Chinatown

575 Pennsylvania Ave, NW

From a press release:

“On Monday, August 3rd, The Source by Wolfgang Puck will close for two weeks to redesign the two-level restaurant space. The restaurant will reopen to the public at the end of August with a new look. During the last week of August and the first two weeks of September, Executive Chef Scott Drewno will change over his menus in order to offer guests a new lounge concept and dining room menu that will launch at the end of September.

The Source’s first floor bar and lounge will be completely renovated and will focus on offering guests a new menu of innovative takes on classic Chinese cuisine. Additions to the space include an open wok station and new seating throughout. Beginning in September, the upstairs dining room will become home to a hot pot table designed by Art Drauglis, offerings guests a traditional Chinese hot pot experience in a tasting menu format. Guests will experience a progression of dishes that they will cook themselves at the table in a spicy Sichuan peppercorn and Facing Heaven chili broth. Both the lounge renovation and dining room update are being done by Waldo Fernandez.

A roving tableside soup cart will also join the new dining room offerings, with updated versions of traditional Chinese soups. Chef Drewno will dedicate a section of the new menu to large format dishes, which will include his dining room signature, Chinese Lacquered Duckling, served two-ways.”

6th and H Street, NW

Last week a reader wrote in about Beef ‘N Bread coming to Chinatown. It’s now confirmed that it’s coming from the owners of the great Wiseguys pizza.

I spoke with the owner who tells me he hopes to open in about two months if all goes well:

“Beef n Bread is a fast casual down to earth sandwich shop inspired from living in Boston (what pizza is to New Yorkers, Roast beef is to Bostonians) I lived there like 4 years. It’s also inspired from NY and CA. Combined with our unique homemade sauces.”

Given how good the pizza is at Wiseguys – I can’t wait to see how the sandwiches turn out. Stay tuned.

Building freshly painted gray:

705 H Street, NW

Yesterday a reader wrote in noting it looked like &pizza’s Chinatown location was no more. Their PR people got in touch with me and say that the coming soon signage was vandalized so they had to take the rest down and that they removed the coming soon from their website because they like to wait for a more definitive date. At the moment: “they are unclear on the exact timetable given the current site conditions of the space.”

705 H Street, NW

A reader tweets us last night:

“Wait @andpizza isn’t coming to Chinatown? Signs down & not on website locations anymore”

808 H Street, NW

A reader reports:

“Looks like someone forgot to renew the business license.”

A few months ago we learned that Jose Andres would be opening up a new restaurant at the coming Trump Hotel in mid-2016. Looks like he’s gonna have some company – The National by Geoffrey Zakarian. The liquor license placard says:

“New Restaurant serving American and French cuisine. Total occupancy load is 350. Summer Garden with 60 seats.”

The National’s NYC website says:

“The National Bar & Dining Rooms is the culmination of internationally acclaimed Food Network chef Geoffrey Zakarian’s vision to bring true all-occasion dining to New York City’s Midtown.

The experience is inspired by the grand cafés of Europe and by classic American dining rooms, with a welcoming yet refined interior design by the Rockwell Group, bustling atmosphere, and great service. The menu at The National offers classic bistro dishes with Zakarian’s signature Modern American touch – a style of cooking that earned him critical acclaim at his previous establishments TOWN and Country. Zakarian’s cuisine is fresh and accessible, concentrating on American ingredients prepared with French technique.

The James Beard Award-winning, grand cafe is located at The Benjamin – a restored 1927 Emery Roth hotel – an architectural landmark of the Beaux-Arts style and a fitting complement to the restaurant’s refined style, café culture, and eclectic interior design. Serving breakfast, lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch, we invite you to stop by any time for a cup of coffee, a drink at our bar, or a full meal.”

Check out their menus here.

1100 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW