The Barking Dog — Restaurant in Maryland

This is not your typical Bethesda bar. As for decor this is what an old school bar looks like, old wood bar, old wood and tile floor, that old school tavern look. Something far out-of-place then the rest of the place in Bethesda, something more that would think to see in the Fells Point section of Baltimore.

I happened to visit on a Friday, not long after working hours were over. I would have though it would have been busier. A pretty good crowd was on one side where the tables were, but their was practically no one at or around the bar.

Was greeted pretty quickly and would have to say that the bartenders were pretty friendly and engaging. The beer selection, at least draft wise, isn't to bad. Usual mix of your macro brews, but they have several craft brews on tap to balance it out, from some local brewhouses to some of the bigger ones. To my surprise they actually ran a drink special on a Friday, i say that because well you don't usually see a drink special on a Fridays as much as you used to, unless you go early and this one was an all day thing, and particularly less so in the DC area, at least that has been my experience. My drink of choice, and the special, was Red Hook ESB, which as much as a drink beer i have passed on a number of time before. And to be honest, i liked it.

I did order food while i was their. ANd the only thing i could tell you is that it was a burger and it came with fries. Can't tell you which one, but they do have several. It was cooked to order, wasn't that bad, but noting impressive, which is why i perhaps can't recall which one i had.

All in all it wasn't a bad experience. So why didn't i score it higher. Well several things. While it was a pretty warm day outside, the Barking Dog was like an ice box. Seriously AC felt like it was on full blast. I considered going back to may car to grab a hoodie.

Next the vibe, i just didn't feel it. It seemed like their should be something more to this place, but i couldn't say what. But something was missing. Perhaps it was the time of day, maybe things are different later. Or it could have been how i was feeling, didn't have that great of a day. Granted the DC vibe is a bit different then what i am used to, but still, i just didn't feel it.

Last was the price. While the drink special was good, think it was $3 for a pint, which for a DC area bar, and for a craft/micro beer (if you want to place Red Hook in that category, which some don't), that's a pretty good price. The food though, well that's another story. The burger ran almost $14 including a couple extra toppings that added to the price. Now ok, it's the DC area, yeah i figured it was gonna be a bit more pricer, the type of establishment besides the fact. What i wasn't expecting was the portion size. Pretty much a normal serving of fries. The burger however, ugh, was in between a slider and a what one would think of a regular sized burger. For $14 i would have expected not only something bigger, i mean a regular sized one would have been nice, but also something a little more impressive and less pedestrian taste wise.

Would i go back? Yeah, maybe. Perhaps things are different later in the evenings/night or on the weekends. But you have a grab bag of establishments in walking distance and nothing really makes me say that the Barking Dog is...

If you’re looking for a chill, well-run, unique, local spot for a private event or even just good food and drink – don’t sleep on The Barking Dog! Bob and the team there are phenomenal. We had our wedding at Glen Echo Park and were looking for a spaced in nearby Bethesda to hold a rehearsal dinner for about 50 people. The Barking Dog has an awesome private upstairs space with its own catering menu and dedicated music and bar. It even has a small dance floor and some games! We pretty much committed after a great call with Bob, who shared menus and other details via email, but wanted to check the space out in person just to get a feel for layout. While we were there, we enjoyed some drinks and a meal in the small, upbeat bar downstairs, and everything in just the bar alone is great and a place you want to frequent for the atmosphere and people. The upstairs space was perfect for what we needed and Bob helped get us set up with some high tops and rounds, even adding some flickering candles for ambiance. The night of our rehearsal went off smashingly – the food was excellent and the service top notch – Matt was amazing! It was a really busy night for them, too, with it being a Friday but we never felt like we needed anything and Bob was running around like crazy tending to everything. It was quite impressive and we really appreciated every detail. We can’t wait to go back and will definitely be adding the private space as an option for future events. Highly recommend, even if just to grab a...

Pretty much the last dive bar in Bethesda! Cheap beers, good service. The bar is located in a historic building (thus it's non-ADA compliant) and there's outdoor seating, though it's slightly marred by the construction zone nightmare of downtown Bethesda (so is pretty much every restaurant around here these days). The bar is loaded with regulars who sometimes get loud and rowdy, but that's the dive bar vibe. And it's generally safe. There's a good divide between the crazy regular bar and the table seating so you can find a good spot if you ever feel uncomfortable. This is also a good day-drinking spot, with windows, a warm wooden bar, comfy seats, plenty of TVs so you can camp out in your own little private bubble if you want.

The food is standard pub grub, but there are some things that are addictive. Like fried macaroni and cheese. Nobody should eat that stuff (you'll tell yourself as you eat the whole plate).

They have a huge upstairs events room with its own bar. This is one of the most affordable event spaces in Bethesda and the owners are super flexible. And here, if you're planning an event, I'll say - get the food! I've hosted book launches and birthdays here once or twice a year for many years and the catering menu is excellent. Almost elevated.

Late night folks (if that lifestyle ever comes back) will find the bar rocking. This is one of the...