Neutral Ground Bar + Kitchen is a welcoming restaurant and nightlife destination in McLean, Virginia, where great food, thoughtful service, and a lively atmosphere come together to create a memorable dining experience.
Conveniently located at 6641 Old Dominion Dr, this stylish spot has earned a strong reputation with customers, reflected in its 4.40-star rating from 186 reviews.
Guests are drawn in by its cozy yet trendy setting, polished upmarket feel, and the kind of energy that makes it equally appealing for a casual lunch, a relaxed dinner, or a special night out.
The menu and beverage offerings are designed to please a wide range of tastes and occasions. From brunch, lunch, and dinner to dessert and small plates, Neutral Ground Bar + Kitchen gives guests plenty of reasons to stay awhile.
Its standout drink program includes a great beer selection, creative cocktails, a strong wine list, spirits, happy-hour drinks, and coffee, while live music adds an extra layer of atmosphere that makes each visit feel distinct.
Whether you prefer to dine in, enjoy outdoor seating, order takeaway, or have food delivered, the restaurant offers flexibility without compromising on quality.
With table service, a bar on site, and a full range of alcohol options, it delivers the kind of experience that makes gathering with friends, meeting for a date, or enjoying solo dining feel effortless and rewarding.
Accessibility and convenience are clearly a priority as well. Neutral Ground Bar + Kitchen provides wheelchair-accessible parking, entrance, seating, and restrooms, making it a welcoming choice for more guests. Reservations are accepted and dinner reservations are recommended, helping diners plan ahead for a smoother experience.
Payment is simple and modern, with credit cards, debit cards, and NFC mobile payments accepted. For guests looking for a restaurant that combines excellent food, a vibrant drink selection, and a comfortable atmosphere with thoughtful accessibility and service, Neutral Ground Bar + Kitchen stands out as a compelling choice in McLean.
Call +1 703-992-9095 to plan your visit.
Popular Items
Frequently ordered and highly recommended items at Neutral Ground Bar + Kitchen
Our Story
Welcome to a place where great food meets warm hospitality. We believe dining is more than just a meal - it's an experience to be savored and shared.
Our kitchen is dedicated to creating dishes that bring people together, using recipes that honor tradition while embracing innovation.
Photos
A glimpse of our restaurant experience
Food & Drinks
Classic southern sharp cheddar & roasted red pepper spread. Served with everything saltine crackers.
Dill, lemon, horseradish, evoo toast points. contains dairy
whipped ricotta, medjool dates, local honey, crispy rosemary, extra virgin olive oil, toasted sourdough
g.w. gristmill cornmeal, charred serrano-honey butter. [6 per order]
Thinly sliced roasted beets topped with lemon, sweet onion, black garlic aioli, evoo and sea salt.
baby romaine, crispy parmesan crumble, white anchovy filets. parmesan crumble & dressing served on the side. Dressing contains anchovy.
coconut milk, lime, cilantro, serrano chili, shallot & crispy wonton. Dressing contains serrano chili. We are unable to remove the chili from the dress. For slightly less heat, we can omit the "additional serrano chili".
Fire roasted local strawberries, hand-torn burrata, arugula, savory-almond granola, aged balsamic, extra virgin olive oil, sea salt.
Petite iceberg, oven cured tomatoes, blue cheese crumbles, pickled red onion, thick cut smoked bacon and creamy blue cheese dressing.
Charred Local Asparagus, whipped goat cheese, radish vinaigrette, extra virgin olive oil bread crumbs
Crispy chicken milanese, garlic-parmesan sauce, arugula-watercress & hearts of palm salad, lemon-chili vinaigrette. vinaigrette served on the side & garlic-parmesan sauce served on the side.
chapel hill's randall lineback double patty, shaved vidalia onions, american cheese, dill pickles, ketchup, yellow mustard & fries
Pan-seared redfish over crispy crab rice smothered in a crawfish etoufee.
Udon noodles, roasted squash & gochujang cream sauce, Chinese sweet pork sausage, toasted sesame seeds, scallions, crispy fried shallots. This dish contains gluten & allium.
{6}U12 Gulf shrimp, charred golden pineapple, jasmine rice, coconut red thai curry.
Cider brined bone in Berkshire pork, black eyed peas, 12-hour braised collard greens, VA country ham, savory apple butter, G.W. cornbread/pork rind crumble.
Prime Denver steak, olive oil whipped potatoes, wood-fired oyster mushrooms, baby kale, and garlic confit butter.
black garlic aioli
sweet-spicy gochujang, sesame, crispy-fried shallots
extra virgin olive oil, shallots.
labneh, hot honey, toasted sesame seeds, chive oil
Crispy Yukon Gold potatoes, zesty bravas sauce and creamy aioli.
64% chocolate mousse, praline crunch, salted caramel, bruleed banana, candied hazelnuts, cocoa nibs & sea salt
Caramelized Puff Pastry, Lemon Curd, Honey-Lavender Whipped Cream, coconut tapioca, basil syrup.
