1801 14th St. NW. No phone. www.stand
arddc.com.
I found myself singing the praises of Smith Commons several times over the winter. The three-story resto-lounge’s clean lines, open spaces and brick-and-honey hues add up to one of the most attractive spaces on H Street NE. The beer program is growing into one of the city’s best, and the crowd gathered around the bar or on soft leather couches is frequently the most diverse in the neighborhood.
Smith Commons’ menu — both liquid and solid — has changed several times, but what’s drawing me back now is the second story patio, especially the daily “Smith Hour.” Like the indoors, the patio is simple and refined: wood plank walls to keep the noise out of neighbors’ yards, shield-shaped tables, metal chairs with woven seats and backs. The afternoon sun finds several tables in the shade as well as the sun.
“Smith Hour” brings $5 beers, rail drinks and wines by the glass and $6 appetizers from 5 to 7 p.m. during the week and 3 to 7 p.m. on weekends. That it’s offered al fresco is a treat — there are enough places that insist happy-hour deals apply only at the bar. A friend and I stopped in last week for crab cake sliders (two good examples, topped with green tomatoes) and angus beef skewers, plus a couple of drinks. House white wine was fruity and nothing to shout about. The happy-hour mixed drinks are made with brands you’ve heard of. And the draft selection includes refreshing beers if you have the table in the sun (Ommegang Witte, Bell’s Oberon) and stronger brews if you’re in the shade (Stone Arrogant Bastard, Flying Dog’s Raging Bitch).
As with Standard, timing is everything. Show up on a Thursday night and it will be bustling, there will be no seats and you and your friends will be standing awkwardly between tables and trying not to be in the way. Stop by on Monday or Tuesday night, and you can even have the run of the place at 6 p.m. If you have the kind of friends who say, “Oh, I don’t go out during the week,” this could be an easy way to change their outlook.
1245 H St. NE. 202-396-0038. www.smithcommonsdc.com.
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