*  August 2019 update to this post—since drafting this initial post, I was lucky enough to be invited back into The Capital Burger for a 2019 Short Friday. Candidly, the food at The Capital Burger is amazing, the lighting, not so much! So when I went back for dinner, I snapped a few new photos and added them into this post, which was originally published in May 2019. During my August visit, we were lucky enough to be treated to a complimentary 3 Stars Brewing ‘Diamonds are Forever’ beer as part of their Short Fridays program, and then enjoyed the burgers I talk about below, along with the calamari and crab cakes to start! 

One of the most rewarding parts about blogging is inviting others to share in the cool opportunities A Touch of Teal has provided to me. Several weeks ago, one of my favorite happy hour spots in DC, The Capital Burger, invited me back to celebrate their first birthday! My friend Kate and I have enjoyed happy hour once a month together for the last five years, so I was super excited to bring her along to celebrate one of the best burger spots in the city.

As you may remember, last summer I was obsessed with The Capital Burger’s Short Friday series—which they told me when I was in they are bringing back this summer! Essentially, on Fridays in the summer, from 3:30-5:30pm, patrons get a free cocktail, wine, or beer, depending on what the drink of the day is—I don’t know of anywhere else where your first drink is free, so it’s a super fun spot to head to after work. This year’s schedule isn’t up yet, but I’ll be sure to share it in an upcoming Link Love when it is!

A sister restaurant of the popular steakhouse The Capital Grille, The Capital Burger is a casual restaurant that serves up a luxury burger experience. It has all the quality of The Capital Grille without the price tag—they even serve the popular Stoli Dolis for less! Located in Mount Vernon Square, they’ve got a range of speciality and classic burgers, crafted from a proprietary beef blend, and 25+ wines available by the glass. The full menu is also available for carryout!

To celebrate The Capital Burger’s first birthday, Kate and I were treated to their new Birthday Short Shakes, made with vanilla soft serve and cupcake syrup topped with whipped cream, sprinkles and, of course, a birthday candle! They were also the perfect size—essentially a mini-milkshake that really hits the spot after a savory meal. And, if you want to try one, you’re in luck—Birthday Short Shakes are on the menu to stay. Guests who dine at The Capital Burger on their birthday will get a Birthday Short Shake, on the house!

Before we indulged in our Birthday Short Shakes though, Kate and I had a delicious meal! We started out with the brussels sprouts, which I’d highly recommend, the delicious house pickles they bring to the table. I’m not usually a huge pickle person, but y’all, those pickles are good.

One of my favorite things about The Capital Burger is that any of their burgers can be made into sliders, so you can easily try a variety of their burgers without having to commit to one variety. We ordered the Bacon Cheeseburger, the Lobster and Crab Burger, and The Capital Burger, which is done French Onion-style with caramelized onions, Wisconsin grand cru gruyère, and shallot aioli, and is my absolute favorite item on the menu. If you only get one burger, make sure it’s that one! To go with our sliders, we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to order parmesan truffle fries!

Needless to say, we didn’t leave hungry—and I can’t wait to get back to The Capital Burger for Short Fridays soon.

Thank you so much to The Capital Burger for inviting me and offering me a complimentary dining experience. As always, opinions are my own!