by Nicole M.

Despite a collection of less-than-rave reviews, my friends and I hung out at Piratz recently and had a great time.  We didn't eat, so I can't comment on the food, but our waitress (Poppet) was helpful and quick despite being extremely busy, the mixed drinks were good, and the shots were generous.    The bawdy pirate songs sung by half-drunk waitstaff were an added bonus.

by Victoria S.

Um. Don't eat here...went back for the novelty factor and decided to order lunch. Bad idea matey! I would just stick to drinking activities only. HUH? Is this the land of the pathetic...sorry guys. I know that's harsh but come on...a pirate bar…

by Julia W.

Wow, no one seems to like this place, but my fiance, BFF and I had a really great time here. We came here after having a tasty dinner at Langano across the street (thankfully too, since BFF and I are veg and it sounds like all their fare is meat-laden) on a whim. I wasn't really appealed by it - I figured it was going to be totally cheesy and obnoxious. And it is, but at the same time it's .... nice? You're greeted by a bunch of people with no shame who avast ye mateys! and argggghhh the whole night. The woman's bathroom (maids) is very clean and not at all gross like I expected it to be. The waitstaff was really cool to us though. We sat up next to the bartenders, and they gave us a bunch of free shots, mostly because we're awesome and made fun of everyone else with them.Word to the wise though: both BFF and fiance had a ton of pirate's grog (they shared a pitcher of it, and before that fiance drank a big mug of it), and while it tastes good going down, that shit is potent and they both ended up severely regretting their decisions later on that night. Thankfully I just had one of their froufrou drinks and a pernod and was good to go.So maybe don't go here for dinner, but def. come for some entertaining drinks. They had a belly dancer too, which seemed kind of random to me, but whatever floats your boat I guess.

by Wes K.

This place is absolutely horrible! My wife and I have eaten there twice, just to make sure we just didn't go on an off night. The food was entirely over cooked and very mushy. My meal was just bland, I could have done that at home myself.II have been there on my own a few times, just to have a few beers after work and even that nothing to brag about.This place should just call it quits. Maybe change the theme and the menu. I have an idea! Gordon Ramsay needs to have one of his episodes of Kitchen Nightmares come in and bring this place up to the level it has the potential of being. C'mon Piratz, just do it. You'll be happier that you did...

by Alex B.

This is interesting...unlike apparently everybody, I actually enjoyed my experience here.The -1 star goes for the ambiguity upon arrival.  We arrived, and assumed somebody would seat us.  It did take a little bit for someone to come up (and a bit of awkward "do we just sit?"), but we were sat within a few minutes.However, my complaints basically end there.  Our waitress, Poppet (mentioned in another review here), was fantastic, and very fun to talk to and joke with.  Sodas have free refills, the bread was _amazing_ (and the butter is kept under the fresh, warm bread, so the butter isn't rock-hard like most restaurants), the Thai mussels appetizer was actually spicy, and the entrees were quite good.  I had the Mahi Mahi (Catch of the Day), which was good, and my friends ordered Steak on a Stone, which is basically a steak cooked just under what you wanted, and then you finish cooking it at the table to your own taste (Poppet's advice: "The stone is not your friend.  Do not touch the stone, do not smell the stone, do not lick the stone.").We had the Passionfruit Mousse for dessert, which, while not the greatest mousse ever, was good.Could a few things be improved on?  Yes.  But it was a good experience, good service, and pretty good food.

by Meghan G.

I am really conflicted about my rating for Piratz Tavern. I assumed it would be cornball thru and thru, I was correct. I assumed it would be like a low-rent Rennfaire, again, I was correct. I assumed the service would be solid, wrong. I assumed the food would be the ultimate in shitty, wrong again. I think its a safe assumtion that any full costume theme restaurant is going to be a horrible experience, but who doesn't love pirates?! I ventured here with some friends on a Sunday evening. We waited an eternity for our server to acknowledge us, even having some girl that was "off the clock" stop by three times to tell us she was going to yell at our server to help us.When our absentee server finally showed we ordered with low expectations. Two of us split a pitcher of their home made Grog, their potent booze blend, thinking "hey those are pretty small pitchers, we could handle that". On first sip I realized we were doomed to stumble out of there.. I think it was 100% booze, no mixers. We dared to try their "Spicy chicken bits" (after signing a release saying we wouldn't sue) they were pretty freaking spicy, and if I didn't put my tongue thru daily spice torture they would have been painful. Everyone was really happy with their food, which came as a total shock honestly. ApARRRRRRRRRRt (sorry couldn't help it) from the cheesy theme, crap service and silly costumes/accents, Piratz Tavern is a decent place to have a seriously strong drink and some good food, also they have a walled in outdoor patio, so thats always a bonus.

by laura w.

What's up with the strange sickly sweet smell in this place? I'm not so sure the pirate smellovision added to my experience. Meh. Interesting concept, but the smell, and the fact that the place was practically deserted when I went there one weeknight, don't really do it for me.Yarr.

by mic g.

i went in here blind and i got bitch slapped.i don't mind pirate costumes and bar maid wench dress either, but when the food stinks (i ordered jerk chicken and got a slab of frozen breast with salad dressing) and the staff is suspect, well............   perhaps it it time to look at your business model.i don't even know if kids would like this place.if you like jerry springer - than this is your place.

by Ray C.

Cool concept, great decor, nice atmosphere, but service lacks, food was good but only if what you wanted on the menu was available.  I will say I enjoyed the "Grog" very much, spice of ginger leaves a tingly taste in your mouth for awhile.  I ordered the shrimp Mozambique appetizer and mostly enjoyed the marinated garlic in the sauce the shrimp were drowned in, but it was all pretty good.  For my main course, I ordered the Bison burger... it was very good, especially the bread, but the burger a whole was quite tasty.  Service...  well everything seemed a bit rushed... especially when the server was eager to take plates before they were finished.  I guess since the kitchen wanted to close, the plates just had to be washed immediately, I'm not sure.  I topped the evening off with a round of "Davey Jones" shots, which were darn tasty!  Pepper-minty and tasty, I recommend for all to try!All in all, I enjoyed Piratz more than I expected, but the service issues will most likely want to hang out elsewhere in the future.  If you haven' t been, do partake, it's certainly a unique experience!

by Kate M.

