Dupont Circle’s New Diner Rewind Will Blast Retro Pop Classics

Rewind by Decades, Dupont Circle’s new throwback-themed diner, opened Monday, July 16 with two bars, breakfast at night, and a commitment to keeping the Backstreet Boys alive.

The two-level eating and drinking destination (1219 Connecticut Avenue NW), open daily 4 p.m. to 2 a.m., broadcasts popular pop and rock music videos from the 1980s to the early 2000s on huge projector screens and TVs. Diners can fuel up on omelets and waffles before heading upstairs to year-old sister spot Decades, a retro dance club also dedicated to playing memory-inducing MTV tunes from Jennifer Lopez to Tupac across four decade-themed levels.

The venue comes from nightlife gurus Antonis Karagounis and business partner Arman Amirshahi, who also run D.C.’s Echostage, Soundcheck, and Barcode. Their debut fast-casual eatery, Taqueria Local, opened this spring a few blocks way with tacos and margaritas.

Charged with Rewind’s design was Reid & Taylor Studio, the New York firm that’s encapsulated other moments in time at The Peacock and Shakespeare in Midtown. Interior accents include diner-style banquettes, speckled countertops, graphic floor tiling, and glowing orbs suspended from above.

In addition to breakfast items like eggs Benedict, patrons can find Thanksgiving-inspired entrees at Rewind all year. Traditional bar fare, like strip steak, hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken wings, and sandwiches, are also in the mix. For booze, there’s spiked milkshakes and themed craft cocktails made behind its 24-foot bars.

Along with karaoke nights and a rotating DJ lineup, capitalizing on sports is also part of the equation. Expect brunches and events surrounding NFL games and high-profile boxing matches.

Status: Certified open. 1219 Connecticut Avenue NW; website.

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