Double Smokes in Chocolate City

A couple of friends are headed to DC for a wedding this weekend and asked if I could suggest a place to watch the Stanley Cup final. It would appear that the capital has its fair share of sports bars, but despite being the birthplace of the Champions franchise, they all seem to be more than a little douché. Based on some preliminary research and a quick perusal of Stop Smiling magazine’s DC issue I’m suggesting dinner at Ben’s Chili Bowl, a local landmark famously patronized by Bill Cosby, who held a press conference there to launch his eponymous TV show. It’s a Chocolate City institution, much like Nathan’s on Coney Island and Uno’s in Chicago.

After dinner it’ll be game time at either The Tune Inn or Hank Dietles’ Tavern. The Tune Inn was featured in Esquire’s Best Bars of America and looks fantastic. Get a load of this sweet interior shot:

Beers are cheap and if folks are still hungry after their half-smokes everything on the menu comes with a side of bacon.

On the other hand, these guys may be more inclined to a roadhouse tip. If so, Hank Dietles’ seems like the place to be.Washington’s City Paper says “There’s not a microbrew in sight, the giant beer bottle above the bar lights up when the phone rings, and the “wine list” simply reads WINE $3.00.” The price is rite with $1.50 Miller Lite and free chips and crock pot dip sound like a tasty snack if things go to overtime.