Marvin Deal of Eggspectation
Born in South Carolina, Marvin Deal has the big smile and charm that you would expect from any Southerner. His co-workers call him the Mayor of Downtown Silver Spring, and most of his customers call him a friend. On Tap sat down with this former college football player to attempt to crack the secret recipe for Bloody Marys.
On Tap: How long have you been bartending at Eggspectation?
Marvin Deal: Three years. I got into bartending in college, when a couple of guys from the football team asked me to join them at Lonestar.
OT: What is your go-to hangover cure?
MD: An Old Bay bloody mary. It has clam juice with hot bloody mary mix. I tried it with an egg once. That didn’t go so well.
OT: Best item on the Brunch menu?
MD: The Bayou Benedict; it’s a grilled chicken breast with polenta, sausage, shrimp and poached eggs topped with New Orleans sauce. Hands down the best meal.
OT: Why do they call you the mayor of Silver Spring?
MD: I don’t know! I guess it’s ‘cause I like talking to everybody. I’ve been known to go into a restaurant to say hi and come out with a big bag of free food. I try to pay, honestly I do.
OT: What are your favorite neighborhood bars?
MD: Willie K’s in Greenbelt. Around here, I like going to Galaxy because there is no cell phone reception down there so I get a few minutes of peace and quiet.
Catch Marvin behind the bar on Saturdays and Sunday mornings at Eggspectation Silver Spring.
Breakfast and lunch is big at Eggspection. So when people uneggspectedly discover the bar scene, it’s a pleasant surprise. The fresh squeezed juices make for excellent cocktails, the ambiance is warm and welcoming and the happy hours run seven days a week. Stop in before a visit to the Fillmore; your ticket gets you a free appetizer for your group.
Eggspectation Silver Spring: 923 Ellsworth Dr. Silver Spring, MD; 301-585-1700; www.eggspectation.com
Mike Martinez of Restaurant 3
Mike Martinez grew up in Northern Virginia, but just moved to the Arlington area recently. Even when he’s working a double, this friendly guy has no complaints. Life is sweet behind the bar at Restaurant 3 in Clarendon. On Tap stopped by to chat about meat-flavored Bloody Marys.
On Tap: How long have you been bartending at Restaurant 3?
Mike Martinez: A little over a year. I worked for Great American Restaurants for a few years and made my way up through the ranks.
OT: What is the best part about working here?
MM: I would say the customers, I love our guests. It’s a more mature young crowd than you’ll find in other places in Clarendon. They know how to have fun over a few glasses of wine, rather than racing to see how many they can get down.
OT: What is your favorite brunch cocktail?
MM: The bacon bloody mary. We use a bacon-infused vodka and it just gives it a little smokiness that is delicious.
OT: Where would you be found when you are not working?
MM: The golf course. I was golfing yesterday before I came into work. I was a little tired, but it was worth it. The weather has been so nice.
OT: What are your favorite neighborhood bars?
MM: William Jeffrey’s off Columbia pike. They have the Green Flash IPA, which is my favorite beer of all time. My other watering hole is Brabo in Old Town.
OT: What are you most looking forward to about spring?
MM: Working the patio! It gives me a chance to get outside.
Catch Mike behind the bar Friday and Saturday nights, and Saturday and Sunday daytime.
As the third restaurant in the family, Restaurant 3 believes three things are necessary for a great night out: good food, good drink and good times. The prime location has given people plenty of reasons to get out of bed in the morning for a delicious brunch—$3 mimosas (heavy on the champagne) is just one of them. In the summer, visitors can look forward to Thursday Pig Roasts.
Restaurant 3: 2950 Clarendon Blvd. Arlington, VA; 703-524-4440; www.restaurantthree.com
Patrick Manili of The Getaway
Patrick Manili started at The Getaway about a year ago, shortly after it opened. But he’s been in the business his whole life. His laid back attitude and passion for mixing unique, one-of-a-kind drinks has made him a perfect fit at The Getaway. On Tap visited the Columbia Heights local on a Friday night, just before the place got crowded.
On Tap: How did you get into bartending?
Patrick Manili: My dad owned a restaurant and showed me the ropes. I started working there when I was young, and became a manager eventually. I looked around, and noticed that the bartender was always the one who was having the most fun. When I turned 21, that’s where I went.
OT: Did it take long for you to learn your way behind the bar?
PM: Dave Levingtree at the Red Derby sort of taught me everything I know about bartending. I worked there for two years. It was almost like a family operation in the beginning. Dave, his wife Sasha, me and five others.
OT: What is your favorite brunch cocktail?
PM: The bottomless mimosa for sure. Ours is one of the best deals in the neighborhood. $15 all-you-can-drink mimosas. People get here when we open in the morning and stay out on that patio for hours. It’s going to be crowded in the summer!
OT: As someone who lives a block away, how has the area changed?
PM: Rent prices have gone up! But man the growth has been incredible. When I was at Derby, there weren’t a lot of bars here; you had to walk to Georgia to find anything. Then Tivoli Square popped up and boom! There are at least six cool places to check out in Columbia Heights.
Catch Patrick behind the bar Monday, Thursday and Friday nights at The Getaway DC.
On a nice day, young professionals and hipsters alike fill up the patio at The Getaway. The Columbia Heights bar offers a tasty menu and unique beers, and one of the largest outdoor spaces in the area. Bar visitors quickly become regulars, and familiar faces can be seen everywhere. Be sure to check out the uber-popular brunch menu.
The Getaway: 1400 Meridian Pl. NW, DC; 202-299-1162; www.thegetawaydc.com
