Restaurants

Now Hiring – Dino’s Grotto and Macon Bistro

By Prince Of Petworth

dino's_grotto
1914 9th Street, NW

Thanks to a reader for sending a couple updates on some coming soon spots – Dino’s Grotto is now hiring for their spot on 9th Street:

“Dino’s Grotto Comes to Shaw! Dino’s Grotto is opening soon. We support local and artisan food producers, sustainable production and seasonality. We are looking for floor staff including hosts and waiters/runners. We would rather train those with the right attitude than hire just for experience.

Our service style is team oriented, and waiters will also have runner shifts. You will need to learn a lot as our ingredients and recipes are very particular. This is not the palce for someone who goes by a fixed script or is used to corporate blandness and procedures. We want your personality to shine thru and be used to tell our story. We will be using the Breadcurm {I Pad based} POS system and we are active on social media.

We are a passionate restaurant that supports local farms and artisan production. Our menu changes weekly or more depending on the availability of local ingredients. We are hyper seasonal. Our cocktail program will reflect this: small producer, craft spirits will be combined with house made syrups, infusions, shrubs, tinctures and bitters in a weekly changing cocktail list. Our tap program will feature local brews and Italian boutique breweries. We will have great Barolos, Brunellos, Amarones & wines from Mount Eden and Littorai etc available by the glass on a wine keeper and a coravin.

If this is you, we need to talk. Send us your resume with a cover letter telling us why we should pick you! If you are local to Shaw, even better!”

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5520 Connecticut Avenue, NW

Macon Bistro is also hiring for their Chevy Chase spot:

“A fresh new neighborhood Southern inspired French bistro concept is opening a new location in the Chevy Chase neighborhood of the city.

We are conducting OPEN INTERVIEWS onsite for ALL positions both FOH and BOH — Servers, Hosts, Bartenders, Bussers, Line Cooks, Prep Cooks and Dishwashers on :

Monday, April 7th from 11am to 7pm
Tuesday, April 8th from 10am to 6pm

If you have previous upscale casual restaurant experience, great energy, a strong work ethic and are ready to be a part of an awesome new OPENING TEAM then we want to talk to you.

Come down for an ON THE SPOT interview!”

New Early and Late Night Happy Hour Specials at RANGE

By Prince Of Petworth

range_happy_hour_dc
5335 Wisconsin Avenue NW

You can see the menus here and here.

From an email:

“MONDAY-FRIDAY
WEEKDAYS ONLY

4pm-6pm
1/2 price pizzas
$1 oysters
$5 Flying Dog UnderDog Lager
$7 Revoked Celebrity cocktail
Tito’s, lemon verbana, lemon, apricot

9pm-close
1/2 price pizzas
$1 oysters
1/2 price shellfish towers

Bar only, to-go not available”

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Beau Thai Moving from NJ and R St, NW to 7th and P St, NW in new Jefferson MarketPlace this Fall

By Prince Of Petworth

beau_thai
1700 New Jersey Avenue NW (at R St)

Beau Thai first opened at NJ and R St, NW back in 2010. In early 2013 they opened their second location in Mt. Pleasant.

Thanks to all who sent emails and tweets about Beau Thai’s big news:

We have signed a lease to move Beau Thai Shaw into a beautiful, new, large space at the corner of 7th and P Streets, NW in Fall 2014!

The new Beau Thai Shaw will occupy a prime corner retail space in the Jefferson MarketPlace development, across from CityMarket at O.

Beau Thai Shaw “2.0” will be about three times the size of our current restaurant in Shaw and will have a similar design sensibility and range of offerings as Beau Thai Mt. Pleasant, which we opened in February 2013. At the new Beau Thai Shaw, expect a beautiful dining room, a large bar with draught beer, tons of local and craft beers, and expanded wine and cocktail lists, and a large, more functional kitchen.

Our existing restaurant in Shaw will remain open at 1700 New Jersey Avenue, NW until we move to our new location!”

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7th and P St, NW – Jefferson MarketPlace

Brick Oven Pizza and Tavern Coming to 637 Florida Ave, NW in Shaw

By Prince Of Petworth

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637 Florida Ave, NW

More big news for the 600 block of Florida Ave, NW – a recent liquor license application says this will be a:

“New Tavern with American food specializing in brick oven pizza. Live entertainment with DJ, dancing and cover charge. Occupancy load is 450. Summer Garden. (15 SEATS)”

They’ll be located right next door to the new IChing Asian restaurant still being built out:

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This is also across the street from the new Aroma pizzeria take out at 634 Florida Ave, NW:

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Penn Commons, American tavern-style restaurant, Coming to Chinatown in previously planned Townhouse Kitchen and Bar space by Verizon Center

By Prince Of Petworth

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700 6th Street, NW

Ed. Note: This is the spot that was going to become a Townhouse Kitchen and Bar back in 2012.

From a press release:

“CBRE has arranged a long-term 8,324 square-foot lease for a new American tavern-style restaurant at 700 6th Street NW in Washington. With this lease, local restaurant group Passion Food Hospitality will expand into the Chinatown/Penn Quarter area, a thriving location close to Verizon Center, as well as a hub of business and retail activity.

