Side Door — Restaurant in Washington

So glad we finally made it over to Side Door for drinks. They definitely nail the "grandpa's basement" vibe, and it's hard not to chuckle a bit when you first enter. If you have the time, take a moment to walk around in the space a bit to appreciate the decor - you might find some amusing additions to shelves/bottles. It's kind of impressive how little attention this place has gotten since opening - it's very much one of those "if you know, you know" types of places at the moment. I'm guessing this is partly due to the area formerly being a bit of a cocktail desert, and the limited hours (just Fri/Sat during the summer).

After spending several hours here on a rainy Saturday, I understand why those in the know keep coming back. The menu is expansive for a one-man show, and the drinks are creative to boot. Don't see something you like, talk to Ulf to figure out if there's something else that he can whip up for you that fits the flavor profile you're looking for.

Some logistical tips for your first time in: 1) you can make reservations on Resy ahead of time (located on The Pub & The People's Resy page), 2) to access Side door, you have to walk through the patio that runs along North Capitol. Look for the retro stripe running down the ivy-covered wall, and you will see a set of stairs. Your destination awaits you at the bottom! If you want to scope it out ahead of time, you can actually walk through the patio area on Street View within Google Maps!, and 3) you can order food from TP&TP downstairs, so don't worry about scrambling to figure out food beforehand if you arrive hungry (or when you realize you need to order some snacks halfway through your...

Very fun experience, makes you feel like you're hanging out in a cool basement from the late 70s / early 80s, with vinyl adorning the walls and a little corner bar offsetting the vinyl wraparound bench seating and small tables. Playlist was on brand too.

The cocktails are fun and creative, if not altogether well made. They tended to steer towards the tooty-fruity sweet side and pretty imbalanced.

Bartender / host seemed a bit overwhelmed, but did the best he could but the experience could have been better if he had some help. As a result, service was spotty and we were left stranded for long stretches as the place filled up and our glasses went empty.

Food was very good, really solid modern gastropub offerings. We enjoyed the following dishes:

Creamy Rigatoni "Mac" & Cheese Yellow Cheddar, Sharp White Cheddar, Creamy Bechamel Sauce and Crispy Bread Crumbs

Buttermilk Scallion Hush Puppies Sweet and Heat Green Tomato Jams to Dip

Deviled Eggs Four to an order. Pickled and served with Jalapeno Lime Slaw, and Bacon Sticks.

"The Heidi" Sandwich Crispy Chicken Breast, Cheddar, Bacon, Smoked Guacamole & Chipotle Aioli. Served with Fries.

Chef's Bowl Cubed Pepperoni, Tamari, Toasted Panko, Shaozing Wine, Crispy Shallots, Fried Garlic, Sesame, Banana Peppers, Parmesean, Herbs & Thai Basil Aioli over Chinese Fried Rice.

The only thing I would pass on are the chicken wings, they were quite ordinary.

Great experience. Definitely would return, especially if the bartender...

Superb Experience! This was recommended to me by a friend that lives local. I made the visit and was happy that I did! After entering, the atmosphere took me back! I had read on eater that it was like visiting your grandpa's basement. It was vibrant without being glaring, and felt very cozy. The bartender (Olf?) there seemed super well educated in the drinks and spirits. He was asking me questions about what I liked, but not like the usual questions you often hear in DC. It wasn't about whether I liked fruity drinks, he was really trying to find the right fit. Which was wild, in a basement bar?? My friend and I had come after dinner so we didn't stop by for food upstairs, but we still got a lovely visit from the owner of the place. 5 Stars for the full speakeasy experience and excellent cocktails. I mean, mine had Matcha, can you...