Out on the Town

Posted by Eunice / Monday, April 25th, 2011

Local bars worth your patronage

By Susan Anspach and Robert Fulton with Sarah Jones and the cast of ‘The Kane Show’ / Photography by Jonathan Timmes

ALEXANDRIA

Evening Star Cafe
2000 Mount Vernon Ave.; 703-549-5051; www.eveningstarcafe.net

The Evening Star Cafe is the go-to place in the hip, yet family-friendly neighborhood of Del Ray. The main cafe offers everything from mussels to duck—two ways. The Majestic Lounge, behind the cafe, is a great place to relax and enjoy a drink (the selections are superb). And upstairs the No. 9 Lounge hosts frequent live music. All sections offer a low-lit, friendly, chill atmosphere. A perfect place to take a load off. $$

Specialties: Live music, wine
Attire: Laidback, going-out attire, or your hippest
Tip: Next door sits Planet Wine, offering more than 1,000 bottles of wine. Yes, that is vino, vino good. www.planetwineshop.com

The Light Horse

The Light Horse
715 King St.; 703-549-0533; www.thelighthorserestaurant.com

The Light Horse offers an interesting dichotomy: a young-adult, high-energy atmosphere dominates upstairs and a peaceful dining room with fine food sits downstairs. The owner’s support of live, local music, particularly on Saturday nights, and the restaurant’s excellent beer and wine lists (each numbering in the dozens) are to be commended. Same goes for the fact they’ll add a fried egg to your cheeseburger. $$

Specialties: Live music, wine, beer, food
Attire: Upstairs, come as you are; downstairs, nice dinner attire
Tip: If solo, walk through the main dining room to the small bar in the back. It’s the perfect place to enjoy a drink, chat with the bartender and eat your burger with a fried egg.

Courtesy of PX

PX
728 King St.; 703-299-8385; restauranteve.com/eamonns/PX

If you don’t mind jumping through hoops and paying a premium for a drink, head to PX, a true cocktail lounge with delicious drink concoctions. Those and the ambiance make it worth the trouble. A blue light marks the location: If the light is on, feel free to knock, and maybe you’ll get seated. However, it is highly recommended to make a reservation, particularly for a weekend visit. $$$

Specialties: Fine cocktails, fresh ingredients
Attire: Sophisticated night-out attire
Tip: The people behind PX also have their hands in Eamonn’s, The Majestic and Restaurant Eve, all worth a look.

O’Connell’s Restaurant
112 King St.; 703-739-1124; www.danieloconnells.com

In a region that is inundated with Irish bars that come with all the character of Italian chain restaurants, O’Connell’s is the exception. Maybe it’s because of the old carved wooden bar brought over from Ireland paired with the quaint feel of Old Town that gets the ambiance just right. The bar is comfortable, and dinner entrees run from $17 for a risotto to $32 for a tenderloin. Enjoy trivia on Wednesday, and happy hour runs Monday through Friday from 4-7 p.m. $$

Specialties: Beef tenderloin, $10 quick lunch
Attire: Dress it up a bit
Tip: This isn’t a low-level watering hole where you stumble in for a pop.

Ramparts bartenders serve up a plethora of liquids, and a handshake to boot.

Ramparts Tavern & Grill
1700 Fern St.; 703-998-6616; www.rampartstavern.com

What’s in a handshake? A whole lot.

When you saddle up to a bar, take off your coat and sit down, there’s nothing better than the bartender looking at you square in the eye, extending his arm to shake your hand and introducing himself.

Ramparts is that kind of place—friendly and comfortable—with a beer list hovering around 100 and a wine list at more than 50 bottles.

It’s not a sports bar, but the 16 screens keep patrons abreast of any athletic or news action.

Tavern food (steak, etc.) and nightly specials (wings, half-price wine bottles, etc.) make this a casual must. $$

Specialties: 100 beers, nightly food deals
Attire: Casual
Tip: When you walk through the door, there’s a small lobster tank. Yes, they have lobster.

ARLINGTON

Samuel Beckett’s Irish Gastro Pub

Samuel Beckett’s Irish Gastro Pub
2800 S. Randolph St.; 703-379-0122; www.samuelbecketts.com

The crowds have calmed a bit since January, when Samuel Beckett’s opened to the Shirlington community with equal parts fanfare and impatience (the gastro pub had earlier predicted an October 2010 opening date).But they have not dwindled.

Arlingtonians flock to Irish settler Mark Kirwan’s (he of Daniel O’Connell’s fame) latest creation like bees to honey-hued whiskey. It’s hard to miss the caboose-red exterior and cornerstone location; inside, warm walls scrawled with gold script wrap around 5,500 square feet, three full bars and two fireplaces.

Come spring, the throngs can spill out onto the outdoor patio—to enjoy their pints paired with some breathing room. $$

Specialties: Irish food that thinks outside the boxty; climate control (fireplaces in the winter and outdoor patio in the summer)
Attire: Smart casual
Tip: An establishment worth following on Facebook, Beckett’s established an active presence online long before opening its doors. Become a fan for updates on events and menu changes.

Photography by Jonathan Timmes

AT IOTA, NIGHT OWLS
Meet Early Birds
In late 2010, Clarendon’s Iota Club and Café turned the little hand back—way back. And now that spring has sprung, so has access to the new patio, completing the transformation—known as “Iotaday”—for the spot previously devoted exclusively to nightlife.

Back in December, the establishment began offering coffee drinks starting at 6:30 a.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. on weekends. An extensive sandwich menu (includes plenty of items sans meat) was made available between the hours of 11 a.m. and 11 p.m.

Weekends feature brunch with Bloody Mary bar from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Free Wi-Fi and additional indoor seating lure the diurnal to the club/restaurant on rainy days, too.

Arlington Rooftop Bar and Grill

Arlington Rooftop Bar and Grill
2424 Wilson Blvd.; 703-528-3030; www.arlingtonrooftopbarandgrill.com

At press time, the latest place to grab a drink in Clarendon was “still kind of a hidden gem,” according to manager John Cosgrove. Not for long.

If experience has taught Arlington anything, it’s that rooftops draw a crowd. As soon as the mercury levels climb high enough, the floodgates will open for the 7,000-square-foot bar that arrived last December under native Arlingtonian ownership.

The synchronized blink of 35 flat-screen TVs can be seen from bustling Wilson Boulevard below (the warm brown-and-muted orange barroom is reached by climbing a one-story stairwell). Three draft stations irrigate the 40-foot bar, where brews cost between $5 and $6.

Cosgrove says it’s too soon to classify his customer base.

“We had a guy buy a bottle of Dom Perignon in flip-flops,” he says. “We want to please as many people as possible.” $$

Specialty: With a view spanning from Ballston to Georgetown, the establishment’s rooftop—boasting a full bar, full menu and seating for 50—is scheduled to open April 1.
Attire: As fancy as you wish
Tip: A handwritten Sunday brunch menu is subject to change and reflects customer requests.

