Mess Hall Reviews

Reviews

+17 User photos

• Bryan A. Sent on 07/15/2024
  5 out of 5 rating

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  Hosting our wedding at Mess Hall was one of the best decisions we made!

  Hosting our wedding at Mess Hall was one of the best decisions we made! The space is just what we wanted: industrial chic near the MBT with a covered outdoor area and access to amazing food. As a culinary incubator, they have a ton of great vendors on site, and while you don’t have to use one of their partners, that was a huge draw to us because we wanted to support small business and do something different than the standard chicken/fish/vegetable offering you get from most wedding caterers (shoutout to Kam & 46 for incredible Hawaiian/Filipino food!).
  
  
  
  While there was some staff turnover during the planning process, Al’s consistency and guidance gave us confidence that everything would run smoothly on the day of. The space is very customizable, it’s easy to choose what kind of furniture and lighting you want, plus the digital screen and sound system (both indoors and outdoors), helped us fully transform the space to achieve everything we envisioned. Our only concerns during the planning process was the size of our party – we had over 120 attend – so we didn’t do the traditional assigned seats and tables, but nevertheless there was plenty of seating space indoors and outdoors, it didn’t feel too crowded at all, and there was never a line for the two single-stall bathrooms the entire night.
  
  
  
  Not only was the space great, but the service was superior. During our wedding reception, Al was incredibly attentive to us and anticipated our needs even before we did. For example, he regularly offered to fetch us drinks from the bar when he saw us finishing our beers and when he saw one of standing with friends, he immediately brought over a standing table so we could rest our food and drinks. Our guests were really impressed when we told them he was the owner of Mess Hall. I’m sure there’s a lot of things he did that we didn’t even see – all of which helped our wedding go smoothly.
  
  
  
  Overall, we were extremely pleased with Mess Hall and hope you will be too!

  Hosting our wedding at Mess Hall was one of the best decisions we made! The space is just what we wanted: industrial chic near the MBT with a covered outdoor area and access to amazing food. As a culinary incubator, they have a ton of great vendors on site, and while you don’t have to use one of their partners, that was a huge draw to us because we wanted to support small business and do something different than the standard chicken/fish/vegetable offering you get from most wedding caterers (shoutout to Kam & 46 for incredible Hawaiian/Filipino food!).
  
  
  
  While there was some staff turnover during the planning process, Al’s consistency and guidance gave us confidence that everything would run smoothly on the day of. The space is very customizable, it’s easy to choose what kind of furniture and lighting you want, plus the digital screen and sound system (both indoors and outdoors), helped us fully transform the space to achieve everything we envisioned. Our only concerns during the planning process was the size of our party – we had over 120 attend – so we didn’t do the traditional assigned seats and tables, but nevertheless there was plenty of seating space indoors and outdoors, it didn’t feel too crowded at all, and there was never a line for the two single-stall bathrooms the entire night.
  
  
  
  Not only was the space great, but the service was superior. During our wedding reception, Al was incredibly attentive to us and anticipated our needs even before we did. For example, he regularly offered to fetch us drinks from the bar when he saw us finishing our beers and when he saw one of standing with friends, he immediately brought over a standing table so we could rest our food and drinks. Our guests were really impressed when we told them he was the owner of Mess Hall. I’m sure there’s a lot of things he did that we didn’t even see – all of which helped our wedding go smoothly.
  
  
  
  Overall, we were extremely pleased with Mess Hall and hope you will be too!
• Matt V. Sent on 05/23/2024
  5 out of 5 rating

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  Highly Recommended!

  After our original venue backed out at the last minute, Al & the Mess Hall community came through and helped us host a hugely successful 100-person event at Mess Hall. Especially given the urgent/last minute nature of our event, Al was incredibly receptive, responsive, and supportive as we worked with him to fully realize our event. Mess Hall is a great space - cozy, well-located, and, importantly, a 'blank canvas' with lots of options to make your event come to life. Al & co have a selection of furniture (tables, chairs, etc) to rent if you prefer to streamline the process; you can bring your own decorations and furnishing if you had something more specific in mind. Furthermore, they have an incredible group of local and upcoming caterers that use the kitchen space there, making catering incredibly easy (and delicious). We were able to easily accommodate vegan and gluten-free dietary restrictions with one of their caterers (Kam & 46). Finally, their bar features hyper-local drink options from the DC area; our bartender for the event was great.
  
