Captain Gregory’s

A speakeasy within a… wait for it… donut shop. As Liz Lemon would say in 30 Rock, what the what?! Actually, come to think of it, probably an idea she would get behind given her love of junk food (lots of donut-​themed savories and sweets which I will describe below). Don’t worry baby birds, I’ll feed you the necessary info to get in. Send a text message to their phone number the day and time you’re interested and they will let you know if there are any openings. The entrance is actually through a sliding wooden door to the right as you enter Sugar Shack Donuts and you need to pull the white flag on the wall to get their attention.
As far as I know (or am «in the know»), there exist two speakeasies within Old Town Alexandria, PX Lounge and Captain Gregory’s, and the two couldn’t be more different than the men Liz Lemon has dated.
PX Lounge is for folks like pediatrician Drew Baird (Jon Hamm), polished and handsome with a Mad Men-​like charm, and a preppy dress code appealing towards established working professionals. Captain Gregory’s on the other hand is like the anti-​PX lounge, somewhere Liz Lemon’s failed entrepreneur/​law school dropout/​organic hot dog vendor boyfriend Criss Chros (James Marden) would frequent, devoid of pretension or ambition but still striving to stand out from the sea of the commonplace.
The bartender Sam is a mixologist rockstar, making virtually all of his cocktail components in-​house and crafting some solidly flavorful yet boozy classics as well as some very unique experimental libations. I particularly enjoyed his take on the piña colada, served on the rocks with a touch of cinnamon and a torched pod of star anise, such that the tropical drink typically downed by the pool takes on a more sophisticated makeover, with the cinnamon/​coconut flavors melding to channel a warm horchata combined with the olfactory sensations perfumed by the star anise evoking the peat and smoke of a finely aged scotch. A great example of one of his originals is entitled «Sudden Downpour on Manila», banana and red miso infused bourbon with burnt sugar and angostura bitters. One of the more unique flavor combinations I have come across, the sweet and savory components compliment one another unexpectedly well. Sam also had a very pleasant demeanor and was serious about his craft without being too serious and we enjoyed taking a shot of his homemade coffee liqueur with the man himself to close out our night chased appropriately with a doughnut.
The staff aside from the bartender are not particularly cordial (pun intended) in that I don’t typically expect super friendly warm and fuzzies, but at the same time they gave off a vibe where they were too busy socializing with themselves rather than making sure customers were well attended to. For instance, we had a reservation for 4 and they had already seated 2 of us, but they made the third one wait outside knowing two of us were already seated until the fourth one arrive before letting them both in… congratulations for concocting a new cocktail of awkward! I shall call it «Two’s Company, Three’s a Crowd, but Four on the Sidewalk is Never Allowed»
The food is a little unique in that they utilize the doughnuts from its building host, such as savory sliders made with unsweetened doughnut dough as well as some doughnut inspired desserts such as the chocolate doughnut bread pudding topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. If you refer to my review of Sugar Shack Donuts, I’m not their biggest fan so mediocre donuts as a base ingredient do not suddenly become amazing apps or desserts. The doughnuts are presumably not made fresh for the speakeasy so pretty sure they are leftover doughnuts from the daytime that were salvaged from a trip to the dumpster so that doesn’t help either.
Aside from the unlimited mixed nuts for $ 5 or the free box of leftover donuts on the counter opposite the bar, the food is passable but definitely not good enough for the price tag they charge ($ 24 charcuterie plate and $ 15 for 3 sliders) so try not to arrive hungry and stick with the drinks. That brings me to the price of the drinks themselves. They teeter between $ 13 – 17 which I understand includes a premium for the experience itself which includes music played from a nice vinyl record collection, a whimsical nautical antique décor, and the dimly lit intimate vibe for inviting conversation. However, even the more stuffy PX lounge charges a flat 13.50 or 13 for most of its beverage selection so I would prefer they charge the same if not slightly lower price if the profit margin is reasonable if only to encourage the clientele to order multiple rounds since three rounds for just under 40 seems more satisfactory then three rounds closer to 50.
Final tally: 5 star bartender, 5 star drinks, 5 star concept, 3 star service, 3 star food, 3 star price point = 4 star rating.

MUST TRY, NO LIE Great place to drink, great drinks; be prepared to spend about $ 100, knowledgeable and friendly staff, great food. You going to want to try things off the menu but you definitely are able to easily build a relationship with the bartender
Finally went here the other day 3÷25÷2016, you have to make a reservation unless you plan to come drink late late at night.
The food is awesome, had the Lamb Meatballs… delicious.
I started with a dry gin martini 3 olives. It was the best I’ve ever had. All their syrups were homemade. My gf tried the Downpour on Manila, I liked it shes more of a sweet drinker, the bartender (Ryan) was great, I say that because every drink was perfect and he was so accommodating.
We asked for a «fruity drink, with tequila» for my gf and after some pours a stir and skilled shakes he gave her a drink that she loved. I also tried the Frank’s Incense. Another great drink.

