Thanks to ‏@eliglazier for for tweeting us the photo yesterday. We’ve been eagerly anticipating Shake Shack’s arrival. Stay tuned for an exact opening date soon.

From an email:

Azur, Frederik de Pue’s young Penn Quarter seafood restaurant, will be launching weekday lunch service on Wednesday, June 5. Lunch will be served Mondays-Fridays from 11:30am-3pm.

The menu includes a few favorites from Azur’s European-accented dinner menu, like the wild sardine escabeche, along with a selection of lunch-only entrees and sandwiches. Dishes like Steak Frites, Fish & Chips and Flemish-Style Asparagus give diners a reason to enjoy a midday meal in Azur’s dining room, while the sandwiches – including a signature Lobster Roll, Crab Cake Rueben and braised Pork Belly Bahn Mi – can be enjoyed in the restaurant or wrapped up to take back to the office.

and

Beginning June 12, Frederik De Pue’s Penn Quarter seafood restaurant Azur will host a summer-long series of Wednesday Crab Fests. The weekly events will take place in the first floor bar area (the Washington part of his Brussels-meets-Washington concept) and feature fixed-price crab offerings and specials on canned and draft beer from a single local brewery that will change throughout the season.

Crab Fests take place on Wednesdays, beginning June 12, from 5pm until the crabs run out.

The fixed-price crab specials come with corn on the cob, kielbasa, potatoes, hush puppies, drawn butter, cocktail sauce and garlic aioli and cost $65 for a half-dozen large blue crabs or $120 for a dozen.

Crabs are available a la carte for $40 for a half-dozen large blue crabs and $75 for a dozen.

On June 12, the local brewery will be DC Brau. The Public Pale Ale will be available on draft alongside cans of the Citizen Belgian Ale and El Hefe Speaks Hefeweizen, all priced at $5.

And on a side note since was the former home of America Eats Tavern:

“Following the success of America Eats Tavern, the groundbreaking temporary restaurant in downtown DC, José Andrés reveals the permanent home of his American culinary destination, in McLean, Virginia, at The Ritz-­‐Carlton, Tysons Corner, scheduled to open its doors this November.”

From a press release:

On Wednesday, May 29, Del Campo, Chef Victor Albisu’s young Penn Quarter restaurant, opened its Asado Bar. Guests seated at the nine-seat counter overlooking the open kitchen window will be offered a pair of fixed-price menus that showcase the true art of the South American grill. The first menu is a $77, four-course exploration of the Asado tradition that offers a variety of grilled, smoked and burnt meat and seafood. For $42, the vegetarian menu gives diners a taste of the many ways smoke and char enhance and add flavor to vegetables, bread, cheese and fruit.

Reservations are available only via phone at 202-289-7377
Both menus are available online.
Wine pairings for both menus are available for $22

Del Campo debuted its patio seating earlier this week. Both the happy hour and dinner menus are available at the 40-seat space, which opens with the restaurant at 5:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 5 p.m. on Sunday.

The ShopHouse coming to the former Furin’s space in Georgetown is now hiring and looking close to opening. Here’s how the space looked in 2010:

2010

ShopHouse’s first location opened in back in Sept. 2011 at 1516 Connecticut Ave, NW in Dupont. You can see their menu here.

Washington Business Journal reports that ShopHouse will be opening a third location in part of the former Ruby Tuesday’s which recently closed at 710 7th Street, NW:

A few weeks ago we learned Hill Country’s Backyard BBQ was coming to the west lawn of the Building Museum at 4th and F St, NW. The BBQ operates Wednesday through Friday from 4–11 pm, Saturdays from Noon–11 pm and Sundays from Noon–9 pm. I was able to attend the kickoff last Friday. As a fan of the brick and mortar Hill Country located at 410 7th St, NW – I love this new outdoor option. For me, this is all about drinking cold beers and listening to live music outdoors (note – I believe the live music will only be Friday and Saturdays.) For those who work in the area this is going to be a phenomenal happy hour spot. Anyone else stop by yet?

Lots more photos after the jump.

Nopa Kitchen + Bar is located in the former Zola space at 800 F St, NW:

You can see their menu here.

Their website says:

nopa Kitchen+Bar, a new 160-seat American brasserie in the heart of Penn Quarter. This is the awarding-winning restaurateur’s eighth restaurant in the nation’s capital. The name represents nopa’s location just north of Pennsylvania Avenue and it welcomes guests for lunch, dinner and weekend brunch on Saturday and Sunday.

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.

For private dining, nopa Kitchen+Bar offers three exclusive spaces: a 40-seat dining room with a working fireplace, expansive views and AV capabilities; a 24-seat dining room next to the bar, which also have floor-to-ceiling windows, and a cozy 14-seat dining room for smaller parties.

@verizoncenterpr tweeted this morning:

“Just announced! @RollingStones add final show to 50 & Counting tour 6/24 @verizoncenterpr Tiks on sale 5/13 at 10am“

Last week Del Campo opened in the former PS7′s space in Chinatown. They are launching their happy hour Wed. May 1st – from a press release:

In honor of the restaurant’s location at 777 I St. NW, $7 drink specials will be offered seven days a week from 5 to 7pm.

Del Campo Happy Hour Drink Specials
Available 5-7pm in the bar area
$7

Margarita
El Jimador Silver Tequila, Luxardo Triple Sec,
Lime Juice, Agave Nectar

Mojito

Bacardi Superior Rum, Lime Juice,
Simple Syrup, Mint, Carbonated Water

A Las Once

Cristal Aguardiente, Chicha Morada Syrup,
Lime Juice, Pineapple Juice

Viñedor

Strawberry Purée, Torrontes Syrup,
Grilled Lemon Juice, Biutiful Cava Brut

Draft Beer
Brooklyn IPA
Peroni

Wine
Biutiful Cava
Bodegas Lurton Pinot Gris
Nieto Senetiner Bonarda

You can see the full bar menu here and regular dinner menu here.

Lots of changes coming to 7th Street in Chinatown. We knew the Potbelly was becoming a Lime Fresh but now a liquor license has been posted for a new Tavern coming to the basement of 726 7th St, NW:

Jackpot

Tavern serving light food with a seating capacity of 47 for patrons and total load of 160. Request an entertainment endorsement for occasional entertainment.

CityPaper reported:

“Iron Horse Taproom and Rocket Bar co-owners Curt Large and Geoff Dawson are opening a bar called Jackpot in the basement space below Lime Fresh (formerly Potbelly) at 726 7th St. NW.”

712 Seventh Street, NW

And Washington Business Journal reports just down the block that Ruby Tuesday has closed as of Sunday night:

Ruby Tuesday plans to close its doors at the end of service Sunday, making way for at least two new retailers to come into the space. Fast-growing self-serve yogurt chain FroZenYo will lease space there and open there by the third week of June.

WBJ also reports that a “a candy store and a fast-casual Asian joint” could take over the remaining spaces that formally made up Ruby Tuesday. Stay tuned.

Jose Andres’ Oyamel is expanding into the former half price ticket place space at 401 7th Street, NW.