Peek Inside H Street’s Playful New Bar Elena

There’s no shortage of entertainment options at Atlas District newcomer Bar Elena, the neighborhood restaurant opening Tuesday, November 7, that fulfills chef/co-owner Adam Stein’s dream of bringing fun food, local brews, and engaging games to his former stomping grounds.

Stein, an alum of local eateries including pubby Queen Vic and beer-friendly Big Board (among others), tells Eater he has longed to see more laid-back restaurants crop up along the drastically evolving strip.

“It’s time this side of the street got some love,” he says.

Stein’s contribution to that cause involves offering up funky comfort foods, a number of electronic diversions, and a slate of intriguing drinks. He’s joined in this mission by Sharon Wetteland, who followed Stein over from his most recent stint at Red’s Table in Reston, Virginia, to serve as general manager at Bar Elena, and by Lindsay Parsons, a Radiator alum tasked with overseeing the bar.

Photo by Rey Lopez for Eater DC

The front of the new restaurant should look somewhat familiar to those that visited its predecessor, Boundary Road. Stein says he’s moved some things around, but wound up keeping roughly the same number of seats. The major difference in terms of design — yes, the mattress chandelier is hanging around — is the mini-arcade Stein has installed in back.

Photo by Rey Lopez for Eater DC

Photo by Rey Lopez for Eater DC

The bar boasts two pinball machines (Indiana Jones, The Sopranos), two Skee-ball machines, and two video game cabinets that feature over two dozen classic games (think: Arkanoid, Ms. Pac-Man). Don’t get too attached to any high scores, though; Stein says the company that owns the games — and which he’s working with on larger scale entertainment complex, the Eleanor — is cool with swapping out the machines “as often as we need based on customer wants.”

Those interested in more tangible investments should give the menu a once over. Parsons has stocked the drink list with four evergreen(ish) cocktails — including a modified version of the Campari-fueled “Vespa” cooler served by Boundary Road — as well as a handful of seasonally inspired selections (a rum-mezcal creation is mesmerizing).

Photo by Rey Lopez for Eater DC

Wetteland, meanwhile, has brought together wines from around the globe. There’s crisp whites from America (Adelsheim Auxerrois), bold reds from Europe (Familia Montana Rioja Reserva), and dueling rosés (France versus Washington state).

Back in the kitchen, Stein has a blast with everything from briny oysters to “fancy nachos” flanked by fiery arbol chile sauce. (See the full menu below.)

Photo by Warren Rojas / Eater DC

Photo by Warren Rojas / Eater DC

Bar Elena is projected to operate from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m., Tuesday through Thursday, from 4 p.m. to 3 a.m., Fridays, from 11 a.m to 3 a.m., Saturdays, and from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m., Sundays. The plan is to run two daily happy hours (4 p.m. to 7 p.m, and again from 11 p.m. till closing). Stein says brunch should follow “in a couple weeks.”

Status: Scheduled to open at 4 p.m. 414 H Street NE; website.

• H Street Gets Spaghetti Sandwiches Next Week [EDC]
• Replacement H Street Bar Aims to Double Its Drinking Space [EDC]
• The Most Anticipated Restaurants in D.C., Fall 2017 [EDC]
• H Street Stalwart Boundary Road Closes, Bar Elena Opening In Its Place [EDC]