Good music makes me swoon almost as much as good food. If you’re taking out a date that’s anything like me (or me), the 14th Street Corridor’s got you, with several music venues like this one:
For a wonderfully unpretentious dinner for two, head to Cork Wine Bar for shared plates and paired wines. Simple yet refined, the atmosphere at Cork is intimate enough for a “Lady in the Tramp” moment but still casual enough where you might be judged for said behavior. Get the popular avocado “bruschetta” and braised pork belly.
Once you’ve savored a few glasses of Old World wine, continue the party three blocks north, with live jazz and no cover charge at Jojo Restaurant & Bar. While a live band slaps the bass every Tuesday-Saturday, catch the Casaba Trio on Fridays to enjoy Latin and Brazilian melodies. Sip on their house Big Bowl Margarita ($10) and groove the rest of your date night away.
Unless you and your date are alcoholics, this suave itinerary will only set you back $42 for two, plus tax and gratuity.
Address Book
Cork Wine Bar 1720 14th Street NW, Washington, DC. 202.265.2675
Jojo Restaurant & Bar 1518 U Street NW, Washington, DC. 202.319.9350
Photo courtesy of Jojo Restaurant & Bar.
Lisha grew up in her potty-mouthed grandma’s soulful kitchen, asked for a bread-maker on her 11th birthday, loves whiskey and once ate a whole spit-roasted guinea pig in Ecuador. Lisha has been a GMF contributor since 2011, and now lives in Oakland, CA, where the intersection of food, identity, and community has sparked her interest in sustainable and equitable dining. When she’s not working as a finance professional and dance instructor, Lisha is side-hustling as a biscuit entrepreneur.