WOW did this place tank.  Or maybe my first visit was a fluke.I went here with a small group of friends for my birthday dinner, seeing as how the hokey-ness made it pretty appropriate for a birthday.  We walked in and were ignored for a while, then reluctantly seated.  The waitress at this point already seemed disinterested.  Eventually we ordered.  Eventually she brought our drinks.  Four of us were having water, so she put a pitcher on the table that never got refilled.  One of us had a beer in a bottle, no glass, which is weird.  Eventually we got our food and pretty much everyone was disappointed.  My first choice dish was unavailable, which happened last time, too.  I ended up having a turkey leg that was awful, dry, not flavorful at all.  It came with mashed potatoes that tasted like instant potatoes and some oily vegetables.  And that soup I talked up in my last review?  My friend ordered it and only ate a few bites.  I tasted it and it was awful, bland, under-salted.  Nothing was worth the cost.So, to recap: service was awful, food was awful, prices are way too high, and unless your server plays up the theme it just seems tired.  Don't waste your time. I'm not sure why so many other reviewers seem to have such a big problem with this place, but I love…

by Mike S.

Worst. Service. Ever.Decent beer selection.So-so food.I'm being generous with a 1-star rating.

by Lisa D.

Not impressed! Hilarious pirate outfits, somehow pretentious despite his outfit bartender, horrible food and the grog is the most disgusting alcoholic drink I have ever tasted, even worse than warm nattie light in college. Maybe worth visiting once when wasted to laugh at the pirates but come full and already drunk.

by Rob M.

Now this is not your regular review - since I have yet to eat in this establishment.  But I am compelled to write this quasi review.  This is a very new restaurant; Piratz has only recently opened (Sept 06).  My wife and I were planning to eat there this past Saturday night and were almost instantly turned off as soon as we entered.In my book, first impressions mean a lot.  We entered Piratz Sat night and were completely ignored.  As we stood up front, a very young waitress - who was blowing a bubble with her gum (not good!) - passed us by, made no eye contact and said nothing to us.  We waited by the door assuming we'd be greeted - bad assumption.  As we waited we watched a couple servers take care of the few customers they had and still no one came to help us.  If being ignored isn't bad enough, being ignored by staff in silly-ass pirate costumes is worse.  I'm sorry, I really don't think it's appealing to have servers in themed-wear.  I'm not sure about you, but this does not add anything for me.  It certainly does not give me confidence in the quality of the food.  Do they need to entertain me with their costumes to take my mind off sub-par food?Now this really is a question, since as I mentioned my wife and I opted to leave.  We did peruse the menu - which we had to find at the hostess stand ourselves - and although there were a few items that did look interesting (mussels, fish, etc) we felt it better to come back another time.  And no, no one said goodbye or even see ya matey, as we left.  I  think we'll wait to hear what friends and you Yelpers have to say about Piratz, but till then we'll eat elsewhere.

by Jeff S.

Piratz Tavern.... Arrrghhh! There I did it. It is almost necessary to be cheesy after going to this cheesy pirate themed tavern.I am giving Piratz one star for being unique in the area and one star for the wall they have made from bottle corks. That's it.We went at 8 PM on a Wednesday. There were zero tables inside the whole time we were there and two other tables on the patio. One of those two turned out to be somehow connected to the tavern.Piratz has a full menu. The food is average and nothing to really Yelp about. Friends of ours enjoyed the quirky cocktails like a Davey Jones shot and piratz grog. They were out of the first thing I ordered, so I was given a list of everything else they were out of.I decided on a pulled pork Jamaican jerk sandwich. It was indeed good. Not so heavy on the pork and it was sliced not pulled. The fries were a small portion and were OK.The server (dressed in pirate garb) kept pulling plates off the table quickly, sometimes trying to take things while people were still eating off of them.  He let us know the kitchen was closing an hour earlier than posted so we would have to settle up with him and go see the bartender if we wanted more drinks.The place was decked out in some cool and some lame pirate themed stuff. It is not busy and worth checking out if you have no expectations. It is about 2-3 blocks from the metro and about 2 blocks from all of the new downtown Silver Spring shopping.

by Brian C.

Great place to go if you're feeling bad about your life.  It could be worse and you could be working at Piratz in Pirate garb.... Arghhhhh.    With that being said this place sucks.  Poor selection of beer, shitty bar tenders, and not much else.  Arghhhhh

by Gayle G.

Like Rob M. my hubby and I went here and received iffy service. So, pardon the pun-- but Piratz still needs to get its sea legs.I am all about things pirate (arrrgh!) so we soldiered through. Let me explain the layout. You walk in, and see a hostess station. There is a basket of "toys" such as skull rings and eye patches. Totally child size though. I wanna ring, dammit.After the hostess station, there is a kid's area/play area with pirate books and a television. Odd.The decor was expected- nautical and pirate themed stuff on the walls. One wall is made of cork and that's the one we sat closest to so I kept touching it. Mmm. Corky. Now, about the service. It took forever. Like, for-ev-er for a server to acknowledge us and come to our table to take our order. I got the sweet corn soup (after waiting at least 20 minutes for our food, and that's after the 20 minutes we waited for the waiter) and the turkey leg entree. Food was good, but not sure if it was worth the wait.

by Becky T.