Pineapple, Banana and Roasted Pecan Cake, layered cream cheese frosting, vanilla-bean creme anglaise, passion fruit coulis, caramelized pineapple
Delicious, creamy cheesecake served on top of a salted graham crumble with roasted strawberries, burnt orange caramel and mint syrup.
Classic southern sharp cheddar & roasted red pepper spread. Served with everything saltine crackers.
Dill, lemon, horseradish, evoo toast points. contains dairy
whipped ricotta, medjool dates, local honey, crispy rosemary, extra virgin olive oil, toasted sourdough
g.w. gristmill cornmeal, charred serrano-honey butter. [6 per order]
Thinly sliced roasted beets topped with lemon, sweet onion, black garlic aioli, evoo and sea salt.
baby romaine, crispy parmesan crumble, white anchovy filets. parmesan crumble & dressing served on the side. Dressing contains anchovy.
coconut milk, lime, cilantro, serrano chili, shallot & crispy wonton. Dressing contains serrano chili. We are unable to remove the chili from the dress. For slightly less heat, we can omit the "additional serrano chili".
Fire roasted local strawberries, hand-torn burrata, arugula, savory-almond granola, aged balsamic, extra virgin olive oil, sea salt.
Petite iceberg, oven cured tomatoes, blue cheese crumbles, pickled red onion, thick cut smoked bacon and creamy blue cheese dressing.
Charred Local Asparagus, whipped goat cheese, radish vinaigrette, extra virgin olive oil bread crumbs
Crispy chicken milanese, garlic-parmesan sauce, arugula-watercress & hearts of palm salad, lemon-chili vinaigrette. vinaigrette served on the side & garlic-parmesan sauce served on the side.
chapel hill's randall lineback double patty, shaved vidalia onions, american cheese, dill pickles, ketchup, yellow mustard & fries
Pan-seared redfish over crispy crab rice smothered in a crawfish etoufee.
Udon noodles, roasted squash & gochujang cream sauce, Chinese sweet pork sausage, toasted sesame seeds, scallions, crispy fried shallots. This dish contains gluten & allium.
{6}U12 Gulf shrimp, charred golden pineapple, jasmine rice, coconut red thai curry.
Cider brined bone in Berkshire pork, black eyed peas, 12-hour braised collard greens, VA country ham, savory apple butter, G.W. cornbread/pork rind crumble.
Prime Denver steak, olive oil whipped potatoes, wood-fired oyster mushrooms, baby kale, and garlic confit butter.
black garlic aioli
sweet-spicy gochujang, sesame, crispy-fried shallots
extra virgin olive oil, shallots.
labneh, hot honey, toasted sesame seeds, chive oil
Crispy Yukon Gold potatoes, zesty bravas sauce and creamy aioli.
64% chocolate mousse, praline crunch, salted caramel, bruleed banana, candied hazelnuts, cocoa nibs & sea salt
Caramelized Puff Pastry, Lemon Curd, Honey-Lavender Whipped Cream, coconut tapioca, basil syrup.
Pineapple, Banana and Roasted Pecan Cake, layered cream cheese frosting, vanilla-bean creme anglaise, passion fruit coulis, caramelized pineapple
Delicious, creamy cheesecake served on top of a salted graham crumble with roasted strawberries, burnt orange caramel and mint syrup.
Hear from our valued guests
Great menu and cocktail options for a Sunday Jazz brunch, especially for Mother’s Day. My son ordered the entree with biscuits and requested some butter, we were informed it would be extra $1.50 for the butter! 🤷 Since my last review I got an email that it was an error and we should not have been charged for the butter. They offered a refund. Given the personal touch and outreach I have updated my review from 4 to 5 stars. We will be back to Neutral Ground.
Dropped in here last minute and was pleasantly surprised. We grabbed 2 seats at the bar and had a great experience. Bartender provided great service and conversation. The oysters were the highlight, and we chose the pork chop for our main entree. It was juicy and perfectly cooked. We added the cauliflower dish and loved it. We passed on dessert but they looked delicious. We will definitely go back, will try to sit outside and have the burger. Highly recommend.
I had an absolutely wonderful experience at this restaurant! From the moment I walked in, the service was warm and welcoming. The atmosphere was inviting, with just the right balance of cozy and elegant.. Each dish was beutifully present and full of flavor . The jazz band was amazing as well
Neutral Ground Bar + Kitchen is an absolute standout! Celebrity Chef David Guas has spent over 25 years staying true to his New Orleans roots, and it shows in every bite. Numerous awards and recognitions mark his culinary career—including hosting Travel Channel’s American Grilled—and the food here reflects that excellence. The interior, designed by Simone Rathlé Guas, is stunning. From the natural wood door with a custom palm leaf handle to the bright, airy dining room, the space feels like an urban oasis inspired by both the Gulf Coast and Palm Springs. It’s modern, stylish, and incredibly welcoming. The Sunday Jazz Brunch is a highlight—I loved the lively atmosphere, delicious food, and fantastic music. This place is very popular, so I highly recommend making a reservation, even on weekdays, as it fills up quickly. Overall, Neutral Ground is more than just a restaurant—it’s an authentic dining experience: fantastic food, thoughtful design, and a vibrant vibe. I highly recommend it!
