Recalling the tradition of legendary taverns that set the standard for this country’s restaurant and hospitality industry, Tavern 64 Regional Kitchen debuted at Reston Town Center Tuesday, June 4. In the ground floor of the Hyatt Regency Reston, Tavern 64 occupies the corner of Presidents and Market Streets.
Combining the history of an American tavern with regional cuisine and drinks, the new restaurant pays homage to the history of its location. In celebration of the internationally-renowned “new town” community in which it is located, Tavern 64 takes part of its name from the year Reston was founded: 1964.
Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days, the regional kitchen features recipes with emphasis on local and sustainable sourced ingredients. On its menu are simple, uncomplicated American dishes like Virginia pork, North Carolina trout with cheddar grits, Pennsylvania-sourced short ribs with corn bread mash and a charcuterie plate of Maryland cheeses and Virginia ham, sausage and pate. Lunch items include locally sourced salads, hearty barbecue brisket or meatloaf sandwiches and old-fashioned desserts like a root beer float or a whipped cream topped berry shortcake.
According to food and beverage director Ross Virando, Tavern 64 has a very beverage-forward concept. All of its eight bar taps pour local and regional draft beers plus American and craft and canned beers. The most classic American crafted cocktails are featured from the original American cocktail, the Sazerac, made with Reston’s own Bowman’s Distillery bourbon, to the Antebellum Julep, made the original way with Catoctin Creek, Virginia cognac. And a Manhattan, the Lady Randolph’s Request, named for the drink made famous in the late 1800’s at New York’s Manhattan Club when Lady Randolph Churchill served it at a party.
The 5,500-square-foot restaurant seats 168 indoors with 48 seats on its patio. It has been designed with friendly and inviting architecture with its dining and bar areas flowing together to allow business gatherings or friends’ get-togethers to happen at almost any part of the space. There are organic wood tables, some for small parties, other long communal-style, aged leather chairs, banquette leather armed couches, natural organic painted wood paneled walls and textured ceramic floors that look liked aged wood.