The Latest Dish
By • January 11, 2017 0 1496
Expanding its D.C. presence, Philadelphia-based Table 95 Hospitality Group plans to open its second City Tap House in the District this summer at 1250 Connecticut Ave. NW, where STK was. A City Tap House opened at 9th and I Streets NW in 2013, followed by another Table 95 concept, Pennsylvania 6, a few blocks west in May of 2015. There are three other City Tap locations outside D.C.
Quaint Old Town Alexandria will get a new German restaurant called Old House at what was Sultan Kabob’s location, 1024 Cameron St, after the building undergoes a complete renovation. The owners are Ivan and Amela Svalina, who used to operate Cosmopolitan Bakery in Alexandria. The Bosnian couple’s German connection is Ivan, who lived in Germany for nine years.
Popular Nantucket restaurant Millie’s will open a second location at 4866 Massachusetts Ave. NW in Spring Valley. Several of owner Bo Blair’s restaurants, such as Smith Point, Jettie’s and Surfside, have a Nantucket theme. A first-quarter 2017 opening is planned.
Joselito Casa de Comidas is slated to open this month at 660 Pennsylvania Ave. NW where Sona Creamery & Wine Bar used to be. This new Spanish restaurant is brought to you by Javier Candon and his wife Christiana Campos, known for SER in Ballston. The chef is David Sierra, who hails from Madrid.
Anna Bran-Leis and her husband Shawn Leis plan to open a Mexican spot called Taqueria del Barrio at 821 Upshur St. NW in Petworth, where Domku used to be. It’s next door to Jamie Leeds’s Twisted Horn, which is how they learned of the space. They were looking for a brick-and-mortar spot after operating a food truck and a Union Market stall.
Quick Hits: The Atlas District’s Po Boy Jim will open at 1932 9th St. NW in Shaw, where Axum Ethiopian used to be. The plan is to open at the end of the second quarter of 2017 … José Andrés’s food-truck concept, Pepe, will open a brick-and-mortar location in Andrés’s Launch Test Kitchen at the Verizon Center, making it the second operation there, Beefsteak being the first.
Chef & GM Update: Ryan Ratino is the new executive chef at Cleveland Park’s Ripple, taking the reins from Marjorie Meek-Bradley. Previously, he was at Masa 14 and at Minibar by José Andrés. The new general manager and wine director at Ripple is Jose Aguirre, who directed wine programs for Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants around the U.S. and was wine director at the legendary Fifth Floor in San Francisco. Aguirre earned his Advanced Sommelier Certificate in 2014 … Tyler Stout is the new chef at Macon Bistro & Larder in Chevy Chase, promoted from the sous chef position … Sergio Rivera was named general manager of Vinifera restaurant at the Westin Reston. He was previously at San Antonio Grill. Vinifera’s new sommelier, Sharon Dodd, is certified by the Court of Master Sommeliers, the Wine and Spirits Education Trust and the Society of Wine Educators as a CSW.
Mike and Sarah Keenan will make the Capital Riverfront neighborhood a bit healthier when they open The Juice Laundry at the Yards, at 1331 Fourth St. SE. This Charlottesville-based concept offers an all-organic, vegan, gluten-free menu of cold-pressed juices, smoothies, house-made nut milks, acai berry bowls and soups. A spring 2017 opening is scheduled.
Is Miami’s Yardbird Southern Table & Bar coming to Rockville Town Square where American Tap Room was?
Just opened: Tredici Enoteca from Philadelphia’s Zavino Hospitality Group at the St. Gregory Hotel in the West End … Fabio and Maria Trabocchi’s Sfoglina at 4445 Connecticut Ave. NW in the Van Ness ’hood … Farmers & Distillers, the new concept from Farmers Restaurant Group, near Mount Vernon Square … Quara Ethiopian at 2406 18th St. NW in Adams Morgan … Bên Tre Vietnamese restaurant at 2414 18th St. NW in Adams Morgan … Jade 11 Japanese restaurant at 785 Rockville Pike … Tim Ma’s Ten Tigers Parlour in Petworth at 3813 Georgia Ave. NW … Dolan Uyghur in Cleveland Park, serving Northwest Chinese regional with Middle Eastern influences.
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.
