Daily dispatches on the Washington, DC area's food, restaurant and dining scene.

Breaking News: Jamie Stachowski Is Out at Thirsty Bernie

By Kate Nerenberg

The charcuterie-obsessed Jamie Stachowski.

Master of meat Jamie Stachowski is no longer in the kitchen at Thirsty Bernie Sports Bar & Grille, where he was making nearly everything by hand, including bread, pierogis, salad dressing, and of course, his famed charcuterie. After garnering praise for his excellent sausages and cured meats at his late Restaurant Kolumbia, he created a protein-heavy menu for the Arlington sports pub. But owner Steven Sadeghian had only brought Stachowski on to get the place up and running, and when the chef’s contract expired on November 30, it wasn’t renewed.

“He wants to take it in a different direction,” says Stachowski, who notes that Sadeghian will add pizza to the menu and turn to “convenience cooking”—buying everything premade that Stachowski had taken pains to make in-house—but will still buy some of Stachowski’s charcuterie such as pâtés and sausages.   

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Posted by: buy celexa, Aug 24, 2011 10:35:13 AM

this place is awesome and the general manager rox!

Posted by: Ellen, Dec 21, 2010 12:06:57 PM

This place rocks. I was there the other night and had some awesome food. The chef is some big guy from Sam and Harry’s. Looks like the place went from one good chef to another. Bernie go for it. I will keep coming.

Posted by: Allen, Dec 16, 2010 09:31:10 PM

This place stinks. Wait 15 minutes for a coctail, snooty servers, and just avreage food.

Posted by: John M., Sep 10, 2009 02:37:50 PM

I had the same hair in the salad experience cold food, so me and my coworkers don’t go there anymore. When there are so many good choices why go to some inferior place?

Posted by: Lunch hound, Mar 07, 2009 06:14:23 AM

Never understood what the big deal about this place was, food was extremely inconsistent, service unbelievably terrible. Waiting 10 minutes to get a beer at empty bar is inexcusable. Good luck Jaimie

Posted by: baggins, Dec 13, 2008 11:00:53 AM

I went for lunch myself today and talked to the new Chef. He assured me that the concept has not changed and that the food quality and consistancy is going to get better not worst. So I say cheers to the Dog. I will be there. I don’t like it when somebody bad mouths some place they worked. It is cheap. The fact is this place went from one over qualified chef to another over qualified chef. I like it.

Posted by: Michael M, Dec 11, 2008 06:48:37 PM

I was in Thristy Bernie for lunch, awesome menu,good prices for lunch and staff very friendly. I ask about this piece and the short cuts and from the taste and the Bartender saying no short cuts, i can assure you the food quality has NOT gone down. I feel sorry for Jamie and think it is hard when anyone leaves but to try and say things that are not true, just make him look bad. Good Luck to him, he will need it. Thristy Bernie is a well needed place in the Arlington area. I am sure they will do good things.

Posted by: arlington, Dec 11, 2008 12:17:47 PM

I am a big fan and am in the neighborhood and know the new Chef Andy. He was head chef of Sam and Harry’s and M and S and takes no shortcuts. Thirsty Bernie is in good hands. Of course, since I know him I am biased but I can tell everyone he is a professional and Thirsty Bernie was smart to grab him.

Posted by: Larry, Dec 07, 2008 03:55:13 PM

I went there last night and had the brat and it was great and nice beer. I really enjoyed myself. I asked them about the article and they told me nothing has changed and they are still doing things the same. Oh ya, there was no pizza on the menu.

Posted by: JEZ, Dec 07, 2008 03:47:56 PM

Maybe this is a good move, I think I have eaten there 10 times and the food has been different everytime. I love the atmosphere and the friendly staff that I have always had. I am excited to see what the new chef will bring to the menu. They recently opened for lunch and cant wait to taste some of the fare from that menu as well. This neighborhood needed a fresh place to eat a good lunch. I am sorry to see Jamie go but it seemed like it was not a good fit for him anyway. The inconsistency of the menu items was a little disturbing. Good luck Jamie. Will be going back to Thirsty Bernie.

Posted by: stapog, Dec 06, 2008 03:17:58 PM

This place has so many problems, this is just the icing on the cake. The only thing it really had going was great PR for some reason. Food, service and atmosphere were better at McDonalds. Good luck to Jaimie and his wine bar.

Posted by: eater, Dec 06, 2008 09:51:29 AM

an incredibly talented chef moving away from a restaurant is always a loss, im curious about what jamie does next, but whats the point of slamming the old restaurant. i would expect an article like this to talk more about where jamie is going and less on where he left. sort of an article about nothing.

Posted by: njsure, Dec 05, 2008 11:51:57 PM

Food was good at first, then it started to go down hill fast. Found a hair and didn’t even get a sorry, and food was frequently twice cooked or burnt.

Posted by: John, Dec 05, 2008 10:55:39 AM

That’s a shame, but in all honesty I really didn’t like the atmosphere there. I like good food/cozy dive as much as the next person (hi, Argonaut!) but this place was a sports bar with the acoustics of a museum. Hopefully Stachowski will land somewhere a little bit more inviting.

Posted by: Lori, Dec 05, 2008 10:14:47 AM

Bummer! So typical...people launch with a great product or service and as soon as they have customers and something of a brand, they cut corners and reduce the quality. Please let us know where Jamie ends up next.

Posted by: robyn, Dec 05, 2008 09:47:29 AM