"For almost a century 1610 U Street has been the site of bars, restaurants and fine entertainment. Prior to the advent of Prohibition, the building now Stetson's housed a popular saloon called "McCarthy's." Prohibition itself seems to have left the building's owners undaunted: the place is said to have been a famous speakeasy – despite the country's being nominally dry. Urban legend, in fact, has it that an old bootlegger's still is buried under the cement of the outdoor patio. Whatever the accuracy of these stories, it is true that during renovations in the early 1960's, bottles were found in the basement with "1610 U Street" labels affixed. So clearly, someone, sometime was producing and selling alcohol on premises…regardless of any laws to the contrary.
But alcohol was not the only attraction. During the glory days of U Street, when jazz clubs and packed restaurants made up a thriving entertainment neighborhood stretching from 1610 to the Howard Theater at 7th and U, the current site of Stetson's was the famous "Alfred's Steak House". "Alfred's" hosted a diverse and accomplished crowd of patrons: visitors to the restaurant in those days included: Duke Ellington, Pearl Bailey, Nat King Cole, Count Basle, Sarah Vaughn and countless others. But all good times must come to an end, and with the eventual closure of 'Alfred's Steak House," 1610 U Street once again changed hands, becom