After operating Waterstone Bar & Grill in Mt. Vernon for six years, owner Lisa Markiewicz decided it was time for a break.
The chef, and Baltimore County schoolteacher, sold the restaurant to new owners in 2014 to focus on pursuing a master’s degree in global business.
Now back in the game after finishing her MBA, Markiewicz repurchased the property, rebranding it as West Madison Craft Beer & Wine Bar.
The revamped neighborhood hangout—which debuts with a soft opening today—will feature upscale bar fare, rotating cask-conditioned ales, and a wide variety of local beer and wine.
“The concept is completely different,” Markiewicz says. “It has an industrial yet swanky look and more of an upbeat vibe.”
Inspired by the London bar scene, the 90-seat interior (which just so happens to feature its own iconic red telephone box) boasts traditional tables as well as multiple bar and lounge areas for diners in search of a more casual experience.
“We feel that traditional three-course dining is becoming a thing of the past,” Markiewicz says. “The millennial generation is moving away from the sit-down courses in favor of more active street food.”
Markiewicz has hired Adam Moss, whose resume includes stints at 13.5% Wine Bar and Corner Charcuterie Bar, as executive chef.
West Madison’s menu will feature international plates such as chorizo sliders, shrimp tacos, lemongrass chicken dumplings, and salted lime chickpeas.
The bar will feature 16 taps, its own growler filling station, and upwards of 40 local wines and 50 local beers, including varieties from Jailbreak, Union, and Dogfish Head breweries.
“There are such fantastic, underrated craft beers coming out of the entire Maryland region,” she says. “It’s our responsibility to take care of our local purveyors, so we’re excited to be strong carriers.”
The restaurant will remain in soft-opening mode until its grand opening on April 1.
“All of the neighbors keep knocking on the door whenever we’re inside working asking when we’ll be open,” says Markiewicz with a laugh. “We’re excited to touch base with all of our friends again.”