Khachapouri Coming – Compass Rose Opening Thursday – For Real This Time!!

1346 T Street, NW

From a press release:

“Compass Rose Bar & Kitchen will open on Thursday, April 17 at 1346 T Street, NW. The intimate restaurant was inspired by co-owner Rose Previte’s international travels. She and her husband, NPR Morning Edition Host David Greene, spent three years based in Russia, and the couple has traveled widely across Europe.

“Everywhere we went, David and I always said some of our best memories were strolling neighborhoods and experiencing a place through its food,” Previte says. “The former Soviet Republic of Georgia? I knew little about it five years ago. Now, I know it’s one of the friendliest, most interesting countries on earth. And when I think about it, I can literally smell and taste the khachapouri, the cheese bread sold everywhere, often by ladies who pop their heads out of the windows of their bakeries to give you a taste. That is one of our features at Compass Rose.”

Previte, whose Sicilian father and Lebanese mother taught her to cook, spent a decade in the restaurant business and helped her mother open a small family restaurant in Bluffton, Ohio. She and Greene now live in the 14th Street corridor.

“Making people feel at home, and being part of a community — those two things are so important to me,” Previte says. “So while our menu will take you on a tour of the world, Compass Rose will be a local, neighborhood gathering place where you can meet new people, kick back, and talk about life.”

Early in her career, Previte worked for her now-business partner, Mike Schuster, who has run neighborhood taverns across the city. He also co-owns Star and Shamrock, the recently opened Barrel, and Trusty’s, which defined itself as a neighborhood gathering place when it came to Capitol Hill in 2005. Schuster says he’s excited to bring his approach to a fast-growing part of the District.

“I got into the bar and restaurant business because I love community gathering spots–where people can eat, drink, share stories, meet new friends, just be comfortable and enjoy themselves,” Schuster says. “That’s what Trusty’s is about. I’ll never abandon that approach. Compass Rose Bar & Kitchen will wrap great food and drink with comfort and accessibility.”

JohnPaul Damato is the new restaurant’s executive chef. Damato has been front and center at some of Washington’s culinary jewels. He worked at Restaurant Nora, and later worked closely with famed chef Jose Andres. Damato also worked as executive chef for the Jaleo restaurants in the DC metro area.

Compass Rose Bar & Kitchen will open on Thursday, April 17 at 1346 T Street, NW. It will be open daily at 5 PM and close at 2 AM during the week, and 3 AM on weekends. Brunch and a late-night menu will soon follow.”