bar pilar

a reason to return to u street. here's what i really like about this place. thegreatindie band/ bohemian atmosphere (how appropriate in the black cat area). it took me back to the old andalusian dog days that brought me to the u street area in the first place over 10 years ago. what a shame to see the "dog" building down the street so occupied and the state of the union space across street boarded up. the small plates menu is among the best in the city especially if you like to get your meat on. i mixed some charcuterie, confit duck and lamb sausage (if only some white beans cassoulet).

what i don't like, the beer menu is inventive only if you usually drink pbr and the wine list was p-poor. also, like many places the website needs to be up to date. the food menu is better than listed and the wine list is worse. i also wish they had more than the brunch menu on weekends so i could stop after the farmer's market and have agreatlunch.

great food,greatvalue. this is agreatneighborhood bar/restaurant. the food is really exceptional and the atmosphere is very casual and comfortable. my only complaint is that they have a "seat yourself" policy. so by 8 pm, people are anxiously eying tables to gauge which will leave first. if you are eating you can't help but feel like the vultures are circling. the wait-staff does a pretty good job of sorting out who will sit where but the unstructured nature of the whole situation makes me nervous. this is dc. we need regulation!

other than that, this is one of my favorite places in the city, because when it comes down to it, it's really about the food.
-ca