Study Snacks at The Tombs: Books not Needed
For years I had read that Georgetown student hangout The Tombs served one of the better burgers in the city, and for years I meant to put that claim to the test. But a trek to G'Town for a bite at a subterranean college bar owned by the Clyde's Restaurant Group? I always found something better to do. When I finally visited, I discovered something even better than cooked-to-order burgers, which were juicy thick ones that do indeed live up to their reputation.
The discounted "Study Snacks" menu takes effect every night at 10 p.m., and Monday through Friday afternoons from 3-5 p.m. Items are grouped by price, with the aforementioned cheeseburger in the big bucks category, at $5.95. Cooked to the requested medium rare, irregularly shaped, and with juices oozing, my first Tombs burger was what I'm looking for in a proper patty. Quality can be inconsistent, however. On another visit, the burger was a little overcooked and underseasoned, and inexplicably topped with shredded (and only partially melted) cheese. Buffalo chicken and jack & bacon chicken sandwiches are both well executed, as is a Gardenburger that is just the freezer variety, but cleans up well with toppings and a side of onion rings. All of the cheapie sandwiches come with a generous, crispy serving of fries. But you'd be wise to trade those out for their perfectly made golden onion rings. The onion strip does not slide limply out of its batter upon first bite, the sign of a proper frying.
I didn' know about the discounted menu on my first visit, and was kicking myself for arriving at 9:30, 30 minutes before Study Snack Time. The full price burger doesn't exactly burn a hole in your wallet, so after 10 p.m. I put in for an order of well-coated, but greasy nachos. With the discounted prices it's hard to resist piling on a mix and match of junk food, and standard fried fare (buffalo wings, mozzarella sticks and chicken fingers) is all on offer. After a burger, the popular Tombs Brownie, served with a glop of vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, and almond slivers makes for a much better dessert.
A nightly Blue Plate Special (also $5.95) makes it enticing to make strategic choices for return visits. Waiters try to pick up Monday night shifts to make a meal of meatloaf night. A cut of the thick, slightly dry (in a good way) comfort food is a good reason to come in for a late night dinner, though the mashed potatoes the slab is served with weren't quite warm enough and the green beans a bit undercooked. Fajita night Wednesday brings a sizzling skillet and a heaping plate of toppings, but the chicken is under-seasoned. Those itching for Thanksgiving will find turkey with the fixins' every Thursday.
Pitchers of cheap beer come standard at any hour, as low as $9 for Rolling Rock. All specialty cocktails from an extensive list are $8, not bargain basement, but not bad considering you're liable to pay close to that much for a rail gin and tonic at any other place in Georgetown. Fair warning: you'll see your fair share of students downing sludge green colored shots of unspecified origins.
Also available is a 20-bottle wine list, well-priced at $20. But if you're looking to go on a spending spree with dad's credit card, the full wine list of 1789 Restaurant, (also operated by the Clyde’s group), is available.
There’s plenty of people watching to go along with your study snack. One Monday night I find myself in the middle of pub trivia night, where a “palindrome” round starts things off. I can’t think of one for “a kingly brew” or any of the other impossible questions. One Saturday, an undergrad and his MacBook rock the house with an eclectic mix that can transition from Lady Gaga to Annie Lennox. My group grabs a pitcher of cheap beer to take in the action and even brave our way out to the dance floor. Cheers to pretending we're still in college!
But whether or not you truly have business hanging out at a campus bar, keep your driver's license handy. Even if you're well settled in with drinks in hand, a bouncer will walk back through at 10 p.m. to recheck IDs and stamp hands. If you forget your ID and go home to get it, the bar will give you a free beer. But no ID, no evening entry.
The Tombs
1226 36th St NW
Washington, DC 20007
(202) 337-6668
Monday-Thursday: 11:30 a.m.-1:15a.m.
Friday: 11:30 a.m.-2:15 a.m.
Saturday: 11:00 a.m.-2:15 a.m.
Sunday: 9:30 a.m.-1:15 a.m.