Bar #42 – American Ice Company
American Ice Company serves all their drinks in mason jars (with the exception of your canned beers, like PBR tallboys) beers, mixed drinks, shots and even wine. The bar serves a good list of beers. With little of the crap served in most bars (I’m looking at your Miller Light and Bud Light). They also have a few things I haven’t seen before: Siamese Twin Spiced Belgian 2x and Sixpoint Bengali Tiger IPA.
Original Look
- New Look
The place is tucked away off of U-street and near the 9:30 Club. The building is a renovated garage, with a front driveway filled with picnic tables and a garage door that stays open in the warm months. Inside, the place is decorated in what I will call “dark-bar”. Dark-bar is the standard for dives, because it hides the stains on the walls caused by smokers and makes it difficult to see the guy hitting on you. The walls are exposed brick and booths line the wall opposite the bar.
A major plus-side of AmICo is the bbq. Now it isn’t the best bbq I’ve had, but there is a dearth of bbq options in the DC area (my fav being the smoker off Jefferson Davis Hwy 1 by Quantico). If you are looking to get your bbq fix then this bar can help. They have pork, turkey and brisket with slaw.
The crowd is a decent lot though it gets crowded and there is always a line for the bathroom. Last time I was there I met some guy who used to work for a reality tv show based in Jersey and he now works for the Smithsonian. Now whether or not this is true is irrelevant, at least the guy had something interesting to say.
Overall, AmICo is a fun place to drink out of mason jars, enjoy some food and embrace DC weather.
Bar #41 – Little Miss Whiskey’s Golden Dollar
A friend of mine once described Little Miss Whiskey’s on H street in such a way that I can’t possibly improve upon it (though I’m taking liberties with the paraphrasing):
You walk in, and it’s like, chill, and dark, and kinda lounge-y, with all this purple mood lighting. It’s narrow and small, and the music isn’t that loud. There’s this glass door – it looks like a convenience store door – that goes upstairs, and oh man, you have no idea what’s in store for you. I like to call it the “Fun Door.” When you open the “Fun Door,” it’s like fun comes rushing through and punches you in the face. It’s the most amazing thing ever.
What my inebriated, anonymous friend is referring to is the 2nd floor of the bar, where the music is loud and the entire dance floor undulates with the swaying bump-n-grind of a crowd of intoxicated DCists in the 20s-to-30s age cohort. It’s not unlike Wonderland’s second floor, but far fewer sweaty hipsters – the rents on H street have already climbed high enough to price out anyone trying to earn a living with an MFA. The beer list is respectable, and although I scoff at the notion of paying $5 for a Pabst or Miller Lite (not that we would ever drink any of that low-rent crap, of course), paying $6 for a Bell’s Two-Hearted seems reasonable. I guess you’ve got to make your margins somewhere. The lowlife swill includes $3 Strohs and $4 Colt 45 tallboys.
Little Miss Whiskey’s is a fun place to be when you find yourself on H street after the sun goes down, particularly if you’re already a little hammered. I’d give it 37 whiskey shots on a scale of 49.
Bar #40 – Shaw’s Tavern
Although Shaw’s Tavern isn’t strictly a bar, we here at EBDC have been following and supporting the establishment through its struggles with the local liquor control fascists board. We were happy to hear that Shaw’s owners ultimately prevailed, and because it brings some much-needed hospitality to the neighborhood, we felt it earned a spot on our blog.
Shaw’s has a rustic, roomy interior with a spacious bar and lots of woodwork, as well as outdoor seating on the sidewalk. We initially had a table outside, but when it started to rain, we had to run in, where there was plenty of room to absorb the 20 or so people behind us. Fortunately, we were able to claim the leather couches. There is a large flatscreen TV above the bar that was playing the basketball game, and Cupcakes noted a Bose speaker in the ceiling of the (single, though clean) restroom. On warm days, the windows along the street are all opened, making Shaw’s an idyllic place to take your laptop and get some work done remotely on those days when you need to get away from the office.
