DC restaurants where grumpy middle aged men can eat meat and drink
October 31, 2014 1:06 PM Subscribe
I'm part of a group of middle-aged male librarians that get together periodically to talk shop, eat meat, and drink in DC. We're out of touch on the current restaurant explosion, have some specific requirements, and need your help, hivemind.
We're looking for something with:
1. A reasonable amount of parking nearby (free ideally, but not required) - street or otherwise.
2. Not a heavy amount of foodie / new restaurant scene hype. More comfortable and low key than hip / flashy.
3. Good meat dishes of some kind - type of cuisine is irrelevant, as long as the quality is high.
4. Good beer on tap, decent pours on mixed drinks.
Places in the close-in suburbs (e.g. Silver Spring, Arlington) are also of interest.
Despite being a bunch of professional researchers, we've pretty much failed to help ourselves in this case. Any suggestions will be much appreciated!
We're looking for something with:
1. A reasonable amount of parking nearby (free ideally, but not required) - street or otherwise.
2. Not a heavy amount of foodie / new restaurant scene hype. More comfortable and low key than hip / flashy.
3. Good meat dishes of some kind - type of cuisine is irrelevant, as long as the quality is high.
4. Good beer on tap, decent pours on mixed drinks.
Places in the close-in suburbs (e.g. Silver Spring, Arlington) are also of interest.
Despite being a bunch of professional researchers, we've pretty much failed to help ourselves in this case. Any suggestions will be much appreciated!
Best answer: Pork Barrel BBQ in Del Ray (a tiny, charming neighborhood in Alexandria, VA) has street parking around, fabulous meat, cocktails for dinner and is pretty low-key.
It's a quick drive from Old Town Alexandria which is chock full of historic sites and people-watching. (For that matter, there are tons of restaurants in Old Town Alexandria but I don't have any specific recommendations.)
posted by rogerrogerwhatsyourrvectorvicto at 1:44 PM on October 31, 2014
It's a quick drive from Old Town Alexandria which is chock full of historic sites and people-watching. (For that matter, there are tons of restaurants in Old Town Alexandria but I don't have any specific recommendations.)
posted by rogerrogerwhatsyourrvectorvicto at 1:44 PM on October 31, 2014
Does your group skew VA or MD? My experience is almost entirely in the Virginia suburbs, but places like Sweetwater Tavern (and the other Great American restaurants mentioned), Dogfish Head, and Mad Fox Brewery in Fairfax and Falls Church would definitely get you meat-n-beer in a low-key setting that's good for sitting, chatting, eating, and drinking. Maybe also the Matchbox Group owned restaurants, if you include "burgers" in the category of good meat (I'm partial to Ted's Bulletin).
posted by bowtiesarecool at 1:53 PM on October 31, 2014
posted by bowtiesarecool at 1:53 PM on October 31, 2014
Best answer: Denizens Brewing Co in Silver Spring has excellent beer on tap, has parking about a block away, is not crazy loud, and their food is done by BBQ Bus. They do not, however, have mixed drinks.
posted by god hates math at 2:48 PM on October 31, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by god hates math at 2:48 PM on October 31, 2014 [1 favorite]
Best answer: The GAR restaurants in Virginia are definitely good crowd-pleasers; good if not exactly haute cuisine, excellent service, ample parking in most locations, craft beer, full bar, etc. I'm a fan of Sweetwater (multiple locations) and Silverado (Annandale) but Carlysle (Shirlington) is also good and easier to get to by public transport.
J. Gilbert's in McLean is also good if you want something a little more upscale but without the pretentiousness of Ruth's Chris, Capitol Grille, or Morton's. Unfortunately, it's in McLean, which might not fit your definition of "near suburb".
On the other hand if you want something more focused on beer than beef, I'd say any of the several brewery-restaurants might be a good choice. I am a big fan of Mad Fox Brewing Company in Falls Church City, although it can get fairly crowded particularly on Thursday and Friday nights. Capitol City Brewing Company is also an option, although I don't think the food is nearly as good... but they do have a location downtown (New York Ave and I St NW), although I don't know what the parking situation is like. (As a general rule I don't drive into the District, I only Metro; it's not far from McPherson Square though.)
