Very cool – thanks to a reader for sending the photo above and word that First Lady Michelle Obama brunched at Open City, 2331 Calvert St NW, in Woodley Park this morning.
|
Restaurants
“Dear PoPville,
Have you heard anything about this new place that’s coming to the old White Tiger restaurant on Massachusetts in NE? I am trying to be optimistic because I think it’s a good space, but the sign looks pretty cheesy – “Romeo & Juliet – Garden Cafe.”
Back in July of 2013 we first learned that the former White Tiger restaurant would become a new restaurant called Romeo & Juliet. Some neighbors opposed their proposed outdoor cafe but in Jan. 2014 ABRA ruled in Romeo & Juliet’s favor – you can read that full report here:
Romeo_and_Juliet-ABRA_Ruling (PDF)
301 Massachusetts Avenue, NE
|
Big news from City Paper’s Jessica Sidman yesterday:
“Bangkok Golden chef and owner Seng Luangrath will open Thip Khao, a sister spot to her Falls Church Laotian restaurant, in Columbia Heights this September. Luangrath doesn’t want to reveal the exact address yet because another restaurant is still operating there.”
Check out Bangkok Golden’s menu here. Anyone ever try the Falls Church location?
So first, this sounds like awesome news. But second, I hope the restaurant it will replace is not a favorite. Any ideas of where in Columbia Heights it could realistically be coming to? You thinking 14th Street or 11th Street?
Photo courtesy Ice Cream Jubilee
From a press release:
“Ice Cream Jubilee, the only DC-owned and operated small-batch ice cream company, will open the doors of its first scoop shop on Saturday, July 12, 2014 at 301 Water St, SE, at Yards Park along the Capitol Riverfront. Ice Cream Jubilee’s Grand Opening event will be open to the public during its regular store hours from 10:00AM – 10:00PM.
Ice Cream Jubilee was founded by Victoria Lai, an attorney-turned-icecreampreneur who began making and selling ice cream three years ago from a professional kitchen while working as a presidential appointee at the Department of Homeland Security. Since 2013, Ice Cream Jubilee has been selling its small-batch ice cream through select local markets and its old-fashioned ice cream cart. Ice Cream Jubilee won the People’s Choice Award for Best Ice Cream at the 2013 DC Scoop competition in a field of 19 entrants. It is also featured on the front page of this week’s Washington Post Food Section.
“After perfecting my flavors for three years, I am excited to make and serve ice cream at our new scoop shop and to bring more smiles to Washington, D.C.,” says Lai. “I love bringing people together around the joy of ice cream and the challenge of building something new.”
Ice Cream Jubilee reimagines the childhood joy of ice cream by combining sophisticated, international flavors with childhood-favorites like Banana Bourbon Caramel, Dark & Stormy, Mango Habanero, Thai Iced Tea, and Blueberry Pie. Using an all-natural super-premium local cream from Maryland, Ice Cream Jubilee’s product has a higher cream content and is scooped at a colder temperature than gelato, which makes it ideal for ice cream cones and sundaes. The full pictorial history of past flavors is available at www.icecreamjubilee.com.
Ice Cream Jubilee’s opening menu will include an assortment of no fewer than 12 ice cream and sorbet flavors served in cups and cones, along with drip and iced coffee from local roaster Zeke’s. Sundaes and other baked and frozen treats will follow in the coming months. Ice Cream Jubilee’s summertime hours are 10:00am to 10:00pm Monday through Saturday, and 11:00am to 8:00pm on Sundays.”
1926 9th Street, NW
Back in May we first learned Al Crostino’s new home would be located in the former Cause Philanthropub space on 9th just south of U Street. Previously they were located at 1324 U Street, NW and closed in Nov. ’13. As a big fan – I’m very happy to see them back!
From Al Crostino’s facebook page:
“To all al crostino fans we are opening for our soft opening..Thursday – Sunday @ 5pm a la carte menu 30% off your check please email your reservation at jknicolai(at)gmail.com or call us @ 202.797.0523 we are now located @ 1926 9th street NW.”
