Our Reviews:

From Everyday with Rachel Ray," Queen of the HIll: Political Powerhouse Donna Brazile gives us an insider tour of Washington, DC. By Seth Stevenson, March 2007

"We wrap up the afternoon in the best way possible: with a cold beer and hot wings at Mr. Henry's ...a rough-around-the-edges bar and restaurant.". 'This is where Roberta Flack got her start,' says Donna. 'And they've got a great jukebox. I can play my Luther Vandross. My Supreames. This is where I get my drink on.'

Frommer's Review

Almost every Friday night, at 8pm, Mr. Henry's features a jazz group -- maybe the Kevin Cordt Quartet -- who play on the second floor of this cozy restaurant. There's no cover, but it's expected that you'll order something off the menu (perhaps a burger or gumbo)*. Mr. Henry's has been around for at least 30 years and has always attracted a gay and lesbian clientele, though it's a comfortable place for everyone.

*There is no cover for the show but there is a $8 minumum to see the show.

Editors Pick
Washingtonpost.com

Editorial Review
Capitol Hill was once jumping with live music. Sadly, that's no longer the case, as most of the bars and clubs are just trying to squeeze in as many Hill staffers for happy hour drinks as possible. No room for a stage in the frantic quest for brew profits. But at Mr. Henry's, live music is still frequently on the menu.

Thirty years ago, in Mr. Henry's upstairs room, you could hear a young Roberta Flack kill you softly with her song (she was a D.C. public school music teacher). Though she moved on long ago, Mr. Henry's remained pretty much the same, and in that same second floor space, you can still hear real live music. Every Friday, it's the Kevin Cordt Quartet, a very good jazz combo that seems to get better every time you hear it.

When the weather is warm, the upstairs windows are open and breezes blow through, and the downstairs sidewalk patio is hopping. When it's cold, the place, upstairs and down, is as cosy as anyplace in Washington (and that's meant in a good way, not as code for "cramped"). It's become a sort of home base for Capitol Hill's gay and lesbian scene, as well.

Maybe it's the comfortable atmosphere; maybe it's the tasty soups (Italian Wedding soup, loaded with garlic, and the chicken gumbo, loaded with okra) or the great burgers with fresh coleslaw; maybe it's the incredibly nice bartenders, whatever: Mr. Henry's is one of the best places to hear jazz – or just hang out – in D.C.

The upstairs room is a small rectangle, with a couple of dozen tables, each bearing a stem vase and fresh flower. There's a $6 minimum after 8:30 p.m. when there's live music, but there's no cover charge, and the room is "no smoking."

-- Eric Brace

Yelp.com

08/01/2006 4 stars

Mr. Henry's is a relaxed, enjoyable place to have lunch or dinner. The inside is very cozy and they have outdoor seating as well. They have all of the best "bad" foods like hamburgers, cheese fries and jalapeno poppers. Yum! The service staff is so friendly, and always treats customers well. The pricing is reasonable too -- making it a good place to have an office lunch or something like that. You can also have a casual dinner and then go out to one of the many bars in the neighborhood.

alexis g.

10/22/2006 3 stars

To me sitting outside Mr. Henrys with a beer in a plastic cup, great salad, and fries too good to pass up means summer on Capitol Hill, and I love summer!

Robyn e.

03/31/2006 4 stars

Good, relaxed lunch for the area, with surprisingly decent food. The outside patio makes this place particularly worthwhile.

Ryan M..