How can anyone resist going to a place called "Piratz Tavern".  I mean, c'mon, pirates but with a "z"!  After months of driving by this place, my buddies and I finally decided to take a look-see at what this place was all about.  We imagined it to be full of burly looking men drinking straight rum and whiskey, maybe see an eye patch or two.Umm, not so much.  I walked into the place and I immediately had flashbacks to Disneyland where I used to work.  I know the pirate theme can't be very authentic and all, but everything was very artificial and just, un-piratelike in its cleanliness.  Don't know about how their food is because kitchen was closed when we got there, but they did have a nice outside seating area.We were there at midnight on a Saturday and there were only a few patrons, and none were very pirate-like disappointingly.  Most were having bottled drinks, which should have been a sign, but my friends were determined to order some grog.  The bartender warned us, "it's some strong sh*t".  We ordered anyways, and the first sip burned through our digestive tract with the alcohol fumes coming out of nose.  It tasted like they collected everyone's leftover drinks and just mixed it all in some jug.  Every sip there was a different taste.  Sometimes citrusy, sometimes pepperminty, none good.  I thought I was going to be blind.  Even my alcoholic friends couldn't manage to drink their whole grog down. Or maybe we're just too lame to handle pirate grog.Update:  Was back on a Friday night and it was a lot more happening.  There's a pirate group that goes around singing around 9 and then after 10pm there were some pirate bellydancers who will shake it for some dollars.  We had a large group of people that was quite rowdy but that's all part of the pirate fun and the staff (yay One-Eye Mike) were friendly and joined in.  We had some Royal Navy newly graduated docs with us who led us (and some of the surrounding tables) into rounds of raunchy songs.  Gotta love the Brits!  I stayed away from the grog but some of friends claimed that the "top shelf grog" (doesn't that defeat the purpose of grog?) was much more palatable.  I stuck with some pitchers of red sangria which were stingy in the fruit (poor dices of apple) but was good and did what it was supposed to.   Drinks+pirates+Royal Navy=win!

by Meghan R.

I can't really speak to the food or service of this place, and to be honest I think both are besides the point. The point being grog. If you ever wanted to get wasted on what is essentially a pitcher of rums (yes, that's plural), preferably while dressed like Jack Sparrow, this is the place. The sangria is a welcome break from the grog, if you must (and you probably will) but sucking it up and drinking it is probably the most economical way to get drunk in the DC area. We happened to arrive in a large, pirate themed group on some kind of Brazil night, so there were a lot of Brazilians, live music, and some fire dancing. It took away from the pirate atmosphere a little, but the dance party that it devolved into was a blast. Plus once you have a pitcher of grog or three going around your table, you won't notice the atmosphere anyway. I don't know if this is a good place to eat, or to come for a beer or two, but for the kind of full on debauchery that requires weeks to pass before a return visit, this is the place. Apparently reservations are recommended, because this place is small and the kind of epic drinking you will likely undertake really requires advance planning.

by Brendan D.

"YAR, She blows!"  Oh wait, I led off with that for my ROTD for The Odyssey Cruise.  Hmm lets see.  "Yar, shes mediocre"?  No that's not very good.  "Yar, she has potential"?  Not very exciting either.  I think the best way to go here is something kitschy (since that's what Piratz is after all).  How's  "Piratz Tavern- Not quite ready for a bounty of gold, but not ready to walk the plank either".   YAR, that's it!OK so anyway, I have been here twice.   It is reasonably fun, but you do have to be in the mood.   If you have never been, picture the commercial for http://freecreditrepor..., where the guy has his identity stolen and is forced to wear a  pirate costume and serve customers.  The kitschy thing is there for sure.   My Friend Paul enjoys going here for happy hour, and getting VERY hammered.  He proceeds to "pirate it up" yelling various indignities, but then moves into a more Viking persona as the night moves on.   Maybe that is why I like Pirates.  because truthfully the food sucks, and the drinks are nothing special.   They do have a decent beer selection, and on the 2 occasions I have been there, the service has been decent.  Check it out for yourself- you won't find a pirates bounty, but you may find struggling waiters who have had their identity stolen and are thus forced to work there.

by Patrick H.

I'm not quite sure what to make of this place.  On one level, I was impressed with the ultra campy decor and the costumed staff.  I get the feeling that many of the staff are actually ex facto Renaissance Festival employees who have found steady work.  Like many others who have yelped here before me , the food is surprising.  Surprising that it doesn't absolutely suck.  With that said, I also wouldn't say it was spectacular either. We went on an office outing and started with a few apps.  Piri Piri Chicken (an African dish) was really chunks of overcooked chicken breast in buffalo wing sauce.  The Thai mussels were good and the coconut shrimp was passable.  I had the Jamaican Jerk Pork.  There was nothing remotely Jamaican about it and quite dry.  Two colleagues had the Filet on a hot stone, which looked decent.  Indeed a nice cut of tenderloin is brought to you on a 450 degree stone to finish cooking.  Also ordered were the Turkey legs (a la Renaissance Festival).  Decent.  Desserts are dreadful.  Don't do it. They committed two CARDINAL SINS.     1.   Deliver French fries but never bring ketchup, no matter how  many times you ask.       2.   Instant Mashed potatoes.  There is simply no excuse for this. We had a good time with our server, but we clearly on her schedule and not the other way around.  The place was packed the night we went, mostly with groups doing some sort of celebrating.  The wandering minstrels were entertaining, (including a dead-ringer for Captain Jack Sparrow... even the walk and voice) so if you're in the mood to Pirate it up a bit, arrrrrr,  and you plan to eat later, this may be a good place for cocktails.I'm not quite sure what to make of this place.  On one level, I was impressed with the ultra campy decor and the costumed staff.  I get the feeling that many of the staff are actually ex facto Renaissance Festival employees who have found steady work.  Like many others who have yelped here before me , the food is surprising.  Surprising that it doesn't absolutely suck.  With that said, I also wouldn't say it was spectacular either. We went on an office outing and started with a few apps.  Piri Piri Chicken (an African dish) was really chunks of overcooked chicken breast in buffalo wing sauce.  The Thai mussels were good and the coconut shrimp was passable.  I had the Jamaican Jerk Pork.  There was nothing remotely Jamaican about it and quite dry.  Two colleagues had the Filet on a hot stone, which looked decent.  Indeed a nice cut of tenderloin is brought to you on a 450 degree stone to finish cooking.  Also ordered were the Turkey legs (a la Renaissance Festival).  Decent.  Desserts are dreadful.  Don't do it. They committed two CARDINAL SINS.     1.   Deliver French fries but never bring ketchup, no matter how  many times you ask.       2.   Instant Mashed potatoes.  There is simply no excuse for this. We had a good time with our server, but we clearly on her schedule and not the other way around.  The place was packed the night we went, mostly with groups doing some sort of celebrating.  The wandering minstrels were entertaining, (including a dead-ringer for Captain Jack Sparrow... even the walk and voice) so if you're in the mood to Pirate it up a bit, arrrrrr,  and you plan to eat later, this may be a good place for cocktails.

