Tag Archives: h street

Pho Bar and Grill: Another Cheap and Tasty Option on H Street

30 Nov

Outside of Pho Bar and Grill

It may have taken awhile (we were inaccurately told they would open months ago) and there may still be a few kinks (they still can’t serve alcohol because of a delay with their liquor license application), but Pho Bar and Grill on H Street (1360 H Street NE) has finally opened.  The restaurant is located on the east end of H Street near the fairly recently opened Shawafel and across from popular bars like the Rock N Roll Hotel and H Street Country Club.  It serves a variety of Vietnamese dishes but focuses on pho (a traditional Vietnamese soup that usually features broth, a type of meat, noodles, and a variety of other ingredients ranging from basil to lime to hot sauce to bean sprouts).

If you walk in and are not immediately greeted, don’t be deterred or you will miss out on the food (menu here).  The service is somewhat lacking (as it is many places on H Street), but the food will have you coming back for more.  As a starter, try the crispy egg rolls.  For $5, you get two lightly fried rolls that have a mixture of shrimp, pork, and crab meat–mostly pork.  They are nicely cooked so that there is a light crunch when you bite into them, but they are not overly hard or greasy.  Pho Bar and Grill also has several types of dumplings, but we have yet to try them as they have been out. Continue reading →

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Pho Bar and Grill Opening Next Week On H Street (Menu Photos)

17 Sep

Just learned while walking through the H Street Festival today that Pho Bar and Grill (1360 H Street) will be opening next Sunday.  Menu looks good (and cheap), we can’t wait to check it out!

 

 

 

 

 

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The Atlas Room: A Hidden Star in DC

28 Aug

Pork Hash & Eggs at The Atlas Room

Do not let the bars on the windows turn you away, The Atlas Room on H Street (1015 H Street)–open for less than a year–is one of the up and coming restaurants in the DC area.  A major part of the resurgence of H Street NE, The Atlas Room should appeal to food lovers across DC area.  Chef-Owner Matt Cordes and Chef de Cuisine Bobby Beard have impressive resumes ranging from Vidalia to 701 to Gerard’s Place to Kinkead’s to Citronelle.  The previous experiences of Cordes and Beard shine through in dishes at The Atlas Room.

The unimpressive barred windows and blue awning outside give way to a nicely decorated, if dark, inside.  The small restaurant features seven closely placed tables lining both sides of the wall at the front with a bar and bar seating towards the back.  The entire restaurant fits less than fifty people, so on weekend nights you would be wise to call ahead (they only take phone reservations, unfortunately no Open Table).  If you don’t make a reservation, you can usually get a table during the week or on the early side during the weekend.  Tables on the left hand side of the restaurant have chairs on the outside and covered bench seating on the inside, while tables on the right hand side only have chairs.  The entire restaurant features a dark color scheme with dark wood floors and lights hanging down from the ceiling.  Large pictures and maps hang from the wall on both sides. Continue reading →

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Shawafel: A Welcome Addition to H Street

17 Aug

Shawafel

The east end of H Street has a plethora of restaurants and bars with many different themes and atmospheres.  Yet if you wanted a casual and quick meal or late night food after a night out on H Street, you were basically limited to Taylor Gourmet’s sandwiches (not a bad choice at all), pies, or venturing into one of the sketchier late night establishments that will serve you everything from Chinese food to fried fish from behind a bulletproof glass window.  Fortunately, Shawafel, which opened Monday at 1322 H Street, has changed the game and filled a much needed niche.

A quick serve casual Lebanese restaurant, Shawafel is located across the street from popular establishments like H Street Country Club and the Rock and Roll Hotel and down the street from Sticky Rice, Red Palace, and Toki Underground (as well as many others).  This prime location makes it an excellent stop for anyone who doesn’t want to have a lengthy dinner but still wants quality food before going out.  Its location near so many H Street bars and its late hours (3am Thursday-Saturday) will no doubt make it a popular place in the early hours of the morning for post bar food. Continue reading →

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Inspire BBQ: A Nice Neighborhood Carryout

28 Jul

Inspire BBQ from Across H Street

You can easily drive H Street everyday and not notice Inspire BBQ.  Its small store front with only two tables outside and a tarp currently serving as its sign do not stand out.  However, this relatively new BBQ joint located at 650 H Street is a nice place to grab a cheap and tasty dinner on the way home or for lunch on Saturday (closed Sunday).  Recently, they announced that they would be open until 11pm.  Whenever you go, plan on taking it with you because there is literally no where to sit inside and only two tables outside that are practically on the curb.  Because there are not many other places around it, parking is usually pretty easy in the evening.

We are always skeptical that BBQ places with too many meat choices and without a clear regional preference (i.e. Carolina, Texas, Memphis, Savannah, or Kansas City) will lack focus.  We prefer that BBQ restaurants have a clear style and focus rather than trying to be everything at once.  Places with too many varieties of meat risk not doing any of them well.  While Inspire BBQ did not have a clear region and did have several meat options (beef ribs, pulled pork, pulled chicken, chicken quarters, and brisket), we left satisfied. (Note: beware of the menu online, it claims that certain dishes are served ways they are not.  For example, the ribs did not include bread or onions).

Continue reading →

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Brunch at The Argonaut: Great Drink Deals, Less Exciting Food

25 Jul

The Outside of the Argonaut

Most of the new investment on the east end of H Street ends at 14th street, and, for the most part, the remaining block until H Street intersects with Maryland Avenue and Bladensburg Road has not been affected by the recent development nearby.  However, if you continue to walk east on H Street past 14th street, you will run across one of the original businesses in the revitalization of H Street: The Argonaut Tavern.  Begun in 2005 by H Street pioneer Joe Englert (Rock and Roll Hotel, The Pug, Sticky Rice, Granville Moore’s, and H Street Country Club among others), The Argonaut advertises itself as “the grandfather” of the Atlas District and an “old English-style tavern.”  The servers all wear black, pirate themed t-shirts that claim The Argonaut has “The Best Booty in Town.”  Recently The Argonaut has undergone extensive renovations after a fire last year burned down its kitchen.  The Argonaut also added an outdoor patio in the last several months to allow guests to enjoy a drink or a meal outside when weather allows.

While the outside on H Street is somewhat foreboding, the inside has a friendly feel.  The inside of the restaurant is fairly dark, but mirrors all along the wall and the open kitchen give the inside bar and dining area character.  The upstairs section was not open during brunch.  Unfortunately for the middle of the summer, there does not seem to be any air conditioning, and the restaurant becomes quite warm despite several fans.  While recently far too hot to eat outside, the patio looks quite pleasant for an evening dinner or brunch in the fall. Continue reading →

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