The Latest Dish: Doubling Down on Adams Morgan  

Omar Popal and the Popal Group now own the building where Havana Village used to be at 1834 Columbia Road, NW in Adams Morgan, where they plan to open a new restaurant, Maison. They’re not new to the ‘hood, as they also operate Lapis, across the street on Columbia Road. Maison will be focused on wines and cocktails with some small bites from Chef Matt Conroy. They’re targeting a Q2 2024 opening. That’s in addition to Pascual, the Mexican restaurant they plan to open this month on Capitol Hill at 732 Maryland Ave. NE.

Roofers Union in Adams Morgan will reopen in mid-January with new management and new menu. Chef Jose Molina, a Michelin Guide-nominee from New Heights restaurant, will lead the culinary program and Nik Namdar and crew will run the front of the house. Sister operations include New Heights in Woodley Park and Code Red in Adams Morgan.

Right Proper Brewing Co. of Brookland and Shaw plans to open its third location in Eckington Yards development at 1625 Eckington Place NE in Q4 2024, with seating for 180. Owners Thor and Leah Cheston continue to offer lighter, experimental ales, lagers and saisons. Executive Chef Jonatan Bohr will serve his popular dishes from the Shaw location, as well as wine on tap and cocktails. The mezzanine level will be available for private events.

Baton Rouge, Louisiana-based Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers opens its first urban-format restaurant, geared towards travelers, at Union Station this month.  Their first Raising Cane’s opened in Sterling in Dec. 2022. Plans call for a Q1 2024 opening in Bowie at Crain Highway and Heritage Boulevard, and Q3 2024 opening in Falls Church at Leesburg Pike and Patrick Henry Drive.

Shawn Malone, formerly of Magnolias at the Mill in Purcellville and Tuscarora Mill in Leesburg, plans to open Bistro on the Porch where Front Porch Market & Grill was in The Plains. The plan is to reopen the recently closed Fauquier County restaurant in February.

Quick Hits: Jinya Ramen Bar plans to open its seventh store in the D.C. metro area, in Georgetown at 1525 Wisconsin Ave. NW, where Via Umbria and Officina used to be. It will seat 150. A Q2 2024 opening is planned…. David Guas of Bayou Bakery in Clarendon will open Neutral Ground Bar + Kitchen at 6641 Old Dominion Drive in McLean in Q2 2024, serving classic American, locally sourced food…. Recently opened Sixty Vines in Reston will open its second location in the DMV, in Foggy Bottom in Q2 2024…. Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar plans to open in Kingstowne Towne Center where Romano’s Macaroni Grill is. It will seat 186 indoors and 62 on the outdoor patio. Lazy Dog also has restaurants in Fairfax and Chantilly.

Just Opened: Long Shot Hospitality (Dauphine’s, The Salt Line) and former Top Chef winner Gabe Erales opened Ometeo, a Tex-Mex restaurant in Tysons…. Stefanos Vouvoudakis, Tom Tsiplakos (ForFiveCoffee) and Joe Ragonese (Philippe Chow) opened Balos, a Greek restaurant aka “estiatorio” at 1940 N St. NW with Athens-based chef Jean-Charles Métayer at the kitchen helm…. Danielle Harris opened Almeda, an Afro-fusion restaurant in Petworth where Crane & Turtle used to be.

Linda Roth is Founder and CEO of Linda Roth Associates (LRA), a Washington, D.C.-based public relations and marketing firm that specializes in the foodservice and hospitality industries. Follow her at: @LindaRothPR;  #LindaRothPR;  or www.lindarothpr.com.      

Grilled Octopus and Fingerling Potatoes. Courtesy Roofers Union.