citycenterdc

1090 I Street, NW

From an email:

“At long last, we’re thrilled to announce Milk Bar is now open at CityCenterDC, (1090 I Street NW, Washington, D.C.)! Chef/founder & owner, Christina Tosi, couldn’t be more excited to officially open her first Milk Bar in the thriving neighborhood so close to her hometown! The chef/Northern Virginia native has a cult-like following surrounding her bakery, Milk Bar, for compost cookies®, crack pie®, cereal milk™, b’day truffles and more, all of which are featured on the menu.

Milk Bar ​at CityCenter​DC is also debuting a line of fresh and bright parfaits​,​ exclusive to the location, as well as our Milk Bar Blend hot coffee. Both perfect for a grab-and-go breakfast, or afternoon snack! Christina’s first and second cookbook, as well as a variety of merchandise, including our new Milk Bar cookie mixes and birthday layer cake tote bags will also be available. Milk Bar will be open until midnight this evening and regular hours are 7AM-12AM every day.”

Check out their menu here: menu (PDF)

photo courtesy Milk Bar

And on Momofuku’s status – Washington Post with the good word:

“Momofuku’s opening date is imminent but remains fluid.

Chang is not comfortable giving out an exact opening date until the menu and the kitchen crew come together to his satisfaction. Stay tuned.”

Do you guys think Milk Bar will crush RareSweets or is there hunger enough for both at CityCenter?

Back in April we noted that Momofuku had applied for their liquor license. (Total occupancy load is 300. Sidewalk Café with 70 seats.”) Thanks to a reader for sending a progress report on one of the most anticipated openings of the year:

“Late September/early October at the earliest. As you can see from the pictures, the electrical work is done, some of the framing has gone up and some equipment has been moved in. But it’s still got a long way to before it’s going to be ready to accept guests.”

I’m guessing late October/early November opening – updates when an exact date is announced.

1090 I Street, NW

974 Palmer Alley, NW

From a press release:

“Washington, D.C. chef Amy Brandwein is thrilled to announce June 1, 2015 as the opening date of Centrolina, her 4,075-square-foot market and seasonal Italian osteria. Centrolina will open at 974 Palmer Alley in downtown’s expansive CityCenterDC development. Brandwein’s first solo restaurant outing will be open daily for lunch and dinner, as well as weekend brunch. Market hours begin at 8 am on May 26, and reservations are now available for lunch beginning June 1. The kitchen will serve a 48-seat dining room, 16-seat bar and 32-seat patio. The market will offer a selection of imported Italian specialty goods along with meat, fish and produce from local farms, a selection of house-made items and a barista-serviced coffee program.

“It has been a lifelong dream of mine to open a restaurant here in my hometown,” said Brandwein, an Arlington native. “I am thrilled to bring everything that I love about Italy to CityCenter. Centrolina is about creating an experience for diners where they can enjoy a chef-driven Italian meal and then stroll into the market to purchase my house-made pasta, sauces, local bread and imported Italian treats. Stocking a seasonal market and making it accessible to everyday shoppers is a real challenge, and I can’t wait to put on that grocers apron.”

OSTERIA
Centrolina will feature a concise and frequently-rotating Italian menu of around 15 dishes, including antipasti courses such as wood-roasted octopus suffocato or burrata with market vegetables agrodolce. Pasta dishes will include pappardelle lamb ragu and chiancarelle with turnip greens and tuna. A legna courses will showcase wood-fired fish and meat like poletto (young chicken) with crostini and pan drippings, and tuna with roasted bone marrow and snap peas. Seasonal availability will be the guiding principal of the menu, and Brandwein plans to maintain a sense of interconnectedness between her kitchen and Centrolina’s retail wing. Rather than attempting to be a comprehensive Italian emporium, the market will reflect Brandwein’s own experiences with Italian cooking and the products and produce she loves and uses.

The beverage program will feature a wine list that combines imported Italian favorites with the best of Virginia; a beer selection that skews heavily local, and a short list of classic Italian cocktails given a contemporary twist.

MERCATO
The wine menu’s marriage of the best Italian imports with regional favorites will be echoed in the market where imported cheeses and specialty items share counter space with fantastic local produce, meat and seafood. Grocery items will include dried pasta from all over Italy as well as fresh pasta from the Centrolina kitchen, accompanied by up to a dozen house-made sauces. The dairy and produce sections will be stocked with goods from farmers and artisans from Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania. The lineup of Italian specialty items will include anchovies, olives, vinegar, olive oil, salumi, imported and local cheeses and sweets. Wine and craft beer will also be available for sale.

The market will feature a barista-serviced coffee counter along with breakfast in the form of fried-to-order bamboloni, house-made quiches and scones. Grab-and-go lunch offerings will include panini, antipasti, salads and pastries. In the evening, the coffee counter will turn into a five-seat mini cocktail bar where guests can enjoy a tipple before shopping or while waiting for their seat at the osteria. (more…)

1090 I Street, NW

Been a minute since we’ve had a Momofuku update. They’ve just posted a liquor license placard that says:

“New Restaurant serving Asian-style cuisine. Total occupancy load is 300. Sidewalk Café with 70 seats.”

Ed. Note: Excellent.

974 Palmer Alley, NW

The placard for Centrolina says:

“An European-inspired gourmet restaurant, which will be located within a full-service grocery store, selling food and alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises. Seating capacity is 72. Total occupancy load is 105. Summer Garden with seating for 34.”

And lots more great info from their video: