Thinking of Drinking: Smoke and Mirrors Rooftop in Navy Yard NOW OPEN!

By Jordan Burns

Come for the cocktails and views, stay for the fire-pits and snacks. A stunning new rooftop bar situated atop the AC Hotel Washington DC Capitol Hill Navy Yard has opened their doors TODAY (February 17)! The new rooftop features insta-worthy views of Downtown DC, handcrafted cocktails, and delicious eats developed by Area Director of F&B, Zach Wendel. 

Opening: We, the Pizza in Ballston

On October 30th, We, the Pizza franchise is opening their fourth location in the Jamestown Ballston Exchange in Arlington, VA.

Opening: New Modern Italian Spot in Foggy Bottom

West Coast-based Fox Restaurant Concepts has just opened North Italia in Foggy Bottom! 

Opening: Fast-Casual Restaurant Flower Child Opens Today!

Flower Child is serving healthy food for a happy world – and has just opened up in Washington D.C! The mission of Flower Child is to “spread positively delicious vibes and healthy food” in Washington D.C.

Opening: Doyle Bar in Dupont

A new bar in D.C. has arrived in the Dupont Circle Hotel!

New Crimson Whiskey Bar in Chinatown by Hilton Brothers

A new basement whiskey bar has opened in the heart of downtown Chinatown. The moonshine den is just one of three dining lounges created by brothers Eric and Ian Hilton, all located in the modern new Pod Hotel.

Opening: Service Bar DC

Passion Fruit Sour

Service Bar DC (SBDC), the concept of veteran bartenders Chad Spangler and Glendon Hartley along bar owner Chris Willoughby, opens today!   

Opening: Sakerum

Mokimedia threw another fabulous party to celebrate the opening of Sakerum!  I had fun visiting with The Washington Lobbyist, Dolci Gelati's Anastasia Dellaccio and top mixologist, Gina Cersevani.

Opening: Arepa Zone

This Thursday, Union Market’s 2015 Launch Pad competition winner, Arepa Zone, gave a preview of their tasty new menu! Their business is located right inside Union Market and opened on August 29th, 2015.

Opening: Alfa Piehouse

Alfa Piehouse brings traditional Greek cuisine and specialties to Washington D.C this summer with the launch of its first-ever café, located at 1750 H Street NW. Made of organic Greek ingredients, the 21-seat Piehouse offers a variety of savory and sweet Greek pies (or pastries), healthy salads, delicious sandwiches, a Greek yogurt bar, desserts and coffee, and even vegetarian and vegan/non-dairy options, ideal for any occasion or time of day, including breakfast, lunch, or for a snack.

Opening: District Doughnut

District Doughnut announced today the official opening of their first storefront location on Barracks Row, scheduled for Friday, September 12. Yay!  The specialty doughnut shop is located at 749 8th St SE, across the street from the iconic Marine Barracks of Washington.  I just love their doughnuts!

Opening: The Partisan

The Neighborhood Restaurant Group has opened yet another restaurant. The most recent venture? The Partisan, which is attached to Red Apron Butcher's third location at 709 D St. NW. It features a charcuterie menu organized by flavor profile (bright, herbal + floral, spicy hot, smoky, spiced, rich + smooth, earthy), a dinner menu organized by animal (fish, chicken, pig, cow), then size (small, medium, large). There are vegetarian starters, so your non meat-eating friend can still join you, as long as they don't mind a pig's head on your plate. As is the case with most NRG establishments, there is also a large focus on wine and beer.

The Neighborhood Restaurant Group is opening up new restaurants so fast it's hard for the staff to keep updated business cards in their pocket. When we attended the pre-opening gathering the night before The Partisan opened it's doors to the public, Brent Kroll was pouring glasses of Lambrusco at the entrance, handing out his card, and noting that The Partisan (and Iron Gate) were not listed on the back of his card alongside the other restaurants he works on. Luckily, I'm assuming most people with his business card will know what restaurants he is a part of.

After picking up a glass of Lambrusco, guests headed to the kitchen counter to make a plate of house-made tigelle and a selection of pork, including porchetta and bologna, pork belly, and pork loin.

