PoP Preview – Birch & Barley and Church Key – Grand Opening Thursday!
21 October 2009 11:07 PM | By Prince Of Petworth in Bars, Neighborhoods - Logan Circle, Restaurants, Restaurants - Logan Circle, Restaurants - Shaw
This is a huge spot located at 1337 14th Street, NW (which used to be the old Dakota Cowgirl space). It is actually two concepts. Downstairs is the more restaurant focused Birch & Barley and upstairs is the beer focused Church Key (though there are also dining options for the upstairs space). I was able to take some preview photos on Wed. and the place is looking good – it finally opens to the public on Thursday. Be sure to let me know what you think. For the beer lovers, you will have lots and lots of options (500 bottles, 50 drafts, and 5 casks).
Downstairs:
Lots more photos after the jump.
Above is the downstairs front section that will open up in the warmer months.
Bar on the first floor features a “beer organ”. Sweet.
Huge bar upstairs (75 feet).
Not all the taps were set up yet, but that’s still a pretty killer sight.
Upstairs front section. (The back section will be more lounge like but it wasn’t set up yet).
This was my favorite part.
If anyone stops by tomorrow night be sure to let us know how it goes.
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21 October 2009 11:19 PM | George Said:
hmmm my 21st is tomorrow…..might drop by.
22 October 2009 6:59 AM | monkeyrotica Said:
Isn’t that the old Hamburger Mary’s spot? Looks sweet. I only hope that, unlike Brickskellar, they actually have some of the beer on their menu.
22 October 2009 7:43 AM | anon Said:
Is this the place that Rob from Biddy’s is headed? Where is he anyway?
22 October 2009 8:04 AM | Truxton K Said:
If this place is managed and operated as well as Rustico’s, then we will be in good shape.
22 October 2009 8:08 AM | Raymo in LeDroit Said:
Wow, looks fantastic.
22 October 2009 8:13 AM | MnomeNa Said:
Looks amazing! Can’t wait to stop by for a long happy hour- the beer organ is freaking awesome!
22 October 2009 8:35 AM | Markus Said:
Wow.
22 October 2009 9:20 AM | New Hampy Said:
super excited. great concept and from the decor looks like it will have a great vibe!
22 October 2009 9:25 AM | USA! USA! Said:
Have mercy! So long as they don’t price their beers like over at Commonwealth, they’ll have a steady customer here.
22 October 2009 9:29 AM | direstraightsissoawesome Said:
Grotti: So, you got this table?
Michael: Yes.
Grotti: This is one of those half booths, can’t-decide-what-it-is type of thing.
Michael: Well.
Grotti: Waitress, we’re gonna sit over here.
Waitress: That’s fine.
Michael: Okay.
22 October 2009 9:37 AM | monkeyrotica Said:
Commonwealth has always sold $3 low-end beers, so there’s no need to go broke on the high-end stuff. If their menu is like Commonwealth, their bar food will be rock solid but the entrees will be hit-or-miss. Still worth it just for the beers, pizzas, burgers, and excellent twice-fried fries.
22 October 2009 9:38 AM | monkeyrotica Said:
My mistake. Replace “Commonwealth” with “Rustico.”
22 October 2009 9:55 AM | Marco Said:
Lovely! Cant wait to try it out
22 October 2009 9:59 AM | saf Said:
Monkey – yes. First it was Hamburger Mary’s, then it became Dakota Cowgirl. Now it will be this.
22 October 2009 10:03 AM | Bitter Elitist Said:
I’m going to play In-a-gadda-da-vida on that beer organ.
22 October 2009 10:05 AM | New2CH Said:
Frigging gorgeous. Wow.
22 October 2009 10:08 AM | dreas Said:
It’s like everything Brickskeller is not: clean, bright, nicely decorated, in-stock menu items, and (presumably) good food and pleasant service!
22 October 2009 10:09 AM | ShawRes Said:
Bitter Elitist for comment of the week.
22 October 2009 10:48 AM | Nichole Said:
I have yet to be disappointed by anything the Neighborhood Restaurant Group has done. (Except for a really weak cheese plate at Vermillion once.) Their food is fantastic (Columbia Firehouse now has the best burger I’ve had in the DC area) and their bar programs are consistently interesting. (Rustico is always hosting brewers from around the country, their regular beer selection is fantastic. And, it always seemed odd to me, but before they gave up serving it b/c of the weird Virginia laws governing such things, they had really amazing sangria.)
This place seems like it’ll be the bizzarro RFD: good food, atmosphere not reminiscent of something you’d find in a Reston office park and no health code violations. I plan to be there early and often.
22 October 2009 10:50 AM | IntangibleArts Said:
Keep one legitimate English bitter on tap and you’ll have an intangible friend for life, you place you.
22 October 2009 11:04 AM | Rance Said:
I’m digging the looks of this place. And I just knew that simulated woodgrain would make a comeback. It was just a matter of time.