Lots of fun, GREAT Drinks!
You may hear «speak easy» and think «gimmicky theme bar» — definitely not the case. Yes, it is inside the Sugar Shack Donuts (an outstanding place to grab a sugary delight) and you do have to pull on the flag to have the server open the door but after that it is all about quality cocktails. This is the place you go if you are looking for a small venue and superb drinks.
Reservations are a must… but…if you keep up with them on twitter you will receive notices of last minute openings. They also have a wait list. They have a great drink menu and definitely try one or two from the menu but also let your bartender make something up for you. We had a couple of great drinks from the menu and then our bartender made us a spicy beverage with habanero pepper — I wish I had the recipe.
I am giving them a 4 for now simply because I did not try their food but I will definitely go back and if their food is anything like their drinks, this will be a 5 star bar.

Four stars? Are you crazy?
Nope, but please bear in mind, this is a speakeasy. This is not a fully staffed, full service restaurant and the food might not be what you’d expect and the service might not be as attentive as you’d like.
With all that said, Captain Gregory’s is kind of neat. Six of us made reservations on a Tuesday evening to celebrate a friend’s birthday. That worked out just fine. No wait and our table surrounded by chairs and a sofa, was right up front. The place was pretty packed with many of the patrons at the bar. The staff was constantly shaking, stirring and churning out drinks. They are specialty drinks, not so common ingredients, a little more expensive and just in case you forgot, this is a speakeasy, not a sports bar with happy hour prices.
The drink menu does change, so my review of something I had that night might not be on their menu today and so I wont mention the particulars. All three of the drinks I tried were very good. They were pricey, but you have to remember, this isn’t about ordering your typical highball. You’re going for flavors and not shooting for smashed.
The food was a little hit and miss. We split the Captain’s Charcuterie as a group and then proceeded to order our own ‘main course’. I think the miss here was WE came expecting to have dinner with our friend on his birthday, but instead WE should have probably celebrated with dinner somewhere else and just came for drinks and snacks.
I ordered the slider trio. That was where the snack over meal became very apparent. Each slider was about the size of a dinner roll stuffed with very few ingredients. Don’t come here (like I did) looking for a typical meal. Come here to snack, enjoy the ambience and the signature cocktails.
If you enter with the right approach and attitude, you cannot lose. Captain Gregory’s is cozy, can be a little noisy, definitely dimly lit, little gem on the north side of Old Town, where quite frankly, there aren’t a heck of a lot of cools spots to be complaining about a place like this one.
For you audiophiles: They play RECORDS, and Thursday night is ‘bring your own records’ night.

Absolutely love this place. It’s a hidden gem that everyone needs to try. The bartenders definitely know how to make a drink and can explain everything to you. The Bar Bites they have are pretty tasty as well.

Not as swanky as PX, but just about as good to me. Located inside the sugar shack, I really like that the wall is a hidden door. Kinda creates a mysterious vibe. Like any other speakeasy its hard to get in as a walk in, so make sure you have a reservation. (FYI they don’t take reservations after 6).

My boyfriend and I had an awesome time at Captain Gregory’s last Saturday night! We texted to see if we could snag a last minute reservation around 10 PM, and we were psyched when they texted back and said they had a cancellation. The drinks were on point – I got one with egg whites that really made the consistency, and then one with chocolate and cream that was a delicious dessert drink. My boyfriend got the 1000 swords drink – even though it was fiery, it was incredible. We were both really impressed with the chocolate caramel bread pudding, made with donuts as the base. Super sweet, but that’s how I like it. Service and ambience were great, too. We will definitely be back.

UPDATED Feb 8, 2016
After two more visits to Captain Gregory’s, we’re totally blown away by the quality and inventiveness of the drinks! Service issues have clearly been resolved, and the food options (get the sliders!) make it even better. This is now the go-​to bar in our area… when you can get seat.
Pro-​Tip: Ask for an early spot on a weeknight and enjoy chatting with your bartender.
INITIAL REVIEW
Amazing cocktails (we’ll definitely give them a second try), but horribly rude service.
The bartender was very nice, and really seemed into making high-​quality craft cocktails. The hostess/​waitress, however, spent the first 15 minutes we were there lecturing us for making our reservations wrong. Even after she admitted that the policy on group bookings wasn’t available anywhere, she kept berating us. If the cocktails hadn’t been so good, we probably wouldn’t go back, just on principle.

