Tell us about the Kerry Table!
It seems Martin's opened up right after the end of Prohibition - the story is that every successful Presidential candidate has eaten there since then.
This was the day we'd planned on using a trolley to get around to some outlying places including the National Cathedral and Arlington and Georgetown - did I mention I was still suffering from a major hangover? After the police cleared out a lib from the bar the drinks were on the house - but that's another story ...
Anyway we'd been to Ford's Theater and the National Cathedral - do not miss that - we got off in Georgetown to walk around. For some reason my tongue kept sticking to the roof of my mouth and seemed to have a texture similiar to #25 sandpaper so I suggested we get something to eat ... well this is boring - worse than a vacation slideshow at your neighbors ...
You want the short story? details later> Allright - jeez - tough crowd ...
Well strangely enough right there was a bar and the gals had just stepped into some froo froo shop - whatever that is - but I thanked the Lord and stepped into the dark welcoming doorway. "Quick - a Heineken and a menu!". "Yes sir." "Ahh! Thank you." Well you can imagine how long it took until my cell rang! "Where'd you go? We're hungry!" 3/5ths of my family are veggie types so I eyed their menu while I downed my beer knowing this wasn't it ... and then I remembered the trolley guy mentioned Martins's as a presidential hangout.
Naturally I said nothing. "Let's just see what we see ..."
"Hey Italian?" "Too expensive ..." "Fish? Yuck!" Dad: Alright dammit - here's where we're eating - at least where I'm eating!" Martin's. Hee Hee. Planning is key.
If you got this far I'll do you a favor - short and sweet. Great bar - 10 seats max. Each president had his favorite table. JFK up by the door. LBJ by the window. The Bushes, kinda in the middle with a big table. The rest - you'll have to ask.
It turns out we've been seated in the "Kerry" booth. His advance team had TOLD Martin's that this was the booth that they'd want when Kerry showed up. If there was someone there at the time they were to be "comp'd" and moved to another table - no exceptions!
The food was marvelous, service excellent. We had to draw the story out of our waitress but it turns out Kerry's people regularly called making sure "their" table was ready but never showed up. President Bush and his family did. Guess who won the election? Next time we'll ask to sit at President Bush's table! And believe me our waitress was well tipped!:-)
Do not miss this place when in Georgetown!