3522 12th St, NE
Back in Aug. 2011 we learned that Little Ricky’s Cuban-American restaurant was coming to the former Tropicana Eatery space at 3522 12th St, NE. I spoke with workers at the space and they said they’d be open in about two weeks. Looks very promising! Stay tuned.
528 8th Street, SE
In early Aug. we learned that the former Jordan’s 8 space on Barracks Row would become a new Serbian restaurant from the owner of Masa 14. The Eastern Market Metro Community Association shares more info:
“The restaurant will serve Balkan cuisine, focusing on dishes from the owner’s native Serbia. The name “Ambar” refers to the bin where corn is stored after harvest in Serbia, and according to Iricanin, is part of every Serbian household.”
Check out a rendering of the space here.
They’ve also recently applied for a liquor license that says:
“New Restaurant, offering full dinner, Balkan-style cuisine. Entertainment Endorsement to include live acoustic music as well as DJs on some weekend nights. No designated dance floor.
Summer Garden with 40 seats and Sidewalk Café with 12 seats. Total occupancy load is 140 with 140 seats inside.”
Stay tuned for a possible November opening.
A few weeks ago we got a pre-preview of the new Tryst/Diner concept coming to 11th and Monroe St, NW in Columbia Heights. Now we finally have a name – The Coupe! And they’ll be “soft opening over the next few weeks”.
From a press release:
The creators of Tryst, The Diner and Open City are scheduled to open their latest spot in Columbia Heights over the next few weeks. The Coupe, a hybrid of their first three concepts, will be a community gathering place located at 3415 11th Street on the corner of 11th and Monroe.
The owner, Constantine Stavropoulos has had a strong bond to this neighborhood since he first toured an old abandoned grocery store on 11th Street six years ago. With the recent mix of independent business development, the 11th Street neighborhood was an ideal place to open their fifth location (in May of this year, they opened ‘Tryst at the Phillips’, making The Coupe number five).
Much like what their other concepts did for their respective neighborhoods, The Coupe, located in a 7,000 square foot space, hopes to become that “third place” for the residents of Columbia Heights. Open 24 hours, this coffeehouse, diner, lounge and bar will offer signature Tryst coffees using a variety of brewing methods, homemade pastries and desserts, a restaurant menu that offers a range of comfort food items throughout the day and night with an added mix of entrees and specials at certain times (eggs, waffles and other diner staples will be served all the time), and a bar program with an emphasis on craft cocktails, an eclectic mix of beers, and a lot of wines by the glass, bottle and on tap.
Follow The Coupe’s progress on FB and Twitter at @thecoupedc
11th and Monroe St, NW
5413 Georgia Ave, NW
G Spot Lounge opened up in Sept. 2010 at 5413 Georgia Ave, NW. It’s now for rent/sale – $2,500/Mo for the space:
“Rental contingent upon purchase of Business incl. Liquor License, Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment. Purchase Price $150,000. Landlord is prepared to sign long-term lease with buyer cotemporaneously with the purchase.”
3412 Connecticut Ave, NW
Thanks to all who wrote in about the Uptown Tap House grand opening in the former 4Ps space this Thursday. Their Web site says:
Uptown Tap House is a new concept located in the Cleveland Park area of Washington, D.C focused specializing in providing a legendary, casual dining experience. We will offer a sophisticated selection of locally inspired seafood dishes, American fare, an expedition raw bar, and a refined, upscale beverage program.
Along with legendary service, Uptown Tap House also features, weekly live music and entertainment, daily happy hour paired with nightly specials, a covered patio seating area, and a private party and event space featuring it’s own private bar area.
Sister restaurant to Midtown’s Sign of the Whale, Uptown Tap House is located at 3412 Connecticut Avenue. Gut renovated with marble bar tops, 20 HD televisions, hardwood floors and private event space, the tap house will soon be your favorite destination for dining, sports and drinks with friends.
You can see their menus here.
1737 Connecticut Ave, NW
Back in early August we noted there was significant progress at Board Room DC coming to the former Anna Maria restaurant in Dupont. Their Facebook page says:
“The Board Room is a vintage game bar that features over 20 games to rent, vintage coin operated games, house infused bourbon and vodka, 21 beers on tap, hand crafted cocktails and wine by the glass and bottle!”
The City Paper notes:
“It will cost between $1 and $5 to check out a game (which you can keep for as long as you’re there).”
When I walked by on Friday there was a sign posted on the front door saying they hoped to open this week.
Would you pay between $1 and $5 to rent a vintage board game?
3636 16th Street, NW
From the events calendar:
After more than 10 years serving Columbia Heights and the residents of the Woodner Apartments, Sangria Cafe is closing its doors for good. If you’ve been before, you know the Sangria Cafe as one of the city’s most unique dive bars. If you’ve never had the pleasure, now’s your last chance!
The bar’s owners, Victor and Elizabeth, have created a welcoming and friendly atmosphere – and in one last gesture of community pride have offered to use one of their last nights in business to benefit Ayuda by donating 10% of ALL sales ALL night long. Ayuda has been helping the immigrant community in DC thrive for nearly 40 years so come out and show your support for drinking and non-profit organizations.
Help us send Sangria Cafe off right while also raising money for a great cause!
We judged the Sangria Cafe back in July 2009. Tony gave us a tour (lots of photos of the interior here) back in May 2010. We recently discussed our favorite no frills bars here. No word yet on who will be taking over the space, updates as more info becomes available.
On Aug. 27th Uniontown Bar and Grill closed at 2200 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. SE in Anacostia. At the time WJLA reported:
Late last week, Uniontown Bar & Grill owner Natasha Dasher pleaded guilty to two felonies and may face up to 20 years in prison. According to the Washington Post, she pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine and a conspiracy charge. Then, on Friday, her landlord evicted her and the restaurant, which was housed at 2200 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. SE, because Dasher owed $18,000 in back rent.
In the meantime, the closure of Uniontown leaves another hole in a market that has a dearth of sit-down restaurants and is leaving residents lamenting its loss.
Well that hole may be filled by none other than Busboys and Poets. Busboys has two other locations in the city at 14th and V St, NW and 5th and K St, NW (plus one in Shirlington and one in Hyattsville.) I’m hearing rumors that they’d like to open a 5th location in the former Uniontown space. More info as it becomes available.
3427 Connecticut Ave, NW
Thanks to a couple of readers who send word that Atomic Billiards’ liquor license has been suspended for yesterday and today in Cleveland Park. Anyone know what happened?
1238 H Street, NE
From Granville Moore’s facebook page:
“Hey neighbors! We are celebrating our 5th birthday. Anyone who comes in to eat/drink gets birthday cake…courtesy of our friends at Crunkcakes.”
Time continues to fly – happy b-day Granville’s!