Word on the Street: Birch & Barley/ChurchKey coming to 14th Street

Neighborhood Restaurant Group (NRG) Owner Michael Babin plans a first quarter 2009 opening for the beer-centric destinations Birch & Barley and ChurchKey, both located on 14th St, NW in the former Dakota Cowgirl space at Logan Circle.

Looks like they are jumping across the river and about to take over DC.

These two openings mark the first foray into the District for the Virginia-based NRG, which operates Buzz, EatBar, Evening Star Café, Planet Wine, Rustico, Star Catering, Tallula and Vermilion, all located in Northern Virginia. The ground floor will house Birch & Barley, a beer-forward and wine-friendly restaurant headed by Executive Chef/Partner Frank Morales, who also will continue to oversee the kitchen at Alexandria’s Rustico. The modern American menu will pay homage to beer in every way, using it as an ingredient in most dishes, while also offering pairing suggestions that showcase the fresh, local products employed by Chef Morales. Upstairs, look for a new kind of beer haven at the 3,200 square-foot ChurchKey. Governed by Beer Director Greg Engert, who serves in the same position at Rustico, the bar will serve 555 different beers, including 500 bottles representing 100 styles and 30 countries.

Fifty drafts will be available, half of which will be American and 30 of which will rotate weekly. The beer selection will be rounded out by five authentic hand pumped cask conditioned ales representing rare English and other international styles, as well as domestic beers that are often not seen in DC. (1337 14th Street; 202.518.7549) Thanks to The List Are You On It in my Everyday Reads for the skinny.