H St. Country Club Opening Huge Roof Deck in March

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It may only be February, but H Street Country Club is thinking about spring and summer. The mini-golf themed restaurant and bar plans to open one of the largest roof decks in DC this spring.

By March, the roof will be open for margaritas and Mexican fare, said owner Ricardo Vegara. From the deck, patrons can take in views of the Washington Monument and Atlas Theatre. The theatre's signature neon sign is so close to the bar, it will be hard not to miss the glow of it on most nights.
The 2,100 square foot space features an outdoor bar and dining area with a maximum capacity for 100 people. Towards the back of the deck an open space will be used for cornhole and ping pong. A giant painted mural of two skeletons playing tennis calls to mind the same creative artistry found downstairs on the putt-putt course.

"We always wanted to open a roof. It's great to have an indoor and outdoor space, and the idea was to be playful, adding some color to the space," Vergara said.

For the most part the roof is decorated in a beach motif. Vegara bought two white lifeguard chairs from Bethany Beach, Del. to make it feel more like a temporary vacation than a city bar.

With the new roof also comes a new menu. The kitchen will serve an expanded brunch on Saturdays and Sundays beginning in March. And, the restaurant plans to add about a third more to its staff, mainly food runners and servers.

There are only a few details left before the space opens officially. Final touches include a polished concrete bar top being installed this week, a pergola providing shade from DC's oppressive summer heat, and by next fall, space heaters to keep patrons warm when the temperature drops.

From start to finish the roof deck took about 16 months to complete. Now, all that's required is some warmer temperatures. Until then, make do with the photos above, showing the deck in progress.
—Tim Ebner

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