The Arsenal at Bluejacket

Address:
300 Tingey Street SE
Washington, DC 20003

Neighborhood:
Navy Yard

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Cuisine:
Contemporary American

Price: $30 and under

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The Arsenal at Bluejacket Details

Dining Style: Casual Elegant
Website: http://www.bluejacketdc.com
Phone: (202) 524-4862
Hours of Operation: Bar opens 4 PM, Dinner Service Begins 5:30 PM Daily
Payment Options: AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Cuisine: Contemporary American
Executive Chef: Kyle Bailey
Dress Code: Smart Casual
Accepts Walk-Ins: Yes

Getting there

Cross Street: 4th Street SE
Public Transit: Navy Yard Metro Station (Green Line)
Parking: Street Parking

A word from The Arsenal at Bluejacket

The Arsenal is the 200-seat restaurant & bar housed within the brewery, Bluejacket. The menu, crafted by Executive Chef Kyle Bailey of Birch & Barley and ChurchKey and Chef de Cuisine Dan Hahndorf, updates, refines and extends the classic fare of beer halls and public houses by featuring the best… locally sourced products available and highlighting house-made specialties such as charcuterie, fresh pastas, alongside whole-roasted meats, hearty grains and seasonal vegetables. A menu of gourmet sandwiches, house-ground burgers and bar snacks is the perfect accompaniment to a signature Bluejacket brew.

Rounding out the savory offerings at lunch and dinner is Pastry Chef Tiffany MacIsaac’s robust bread program, which includes breads made with spent grain from the brewery. Chef MacIsaac’s renowned desserts also grace the menu with a number of seasonal pies served with freshly spun ice creams.Continued

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Awards voted by OpenTable diners

