The Sovereign: A Hidden Gem of Belgian Tavern Delights in Georgetown

Stumbled in on accident on Belgian Independence day but the service was on point and the food was fantastic. We had the white wine mussels, saffron mussels, pickled veggies (great offset to the mussels) and the flatbread with creme fraiche, herbs, bacon and onion. What a lovely meal!

Great Belgian pub in Georgetown. Right off M St. through an alleyway. I was greeted warmly as soon as I entered and shown to a table. The atmosphere inside is an upscale pub with low lighting. The beer selection is really robust and diverse but elected for a mimosa as I'd been at the soccer bar drinking beers beforehand. For my main entree I ordered the Leige Burger. The burger was simple but was placed in two waffles and cooked to my liking, the perfect brunch fill up. Not much else to note from my experience. Friendly service but I was in and out pretty quick. I want to come back and try the different beers for sure.

I came here with my husband for a quick date night without the kids. We were walking around Georgetown and saw this quirky restaurant hidden in an alley and couldn't help but take a peek inside. With inviting dim lighting, we felt almost pulled into the space. The bartender was friendly and although the dining area was closed we were able to sit in the bar area where the full menu was still being served. We enjoyed the food and the ambiance... highly recommend!

2nd time in DC & also second time back. This cozy alleyway is a welcoming entrance to what's inside. I know this place is a considered a beer bar and that it is! 1st time we came we were served so many delights but our second time back I asked for something a little different and was met with one of the best spicy mezcal drinks I've ever had. The bartender was so excited to make it too which made me just as enthused I was obsessed !!! Will back next time we're in town

Sovereign is a nice Belgian tavern. It's down the end of an alley so keep an eye out for the sign or you might walk past it! Think high-end pub offerings with a Belgian theme. We had the Infinite Darkness Imperial stout and Brugs Quadrupel (Straffe Hendrik), a fruity, dark-roasted lambic. For food, we started with Bitterballen, a Dutch meat stew formed into a crispy ball with a rich mustard with plenty of horseradish. Rabbit in Kriek is a Belgian classic featuring rabbit roasted in beer with farro, bacon, carrots, and sour cherries. The Sovereign Burger is a pub grub classic with onion jam and gruyere sauce and frites.

This is a deceptively unassuming yet bustling spot in the Georgetown neighborhood of DC. For that reason I highly recommend you make reservations. There's a parking garage very close by for those not fortunate to find street parking. The hostess was graceful and efficient. Our server was well acquainted with the menu and gave us some excellent recommendations. I learned, however, that absinthe can sneak up on you! Belgian beers are their specialty. The mussels are de rigueur and deservingly so. Plentiful, fresh and, surprisingly, fairly priced. I had the burger cooked medium and it was juicy and flavorful. Unfortunately the bun couldn't hang. Seriously I hope the chef and management consider obtaining the buns from another source. This is rather odd considering that the rustic bread which came with the mussels was a perfectly crusted exterior over a malty interior. How could the same bakery make both? Took disproportionately long for the entrees to arrive and my friend's steak was cooked rare rather than medium as requested. But the fries that came with our meals were worth it! I'll come back again.

Great beer bar, especially for Belgian beer and other higher-end craft. Food's not bad either. The Sovereign has been a destination for Belgian beer for some time. Plenty of parking nearby in the evening after the traffic lightens up. Service is usually top notch. Servers know beer well. Happy hour is pretty nice too with their Belgian Meatballs, petite loaded fries, and Brussel sprouts. They also do a nice Belgian waffle. Follow them for their special beer releases with folks such as Cantillon and Lambiek Fabriek.