Declaration Opens (for real) in Navy Yard on Opening Day Thursday

1237 First Street, SE

After some early estimates Declaration is nearly here:

From a press release:

“Declaration Nats Park, the newest restaurant to hit the Capitol Riverfront restaurant scene, has confirmed today that their Grand Opening will be Thursday, April 5th at 11am, just in time for the Nationals home opener. Declaration Nats Park is the fourth restaurant to join the PRG Hospitality family and the second installment of the neighborhood pizza spot in Shaw of the same name. Located at 1237 First St SE, the restaurant will celebrate its grand opening with a free meatball slider with the purchase of a Samuel Adams beer and chances to win gift certificates, Nat’s gear and tickets, and two lucky winners will receive a free pizza every time they dine in during a home game!

courtesy Declaration

The new restaurant is owned and operated by longtime DC restauranteur Alan Popovsky and Corporate Executive Chef and Food Network Chopped Champion Demetrio Zavala of PRG Hospitality who currently own Teddy & the Bully Bar in Dupont Circle, LINCOLN Restaurant in Thomas Circle, and Declaration in Shaw. Having been in the industry for over ten years and started multiple successful DC restaurants Mr. Popovsky has a unique perspective of what works and what doesn’t. He considers the key ingredient to success to be customer satisfaction and expectations and that’s exactly what he plans to accomplish with Declaration Nats Park.

“The opportunity to have our newest restaurant just a baseball throw away from Nats Stadium felt like we had just won the World Series,” says owner Popovsky. All puns intended.

The new restaurant is larger than its original counterpart with seating for 100 featuring an Ohio barn wood exterior, an outdoor walk-up bar, and interior finishing’s, like a steel panel wall with an American flag mural painted across it, by Roxanne Christie of Accents Arts & Design and formerly of Swatchroom.

courtesy Declaration

Roxanne Christie has over 10 years of experience in the decorative and creative arts field and has learned from one of DC’s most talented and innovative artists, Maggie O’Neill, co-owner of Swatchroom. Christie’s inspiration is drawn from all things that fill her heart with joy: nature, textile, travel abroad, and the people who inspire her most and both her decorative work and her fine art work reflects that. You can see some of her handy work throughout DC in hundreds of commercial and residential spaces. Teddy and the Bully Bar, Lincoln, Escape Room in Herndon, City Tap House, Saint Yves Night Club, Del Campo, Carine’s Bridal, and Service Bar to name a few.

As for food, the menu curated by Chef Zavala is more extensive than their Shaw counterpart. Declaration Nats Park offers a wide variety of starters, sandwiches, and entrees. Expect dishes like Declaration’s Philly Cheesesteak, baked chicken wings, cavatelli Pomodoro, and of course Declaration’s artisanal signature pizza. Favorites like the Thomas Jefferson and Roger Sherman will be present, along with some newcomers like the Matthew Thornton with spinach, ricotta, garlic, nutmeg, and mozzarella. Let’s not forget about the drinks. Guests can enjoy the same signature cocktails that they have come to love from Declaration Shaw, along with four beers and two cocktails on tap and select beer and wines.

The restaurant will cater to sit down, as well as, grab & go style offerings open seven days a week from 11am serving lunch, happy hour, dinner, late night, and weekend brunch. Weekends and game days will have extended hours. And with such a close proximity to the Nationals stadium guests can expect tailgates, extended happy hours, and game day specials throughout the baseball season.”

You can see their menus here.

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