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2427 18th Street, NW

From an email:

“A Barrel of Fun: Barrel-Aged Beer at The Black Squirrel

Add wood and bring on the flavor. The Black Squirrel celebrates the age-old tradition of barrel aging beer on Friday (May 8), starting at 5 p.m., with 25 rare barrel-aged beers on tap and by the bottle.

The line-up includes:
· Epic 2013 Smoked & Oaked Belgian Ale (cherry-wood smoked and bourbon-barrel oaked, draft, 10.4%)
· Founders Backwoods Bastard Scotch Ale (aged in bourbon barrels, draft, 10.2%);
· Franklin’s Ridiculous Wild Ale (draft, 6.8%);
· Goose Island 2013 Lolita (wild ale with raspberries, draft, 7%);
· Goose Island 2013 Bourbon County Brand Stout (draft, 14.2%);
· Jolly Pumpkin Bam Noire (draft, 4.5%);
· Laughing Dog Triple Squared (Belgian-style triple aged in cabernet barrels, draft, 9%);
· Laughing Dog De Achtste Hond (peach wild ale, draft, 7%);
· Mad Fox Cabernet Reynard (cabernet-barrel black saison, draft, 7.1%);
· Mad Fox Oaked Funk (saison aged in Silver Oak cabernet carrels, draft, 6%);
· Petrus Oak-Aged Belgian Pale Ale (draft, 7.3%);
· Potters Craft Cider Oak-Barrel Reserve (draft, 9.6%);
· Wild Beer Co. Modus Operandi (barrel-aged old ale, draft, 7%);
· Epic/Crooked Stave Elder Brett (wild ale, 750mL bottle, 8.5%);
· Funkwerks 2012 Solena (Belgian-style dark ale, 750mL bottle, 6.5%);
· Goose Island 2013 Halia (sour peach saison, 750mL bottle, 7.5%);
· Goose Island 2013 Gillian (tart Belgian=style farmhouse ale, 750mL bottle, 9.5%);
· Goose Island 2010 Lolita (brewed with raspberries, 650mL bottle, 7%);
· Goose Island 2012 Madame Rose (brown kriek with cherries, 650mL bottle, 7.1%);
· Goose Island 2012 Juliet (wild ale aged with blackberries, 650mL bottle, 8%);
· Hardywood 2013 Reserve Rum-Barrel Imperial Pumpkin Ale (750mL bottle, 10.5%);
· Mother Earth 2013 Triple Overhead Bourbon-Barrel-Aged Triple (750mL bottle, 10%);
· Mother Earth 2013 Windowpane Peach Barrel-Aged Wheat Ale (750mL bottle, 8.3%);
· Mother Earth 2013 Windowpane Blackberries Barrel-Aged Wit (750mL bottle, 9%); and
· Strangeways Martian Spring (wine-barrel-aged biere de mars, 22oz bottle, 7.35%).

To complement the liquid treasure, the Black Squirrel chef will prepare a stinky cheese burger to accompany the sour beers and a stout burger for the dark beers.

For more than 400 years, beer has been stored in barrels and aged to a bold, complex taste. Barrels are often made of oak, and many have been previously used for bourbon or wine to further enhance the layers of flavor. Enjoy this sampling of barrel-aged beer that spans a range of styles.”


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1647 20th St, NW (at R just off Connecticut Ave.)

Thanks to all who emailed and tweeted us word of the new restaurant signage.

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Cosi abruptly closed back in October 2014. Eater DC reported that a Bareburger will be taking over the space. You can check out Bareburger’s menus here.

Interesting to note that this is right next door the to the former five guys burger spot that permanently closed in August. Also not far from where the smashburger closed in December.

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14th and Colorado Ave, NW

We’ve been waiting a long time to see what the heck is going on with the old cleaners at 14th and Colorado Ave, NW. Brightwood Bar and Restaurant out – Swampoodle in! Their Facebook page says:

“Hey ‪#‎DC‬! We are working hard to bring you an exciting new restaurant to the area! Follow along as we bring you updates from the ground up. ‪#‎new‬ ‪#‎localfood‬ ‪#‎comingsoon‬”

“We are eager for you to come join us at the bar for brunch! Delicious food and brunch cocktails await you.”

“On a bright and sunny DC day you and your family will love enjoying a meal on our outside patio!”

“Although it may not feel like it today, Spring is here and that means we are that much closer to opening our doors! We can’t wait for you to sit in our chairs and have a burger at Swampoodle DC!”

Nevermind that Swampoodle was an old neighborhood name nowhere near here (by Union Station today) – this sounds promising! Stay tuned.


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1028 19th Street, NW

Ed. Note: This is the former Boloco Burritos space that abruptly closed in December. I stopped by yesterday and was told more Red Robin’s are coming too.

From a press release:

“Even more residents and workers in Washington, DC will be able to enjoy their fill of the gourmet, fast and heavenly burger experience – a place where burger lovers can delight in a variety of fire-grilled creations using fresh, unique ingredients that made Red Robin® restaurants famous. Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. (Red Robin) today announced that a second Washington, DC-area Red Robin Burger Works® will open on March 23, 2015 at 1028 19th Street, NW in the Golden Triangle.

The new 19th and L Street location remixes the classic atmosphere of Red Robin restaurants, which has welcomed guests for more than four decades, in a quick-serve dining format with a modern twist: gourmet, mouth-watering burgers, starting at $4.99, and fries in under five minutes from when you order. Nearby Residents and workers will be able to “Get Their Quick Fix of YUMMM®” at Red Robin Burger Works and enjoy many of Red Robin’s signature burgers, such as the Whiskey River® BBQ burger, Royal Red Robin Burger® (topped with a fresh fried egg), the Banzai Burger® with grilled pineapple or the Guacamole Bacon burger.

Hours for the new location are 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Thursday, Friday 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday 10:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and Sunday 10:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. In addition to breakfast options in the morning, the restaurant’s full menu will be offered all day. (more…)


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1931 14th St, NW

Last week a reader noted that Black and Orange burgers had closed at 14th and U St, NW. A number of commenters and twitter followers wrote that it still looked open. On Saturday Charles wrote:

“I just ate at the 14th and U location last night… There were also no signs that it was going to shut down in any way”

Last week I also noted that Black and Orange’s phone was disconnected and their website was down. Another subtle sign that Black and Orange is no more:

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So I stopped by on Sunday to see what was up. Though they were closed at the time – it appears we have a name change going on:

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Bo$$ Burger & Breakfast it is.  Or soon will be.

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14th Street looking south toward Elysium development:

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1028 19th Street, NW

Boloco burritos abruptly closed back in December on 19th between K and L streets. It is unrecognizable now as the wood front has been removed. But I noticed a new permit up saying a new restaurant is coming. Washington Business Journal reported it will be a:

“Red Robin’s Burger Works. This will be the second D.C. location for the Red Robin burger concept. The first is located at L’Enfant Plaza.”

You can see their menu here.

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1300 Connecticut Ave, NW

Thanks to a reader for sending:

“Looks like Black and Orange is officially no more. I’ll definitely miss this place.

On the plus side, the new Surfside around the corner is opening in January. On Saturday I talked to the owner who was checking out the building. He said that all of the fixtures are done and they’ll be opening “soon in the new year.”

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1800 N Street, NW just west of Connecticut Ave


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