JR’s Bar & Grill

Today im filling really sed about what happened yesterday… and I was trying to go inside the place with my gym bag … if you guys are really afraid just close the place but I’m not afraid

Great neighborhood gay bar. This is the best one on the 17^th St – DC’s vestigial gay area. I like it because it’s unpretentious, reasonably-​priced, and got a mixed-​age crowd.

Good times! On my last night of business in DC I thought I would explore and destress from my hectic trip. The crowd was pleasant, not busy, it was a chill game night and it was great they had the ball game on and the Trivia rounds were pretty funny and in between the music was on point! Plus Matt one of the bartenders is a stud. Will be back next month on my next trip! Aloha for now!

JR’s is a classic. Reliable, always a good time, laid back, and it still draws a good crowd after all these years. Also, I really like their location on 17^th street.

JR’s is institution in the DC gay community, one of the oldest still standing bars. However it is starting to show it’s age. JR’s should take note that many of their siblings are gone– Omega, Apex.
My biggest gripe is that they do not like taking credit cards, they have a lofty minimum, at peak times they throw up cash only signs, and they never accept American Express which is my go to card. Their cash registers look like they came from Costco in 1990. They have a little credit card machine like a flea market vendor would use.
They lack modern restaurant style pos registers which more modern bars have. In these more modern bars you can use any credit card, even for one drink, and they just swipe it and you sign in seconds. At JR’s you need to leave your card, ID, like it is 1990.
The bathrooms, all building fixtures and furnishings, decorations, lighting fixtures, and so on are all over 10 years old. Frozen in time. But for how much for more time with far more modern competitors?
The music is pretty top 40 standard stuff like you would expect to hear in any cheap hotel bar along the interstate far from the city. No you won’t hear any modern lounge style music from NYC or San Francisco.
The crowd is good at times. Other times the crowd kind of reflects the lack of vibrancy that they offer. They have weekday events which are old fashioned, the same old stuff that we had ten years ago versus new bars having more modern weekday events.

Cash minimums are stupid, this is 2016. Too many rules. There are many other DC options other than this rules-​driven bar. Go to Nellies, Trade, Fox and have fun– even the bartenders here seem pissed off.

David Pirooza — owner/​bartender at JRs for tonight served some despicable drink!
When you ask for a Long Island, who would imagined you get to pay $ 10 for a Cheap Long Island tea MIXED drink he pulled it out of somewhere. He would tell guest you’ve gotta pay for it to get the RAIL cheap Long Island tea. How much would that cost $ 15 dollars, on a Monday night. WTF! How much would it cost To get the the branded spirits for a Long Island tea, $ 20? It’s ridiculous. I was flabbergasted with this annoying cheap tricks he is trying to pull for his customers.
WORST Long Island drink from JRs from its very owner — David Pirooza

wow, the drinks are cheap (compared to my favourite bar in New York). A vodka and something for 4 bucks (6 bucks during happy hour when you get two for the price of one — I wondered why I got a receipt and then someone explained this to me. At that time I had paid for two drinks at 6 bucks — and as a good Scot had to drink the ones that came ‘free’, too). Otherwise it’s so so. Toilet arrangements are interesting; there is an all-​gender toilet with a few urinals and a stall without a door. Not sure that that would be appreciated by everyone. Did not talk to many people apart from a somewhat unfriendly guy — most other people seemed to know each other. In terms of ‘grill’ I did not get the impression that there was any food being served.

Don’t bother attempting to go here if you are straight. The door guy made it very clear we were not welcome to the point we left as soon as we made it in. I will never return.

