The Latest Dish
By • May 12, 2026 0 903
Daniella Senior launched 5C Hospitality for her growing portfolio of concepts, including Colada Shop, Elegancia and the forthcoming Bar Nuestro, slated to open at Navy Yard Urby in the third quarter. Bar Nuestro (“our bar”) offers classic European dishes through the lens of Latin flavors. Claudio Foschi is culinary director and Jorge Figueredo is director of operations.
Knead Hospitality + Design (Succotash, Mi Vida, Gatsby) is slated to open Café Monet, a pan-European-inspired café and bistro with seating for 100, including a 48-seat outdoor terrace. Located in McLean Project for the Arts’ Berlage Arts & Education Center in downtown McLean, Café Monet will be led by executive chef Mario Pineda and GM Kiersten Johnson.
Hakan Ilhan (Brasserie Liberté, Ottoman Tavern, Il Piatto) plans to open Bistro Français at 1200 18th St. NW in Dupont Circle, where Daily Grill used to be. A salute to the legendary (now closed) Georgetown bistro, it’s slated to open in the third quarter with 225 seats inside and 60 on the outdoor patio. Ilhan also plans to open Le Midi in the fourth quarter at 1100 New York Ave. NW, where Capitol City Brewing used to be.
Likewise in the fourth quarter, Geoff Tracy will open his third Chef Geoff’s restaurant, at 111 Massachusetts Ave. NW in Mount Vernon Triangle. It will seat 185, with a 20-seat bar and outdoor patio with a view of the Capitol. The building is owned by Georgetown University. He also renewed his 10-year lease for the original Chef Geoff’s on New Mexico Ave. NW. That landlord is American University. Geoff may soon be asked to teach.
John Meadow of New York-based LDV Hospitality plans to open American Cut steakhouse, with a 120-seat dining room, at 1625 Eye St. NW, where BLT Steak used to be. An opening early in the fourth quarter is targeted.
Michael Rafidi (Albi, La’ Shukran, Yellow) plans to open Bizzeria at 3246 Prospect St. NW in Georgetown, serving Levantine pizza, so that his Yellow at 1524 Wisconsin Ave. NW will send guests who crave pizza to its new sister operation.
Quick Hits: Based in Winter Park, Florida, Park Lights Hospitality plans to open its flagship Italian concept, Prato, in the fourth quarter at 7278 Woodmont Ave. in Bethesda Row, where Matchbox used to be … La Omri Mediterranean restaurant and social venue will open at Capitol One Center in Tysons in the fourth quarter … Panda Express is slated to open where Rasa was at 1247 First St. SE in Navy Yard … South Florida-based Talkin’ Tacos, which has a shop in Dupont Circle and another planned for the 14th Street-Logan Circle corridor, aims to open one on Richmond Highway in Alexandria’s Oakville Row … Japanese restaurant Waraku and ramen shop Mensho also signed leases in the Oakville Triangle project.
Linda Roth 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. Follow her at: @LindaRothPR, #LindaRothPR or lindarothpr.com.