  In short: Mess Hall is a great venue, with a great mission, and great people behind it. The pricing was also incredibly reasonable - our package included an open bar in the pricing. I would gladly collaborate with them again! Thanks for everything, Al!

  After our original venue backed out at the last minute, Al & the Mess Hall community came through and helped us host a hugely successful 100-person event at Mess Hall. Especially given the urgent/last minute nature of our event, Al was incredibly receptive, responsive, and supportive as we worked with him to fully realize our event. Mess Hall is a great space - cozy, well-located, and, importantly, a 'blank canvas' with lots of options to make your event come to life. Al & co have a selection of furniture (tables, chairs, etc) to rent if you prefer to streamline the process; you can bring your own decorations and furnishing if you had something more specific in mind. Furthermore, they have an incredible group of local and upcoming caterers that use the kitchen space there, making catering incredibly easy (and delicious). We were able to easily accommodate vegan and gluten-free dietary restrictions with one of their caterers (Kam & 46). Finally, their bar features hyper-local drink options from the DC area; our bartender for the event was great.
  
  In short: Mess Hall is a great venue, with a great mission, and great people behind it. The pricing was also incredibly reasonable - our package included an open bar in the pricing. I would gladly collaborate with them again! Thanks for everything, Al!
• James O. Sent on 04/27/2024
  5 out of 5 rating

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  Wedding party for the ages

  Hosted a wedding dance party at Mess Hall for ~180 friends and family. It was an absolute blast! Cannot fully express how absolutely wonderful Al, Jordan, Ashley, Marcus, and all the staff and vendors were to work with. So communicative and did everything they could to make our vision a reality. 11 out of 10, would host another event with them!

  Hosted a wedding dance party at Mess Hall for ~180 friends and family. It was an absolute blast! Cannot fully express how absolutely wonderful Al, Jordan, Ashley, Marcus, and all the staff and vendors were to work with. So communicative and did everything they could to make our vision a reality. 11 out of 10, would host another event with them!

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• Jess A. Sent on 08/14/2023
  5 out of 5 rating

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  Wonderful Event

  We hosted an event at Mess Hall recently, and the experience was exceptional. The team at Mess Hall helped us customize an experience for our guests and worked with us to make it truly special and stay within our budget. We worked with Jordan as our event planner, and she was fantastic. We would absolutely hold another event there and would highly recommend the venue to others.

  We hosted an event at Mess Hall recently, and the experience was exceptional. The team at Mess Hall helped us customize an experience for our guests and worked with us to make it truly special and stay within our budget. We worked with Jordan as our event planner, and she was fantastic. We would absolutely hold another event there and would highly recommend the venue to others.
• Dan J. Sent on 05/31/2023
  5 out of 5 rating

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  Adaptable space with great vibes and wonderful staff

  We held our wedding at Mess Hall and thoroughly appreciated working with Jordan and the team. They were not at all frightened by our plans for a giant bake-off amongst our guests, music on a vinyl record player, book exchange, and more! They had terrific recommendations for people to hire, suggestions for places to rent additional chairs, and tips for how to make their space work for us! The venue is a wonderfully adaptable space with great vibes and lovely staff.

  We held our wedding at Mess Hall and thoroughly appreciated working with Jordan and the team. They were not at all frightened by our plans for a giant bake-off amongst our guests, music on a vinyl record player, book exchange, and more! They had terrific recommendations for people to hire, suggestions for places to rent additional chairs, and tips for how to make their space work for us! The venue is a wonderfully adaptable space with great vibes and lovely staff.
• Caroline H. Sent on 11/06/2022
  5 out of 5 rating

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  Best Night Ever Thanks to Mess Hall!

  My husband and I had a tiny COVID wedding and chose Mess Hall as our venue for a post-wedding party to celebrate with all of our friends a year later. Our experience working with the team at Mess Hall was completely wonderful from start to finish!
  
  When we first saw Mess Hall and met with Al, we knew we’d found the right place for our party. It was such a warm first meeting, just checking out the venue over a couple of beers, and we could totally picture ourselves and our friends in the cool, laid-back space. We knew right away that we could trust Al to help us pull off our vision for the party. A few months later, Mess Hall added their new event coordinator Jordan, who is absolutely wonderful. Great vibes from the entire team—incredibly supportive, willing to do anything to make our party perfect, and always at the ready with helpful suggestions when we needed them.
  
