We Love Drinks: Commonwealth

Commonwealth

"Commonwealth" by Jenn Larsen, on Flickr

It isn’t Commonwealth’s fault that it has the single-most worst view of any bar in the city. Entirely fronted in high glass walls, it overlooks the ghastly architectural blight of DC USA, the single-most worst looking development in the city. Billed as a “gastropub,” that British trend of sexing up the old-school pub with better food than the usual slop, it splits the gastro to one side and the pub to the other, making for a bar area that seems an afterthought. However, even with those three design strikes against it, so far I quite like Commonwealth

As far as the pub section goes, once you get over the view it’s quite cosy, with small tables and a long leather-bound banquette. It’s been an accommodating space for both large groups and small duets. The beer list has selections from the U.S. commonwealths of Pennsylvania, Virginia and Massachusetts in addition to United Kingdom brews. This makes for seemingly strange bedfellows for the eleven drafts, like Michelob and Bellhaven Twisted Thistle, but I suppose it does make it easier for groups of friends with disparate tastes. There are also beer flights and nightly specials, and you can get a U.S. or a U.K. pint (one dollar more). The bottled selection offers about twenty U.K. and fourteen U.S., and so far friendly servers have been knowledgeable and helpful in navigating the choices. As I’ve said before, I know nothing about beer, so this is a plus for me. To date I’ve tried Samuel Smith’s Lager, Black Sheep Yorkshire Ale, and the reliable Smithwick’s Irish Ale to good success.

If you’re looking to nosh, the pub grub is interesting as well. It really is more of a restaurant serving kicked-up British classics in the same way that owner and chef Jamie Leeds took New England and New Orleans fare to different heights at Hank’s Oyster Bar. I haven’t had a full meal yet (this is We Love Drinks today, not We Love Food, after all!) but am intrigued to be able to try Bubble and Squeak, Welsh Rarebit, and the Vegetable Tikka Masala. As far as nibbling while drinking, the best bit for my tastes was the Frog in a Puff, featuring my old love lamb sausage wrapped in puff pastry. I guess that’s the British version of Pigs in a Blanket! I also had to try the Deviled Sweetbreads, really succulent with a spicy glaze that doesn’t hit too hard.

I’m interested to see how Commonwealth evolves, and not just if they invest in some heavy curtains. Will it continue to maintain a bar/restaurant segregation, for instance, and will people really pay $16 for fancy fish and chips? The outdoor seating should kick in for the spring and then the street scene may be very lively indeed. Again, the view could ruin it, but with some judicious plantings, who knows? So far it seems a good addition to that evolving neighborhood.

Commonwealth
1400 Irving Street NW
Washington, DC 20010
202.265.1400

As one of the founding editors of We Love DC, Jenn’s passions are theater and cocktails. After two decades in the city, she’s loved every quirky, mundane, elegant, rude minute of her DC life. A proud advocate for DC’s talented drinks scene, she’s judged the Corcoran Gallery of Art’s ARTINI contest, the DC Rickey Month contest, the Jefferson Hotel’s Quill Cocktail competition, and is a founding member of LUPEC DC. A graduate of Catholic University’s drama program, she toured the country as a member of National Players, and has been both an actor and a costume designer before jumping the aisle to theater criticism. Writing for We Love DC restored her happiness after a life-threatening illness, and she’s grateful to you, dear readers. Send your suggestions to jenn (at) welovedc (dot) com and follow her on Twitter.

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4 thoughts on “We Love Drinks: Commonwealth

  1. We really liked Commonwealth, but did think that the food was quite expensive (as you point out, fish and chips is NOT worth what they’re charging for it!). However, the apps were yummy. I’d say go there for drinks and snacks and leave it at that!

    Do they have a happy hour? Would have to be pretty great to compete with The Heights, which has cheap drafts and $6 burger + fries at happy hour (cheaper than you can buy it at five guys!), plus other great food deals.

    All that said, can’t wait for the other new resturants to open up on the street!

  2. I went there for dinner a while back and thought it was really good. I think it was some kind of veggie entree with mushrooms and polenta, maybe? We had some of the rarebit too, I think, and recall that being tasty as well.

    On the other hand, I thought the beer selections were kind of underwhelming – not bad, but only a few things I could not pick up at a moderately well-stocked grocery.

  3. I thought the food was OK and the beer was rather expensive. 8 or 9 bucks for a pint of beer is a little steep. The service has always been solid.

    I understand the appeal of themed bars but I would have settled for a normal bar/restaurant in Columbia Heights.

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