1909 K Street, NW

LOOK opened up in the former Teatro Goldoni space on K Street back in March. A recent liquor license placard posted out front says:

“Request is for an expansion to increase capacity load from 186 to 419.”

Business must be good…

You can see their menus here.

4611 Wisconsin Ave, NW

It’s been a big year for anniversaries – next up – Happy 40th anniversary Dancing Crab! Dancing Crab is located at 4611 Wisconsin Ave, NW. You can see their 40th anniversary menu for the month of May here. Check out the fancy new patio too:

Here’s how they looked in 2010:

415 New Jersey Avenue, NW

From an email:

Art and Soul Picnic Lunches

Starting Memorial Day Weekend, on Saturday May 25, the kitchen at Art and Soul will be packing up some of its most popular bites, including its famous fried chicken and Executive Chef Wes Morton’s house-made charcuterie, in ready-to-go picnic lunches for two. These carryout meals are perfect for a trip to the National Mall (just blocks from the restaurant), for a blanket-top lunch in the park or just gathering with friends for a backyard meal. Art and Soul’s picnic lunches must be ordered 24 hours in advance by calling 202-393-7777.
All picnics are priced for two, add-ons welcome. Options include:

Fried chicken, potato salad, whole fruit, cookies, water. $35
Smoked turkey and avocado on focaccia, chips, whole fruit, cookies, water. $32
Charcuterie & cheese, baguette, crackers, mustards, pickles, whole fruit, cookies, water. $30
All picnic lunches include a jarred mixer. This tonic comes with an easy recipe that can be made with spirits for a just-add-alcohol cocktail or juice for a refreshing summer soft drink.

Wednesday Pig and Oyster Roasts

Executive Chef Wes Morton is bringing back the restaurant’s popular Wednesday patio parties with weekly pig and oyster roasts – call it southern-style surf and turf. Beginning Wednesday, May 29, Morton will be cooking heritage pork in a Caja China roasting box while grilling Rappahannock Oyster Co. oysters on top of it. In addition to the pork and cooked and raw oysters, there will be a snack board starter with favorites like pork rinds and pimento cheese and house-made creamiscles for dessert. The Art and Soul bar is making a seasonal punch for the weekly event, which will be available by the pitcher.

See the full menu.

When: Wednesdays starting at 5:30 p.m., May 29-Aug. 28.
Where: The Patio at Art and Soul, 415 New Jersey Ave. NW.
Price: $35 per person, exclusive of tax and gratuity. Punch is $30 for a 32oz. pitcher.
A menu of limited cuts – think ears, trotters and cheeks – will be priced individually and sold on a first-come basis.

1308 G Street, NW

From an email:

Just in time for the summer season, Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken announces weekend hours, starting Saturday, May 25. Weekend hours will be on Saturdays only from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. In honor of new weekend hours this Memorial Day weekend, and to mark the unofficial start of summer, Astro and Chef Jason Gehring will offer a seasonal special Strawberry Shortcake Doughnut: vanilla yeast-raised doughnut, strawberry glaze and white chocolate for $2.25. In addition, a complimentary side will be offered with any 8-piece fried chicken order. Current sides include potato salad, Asian slaw, tomato and feta salad and a cucumber dill salad.

1750 Pennsylvania Ave, NW

Back in Nov. 2012 we learned that another Taylor Gourmet would be opening up near the White House at 1750 Pennsylvania Ave, NW. On Saturday it looked like their sign was about to go up and the inside had progressed nicely as well:

Photo by @DDOTDC tweeted by @DavidGarber

WBJ reports on a permit for:

“a fenced outdoor venue, with a tents for food and beverage sales and live music at 101 Tingey St. SE”

From an email:

The Capitol Riverfront in SE Washington is an exciting area of the city, especially during baseball season,” says John Shaw, COO, Hill Country Hospitality. “The team at Hill Country Barbecue Market has started the permitting process for a potential pop-up outdoor barbecue venue in the area, but no deal has been solidified to move forward with this opportunity. If we do proceed, we do not yet know whether it will happen this year or next season.

Hill Country recently kicked off their Backyard Barbecue on the west lawn of the National Building Museum.

903 N Street, NW

Table opened up at 903 N St, NW back in January. And now they’ve opened the roof deck. It is of the covered variety but still pretty sweet. You can see their menus here. Anyone try them out yet?

