Leaguefest : Update and Restaurant/Bar Vote!

A quick update and voting opportunity for those of you coming to Leaguefest 2014, May 30-31 in Washington DC.

First things first: Thanks everyone for emailing me recommendations, menus and reviews of so many amazing sounding restaurants and bars in Washington DC; thanks as well to those of you who chimed in on the comments section of the last update.

I’ve whittled everything down to two choices for both Friday and Saturday, but before I make the final reservations I want to give everyone the opportunity to have a say in where we dine this Leaguefest.  When picking the finalists, I tried to take a few things into account: Food menus that offered something for both foodies and comfort-fooders, something that looked yummy for vegetarians, great reviews, and prices that wouldn’t kill anyone’s budget.

Here then, are our choices:

FRIDAY NIGHT BAR FIGHT

Option One:  Bar Charlie  —  Adams Morgan Neighborhood | 1825 18th St. NW

There is beer, wine, and lots of cocktails here, including mai tais in glasses with scantily dressed porcelain hula dancers attached.  Food menu can be seen here.  From the Washington Post review, here’s a bit about one particular cocktail that has to spark your curiosity:

The menu item that should create the biggest show, though, is called the Stepdad. It involves spraying a plank of cedar wood with a butane torch and capturing the smoke in a upside-down tumbler. He then adds cognac for a caramel flavor, house-made pipe tobacco bitters and an ice cube made of black tea. The result finds the sweetness of cognac balanced by a bitter finish and a lingering smokiness that’s Scotch-like.

Option Two:  Bourbon  —  Adams Morgan Neighborhood | 2321 18th St. NW

There are fewer veggie options on the menu, but I thought I’d include it as a choice since OTers love for different kinds of whiskey is well documented.  The selection is said to be outstanding.  From the Washingtonian review:

We love this mellow spot and its back patio for strong, well-made cocktails ($6 during happy hour). For a sweet, tropical riff on a mai tai, try the Jamaica Farewell, or order the Before Dawn for a fruity take on a stiff Scotch drink. Bourbon and rye traditionalists can choose from six tasting flights or have a Sazerac made with their choice of liquor.

SATURDAY NIGHT SIT DOWN

Option One:  Doi Moi  —  Logan Circle Neighborhood | 1800 14th St. NW

This eatery offers a unique and creative looking Southeast Asian menu, as well as the apparently famous adjacent bar 2 Birds 1 Stone for possible before/after gathering.  The Washington Post, which declared it both one of the best DC restaurants of the year and one of the most affordable, describes the Doi Moi experience as “pure pleasure.”  It’s drinks menu features a surprisingly large and varied wine selection, as well as a cocktail made of Tamarind Soda and Peanut Infused Bourbon. Bonus: It features a large array of meat dishes as well as substantial, real choices for those who need to eat vegetarian, vegan, or gluten free.

Option Two:  Central Michel Richard  —  Near the National Mall | 1001 Pennsylvania Ave. NW

The theme of Central Michel Richard’s menu seems to be “classic comfort food, dressed up for a night on the town.”  Interesting takes on things like burgers, steaks, and even fried chicken with mashed potatoes look pretty damn yummy.  (The various burgers on the front page photo are from here.) Like Doi Moi, it seems to be listed in everyone’s “Best of” lists, and is around the same price point.  Surprisingly, the wine list is nowhere near as extensive as the one at Doi Moi, but their cocktails seem interesting enough and it looks like they have a few microbrews on tap I’d love to try.

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My own vote is for Doi Moi on Saturday and either or both both bars on Friday.  (The two bars just a couple of blocks away from each other.)  But I also recognize that Central Michael Richard might be more popular with everyone, and since eating at either place seems like a win for me I’m happy to go to whichever place.

Thoughts?