Friday Question of the Day – What’s The Best Local DC Chain/Who’s the Best Local DC Restauranteur?

On Wed. Washingtonian Magazine reported that Taylor’s will be opening a 5th store at 1910 14th St, NW (pictured above where Ruff n Ready currently resides by T St.) They note that Taylor’s currently has stores at H St, NE, at Fifth and K St, NW, and in Bethesda. Ed. Note: Thanks to all who sent emails about this. One reader notes that the new store on 14th St. is supposed to deliver to Columbia Heights.

So it got me thinking for the Friday Question of the Day – what is your favorite local DC Chain? I’ve expanded the definition to include multiple bars/restaurants/stores by the same owner ie Jose Andres of Jaleo and Zaytinya among others, fame. Others I’d include would be Cava Grill – who by the by are currently looking to open another spot in downtown/Penn Quarter; the Matchbox folks (recent scuttlebutt tells me that they are also looking for a new space around 14th and T St, NW); Spike Mendelsohn of Good Stuff and We the Pizza Fame, and who else am I missing? The folks from the Buffalo Billiards chain? Any other successful homegrown chains?

One quick side question: Do you think these local chains water themselves down by opening new stores or are they able to maintain the quality that they achieved in their first ventures?

So for the FQotD – what/who is DC’s best local chain and/or restauranteur?