Jay’s saloon has a come-as-you-are feel.

Jay’s Saloon & Grille
3114 N. 10th St.; 703-527-3093; www.jayssaloon.com

At Jay’s, a scruffy bartender is quick with a smile, as well as your order—so long as you stick to the basics.

“No Cosmos allowed,” says owner Kathi Moore. “We don’t have a blender.” (Fair enough. Pink wouldn’t match the decor, anyhow.)

The saloon features a grungy accumulation of flare; including bobble heads, Christmas lights and a wall plastered with license plates donated by customers.

Clientele are a similarly motley crew, ranging from 20-somethings on weekends to denim-clad construction workers gathered for after-work discounts.

In general, however, everyone keeps it casual. “When people walk in in a suit and tie, it’s either for a funeral, a wedding, or they’re going to court,” says Moore. $

Specialty: Friday nights feature an oldies deejay who still uses cassettes. “The 20-somethings are fascinated by it,” says owner Kathi Moore.
Attire: Smart casual
Tip: The establishment’s warm-weather patio is pooch-friendly.

Galaxy Hut
2711 Wilson Blvd.; 703-525-8646; www.galaxyhut.com

Long before the peak of the hipster movement, Galaxy Hut established itself as the indie-light alternative to Clarendon’s nightlife of sports-junkie establishments and bass-throbbing dance floors.

A no-gimmick recipe for success—no liquor, no television and no opening earlier than 5 p.m.—has kept a steady flow of 20- and 30-somethings happy ever since. (Somehow, they manage to make do with the 20 taps, Pac-Man/pinball machines that double as tables, as well as the micro-bar patio out back.) $

Specialties: Offbeat craft and import beers (bottles and 20 taps); original live music on Sundays and Mondays (with the occasional $5 cover charge)
Attire: Hipster-grunge
Tip: Vegetarians delight; most meat items share menu space with a veggie alternative (seitan cheesesteaks, black-bean patties and “hummiches,” to name a few).

Tortoise & Hare Bar and Grille
67 S. 23rd St.; 703-979-1872; www.tortoiseandharebar.com

The anchor in Crystal City’s tiny light-festooned block of local businesses, Tortoise & Hare is the last establishment you reach before crossing into the residential zone.

With walking distance on its side, the bar doesn’t need to rely on gimmicks. Locals know the drill: Have a stool. Have a beer. Bend an ear. The owners bartend, and the staff turnover rate is low.

“If you come in and meet someone, there’s a pretty good chance you’ll see them again soon,” says co-owner Erik Dahlseid. $$

Specialties: Free live music Thursdays through Saturdays; trivia on Tuesdays at 8 p.m.; Pennsylvania sports team loyalty
Attire: Come as you are
Tip: Tickets for Rock the Lot, the bar’s annual back-lot party, go on sale online in the beginning of May (prices increase closer to the day of the June event).

Spider Kelly’s
3181 Wilson Blvd.; 703-312-8888; www.spiderkellys.com

Located in a prime spot in Arlington—read across from the Clarendon Metro and at the intersection of Wilson and Clarendon Boulevards—Spider Kelly’s is a happening place, especially after their expansion last year.

With the liquids flowing from the island bar, the main pull is SK’s plethora of entertainment—pool, video games, shuffleboard, darts and more. Just get there early to avoid waiting in line. $$

Specialties: Games galore—think basketball, arcade games, pool and shuffle board (not just one but two)
Attire: Anything goes
Tip: Weekend nights the line gets long. Stop by a little earlier in the day, maybe grab some lunch, and get your hand stamped. Return later, and voila!

FAIRFAX

The Auld Shebeen
3971 Chain Bridge Road, Fairfax; 703-293-9600; www.theauldshebeenva.com

While it can be quick to peg the pub as a Mason frat magnet, locals have staked out their territory at Auld Shebeen’s bar—and are holding their ground for the sake of their all too often flowing pints of Guinness.

The bar formerly known as Ned Devine’s features standard Irish-American pub kitsch (think: Gaelic epithets scrawled across the walls, a dull roar of Celtic instruments piping over the speakers, prominent corned beef-and-cabbage menu placement).

But that’s in addition to a crackling fire, dark-wood motif and long, cold draws of (reasonably priced) Harp and Boddingtons.

All to which the locals say, Sláinte. (A drinking toast for those of non-Irish decent.) $

Specialties: Half-price Irish food Monday evenings; pub quiz on Tuesdays at 8 p.m.; live Irish music in the upstairs restaurant Fridays and Saturdays.
Attire: Casual
Tip: A basement level doubles as a dance floor Thursdays and Saturdays, in addition to hosting live music on Fridays.

Epicure Café
11213-A Lee Highway, Fairfax; 703-352-9193; www.epicurecafe.org

Blink and you’ll miss Epicure Café’s bookend location on a stretch of Lee Highway storefronts. In less than a year, though, the Iranian family-run establishment’s managed to assemble a cluster of regulars—almost exclusively night owls who appreciate the restaurant’s nod to local artistry.

Four nights out of the week, Epicure plays host to live original performers (Fridays and Saturdays) and open mic participants (Mondays and Thursdays). Further enticement to linger comes in the form of beers on tap, a student discount, free WiFi and plenty of time—the cafe doesn’t close until 3 a.m. Monday through Saturday, lending a bite-sized bit of late-night to the neighborhood’s nocturnal set. $

Specialties: Free live music Fridays and Saturdays featuring original artists; open mic nights on Mondays
Attire: Casual
Tip: All proceeds from the original paintings covering the interior walls go directly to the local artists who created them.

John’s Place has a wall of bras and hosts pinball every Monday night.

John’s Place
11104 Lee Highway, Fairfax; 703-352-7222

John’s Place is your grandfather’s idea of a no-frills dive bar—quite literally, if your family’s been around this neck of the woods for a while.

“I served the grandfather, I served the son, I serve the grandson,” says John Shokoor, bar owner since 1976.

The bar offers no liquor—“no headaches,” explains Shokoor—but does beer right: cold, cheap and seasonally available at the outdoor rooftop tiki bar.

Inside, the mishmash of decor—faux wood paneling, deer heads and one rather conspicuous wall of lingerie—hasn’t seen many updates in Shokoor’s time. The owner insists his clientele prefers it that way.

“Most people are old-timers,” he describes the bar’s main clientele. “People come every day, for one beer, or two beers, every year for 30 years.” $

Specialties: The bar’s three pool tables and 10 vintage pinball machines are the crowd magnets; John’s Place hosts Free State Pinball Association tournaments on Monday nights, drawing game enthusiasts from across the region.
Attire: Casual
Tip: Pinball fanatics aren’t the only JP loyalists. Since the bar remains one of few where Virginians can still smoke indoors, a lot of repeat visitors come with the intention of lighting up.

Church Street Cellars - It may be a basement, but check out the enomatic wine dispenser to taste the pricy stuff!