Korean barbecue is certainly an option if you wanted to do that, but you have to make sure that's what everyone wants to do because it's not like most places will make the unadventurous guy a hamburger. (Bulgogi is the unadventurous option at most Korean places.) There are literally dozens of places to go in Annandale alone... just avoid Honey Pig, it's overrated and touristy.
posted by Kadin2048 at 4:18 PM on October 31, 2014
J. Gilbert's in McLean is also good if you want something a little more upscale but without the pretentiousness of Ruth's Chris, Capitol Grille, or Morton's. Unfortunately, it's in McLean, which might not fit your definition of "near suburb".
On the other hand if you want something more focused on beer than beef, I'd say any of the several brewery-restaurants might be a good choice. I am a big fan of Mad Fox Brewing Company in Falls Church City, although it can get fairly crowded particularly on Thursday and Friday nights. Capitol City Brewing Company is also an option, although I don't think the food is nearly as good... but they do have a location downtown (New York Ave and I St NW), although I don't know what the parking situation is like. (As a general rule I don't drive into the District, I only Metro; it's not far from McPherson Square though.)
Korean barbecue is certainly an option if you wanted to do that, but you have to make sure that's what everyone wants to do because it's not like most places will make the unadventurous guy a hamburger. (Bulgogi is the unadventurous option at most Korean places.) There are literally dozens of places to go in Annandale alone... just avoid Honey Pig, it's overrated and touristy.
posted by Kadin2048 at 4:18 PM on October 31, 2014
Best answer: It seems like I recommend it once a year or so here on the green, but Franklin's in Hyattsville MD is just good for so many purposes! Usually plenty of parking, it's next to a metered public lot but only $.50/hr. Nice brewpub selection, also with cocktail service, quality upscale "bar&grille" type food.
posted by drlith at 4:35 PM on October 31, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by drlith at 4:35 PM on October 31, 2014 [3 favorites]
How do you feel about Morton's Steakhouse? Kadin mentioned it above, but I think it's worth another look. Some former bosses of mine used to host their Dude Night there and it was very meat/booze/talk (and some cigars on the patio).
I know it's a chain, I know it's a bit up its own butt, but it's definitely not a bad option. Plus, I think the downtown one (1050 Connecticut Ave NW) has a parking garage.
posted by harperpitt at 4:52 PM on October 31, 2014
I know it's a chain, I know it's a bit up its own butt, but it's definitely not a bad option. Plus, I think the downtown one (1050 Connecticut Ave NW) has a parking garage.
posted by harperpitt at 4:52 PM on October 31, 2014
Best answer: I really enjoyed Urban Butcher when I was visiting a friend in Silver Spring. I often hang out with librarians and this place would have been perfect. The happy hour deals are pretty great too.
posted by advicepig at 5:48 PM on October 31, 2014
posted by advicepig at 5:48 PM on October 31, 2014
Best answer: As a museum person who is friends with librarians and archivists, I think the Green Pig Bistro in Arlington might work for you.
posted by gudrun at 7:05 PM on October 31, 2014
posted by gudrun at 7:05 PM on October 31, 2014
Best answer: Medium Rare in Cleveland Park?
B Side in Merrifield?
*Note, I'm not a huge meat eater, so I haven't actually been to either of these places :)
posted by echo0720 at 8:12 PM on October 31, 2014
B Side in Merrifield?
*Note, I'm not a huge meat eater, so I haven't actually been to either of these places :)
posted by echo0720 at 8:12 PM on October 31, 2014
Response by poster: Does your group skew VA or MD?
Pretty evenly split between DC, MD, and VA right now - thanks so much for all the suggestions so far!
posted by ryanshepard at 8:26 PM on October 31, 2014
Pretty evenly split between DC, MD, and VA right now - thanks so much for all the suggestions so far!
posted by ryanshepard at 8:26 PM on October 31, 2014
Urban Butcher is amazing (and I am saying that as a vegetarian) but they are currently closed due to a fire they had in early October. They should reopen soon (I hope) but I just thought I'd throw that out there before you headed that way.
posted by darksong at 9:33 AM on November 1, 2014
posted by darksong at 9:33 AM on November 1, 2014
Cap Hill has lots of restaurants that are awesome and some of the easiest parking in the city. I wouldn't be true to my user name if I didn't suggest a play in my old neighborhood. There's a delicious Mexican place called La Lomita on Penn. Check it out!
posted by Potomac Avenue at 11:25 AM on November 1, 2014
posted by Potomac Avenue at 11:25 AM on November 1, 2014
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If you want to get adventurous, try one of the many Korean places in the Annandale area. They give you a bowel choking amount of meat, cooked at the table.
posted by empath at 1:14 PM on October 31, 2014