Tucked away on a hard to find little side street, any person looking for a hole in the wall dive bar would be lucky to come across My Brothers Place. Clearly, no one happens upon this place by chance; they’ve either been before or were told about it by a friend. My Brothers Place is one of the best kept secrets in this town.
Like the schizo persona of Capitol Hill itself, My Brothers Place takes on many different personalities throughout the day. At lunch, Congressmen and head honchos from the Department of Labor fill the outside tables seeking Cuban sandwiches and personal pizzas. Later that day, their staffers plop down their blackberries at one of the many mismatched tables to kick back with cheap drinks after a long day at work. Then the social sports clubs roll in to take advantage of beer pitchers and flip cup.
At the bar, it isn’t uncommon to find someone from the neighborhood sitting alone, striking up a conversation with the bartenders. The college kids know how to find cheap drinks, and that’s part of the reason they congregate here. On a rowdier night, you’ll even find some people dancing on the bar. Yep, dancing on the bar.
“You never know what kind of crowd this place will bring in,” says bartender Rachel with a smile of her face. In 2011, On Tap readers voted for Rachel as the top female Bar Star. Clearly, the small bar’s devoted regulars were responsible for pulling it off.
The fact that so many people feel like they can be themselves here, either relaxing at a table or dancing on the bar, proves how unpretentious it is. In fact, it’s arguably the most unpretentious bar on Capitol Hill.
“It’s a friendly bar. It’s homey,” says Alex, a neighbor happily seated at the bar with a pitcher of beer to himself, “and it’s been here forever.”
Thirty years ago, two Hispanic brothers opened the place (hence the name). Many of the menu items you see today were on that original menu. They make a mean Cuban sandwich, most well known for its “mojo sauce”. The fish tacos and enchiladas are other long-loved house specialties.
When the new owner arrived in 2004, he added American favorites, like wings and pizzas, to the menu with great success. But not everybody comes here to eat. In fact, the drink prices tend to recruit drinkers.
What My Brothers Place gets so right that many other places get so wrong is that they aren’t afraid to offer up a deal. They’ve got something going on every night of the week. On the weekdays, it’s half-priced apps, wines, and beer deals. On the weekends, it’s beat the clock specials and $15 all you can drink deals. Even when not on special, the pint glass cocktail under $7 is strong enough to be considered a deal.
And now you know what the secret is.
My Brothers Place: 237 2nd St. DC; 202-347-1350; www.mybrothersplacedc.net.
