Bars

Old Porter’s and Penang Spaces Get Leased on 1200 block of 19th St, NW in Dupont

By Prince Of Petworth


Former Porter’s space to become Irish Whiskey

Back in Jan. ’11, I wondered what was going on with this section of 19th St, NW just north of M Street. Sounds like it is back on track. The old Porter’s space at 1207 19th St, NW is going to become Irish Whiskey and the old Penang space 1837 M Street NW (just above the Chipotle) is going to become a Boqueria.

From a press release:

Boqueria, a popular contemporary tapas restaurant with two successful New York City locations, has signed a lease with Grosvenor Americas for 5,331 square feet of space at 1837 M St., NW in Washington, DC. Moving into the space formerly occupied by Penang Malaysian Cuisine, Boqueria plans to open in the fourth quarter of 2011.

Grosvenor Americas also has leased the adjacent 3,815 SF space at 1207 19th Street, NW to Irish Whiskey, which will take over the space formerly occupied by Porters Dining Saloon. A new concept from the owners of a nearby bar, The Mighty Pint, Irish Whiskey will be a “traditional public house” with a large selection of Irish whiskeys, unique beers, and Irish/American food.

“Grosvenor Americas is pleased to facilitate Boqueria’s expansion into Washington, DC,” said Perry C. Reith, Senior Asset Manager, Grosvenor Americas. “We are confident that Boqueria’s contemporary yet casual small plates concept will be as popular in the Golden Triangle as it is in New York City. Boqueria and its new neighbor, Irish Whiskey, will provide new social venue alternatives in this popular area just south of DuPont Circle.”

“Washington, DC is an exciting and bustling food town and we are honored to join the ranks of the city’s operators and restaurants,” said Boqueria owner Yann de Rochefort. (For more information, see www.boquerianyc.com.)


Former Penang space to become Boqueria

New PoP Contributor, Anyah Dembling, Checks Out Tru Orleans on H St, NE

By Prince Of Petworth

Anyah Dembling, an energy writer by day and gastronomic explorer by night, lives and eats on H St, NE.

Having never been to New Orleans, I can’t claim to know an authentic “Big Easy” experience. I can’t describe the taste of crawfish from the bayou. I can’t wax poetic on the ripe smell of bile mixed with the hot, sticky remnants of a Hurricane spilled on to the bricks of Bourbon Street. Nor can I enchant you with a blurry story about beads, jazz musicians, and a night turned to morning that I barely remember.

But I can tell you that Tru Orleans Restaurant & Gallery makes me want a little bit of it all.

The H Street-NOLA transplant, Tru Orleans, opened its doors at the corner of 4th and H St, NE this weekend. The establishment is co-owned by partners Tru Redding (of Public Bar downtown, Sushi Rock in Arlington, Va,) and new-to-the-scene investors Brad Howard and Hans Christensen. The two-story restaurant was developed with authenticity in mind, as both the recipes and artwork hail straight from Louisiana.

The fare, influenced largely by the Easts—a third generation Louisiana family—is dominant in seafood, but ranges from items like red beans and rice with Andouille sausage, blackened tilapia, barbecue shrimp fettuccine, fried gator tenders, and Bayou crabcakes. The standout appetizer for this N’awlins newbie was Val’s Barbecue Jalapeno Shrimp, a Cajun-seasoned sauteed jumbo shrimp wrapped in bacon, topped with scant slices of jalapeno, and a dollop of cream cheese to counterbalance the salt and spice. Until July 25, the restaurant is operating with a limited menu, but will soon include a raw bar and additional fried fish platters. Tru Orleans will also serve breakfast
and lunch and menus can be found here.

As far as drinks go, the cocktail menu offers a variety of New Orleans and Southern favorites including draft beer from Abita (a Louisiana brewing company), a rendition of Lynchburg Lemonade and three different Hurricanes—split into “categories” differentiated by alcohol content. Their Sazerac was well made and employs the 1859 recipe published by the Sazerac Coffee House in New Orleans.

Tru Orleans is one of the larger spots in the neighborhood, with outdoor patio seating, a full bar and dining room downstairs, as well as additional seating and a smaller bar upstairs in the open terrace. The restaurant is planning to feature live jazz music in the future as well.

