Oddfellows Cafe and Bar

• Cuisine(s): American, Coffeehouse, Sandwiches
  Hours: Daily 7am-2am
  Price: $, $$
• Payment Types: MasterCard, Visa, cash
  Features: Takeout, Wheelchair Accessible, Vegetarian Friendly
  Serving: Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch, Snacks
• Alcohol: Full bar
  Reservations: Accepted
  Parking: No Parking

Description

Oddfellows Cafe & Bar is a dining hall for the Capitol Hill of today. Decorated in washes of nostalgia-gray-blue walls, scuffed wood tables, salvaged signs and portraits-it's Linda Derschang's most beautiful space yet, where old-timey cocktails served in Grandma's glassware look like they've always shared tablespace with MacBooks. During the day, the place operates as a counter-service cafe and at night as a bar and restaurant. The food classes up basic American food without sparking class resentment. The simple mac and cheese looks circumspect yet has a surprising depth of flavor, and the crisp coating on the "pork nuggets" house a dense hunk of carnitas. For every plate of clams with chorizo the kitchen puts out, it assembles six BLTs and chicken-salad sandwiches. The braised pork shank and meatballs with pine nuts, currants, and polenta are popular, but the menu's also seasonal (the spring menu has a plethora of arugula, asparagus, and green peas, for example). Drinks flow with abundance - the full bar offers a small wine selection, specialty cocktails, canned and bottled beer, and Manny's Pale Ale and others on tap.