Del Ray Gets a New Beer Garden With Draft Grapefruit Crushes

Del Ray recently landed a new outdoor drinking venue that encourages day drinking with 26 draft lines for Virginia beers and cocktails and a menu full of drinking snacks with Asian flourishes.

The Garden opened last week at 1503 Mt. Vernon Avenue, Washingtonian reports. The beer garden is the third bar and restaurant in the neighborhood that chef Justus Frank and GM Jeremy Barber have opened in the past three years. The partners also co-own Low Country spot Live Oak and sports bar Charlie’s on the Avenue.

Given the neighborhood’s status as a prime destination for nuclear families, the owners have a kids menu and told Washingtonian that they’re developing a selection of snacks for dogs.

Opening at 9 a.m. on Saturdays and 11 a.m. every other day, the Garden is pouring a classic German lager, Weihenstephaner, a Brugse Zot blonde from Belgium, and a $5 pilsner from the Lion Brewery in Pennsylvania. Local Virginia brews include a session IPA from Solace, an American Pale Ale from Port City, and an American IPA from Aslin, which just opened a new Alexandria taproom. There’s also a fruited sour from D.C.’s 3 Stars Brewing Company.

Some taps will be dedicated to Prosecco, margaritas, grapefruit crushes, and Manhattans.

Frank’s food menu has typical beer garden fare — there’s a smoked bratwurst from Alexandria-based Logan Sausage — and a handful of dishes with Southeast Asian twists. For example, rosemary, garlic, and Parmesan potato wedges come with banana ketchup, a popular condiment in Filipino cooking. There’s a pork belly banh mi, fish tacos with yuzu aioli, and a soft shell crab sandwich topped with papaya slaw.

Charlie’s also has a deep list of craft beer on Mt. Vernon Avenue. So do Catch on the Ave. and Neighborhood Restaurant Group’s Evening Star Cafe, both on the same strip.

• Del Ray’s All-Day Beer Garden is Now Open with Kid and Dog-Friendly Menus (Plus Tacos for Adults) [W]
• Del Ray’s Biscuit Queen Is Partnering on a Bagel Place Next to Stomping Ground [EDC]
• Alexandria’s Hottest Places For a Drink or Bite [EDC]
• Oak Gives Old Town a Fresh Take on the High-End Steakhouse [EDC]