Definitive Washington DC visit thread

[harrymel1]

I've been trying to piece together something from this thread, but it's a little tough (for me anyway) to get a good idea on how to come up with an itinerary for a day of grub and beer starting around noon and ending when my friend and I are done.

I know I would like to hit churchkey as I haven't been since 2011 IIRC. And I was last in DC 2 years ago, but didn't really have time to just get out and hit some breweries and bars. Seems like Adams Morgan and Dupont are decent areas to start, but I'm not sure.

Any advice or guidance on how to arrange the day? I would like to start with lunch and beer - ideally in an area that walking to a couple/few spots after would be feasible. I have no objection to taking transit/uber to a different area of town, maybe a couple times if you folks say it's worth it.

Beer wise, I drink everything and love just about everything. I'm always on the lookout for a good selection or production of lagers these days too.

Food wise, I have no dietary restrictions, but especially dig really authentic grub from anywhere from the Asian continent (including Russia). I have a fondness for noodle dishes, but also really love Indian.

My buddy and I plan to get into DC proper around lunchtime on 6/3 (Monday Funday), and if anybody would like to meet for a beer that day that'd be great - my treat.

Thanks!

 

[bramsdell]

I've been trying to piece together something from this thread, but it's a little tough (for me anyway) to get a good idea on how to come up with an itinerary for a day of grub and beer starting around noon and ending when my friend and I are done.

I know I would like to hit churchkey as I haven't been since 2011 IIRC. And I was last in DC 2 years ago, but didn't really have time to just get out and hit some breweries and bars. Seems like Adams Morgan and Dupont are decent areas to start, but I'm not sure.

Any advice or guidance on how to arrange the day? I would like to start with lunch and beer - ideally in an area that walking to a couple/few spots after would be feasible. I have no objection to taking transit/uber to a different area of town, maybe a couple times if you folks say it's worth it.

Beer wise, I drink everything and love just about everything. I'm always on the lookout for a good selection or production of lagers these days too.

Food wise, I have no dietary restrictions, but especially dig really authentic grub from anywhere from the Asian continent (including Russia). I have a fondness for noodle dishes, but also really love Indian.

My buddy and I plan to get into DC proper around lunchtime on 6/3 (Monday Funday), and if anybody would like to meet for a beer that day that'd be great - my treat.

Thanks!

I'll be out of town, but enjoy! Happy to answer any questions.

Do you like Ethiopian food? It's kind of DC proper's ethnic food of fame. I am far from an Ethiopian expert, so others should definitely jump in, but if so, then I would probably get lunch at a place in Shaw (Chercher or Queen of Sheba) and hit Right Proper's pub in Shaw. Hang there for a bit and then make your way to Churchkey. Most places with good beer lists aren't open before 4, but Right Proper might be.

 

[JCastle1]

I'll be out of town, but enjoy! Happy to answer any questions.

Do you like Ethiopian food? It's kind of DC proper's ethnic food of fame. I am far from an Ethiopian expert, so others should definitely jump in, but if so, then I would probably get lunch at a place in Shaw (Chercher or Queen of Sheba) and hit Right Proper's pub in Shaw. Hang there for a bit and then make your way to Churchkey. Most places with good beer lists aren't open before 4, but Right Proper might be.

Right Proper opens at 4 on weekdays.

 

[Shakedwnst]

May have to consider something like pizzeria paradiso but not sure if they still have good beer. I’ve been gone for 5 years now.

 

[bramsdell]

May have to consider something like pizzeria paradiso but not sure if they still have good beer. I’ve been gone for 5 years now.

Good suggestion. Pizzia Pardiso usually has a small, but high quality, selection on draft and then a decent (though sometimes random) bottle selection. If you go to the one in Dupont, you're still pretty central for Adams Morgan and downtown. If you go to the one in Georgetown, go to the Sovereign (Belgian bar owned by the same people as Churchkey).

 

[harrymel1]

I was looking at Blue Jacket as a starting point since they're actually open around lunchtime and are a decent distance from dupont/downtown/adams morgan - any rec's in the industrial area after lunch and beers at blue jacket?

