The longstanding pop-up bar The Green Zone opens in Adams Morgan this Thursday, cementing its beloved Middle Eastern craft cocktails as a permanent fixture in the District’s food scene.
Owner Chris Francke, whose concoctions have earned him a legion of followers, is excited to finally stay put after four years at testing grounds around town, like Zeba Bar, Room 11, Black Whiskey, and Hank’s Oyster Bar in Dupont. The two-story spot, with two bars and a patio, takes over the former Rendezvous Lounge.
Wallet-friendly offerings like a $5 beer, $8 old fashioneds and daiquiris, and a menu of Middle Eastern street food under $10 fit comfortably alongside $13 designer drinks. Francke, a former World Bank contractor, plans to be behind the bar most nights of the week, stirring up specialty cocktails he says were inspired by places like H Street’s Copycat Co.
The Green Zone aims to be “welcoming without being pretentious,” Francke says, a versatile space that pays tribute to his Iraqi background. Cozy lanterns, paintings, and Moroccan tiles collected from Francke’s travels to see family in Lebanon and Iraq decorate the walls and bar. Marbled bathrooms are reminiscent of Turkish baths.
Francke, who says he used to be fairly apolitical, started the pop up around the same time ISIS overtook Mosul, and named it after a safe zone in Baghdad. His menu is full of cocktails that make not-so-subtle political statements, like the former “Fuck ISIS” cocktail and a “FUCK TRUMP!” punch offered here, made with rum, mezcal, and lemon.
The Green Zone has also been a sort of safe haven for Middle Eastern Americans in contentious political times. At the pop ups, Francke attracted a community of regular customers, many of whom are Middle Eastern or have connections to that part of the world. He hopes to continue catering to that “O.G.” Green Zone community with a Facebook group he created. On Thursday nights, he’ll host get-togethers and have old favorites available on the menu.
“I want to show the side of the Middle East I know—the one that lives for hospitality, the one that kicks back and has a good time, the one that eats really well,” says Francke. “The Middle East isn’t just revolutions and invasions. I want to make everyone feel at home.”
Here are a few things to expect from the space, which opens Thursday:
1. Craft cocktails that change with the weather (as well as familiar favorites).
Over the years he’s maintained the pop up, Francke has developed a list of more than 90 cocktails he keeps on rotation, varied by season. The Ya Salam Ya Fransa! is currently on the menu in honor of France’s World Cup title, a heady mix of arak (a licorice-flavored spirit made with grapes and anise popular in the Middle East), Cointreau, and bubbles. Classic Green Zone cocktails—like the frothy Janissary Corps with Green Hat Gin and pistachio, or the Lebanese No. 1 with cognac, apricot, and lemon—will serve as mainstays. Hyper-seasonal options, such as a recent creation with sour cherries, might only be available for a week at a time. All the ice is made in-house, then cut into proper chunks for shaking, stirring, and decoration. Just don’t ask Francke what his favorite drink is. It’s like picking “a favorite child.”
2. Endless bottles of Johnnie Walker Black Label.
Because some Middle Eastern countries prohibit drinking, there’s a misconception that there’s no drinking culture, Francke says. He wants to counter this notion by offering a variety of alcohol from the region, including Palestinian beer, Turkish wine, and arak. He’s also adding a personal touch to the spirits menu: Dozens of bottles of Johnnie Walker Black, the scotch whiskey his Iraqi grandfather drinks every night before dinner, will serve as decoration at the upstairs bar, and will be available neat ($13).
3. A food menu crafted with authenticity in mind.
Chef Gustavo Fuentes adds a Lebanese touch to Francke’s traditional recipes. Think homemade falafel with mint and tahina and hot sauce, silky smooth hummus; muhammara, a Syrian red pepper and walnut dip sweetened by pomegranate; cheesy mana’ish flatbread served with olives and za’tar spices; and Arabic chicken wings doused in lemon and garlic.
4. Room to dance.
On Thursday nights upstairs, customers can move to Middle Eastern music, while Fridays and Saturdays will bring DJs mixing reggae, Latin, and West African beats.
5. Late-night hours.
Need somewhere to eat after all the other kitchens in Adams Morgan close? The full food and drink menu will be available on the first floor during the week until 1:30 a.m. and on weekends until 2:30 a.m., with a smaller menu for the second floor’s Thursday-Sunday schedule. Happy hour will be served from 5 to 8 p.m. daily and all day Sundays ($1 off all cocktails and Lebanese wine).
The Green Zone is located at 2226 18th St. NW in Adams Morgan and opens Thursday, July 26. Hours are Tuesdays through Thursdays from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m., Fridays through Saturdays from 5 p.m. to 3 a.m., and Sundays from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m.
