“On May 10, Hit Pandemic Pop-Up Fight Club Rises Again In Its Own Standalone Space on Capitol Hill” Check out the menu

photo by Maya Fiellin

From a press release:

“Fight Club, the hit pandemic-era sandwich pop-up that operated out of Beuchert’s Saloon, is resurrecting in its own brick-and-mortar location at 633 Pennsylvania Avenue SE on May 10. Fight Club 2.0, headed up by co-owners Andrew Markert, Bart Hutchins, and Mackenzie Conway, will initially open for weekday lunch, serving up the OG pop-up menu of sandwiches and snacks that gained a cult-following during the height of the pandemic. A few weeks later, it will extend its hours and roll out its full menu with expanded offerings including a new large plate menu category, as well as a cocktail program centered around boozy punches on draft. Fight Club’s initial opening hours will be Monday through Friday from 11 AM to 4 PM for full-service dining, carryout and delivery via DoorDash, Caviar and GrubHub.

THE SPACE

Fight Club will reopen a mere five doors down from its original home at Beuchert’s Saloon, completing the group’s trifecta of Capitol Hill spots, which also includes whimsical tasting menu restaurant, Newland. During their search for Fight Club’s new space, the team focused on the Capitol Hill neighborhood, wanting to return to the same community that supported them during its 14-month run as a pop-up.

“The support we received from the Capitol Hill neighborhood was amazing”, says Hutchins. “We had people who would order sandwiches multiple times a week just because they wanted to see us succeed during a very scary time. That included longtime regulars of Beuchert’s Saloon, but Fight Club also gained regulars in its own right, which was really cool to see. It feels somewhat poetic that our permanent home would remain on the Hill. It’s our way of saying thank you to the neighborhood.”

The team transformed the former Hank’s on the Hill space on Pennsylvania Avenue using an outdoor punch garden and the concept’s funky, irreverent vibe as its inspirations. Friend of Fight Club, Nate Mann, created vibrant murals found on the front wall and behind the bar which depict suns rising out of lines, his trademark style that signifies that “everyday is a fresh start and you can rise above the bullshit”. The dining room, accented by floral wallpaper and hanging plants, has seating for 60 guests spread across a high-top banquette-lined wall, front dining room area and expansive bar outfitted with TVs. Several elements of Fight Club’s space signal to guests that they are there to have a good time. Think an old school Street Fighter arcade game (which Fight Club followers voted on in a hotly-contested social media poll putting it head-to-head with Mortal Kombat), a DJ booth that will come to life when weekend brunch rolls out and distinctive decor touches including a pop art portrait of Danny Devito and a gnome flipping the proverbial bird. The restaurant’s design intentionally echoes Fight Club’s persona: folks who don’t take themselves too seriously slinging serious food and drinks.

THE SANDWICHES

Fight Club’s opening menu, created by Markert and Hutchins, features creations that quickly became fan favorites during Fight Club’s initial iteration. Lovingly referred to as “off-center but on-point”, Fight Club’s sandwiches are classics turned on their head. “Fight Club isn’t your standard Italian, Reuben, BLT place”, says Markert. “When someone looks at the sandwiches, they wonder how those flavors will work together, but it turns out to be the sandwich you never knew you needed”.

At Fight Club, a standard ham sandwich is transformed into the Ham and Mustard made with smoked ham, braised mustard greens, onion fondue and aged cheddar on marble rye. The Blue Crab Salad sandwich adds Maryland blue crab, crab fat dressing, spicy pickle relish, and shrettuce to a traditional egg salad sandwich setup. Fight Club’s take on the ubiquitous fried chicken sandwich – the FC Chicken Doink – is their spin on a McGriddle, swapping regular sandwich buns for maple cakes stacked with a crispy buttermilk-brined chicken thigh, Crystal hot sauce mayo, bread and butter pickles, shrettuce and tomato. The HEIR To The BLT, named one of the 25 best sandwiches in the D.C. area by the Washington Post, amps up the iconic summer sandwich with heirloom tomatoes, house made black pepper bacon, pistachio butter, brown butter mayo and shrettuce on sourdough. Some offerings, like the Salami and Slaw made with fried genoa salami, Napa cabbage slaw, hot mustard and potato sticks between garlic bread, are first-of-its-kind sandwich brainchilds of the Fight Club team.

Non-carnivorous guests will find meat-free options including the G.T. Cauliflower with tso sauce, broccoli and carrot slaw, chili relish and rice puffs on a banh mi loaf and the Faux-lafel wrap filled with cashew and tofu “falafel”, ramp raita, benne seed tahini, cabbage and cucumbers on naan bread.

THE SNACKS & SWEETS

Snacks on the menu carry special meaning or are favorites of the Fight Club team, and can serve as appetizers or items guests can cobble together as their full meal. Markert’s mom’s specialty makes the menu as Momma D’s Crab Imperial with chili powder, Ritz cracker crust and scallions served with soft pretzel bites for dipping. A past meal with friends at Chicago’s Lone Star was the inspiration for the Walking Taco, layers of seasoned beef taco meat, queso fresco, pickled chilies and crema smothered over corn chips and topped with scallions. Half Smoke Pups, featuring cornbread-battered half smoke sausages served with Zatarain’s mustard and scallions, give props to D.C. while classic onion rings get an upgrade with sweet onions battered in golden ale, dusted with fermented chili powder and served with tiger sauce, an iconic condiment from Markert’s hometown of Baltimore. Sad salads find no home at Fight Club where offerings include a Mozzarella Stick Salad loaded with heirloom tomatoes, basil, fresh mozzarella and gazpacho vinaigrette served on a giant mozzarella stick.

Paying proper homage to Beuchert’s Saloon, Fight Club’s menu includes Potatoes Fried the French Way with sauce ravigote and D’evil Eggs loaded with pickles, crispy onions and carrot slaw, both mainstays on the menu at Fight Club’s former home.

Fight Club will whip up sweet offerings including sandwiches of the ice cream variety in rotating seasonal flavors as well as Salted Caramel Banana Pudding, a sweet-meets-savory creation topped with whipped cream and chocolate shavings, all served with house made chips for dipping.

Initial opening hours for Fight Club will be Monday through Friday from 11 AM to 4 PM. Indoor and patio dining (seating 8-10 guests) will be available in addition to carryout and delivery via Doordash, Grubhub, and Caviar.

When Fight Club has its grand opening in late May/early June, guests can expect weekend and extended weekday hours, expanded food menu offerings including new sandwiches and large plates, boozy punches on draft, as well as weekend brunch.

Fight Club is located at 633 Pennsylvania Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20003. For more information, please visit www.fightclubdc.com or call 202-885-9714.”