By Fritz Hahn
Special to The Washington Post
Friday, October 3, 2008
By now, everyone knows about the cluster of bars, restaurants and cultural centers along H Street NE, which has grown by leaps and bounds in the past two years. The first wave of trendy establishments, which included the Rock and Roll Hotel, the Palace of Wonders and the H Street Martini Lounge, has settled in nicely, providing an alternative to the Adams Morgan, Georgetown and Dupont Circle strips.
But if you haven't made it back lately, or you're in an H Street rut (Granville Moore's/Hotel/Argonaut again?), then you may not have noticed that a couple of new places are adding live blues, soul food and imported wines to the neighborhood mix.
Pap & Petey's421 H St. NE; 202-546-5299
Best for: Kicking back with neighbors while listing to jazz and blues.
Owner Duke Cross named Pap & Petey's in honor of his great-grandfather Pap and Pap's friend Petey, both of whom played the blues. They'd probably be pretty happy with Cross's friendly neighborhood bar, which offers live music three nights a week.
On Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday, jazz and blues performers take to a low platform at one end of the airy room.
Framed black-and-white photos and paintings of jazz greats line the walls, surrounding the huge picture windows that offer glimpses of H Street life. No matter what night you stop in, the bartenders greet you with a smile. Within 15 minutes after you settle down at the bar, they'll have introduced themselves, gotten your name and introduced you to their friends, who are also sitting at the bar. You'll be asked if you live nearby, and even if you don't, you'll be treated like a regular. Beers go for $3.50 to $5, and nightly specials include a tropical blend of coconut rum and fruit juices.
It's a shame the clientele is a little thin. It certainly has potential, from the barbecue sausages down to the inexpensive hot dog platter. By virtue of being at Fifth and H instead of 15th and H, it doesn't get the foot traffic it might otherwise.
Langston Bar & Grille1831 Benning Rd. NE; 202-397-3637
Best for: Watching football, having a drink and digging into a hearty plate of soul food.
On Monday nights, Langston Bar & Grille is lively to the point of chaos. Competing for your attention are TVs tuned to football games and insistent funky house and breakbeats pouring from the stereo. At one end of the bar, guys in T-shirts and ball caps are debating the Redskins' season, and at the other, the bartenders are in a good-natured argument about the Dallas Cowboys, joshing customers with whom they're on a first-name basis, all the while keeping cocktail glasses full and delivering plates of mouthwatering fried chicken and collard greens. It's the kind of place that just sucks you in.
While this block of Benning Road seems a little derelict thanks to ongoing road work outside the front door, Langston's interior, decorated in reds and stained wood, is warm and inviting -- the low yellow lights provide a soft glow over the patrons and the modern paintings.
The atmosphere on Saturdays is just as crazy. When the noise gets to be too much, head upstairs to a quieter narrow loungey space with tables and chairs.
Daily drink specials are a good value, but with most bottled beers at $3 anyway, it doesn't really matter. And it's impossible to stop in without getting some soul food. The fried chicken delivers (crispy, seasoned skin, meat that comes off the bone), and the sides deserve attention of their own: The greens have a hint of brown sugar and spice from the hot sauce, the mac and cheese is gooey and just a bit crusty. The butter beans make me wish the chicken came with three sides instead of two.
Langston is a few blocks beyond the more established H Street strip, and though it's a short walk, because of the lack of foot traffic and lighting I'm more comfortable making the walk with a friend.
Sova Espresso and Wine1359 H St. NE; 202-397-3080
Best for: On weekends, an early-evening date spot before heading to the Atlas theater, Rock and Roll Hotel or Palace of Wonders. During the week, a place to surf the Internet while unwinding with a glass of wine.
I'm not sure there's a more comfortable place on H Street than the upstairs of Sova. Cool green and warm red walls are covered with a funky blend of modern art. Mismatched furniture that looks like it was inherited from two very different sides of the same family fill the two rooms: Rigid wooden chairs with woven straw seats are arranged around a long, blocky dining room table and towering framed mirror. Nearby are sumptuous brocade settees and cushiony chairs that you can't help but sink into, and tall, carved wooden columns.
"I love it," says Rebecca Jones, who was resting on a couch, typing on her laptop and nursing a glass of red wine. The Catholic University grad student lives a couple of blocks away and says she stops in a few times a week to take advantage of the free WiFiand have a drink. "It feels like your living room: the furniture, the decor and everything about it."
Sova offers 16 wines by the glass from $8 to $9. And though I have yet to find a true gem, the friendly staff is very good about letting you have a taste before charging for a full pour. More reliable are the bottled beers, including California microbrews (Bear Republic, Lagunitas) and a handful of Euro imports.
Sova has worked hard to develop a true neighborhood feel. Owner Frank Harkins is usually on hand. On Tuesday mornings, the wildly popular Boogie Babies series brings out the stroller set for live music from Mr. Nate, Oh Susannah and other singalong performers. Truly a space for everyone on H Street.
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