Classics Revisited: The Quarry House Tavern

The restaurant world is notoriously fickle, but these15 places—all a half century old or more—have withstood the test of time.

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This subterranean Silver Spring hangout does Buffalo wings and other pub grub right. Photograph by Scott Suchman

About Quarry House Tavern

Cost:

cuisines
American
Location(s)
8401 Georgia Ave
Silver Spring, MD 20910

In our area, you have high-minded bars and dive bars and often nothing too appealing in between. This below-ground tavern memorably splits the difference. Grungy in appearance, it has aspiration in its soul. Take, for instance, the mammoth document that is the booze list, an astonishing roster of whiskeys, Scotches, and bourbons that revels in the little-known and the hard-to-find. Ask for a mixed drink and you’ll likely find yourself discussing the finer points of your choice with a knowledgeable, amiable server.

The eating isn’t up to the level of the drinking, and it’s not meant to be. Co-owner Jackie Greenbaum—who also operates Jackie’s nearby and El Chucho in DC’s Columbia Heights—has put together an inviting menu of good bar food to keep your fingers occupied and the conversation flowing: juicy burgers with crunchy tater tots, fried pickles, gooey grilled cheese sandwiches, and hot wings. The back room is its own draw, a lively spot for rockabilly, surf, and garage bands as well as Sunday-night trivia.

Open daily for dinner (Friday and Saturday until 2 am).

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