A Hankering

I'm hard-pressed to think of something I enjoy more than a dozen assorted oysters on the half shell accompanied by a glass of white wine, which is why I can't think of many places I'd rather find myself these days than Hank's Oyster Bar near Dupont circle. The neighborhood spot, serving simple, accessible New England beach fare, never fails to satisfy my craving. Mix and match from the daily selection of fresh oysters to customize your order, and ask for a glass of the Albarino, a Spanish white wine, whose tartness cuts nicely through the creamy salinity of the shellfish.

Hank's also serves a mean fried oyster po'boy, which I enhance with a squeeze of lemon and squirt of hot sauce. Though I've never tried 'em, the fried Ipswich clams boast devoted followers as well. Chef and Owner Jamie Leeds - who recently opened a Hank's outpost in Old Town - serves these dishes and lots of other good stuff in an intimate townhouse setting that feels equally perfect for a romantic dinner for two or casual get-together with friends. Be forewarned, however, that there's no dessert menu. You'll hardly miss it, though, when your waiter drops off Hank's signature hunks of dark chocolate with the bill, a perfect less-is-more ending to the exceedingly satisfying experience.

Also worth noting is Hank's riff on the classic "Partridge in a Pear Tree" holiday song; for the month of December, both locations will serve the "Twelve Seafood Dishes of Christmas," priced at $75. Included in the bounty are: one cup of ceviche, two jumbo shrimp, three golden scallops, four barbecued oysters, five littleneck clams, six West Coast oysters, seven peel n’ eats, eight Ipswich clams, nine golden rings (calamari), 10 fried oysters, 11 steamed mussels and 12 East Coast oysters. You may want to bring some friends along for back-up. (Thanks to Metrocurean for the tip-off.)

Good to know:
Hank's Oyster Bar is located at 1624 Q Street, NW, easily accessible by Metro. Exit the Dupont Metro station to the South, then walk around the circle to the right, turning onto Q St. Hank's is a couple blocks down Q St. on the right side of the street.

Dress-wise, the atmosphere is relatively relaxed, but Dupont being Dupont (and oysters being classy), you may want to err on the side of chic.

Photos taken from Hank's Oyster Bar website.