Iron Gate: D.C.’s oldest restaurant reopens

Tucked away at 1734 N Street NW is D.C.'s oldest continuously operating restaurant, Iron Gate. It's been closed for the past two years, and in the last 14 months, Neighborhood Restaurant Group worked to revive the quiet and cozy establishment. (WTOP/Rachel Nania)

WTOP/Rachel Nania

Iron Gate, which opens Tuesday, Nov. 19, consists of three different dining spaces: a front room, a year-round courtyard and a dining room. The front room, which serves as the bar, is the building's original carriageway. The back dining room and kitchen once served as stables for the neighboring townhouse. (WTOP/Rachel Nania)

WTOP/Rachel Nania

Lanterns and candles light the walkway from N Street to Iron Gate at night. (WTOP/Rachel Nania)

WTOP/Rachel Nania

The front room of the newly revived space serves primarily as the bar. Small tables flank each side of the bar. (WTOP/Rachel Nania)

WTOP/Rachel Nania

Large iron lights hang from the ceiling in the room that once served as the building's carriageway. (WTOP/Rachel Nania)

WTOP/Rachel Nania

And lanterns hang from the walls in the dimly lit space. (WTOP/Rachel Nania)

WTOP/Rachel Nania

Small tables flank both sides of the bar in the front room of Iron Gate. (WTOP/Rachel Nania)

WTOP/Rachel Nania

Iron Gate is under the direction of Executive Chef Anthony Chittum, formerly of Vermilion in Alexandria, Va. The menu at Iron Gate is heavily influenced by Italian and Greek cuisines, and the bar's collection of Ouzo is a reflection of the menu. (WTOP/Rachel Nania)

WTOP/Rachel Nania

Iron Gate is under the direction of Executive Chef Anthony Chittum, formerly of Vermilion in Alexandria, Va. The menu at Iron Gate is heavily influenced by Italian and Greek cuisines, and the bar's collection of Ouzo is a reflection of the menu. (WTOP/Rachel Nania)

WTOP/Rachel Nania

Out back of the front room is Iron Gate's courtyard, which is sheltered with thick grape vines and century-old wisteria. (WTOP/Rachel Nania)

WTOP/Rachel Nania

The natural, protective covering and heat lamps makes dining in the courtyard a year-round possibility. (WTOP/Rachel Nania)

WTOP/Rachel Nania

The courtyard and the dining room are in back of the General Federation of Women's Clubs, which purchased the property in 1922 from General Nelson Miles. Lights, candles and heat lamps keep the courtyard warm, year-round. (WTOP/Rachel Nania)

WTOP/Rachel Nania

Thick grapevines and century-old wisteria provide a protective awning for dining in the courtyard. (WTOP/Rachel Nania)

WTOP/Rachel Nania

The kitchen and dining room is the third area of Iron Gate. The building originally served as the property's horse stables. (WTOP/Rachel Nania)

WTOP/Rachel Nania

The kitchen opens up into the dining room in the building that once served as the property's horse stables. (WTOP/Rachel Nania)

WTOP/Rachel Nania

Warm bread comes out of a fire-burning open in the kitchen/dining room of Iron Gate. (WTOP/Rachel Nania)

WTOP/Rachel Nania

Preserves line the brick wall of the kitchen. A native of Maryland's Eastern Shore, Chef Chittum plans to source ingredients for the Italian and Greek-inspired menu from local farmers and producers. (WTOP/Rachel Nania)

WTOP/Rachel Nania