Photo by Alexandria Living Magazine
Tiki-inspired drinks are on the menu at Captain Gregory's.
Captain Gregory's, a speakeasy inside a donut shop in Old Town North, epitomizes what people love about Alexandria: It's unique, it's local and ... it's fun! (And what could be more enjoyable after a year of COVID than sipping Polynesian-inspired cocktails in a convivial hideaway?)
Executive Chef Brandon McDermott goes out of his way to find rare liqueurs for his creations, and cocktail connoisseurs will not be disappointed by his recent seasonal updates to the drink menu. One of his inspirations is from the tiki or Polynesian culture.
"We have a pretty good following of tiki enthusiasts so we decided to lean into that.... Plus, it's summer and everyone was cooped up so we decided to go that route and have some fun with it," he said. You'll find several cocktails (Parrot Cove, Monkey Business and Pineapple Upside Down Fizz, to name a few) on the menu with hints of those South Pacific flavors including banana, pineapple and coconut. See the full drink menu here. And the bar carries a number of rums you might not readily find elsewhere.
Photo by Alexandria Living Magazine
Tiki-inspired drinks are on the menu at Captain Gregory's.
"We have adventurous customers, they know we don't carry the standard rail spirits, we have things off the beaten path and they're coming here looking for that," said owner Rob Krupicka, whose people skills as a politician have translated to the hospitality business.
"We feel like we're one of the best cocktail spots in the region," Krupicka said. "We're still one of the most unique games in town, and we try really hard to keep it that way. And it's still one of the best places to go for a romantic evening."
The popular spot is expanding, looking to add about a dozen more seats. "Any bigger than that and we lose the vibe that people are looking for," Krupicka noted. They'll make use of unused kitchen space and likely complete the additional space by the fall.
If you haven't had the opportunity to experience this talked-about gem, be sure to add it to your summer calendar. Offering a tempting menu of thoughtful cocktails and small-plate creative comfort food, the charming spot is located inside a donut shop (and now a vegan cafe with an expanded menu), Elizabeth's Counter, at 804 N. Henry St.
You gain entrance by pulling on a lever with a flag attached that rings a bell inside the speakeasy. Next thing you know, the door slides open, and you're in, no password required.
The bar got its start when Krupicka began researching donuts and discovered a Maine sea captain who, in part, invented the donut. His mother sent him off to sea with fried dough. The sea captain speared his fried dough onto the ship's wheel and "comes up with a 'Eureka!' moment," Krupicka explained. "When we were thinking we wanted a 'hole' in the donut shop that would be a cocktail bar, we thought it would be great to name it after the guy who invented the donut." Elizabeth's Counter was named for his mother.
A photo of Captain Gregory hangs in the bar. "We got it from this library in Maine," Krupicka said. "It looks pretty eerie. That is the real dude right there."
The side-by-side businesses complement each other with one opening early in the day and the other catering to the evening crowd.
Photo by Alexandria Living Magazine
Brussel Sprouts on the menu! Includes lemon, shoyu, raisins, pine nuts and ricotta salata
Ordering off the menu at Captain Gregory's, patrons have an assortment of elevated comfort food options to pair with their cocktails including deviled eggs, pork belly (pictured), Brussels sprouts, homemade potato chips, sweet plantains, Thai shrimp, Peking duck and hush puppies.
"You get the gambit here — people having four or five dishes to make a meal out of it or people coming here before or after dinner," said McDermott, whose previous culinary gigs include a stint at Caboose Brewing Company in Vienna.
Captain Gregory's patrons can't help but ask for donuts made fresh daily next door. "You'd be surprised how many people come in and have a couple of donuts with their cocktails," McDermott said.
Next door, Elizabeth's Counter rolled out a new concept last year, offering up vegan comfort food during the pandemic. "We're trying to be a full-service vegan shop - the donuts, the sandwiches and a small grocery section, real basic staples," Krupicka said. "We've gotten great feedback. We're going through challenges of sourcing the best stuff, but the customers have been appreciative and like the environmental message. It fits well with what we care about."
Captain Gregory's is open from 5-10 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday (closed Sundays and Mondays). Make a reservation through resy.com.
