Arts & Entertainment

Comfort food hub

‘60s-inspired diner the Satellite Room does great with the basics

Published

13 years ago

January 10, 2013

Jonathan Howard

Satellite Lounge (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

The last few weeks have been a foodie’s nightmare, at least for me. I’m busy at work, my dining partners are all away and worst of all, I’ve had a long lasting head cold that had made everything I eat taste the same.

So, when I finally started to feel a bit better, I found myself craving the comforts of diner food and with The Diner on 18th Street seeming like it was a bit too far away, I decided it was finally time to try out the Satellite Room (2047 9th Street NW). The Satellite Room opened Oct. 9 and is located right behind the 9:30 Club.

As one would expect, the space is super cool and trendy and an awesome white neon “Satellite” sign behind the bar dominates the main room. The Hilton Brothers who already own and operate American Ice Company and Brixton in the 9th and U area are the men behind this ‘60s-inspired diner. This location serves up food inspired by traditional diners like the meatloaf and fried chicken but they also offer a few twists with items like the tilapia tacos and the Chile rellenos. Patrons also have the option to build their own burger where you pick your patty, bun, toppers and sauce — a great feature I’m looking forward to trying on my next visit. However, what sealed the deal on my decision to give Satellite Room a try were the “adult milkshakes.”

All the “boozy shakes,” $10 each, are named after famous television characters like Lucy Ricardo (chocolate with Johnny Walker Black), Archie Leach (strawberry with Tanqueray London dry gin); or the A.C. Slater (avocado with Jose Cuervo). Nobody will even judge you if you admit that as a kid you like “Saved by the Bell” when ordering this shake. I tried the Patsy Stone, which was pineapple, coconut, orange and nutmeg, with Captain Morgan spiced rum. This milkshake was gone in moments and tasted like a richer and more decadent pina colada. My dining partner chose the Linus Van Pelt which was peanut butter and No. 12 Tennessee Whiskey. It was another rich but delightful option, the boozy milkshakes alone make Satellite Room worth visiting, but don’t just fill up on them because the food is also quite good and comforting.

An excellent example of a delicious and comforting dish is the meatloaf and mashed potatoes. Sure, it’s a basic dish, but a basic dish that can go terribly wrong in many establishments. We have all had the rock hard hockey puck piece of meat that needs to be doused in ketchup or hot sauce to even be edible. The meatloaf at Satellite Room was nothing like those culinary disasters — the meat was moist and fluffy and had the right amount of flavor and spices; no sauces were necessary.

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The mashed potatoes were obviously the perfect complement to this traditional meat and potatoes dish. Another standout was the macaroni and cheese. My dining partner admitted that on a previous visit he almost ordered a third portion. I don’t blame him. This little dish of goodness contains a rich and creamy multi-cheese sauce that coats the pasta perfectly and evenly and the baked topping adds the delightful bit of warm crunchiness. While my head cold prevented me from venturing too far away from the comfort foods I craved, I am looking forward to returning soon and seeing what other dishes live up to the meatloaf and mac and cheese.

There are a few desserts on the menu, like the apple cobbler and churros and Mexican hot chocolate and I love ending a meal with some sweets, but when I was tempted with possibly having another “adult milkshake” I decided that would be the better option. It’s an after dinner drink and dessert all in one. Overall, Satellite Room is a great place to grab a drink with friends, have a quick relaxing bite or hang out before or after a concert.

Up Next

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FUND LGBTQ JOURNALISM

Calendar

Calendar: March 27-April 2

LGBTQ events in the days to come

Published

8 hours ago

March 27, 2026

Tinashe Chingarande

Friday, March 27

Center Aging Monthly Luncheon With Yoga will be at 12 p.m. at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. Email Mac at [email protected] if you require ASL interpreter assistance, have any dietary restrictions, or questions about this event.

Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Happy Hour” at 7 p.m. at Dupont Italian Kitchen. This is a chance to relax, make new friends, and enjoy happy hour specials at this classic retro venue. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.

Trans and Genderqueer Game Night will be at 7 p.m. at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. This is a relaxing, laid-back evening of games and fun. All are welcome and there’ll be card and board games on hand. Feel free to bring your own games to share. For more details, visit the DC Center’s website.

Trans Discussion Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This event is intended to provide an emotionally and physically safe space for trans people and those who may be questioning their gender identity/expression to join together in community and learn from one another. For more details, email [email protected].

Saturday, March 28

Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Brunch” at 11 a.m. at Freddie’s Beach Bar & Restaurant. This fun weekly event brings the DMV area LGBTQ+ community, including allies, together for delicious food and conversation. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.

The DC Center for the LGBT Community will host “Sunday Supper on Saturday” at 2 p.m. It’s more than just an event; it’s an opportunity to step away from the busyness of life and invest in something meaningful, and enjoy delicious food, genuine laughter, and conversations that spark connection and inspiration. For more details, visit the Center’s website.

Black Lesbian Support Group will be at 1 p.m. on Zoom. This is a peer-led support group devoted to the joys and challenges of being a Black Lesbian. For more details, email [email protected].

