Lucky Buns Restaurant The Wharf
Lucky Buns’ new waterfront location in D.C.’s The Wharf neighborhood features a bold and eclectic design inspired by ’70s-era burger joints, by //3877.
Bold and eclectic, Lucky Buns’ newest location brings a classic neighborhood bar and burger restaurant to phase 2 of D.C.’s newest waterfront neighborhood, The Wharf. Chef and Co-owner Alex McCoy, a lifelong Washingtonian, Food Network personality and the creative mind behind some of D.C.’s most beloved eateries, engaged //3877 to spearhead the architecture and design of his first new-build restaurant. Referencing ‘70s-era burger joints with a hint of dive bar flavor, the space is fun and approachable, well-designed but not overdone. Lucky Buns extends a warm welcome to all, inviting locals, tourists, and sports fans alike to take a seat at the bar.
Rather than retrofit an existing building, the client chose a prime waterfront location in a developing neighborhood to start fresh with a new space tailored precisely to the services they aim to provide: delicious food in a lively and jovial environment. Serving up the ultimate comfort foods—high-stacked burgers, fried chicken sandwiches, and house-cut chips—Lucky Buns gives the community just what it needs to relax and start enjoying the little things in life again. Floor-to-ceiling glass walls open up views to the Washington Channel recalling beachy burger bars that send a message to guests—come as you are. A spacious enclosed patio with a sliding door provides for casual, al fresco dining in all seasons and further enhances the indoor-outdoor connection.
A 3,000 square-foot L-shaped bar greets guests as they enter the space, differentiating the restaurant from the brand’s original Adams Morgan location. Here guests can order from a rotating selection of punchy cocktails, frozen drinks, as well as house-made sodas and ginger beer. The interiors sport a mix of natural materials such as warm reclaimed woods, while neon lighting and green field wall tiles with pink accents add pops of brightness and color. Suspended foliage, multicolored string lights, and rattan lighting draw the eye upwards towards the white wood sloped ceiling. As guests continue around the bar, a large open kitchen comes into view, revealing the back-of-house, food preparation magic. Beyond the brand’s usual classics, the Wharf outpost introduces fresh new menu items from crab rangoon dip to jackfruit-filled lumpia.
The client and design team worked together to ensure that everyone in the house has a view of the hustle and bustle—from the waterfront and kitchen to the bar—there’s much to see at Lucky Buns’ latest neighborhood burger bar. Bringing D.C. residents and visitors high-quality eats at an accessible price point, Lucky Buns seamlessly marries comfort food with comfort design for a restaurant that’s sure to quickly become a hotspot.
Design: //3877
Photography: Joseph D. Tran
