Pouring on the Charm: Room 11 Proves Good Wine Doesn't Have to Be Expensive

| Print Post This | Like (1) | Comments (0)

IT'S A WARM, end-of-summer evening at Room 11. Afro-Cuban music provides a relaxing soundtrack as the sun goes down. At the bar, co-owner Dan Searing muddles ginger in the bottom of a glass, almost, it seems, to the beat of the congas.

That's the mellow vibe Searing and the other three owners of Room 11 are trying to cultivate as they settle into their new Columbia Heights home. It's not what many expect from a wine bar, but these owners want their new baby to be the Cheers of D.C. wine bars.

The team knew, says co-owner Paul Ruppert, that Columbia Heights would be the perfect location for such an endeavor. Not only was the area lacking a wine-focused bar, but it seemed a good place to create a casual atmosphere for wine and cocktail lovers.

"We didn't want to have a fancy, high-end, slick place," said Ruppert. "We wanted it to have a comfortable feel. ... We love being in this neighborhood with its strong residential community."

With prices as low as $6 a glass, Room 11 emphasizes that wines don't have to be expensive to taste good. Searing says Room 11 will always keep lower-priced wines on the menu because "we want people to be able to try good wines they wouldn't otherwise be able to."

Searing's search for high quality, affordable wines has added to the diversity of Room 11's list, such as the currently featured 2008 Viognier from Mendoza, Argentina. This is unexpected only because Americans tend to associate Mendoza (or Argentina altogether) with Malbec, a red grape that has become extremely popular in the last couple years. The Las Felices Viognier ($8 a glass) is a very refreshing white — sweet and crisp, lovely on a hot, early September day.

Another surprise is the attention to well-crafted cocktails. (Well, less of a surprise to anyone who knows Searing from the bars of Looking Glass Lounge or the Punch Club parties at the Warehouse Theater.) Searing's ginger caipirinha is a fresh mix of crystalized ginger, lime and Cabana cachaca. Other gingery drinks include a gingered champagne cocktail and a Dark 'n'Stormy.

Even the playlists are handcrafted at Room 11, with each owner contributing his favorites to the mix. The partners are actually musicians themselves — co-owner Ben Gilligan fronts local band Small Doses, and Searing was formerly in the Saturday People. Nick Pimentel DJs around town, and he met Ruppert when they played music together at the Warehouse Theater.

It all seems to make for a winning formula, but there is one variable that doesn't quite fit: the size of the space. Room 11 seats just 20 people inside and 28 out on the patio. As a result, "cozy" can sometimes become claustrophobic, with 45-minute waits for a table or even a seat at the bar.

"Would we welcome extra space? Yes," said Ruppert. "Are we anticipating having that? Not right now, but we'll see."

» Room 11, 3234 11th St. NW; 202-332-3234. (Columbia Heights)

Written by Express contributor Suemedha Sood
Photo by Suemedha Sood for Express

» RELATED: "Quaffing in Comfort: The Gibson and Room 11" [Express, Sept. 2009]