by Eva W.

I really would love to like this place. It has a cheesy pirate theme, and I'm a sucker for cheesy theme places. It's a few blocks from where I work, so it seems like it would be a great place to celebrate a birthday with coworkers. And the menu has a great variety.The good: I've always had good food here, tasty, interesting, and well presented. I particularly like their soups.The bad: everything else. I can see where the service would be bad if you came in at 7:30 on a Friday night and the place was packed. I've never done that. We went in for Mother's Day (dressed like ninjas, at my insistence). We were the only ones there. Our waiter "Fast Fingers" was fun but the service was VERY slow. Slow as in 45 minutes for a cup of coffee slow. But I figured, hey, maybe they were just having an off day. Who goes to a pirate restaurant for Mother's Day? Talk Like A Pirate Day, yes, but Mom's day?So I went back. There are 4 of us on our floor with the same birthday. For our birthday we went there with several coworkers. The restaurant had about a dozen other people in it. And it was sssssslllloooowwwww. OK, maybe third time's a charm. Our department decided to have a lunch meeting there. It was a gorgeous day so we asked to be seated on the patio. Again, good food, bad service. We got the impression they had recently hired our waiter, and then went off to run errands, leaving her no supervision.I'd be willing to give it a 4th chance but I can't get  anyone to go with me. Which is a shame, because it's a fun theme, with a lot of attention to detail. But they must have hired wait staff who failed to make the cut at the Paper Moon Diner in Baltimore (another good-looking, bad service restaurant). It's a shame, this place is situated to be a big success, but when they go out of business, they'll blame the economy. I'll be sad to lose this place, and I hope they can fix their staffing problems and turn this place around.

by Beth L.

Call me a freakin cheeseball but I dig this place!  The employees are in full pirate garb and come complete with the accent and lingo.  The grog is stee-rong.  We (three of us) had a pitcher of the top shelf and were good to go!  Took our groggy arses to Rays the classics for the hellburger.  Friendly staff, nice outdoor eating area.  Good for a laugh and a big-ass buzz.

by Tim Y.

I went there a few weeks back with some friends for a birthday celebration and I must say, I liked it even as a sober driver. Food was ok--pretty much what you'd expect to buy at a carnival. Sorry, no Filet Mignon. Their Jack Sparrow impersonator was pretty convincing, he got the walk and sneer down pretty well.There is obviously a lot of self-selection when it comes to this place, so nobody is going to judge you for dressing up or acting like a drunken pirate. And if they do, they're either sober, like me, or a super loser who decided to go to a pirate-themed bar with the intention of looking cool. Brian C."Great place to go if you're feeling bad about your life" Isn't that a universal role of any bar? I'm sorry dude, but this bar isn't any more prone to attracting depressed people than an Irish pub or a nightclub. And it's hard to imaging anyone who wouldn't hang himself long before going to a pirate bar in search of acceptance or comfort. It is kind of tacky, and I'd chain myself to my radiator Black Snake Moan style if I had to go more than twice a year, but it's still a fun place to go if you have been drinking, plan on getting really drunk, or, in my case, go with a bunch of drunk friends who provide an endless source of comic entertainment at their own expenses.

by Jim B.

Where to start... hmm... well, the girl and I found ourselves in Silver Spring the other night after we were given the duty of planning a night of drunken debauchery. With friends coming in from the four corners of the earth, Silver Spring happened to be the middle ground.Bless Yelp for pointing out the Piratz Tavern as a part of Silver Spring nightlife. This place has terrible reviews, but there's still a lot of reviews. I mean, how can you not want to check out a pirate-themed bar? Sick curiosity always leads to the best adventures.So after a quick dinner elsewhere, we decided to swing on in for a drink and wait for our friends. I figure we could all use the laugh before we headed to another bar. Well I be damned if we didn't spend the majority of the night there.We didn't bother with the restaurant, instead we just walked through the dining area back to the bar. The inside of this place is exactly what you'd imagine the inside of a pirate-themed bar to look like. Pirate flags and skulls and skeletons everywhere. It's like the Argonaut decided to stock-up on Halloween surplus decorations. There's half a dozen or so stools at the bar, a long communal table, then several two and four tops. They've even got an outdoor patio.Our first drink of choice was the grog - which tasted like kerosene. Horrendous. Seeing the wide selection of rums along the back wall, I was hoping the bar could offer some Caribbean classics. Both a Bushwacker and a Painkiller were a no-go. Ok, let's go for a Dark and Stormy. The only Gossling's you have is 151? Who cares! Do it! I'm already a mug of grog down, I've committed myself to getting shit-faced tonight.That commitment continued with my friend's mug of grog (he couldn't stomach it), plus several Clipper City Heavy Seas beers. So I'll give them points for trying to keep the alcohol nautically-themed, but damn man, get some Coco Lopez and mix up some proper drinks! Like a steering wheel on my crotch, that was driving me nuts.That amount of jet fuel in anyone's stomach is going to make them hungry. I tried the burnin' bits - chicken scraps in hot sauce, served with a cup of sour cream, plus the musket balls - overdone meatballs with marinara. Even the effects of the grog couldn't make this stuff taste good.So with cheesy decor, a lacking cocktail selection, and crappy food (even by bar standard), what would bring you here and me (maybe) back?Cheap, potent drinks in an atmosphere where you can get lit-up and rowdy with your friends while possible being entertained by singing pirates and belly dancers. We've all wanted nights like that, and luckily Silver Spring now supplies us with the place to go.

by Kori K.

