Restaurants

Dolcezza Coffee & Gelato To Host Mason Dixie Biscuit Co. Pop-Up this Sat. and Sun.

By Prince Of Petworth

dolcezza
550 Penn Street, NE

From a press release:

“WHAT: Washington, DC newcomers, Mason Dixie Biscuit Co., will be popping up at the Dolcezza Gelato Factory on Saturday, August 2nd and Sunday, August 3rd. Mason Dixie Biscuit Co. is DC’s first biscuit company and has gained substantial buzz through their kickstarter campaign. CEO Ayeshah Abuelhiga, Executive Chef Jason Gehring and Managing Chef Mo Cherry are now ready to share their homemade southern dishes with Washingtonians. During the pop-up at Dolcezza’s Gelato Factory, they will premier Mason Dixie Biscuit Co.’s menu featuring the Breakfast Biscuit with Benton’s bacon, fried egg, Landaff cheddar, and maple aioli; Biscuit sandwich with fried chicken, bacon, honey, and cayenne; Biscuit Platter with country gravy and biscuits, and the Biscuits and Spreads with stone fruit and herb jam and hazelnut honey butter. Sides will include Collards and Macaroni Salad. Guests can cool down with classic southern beverages, such as homemade sweet tea and blueberry thyme lemonade. Prices range from $4.50 to $8 for main dishes, $2 for sides, and $2 to $3 for beverages.

During this event, Dolcezza’s Tasting Room menu will showcase gelato made to complement Mason Dixie Biscuit Co.’s southern flavors, such as Blackberries and Cream Gelato, Yellow Peach Southern Comfort Sorbet, and Sweet Corn Gelato. Additionally, Dolcezza and the Mason Dixie Biscuit Co. have collaborated to create the Mason Dixie Copetta with sweet corn gelato, house-made black raspberry jam and MDBC biscuits, which can also be served as a biscuit sandwich. Prices for Dolcezza products range from $3 for Push Pops, $5.25 for a small, $6.25 for a flight (two flavors), $7.50 for a flight (four flavors), and $10.50 for pints.

WHEN: Saturday, August 2 & Sunday, August 3, from 11 AM to 3 PM.

WHERE: 550 Penn Street NE”

Maple Launching Saturday Brunch, Expansion Imminent in Columbia Heights

By Prince Of Petworth

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From an email:

“Maple: Saturday Brunch Launches This Week; Expansion Imminent

The first mimosa is on us on Aug. 2 before noon.

Maple’s Saturday brunch begins Aug. 2, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. To celebrate the expanded brunch, those joining us before noon this Saturday can enjoy a complimentary mimosa with their meals. We will also open at 10 a.m. on Sundays, an hour earlier than usual.

The revamped menu includes baccala potato cakes (panko-crusted cod and potato cakes served with sunny-side-up eggs and a mixed green salad), Brioche French toast with blackberry compote and whipped mascarpone cream, and short-rib hash, inspired by our popular short-rib panino.

We’re also putting the finishing touches on our expanded space, which will more than double our current seating capacity. We expect to open the new back patio, with seating for 34, within two weeks. The opening of our expanded indoor dining space will follow, with seating for 24 plus an upstairs 20-seat private dining room with a balcony overlooking the back patio.”

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Ashok Bajaj’s The Oval Room will reopen on Monday, August 4th “after a complete million dollar renovation changing both the menu direction and the design scheme”

By Prince Of Petworth

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Photo via The Oval Room

From a press release:

“Ashok Bajaj is pleased announce that his landmark power dining restaurant, the Oval Room, which originally opened in October 1994, will reopen on Monday, August 4th after a complete million dollar renovation changing both the menu direction and the design scheme. James Beard Foundation’s award-nominated restaurant designer Martin Vahtra of Projects Design Associates of New York is responsible for creating its design scheme.

The restaurant’s light-filled interior will take on a sleeker ambiance. Vahtra is incorporating a white Carrera marble bar and flooring, with striking darker mahogany wood accents throughout. One will find bold art pieces, theatrical lighting, faux leather and plush fabrics with rich, deep accent colors of burgundy and deep brown contrasting soft gray, beige and touches of lilac. The large eye-catcher installation in the main dining room is a painting created by nationally recognized American artist Jennifer Bartlett. Her work combines abstract and representational styles.

In addition to a new a la carte menu, Executive Chef Tony Conte will be introducing a four-course, fixed price offering at $60 (excluding tax and gratuity) or $90 with complementing wine pairings, selected by Oval Room’s new sommelier Alek Milford. The restaurant will also introduce a $20 lunch at the bar special including one beverage (wine or a non-alcoholic choice), an entrée selection and a dessert sorbet. Those in the neighborhood will also want to drop by for Happy Hour, Monday-Friday from 5 PM to 6:30 PM, for a 20 percent savings on all libations at the bar or on the 35-seat patio, which also has new furnishing. Finally, a familiar face for many, Simon Stilwell is moving from Rasika to be the opening general manager of the new Oval Room. (more…)

EatsPlace, neighborhood restaurant and pop-uppery, opening end of Summer

By Prince Of Petworth

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3607 Georgia Avenue, NW courtesy Katy Chang

A reader asks:

“Any idea what’s going in across from the looking glass lounge on georgia ave?”