The ambiance is perfect for a couple or group setting. The Chef truly knows his craft when it comes to cooking authentic New Orleans tasty dishes. Nolan, our server was a wonderful complement to a wonderful meal. What made our brunch special was the live jazz music they play on Sundays!!! Superb!!!
Wow…just…WOW!!! A++ Service = Excellent, friendly, professional teamwork among the staff, to include serving/pre-bussing each other’s tables. All the waiters were helping each others tables…which enhances the entire dining experience. A+ Food = Exciting flavors with sharing size portions A+ Drinks = Adventurous drink menu A+ Atmosphere = Fun, full of nice personal details and design features A- Price = While on the higher side, it’s well worth it due to the food, service, and entire experience. *We will absolutely return. Looking forward to the Sunday jazz brunch.
My husband and I went for their jazzy Sunday brunch. The deviled eggs were delicious! I don’t even like deviled eggs and the dish ended up being my favorite. We also had their beignets and skillet cornbread. Both great! For entrees, I had their crab cake eggs Benedict and my partner had the biscuit and gravy. Our waiter Armando was very helpful and made sure consistently to check on us. Highly recommend their brunch!
Absolutely delicious dishes. The appetizer smoked White Fish and the Whipped Ricotta Beets, the Fish entre was Rock Fish in squash puree and the Shrimp was exquisite. The Pavlova dessert
We have been regulars at Neutral Ground since it opened a couple of years ago and have always gotten excellent food and service there. Highly recommend the shrimp & grits, brussel sprouts, hush puppies, and the candy bar dessert! We recently hosted a private event for about 75 people at the restaurant. From our perspective, the event could not have gone better. We thought that all of the food was delicious, and the venue was elegant and the perfect size for our group. Most of all, we greatly appreciated the warm, attentive, and efficient service from everyone working the event. Many thanks to Simone, David, and Katie for a really special event. We will be back!
Went tonight, just had some appetizers before my dinner down the street. Very glad I did. The food was excellent, and I thought very reasonably priced. Ricotta appetizer was great and only 12 bucks. Rings were great as well, and huge. I didn't get it but mad props on the carpaccio pricing. So many places now price it close to 20 bucks I can never get it as I'm a cheapass and only like the meat. Good place, nice young lady serving me and met the owner who showed he takes his place seriously. A winner.
Common questions about Neutral Ground Bar + Kitchen
Neutral Ground Bar + Kitchen is located at 6641 Old Dominion Dr, McLean, VA 22101, United States, McLean, VA, United States.
You can reach Neutral Ground Bar + Kitchen by calling +1 703-992-9095.
Neutral Ground Bar + Kitchen has a rating of 4.4 out of 5 based on 186 customer reviews.
Neutral Ground Bar + Kitchen features the following accessibility: Wheelchair-accessible car park, Wheelchair-accessible entrance, Wheelchair-accessible seating, Wheelchair-accessible toilet.
Neutral Ground Bar + Kitchen features the following service options: Outdoor seating, Takeaway, Dine-in, Delivery.
Neutral Ground Bar + Kitchen features the following highlights: Great beer selection, Great cocktails, Great dessert, Great wine list, Live music.
Neutral Ground Bar + Kitchen features the following popular for: Lunch, Dinner, Solo dining.
Neutral Ground Bar + Kitchen features the following offerings: Alcohol, Beer, Cocktails, Coffee, Happy-hour drinks, Small plates, Spirits, Wine.
Neutral Ground Bar + Kitchen features the following dining options: Brunch, Lunch, Dinner, Dessert, Seating, Table service.
Neutral Ground Bar + Kitchen features the following amenities: Bar on site, Restroom.
Neutral Ground Bar + Kitchen features the following atmosphere: Cozy, Trendy, Upmarket.
Neutral Ground Bar + Kitchen features the following crowd: Family friendly, Groups, LGBTQ+ friendly, Transgender safe space.
Neutral Ground Bar + Kitchen features the following planning: Dinner reservations recommended, Accepts reservations.
Neutral Ground Bar + Kitchen features the following payments: Credit cards, Debit cards, NFC mobile payments.
Neutral Ground Bar + Kitchen features the following children: Good for kids.
Neutral Ground Bar + Kitchen features the following parking: Free parking lot, Free street parking, Plenty of parking.
Neutral Ground Bar + Kitchen features the following pets: Dogs allowed outside.
Business Features
We look forward to welcoming you. Make a reservation or stop by - walk-ins welcome!
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