Quarterdeck: Low Key Crabfest on a Warm Summer's Evening

They said it couldn't be done. Every time I tell someone about DC: A-to-Z, their first question inevitably is "Why are you so awesome?" Then they ask whether we'd actually be able to find a "Bar Q." They assume that the least-used and most-hated letter of the alphabet would get similar short shrift on our bar tour. But they assume wrong. I'm happy to report that not only did we find a Bar Q, it's actually a pretty cool place.

The Quarterdeck is a small crab restaurant in Arlington with a big menu. It offers crab cakes, crab balls (fried crab cake nuggets), steamed blue crabs by the dozen, and a "Crabfeast," all-you-can-eat smorgasbord we unfortunately had to pass on due to the requirement that everyone at the table participate. The restaurant also requires you to "reserve crabs," to ensure they have enough fresh catch to feed you. Despite all the crab on the menu, I ordered a pulled pork sandwhich. It was terrible, and I deserved it for violating the number one rule of dining out: don't order fish at a steakhouse and don't order steak at a fishouse. Well, to be fair, I actually created a corollary to Rule #1: Don't order pork at a crabshack.

Nonetheless, everyone who ordered crabs loved them. Especially Max, who had never had crabs before that require the eater to de-shell and break them apart. He loved doing this, like a rambunctious dog tearing apart his favorite chew toy. But we were able to teach Max that the shells and lungs were inedible, and soon he was breaking down his food with smooth dexterity.

It was a short night. More of a dinner with 12 A-to-Z regulars than a happy hour. But, we did enjoy some $10 pitchers to wash down the Old Bay seasoning, and enjoyed sitting outside on a nice summer night. Back to business next week, as we take Recessions by storm and hopefully turn a double feature at the Russia House.

All-star of the evening: Max, who not only cashed in his crab V-card, but was the first person to arrive, as he reliabily often is, and ordered us a pitcher as he waited in anticipation. Oh, and also for sending me the following email earlier in the day: "My nipples are getting so hard thinking about all these crabs I'm going to eat!"