One of the best logos in DC
Another West Wing Cafe is coming to the former Oriental Oasis Nails and Spa space at One Thomas Circle, NW.
In late August a West Wing Cafe also opened in NoMa.
Oriental Oasis Nails and Spa is moving nearby a bit further south at the 1090 Vermont Ave, NW:
14th and V St, NW
Last we checked in back in early April we saw the space had been completely gutted. I just noticed that all new windows have gone in. One step closer to a new Tex-Mex place called La Fonda?
1127 Connecticut Ave, NW
Back in October we learned that Edgar Bar and Kitchen would be moving into the old Thomas Pink clothing store space. [Thomas Pink moved into the old Town & Country bar space.] Edgar has now opened. Their website says:
Located in The Mayflower Renaissance Washington, DC Hotel, EDGAR brings back the power lunch destination in celebration of Washington, DC as not only the center of American politics but a continually evolving city culture of entrepreneurship, energy and excitement. The restaurant’s name is inspired by its most famous power lunch regular for over 20 years.
Bringing the spirit of the grand bar back to Connecticut Avenue, EDGAR is poised to become an iconic yet modern fixture within DC’s social and cultural scene. An upscale and modern eatery, EDGAR features bold traditional American brassiere cuisine and authentically crafted cocktails.
You can see their menus here.
You can see their new year’s eve special below:
Click image to enlarge
1346 T Street, NW
Back in Sept. ’12 we learned that Cafe Collage had closed at 1346 T St, NW just east of Cafe Saint-Ex. Now we know who’s coming to the space – a new tavern to be called Street. A liquor license application posted out front says:
“New Tavern, serving international street cuisine. Occasional live entertainment and DJ. Occupancy load is 99. Sidewalk Café with 15 seats. Summer Garden with 14 seats.”
Sounds very very promising!
Photo by flickr user Kevin H.
A couple days ago I got word of new happy hour at Saint-Ex [1847 14th Street, NW.] From a press release:
The restaurant is offering $2.00 off all draft beers and $1.00 off all rail cocktails, as well as rotating food specials, including half-price house-cut French fries and Old Bay-puffed pork rinds, as well as $15.00 moules frites.
Café Saint-Ex’s new Happy Hour runs from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM on Tuesday through Friday downstairs in Gate 54, where the city’s hippest DJs are spinning a variety of music – such as house, new age, old-school hip hop and rock – each and every weekday night.
The Happy Hour also occurs from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM, Monday through Friday, at the upstairs bar.
It occurred to me that we’ve never done a proper judging of Saint-Ex. Back in the day this used to be THE spot among many of my friends. What’s the word nowadays? What do you think of the bar downstairs, Gate 54? The food upstairs? You can see their menus here. Any must order items?
Photo by flickr user MShades
Dear PoPville,
Basically, I have a question about what is the correct policy for handling near fist-fights in restaurants. Should you just separate the patrons and allow things to go on and hope it doesn’t break out again? Or should restaurant managers identify the person who “started it” and eject them?
Here’s why I ask:
My friend and I went to a restaurant downtown for drinks after the White House tour on Wednesday. We were heading in, and there was this man and his family in line to be seated for dinner. Since we were just getting drinks, the guy in front of us asked this man (who had a baby in his arms, it should be noted) if we could just squeeze past into the bar. He told us no. We told him that we weren’t trying to cut in line or anything, and he said no again, we could wait. I asked why, and like any standard lunatic (but this time holding a baby), he told me that I was a b**** and I wasn’t getting past. Anyways, things escalated to the point where he actually chased the other bar-goer into the bar area and had to be physically restrained from attacking him by other guests. Management or really any restaurant staff was nowhere to be found. Anyways, things calm down, and the man is actually seated! Appalling both my friend and I, and the women who were just waiting behind us an not involved. It must’ve appalled the other guy who was nearly attacked, because he and his friends left immediately.
I went to ask the guy at the host stand why this lunatic was seated after nearly attacking an innocent man and was told that it was a “misunderstanding.” I explained that it really wasn’t, and I felt this guy was pretty dangerous, but apparently he didn’t care. Meanwhile, this lunatic’s wife ran up to the host stand, from the table, to tell me I didn’t know what I was talking about and wasn’t there and that I should leave. Since apparently the restaurant wasn’t going to keep lunatics out of their establishment, my friend and I went somewhere else.
So, anyways, what is the deal here? I called the restaurant twice now to express my concern with how they handled this. The manager just tells me that it was a “misunderstanding,” and that they followed their policy of “separating” parties when fights break out and that it was fine. But it really wasn’t. I was legitimately scared that I would be beat up for the first time in my life. Am I insane for thinking this was handled poorly? Or should the restaurant change their policy?
1309 5th St NE
Union Market’s website says:
After years spent dazzling the DC mixology scene, Gina Chersevani will be opening her own venture in Union Market. Enamored by the classic New York soda shops of yesteryear, Gina aims to bring her extreme and envied “mixtress” skills to the classics: egg creams, malts and phosphates. Her love of all things liquid promises to deliver an experience like nothing you’ve ever had before.
Anyone try them out yet? Besides the drinks – how are the knishes?
Union Market continues to grow into one of the coolest spots in DC. My wife says it feels like we’re on vacation when we go. And it keeps getting better and better. Next up – Red Apron has applied for a liquor license:
“Half café serving American food and operating butcher shop. No entertainment, no dancing. Summer Garden seating in common area. Total Occupancy Load of 20 with 15 seats.”
And on the other side of town, PoPville flickr user ep_jhu catches a shot of the progress at Red Apron’s Penn Quarter location:
709 D Street, NW
Also regarding Union Market, I continue to hear that a roof top beer garden is still being considered…
1309 5th Street, NE
1351 Connecticut Avenue, NW
An interesting amendment posted to a placard in front of Kababji Grill says they are looking to add a “Three Member Jazz Band.” Could be cool. We judged Kababji back in May 2010. You can see their menus here.
903 N Street, NW
Lots of folks have been writing in asking for updates on Table coming to 903 N St, NW. While the space looks amazing, unfortunately, they are still waiting on getting water properly hooked up. Therefore it is unlikely, despite earlier hopes, that they’ll be able to open before Jan. 15th. Stay tuned.
A peek in the window reveals a pretty sweet space:
