Restaurants

DGS – Celebrating Jewish Christmas with a Chinese Banquet on Christmas Eve

By Prince Of Petworth

DGS_Dupont_jewish_deli
1317 Connecticut Avenue, NW

Beautiful!

From a press release:

“Per the Jewish tradition, DGS will be serving a Chinese banquet on Christmas (Eve).

Like good Jews, the DGS team grew up eating Christmas dinner (and every other Sunday dinner) at our local Chinese restaurant. Chef Barry Koslow frequented Peking Gourmet in Falls Church. Barry’s family visited the restaurant so often that they developed a friendship with the owners (and eventually did business together), ordered off the menu (Uncle Charlie’s hot peppers were a must at every dinner) and the maestro, Mr. Wu always carved their duck (he was the restaurant’s top slicer for decades). The restaurant has now become a regular meeting place for the team at DGS.

In this spirit, DGS will be hosting a Chinese banquet on Christmas Eve (12/24 from 5pm-9:30pm). The menu mixes classic delicatessen ingredients with Cantonese Chinese food. Here’s the menu (more…)

Agua 301 Opens this Saturday in Navy Yard – A Peek Inside and at the Menu

By Prince Of Petworth

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301 Water Street, SE

Last month it was Osteria Morini and on Saturday Agua 301 is opening next door in the Lumber Shed building in Yards Park. From a press release:

“A modern Mexican menu with less than traditional touches will be created by Chef Antonio Burrell when Agua 301 opens December 21 in Yards Park in the Capitol Riverfront. Taking its name from its 301 Water Street SE location the 4,000 square-foot, 106-seat waterfront restaurant is housed in the historic Lumber Shed Building in the burgeoning Navy Yard/Nats Park neighborhood.

Burrell’s menu includes Bocaditos or “little bites” that he says are perfect with drinks. Among those will be Empanadas de Venturas del Mercado made from seasonal vegetables and Beef Barbacoa Flautas with shredded braised beef and caramelized onions which he says are his Mexican version of a Philly cheese steak along with three versions of guacamole.

Entrees include a pan seared black bass with butternut squash, bacon, sweet potato hash and cumin scented orange agave butter, a roasted Mexican spiced adobo chicken and a braised short rib chichilo with creamy nixtal and winter vegetables accented with a lime crema.

Tacos will be a specialty with the pork belly al pastor to be among the highlights. This crispy friend pork belly creation will incorporate pineapple habanero salsa and al pastor aioli. Another highlight will be the carne asada con kimchi tacos with grilled marinated skirt steak, housemade kimchi, cojita and citrus.

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A 44-seat patio will open when the weather warms. Owners Amanda and Stephen Briggs see this as becoming a popular spot at which to enjoy a variety of margaritas while enjoying a pre-Nats game cocktail or an afternoon sojourn with a river view.

Designed by GrizForm Design Architects the restaurant’s interior was inspired by Mexican design, landscape and historic ancient ruins. Its color palette is based on neutrals of sand, taupe and rich brown along with natural wood tones reminiscent of Mexico’s terrain. Custom-routed wall panels were inspired by the ancient city of Teotihuacan and wood trellis accents mimic the steep steps of the Mayan Pyramids.

NOTE: Agua 301 will open for dinner service on December 21; lunch service will begin on December 28. Brunch will begin on New Year’s Day and continue as a Saturday/Sunday brunch thereafter.

Hours of Operation

Lunch: Monday-Friday 11 am -3 pm
Dinner: Sunday- Thursday 3:30-10 pm, Friday – Saturday. 3:30-11 pm
Lunch/Brunch: Saturday-Sunday 10:30-3 pm
Happy Hour: 3:30-7 pm 7 days a week”

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Here’s a look at the dinner menu – and a look inside:

Agua 301 interior night
PHOTO CREDIT: Jeff Aitken courtesy Agua 301

Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak and Stone Crab is Gonna Be Huge

By Prince Of Petworth

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15th and H Street, NW

Whoa the new Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak and Stone Crab coming to the corner of 15th and H St, NW is going to be gigantic. A recent liquor license application says:

“Restaurant serving American food. Sidewalk Café Seats #44, total Occupancy Load #735.”

Would that make it the biggest restaurant in DC? Who do you think is the current biggest restaurant in DC?

You can read the history of Joe’s Stone Crab here and see their Chicago menus here.

Joe’s will be located right across the street from Woodward Table:

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Like Foie Gras? Head to H Street

By Prince Of Petworth

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From a press release:

“The holidays are a time to celebrate and indulge in a few of the finer things – damn the consequences. Seven restaurants along the H Street corridor in NE Washington feel that a feast is in order, celebrating one of the finest ingredients in life – FOIE GRAS! Starting on Monday, December 16th, continuing through December 30th, restaurants participating in Foie La La La H Street will offer a foie gras special on their menus.”

