Chinatown

The Source Launches Saturday Dim Sum Brunch

By Prince Of Petworth

From a Press Release:

On Saturday, March 19th, The Source by Wolfgang Puck will launch its new dim sum brunch menu, offered every Saturday from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. The dim sum menu will replace the existing Saturday brunch menu and will be offered in the restaurant’s bar and lounge area.

Priced at $30 for five plates, $40 for eight plates, diners will have ample variety from which to choose, including General Tso’s Wings, Chow Fueng Noodles with rock shrimp and Lobster and Shrimp Spring Rolls. Several dishes will feature Drewno’s rendition of bao buns including Sweet roasted bao buns filled with pineapple custard, Duck bao with lacquered duckling and Char Sui bao stuffed with slow-braised veal cheeks. The menu will also feature a variety dumpling dishes including Szechuan “Dan Dan” dumpling with chicken and peanut sauce, Crystal chive dumpling with King crab and Chinese mustard and Sea scallop Sui Mai with curried lobster emulsion.

Guests seeking more traditional flavors will enjoy The Source’s Maryland Crabcake Benedict, Kobe beef hash with poached egg and potatoes and Maine lobster club with bacon vinaigrette. All dim sum can also be ordered a la carte for $7 a dish.

Complementing the tasty bites is an impressive selection of sweet and savory cocktails such as Pear Bellinis, Pimm’s Cups, Pomegranate Mimosas and three different kinds of Bloody Marys – a Classic Mary with horseradish and olives, a District Mary garnished with a housemade half-smoke and an Old Bay rim, and a Shanghai Mary with chili paste and lime juice. All brunch cocktails are $8 per drink.

The Source by Wolfgang Puck is located at 575 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW (entrance on 6th Street).

We judged The Source back in Jan. ’11.

Judging Bars – Iron Horse Tap Room

By Prince Of Petworth

Iron Horse opened up back in Jan. ’10 at 507 7th Street, NW in Penn Quarter. While they don’t serve food, I’m curious what folks think about the space as a bar – any fans?

And a little side note scuttlebutt: I’m hearing that the owners have plans to open a nearby comedy club soon. Stay tuned for more info on that one.

More BBQ – Hill Country Opens in Penn Quarter

By Prince Of Petworth

Thanks to all who sent in word about Hill Country opening up this weekend at 410 7th St, NW in Penn Quarter. I stopped in briefly last Friday and the space is huge! And more importantly smelled great. There is actually two levels with another bar and seating area downstairs.

You can take a look at their delicious looking menu here.

And there is an extensive music schedule:

Downstairs Bar:

This is like the opposite of Standard Bar and BBQ but I’m just as eager to have a taste. We’ll revisit for a proper “judging restaurants” in a few weeks.

Stabbing by Gallery Place-Chinatown Metro

By Prince Of Petworth

The Washington Post reports:

A man was stabbed in the leg Tuesday night during a fight with as many as three youths at an entrance of the Gallery Place-Chinatown Metro station in downtown Washington.

The attack occurred near the station entrance at 7th and H streets NW at about 9:35 p.m.

I doubt the mosquito anti teen loitering device would’ve helped in this situation but it does makes me wonder.

Judging Restaurants – Ten Penh

By Prince Of Petworth

Ten Penh is located at 1001 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW. I can’t believe we haven’t judged them yet because I feel like they have a very good reputation. Their Web site says:

“TenPenh is the second venture for the owners of DC Coast and now Ceiba and Acadiana restaurants, as well. Located in the heart of the city at Tenth Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, the upscale southeast-Asian-inspired restaurant opened its doors in July 2000. A Feng Shui Master respectfully directed the owners to follow certain Asian customs and guidelines.”

You can see their menu here. Is still Ten Penh still as good as I heard it was a few years ago?

