The Restaurants Coming Soon to a Neighborhood Near You
Y&H has already listed his 10 favorite new restaurants for 2009. Now it's time to start pondering the possibilities for 2010. Here's a short list of the upcoming restaurants I'm itching to dine in this year.
- Galileo III: Can Roberto Donna overcome his dwindling reputation and poor recent track record to reclaim the heavyweight crown in the former Butterfield 9 space?
- Estadio: Proof owner Mark Kuller will be opening this Spanish-themed restaurant on the trendy 14th Street strip (which really needs a trendy name, like Dealertown 14, a nod to 14th Street's history as a home to car dealerships).
- Flip Burger Boutique: The name exudes all the preciousness of a designer poodle, but its concept intrigues me. So does its mohawked toque. (Come to think of it, his hair remains me more of a shark fin.)
- Capital City Diner: The poor owners of this historic 1940s-era dining car have suffered so many setbacks in trying to open in the eats-deprived Trinidad neighborhood that I suspect running a restaurant will seem like a snap by comparison.
- Ray's the Steaks at East River: Speaking of serving under-served neighborhoods, Michael Landrum will be opening a more family-oriented version of his flagship operation in Northeast D.C.
- Kushi: Grilled meats on one side of the restaurant, fresh fish on the other. This kushiyaki and sushi operation at CityVista may redefine Japanese restaurants in D.C.
- Biergarten Haus: D.C. will finally get a German beer garden of its own, right there in the Atlas District, where you can already down some of the best Belgian brews in town. Do I smell a beer fight?
- Diamond District Seafood Co.: This combination seafood restaurant and market near Logan Circle should allow chef Barton Seaver to do what he's best at: prepare and promote sustainable seafood.
- Lyon Hall: The team behind Liberty Tavern in Clarendon plans to open a hip brasserie, complete with subway tiles and herringbone pattern flooring, in an historic building on Washington Boulevard in the same neighborhood.
- Hill Country: The joint that proved good Texas barbecue could be produced in the heart of New York City will attempt to recreate the magic in D.C.
So what upcoming restaurants are you jonsing for this year?
2:29 pm
You missed Robert Wiedmaier's "The Mussel Bar by RW" in Bethesda!
2:38 pm
14th Street as Dealertown for car dealerships? When I grew up here, very different kind of dealers there....
3:04 pm
Winenegress, that was part of my intention with using the name. I figured those in the know, like you, would get it.
Daniel, it wasn't an omission just a recognition that I'm more excited about these upcoming restaurants. I can already get good mussels from Wiedmaier at Beck.
3:29 pm
We could use a decent restaurant in Silver Spring...can you do some recruiting Tim?
5:02 pm
Maybe a new brewpub this spring from a brewer with 15 years of local tenure?
Cheers, Rick
7:53 pm
What's the word on the noodle joint opening above the Pug?
9:12 pm
HillRat, my colleague over at the Washington Business Journal, Missy Frederick, has the details: The place is called Toki Underground and it will apparently serve both ramen and Taiwanese dumplings. More from WBJ: http://washington.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2009/09/07/newscolumn2.html
12:56 pm
Former Staffer,
There is a new promising pho parlor in Silver Spring, Toan. I haven't been yet, but report back if you get there before I do: http://www.toansoup.com/
6:20 pm
What happened to Diamond District Seafood planned for 14th st? It's been "planned" for a long time.