5335 Wisconsin Avenue, NW

Lots of folks have been eagerly anticipating the new restaurant, RANGE, from chef Bryan Voltaggio opening up in the Chevy Chase Pavilion by the Friendship Heights metro. I was able to attend a media preview last night and felt like I was launched into the future:

From a press release:

RANGE encompasses 14,000 square feet where the open kitchen design allows the 300 seats a view and ample interaction with the team of chefs. The kitchen stations include charcuterie, bakery, raw bar, rotisserie, wood fired hearth, dessert and candy, and coffee bar. Voltaggio’s approach promotes the use of whole animals such as Border Springs Farm lambs and Roseda Black Angus Farm steers that are butchered on-site and featured in a collection of offerings that include alternative cuts like shoulders, legs, and offal. Local game, fowl and the freshest seafood straight from the Chesapeake also grace the menu to meet all appetites. One menu is presented throughout the restaurant and highlights seasonal ingredients sourced from the Mid-Atlantic region prepared through classic and progressive techniques.

Check out the menus:

RANGE_MENU

RANGE_Beverage_Menu

RANGE_Dessert_Menu

More photos after the jump. (more…)



1323 Connecticut Ave, NW

Yesterday we learned that Astro Doughnuts and Fried Chicken will be opening in January at 1308 G Street, NW. Sounds like a very similar set up (with craft beer) is coming to the former Yola space at 1323 Connecticut Ave, NW in Dupont. From GBD Fried Chicken + Doughnuts’ facebook page:

GBD (which gets its name from the restaurant kitchen shorthand for golden, brown and delicious) will be the destination for fresh gourmet doughnuts and flavorful fried chicken when its doors open to Washingtonians this winter.

The husband and wife team of Chef Kyle Bailey & Pastry Chef Tiffany MacIsaac of Birch & Barley will be pairing their sweet & savory specialties alongside an impressive craft beer list from Greg Engert and a selection of spirited punches.

Located just south of Dupont Circle, GBD will pull triple duty –breakfast, lunch and dinner– every day of the week. In the morning, guests will find a bright and cheery spot to enjoy one of MacIsaac’s fresh homemade doughnuts with a cup of coffee from premium craft roaster Mad Cap coffee. Fried chicken and a selection of sides will take center stage at lunchtime, while the evening will see the addition of appetizers to the menu and beer, wine and cocktails to the beverage selection.



1st and M St, SE

A Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant is coming to 100 M Street, SE near the baseball stadium and Navy Yard metro. The liquor license application says:

“New full service restaurant and brewpub with occasional live music. Serving American cuisine, including steaks and seafood. Total Occupancy Load is 346, number of seats inside is 326, number of Sidewalk Café seats is 26, and number of Summer Garden seats is 64.”

You can see their menu here. There is currently a Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant at 900 F Street, NW in Penn Quarter.



1320 H Street, NE

I had heard that Taylor Charles Steak & Ice (from the Taylor Gourmet folks) would be opening up this Wed. at 1320 H Street, NE next to Shawafel but now I’m told the opening date will be finalized this week. At any rate it should be any day now – looks like they pulled off a great renovation.



1308 G Street, NW

Back on Nov. 1st we learned that Astro Doughnuts and Fried Chicken was coming to downtown DC. A press release reveals the location – 1308 G Street, NW next to Laughing Man Tavern. The press release says:

Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken, opening in January 2013, will immediately begin accepting catering orders within Metro Center. The restaurant space, currently under construction, will be located at 1308 G Street, NW. On the catering menu, Pastry Chef Jason Gehring will offer five standard flavors per day including, Vanilla Glazed, Brooklyn Blackout, Maple Bacon, Peanut Butter & Jelly and Crème Brulee. In addition to the standard daily selection, five rotating flavors will be offered Monday through Friday, with a full offering of 10 doughnuts per day. See below for the daily menu.

