Petworth

3903 14th Street, NW

“Dear PoPville,

Question I am hoping to get resolved. The last couple of weeks I have ridden my bike past the Rib Pit, hoping to get some Barbecue. I have been eating there for the last ten years. It is a part of old DC that I love. I love the people that work there, the bullet proof glass, the sauce, the pork ribs, beef ribs, fried fish, super salty collards, chopped pork sandwich, sweet potatoes with almond extract… It isn’t always the most consistent, but it is really, really good.

So, I am worried about Mr. Brown and what is happening there. Is he ok? Was there a health code violation? are they closing? What’s happening? Does New DC even get old DC? Is it being run out? I met a lot of people there. One guy always comes into DC just for the RIb Pit on his trip trom NY to NC… it has its own quiet fan base.

There are still logs pilled in the window. Maybe there is hope.”

I stopped by on Sunday and they were closed. Also their phone number is no longer in service. Not looking good for Rib Pit fans. Anyone know what happened?

I had always hoped that one day they’d be able to reopen the long closed Rib Pit lounge:

In late June we noted the progress at the future restaurant/bar from Paul Ruppert (Room 11/Passenger/Hogo) coming to the former Island Cafe space in Petworth.

This morning Ruppert shares some details:

“The project is coming into focus as a neighborhood bar with great bar food and a literary focus. Our back room will host literary events – author readings, book launches, poetry slams, fundraisers for literacy programs, and a Free Book library. Our chef, Makoto Hamamura, was the Sous Chef at Cityzen and we will offer elevated bar food plus a beverage program similar in quality to Room 11 and the Passenger. We hope to open around Labor Day.”

You can check out a preview of the new spot (no name yet) starting tomorrow night and it will last for the next two weeks at Hogo, 1017 7th Street, NW.

Check out the menu after the jump. (more…)