  The day of the party, we felt so loved and supported by everyone at Mess Hall while we collaborated on setting things up (Al personally helped us hang our neon sign and disco ball) and put the finishing touches on our vision. Jordan and Al both made sure everything went smoothly all night—and we have Jordan to personally thank for documenting the party on our polaroid camera! It was a perfect night and we can’t recommend Mess Hall highly enough!

  My husband and I had a tiny COVID wedding and chose Mess Hall as our venue for a post-wedding party to celebrate with all of our friends a year later. Our experience working with the team at Mess Hall was completely wonderful from start to finish!
  
  When we first saw Mess Hall and met with Al, we knew we’d found the right place for our party. It was such a warm first meeting, just checking out the venue over a couple of beers, and we could totally picture ourselves and our friends in the cool, laid-back space. We knew right away that we could trust Al to help us pull off our vision for the party. A few months later, Mess Hall added their new event coordinator Jordan, who is absolutely wonderful. Great vibes from the entire team—incredibly supportive, willing to do anything to make our party perfect, and always at the ready with helpful suggestions when we needed them.
  
  The day of the party, we felt so loved and supported by everyone at Mess Hall while we collaborated on setting things up (Al personally helped us hang our neon sign and disco ball) and put the finishing touches on our vision. Jordan and Al both made sure everything went smoothly all night—and we have Jordan to personally thank for documenting the party on our polaroid camera! It was a perfect night and we can’t recommend Mess Hall highly enough!
• Michael H. Sent on 10/24/2022
  5 out of 5 rating

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  Come for the venue -- stay for the service!

  We recently had our wedding reception at Mess Hall and loved it. Hopefully we only ever get married once – but we can both definitely say if we have the opportunity, we will choose Mess Hall a million times over for our wedding reception. Really 5 out of 5 stars on all fronts for Mess Hall – especially for their staff and management. Obviously, the space itself is very cool – in a class of its own and very unique. And the location too – walking distance to 2 metro stations! But things like space and location are things that are easy to look up online – if you’re reading this review you probably want to know about the intangibles and the staff – and so that is what this review is mostly about.
  When we chose Mess Hall as our venue about 10 months ago, we initially did so because we liked the space and location – but we would eventually find out that we also greatly appreciated, valued, and trusted the advice, help, and judgment of Mess Hall’s leadership and staff like Al and Jordan. Preparing for a wedding reception is a large undertaking – and for most of us regular folks its not something we will do many times in our life. Whenever we needed guidance or helpful suggestions on how to prepare and execute our event, Mess Hall staff and leadership worked with us to build out our vision. Our event certainly was our vision – but Mess Hall guided us in how to realize and execute it perfectly. We found that Mess Hall was very flexible with us, but also willing to share wisdom when we experienced some challenges in how to realize our vision. And just a tip – you can definitely trust Al, Jordan, and the rest Mess Hall staff!
  And the staff on day-of were also great! The event supervisor filled in any gaps as they inevitably arose throughout the evening, and the bartenders / waitstaff / custodians provided friendly and diligent service throughout the evening. Procuring staff directly through Mess Hall is definitely worth it if you choose to do that.

  We recently had our wedding reception at Mess Hall and loved it. Hopefully we only ever get married once – but we can both definitely say if we have the opportunity, we will choose Mess Hall a million times over for our wedding reception. Really 5 out of 5 stars on all fronts for Mess Hall – especially for their staff and management. Obviously, the space itself is very cool – in a class of its own and very unique. And the location too – walking distance to 2 metro stations! But things like space and location are things that are easy to look up online – if you’re reading this review you probably want to know about the intangibles and the staff – and so that is what this review is mostly about.
  When we chose Mess Hall as our venue about 10 months ago, we initially did so because we liked the space and location – but we would eventually find out that we also greatly appreciated, valued, and trusted the advice, help, and judgment of Mess Hall’s leadership and staff like Al and Jordan. Preparing for a wedding reception is a large undertaking – and for most of us regular folks its not something we will do many times in our life. Whenever we needed guidance or helpful suggestions on how to prepare and execute our event, Mess Hall staff and leadership worked with us to build out our vision. Our event certainly was our vision – but Mess Hall guided us in how to realize and execute it perfectly. We found that Mess Hall was very flexible with us, but also willing to share wisdom when we experienced some challenges in how to realize our vision. And just a tip – you can definitely trust Al, Jordan, and the rest Mess Hall staff!
  And the staff on day-of were also great! The event supervisor filled in any gaps as they inevitably arose throughout the evening, and the bartenders / waitstaff / custodians provided friendly and diligent service throughout the evening. Procuring staff directly through Mess Hall is definitely worth it if you choose to do that.
• Adam N. Sent on 10/17/2022
  5 out of 5 rating

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  Mess Hall - a unique gem in our own neighborhood!

