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Zinniawill open where the iconicMrs.K’s Toll Houseused to beat 950 Dale Drivein Silver Spring, Maryland. Chris Brown ofTakoma Beverage Company plans totransform the expansive space into a fine-dining restaurant with a caféa tavern and a beer and wine garden. First up is the beer and wine garden,featuring a “Wiesnin a Box” beer truck, in addition to an outdoor bar with 13 taps for beer, wine, frozen cocktails and hard cider.Brad Feickert, formerly ofBryan Voltaggio’sVolt,is overseeing menudevelopment for all the concepts. Justin Kaplan-Markley is GM and Seth Cookis wine director.The plans call for the all-day café to open early in the fourth quarter, followed by the tavern, featuringclassic pub food, then thefine-dining restaurant.  

By the end of the second quarter, London-basedSwingers is slated to open a 20,000-square-foot mini golf complex with aKnead Hospitality + Designfood hall and an all-day DJ in Dupont Circle at 1330-33 19th St. NW, whereBuffalo BilliardsandThe Front Pageused to be. The fast-casual concepts includeLil’Succotash(miniversion ofSuccotash),Tu Taco(miniMi Vidawith Mexican street food),Mah-Ze-Dahrbakery and KneadzaPizza, plus four themed bars. A hole-in-one is rewarded with a free shot.  

More Kneadexpansion in 2021: Mi Casaat 1648 20thSt. NWin Dupont Circle,whereBareburgerused to be;Mah-Ze-DahrbakeryinCrystal City, Virginia;Gatsbymodern American diner, nearNationals Park;and casual French caféBistro du Jourat theSouthwestWharf. 

Quick Hits: Chef Nicholas Sharpe is openingLyle’srestaurantearly in the second quarter in the Lyle hotel nearDupont Circle,at 1731 New Hampshire Ave. NW, wherethe Carlylehotel used to be … SANdwichLORENZO, a to-go lunch place from Massimo Fabbri, has opened insideSan Lorenzo Ristorante + Barat 1316 9thSt. NW in Shaw ... TheSalt Lineplans to open a second location in Ballston, Virginia, early in the third quarter Miami-basedYardbirdis scheduled to openearly in the second quarter whereAcadianaused to be, in Mount Vernon Triangle at 901 New York Ave. NW…Restaurant 54will open in Virginia this summer at Springfield Town CenterwhereZinburgerused to be  Shinwari Grill,serving Pakistani and Afghan food, is slated to open in Penn Quarter at 609 H St. NW  The Settingunderground cocktail bar by Nick Hopkins, formerly of Lettuce Entertain You, is slated to open at 2512 Pennsylvania Ave. NW in the West End  Cathal Armstrong just openedMattie and Eddie’s (named for his grandparents), serving Irish pub food, at 1201 South Joyce St. in Arlington, Virginia, at what was formerly Pentagon Row,now known as Westport …Barca Pier & Wine Bar, a bar barge, is slated to open on the water in Old Town, Alexandria, next toAda’s on the River. In addition to wine, beer and cocktails, Mediterranean small plates will be served. 

Chef Update:Kristen Essig, formerly of Coquette in New Orleans, is now the executive chef atLong ShotHospitality’sDauphine’s at Midtown Center, 1100 15thSt. NW. Essig joinsNeal Bodenheimer ofNew Orleans’ famedcocktail bar Cure … D.CnativeMark Eason is the new head chef at Barracks Row’sValor BrewpubandThe Ugly Mug.  

Just Opened: CIA gradRolando FriasopenedTaqueria al Lado, agluten-free tribute toMexicanstreet food,in Adams Morgan, next door toOsteria Al Volo, where hecontinues aschef and partnerThere is a heated patio in the rear  Hawaii nativeLucas IrwinopenedNaRa-Ya,a high-end Japanese restaurant at the Southwest Wharf, offering a tasting menu only. Kaz Okochiis culinary director and Michael Deery,formerly ofNobu,is GM.Oncegreatercapacityisallowed indoors,NaRa-Ya will add a full à la carte menu. 

Late in the fourth quarter or early in the first quarter of 2022Pupatellawill openin West Springfield, Virginia, at 8434 Old Keene Mill Road,whereTiyakiGrillused to be. Existing locations: DupontCircle/Adams Morgan and South Arlington, Reston and Richmond (franchised) in Virginia. Founders Anastasia Laufenberg and EnzoAlgarmerecruitedMichaelBerger, formerly ofElevation Burger, to plan for greater expansion in the region.A sixth location is slated to open in Mosaic District in Merrifield, Virginia, in the first quarter of 2022.  

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 food service and hospitality industries. Visit her on the web at lindarothpr.com.  

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