Church St. Cellars
111 Church St., Suite 103, Vienna; 703-255-0550; www.churchstreetcellars.com

Church St. Cellars, located just a few steps away from popular shops The Dandelion Patch and Valerianne in downtown Vienna, has lost a few chefs since first opening its doors in 2007, yet patronage doesn’t seem to flag.

Something—perhaps the wall-to-wall bottles on display at every turn—hints that comers and goers may not be in it just for the food.

Oenophiles choose their own adventures via the Enomatic wine dispenser that squirts out 1-, 3- and 5-ounce preferred pours on command, while a tapas-style menu does a good job at keeping any munchies at bay. $$

Specialty: An Enomatic wine dispenser grants tipplers access to 32 bottles and their choice of 1-, 3- and 5-ounce pours (individually available for purchase with a chip card that tracks your acquisitions).
Attire: Smart casual
Tip: Save when purchasing a case of 12 (shave five percent off all mixed-bottle selections and 10 percent off all solid cases); splurge when you drink in-house (each bottle bought off the wall can be had for a $10 corkage free).

Mark’s Pub
2190 E. Pimmit Drive, Falls Church; 703-356-3822; www.markspub.com

What you see is what you get at Mark’s Pub, an unassuming watering hole surreptitiously tucked behind the Falls Church Whole Foods shopping center.

A rough-and-tumble patronage gathers for ‘Skins games and frosty cold pitchers on the dozen or so red leather stools lining the single bar, which runs the entire length of the come-as-you-are establishment.

The shoebox-sized dive boasts a full bar, but get your martini fix elsewhere—sorry, Cosmo clutchers. The denim-clad clientele chews the fat over beer, wine and simple pub food ordered off of a menu that doesn’t rotate (one gets the sense that the barflies don’t much, either). $

Specialties: Standard after-work discounts on drinks and American fare, occasional karaoke, allegiance to the burgundy and gold
Attire: Casual
Tip: Check the bar’s website or outdoor blackboard for the karaoke schedule; management hosts the Saturday song nights as it sees fit.

LOUDOUN

Ashburn Pub bartenders’ got skillz

Ashburn Pub
44110 Ashburn Village Shopping Plaza, Ashburn; 703-724-0755; www.theashburnpub.com

Walking into the small Ashburn Pub, one is greeted with an intimate old-school feeling. Filled with come-as-you-are locals, the bar highlights typical drink offerings and limited taps.

Expect plenty of screens, with some turned to trivia.

The menu features typical pub food, such as wings, sandwiches and burgers, and a steak at $15.

Happy hour on Friday runs from 3-7 p.m., ladies’ night comes Thursday, and there are poker nights, karaoke and live music. $

Specialties: Trivia, cheap food and drink
Attire: Casual
Tip: The trivia is a great touch, with Monday trivia night. Saturday brings a buy-one-steak-dinner-get-one-free deal.

“Better Off Here Than Across the Street” (at the court house)

Downtown Saloon
7 N. King St., Leesburg; 703-669-3090

Yes, it’s a biker bar—or, more accurately from a sign inside, “Hog Heaven”—but that in no way means anyone should be intimidated from stopping in for a drink.

Character exudes from Leesburg’s Downtown Saloon. Bras hang from the ceiling, and an honest-to-goodness wooden Indian stands in the corner. Live music, a handful of high-definition flatscreens and cheap bar food round out the joint.

Biker clothing helps you fit in, but if you aren’t a biker, just dress how you usually do. Also, like the sign says, remember it’s “better here than across the street.” Across the street? The courthouse. $

Specialties: Pretentious-free friendliness, cold Yuengling
Attire: Biker-chic, or as you are
Tip: An old-school cigarette machine sells packs of smokes for $7.

Finnegan’s Irish Pub
44050 Ashburn Village Shopping Plaza, Ashburn; 703-723-5885; www.finnegansbar.com

Formerly Kirkpatrick’s, there are a number of reasons to frequent Finnegan’s. Start off with the lunch specials: $5 burgers and $8 sandwiches. Did we mention $5 burgers?

Nice clean L-shaped bar with a number of televisions, regular liquid fare (Loose Cannon out of Baltimore on tap is nice). Great place to catch a game with personal TVs in a number of booths.

Frequent live bands, DJs and poker make this a destination, but get the party started with weekday happy hour from 3-8 p.m. $

Specialties: Sandwiches, whiskey, sports viewing, poker
Attire: Casual
Tip: Wine Wednesday offers two entrees and a bottle of vino for $40.

Spanky’s Shenanigans
538 E. Market St., Leesburg; 703-777-2454; www.spankyspub.net

Any place named “Shenanigans” holds promise.

As you face the entrance of this Leesburg pub, to the left sits the smoking side where you can light up. On the right lies the nonsmoking side. It works, and a recent lunch was not ruined by any whiff of an errant cigarette.

Sandwiches start at $7.25 for a BLT heavy on the B, and dinner entrees top out at $19.95 (crablegs), and don’t overlook breakfast. There are weekday food deals, and a small stage in the corner hosts live music. $

Specialties: Live music, breakfast
Attire: Casual
Tip: When asked if the iced tea you ordered be sweet or not, say sweet.

Sweetwater Tavern brews on-location!

Sweetwater Tavern
45980 Waterview Plaza, Sterling; 571-434-6500; www.greatamericanrestaurants.com/sweetMainSter

If Sweetwater Tavern was in Washington, D.C. or Arlington, it would be heralded. Nevertheless, the Sterling establishment is a destination for beer lovers.

Huge bar in the middle of the room seats plenty. Food ranges from $10 for sandwiches to $29 for a 16-ounce prime rib. But you’re here for the warm reassurance of a good beer, you can’t go wrong with the Great American Restaurants Pale Ale, among others on tap, and all pints go for $4.75.

Sweetwater is brought to us by Great American Restaurants, the same folks behind Carlye and the excellent Artie’s, among others, but the corporate atmosphere can be overlooked. $$

Specialties: Beer, beer, beer
Attire: Smart, clean casual
Tip: Can’t decide on a brew? The friendly bartender can probably arrange for a small taste. Or, better yet, purchase a five-beer sampler for $8.

PRINCE WILLIAM

Clarke’s doesn’t skimp on the bar decorations.

Clarke’s Grill & Sports Emporium
9103 Andrew Drive, Manassas Park; 703-330-1213; www.clarkesgrill.com

A handful of TVs accommodate this Manassas Park sports bar, which opened in 2009 in the former Clearwater Grill location. The 800-square-foot patio makes up for the limited indoor space. Expect basic bar and grill fare (burgers start at $9, pizza $7, sirloin steak $16) in a come-as-you-are neighborhood atmosphere.

A bartender vouched for the food on a recent visit, and the fried oysters supported her claims. Even the presentation on the plate went a step beyond what one expects from a sports bar. Nice touch. $

Specialties: Sports viewing, hot dog menu
Attire: Casual
Tip: Clarke’s offers more than sports, with live music, karaoke and a movie night. Check the website for details.

