PubKey DC — Private Events & Catering

01 — The Philosophy

Our Story

The best food is made to pair with drinks and share with friends in the spaces between home and the street. We call ours The Pub.

Our kitchen runs on three words: familiarity, simplicity, quality. We respect the traditions — and when we put our own spin on something, it's only to make the original stronger.

For private events, the philosophy holds — passed apps for a happy hour, a casual meal that keeps coming, a seated dinner with courses, or a communal beefsteak in the old New York tradition. Every format is built so your guests eat, drink, talk, and stay.

Let's build something worth showing up for.

— The PubKey Team

02 — Venue Layout

Spaces

500+ events hosted — intimate dinners to full-venue productions. Every space flexes to your format.

Seated Event Space

Standing Event Space

The Pub

Event Bar

Tier 1

Bar Tab Only

Ballroom (Partial)

Capacity: Up to 40

Min Hours: 2 hours

Min Spend: No minimum

Tier 2

Bar + Light AV

Ballroom (Full)

$25+ / pp

Capacity: 50 to 150

Min Hours: 2 hours

Min Spend: $2,500

Tier 3

Full AV, Catering, DJ

Ballroom + Bar

$50+ / pp

Capacity: Up to 250

Min Hours: 3 hours

Min Spend: $7,500

Tier 4

All Spaces, Full Production

Full Venue

$100+ / pp

Capacity: 250+

Min Hours: 4 hours

Min Spend: $25,000

Per-person figures are floors, not caps. All pricing subject to DC sales tax.

03 — AV & Production

Production

10' × 5' LED Screen

Production Assets

Everything below is on-site and available for your event.

10' × 5' LED Screen

4-Channel Mic System

Full PA + Mixing Board

Vinyl Decks + DJ Equipment

Podcast Recording Studio

PTZ Cameras for Live Streaming

AV and Production Add-Ons

All AV packages include a 3-hour block.

Add-On	3-Hour Rate	Additional Hours	Notes
LED Screen (10' × 5')	$500	$100/hour	Custom content billed separately.
Microphone Package (up to 4)	$300	$75/hour	Setup, sound check, operator included.
DJ Equipment / Vinyl Decks	$400	$100/hour	Client provides DJ. We provide gear.
Live Streaming (PTZ cameras)	$750	$150/hour	Camera operator + stream setup.
Podcast Studio	$350	$100/hour	Post-production not included.
Full Sound Board Operation	$600	$125/hour	Dedicated AV tech.

04 — Beverage Programs

Drinks

The Bar

Cheers

Bar package required for the full event.
All packages include soft drinks, water, coffee, and tea.

Open Bar Packages

Beer & Wine

The Local

$38 / guest · 2 hrs

Rotating draft selection (4 taps), house red & white wine, non-alcoholic beverages

3 hrs: $50/guest

Well Spirits

The Regular

$55 / guest · 2 hrs

Everything in The Local + well spirits, basic cocktails

3 hrs: $72/guest

Top Shelf

The Reserve

$72 / guest · 2 hrs

Top-shelf spirits, craft cocktails, expanded wine list, full draft selection

3 hrs: $90/guest

Non-Alcoholic

Zero Proof

Soft Drinks & Coffee

$8 / guest

Included with food packages; standalone pricing shown

Crafted N/A

N/A Cocktails

$24 / guest · 2 hrs

Crafted non-alcoholic cocktails

05 — Casual Format

Stations

No courses, no formality. Food hits the table, people eat, more comes. Minimum 25 guests.

Pick from Sides & Smalls and Mains below, or start with a suggested menu and swap from there.

Service

From the Kitchen

The Spread

3 Sides + 2 Mains

3 + 2

$38 / guest

Pick 3 from Sides & Smalls, pick 2 from Mains

4 Sides + 3 Mains

4 + 3

$48 / guest

Pick 4 from Sides & Smalls, pick 3 from Mains

5 Sides + 4 Mains

5 + 4

$58 / guest

Pick 5 from Sides & Smalls, pick 4 from Mains

Sides and Smalls

Waffle Fries

Well-dressed, pub sauce

Onion Rings

Buttermilk battered, pub sauce

Pub Rolls

Parker house, butter, pickles, green goop

Jalapeno Poppers

Cream cheese, bacon, ranch

Pigs in Blankets

Vienna all-beef, puff pastry, mustard selection

Fried Mozz

Seasoned crumb, red sauce

Grilled Cheese Bites

Fontina, caramelized onion, tomato soup shooters

Nachos

Wagyu chili, crema, cilantro, pickled onion, jalapeno

Caesar Salad

Seasoned crumb, parmesan

Brussels with Bacon

Technically green

Crudites and Dip

Seasonal vegetables, ranch, hummus

Pub Board

Cured meats, aged cheddar, mustard, pickles, crackers

Smorgasbord

Gravlax, pickled herring, rye, dill cream cheese, capers

Mains

Wings

Buffalo or dry BBQ, celery, ranch or blue cheese

Chicken Tenders

Honey mustard, 5 sauces

Chicken and Waffles

Sweet chili brown butter

Mini Smashburgers

American cheese, pub sauce, pickle

Chicago Dogs

Vienna beef, the full dress

Dirty Dogs

Half smoke, wagyu chili, slaw, habanero

Fish and Chips

Beer-battered cod, chips, tartare, lemon

Grilled Chicken

Half chicken, lemon pepper, more lemon

Deep Fried Steak Frites (8oz)

Tallow fried, garlic butter

Gochujang Fried Pork Belly

For when you mean it

Add-Ons

Salad & Dessert

+$14 / guest

Caesar or House salad, cookies and brownie bites or pancakes with maple ice cream.

