Paper Moon to Be Eclipsed by Flavio Restaurant

After 31 years as Paper Moon restaurant, the dining and drinking spot along 31st Street will renovate and rebrand to re-open in April as Flavio Restaurant.

Mariam Karabacheva, Flavio’s spokesperson and wife of co-owner Hamza Hadani, said the restaurant would remain Italian but with “a new menu and new atmosphere” as well as being “modern yet still cozy.”

“Paper Moon is still open but will be closing for a couple of days in about a week,” said Karabacheva, who said plans call for Flavio to open within the first 10 days in April. “We’re very excited.”

Dennis Fieldman, who was worked with Daniel Boulud, Michel Richard and Alan Wong, is Flavio’s consulting chef, according to Karabacheva. Most recently, Fieldman helmed Newton’s Table, Newton’s Noodles and Bethesda Barbecue Company.

Paper Moon founder and co-owner Mekki Karrakchou positioned his old standby (soon-to-be renewed) in 1984 at 1073 31st St. NW. It was later surrounded by other dining spots. Today, next door or across the street are il Canale, Ristorante Piccolo and Sea Catch Restaurant. Also nearby is the Grill Room at the Capella, just south of the C&O Canal — and let’s not forget Moby Dick House of Kabob.