Awaiting Bar Pilar's Return; A Look Inside Chez Billy

U STREET—Everyone is impatiently awaiting for the full reopening of Bar Pilar and its second-floor expansion, it seems. Even though right now they've only reopened the first floor without food service, both Washingtonian and Brightest Young Things get some intel on what's in store. Namely, tables for diners upstairs, traditional entrees in addition to small plates and late-night dining. Hurry up and open, please. [Washingtonian, BYT]

PETWORTH—Similarly, Prince of Petworth checks in on the progress at Chez Billy and is really excited about what he finds. A hard hat tour reveals a space that's fairly similar in style to the Hilton Brothers' other spots — Marvin, Blackbyrd Warehouse, etc — with exposed brick, a chandelier and other touches. [PoP]

WEEK IN REVIEWS—Tom Sietsema's First Bite this week was a visit to Sabzi in Fairfax, where he found plenty of potential: "A taste of [the chefs' mother's] gheymeh bademjan, or beef cooked with eggplant, split peas and dried lime, leads me to believe her sons led a charmed childhood." [WaPo]

Bar Pilar [Photo: Facebook]