  Mess Hall's unique venue, responsive, flexible and friendly staff, and the event preparations and execution were all a joy! Jordan, Al and Jay were wonderful to work with in the lead up to the event and we had so much fun during our Friday welcoming party to kick off our wedding weekend! The venue is so flexible for your needs - you can hold a formal or casual affair alike and you have so many options to make the place your own. The day after our wedding, we were even given free tickets to a trivia night at Mess Hall a few nights later. Highly recommend! Even luckier, we live a few blocks away!

  Mess Hall's unique venue, responsive, flexible and friendly staff, and the event preparations and execution were all a joy! Jordan, Al and Jay were wonderful to work with in the lead up to the event and we had so much fun during our Friday welcoming party to kick off our wedding weekend! The venue is so flexible for your needs - you can hold a formal or casual affair alike and you have so many options to make the place your own. The day after our wedding, we were even given free tickets to a trivia night at Mess Hall a few nights later. Highly recommend! Even luckier, we live a few blocks away!
• Kelsey M. Sent on 09/25/2022
  5 out of 5 rating

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  Awesome reception space!

  We used Mess Hall for our 80-person wedding reception, and we could not have been happier with the decision. We wanted a unique space that would work for both an intimate dinner and party atmosphere, and we certainly got both! The inside space was perfect for accommodating a seated dinner, bar, and buffet line, and we used the garage area for our band and dance floor. So many of our guests have complimented the space! Al and Jordan went above and beyond our expectations for communication and thoughtfulness for venue hosts -- both leading up to and on the day of our event. Al was great at providing ideas while also allowing us to really make the event our own. If you are looking for a unique event space, we definitely recommend Mess Hall!

  We used Mess Hall for our 80-person wedding reception, and we could not have been happier with the decision. We wanted a unique space that would work for both an intimate dinner and party atmosphere, and we certainly got both! The inside space was perfect for accommodating a seated dinner, bar, and buffet line, and we used the garage area for our band and dance floor. So many of our guests have complimented the space! Al and Jordan went above and beyond our expectations for communication and thoughtfulness for venue hosts -- both leading up to and on the day of our event. Al was great at providing ideas while also allowing us to really make the event our own. If you are looking for a unique event space, we definitely recommend Mess Hall!
• Neil Sent on 07/24/2019
  5 out of 5 rating

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  Great Space, Great Team, Great Price, Great Wedding

  Mess Hall was the perfect location for our wedding, and we’re so pleased with how the event went. The space is both hip and classy and easily accommodated our 70-person reception. Plenty of space to sit and to dance. The wine/beer package was good quality and reasonably priced. Mess Hall also set us up with a partner caterer, Sloppy Mama’s, which served mind-numbingly delicious barbecue. We’re very happy to have chosen Mess Hall for our wedding. Al and his team are honest, flexible, and professional. It was a pleasure working with them on the event. Highly recommended!

  Mess Hall was the perfect location for our wedding, and we’re so pleased with how the event went. The space is both hip and classy and easily accommodated our 70-person reception. Plenty of space to sit and to dance. The wine/beer package was good quality and reasonably priced. Mess Hall also set us up with a partner caterer, Sloppy Mama’s, which served mind-numbingly delicious barbecue. We’re very happy to have chosen Mess Hall for our wedding. Al and his team are honest, flexible, and professional. It was a pleasure working with them on the event. Highly recommended!
• Tyler C. Sent on 11/14/2018
  5 out of 5 rating

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  Beautiful space and friendly service

  The space is unique, beautiful, warm, and inviting. Perfect for a relatively casual event. And the staff was personable and very helpful.

  The space is unique, beautiful, warm, and inviting. Perfect for a relatively casual event. And the staff was personable and very helpful.
• Cyd E. Sent on 11/16/2018
  5 out of 5 rating

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  Highly recommend Mess Hall!