Shaw’s beer list (pictured) doesn’t bullshit around with PBR or Yeungling (If you want to swill that crap, go to Wonderland, hipster). Instead, the list features several popular middle-brow selections in the $6-7 dollar range. Additionally, Shaw’s has a cocktail menu that’s consistent with the restaurant’s Civil War theme. Where the restaurant really shines is its menu. Although we didn’t order full meals – I had a so-so flatbread (Rustik has better pizza, by far) and Cupcakes and Samedi each got the porkbelly – everybody I know who’s eaten there has raved about it. I’ve heard particularly great things about the brunch menu, as well.
Shaw’s Tavern is only about 4 blocks from the Shaw metro station, a sub-10-minute walk from the U Street station, but far enough from the U Street corridor to be a nice refuge from the drunks and flea markets. Samedi recommends Shaw’s as a great neighborhood date spot, and I plan to return soon for brunch.
If I were rating Shaw’s Tavern as a bar, I would have to give it only three shots of Jim Beam on a scale of five (which, incidentally, is exactly how many Samedi drank that night). But Shaw’s is a welcome addition to the neighborhood, and we are happy to give it some good press.
Bar #39 – Boundary Stone
Time of Visit: Friday night
Cost: $3- $7
Clientele: Hipsters
Boundary Stone is the newest addition to the Bloomingdale neighborhood, which still has an unmet demand for hipster bars. I presume this is because every other neighborhood in the city “is over.”
As I approached the bar I noticed a sign telling me to enter through the barn-door. After standing too long I found the handle, helping in another person who walked right by it. We sat in the alley-way portion, which I guess is outside, but completely enclosed. This was one of the beautiful evenings in January so it was fairly warm. They do have space heaters set up for the cold nights. The inside decor is the dark dive-type bar I’m a big fan of. With old-fashioned light-bulbs, tin-ceilings and fancy wallpaper.
The nice thing about this bar is that like Rustik, it is managed by people who have decided to have a unique food menu. On the night I was there the deviled eggs were the most refreshing deviled eggs I’ve ever eaten – the style changes regularly. In fact several of the items on the menu change. The mac ‘n’ cheese was nothing to write home about. My drinking buddies for the night informed me that the salad, the bleu cheese burger and the quesadilla were delicious. The chipotle type mayo that came with the quesadilla had the type of flavor that is best described as evolving. Starting with a sweet, sort of smoky flavor and ending with an unexpected spiciness.
Boundary Stone also gets props for their drink list. Their liquors are separated by type but only identified by brand. This made it a little difficult ordering bourbon as I needed to ask which kind was available and the waitress did not know. The prices are very reasonable. Being able to get a $3 beer wouldn’t be anything special in Baltimore, but it’s more rare in the District than principled politicians.
This place would be a great weeknight bar to hangout at and chill with some friends or the bartender. On the weekend it’s crowded like most other bars around the district but allows for fun conversations with strangers.
Bar #38 – Lou’s City Bar
Time of Visit: Saturday night
Cost: $5-$8
Clientele: locals who love sports
Unfortunately Lou’s City Bar was fairly empty on Saturday in December. To get in the holiday spirit they were playing the holiday music channel. For those sport lovers that like to hear the game it sounds like they play music instead of any specific game. The TV’s are abundant, so you shouldn’t have a problem being able to see the game or multiple games you want.
The food menu has a decent array of bar food, which looks tasty and reasonably priced. If there was any reason I might go back to Lou’s it would be for a lazy bar meal. The beer selection is above average. I was excited to see Chicago’s 312 on tap. They also had a variety of seasonal beers.
The outside of Lou’s is normally a decent sized patio. This time of year they have a tent set up, the purpose which seems to be to disguise how few people are inside rather than house the overflow of people.
It’s not my type of bar. Even if I want to watch a game, I prefer a smaller space and if possible a way to hear the game. As my friend put it: I like Lou’s because it sucks all the terrible people out of the good bars in the area.
Bar #37 – Rustik Tavern
Time of Visit: Sunday night
Cost: $7-ish for a draft, $12 pizzas
Clientele: Residents of the surrounding neighborhoods (Bloomingdale, Eckington, Shaw, LeDroit)
I realize this review is coming a little late. Rustik has been open for several months now, and if you live in one of the surrounding neighborhoods, chances are you’ve probably already checked it out. If you don’t live nearby, then you’re probably not going to trek out to Bloomingdale to visit a single bar. However, if you’re a pizza enthusiast, I hope I can change your mind.
