“Government Cheese” Now Available at Rare Tavern — for $15

Specials

Rare Tavern in McPherson Square has just introduced a happy hour in honor of government workers who don’t get an August recess. The “Government Cheese” happy hour add-on is available at the restaurant’s daily (including weekends) happy hour and is $15 for an order of fried cheese curds, a Miller High Life pony and an intricately garnished Bloody Mary (there are beefy jerky and even more fried curds involved.)

Awards

Bon Appétit has just published their Top 50 Nominees to America’s Best New Restaurants and three D.C. restaurants made the cut. Locals on the esteemed list include Ellē, all the restaurants at The Line (A Rake’s Progress, Brothers and Sisters, Spoken English) and Maydan. BA will announce which restaurants made it onto their Hot 10 list on August 14.

Freebies

Wag! is an on-demand dog walking service that’s now getting into the free (dog) ice cream game. For half of August — the 1st through the 15th — the company is giving out free dog-friendly ice cream for D.C. pups. The roaming doggie ice cream cart will hit various points around the city — including Navy Yard parks, Foggy Bottom and Logan Circle area parks and Dupont Circle parks.

Money problems

Come August 13, Hill Country BBQ will no longer be dealing in cash — the Penn Quarter restaurant is joining the litany of other restaurants (local and otherwise) who no longer accept cash for their goods. There has been some backlash against the cashless restaurant movement in D.C. — both from local leaders and the public at large.