Category:
Dive Bars
Neighborhoods: East Village, Alphabet City
Category:
Beer, Wine & Spirits
Neighborhood: Palisades
Categories:
American (Traditional),
Sandwiches
Categories:
American (Traditional),
Coffee & Tea,
Wine Bars
Category:
Coffee & Tea
Neighborhood: Dupont Circle
Category:
French
Neighborhood: Downtown
Categories:
Cheese Shops,
French,
Ethnic Food
Categories:
Sandwiches,
Coffee & Tea
Categories:
Coffee & Tea,
Bagels,
Sandwiches
Listed in: D.C.: District of (Wine and)…
There are certain assumptions we make in order to lead our lives. One assumption is that the sun will rise the next morning (there was a period in my adolescence when I started doubting that assumption--horror and sleeplessness ensued). The other, for me, is that I will be able to grab a cup of joe somewhere to power through my morning classes.
That somewhere, usually, is Capitol Grounds.
Capitol Grounds is a solid, middle-of-the-road cafe that is in a convenient location for me. It's right on the corner of 21st and Pennsylvania, so I usually stop by there on my morning walk to school. They offer GW students a discount, so my small 12-ounce cup of coffee is $1.17.
My weekday morning ritual is: walk down Pennsylvania and head into Capitol Grounds. Order a small coffee. Give the cashier a dollar bill, a dime, a nickel, and two pennies. Give her my frequent drinker's card to get punched. Pick up my cup of coffee. Leave.
They also offer very reasonably-priced, delicious breakfast items. Their English muffin sandwich, which includes egg, turkey, and cheese, is a little over $2.00 but offers a good, filling serving of morning awesomeness. They also offer bagels and morning wraps, as well as full-on breakfast plates.
I give this place three stars primarily because the coffee is not the best. It's more of a marriage of convenience for me. It's better than Au Bon Pain but worse than Starbucks (gasp!)--much worse than Peregrine or any other of the artisanal roasters. They use Chesapeake Bay coffee, which appears to be decent, but the blends they use taste slightly burnt. Also, the decor is nonexistent--it's very workmanlike, filled to the brim with food items, snacks, drinks, stools, etc., etc. Finally, they don't appear to be open on the weekends--definitely not on Sundays.
Overall, decent place. It's like the creepy math nerd from high school: I wouldn't hang out with him if I didn't have to get his class notes!
"Because I don't have the patience to write novels."
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Review votes:
197 Useful, 81 Funny, and 147 Cool
Washington, DC
Yelping SinceApril 2007
Find Me InFoggy Bottom
My Blog Or Website When I'm Not Yelping...I'm being a law student at GW.
Why You Should Read My ReviewsQuid pro quo.
My Second Favorite Website
Calling a bar a dive bar is almost an insult, except it's not. But what makes a dive bar a good dive bar? It's almost a contradiction in terms. I will leave that philosophical inquiry for another time. What I want to say is that the Library is a dive bar and a damned good one.
For instance, you can borrow a book to read while you're drinking. I am a big fan of going to bars alone, so reading a book is a way to pretend I'm not such a loser. But why would you want to read a book when you can talk to the assembled assorted fauna? There are some cool people here, from the patrons to the bartenders. The bartenders will make sure you always have a beverage in front of you, which is more than what you can say for 95% of bars.
I don't want to rehash the points made by other reviewers. However, I need to point out that they have a wonderful, wonderful happy hour from 4-8 pm with buy one, get one free beverages. Thus, if you wished to purchase a Genesee Cream Ale and a shot of Makers, you will receive vouchers for a free Genesee and a free Makers. As the prices are cheap to begin with, the Library is a fantastic place to bring raucous groups of thirsty people.
You can also bring in your own food, as the Library does not have a kitchen. In fact, the only negative I can think of is the jukebox: the selection is limited and consists of mostly rock and metal. Where is Otis? Where is Sam? Where is Ruben Studdard? Despite this, the Library is terrific. I think I have my new cool, isolated hole.