Harry's Tap Room Will Reinvent Itself as Market Tavern

It was just back in April that the Pentagon City location of Harry's Tap Room transformed into Harry's Smokehouse Burgers & BBQ, but now it's time to say goodbye to Harry's Tap Room in Clarendon. Dining Bisnow reports that the restaurant has split from its national hospitality company and will now operate independently as a restaurant called Market Tavern.

Beyond the name change, the restaurant will also undergo a three-week renovation beginning on October 31 that will transform the physical spaces: the main level dining room will become more of a casual lounge space with soups, salads, sandwiches and small plates, while the second level will be a more refined space called Chophouse at Market Tavern. The menu will remain similar to Harry's, but "with a little more focus on beef."

So why the switch-up? Owner Michael Sternberg explains to Eater, "I'm a restaurateur at heart and I've been a corporate executive for the past several years. I decided I'd really be much happier as a restaurateur. So I left my position at Centerplate and bought back this restaurant. But when I sold the company four years ago, I had to change the name." The plans were finalized around the end of September, he says, and Market Tavern should open to the public by November 21.

· Harry's Tap Room Becomes Market Tavern [DBN]
· Harry's Tap Room [Official Site]
· All Previous Harry's Tap Room Coverage [-EDC-]