The Imperial

The DC Happy Hour Sleuths ripped the band-aid off and are back after a more than two year hiatus. The wound of the pandemic and the wreck of Covid have been deep, but as our spring days grow longer, our enthusiasm for going out feels better placed. And as restaurants and bars begin to come closer to pre-pandemic confidence, hospitality and staffing, more and more are returning to the Happy Hour as a way to introduce drinkers and diners to snap shots of their complete offerings, thankfully stretching beyond the mandatory take-out pivots of the last two years.

We kept local and explored the Happy Hour opportunities at The Imperial, an interior photo-worthy establishment fashioned from three previous storefronts on the corner of Florida Avenue and 18th Street, http://www.imperialdc.com. Opened in November 2019, with the tsunami of the pandemic following in just four short months , the joie de vivre of this bright and airy three-story establishment has remained constant and thrived with nods from the Michelin Guide, Condé Nast’s Traveler and many others. Owners Bill Thomas and Stephen King infused their deep love and appreciation of spirits and cocktails, honed at their Jack Rose Saloon just down the block, and brought a cuisine that nods to classic American, French, and the Chesapeake waters’ bounty.

With the weather in our favor, we headed to the roof top bar, one of three distinct eating and drinking areas in this busy corner of Adams Morgan. (Not normally Happy Hour real estate, but our party of six was cheerfully seated there.) A bit of a chill was chased by heaters and plastic see-through tenting, allowing us to still enjoy the view of the varied roof tops of the neighborhood. Our group of Sleuths and new friends were thirsty and hungry and we got right to work.

The Happy Hour menu was a combination of special, set cocktails, bar snacks, $2 oysters (raw and Rockefeller style) and two larger bite offerings, a double-decker burger and a cheddar wurst roll. We ordered one each of the six bites ($9 each), to share, and the offerings were more than enough to complement our drinking. We loved all the snacks (Classic Hushpuppies, Piggies in a Blanket, Peppadew Peppers Stuffed with Goat Cheese with Seasonal Pickles, Quahog Clam Dip, Lump Crab Deviled Eggs and Mini Shrimp Rolls). Old Bay Spice enlivened the dip and the accompanying, deep fried saltines (!) – a favorite of all.

The specialty cocktails, at $11 each, were all very creative and made use of not often seen ingredients (Madeira in “Another One Bites the Must” and cola syrup “Ice Cold Sunshine”). The favorite was the “Double Down”, an overly complicated but satisfying take on a classic Manhattan. Overall, we found the cocktails to be just a bit too busy and light on the actual alcohol, although our Espresso Martini drinker found his libation to be more and more captivating as he eased into the coupe.

Back-ups to Happy Hour specialty cocktails are regular, standards from the bar, at $9 a pour. The Happy Hour $11 wines were good choices, a Drouhin Pinot noir, Etincelle Sauvignon Blanc and a Chandon Brut sparkling – although the sparkling poured in a standard wine glass instead of a flute was unusual. The $6 beers, Sierra Nevada, Hop Electric IPA, Alllagash White and Manor Hill Pilsner, were the best buy.

All and all, good fun had by all, and, yes, while not pre-pandemic Happy Hour prices, we appreciate that times have changed and prices will better reflect establishments’ inflationary pressures and commitment to better compensated staffing. And, really, when you need an escape from the world, it just feels special being able to enjoy a happy hour and The Imperial will have you doing it in class.

The nitty gritty:

Happy Hours: Monday – Friday, 4 – 7 p.m. & 9 p.m. – 12 a.m.

Bathrooms:  Clean, uni-sex.

Transportation:  Closest Metro stop:  Dupont Circle (Red Line).

Accessibility:  Only the first floor, street level dining area.