Diners' Choice WinnerHot Spot
Diners' Choice WinnerVibrant Bar Scene

Diner Reviews

"Second time eating at the Arsenal. My girlfriend was blown away by the shortribs, and I was a big fan of the Merguez burger. I love beer, so this is a great spot. The dessert menu was impressive as well. It's a little more expensive than I'd like, but we will definitely be back."
Dined on 3/7/2014
"Went for lunch for bday celebration and the dessert was awesome. Food was "OK" will come back and try other entree and beer during happy hour or dinner"
Dined on 3/7/2014
"We wanted to check out this new restaurant for future visits during the Nationals baseball season, since it's a very short walk to/from the stadium. It is an informal setting, very friendly, and we did not feel rushed. We visited on a Sunday mid-afternoon; therefore, we had access to the brunch menu. There was something for everyone on the menu. It is also a brewery, so we ordered "taste" sizes of the varied beer selection. These "tastes" were generous pours and very good. We plan on returning on Nats' Opening Day!"
Dined on 3/2/2014
"You come here for the beer, and it does not disappoint. The food was also impressive (and pricey) and the atmosphere is great - very industrial, with the smell of hops in the air."
Dined on 3/2/2014
"The beer is excellent, one of the areas best breweries. The food tries, but lacks. I appreciate the effort to be a top flight testurant, but honestly place would be better served to focused on what the are very good at, Beer."
Dined on 3/2/2014
"Everyone had a great time. Definitely not a place to bring a friend who doesn't appreciate a good craft brew (although they are extremely accommodating with people who gluten allergies). Love that Bluejacket gives the option to have a whole beer or just a sample size for each of their brews. This made trying different types much more fun and easy."
Dined on 3/1/2014
"Wide variety of draft beer, food was okay but beer selection and ambience was outstanding."
Dined on 3/1/2014
"Great beer, delicious food and amazing service. This is definitely worth a visit."
Dined on 3/1/2014
"I went to dinner with a party of 8 on a Friday night. We made reservations about 6 weeks in advance. We were shown to our table as soon as we walked in. Our server was great--answered our questions re food and beer. Everyone in my party (except my pregnant friend) found a beer or two that they really enjoyed, which was good because it took a lonnnng time for the food to come out. Seemed to be a problem in the kitchen. Our server was attentive and gave us an appetizer on the house. When the food did finally arrive, most of us did not find the entrees to be anything impressive, including the white lasagna, pork chop, and rock fish. I would certainly retun for an after noon or late night beer (bar was crowded), but I'll eat elsewhere."
Dined on 2/28/2014
"We stopped by on a Sunday night for an early dinner. We never felt rushed and stayed for hours enjoying some amazing beer and food. We may have come for the beers, but we could not stop talking about the food and amazing service."
Dined on 2/23/2014
"Been here a few times now and have been impressed by the wonderful beers and the quality of service from the wait staff. This is by far the best selection of quality beers from a single brewery that I have visited or tasted. I have become addicted to their IPAs and double IPAs. The food is second to the beer and is good. Vibrant scene and beautiful interior. Staff is knowledgable of the menu and happy to give recommendations. Will be back many a times."
Dined on 2/27/2014
"A bit overrated because it's so new. The food is fine, but not worth the two week in advance reservation you need. The way to really enjoy Bluejacket is by going to the bar. The restaurant itself is very middle of the road."
Dined on 11/26/2013
"Our waiter perfectly suggested scrumptious brews for our taste buds throughout the night. The food is very good and reasonably priced."
Dined on 2/24/2014
"Not sure it's fair to say that the food is still a work in progress, but it certainly pales in comparison to the beers. All of the menu items sounded great, but some missed the mark a bit. My carbonara touted pork belly, which (along with an intact hen's yolk) sounded great, but left me wishing for bacon instead. The burgers and fries were ok and the short ribs were a hit, but the two appetizers (deviled eggs and pickled sausage) we ordered were not great. We tried a number of desserts as well and all were just ok. My toasted marshmellow ice cream was creamy and sweet, but otherwise didn't have a lot of taste. I heard similar comments on the pies. Again, this may have all been relative to some of the best beers I've ever tasted."
Dined on 2/20/2014
"My wife's nephew suggested meeting for dinner at the Bluejacket brewery. He is a beer connoisseur, so expected the beer to be great. Great selection of different styles and flavors of beer. Really enjoyed the Black Eye and the Dalmatian. The server had a great handle on the various beers and was able to make good recommendations. The food was remarkably good. The warm pretzel appy is not listed on the dinner menu, but be sure to ask your server. Two of us had burgers (Bluejacket Double and the Veggie) and two went with dinner entrees (Rosemary Roasted Monkfish and the Shortribs). No disappointments at our table! Service was outstanding throughout the meal."
Dined on 2/21/2014
"Of course, one comes here for the beers and the extensive knowledge the staff has of the myriad beers available. This time, the food was only so-so for me. My husband loved his meal, a seafood pasta dish, but my linguine carbonara was not what I was expecting. The pork belly tasted like chicken and the sauce was dry and lacking much flavor. The beers, however, were incredibly good and getting a flight of possible favorites was a very efficient way to select a very good full glass. Another high note, was the fact that our waiter actually actively listened to my concern over the carbonara and was of course, very knowledgeable about the entire menu."
Dined on 2/22/2014
"The food was good, but their strong suit is their craft beer that they make in house. A variety for all kinds of beer lovers."
Dined on 2/20/2014
"I've been twice and it hasn't dissapointed. Knowledgable staff with very good food and drink to match. Just make sure you call ahead to eat.. It gets crowded fast."
Dined on 2/22/2014
"The staff was exceptionally polite at this trendy and great addition to SE DC. For the foodie who truly appreciates fresh, local beer this restaurant won't disappoint. One of the nicest features of this restaurant and it's companion, Churchkey, are the availability of 4oz. beers, which allows for the appreciation of many more beer styles in one evening. Craft beer lovers and home brewers will appreciate the robust descriptions of the beers on the menu. The quality of the food on the menu matches the quality of the beer being brewed. It's no wonder why reservations are a bit tough to get."
Dined on 2/21/2014
"Had the veggie burger and the merguez burger with sides of brussels sprouts slaw and spaetzle, all winners, but the showstopper was the fried pork rinds ... awesome, and still crackling at the table. Skip the deviled eggs. Great, and sometimes challenging, beers. Walk off your meal strolling the surrounding area marveling at the changes, a sight to behold."
Dined on 2/21/2014
