When you just want a quiet little cocktail...

The MTB and I have been scouting rehearsal dinner locations over the past few weeks (or months) - a journey that took us to Birreria Paradiso the other evening, located under Pizzeria Paradiso in Georgetown.  We thought it would be perfect!  Fun, good food, great beer, private space.  What I never noticed was the sheer volume of 50 people talking all at the same time.  WHAT?  I SAID I NEVER NOTICED THE SHEER VOLUME OF 50 PEOPLE TALKING ALL AT THE SAME TIME.  It was mind-numbing.  It was ear-splitting.  It was out of contention for a rehearsal dinner.

Cut to last night at Whitlow's on Wilson in Clarendon.  Wednesday nights aren't known to be big nights out in NoVa, and there wasn't a great special last night, but yet Rosa and I found each other shouting to hear each other in our booth.  What gives, is everyone just getting louder (doubtful) or are we just getting old (probable)?

If you want a quiet place to grab a cocktail and a bite to eat, here are a few basics:

• Hotels and their restaurants tend (TEND to) be quieter than most other establishments.  The downside?  That is largely because no one wants to eat in their restaurants.  Stay away from the Hiltons of the world when it comes to dining, and hotel restaurants can be good AND intimate  
• In DC, if its in Chinatown, its going to be loud.  Even places that shouldn't be or are a bit tucked away (the upstairs bar at Clydes in Gallery Place comes to mind) get raucous when there are special events at the Verizon Center.
• If a place is "hot", it's going to be loud.  Graffiato in DC is by far the hottest ticket in town right now, and each review I've heard talks about the roar.
• Outdoor patios are a great place to escape the noise.  The bar at Bourbon Steak at the 4 Seasons can get noisy on weekend evenings, but step out onto the patio (one of the best in DC) and its very relaxing.

A few honorable mentions for a conversation:

• Boulevard Woodgrill in Clarendon - regular readers know I'm a fan of the happy hour here.  Because it's rarely 'packed' its usually very pleasant to have a conversation
• Blue Duck Tavern - the restaurant is spacious enough that it never gets too noisy (see previous hotel comment).  The food is also excellent, though the drink menu is overpriced by about $2 per drink.
• Old Ebbitt Oyster Bar - the Ebbitt is huge and can be way too loud in the main dining room, but slip into this hard-to-find area of the restaurant around the back side of the Walrus Bar, and it's much more amenable to conversation.
• New Heights - small bar but severely underrated.  Great drinks and food make this a short-lister for anyone in the area.  Both the bar downstairs and dining room upstairs are quiet without being stuffy.
• Caucus Room - Ok I'm breaking my own rule here.  This restaurant is kinda sorta in Chinatown.  Its also spacious and not very busy.  Yes the food is expensive, but the drinks aren't too over-priced.
• Monocle - this Capitol Hill mainstay on the Senate side could not be more old school unless its name was the Prime Rib (also a quiet spot, though I haven't been to or seen a bar there).  The Monocle does get a bit more crazy in December around holiday parties.