Empire Grill

Byward Market

About

It doesn't attract the late-night restaurant chefs and staffers as it once did, but this popular New York-ish bistro/bar/club remains a desirable stop. The martinis are dry, the company congenial, the food piquant and mildly venturesome. You might find duck quesadillas or bruschetta for starters, then segue to the likes of Thai chicken curry, a duck breast dusted with cocoa, or Southwestern chicken and chipotle pasta with roasted vegetables. The bar, in a question-mark shape that encourages conversation, is ringed with tables, augmented with a warm-weather dining deck. Customers range from those barely over drinking age to well past retirement with no apparent social unease. A DJ works the turntables after late dinner, and they have live jazz Sundays 6 to 10pm.

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