The Italian Bar, Washington, DC

This is a quick initial report on the Italian Bar, the brand new spot a couple of doors down from its parent, I’m Eddie Cano, just south of the Connecticut-Nebraska intersection.  I’d heard some inquiries about the hours — it only opened yesterday and the web page, to which I just linked, hadn’t yet been updated. Since I was going to pick up our car at DP Auto Service (the Shell Station) at 8:00, I left early and stopped in at the Italian Bar beforehand. Here’s what I learned.

The Italian Bar opens at 7:00 am (I neglected to get the closing time). It’s a very appealing space, long and narrow.

It is indeed an Italian-style bar. Inside is a counter, or bar, and at that early hour they serve coffee-based drinks and, today, plain and chocolate-filled cornettos (croissants). I suspect there may be more as they get settled. Later in the day the Italian Bar offers panini, tramezzini, wines, and an assortment of liqueurs.  There’s also a cooler with bottled Italian beverages, and shelves hold biscotti and other Italian cookies. And, most important, they sell gelato.

There are seats outside. but when in Rome … pretend you’re Commissario Brunetti. I stood at the bar and enjoyed a Cafe Americano, black, and a plain cornetto.

The coffee was delicious, far, far above my usual Starbucks dark roast. I would buy the Italian Bar’s coffee for the aroma alone. And it was an American-sized serving. The cornetto, which had been made that morning at I’m Eddie Cano, was as flaky and buttery as I could wish. 

Note: I eschew cappuccinos and other specialty drinks, so I especially welcome your comments on those.

I mentioned that the Italian Bar also serves gelato. Our Desserts and Other Sweets Consultants enjoyed it immensely yesterday. Indeed, Ella pronounced it “Better than Jetties.”  That’s high praise, indeed.

Although the Italian Bar just opened, the shake-down phase seems pretty well over. The service was prompt and friendly. As in Italy, there’s no tipping, but a miserly 18% “hospitality charge,” much like the Italian servizio, is posted and applied to each bill, in addition to your 10% donation to the DC government. With all that, my order was, I think, $8.

I was just about to publish this post when I had to rush off to see the circus put on by the CCBC Explorers class, the Greatest Show on the Circle. Afterwards, looking over the five-year-old-appropriate lunch options, I thought, “Panini!” I strolled back down to the Italian Bar for a bresaola panini.

The bresaola, a very lean cured and dried beef, was married to a strip of good parmesan cheese, and pesto caressed the crusty focaccia. This was a good sandwich, a meal in itself and, at just $6.25, it may be the best deal in the metro area.

The Italian Bar, like its parent, promises to be a great addition to the neighborhood. It’s another plus for an already strong dining block, with I’m Eddie Cano, the Rosemary Bistro, and Buck’s, as well as a few other places I haven’t reviewed and one I can do without. I definitely will go yet again. Don’t wait. Give the Italian Bar a try.

***

And while you’re at it, click “follow” on our front page to receive blog posts in your email box.  Or bookmark us and check in from time to time.  If you’re planning a trip, you can “Search” the name of the destination city, state, or country for good restaurants (in Europe, often close to sites, like the Louvre or the Van Gogh Museum, that you’ll want to visit in any event). And stick around for news, all manner of recipes, hotel reviews, the odd book or movie review, and occasional fine arts and architecture commentary.  Comments, questions, and suggestions of places to eat or stories to cover are very welcome.  And check out our Instagram page, johntannerbbq.