Coming-Soon-Signs

Owner Katy Chang sends us an update on EatsPlace via email:

“EatsPlace is on target for an opening at the end of summer. We’ll be announcing the first chef residencies in the next week or so and posting menus on the blog. We put up coming soon banners (pic above). EatsPlace is a neighborhood restaurant and pop-uppery that hosts chefs through its food incubator program.”

Can’t wait to see how this turns out! Stay tuned.

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DGS’ Delicatessen After Dark with Three Stars Brewery Thursday

By Prince Of Petworth

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1317 Connecticut Avenue, NW

From an email:

“On Thursday, July 31st, DGS will celebrate its fifth monthly installment of Delicatessen After Dark and host DC’s very own Three Stars Brewery for a special tap takeover. Try their Citra Lemon Saison, Samsquanch White IPA or Ebony & Ivory Brown Ale straight out of the cask. DGS will be offering a special Meat + Three for $19.95: 12 hour smoked brisket, beer can chicken, grilled corn and pastrami butter, schmaltz braised greens and more. The event kicks off at 5pm.

Make reservations for both events online at dgsdelicatessen.com or by calling 202.293.4400.”

Pret A Manger Opens on Capitol Hill Friday, Get Free Food Thursday

By Prince Of Petworth

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301 Pennsylvania Ave, SE

From a press release:

“Pret A Manger, the quick-serve restaurant and coffee shop known for preparing fresh, handmade food every day, is excited to open up its eighth shop in the nation’s capital this Friday, August 1st.

Situated on the corner of 3rd Street SE and Pennsylvania Avenue, the new shop will be catering to the offices and residences of the Capitol Hill neighborhood. The location will feature 4,300 square feet of space and offer two floors of indoor dining space, along with an outdoor seating area.

Following their continued commitment to helping the hungry, Pret will donate unsold food at the end of every day to Thrive DC.

To celebrate this new store opening, Pret A Manger will host a full day of fun at the new shop, traditionally known as Guinea Pig Day (the day before the official opening) on Thursday, July 31st. Starting at 8am, locals can enjoy an array of free drinks, goodies, and other giveaways! Be on the lookout for Pret’s team members, who will be giving out vouchers for a free lunch in the morning. Customers can stop by in the afternoon between 12-2pm to redeem their lunch. Available only while supplies last!”

DC’s mobile wood-fired pizza, Timber Pizza Co, Launches

By Prince Of Petworth

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At the Columbia Heights Farmers Market last Saturday

Timber Pizza’s website says:

“The Timber guys serve authentic wood fired pizza using only the freshest local ingredients and incorporating new twists on traditional favorites. They can be found anywhere from local farmers markets to wineries/breweries and are available to cater your next private event.”

In addition to the Columbia Heights Farmers Market you can also find them at the USDA Farmers Market, Union Market Drive-In, Summer Series, New Vintage Jazz and Wine Festival – you can see all locations and times here.

Anyone take a taste?

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Capital Bikeshare Members get a free Bowl at ShopHouse every Sunday in August

By Prince Of Petworth

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710 7th Street, NW

From an email:

“ShopHouse Southeast Asian Kitchen is spicing up Sundays with a FREE BOWL for Capital Bikeshare members!

Beginning this Sunday, August 3, members of the popular bike-sharing program will receive a complimentary ShopHouse bowl every Sunday in August by showing their official Bikeshare key at each of ShopHouse’s East Coast locations – Georgetown, Dupont Circle, 7th Street and Bethesda, MD.

At ShopHouse, guests can customize their bowls from the entirely gluten- and dairy-free menu, which includes curries, vegetables, organic tofu and responsibly raised meats, all flavored with the bold spices of Southeast Asia. The restaurant recently introduced locally sourced, seasonal vegetables to its menu, with the addition of wok-fried kale and summer squash.”

ThaiThanic II Closing in August Likely to be replaced by new Laotian restaurant Bangkok Golden

By Prince Of Petworth

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3462 14th Street, NW

Earlier this month I wondered where the new Laotian restaurant, Bangkok Golden, would be located in Columbia Heights. At that time a commenter suggested it would be Thaitanic II. And now another reader writes:

“Confirmed. ThaiThanic II is closing in August.”

It’s hard to remember but back in 2009 when ThaiThanic II first opened it was a very big deal. I will miss their 20oz of Dogfish Head beer for $4.25 and I wish the employees and owners the best of luck in the future.

Stay tuned for updates on the Laotian place as they get closer to opening.

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