1001 Pennsylvania Ave, NW

Huge news from Inside Scoop SF:

Tadich DC — to be located at 1001 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, less than a mile from the White House — will be twice as big as the original, clocking in at 7,387 square feet, compared to the 3,500 square foot original. The new East Coast branch won’t be a replica per se, but will try to attempt to recreate that same counter-centric atmosphere, though there will be a bigger dining room and private dining areas. The idea is that the Tadich Grill menu, famous for its use of West Coast seafood, will also remain largely the same on the other coast.

They also report plans are for Tadich DC to open in early 2014. TenPenh closed back in June 2011. A reader writes:

“A friend who works on that block saw people taking measurements in the space a few days ago.”

You can see Tadich Grill’s menu here. Any San Fran expats ever eaten there?

1825 18th Street, NW

Cajun Experience closed in mid-July 2012 at 1825 18th St, NW. In Aug. 2012 we noted the space was for lease. Now I’m hearing Jackie Greenbaum of Jackie’s in Silver Spring and El Chucho in Columbia Heights – is likely opening up a new restaurants here. Details are scarce but more info if/when it becomes available.

1212 H Street, NE

@HStreetDC_ tweets:

“Bocce court is waiting for you @vendettadc…opens officially on Tuesday”

You can see Vendetta’s menus here.

Formerly Palace of Wonders, Red and the Black and Red Palace:

1926 9th Street, NW

In Oct. 2012 Cause opened up just south of U Street at 1926 9th Street, NW. You can see their menu here. Any fans?

13th and U Street, NW

The folks from &Pizza coming to the former Quiznos space outside the U Street metro have applied for a liquor license:

“New Restaurant to prepare and sale Pizza and prepared pizzeria food products. Seating Capacity is 10. Total occupancy load is 13.”

I was a little surprised that the seating capacity is only for ten but now that I think about it, that’s about the same capacity as the former Quiznos. You can see they are coming along nicely and should be opening very soon:

3417 Connecticut Ave NW

From a press release:

Fans of Ripple’s inspired dinner menu can now enjoy the restaurant’s delectable dishes for brunch. Executive chef Marjorie Meek-Bradley and pastry chef Alison Reed work in tandem to create mouth-watering breakfast traditions with a twist. Farm fresh eggs, locally-sourced proteins and vegetables, complemented with house-made pastries can now be found on Ripple’s brunch menu, served Sundays 11:30am to 2:30pm.

The RAMMY nominated duo have collaborated to create inventive brunch dishes, including chicken fried pork belly with sausage gravy, fried egg and cheddar cheese, atop a homemade biscuit, aka The Codester. Meek-Bradley makes her own pastrami for the smoked hash served with potatoes, onions and sunny eggs and Reed’s oatmeal brancakes served with seasonal fruit are much more than just vessels for transporting maple syrup from plate to mouth. Roasted striped bass on a bed of organic greens with artichokes, olives, tomatoes, and lemon vinaigrette provides a filling dish for the diner in search of lunch, but many choose breakfast and the popular sally’s bennie with Maryland blue crab cakes on top of a housemade english muffin. Meek-Bradley offers some lighter fare as well including house-made gravlax with capers, onion, lemon, hard-boiled egg and pretzel chips. Reed applies her signature pastry technique to create cinnamon rolls served in a hot skillet, addictive pecan sticky buns, muffins made with seasonal fruit, scones, fresh breads and assorted pastries.

Known for their reputable wine program, Ripple’s general manager and wine expert, Danny Fisher, opts for the perfect champagne to stock their bubbly bar with a choice of grapefruit, orange, peach or strawberry juice. Ripple also offers a bloody mary bar and unique breakfast cocktails such as the subtle yet complete Colorblind which starts with cucumber infused vodka mixed with rhubarb-tarragon soda and finishes with lime.

The newly designed private dining room at the front, serves as the perfect sun-filled room to people-watch without sweating the heat.

Ed. Note: Wow, I hadn’t realized Sugar Magnolia had closed…

1707 L Street, NW

Back in Dec. 2012 we noted another Quiznos would soon bite the dust – this one at 1707 L St, NW just off Connecticut Ave. An Italian Gourmet Deli will be taking over that space.

2477 18th Street, NW

Back in early April a reader told us about Federal Restaurant and Lounge coming to the former Saki/District space from the owners of Floriana. Looks like they’ll be opening any day now:

Also down the street – Mediterranean Spot now has signage up at their second location coming to the former Carribou Coffee/Uptowner Cafe space at 2421 18th St, NW. They also are located at 15th and U St, NW.

2421 18th Street, NW