If you want to see a perfect example of just how fast the city is transforming, look no further than the small area surrounding 9th and O Streets NW in Shaw.
An area that, not to too long ago, was the epicenter of some serious turf wars between between rival crews of youth in the neighborhood, has undergone a serious makeover in recent years. The O Street Giant has since been razed and is currently in the final stages of becoming luxury apartments, posh restaurants, and other swanky retailers.
That’s gentrification for you.
But the area’s transformation began a couple of year’s ago when Ali Bagheri and Daniel O’Brien—two D.C.-area chefs—opened up Seasonal Pantry on 1300 block of O Street. In only a couple of years, Bagheri and O’Brien have managed to turn that 9th and O Street block into a desirable destination for foodies, with their artisanal sandwich shop SUNdeVICH and neighborhood bar A&D. But with Thally— the new restaurant by Ron Tanaka and Sherman Outhuok that opens Tuesday —an area once riddled by gang violence has since completed its transformation into its own little foodie mecca.
With decor that places an emphasis on the history of its neighborhood (sans the turf wars), Thally’s name “refers to the Tally-Ho Stables (built in 1883) located in Naylor Court directly behind our restaurant, as well as to Thalia, Outhuok’s daughter,” reads a press release. Inside the restaurant, neighborhood murals of the area by local graphic designer and artist Matthew Hlubny add to the homey, rustic setting of the quaint new restaurant.
The 70-seat restaurant features a finely crafted, but short menu by Chef Tanaka—who cut his teeth in the District’s dining world in the kitchen of Cork and New Heights—of modern American cuisine. Dishes like pan-seared rockfish, roast duck with artichokes and greens, crab roulette on a bed of cauliflower/tomato salad, are the kind of artisanal dishes you’ll find.
Behind the 14-seat bar, the restaurant’s publicist, Lisa Amore, tells DCist that Thally will serve “24 wines by the glass, with a rotating list that switches out 6 wines by the glass per week.” The bar will also heavily feature a rotating lineup of draft ciders along with ten other craft brews on draft, as well has unique lineup of homemade sodas.
While Thally will eventually be open on weekends for lunch, don’t expect it to fuel D.C.’s festishization of brunch culture. “Sherman and Ron aren’t big fans of egg dishes.” Amore says. And as for the other culinary competition on the block? Amore says Bagheri and O’Brien are friends with Tanaka and Outhuok, and are “excited about what they’re bringing to the block.”
Thally is located adjacent to Seasonal Pantry and A&D Neighborhood Bar, in the middle of the block between N and O Streets NW. Thally’s hours are Tuesday through Sunday, 5 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. (bar) and 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. (kitchen).
