Restaurants

Republic Cantina Faces another group protesting their liquor license in Truxton Circle

By Prince Of Petworth

Thanks to Cole for sending the latest on Republic Cantina’s efforts to open up a, gasp, Tex-Mex restaurant in Truxton Circle. The original liquor license application says, you may want to take a seat before reading this:

“New Restaurant, serving tacos and other Tex-Mex food. Total Occupancy Load is 100, with seating for 60. Requesting a Sidewalk Café with 40 seats and Summer Garden with 10 seats, along with an Entertainment Endorsement.”

Now we all know what Tex-Mex has done to other parts of town…

UPDATE: Another flyer going around:

Let us remember that Rustik (RIP) and Big Bear (not to mention Brookland’s Finest across town) prevailed in their liquor license fights and we all know what a disaster they turned out to be. Oh wait. They became/continued to be pillars of the community and quite often delicious.


57 N Street, NW

Holy Hell, Liberty Tree Just Announced Sale, Closing End of October

By Prince Of Petworth


1016 H Street, NE

From Liberty Tree:

“It is with very mixed emotions we announce that we have sold The Liberty Tree. Every second of our time as part of this community has been a joy, but sometimes an offer comes along that you just can’t turn down. The bonds we have formed with our H Street family are truly special and we can’t thank you enough for sharing the last 8 years of your lives with us. We are eternally grateful for all the love and support you’ve shown us along the way. Hopefully we’ll get to see you at least one more time before we close this chapter and our doors at the end of October.”

Liberty Tree was an OG H Street 2.0 spot opening back in March 2010. RIP. Stay tuned for more info when known and pour some out for Liberty Tree they were phenomenal.

“San Miguel Pupuseria gone?! Best pupusas in the city.”

By Prince Of Petworth


3110 Mt Pleasant Street, NW

[Scene: I violently tear my shirt.]

“Dear PoPville,

Noticed on my walk to work this morning that the construction outside San Miguel Pupuseria on Mt. Pleasant street seems to be more than the patio. I knew the ice cream shop [Mount Desert Island Ice Cream] was going in up top but I thought San Miguel would stay in business in the basement.

Place looks cleared out now. No “open” sign or anything. Such a shame. Best pupusas in the city.”

Ed. Note: I’m very sorry to say that when I tried to call to confirm, their phone had been disconnected. Mount Pleasant will not be the same.

Quite the microcosm here. Perhaps nothing really better captures how D.C. is changing today than San Miguel closing and Pearl Plum opening. Not to mention Mount Desert Island Ice Cream opening…

Pear Plum Café officially opens Monday in Mount Pleasant!!

By Prince Of Petworth


3064 Mt. Pleasant St, NW courtesy Pear Plum Cafe

From a press release:

“Pear Plum Café is ready to open! Owners, Emily Friedberg and Jeanlouise Conaway, took over the former Flying Fish Coffee and Tea space in Mt. Pleasant back in April and after a summer of renovations are ready to re-open their new concept, Pear Plum Café. The café will have simple and seasonal food, high quality coffee drinks, and a small bar serving wine, beer, and classic craft cocktails featuring a fun selection of local booze. It’s a neighborhood spot with friendly comfortable service. Customers can enjoy their meal, their friends and families, and their community in a new bright, airy space. (more…)

Satellite Room Changing Menu to Feature Pizza and Wings; dropping “diner” concept

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Clif Burns

“Dear PoPville,

I recently learned that Satellite Room is changing their menu (and seemingly their entire “diner” concept) to feature pizza (apparently it will soon be just pizza, wings, and shakes). Allegedly the switch will happen in the next few weeks.”

Ed. Note: I spoke with one of the owners who confirmed they were dropping the diner concept and switching up to focus mainly on pizza (including by the slice and a gluten free option) and wings (as early as today or tomorrow.) He also said the beer program would be expanded significantly with 20 beers now on tap (from Atlas to 3 Stars, to Flying Dog to Modelo to Right Proper to Evo to Bell’s to Ballast Point to DC Brau, ANXO and PBR of course (and more). Bye bye burgers and tots but boozy milkshakes (and salads) shall remain thank the Gods.

Also of note, there will be DJ’s playing on weekends and a boatload of tv’s have been added.

As the world turns…. Satellite Room opened up back in 2012 behind the 9:30 club.

Naf Naf Grill Grand Opening October 18th With Free Pita Sandwiches

By Prince Of Petworth


1011 19th Street, NW just north of K Street

Thanks to Daniel and Jason for sending updates on Naf Naf Grill’s opening in the former Protein Bar space (and Cosi before them.)

Naf Naf’s website says:

“Naf Naf Grill is the premium destination for fresh, authentic Middle Eastern food. Oven baked pitas, hand cut salads, and freshly prepared sauces all served as an accompaniment to award-winning shawarma and falafel.”

Check out their menu here.

Republic Kolache @ Reliable Tavern launching this Sat & Sun morning, 9a-noon

By Prince Of Petworth


courtesy Republic Kolache

From an email:

“This weekend we’re opening up our new “Republic Kolache @ Reliable Tavern” to the public. We’re bringing our classic combo of savory & sweet kolaches and coffee, plus squeezed-to-order juices and fresh licuados (Mexican-style smoothies) into the Reliable Tavern space [3655 Georgia Ave, NW] each Sat & Sun morning, 9a-noon.

(For the uninitiated, kolache = Czech pastry with a cult following in Texas, consisting of a light slightly-sweet dough filled with savory or sweet ingredients)

We’ll have classic Texas tunes on the jukebox, and look forward to meeting our neighbors up in Petworth/Park View!”

“Save American City Diner, Local couple seeking help to purchase historic diner”

By Prince Of Petworth


5532 Connecticut Avenue, NW

From and indiegogo campaign:

“Local couple looking to purchase neighborhood restaurant. With the recent passing of beloved owner, Jeffrey Gildenhorn, American City Diner faces severe challenges to remain open and could soon close it’s doors forever. We hope to raise enough money to purchase American City Diner and bring this landmark back to life!”

ANC 5E Chair Bradley A. Thomas: “Why Protest the Republic Cantina Liquor License Application?”

By Prince Of Petworth


57 N Street, NW

“I am Bradley A. Thomas, Chair of Advisory Neighborhood Commission 5E and the Commissioner who represents Single Member District 5E, the SMD which includes the unit block of N Street, NW, where the proposed new restaurant, Republic Cantina, seeks to open. For the past four days, I have been reading e-mail messages and comments on the Prince of Petworth blog [Ed. Note: To clear up any misunderstandings, since 2013 this website has been called PoPville as illustrated in the logo and URL.] regarding ANC5E’s protest of the application for a Class C liquor license recently filed by the proprietor of the prospective new restaurant. The comments I have read, in general, reflect a misunderstanding of both the process of an Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration (ABRA) protest and the factual background pertinent to this particular application. In the course of my responsibilities as an Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner, I don’t usually respond to blogs but in this case, since many of the comments have cast my colleagues on the Commission in what I believe is an unfairly harsh and demeaning light, I felt compelled to do so at this time. (more…)

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