Rustik Tavern has the most amazing pizza I’ve had in DC. It’s thin and crispy, slathered with olive oil, baked in a real fire-brick oven, and goes a step above the typical Pizza/Sausage/Cheese offerings at most other places. I’ve sampled the Christina (pears, goat cheese, prosciutto and rosemary) and the shrimp pizza (chili-basil-lime shrimp with mozz and peppers). Both are fan-freaking-tastic, and I look forward to returning to try the pesto and the Pep Pep.
Rustik has two Great Lakes brews on tap (Dortmunder Gold and Edmund Fitzgerald), a handful of other micros, and of course the ubiquitous Yuengling. The bar also has a modest wine list that represents a good sampling of varietals without being redundant. I’ve not had brunch at Rustik yet, but it looks like they serve fritatas styled similarly to their pizzas, as well as bottomless mimosas, bellinis and Kir royals.
The only drawbacks to the bar are the low lighting inside (hard to read the menus) and its unfortunate location. While it’s an absolute gem for the neighborhood (and any locals wanting to avoid the mustachioed hipster crowd at Big Bear), I can’t recommend Rustik as a Saturday night destination spot for travelers. It’s just too far away from anything else, is likely to be crowded, and finding a cab late at night on Rhode Island isn’t exactly a cakewalk. If the Yelp reviews are any indication, brunch is a hectic time to visit as well. However, for pizza snobs, the journey is definitely worthwhile for a weeknight dinner date.
Bar # 36 – Bier Baron Tavern
Time: Saturday night
Cost: $4-$7 range
Clientele: A wide mix of locals looking for a relaxed night out and business travelers
I’ve finally made my way to checking out the revamped Brickskeller. Same look and feel but new owner.
And with the new owner came management that knows how to stock and advertise beer. Unlike every visit I’ve made to Brickskeller and RFD, Bier Baron Tavern actually had every beer I requested. This saved me the pain of having to request three different beers, giving up and then asking the waiter what they have.
The menu has 500 bottled beers, which seems to be the number for great beer bars. They have a system that allows them to have 50 beers on tap with it’s own nitrogen system. They offer a tasting of 6 3.5oz. pours from any of their draft beers for only $15. I don’t recall how many draft beers were on the list, but the list of drafts beers were mostly new to me. A good sign.
There were a couple interesting beers of note. On tap they had Stillwater Cellar Door’s Saison with White Sage, it was great with a taste of sage. A very unique beer. And on the unique side but not good they have Hell or High Watermelon, which is a watermelon flavored wheat beer from 21st Amendment Brewery.
Get it for the can or because you love watermelon Jolly Ranchers, not because you want a beer.
Also on the list you’ll notice our local breweries: Chocolate City and DC Brau.
Now if they can only get me an appetizer that I’d want to eat with my beer we’d be good to go. And news has it they are working on adding some tasty treats to their very simple menu, which was about two-dozen items in 12 point font on white paper (really quit elegant). The plate of chocolate chip cookies seemed to be the popular choice at our table.
Except for the beer and food everything else appears to be exactly the same. Which means the bar is still decent to hangout at, if anything it’s improved with the beer quality. And the cellar space is good for both big and small groups. I also find that people in the bar are super friendly.
Bar #35 – The Codmother
Time: Friday 7pm, Saturday midnight
Cost: cheap.
Clientele: DJ’s with no concept of what “Dance music” is; white and nonwhite people who dance like white people.
I, Samedi, Cupcakes, and a large group of friends met up at the Codmother on U street a few weeks ago for a surprise birthday party for a mutual friend. None of us had been there before, but its close proximity to Solly’s guaranteed we’d at least have a getaway plan if it turned out to be crowded, loud, or just sucky in general. Fortunately, Codmother turned out to be exactly the kind of place we’ve been looking for.
The space is a (very) small brick basement. It’s smaller than the Raven, which meant that our group of ~20-25 friends took up at least 50% of the place. The outside smoking area is even smaller, which unfortunately means that overflow smokers have to stand on the sidewalk and contend with foot traffic. The draft selection is limited to what you’d see everywhere else (Bud Light, Guinness, PBR), though the bottle selection is more diverse. As for food, they have fish, chips, fish and chips, and that’s about it. There’s also a desert called “spotted dick,” a name that’s sure to tickle your inner 10-year-old. See the menu here.