Lion & Bull has a kickin’ trivia night

Lion & Bull
5351 Merchants View Square, Haymarket; 703-754-1166; www.lionandbull.com

Lion & Bull, the site of the former Kirkpatrick’s, resides in a Haymarket shopping center off Route 15. New ownership gutted the bar, making for a wide-open feel.

In the evening, L&B operates as an entertainment destination. The bar seats 15, and an additional dining room away from live entertainment makes for a quieter experience.

A sandwich or burger runs $8 to $10, and entrees range from $13 (half-rack of ribs) to $20 (crabcakes). L&B balances between a hangout for Haymarket locals and a Prince William County destination for entertainment and music lovers. $$

Specialties: Live music
Attire: Nice Casual
Tip: Every night there’s something: Monday poker; Tuesday open mic and karaoke; Wednesday trivia; and Thursday through Saturday welcomes live local and national music. Call ahead or visit the website for a schedule.

Philadelphia Tavern
9413 Main St., Manassas; 703-393-1776; www.philadelphiatavern.com

Designed to look like an establishment not out of place in the City of Brotherly Love, the Philadelphia Tavern in downtown Manassas serves excellent cheesesteaks ($9) and delicious hoagies ($8-$11). Wallet-friendly specials include $2 Corona and seafood nights. And the first Friday of every month offers karaoke.

Super-friendly oldies play over the radio, echoing across the 12-seat bar, booths and tables. Come as you are, and make a new friend. Just ignore the Eagles swag in Redskins territory. $

Specialties: Cheesesteaks and hoagies
Attire: Come as you are
Tip: The bread for the sandwiches is trucked down from Philadelphia’s well-known Amoroso’s Baking Co.

Thursday’s Restaurant & Sports Bar
7901 Heritage Village Plaza, Gainesville; 571-261-1730; www.thethursdayssportsbar.com

This watering hole’s U-shaped center bar distinguishes the Gainesville establishment: Not a bad seat in the house, and the U-shaped aspect of Thursday’s bar lends a Feng Shui vibe of drinking and people-watching harmony.

The menu features reasonably priced bar and grill goods such as burgers and sandwiches ($7 for a BLT), steak and ribs ($22 for a full slab). Moved to Gainesville in 2007 from Fairfax, where it was known as Friday’s. $

Specialties: Saturday happy hour, NASCAR viewing
Attire: Casual
Tip: Bar has NASCAR specials on Sunday, drink specials from noon-6 p.m. on Saturday. Plus: Just a couple of miles from Jiffy Lube Live—good place to wait out the traffic.

City Tavern Grille
9405 Main St., Manassas; 703-330-0076; www.citytaverngrille.com

Since 1995, City Tavern Grille has given those in Old Town Manassas a place to enjoy a bite to eat and a place to unwind. The resturant and banquet room are separated from the bar (with games and 12 TVs throughout) and outdoor patio. And DJs are there every night spinning tunes.

Also happening weekly: Happy hour specials with half-priced appetizers Mondays through Fridays. Tuesdays call for poker, and Thursdays are for the ladies. $

Specialties: Half-priced appetizers Mondays through Friday
Attire: Casual
Tip: Get in early for poker, fills up fast.

(April 2011)

Giving Up the Goods: The Bubbly Bride

Posted by The Editorial Desk / Friday, December 11th, 2009

(Image: The Liquid Muse)

Former Cocktail Corner columnist cum author Natalie Bovis-Nelsen, AKA The Liquid Muse, is back with another tome on proper tippling–this time tackling the always anxiety-ridden task of wedding planning.

And who couldn’t use a dose of liquid courage before taking that LOOOONNNNNGGGGGG walk down the aisle?

Bovis-Nelsen hopes to take the edge off the big day with “The Bubbly Bride,” a feel-good guide for brides-to-be that weaves wedding etiquette (Hate hangovers? Hydrate, eat, shun sugar and pop aspirin before bedtime; freezing water in bundt cake pans yields eye-catching ice wreaths for punch bowls) and cocktail lore (Angostura bitters were created by a German physicist while living in Venezuela; Pisco is a direct descendant of Roman Catholic communion wine).

She also shares dozens of drink recipes, as well as a tutorial on designing your own wedding cocktail (base recipe: 1 1/2 ounces spirit of your choice + 1 ounce simple syrup + 3/4 ounce sweetener/bitters + embellishments of your choice = custom coolers).

Noteworthy selections include: Lambrusco Rosemary Fizz (herby sparkler), D.C. mixologist Derek Brown‘s Jackelope  (bourbon, oak-infused maple syrup, ginger liqueur), the Schoolgirl Fantasy (black cherry vodka, vanilla liqueur, flavored soda) and Nuts About You (cava, tawny port, almond extract).

She even breaks out the calorie count of many cocktail ingredients–the biggest offender? Liqueurs (120-150 calories per ounce). The most waistline-friendly additive? Lemon or lime juice (8 calories per ounce)–to allay any fitting-through-wedding day disasters.

To claim your copy of The Bubbly Bride, just tell us where you what specialty shops get your business when its time to reload the bar. We’re talking wines, beer, spirits (liquor/liqueurs) and mixers, folks.

We’ll select one winner at random from all the comments submitted before 5 p.m. on Thursday, Dec 17.

–Warren

Bellying Up to the Bar

Posted by The Editorial Desk / Friday, January 9th, 2009

By Warren Rojas

“Preggatinis: Mixology for the Mom-to-Be.” Natalie Bovis-Nelsen. Globe Pequot Press, 150 pgs., $16.95

Worried that a baby bump means kicking Cosmo night to the curb?

Our own Natalie Bovis-Nelsen aims to sate your cocktail cravings with “Preggatinis,” a compendium of preggers-friendly drinks designed to make your nine-month trek a walk on the wild side.

The maternally minded book is peppered with tongue-in-cheek quotes from today’s cocktail intelligentsia (“Drinking just to get drunk is like having sex just to get pregnant”), historical tidbits about tippling (imbibing beer was once believed to aide breastfeeding) and pro-pregnancy pointers (immortalize your pregnant belly with a glamorous photo shoot; book a massage therapist for any baby shower/preggatini party).

Bovis-Nelsen puts forward over six dozen drink recipes (broken up by trimester) including low-calorie beverages and nearly a dozen holiday libations (including the Sparkling Citrus Easter pleaser). There are also a few party food suggestions, including a zesty tomato dip and gruyere-chip pairing provided by celebrity chef Michel Richard.

Curious concoctions include: Clean Liver (a purgative brew of milk thistle and mint), Pants on Fire (chili-passion fruit mixer), Apricot Gingerini (a ginger-clove punch designed to short circuit morning sickness), Salty Puppy (curbed cocktail of just grapefruit and tonic), MILFshake (basically a peach-apricot-ice cream smoothie) and the odd craving-quenching Funky Monkey (peanut butter-chocolate job garnished with pickles).