  We had our wedding reception at Mess Hall in October and could not have been happier with our experience! We worked directly with Al and Ann (who are both wonderful) to plan the reception. Mess Hall is such a unique space with a nice amount of flexibility that helps to really personalize your event. By having our reception at Mess Hall, we were able to connect with our caterers, Qui Qui Catering, who were absolutely amazing (also highly recommended) and already familiar with the space as members of the community. We appreciated that Mess Hall had bar packages to add on and found a phenomenal bartender for our day. We were extremely happy with the package we selected, which included local beers and liquors and three curated wines. As others have mentioned, the space itself is already visually appealing and does not require a ton of decorations to look great. The main space was naturally set up for cocktails, dinner, and our DJ and dance floor while giving guests enough space to mingle.
  Mess Hall was by far the best value of any other locations we researched in the DC-area. Throughout the planning process, we were consistently amazed at how we were able to have the event we wanted and stay within budget. Our guests all commented on what a fun and memorable location it was and we all had an absolute blast! We still talk about how fun the evening was and how we need another reason to throw an event at Mess Hall :) My husband and I highly recommend Mess Hall for your event.
  

  We had our wedding reception at Mess Hall in October and could not have been happier with our experience! We worked directly with Al and Ann (who are both wonderful) to plan the reception. Mess Hall is such a unique space with a nice amount of flexibility that helps to really personalize your event. By having our reception at Mess Hall, we were able to connect with our caterers, Qui Qui Catering, who were absolutely amazing (also highly recommended) and already familiar with the space as members of the community. We appreciated that Mess Hall had bar packages to add on and found a phenomenal bartender for our day. We were extremely happy with the package we selected, which included local beers and liquors and three curated wines. As others have mentioned, the space itself is already visually appealing and does not require a ton of decorations to look great. The main space was naturally set up for cocktails, dinner, and our DJ and dance floor while giving guests enough space to mingle.
  Mess Hall was by far the best value of any other locations we researched in the DC-area. Throughout the planning process, we were consistently amazed at how we were able to have the event we wanted and stay within budget. Our guests all commented on what a fun and memorable location it was and we all had an absolute blast! We still talk about how fun the evening was and how we need another reason to throw an event at Mess Hall :) My husband and I highly recommend Mess Hall for your event.
  
• Faith Sent on 11/15/2018
  5 out of 5 rating

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  Loved the mess hall dc!

  My name is Faith Klaus and I own Smashingly Events. I recently planned a wedding reception at the Mess Hall DC. If you are looking for an ultra cool event space [not your cookie cutter ballroom], then Mess Hall Dc is your place! Al Goldberg and his team at the Mess Hall were fabulous to work with. They were always available to answer questions and help us in any way with the process. They were flexible and helpful. You can transform the Mess Hall into anything that you dream. The wedding reception was so much fun and people were commenting on how fabulous the space was. We would highly recommend checking out the Mess Hall for your next event. As an event planner, it is so nice when you find a venue and team that is top notch! Thank you Al and Ann!!!! You made the process so easy. Faith

  My name is Faith Klaus and I own Smashingly Events. I recently planned a wedding reception at the Mess Hall DC. If you are looking for an ultra cool event space [not your cookie cutter ballroom], then Mess Hall Dc is your place! Al Goldberg and his team at the Mess Hall were fabulous to work with. They were always available to answer questions and help us in any way with the process. They were flexible and helpful. You can transform the Mess Hall into anything that you dream. The wedding reception was so much fun and people were commenting on how fabulous the space was. We would highly recommend checking out the Mess Hall for your next event. As an event planner, it is so nice when you find a venue and team that is top notch! Thank you Al and Ann!!!! You made the process so easy. Faith
• Ray Sent on 09/23/2018
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  Bottom line, the Mess Hall is a stunning venue with top notch customer care! We had our wedding there about 1 week ago and had been in contact with Al pretty regularly for approximately 8 months through the planning process. He was always responsive to inquiries almost immediately and sometimes even at hours we expected him to not be available. What's more, he was even helpful with topics that were seemingly otherwise not associated with the venue itself simply based on his experience. If we were having problems finding vendors from cakes to rental furniture, he had a plethora for us to choose from and that he trusted with such an important event. Based on our interaction with him and gleaning information from his expertise, we were able to have the reception we both dreamed of!

