Why So Serious, D.C.? – Eater DC

With a monumental presidential election just around the corner (77 days to be exact), there’s one easygoing bar steps from the White House where all walks of life can decompress before taking a comical coaster home. Lined with dramatic red walls and handsome wood paneling, the longstanding Off the Record lounge in the depths of the historic Hay-Adams hotel is a neutral playing ground for powerful politicians, suit-sporting dealmakers, Hollywood celebrities, locals, journalists, and tourists alike (800 16th Street NW).

The Hay-Adams

All eyes are on VP Kamala Harris this week as she accepts the 2024 presidential nomination at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. At Off the Record, Harris’ current coaster pays homage to her Converse-wearing Vogue cover. Whenever Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff comes in with staffers — which apparently is often — Hay-Adams bar manager Rachel Sergi casually places his wife’s coaster under his wine glass. “We specifically put hers on the table when he’s here so he knows it exists,” she tells Eater, adding “he’s a peach and so nice.”

The underground respite’s iconic cocktail coasters debuted a decade ago during the Obama administration, and a total of 50 distinct designs have graced the dimly lit space since. Similar to a beer mat in size and material, each one showcases a headline-making political figure of the moment. The luxe hotel turns to three famed editorial cartoonists — Kevin Kallaugher, Ann Telnaes, and Politico’s Matt Wuerker — to create every timely new caricature, and the original is then reproduced as a colorful coaster.

While longtime Off the Record classics like its pear martini aren’t going anywhere, the current political climate also dictates changes across the cocktail menu. The Midori-fueled “Brat Summer,” which dropped last week, was originally going to be called “Kamala Is Brat.”

“But I didn’t want people to think we are calling Kamala a brat if they don’t know the reference,” she says. (In July, British pop star Charli XCX declared Harris is “brat” — a Gen Z-approved compliment that refers to her hit summer album of the same name; the Harris campaign fully embraced the viral, lime-green meme.)

Sergi describes the vibrant drink as “the embodiment of ‘brat’: a lil’ spicy, a lil’ tart, a lil’ sweet, definitely summery — and it’s the color of the season,” she says. A sparkly “Blue Wave” flute subtly nods to the Democratic party, comprised of lychee, soju, lemon, Taittinger Champagne, and blue luster dust.

Her newer “Brooklyn in the House (of Representatives)” cocktail riffs on a New York sour with Redemption bourbon, lemon sour, and a lambrusco float as an homage to House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY). “A lot of people don’t know who he is; he’s been around a short amount of time but monumental for what he does and doesn’t get a lot of press,” she says.

The coaster cluster in rotation right now also depicts former President Donald Trump, President Joe Biden, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, and Biden and Trump with fists drawn — an artistic commission from Sergi herself.

Naturally, fresh coasters honoring each newly named VP candidate — Republican JD Vance and Democrat Tim Walz — are expected to join the bar before the big November election. “There’s going to be some zingers,” she says, of the incoming 4×4 images. (Something “weird,” perhaps?)

While Florida Governor Ron DeSantis was campaigning for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, his cartoon coaster was in high demand amongst visitors from the Sunshine State. “Not necessarily because they’re aligned with him politically,” she says. They simply wanted to take one home as a souvenir.

Sergi, who joined Off the Record in early 2023, is a well-known D.C. figure in her own right. The veteran mixologist has stirred drinks at a swath of citywide establishments for over a quarter-century, including José Andrés’ Zaytinya, dive bar Last Call, and fellow fancy hotel Watergate.

Her latest workplace in the nation’s capital bills itself as “the place to be seen — but not heard.” Needless to say, “I hear some crazy stuff,” she says. While Off the Record guests are encouraged to “steal” their coaster, the old-school institution frowns upon photos and phone use, in part, is to protect its A-list clientele. Eater experienced this firsthand a few years ago, when billionaire Mark Cuban was spotted declining a pic at the circular bar.

Sergi recently had to waive off a few female groupies from snapping a shot with Oscar-winning actor Sean Penn as he prepped for a White House meeting across the street, suggesting they catch him outside instead. “It’s not like he takes a limo,” she says. The avid political and social activist is “very good people,” she adds, who “comes here a lot.” His go-to order? “The crab claws,” she says.

A secretive booth in the back, affectionately called “The Bench,” is framed with a gallery of today’s Supreme Court justices sketched by its in-house artists.

The Hay-Adams

Coasters almost immediately arrive alongside a silver tiered trio of cheffed-up bar snacks. A dedicated staff member spends hours each day making its crispy potato chips, and an incoming spicy and peppery nut mix will help usher in fall. She’s also toying with adding oyster crackers made with mid-Atlantic favorite Old Bay and a dash of gold dust. Wasabi balls made a recent comeback as a replacement to Jelly Bellies, which seemed a little outdated. “If you’re old enough, you’re more aligned with [Republican President Ronald] Reagan who liked jelly beans,” she says.

As for the 46th U.S. president who’s living directly across the tree-covered South Lawn, she predicts his lasting legacy has yet to be seen.

“[Biden’s] done so much great stuff during his tenure — he just hasn’t gotten recognition for it yet. History books will reveal that,” she says.

Off the Record is open from 11:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. daily. View the current menu here.

The Hay-Adams

The Hay-Adams