News
Best Reason to Visit National Harbor, Bobby McKey’s
Washington City Paper
March 30th 2010
I'll tell it to you straight: It's not the food. The best reason to visit National Harbor is for its tourist atmosphere. Indulge your fantasy to live la vida loca-or la vida tacky. Whatever. Just shed the pretension that's so ingrained of D.C. residents and sing and clap and laugh at Bobby McKey's. The dueling piano bar will make you forget all about health care reform as the room erupts in "hold me closer, tiny dancer." Before the third round of shots, and the inevitable dancing on stage, get some grease into your stomach with an array of perfectly acceptable (once tipsy, that is) dips: crab and roasted red pepper, spinach and artichoke, or steak and cheese. One more tip: Leave some bills with your Kelly Clarkson song request.
-Stefanie Gans
Bobby McKey’s dueling piano bar is worth the trip
examiner.com
February 18th 2010
One thing that perhaps keeps people from giving Bobby McKey's a try is its location. Nestled in the middle of the new National Harbor development, a special trip is needed to stop by. People cannot simply visit the dueling piano bar while going around town. National Harbor essentially sprang up out of nowhere and is not near public transportation so if you're going to be in the area it is specifically because you were out on a mission to do so. Read More...
The Scene with Samy K: Bobby McKey’s Dueling Piano Bar
Metromix Washington D.C.
August 31st 2009
Metromix's Samy K goes on The Scene at Bobby McKey's and rocks out with their dueling pianos!
New, Notable, No Longer
On Tap Magazine
April 1st 2009
Bobby McKey’s Dueling Piano Bar The players are the emphasis at Bobby McKey’s. Each evening features four pianists, two playing at a time in hour-long sets. When one pair’s set is winding up, the next pair joins them on stage for a foursome, often joined by a number of the attractive waitresses who dance and sometimes sing. The piano players can play most any tune thrown their way of the thousands they claim to know. You’ll hear most everything, from "Piano Man" to Journey. Audience requests with tips attached get priority. Jokes abound, and the music virtually never stops. The players have been brought in from all over, including popular spots such as Crocodile Rock in Myrtle Beach, S.C. They are more entertainers and performers than piano virtuosos, and that’s a good thing in entertaining the age-diverse crowd. The new two-level building has the atmosphere of an old warehouse with exposed brick. Seating can be limited, and reservations for tables are necessary on Fridays and Saturdays. There’s plenty of space to stand, and there really isn’t a bad spot in the house. Beer and cocktails are plentiful, and food options include dip-able fare, sliders, sandwiches and personal pizzas. Bobby McKey’s is not a chain,but locally owned and operated. Bobby McKey’s is in the heart of the new National Harbor complex right near the Wilson Bridge in Prince Georges County. If you haven’t been to the new development since it opened last year, or you haven’t visit in a few months, you’ll be surprised by its growth. A recent Saturday evening was busy, with people also heading to Cadillac Ranch or dinner at Grace’s Mandarin, Rosa Mexicano’s or the Old Hickory Steakhouse, among others. With a nightclub atmosphere and killer entertainment in a unique setting, Bobby McKey’s can be summed up simply as fun. Bobby McKey’s is open Monday through Saturday from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. $10 cover, recommended reservations for tables. Dress cool casual. – Robert Fulton
Let’s get something straight about Bobby McKey’s Dueling Piano Bar, the new hot spot that opened in the National Harbor development late last year and the only establishment of its kind in the D.C. metro area: If you’re picturing a quiet, smoky, candle-lit bar with red vinyl booths and an aging crooner spitting out standards for dollar tips slipped into an oversized brandy snifter, think again. Bobby McKey’s is a rocking, rollicking, high-energy good time more akin to a nightclub – or maybe a circus. This is certainly not your granddad’s piano bar.
Bobby McKey’s: 172 Fleet St., National Harbor, MD; 301-567-1488; www.bobbymckeys.com
The Players’ Club: Bobby McKey’s Piano Bar
The Washington Post: Express Night Out
January 15th 2009
THERE'S A NEW kid in the area. With high-rises — hotels, lots of hotels — and restaurants, this new dsetination spot is trying to lure diners away from the comforts of Northwest.
And then there's the banging of dueling piano keys.
The National Harbor, a ferry ride away from Old Town and a few quick highways away from the District, features newly opened restaurants, from the Asian-themed Grace's Mandarin to the sports-centric National Pastime Sports Bar and Grill (with a 30-foot video wall!), and with many more on the way, the area has the potential to attract more than the visiting conventioneers. Especially with "Benny and the Jets" blaring from Bobby McKey's, the area's only dueling piano bar.
