U Street

1117 V Street, NW

Hard to believe it’s already been a year – congrats to the whole Izakaya Seki team! An awesome addition to the neighborhood. From their facebook page:

“HEEEEYYYY! We will be celebrating our ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY by butchering a 100 lb yellowfin tuna for everyone at 5PM on JULY 31 — you can come watch my dad take this beast DOWN.

AND THEN YOU CAN EAT AS MUCH AS YOU WANT…(for $15/person). So I hope you’ll come celebrate with us ♥”

Via email Cizuka Seki tells me “we’ll be offering this 100 lb tuna from the 31st until the 2nd (or until we run out).”

I have the feeling they are going to run out…

Update – they started the butchering tuna early – check out a small video here.

1939 12th Street, NW

From a press release:

“Menchie’s, the friendliest place on earth with a mission to make every guest smile, will be opening its new location in the U Street Corridor at 1939 12th St. NW, Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, July 30, 2013.

To celebrate the opening, Menchie’s will spread smiles with a seven-day grand opening celebration from August 3 to August 9, packed with free giveaways including t-shirts and Menchie’s merchandise, family-friendly activities and free servings of its best-in-class frozen yogurt.

The new self-serve store offers an unparalleled experience that is welcoming, fun and interactive, with arts and crafts for kids, enjoyable music and indoor/outdoor seating areas where friends and family gather. Guests can choose from a variety of rotating yogurt flavors and delicious toppings for unlimited combinations, ensuring happiness in every cup.

Menchie’s U Street Corridor is located at 1939 12th St. NW in Washington, D.C., and is open Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

The full schedule of the 7-day grand opening celebration is as follows” (more…)

Thanks to a reader for sending:

“Just thought that readers might want to know that G already closed for the day- ran out of bread.”

G opened today at 2201 14th Street, NW next to Kapnos.

2201 14th Street, NW

From a press release:

“Less than one month after the debut of his Northern Greek restaurant Kapnos, Mike Isabella is set to open G, a 46-seat, 2,000-square-foot spot that will serve sandwiches by day and a four-course Italian American tasting menu by night, on July 26. G, located next door to Kapnos, is a companion to Graffiato, Isabella’s Italian-inspired spot, located in the bustling Chinatown neighborhood of Washington, D.C.

“With G, I’m recreating the food I loved to eat growing up in Jersey,” said Chef Mike Isabella. “At lunch, you will find classic Italian American deli subs, as well as some more elevated sandwiches and flavors inspired by our menu at Kapnos. At night, we are serving an affordable multi-course Italian menu, and on Sundays we’ll offer a special Sunday Gravy menu. This is important to me because I want to give D.C. that big Italian-American family dining experience I grew up with every week.”

Sandwich Shop
The sandwich shop at G will be open daily, with sandwiches served from 11am to 4pm. The menu includes classics like the Italian hero, chicken parm and meatball sub, as well as Isabella’s creations like the spicy mushroom panino, roasted cauliflower sandwich and roast suckling pig sub. The meats are all roasted in-house, some in the massive rotisserie spits at Kapnos. The sandwiches are available for dine-in or carry out. Carryout orders can be made in advance by calling 202-234-5015. By fall, G will add evening carryout to its sandwich shop program.

Tasting Menu
Beginning August 3, the tasting menu will be offered Wednesday through Sunday. The fixed-price meal will be more traditionally Italian menu than the Italian-inspired small plates offered at Graffiato, including antipasti, a pasta course, a meat, fish or vegetarian course and dessert. A daily crudo will also be offered as a supplement to the four-course menu. The primi course will include traditional Italian pastas like Scarpinocc Alla Amatriciana, a ravioli-like, eggplant stuffed pasta dressed with a sauce of guanciale and grated pecorino. Main courses will feature selections like aged duck breast with beet panzanella and bread crusted bass with smoked sunchokes and charred onion relish. Seasonal pies, zeppole and gelato are some of the ways to end the meal. (more…)

2100 14th Street, NW

Via Urban Daddy comes word that Diego Tex-Mex has finally opened up at 14th and V St, NW in the former AM-PM Carryout space. Diego’s website says:

“Welcome to Diego where you can expect the unexpected. Diego Rivera is one of Mexico’s greatest painters of the 20th century.

Enjoy the fresh flavors of authentic contemporary Mexican cuisine.

Best Dishes at Diego:

Guacamole
Fajitas
Chimichangas
Enchiladas
Tacos al Pastor
Camarones
Seafood
Tres Leches cake
And more!”

Formerly AM-PM Carryout in 2010