Hot Spots: Hey, Neighbor!
For years, Long John’s Pub on 29th Street in working-class Remington was the very definition of a neighborhood bar. But aside from the locals, cheap drinks and a low-key vibe made it a gathering spot for in-the-know hipsters from around the city, and karaoke nights there could be epic. Sadly, some structural issues and ownership changes dictated its closing last year.
With new ownership (the owner of Swallow At The Hollow in Belvedere Square) and some renovations, the pub reopened recently as 29th Street Tavern. They’ve kept the low-tech, homey vibe, but basically cleaned up the space; replaced some things that needed attention and repaired things that need fixing. The surroundings are not fancy, but they are inviting.
As you approach from the sidewalk on 29th Street, the first thing you’ll notice is the new, attractive, Art Deco-style red neon-trimmed sign hanging over the door. Smart navy blue awnings frame the windows.
Inside, the interior is a dark sanctuary from the daylight. Wooden floors underfoot and dark wood paneling are a backdrop for the glow of Tiffany-style lamps overhead. The L-shape bar is still where it always was, and a scattering of high-tops and smaller tables fill the remaining space along with the prerequisite jukebox.
The food menu is standard barroom fare, including chicken chili verde tacos, sliders, wings, and some tasty deviled eggs.
Two-dollar Natty Boh drafts are a steal, as are $4 Monument City drafts for those with a more rarefied taste for a local craft brew. On the cocktail side, I’d probably hesitate to order anything with more than two ingredients, but the healthy selection of bottled beers helps to make up for that.
My choice was a classic Miller High Life, which seemed an appropriate choice– a legit, genuine American beer in a genuine American setting.
The clientele is friendly and welcoming, as are the servers. The 29th Street Tavern is a modern reinvention of a classic neighborhood bar, perfect for the rapidly gentrifying and (and increasingly popular) original Baltimore neighborhood around it.
{29th Street Tavern, 398 W. 29th Street, Remington}