Get the Grog... it will knock you on your aRRRRse! OK, sorry I couldn't resist. In all seriousness though, this place is as cheesy as everyone says it is. I mean, I literally stopped in my tracks when I walked toward the back to the bar and saw a group of like 8 singing pirates. But then I heard an old familiar Irish tune and had to continue my way in. The singing pirates were entertaining enough, but it was hard to hear them and they took up way too much space. As soon as they left my friends and I were able to grab a table to ourselves and ended up staying a couple of hours. Due to the reviews, I avoided the food, but our service was much better than everyone has said. I didn't wait long for a drink at all, and there was a lot of ordering going on from this girl. So all in all, I'm giving it a three because it served the purpose for the night; a place for my friends and I to catch up. And let's face, you know Jim and I will try anything once. :-)

by jANE D.

This place is hilarious. This bar can be aptly described as the place owned by high school drama nerds and the kids that played DD. The kids that wore capes to school and spent their weekends at Ren-Fest. The women probably own corsets and chain mail bras; the dudes have swords and aren't afraid of a little make up. All that being said this place is a lot of fun. A friend an I stopped here to wait for some friends. We spent 45 of the most hilarious moments of my life. Partially because of the pirates and partially because of the really drunk Navy guy next to us. Who I believe was on his 5th glass of grog. A note about the grog and all the drinks here: THEY ARE STRONG and MOSTLY RUM. So if you like pina coladas or dislike rum. Order something else. I had one drink that immediately warmed the cockles of my little heart. There are a few things you should know before you go: This is not a place to have a quiet or chill evening. The pirates sing, dance and are generally rowdy. Do not go here if you are feeling shy - The pirates demand audience participation. I tried to not participate, but it didn't work. Besides it's more fun if you just do it. You can't take the bar or yourself too seriously. This is a place to be silly and have fun. If you are looking for grown and sexy, you should probably skip Piratz Tavern. There maybe a woman spitting fire outside.

by LeeAnn O.

I like pirates.  The decor is kitschy, exactly what you would expect from a cheesy pirate themed tavern.  The servers wear full pirate garb and generally their demeanor isn't that far off either.  The clientele was decidedly... awkward.  Its not the place to go to schmooze with DC's most socially ept.  The prices are not cheap, but I don't ding them anything for that because you are paying for the decor and the costumes really.  And the pirate doll with a slinky weenie.  And a pretty decent outdoor patio out back.  We also got a surprise fire show in the alley out back, which wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.  Especially because the girl caught her pant leg on fire and the guy dropped his baton thingy.I will give them points for having grog, a delicious rum and gingery beer concotion.  I will also give them points for the "Burnin' Bits", which is chunks of chicken done up with a surprisingly amazing garlic habanero sauce served with a side of sour cream.  They make you sign a waiver, but it really wasn't that hot.  The sauce, however, was so good that we saved it to smother our bison burgers.  I requested mine medium rare.  It came closer to medium well.  It was okay, nothing special except the crusty bun it came on, which appeared to be made in house (more like a sourdough bun than traditional hamburger bun).  This place would probably get a 2 from me if it weren't for the Burnin' Bits dish.

by Allyson P.

I'm a huge fan of the all-day Saturday happy hour here. Yes, it's overly kitschy, and the wait staff dresses and talks like pirates, and that's basically only amusing your first time there, and after that it's just kind of dumb. But they have half-priced drinks ALL DAY on Saturdays! I believe the Saturday happy hour runs from noon to seven or something like that, and grog is only 2.50 a mug. That makes it a great pre-game spot, or, as is more often the case with us, a great spot to stumble home to pass out from at some ridiculously early hour. They also have half-price appetizers during happy hour, and they aren't bad, certainly nothing I would go out of my way for though. Mussels were huge and pretty good, peri-peri chicken is basically chunks of grilled chicken in buffalo wing sauce, but after several glasses of grog (and a vodka tonic and a couple glasses of wine...no wonder I feel so terrible today), it tastes pretty good.

by Chris B.

It is what it is. If you hear the words 'pirate-themed' bar, and think "Wow, I need to go there," you should go here. The waitresses and waiters are dressed like pirates, and the bar is, of course, decorated the way you'd expect a pirate bar to be decorated. The drinks are good. I usually get the grog, which is a combination of rum and falernum. It tastes like ginger, and is dangerous in large quantities. The food is pretty meh. The last time I was here, I had the piri piri chicken, which was chicken bits bathing in piri piri sauce (which is pretty similar in taste to buffalo sauce, though thinner.) They do happy hour all day Saturday, so it's definitely a good place to go while waiting for Quarry House to open. Otherwise, only go if you're a big pirate fan.

by Ed H.

