A little over a month old, D.C.’s newest cocktail and dumpling bar, Copycat Co., is definitely worth the trek to H Street. Don’t let the nondescript exterior fool you, this place has plenty of character on the inside. For patrons just looking for a quick snack, grab a seat at one of the handful of stools on the first floor restaurant and chow down on bites reminiscent of Chinese street fare. Those interested in getting a cocktail experience, head on up to the second-story bar.

A contrast from the brightly lit floor below, the bar area upstairs gives off a more intimate vibe with dark jade colored walls, candle lit tables and limited seats. This is where Devin Gong, the mastermind behind all of Copycat Co.’s cocktail creations, works his magic. Along with the regular drink menu, which spans two pages and consists of classic drinks, such as old fashioneds, manhattans, sours and martinis, there are special cocktails that change weekly. In the past, featured drinks have included new takes on daiquiris, juleps, mules and bucks. Each cocktail on the menu will set you back $11. Expect the unexpected...basically, whatever Gong imagines up. A colorful chalkboard hangs behind the bar, nearly stretching the length of the back wall, where the specials are handwritten along with complementing designs, in painstaking detail, only to be erased each week and rewritten to include the new roundup of drinks. That’s dedication.

The price of cocktails is offset by the affordable dumplings, skewers and bao buns on the food menu that can also be ordered from the second floor bar. Choose from four different varieties of pot stickers (chicken and mushroom, beef and celery, triple delight with pork, shrimp and chives, and a veggie option), two types of bao (beef, veggie) and four skewer options (chicken, beef, lamb, and a weekly rotating special). The bao are pillowy soft with just the right amount of filling and the skewers are flavorful and tasty. Whatever you order, be assured that what comes out will be simple, unpretentious and straight up delicious. With the price range of all food items falling between $1.25 and $4.00, you won’t feel guilty splurging on the whole menu. Everything is served on communal plates, so be prepared to get cozy and share with friends.

You won’t find any TV screens in here, but you’ll be treated to a show of another kind. Snag a seat at the bar and get ready to fall into a trance as the bartenders do their thing. The visual experience of normal bar tasks such as cracking eggs into shakers, swirling drinks and chipping down large chunks of ice into single cubes is captivating as the staff turns regular bartending into an art form.

Copycat Co. opens at 5 PM daily and closes at 2 AM on weekdays and 3 AM on weekends.

Copycat Co.; 1110 H St., NE; 202-241-1952

Photos: Top image via Copycat Co., Food by Lanna Nguyen