Catering orders will be received by delivery only, and will initially be limited to locations between 9th and 15th Streets, NW and E and H Streets, NW. Once the store opens, the delivery area will expand toother neighborhoods in the city, and in-store pick-up will also be an option. Orders must be placed by noon the day before delivery with a one dozen-order minimum. Doughnut prices range from $2.25 to $2.85 per piece, and one-dozen orders will include the 12th doughnut on the house. Orders can be placed by calling 202-599-8440 or by emailing [email protected].

Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken Catering Menu

Daily Selection (available every day)

· Vanilla Glazed – vanilla bean glaze ($2.25)
· Brooklyn Blackout – devil’s food cake, chocolate glaze, cookie crumbs ($2.50)
· Maple Bacon – maple glaze, Benton’s bacon ($2.50)
· Peanut Butter & Jelly – strawberry jelly, peanut butter glaze ($2.85)
· Crème Brulee – vanilla custard, bruleed vanilla glaze ($2.85)

Monday

· Lemon Blueberry – blueberry cake, lemon glaze, streusel ($2.50)
· Pistachio – pistachio glaze and crumble, chocolate drizzle ($2.25)
· Salted Caramel – caramel glaze, almonds, fleur de sel ($2.25)
· Applesauce – cinnamon dough, apple compote, caramel glaze ($2.85)
· Lemon Passion Fruit – lemon curd, passion fruit glaze ($2.85)

Tuesday

· Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip – chocolate chip cake, peanut butter glaze, cookie crumbs ($2.50)
· Saigon Cinnamon – cinnamon dough, cinnamon glaze ($2.25)
· Espresso – espresso dough, espresso glaze ($2.25)
· White chocolate mocha – espresso dough, white ganache, espresso glaze ($2.85)
· Creamsicle – orange curd, blood orange glaze ($2.85)

Wednesday

· Pumpkin – pumpkin raisin cake, maple glaze, gingersnap crumbs ($2.50)
· Carrot Cake – carrot dough, cream cheese glaze, pecans ($2.25)
· Pina Colada – pineapple compote, coconut glaze ($2.85)
· Boston Cream – vanilla custard, chocolate glaze ($2.85)
· Triple Chocolate – chocolate dough, chocolate custard, chocolate glaze ($2.85)

Thursday

· Banana Nut – banana cake, mascarpone glaze, pecans ($2.50)
· Gingerbread – gingerbread dough, gingerbread glaze ($2.25)
· Grapefruit – pink grapefruit glaze ($2.25)
· Black & White – chocolate dough, white ganache, vanilla glaze ($2.85)
· Gianduia – chocolate dough, chocolate custard, hazelnut glaze ($2.85)

Friday

· Twink-nut – golden vanilla cake, buttercream filling, vanilla glaze ($2.50)
· Chocolate Glazed – Valrhona chocolate glaze ($2.25)
· Pecan – butterscotch glaze, pecans ($2.25)
· Mocha – espress dough, chocolate custard, espresso glaze ($2.85)
· Oatmeal raisin – oatmeal dough, buttercream filling, granola crumbs ($2.85)



917 5th Street, NW

Finally a bit of info about the long vacant space at 917 5th Street, NW just south of K Street. A liquor license application says the space will become a restaurant called Success and it will be a:

“New full service restaurant focusing on local farm ingredients and organic and seasonal ingredients with full bar. Occasional live music. Occupancy load is 130.”


Looking north towards K Street



405 8th Street, NW

From a press release:

On the heels of the much-anticipated opening of his breakout project Table, Chef Frederik de Pue has released details on a second restaurant project, Azur. The full-service, upscale casual European style seafood spot is slated to open on New Year’s Eve in the Penn Quarter neighborhood of Washington, DC.

The restaurant is located at 405 8thStreet NW in the space previously occupied by Think Food Group’s Café Atlántico by Chef José Andrés. In late September 2012 Chef De Pue and partners purchased the building, driven by great timing of the sale and the ideal downtown location to open his ‘dream’ restaurant project.

“It may seem a bit ambitious to open two restaurants back to back, but I’ve had Table in the works for quite a while. When the opportunity to purchase the Atlántico building came up, we couldn’t let it go,” explained Chef de Pue. “With Azur I can showcase a true seafood restaurant, and what I’ve gained in working at the Michelin-rated Sea Grill restaurant in Brussels and in other amazing kitchens in Europe. I’m excited to bring all my experience to this restaurant and look forward to trying out some new ideas in the kitchen.”

