Ragtime Restaurant — Restaurant in Virginia

Disappointed by a Long-Time Favorite

I've been a loyal customer of this spot for over 10 years—it's one of my go-to late-night places. I usually enjoy the wings, Cajun pasta, and seasonal sangrias. The food and drinks have always been solid, which is why I keep coming back.

Last night, however, was a different experience. I only had about an hour to catch up with a friend, so we stopped in for a quick bite and a drink. We started with Casamigos Reposado margaritas, but they tasted more like lemon-lime spritzers than cocktails. I brought them back to the bar and explained the issue. The bartender was kind and explained the recipe, but I decided to pass on a replacement.

We switched to one of my usual favorites—the hurricane—with an extra shot of dark rum. Unfortunately, it tasted like juice. I asked if the extra shot had been added and was told yes, but it didn't taste like it. I asked for an additional shot on the side.

While waiting, we received our appetizers: oysters and crab dip. Both were served at room temperature, which was concerning given food safety guidelines. I didn’t initially plan to complain, but the manager came over with the extra shot and asked about our experience, so I shared my concerns.

Her response was, “We serve the same food and drinks to everyone the same way.” I’m not sure why that was relevant, as I never implied any unfair treatment—just that the quality was off. I explained that I live nearby and have been coming here for over a decade. She replied, “I don’t know what I can do for you.” I clarified that I wasn’t asking for anything—I hadn’t even asked to speak with a manager—but since she approached me, I took the opportunity to give honest feedback. She eventually said she’d take care of the drinks.

However, when the check came, the drinks were still on it. Our server said the margaritas had been comped, but I reminded her that I had returned them immediately. She corrected the bill afterward.

I wasn’t planning to leave a review, but I woke up in the middle of the night with severe stomach pain and diarrhea, and I’ve been in the bathroom all morning. I’m sharing this in hopes that management will address these concerns seriously—especially regarding food handling—to ensure this doesn’t happen to anyone else.

The server was great and handled the situation as best she could. As an Operations Manager for a venue in D.C. myself, I understand how challenging it can be when a guest...

I waited for quite a while at the restaurant entrance, even though it was pretty empty at night and they had clearly noticed me. When the waiter finally came over, he asked if I already knew what I wanted to order, even though I hadn’t even sat down yet—I was still standing at the door. I told him I wanted to sit down (which should’ve been obvious). I had a service dog with me and let him know right away since my disability isn’t visible. The waiter seated me but then told me to get up, leave, and wait outside because, according to him, he needed to talk to the manager about my service dog first. I told him not only was this ridiculous, but it was also illegal and really humiliating. I called the manager, who handled the situation properly and sat me back down. She then gave me a guide on how the restaurant deals with service animals, and the guide was totally in line with ADA rules. It said exactly the same things I had already told the waiter, who had argued with me and even did and said things that the restaurant’s own guide (and the law) says you CAN’T do. The staff definitely needs better training, not just on handling service dogs but also in dealing with customers in general. On top of all that, the embarrassment of having to sit down and then get up again was...

Ragtime has an amazing lively atmosphere with a large dining room and a large outdoor patio. The restaurant offers a diverse menu that includes American classics, such as burgers, sandwiches, and salads, as well as a wide variety of craft beer and cocktails.

The quality of food and drinks are amazing. The menu is as extensive, with plenty of options for both meat-eaters and vegetarians.

The atmosphere is as fun and lively, with a friendly and welcoming staff. The restaurant often hosts live music on weekends, adding to the energetic vibe.

One of the standout features of Ragtime is its extensive beer list, featuring a rotating selection of local and regional craft beers. I appreciate the knowledgeable staff who are happy to offer recommendations and help customers find the perfect beer to pair with their meal. (Talking about you Matt and Sam!)

They have a lot of TVs always playing everyone’s favorite teams and what I thought was awesome was the live earth cam video they played there on St. Patrick’s day. Ragtime is my favorite place to go and hang out with family and friends, the staff feel just like...