Elephant & Castle: A lackluster first impression

Entering a chain pub and hoping for authenticity seems a bit of a fool’s errand. That being said, Elephant & Castle, the new bar at Pennsylvania & 12th, did its best to make a fool of me and my group of friends Friday night.

The arrival of the chain had drummed up interest in some DC circles, and my friends and I were excited to try it for ourselves. Our party didn’t sample the place’s stabs at English fare, from Shepard’s Pie to lamb curry, so it’s possible Elephant & Castle works better as a restaurant than a happy hour location. But to put it plainly, the pub feels like a Friday’s. The atmosphere is clean, open and pretty, but hardly intimate or cozy. A friend jokingly glanced around for something distinctly or even stereotypically British—soccer on the television, perhaps—and came up with little.

The place just opened, so they’re still ironing out what their happy hour options will be, a waiter explained to us. It seems they have a bit more ironing to do. The lone drink special was Bud Lite, and cheaply-priced appetizers were only available until 6 p.m.

Even gestures of quirkiness have a commercial feel. During our stay, a caricature artist was offering free sketches. The catch? You had to be drinking Bass, and your sketch would feature a large Bass logo on it. The best part of the entire concept was the laughably enthusiastic way the waiter promoted our opportunity to earn a free sketch.

The appetizer platter provides plenty of snacks (at $18.99, one would hope), but no offering stands out as even above-average pub grub. Chicken fingers are limp, spinach-artichoke dip relies too heavily on sour cream, and other choices are forgettable. Worst of all were the drinks—the glasses, whether you were drinking a pint, a margarita or some wine, had a strange, almost soapy smell to them that worked its way into the taste of the beverages.

Our table left quickly, our impression of the place mediocre at best. But Elephant & Castle has just opened, and should be given a chance to work out its idiosyncrasies. And its dinner offerings very well may be the restaurant’s place to shine. Our first impression, though, has made us wary of returning. Give the place a chance, and judge for yourself—but give it some time to clean up its act first.

Elephant & Castle, DC
1201 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20004
(202) 347-7707