Mothership Applying for Later Hours on Georgia Ave

By Prince Of Petworth

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3301 Georgia Avenue, NW

Mothership is located at Georgia Ave and Lamont St, NW. Current hours of operation are approved for Monday – Thursday 8 am–11 pm, Friday 8 am–1 am and Saturday 10 am-1 am. They hope to be able to extend them to Sunday through Thursday 10 am-2 am, Friday and Saturday 10 am -3 am.

Ed. Note: I ate there on Friday night and this place is incredibly awesome. If you haven’t been yet and had been procrastinating like me – I would put them very high on the list of your next places to visit.  Not only is the food delicious, but the owners are incredibly nice and the space is incredibly cool and comfortable.

“Modern American neighborhood restaurant with an emphasis on French, Caribbean, Latin & Asian flavors. Our plates are designed to be shared or not.”

You can see their menu here.

Looks Like Snap is Officially Finished in Adams Morgan

By Prince Of Petworth

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2475 18th Street, NW

We’ve been on Snap death watch in Adams Morgan since January 2011. A reader sends word:

“Looks like Snap in Adams Morgan (next to Federal) might actually be closed for good (not just it’s typical never open mode). Nothing in the refrigerated cases, pictures down off the walls, tables stacked up.”

And the mail is starting to pile up:

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Alba Osteria Hoping to Open by the end of the Month in Mt. Vernon Square

By Prince Of Petworth

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425 I Street, NW from early November

“Dear PoPville,

Have you heard anything more about Alba Osteria? They were supposed to open today [Dec. 15] according to their press release … and they’re certainly close to being ready, with chairs, table settings, etc in place. They clearly didn’t actually open today though.”

In a call to Alba Osteria – they say they are hoping to open by December 30th.

For those not familiar we previously learned:

“The 226-seat restaurant, including a 63-seat outdoor seasonal patio, will enjoy authentic Italian cuisine reflective of the Piedmonte region of Italy, Executive Chef Roberto Donna’s homeland. Amy Brandwein has been tapped as chef de cuisine of Alba Osteria, overseeing the daily culinary operations.

Alba, Italy is situated between the region’s wine country and agricultural center, and food here is a classic representative of Piemonte’s cuisine. Donna’s menu at Alba Osteria will offer a selection of salumi and formaggi, antipasti, house-made pastas (small and large portions), and Neapolitan pizza. Daily specials will be “Italian sized” portions, designed to be ordered and shared for the table in a Piemontese fashion. Donna’s tempting choices will be priced from $5 to $19.”

More info here.

More Details on GCDC Grilled Cheese Bar Opening February 2014 near the White House

By Prince Of Petworth

gcdc_grilled_cheese_bar
1730 Pennsylvania Ave, NW

On Monday we noted GCDC grilled cheese bar would be opening in early 2014. Turns out it will be February – lots more details from a press release:

“Just one block from the White House, GCDC will soon open its doors to hungry downtown diners with gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches, homemade soups, tots and more. Catering to both busy lunchers as well as the after-work happy hour crowd, GCDC will also boast an artisanal cheese bar helmed by NYC rising star cheesemonger Sophie Slesinger, and will offer a selection of local beers, wines and specialty cocktails. Opening from local father-and-son duo Bruce and Steven Klores, GCDC is scheduled to open in early February 2014 at 1730 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.

The first restaurant from Bruce Klores and his son Steven, GCDC will be a fast casual-meets-wine bar concept, boasting the most comprehensive grilled cheese selection in the city. The hip new spot will serve the downtown community with a variety of truly unique and creative grilled cheese sandwiches using local ingredients, fresh salads, housemade soups, “topped” tots and other savory treats. Also catering to the happy hour crowd, GCDC will pair local wines and beers and seasonal cocktails with artisanal cheese and charcuterie boards, making it a hip after-work hangout for downtown workers.

The cornerstone of the concept is the extensive and always-rotating menu of specialty grilled cheese sandwiches – concocted by Steven in his own grilled cheese “lab.” Unique sandwiches may range from the soup-in-a-sandwich French Onion Soup, with Gruyere, caramelized onions and sherry on sourdough, or the indulgent Lobster GC with fresh lobster, l’amuse gouda and chives on sourdough. Fans of the classics can enjoy the Country Ham with provolone and cornichon mustard on rosemary bread or the Turkey Pesto with homemade pesto, fresh mozzarella, turkey, and tomato on multigrain. (more…)

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