The Ugly Mug

We came to the city for a show and picked The Ugly Mug for dinner, randomly. The facade, aesthetics and outdoor seating gave a chill-and-not-too-expensive vibe, which was accurate. Orders included the BBQ spare ribs, brisket Mac-n-Cheese, burgers, coleslaw and fries, as well as a selection of beers and their cocktails, all of which was *excellent*. The brisket Mac-n-Cheese (appetizer) was large enough to be an entree and was absolutely delicious. If you go, order this. I didn’t try the ribs (you don’t ask to eat another’s BBQ unless offered and I wasn’t! A testament to their quality?) but they seemed to have been cooked properly compared to most non-BBQ-centric places; not falling off the bone but tender and leaving your “bite mark” on the meat. The burgers were great with an incredibly buttery, soft bun. I had a cocktail of theirs that was an interesting take on a margarita and I found it slightly off-putting at first but over time the unique taste (and alcohol) grew on me. The waitstaff was helpful, friendly, attentive and expeditious, as was the rest of the front-of-house and back-of-house staff. Kudos to all for feeding us amazing food and getting us toasted for the rest of our DC evening. If you’re in the Navy Yard area and are looking for very good food and drink at reasonable prices with a relaxed atmosphere, this place is definitely for you.

Great live entertainment and awesome food! (Really awesome food!) They boast a fully raised stage with lighting and sound, booths, tables, and 2 levels, a bar and seating on each, plus outdoor seating with clear dividers, heating, and cover. We saw an excellent comedy set hosted by K Bell. I had a Reuben and my friend had the burger and fries. Great portions, perfect and fresh. The show was very well produced and included six 10 minute comedy acts. The bar was attentive and fully stocked. Great location-- we even spotted a senator down the street leaving a dinner party!