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The Hooded Mergansers
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What happens on Barracks Row in 2010 after New Year’s celebrations end and the new decade begins? Happy hours, seven days a week, to keep the glow going! The earliest weekday happy hours start at 3 p.m. at both Café 8 and Molly Malone’s; the latest one ends at 8 p.m. at Jordan’s 8. This means for five hours of most every day of 2010, there are unbelievable food and drink specials up and down the Row.
We owe a lot to happy hour. A universal promotion, happy hours are when restaurants both experiment with dishes and build a following. During that lull between daylight and dark, they tempt us in with the best they have to offer plus a few new creations, all deeply discounted for happy hour. Apparently, many a house specialty has been worked out with the budget-conscious-but-hungry happy hour crowd well before it appeared on the main menu!
Steal and Deals
Molly Malone’s manager Billie Jo creates a perfect storm seven days a week for happy hour: all drinks are discounted plus there’s a daily rotation of appetizer specials. Billy Jo raves about her Wednesday special: huge servings of intensely flavored chicken wings (most would call this dinner) for $6. And Billie Jo always recommends a $5 Jamison shot to put the day in perspective. Debuting during weekend happy hours in 2010 are hot chocolate Grand Marnier and Scottish tea with Scottish whiskey, honey and cinnamon – also for $5.
All day long at Cava there’s plenty of action on mini sandwiches right off the menu. But Monday through Saturday from 5 to 7 p.m., only at the bar, generous pork, lamb or meatball sliders are just $3 each! Wine by the glass, $4; mojitos, $6; margaritas, $5; and 11 international beers are $4. Mondays and Tuesdays bring more wonders – bottles of wines are half price on Mondays, and Tuesdays mean $6 martinis. With the arrival of warm weather, Cava manager Andreas promises the roof top bar will open, bringing some sunshine to happy hour!
Bartenders with Flair
The Row’s newcomer, Zest, opened mid-December, rarin’ to play with the happy hour big boys. The night we went, Sunny, the juggling bartender, put on a show. We came for a drink (OK, for a happy hour cheapie), and stayed for an excellent shaved lamb dinner sandwich. We were mesmerized not only by Sunny, who does wild things with cocktail napkins, too, but also by owner/manager Amanda, as she deftly worked her own magic, seating the early dinner crowd and visiting with all of us as her bistro began to fill. And that’s where more happy hour magic happens: after-work customers come for a quick drink and snack and fill the bar while laughing off their Dilbert day; then, when the dinner crowd arrives, the place looks like a hot spot … it’s a complete win/win.
Possibly the grandest happy hour on Eighth Street is found seven days a week at Banana Café. With an enormous bar upstairs, Grant, Banana’s manager, is proud of his bartenders and their crowd-pleasing skills that keep the rail-space full. Banana’s prices are amazing, too: $3 for house margaritas, rail drinks and domestic beer. There are free taquitos and an abundant choice of affordable appetizer specials to share among friends.
Grant readily admits that Banana’s happy hour crowds often do not stay for dinner, but happy hour is still a big plus: “An intern from the Hill may come in for happy hour – and, at first, not even realize where he is – he’s just following the crowd from the office. But it’s astounding how often those interns come back with their friends – to sample our Cuban menu. We really depend on our happy hours to find new restaurant customers.”
Now, let me introduce Patrick at Starfish Café. Under Patrick’s supervision, raw oysters have joined the Row’s happy hour mix. He shucks ‘em himself for you by the dozen ($15) or half dozen ($9). To polish off the blue points, Patrick offers oyster shooters: one fresh oyster plus pepper vodka mixed with a splash of cocktail sauce for $5. See Patrick soon for his secret winter happy hour special – homemade Puerto Rican eggnog and as spring approaches, sweet tea vodka. Whatever the season, don’t miss meeting this guy – an old school bartender, Patrick remembers your name and what you’re having. Like all good bartenders on Eighth Street and beyond, he’s the host of happy hour – keeping the good times rolling and making his crowd feel like they’re already home!
Happy Hours at Barracks Row Restaurants
Banana Café: Daily, 4-7:30 p.m. 500 Eighth St. SE, 202-543-5906, www.bananacafedc.com
Café 8: Mon-Fri, 3-6 p.m. 424 Eighth St. SE, 202-547-1555, www.belgacafe.com
Cava: Mon-Sat, 5-7 p.m. 527 Eighth St. SE, 202-543-9090, www.cavamezze.com
Fusion Grill: Daily, 4-6 p.m. 515 Eighth St. SE, 202-546-5303, www.fusiongrilldc.com
Jordan’s 8: Daily, 5-8 p.m. 523 Eighth St. SE, 202-543-6401, www.jordans8.com
Las Placitas: Mon-Thu, 5-7 p.m.; Friday 3-6 p.m. 517 Eighth St. SE, 202-543-3700; www.lasplacitas.com
Lola’s: Mon-Sat, 4-7 p.m. 711 Eighth St. SE, 202-547-5652, www.lolasbarracksbarandgrill.com
Molly Malone’s: Mon-Fri, 3-7 p.m.; weekends 1-7 p.m. 713 Eighth St. SE, 202-547-1222;
www.mollymalonescapitolhillsaloon.com
Old Siam: Daily, 5-7 p.m. 406 Eighth St. SE, 202-544-7426, www.theoldsiamrestaurant.com
Starfish Café: Mon- Fri, 5-7 p.m. 539 Eighth St. SE, 202-546-5006, www.starfishcafedc.com
Ugly Mug: Mon-Fri, 4-7 p.m. 723 Eighth St. SE, 202-547-8459, www.uglymugdc.com
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