The Latest Dish: May 2022
By • May 12, 2022 0 1297
You Had Me at Sophia Loren…
Matteo Venini and Antonio Matarazzo opened their neo-Neapolitan Stellina Pizzeria at 508 K Street NW in Mt. Vernon Triangle where the iconic The Waffle Shop used to be. Stellina Pizzeria at Union Market was their first, the Shirlington location was their second, and a new one in Tysons will be #4. When you spot the mural of Sophia Loren, you know you’re in the right place.
Causa opens at 920 Blagden Alley in Shaw, featuring Peruvian food and beverages. The top floor, referred to as Bar Amazonia, opens first, featuring a 50-seat patio and lounge on its rooftop terrace. Peruvian-born chef and co-owner Carlos Delgado, formerly of China Chilcano, reigns over the main level tasting-menu dining room, which will open in later. Carlos’ partners are Service Bar owners Chad Spangler and Glendon Hartley, who hope to remind guests that Peruvian drinks are more than just pisco sours.
A 50-seat rooftop patio and lounge can be enjoyed at Causa’s Bar Amazonia. Courtesy Bar Amazonia.
Rose Nguyen will relocate The Rose Ave Bakery from its stall at The Block on Vermont Ave. NW to a new full-size location at 2633 Connecticut Ave. NW where a Dunkin’ Donuts used to be. Rose has more f&b to offer — and more hours to offer them. Her defacto PR support? Comedian Ali Wong who praised her bakery during her sold out “Milk and Money Tour” at the Warner Theater.
Celebrating Mother’s Day with a cake from Rose Ave Bakery now at 2633 Connecticut Ave. Courtesy Instagram.
Quick Hits: KNEAD Hospitality + Design and Robert Santibanez are slated to open MI VIDA at 1901 14th Street NW where Matchbox used to be, in Q3. It seats 300, with two bars, and an outdoor patio…. Meshelle Armstrong (Eat Good Food Group) and Zena Polin (The Daily Dish) are slated to open Beauty Champagne & Sugar Boutique in Crystal City with an intimate 12-seat restaurant, a grab n’ go pastries, and a Wine Room…. Chef Nicholas Stefanelli will add Kaimaki, a new wine bar adjacent to his Greek restaurant Philotimo, at Midtown Center at 1100 15th Street NW at L…. Mike Ellis and Jerry Hollinger have targeted Q3 2022 for the opening of J. Hollinger’s Kitchen & Cocktails at 8606 Colesville Road in downtown Silver Spring next to The Fillmore.
J. Hollinger’s Kitchen & Cocktails is slated to come to 8606 Colesville Road in downtown Silver Spring in Q3 2022. Courtesy J. Hollinger’s.
Just Opened: A new Courtyard by Marriott opened in Dupont Circle at 1733 N Street NW and debuted its lobby-level fast-casual restaurant, The Bistro, serving breakfast, lunch, happy hour and dinner. Ivan Iricanin’s Buena Vida Gastrolounge at 2900 Wilson Blvd in Arlington. It seats 66 + 9 bar seats on the first floor, 97 seats + 10 bar seats + a PDR on the second floor, and 124-seat rooftop lounge on the top deck. Jaime Pelayo is the executive chef and Felix Meija is the beverage manager…. From the folks who brought you The Lot and Clarendon Pop Up Bar, comes Alias, on the sub-terranean level of Dolce Vita at 1610 14th Street NW where 100-seat jazz club Sotto used to be…. Glory Days Grill opened its 14th restaurant in Virginia (40th total nationwide) at 74 Blackwell Park Lane in Warrenton, VA…. Reese Gardner (Pinemoor, Copperwood Tavern, Dudley’s Sport and Ale) opened Brass Rabbit Public House in Clarendon at 1210 N. Garfield Street where Bracket Room used to be.
A new Courtyard by Marriott opened in Dupont Circle at 1733 N Street NW and debuted its lobby-level fast-casual restaurant.
Andrew Kelley and Kai Leszkowicz, founders of Aslin Beer Company, open their beer garden later this month at 1740 14th Street NW in Logan Circle offering 21 Aslin draft beers. What sets it apart from its sister operations in Alexandria and Herndon is the new coffee component. It will open early to serve its own special blends of Aslin Coffee, orchestrated by Dani Moreno, formerly of Dio, who will incorporate her Filipino and Mexican roots into the coffee, tea and sweets. Food in the evenings is brought to you by Bun’d Up food truck.
Brennan Reilly plans to open Brennan’s Bar and a Carlyle Club (restaurant & event space) in the large space where Pennsylvania 6 restaurant was at 1350 Eye Street NW across from Franklin Park. The club will offer music performances (jazz, Motown, big band and R&B) as well as special multimedia productions that include comedy as well as music.
Linda Roth is Founder & CEO of Linda Roth Associates (LRA), a DC-based public relations & marketing firm that specializes in the foodservice and hospitality industries. Follow her at: @LindaRothPR #LindaRothPR or www.lindarothpr.com.