Bovis-Nelsen also weaves in “de-virginizing” tips for spinning any preggatini into an adult beverage: “An ounce or two of vodka will not change the taste of the drink too much and is a safe bet when you want to add a spirited kick; substitute champagne for club soda.”­

(January 2009)

Happy Ours

Posted by The Editorial Desk / Tuesday, December 2nd, 2008

Sick specials, loyal patrons mad fun

By Warren Rojas / Photography  by Hana Jung and Jonathan Timmes

Not to sound too cynical, but we’re pretty sure any local bar could dole out flat beer and warmed-over appetizers and still draw some sort of crowd.

But for our happy hour roundup, we decided to dig a little deeper than your standard quarter pitchers or “topless Tuesdays” fanfare and search for real neighborhood gathering places that are revered by their regulars and vice versa.

We also collected some hospitality war stories from participating bartenders commemorating the most creative mea culpas offered by cash-strapped patrons. If you get the next round, we might even share a few doozies…

Fat Tuesdays
10673 Braddock Road, Fairfax; 703-385-5717; www.fatsfairfax.com
Average entree: Under $12. Open for lunch, Friday through Sunday, dinner and late-night dining daily.

No one’s arguing that an evening at Fat Tuesday’s is as viscerally gratifying as a lost weekend in the fabled French Quarter. But finding your way home from Fairfax has got to be infinitely easier than explaining to your boss/spouse/AA sponsor that you’re going to miss that important client meeting/school play/step meeting because you just woke up naked somewhere on Bourbon Street.

This mock N’Awlins saloon cuts out the travel worries and brings all the Big Easy touches to you. The walls are strewn with a haphazard array of neon lights, discarded women’s undergarments—autographed brassieres carelessly hang from the ceiling—and mixed sporting memorabilia. Colorful Mardi Gras beads are almost always close at hand. A coin-operated valet in the men’s room dispenses only the bare essentials (condoms and cologne) for their seemingly multigenerational clientele. The nightly crowd appears to be a mix of George Mason University coeds and grizzled locals.

True to form, the Internet jukebox carves out room for everyone from The Band to Soundgarden to the soundtrack from Will Ferrell’s latest Hollywood sports spoof, “Semi-Pro.”

Owners Ron and Karen Butler—he’s the soft-spoken gentleman with the clean pate and graying, cookie-duster mustache; she’s the bespectacled dynamo busy answering phones and charming customers—cook meals, run orders and tackle the same housekeeping tasks as their mostly college-aged charges. Guess the work keeps them young, because the crowd can get quiet rowdy in here.

Static specialty drinks include Fat’s “original” oyster shooter—an eye-opening arrangement of jumbo oysters, vodka, cocktail sauce, Tabasco and beer (giddy’ap!), as well as a host of co-opted Cajun cocktails like the Old Absinthe House’s Irish coffee and Pat O’Brien’s world-famous hurricane (a candy apple-red blast of muddled light and dark rums, assorted fruit juices and ice).

Standard happy hour specials (available 4 to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday) include $2 domestics, $3 microbrews, $3 wines (distributor-grade chardonnay, pinot grigio, cabernet sauvignon, merlot and white zinfandel), $2.50 rail drinks, $3 hurricanes and $3 vodka bombs. The bar typically features Bud, Bud Light, Yuengling Lager, Flying Dog, Michelob Ultra, Abita Turbo Dog, Brooklyn Brown Ale, Heavy Seas Loose Cannon, Widmers Hefeweizen, Allagash White, Jack’s Hard Cider, Bourbon Street Brew and the current Sam Adam’s seasonal on draft.

Other floating drink deals include half-price po’boys from 8 p.m. until closing on Monday, their $2 for Tuesdays promotion—patrons purchase a $2 wristband to gain access to $2 beers on everything but Guinness, rail drinks, vodka bombs and select shrimp and clam platters, as well as discounted rates on fried oyster and Creole clam baskets, all from 4 until 9 p.m.—and a rotating “Superdome Sandwich” available any given Thursday.

A basket of battered alligator reveals popcorn shrimp-like nuggets, though the gator is noticeably chewier, paired with a bold sherry dipping sauce. Fried seafood platters are abundant, if not all created equal; clams are good (small and sometimes soggy), oysters better (plump and juicy) while shrimp turn out the best—though they all shoot through the roof after a dash of Swamp Juice (scorching, jalapeno-based hot sauce).

The catfish po’boy is a whale of a meal, sliding a lemony fried filet into an airy French baguette fully dressed with shredded lettuce, tomato and a tangy tartar sauce. The plantation po’boy stuffs lean roast beef, sliced turkey, Swiss cheese and crisp bacon into the same downy-soft roll.

Carpool
208 Elden St., Herndon; 571-203-7995; www.carpoolweb.com
Average entree: $13 to $20. Open for dinner and late-night dining daily.

Much like American Express, membership has its privileges at Herndon’s Carpool.

The auto-themed establishment is designed to look and feel like an old-school service station-turned-roadhouse. Serial Burma-Shave signs strategically hung overhead immortalize the roadside wisdom shared by the billboards poets of yore. The longish main bar is embedded with nostalgic travel guides—including pre-merger versions of Esso (now part of monolith ExxonMobil) and Amoco (swallowed up by BP) brochures—and seemingly forgotten auto fixtures like a Ford Fairlane nameplate. Down below, bar necessities are hidden from plain view in bright red Craftsman Mechanic’s drawers.

Old passions, however, must share time with a whole crop of modern distractions.
Patrons can avail themselves of nearly a dozen full-sized pool tables, a handful of dart lanes (Carpool hosts seasonal dart leagues; check with staff for more information), scattered foosball tables, video games like Golden Tee and a wildly popular virtual beanbag toss and an Internet jukebox. On any given weekend, fight fans can catch the latest HBO championship boxing match or an Ultimate Fighting Championship brawl on the big screen.

Meanwhile, Carpool is also one of the dedicated hangouts for various local teams affiliated with the World Adult Kickball Association, which means that during the warmer months the place is often overrun by skinned-knee hellions spinning yarns about their latest playground battles.

Those who wish to sidestep the huddled masses can purchase a Carpool membership for $50 a year, which gets you a membership card, discounted pool rates during peak hours, gratis pool during “designated member hours” and no cover charge ever. But be warned: Your membership won’t do you a bit of good at the Arlington location. Though both locations are owned by the same umbrella corporation, one Herndon staffer explained, “We don’t really affiliate with them.”

No membership is required, however, to revel in the assorted beat-the-clock specials drink specials. 
Static happy hour deals include: half-price appetizers, $2.50 drafts, $3 rail liquor and $4 house wines from 4 to 8 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Daily dalliances include discount pony beer buckets on Monday, $1.50 imports from 4 to 6 p.m. climbing to $2.50 from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, free pool for the ladies, $1 domestic bottles from 4 to 6 p.m. climbing to $2 from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, $5 red bull bombs and $3 imports from 4 to 6 p.m. climbing to $4 from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, $6.50 red bull and vodka drinks all day Saturday and select $12 pitchers on Sunday (which is also industry night).

