Chinatown

Judging Restaurants – America Eats Tavern

By Prince Of Petworth

There’s already been a lot of buzz about America Eats Tavern located in the former Cafe Atlantico space at 405 8th St, NW. Their Web site says:

At AMERICA EATS TAVERN, opened July 4th 2011, José Andrés applies his innovative style to an American restaurant…

America Eats offers a new take on American classics and celebrate native ingredients and some long forgotten dishes, from burgoo to oysters Rockefeller. With recipes and stories collected through extensive research, and with help from the National Archives and a culinary advisory council of chefs and scholars, the menu showcases the fascinating history of our nation one plate at a time, whether it’s the origins of New England clam chowder or the introduction of grapefruit to America. A casual tavern menu is offered on the ground floor, while a more refined and elegant menu will be featured on the second and third floors.

America Eats is also be a six-month “benefit” destination in support the National Archives Experience exhibition program. Profits gained from the restaurant during the run of the What’s Cooking, Uncle Sam? exhibit will be donated to The Foundation for the National Archives.

You can see all their menus here. Anyone check them out yet?

Judging Restaurants – Luke’s Lobster

By Prince Of Petworth

Luke’s Lobster is located at 624 E St, NW. While they’ve been open a couple of months I finally had the chance to take a taste this past weekend. I’m not gonna mince words – this is the best lobster roll I’ve ever had in my life.

For those that know me, at times I can be a bit cheap frugal, so I take little pleasure in spending $20 (with soda, chips and tax) for lunch. It was worth every penny. While it’s a bit out of my price range for a regular lunch – whenever I’m absolutely craving a lobster roll this is where I’m gonna go.

You can see their full menu here. Has anyone tried some of the cheaper options like the crab or shrimp rolls? For other huge fans of lobster rolls – how do you rank theirs?

Wed. Afternoon Rental (Porn) Option – Chinatown

By Prince Of Petworth

This rental is located at 750 3rd Street NW:


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The Craigslist ad says:

“This large 3 bedroom apartment homes is over 2700 sq ft. and features dramatic living spaces with high ceilings, window walls with sleek lined solar shades and custom color accent walls. Open-concept gourmet kitchens boast large islands, stainless steel appliances, overhead Jenn-Air vent hoods and granite slab countertops. While, spacious bedrooms feature oversized walk-in closets and spa-inspired bathrooms boast garden soaking tubs, custom framed mirrors and marble slab countertops. Select homes include studies, dry bars, powder rooms, dual-headed showers, walk-in laundry rooms, built-in bookcases, computer desk niches and terraces. In addition, custom fully-furnished residences are available to rent!”

This 3 bed/2 bath is going for $7117. I wonder if someone willing to drop $7117 is looking on Craigslist?

Chinatown Coffee Company Hosts Its First Summer Beer Fest Event Featuring $2 Cans of DC Brau’s Public Ale

By Prince Of Petworth

From a press release:

Chinatown Coffee Co. will host its “Summer Beer Fest” event in celebration of its summer menu of beer on Friday July 22nd from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. The event will feature $2 cans of the DC Brau Brewing Company’s Public Ale and a 25 percent discount on its featured summer beer list.

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

The 5pm Post – Jazz in the Garden After Hours at Redline

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo courtesy of Redline

From an email:

I wanted to let you know about Redline’s newest summer promotion, Jazz in the Garden After Hours.

Redline invites jazz enthusiasts to cool off and indulge in a free glass of champagne or draft beer after attending the National Gallery of Art’s Jazz in the Garden concert series on Fridays. In order to receive the complimentary drink, concert attendees only need to tell the bartender who performed at Jazz in the Garden. After enjoying a drink, attendees are encouraged to stay, sip and dance the night away as the DJ spins today’s top 40 hits. This seasonal celebration of art and nightlife will last until September 10.

Redline is located at 707 G St., NW, in the heart of D.C.’s Penn Quarter neighborhood.

