Here’s your roundup of the latest restaurant buzz in and around DC for December 2012:
We’ve been talking about Bryan Voltaggio a lot lately and his next project is already in the works. Chef Voltaggio plans to open up an American diner just outside of downtown Frederick, in a space formerly occupied by a car dealership! Think breakfast platters, lasagna, fried chicken and so on. This new diner has yet to be named nor has the menu been created but folks in Frederick have something to look forward to come April 2012! That means the meat-centric bistro destined for Chevy Chase, Range, won’t be opening until potentially late summer 2012. The modern bistro will also house a bakery and retail wine shop.
Sadly Ba Bay, the modern Vietnamese restaurant on Capital Hill, shut its doors last month. Difficult to know what happened but we hope they turn up again in the city so we can continue enjoying their food.
Bar Pilar will be closed until just after the new year while they renovate their second floor. I wonder if we can expect new comforting dishes to compliment the already hearty menu.
Charcuterie expert Jaime Stachowski will be granting us all access to his awesome products, starting in January 2012 at a shop on the corner of 28th St., NW. Think luscious pate, smoked and cured meats like freshly made sausages, seasonable game and local beef. Oh – and the 1,000 sq. ft. space will also house a sandwich bar so you don’t feel the urgent need to tear into your newly purchased meats minutes after exiting the store. I was and still am a huge fan of his, back when he ran Restaurant K, and am eager to continue enjoying his charcuterie.
Memphis is the newest bbq restaurant that opened in Crystal City this month. Spare ribs, brisket, pulled pork, chicken and shrimp with an array of sides. If you visit shoot me a note and let me know how it was! 320 S. 23rd Street, Crystal City, VA
Little Serow – not new news but rather an update on the latest venture by the chef/co-owners of Komi. We went there the night after Thanksgiving, waited about 40 minutes while enjoying drinks and chatting with the ever-so-warm and friendly hostress. What a fiery, seductive meal that took me straight back to Thailand. Chef Monis was operating the kitchen himself and the perfectly paced meal of multiple dishes (think crispy pork with duck liver spread, spicy salads, caramelized beef, slow braised pork ribs, a catfish preparation similar to larb) left you excited and wondering what was next. The notes of fragrant kaffir lime and lemongrass resonated throughout the meal and the fluid motion of the servers navigating in and out of the tiny open kitchen was something resembling synchronized swim. With a menu that changes weekly I am eager to come back again and again.
Chipotle watch out! Boston-based chain Boloco will be opening two doors, one downtown and another in Bethesda – sometime in July 2012. Same concept but with more international flair, this is a chain I am excited to try!
Elisir, a new Italian restaurant, is now open at 427 11th St. NW. Those who work downtown should take advantage of their two-course lunch at the bar for $19! One main dish, a dessert and a non-alcoholic drink. Does goat cheese, poached asparagus and roasted mushrooms, all wrapped in prosciutto make your stomach grumble? And if that wasn’t enough, you can watch one of the several monitors that capture all of the action happening in the kitchen.
And finally – get out your sombreros! Chef Mike Isabella will be opening up a Mexican restaurant in Georgetown next year. The restaurant will be named Bandolero and will feature tacos, fajitas, ceviches..you get the point. Viva Meh-hee-ko!
Enjoy and eat well as we work our way into the new year!