I have paradiso as a potential starting point as well in dupont, as well as city tap house.

As an aside, how does such a large metro not drink beer before 4pm?! Is that an east coast standard? While I haven't spent time in the Bay area, i've otherwise never had trouble coming up with a daytime route for beers on the west cost.

 

[bramsdell]

I was looking at Blue Jacket as a starting point since they're actually open around lunchtime and are a decent distance from dupont/downtown/adams morgan - any rec's in the industrial area after lunch and beers at blue jacket?

I have paradiso as a potential starting point as well in dupont, as well as city tap house.

As an aside, how does such a large metro not drink beer before 4pm?! Is that an east coast standard? While I haven't spent time in the Bay area, i've otherwise never had trouble coming up with a daytime route for beers on the west cost.

DC kinda sucks before 4pm. There are some places, but nothing beer-centric.

Blue Jacket is solid - I was there on Saturday night. Both the food and the beer there are pretty good, but I never go there because I don't think they're worth the trek from where I live. However, if you have time to kill and don't mind grabbing a Lyft/taxi/public transit (the Metro suuuuucks), it's a good place for weekday daytime. Worth it if you're coming in from out of town.

 

[harrymel1]

DC kinda sucks before 4pm. There are some places, but nothing beer-centric.

Blue Jacket is solid - I was there on Saturday night. Both the food and the beer there are pretty good, but I never go there because I don't think they're worth the trek from where I live. However, if you have time to kill and don't mind grabbing a Lyft/taxi/public transit (the Metro suuuuucks), it's a good place for weekday daytime. Worth it if you're coming in from out of town.

I will be staying out in North Beach, MD, so it's actually a pretty decent drop off point for our driver. Sweet, then that might seal the starting point and then we can work our way NW.

 

[RC46Interceptor]

I was looking at Blue Jacket as a starting point since they're actually open around lunchtime and are a decent distance from dupont/downtown/adams morgan - any rec's in the industrial area after lunch and beers at blue jacket?

I have paradiso as a potential starting point as well in dupont, as well as city tap house.

As an aside, how does such a large metro not drink beer before 4pm?! Is that an east coast standard? While I haven't spent time in the Bay area, i've otherwise never had trouble coming up with a daytime route for beers on the west cost.

The Partisan - yet another NRG spot - is open for lunch during the week, and although it doesn't have a huge tap/bottle list like Churchkey or the Sovereign, there's usually a few good options on tap (Florence is on tap now). You could Uber/Lyft from Bluejacket north to the Partisan, then walk to City Tap (about 10 minutes), then walk to Churchkey from City Tap (about 20 minutes).

 

[RC46Interceptor]

Also, if you like Indian, Rasika is like a half block away from the Partisan and is excellent (but fancy).

 

[Shakedwnst]

Also, if you like Indian, Rasika is like a half block away from the Partisan and is excellent (but fancy).

Rasika is amazing and although it’s Indian food is on a completely different level (I think it was on the James Beard nominee lists this year). It was nearly impossible to get in to when we lived there. Go have the palak chaat and thank me later.

 

[bramsdell]

Rasika is amazing and although it’s Indian food is on a completely different level (I think it was on the James Beard nominee lists this year). It was nearly impossible to get in to when we lived there. Go have the palak chaat and thank me later.

My wife and I (her family is Indian) have never loved Rasika. It’s really good, but I don’t think it lives up to the hype. I prefer Bombay Club for more traditional (if pretty tame) fare or Bindaas for the price to quality.

Don’t listen to me though - everyone ******* loves Rasika and if you can get a table, it’s worth it’ll try.

 

[RC46Interceptor]

I dunno what Rasika's availability is for lunch since I've only been there for dinner, and yeah, it's tough to get a table for dinner at least. harrymel, if you like Asian food and are willing to head further north, try Thip Khao in Columbia Heights. Unfortunately, the beer options around there kinda suck, now that Meridian Pint closed/moved to VA, but Thip Khao is really good! And if you like cocktails, it's a short trip over to Reliable Tavern, which is probably my favorite place to get a drink in DC. The beer list is lacking, but you can't get better cocktails in the city for the price, IMO.

