A year-round outdoor crab shack and bar is coming to D.C.鈥檚 U Street corridor later this year.
is from the team behind , whose Proper Burger is a perennial entry on 鈥渂est burgers鈥� lists, but there won鈥檛 be any burgers on the menu at Chesapeake, nor will there be any inside dining.
鈥淚f it鈥檚 got a shell, there鈥檚 a good chance it鈥檒l be on the menu,鈥� said Duke鈥檚 partner Daniel Kramer.
Uniquely, the entire operation will be outside through all seasons, with a large awning, fans and heaters and seating for about 50.
Kramer describes the vision for Chesapeake as a casual dockside vibe and a vibrant bar scene. It will open later this year. Kramer had no firm opening date, calling the location, at 925 U Street NW, currently a construction site.
Kramer had no menu to share yet, but in the Duke鈥檚 team鈥檚 announcement, it said it will focus on favorites like Maryland blue crabs, lobsters, snow crab legs, peel-and-eat shrimp and sides like corn on the cob, cabbage slaw and pasta salad. All beers will be locally sourced from breweries in the District, Maryland and Virginia.
鈥淭he best thing about living in the mid-Atlantic are the beach towns, the family-run restaurants and bars by the Bay and the overall welcoming vibes out there. That鈥檚 what we鈥檙e going for,鈥� Kramer said.
The original Duke鈥檚 Grocery opened on 17th Street in Dupont Circle, followed by Duke鈥檚 Counter in Woodley Park, and a second Duke鈥檚 Grocery in Foggy Bottom. The Duke鈥檚 team also opened tabletop Korean barbecue spot Gogi Yogi in Shaw in 2019.
