Eat
Photo: Rey Lopez
New Notable No Longer: November 2016
November 1, 2016 @ 12:00am
On Tap keeps locals in the know about the latest and greatest food and drink locales around town, our top foodie picks for the month, and spots that have recently closed their doors. Read on to get the inside scoop on what’s new, notable and no longer in the DC area.
NEW
The Backroom at Kingbird
Open: Oct. 25
Location: Foggy Bottom
Lowdown: The Watergate is back
The remade Watergate has been returning to its glory in stages, and the latest opening features luxury in the form of “hyper-seasonal” three- and four-course tasting menus that start at $75. The concept includes a focus on tableside presentations (look for smoke pots and flames) and posh ingredients, such as biodynamic herbs. Oh, and there are $100 cocktails. Let us know how you like those, would you? The Backroom at Kingbird: 2650 Virginia Ave. NW, DC; www.thewatergatehotel.com/dine-and-drink/washington-dc-restaurant-kingbird
Cognac Le Bar at La Ferme Restaurant
Open: Sept. 28
Location: Chevy Chase
Lowdown: Pink Love (cognac, raspberry liquor, Champagne)
This long-time neighborhood favorite has launched a new bar within the restaurant, and just in time – their selection of cognac is perfect for cozy, cold-weather drinking. It also features its own menu of French-inflected small plates and an elegant handful of cognac-based cocktails. Cognac Le Bar at La Ferme Restaurant: 7101 Brookville Road, Chevy Chase, MD;www.lafermerestaurant.com/cognac-le-bar
Owen’s Ordinary
Open: Oct. 17
Location: North Bethesda
Lowdown: Beer – 50 rotating drafts, 200 rotating bottles
The Neighborhood Restaurant Group (Bluejacket, Churchkey) makes its first foray into Montgomery County with a beer palace. Even more impressive than the size of the beer selection is its deliberate focus on Maryland breweries. Half of the drafts offered at opening were products of Maryland, and Owen’s will continue to favor on the state’s producers as they rotate their selection. We also liked the menu of beer-complementing eats (pretzels, moules frites, fondue, burgers). Owen’s Ordinary: 11820 Trade Street, North Bethesda, MD; www.owensordinarymd.com
Proper 21
Open: Oct. 21
Location: Metro Center
Lowdown: Sexy sports bar
Proper 21 brings the sleek Manhattan aesthetic of its parent bars to a mellow stretch of F Street (a little too mellow for the previous two occupants of this space, both Italian restaurants). Looking for a spacious, sophisticated destination to watch a game? Craving a nicer meal than wings and fries while you watch it? Then you should be at Proper 21 – lots and lots of screens, thoughtful food, a solid drinks menu, and a “Tom Ford meets Thomas Edison” aesthetic (visit, and tell us if you get it). Proper 21: 1319 F St. NW, DC; www.proper21.com
Shaw Bijou
Open: Nov. 1
Location: Shaw
Lowdown: $185 + tax, tip, drinks
You might need to sell your bijoux to eat at Kwame Onwuachi’s hotly anticipated restaurant – but you will get a near-personalized and unique experience as you spend the evening moving around the multi-floored restaurant to experience different parts of your customized 13-course tasting menu. The beautiful restaurant (a town house converted specifically for this project) has only eight tables and will serve 40 people per night, and tickets are non-refundable. Let’s see if this talented 26-year-old chef can pull this off. Shaw Bijou: 1544 9th St. NW, DC; www.theshawbijou.com
Service Bar
Open: Oct. 20
Location: U Street
Lowdown: $7 daiquiris
There’s a shocking new trend starting to emerge in DC: affordable cocktails. At Service Bar, sure, some of the edgy and “hyper-seasonal” drinks (like the Heirloom Carrot Margarita) are closer to the (now) usual DC price tags, but classic cocktails are $7 and shots are BOGO all day long. And we’re huge fans of the cute menu, which has all sorts of little icons to inform you about your drink’s size and strength. Did we mention that there is also fried chicken? Go. Now. Service Bar: 928 U St. NW, DC; www.servicebardc.com
Spirits of 76
Open: Oct. 20
Location: Clarendon
Lowdown: George Washington’s dive bar
Longing for simpler times after the bruising election season? Head to Clarendon’s cozy new “Revolutionary War-themed” bar for American whiskies and well-prepared American bar food (yes, this incudes fish tacos). The theme is actually Americana (we love the Babe Ruth statue), but we were scratching our heads over the “Aldridge Ames Burger” (which was delicious). Is the double burger really named for the CIA double agent arrested in the 1980s? What would George Washington say? Spirits of 76: 3211 Washington Blvd., Arlington, VA; www.FB.com/thespiritsof76
Tredici Enoteca
Open: early November
Location: Dupont Circle
Lowdown: Philly wine bar comes to DC
I once went to an engagement party at the previous restaurant in the St. Gregory Hotel; despite its tony location, the couple got a startling bargain on mimosa service for 50. We collectively probably drank the hotel into reconsidering their business model. Along with an extensive remodel (the lobby was looking a bit dated), the hotel welcomes Philadelphia darling Tredici Enoteca. The cheap bottomless mimosas are gone, but there is now an extensive wine list and a smart selection of cocktails and sharable plates. Tredici Enoteca: 2033 M St. NW, DC; www.stgregoryhotelwdc.com/the-hotel/tredici-enoteca/
Union Drinkery
Open: Sept. 28
Location: Parkview
Lowdown: Neighborhood cocktails
This is my new favorite DC bar: friendly bartenders shaking affordable cocktails for a happy mix of long-time locals and more recently arrived young professionals. Its big gravel yard, which is shielded in the back from Georgia Ave., is doggie-friendly, and the unpretentious indoor bar is perfect for long winter evenings. Happy hour features $7 cocktails and $5 wine/beer. Union Drinkery: 3216 Georgia Ave. NW, DC; www.uniondrinkery.com
NOTABLE AT ON TAP
Finn Alford
Congratulations to our managing editor Monica Alford, and her husband Aaron, on the birth of their son, Finn Alford! We’re looking forward to meeting the newest addition to the OT family.