22 October 2009 11:06 AM | Lauren In ColHeights Said:
love this space…can’t wait to try it out.
22 October 2009 11:10 AM | LJ Said:
Thanks for the update on opening night and the photos! I walked by on the opposite side of the street last night and all the chandeliers inside were lit up and it looked fan-tas-tic.
22 October 2009 11:14 AM | K St. Said:
Beautiful, can’t wait to go there directly from my office at least once a week.
22 October 2009 11:20 AM | CPT_Doom Said:
On the one hand I am impressed with the renovation of this space – it certainly was a long project and it shows.
On the other hand I am still mourning the loss of the Hamburger Mary’s/Dakota Cowgirl/Ramrod Bar – it was the first gay-owned establishment I made my regular place after coming out and I was lost when they closed. Sort of like meeting the people who bought your childhood home, I am not sure I can warm up to the place.
Of course, if the food is good and the service is pleasant (not always the case at the old establishment) they might bring me around.
22 October 2009 11:30 AM | U Said:
That Beer Organ is incredible!
22 October 2009 12:00 PM | Anonymous Said:
5 beer engines (five!!!!). And with Greg’s track record we can expect that most if not all of them will be active at any time. He’s gotten some incredible West Coast and British casks for Rustico, stuff this area rarely sees. Cannot WAIT to see what he has on tap. All 50 (fifty!!!) of them!
22 October 2009 12:24 PM | ESB Said:
I walked by last night and had to mention how beautiful the space looks from across the street. The lighting and the full window facade makes it sparkle.
22 October 2009 12:35 PM | monkeyrotica Said:
Second IntangibleArts on the English bitter. Something low carbonation that doesn’t fill you up with gas, and where you can taste something BESIDES the hops.
Also, some stouts besides Guinness, please. Like Beamish maybe? Can’t think of a place that has Beamish on tap.
22 October 2009 12:38 PM | Dude Said:
Wait a minute, people actually miss Hamburger Mary’s? It was a bad chain.
22 October 2009 2:27 PM | DC Cab Said:
Neat looking space. What is it with so many bars called church key?I’ve been to 3 myself.
22 October 2009 2:32 PM | Anonymous Said:
I don’t think I miss Hamburger Mary’s per se, but the buzz on a Sunday afternoon from the all-you-can-drink bloody marys was pretty awesome
22 October 2009 2:33 PM | Dude Said:
monkeyrotica: Fin Mac Cool’s on Barracks Row used to have Beamish on tap, but I haven’t been there in years, and it’s changed hands since then, so this post is probably altogether useless. Sorry.
22 October 2009 3:30 PM | Anonymous Said:
monkeyrotica: They might not have Beamish, but they’ll probably have something interesting. Rustico seems to always have a pretty interesting American micro stout, and it isn’t always some Imperial Russian monster. Last time I was there I had a nice Irish stout from Victory (I think). 3.7% ABV or so, good session beer.
“Church key” is a name for those old-timey bottle openers. It appears that several people have found it to be a clever name for a beer bar.
22 October 2009 3:45 PM | RD Said:
drool
22 October 2009 3:49 PM | Bitter Elitist Said:
dreas Says:
October 22nd, 2009 at 10:08 am
It’s like everything Brickskeller is not: clean, bright, nicely decorated, in-stock menu items, and (presumably) good food and pleasant service!
**hee hee
When I went there I had brown stuff on my menu and got my 3rd choice of beer.
22 October 2009 3:56 PM | reflexive Said:
ugh. so many beers. so many bars. so little time…………
seriously. that place looks effing hot!
22 October 2009 4:20 PM | Nichole Said:
Fritz has the beer list: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/goingoutgurus/2009/10/whats_on_tap_at_birch_barley_a.html
22 October 2009 6:13 PM | a strange Said:
Looks amazing! LOTS OF BEER! YEAH!!!
22 October 2009 9:00 PM | Truxton K Said:
Just got back from soft opening. The staff was totally in the weeds but was still friendly and cool. Only taps tonight, at least while I was there. Their limited selection is better than most places full offering. Very loungy space for a beer bar but I like it. Two minor quibbles: no hooks under the bar for coats/bags and too many TVs in the bar. Otherwise, the place is awesome and I am very happy to finally see it open.
23 October 2009 8:51 AM | Steve Said:
Jeannette has done a fantastic job getting this resturant open. All of her hard work has paid off. It will be a huge success
23 October 2009 12:22 PM | Michael Said:
I went by last night and liked the place a lot. The beer list is very impressive – lots of the best beers from across the US and world and across different styles are covered. A bit on the pricey side given the relatively small pours, but not too bad. Food menu looked good and reasonably priced, although we didn’t order anything. The upstairs bar was very crowded last night and it was a bit challenging to get a beer, but I’m sure that was mostly due to the fact that it was opening night. Staff seemed very nice too.
23 October 2009 1:41 PM | Petworth Newbie Said:
Wow! Loving it.