The Menu

Inspired by a culinary career that began in hisnative Belgium, Chef de Pue has envisioned the menu at Azur to draw on European classics with contemporary flavors and translations. The menu focuses on high quality products from sustainable seafood purveyors, with mainstream varieties of fish and shellfish including lobster, tiger prawns, crab, oysters and mussels. Some harder to find and not-often seen seafood and other dishes will be offered as well.

Azur will offer traditional classics such as Bouillabaisse and Moules-frites, appetizer, salad and entrée selections, as well as shellfish dishes with modern twists, including Chef de Pue’s take on Pesce al Sale. The menu will also include a smaller selection of meat dishes and vegetarian offerings. A full raw bar located on the third level will offer fresh oysters and shellfish and a separate, smaller bar menu will be available in the bar/lounge. Pastry Chef Kieu-Linh Nguyen, formerly of the Park Hyatt in San Diego, CA, will head the pastry program at Azur with a focus on seasonal desserts.

The restaurant will serve dinner in the initial opening phase, with lunch and weekend brunch added in early spring 2013.

The Bar

Designed to pair well with the seafood-centric menu, the bar program at Azur will focus on wine and craft beer, with a cocktail menu designed by one of DC’s premier mixologists, Jon Arroyo. A large selection of white wines and delicately flavored cocktails will change seasonally and complement the food menu, with accents of lavender, citrus, and florals. The wine focus will be on white varietals, and will also include burgundies, sparkling, and sweet reds available by the glass, half and full bottles. A rotating selection of craft and organic beers will be ondraught at the bar.

Azur is serving tea exclusively from Teaism, its Penn Quarter neighbor and regional tea purveyor, and all water will be filtered in house with Natura Water technology, eliminating waste associated with bottled water.

The Space

The notable location was originally a power substation for the city and changed hands many times before becoming a jewel in the restaurant collection of noted chef José Andrés, with Café Atlántico, in 1995. The restaurant shuttered in mid-2011, to re-emerge as America Eats Tavern until July of this year when the building was put up for sale.

The building interior remains open and airy, with much of the previous architecture intact. Virginia-based designer Natascha Folens of NF Interior managed design and décor for the soaring 6,000 squarefoot space. The feeling is contemporary, with hues of the ocean and sea accented by handcrafted furniture pieces, simple yet interesting lighting and chandeliers, finishes, textures and details to enhance the natural appearance of the various levels and environmental zones. Each space offers comfort and provides a clean and complementary backdrop to the food, the oyster bar and energy of the overall restaurant experience.

Up to 135 seats will be available for dining at any given time, with a full oyster bar with seating for six occupying the space where the former Minibar was located, on the uppermost level of the building. On the third level, the more formal dining room accommodates approximately 65 seats, with some group seating for up to 22 guests. The main level offers a large bar and lounge style seating. (renderings below). Azur will also offer private dining accommodations for large groups with advance reservation on the fourth level.”

 

 



801 18th Street, NW

The long vacant former Quiznos at 801 18th St, NW is set to become an Amorini Panini. Washington Business Journal reports:

“801 18th St. NW: This storefront one block north of Pennsylvania Avenue will be converted from a Quiznos into an Amorini Panini Shop. Amorini has one other D.C. location, at 906 F St. NW.”

Amorini Panini opened their first location in Penn Quarter back in Sept. 2010.  You can see their menu here.

More recently the storefront at 801 18th St, NW has featured a large advertisement for a group advocating for disabled veterans.


Looking south towards Pennsylvania Avenue



1028 19th Street, NW

The Boloco Burritos opens today at 1028 19th Street, NW between L and K Streets. From an email:

Thursday 11/29
Noon – 7pm

DC, this is how we say “Hello, nice to meet you!”

Small & Mini size burritos & bowls are FREE.

Original size is a buck.

Everything else on the menu (like shakes, smoothies and sides) is regular price.


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