At first, it's a bit stunning: The place is huge and loud and populated with the diversity that makes the region such a great place to live. And then there's the singing. Two large pianos face each other; two highly talented men singing iconic tunes, banging on the keys and flirting with the audience. Audience participation is a must. Guests request songs (wrap up your request with a $20 bill and it will surely get played), sing along and can even sneak onstage for a hot second. The music can be as predictable as Billy Joel or as eyeroll-inducing as the Doors; Jim Morrison surely didn't envision "Roadhouse Blues" in a pay-for-play scheme.
You'll need a beer or three, or maybe just a comically named cocktail — New York State of Mind (Dirty Martini), Zoot Suit Riot (Manhattan) — to fully get comfortable at Bobby McKey's. But you'll also need some grub.
Just like the fun group atmosphere, the menu features funky, to-share dips. The cheeseburger dip is served with four minirolls and can transform into Sloppy Joe sliders. Forget about dollops of sour cream and salsa; the chicken quesadillas can be smeared with a cheesy chicken enchilada dip.
Highlighting its waterfront appeal, the crab and roasted red pepper dip is creamy and takes on a bit of heat with the vehicle of choice — Old Bay chips. If you can scarf it down in seconds, the beer cheese dip served with a pretzel roll is delicious, but soon the cheese separates and all that's left is grease.
And for those who don't like to share, you can order a hot dog and chips, pork barbecue sandwich with coleslaw or a personal pizza, cheese or pepperoni.
» Bobby McKey's, 172 Fleet St., National Harbor, Md.; 301-567-1488
Photo Courtesy Ricky Carioti/Twp
Written by Express contributor Stefanie Gans
At Piano Bar, Rhapsodies in Twos
The Washington Post
January 9th 2009
By Fritz Hahn Special to The Washington Post
Friday, January 9, 2009; Page WE06
The buzz: Bobby McKey's is not a bar for the shy or retiring. The two guys tickling the ivories on stage at the Washington area's only dueling piano bar are equal parts cruise directors, comedians and overly enthusiastic party hosts. Every couple of minutes, they yell, "Clap your hands!" "Sing along! I can't hear you!" or "You having a good time?" When one kicks into "Crocodile Rock," the other gets up and starts waving his arms in the universal symbol for a crocodile's chomping jaws.
In between the goofy, endless exhortations, the hits just keep on coming from the pair of baby grands: "Bennie and the Jets," "Don't Stop Believin'," the theme from "Cheers." It's like a jukebox where every single song's an old favorite you can loudly sing along with.
Corny? Sometimes. Cheesy? Definitely. Fun? Certainly.
The scene: Checking out the crowd at Bobby McKey's, I'm shocked that no one thought to do this in the area before. The people crammed into the warehouse-style club on National Harbor's main drag range from 22-year-olds from St. Mary's County celebrating their birthdays to silver-haired veterans singing along to "Great Balls of Fire." Black and white, married and single, out-of-towners here for conventions and locals on dates or out with the girls, all bopping and singing along.
The diversity extends to the genre-busting song lists, which swing from Elton John to Justin Timberlake to Abba to Johnny Cash.
Write down a request on one of the provided cards or lined bar napkins, take it to the stage, then sit back and wait for your number to come up. There are four pianists on duty every night, trading off every hour, each with their own styles and personalities. (Tips are encouraged; at one point, a pianist holds up a napkin with requests and says, "We like this," then holds up a napkin wrapped around some dollar bills and says, "We really like this.")
Of course, the audience participation doesn't let up. A different pair of pianists brings anyone celebrating a birthday to the stage for a quick singalong and a cringe-inducing R-rated version of the children's song "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes" (odd, considering they edit curses out of some other songs) and later call all the veterans in the house up to take a bow before playing Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the U.S.A."
Unlike at piano bars such as Mr. Smith's or Banana Cafe, you don't come here to catch up with friends, check out the singles scene and hope to hear a couple of songs you like to sing along to. This is a show, and almost everyone in the room stares at the stage the whole night, except when they turn to high-five their friends when the pianist croons the first lines of "Bohemian Rhapsody" or "Sweet Caroline."
Since the performers are on stage for seven hours a night and every song is suggested by the audience, there are bound to be some songs that are requested and performed multiple times if you stick around long enough. Before tackling yet another request for a certain Journey hit, the pianist asks the crowd, "You ready to hear this one again?"
In your glass: The draft beers are predictable (Budweiser, Heineken, etc.), and bottled beers just about double the choices. If you're in a group, you can save about a buck a bottle if you order a bucket of beers ($24 for six domestics, $26 for imports) instead of getting them one at a time ($5.25 each). Cocktails take their names from classic piano-bar tunes and are served in birdbath-size martini glasses. The "Desperado," billed as a "top-shelf margarita," tasted more of lime juice than of tequila.