  Bottom line, the Mess Hall is a stunning venue with top notch customer care! We had our wedding there about 1 week ago and had been in contact with Al pretty regularly for approximately 8 months through the planning process. He was always responsive to inquiries almost immediately and sometimes even at hours we expected him to not be available. What's more, he was even helpful with topics that were seemingly otherwise not associated with the venue itself simply based on his experience. If we were having problems finding vendors from cakes to rental furniture, he had a plethora for us to choose from and that he trusted with such an important event. Based on our interaction with him and gleaning information from his expertise, we were able to have the reception we both dreamed of!
• Jenny Sent on 07/25/2018
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  We had our wedding party at Mess Hall, and we could not have asked for a better experience. From the get-go, Al was extremely helpful and communicative, and made excellent suggestions to help us figure out our vision. We wanted something non-traditional that would match our casual, urban lifestyle, but still have some cool design elements and touch of elegance. Mess Hall filled that bill perfectly. From the bar to the lights to the beer selection to the food, Al, Hannah and the Mess Hall team really came through. We hired a caterer (and an ice cream vendor!) from the Mess Hall community (Creative Catering), and in addition to delicious food, they turned an already cool space into something even cooler and more celebratory. All of our guests love the space and had a fantastic time. I highly recommend Mess Hall if you're looking for something different for your event. These folks rock so hard.

  We had our wedding party at Mess Hall, and we could not have asked for a better experience. From the get-go, Al was extremely helpful and communicative, and made excellent suggestions to help us figure out our vision. We wanted something non-traditional that would match our casual, urban lifestyle, but still have some cool design elements and touch of elegance. Mess Hall filled that bill perfectly. From the bar to the lights to the beer selection to the food, Al, Hannah and the Mess Hall team really came through. We hired a caterer (and an ice cream vendor!) from the Mess Hall community (Creative Catering), and in addition to delicious food, they turned an already cool space into something even cooler and more celebratory. All of our guests love the space and had a fantastic time. I highly recommend Mess Hall if you're looking for something different for your event. These folks rock so hard.

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• Carolyn Sent on 07/23/2018
  5 out of 5 rating

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  Mess Hall is the GEM of the DC wedding scene. I'm so glad we found out about it! Here's why we picked them:
  1. Unique, unexpected space with SO MUCH INCLUDED: cocktail tables, chairs, uplighting, Sonos sound system, Apple TV, limitless decoration potential (or you can leave it blank--it's a gorgeous space on its own). We used their local bar package as well--awesome drinks, great prices! The space allows for almost anything--we set up connect four, Jenga, a word search, a polaroid camera area, and we hung photos on the display shelves. Our guests had an absolute blast!
  2. Flexibility: We booked a date in November of 2018. But then we decided to elope and we wanted to have a party in July 2018. Al found a date for us and we switched everything up without a hitch.
  3. Catering: Since Mess Hall is a food incubator, you have your pick of all the vendors who are part of the community. Al will give you a list and talk with you about each person and the food they offer. You can get crazy creative and hire a whole bunch of them--maybe have a food truck outside--or hire a full service caterer from Mess Hall. That's what we did, and it's such a relief to have a caterer who knows the space and doesn't have to charge you for deliveries (since the party is at their work space). And all the food is AMAZING!
  4. Value: Mess Hall was hands down the best value we found in the DC area and we looked for months. Where some venues might say "this is how we do things, please sign here" Al says, "here are some awesome things people have done, but what would you like to do? Do you need ideas? How can we make this party super fun?" It felt personal because it was personal.
  And when your guests are calling you the next day about how much fun they had, and how unique they thought the space was, you know you've done well :)

  Mess Hall is the GEM of the DC wedding scene. I'm so glad we found out about it! Here's why we picked them:
  1. Unique, unexpected space with SO MUCH INCLUDED: cocktail tables, chairs, uplighting, Sonos sound system, Apple TV, limitless decoration potential (or you can leave it blank--it's a gorgeous space on its own). We used their local bar package as well--awesome drinks, great prices! The space allows for almost anything--we set up connect four, Jenga, a word search, a polaroid camera area, and we hung photos on the display shelves. Our guests had an absolute blast!
  2. Flexibility: We booked a date in November of 2018. But then we decided to elope and we wanted to have a party in July 2018. Al found a date for us and we switched everything up without a hitch.
  3. Catering: Since Mess Hall is a food incubator, you have your pick of all the vendors who are part of the community. Al will give you a list and talk with you about each person and the food they offer. You can get crazy creative and hire a whole bunch of them--maybe have a food truck outside--or hire a full service caterer from Mess Hall. That's what we did, and it's such a relief to have a caterer who knows the space and doesn't have to charge you for deliveries (since the party is at their work space). And all the food is AMAZING!
  4. Value: Mess Hall was hands down the best value we found in the DC area and we looked for months. Where some venues might say "this is how we do things, please sign here" Al says, "here are some awesome things people have done, but what would you like to do? Do you need ideas? How can we make this party super fun?" It felt personal because it was personal.
  And when your guests are calling you the next day about how much fun they had, and how unique they thought the space was, you know you've done well :)
• Keith Sent on 05/15/2018
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  If you want something original, unexpected, and budget-friendly, Mess Hall is a great option in the District. We held our cocktail hour, ceremony, and dinner there in March, 2018. So many positives to share...
  