 

[Shakedwnst]

I can imagine if you have access to homemade Indian food Rasika isn’t that exciting.

We lived in Columbia Heights and D’Vines right on 14th was always pretty good albeit overpriced. Quick check now tells me maybe that’s not the case anymore. Either way, in Columbia Heights you aren’t too far from AdMo/DuPont.

Heard good things about Thip Khao but it opened after we left.

 

[RC46Interceptor]

I still go to D'Vines once or twice a month. These days, it's fine if you need a four/six pack of local beer and don't mind paying a little more for the convenience.

A decent route could be to go to Bluejacket first then -> Partisan -> Churchkey -> to Columbia Heights for dinner at Thip Khao -> to AdMo to hit Smoke and Barrel OR to Shaw to hit Right Proper -> to Sovereign if you went to Smoke and Barrel OR back to Churchkey if you went to Right Proper.

 

[harrymel1]

I dunno what Rasika's availability is for lunch since I've only been there for dinner, and yeah, it's tough to get a table for dinner at least. harrymel, if you like Asian food and are willing to head further north, try Thip Khao in Columbia Heights. Unfortunately, the beer options around there kinda suck, now that Meridian Pint closed/moved to VA, but Thip Khao is really good! And if you like cocktails, it's a short trip over to Reliable Tavern, which is probably my favorite place to get a drink in DC. The beer list is lacking, but you can't get better cocktails in the city for the price, IMO.

Just looked at Thip Khao’s menu. Hhhhnng!

I will actually plan that for after we hit the zoo as a family with friends so I can dictate more dishes get to the table. That place looks really awesome.

Thanks for pointing that one out!

 

[harrymel1]

My wife and I (her family is Indian) have never loved Rasika. It’s really good, but I don’t think it lives up to the hype. I prefer Bombay Club for more traditional (if pretty tame) fare or Bindaas for the price to quality.

Don’t listen to me though - everyone ******* loves Rasika and if you can get a table, it’s worth it’ll try.

I struggle with this same problem a bit. I really don’t know **** about Indian food, except that I’ve never been disappointed. That said I have a couple colleagues from India and their wives cook up a spread a few times a year that no restaurant I’ve been to can compete with. I think it has to do with both the fact that these families source their spice from people traveling back from India/Pakistan so it’s exactly what they want and as fresh as possible combined with the reality that often well cooked home meals are infrequently surpassed by venue meals.

Rasika has a yummy menu, but given it’s a drink outing, I’m reluctant to dedicate to reservations.

I was considering buying a fat stack of cured meats from red apron and just gobbling that along the walks. Although tho Da Hong Pao joint has dim sum on weekdays and I seldom get to hit dim sum outside of Seattle that’s worth my time.

Current roughed out route:

Blue jacket -> walk or uber yo Partisan in Penn -> +/- red apron to go grub -> city tap house -> Churchkey-> right proper -> shrugging guy.

Haven’t really planned out dinner yet. I’m not especially inspired by any of the entrees at the drinking joints, plenty of fun apps, but who knows. By the time I’m 5-6 beers in I will prolly just roll up to the bar and order a juicy burger and then be all like, “yeah, that Oil of Aphrodite seems like a good idea now that I’ve lubed up my gullet...plus I’m beer smart and it’ll pair well with the burger with egg and extra jalapeños on it”

 

[JCastle1]

Maydan is not far from Right Proper and it's one of the greatest meals I've ever had in DC. Hard to get a table though.

 

[tbub18]

Anyone want my Zenne box? Bought them to share at a wedding but plans fell through and didn’t end up drinking them. Just looking for cost—210 all in with taxes and shipping fees. I’m in H street for pick up

 

[capnmike]

Anyone want my Zenne box? Bought them to share at a wedding but plans fell through and didn’t end up drinking them. Just looking for cost—210 all in with taxes and shipping fees. I’m in H street for pick up

dangit, was just there for work 2-3 weeks ago and would’ve been a HARD yes.

wait, that emphasis didn’t work out exactly like I wanted it to, but you get the idea.

 

[tbub18]

This is all set