Inside El Rey, Navy Yard’s Hottest New Waterfront Oasis | Eater DC
"A decade-old destination for reliable tacos and tequila cocktails has opened a sprawling, 300-seat riverside location on the banks of the Anacostia River at 79 Potomac Avenue SE. The industrial-styled indoor portion debuted earlier this month, with the dominant outdoor patio bar (166 seats outdoors vs. 134 indoors) embracing a “coastal taqueria” vibe; the patio opened on a sunny Taco Tuesday. Happy hour runs weekdays 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. with $7 margs and frozen cocktails in rotating flavors; $4 Estrella beers; two tacos for $10 all day on Tuesday; and (happy hour-only) loaded nachos for $10. A late-night deal runs Thursday and Sunday (10 p.m. to midnight). The concept comes from H2 Collective, the Hilton brothers’ group, and represents the showiest project yet for brothers Ian and Eric Hilton. Ian Hilton says the original was a “ramshackle spot” fashioned out of shipping containers and notes the second D.C. location took 18 months of construction, adding that, “Whenever you’re in a new building, it’s going to be different. We wanted to lean more into the waterfront cantina feel and I think we achieved it.” Menu upgrades include elote served not by cup or cob but as sweet corn inside cheesy fritters alongside a chipotle mayo dipper; the “salt and pepper” calamari starter features ancho chile crisp and jalapeños; the fun “Hamburguesa” taco riffs on Cafe Colline’s popular club burger with American cheese and pickles. Chef Oscar Ordonez collaborated with H2 chef Brendan L’Etoile; Hilton says, “He’s running around cooking French food all the time and loved the idea of being able to do things that were not found on a lot of taqueria menus.” The site will also act as a test kitchen: “If we end up nailing the food and cocktails, there’s no reason why they can’t be transported elsewhere,” says Hilton. General manager DJ Suan moved over from next-door tap room Solace and flexes mixology skills on cocktails such as the “Bonita en Rosa” — an updated paloma made with homemade grapefruit syrup and prosecco; a tequila-and-mezcal Carajillo that answers the call to an everyday espresso martini; “Neither Naked Nor Famous,” which features strawberry-infused Aperol; and the summer-ready “Parasol,” which combines sotol from Northern Mexico with banana, pineapple, and lime. Suan also helped rework a shrimp app into diced shrimp with spicy tomato liquor and diced vegetables instead of a “cruise ship” shrimp cocktail. Opening timing coincides with nearby Nationals Park’s season (MLB Opening Day is Thursday, March 27), and the riverside operation immediately creates competition for Mission, the taco-and-tequila standby across from the ballpark." - Tierney Plumb
