| Address | 1833 14th St., Washington, DC 20009 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Mon 5pm-10pm; Tue-Fri 5pm-11pm; Sat 11am-11pm; Sun 11am-10pm |
| Phone | (202) 265-1751 |
I have yet to be disappointed by a dish at Bar Pilar. The ingredients are always fresh, and the execution and originality commendable. I do find that much of the food has a "fall" character to it--rich, warm, and certainly comforting. For some people, a few of the dishes might be beyond their comfort level: veal kidney, chicken liver, veal sweetbreads, but if you have a taste for these dishes, then dive in.
What sold me on the place was the conversation I had with the chef after my first meal there. I was blown away by the Sicilian Tuna salad--a seemingly simple dish that was simply delicious. The chef gave me a rundown on the ingredients, in particular the search for the perfect canned tuna, that resulted in choosing one that goes for about $4 a can. It's fantastic tuna, and indicative of the consideration for the ingredients.
Service has been excellent, and my only real gripe so far has been the selection of red wines. I understand they are in the process of making some changes to the wine selection, but so far I have been underwhelmed by the reds I've had. But, the bartenders are happy to pour a taste before you commit to a glass, so take advantage of the courtesy.
Bar Pilar has completely overhauled its menu, and boy did they do a great job!! Exec Chef Barton Seaver from Saint-Ex and new Pilar Chef Josh Whiggam have created a wonderful small plates menu with new dishes daily using fresh ingredients procured from local farmers markets. Wow, what a difference! The prices are surprisingly low (only $3-$8 per dish), so you can get a lot of really flavorful and healthy food for your money, all paired with wonderful wines expertly selected (Seaver is also a Sommelier). Atmosphere is still very laid back, like the cool bars we have visited in Barcelona where Hemingway would like to hang out. Definitely check it out!
I know some will disagree, but this place is a major disappointment--even by Cafe St. Ex standards. The food does not nearly live up to the hype (or promise); ditto the specialty drinks--a mojito?--that's no stinkin' mojito! There are plenty of bars serving far better bar fare (Hamburger Mary's for instance). If Bar Pilar wants to be what it advertises/pretends, there's a lot of room for improvement.
This place is fun, with large wall murals paying homage to Hemingway. It's also close to all the U street and Adams Morgan routes!
If you love tater tots, this is definitely the place to go.
If you add some awesome beers and wine, along with a photo booth...why would you ever leave?
Great place for eating, lounging, and talking without excessively loud music or people chatter.
