked into a vegetable platter. Most impressive vegetable platter I've had to date, which I was not expecting! There was a variety of grilled veggies including eggplants, shishito peppers and cauliflower with hummus, roasted pepper hummus and beet hummus which was delicious! The wings were also delicious and the spicy yogurt-based sauce they came with packed a nice punch. All in all, it was a great little spot that pleasantly surprised me!

So I really liked the old location better. I know, change is good, Shaw is a great location blah blah blah. Anywho, the cocktails are still interesting, tasty and often include whiskey which I appreciate. I'm a proponent of the fried cauliflower and mac and cheese. The atmosphere is super casual and inviting and I recommend a visit. But yeah.

I'm not usually a regular yelper and I don't think I've written reviews in years but this place was amazing! I had organized a first meetup here, and when i walked in I immediately was welcomed by the bartender despite feeling awkward and waiting for people i didn't know. As the night went on, we lingered a long time and never felt rushed. A different staff member was also super attentive and making jokes with our quirky group. The yucca fries were so good we got a second batch and the wings were delicious. The margaritas I had were good and for $6 at happy hour you can't beat that price. The playlist and decor were also on point. I've been in DC a little over a month and this was the first place I visited with super friendly service and zero pretension. Hope to become a regular!

Bartender (white guy, blonde hair, man-bun, deep voice, mustache) overcharged my uncle and I for drinks. After reviewing our bill, we let him know about it and after observing his reaction it was clear to both of us this was not just an innocent mistake. It was the exact opposite. Purposely overcharging a patron is the height of bad form. It's worse than bad service or making shitty cocktails. This bartender should be reprimanded for this kind of behavior. Management, please handle this matter. Happy to subsequently remove the 1-star.

Great space with OK cocktails. Decided on The Passenger after a fundraiser looking for a place to grab a table and have a nice drink. So, we did actually get a table on a Saturday night and that was cool. Service was great, place has a very nice buzz and design. All good, right? Drinks were off though. One was too acidic. One was too strong and not in the traditional good way. One had a flat, old ginger ale taste. So, meh to drinks while everything else was cool. Might have just been an off night.

Solid bar for casual drinks with a dark, hip, dive-y atmosphere. The bartender was friendly and there was plenty of seating on a rainy Sunday when we came here to escape the crowd at Dacha. A past review mentioned that they don't have happy hour - but I believe this is outdated, since when I went on a Sunday, they told me they had ALL. DAY. HAPPY. HOUR. $6 cocktails and rail drinks. If you're looking for a cool, less crowded, dive-y alternative to Dacha (right across the street), then definitely check this place out.

No better feeling than ordering a captain and coke and getting "we don't have captain here." Oh. Okay. Let me pause for a few seconds, wonder why you're looking at me like I'm a dumb tourist, and try to think of a different drink to order while you impatiently stare at me. Since I had broken the unspoken rule right off the bat, I guess I forfeited my chances to get another drink since I sat there in the (non air conditioned) booth for an hour slowly dying of heat and thirst. A punishment befitting of the crime I suppose. Who does this guy think he is ordering captain?

This place has changed a lot since moving, and not in a good way. The old Passenger's decor was intimate and charming; this place is obnoxious and passé. The old Passenger's bartenders were world class; I asked a Passenger bartender tonight what kind of Flip she liked making and she looked at me like I was from another planet. I don't know what else to say other than my fiancée and I were wholly disappointed. If you're looking for a run-of-the-mill bar in a city full of run-of-the-mill bars, fine. But we loved The Passenger as it was, and this is not the place we remember. What a loss.

