An ode to our neighborhood restaurants
Of all places to dine within walking distance of our home, these two standout as the best-of-the-best.
No visitor who knows me has ever come to DC, requested a restaurant recommendation, and not been told to try Tail Up Goat or Reveler’s Hour. “Sit at the bar at Tail Up- it’s a la carte,” I’ll say. “If you can’t get a Reveler’s res, they reserve the high tops for walk-ins every night.”
It’s difficult for me to write this without veering into dramatics. I truly and deeply love these restaurants. Simply, you are guaranteed a great meal. Sometimes, you may even have the chance to enjoy one of the best meals of your life.
It goes without saying that every restaurant struggled during the pandemic, and this duo had its share of hardships even prior to that fateful March. Reveler’s Hour, who opened on the final night of 2019, also faced an electrical fire in the newly-constructed building just weeks after opening that could have done them in for good. It is a testament to their quality that they were able to survive after such a brief and tumultuous opening prior to lockdowns.
While the restaurants may present as wildly different, they have more in common than their signature breadcrumbs atop pasta. Bill, the Sommelier, has a creative but delightful palate and is often pairing less sexy wines, like a Sherry, with a crispy duck breast. It is because of Bill, Reveler’s James and the rest of the staff that I have fallen deeply and unabashedly in love with Riesling. If they read this, I think that line will make them proud.
The atmospheres at both restaurants are a huge reason why we return time and time again. The playlists- chef’s kiss (or in this cases, hosts’ kiss?). There is nothing quite like enjoying a martini in a dimly lit restaurant with caviar on the way while Biggie plays in the background.
We have never- not once- had a poor experience with a single member of the staff. This is the reason why both restaurants remain on the top of my recommendation list. I know, without a doubt, that my friends will receive some of the most attentive and kind service they may have ever, and will ever, experience. Personally, we are spoiled rotten there- last time we dined at Reveler’s, they sent out an un-ordered appetizer along with the garlic knots (because we always order the knots, didn’t we want them this time?). I have brought my parents to both restaurants, have scheduled girls night dinners around the available reservations, and any time we want a relaxed and unpretentious but guaranteed delightful meal with a perfect ambience (which is, ehm, every Friday night), we head to one of these.
I’m not saying anything groundbreaking by noting that the Michelin-starred and Michelin-guided restaurants have spectacular food. Begin at Tail Up with the salted cod; if you opt out, then don’t even bother going. It’s the best dish in all of DC, and yes, we have been known to order two rounds. When at Reveler’s Hour, I must oblige you to order the garlic knots but not as an app. Order them with your pastas for maximum delectability for these croissant-like twists. The rest of each menu is constantly changing, but I promise that you will never be steered wrong.
Living in the city comes with its share of grievances. Loud upstairs neighbors, exorbitant cost of living, lack of parking. But being able to walk around the corner and snuggle into the pair of corner seats at either of these bars, be greeted by name, sent out unthinkable pairings that make you question why the heck you didn’t order this wine in the first place… that is why we stay. As Dorothy said, “there is no place like Tail Up Goat (and Reveler’s).” Or something like that.