The Prospect Makes a Comeback This Weekend

Neighborhood sports bar The Prospect is returning this weekend just in time for the kickoff to the beer-fueled college football season.

Parent company Social Restaurant Group first unveiled the Prospect in late 2015, redecorating the former Ulah Bistro space (1214 U Street NW) with bowling pins, baseball bats, and skateboards. It closed this spring but functioned as a rotating venue all summer, hosting a World Cup HQ pop-up with a burger menu from Lucky Buns, as well as Pennsylvania’s fried chicken purveyor FreeByrd Chicken.

On Saturday, September 1, the cider-friendly sports bar — known for its assorted hot wings, tacos, and s’mores empanadas — will return at 11:30 a.m. with drink specials and games aired across its 40 HD TVs and 30-seat outdoor patio. No. 1-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide is playing the Louisville Cardinals in an NCAA college opener at 8 p.m.

The two-story sports bar will then officially reopen on Thursday, September 6 and operate from Thursdays to Mondays going forward. The Prospect’s projected hours of operation are 11:30 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays and Thursdays and Mondays starting at 5 p.m., and closing when the last game of the day ends.

The Prospect will likely go dark again after football season to complete renovations on a to-be-named new restaurant, the company tells Eater. The replacement eatery will likely feature nightly dinner service and weekend brunch.

“Depending on the renovation timeline of the upcoming permanent concept, they might also remain open for March Madness,” according to a statement from SRG (Bar Bao, Pamplona, Provision No. 14).

SRG made headlines this week for Washington Post food critic Tom Sietsema’s zero-star review of its Wharf newcomer La Vie, and the company is reportedly reacting to the harsh critique by making changes to its service model and menu.

Status: Scheduled to reopen as The Prospect on Saturday, September 1 at 11:30 a.m. 1214 U Street NW; website.

• Tom Sietsema Absolutely Destroys The Wharf’s La Vie in Rare No-Stars Review [EDC]
• Neighborhood Sports Bar the Prospect Is Closing April 30 [EDC]