An Eater DC reader wants to know where to impress co-workers with a fun and funky atmosphere
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“Can you help me find someplace fun, funky, with atmosphere to take a work group for dinner? Eclectic eaters, one vegetarian in the group.”
Hey there, SM! Happy to help. Three after-work options in the heart of D.C. come to mind. Enjoy!
This Bib Gourmand-designated showpiece, nestled off the hustle and bustle of 7th Street NW, has a roomy lounge area up front with lots of comfy couches off to the side. A lengthy marbled bar ensures there’s no one left standing. Clock out right on time to cash in on its short new happy hour (5 p.m. to 6 p.m.), when all kinds of sharable naan — minced chicken, goat cheese, and garlic — are just $5 and friendly bartenders have fun making their own cocktail of the day. For your vegetarian co-worker, consider new fall dishes from New Delhi-born chef Ajay Kumar like wok-tossed paneer with heirloom tomatoes and peppers or stuffed paneer with peaches and spicy gravy.
The dimly-lit bar at this stylish standby from celebrity couple Guiliana and Bill Rancic is arguably the closest thing D.C. has to a Vegas vibe (which makes sense why there’s now one at Caesars Palace). Billowing curtains join modern touches like sound-proof matte black ceilings, which encourage clear and audible conversation between groups. Its aperitivo hour from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. offers crazy discounts on cocktails (a $7 vodka-and-prosecco Spritz & Giggles is normally $14). The move: blanket the table with a parade of $6 Italian starters like tuna bruschetta or mushroom and truffle crostini, or enjoy happy hour alfresco on its patio. If you want to put the expense account to work, book a big booth in the scene-y dining room where its black tie-wearing waiters run one of the tightest ships in town.
Downtown’s tried-and-true Belgian staple from acclaimed restaurateur Robert Wiedmaier is still going strong, 15 years in. Impress beer aficionados in the group with a thick, hard-to-find list of European selections by the bottle and on tap. A big bar area framed with vintage clocks and art is a good place to camp out and order freshly-shipped oysters, presented on ice in circular tins. Its opulent seafood tower is a pescatarian’s dream, stacked with a dozen oysters, clams, prawns, a whole Maine lobster, Alaskan crab legs, and sashimi ($175). Mussels come in half or whole portions, and the latter arrives with crowd-pleasing frites. Along with a normal happy hour time, there’s also a late-nite deal starting at 9:30 p.m. for those leaving the office late. I just found out they hired Eugene Perret, a rising young chef who’s cooked at Michelin-starred restaurants like Komi and Kinship and most recently Secreto de Rosita, so he’s sure to add his own spin to the menu soon.
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