"Already-stylish Wilson Hardware, the three-story bar rocking leaf-print walls and candle-lit vibes in a historic location since 2017, unveils a floral-filled facelift and menu alterations this week. The industrial-chic restaurant and lounge pays tribute to Virginia Hardware — the hardware shop that was there for nearly half a century. After closing in 2004, the space was home to Irish pub Ri Ra. Wilson Hardware opted for pricey plastic surgery just five years in, in part, to compete with the fresh crop of talent along Clarendon’s nightlife corridor. Weekday happy hour includes a bottomless spread of sliders, fries, fried artichoke, and more, plus wines, beers, and cocktails around $5. Other returning favorites like a relish-topped Hardware burger on brioche and steak frites join new dishes like truffle hanger steak, a quinoa salad with shrimp, dip trio, and caprese or short rib sandwiches. Wilson Hardware maintains three bars on-site: a 27-foot-long quartz-top rail across a newly redesigned main level, a patio lounge, and a tile bar on the rooftop. The big changes include a new indoor-outdoor garden terrace bursting with buds that’s located past double doors on the second level. And its third-story rooftop bar, now double the size, can stay open all year thanks to a retractable awning. Wilson Hardware can now fit 350 patrons inside and 150 out." - Tierney Plumb