I remember the day when some guy came into the Quarry House Tavern and handed out little business cards promoting some sort of pirate-themed bar that would open soon across the street."Pirates? Sweet" we said, because, let's face it, pirates are funny. Not the asshat Somali pirates who are kidnapping people, but the yo-ho-ho pirate is nice in a good and ironic way.So, we thought, ahoy! this might be a fun place. Maybe it'll be like some dank, dingy bar. The line from "Airplane!" came into my head: "It was a rough place - the seediest dive on the wharf. Populated with every reject and cutthroat from Bombay to Calcutta. It was worse than Detroit. " We expected a good, dingy dive bar.What we got instead was a family restaurant with a nod to pirates. More Disney than dingy. It looks like a great place to take the kids, not so much to go with friends. That they have a Jack Sparrow impersonator should tell you something.What would be cooler would be if someone made a bar that looked like pirates hung out there, but didn't get all kitschy.I remember the day when some guy came into the Quarry House Tavern and handed out little business cards promoting some sort of pirate-themed bar that would open soon across the street."Pirates? Sweet" we said, because, let's face it, pirates are funny. Not the asshat Somali pirates who are kidnapping people, but the yo-ho-ho pirate is nice in a good and ironic way.So, we thought, ahoy! this might be a fun place. Maybe it'll be like some dank, dingy bar. The line from "Airplane!" came into my head: "It was a rough place - the seediest dive on the wharf. Populated with every reject and cutthroat from Bombay to Calcutta. It was worse than Detroit. " We expected a good, dingy dive bar.What we got instead was a family restaurant with a nod to pirates. More Disney than dingy. It looks like a great place to take the kids, not so much to go with friends. That they have a Jack Sparrow impersonator should tell you something.What would be cooler would be if someone made a bar that looked like pirates hung out there, but didn't get all kitschy.

by Rebecca C.

Pirates are funny. Taverns are good. ERGO, the Pirates Tavern is a hell of a good time. I'll admit to going mainly when my friends who are REALLY into the Piratz Tavern organize a trip, which tends to increase the experience. I'll also admit that the novelty has worn off somewhat since I started going there -- but still not completely. Best time to go is definitely Friday happy hour, when a pirate musical group singing sea chanteys really completes the picture. (Although if you don't like loud bars, this would probably be the worst time for you to go.) There are good beers and cider, and the grog is deadly. I definitely have not had trouble passing a night here, and nearly everyone I know has had a "whoops I drank too much grog" experience. It's definitely more enjoyable during patio season, in my opinion -- they have a great back patio. Down sides: Piratz Tavern sort of has a divey feel but for regular bar prices. An evening here is not cheap, but sometimes the service feels like a dive. The waitstaff getting into character is part of the schtick, and it's fun, in my opinion, but it usually results in a little shortness/mocking that is all in good fun but might be off-putting to some. The grog admittedly has been inconsistent. Sometimes the bartender gets it right, where the rum and spices are mixed perfectly and it doesn't taste like a glass full of alcohol (which is basically what it is.) But there have also been plenty of times when it wasn't made correctly and it was damn near impossible to stomach. A couple of menu items are really good (the stew, and the shrimp) but many are forgettable.Worth noting: we stopped by recently on a Sunday evening (still pretty early) and it was locked up tight, even though the hours sign said it was open. That's not really the way to go when you're running a business, as far as I'm concerned. It's not for everyone, but it's worth a try.

by Brian K.

As we get ready to move back to the Sprung, I've been thinking about the places I'm excited to have back within walking distance.Piratz Tavern does not make this list.  Ugh.  Honestly, the food is embarrassingly bad.  And overpriced.  Bad food should never be spendy.  It's in the Constitution...or at least it should be.  IMHO, the only two worthwhile things on the menu are the flaming chorizo (fire makes everything better), and the port-soaked pears (because if fire can't make it better, booze certainly will).  Everything else sucks.  My last meal there was so bad that I couldn't finish it.  If there's one reason why you should go to this place, it's the grog.  Go during happy hour - grog is 1/2 price, even on weekends.  You can essentially get a pint glass of pure liquor for $5.  Watch out, though...it's lethal.  I accidentally blacked out on grog the last time I was there.  True story.  When I woke up, I discovered that I tried to do laundry but passed out on the floor instead.  I have no recollection of this.

by Alex D.

I went with a friend who had been here several times before, and knew to avoid some of the pitfalls of Piratz. We went early on a Saturday, and had a reservation for our large party. Staff was a bit slow, but it was getting mighty crowded. Our waiter "Thudd" played up the part which was nice. I DD'ed, but my party mightily enjoyed the grogg, sangria, and blackstrap betty. I was a disappointed by my "Steak on a Stone", as was our vegetarian friend by her stir fried veggie platter. Prices were too high for the quality. Perhaps we were misled into thinking this place was really a restaurant, and not a bar with food. Plenty of other great restaurants in the area. Spend the rest of your night here with some booze and pirate songs.If this place were a bit bigger, had more appetizer/bar food and faster service it could be a nice reprieve from sports bars, or $14 martini posh bars. It's got a geeky vibe to it, which will either jive with you or not. All in all, it's very welcoming. People are here to have a good time. Walking distance from the Silver Spring metro (on the red line)

by Bi N.

I went with a friend expecting big things.  I guess maybe I watched too much tv and it wasn't anything like I expected.  The service was terrible.  Our waiter didnt seem to believe in refilling our drinks and the food was not good.  My one friend did have a bison burger that he thought was good and I didnt think the fries were bad but my jerk pork was extremely salty.They also have people that came and sang at the end but it was extremely uncomfortable since they stand right in front of you and there were maybe 3 tables there to watch.  It's not a place I would bring children too when you listen to their lyrics but they are in another room...but I am sure the kids could still here.  I also didnt really like that after they asked for tips.

by Don H.

