Summer has arrived and the long weekend is upon us, and as I can't escape the city for it it means patios, cold beer and cheap eats. The Dew Drop Inn in Edgewood more than fits the bill. Nestled between a side street and Metro tracks (yes, really), at the tip of the Metropolitan Branch Trail, this old brick hut delivers more than impressive bar food with an enviable beer selection, it's a no frills kind of place, shabby without the chic.
Read MoreDining: Player's Club
There's nothing quite like smashing stainless steel balls against a plastic Death Star in a Star Wars pinball machine, whilst listening to Tears for Fears and drinking a $4 Virginia IPA. Welcome to Player's Club, an 80's (70's & 90's?) inspired arcade bar that recently opened up on 14th Street, where else.
I'll admit to being an 80's kid but I'm going to go out on a limb and say 80's Britain and America were not the same. I don't recall as much wood paneling, questionable leather, and rust orange carpet and wallpaper (although my first car was rust orange, thanks for the life lesson, dad) as did the owner's of Player's Club; the Hilton brothers, from such fine U Street establishments as Marvin and Brixton.
Read MoreDining: Haikan
A few months back I moved neighborhoods, from Logan to (North End) Shaw, and in the space of a few months some pretty awesome restaurants have opened up, it's akin to when 14th Street started to become a destination five or six years ago, now it's Shaw's turn. I may not get around to writing about the likes of Shaw Bijou, unless I date rich (anyone?), but I will tell you about the more affordable options. I'll start with Haikan.
Read MoreDining: Green Pig Bistro
I wasn't looking for a place to have dinner, just a spot I could park my butt for an hour to have a drink and maybe a quick bite while waiting on the boyfriend to join me before heading off to a friends place in the depths of Arlington (read: Clarendon.) Green Pig Bistro was in my general direction and after a quick look at the drinks menu I was sold, right at the top was a listing for a sparkling pineapple wine from Hawaii, Hula O'Maui. I had no idea that Hawaii produced wine, but I was eager to give it a try. You'd imagine the pineapple would provide a sweet dessert like taste, but far from it - it was crisp and bubbly with a hint of pineapple primarily from its aroma, closer to a Prosecco on the spectrum of sparkling wines. I should have ordered the bottle.
Green Pig offers a weekday happy hour menu, with $5 snack plates and discounted drinks at the bar. I ordered a plate of the Snail and Mushroom Toast which was less of a snack and more of a meal, a creamy plate of sauteed mushrooms with a few snails nestled in between. If you're adverse or new to snails this dish would be a good introduction, few of them to pick around and not too overwhelming in flavor, the creamy mushrooms are the players here. And easily enough to fill up on.
The boyfriend arrived, we stayed for dinner.
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