Inside Her Diner, D.C.’s New Neon-Hued Spot for Crushes and Consolation Meals

Adams Morgan’s iconic “18th and U” tackle reopens its doorways tomorrow with renewed vitality, colourful cocktails, and a Beyonce-themed rest room. The attention-popping Her Diner is an inclusive neighborhood area that options every thing from consolation meals favorites to Bravo-viewing events and full of life weekend brunches flowing with bubbly drinks (2004 nineteenth Road NW). The restaurant is the brainchild of Kelly Laczko, who makes her debut as an proprietor and operator after spending 10 years as basic supervisor for the area’s earlier occupant, Duplex Diner.

“The quantity of neighborhood assist that I’ve been receiving over the previous few months has been loopy,” she says.

In some ways, Her Diner’s story picks up the place Duplex Diner’s left off after it abruptly closed in June. Laczko says she employed again a majority of the previous group, the chef included. The opening menu balances nostalgia with recent objects and concepts.

Her Diner

“I wouldn’t dare take away a number of the classics,” Lazco says. “The meatloaf wasn’t going wherever, the pigs in a blanket weren’t going wherever.”

Selections at Her Diner embody breakfast-for-dinner dishes like French toast or a breakfast burrito and the return of milkshakes. Laczko can even provide free of charge pickles from native enterprise Gordy’s Pickle Jar.

“If you sit, as a substitute of bread you’re going to get pickles,” she says.

Behind the bar, Her Diner shakes up fruit-forward crushes in addition to twists on classics that embody a dill pickle brine martini, a Hugo spritz, and a fig vodka mule. Laczko, who says she loves a theme, additionally plans to rotate cocktails with the season.

Dishes and drinks are delivered to diners seated at new tables and chairs which are a part of an intensive makeover by designer Joseph Eire. Laczo describes the motif as “lighter and brighter” than earlier than, with pops of neon pink, yellow, and inexperienced all through. There’s additionally up to date TVs and audio tools to assist the restaurant’s many viewing events. The previous marquee out entrance, which now sits indoors above Her’s service station, was changed with daring new lettering. The loos obtained a star facelift, with one that includes all issues Madonna and one other devoted to Beyonce.

Her Diner

Her Diner can be open for dinner day by day and weekend brunch to start out, with weekly specials and completely satisfied hour offers within the works. For now, Laczko is most centered on cultivating a group the place everybody can really feel secure and welcome.

“It’s a neighborhood area in addition to a queer area,” she says. “You’ll be able to spend an hour right here or you may spend 5 hours right here. I would like the vibe to be precisely that.”

Her Diner