arts ining d and
CAPITOL CUISINE by Celeste McCall
J
ust in time for spring, the District Wharf welcomes Boardwalk Bar & Arcade, 715 Wharf St. SW, next to Ben & Jerry’s. The funky newcomer is the creation of Better Hospitality Group (BHG), which brought us Shaw’s Takoda Restaurant & Beer Garden and Cortez. Peter and I decided to lunch at Boardwalk after visiting our nearby fitness club. The late winter weather was nasty and drizzly, more conducive to Irish coffee than frozen margaritas. But we went anyway. A pair of mallard ducks tried to waddle in after us, but we gently shooed them away. Twice as large as its Penn Quarter original, Boardwalk’s candy-colored interior is festooned with surf boards, bicycles, arcade games and pelican prints. The 120-foot long bar serves frozen drinks, which flow from eight dispensers. There’s also beer, wine and tropical cocktails. And what’s a beach bar without BHG executive chef Julio Estrada’s breezy
Arcade is open daily for lunch and dinner, plus a happy hour. For more information visit www. boardwalkwharf.com.
Out of Africa
Just in time for spring, District Wharf welcomes Boardwalk Bar & Arcade, dispensing beachfriendly food, drinks and colorful décor.
lineup of hot dogs, corn dogs, chili, popcorn, pretzels and pizza? Kid-friendly options include cotton candy and ice cream sandwiches. However, children must be accompanied by an adult 21 or older. Perched at the bar, we munched on a better-than-decent Carnival Cuban sandwich (ham, pork, Swiss cheese and pickle nestled in a hoagie roll). We also shared a pair of blackened mahimahi tacos. Most dishes arrive with zesty chips. In keeping with the beach theme, my margarita arrived in a tall soda glass, which I sipped through a fat, candy-striped straw. Lunch for two came to about $50; service was pleasant and competent. A Carnival Cuban sandwich and blackened mahi mahi tacos are among Boardwalk Bar & Boardwalk’s fun, beach-themed selections.
The Atlas District restaurant scene is heating up. Among the latest arrivals is Lydia on H. The two-level African-Caribbean dining destination opened recently at 1427 H St. NE. Chef/owner Victor Chizinga, who hails from the southeastern African nation of Malawi, previously wielded his whisk at U Street’s now closed Bin 1301.
In the Atlas District, chef/owner Victor Chizinga, from Malawi, brings his homeland’s cuisine to Lydia on H.
April 2022 ★ 93