14th and Rhode Island Ave, NW
Yes, yes, it is true, despite mixed messages from PR the former Caribou Coffee at 14th and Rhode Island will not reopen as a Peet’s (though the space was used to train Peet’s employees.) As many have noted the building is set to be razed:
Washington Business Journal reported in April:
the developer plans a six story mixed-use building with 30 apartments, one floor of office space spanning roughly 5,000 square feet and upward of 10,000 square feet of ground floor and below-grade retail and restaurants.
As for retail, Abdo said he’s looking for “something unique and eclectic,” but he has yet to sign any deals or enlist a broker.
A source of mine hears that one rumor is for a “bigtime restaurant/brasserie from NY”.
In June their were rumors of NY Brasserie, The Smith, was looking at CityCenter so perhaps at some point they were looking here too? Updates as demo starts construction progresses and leases are signed. One thing is for sure – this corner is soon to look quite different.
Looking south on 14th
5100 MacArthur Blvd, NW
Thanks to a reader for sending word that Listrani’s has closed:
However in more positive news looks like the folks from 7th Hill Pizza (by Eastern Market) are opening up a spot in the Palisades at the former Marvelous Market space next to Blacksalt. A liquor license placard posted out front says:
“7TH Hill Restaurant Inc
To prepare and sell pizza and prepared pizzeria food products
Recorded music, Sidewalk Café with #25 seats, total Occupancy Load #85”
Hours are listed as Sunday through Thursday: 7am – 2am, Friday and Saturday: 7am – 3am.
Updates when they get closer to opening.
Future 7th Pizza at 4885 MacArthur Blvd., NW
4th Street, NE b/w Adams and Bryant
Thanks to a reader for sending word that Chez Hareg has reopened under new management at 2312 4th Street, NE. Anyone know who the new management is?
221 Upshur Street, NW
Thanks to all who’ve sent emails about House of Falafel which opened back in February. One reader writes:
“Any word on if House of Falafel is still open? I walked by yesterday and most of the table/chairs have been removed and nothing looks open. No responses to phone calls and nothing on their twitter feed.
I was hoping this would be a great addition to Petworth.”
and yesterday another wrote:
“Just drove by House of Falafel on Upshur St and saw what appeared to be Police supervising a crew moving all tables, chairs, etc out of the space–any idea what’s going on?”
And just up the block at 201 Upshur St, NW another reader writes:
“La Joya Steakhouse on Upshur applies for entertainment endorsement:
Request is for an Entertainment Endorsement. Entertainment will include music played by a DJ and occasionally have local groups play live music with dancing.”
From a press release:
“The Alcoholic Beverage Control Board (Board) renewed the Adams Morgan Moratorium Zone this morning with two modifications, which includes allowing the issuance of new liquor licenses for restaurants in the area for the first time in approximately five years. The change is consistent with a provision of Advisory Neighborhood Commission 1C’s (ANC 1C) proposal on the moratorium.
The Board also reduced the term of the moratorium to three years from five years as a means to monitor the effect of new restaurant licenses in the area. As a result, the moratorium will be reviewed again for renewal in 2017. Complete details of the Board’s decision are available in the Notice of Emergency and Proposed Rulemaking issued this morning.
Other provisions of the moratorium will remain in place. The zone will continue to be the second largest neighborhood moratorium in the District, extending 1,400 feet in all directions from the intersection of Belmont Road and 18th St., NW. In addition to restaurants, hotels and off-premise retailers such as liquor stores will be exempt from the moratorium. Restrictions of the moratorium include:
- No new licenses for taverns and multipurpose facilities.
- No nightclub licenses are permitted in the zone.
- No more than 10 licenses issued for taverns and multipurpose facilities.
- A restaurant holding a license within the zone is prohibited from changing its license class unless there are fewer than 10 taverns and multipurpose facilities within the zone.
- A license holder outside of the zone is not permitted to transfer its license to a location within the zone unless it is a restaurant, hotel or off-premise retailer.
The continued restrictions are also consistent with provisions of ANC 1C’s proposal on the moratorium as well as a proposal from the Kalorama Citizens Association. The Board also considered all of the testimony and written comment it received on the issue through Friday, May 9 in making its decision.
The decision is effective immediately on an emergency basis and is subject to a 30-day public comment period and final approval from the District of Columbia Council. Members of the public can submit public comment on the decision for a 30-day period.”