Grab a sausage, and stay for a round of Connect Four at the new HalfSmoke, opening next Tuesday in Shaw.
D+K architects have put together a space with a foosball table, five televisions, and living room-like corridors, where patrons can pull up a chair and come together over games of Jenga. Signage pays a nod to the playful theme, with a neon sign proclaiming "don't grow up it's a trap" on the wall. There are a whopping three fireplaces in different corridors of the room. Shelving and couches also add to the comfortable theme of the fast-casual restaurant. There's room for 100 inside the space (a patio will add 50 more seats). Free wifi will encourage lingerers, too.
The open kitchen design is almost like peering through the window of a submarine. Within is pricey and advanced kitchen equipment like a Grillworks stove for the sausages and a stone hearth to make pizzas.
The restaurant from owner Andre McCain (chef Bob Kinkead is consulting) will let diners customize their own sausages and pizzas, including versions of D.C.'s iconi c half-smoke. Also on the menu: tater tots, truffled mac and cheese pops, and more. Adults can choose from drinks like grilled peach sangria to smoked sweet tea margaritas. Fruit popsicles, funnel cakes (in flavors like red velvet) and epic milkshakes round out the sweet offerings. They open Oct. 4 for dinner only; regular hours will start in about two weeks.
HalfSmoke, 651 Florida Ave. NW, website