Dear PoPville – Questionable Marketing for Crime & Punishment Museum

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoPville,

The Crime & Punishment Museum has these young people out sometimes around the Gallery Place metro handing out coupons for tickets to the museum. They’re always young people dressed up in these orange jumpsuits. On the day I took these pictures there was one white female and one black female in the group handing out the coupons, but everyone else, and everyone else that I’ve ever seen doing it, is an African American male. The outfits have a patch that says Crime & Punishment Museum but they’re very realistic if you’re not paying close attention. It just seems like a poor choice. Anyway, I’d definitely be interested to see what others thought.”

In late June WAMU’s DCentric reported:

Employees have worn the outfits for three years. Although most of those handing out coupons in Chinatown were black men, all employees are required to wear prison jumpsuits when they engage in promotional activities, community activities or sales calls, wrote Janine Vaccarello, the museum’s chief operating officer, in an email to DCentric.

Personally I’m not a huge fan of this marketing campaign. I think it’d be better if they are going to wear costumes then they should wear period costumes like bootleggers from the 1920s or Al Capone style (like advertised on the side of their building). Something much more obvious. What do you guys think – smart marketing or stupid stunt?

Movement on Development Plans for Wonder Bread Factory and Chinatown CVS Buildings

By Prince Of Petworth

@CCCAPrez of the Convention Center Community Association tweets some interesting info last night:

“@douglasdevdc gives update on #WonderBreadFactory will go fwd now w/ 3-story office building, w/o residential. Hopefully groundfloor retail.”

Some people had suggested the Wonderbread Factory located at 641 S St, NW, as a good location for the new Eataly coming to DC. Oh well.

Are you disappointed there will be no residential component?

@CCCAPrez also tweets that we may finally see some movement on the old CVS located at 7th and H St, NW by the Chinatown metro:

“@douglasdevdc is moving fwd w/ old CVS bldg, 7&HNW, w/ ground fl retail on 4-story office bldg developing lot next 2 Vapiano R2L arch #ANC2C”

Judging Restaurants – Merzi

By Prince Of Petworth

Located at 415 7th St, NW, Merzi recently opened up back in Dec. ’10. So far I’ve been hearing great things. So any must order items? You can see their menu here. For those who’ve been has the place been pretty crowded?

Heads Up: Don’t turn on 7th St, NW from H Street

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoPville,

Not being a frequent car driver I don’t know if the signs prohibiting this are new or not, but there a two traffic operations people on foot writing tickets when people turn from H St onto 7th St in Chinatown. It’s nice to see enforcement of traffic rules as it will hopefully encourage better driving and each of the turning cars was heading into pedestrians with a walk signal, but I really hope they didn’t just put up the signs (they look rather new) and put people out to make money off those who hadn’t noticed them yet.”

Graffiato Opens Thurs. June 23

By Prince Of Petworth

From a press release:

Top Chef All-Stars Runner-Up Mike Isabella will open his first restaurant, Graffiato, in the Chinatown neighborhood of Washington, D.C., on June 23. The no-frills two-story eatery, composed of bricks, cinder blocks, wooden booths and teak composite countertops, is a raw space reminiscent of the Italian bistros Chef Isabella grew up frequenting in New Jersey, yet the menu is anything but traditional Italian fare. Artisanal pizzas, house-made seasonal vegetable dishes, locally procured meats and cheeses and Italian-inspired small plates comprise the menu, which is sourced almost entirely from the East Coast.

Graffiato is a two-story 5,000-square-foot space with industrial finishings. The steel-covered wood oven is the centerpiece of the first floor, surrounded by a cinder-block bar and chairs for a dozen guests to dine while interacting with Chef Isabella and his pizzaiolos. Concrete floors, original exposed brick and barn lights bring an outdoor feel inside. Wooden tables, handcrafted by Chef Isabella and his father-in-law, compliment the wooden booths and the simplicity of the design.

The second floor seats about 100, including a ham bar with a table-height wooden counter for seven guests. Cured meats and fresh-stretched mozzarella are prepared at this station. Unlike a traditional charcuterie bar, the hooks hanging above the counter display various meat cleavers instead of hams.

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