Punk fans, take note: This is what you can expect to hear all night when at the Codmother:
Now, truth be told, I didn’t discover the real appeal of Codmother until my second visit this past weekend. I was coming back from getting my dance on over on H street around midnight, and after stopping in at Oohs and Ahhs for some orgasmic mac & cheese, I decided to meet up with a couple of pals at Codmother. I plopped down at the bar, and after failing to get the bartender/owner(?)’s attention for a few minutes – he was getting some serious “fuck-me” vibes from a blonde gal in a green dress – I finally got myself a drink. I’d noticed the tables in front had been cleared out in front of two DJs to make a dance floor. My ladypal and I hopped out on the floor to unabashedly drop booty to the tune of “California Love.” When the song was over, the DJs must have turned on their “Punk-Pop and 80s Soft Rock” playlist, because the next track was Weezer, followed by a long string of fluffy, power-pop-punk shlock. We were just intoxicated enough to not let the fact that you can’t really dance to Weezer deter us, so we continued jumping and gyrating around like the whitest people this side of Georgetown.
The greatest, most mind-blowing moment happened just as the bartender was making the last call. The punk music stopped, and I kid you not, the DJs played the theme song to DUCKTALES! What a way to end the night, right? I mean, have you heard that song at all in the last twenty years? That experience solidified Codmother as an awesome little divey bar.
If I had to describe Codmother in one sentence, it would be: “We have Guinness and we have fish, and if you don’t like it like it you can piss off, wanker.” The place has charm and character, and importantly, it doesn’t try to be more than what it is. At the very least, it serves as a worthwhile refuge from the shitshow that is U Street every Friday and Saturday night.
Bar #34 – Union Pub
Quick take: Union Pub has a better draft selection than many other places. The staff is friendly, outdoor seating is abundant, and there are several hi-def television screens for you sports enthusiasts.
The only downside to UP is that it’s a capitol hill bar located right across the street from the Heritage Foundation. The only two things in DC I dislike more than clueless escalator-riding tourists, are idiot conservative wonks who couldn’t identify a lost cause (and what’s been, by any reasonable standard, an atrocious policy in terms of human costs and the losses in personal liberty) when that lost cause is staring them right in their goddamn faces… and Hill People. Seriously. The team names these folks came up with for Tuesday trivia were fucking lame.
Also, the mini corn dogs are bomb-diggity.
Bar #33 – Bayou
Time: Friday, 6 PM – Midnight
Cost:
- reasonably-priced beers, including Abita
- $7-10 cocktails
- $2 po’ boy sliders during happy hour
- somewhat pricey food, but damn good and worth every penny.
I turned another year older in February, and to celebrate not dying for 12 months, I had a birthday party at Bayou in Foggy Bottom. Formerly known as the Rookery, Bayou is a Cajun restaurant and bar with an inviting interior and… Listen, I won’t try to bullshit my way through this review – my memory has a big hole in it from about 8pm to midnight that evening. Generous friends bought me drinks left and right while I chain-smoked on the patio for about six straight hours. From what I do remember, the front patio was swarmed and taken over by a large crowd of libertarians.* Now, if you’re thinking it’s far too cold in late February to stand outdoors for four hours, then you can take your little pink parasol and sashay across the street to 51st state, Miss Prissy-Pants. I’m from the midwest, bitch.
When I hopped into a cab at midnight, it was because my body was sounding the “ten-minutes-until-total-stomach-evacuation” alarm. I’ve since apologized to all the young male friends I kept calling “mama’s little kittens” all evening (those kittens ain’t gonna hassle themselves, right?), and have put the episode behind me.
Irregardless, I’ve been back to Bayou a few times since, and I’ll say that it’s a really great place. The food is a-ma-zing, and they carry a wide selection of Abita beer (the Jockamo is good, though the Purple Haze takes me back to my days of hangin’ out with Li’l Wayne) The 4-7 happy hour will get you good prices on beer and cocktails. And if you like live music, they do that, too. I haven’t checked out the brunch yet (the summer heat and weekend metro delays limits me to the places in my neighborhood and $2 bloody marys, what up), but I hear its good and look forward to checking it out.
*for the record, EBDC’s only political positions are 1. Fuck the Right and Left, and 2. Smoking bans in bars are stupid.