I love self affirming, motivational quotes like: "Always show the you in you that makes you the you that you are." ~Chidinma Obietikponah "Share our similarities, celebrate our differences." ~M. Scott Peck Or one of my all time faves: "Today you are you, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is youer than you." ~ Dr. Seuss That being said, I've got to keep it real and go against the grain. I don't really understand the hype around The Passenger. Let's start with the atmosphere. I thought it was simple but beautiful. Even slightly stoic. Soft, well placed lighting with ivory archways trimmed with dark woods made for a soothing introduction, inviting you to ease on in. I didn't venture all the way to the back, but it seems as though the rooms are gently separated yet adjoined by the aforementioned archway. Our server was FANTASTIC! Bubbly, helpful and knowledgeable, she was absolutely wonderful. However, our drinks left something to be desired. I requested a drink that was not ta Moscow Mule, but still had ginger beer infused in the cocktail. The drink brought to me was pretty good, mixed with vodka and topped with a cucumber. I'm not entirely sure what else was in there, but it was a little bitter, but the best drink I tasted for the evening. I sampled a few other cocktails that some of my companions ordered, and I really didn't enjoy any of theirs either which is probably just because I don't really like some of the tastes and flavors they requested. However, if you like a peaty scotch infused cocktail (which I don't) you may have really enjoyed it! I don't claim to be a cocktail connoisseur, so you can take my opinion lightly if you consider yourself to be one. All I know, is that I know what I like and I know what I feel stands out. That being said, I enjoyed my experience at The Passenger but it didn't really impress me in anyway other than the service and the expertise of the mixologists.

I stopped into the Passenger on 12/16/11. Nicole L.'s grad school graduation celebration was here and started around ~9:45 pm. I was sober when I arrived. I was sober when I left. That helped shine a very bright light on the seedy underbelly of the Passenger. I thought the entire floor was going to fall in. I could see light from below through the floor boards. What was I doing looking down? I had no choice. I had already looked all around. Mirror on the wall. Bartender. Light blue pillar in the middle of the room. Bartender. Church pew. Bartender. None of the bartenders would give me any attention so I could order a drink. Yes, yes, yes, the place was packed and why should I expect to get anyone's attention. Um. Because it's a bar? And people are there to drink drinks? I dunno.... The rest of the decor is no better. I am so tired of places that are put together to look old and rickety. Yes, I am all about the environment, sustainability, repurposing objects, yadda yadda, yadda. But places can be decorated with repurposed objects in such a way that it doesn't look raggedy. That raggedy look does not give me a good feeling. It makes me feel like my garments are going to be snagged on some edge of some rusted piece of furniture. The din was unbearable. Yes, those people who managed to get drinks had obviously consumed several of them and were now speaking in their "drunk" voices (i.e. at the top of their lungs) overtop of the music. Is this why we come out to a raggedy bar? To stand there and YELL at each other over a drink we have to score? I don't think so. I stayed around just long enough to be polite, or until the hot dogs were delivered. Then, I used the restroom and left. Oh...by the way...At least the bathroom was nice-ish.

Last time I came here, the hipsterish bartender was not very attentive or nice to me. Ignoring the Indian and the Chinese. You know what I mean? I know, I know I ask for it sometimes by going to a hipster bar where attitude is usually a problem. We came out of the Hoyas' victory against the Cardinals, wanting a little celebration. I even took a photo of Jack! We drove by The Passenger and decided to stop by for a couple of drinks. This time however, Amy was my bartender. She was friendly and was knowlegeable in cocktails. She made us several amazing cocktails. I told her I liked bourbon or scotch. She made me the Fourth Regiment with bourbon that was a superb cocktail. Here's the recipe: 1 ounce rye whiskey 1 ounce sweet vermouth 1 dash orange bitters 1 dash Peychaud's bitters 1 dash celery bitters Then she used this peaty scotch, even though it's a rail scotch, along with ginger beer and lime made this cocktail called Mimi Taylor. Peaty scotch never tasted so good!! It was so light and refreshing, it might as well be my 2011 summer cocktail of choice. The drinks were seriously stiff so drink with caution. As I Foursquared and Yelped where I was, I received messages to try the infamous kimchi hotdog. (Thank you Juliana C.!!!) We could use a snack at that hour, so we ordered one to try. The kimchi hotdog was nicely charred with siracha sauce and a nice dose of fresh kimchi on a super soft bun. OMG it was freaking amazing. I loved it! It could turn into an addiction! Problem is, it's $8. Another summer idea!

The service was good, the beer selection was okay, and the food prices were terrible. I got the pork cheek chili nachos and they were $12 for a portion that should have been $6 (or $8 at most). The portion was so small that even a hungry child could have asked for seconds. It did taste good, though, so I'll give it that... but quit so being stingy and add in some more chips, thanks!