The Latest Dish
By • August 13, 2020 0 1355
Kramerbooks & Afterwords owner Steve Salis will soon morph the landmark Dupont bookstore and 24-hour café at 1517 Connecticut Ave. NW into a bar and restaurant — with all-day breakfasts and signature Ted’s Bulletin pop tarts — called Kramers. There will also be a new retail space, All Day by Kramers, offering items like f lowers and haircuts in addition to books. Chef Vincent Griffith has developed a French-inspired modern American menu for the new concept.
Ruthie’s All-Day is slated to open in September at 3411 5th St. South in Arlington, Virginia, helmed by partners Matt Hill, formerly of Liberty Tavern Restaurant Group, and Todd Salvadore, formerly of RW Restaurant Group. This neighborhood restaurant and bar will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner (including takeout, of course), as well as catering.
Mike Friedman has enhanced weekend mornings and afternoons at his All Purpose Pizzeria at 1250 9th St. NW in Shaw with a Jewish deli called Delikatessen. The concept includes to-go cocktails that bartender Sam Nellis is adapting for the deli, including a Manischewitz mimosa (oy vey) and an egg cream with bourbon. Bagels come from Bullfrog Bagels.
Just Opened: Andrew Darnielle has opened Smokecraft Modern Barbecue at 1051 N. Highland Street in Clarendon, Virginia, featuring Smokecraft’s championship BBQ, which won over 70 awards in 2019. Lunch, dinner and brunch (takeout, too) are complemented by beverages that are a natural for smoked meat, seafood and vegetables. Executive sous chef William Burke fine-tuned his curing and smoking techniques at restaurants including Bull and Bird Steakhouse, Revival Social Dinner and The Smith Restaurant in Burton, Ohio. Smokecraft’s beverage program is designed by chief mixologist Lauren “LP” Paylor, 2019 winner of the Hardy Legends Cognac Competition, who worked at The Dabney, Dos Mamis and Silver Lyan in D.C. … Greg Bolton opened Bob & Edith’s Diner in Arlington at 5050 Lee Highway, where Linda’s Café used to be. The diner has four other Northern Virginia locations: Columbia Pike, Crystal City, Huntington and Springfield… Johanna Hellrigl opened Mercy Me in the Yours Truly hotel at 1143 New Hampshire Ave. NW in the West End. This “Sorta South American” cafe and restaurant was created with Andrew Dana and Daniela Moreira of Call Your Mother deli — now with a Georgetown location at 3428 O St. NW — and Timber Pizza Co. Pastries are by Argentina native Camila Arango of Pluma by Bluebird bakery near Union Market.
Darren Norris and Candice Wise have opened Shibuya Eatery at 2321 18th St. NW in Adams Morgan, where Bourbon used to be. It’s the first part of a three-level Japanese food-service project. On the ground level, Shibuya is a carryout operation offering Japanese street food, including to-go sake and Japanese beers. Just outside, a shaved ice machine churns out traditional Japanese snow cones with mochi and fruit called kakigōri. Next to open will be Death Punch Bar on the third level, offering Shibuya’s food menu plus a pool table and a DJ booth. Around Labor Day, Shabu Plus is slated to open on the second floor with Japanese hot pot and kaiseki small plates, as well as a higher-end sake bar. GM Leonard Howell was previously at Le Diplomate. Executive sous chef is D’Angelo Mobley, formerly at Maialino Mare, American Son and the Allegory bar in the Eaton DC hotel. Bar manager Jeremy Wetmore comes from Left Door.
Chef & GM Update: Local Seat Pleasant native Armani Johnson has been named executive chef at ABC Pony, the Italian-Asian café by Erik-Bruner Yang at 2 I St. SE in Navy Yard. Johnson moved up from the sous-chef spot there and at Sally’s Middle Name on H Street NE. Four words: cheddar Old Bay biscuits.
Scissors & Scotch, a men’s barbershop, cocktail bar and lounge, is slated to open at 1 M St. SE in Capitol Riverfront by the fourth quarter of 2020, in the building that’s also home to the National Association of Broadcasters. The Kansas City-based franchise operation hopes to open 10 more locations in the region, including in NoMa-Union Market and Ballston, Virginia. Haircuts come with a complimentary cocktail.
Georgetown Quick Hit: New York’s Levain Bakery will open in Georgetown at 3131 M St. NW where Johnny Rockets used to be. It will be the bakery’s eighth location since owners Pam Weekes and Connie McDonald opened the original in 1995.
Make your reservations now for the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington’s Summer Restaurant Week. Not only is the $35 dinner promotion in full swing, but it’s now Restaurant Weeks, as in two: Aug. 17 through 30. Carryout meals with curbside pickup are also available for solo or family-style dining, with adult-beverage options. The sharable meals cost $60 to $100 for two and $130 to $210 for four. Lunch and brunch choices are $22 a person.
Linda Roth (@LindaRothPR) is the founder and CEO of Linda Roth Associates, a D.C.-based public relations and marketing firm that specializes in the hospitality industry. Visit her on the web at lindarothpr.com.
Grilled Mushroom & Scallion with Fresh Soba & Vegan Dashi. Shaved Beef with Simmered Onion, Fresh Udon & Duck Bone Dashi. Courtesy Shibuya Eatery.
