A Law School Love Story Led to DC’s Newest Wine Bistro
Photograph of Ian and Mika Carlin.
Mika and Ian Carlin fell in really like as legislation pupils at the University of Virginia. It is also where they fell in adore with Virginia wine. Right after graduating a several a long time in the past, they both started off functioning wine and cafe support employment on top rated of their authorized careers—Ian at a big corporate legislation company, Mika most not long ago for an organization helping immigrant kids. Then amid the pandemic, they determined to go away their day positions altogether to pursue their passion. Mika worked as a supervisor at Fancy Radish and beverage director at Sonny’s Pizza, although Ian was a sommelier at Masseria and server at Oyster Oyster. Now, they are heading one particular move more and opening their have wine bistro, Irregardless, on H Avenue, Northeast in September.
The 50-seat dining space will serve a 6-course tasting menu—likely for $80 to $85—”more on the informal, taste in excess of fuss aspect of issues,” Ian claims. A vegetarian edition of the menu will also be available (Mika is vegetarian). So will wine pairings, together with just one devoted completely to Virginia labels. A la carte dishes will be served only at the 12-seat bar.
“We love the neo-bistros of Paris that usually do tasting menus, but in a very everyday way, extremely entertaining, emphasizing fantastic nearby substances,” Mika suggests. “We want to transport that thought to a DC-centric restaurant.”
The Carlins have tapped chef Ben Browning, who most lately worked at Mintwood Area and whose resume involves Daikaya, Maydan, Obelisk, and Reveler’s Hour. His tasting menu will feature housemade pastas and breads as nicely as plates highlighting regardless of what nearby substances are in time utilizing French and Japanese cooking techniques. At the bar, you may well uncover Virginia cheese and charcuterie, snacks, and larger sized-format plates.
The consume list will contain lesser-viewed, immediate-imported beers and “fresh, fun” cocktails (Mika ran the cocktail application at Fancy Radish), but wine is the significant concentrate. Assume about a dozen rotating wines by the glass with Virginia-manufactured selections in every classification (pink, white, sparkling, and pores and skin-get hold of). They’ll start off with about 75 bottles and develop the selection from there.
“We want to make absolutely sure that all of the Virginia wines we like are genuinely perfectly represented on that listing and a key concentrate. So if there is some Virginia wine that you like, we hope that will be on the list for you,” Ian states.
The cafe normally takes in excess of the house that formerly housed Le Grenier, and one particular detail the H Street citizens will keep is the vintage Coca-Cola mural on the exposed brick walls. The previous rowhouse will be outfitted with hanging lights and greenery additionally “classic, timeless furnishings.” They also have a smaller back patio that they system to use for relaxed pop-ups showcasing their cooks’ foods or community vendors.
As for the identify, Irregardless? “It sort of elicits a temper, a sensation, a enjoyment time relatively than that means one thing specific,” suggests Ian.
Irregardless. 502 H St., NE.