Most people might find a speakeasy hidden in a donut shop to be a novelty or gimmick. Captain Gregory’s is anything but a gimmick. They are serving some of the best cocktails I have had in the MDV area and I don’t make that compliment lightly. They have some serious bartenders preparing some seriously deliciously curated cocktails.
On my most recent visit we stopped in on a Sunday night and I was delighted to see that it was their experimental night when they remove the classic cocktails from the menu and replace them with three experimental ones. After chatting with the bartender Sam about the menu, I took his advice and tried the Regine’s Dilemma. It was a gin infused with bay leaf, house made vermouth, and cedar leaves. While I find most of the drinks on their menu are sweet, this was a beautifully dry, balanced, and with a ton of complexity as the bay leaf introduced very unique, spicy notes in the drink that complimented the juniper and anis flavors of the gin. The drink was beautifully garnished with a branch of rosemary that added yet another dimension to the cocktail. I enjoyed every sip!
After chatting with Sam a while about cocktails and some of the new concepts he is working on, I asked him to make me whatever cocktail he wanted for my next drink. He kindly obliged and delivered an amazing Allspice Old Fashioned. I am a huge bourbon fan and he made an exceptional Old Fashioned variant that was actually one of the best I have ever had. He didn’t tell me the entire recipe, but it was exceptionally well balanced, boozey, with beautiful citrus notes and a spicy finish that came from the allspice. I also loved that he used Peychaud’s bitters to add a bit of sweetness to the drink as well. It was served in an Old Fashioned glass with a single large ice cube, which to me is the perfect way to serve this drink. I am now craving another one just writing this review!
Aside from the fantastic cocktails, Captain Gregory has a very cool and intimate décor. It is obviously has a sailor’s tavern motif with dim lighting and cozy table areas. The bar features just six barstools and backed by a wall of carefully chosen bottles of liquor.
The menu changes daily and I can only recall a few drinks like «Abandoned Apartment in Paris» that continue to stay on the menu. They also feature a few food items as well including sliders, some delectable sweet desserts, and donuts of course!
Captain Gregory is now on my list of favorite cocktails bars in the MDV area. If you are into creative, curated, and unique cocktails inspired by some of the great classics like the Flip and Manhattan, Vieux Carre, or Papa Dobles Daiquiri then you will appreciate the delightful elixirs being crafted here. Unfortunately if they continue serving such awesome drinks here, it will only get harder to snag a seat at this Old Town hidden gem!

I came here last night with my girlfriend and another close friend. We enjoyed our experience very much. All our drinks were to our liking, the ambience was cozy, and service was just right. Don’t believe the nay-​sayers, and come on down. If you think it’s too dark, eat more carrots. As far as the pro in goes, this place is no more expensive than any other classy cocktail bar in the DMV.

This place is just about the coolest place I’ve ever been. I still rave about it to my friends. The air of secrecy really does add something special. And the drinks are creative and downright scrumptious. We went as a group of 6 and passed our drinks around the table, and I liked every one of them, which is pretty rare. And the atmosphere was mysterious and intimate. We had such a fun time!

I have absolutely no idea how this place has such a high rating. We really wanted to like it because the idea is awesome. However, this iteration of the speakeasy concept is really, really badly executed, especially compared to the other extremely well-​done speakeasies across the DC area.
It’s INCREDIBLY dark in here, so much so that both my friend and I (both in our mid-​20s with perfect vision) had to actually pick up the candle on the table and hold it to our menus to see. It’s laughably expensive, both for Old Town Alexandria and for the quality and portion of food you actually receive. Two couples were seated, took one look at the menu, and left as we were sitting at our table. I’d guess it was because of the prices. We almost did the same, but we wanted to see whether the food and cocktails lived up to the expectations set by the pricing. They didn’t.
The much-​lauded and overpriced cocktails were badly balanced, weak (especially for the price), and entirely one-​note. This is the first and only time I’ve ever left a cocktail unfinished on the table. The food wasn’t bad but it most definitely wasn’t worth what they wanted for it ($ 15 for a small, badly assembled sandwich literally served in a basket and a ramekin of mac and cheese). The service was abysmal, which was inexplicable as we were literally the only table in the whole place — we had to go looking for our server multiple times because she would just wander off and never checked on us.
The music they were playing was coming from an actual record player, which would have been really cool if the staff had been coordinated enough to know when the record was ending. It seems that every individual song was on a different record. There were a lot of awkward, sudden silences because the girl doing service would take a while to realize the music had stopped, cross the restaurant, choose a new song, and play it. The music was also quiet, which is a problem as you can literally hear every single person in the entire place talking like they’re sitting right next to you.
On top of all of that, they have this «message in a bottle» concept that is literally your check folded up inside a glass bottle. It took ages for us to shake it out onto the table.
We’re moving out of the area this month so we won’t be able to return to see if this experience was a fluke, but they definitely have some tinkering to do before this even comes close to rivaling any of the fantastic speakeasies (Harold Black, PX, etc.) in the area. (Or even becomes worth the ridiculous prices they’re charging.)