  Mess Hall is a blank canvas -- it has a modern, industrial look, but you can transform it however you like. We only used the indoor spaces, but they have an outdoor option available too. They give you freedom to decorate (DIY or through a professional vendor) and execute your vision.
  
  When you tell your guests your wedding is at DC's hub for local, independent food concepts, they'll expect great catering! Management here knows people in the DC restaurant scene and can help you navigate the options. (And they didn't hesitate to offer inside advice on menus, pricing, and quality of service -- a big plus!) A definite highlight is Mess Hall's open-concept kitchen, which makes food central to the guest experience.
  
  Mess Hall handles alcohol service, and they worked with us to provide a signature cocktail/mocktail that our guests really loved. Our guests also loved the bartender. Go figure.
  
  At the end of the day, we were happy and our guests were too. All through the process, we felt we were in good hands. We highly and happily recommend Mess Hall!
  
  PS -- Another plus: Mess Hall is locally owned.

  If you want something original, unexpected, and budget-friendly, Mess Hall is a great option in the District. We held our cocktail hour, ceremony, and dinner there in March, 2018. So many positives to share...
  
  Mess Hall is a blank canvas -- it has a modern, industrial look, but you can transform it however you like. We only used the indoor spaces, but they have an outdoor option available too. They give you freedom to decorate (DIY or through a professional vendor) and execute your vision.
  
  When you tell your guests your wedding is at DC's hub for local, independent food concepts, they'll expect great catering! Management here knows people in the DC restaurant scene and can help you navigate the options. (And they didn't hesitate to offer inside advice on menus, pricing, and quality of service -- a big plus!) A definite highlight is Mess Hall's open-concept kitchen, which makes food central to the guest experience.
  
  Mess Hall handles alcohol service, and they worked with us to provide a signature cocktail/mocktail that our guests really loved. Our guests also loved the bartender. Go figure.
  
  At the end of the day, we were happy and our guests were too. All through the process, we felt we were in good hands. We highly and happily recommend Mess Hall!
  
  PS -- Another plus: Mess Hall is locally owned.
• J Sent on 03/05/2018
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  Mess Hall is an awesome, affordable venue in DC. The staff are responsive, professional and direct (in a good way!) with communications. The space is cool, and it's nice to have different areas for people to mingle at the party. It's a nice blank slate space, where you can stick with minimal decor or totally create your own universe in it. Highly recommend!

  Mess Hall is an awesome, affordable venue in DC. The staff are responsive, professional and direct (in a good way!) with communications. The space is cool, and it's nice to have different areas for people to mingle at the party. It's a nice blank slate space, where you can stick with minimal decor or totally create your own universe in it. Highly recommend!
• Aneesha Sent on 04/21/2018
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  I cannot say enough amazing things about mess hall! mess hall hosted our first (of 3!) wedding ceremonies, and every single aspect of the event was just wonderful. Al is nothing short of spectacular--work with him if you can!!--and everything was flexible and tuned to our preferences. Al was incredibly accommodating, and connected with us regularly to make sure everything was perfect. During the event, as happens with all events, there were some hiccups, but Al and the staff that were working with us came up with speedy solutions and our guests had just the best time. we had several wedding events, but the mess hall event was certainly the most memorable and the most "us"--and we felt like we've made friends for life with the folks we've met through our wedding planning experience. if you're looking for an intimate, special event that you won't forget, go with mess hall--you'll be so glad you did!