Raw Bar

+$18 / guest

Oysters, jumbo shrimp, snow crab claws. On ice.

Seafood Towers

$100 / tower

Dozen oysters, jumbo shrimp, snow crab. Serves 2–4.

Suggested Menus

3 + 2 Package

The PubKey Classic

$38 / guest

Sides & Smalls: Waffle Fries, Onion Rings, Pigs in Blankets

Mains: Chicago Dogs (full dress), Wings (buffalo or dry BBQ)

POPULAR

4 + 3 Package

The District Dinner

$48 / guest

Sides & Smalls: Pub Board, Caesar Salad, Brussels with Bacon, Grilled Cheese Bites

Mains: Mini Smashburgers, Wings, Chicken and Waffles

Not seeing what you're looking for? We build custom menus. Ask us.

06 — Small Plates, Passed

Passed Appetizers

Minimum selection is 4 choices from the list below.

Opening Act

Cocktail Hour

1 hour

4 choices $30/guest · 6 choices $44/guest

Light course — pair with a meal, plated dinner, or beefsteak

Standalone Option

Cocktail Reception

2 hours

4 choices $54/guest · 6 choices $78/guest

Stands on its own for a full evening. Add a raw bar if your group runs hungry.

The Menu

Deviled Eggs

Pimento, dill, crispy bits

Piggies

Vienna all-beef frank, puff pastry, mustard

Caesar Boats

Seasoned crumb, parmesan

Potato Empanadas

Garlic confit, crema

Steak Tartare Bites

Waffle fry chip, chimichurri, quail egg

Bacon Shrimp

Ol' Bay, tartare sauce, capers

Mushroom Wontons

Caramelized onion, herb oil

Tuna Tartare Cups

Ponzu, ginger, sesame, nori

Duck Rillette Toast

Cornichon, mustard

Crab Quesadilla Bites

Cotija, crema, cilantro

Beet Skewers

Chimichurri, goat cheese

Lamb Lollipops

Pomegranate, gremolata

+$4/guest

07 — Sit-Down Service

Plated

Plated Service

Service Format

Lunch

Meat and two sides, plated and served. Soft drinks, tea, and coffee included. Select two entrees — groups over 50, send selections one week ahead.

Plated Lunch

Standard

$38 / guest

Select two entrees from the menu below. Includes meat, two sides, soft drinks, tea & coffee

Plated Lunch + Steak

Premium

$48 / guest

All standard options plus Steak Frites 12oz — tallow-fried ribeye, garlic butter, fries

Select Two Entrees

PubKey Smashburger

American cheese, pub sauce, pickles, fries

Grilled Chicken

Half chicken, lemon pepper, rice and beans

Fish and Chips

Beer-battered cod, chips, tartare

Country Fried Steak

Sawmill gravy, whipped Yukons

Cabbage Steak

Guanciale, gorgonzola, balsamic

Steak and Ale Pie

Beef cheek, Guinness, house pastry, salad

Add Dessert

+$10 / guest

Short Stack of Pancakes (maple ice cream) or Brownie Sundae (vanilla ice cream, hot fudge)

Service Format

Dinner

Three courses, plated and served. Salad or soup to start, dessert to finish. Select two entrees.

Plated Dinner · 3 Courses

$58 / guest

First Course (select one): Caesar Salad, House Salad, or Brussels with Bacon

Entree: Select two from the menu below

Dessert (included): Short Stack of Pancakes (maple ice cream) or Brownie Sundae (vanilla ice cream, hot fudge)

Select Two Entrees

Grilled Chicken

Half chicken, lemon pepper, whipped Yukons, broccolini

Country Fried Steak

Sawmill gravy, whipped Yukons, green beans

Fish and Chips

Beer-battered cod, chips, tartare, malt vinegar

Cabbage Steak

Guanciale, gorgonzola, balsamic, roasted vegetables

Steak and Ale Pie

Beef cheek, Guinness, house pastry, salad

Add to Your Menu

Crab Cake Plate

+$14 / guest

Two jumbo cakes, tartare, lemon, slaw

Steak Frites 16oz

+$14 / guest who chooses

Tallow-fried petite tender, garlic butter, fries

Shareable Ribeye 20oz

$75 / steak

Butter, salt, pepper

Raw Bar

+$18 / guest

Oysters, shrimp, crab claws