Bar Pilar

3.9

482 Reviews

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Make a reservation

2 people

Mar 16, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 6 times today

Great for creative cocktails
Good for special occasions
Lively

Inspired by Ernest Hemingway and named for his beloved boat, Pilar is a neighborhood restaurant that has been a mainstay of 14th street for over a decade. Executive Chef Clarissa Aguilar helms the kitchen turning out an eclectic menu inspired by local farms and New American cuisine with a focus on seasonal organic produce. The simple yet inventive dishes change frequently, but that’s part of the adventure! Complementing the cooking is a beverage program including cocktails which also rotate seasonally, ranging in taste and complexity from classics like the perfect Old Fashioned to signature concoctions using house made tonics and elixirs. Spanning two floors, Pilar has a variety of spaces to suit your mood. Our first floor bar offers up a casual, comfortable space to down a few drinks in dimly-lit, vintage-inspired surroundings. Head upstairs and you'll find an intimate dining room along with a cozy corner cocktail bar perfect for date night or catching up with old friends.

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Contemporary American, Global, International, Fusion / Eclectic
Hours of operation
Brunch Sat, Sun 12:00 pm–4:00 pm Dinner Wed–Fri 6:00 pm–11:00 pm Sat 5:00 pm–12:00 am
Phone number
(202) 265-1751
Website
http://www.barpilar.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress
Executive chef
Clarissa Aguilar
Private party facilities
Host your next event at Pilar! Our second floor dining room and bar are available for private events ranging from happy hours to private dinners. For more information, send an email to events@pilardc.com

Location
1833 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20009
Neighborhood
Logan Circle
Cross street
Between S and T
Parking details
There is metered parking available along 14th Street. There is also zoned parking (Zones 1 & 2) on the side streets surrounding the restaurant.
Public transit
Metro: U Street / Cardozo (green line)
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Weekend Brunch, Wine

Private dining

Mango Shrimp Ceviche$10.00
mango pearls, pea shoots and avocado mousse
Ceviche de Pulpo$10.00
pickled fresno pepper, cilantro, queso fresco
Grilled Shrimp Skewers$7.00
caribbean style shrimp, salsa verde
Patatas Bravas$7.00
koji-cured potatoes, huancaina sauce, queso fresco
Truffle Beef Tartare$16.00
truffle oil, pickled mustard, garlic aioli
Herb Crusted Bone Marrow$16.00
parmesan cheese, thyme, rosemary, served with crostini
Sweet Chili Brussel Sprouts$7.00
sweet chili sauce, cilantro, crushed walnuts

Entrees

Pulpo de Pilar$20.00
butternut squash, fingerling potatoes, garlic herb oil
Pan Seared Halibut$32.00
wild rice, asparagus, garlic herb cream sauce, basil oil
Grilled Rib Eye$38.00
pineapple salsa, pommes purée, chimichurri

Platters

Fried Whole Fish
rockfish, wild rice, sofrito
- Market Price
Grilled Vegetables$18.00
assorted seasonal vegetables, herbed goat cheese, chili oil; serves 2 to 4

Sandwiches

Served with Fries

Pilar Burger$17.00
dry-aged beef, aged white cheddar, bacon, pickles, special sauce, served on a brioche bun
Chicken Sandwich$16.00
fried chicken thigh, red cabbage slaw, garlic curry aioli
Cubano$17.00
shredded pork shoulder, ham, swiss cheese, pickles, dijon
Jack Fruit Cubano$16.00
braised jackfruit, swiss cheese, pickles, dijon (option to add turkey ham)

Salads

Spinach Strawberry Salad$17.00
spinach, goat cheese, candied walnuts, pickled onion, balsamic vinaigrette
Burrata Salad$16.00
mixed greens, watermelon, balsamic glaze

Sides

Truffle Fries$8.00
Wild Rice$7.00
Sauteed Kale$6.00

Desserts

Vanilla Cheesecake$7.00
fermented strawberry jam, mint, vanilla ice cream
Churros$6.00
chocolate sauce, dulce de leche

What 482 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

3.9

3.9 based on recent ratings

4Food
3.6Service
3.8Ambience
3.9Value

Noise • Moderate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Bar Pilar offers a vibrant atmosphere perfect for casual outings and brunch. Guests appreciate the "amazing food" and "fantastic service," with highlights including "bottomless mimosas" and "delicious brunch dishes." While some found service slow and seating issues, the lively vibe and tasty dishes make it a popular spot for many.