Yo ho ho and a bottle o' rum!First off, know what you're getting into - it's a restaurant/bar with a piratey theme, in a renaissance faire sort of way.  It's piratey in a fun, wacky, goofy, everyone working there is dressed up in pirate costume sort of way, and many of the bar patrons are also dressed up.  The walls are covered in movie-pirate type trinkets - hats, swords, skulls, and other assorted wackiness. They do occasional fire spinning in the back alley.  They speak in piratey jargon.  And they have grog.  2 different kinds of grog, actually.  There's the cheaper grog, which has a very strong ginger flavor, and there's the more expensive grog, which has a much richer, darker flavor.  Also, the top shelf grog is made with better rum, and isn't pre-mixed.  From what we could tell, it's also noticeably boozier.  mmm... boozy.  They serve them both in small mugs, large mugs (like 20oz!) and pitchers.  A couple of these, and you'll think the bar is out on the open seas somewhere, which must be why you're swaying and bumping into the walls.We enjoyed the hell out of it, and got quite trashed doing so.Arrr!

by Lauren J.

Excellent service, great atmosphere, reasonably priced food, grog is tasty. We saw both a fire show and a samba show during our visit, both impromptu and free. The "pirate" waiters and bartenders really get into it and would love to see you come in costume if you want, but no costumes required. Will be back definitely!Also, 2 full bars, one indoor, one outdoor.

by Semra E.

I used to work walking distance to this place, and decided to go with coworkers on "Talk Like A Pirate" Day...(yes there's a day that's dedicated to pirates). Now when I first saw the inside, I thought it was a pretty cool theme to have, especially if you have kids. But I didn't see kids, I saw a lot of adults that reminded me of that guy from Dodge Ball that thought he was a pirate. The food was OK, not the best, but I was so starving and it was already awkward with the coworkers I was with, so I felt like I was about to have a Larry David moment or something with how everything unfolded....a guy came inside to get lunch that was dressed like a pirate, started talking all "pirate-like" and sat by himself at a table....I thought this guy was early to work or something, but then he left. Turns out there ARE pirates that are roaming the streets of Silver Spring, MD....neeerd aleeeerrrrt!!!! It's fun to take friends there that you feel would benefit from judging others....but that may cause tension and a pirate style bar fight and I don't carry my camera around enough to really benefit from a scene like that. So I'm X-nay-on-the-Pirate-aye.....I'm really bad at Pig Latin

by Zachary H.

Ok. A Pirate Bar in Silver Spring? My initial reaction was "AWESOME! A pirate themed dive bar??!! Not my thing, but sounds interesting!" .... Then I went there. This place could be great, but it isn't. I'm torn on whether my disappointment is based on the extremely tacky decor (not in a cool-pirate-bar-sort-of-way, but more "Pirates of the Caribbean") or the mediocre food (there are far better places to eat seafood in Silver Spring. Don't eat it here), but I just don't get it. I will say that the staff I have encountered on my two visits (I gave the place an ill-fated second chance) have been friendly and there are some decent happy hour specials. Perhaps if I walked around with an eye patch and a saber on a more regular basis, I would enjoy this bar more. "AAAARRRR Matey" is in my vernacular and neither is Piratz Bar.

by Paul M.

Soccerballgirl loved this place and now she wants Captain Jack Sparrow to come to her sixth birthday party . But if he can't make it our marvellous server Poppet - will do instead.An absolutely brilliant night out with the kids - although Thing 1 and Thing 2 got a bit embarrassed after their grogged-up Dad started yelling " Ahoy me maties"  at everyone.The food is just OK - but the drinks are spectacular, and the happy hour specials amazing. But you come here for the staff.  The wait staff are all dressed up , they have a historian who tells you all sorts of pirate stories, and then a band who sing sea shanties for tips. They amp up the volume for Halloween. If you have a rowdy group, a bunch of kids, or want to stretch your wallet, I would totally recommend this place.

by Jarrett B.

Look, let's be honest.  I just moved to Silver Spring, so the novelty of this place hasn't worn off for me yet.  I'm still not entirely sure what grog is....and I'm also still not sure what makes the top shelf grog different....but, I can tell you this:  It's pretty delicious and one glass is all it takes to get you buzzed.I can also tell you this:  Two pitchers of grog is MORE than enough for a 6 person party.  Especially if three of those people end up not drinking anything at all and the rest of us end up polishing off all of that spicy rum mix just to end up taking pro-bono shots with the regulars on a week night....ESPECIALLY if that is all supplemented by some tasty shot squirted into your mouth from a syringe by a waitress dressed in full renaissance faire-eque pirate garb.  (Garrrrrb?)  Finally, just bear in mind that the only way to realistically function the next morning after a Piratz Tavern grogfest is to stumble across the street and eat a heap of delicious Quarry House tater tots.(Just writing this review makes me feel hungover.)Look, let's be honest.  I just moved to Silver Spring, so the novelty of this place hasn't worn off for me yet.  I'm still not entirely sure what grog is....and I'm also still not sure what makes the top shelf grog different....but, I can tell you this:  It's pretty delicious and one glass is all it takes to get you buzzed.I can also tell you this:  Two pitchers of grog is MORE than enough for a 6 person party.  Especially if three of those people end up not drinking anything at all and the rest of us end up polishing off all of that spicy rum mix just to end up taking pro-bono shots with the regulars on a week night....ESPECIALLY if that is all supplemented by some tasty shot squirted into your mouth from a syringe by a waitress dressed in full renaissance faire-eque pirate garb.  (Garrrrrb?)  Finally, just bear in mind that the only way to realistically function the next morning after a Piratz Tavern grogfest is to stumble across the street and eat a heap of delicious Quarry House tater tots.(Just writing this review makes me feel hungover.)

by Jarrett B.Paul M.Zachary H.