NOTABLE
&pizza
When: Now
Location: Chinatown
Lowdown: &cocktails
The popular local chain opens yet another pizza assembly line – but this is the first with a bar. Currently there are three specialty cocktails on offer, each featuring local distilleries: vodka ginger-berry lemonade, whiskey with peach-ginger tea, and tequila with lime and passionfruit. Drink up. &pizza: 705 H St. NW, DC; www.andpizza.com
OPENINGS
Los Cuates: 2429 18th St. NW, DC; www.loscuatesrestaurant.com
La Colombe: 201 M St. NE, DC; www.lacolombe.com
Zippin’ Chicken: Georgia and Harvard Sts. NW, DC; (no website listed)
Proper 21: 1319 F St. NW, DC; www.proper21.com
Jrink: 3250 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA; www.jrink.com
Spirits of 76: 3211 Washington Blvd. Arlington, VA; www.spiritsof76arlington.com
Service Bar: 926-928 U St. NW, DC; www.servicebardc.com
&pizza: 405 8th St. SE, DC; www.andpizza.com
The Backroom at Kingbird: 2650 Virginia Ave. NW, DC; www.thewatergatehotel.com
Letena: 3100 14th Street NW , DC; www.letenarestaurant.com
Rare Bird Coffee Roasters: 230 W. Broad St. Falls Church, VA; www.rarebirdcoffee.com
Little Baby’s Ice Cream: 1309 5th St. NE, DC; www.littlebabysicecream.com
Owen’s Ordinary: 11820 Trade Street, North Bethesda, MD; http://www.pikeandrose.com/food/owens-ordinary/
Blumen Cafe: 2607 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA; (no website listed)
East Grill Karaoke: 12 N. Washington St. Rockville, MD; (no website listed)
Different Pizza: 1764 Columbia Road NW, DC; (no website listed)
Commonwealth Joe’s: 520 12th St. S Suite 150, Arlington, VA; www.commonwealthjoe.com
Johnny’s Half-Shell: 1819 Columbia Rd. NW, DC; www.johnnyshalfshell.net
Rita’s: 3109 Martin Luther King Ave. SE, DC; www.ritasice.com
Ocean Prime: 1341 G St. NW, DC; www.ocean-prime.com
Ambar: 2901 Wilson Blvd. Clarendon, VA; www.ambarrestaurant.com
World of Beer: 11861 Palace Way, Fairfax, VA; www.worldofbeer.com
1000 Degrees Pizza: 3400 Columbia Pike, Suite 200, Arlington, VA; www.1000degreespizza.com
HalfSmoke: 651 Florida Ave. NW, DC; www.halfsmoke.com
Chuy’s: 1776 E Jefferson St. #117, Rockville, MD; www.chuys.com
Tilt: 1612 14th St. NW, DC; www.tiltdc.com
CLASS 520: 5 Dawson Ave. Rockville, MD; (no website listed)
Toku Japanese and Asian Cuisine: 1301 U St. NW, DC; www.tokudc.com
CLOSINGS
Fuego Cocina y Tequileria in Arlington: 2800 Clarendon Blvd. Arlington, VA
Spice in Clarendon: 3033 Wilson Blvd. Clarendon
Wood Ranch BBQ & Grill in Springfield
Park Lane Tavern in Clarendon
Chili’s in North Bethesda/Rockville
Zenebech in DC
