Entertainment

Henderson Avenue, west of Ross, is getting trendier. The latest sign is Capitol Pub, which opened about a month ago at the corner of Henderson and Capitol. It's across from where Jerry's Supermarket used to be.

JASON JANIK/Special Contributor

Capitol Pub's aesthetic is almost Uptown-ish. It has a large patio with a fireplace; a clean, dark-wood interior; and a long beer list. The menu's stocked with sandwiches and pizzas, plus some fun items such as fried blue-cheese-stuffed olives.

Overall, the place isn't exactly unique. But it works for people who enjoy a certain formula. The pub has been packed since it opened about a month ago.

On a recent Friday around 9 p.m., we stood around for a few minutes, waiting for a table to open up. (Note: This is a good time to arrive. By 11, people fill the aisles.)

Spoon's "Turn My Camera On" drifted around, not too loudly. Men and women in jeans and sweaters, most of them in their late 20s and up, huddled together and talked.

The place felt festive and warm. Cords of pine garland loped along the exposed wooden ceiling rafters, dangling with Christmas ornaments. Large windows offered views of the patio.

Capitol Pub has 12 beers on tap and a list of interesting bottles. The menu is pretty ambitious, too, although sometimes it falls flat. We had the most luck with basics such as the chicken sandwich and cheese plate.

This might be a new-pub thing, but the crowd gets dressier here as it gets later. If you're ending up at a chic upper-Henderson lounge, you might fit right in.

Capitol Pub: 2401 N. Henderson, at Capitol

214-887-9330; capitolpubdallas.com

What to wear: Whatever you want.

What the music is like: An eclectic iTunes list compiled by the staff. We heard Nirvana and the White Stripes. During brunch it's jazz and soul; happy hour is mostly Brit-pop and mellow stuff.

Smoking: Yes

Cover: None, except on New Year's Eve.

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