Dear PoP – Positive Review of FunXion

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

So I went to dinner at FunXion (1309 F St, NW) with a friend last night. We had one of those daily deals for 20.00 worth of food and drinks. I read one of your old posts where people were pretty dissatisfied with it overall before I went and was not expecting much when I got there. However, I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised and happy with the place. Our waiter was extremely friendly and the service was excellent, the food was really reasonably priced as well as delicious and fresh tasting. I got a small Asian Chicken Salad with a Portabello Mushroom Slider and my friend got the Black Bean Salsa and the Buffalo Nachos. We both really enjoyed our own (and each other’s food) and we left feeling the perfect amount of full. People complained that the place was expensive but our total bill only came out to 19.00, which is nothing for the amount of food we got.

Also, we chatted with the waiter for awhile and he told us that they were going to have a grand reopening next month where they would have a new license that would allow them to remain open 24 hours as well as serve alcohol until 4am and food all day and all night.”

Good Deal or Not? “Ultimate urban living” edition

By Prince Of Petworth

This condo is located at 777 7th St, NW:


View Larger Map

The flier says:

“Rarely available 2BR+Den/2BA penthouse. One of the largest units in Gallery Place. Ultimate urban living w/ restaurants, shopping & metro right at your doorstep yet peaceful overlooking a tree-filled courtyard. Features include: huge bedrooms & den, walk-in closet, hardwoods, granite counters, balcony. Amenity rich building with fitness room, residence lounge, 24hr desk attendant. Rental Prkg.”

You can find more info here and photos here.

It’s not often we look at big building in Chinatown so I’m curious what you guys think of this one. Does $599,000 ($1,345 condo fee) sound right for this 2BR+Den/2BA penthouse?

Side note: why do you think the condo fee is so high?

Movement at Old Video Store at Corner of 6th and H St, NW

By Prince Of Petworth

This retail space has been vacant for years. It seems like this prime space (it wasn’t always a prime space this corner has improved a lot) has been vacant for ages. I was glad to see a construction permit finally has gone up. Anyone hear any rumors of who may be coming to this space? (The permit only says other.)

And here’s a blast from the past for those who remember this corner from back in the day:

The following is my favorite, which can be read a few different ways…

Free Pi Pizza This Afternoon from Pi Pizzeria Truck in Penn Quarter

By Prince Of Petworth

Back in Oct. ’10 we learned that a St. Louis based Pi Pizzeria would be opening up a location at 910 F St, NW. They are also launching a pizza truck and their twitter feed announces yesterday:

“Making our first batch of dough in DC! Hoping to give away some free pizzas tomorrow [Thurs.] afternoon near our future 910 F Street NW restaurant.”

You can see their menu here. You can follow their twitter updates @PiTruckDC here.

The 5pm Post – Chinese New Year Celebration and Parade on Sunday

By Prince Of Petworth

This is always a fun celebration. The parade is always my favorite but you gotta get their early to get a good view (though not sure how the Super Bowl will affect the crowd size…)

Chinatown Coffee Co. is taking advantage of the holiday to create a crazy concoction:

From an email:

“Chinatown Coffee Co. will celebrate Chinese New Year on Sunday, February 6th, 2011 from 2pm to close. To ring in the Year of the Rabbit, Chinatown Coffee Co. will feature “The Crazy Rabbit” cocktail, composed of absinthe and champagne. Additionally, the shop will offer its customary bar, coffee, and tea menus.

Chinatown Coffee Co.’s Chinese New Year celebration will be held on the same day as DC’s annual Chinese New Year parade on H Street, NW in Chinatown. The parade is from 2pm to 5pm and will feature a traditional Chinese Dragon Dance, Kung Fu demonstrations, and live musical entertainment.

Chinatown Coffee Co. is located at 475 H Street, NW, on the corner of 5th and H.”

And from MPD:

“Year of the Hare Chinese New Year Parade Street Closures

On Sunday, February 6, 2011, the Year of the Hare Chinese New Year Parade and celebration will take place in the District of Columbia from approximately 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm. In conjunction with this event, there will be several street closures and parking restrictions that motorists should take into consideration.”

Details after the jump. (more…)

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