Bar Chinois National Landing — Restaurant in Washington

This restaurant is in a great location and has potential, but unfortunately, our experience on July 3rd at 9:00 PM left much to be desired.

My wife and I met friends there for what we hoped would be a pleasant evening. The hostess was warm and helpful in getting us a nice table outdoors — a promising start. However, service quickly deteriorated.

The waiter seemed disengaged, though we didn’t mind that at first. We ordered drinks and food. While the drinks arrived promptly, the table wasn’t adjusted or prepared in any way for the meal — something we expected would be resolved when the food came.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t. Our food was served without utensils, napkins, or chopsticks, and no one seemed to notice. After nearly 10 minutes and several failed attempts to get a server’s attention, I began eating dumplings — with sauce — using my hands. We had to explicitly ask for basic items just to be able to eat.

To make matters worse, a staff member began spraying cleaning product at a nearby table, and the mist was clearly drifting toward our food. When we politely tried to point it out, she walked away without acknowledging our concern.

This could be a vastly better experience with a bit of staff training and attention to customer needs. I hope management considers investing in that, because the place certainly...

This was our second time dining at the NL location. The first was during opening week, and service was slow. I gave them grace (as it was opening week, and I assumed kinks needed to be worked out). Food was good even though their happy hour menu differs from the DC location (no dollar dumplings, at least a few months back).

We walked in on a Friday (8/28) and were told there was a 20 minute wait (even though there were plenty of open seats). The hostess sat us immediately outside, and we didn’t know we’d be in for a 2 hour dinner. I think this place is understaffed- there is no reason a restaurant week menu should take so long. We finished our drinks before the appetizers came out and even had to inquire about our food. Dessert was set while we were eating our entrees. It’s a bummer because this place has potential, but I don’t plan on returning unless their staff issues are worked out. (Note— staff is kind, but the slow service takes away from the experience, especially because their prices aren’t...

I recently had the pleasure of stopping by Bar Chinois, and I had a great time! The drinks were creative, refreshing. The Beauté Noir was a vibrant slushie that hit the spot and fun. The Lucky Snake was sweet and smooth, perfect for an easy sip, while the Chinois Mule was a little bolder. The ginger beer added a nice, crisp to it. My absolute favorite was the Humble Cobber. It tasted like biting into a juicy, perfectly ripe peach! On the food side, I tried the Garlic Chives Gao, which was unique but surprisingly tasty. The 1970s Garlic Noodles hit the spot for me, it was incredibly flavorful, and the aroma was heavenly. Although I don’t eat seafood, my friend enjoyed the Crab Rangoon and the Steamed Shumai, so they’re definitely worth checking out if seafood is your thing. The vibes at Bar Chinois was cozy, intimate, and inviting. The space is a bit on the smaller side, but that just adds to the charm and atmosphere. The staff friendly as well. I’m looking forward to...