Her Diner opens in Adams Morgan with "gay Cheers" vibes
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Her Diner owners Kethida and Kelly Laczko. Photo: Courtesy of Kurt Powers
Get ready for boozy shakes, pigs in blankets and drag brunch: Her Diner opens today in Adams Morgan.
Why it matters: Longtime Duplex Diner manager Kelly Laczko and wife Kethida took over the beloved neighborhood haunt, sticking to its roots as a queer haven while making it their own.
Flashback: Duplex owner Eric Hirshfield opened the diner at 18th & U in 1998, and it quickly became known among regulars as "Cheers for Queers" and D.C.'s "gay Cheers."
- "It's important to me to keep it as a queer space because we're losing so many," Laczko, who started there as a bartender, tells Axios. "It's a neighborhood bar and a safe space for people to hang out. You can come for an hour or six."
Dig in: Certain things are sacred. "We'd never touch the pigs in blankets, meatloaf, chicken tenders," says Laczko. Kickball meetups, weekend-long brunches and "the drag brunch we have down to a science" will march on.
- Still, it's a new place. The exterior and dining room got a bright refresh, and the couple worked with local artists to touch up the Madonna-themed bathroom — plus, they added a Queen Bey throne room (complete with Beyoncé music).
The American diner menu mixes comfort classics like "breakfast for dinner," chicken pot pie, and brownie sundaes with mod touches. Look for an eggroll recipe from Kethida's mom, seasonal specials (such as tortilla soup and spaghetti bolognese), entree salads, and fun sandwiches.
- To drink, there's a cocktail lineup of "squeezes" — fresh citrus muddled with various spirits — plus classics (like cosmos and grasshoppers) and creations like the She's a Big Dill vodka martini with pickle brine and a gherkin garnish.
The intrigue: Speaking of pickles, free ferments are back. Now Laczko uses local and woman-owned Gordy's Pickle Jar products for the complimentary snack bowls.
Between the lines: The team pushed to open the diner before the election — and had Kamala Harris-themed specials ready — but Laczko says that she's now doubling down on supporting gay, trans and woman-owned companies and causes and that she plans to host fundraisers in the space.
- "We're just going to stay ready, do as much as we can from a political standpoint, and make it an even safer space than usual," she tells Axios.
If you go: 2004 18th St. NW. Open weekdays at 6pm, weekends at 11am.