The Latest DishMay 8, 2013

Fabio Trabocchi is preparing to open a new concept, **Casa Luca**, offering a more casual theme in d?cor and menu than **Fiola**. There will be red, white and sparkling wines on tap at the bar. Casa Luca replaces the **Againn** space at 1099 New York Ave., NW. Fabio is also scheduled to open **Fiola Mare** on the Georgetown waterfront at Washington Harbour.

**C-C-Changes**: Going casual is becoming more and more popular especially with that ubiquitous ?sequester? word terrorizing us in D.C. Enzo Fargione?s fine dining restaurant, **Elisir**, on 11th Street in Penn Quarter, is now the more casual **Osteria Elisir**, with d?cor and menu to match. In Georgetown, Ruth Gresser?s **Pizzeria Paradiso** has re-opened its lower level **Birreria Paradiso** after renovation to make the space more open, with communal tables for better socializing. Partners Jos? Andr?s and Rob Wilder, will expand the bar area at **Oyamel Cocina Mexicana**. Hapstak and Demetriou has designed the new bar, which will increase the restaurant by 900 square feet and add 42 more seats. Completion is slated for early May.

**Quick Hits:**
**Scion**, an Asian restaurant in Dupont Circle plans to open a second location in Silver Spring at 1200 East West Highway, featuring American as well as Asian dishes. McLean?s Courthouse: Sweet Leaf Cafe plans to open a bit closer to town at 2200 Wilson Blvd., where **Hikaru** sushi restaurant used to be. Southern California-based **BJ?s Restaurant & Brewhouse** plans a Tysons Corner opening this fall on Leesburg Pike. **Sol Mexican Grill**, a food truck, also plans to open a brick-n-mortar restaurant on H Street, NE. Popular idea, as Chupacabra, also a food truck; plans to go brick-n-mortar on H Street, NE. **Dunya** plans to open at 801 Florida Ave., NW, serving Mediterranean food and tapas. Timothy Dean plans to open **TD Burger** in the Loree Grand building in NoMa at Third and K Streets, NE, where **Zuppa Fresca** was. Compass Rose, plans to serve global foods at its Logan Circle restaurant at 1346 T St., NW. Owners Rose Previte and NPR?s David Greene plan to have it open by summer. Aaron Gordon and Chef Rock Harper (of ?Top Chef? and D.C. Central Kitchen fame) plan to open **Fat Shorty?s** in Clarendon where **Rabbit** used to be. Expect sausage, and German & Belgium beers. **Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant** opens its second Washington, D.C., location in early April, right around the corner from Nationals Park at 100 M Street, SE. Reza Akhavan, former general manager of **Shaw?s Tavern**, is taking over what was Fun Fair Video at 919 Fifth Street, NW to open a Mediterranean-themed organic restaurant.

Mixologist extraordinaire Derek Brown plans to open **Mockingbird Hill** on 7th Street in Shaw, with a Spanish influence that includes Iberico and Surryano hams. On the beverage front: a bar featuring sherrys. A May opening is planned. In addition to Mockingbird Hill, **Derek Brown** is teaming up with Rappahannock?s **Travis Croxton** to open **Eat the Rich**, highlighting seafood ? complemented by an oyster bar.

Philadelphia-based **La Colombe Torrefaction** (translates to ?roasting?), plans to open a coffee shop in D.C.?s Shaw neighborhood, in Blagden Alley next to **Rogue 24**. This will be their seventh cafe in the U.S., in addition to their thriving wholesale business, according to co-founders **Todd Carmichael and Jean Philippe (JP) Iberti Le Colombe coffee** will be served at Philly-native, Stephen Starr?s, Le Diplomate in Logan Circle