A true speakeasy in Alexandria!
After seeing a feature about Captain Gregory’s in the Washingtonian, I went with a colleague who lives nearby in Del Ray. Luckily for us, we went on a Weds evening and did not need a reservation. A fairly close walk from the Braddock metro, which is convenient as well. The place was empty aside from a few other people sitting at the end of the bar. Indeed, you pull on the flag by the wooden planks inside Sugar Shack, which is the door to the bar. A neat gimmick that you don’t see in the local DC area «speakeasies,» but moreso like a NYC style bar.
I felt the cocktails were fantastic all things considering. I had one of their seasonal cocktails that consisted with bourbon whereas my colleague ordered one from the regular menu. I also enjoyed their house cocktail which was similar to an Old Fashioned. Unfortunately I don’t remember what it consisted of, albeit it was delicious.
The service was also fantastic. The bartender and server was very nice and we were able to sample a few cocktails they were in the process of making. I also ended the night with a Manhattan using Cactoctin Creek Rye and their house made sweet vermouth, which ended up being my favorite drink of the night. The house made vermouth was delicious and I have to say it was probably one of the best Manhattan’s I’ve had in a long time.
Captain Gregory’s reminds me of Please Don’t Tell, but better due to quality of drinks and the fact that there wasn’t 30 people hounding the bartender at the same time. I also think that Captain Gregory’s a better choice than PX overall, much more relaxed and better drinks. A welcome addition to the metro DC area.

I like this place. The cocktails are super creative, the food is good, and the service is fine. It’s a great spot for a date (it gets a little bit loud with a full house, but definitely manageable). Since it’s an extremely new place (they’re still in soft opening), I’ll give it the benefit of the doubt and probably visit again — soon. Mind you, I have been here 3 times in the last 3 weeks. I’ve been looking for a speakeasy to go with my guy and I’ve been avoiding PX recently (anyone else notice it’s totally different there?). They’re only a text away for a reservation and I’ve been able to get reservations same day and the day before.
The speakeasy is a really nice place. The atmosphere is extremely relaxed and the décor is trendy with a mix of nautical and antique.
I do have a few issues that, if they were to address, would make this place absolutely amazing. I’m extremely forgiving when it comes to places I like, so I’ll probably visit again anyway. Few things — the drinks are kind of pricey. The drinks range from $ 13 – 18. I know, I know — shut up, it’s a speakeasy. Still, $ 16 for a drink, even at a speakeasy, is kind of steep. I have not left Captain Gregory’s with a bill under $ 100. That’s it for that. Next — service could use a boost. The waitstaff is helpful and responsive. The food takes a while to come out. Last time I visited, I had to send back the charcuterie plate because it was very obviously sprayed with soap on accident. We ended up just telling them to take it off the bill and not to worry about another plate. That turned my stomach a bit. No manager in sight to talk to us about that, either.
The food and drinks are pretty solid. The drinks are generally on the sweet side, but if you ask for your drink a little less sweet, they’ll work with you. Otherwise, the drinks are awesome. Really, really great. I’m astounded by the creativity! The food (minus my experience above) is also really good. Savory donut sandwiches with a side of 2 pickles of your choice, you guys. It’s a perfect combination.
All in all, I like Captain Gregory’s. It’s definitely worth a visit if you’re in the area!

My friend brought me to this little bar over the weekend and I was blown away! A real live speak easy, how fun! She knew the routine so she texted and got a reservation for us, you’ve got to text the number to insure you’ll get in!
Once we got to the Sugar Shack there was a wooden wall with a flag hanging right on the inside, my friend told me to pull it, when I did the wall opened up and behind it was a bar and people! It was so fun seeing people’s faces as we walked into the dark bar and disappeared behind the wall.
The drinks are all hand made and very different from a normal everyday bar. Now not realizing what my simple pallet had in store for it, I ordered a drink I really couldn’t drink. Our waitress realized this and quickly fixed the problem.
Make sure you text them before you just show up and also understand there is a 2 hour limit. A very fun and unique bar experience!