While guests enjoyed the pork they picked up at the kitchen counter, staff members came around to pass more samples around. I heard a lot of rave about the beef fat fries and rockfish tartare and pork rinds. Unfortunately I was unable to try either. The rotissi-fried chicken with honey hot sauce was my favorite of the passed dishes I was able to try.

I wasn't expecting macarons to be a dessert option, but I loved each of the flavors I tried, which included Red Velvet, Salty Caramel, and Negroni. My biggest issue with macarons (or desserts in general really) is when they are way too sweet, and give me a sugar high after one bite. These macarons had well balanced flavors, and did not give me a sugar high, even after three macarons.

The Partisan is open Monday-Saturday, with the bar opening at 4pm, and the Dining Room opening at 5pm. To see the full charcuterie, dinner, wine, beer, and cocktails menus, visit http://www.thepartisandc.com/. Reservations are recommended, and can also be made online.

First Taste: City Tap House

City Tap House opened just two months ago, but it is already establishing itself as one of the premier beer hot-spots in downtown DC. Located at 901 9th Street N.W., a few blocks north of the Verizon Center on Eye Street, City Tap House serves sophisticated American pub fare for lunch, dinner, and weekend brunches, and features over 40 local, domestic, and imported beers on draft. 

Opening: Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak, and Stone Crab

By: Laurie Wallin

Capital Cooking Contributor

DC diners have a new option for seafood and steak - Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak and Stone Crab has opened in the district. Joe’s was brought to DC via a partnership with Lettuce Entertain You, who owns Wildfire, Mon Ami Gabi, Big Bowl, and Community Canteen. The opening of Joe’s DC is particularly memorable for the restaurant, as the opening coincides with the 100^th anniversary of the original Joe’s Stone Crab (opened in Miami Beach in 1913).

Ris Opens at Union Market

It’s 2014, and to celebrate a new year, a new addition has come to Union Market in NoMa: Ris. 

Opening: Smashburger in Vienna, VA

 

By: Laurie Wallin

Capital Cooking Contributor

Smashburger continues to bring its ‘better burger’ concept to the DMV with its newest location, Vienna, VA. This location joins Wal-Mart and 24 Hour Fitness in the newly-developed Tysons West area, just steps away from the soon-to-be completed Spring Hill Metro station and located on Route 7 between the Capital Beltway and the Dulles Toll Road. Like other Smashburger locations, this outpost will feature its signature “Smashed” burgers and chicken sandwiches, salads, sides, and shakes. Given the number of burger joints in the DC area, you may ask yourself, “another one? What’s different?” What’s different is that Smashburger uses their signature “smashing” cooking process, which literally means smashing their 100% Certified Angus Beef burgers on a 400-degree flat grill; this unique searing process seals in the juices and results in a juicy, flavorful burger.

Opening: The Waterfront Market in Old Town

By:  Jennifer Duff
Capital Cooking Contributor

Georgetown has a waterfront scene that DC'ers flock to in the spring and summer time for al fresco dining. Maryland created its own waterfront environment complete with numerous dining options, great shopping, hospitality for tourists, and art down at the National Harbor (which may include gambling in the future). Alexandria will soon be joining the scene based on its Waterfront Small Area Plan designed to revitalize Alexandria's waterfront. One of the first visible steps in this direction is the opening of The Waterfront Market.

Eat With Your Eyes: Slow Roasted Pork Cazuelas

Is your mouth watering? It should be! El Centro D.F. opened its second location in Georgetown. While the menu maintains some of the signature dishes from its 14th Street sister, it added some new winners.

Opening: Newton's Noodles

Newton's Noodles Tuna Bites Appetizer

By Claire Goldman

From Dennis Friedman, the chef and owner of Newton's Table in Bethesda, comes Newton's Noodles the design-it-yourself fast gourmet Fuzu experience.  If you're not familiar with Fuzu, it's Friedman's signature Asian noodle dish that gained so much popularity at Newton's Table, it demanded it's own designated venue.

Opening Today: doi moi

Photo by Zagat

doi moi, the Southeast Asian restaurant located at 1800 14th Street, NW in Logan Circle, opens today. The third restaurant from Proprietor Mark Kuller and Chef/Partner Haidar Karoum, who also opened Proof together in 2007 and Estadio in 2010, doi moi pays tribute to the culinary traditions and regional dishes found throughout Thailand and Vietnam.