One of the recurring critiques about The Shaw Bijou is that it has such a high barrier of entry. As in, Washingtonians have to pay hundreds of dollars for dinner just to set foot in the new restaurant to see what all the hype is about.

That changes tonight because the fine dining restaurant is now accepting walk-ins for its bar on a first-come, first-served basis from 5:30 p.m. to 12 a.m.

When dining at The Shaw Bijou, dinner starts in the bar. There, well-heeled mixologists mix a drink for each customer based on his or her preferences. It sounds like walk-in guests will have a similar experience because the restaurant confirms there is no cocktail menu to order from. 

In addition to cocktails, walk-in bar guests can also order select bites from the dining room’s tasting menu. Details about how much dishes or cocktails cost a la carte have not been revealed. 

The Shaw Bijou,1544 9th St. NW; (202) 800-0640; theshawbijou.com