Brunch, the meal between breakfast and lunch with the cuisine of both, has become popular in recent years and Monique Rose, a seasoned restaurateur, has teamed with renowned chef Sammy Davis to open The Bar @ Milk & Honey, a restaurant in D.C. looking to capitalize on the trend.
The Bar @ Milk & Honey, located in the Brightwood neighborhood in Northwest, has become a spot for young adults and families of all ages when they want to eat some down-home soul food. The restaurant officially opened on Aug. 21 even though it has been in business since November, when it operated under the name Catch 22.
The building on Georgia Avenue NW, which once housed the infamous Ibex nightclub, serves as the third Milk & Honey location in the region, joining two others in College Park and Bowie in Prince George’s County.
Rose and Davis had extensive discussions about coming to the District.
“We have been thinking about opening a Milk & Honey in D.C. for some time,” she said. “We had fun with Catch 22, but we thought it was a smarter business decision to answer the demands of our loyal customers and give them what they want: a Milk & Honey on Georgia Avenue.”
The Bar @ Milk & Honey operates under Milked LLC that, in addition to Maryland and the District, has a restaurant in Atlanta. Davis founded the company and has worked with Rose to make sure their diners have first-class comfort.
While many soul food establishments have a working-class atmosphere and feature such items as neck bones, ribs and pig’s feet, The Bar @ Milk & Honey doesn’t offer that type of cuisine. Diners have the choice of items such as Davis’s famous shrimp and grits, the popular seafood burger croissant — featuring a beef patty topped with Cajun shrimp, bacon and cheese — green vegetables and fruits, and a kale salad with many toppings.
Cocktail drinkers can choose from such offerings as Spiked Sweet Tea, Witches Coffee, Shark Bite and Flamin’ Hot Bloody Mary, along with fruit juices, sweet tea, beer and wine. Various sandwiches, desserts, side dishes and Belgian waffles round out the menu.
Rose said The Bar @ Milk & Honey has an intentionally upscale feel.
“When we decided to set this place up, we wanted something different from our other establishments,” she said. “We wanted people to feel free to come to the bar and have a good time. We wanted a place where people could dress casually or professionally and feel comfortable.”
Rose said her establishment has also participated in area events such as Restaurant Week and Black Restaurant Week.
“I am aware that Howard University will have its homecoming during the week of Oct. 12,” she said. “A lot of Howard people come here and we will be ready for them.”