"My girlfriend and I visited Bluejacket for Restaurant Week. We were seated on the charming second level, which looks down on the main dining room and is a bit quieter. We liked being a little bit removed from the crowd. Our server was extremely helpful, knowledgeable, friendly, and attentive. In addition to the courses we ordered, we were treated to a lovely amuse-bouche - a delicious hushpuppy for each of us - and a small bread plate with simple, perfect honey butter. Our appetizers were generously portioned and fantastic, as were our entrees; we savored every bite. Although we could hardly fit dessert, we loved that too. And it goes without saying that the beers were as excellent as always. This was an altogether fantastic experience."
Dined on 1/14/2014
"My boyfriend and I went on a Saturday for lunch. Though we made reservations, we decided to sit in a booth at the bar because we prefer the bar atmosphere. It's first come, first served, and we found an empty table that needed to be cleaned off. We waited a few minutes and no one came along so we had to ask someone. Utensils weren't replaced and there was still food on the table. Our waiter took far too long to come to us, our food came out before our drinks, and we were never checked on. We wanted to try so many more beers but we were fed up and left. The food was ok, and the decor is cool, but the service is abysmal."
Dined on 2/1/2014
"I brought my wife, daughter and parents here for lunch and a brewery tour to celebrate my dad's birthday. One of the brewmasters, Rob, gave our family such an awesome tour of the brewery. My dad is a home brewer and he was amazed at the professionalism and genuine love of beer that blue jacket strives for. We learned great facts on the tour, such as the brewery trading spent grains with local farmers to provide them feed while receiving local pigs and cows in return that are butchered fresh in house. The beer was great, the staff were so friendly and helpful and the food was fresh, unique and delicious. My new local fave and I'm telling all my friends abou it. The history and location of the building also add to the allure of this gem."
Dined on 2/14/2014
"I knew this was a brewery, but I was surprised at how extensive the beer selection was. I believe over twenty beers. There was a selection for all tastes and a particularly large selection of "dessert" beers. The food selection is a bit more elevated than I would typically think of a brewery offering, but still paired nicely with that reality - sausages, charcuterie, tartare, burgers, most with an originality to them. There was also offerings of pastas, entrees and salads."
Dined on 2/15/2014
"Wonderfull lunch and dinner menus with a great selection of beer to compliment!"
Dined on 2/12/2014
"This was our first time. We tried the sample sizes of their large selection of beers, most of which were outstanding. Our server was very knowledgeable of both the food menu and the drink offerings. The overall service was top-notch. Our group had different pasta and fish entrees, but all cooked to perfection. The scallop appetizer was amazing. We will definitely get back to try other dishes."
Dined on 2/14/2014
"My boyfriend and I had been intending to try both the restaurant and the brewery since we heard this somewhat-spinoff of one of our favorites in Cambridge, CBC, was coming to DC and decided finally to treat ourselves to it for an early Valentine's Day. We had been to the bar area before and on both occasions, the service has been beyond fantastic. We had heard less-than-stellar things about the food, but that may have been before The Arsenal hit its stride, because as of February 2014, the food was excellent. Then of course there are the brews. I have to say compared to the beer list when we attended, I still think CBC has the edge; however, the list seems to rotate frequently and there are some real gems."
Dined on 2/12/2014
"The food and drinks are great. It's a little dim but good for groups or dates. Not to noisy, despite being busy."
Dined on 2/12/2014
"I hosted a birthday dinner for a small group at The Arsenal at Bluejacket. We all loved it! The wait staff was attentive, the beer selection was broad, and the menu was surprisingly good. I was expecting pub fare, but this far exceeded my expectations. At the end of the night, the waitress even brought out dessert with candles in it for the folks celebrating birthdays. The building is impressive with an industrial revival feel, exposed brick, enormous windows, and funky lighting. We will definitely return!"
Dined on 2/11/2014
"I hosted a small work lunch here and the food and service were both poor."
Dined on 2/10/2014
"Not only did the waiter look like Jesus (the fakie anglocized one), but the food and beer was also heavenly. The recommendations were all spot on."
Dined on 1/2/2014
"We had a couple apps and a couple rounds of beer. I apprecaite a well paced meal as much as the next guy, but we didn't need 45 minutes to eat a couple apps without any return visit."
Dined on 2/4/2014
"The beers and the selection of such is EXCELLENT. The food is very good and interesting, not your typical dime a dozen pub fare. However, tables are too close together and noise level is quite loud, which makes having a conversation difficult."
Dined on 2/6/2014
"The beer list is great, the food is delicious and it is a fun neighborhood spot. Must have desserts!"
Dined on 2/5/2014
"Our waiter was amazing super helpful. LOVED the hush puppies. Also appreciated a couple of freebies. Food wasn't AMAZING but still tasty and enjoyable, I'm very excited to see how this place will progress. Definitely reccommend"
Dined on 2/4/2014
"My friends arrived early, were seated, and still hadn't even ordered drinks by the time I arrived ~15 minutes later. We had to ask the server to take our drink & food orders. And he never wrote it down, so came back multiple times to confirm. He brought out numerous tastings for one member of our party, even though she she hadn't always asked to try particular beers. (For example, she asked to try one, he brought three.) Imagine our surprise when we saw the bill and we'd been charged $3-4 for each one! Food portions were TINY for the price, although the food was good. I thought he'd brought me the small portion of pasta so I was pretty surprised to discover it was $19!!!"
Dined on 2/4/2014
"Had a 9:00 reservation and was not seated until 9:30. The server was apologetic, but it ruined the whole experience form the beginning."
Dined on 1/31/2014
"I've been to Arsenal/Bluejacket a handful of times before, but I've only ever been in the bar area (which is great!). The lunch menu is pretty much the same, and you can order any of the beers available at the bar. I've always thought the quality of the food is stellar, and lunch was no different. The service was a little slow even though the place was pretty empty. All in all, the food and beer is really good, and I'll definitely be back."
Dined on 1/30/2014
"The brunch and beer were excellent. It's also set up nicely on the inside, for small groups or large. Wish the brewery would offer more frequent tours, especially on Sundays, because it looks like a neat place."
Dined on 2/2/2014
"Great place for trying out all 20 of their beers brewed right there. It would be interesting to know why they named it The Arsenal? Nothing on the menu to say why. There is not a great variety in the food selections. I suspect lots of people just go with the burgers. I hope they change their menu with the seasons, as this was clearly focused on Winter foods. There apple pie with bacon was a real stand out items and was delicious. Worth all $11."
Dined on 2/1/2014

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