Newton’s Noodles Opening Early July at 1129 20th St, NW

1129 20th Street, NW

In Oct. 2012 we first heard plans for Newton’s Noodles to come to 1129 20th St, NW between L and M Streets. Newton’s Noodles comes from the same folks behind Newton’s Table in Bethesda.

From a press release:

In early July 2013, one of the region’s most popular noodle dishes gets its own restaurant: Newton’s Noodles arrives in Dupont Circle this summer, bearing fuzu, chorks and a fresh take on fast-casual dining. Dennis Friedman, the award-winning Executive Chef behind critically-acclaimed Bethesda eatery Newton’s Table, is spearheading the new concept eatery.

The restaurant marks a stylistic shift from Friedman’s previous fine dining oeuvre, one that adapts and repackages signature menu items from Newton’s Table for a more informal dining atmosphere. The menu will revolve around fuzu, a customizable noodle dish that Friedman developed on his first day as an executive chef – one that attracted a formidable critical and public following when he later brought it to Newton’s Table. Fuzu incorporates diners’ choice of proteins, veggies, toppings, sauces and spice level. Guests can also opt for the Signature Fuzu: shrimp, scallops, chicken, egg, carrots, snowpeas, onions, bean sprouts, scallions, crispy shallots and black sesame. All varieties of the made-to-order fuzu, however, will have one thing in common – all-natural, locally-sourced ingredients prepared at a speedy clip. The fuzu flavor profile exemplifies a sense of balance that Friedman has perfected throughout his tenure at both restaurants, a taste he describes as “the perfect mix of salty and sweet, with a touch of heat.”

Photo by Len DePas

Newton’s Noodles will also be the first restaurant to premiere a brand-new utensil to fuel the fuzu enthusiasm: the chork, a fork that splits into chopsticks, will accommodate noodle-lovers of varying dexterity. Noodle-free dishes – which include seared ahi tuna bites, coated in black sesame; buttery duck confit spring rolls; sweet, tangy kapow chicken; and beef-filled wontons encased in crispy, paper-thin shells – mirror the complex flavor profiles Friedman has crafted with fuzu. Desserts include the “Pattycake” – Friedman’s wife Patty’s signature rum cake. Eat-in and carry-out dishes alike will be served in signature white-and-green takeout boxes.

Photo by Len DePas

Modern, sustainable decor throughout the 70-seat interior is a visual complement to the cuisine. All-natural materials like wormy maple wood and recycled leather constitute the walls and furnishings. Above the stained concrete floors, dozens of single lightbulbs and wooden clouds hang from exposed ducting in the open-air ceilings. The expansive layout allows small and large parties to move easily through the space – which also includes a 40-seat patio – and high-tech touches like digital menu boards streamline the ordering process.

To celebrate its arrival in the District, Newton’s Noodles has already kicked off their “Scan. Win. Eat.” QR code campaign. Entrants will be eligible to win over $2,500 in prizes – including discounts, free food and merchandise – throughout the opening weeks.

The Newton name is anything but arbitrary: it refers to a childhood nickname bestowed by Friedman’s father, but also the chef’s most fervently-held culinary philosophy – inspired by the famous scientist. “I run my restaurants in accordance with Newton’s laws,” he explains. “Every action as an opposite or equal reaction. If I pour love, compassion and gratitude into my food and business, it comes back two-fold. I tell my staff, ‘Watch your thoughts because they become words; watch your words because they become habit; watch your habits because they become actions; watch your actions because they become your destiny.'”