When entering Dogwood Tavern, one may be deceived by the rustic background and dated feel of this small establishment. The walls are covered in patriotic paintings and the all wood interior communicates a relaxed, no-nonsense atmosphere. However, while the looks of this tavern seem aged, the food and service are fresh and exciting.

Dogwood Tavern sports a menu of fresh takes on various American food classics. This includes totchos, a portmanteau of tater tots and nachos, and sandwiches such as their famous French onion burger. During our visit, a few friends and myself ordered a round of totchos with custom burgers and sandwiches.

We started out our meal with the loaded totchos. A cross between nachos, chili cheese fries, and tater tots towered on a silver plate when they arrived to our table. The tater tots were crisp and held together quite nicely as layers of cheese and heart chili blanketed the platter. The whole thing was devoured in minutes.

I ordered the shrimp po’ boy, which came on buttered french bread and was served with crispy waffle fries. The pieces of fried shrimp were flavorful and crispy without being too heavy. The spicy remoulade sauce complimented the shrimp well and the toppings of shredded lettuce, juicy tomatoes, and thinly sliced white onion all paired together deliciously.

The star of the table however was the infamous French onion burger. The French onion burger is a specialty at Dogwood, and for good reason. The beef patty was juicy and was topped with a mountain of caramelized onions and melted Swiss cheese. In addition to the burger, this entrée also came with french onion jus on the side for dipping. The jus was extremely flavorful and savory, pairing very well with the richness of the burger.

While it may seem aged at first glance, Dogwood Tavern is a very charming place with a lot of interesting and delicious options for anyone looking for stepped up bar food. Overall, Dogwood Tavern is a great destination if you want the feeling of a Cheers-like bar where one can watch local DC sports teams play on big televisions, while still enjoying some solid grub.

-ARM