Chef/GM/Somm Update: Matt Smith is the executive chef at Brickside in Bethesda. Previously, he worked at Batali and Bastianich’s acclaimed Carnevino in Las Vegas, then was executive chef at Salt in Baltimore … Chef Wil Going is now at Chez Billy Sud and its sister operation next door, Bar a Vin … Sommelier Mark Slater is at Pennsylvania 6, part of the Table 95 Restaurant Group.
Andy Seligman and Brian Vasile, owners of Brickside in Bethesda and Grand Central in Adams Morgan, will open Capo, an old-school deli, in Shaw at 715 Florida Ave. NW below Dakota. Construction gods willing, plans are to open by the end of the first quarter of 2017.
Dirty Habit, a “gritty, high-energy restaurant,” will replace Poste in Kimpton’s Hotel Monaco in Penn Quarter this fall. Small plates from chef Kyoo Eom will be featured. Sarah Ruiz has been named head bartender at this “subversive” bar. She comes with seasoned spirits (especially mezcal) expertise, as she managed an agave-focused spirits division for Baja Wines in Mexico.
Quick Hits: Antonio Maradiaga and Maha Majdoub, owners of Twinpanzee Brewing Co., plan to open on Executive Drive in Sterling in February 2017… Javier and Christiana Candon will open a restaurant on Capitol Hill where Sona Creamery & Wine Bar used to be. The couple currently own and operate Spanish restaurant Ser in Ballston … Bethesda-based Pizzeria Da Marco plans to expand to Germantown in the Shops at Seneca Meadows … Fogo de Chao will open at 1775 Tysons Blvd (Lerner Building) in Tysons … Hakan Ilhan plans to open Plateau, a French/American restaurant, in downtown D.C. in the new 900 16th Street building near the White House at the end of the first quarter. Alba Osteria and L’Hommage Bistro Francais are part of his restaurant empire.
Wahlburgers signed its second location in the D.C. metro area, at Ballston Point in Arlington, adjacent to the Ballston Common shopping mall at the corner of Wilson Boulevard and Glebe Road. It’s slated to open in the first quarter. The D.C. store, in Dupont Circle, will be operated by Maurizio Marfoglia of WBDC Hospitality .
Just Opened: Vola’s Dockside Grill and Hi-Tide Lounge in Old Town, Alexandria, where Waterfront Market used to be. Seating 100 inside and 100 on the patio, it’s operated by Alexandria Restaurant Partners, who also have Virtue Feed & Grain, The Majestic, Lena’s and Palette 22 … Justus Frank, Jeremy Barber and Tim Irwin opened Live Oak in Alexandria’s Del Ray neighborhood where Monroe used to be, serving Southern food with a nod to Charleston, home to lots of big oak trees. There are 80 seats in the dining room and 40 seats on the patio … Osteria al Volo opened for dinner only where Pasta Mia used to be on Columbia Road in Adams Morgan. Owner Daniele Catalani and his nephew Matteo operate Cucina al Volo at Union Market, so you know the pasta is fresh … Matchbox at Pentagon City has opened its doors right next door to the Ritz-Carlton Pentagon City.
*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.8
