Tag Archives: Beer

Sign of the Whale: Philly-style Soft Pretzels

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Sign of the Whale's Philly-style Soft Pretzels

Best Thing on the Menu was starting to get a little stuffy, so with some prodding from our followers, we sought an opportunity to show our IDs at the door, eagerly await bar stools and dive in to dive-bar cuisine.

When was the last time you got your bill at a bar or restaurant and smiled? That’ll probably happen if you visit Sign of the Whale on M Street NW. Sure you might have to listen to amateur karaoke, drink out of plastic cups or find alternatives to traditional toilet paper, but the beer flows cold and cheap and there are some great eats.

Sign of the Whale’s Best Thing on the Menu: Philly-style Soft Pretzels with Horseradish Dipping Sauce won’t disappoint, and by glancing at other patrons, they’re quite popular.

When those two steamy, buttery, salty hot pretzels arrive, they have the power to turn any bad day around, and for only $4.00 at happy hour! We suspect they take a bubble bath in butter, but we chose not to ask the chef this time. While we typically don’t recommend Philly anything served outside of the City of Brotherly Love, we let this slide because Sign of the Whale is regarded, at times, as a Philly bar.

We aspire to one day try Chef Donny Frazier’s “Man Overboard Burgers.” Who wouldn’t want the “Humpback Whale,” which consists of two half-pound burgers served open faced on two grilled cheese sandwiches topped with waffle fries and tater tots covered with chili and cheese sauce? If only there was an alternate universe where you could forever maintain your collegiate, consequence-free eating abilities. Reading about that burger makes us feel better about the two orders of pretzels.

One fun fact about Sign of the Whale is that they offer the opportunity to put your day job on hold for just one night to step into the shoes of a bartender. Click here to learn about their Wednesday guest bartender opportunity.

Philly Soft Pretzels not your BTM? Share your favorites in the comments section.

Birch and Barley: Fig and Prosciutto Flatbread

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Birch and Barley Flatbread

There is much to be said about a perfect pair – bubbly and caviar, peanut butter and jelly (or bacon!), truffles and risotto…. But, there is even more to say about a triumphant trio that unites three flavors that cover every square inch of taste bud.

Birch & Barley’s Best Thing on the Menu: Fig & Prosciutto Flatbread Gorgonzola Cremificato & Caramelized Onions is just that. Figs, prosciutto and blue cheese of any breed go hand-in-hand-in-hand. The figs are sweet and caramelized, the prosciutto savory and salty and the Gorgonzola tart and funky. The onions are a nice addition to this threesome.

The Best Thing on the Menu isn’t the only reason to eat at Logan Circle’s Birch & Barley. In fact, here are five more:

1. Casual Meal or Fancy Dinner, It’s Your Choice

Your meal at Birch & Barley is what you make it. Go for pizza, Brät Burgers and beer or opt for a fine dining experience with menu items like grilled octopus and striped bass. They even offer a tasting menu, so you can put your meal in the hands of the chef and leave the task of decision-making in the dust.

2. Beer. Beer, Beer, Beer

Great news! Downstairs at Birch & Barley you are still privy to ChurchKey’s beer bible and daunting draft list. They boast having an arsenal of 555 varieties of artisanal beers. Wine pairings are a thing of the past when you enter these doors.

3. Two Words, Bread Board

You know you’re in for a good meal when the bread arrives. The steaming pretzel rolls get a special shout out. It’s hard to pass by sidewalk diners in the summer and not swipe one.

4. Built-in After Dinner Drink Plans

You’re done eating dessert and the question arises, where to now? How about just heading upstairs for a more boisterous atmosphere, where you’re sure to bump into friends, literally.

5. Reservations, Finally

With 14th Street becoming a lollapalooza of new restaurants, reservations are finally opening up at this highly coveted locale.

Fig & Prosciutto Flatbread not your BTM? Post your favorites in the comments section. More reasons to love Birch & Barley, share those too!