District Chophouse

Beef and beer are the main attractions.
Reviewed By Emily Brown

Comments () | Published November 27, 2007

The food: At the local outlet of the national Chophouse chain, the collection of appetizers is similar to what you might find at a typical chain restaurant—(barbecue-chicken pizza, spinach dip, chicken tenders, crab bisque, and grilled portobellos are among the choices. The true steakhouse fare is on the bigger plates: A top sirloin is paired with sautéed bourbon mushrooms; an Angus Delmonico is topped with onion rings; an stuffed Iowa pork chop is served with apple-cranberry chutney. Seafood (lobster tails, crab cakes, sautéed mussels), burgers, and sandwiches round out the menu. Beers are brewed in-house and are available in tasting samplers. Behind the bar, you’ll see Irish whiskey, boutique bourbons, and single-malt scotches.

The scene: Roman columns and high ceilings are a reminder of the venue’s earlier days as a bank. But subtle palm-leaf-printed booths, lush greenery, and overhead fans lend a breezy, relaxed feel. Upstairs, a loft overlooking the dining room holds a second bar, pool tables, and leather couches. There, customers can get an up-close look at brewery equipment, large kettles, and fermentation tanks.

What’s nearby: A half-block north of the restaurant, in the heart of Penn Quarter, is the Verizon Center—home to professional basketball and hockey teams, college sports, and major entertainment events. Around Seventh Street are lots of bars, restaurants, and shops, plus a multiplex movie theater and the Lucky Strike bowling alley. The Shakespeare and Woolly Mammoth theaters, the Smithsonian’s Reynolds Center, the International Spy Museum, and the National Archives are within three blocks.

Insider tips: Save significantly during lunch. The above-mentioned Iowa pork chop is $10.95 during the day but $21.95 at dinner. Valet parking is available Tuesday through Saturday after 5 PM. During happy hour, offered in the bar area Monday through Friday between 3 and 6, certain pints of beer are half price.