Restaurants

Tap & Parlour Opens Up in Bohemian Caverns Building on U Street

By Prince Of Petworth

Tap & Parlour has opened up in the first floor of the Bohemian Caverns Building at the corner of 11th and U St, NW in the old Hominy Restaurant and Lounge space. I stopped by before the official opening on Friday and the space was looking great.

Their facebook page says:

“the Tap & Parlour @ Bohemian Caverns is a fresh and unique neighborhood bar and lounge nestled in the heart of U Street. Blending the artistic soul of U Street with the eclectic sensibilities of the District, the Tap & Parlour @ BC offers a relaxed, friendly and diverse atmosphere where everybody knows your name. Enjoy our extensive bar offerings and unbeatable happy hour, watch the game, relax in the lounge, read a book or wax poetic – whatever you are in search of for laid back leisure, the Tap & Pour @ Bohemian Caverns is where the community connects.”

And according to their Web site every month you’ll be able to vote on what beer you’d like to see on tap:

“One of our main goals at the Tap and Parlour is to engage with our neighbors on U Street and customers to make sure we are giving them the services and products they want. So when we were selecting beers to have on draft, we figured that would be a great way to allow our customers to make the Tap and Parlour their very own.

Each month we will give the public the ability to vote for their favorite beer to put on draft. The Tap and Parlour will reserve one slot on our draft beer menu for The People’s Choice. Come by the Tap and Parlour and cast your vote for your favorite beer.”

Anyone happen to check them out yet?


Finishing touches were still going on when I stopped by. A flat screen tv was going to be mounted above the fireplace here.

Judging Restaurants – Chartwell Grill and Lounge

By Prince Of Petworth

Chartwell Grill is located in The Churchill Hotel at 1914 Connecticut Ave., NW.

“Chartwell Grill and Lounge serves Continental-inspired cuisine in the relaxed elegance of our dining room, as well as more casual fare in the intimate setting of the lounge.”

You can see their menu here.

Any fans or is this basically just for guests of the hotel?

Ken’s Carryout No More?

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

Not too long ago you wrote a post judging Ken’s Carryout. I don’t live too far from it, and happened to walk by while a sign for something called Wincrest Commercial was being put up with zip ties, covering the Ken’s Carryout sign. You can’t see it in my blurry picture, but the sign has two 703 area code phone numbers listed on it. I haven’t seen Ken’s open since early December at the latest, so I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that Ken’s is no more, as this sign hanging would seem to indicate.”

Ken’s is located at 400 Florida Ave NW and when we judged them in Oct. ’10 we learned that it was already on the market for $249k. It looks like Wincrest could be a commercial real estate company. Whoever they are, I hope they keep this sweet mural.

Sushi Sushi becoming Bistrot Le Zinc

By Prince Of Petworth

Sushi Sushi was located at 3714 Macomb St. NW just off Wisconsin Avenue. It will be combined with the storefront at 3712 Macomb St. to become Bistrot Le Zinc.

According to a recent liquor license application it will be a:

“French bistro serving lunch and dinner. No live entertainment – background music will be provided. Sidewalk Café with 20 seats. Seating capacity is 68. Total occupancy load is 68.”

Sounds cool but I will miss the fish mural…

(Re)Judging Restaurants – Policy

By Prince Of Petworth

From time to time I’ll post a restaurant/bar that we’ve already looked when I hear conflicting/changing opinions.

Policy is located at 1904 14th St, NW. Their Web site says:

Policy is taking center stage in D.C.’s hottest and vibrant U Street neighborhood; emerging as one of the most highly anticipated restaurants to hit the area. The “upscale diner motif” like downstairs, Love Dining Room and the airy second floor, the Liberty Lounge, this space offers the sentiment of being free and savvy. Decorated with brilliant chandeliers and art work by Andrew Funk and Drew Nussbaum, Policy offers two levels of charm and class in a hip and inviting environment.

Redefined with an explosion of broiled, marinated and sautéed perspectives. “All plates are meant to be shared. We feature dishes inspired by Global Cuisine” said by Executive Chef Brian Murphy. Chef Murphy and his kitchen are introducing cutting edge American cuisine to this hip and unique restaurant.

You can see their menu here. Any must order items? Any fans of the restaurant? The lounge?

Dear PoP – Pasha Bistro to Close, Becoming PIZZA No.17 next month

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

Pasha Bistro [1523 17th Street, NW] is closing.

They’re closing effective tomorrow [Tues.] and re-opening (presume same owners) in a month as “PIZZA No.17″ (b/c it’s on 17th street, get it?). Bummed, always a solid cheap meal in a pinch, right across the street, though a good pizza spot will do a killing in the area. One nice touch is that they’re offering $15 gift certificates to the new restaurant to loyal customers.”

You guys think a good pizza spot will do well here?

El Rinconcito Launches Brunch + New Menu in Columbia Heights

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

My Mom Owns El Rinconcito Deportivo on 11th. St. NW. This Letter is in appreciation to you and the Columbia Heights Community. For Showing much support to the Restaurant. As you may Know we are a family runned Restaurant, that was first Established in 1997. Thanks to the support of our Patrons and Community, we have been able to maintain our Restaurant. We have recently begun new remodeling and changes in our Menu. We have maintained our old Menu, but enhanced it with New Savory Entrees. that would sure be pleasing to our growing clientele. My mother has partnered up with an old friend of the family, who has an extended background in the Culinary and Hospitality Industry. He Recently ended his contract with Clyde’s restaurant to partner with us. His main focus for their company was to Innovate Specials, Production, and held the title of Exec. Sous Chef. What more of a great opportunity to produce and maintain a better standard quality of food and service for the community.”

Great news. Back in Jan. ’09 we judged El Rinconcito Deportivo, located at 3226 11th St, NW (between Kenyon and Lamont near Wonderland, Bloombars, Room 11) to great fanfare.

I also noticed the new menu and stopped by to take a few photos.

Always great to hear of new brunch options!They also spruced up the inside and painted the space yellow. More photos including the new menu after the jump. (more…)

Le Paradou Becoming Fiola in Penn Quarter

By Prince Of Petworth

The old Le Paradou at 601 Penn. Ave, NW (entrance on Indiana Ave) will soon become Fiola. According to a recent liquor license application it will be ” Italian Cuisine, with Entertainment Endorsement, Summer Garden with 54Seats, Total Occupancy Load 195.”

They’re also hiring. (H/t nycnell).

When I stopped by last weekend it looked like a major renovation was underway:

And on a side note, for the history buffs, here’s a neat piece of info about 601 Penn. Ave, NW:

Ripple Expands in Cleveland Park

By Prince Of Petworth

We learned back in Nov. that Ripple would be expanding into the old Foot Solutions space at 3415 Connecticut Ave, NW. For those who remember the bar Aroma, it is a wild transformation of 3417 Conn. Ave but it looks great and the expansion mirrors the original space. Anyone try them out yet? You can see their menus here.

Judging Restaurants – Mr. Chen’s Organic Chinese Cuisine

By Prince Of Petworth

Whenever we talk about Chinese food, Mr. Chen’s, located at 2604 Connecticut Av, NW in Woodley Park, seems to pop up in the comments. So I figured it was time for a proper judging. Their Web site says:

“At Mr. Chen’s Restaurant, we use organic fresh vegetables along with a health-conscious cooking style to prepare delicious Chinese cuisine.”

You can see their menu options here.

Do the organic fresh vegetables make a difference? Any must order dishes?

I’m not quite sure what this “AOL” is but this seems promising:

View More Stories