405 8th Street, NW
Yesterday the Washington Post reported:
“Less than a year after he transformed his struggling Penn Quarter seafood restaurant into an ambitious market and bistro called Menu MBK, Frederik de Pue closed the operation on Saturday, apparently at the demand of his partners who were looking for a higher return on investment.”
Menu MBK opened up in the former Azur space (previously Cafe Atlantico) back in January. Updates when we learn what’s coming next.
1200 block of 9th Street, NW
Lots of folks have already heard that a new restaurant called Dabney is coming to one of these rowhouses on 9th Street in front of Blagden Alley. The Washington Post reported:
“On Oct. 14, Langhorne and Zink officially sealed a deal with Douglas Development to lease a Blagden Alley space behind a trio of rowhouses on Ninth Street NW. Actually, their space is still an Erector set of steel beams, located on a patch of dirt where an old brick structure once sat. Douglas is expected to complete construction and turn over an empty shell to the first-time restaurateurs by the end of November, and Langhorne hopes to open his 70-seat restaurant by late spring.”
More details on that space as construction progresses. But in the meantime I learned of some very sweet scuttlebutt, and of course it’s just scuttlebutt, but I hear The Passenger will be taking over one of the other spaces (and an unknown, to me, restaurant will be taking over the third.) The Passenger, located nearby at 1021 7th Street, NW is rumored to close sometime after New Years to make way for another construction project. Updates on the possible move as details emerge. Hopefully we will be able to shout – The Passenger is Dead, Long Live The Passenger!
Update: Sadly the folks from Passenger say they won’t be moving here.
9th Street looking north toward N
12th and Jackson Street, NE
From a press release:
“One of DC’s most exciting new neighborhood restaurants, Brookland’s Finest Bar & Kitchen, celebrates the season with new Happy Hour offerings and special fall menu items. Opened in June, this Northeast eatery serves classic American fare, a selection of local and regional craft brews, and cocktails—as well as iced coffee—on draft in a smart, industrial-cool setting.
Renowned DC bar owners Tony Tomeldon of the Pug and John Solomon of Solly’s teamed up with Chef Shannan Troncoso, former Executive Chef of Matchbox Capitol Hill, earlier this summer to open their first dining destination. The trio has set out to create the ultimate neighborhood joint with Brookland’s Finest, welcoming families, professionals, students from nearby Catholic and Howard Universities, locals, fans and friends. Whether stopping by to catch the game at the bar on one of four flat-screen TVs, lunching with friends on the patio, or enjoying late-night bites in the dining room, Brookland’s Finest offers a simple, yet surprisingly sophisticated menu, celebrating local flavors and seasonal ingredients.
Happy Hour kicks off this week for both after work and late night gatherings. Available Monday through Thursday, 4 PM to 7 PM, the bar serves up select cocktails, beers and wines for $4, $5 and $6. The Late Night Happy Hour is also offered every night of the week from 11 PM until closing along with a limited Late Night menu. (more…)
From Toki Underground (1234 H Street, NE):
“Mark Ladner, executive chef at Del Posto in New York City, is taking over Toki Underground on November 6, 2014 with delicious bowls of his 100% gluten-free pasta. Thanks to a successful Kickstarter campaign, Ladner and his team have set off on a tour to bring PASTA FLYER to cities including Cambridge, Philadelphia, Providence, and now Washington, DC. The gluten-free pasta “marries traditional Italian culture with Japanese ramen efficiency” and will be offered for both lunch and dinner from 11:30am until close. Also joining Ladner in DC will be Del Posto’s executive pastry chef, Brooks Headley, with his notoriously delicious veggie burgers.”
1612 14th Street, NW
As a big fan of Republic – I’m very excited about this!
From a press release:
“Pearl Dive Oyster Palace is pleased to announce a new executive chef, Colleen Conrad, who joins the restaurant from its sister establishment, Republic in Takoma Park, where she worked as sous chef, alongside co-owner and executive chef Danny Wells.
