U Street has recently come to rival Adams Morgan as the District’s new happening neighborhood, and Bar Pilar is a must if you are looking to see hip young D.C. at its finest. For a dark, low-key ambience hit up the bar between Monday and Thursday; to be a part of a larger, rowdy crowd, come on Friday and Saturday nights—but get there early to get a seat from which to view the action.
Bar Pilar is named after the main character in For Whom the Bell Tolls, and its décor reflects settings dear to Ernest Hemingway’s novels. The bar is unconventional; giving off an early-20th-century-Spain meets open-sea vibe. While the walls sport gargoyles, bull heads, and old maps, the shelves are home to various sailors’ hats and ship models. One end of the bar has a red light and the other has a green light, mimicking a boat’s signals. The bathroom displays an interesting array of what appear to be stickers of women from a Cuban magazine, and there is a photo booth located nearby.
While the bar has a wide selection of cocktails and wines, the food is quite good, too. The menu, which changes daily, is an eclectic mix of Italian-inspired items, with entrees ranging in price from $4 to $11. The portions are medium-sized, but all palate pleasers.
Some of the best entrees were braised goat with polenta and oregano gremolada, which offers creamy sauce, and the baby watermelon with Serrano ham and basil, which is small but sophisticated. When ordering, we had to ask our waitress what most of the items actually were.
If you’re up for a little adventure into the city, go to Bar Pilar to try something fresh and delectable. You won’t get food this cheap at a restaurant this chill anywhere else in the city.
Bar Pilar is located at 1833 14th St. NW. Hours: Mon-Thurs and Sat 5:00pm-1:30am, Fri and Sat 5:00pm-2:30am, Sun Brunch 11am-4pm.
