I was lucky enough to get an invite to the new H Street Country Club tonight for a sneak peek before the big opening tomorrow, and I am certainly glad I did because I do not think that I will ever get to see the place so empty again. This new bar on H Street NE might be the most anticipated of any new bar or restaurant in that neighborhood…and arguably in all of Capitol Hill. I must say, it’s worth the wait and stands up to the hype.
What’s to like: let’s start with the food. When I first heard that the menu was going to be Mexican, I was a bit disappointed. We have so much of that in the city already, but as Proprietor and General Manager, Ricardo Vergara, pointed out, we don’t have good Tex Mex options on this side of town. As much as I love La Loma and La Plaza, he does have a point about quality. At H St CC you have Tex Mex done Ann Cashion and Teddy Folkman style, which is pretty darn tasty. I’m not a guacamole girl, but that was some good guac. My favorite of the night was the spicy tamales. I also got to sample the quesadilla, nachos, and Nacogdoches Meat Pies. The one thing I didn’t get to try but will when I go back is the queso dip. But I have little doubt that it will meet my high standards. You can find the full dinner menu here, and the bar/late night menu here.
Next, the drinks. I believe I counted 14 different tequilas on the menu. A friend asked me tonight if this would be a good place for a guys’ night out…I think that means the answer is YES. And you know how some margaritas taste a bit too much like sugary mix? Not here. Just please cab home if you plan on having any margaritas because they are deceptively strong.
Lee Wheeler was brought in to do the decor, including the DC-themed indoor putt-putt course. The detail and creativity in his work is impressive and highly entertaining – you could look at the murals for hours and still probably not see all the little details. For example, the mural of the Iwo Jima Memorial is made up of tiny plastic toy soldiers, and there are random black squirrels on the walls. And the waves on one wall are actually rats (eew….what’s he saying about DC?? Oh yeah…)
And then there’s the putt-putt course. While you can rent out the course for kids’ birthday parties, this is not your average putt-putt course and is a bit more challenging than it seems at first glance. Start at U Street, aiming for a narrow alley between Ben’s Chili Bowl and the Lincoln Theater. Then move onto the National Cathedral where one of the gargoyles is Proprietor, Joe Englert. This hole has a tricky twist, including a gofer, so be ready to take a few shots. After that, make your way up K Street, around some lobbyists with swinging briefcases and wads of cash blocking your way into the hole (unless you are me and managed to get a hole in one – whoohoo!). The Lincoln Memorial was one of the more challenging shots, and I suspect will give a lot of people golf-rage. After you give up, putt around the undead presidents, and then make your way through the Beltway’s Mixing Bowl (my favorite hole). Next is a parking enforcer who is in need of a better belt… Then move onto The Awakening, which, at a closer look is actually Marion Barry. Finish up at the Washington Monument and Vietnam Memorial, and go get yourself another drink.
If putt-putt is not your thing, or you are simply unable to get a tee time, head back downstairs for pool, skeeball, and table shuffle board. At $15/hour it’s not the cheapest in town but still a fun way to pass the time with friends.
The only two things I foresee being criticisms of H Street Country Club are the prices and the crowds. The food and drinks are a bit pricey, but they are at least really good. I didn’t see the full plate sizes but hopefully they will be measure up to the prices. The other complaint will probably be that it is too crowded, but isn’t that expected with a place like this? If you hate crowds, wait for the hype to die down a bit, or go on a weeknight when it’s less likely to be as packed, but don’t let the lines scare you away completely. This place, I think, is worth all the attention it’s getting.
Pictures from my visit are below. Frozen Tropics’ Inked also has a bunch of great pictures here, and Young & Hungry has some great shots here.
