It’s boom times on H Street. And no, we’re not talking about the coming Whole Foods. We’re talking about Driftwood Kitchen (left) and Kitty’s Saloon, two new haunts eight blocks apart.

Here’s the breakdown...

The Scene
Driftwood Kitchen: Downstairs, a long concrete bar, custom metalwork and rustic tables. Upstairs, a view of the Capitol, ringed with retractable glass walls. (Take a look here.)
Kitty’s Saloon: Rough-hewn wood, Winchester-style rifles and a buffalo head. It’s the kind of bar that Eastwood would hang out at. But maybe that’s just the Eastwood poster talking. (Check it out here.)

The Eats
Driftwood Kitchen: An American menu with Mediterranean and Middle Eastern touches. This means: lamb tartare, housemade harissa and a bar snack of cayenne caramel corn. Get some of that.
Kitty’s Saloon: “Contemporary redneck cuisine.” This means: wings with sausage stuffed under the skin, fried alligator tail, bourbon-braised bison short ribs.

The Drinks
Driftwood Kitchen: Interesting tap beers like Ithaca Flower Power and cocktails like the Jamaican Bride (bourbon, coconut syrup, Cocchi).
Kitty’s Saloon: Rolling Rock for three bucks. Allagash Curieux for... a bit more. And 20 solid American whiskeys by one-ounce or two-ounce pours.

Get the two. Do it.