Zoo Cafe - Washington

Everyone enjoyed their meals, which consisted of a beef brisket sandwich, kid's mac 'n' cheese, "The Cheddar" (a grilled cheese sandwich), and a kid's cheeseburger.

I was pleasantly surprised by my experience. I stopped in for a quick meal since the zoo area lacks good food options. The bartender was friendly, and the blues music created a soothing atmosphere. Everything was enjoyable, but what really surprised me was their chili—it was likely the best I've had in the area. Priced at around $10 per serving, the portion sizes were reasonable, making it a fair deal. Aside from that, the bar is a standard dive with no-frills seating and an average beer selection.

It remains the top spot in Northwest DC for enjoying live, local blues music.

You want a dive bar? This is the place.