Unexpected Fun at EatBar DC

Over the past few months, Tom and I have really been making an effort to have fewer meals out and cook at home more. We were very successful, to the point that we couldn’t even remember the last time we had a proper date night. I think the last time we went out to eat just the two of us (aside from while traveling) was Las Placitas, which was a smashing good day drinking time, but not quite date material. So on Sunday we hit up brand new spot EatBar DC on Barracks Row, a new concept from the folks behind Red Apron.
The first thing we noticed upon walking into the very cozy (read: small) space was a wall covered entirely in cassette tapes.
Music is definitely a focus at EatBar, where there’s a separate Jukebox menu. You can request your favorite song, or venture over to the juke yourself, browse the extensive selection and play whatever you’d like for free. This would make for great first date conversation, and it was great for us old married folks too. We played some of our favorite songs and also enjoyed most of the selections of fellow diners as well.
And the fun doesn’t stop there. From the funky vibe to the eclectic menu, EatBar is bringing something new to the DC dining scene.
The people behind the restaurant aren’t new to the industry, though. EatBar formerly operated in Arlington for ten years before shuttering in 2014. Chef Anda has helmed both restaurants, and has also become a charcuterie master at Red Apron. You’ll find expertly crafted food and unexpected ingredients from this new iteration.
The menu is separated into silly yet accurate subcategories; most of the items are small plates. We were hungry, but not starving, so we weren’t able to order all of the dishes we were curious about, but that just gives us a reason to go back soon.
The drink menu is huge. I opted for an Italian rosé by the glass and later a red from Portugal, while Tom had two different IPAs. The wine tends toward Old World style, and are separated in the same way as the menu for ease of pairing. There are tons of beers, both on tap and in bottle. Those on tap can be served as a sample, or full size. There are also cocktails and a full bar, of course. This is definitely a place that lovers of all different kinds of booze can happily unite.
On the food side, we started with the Calabrian deviled eggs and as soon as they arrived EatBar’s unexpected touches began to shine through.
The eggs look psychedelic, but taste like a spiced up version of the classic deviled egg. Tom thought the whites were a little too firm, while I loved the texture. As a deviled egg fan, I can definitely recommend these.
Next up was the dandelion greens caesar with a soft-boiled egg and grilled croutons.
I more or less ordered this out of curiosity, as I wasn’t sure I’d ever had dandelion green before, and it ended up being one of my favorite dishes of the night. The dressing, spread along the bottom of the bowl, was deliciously creamy and tangy with the right amount of sweetness to balance out the bitter greens. The egg was a nice way to add protein to a vegetarian dish, although flavor-wise it didn’t add much to the plate. The croutons were nice also, but to me it was all about that dressing with the fresh greens.
Another standout order was from the ‘Bready Things’ section, the johnnycakes with lardo and bitter greens pesto.

This dish was a lot of fun, an unexpected blend of sweet and savory. I honestly couldn’t imagine how the bitter greens pesto could work, but miraculously it did, adding a touch of earthiness and class to a dish that would otherwise be pure comfort food.
This is also a good time to point out that even though EatBar serves small plates, they’re not skimpy three bite small plates. Depending on what you order, I think you could easily fill up on two small plates per person with maybe a shared ‘Snacky’ thing or two to fill in any gaps. Our server, who was very knowledgeable and attentive, didn’t give us a schpeel about how many plates we needed to order like so many restaurants do, and they didn’t push anything on us. Major bonus points for that.
The ‘Meaty Things’ are the priciest on the menu, as you would expect, and they aren’t your average proteins. We were torn between the beef belly and pork collar, ultimately deciding on the beef because it was a new cut to us.
I am not a huge fan of pork belly, so didn’t expect much from this. I was pleasantly surprised however, by the inner, tender portion of the cut with just a little bit of the juicy fat. I can’t eat full bites of animal fat, it’s just not my thing, but if you do like it you would love this. The green oily sauce on the side added little flavor that I noticed other than maybe a hint of acid, and functioned more as a garnish.
With the beef we enjoyed the grilled broccoli rabe, with lemon, Calabrian chiles and cheese fricco.
This dish had a distinct smoky flavor that was more suited to Tom’s tastes than mine, but still quite enjoyable. It was served lukewarm to cold, which may have been a conscious decision since it’s listed on the menu in between two cold salads. I do think it would taste better warm, but that is just a personal preference.
Even though we weren’t starving, we couldn’t pass up the ricotta doughnuts. This was date night, after all.
They were piping hot and pillowy, with an orange flavor to the dough. Delicious. We each had one and saved the rest for later. (Leftover desserts on the couch are the best.)
What struck me most about EatBar is how many different ways there are to enjoy the restaurant. While we opted for a full meal, you could just as easily go for beers and bar snacks while jamming to your favorite tunes, or simply to taste a handful of wines you’ve never had before. If you love charcuterie, EatBar has some of the best, served with Red Apron’s famous tigelles. While the food certainly leans toward the carnivorous side, creative vegetarian options abound. In short, everyone in DC who loves food and drink should give EatBar a spin.