2471 18th Street, NW previously home to Tight Five Pub and before them Smoke and Barrel and, of course, the long time home of Asylum before that
Thanks to D. for sending word from Hi-Fi:
Hopefully they can reopen soon as I had high hopes for them!
When they originally opened:
“Legacy HiFi, the 18th street corridor’s newest bar, will open tonight, November 27, with affordable cocktails, a concise but delicious menu and a welcoming vibe. Led by partners Tim Slayton (a former lead bartender at Marvin), Tyler Stoe (Legacy DC Art Gallery) and Mathew Ramsey (of Pornburger fame), Legacy HiFi brings the Legacy brand – blending art, music, media and streetwear – into its next iteration: hospitality. The dimly-lit, hip, artsy and unique space features old-school TVs, a vintage soda machine, street art, and an elevated area for live music performances and weekly DJs.
The real reason you’ll be spending your evenings here is what’s being served up from behind the bar and in the kitchen, where bartenders, including Slayton, will be shaking and stirring perfectly made classics and house favorites from an affordable menu. With most cocktails priced at just $10, guests can sip on Espresso Martinis, Moscow Mules, Margaritas, Rum Punches, Palomas, Gin Rickeys, Old Fashioneds and of course, that neighborhood bar staple: shot combos.
Ramsey, author of popular cookbook Pornburger, will flex his signature inventive muscles on a curated menu that is sure to become a DC staple. Inspired by the burger shack comforts of Ramsey’s childhood, the menu is a love letter to simple pleasures and late night cravings alike. Taking a “less is more” approach, the food menu is split between two main-characters, Shortys & Slims. The Shorty is a smash-cooked patty served with mustard, pickles, griddled onions, and shorty sauce on a potato roll, all slapped with a pat of miso-brown butter to finish. Or, try the Slim, a smoked, all-beef, natural-cased dog that’s pickle-brined, deep-fried and drizzled with signature sauce. The Grilled Kimento Cheese mixes kimchi and pimento cheese on a potato bread drizzled in hot honey; while the Frito Pie takes the classic fritos with chili, and adds a Korean-inspired kick with kimento cheese, diced onions and pickled jalapeno relish.
With their collective years in D.C. hospitality, Slayton, Stoe and Ramsey share the main goal of creating a place for the community to gather and offer a retreat from the DC hustle. Slayton, a graduate of Howard University’s School of Business, spent 15 years slinging drinks at U Street darling Marvin and will helm the bar at HiFi. Stoe brings the creative direction as a graffiti artist and a creator of the Legacy brand, which also encompasses an art gallery, merchandise line, and podcast and recording studio. In addition to his Harper Collins-published cookbook, Ramsey’s resume includes roles at Michelin-starred D.C. hotspots Pineapple & Pearls and Tail Up Goat.
Legacy HiFi will be open seven days a week.”
Stay tuned.