Standard drafts include: Newcastle, Smithwicks, Blue Moon, Yuengling, Sierra Nevada, Miller Genuine Draft, Coors Light, Hardcore Cider, Stella Artois, Dominion Oak Barrel Stout, Pyramid Hefeweizen, Miller Lite, Anchor Steam, Pilsner Urquell, Guinness and a signature Carpool brew.

At press time, management was considering re-tooling the menu, but here’s a few tasty selections they may want to consider salvaging.

The chicken wings are always plump, juicy and properly sauced; we dug the teriyaki (terrifically tangy) and the traditional hot (a translucent yet spicy coating). Savory potato-cheddar-jalapeno buttons are smaller than traditional poppers, but also bring more flavor to the table.

Southside 815
815 S. Washington St., Alexandria; 703-836-6222; www.southside815.com
Average entree: $13 to $20. Open for lunch and dinner daily.

Southside’s barbecue sliders and mini po’boys hang tough with tall beers.

During one evening swing through Alexandria, I bemusedly observed a financial planner try to engrain fiscal discipline into a recent college grad—they vigorously debated everything from the merits of direct deposit, Roth IRA’s and monthly budgeting down to projecting the weekly savings of eating in and quitting smoking—all the while sucking down round after round of cut-rate beers.

Another crash course in reality-based savings, courtesy of Southside 815.

The nearly 15-year-old neighborhood haunt appears to be a lot more hospitable than your average banking institution, assuaging its devoted clientele—most nights, crowds run the gamut from young to old, couples to single friends, businessmen to barflies—with ‘80s tunes, all manner of televised sports and plenty of welcoming bar stools.

According to owner John Kurtz, although the siren song of daily food specials (assorted menu items are available on the cheap from 4 to 7 p.m. throughout the workweek) certainly helps bolster attendance, it’s the camaraderie and personal service they provide that turns everyday guests into regulars.
“We’re kind of a seven-night-a-week place,” Kurtz said of his near constant bar traffic.

Case in point: Bartender Nicole Kullman, whose passing resemblance to actress Maggie Gyllenhaal only becomes more pronounced as happy hour stretches on, seems incredulous when one longstanding patron switches up an order (“Thought you were a Miller Lite guy?” she wondered aloud), but otherwise presents most patrons with their beverage of choice before they even sit down. One subset of regulars has been playing chess at the bar for so long, management finally posted a dedicated scoreboard beside the bar to keep track of the friendly matches.

All that strategery certainly can stir up an appetite.

Daily happy hour specials include: half-price burgers, 35-cent wings, $1 trios of mini pulled pork or pulled chicken barbecue sandwiches, $1.50 mini oyster po’boys and $1.50 mini nachos. Additional specials include half-price po’boys (crawfish, oyster, catfish, shrimp and oyster-shrimp combos available) available all day on Monday and a Wednesday raw bar (from 5:30 until 10 p.m.), featuring assorted spiced shrimp, oyster, clams and mussel selections, all for under $7.

The barbecue-style nachos are a welcome change from the ground beef-based fare you get elsewhere, serving up crunchy tortilla chips smothered with vinegary shredded swine, diced tomatoes and melted cheese.

Mini oyster po’boys only look small, as each bite delivers a mouthful of deep-fried oysters swabbed in a zesty Cajun remoulade (grand flavors, great value). Honey-jalapeno pulled chicken sliders are even more enticing, yielding spicy-sweet bird nestled on a toasted, whole-wheat bun.

The Virginia burger is a cooked-to-order pleaser topped with hickory-smoked Virginia ham, melted cheddar and smoky barbecue sauce (hell of a meal, particularly at half price).

Liquid refreshment is available from any of the 18 draft beers or assorted bottles in stock. Happy hour drink specials include: $2.50 Budweiser, Bud Light and Miller Lite drafts, $2.75 Molson Canadian bottles, $3.25 Sam Adams Lager and seasonal drafts, $3.75 Guinness and Bass bottles and $3 rail drinks. Standard drafts include: Stella Artois, Newcastle Brown Ale, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, Blue Moon, Yuengling Lager, Dogfish Head, Grolsch and the signature Southside Lager (home brew).

Galaxy Hut
2711 Wilson Blvd., Arlington; 703-525-8646; www.galaxyhut.com
Average entree: Under $12. Open for dinner and late-night dining daily.

A night out at the diminutive Galaxy Hut might not quite reach otherworldly heights, but you can count on encountering lots of faraway beers, plenty of opinionated locals and blunt bar chatter.

The charismatic dining room has lots of character, featuring artistic touches that range from cutesy (snipped up Pabst Blue Ribbon cans double as spunky candleholders) to downright disturbing (the velvet portrait of a shirtless Erik Estrada hung opposite the bathrooms is immediately terrifying yet eerily hypnotic). An Internet jukebox flows from Belle and Sebastian to Erik B. & Rakim without skipping a beat (the electronic music depot also stores local acts like The Dismemberment Plan).

Owner Lary Hoffman Jr. began working at the Hut nearly a decade ago and has since taken over as owner of the understated community landmark. He credits their continued longevity to the rotating craft beer catalog, vegetarian-friendly menu—virtually every item on the pub grub-style carte has a meatless counterpart—and ongoing commitment to local music.

“We have a wonderful customer base largely made up of ‘regulars,’” he said, quickly noting that their scant square footage means “it doesn’t take much to fill us up!”

Inside, the crowd is young, tobacco is still king (almost everybody smokes, even the vegans), and the conversations can get a little gritty.

“Baseball?!? You like baseball?!?! We need more f***ing schools!” one patron exploded when a companion gushed about the progress on the new Nationals stadium. (“It’s like the Wizard of Oz. I just have to see it!” was his only defense.) On another night, a buddy laid out a brutally honest self-assessment of a failed relationship for friends: “She wouldn’t go to a movie that was over an hour and a half because she thought it was a waste of time. I like to sit on my ass. So basically, one of us was always doing something the other didn’t want to.”

Good thing there’s plenty of beer handy to help speed away such unhappy memories.

Standing happy hour specials include $1 off drafts, $3 off pitchers and $2 off entrees before 8 p.m.
The bar features about a dozen microbrews on draft and probably another dozen or so bottles of equally hard-to-find imports and domestics. Signature pours available during our visits included: Delirium Nocturnum, Paulaner Hefeweizen, Eggenberg Pilsner (ultra creamy mouth, buttery flavor), Clipper City Gold Ale, Oxford Raspberry Wheat, Lucifer Belgian Ale (devilishly refreshing), Lagunitas Cappuccino Stout, Dekonick (smooth flavor, hoppy finish) and Hennepin Farmhouse Saison. Don’t bother asking for hard liquor (none on premises), but they do carry select wines.