No, honey … just … No.
Like previous reviewers, I also do not understand the appeal (or longevity) of this bar. Even way back in the 80’s and 90’s when my husband and I used to spend a weekend in DC with friends four and five times a year, we all avoided JR’s. There is a –reason– so many people say it’s the «Best S&M Bar» in town.
Ahem, «Stand and Model».
The only reason we found ourselves there is because of a sudden, unexpected rainstorm on a Friday night. We ran in to seek shelter and have a cocktail and hope that we’d have a nicer experience than what we’ve had in the past.
Nope!
The drinks were awful and expensive. My husband ordered a greyhound. It’s supposed to be vodka and grapefruit juice. The queen behind the bar used some sugary «grapefruit cocktail» nonsense to make his drink without telling him what it was. All he had to do is tell my husband what he had and perhaps he’d have asked for something else. And my rum and coke was flat and way too sweet. We were not happy.
The music they played was fairly good. It was all 1980’s. It would have been nice if the music was synched to the video. Do you know how disconcerting it is to watch the Pointer Sisters stomp around and dance out of synch to their own songs? Apparently it doesn’t bother the people who run JR’s. Perhaps they just don’t care about attention to detail?
I also do not understand the lack of barstools /​seating. It would seem to make sense to encourage your patrons to settle in, get comfortable, and order a lot of expensive drinks. But no! «Let’s make most people stand up! Maybe they’ll finish their expensive cocktail and leave to make room for new people!» … Is that what they’re thinking?
So, again, No. I will happily take my fat wallet to another establishment that can serve a proper drink, with a friendly bartender, where I can have a comfortable seat if I want, and where they pay attention to details.
And I will never step foot back into JR’s … even if a tornado were tearing down 17^th street.

JR’s is a neighborhood bar that is consistently one of the busiest places every night of the week or in the late afternoons. Its clientele varies based on the day of the week, but Showtunes on Mondays draws a diverse crowd, including a lot of area performers and undergraduates. The downstairs is usually crowded but the top floor is a nice perch for those wanting a little extra space, although even it can get quite packed. I’ve lived in DC for four years and JR’s staff and management are some of the nicest people you will meet in this city. Whether you are visiting or have recently moved here, JRs is a must!

Cute place very good happy hour I like it. Don’t expect a huge bar it’s a very narrow place but very cozy

I show up here from time to time and normally every Tuesday night for The Birdie Show. I love the drink specials at this bar. I’ll say this, and I’ll say it once. If I keep seeing Birdie call out her favorites and selecting them to participate in her antics during every show, namely an individual with the initials M.B., I’m going to first puke and then quit coming and spending my money. It really needs to stop. It’s gotten old. It makes people think of what might be going on behind the scenes. Birdie choose new people and freshen up your act!

The atmosphere in the bar was great for a Saturday night. The staff and the owner were extremely friendly. I arrived at 8pm and wanted to stay all night: good variety of music (with videos) and good drinks.

Its okay.

Great place to go for drinks, listen to pop music, and admire the beauty of the boy bartenders. Be prepared for the stare down if you’re a man. It was packed on a Saturday night. There are two levels if you want to check out the scene from above. They also have pop corn for the late night munchies. I didn’t know which bathroom to use. Good thing I didn’t need to go.

Really enjoyed my couple visits to JR’s The bartenders were fantastic, funny, friendly, and efficient.
Lots of fun videos, retro, showtunes, bubble pop.

JR’s always has the best happy hour specials in town. I don’t always come to DC for happy hours but when I do I make sure it’s here. The place is usually packed with professionals relaxing after work or those looking to get loose for an early weekend so either way you’re probably going to enjoy yourself. There’s an upper and lower level that sort of set the tone for what you’re there for… dancing on the party, chilling upstairs.
The drinks are average price and a little heavy on the pours when they are very busy but I’m not complaining. What I will complain about is parking around here but that’s not their fault, it just makes it hard for me to justify coming into the city for it.
Oh but did I mention there’s a large window you can stand at while drinking and watch the soccer players train during the right season? Yeah… makes up for the parking or lack thereof :)

Great spot for Saturday afternoons when all you want to do is sing along to those wonderful musicals! Decent drinks. The cocktails/​mixed drinks aren’t as potent as I’d like at times but decent. If you are a fan of good alcohol and you love the Dupont neighborhood like I do, just go to enjoy the fun and laid back environment and order straight liquor or beer because with those, you can’t go wrong. Oh, and take cash because some bartenders will tell you that in order to pay with a credit card, you have to order at least $ 25 worth of booze…
Annnnd…the bartenders go shirtless at night for you lovely boys who want to scope out the scenery, and for you girls who can appreciate the views, even with your partner or gaggle of girls! :-D

JR’s is one of those type of bars where you can go with friends, stand around, have a few good (and inexpensive) drinks, look around and get the lay of the land, and even see some good eye candy.
Usually when I go it’s on the weekend, and that’s when the bar is usually packed. Everyone is welcome here, from males to females, gay/​straight, and everything in between. The drink prices are, being DC, moderately priced, and the bartenders make really good drinks here. Be sure to tip them and they’ll take care of you! Overall, you’ll have a good time here!