  I cannot say enough amazing things about mess hall! mess hall hosted our first (of 3!) wedding ceremonies, and every single aspect of the event was just wonderful. Al is nothing short of spectacular--work with him if you can!!--and everything was flexible and tuned to our preferences. Al was incredibly accommodating, and connected with us regularly to make sure everything was perfect. During the event, as happens with all events, there were some hiccups, but Al and the staff that were working with us came up with speedy solutions and our guests had just the best time. we had several wedding events, but the mess hall event was certainly the most memorable and the most "us"--and we felt like we've made friends for life with the folks we've met through our wedding planning experience. if you're looking for an intimate, special event that you won't forget, go with mess hall--you'll be so glad you did!
• Stephanie Sent on 07/23/2016
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  We had our daughter's bat mitzvah at Mess Hall and everything was awesome! Al and team were incredibly helpful and so much fun to work with. They bring an expertise in events that they match with your vision. The space is very cool and can be easily decorated Al seemingly knows everyone in the DC food scene and can connect you with top notch vendors ... formal and casual. Whatever you do, don't overlook the loading dock ... as odd as it sounds, it's a great space. Definitely a great space for unique events!

  We had our daughter's bat mitzvah at Mess Hall and everything was awesome! Al and team were incredibly helpful and so much fun to work with. They bring an expertise in events that they match with your vision. The space is very cool and can be easily decorated Al seemingly knows everyone in the DC food scene and can connect you with top notch vendors ... formal and casual. Whatever you do, don't overlook the loading dock ... as odd as it sounds, it's a great space. Definitely a great space for unique events!
• Cody B. Sent on 06/04/2024
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  Super fast, great response, and amazing throughout the night!

  The org I work for had an event in less than a week when our venue cancelled on us! Mess Hall and specifically Al were super quick to accommodate! They helped us pull off an amazing event and everyone ended up having an awesome night! We will definitely go to Mess Hall first next time and can't wait to be back in the space!

  The org I work for had an event in less than a week when our venue cancelled on us! Mess Hall and specifically Al were super quick to accommodate! They helped us pull off an amazing event and everyone ended up having an awesome night! We will definitely go to Mess Hall first next time and can't wait to be back in the space!

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• Megan Sent on 11/12/2018
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  Wonderful wedding venue.

  We had our wedding ceremony and reception in September at Mess Hall and we couldn't be happier with how it came out. Al was very pleasant to work with and he was receptive to our vision as it evolved. He was always very easy to get in touch with and always addressed our questions and concerns with a great attitude. The space was the perfect size for our 80 person wedding. We were very happy with how it turned out.

  We had our wedding ceremony and reception in September at Mess Hall and we couldn't be happier with how it came out. Al was very pleasant to work with and he was receptive to our vision as it evolved. He was always very easy to get in touch with and always addressed our questions and concerns with a great attitude. The space was the perfect size for our 80 person wedding. We were very happy with how it turned out.
• Eb4E784E28B02C9D39Ce0Cdaec7Aa71936Deef75 Sent on 07/25/2016
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  A great space for less than 100 person wedding if you are looking for something usual. You have access to amazing food (and drink) vendors and the space is very flexible. We had the ceremony in the loading dock which had a cool industrial vibe and then the food and dancing inside and were able to create a seating space and a dance floor. Al and his team will work with you to create the event you want. Great food and great space!

  A great space for less than 100 person wedding if you are looking for something usual. You have access to amazing food (and drink) vendors and the space is very flexible. We had the ceremony in the loading dock which had a cool industrial vibe and then the food and dancing inside and were able to create a seating space and a dance floor. Al and his team will work with you to create the event you want. Great food and great space!
• Noelle Sent on 03/13/2018
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  We recently had our daughter's Bat Mitzvah at Mess Hall and everything was fantastic! We wanted an unconventional space that was fun and unique but still had a sophisticated feel and that is exactly what we got. We used the main dining room for a variety of food stations, we utilized the loading dock for our DJ and dancing and then had food trucks pull up on the street. Al and Tara were amazing to work with. They helped with the many details of creating a space that worked for our party and guests. They also have a member list of many great food vendors, food trucks and caterers that are fantastic. From beginning to end, the entire experience was flawless. A perfect evening!!

  We recently had our daughter's Bat Mitzvah at Mess Hall and everything was fantastic! We wanted an unconventional space that was fun and unique but still had a sophisticated feel and that is exactly what we got. We used the main dining room for a variety of food stations, we utilized the loading dock for our DJ and dancing and then had food trucks pull up on the street. Al and Tara were amazing to work with. They helped with the many details of creating a space that worked for our party and guests. They also have a member list of many great food vendors, food trucks and caterers that are fantastic. From beginning to end, the entire experience was flawless. A perfect evening!!

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