After a brief summer hiatus, the DC Happy Hour Sleuths are back on the prowl, taking it local for a walkable Sunday outing. We steer to Mintwood Place, 1813 Columbia Road NW, in that wonderful block of Columbia Road that could be described as “Adams Morgan West Restaurant Row”. 
Mintwood Place is a star in this stretch, an evolved neighborhood, sepia toned haunt, with an industrial vibe and serving long lauded cuisine with a hint of Flemish Belgian flair. The restaurant’s particular gift to the neighborhood is its happy hour – not the cheapest – but one of excellent food, some decent beverages and general ambiance that will make it worth a visit to this part of town.
First tip, get there as soon as possible to opening (5:30 p.m.) to snag seats at the bar and high tops, as even on a sleepy, August-in-Washington Sunday, it fills in fast. The crowd is happily mixed in age range, singles, couples and groups and the not too loud buzz is energizing. The bar area also gives a direct view into the semi-open kitchen, where the chefs do their magic on classic as well as imaginative happy hour food offerings.
We got started right away on good pours of wine (red, white and sparkling).
Each evening brings only one $8 Happy Hour cocktail special, which on our night did not intrigue, so our sleuthing mixologist took on the rail bourbon, Redemption, for a special Manhattan: perfectible serviceable, but at $9 a one-ounce pour, a little steep for the HH budget. Sticking to wine and a good range of beer drafts, all at $5, will keep your wallet breathing.
On any day, Mintwood Place makes an incredible burger, so taking it on at a reduced happy hour price is a must: it’s cooked to requested perfection, juicy, and vertically impressive with added cheese, bacon, pickled onions and lettuce within its brioche bun.
Splurge and add fries to this and you have a complete meal. Another HH offering, a luscious scoop of chicken liver mousse, topped just-right with herbs and flake salt, was accompanied with a flavor bomb of a pickled onion/cherry mix. You’ll need to ask for the bread basket of crusty bread to make this item sing. That perfectly baked bread is also mandatory to sop up the broth from the HH mussels (which do come with fries). We had one comment on the mussels, taken attentively by our affable bartendress: the garlic in the broth tasted raw and could have done with a good starting sauté. A HH salad (for those feeling virtuous) was crisp and clean but, sorry, the saucisson sec, was a little sad and seemed lost sitting in its coupe glass, but at only$5 a serving we couldn’t really complain.
In summary, good food, beverage and ambiance – a little on the higher end of the happy hour value scale – but well worth it.
The nitty gritty:
Happy Hours: Tuesday – Friday, 5:30 – 7 p.m.; Sunday, 5:30 – close. This place fills up quickly with locals, so plan accordingly.
Bathrooms: The women’s room a little sloppy for so early in the shift; men’s clean and functional.
Transportation: Near the corner of 18th Street & Columbia Road NW; no direct Metro rail access, but plenty of nearby buses. Parking in this neighborhood is tight and often restricted. Taxis or car service may be your most direct route.
Accessibility: Easy accessibility to restaurant in general, no threshold impediment. There is one low table/window seat in the bar area (call ahead to reserve if you need it for access and want to be in heart of happy hour action).
DC Happy Hour Sleuths 
sounds wonderful! especially the Belgian cuisine. next time in DC will make it a stop
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