The basement of Ghibellina has lay dormant since the 14th Street NW Italian restaurant took over the former HR-57 space nearly two years ago. Now, owner Ari Gejdenson and his Mindful Restaurant Group are slated to open a subterranean bar called Sotto on March 3. The place will pay homage to its predecessor by eventually hosting nightly live music from solo artists or small groups performing jazz, soul, blues, and go-go.
The name Sotto—meaning "below"—is the only thing Italian about the space. The menu veers American with smoked meats balanced by vegetable sides. Chef Keith Cabot doesn't call the food barbecue, but he'll be preparing beef brisket, ribs, and homemade sausages (lamb merguez, boudin blanc, and cotechino). To counter the meat, the seasonally changing sides and appetizers range from braised kale to fennel gratin to wood-oven roasted winter squash with crispy sage, brown butter, and toasted pepita granola.
Snacks and desserts draw inspiration from state fair fare. "I grew up in Virginia and my mom's from Wisconsin and Minnesota, so we would always go to the state fair in the summertime," Cabot says. Peanuts and popcorn are dressed in caramel, chili, and lime, while a monkey bread is made with pretzel dough and served with apple mustard. Sweets include a play on a caramel apple: caramel ice cream with poached apples and molasses cake.
A wine cellar shared with Ghibellina lines the back wall, but Sotto's focus is decidedly on cocktails. Dan Barnes, who also oversees the drinks at Ghibellina and Denson Liquor Bar, created a cocktail menu with twists on classics. Duke Ellington gets a nod with a Scotch, Lillet Rose, cranberry, and orange drink called "Ed Ellington" (his given name). Most of the cocktails will be in the $12 range.
A 22-seat bar running the length of the room is made from wood cut from a single tree. Opposite are some high-tops and a huge booth that's partitioned off with a sliding metal gate. Further back, you'll find a communal dining area with several upscaled picnic tables and expansive booths. The windowless space is mostly outfitted with wood, brick, and concrete, although the restroom entrances are padded with tufted pewter-colored fabric. Chicken wire window panes behind the bar come from the Hecht Warehouse, where Gejdenson plans to open more restaurants next year.
See more photos of the space and the drink and food menus below.
COCKTAILS
Right Away
rye / amaro / cardaramo
Groover
gin / pineapple juice / dolin blanc / cocchi
Trolley Car
spiced rum / blood orange / angustura
Suit and Tie
vodka, ginger / sweet and sour /angustura
Ed Ellington
scotch / lillet rose / cranberry / orange
Jack Rose
brandy / combier / lime / apple bitters
Sparkling Cocktail
prosecco / plum bitters / sugar
FOOD
Snacks:
Ball Park Peanuts & Popcorn
Chili | Lime | Seasalt
Pretzel Monkey Bread
Apple Mustard
Sotto Potato
Provolone | Chives
Appetizers:
Wood-Oven Roasted Winter Squash
Crispy Sage | Brown Butter | Toasted Pepita Granola
Hen of the Wood Mushrooms
Poached Farm Egg | Crispy Farro | Thyme
Brussels Sprouts Salad
Herb Cream Dressing | Garlic Croutons | Pomegranate
Endive & Citrus Salad
Orange | Spiced Hazelnuts | Shaved Radishes
Sausages:
Blanc
Accompanied by Figs Poached in Red Wine
Merguez
Accompanied by Curried Cauliflower, capers and raisins
Cotechino
Accompanied by Woodfire Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Smoked Meats:
Beef Ribs
Pork Ribs
Beef Brisket
Dinners:
Crispy Local Fish
Roasted Poussin
Parsnip | Mustard Seeds | Persimmons
Sides:
Braised Kale
Marble Potato Salad
Fennel Gratin
Sweets:
Poached Apple
Popcorn | Molasses Gateau | Caramel Ice Cream
Banana Bread
Candied Pecans | Dulce de Leche | Chocolate
Lemon Curd
Pistachio Crumble | Mint Jelly | Crispy Merengue
Sotto, 1610 14th St. NW; (202) 803-2389; sottodc.com
Photos by Jessica Sidman