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Nationals Park, beyond peanuts and Cracker Jack Fans are flocking to Southeast to see the first-place Washington Nationals as they compete for a playoff spot. While you’re settling in for the stretch run, here’s where to eat and drink in and around the stadium.
Nationals Park
For the first time since Nationals Park opened in 2008, there's a palpable sense of expectation both inside and outside the stadium. The surrounding neighborhood, as seen reflected in a silver baseball orb, is in the midst of its own rebuild.
Bill O'Leary
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WASHINGTON POST
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The Fairgrounds
In an effort to pump up neighborhood business on non-game days, creator Robert “Bo” Blair has retooled the parking lot — formerly home to the Bullpen and Das Bullpen — into the Fairgrounds , an elaborate market built from recycled metal shipping containers.
Michael Temchine
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For The Washington Post
Justin's Cafe
Justin Ross's two-year-old bar and restaurant, Justin’s Cafe , was one of the first players in the Southeast riverfront food scene, and it remains one of the best. The wonderful craft beer list, hearty sandwiches, “American-Neapolitan” pizzas, soups and imaginative salads make for great, if crowded, pre- and post-game eating.
Evy Mages
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For The Washington Post
Lot 38 Espresso Bar
Need a kick before first pitch? You don't need to rely on any national bean pushers — the riverfront community has its own coffeehouse. Only a couple of blocks from the nearest Starbucks, Lot 38 Espresso Bar bests its corporate competition with the help of the Italian coffee brand Illy and a nice selection of locally baked pastries and house-made sandwiches. But its biggest contribution to the year's baseball season probably will come in the form of free WiFi and large, frosty cups of iced coffee.
Katherine Frey
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The Washington Post
The Yards Park
Opened in 2010, the 5 1/2-acre Yards Park sits on a former Navy Yard annex site, stretching from Second to Fifth streets SE along the Anacostia River with terraced gardens and sleek wooden recliners; elegant fountains and a wading canal that laps at the open river.
Capitol Riverfront Business Improvement District
Anacostia Riverwalk Trail
Nationals Park is now more accessible from the Yards Park , thanks to a section of the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail that connects the park by a footbridge to the steps of the stadium's first-base entrance.
Katherine Frey
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THE WASHINGTON POST
The Yards Park
It's worth your while to take a stroll to the Yards Park before or after a game, not only because of the river and stadium views, but also because of the events there this season: Beginning May 4, the park will host Friday concerts from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. with food, beer and wine sales handled by the folks behind the ChurchKey /Rustico empire.
Katherine Frey
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The Washington Post
Station 4
A short walk from Nationals Park, new developments are springing up near the Southwest Waterfront. Station 4 , a more formal sit-down spot from the owner of Tunnicliff's, Ulah Bistro, Stoney's and Bullfeathers, offers $3 beers to fans with a Nationals ticket stub. Watching the game at the bar? Wear your Nats gear and enjoy the same deal.
Matt McClain
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For The Washington Post
Cantina Marina
The biggest draw near the Southwest Waterfront is Cantina Marina , where frozen margaritas and the riverfront deck provide one of the city's best outdoor spaces.
Amanda Voisard
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The Washington Post
Ben's Chili Bowl
This District food icon has been a Nationals Park standby since the ballpark opened, and the main draw, naturally, is its plump half-smoke - the Michael Morse to the standard ballpark hot dog's Steve Lombardozzi. It's slathered in cheese, onions and chili for $7.50. Remember to ask for extra napkins.
Jeffrey MacMillan/For The Washington Post
Taste of the Majors
Seventeen dishes from Major League Baseball cities rotate depending on the visiting team: Cincinnati chili, a Milwaukee beer brat platter, a San Francisco garlic-fries-and-shrimp platter, and a Colorado “Mile High” burger are some of the planned offerings, most of which are in the $10 range. Pictured: a Miami Cubano sandwich.
Justin Rude
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The Washington Post
Red Porch
Not everything in the park is served in throwaway paper containers. For a more relaxed atmosphere, grab a table in center field at the Red Porch restaurant.
Michael Temchine
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FOR THE WASHINGTON POST
Red Porch
Aspiring for the type of fare found at a place like Meridian Pint in Columbia Heights, food-and-beer pairings are front and center: Swing for the BBQ Beef Reuben ($14) - brisket smoked in-house, topped with gouda and jalapeno coleslaw - paired with a pint of Blue Moon's wheat ale.
Michael Temchine
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FOR THE WASHINGTON POST
Red Porch
The Red Porch has dessert covered too, with a chocolate chip cookie sundae ($8) served in a cast-iron skillet (unfortunately, it's not a souvenir).
Michael Temchine
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For The Washington Post
Scoreboard Walk
New York restaurateur Danny Meyer's pan-American comfort-food empire burst onto the ballpark scene last year as the anchor of the big center field concessions rebuild. Next to the turfed and shaded Scoreboard Walk outdoor lounge area, it remains one of the stadium's biggest culinary draws. Mark and Carole Evans of Washington enjoy the Miller Lite Scoreboard Walk with their 7-year old daughter Abigail before the Nationals exhibition game against the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday, April 3, 2012.
Michael Temchine
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For The Washington Post
Shake Shack
You have to pay a ballpark premium for your Shack burger. What runs for $4.75 in Dupont Circle will set you back $6 here, but the taste of what's offered on the mezzanine concourse is so surprisingly close to restaurant quality that it's impossible to balk at the surcharge. And, yes, of course you can take a Concrete back to your seat. It will set you back $6.75.
Marvin Joseph
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The Washington Post
El Verano Taqueria
A trio of tacos or a folded quesadilla goes for $7.75 at this surprisingly authentic taco stand. Fill your choice with either barbacoa, chicken pipian, carnitas or roasted vegetables. We're partial to the elote, a $4.75 buttery, grilled spear of corn on the cob whose bold, sweet flavor will help you forget how messy it is. At $3.75, churros are a must.
Michael Temchine
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For The Washington Post
Blue Smoke
Blue Smoke's thick-cut barbecued beef bologna sandwich is fatty, salty and smoky and balanced by a small pile of pickles.
Michael Temchine
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For The Washington Post
Blue Smoke
Slightly burnt burgundy on the outside, tender and pink within, with a rich smokiness throughout. We almost don't want to like Blue Smoke's Kansas City spareribs this much, but we just can't help it. We just wish the wet-naps weren't so dinky.
Michael Temchine
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For The Washington Post
Box Frites
If they're in your name, they had better be good. And Box Frites' Belgian-style fries are. A small box will set you back $5.75 ($6.75 for the newly-added sweet potato fries) and comes with your choice of dipping sauce: Choose from buffalo bleu cheese, smoky bacon, curry mayo, chipotle barbecue sauce and rosemary ranch.
Justin Rude
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The Washington Post
Box Frites
Potatoes aren't the only thing that find their way into the fryer at Box Frites, either: $4.75 gets you a portion of fried mixed-berry pie. We repeat: fried pie. Also new for the 2012 season: buffalo and BLT hot dogs.
Justin Rude
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The Washington Post
Nationals Park
The 41,000-plus fans who will pack Nationals Park for a sold out game have more options for pre- and post-game entertainment in and around the stadium than ever before.
Jonathan Newton
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The Washington Post
Kids Play Area
Of course, if the youngest of the team's fans start to get restless after several innings, the kids play area in center field is an attractive option.
Justin Rude
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JUSTIN RUDE
Nationals Park
The present is bright and the future appears even brighter, sort of like the Nats.
Jonathan Newton
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WASHINGTON POST
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