Tru Orleans is undeniably filling a void in the west end of the H Street corridor. Its themed concept offers a lively and vibrant atmosphere and the opportunity to get a taste of the south, away from the pavement of northeast D.C., to the bubbling excitement of New Orleans.

Chinatown Coffee Company Hosts Its First Summer Beer Fest Event Featuring $2 Cans of DC Brau’s Public Ale

By Prince Of Petworth

From a press release:

Chinatown Coffee Co. will host its “Summer Beer Fest” event in celebration of its summer menu of beer on Friday July 22nd from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. The event will feature $2 cans of the DC Brau Brewing Company’s Public Ale and a 25 percent discount on its featured summer beer list.

Chinatown Coffee Co. is located at 475 H St., NW, on the corner of 5th and H St.

Capitol City Brewing Company Closes at 2 Massachusetts Ave NE Next to Union Staion

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

I stopped by the Union Station location of the Capital City Brewing Company last night and there was a sign saying they are closing on Saturday (July 16). The waitress said the Smithsonian is going to expand the Postal Museum. She said they were trying to get into Union Station but that no new location had been finalized. Big loss for us meeting out of town tourist relatives for dinner.”

Another reader also told me that there is a strong possibility they will be reopening in Union Station. Capital City Brewing Company still has a location downtown at 1100 New York Avenue, NW and I’ll be sure to update when/if a new location in Union Station is found. Will others miss this location?

We spoke about the postal museum back in Sept. ’09.

The 5pm Post – Jazz in the Garden After Hours at Redline

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo courtesy of Redline

From an email:

I wanted to let you know about Redline’s newest summer promotion, Jazz in the Garden After Hours.

Redline invites jazz enthusiasts to cool off and indulge in a free glass of champagne or draft beer after attending the National Gallery of Art’s Jazz in the Garden concert series on Fridays. In order to receive the complimentary drink, concert attendees only need to tell the bartender who performed at Jazz in the Garden. After enjoying a drink, attendees are encouraged to stay, sip and dance the night away as the DJ spins today’s top 40 hits. This seasonal celebration of art and nightlife will last until September 10.

Redline is located at 707 G St., NW, in the heart of D.C.’s Penn Quarter neighborhood.

Judging Restaurants/Bars – Melrose Hotel’s The Library and The Landmark

By Prince Of Petworth

I’m always curious about these two spots every time I pass them. The Library bar has been on my list for a while now. The Melrose Hotel and it’s bar and restaurant are located at 2430 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.

You can find more info about the restaurant and the bar including the menu here. Any fans of either the bar and/or the restaurant?

Duffy’s Gets Expanded Evening Hours

By Prince Of Petworth

Congratulations to Duffy’s (a PoP advertiser) for finally getting full Hours now open until 2 am during the week and 3am on weekends.

Duffy’s is located at 2106 Vermont Ave NW behind the 9:30 club.

Andy Duffy writes:

“It has not been easy the last 5 plus years having to close so early. We could only have made it with the support of a great core of regular customers. An immense thank you to all our regulars and a special thanks to those many neighbors who wrote letters of support for Duffy’s

PoP Preview – Blackbyrd Warehouse (Opens Thursday)

By Prince Of Petworth


Blackbyrd Warehouse located next to Marvin at 2005 14th St, NW (14th and U)

At long last the next project from the Hilton brothers is about to open this Thursday. I had the chance to take a peek on Tuesday afternoon and it was well worth the wait. Ed. Note: To my Petworth brothers, sisters and cousins, I peeked in their Petworth project (Billy Simpsons) and it is moving along. Work is honest to God getting done. More on that later. Blackbyrd is located right next to Marvin just north of U St at 2005 14th St, NW. It has a very similar but slightly more polished feel to the American Ice Company. There’s an industrial feel and the huge second floor is going to blow you away. As an admitted seafood lover I was psyched to learn that there will be a raw bar and other seafood options. Blackbyrd Warehouse opens this Thursday.

Finishing touches were ongoing when I stopped by but you’ll get a good feel for how it’s gonna look from all the photos below. This a great addition to 14th and U.


First floor

Lots more photos after the jump. (more…)

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