482 Reviews

A
Adrienne
Washington DC15 reviews
4.0
Dined on December 15, 2024
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 3
We had a lovely dinner, but upstairs was very loud. The combo of crowd voices and loud music made it hard to have a conversation. Drinks were great and fries very tasty. Really enjoyed the Brussell sprouts! Service was good and server very friendly, but felt like she was really in the weeds and therefore unable to pay as much attention to us as she would have liked. But others stepped in to help when she was unable to, so your team was working well together.
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G
Grace VIP
Washington DC12 reviews
4.0
Dined on November 1, 2024
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
It was good! We enjoyed happy hour. Their happy hour cocktail is awesome.
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J
Jocelyn
New York City5 reviews
2.0
Dined on August 31, 2024
1. Overall 2
2. Food 2
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 3
There's only about six entrees on the menu, and we were informed they were out of three of them...only AFTER we'd already started on our drinks and an appetizer. But what really made a bad impression was what Bar Pilar claimed was a Cubano sandwich that came served with *American cheese* and *barbecue sauce*. There's just too many better options in the neighborhood to return to or recommend this one. (Cocktails were good, though.)
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Washington DC1 review
5.0
Dined on May 25, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The next door neighbor jackhammering. Manager went next door and it stopped. Excellent customer service. Tasty food.
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t
toanya
Washington DC7 reviews
5.0
Dined on May 4, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Food and service were fantastic! I will definitely go back.
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K
Kyean
Philadelphia7 reviews
4.0
Dined on April 27, 2024
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
The menu should be more descriptive and maybe add a couple appetizer dishes for tables to share. I also encourage the restaurant to place condiments on table, but it was a great establishment and I will revisit.
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J
Justin
Indiana1 review
5.0
Dined on April 13, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 5
We came to Bar Pilar with a group of college friends catching up. The food was AMAZING and they kept the drinks flowing. The vibes were just what we wanted; upbeat, energetic, with great music jamz in the background. We will for sure return!
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RC
RobertC
Washington DC4 reviews
2.0
Dined on April 6, 2024
1. Overall 2
2. Food 4
3. Service 1
4. Ambience 1
Service was very slow. Food was fine but took way too long just for pancakes.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Washington DC1 review
5.0
Dined on March 31, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 3
$25 bottomless mimosas were great and easy to make a reservation
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E
danielE
New York City2 reviews
5.0
Dined on March 29, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Fun place and very tasty food, nice portions, friendly and efficient service and upbeat lively environment without being too overwhelming Nice crowd too
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FAQs

Bar Pilar is rated 3.9 stars by 482 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

Mar 16, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 6 times today

1833 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20009

Additional information

Cross street
Between S and T
Neighborhood
Logan Circle
Hours of operation
Brunch Sat, Sun 12:00 pm–4:00 pm Dinner Wed–Fri 6:00 pm–11:00 pm Sat 5:00 pm–12:00 am
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Contemporary American, Global, International, Fusion / Eclectic
Dining style
Casual Dining
Dress code
Casual Dress
Parking details
There is metered parking available along 14th Street. There is also zoned parking (Zones 1 & 2) on the side streets surrounding the restaurant.
Public transit
Metro: U Street / Cardozo (green line)
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Executive chef
Clarissa Aguilar
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Weekend Brunch, Wine

Website
http://www.barpilar.com/
Phone number
(202) 265-1751
Private party facilities
Host your next event at Pilar! Our second floor dining room and bar are available for private events ranging from happy hours to private dinners. For more information, send an email to events@pilardc.com

Bar Pilar

Make a reservation

Additional information

Custom inquiry

Appetizers

Mango Shrimp Ceviche$10.00

Ceviche de Pulpo$10.00

Grilled Shrimp Skewers$7.00

Patatas Bravas$7.00

Truffle Beef Tartare$16.00

Herb Crusted Bone Marrow$16.00

Sweet Chili Brussel Sprouts$7.00

Entrees

Pulpo de Pilar$20.00

Pan Seared Halibut$32.00

Grilled Rib Eye$38.00

Platters

Fried Whole Fish

Grilled Vegetables$18.00

Sandwiches

Pilar Burger$17.00

Chicken Sandwich$16.00

Cubano$17.00

Jack Fruit Cubano$16.00

Salads

Spinach Strawberry Salad$17.00

Burrata Salad$16.00

Sides

Truffle Fries$8.00

Wild Rice$7.00

Sauteed Kale$6.00

Desserts

Vanilla Cheesecake$7.00

Churros$6.00

Overall ratings and reviews

Review summary

FAQs

How is Bar Pilar restaurant rated?

Is Bar Pilar currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Additional information