At long last, Columbia Heights mega-hangout the Coupe is open on 11th Street, Northwest. Part diner, part lounge, part bar, it will be operating all the time starting Tuesday, October 9—until then it will take a break during the wee hours.
We’ve already heard a lot about chef Rob Theriot’s rabbit pot pie and buffalo frog’s legs, but look out for a selection of sandwiches including pork cheek carnitas and roasted eggplant with stewed tomatoes, peppers, and mozzarella. Among the small plates are a half-smoke from 13th Street Meats and lamb ribs glazed with pepper jelly. For breakfast, the Coupe offers banana, blueberry, and chocolate chip pancakes, as well as a lox plate and a pad Thai omelette with seared tofu, rice noodles, crushed peanuts, cilantro, and green onions.
There is plenty to drink, too. Choose from an interesting selection of wines on tap—whites like Baileyana Chardonnay from California and a Moschofilero from Greece, reds such as the Milbrandt Glacier Rock Cabernet Sauvignon from Washington State’s Columbia Valley. Other beverages include fruit smoothies; milkshakes in chocolate, vanilla, espresso, strawberry, and chai; and house-made sodas. Coffees will be sweetened with house-made syrups in Tahitian vanilla bean, caramel, and spice flavors.
Large enough to necessitate a staff of 100 people, the Coupe occupies almost a full city block. Owner Constantine Stavropoulos told us in a recent interview that he had first hoped to create a true hybrid of Tryst and the Diner at Open City in Woodley Park, but that it was never quite possible in that space. With the Coupe, that dream has been realized.
Check out the food and drink menus, then head over this weekend to see the Coupe in all its glory.
The Coupe. 3415 11th St., NW; 202-290-3342.
