After a long hiatus of various travels and all the kinds of things life throws at you, the DC Happy Hour Sleuths are out on the prowl again. A mid-week jaunt finds us at Silver, 3404 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, (Cathedral Heights). For a strip of Wisconsin Avenue that, until recently, only really ever had one or two watering holes, the recently developed Cathedral Commons provides a variety of dining/drinking options for area residents. Silver, full descriptor, “a new American Brasserie”, has an interior design aesthetic paying an upscale homage to a classic all-American diner (and, indeed, its creators were involved in the Silver Diner chain).
The mid-week crowd was light (a Friday night proved a little more lively), but this is really a dining establishment, family, friends and couple friendly, with an integrated bar area. Food offerings are very good, with some limitations in the Happy Hour drinks advertised:
No rail options at Happy Hour (HH), some specialty cocktails (the ones we tried, spiced apple cider and margarita, seemed overly sweet), healthy pours of wine (but oddly priced at different tiers depending on the varietal) and a couple of offered HH beers, also with tiered pricing depending on choices. A nice offering was the “Pups Charity Cocktails”, which featured a couple of Tito’s vodka cocktails at $7, $1 of which went to a local animal shelter.
There was a tasty and fairly extensive HH food menu at the $5-$7 range. We tried all menu offerings and especially enjoyed the pickled fried chicken sliders. The angus sliders and crispy brussel sprouts were also good. The gyro meatball bites could use more sauce, and while tasty, if you like your chicken wings messy, the chimichurri chicken wings were all that. Most drinkers would probably prefer the sauce on the side. The goat cheese bruschetta was enjoyed, but a request for extra bread meant another $2.
Our server, Ron, was great, attentive and hard-working, covering multiple tasks. The Happy Hour deals are offered at the counter bar and nearby high-top tables. And kudos for offering Happy Hour out on the sidewalk patio, too. A table-level fireplace on the outdoor space provides ambiance and some comfort for those willing to brave a murky fall or winter day – would be delightful in good weather, year-round.
In general, overall experience was good. Find yourself at Silver if you are in the area for an errand, are connected in any way to one of the many schools in the area (seems like a very good spot for a Friday afternoon faculty “meeting” or meet up for parents who can not bear the thought of sitting through yet another sports practice), visiting the Washington National Cathedral, etc.
The nitty gritty:
Hours: Monday – Friday, 3 – 6:30 p.m., with a Late Night Happy Hour, at bar, after 9:30 p.m.
Bathrooms: Easily accessible, gender neutral and neat and tidy at beginning of shift.
Transportation: You’ll most likely be coming here by car (or taxi/car service), as public transportation is limited to a walking 20-30 minutes from Tenleytown Metro rail (Red) or the vagaries of the 30’s, 96 or N6 buses. Two-hour validation is offered for parking at the nearby Giant supermarket parking garage. (There is also a Silver in Bethesda .)
Accessibility: Easily accessible for wheeled vehicles, with necessary accommodation to regular dining or booths for Happy Hour fare.
DC Happy Hour Sleuths 