Thanks to a reader for sending:
“Caribbean citations (in the old Azis space in shaw) got an awesome patio.”
9th and O Street, NW
outdoor dining
1513 17th Street, NW
With patio season upon us and the changes made at Chez Billy – I got a simple question this week – for outdoor patios do you prefer private tables or shared benches/picnic tables? Where’s your current favorite patio? For me, maybe cause it’s the first one I truly loved, Wonderland’s patio will always be tops. Though outdoor seating facing a river is gonna be tough to beat…
3907 14th Street, NW
A couple weeks ago we learned the exciting news that the owners of El Chucho and Bar Charley were bringing a new spot to 14th and Randolph St, NW. At that time I wasn’t sure if they were going to be taking over Rib Pit Lounge and the Rib Pit or just one. Turns out they’ll just be taking over Rib Pit Lounge (apparently Rib Pit next door has been leased by someone else.) I spoke with Little Coco’s co-owner Gordon Banks who reveals a lot more awesome info. Starting out with my favorite feature – there will be a roof deck! But more on that in a minute.
Gordon says that he and partner Jackie Greenbaum have been talking about opening up a pizza/Italian restaurant for a long time because they like to work off the strengths of their chefs. And head Chef Adam Harvey knows his dough. [The name Little Coco’s is a play off the Chef’s wife’s last name.] So you can expect some mean wood fired pizzas at Little Coco’s. And in addition to pizza you can expect to find arincinis, lasagna, salads and other daily specials. But make no mistake, Gordon sees the spot as a casual neighborhood pizza place. Well anyone who has visited Bar Charley or El Chucho knows what he means by casual – if I may – pretty freaking cool but no white table cloths. The space is pretty small so I’m looking forward to seeing how they build it out.
Which leads us to that roof deck. It’ll be a three season roof deck just like they have at El Chucho. But also like El Chucho they’ll be very considerate to their neighbors in regards to dampening noise. Though it’s also important to remember that this will be a dining roof deck not a party roof deck. In that regard, one more important element that Gordon emphasized – it will be kid/family friendly. As Gordon lives around the block with a little one, that was something very important to him personally. The way he explained it, Little Coco’s will be a spot where you can take your kids and the parents can also have a nice meal/glass of wine/good beer or cocktail. There won’t be a fancy cocktail list but they will be able to make a proper Manhattan. For those with little ones we know these options are few and far between. But for those who don’t enjoy being around kids – fear not – he envisages the space without kids in a more traditional sense by around 8:30/9pm. If all goes well Little Coco’s is hoping to open this Spring.
828 Upshur Street, NW
Very happy to report that Crane and Turtle has a new 14 seat outdoor patio and it looks awesome! Thanks to them for sharing a couple of photos. Upshur Street kicking it up a notch:
624 T Street, NW
Thanks to a reader for sending:
“I noticed some new outdoor seating at Right Proper today. Just in time for nice fall days!”
Thanks to the folks from Maple [3418 11th Street, NW] for sharing these awesome first photos of their newly opened back patio. And standby for the expanded indoor space to open soon too.
828 Upshur Street, NW
More good news for the newly opened Crane & Turtle on Upshur Street. I’m told they’re applying for a sidewalk cafe that if all goes well should be approved in about 45 days. Awesome.
And if you’ll bear with me I just need to appreciate this transformation one more time…
828 Upshur Street, NW in 2012
10th and H Street, NE
We’ve been closely monitoring the progress of construction for the Ben’s Chili Bowl coming to 10th and H Street, NE. Thanks to a reader for sending this update shot, noting it looks like there will be a roof deck. Sweet.
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Aside from Malcolm X/Meridian Hill Park, when the weather gets warmer one of my favorite things is eating/drinking outdoors. With all the new places opening up I’m wondering if there are any new favorite spots. Eatonville at 14th and V Streets looks like it could be a winner.
For the record my favorite roof deck remains Local 16 (16th and U Streets, NW).
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Ashley runs the Web site, From Komi to Marvin which she describes: “After living in D.C. my entire life, I realized that I had only eaten at a third of the restaurants on the Washingtonian 100 Best list. So I decided to take a year, and eat at every single one–no matter how geographically far away, or culinarily unappealing. I’m not a reviewer, just a gal who loves to eat.” Ashley last wrote about Food Trends for PoP here.
There comes a day a couple times a summer where the humidity drops to a tolerable level, the breeze blows in and the temperature stays in the double digits. On those days, Washingtonians feel the need to do something—anything—outside to take advantage of these bits of good fortune. I hate to jog, I burn too easily to sit by the pool, and I have no dog to walk. So what do I do? I eat. And I love it. I like brunching with my sunglasses on, water glass sweating profusely, swatting mosquitoes through my meal. Unfortunately, D.C. doesn’t have a ton of options for outdoor dining. Yes, there are many places that throw a few tables on the sidewalk, but I like restaurants that have put some thought in to their al fresco options. Hope is not lost though; there are a growing number of restaurants with us sun seekers in mind.
Now I’m a gal who loves a good roof deck, not only because there’s more sun and fun three stories up, but I also like the option to toss my food over the side when it fails to impress. Sadly, I have found that when a restaurant has good food they never have roof decks. Or if there’s a roof deck, the food is a few steps down from a Lunchable. But since there is an exception to every rule, Perry’s in Adams Morgan comes through with some nice food and a pretty wonderful roof deck. You can snack on sushi and tapas as you giggle at the drunken fake I.D. crowd stumbling up and down 18th St.
Since we can’t subsist on roof decks alone, fortunately there are significantly more restaurants in our fine city with nice patios. Probably my favorite in town is the one at Leopold’s Kafe in Georgetown. Set back off M St. in the quaint and quiet Cady’s Alley, you can sit by a fountain and sip your (very strong) coffee and have some nice Austrian fare. It’s oh so European that you almost expect your change to come back in Euros. Another great urban oasis patio is the one at Poste. Nestled in the middle of the Hotel Monaco in Chinatown, you would never know you were right next to the Verizon Center if not for the occasional face-painted Caps fan wandering through. Their new “Poste Roast” dinners—family style meals of an entire roasted pig, goat, squab, or lamb among other delicious creatures—serve to remind me that the dinner parties I put together for my friends are pretty lackluster. The patio at Brasserie Beck deserves a mention since their food and beer is great sustenance for a long and leisurely evening spent with friends. But be forewarned that there isn’t much to look at while sitting outside, save for the occasional Circulator bus every 12-14 minutes. Continues after the jump (more…)