Conrad, who has come up through the ranks of Black Restaurant Group, starting out as a junior sous chef at Pearl Dive, and working her way to opening sous chef at Republic, has a strong commitment to quality sourcing and letting ingredients shine on the plate. After a semester abroad immersing herself in the food culture of Seville, Spain, Conrad decided to switch academic focus and enroll in the culinary program at Johnson & Wales in Charlotte, NC.
Her food philosophy is simple: use the best quality, properly raised ingredients, and handle them with respect. She emphasizes the immense care that she and the rest of the kitchen staff have for the products they utilize, often going on staff field trips to the farms where they source their products.
Since joining Pearl Dive this fall, Conrad has worked to add her personal touch to the menu, and recently debuted several new dishes on the dinner menu, including:
Crispy Brussels Sprouts Salad with fall greens, pickled red onion, smoked Marcona almonds, Benton’s ham, Meyer lemon vinaigrette, Creole mustard crème fraîche ($11)
Coriander and Panko Crusted Fluke with jicama and apple slaw (jicama, apple, jalapeno, orange, lime, cilantro, fennel tops) fennel and sunchoke purée, roasted fall vegetables ($26)
Wood Grilled Market Fish with roasted cauliflower, snow peas, and seared mushrooms, served over a smoked paprika and sweet onion cream sauce, and fines herbes ($25)
Whole Wood Grilled Bradford Bay Farms Black Bass with confit sweet potatoes, sautéed winter greens, spicy peanut sauce ($26)
The dinner menu can be seen here.
In the coming weeks, Conrad will be adding dishes to the restaurant’s popular brunch menu.”
801 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
@PlanBBurgerDC reveals the good news for Penn Quarter folks:
“Grand Opening November 3rd. Are you ready to eat some meat DC?!”
Plan B Burger Bar is located in the Navy Memorial Plaza by the Archives-Navy Memorial metro stop. Their website says they offer beef, burgers, bourbon and beer. You can see their full menus here.
More good bistro news – the Washington Business Journal reports:
“Hakan Ilhan, who owns Alba Osteria at 425 Eye St. NW, has signed a lease for a 6,361-square-foot space at 450 K Street NW, the m.flats apartment building from Kettler. The restaurant will be called L’Hommage Bistro Francais and combine a full-service bistro with a bakery, cafe and grab-and-go sandwich option at lunch.”
Sounds very promising! Any fans of Alba Osteria?
The MVTCID says:
“Look for this new addition to Mount Vernon Triangle’s growing culinary choices in June 2015.”
2214 Rhode Island Ave, NE
Thanks to all who sent emails with this potentially great news from Rhode Island Ave NE Main Street saying if all goes well the owners of Boundary Road will build a:
“neighborhood bistro featuring shared plates with a Mediterranean lean, eight craft beer lines, small but eclectic wine list and thoughtful cocktails.”
One ofBoundary Road’s owners Karlos Leopold and former Boundary Road Manager Erin Lingle tell me that “we expect the purchase to be completed before the end of the year.” If it turns out anything like Boundary Road – this’ll be an incredible addition to this emerging section of Rhode Island Ave, NE. Updates when the deal is sealed and construction progresses.
1215 Connecticut Avenue, NW
A late night pizza option for southern Dupont. As promised, &pizza is taking the first step towards opening on the ground floor of 1215 Connecticut Ave, NW by late 2014/early 2015. [Note: Rosebar (formerly Current Sushi) remains open on the second floor and outside deck].
The placard says:
“The total Occupancy is 52 with a sidewalk café of 11 seats.” and hours are listed as Sunday through Thursday 7 am – 2 am, Friday & Saturday 7am – 3 am.
Looking north on Connecticut towards Lucky Bar and Dupont Circle
Photo of CityZen via Mandarin Oriental
Big news reported by the Washington Post on Friday:
“CityZen, the critically acclaimed restaurant in the Mandarin Oriental, will close Dec. 6 with the departure of chef Eric Ziebold. Ziebold is leaving to open his own restaurant in Mount Vernon Triangle…the hotel plans to launch a new signature restaurant in the coming year.”
You can salivate over CityZen’s menu here – CityZen_Dining_Menu (PDF)
Back in August we learned that Chef Ziebold would be opening a new restaurant at 1015 7th Street, NW (near the Passenger). Updates when he gets closer to opening.