Judging Restaurant – nopa Kitchen+Bar

800 F Street, NW

nopa opened up in the former Zola space just north of pennsylvania avenue back in May 2013. Their website says:

“nopa Kitchen+Bar, a new 160-seat American brasserie in the heart of Penn Quarter. This is the award-winning restaurateur’s eighth restaurant in the nation’s Capitol and it serves American fare with French and Asian influences. The name represents nopa’s location just north of Pennsylvania Avenue and it welcomes guests for lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch. The restaurant offers lively dining in the main dining room, and also offers quieter dining options and several private dining rooms.

Greg McCarty is the executive chef for nopa Kitchen+Bar. A graduate of The George Brown Chef School in Toronto, Canada, McCarty’s culinary career began in the New York City kitchen of Jean Georges. He cooked under Chef Vongerichten for six years, working his way up from line cook to executive sous chef of Dune in the Bahamas. In 2005, McCarty returned to Manhattan to open Nobu 57. McCarty worked with renowned restaurateur Drew Nieporent on various restaurant projects, and has also managed his own consulting business, before accepting his new position in Washington.

Ashok Bajaj worked with James Beard Foundation’s award-nominated restaurant designer Martin Vahtra of Projects Design Associates of New York to create nopa. Its striking interior is light-filled, and sports a rustic industrial style. The décor features whitewashed exposed brick, rough sawn wood paneling, steel accents and metal task lighting. These strong elements contrast dramatically with the plush fabric on the red banquettes and camel leather arm chairs, which provide comfortable seating around sleek wooden bistro tables.”

You can see their menus here.

Any fans?