From Aparna Krishnamoorthy. Email her at aparna[AT]borderstan.com. Follow her on Twitter @aparnakris.
Veritas Wine Bar on Florida Avenue NW. (Alejandra Owens)
Veritas does one thing and does it well – it is a wine bar and a wine bar only. It is not a restaurant with an extensive wine list or a cheese and charcuterie spot with wine. It is simply a wine bar. Although I am no wine connoisseur, I happen to love wine, so this is one of my favorite spots in the city to catch up with a friend or two.
Located in a prime location at the intersection of Connecticut and Florida Avenue near Dupont, it is tucked away from the foot traffic of the area. On the smaller side, Veritas is dark with an intimate vibe – a dimly lit brick room with a black painted ceiling, the kind of place that would make a good date spot for an oenophile.
They also have a few outdoor tables which are a nice addition but are almost always full. The tables inside are pretty close to each other, so the place does get loud. If you want a quiet wine bar, it is probably best to go here on a week night.
On to the wine now. Veritas offers more than 70 wines by the glass and a number of bottles as well, which makes it great to try different regions and grape varieties. But if you are not sure where to start, Veritas offers a number of creatively named wine flights (“Mambo Italiano”, “Arc de Triomphe”, “Sexy Syrah”) which allow you to sample three different wines and are a good deal, starting at about $16. I have also heard good things about their dessert ice wine flights, although I have not tried any myself.
The food offered is minimal, but it’s high quality and complements the wine – cheese, charcuterie, dips, olives and bread. Vegetarians have two choices – a grilled cheese sandwich or hummus with bread sticks. Definitely eat either before or after going here, otherwise you will be starving.
In a nutshell: wine, charcuterie, cheese, and more wine. I could probably live here.
Do you have any favorites here?
Veritas: The Details
- Where Am I Going: 2031 Florida Avenue NW (west side of Florida, west of Connecticut Avenue)
- When Am I Going: Monday to Thursday, 5 pm to 1 am; Friday and Saturday, 5 pm to 2 am, Sunday 5 pm to midnight.
- Paycheck Pain: Glasses of wine cost around $12-$15 on average. Wine flights are a great deal costing between $15-$20.
- Say What?: Seating is fairly limited and it can get loud.
- What You’ll Be Eating: Focus on the wine. Limited menu of cheese, charcuterie, dips and bread.