On your plate: You know this is a place for groups when the menu's main feature is a selection of dips, served with plates of chips and designed to be shared. Our bowl of Buffalo Chicken Dip came with regular tortilla chips instead of the promised blue cheese chips, but it didn't make much difference: We polished off the creamy, cheesy chicken dip anyway. Other options include a homemade French onion dip with a bag of Lay's potato chips, beer cheese and pretzel rolls and, for dessert, chocolatey s'mores with strawberries.
If you're not in a dipping mood, hot dogs and burgers are available.
Price points: The evening can be as cheap as you want it to be, since there's no cover charge or drink minimum. There's also no happy hour. Beers are about $5, cocktails and shooters range from $6.50 to $10.
Getting in: Doors open at 6 Monday through Saturday. Arrive early if you'd rather have a table on the floor in front of the stage instead of having to stand at the bar that wraps around the back of the room. (Even at the bar, the sightlines and acoustics are great.) On one Saturday night, we arrived after 9 and saw very few patrons vacate their seats before midnight. Reservations are accepted for groups of 10 or more.
Need to know: National Harbor's planners included plenty of garages and open lots, which charge $10 after 9 p.m., and limited street parking. Unless you like circling, it's better to just grit your teeth and pay.
Nice to know: Even though it feels like a national chain (check out the T-shirts and caps by the front door), this is a locally owned nightclub.
What people are saying: "We're having a great time," says Raquel Miller, a security guard from District Heights who took a moment from dancing by the bar to praise the casual atmosphere, the talented performers and, most of all, the mix of music. "I'm from West Virginia, so I'm a little bit country and a little bit rock-and-roll," she explains. "And I'm an '80s baby. They play it all."
Bobby McKey's 172 Fleet St., National Harbor, Oxon Hill Information: 301-567-1488. http://www.bobbymckeys.com.
Bobby McKey’s Hits All the Right Notes
November 21st 2008
National Harbor, MD [November 21, 2008]
Bobby McKey's, the DC area's first dueling piano bar, will host an Opening Celebration Weekend November 28 (6:00pm-2:00am), and 29 (7:00pm-2:00am). The restaurant, bar and entertainment venue is located on the new Fleet Street nightlife corridor, just half a block from the Gaylord Convention Center (www.bobbymckeys.com/site/page/directions).
The doors at Bobby McKey's open nightly to entertainment by world-class piano players. The performers (www.bobbymckeys.com/site/page/performers) take every measure to accept any and all requests, from Beyoncé to Beethoven, James Taylor to Jay-Z, Meatloaf to Mozart. The (21+) crowd will love being a part of the high-spirited, interactive sing-along.
Custom-built details and exposed brick ensure outstanding acoustics. Slanted mirrors mounted above the stage allow patrons to peek at the incredible skill of the performers' hands as they play. The mezzanine, which may be reserved for up to 150 people for private events, allows people to view the entire stage from above. For events, e-mail events@bobbymckeys.com.
In harmony with its focus on providing the best bar and entertainment experience in the DC area, Bobby McKey's cuisine doesn't miss a beat. All menu options are riffs on dips meant for sharing, including the French Onion Dip served with a bag of Lay's® Potato Chips; Roasted Red Pepper-Wasabi Coulis served with Chilled Shrimp; Cheeseburger Dip served with Fritos®; Beer Cheese Dip served with sliced Pretzel Roll; Creamy Crab and Roasted Red Pepper Dip served with Old Bay® Chips; Black Bean Chili Dip served with Chicken Quesadillas; and S'mores Dip served with Fresh Strawberries. Wallets sing for the prices, to the tune of $5.99 - 12.99.
Bobby McKey's features a state-of-the-art walk-in cooler which houses eight draught beer towers, and also serves 17 bottled beers, house wines, and a full bar. Due to local legislation, the bar serves only beer and wine on Sundays.
Bobby McKey's is located at 172 Fleet Street, National Harbor, Maryland (www.nationalharbor.com/consumer/home.htm). Bobby McKey's charges a $10.00 cover to enter, but has no drink minimum. To contact the bar, call 301-567-1488 or e-mail info@bobbymckeys.com. After the Opening Celebration Weekend, Bobby McKey's will open nightly at 6:00pm and take a bow at 2:00am. Closed on Sundays. More information at www.bobbymckeys.com.
To request menus, bios of principals, photographs or more information about Bobby McKey's, please contact Lisa Zusman at lisaz@lindarothpr.com or 703-417-2706.
