IMG_9541
944 Florida Avenue, NW

“Dear PoPville,

I have been coming to Blind Dog Cafe since it opened and have always loved the food. Expensive but worth it for the awesome sandwiches and salads. Now the salads are off the menu and the quality of the food has gone way down. The most recent sandwich I had was honestly terrible – slimy packaged turkey (not fresh roasted as it used to be), thin bacon (not thick roasted on-site), gross shaved iceburg lettuce and tomato, weird tasting sauce…it was a mess and tasted off, it wasn’t worth $5 let alone $10. I’m really disappointed to see Blind Dog cutting corners on food quality when that was one of their trademarks. What happened?”

IMG_9540
Quote in front of Blind Dog this summer


VIP Room
6201 Third Street, NW

Thanks to a reader for sending and asking who they are. The VIP Room’s website says:

“Abner “Sam” Sampson started in business selling Air-Way vacuum cleaners door to door. His career blossomed as he was named the national “Air-Way Salesman of the Year” for several consecutive years. Inspiring to reach new heights and fulfill his dreams, Sam purchased the Air-Way franchise from his boss Mr. Radar, and then founded Air-Way Sales and Services, Inc. As the owner, Sam expanded the business to include selling carpet and draperies.

In 1978, Sam moved his office from one end of the 6200 block of Rittenhouse Street, NW to the other corner of Rittenhouse Street, NW. There was a lot of extra space in the new building, and Sam was just using it for his office and storage. Sam said that he was not going to pay to heat the whole building for nothing, so he rented out the extra space for business meetings. (more…)


noodles 19th
1140 19th Street, NW

Tough times continue for Noodles and Company, earlier last month they closed their Woodley Park location and now a reader reports:

“The Noodles spot next to the Grk restaurant on 19th & M Street in South Dupont is closed, they’re moving everything out.”

They opened up the 19th Street location in early 2014. Updates when we learn who takes over the space. This leaves only one Noodles spot left in DC – 1667 K Street, NW.


IMG_1706
501 G Street, NW

The liquor license placard says:

“New Restaurant. Japanese cuisine with an assortment of side dishes. Total Occupancy Load of 70.”

This is the old Burger King, and briefly Bicycle space spot between the Building Museum and the Verizon Center. Over the Summer the Post reported that it comes from the owners of Daikaya who “intend to open Bantam King, which will specialize in chicken ramen and Japanese fried chicken.” Ed. Note: I really hope they keep the name Bantam King. Last week we noted the folks from Daikaya were also opening another restaurant in Shaw. Godspeed on both spots!

IMG_1705


DGS_Dupont_jewish_deli
1317 Connecticut Avenue, NW

From a press release:

“The team behind DGS Delicatessen is opening Little Sesame on the lower level of its flagship location in Dupont Circle in January 2016.

Little Sesame is a modern hummus shop, bringing together high-quality authentic hummus with original seasonal toppings. The Little Sesame team has spent the past year refining its hummus, which uses organic chickpeas from Timeless Seeds in Montana and tahini imported from Israel.

Co-owner Nick Wiseman brought in his old friend Ronen Tenne to launch the project. Ronen and Nick met cooking under chef Michael White at Michelin two-star restaurant Alto in New York City. Born in Israel, Ronen learned to make hummus in his family’s kitchen and grew up eating at hummus shops like Little Sesame throughout his childhood.

The restaurant is being designed by Edit Lab at Streetsense and features whitewashed brick, brass string lights, and an eye-catching basket weave linoleum floor.

Little Sesame will serve fast, affordable and healthy composed lunches including the seasonally changing hummus bowls alongside a green salad with sumac and honey dressing and warm pita. The meal will cost between $8-12, depending on toppings, and is available Monday-Friday between 11:30 and 3:00pm.

DGS, the 2015 RAMMY award winner for Best Everyday Casual Restaurant in the Metro Area, will continue to offer its signature menu at all services, on the first floor and mezzanine of the restaurant.”

Menu after the jump. (more…)


map
via google maps

From a press release:

“The NoMa neighborhood is about to get a lot tastier with the opening of SEOULSPICE, a new fast-casual restaurant specializing in Korean comfort food. SEOULSPICE offers a choice-driven menu of quick, healthy, and delicious Korean dishes served in a modern setting. The official opening is set to take place on the last week of January 2016 at SEOULSPICE’s brand-new location on 145 N Street NE. (more…)


HDRtist HDR - http://www.ohanaware.com/hdrtist/
Photos courtesy Crisp

Thanks to the folks from Crisp Kitchen + Bar for sending a few photos and word that they’ve opened in the former Costa Brava space next door to Rustik [1837 1st Street, NW]. Hours are 5pm – 2am every day.

They also tweeted out the menu “Designed by @ChefAlexMcCoy” (who’s also opening a new spot in Petworth.) Check the full menu (and drink menu) after the jump. (more…)


IMG_1567
1336 U Street, NW

New awnings are up at the former Newtown (and Tabaq before them) space on U Street for Hawthorne. From an email:

“We’ll be shooting for a grand opening next weekend, with perhaps a soft opening/live bar training this weekend to give friends and neighbors a chance to see the space and check us out. Hawthorne has 4 floors and a basement, including four bar areas, two dining rooms, and an incredible glass rooftop with a 360 degree view of the city and monuments. We’re excited to announce that Stephen Boillon, formerly of Dino and Mothership/El Floridano will be our Executive Chef. Our menu will have classic tavern fare with a emphasis on mussels. We’re excited to join and be a part of this vibrant neighborhood.”

Ed. Note: While their website isn’t live yet – they clearly have a great sense of humor. Looking forward to seeing how this turns out.

IMG_1568


rocklands
2416 Wisconsin Ave, NW

From a press release:

“December 1 marks 25 years since ROCKLANDS Barbeque and Grilling Company opened its doors in Glover Park. In 1990, the city had a few homegrown barbeque pits, but not many, and none served the distinctive “Washington barbeque” that founder John Snedden defined. The restaurant’s original barbeque sauce—still its house sauce today—marries a tomato base with plenty of onions and vinegar, still Snedden’s favorite not-sweet complement to chopped pork.
Phyllis Richman, then-restaurant reviewer for The Washington Post, came to visit after a few months. As she put it, ROCKLANDS has “some of the best barbequed meat and accompaniments north of the Carolinas and east of Texas” – a great review that nearly swamped the new restaurant. ROCKLANDS still cooks in the same manner she praised, including smoking only over wood (no gas), offering a limited and barbeque-true menu, and serving the original vinegary barbeque sauce to accompany its smoked meats. (more…)


View More Stories