Meanwhile, the one-man kitchen operation (most nights, there’s somebody in the kitchen and somebody behind the bar, and that’s it) sticks with bar basics and typically does OK.

A bowl of cosmic chili summons a tomato-y, ground beef-laden brew smothered with melted cheddar and freshly diced onions (incredibly flavorful and very filling). Ho-hum chili dogs reveal beer-soaked franks smothered in more chili, cheddar and onions (they look right, but I’ve had better at the ballpark). A veggie cheesesteak proves much better, delivering freshly grilled vegetables and chunks of chewy seitan blanketed in melted cheese and flanked by perfectly crunchy tater tots.

Granted, no one’s going to mistake this meal for an authentic Philly cheesesteak. But then again, there’s no mistaking Galaxy Hut with anyplace else either.

Dogfish Head Alehouse
6363 Seven Corners Center, Falls Church; 703-534-3342; www.dogfish.com
Average entree: $13 to $20. Open for lunch and dinner daily.

Dogfish Head’s generous beer sample

Dogfish Head—Delaware’s debut microbrewery—has taken our area by storm with its new, full-service Falls Church alehouse. And it seems local craft beer junkies have never been hoppier.

Owner Martin Ryan and company flipped an old Uno’s to make way for their inaugural Virginia location last fall, and the throng of enthusiastic supporters that pile in night after night have made it hard to look back ever since.

The biggest draw, according to Ryan, is obviously their homemade beer selection. At any given time, the restaurant appears to carry about a dozen signature drafts and bottled beer selections, including assorted seasonals, limited releases (typically aged for over a year and then rotated monthly) and some seriously wicked barley wines (the 18 percent, red raspberry-based Fort sounds particularly naughty; too bad it’s only available by the 750-milliliter bottle).

Ryan listed the 60 Minute IPA as their top seller, followed by the Shelter pale ale and their 90 Minute IPA. Likewise, Ryan suggested that their self-styled beer mixes, including a modified black and tan pairing a Chicory stout—a tarry blend of coffee, spice and full-bodied beer goodness—with the 90 Minute IPA (the combo does a splendid dark-light soft-shoe across the palate) and a “75 Minute IPA,” cobbled together by mixing equal parts 60 Minute IPA and 90 Minute IPA, have been equally well received.

And really, what’s not to like?

The potent Midas Touch produces a tawny ale blending barley, muscat grapes and honey (supremely sweet). All the way across the flavor spectrum sits their Indian Brown, a chocolaty porter with coffee flavor to spare. The quirky raison d’etre packs some pungent, dried fruit but remains moderately crisp.

During happy hour, patrons get breaks on beer ($1.50 off all drafts, $1 off bottles), booze ($1 off rail drinks and glasses of wine) and assorted snacks ($2 off appetizers and pizzas). Best of all, the happy hour deals are available throughout the restaurant, rather than benefiting only those seated at the often-crowded bar.

Although certain appetizers are certainly appealing—a terrific bacon-wrapped shrimp special comes to mind, as do the fiery Andouille egg rolls—the outstanding pizzas are the real prizes.

Ryan stressed that their pizzas are grilled on both sides in order to lock in an authentically wood-fired flavor, and the extra attention shows. Each pie comes with your choice of sauce (pesto, marinara and alfredo are the base options) and typically includes a host of well-orchestrated ingredients.

An alfredo Cajun stunner heaps spicy Andouille sausage, red onions, ripe tomatoes, dreamy alfredo sauce and loads of cheese onto well-scorched dough. The Hawaiian pie scatters Canadian bacon, fresh pineapple and a phenomenal mozzarella-parmesan blend over a cracker-thin crust that refuses to buckle beneath the weight of its delicious payload. Meanwhile, the Chesapeake pizza yields glorious hunks of jumbo lump crab, diced asparagus and sliced tomatoes tied together by velvety cheese (outstanding).

Only time will tell if Dogfish can continue to dazzle customers with its exotic brews and creative eats. But the one thing that is clear is that Martin appears determined to build on his early successes. “Northern Virginia has been very kind to us,” he said, “[and] we’re looking to expand.”

Lakeside Inn
11150 South Lakes Drive, Reston; 703-264-0781; www.thelakesideinn.com
Average entree: $13 to $20. Open for lunch and dinner daily; Sunday brunch.

It may be unfair to hold Reston’s venerable Lakeside Inn bartending newcomers to the “Cheers”-like standard of knowing each and every one of their customers by name. But chances are if you’ve spent any significant amount of time in the waterfront watering hole over the past decade, veteran barkeeps can draw your face from memory.

The interior of Lakeside’s cozy sports pub is, in fact, home to over 100 artistic renderings of the regulars, employees and friends who frequented the bar when it first opened in the early 1990s. According to owner Ed LaRue, a local cartoonist started cranking out the quirky caricatures and the “walls filled up rather quickly.”

“We’re always looking to add to the wall, but we haven’t had the opportunity lately,” he said of the lull in recent additions to the exaggerated scribblings that keep watch over the current crop of regulars.

None of the folks we ran into during our visits seemed particularly up in arms about being the next sardonic sketch to grace the barroom walls. Maybe they were just too busy enjoying the nightly food and drink specials to care.

Daily food specials include: half-price burgers on Monday, half-price pizzas on Tuesday, $2 off appetizers on Wednesday, half-price chicken fajitas on Thursday, 50-cent wings on Friday and weekend-long deals on spiced shrimp ($7 per half-pound, $13 per pound) and stadium-style hot dogs ($3 for a plain quarter-pounder, $1 extra for bonus chili or sauerkraut).

According to LaRue, Mondays and Thursdays tend to be the busiest nights in the bar, although he noted that the rolling happy hour specials attract individual constituencies almost every night of the week.
With such a wide variety of traditional bar favorites, it’s easy to see how just about any night could produce a discount dining victory.

A portion of barbecue wings summons about a pound of meaty bird slathered in a respectable hickory sauce (trace amounts of smoke and wood, with a nice, sticky glaze). Honey-infused dough makes for slightly sweet pizzas blanketed by your choice of fresh toppings (buffalo chicken is one favorite). The aforementioned chili dog smothers a sizeable wiener with beef-and-bean chili (quite hearty), then seals the deal with an avalanche of salty potato chips.

The so-called backyard burger is about as all-American as you can get, revealing a juicy, all-beef patty bolstered by piles of shaved ham, melted cheese and a dollop of barbecue sauce. An Italo-American variation caps the same beefy foundation with marinara and melted mozzarella, yet seems to fall short of the mark (add some strategically placed pepperoni or work some ground Italian sausage into the patty and you’ve got a guaranteed winner).

Corresponding drink specials include: $4 Bloody Mary’s all day Sunday, $4 Guinness cans or Jagermeister shots on Monday, $2 domestic bottles (Bud, Bud Light and Michelob Ultra) on Tuesday, $3 bottles (Amstel Light, Corona, Heineken, Newcastle, Samuel Adams and Stella Artois) on Wednesday and $3 martinis and $4 cosmopolitans on Thursdays, all on top of the daily $1 off drafts, wines by the glass and rail drinks offered from 4 until 7 p.m. every weeknight.

