Honor Society Handcrafted Eatery

In a world where fast-casuals are proliferating faster than rabbits, Honor Society Handcrafted Eatery stands out from the crowd. The restaurant opened in the summer of 2015 behind Union Station, and with long community tables, whitewashed planks on the walls, loud music and barrels as light fixtures, it strikes a trendy balance between industrial and homespun. There’s even a bar in a room off the back, with everything from cocktails to craft beer to coconut water on tap. Indeed, if you took away the line where you order – and the slightly corny “Honor Thy Belly” proclamation on the wall by the door -- the restaurant could moonlight as a sit-down with a large open kitchen. And yet Honor Society offers the perks of the fast-casual genre, starting with speed. Food, though not assembled as you walk down the line, comes quickly, delivered to your table by a runner. Choice is another. The menu, designed by Justin Brunson (of Masterpiece Delicatessen and Old Major) and conscientiously sourced, is built around five fillings that can be had in numerous ways: over three standard and four specialty salads, as a pre-set sandwich, or on a plate with two sides. While the menu skews healthy, the best offerings are ones that channel the inner Brunson, such as fried chicken and braised short ribs.