Monday, March 30

“Center Aging: Monday Coffee Klatch” will be at 10 a.m. on Zoom. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ adults. Guests are encouraged to bring a beverage of choice. For more information, contact Adam ([email protected]).

“Tea Time! A Local DC Drag Comedy Show” will be at 3 p.m. at Spark Social. This is a live drag comedy show where drag legends TrevHER & Tiara Missou Sidora host spill all the tea in the DMV. This event is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.

Tuesday, March 31

Visibili-TEA Party will be at 6 p.m. at Restoration Station. Guests are encouraged to come sip, celebrate, and shine together. This event is a Trans Day of Visibility celebration and a special collaboration between Auntie’s Home and Damien Ministries. This is a boozy tea party with intention and the dress code reflects the vibe. More details are available on Eventbrite.

Wednesday, March 1

Job Club will be at 6 p.m. on Zoom upon request. This is a weekly job support program to help job entrants and seekers, including the long-term unemployed, improve self-confidence, motivation, resilience and productivity for effective job searches and networking — allowing participants to move away from being merely “applicants” toward being “candidates.” For more information, email [email protected] or visit thedccenter.org/careers.

Thursday, April 2

The DC Center’s Fresh Produce Program will be held all day at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. People will be informed on Wednesday at 5 p.m. if they are picked to receive a produce box. No proof of residency or income is required. For more information, email [email protected] or call 202-682-2245.

Virtual Yoga Class will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This free weekly class is a combination of yoga, breathwork and meditation that allows LGBTQ+ community members to continue their healing journey with somatic and mindfulness practices. For more details, visit the DC Center’s website.

Out & About

Celebrate cherry blossoms the drag way

Unconventional Diner hosts bingo party

Published

8 hours ago

March 27, 2026

Tinashe Chingarande

The cherry blossoms are here. Celebrate at a unique event hosted by Unconventional Diner. (Washington Blade photo by Michael K. Lavers)

Unconventional Diner will host “Cherry Blossom Drag Bingo Party” on Friday, April 3, at 6:30 p.m.

Guests will be treated to an unforgettable night of drag performances, bingo, food and drink and prizes. Highlights of the evening include themed cocktails, drag performances and bingo prizes.

Tickets can be secured via Resy.

Sports

New IOC policy bans trans women from Olympics

New regulation to be in effect at 2028 summer games in Los Angeles

Published

1 day ago

March 26, 2026

Michael K. Lavers

(Photo by Greg Martin; courtesy IOC)

The International Olympic Committee on Thursday announced it will not allow transgender women from competing in female events at the Olympics.

“For all disciplines on the Sports Program of an IOC event, including individual and team sports, eligibility for any Female Category is limited to biological females,” reads the new policy.

The policy states “eligibility for the Female Category is to be determined in the first instance by SRY Gene screening to detect the absence or presence of the SRY Gene.”

“On the basis of the scientific evidence, the IOC considers that the SRY (sex-determining Region Y) Gene is fixed throughout life and represents highly accurate evidence that an athlete has experienced or will experience male sex development,” it reads. “Furthermore, the IOC considers that SRY Gene screening via saliva, cheek swab or blood sample is unintrusive compared to other possible methods. Athletes who screen negative for the SRY gene permanently satisfy this policy’s eligibility criteria for competition in the Female Category.”

The policy states the test “will be a once-in-a-lifetime test” unless “there is reason to believe a negative reading is in error.”

The new regulation will be in place for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

“I understand that this a very sensitive topic,” said IOC President Kirsty Coventry on Thursday in a video. “As a former athlete, I passionately believe in the rights of all Olympians to take part in fair competition.”

“The policy that we have announced is based on science and it has been led by medical experts with the best interests of athletes at its heart. The scientific evidence is very clear: male chromosomes give performance advances in sport that rely on strength, power, or endurance,” she added. “At the Olympic Games, even the smallest margins can be the difference between victory and defeat. So, it is absolutely clear that it would not be fair for biological males to compete in the female category. In addition, in some sports it would simply not be safe.”

(Video courtesy of the IOC)

Laurel Hubbard, a weightlifter from New Zealand, in 2021 became the first trans woman to compete at the Olympics.

Imane Khelif, an Algerian boxer, won a gold medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. Khelif later sued JK Rowling and Elon Musk for cyberstalking after they questioned her gender identity.

Ellis Lundholm, a mogul skier from Sweden, this year became the first openly trans athlete to compete in any Winter Olympics when he participated in Milan Cortina Winter Olympics in Italy.

President Donald Trump in February 2025 issued an executive order that bans trans women and girls from female sports teams in the U.S.

The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee last July banned trans women from competing in female sporting events. Republican lawmakers have demanded the IOC ban trans athletes from women’s athletic competitions.

“I’m grateful the Olympics finally embraced the common sense policy that women’s sports are for women, not for men,” said U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) on X.

An IOC spokesperson on Thursday referred the Washington Blade to the press release that announced the new policy.