My first trip to Captain Gregory’s was with 5 people early Saturday evening, about 3 weeks after they opened.
Captain Gregory’s is quirky — which is obviously what they intended — but it generally works. Reservations are strongly encouraged; I texted them about 3 hours before they opened (6:00 pm) they returned my text after about an hour. We were able to get in at 6:30. You enter through a moving wall in the next door donut shop (after you pull a flag). Inside it’s super dark (especially if you came in from the sun). It’s quite small, room for maybe 6 – 8 at the bar, a loveseat, a few extra chairs, and a few small tables.
Their bar is reasonably well stocked, but not crazy. They use those ingredients to make about 10 different house cocktails, or anything else you come up with. My party of 5 tried most of the house cocktails. Most were quite interesting — perhaps too interesting. Frankly, I didn’t care for most of the house cocktails I tried, they simply had too many flavors and/​or odd textures for my taste. If you want some adventure, you may be able to find it in their cocktails.
On a positive note (at least in my opinion), Captain Gregory’s is pretty laid back, and there’s no apparent dress code (everyone in my party wore shorts and t-​shirts).

I recently started becoming obsessed with speakeasy bars. I just love everything about them — mainly getting away from the loud and obnoxious drunks that you find at many bars/​lounges. I also love the art of making a good cocktail. You know. like when bartenders actually enjoy serving you something they create and don’t see it as a hassle.
Well, guys… Captain Gregory’s does it right! This place is small, dark, cute, and secretive. The staff was extremely friendly and helpful. I texted a number in order to make reservations (I did it about a week in advance for a Saturday night reservation). It’s located INSIDE of Sugar Shack, which is a great plus because you then have easy access to those amazing donuts.
My group of four sat at the bar and had a great time talking to our bartender, Demetrius. The cocktails were great. pricey, but great. And surprisingly just two of those babies gave me a nice buzz. I wish I could remember the names, but I know one of them included Gin and Rose Liqueur (I substituted for Lavender). This place has all the right settings of a speakeasy, but is definitely not pretentious like some. A+++ for that!
One thing though… I’d suggest eating elsewhere before or after Captain Gregory’s. You may be intrigued by the menu and want to order a savory donut creation, but skip it. The portion size is small, but with a large price tag.

Congratulations, this place is a win. The beautifully concocted cocktails. The humming of old records. The candlelight. You will be transported to another time.
The pricey cocktails are worth every penny as you will linger over each sip and the subtle flavors.

Captain Gregory’s is a new speakeasy located within the Sugar Shack in northern Alexandria. We came here for our second time on a late Friday evening (first was a visit on opening night without a reservation, we should have known!). At an attempt to reserve some secrecy I will say that you should text a number to reserve a spot but I will leave that research up to you. The staff will ask for your patience as they are still ironing out details with service but no issues were noticed at our visit. The atmosphere beyond the wall of the sugar scented donut shop is entirely different. You feel like you’re within the bowels of a pirate ship with dim green lights and nautical décor. For those curious Captain Gregory is credited with invention of the donut/​doughnut as he needed a snack that could be impaled on the ships wheel while navigating. The cocktail list is vast and rivals the established speakeasy of Old Town, The PX, in complexity and creativity. Also, after speaking with the owner apparently there are plans to have a more extensive selection of food. As of now there are many small bites that are donut themed. Above all Captain Gregory’s is just a cool spot to be in while you enjoy your drink. There are not many places that are just fun to be in but this is definitely one of them. I am excited to see how this speakeasy matures and look forward to becoming a regular. Thanks!

Captain Gregory’s is one of a kind, in the best possible way.
I wasn’t exactly sure how this speakeasy existed. I’ve read the updates in the Del Ray/​Old Town patch as construction progressed, but it looked like the unit next door to Sugar Shack (which has some fantastic donuts) was still not close to finished when the speakeasy was due to open. What gives?
What gives is that CG’s is literally INSIDE of Sugar Shack. There’s a hidden door that you ring for service, and it transports you into a dim, candle lit hideaway with couches, seats, and one of the most impressive upscale cocktail menus in the greater DC area. I won’t do the menu a disservice by describing it simply, but my drink had rare Rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, and… duck fat.
Yeap.
Make sure you reserve a seat before arriving, as there’s only north of a dozen seats in the entire establishment. The owner was incredibly friendly and the bartender was great; the staff appeared flustered, but I imagine it was a credit to the nerves of opening day.
The dessert menu, which is already fun and constitutes the primary purpose of the shop, aside from drinks, is going to be worth the trip.
Excellent experience.