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Photograph by Joel Plotkin
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For more than 20 years, David Weir perfected suburban upscale-casual with the genre-busting Buckley’s Tavern in Centreville. At Goat Kitchen and Bar in North Wilmington, the chef and restaurateur is back in his familiar groove. Goat (1845 Marsh Road, 746-7847, www.goatkitchenandbar.com) follows Weir’s mantra of cultivating a quality bar with affordable, interesting food. Tucked into a strip mall, Goat features eight rotating beer taps, a flat-price selection of wines by the glass and a small but mighty menu of burgers, pizzas, snacks and the like. Pork-belly Reubens, porter-braised short ribs and Thai-flavored meatloaf were part of Weir’s yet-to-be-finalized menu this winter. Since selling Buckley’s in 2011, he had kept his eyes out for a new location. His daughter—who works at a neighboring shop—alerted him to the vacant space on Marsh Road. A few simple renovations, including lots of reclaimed and salvaged woods that lend a rustic, warm vibe, and the 64-seat Goat was ready to roll. As for the curious name? “It’s just always a name that I had in my head,” Weir says. “Goats are cute; they eat everything.” There are no goat dishes on the menu—yet.
