Evolve

Unfortunately, Evolve recently closed. I really miss it. Hopefully whatever opens up next will be as much fun and as chill.

The bf and I went last night to meet up with friends and looks like Evolve has Evolved into an empty building in need of renewing it’s liquor license. Too bad because based on previous reviews, it seemed like a dope spot.

With the words «small plates» in their motto, I expected… small plates? Or, more importantly, a wider selection of little appetizer/​snack/​tapas out of which I could build a meal. But it’s bar, and I’ll cut them a little slack on the menu — it’s still quite diverse for bar chow.
We arrived pretty early and beat the Friday night crush. There was already a DJ spinning in the upstairs booth. I ordered a gin martini, very dirty, and the bartender didn’t just make it a little cloudy with olive juice — she muddled a few olives and the bottom third of my cocktail was olive bits! That’s almost beyond «dirty.» I’m not even sure what to call it. Unfiltered? Filthy? Hippie? DELICIOUS?
The food was less impressive. The spiced fries were the highlight, and they were perfectly cooked and seasoned. We didn’t realize that the lamburger would come with even more fries, but this was okay. The burger itself was overcooked and really boring in flavor. The calamari was overcooked (a bit rubbery) and oversalted. Nice sauce, though. And the scallops with polenta… the scallops were alright, again overcooked. The polenta was a runny mess. And the plate was really oily. The flavor combo was decent, but the texture was not.
I might return for a drink and a snack, but I’d probably hit somewhere else in Adams Morgan for a real meal.

Went to Evolve for a girls’ check-​in wine drinking share-​fest armed w/​a
gift certificate. We were there at 8:30 on a Thursday and it was pretty empty (except for 4 or 5 people at the bar). The lighting and interior are modern — cool white furniture (love the white couches in the window, not so much the cheesy red rose bouquets — but hey, we are just past Valentine’s!) and black walls and flooring. I could have done w/​o the huge flat screen over the bar — kinda kills the mood a bit. Evolve has an upstairs area w/​DJ booth and the lighting has potential for turning the spot into a more club-​y type atmosphere (not sure if that’s what goes down on the weekends but it has potential?!). My friend and I both had glasses of wine ($ 9) which for me is a little on the pricey side but it’s what I’ve come to expect from DC (which, for some reason when it comes to drinks and brunch think it’s NYC *sigh*). They have a nice looking collection of signature cocktails as well. The wines (a merlot and a malbec) were nice although the pours were pretty conservative. We ordered the Mediterranean calamari which is squid but isn’t fried. It was really yummy and accompanied by olives, feta and other garnish (maybe red peppers). I only wish they would have given us more bread to soak up the amazing sauce! I’m sure I could have asked but I was already pressing limits (my sweet friend had given up flour for Lent — luckily, I had not!). We also ordered the scallops and the asparagus/​mushroom dish. I really enjoyed the scallops and the accompanying prosciutto polenta (they have a red sauce for those vegetarians out there). The asparagus was nice as well but the scallops and calamari stood out! The service was very attentive with many people (presumably owners/​other employees and of course our waitress) asking how our meal was. It was a lot of asking which could be toned down but I totally understand since it’s a new place and we were obviously new customers. I like the idea that they care about their clientele (we even rec’d a complimentary «welcome to evolve» shot — hurray!). Over all, a nice experience in a relaxing but fun setting. Great for a drink and a bite.

I love this place, it has the best scallops in the city, by far!
The best part of Evolve is the elevated lounge area by the window. Great for a few friends to grab a few drinks and check out the Adams Morgan crowd. You feel like you’re on the patio with the comfort and warmth of the indoors.

Perfect place to socialize with friends. Good music, comfortable ambiance, and friendly staff. Loves it!

Eventually the bright lights and crowded 18^th street of Adams Morgan is going to start to fade and the craziness that is Friday and Saturday nights in AM will become a little old, there are still some good places that stay out of the mêlée, or whatever fight is about to break out in the street, or Jumbo slice.
This is where Evolve has found it’s place. Quietly– and let me stress the «quiet» situated on Columbia Rd. at the top of Adams Morgan, this cozy bar has a dj spinning and comfy seats without the noise and jostling that most Adams Morgan establishments offer.
Surprise, you can actually have a normal conversation without losing your voice for the night, and even though there isn’t much room to dance, come here when you are tired and sink into their lush couches.
The drinks were standard– nothing special but not bad either. Being that it was around 11pm that I showed up, I wasn’t looking to chow down, but their menu looked interesting.
I would definitely go back to try their food items.

–great place to grab a few drinks in Adams without the possiblity of getting hit in the head with a beer bottle.
–good drinks, you won’t take down in two minutes, served by a group of brothers providing good service in a warm friendly environment.
–THE FOOD! i believe the head chef used to work at the old ebbit’s grill, and although its just small plates, the lamb burger and scallops are incredible. even the garlic fries (second only to gordon & bierch were yummy).
–the lights stay low, the music melo, bring company.

