Initial Visitors Say New Gay Bar Orchid Is a Welcome Addition to D.C. | Eater DC

"Bursting onto Barracks Row last month with a roaring 1920s vibe, late-night happy hour, and seasonal snacks, Orchid (520 Eighth Street SE) replaces the now-defunct Senart’s Oyster and Grille Room and comes from the Hill Restaurant Group team behind Finn McCool’s and Hawk ‘n’ Dove. The seasonal menu ($8–$19) features shrimp cocktail, grilled lamb chops, avocado gazpacho, cheese plates, crab cakes, and seared sea scallops, while cocktails (about $10) include a Blue Orchid made with Jameson whiskey and blueberry syrup; beers like Pacifico and DC Brau are $5–$6 and a handful of wines are $5 each. Locals have called it a “great place” with “good drinks,” noting it’s still a work in progress and “tweaking and improving,” while others praise it as a “beautiful bar,” say the food is great and the atmosphere is awesome, call it “a great addition to the DC gay community” and “exactly what DC Gay scene needs,” applaud the new rainbow mural “just in time for Pride,” and describe it as having laid-back vibes and being an “awesome new cocktail/wine bar” that they look forward to returning to." - Tierney Plumb