In the interest of introducing new D.C. residents to the finest in District drinking, and old residents to spots they may not have heard of, DCist introduces our latest feature, Coalition of the Swilling.
Who knew someone would open a bar near the Potomac Ave. Metro station? Joe Englert, that’s who. The man behind Capitol Lounge, new owner of the old Zack’s space, and the first man to move in hard on H Street isn’t afraid of transitional neighborhoods. We’re told that around the time news of Jenkins Row hit, he decided that the 1400 block of Pennsylvania SE would be a good place for a neighborhood drinkery.

Fast forward to today. At 1420 Pennsylvania Ave. SE stands Trusty’s, a small bar with a strong automotive theme. The signage above the entrance simultaneously advances the theme and describes the bar: friendly and reliable. If you’re looking for a spot to enjoy a dirty martini or a cosmo, Trusty’s is probably not the place. We described it to our companions as a dive bar in progress — too fresh and clean to be a dive now, but it’s well on its way to getting there in a few months. Draft beer (your choice of Yuengling or Bud Lite; $3.50 a pint) is served in mason jars with handles, which you can drink while sitting at the steel bar, under lights made from old oil cans. Ash trays are set in small faux tires, and the bathrooms are currently clean as a whistle and decorated with clippings of old hot rod projects. Several tables and booths are set in back if you’re looking for more intimate drinking. The only food to speak of is fried, and comes off a grill behind the bar. We haven’t sampled the cuisine, though last time we were there we saw Englert himself enjoying a brat. Unfortunately, Trusty’s still doesn’t have the ventilation thing down; too many brats or burgers on the grill and the entire place starts smelling like fried meat.

If you have a weakness for dark, semi-dingy places (like this DCist), you’ll love Trusty’s. Sure, it’s out of the way for many, but for residents of “Hill East” it’s the first bar to speak of in the area. We recommend stopping in after a Nats game — instead of navigating the crowds at the Stadium-Armory Metro, walk to Trusty’s, have a beer, and wait until the crowds dissipate. It’s not fancy, but it gets the job done.

Trusty’s
1420 Pennsylvania Avenue
Metro: Potomac Avenue, exit and turn left onto Pennsylvania