Came here during Happy Hour, looking for a few quick drinks and food before heading to the airport. At about 5pm, we were the only people in the restaurant but I’ve seen it pick up later at night and on the weekends. It’s definitely going for a lounge feel and is very small and intimate, a good date place. The food is served tapas-​style, and I wasn’t really expecting much, but it turned out to be quite delicious. It’s «New American,» more or less, so more upscale versions of fries and sandwiches, plus some seafood tapas. Our scallops, fries, and calamari were all very well done and flavorful. Drinks were standard, and maybe a bit on the pricey side for AdMo, but the atmosphere is a little classier than say, Millie and Al’s. It was a nice, very chill Happy Hour and it would be a nice place to grab some food and drinks with a date before going out on 18^th or in Dupont.

Came here for a friend of a friend’s b-​day party. Walked in, place was probably ½ full (I showed up around 1am). This place is off the A. M strip for a reason, much more chill ambiance, classier crowd, and SLOW bartenders! Drinks were a bit expensive ($ 9). Good looking folks here, but ratio of women to men=5:1.
Not my first, second, or third choice when going to A. M but I would go again.

New Years Eve at Evolve: For $ 20, the skewers of shrimp and scallops just keep coming. And it’s good.
I found out about Evolve by going to the BoA ATM at 11:00 PM on New Years Eve. When I walked by Evolve, it looked like a chill place to spend the New Year without the crowds of the main strip of Adams Morgan. Plus, my face was cold. I promptly went inside.
Evolve is tiny, with a small lounge area by the window, and a bar area. I could see it being a good place for the first drink of the night on a regular evening. It started off a little slow, but by the time 2009 came around, I definitely forgot all about wanting to head out to another club. Plus there was no way I was heading back into sub-​zero temps in 40 mph wind. Weather, you win this round.
The hors d’oeuvres: First there was the steak with horseradish dip. Then the cheese and spinach bites. Then the crab dip, the mushroom and chicken bites, the bacon-​wrapped scallops, the mussels. And the shrimp. Oh, succulent shrimp dipped in seasoning and tempura batter. I will return for you.
And the bouncers, they hug you when you leave.

I heard about Evolve in a DailyCandy email ages ago and forgot all about it. The other day, I met a wealthy friend for drinks and wanted the closest thing to pretentious that I could find in AM on a Monday night, so I figured why the hell not try it.
It’s so me! The space is quite small, but very intimate. Tables sat just 2 people each (There is an upstairs, I think, which might have more seating, but don’t quote me on that as I could be making that up). Nice décor, but pleasantly dim, giving it a romantic feel.
Be warned that romance could potentially be dashed by the blaring music and people screaming at Monday Night Football playing on the flat-​screen above the bar (When I say screaming, I mean unbearable, ear-​drum splitting, «Sweet God, is the world on fire???» shrieking. I’m a chick who likes sports, but shrieking, particularly in public, is unacceptable.)
Food/​libation-​wise, my friend said his lamb burger was «good,» which is the same as «just okay» in my book. The seasoned fries were delicioso, though. As we’re both aspiring alcoholics, our drinks (gin & tonic, sparkling wine) were satisfactory, but not overwhelmingly spectacular.
This was my first time, so I don’t know what the typical crowd is, but when I went… let’s just say that my WASP friend stuck out like a sore thumb in a sea of chocolatey goodness. :D The patronage was awesome. I mean, you’ve got to love a place where the whole restaurant bursts into song when Lauryn Hill’s «Killing Me Softly» comes on.
Seems a really cool place to have a slightly swank drink. I’ll probably find myself there again soon.

Big star for staff (which I think includes owner?) and DJ. Really nice, eager to please, and never have attitude. Make it easy to drop in for a quick one. Not exactly mixologists, but hey — who wants to wait for shredded kaffir lime leaves to muddle.
One star for ambiance. Not too much — not too cool. Minimalist Jetsons white chairs in the window are kinda fun. (Did they come from DWR across the street?) Patrons seem an ecclectic mix –which in AM is a good thing these days (no intern madness-​yet).
Skip the food. It’s not «small plates» and always seems kind of thrown together. They seem to do private dinner parties in the loft above the DJ booth.
Good place to meet up kinda early to go on elsewhere to eat.

Anyplace that has a menu shorter than Gary Coleman has to have bangin’ dishes… too bad this ain’t the place. I popped in for drinks after strollin thru A.M. and had a drink before going home. very few real appetizers to go with your drink, the servers/​barstaff were friendly (kinda touchy-​feely too) but slow, and this place is small with some nice step above Ikea Décor. It didn’t wow me at all here, so since there are other options in Adam’s Morgan, this place will probably get 4^th or 5^th choice on a nite out.

I went here to watch the election returns for the Mississippi primary. The décor is very modern with everything in white. The place is rather small with a few tables in the front and along the wall, bar seating and a lounge area on the second floor.
The bartenders are very cool and make you whatever you want. My martini was off somehow it was a little too dirty. I think the olive’s were stale along with the juice.
On the menu side, we ordered the shrimp wrapped in apple smoke bacon. It was delicious but who doesn’t have something bacon wrapped on their menu? They were out of arugula so I couldn’t have the salad and fries. So I opted for the filet with horseradish mashed potatoes and spinach. The filet mignon was a rather large cut and it was medium rare just like I ordered it. The potatoes were a little chunky and I couldn’t taste the horseradish at all. The spinach was sparse and was over peppered. Although my mate ate all of the cesar salad with red pepper dressing, he felt that there was too much dressing on the salad.
I’d come back to Evolve and get appetiers and drinks. I think the entrees could be a lot better.