Look, let's be honest.  I just moved to Silver Spring, so the novelty of this place hasn't worn off for me yet.  I'm still not entirely sure what grog is....and I'm also still not sure what makes the top shelf grog different....but, I can tell you this:  It's pretty delicious and one glass is all it takes to get you buzzed.I can also tell you this:  Two pitchers of grog is MORE than enough for a 6 person party.  Especially if three of those people end up not drinking anything at all and the rest of us end up polishing off all of that spicy rum mix just to end up taking pro-bono shots with the regulars on a week night....ESPECIALLY if that is all supplemented by some tasty shot squirted into your mouth from a syringe by a waitress dressed in full renaissance faire-eque pirate garb.  (Garrrrrb?)  Finally, just bear in mind that the only way to realistically function the next morning after a Piratz Tavern grogfest is to stumble across the street and eat a heap of delicious Quarry House tater tots.(Just writing this review makes me feel hungover.)Soccerballgirl loved this place and now she wants Captain Jack Sparrow to come to her sixth birthday party . But if he can't make it our marvellous server Poppet - will do instead.An absolutely brilliant night out with the kids - although Thing 1 and Thing 2 got a bit embarrassed after their grogged-up Dad started yelling " Ahoy me maties"  at everyone.The food is just OK - but the drinks are spectacular, and the happy hour specials amazing. But you come here for the staff.  The wait staff are all dressed up , they have a historian who tells you all sorts of pirate stories, and then a band who sing sea shanties for tips. They amp up the volume for Halloween. If you have a rowdy group, a bunch of kids, or want to stretch your wallet, I would totally recommend this place.Ok. A Pirate Bar in Silver Spring? My initial reaction was "AWESOME! A pirate themed dive bar??!! Not my thing, but sounds interesting!" .... Then I went there. This place could be great, but it isn't. I'm torn on whether my disappointment is based on the extremely tacky decor (not in a cool-pirate-bar-sort-of-way, but more "Pirates of the Caribbean") or the mediocre food (there are far better places to eat seafood in Silver Spring. Don't eat it here), but I just don't get it. I will say that the staff I have encountered on my two visits (I gave the place an ill-fated second chance) have been friendly and there are some decent happy hour specials. Perhaps if I walked around with an eye patch and a saber on a more regular basis, I would enjoy this bar more. "AAAARRRR Matey" is in my vernacular and neither is Piratz Bar.

by Jarrett B.Paul M.Zachary H.Semra E.Lauren J.

Look, let's be honest.  I just moved to Silver Spring, so the novelty of this place hasn't worn off for me yet.  I'm still not entirely sure what grog is....and I'm also still not sure what makes the top shelf grog different....but, I can tell you this:  It's pretty delicious and one glass is all it takes to get you buzzed.I can also tell you this:  Two pitchers of grog is MORE than enough for a 6 person party.  Especially if three of those people end up not drinking anything at all and the rest of us end up polishing off all of that spicy rum mix just to end up taking pro-bono shots with the regulars on a week night....ESPECIALLY if that is all supplemented by some tasty shot squirted into your mouth from a syringe by a waitress dressed in full renaissance faire-eque pirate garb.  (Garrrrrb?)  Finally, just bear in mind that the only way to realistically function the next morning after a Piratz Tavern grogfest is to stumble across the street and eat a heap of delicious Quarry House tater tots.(Just writing this review makes me feel hungover.)Soccerballgirl loved this place and now she wants Captain Jack Sparrow to come to her sixth birthday party . But if he can't make it our marvellous server Poppet - will do instead.An absolutely brilliant night out with the kids - although Thing 1 and Thing 2 got a bit embarrassed after their grogged-up Dad started yelling " Ahoy me maties"  at everyone.The food is just OK - but the drinks are spectacular, and the happy hour specials amazing. But you come here for the staff.  The wait staff are all dressed up , they have a historian who tells you all sorts of pirate stories, and then a band who sing sea shanties for tips. They amp up the volume for Halloween. If you have a rowdy group, a bunch of kids, or want to stretch your wallet, I would totally recommend this place.Ok. A Pirate Bar in Silver Spring? My initial reaction was "AWESOME! A pirate themed dive bar??!! Not my thing, but sounds interesting!" .... Then I went there. This place could be great, but it isn't. I'm torn on whether my disappointment is based on the extremely tacky decor (not in a cool-pirate-bar-sort-of-way, but more "Pirates of the Caribbean") or the mediocre food (there are far better places to eat seafood in Silver Spring. Don't eat it here), but I just don't get it. I will say that the staff I have encountered on my two visits (I gave the place an ill-fated second chance) have been friendly and there are some decent happy hour specials. Perhaps if I walked around with an eye patch and a saber on a more regular basis, I would enjoy this bar more. "AAAARRRR Matey" is in my vernacular and neither is Piratz Bar.I used to work walking distance to this place, and decided to go with coworkers on "Talk Like A Pirate" Day...(yes there's a day that's dedicated to pirates). Now when I first saw the inside, I thought it was a pretty cool theme to have, especially if you have kids. But I didn't see kids, I saw a lot of adults that reminded me of that guy from Dodge Ball that thought he was a pirate. The food was OK, not the best, but I was so starving and it was already awkward with the coworkers I was with, so I felt like I was about to have a Larry David moment or something with how everything unfolded....a guy came inside to get lunch that was dressed like a pirate, started talking all "pirate-like" and sat by himself at a table....I thought this guy was early to work or something, but then he left. Turns out there ARE pirates that are roaming the streets of Silver Spring, MD....neeerd aleeeerrrrt!!!! It's fun to take friends there that you feel would benefit from judging others....but that may cause tension and a pirate style bar fight and I don't carry my camera around enough to really benefit from a scene like that. So I'm X-nay-on-the-Pirate-aye.....I'm really bad at Pig LatinExcellent service, great atmosphere, reasonably priced food, grog is tasty. We saw both a fire show and a samba show during our visit, both impromptu and free. The "pirate" waiters and bartenders really get into it and would love to see you come in costume if you want, but no costumes required. Will be back definitely!Also, 2 full bars, one indoor, one outdoor.