Lucky’s Sports Theatre & Grill
7027 Manchester Blvd., Alexandria; 703-922-0404.
Average entree: $13 to $20. Open for lunch, dinner and late-night dining daily.

“Game on!” at Lucky’s can entail watching sports with friends

No longer just a random collection of pre-planned housing projects and competing corporate strip malls, Kingstowne appears to be coalescing into a vibrant, stand-alone community.

And Lucky’s looks poised to be one of those entertainment crossroads where newfound neighbors, old friends or even folks just passing through can easily connect over beers, sports and electronic fun.

The sprawling sports pub cum family eatery is hardly noticeable from the street, but inside awaits an adult playground—a la Dave & Buster’s, save for the absence of casino-style games and endurance spectacles like the electric chair—for the inside Mixing Bowl set. Like any good club, all the action at Lucky’s takes place around the huge, horseshoe-shaped main bar, which is surrounded by over a half-dozen wall-length projection screens and strategically placed plasma TVs (all tuned to sports, of course). High tops and bar stools keep things light and breezy, while a handful of standard tables and semi-private booths are available for those who wish to take a step back from the constant sports chatter.

The remainder of the room plays host to next-generation video games like auto and motorcycle racing simulators, first-person shooters and an interactive horse race. Low-tech gaming enthusiasts, on the other hand, can revisit their youth with carnival standbys like air hockey, arcade basketball and electric claw challenges.

Most games start at about 75 cents per credit, while the interactive sports games can climb as high as $2 per session.

Kevin Dupuis, an assistant general manager at Lucky’s and 30-year hospitality veteran, said guests can purchase rechargeable Lucky’s cards to play video games, pay for drinks or cover dining expenses in any part of the budding entertainment complex.

“It’s basically a gift card that gives you access to the whole restaurant,” he explained, adding that the restaurant will typically cut large parties a deal on discounted games.

According to Dupuis, the fledgling establishment (Lucky’s opened its doors in August 2007) does its biggest business on weekend nights—thanks largely to the locals’ seemingly insatiable appetite for Ultimate Fighting Championship viewing parties and Lucky’s astute no-cover charge policy.

The nightly food and drink specials (available from 3 to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday) probably don’t hurt, either.

Bar appetizers are slashed by $2, bringing down the prices on traditional snacks such as buffalo wings (standard fare, served on a bed of fries), fried calamari, spinach-artichoke dip and nachos.

A grilled chicken quesadilla proves terrifically spicy thanks to a secret stash of fiery jalapenos (residual heat kept my lips tingling even as the server retired the plate). Familiar cheeseburger sliders benefit from the addition of faintly sweet mini-Hawaiian rolls (nice tweak). Meanwhile, classic potato skins get the chargrilled treatment via a layer of shredded chicken dripping with hickory barbecue sauce (another nice substitution).

Drink specials include 16-ounce drafts of Miller Lite, Budweiser, Bud Light and Yuengling Lager for $1.50, 20-ounce pours of the same for $2, house wines for $4 a glass and $3 off all house liquors. Premium drafts include Blue Moon, Bass, Stella Artois, Hook and Ladder and Long Hammer IPA.

Red Rocks Cafe & Tequila Bar
13850-F Braddock Road, Centreville; 703-815-6900.
Average entree: $13 to $20. Open for lunch, dinner and late-night dining daily; Sunday brunch.

Booze 2.0: a Red Rocks signature cosmotinirita

Whereas some local motorists use their license plates as personal billboards for cherished traits (6 FUT 2), fanciful nicknames (COWGRL) or sociological queries (YDOUH8), the vanity tags on restaurateur Robert Evans’ luxury SUV proudly hail the magic potion that has fueled his beloved Red Rocks: TEQLIA.

Regulars tend to show up early and stay late at this neighborhood gathering place, often claiming their favorite high top by plunking down a deck of cards and settling in for a long night of drinking and gaming. Amateur deejays futilely attempt to control everyone’s musical destiny for hours on end by pumping fistfuls of change into the Internet jukebox, only to have their painstakingly constructed playlists interrupted midstream by similarly minded musicos willing to exercise the premium “play it now” feature.

Meanwhile, other devotees appear to come strictly for video diversions like the standard pit boss machines, a light-based stacking challenge or the now-ubiquitous Golden Tee—a game that’s evidently so magnetic, one over-exuberant virtual golfer informed his buddies, “I gave up a hot girlfriend for this.”

Most people, however, seem happy to just kick back and enjoy a few drinks.

The bar boasts nearly 100 brand-name tequilas, starting at $4 for Jose Cuervo Silver and rising to $42 for a 1-ounce pour of Seleccion Suprema (Herradura’s top-shelf brand of 4-year-old tequila) or Don Julio Real (an oak barrel-aged, premium blue agave tequila that typically retails for over $300 a bottle).

Evergreen drink specials, available from 1 to 7 p.m. during the workweek, include: $1.50 pints of Budweiser, Miller Lite, Coors Light, Yuengling Lager and the signature Red Rocks Red (house brew), $2 glasses of house wine, $3 rail drinks and discount margaritas.

The house brand margaritas come in more than two dozen fruit flavors ranging from traditional lime to kiwi, guava or pumpkin. A second tier of specialty margaritas offers another dozen-plus choices, including at least a few high-octane refreshers boasting Jimmy Buffet-brand tequila (Evans is an avowed Parrot and Dead Head).

Hard-charging daily temptations include: $3 Monday car bombs—better known as “depth charges” in proper Celtic establishments, $3 cherry bombs and $5 buckets of Bud Light pony beers (five 7-ounce bottles) on Tuesday, $2.50 Pabst Blue Ribbon cans and $3 “cosmotiniritas” (more tequila-laden concoctions) on Wednesday, $4 Jagermeister bombs and $5 buckets of Miller Lite pony beers on Thursday, an extended Friday happy hour offering $2 domestic bottles from 7 till 9 p.m., $4 margaritas and martinis all day Saturday and $7 pitchers (domestics only) on Sunday.

Additionally, look for Guinness, Dos Equis, Sierra Nevada, Redhook ESB and Michelob Ultra Amber on draft, plus rotating bottled beer of the month specials (Rogue, Woodchuck, Abita).

Daily food specials range from traditional bar fare (nachos, burgers, wings) to Southwestern-style specialties (half-price quesadillas).

A basket of batter-fried jalapeno rings are all about unmitigated heat and just the right amount of crunch (no cream cheese necessary). Serrano wings are petite but potent heat-seekers aimed directly at your gullet (mission accomplished). An order of habanero-berry wings proves less aggressive, but the saucy poultry still tickles the taste buds with its tart-piquant essence.

(April 2008)