The menu at Continental Modern Pool Lounge in Rosslyn comes from the inspiration and talent of Marjorie Meek-Bradley of Smoked & Stacked. The connection for this project at the 180-seat indoor/outdoor beer garden near the Rosslyn Metro station is a project of Continental owner Curt Large, a partner at Roofers Union and Ripple, where Meek-Bradley was executive chef. Large is involved with many more restaurants we all know and love.
Boston-based Oath Craft Pizza will open at 2905 District Ave. in the Mosaic District in Merrifield, Virginia in the fourth quarter of this year. This fast-casual pizza chain is known for its avocado oil-seared crust. It’s first location was on Nantucket, so many D.C. locals should be familiar with the brand.
Quick Hits: Luke’s Lobster and Compass Coffee will open at 800 17th St. NW…IMM on 9th will open at 1419 9th Street, NW in Shaw where Chao Ku, Vegetate, Cafe Eagle, Taqueria Mexicana, Northern Restaurant and Secret Lounge used to be. Expansion plans include IMM on H along the H Street NE corridor and IMM on Georgia in Brightwood … Eric and Ian Hilton plan to open Crimson View rooftop bar atop the Pod Hotel in Penn Quarter at 627 H St. NW this month… Yoshi Ota plans to open Sushi Gakyu at 1420 New York Ave. NW featuring omakase-style meals. He is a Kikisake-shi, a certified sake sommelier … From James & Piya Cameron, the folks who brought you Thaiverse in Lovettsville, VA, comes Thaiverse 2 in Middleburg.
Chef & GM Update: Bryan Moscatello is new chef at 701 Restaurant in Penn Quarter … Dave Hollander is the GM at True Food Kitchen in Bethesda. He is a veteran of Carraba’s.
C-C-Changes: Occidental Grill completes its renovations this month. The bar has moved to the former wine room across from the original entrance — and it’s open. There is a new dining space where the bar used to be. The entrance now directly facing Pennsylvania Avenue, instead of the side near The Willard … The Dabney in Blagden Alley NW will open a basement wine bar this month, featuring cocktails as well as wines.
Just Opened: True Food Kitchen at 7100 Wisconsin Ave. in Bethesda … Gorsha, a fast-casual Ethiopian eatery specializing in Ethiopian-style tuna poke, at Union Market. The chef and owner, Hiyaw Gebreyohannes, also supplies Ethiopian products to Whole Foods Markets … Former Alexandria city councilman Rob Krupicka opened a Sugar Shack in Shaw, his third in the area … Sommelier Brent Kroll and restaurateur Max Kuller opened Maxwell Park, a wine bar serving small plates, at 1336 9th St. NW in Shaw. The menu was designed by Tony Conte, former chef at Oval Room (now at Inferno Pizzeria), who previously worked with Brent … Cleveland-based Choolaah Indian BBQ opened its second area location at 21426 Epicerie Plaza in Sterling, Virginia. The first is in Merrifield’s Mosaic District … California-based Honeyfish Poke opened in at 1615 Rockville Pike. This fast-casual eatery features build-your-own-protein-bowls, poke-style. There are also plans to open in D.C. at 1401 K St. NW.
Openings Update: Black Restaurant Group’s Addie’s at Park Potomac Avenue plans to open in late summer … Matt Baker’s Gravitas, featuring a variety of tasting menus, plans to open in September at 1401 Okie St. NE in Ivy City … Jason Berry and Michael Reginbogen of KNEAD Hospitality + Design plan to open 9,000-square-foot Succotash, featuring chef Ed Lee’s Asian-infused Southern cooking at 915 F St. NW, in August … Scott Drewno’s Chiko opened July 7… The Line DC hotel in Adams Morgan with its restaurants by Erik Bruner-Yang and Spike Gjerde is now looking at an October opening.
Linda Roth is president of Linda Roth Associates, a public relations and marketing firm that specializes in the hospitality industry. Reach her at linda@lindarothpr.com.