The restaurant group will build and operate a restaurant and bar called Penn Commons at the Chinatown property, which was completed in 2009 and became one of DC’s first LEED Platinum Core and Shell (CS) certified office buildings. Opening is slated for late summer. The restaurant and bar will be similar to the group’s already successful District Commons restaurant at 2200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW.

Chef Jeff Tunks, David Wizenberg and Gus DiMillo are the partners behind Passion Food Hospitality. They opened their first restaurant, DC Coast, in 1998 and have expanded their style of American eateries to include such restaurants as Acadiana, Burger Tap, & Shake, Ceiba, and PassionFish.”

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Dear PoPville – What’s Going on with the new Thai X-ing?

By Prince Of Petworth

thai-x-ing
2020 9th Street, NW

A reader asks:

“Saw this on 9th st across from 930 club and next to the gas station. Are they moving or expanding?”

We’ve been eagerly anticipating this new spot by the 9:30 club – it’s gotta be opening very soon (I’ve sent an inquiry to the owner and will update when he responds). We previously learned that the original 515 Florida Ave, NW location will temporarily close while this new location gets started. Updates on opening dates when they are released.

New Menu and Chef for Silo in Mt. Vernon Square – Free Samples Wed.

By Prince Of Petworth

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917 5th Street, NW

Silo opened up a few months ago back in January. Not sure how many folks have already checked them out but you can see their new full new menu here: SILO Spring Menu April 2014

Lots more info from a press release:

“NOW IN THE KITCHEN AT SILO:

Michael Walters, Chef

Chef Michael Walters has joined the Silo team as a consulting Chef who has revamped the menu with Modern American Bistro Food. He spends his mornings as the Production Chef at Barcelona Wine Bar & Restaurant, and the evenings in the kitchen at Silo.

Chef Walters got his start in the restaurant business working for the renowned Jean-Louis Palladin at his famed Jean-Louis Restaurant at The Watergate. Palladin quickly promoted Walters from dishwasher to grill cook, teaching Walters how to grill the perfect steak. From there, Walters went on to work as a chef in the kitchens of other well-known DC chefs Michel Richard, José Andres, and Roberto Donna. Eventually, Walters branched out and opened his own restaurant, Good Luck Cafe in Tampa, FL, which earned a spot in USA Today’s 2006 “Top Five Culinary Destinations.” He returned to DC and opened The Brightwood Bistro before joining Barcelona Restaurant Group and Silo.

Calvin Di Giovanni, Chef de Cuisine

Born in the United States, but raised in Paris, Chef Calvin Di Giovanni began his culinary career at the early age of 16 while training in the kitchen with the renowned Sommelier Philippe Faure-Brac at his Bistrot du Sommelier restaurant in Paris after attending culinary high school. At 18, he returned to New York and worked in the kitchens of Chef David Burke, Chef Jean-Louis Peulade, and Chef (and Silver Toque Winner) Guy Reuge. In 2013, Di Giovanni made his way to Washington, DC, landing the position of Pastry Chef at Lavagna in Eastern Market. He then became the Sous Chef at Pesce in Dupont Circle, before being recruited to join the team as the Chef de Cuisine at Silo when it opened.

NEW DISHES on Silo’s Modern American Bistro Menu include: (more…)

Another Restaurant Coming to Georgia Ave Joining Bravo Bar and Tipsy Peacock – Ana’s Mexican Restaurant also Coming Soon a few blocks North

By Prince Of Petworth

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2911 Georgia Ave, NW

Thanks to a reader for sending word:

“Just a heads up that a new restaurant is going in about 3 doors down from Bravo Lounge. I don’t know anything more about it. That will make 3 new businesses on a block that had only recently been totally dead.”

Nice! Looking forward to learning more details. The second restaurant the reader references is Tipsy Peacock, which incidentally just applied for a liquor license which reveals a few more details:

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“The establishment will serve coffee, tea, small dishes and alcoholic beverages. Maximum number of seats is 50, total load 65, Summer Garden seats 15. Establishment will offer entertainment from DJs and musicians. The estimated dimension of the dance floor will be 14ft x 10 ft on the ground floor.”

Tipsy Peacock is located right next door to Bravo Bar, which incidentally just got new signage:

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Also walking further north on Georgia it looks a new Mexican restaurant called Ana’s is coming soon:

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3217 Georgia Ave, NW

Bahn Mi Patrol – Simply Bahn Mi Soft Opened in Georgetown March 14th

By Prince Of Petworth

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1624 Wisconsin Ave, NW

Could be a little hidden gem – it’s easy to miss the small space underneath Duo boutique in Georgetown. I was surprised to learn they opened up back in Nov. 2013 soft opened March 14th. Their website says:

“When you visit Simply Banh Mi, you’re in for a treat. Experience our authentic array of Vietnamese offerings, freshly baked baguettes, and mouthwatering smoothies. Our chefs base their recipes off of the famous author Diana My Tran of “The Vietnamese Cookbook” and “The Asian Diet” for their creative combinations of spices and sauces. Weekly menu specials offer unique flavors and pairings.

Our warm and charming atmosphere will instantly relax you while our attentive staff spoils you and focuses on providing the highest level of customer satisfaction – we will do everything we can to exceed your expectations.

Simply Banh Mi is the perfect destination for a quick authentic meal, whether a lunch for one or a catered event. We serve dinner 7 nights a week.”

You can see their menu here.

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