Pour Out a Forty for the Childe Harold
The pilgrimage is at its end. After 40 years nestled on 20th street NW in Dupont Circle, the Childe Harold has closed its doors for good. A victim of increasing rents and lessors unwilling to negotiate, the Harold is one more example of how the face of Dupont Circle is ever-changing.

The venerable institution held a lot of history, partly because of its ties to the music world—Bruce Springstreen, Bonnie Raitt, the Ramones, and Emmylou Harris went there according to this WaPo article—and partly due to its reputation as a haunt for hard-drinking political and journalist types.

Childe Harold made its name in recent years with well-cooked steaks, as well as burgers that were juicy and flavorful — all cheaper than $9 — a direction that many Washington eateries should look at when analyzing their $16 burger options. The Harold was a good spot to stop after a hard-partying night in Dupont Circle, or a place to go for a drink or eight if you wanted to get shit-faced and have it kept quiet. I mean, I’ve heard. Dive-seekers will have to look a little harder in the neighborhood for a place to meet their needs now. I imagine many of them, much like owner Hossein Shirvani, are heartbroken.

Risen From the Burnt, Cakey Parts Left on the Griddle
In happier news, penny pinching Washingtonians will be happy to hear that the Waffle Shop on 10th St. NW may have moved to a new location and changed its name—but the old one isn’t dead. The Post reports that D.C. wonder developer, Douglas Jemal, will dismantle the historic diner piece by piece, move it, and re-open it exactly as it was, most likely in a space on 7th Street across from the convention center. Not only it this welcome news for one of Washington’s most historic eateries, but it bodes well for those folks who never had a chance to dine at the Waffle Shop’s sinusoidal counter.

Waffle Shop photo from buschap.