D.C.'s Most Anticipated Spring Restaurant Openings

Sure, there was that pseudo-snow storm yesterday. But the sun's out today, and spring's just around the corner. The D.C. area has a monster slate of restaurants whose owners are projecting a spring opening this year. Here are some to keep an eye on, listed in no particular order, as the weather gets warmer and the rain starts pouring.

1) Logan Circle: Le Diplomate
Address: 1601 14th St. NW
Major Players: Stephen Starr, Chef Adam Schop
The Situation: Le Diplomate is mega restaurateur Stephen Starr's first foray into the D.C. market; as long the restaurant is well-received, he's hungry to bring more of his concepts here, including new ones. Le Diplomate will specialize in French fare and hold some similarities to Starr's Parc in Philadelphia. Expect brasserie classics, a huge patio, a coffee program from La Colombe, an in-house bakery and more.
Projected Opening: Late March
[All Coverage of Le Diplomate]

2) Capitol Hill: Bearnaise
Address: 313 Pennsylvania Ave. SE Washington, DC
Major Players: Spike Mendelsohn and family
The Situation: Originally slated for a winter opening, this will be Mendelsohn's third restaurant on the same block. Bearnaise, a steak frites restaurant, will be right nearby the Top Chef veteran's We, The Pizza and Good Stuff Eatery.
Projected Opening: Mid-April
[All Coverage of Bearnaise]

3) Bloomingdale: Red Hen
Address: 1822 1st St. NW
Major Players: Mike O'Malley, Michael Friedman and Sebastian Zutant
The Situation: Neighborhood restaurant Red Hen will sport a rustic design from hot firm Edit, affordable cocktails and dishes like roasted game hen and Virginia clams casino.
Projected Opening: April
[All Coverage of The Red Hen]

4) 14th Street: B Too
Address: 1324 14th St. NW
Major Players: Bart Vandaele
The Situation: Bart Vandaele's first new restaurant in nearly a decade will have some similarities to his Barracks Row standby, Belga Cafe, including its Belgian influence. Other touches include a Waffle Bar, a house beer, a selection of mussels and entrees like frogs legs and rabbit.
Projected Opening: April
[All Coverage of B Too]

5) Logan Circle: Doi Moi
Address: 1800 14th St. NW
Major Players: Mark Kuller, Haidar Karoum, Justin Guthrie, Adam Bernbach
The Situation: Doi Moi will be the team from Estadio and Proof's foray into Thai and Vietnamese street food. The restaurant will have multiple levels, a big patio and a sleek design from GrizForm, who worked on the group's other restaurants.
Projected Opening: Late spring or early summer
[All Coverage of Doi Moi]

6) Downtown: Teddy and the Bully Bar
Address: 1200 19th St. NW
Major Players: Michael Hartzer, Alan Popovsky
The Situation: Lincoln owner Popovsky will take on the presidential theme again with Teddy and the Bully Bar, a Theodore Roosevelt-themed restaurant with wild game on the menu.
Projected Opening: May
[All Coverage of Teddy & the Bully Bar]

7) Clarendon: Fat Shorty's
Address: 3035 Clarendon Blvd.
Major Players: Rock Harper, Aaron Gordon
The Situation: Restaurateur Gordon is transforming Rabbit, the salad-focused concept, into Fat Shorty's. Overseen by reality televison vet and D.C. Central Kitchen chef Rock Harper, sausages will be the specialty.
Projected Opening: April
[All Coverage of Fat Shorty's]

8) Penn Quarter: Azur
Address: 405 8th St. NW
Major Players: Frederik de Pue, Kieu-Lin Nguyen
The Situation: Frederik de Pue, who made a splash with Shaw's recent Table, bought the building that used to house Cafe Atlantico and Minibar, along with his investors. His plans for the space include an epic seafood restaurant with a bit of a Belgian influence and a large oyster bar.
Projected Opening: April
[All Coverage of Azur]

9) Falls Church: Taco Bamba
Address: 2190 Pimmet Drive, Falls Church, Va
Major Players: Victor Albisu
The Situation:A lbisu is opening up Taco Bamba in a space adjacent to a market owned by his mother in Falls Church, though it keeps getting hit with construction delays. The taqueria is poised to include tacos with both traditional and unusual fillings, such as sweetbreads. Albisu provided an early preview of his dishes at pop-up restaurant events at Black Jack.
Projected Opening: Spring
[All Coverage of Taco Bamba]

10) Dupont Circle: GBD (Golden Brown Delicious)
Address: 1323 Connecticut Ave. NW
Major Players: Tiffany MacIssac, Greg Engert, Kyle Bailey, Neighborhood Restaurant Group
The Situation: The former Yola space is being taken over by Neighborhood Restaurant Group for a fried chicken and doughnuts place, a trend DC just can't stop hearing about lately. The restaurant will have beers on tap and creations from MacIssac, who has been showcasing her pastries at pop-up events.
Projected Opening: Late March

11) Mount Vernon Triangle: Baby Wale
Address: 1124 9th St. NW
Major Players: Tom Power
The Situation: Power will open a more casual spot next door to Corduroy. The 50-seat restaurant will feature an eclectic menu with items such as lobster rolls, pupusas and roast chicken. The restaurant has been long in the works, and has gone through several name changes: Velour, Herringbone, and now the current moniker.
Projected Opening: Late April or May
[All Coverage of Tom Power]

12) Merrifield: Matchbox Mosaic District
Address: 2910 District Ave. Fairfax, Va
Major Players: Jacob Hunter, Mark Neal, Drew Kim, Ty Neal
The Situation: Matchbox, known for its miniburgers, pizzas and entrees, will open its first Virginia location at Mosaic District, joining such other restaurants as Taylor Gourmet and Sweetgreen. This Matchbox will have a big patio with a firepit, a pizza bar and more.
Projected Opening: Late March
[All Coverage of Matchbox Mosaic]

13) Metro Center: Astro Dougnuts & Fried Chicken
Address: 1308 G St. NW, Washington DC
Major Players: Jason Gehring, Elliot Spaisman, Jeff Halpern
The Situation: This addition to D.C.'s donut fixation is from pastry chef Gehring and his business partners. They've been doing early catering of dougnuts and pop-up events, and promise to have fried chicken worthy of grandma's.
Projected Opening: March
[All Coverage of Astro Dougnuts & Fried Chicken]

14) Logan Circle: Ghibellina
Address: 1610 14th St. NW
Major Players: Ralph Lee, Ari Gejdenson, Jonathan Copeland
The Situation: Ghibellina will be an Italian-influenced gastropub from the partners behind Capitol Hill's Acqua Al 2. Chef Copeland comes from Society Fair and Palena.
Projected Opening: April
[All Coverage of Ghibellina]

15) Dupont Circle: Iron Gate
Address: 1734 N St. NW
Major Players: Michael Babin, Tony Chittum
The Situation: Vermillion's Tony Chittum will head up the kitchen at this long-planned project from Neighborhood Restaurant Group. Set in the former home of one of D.C.'s most romantic restaurants, it will serve Greek and Italian-inspired fare.
Projected Opening: May
[All Coverage of Iron Gate]

16) Arlington:La Tagliatella
Address: 2950 Clarendon Blvd.
Major Players: AmRest Holding SE
The Situation: Spain-based restaurant chain La Tagliatella is just getting started in the U.S., and has not one, but two restaurants planned for Virginia. One's in Gainesville and the other is this one, in the former Restaurant 3 space. The food's Italian.
Projected Opening: April
[All Coverage of La Tagliatella]

17) 14th Street: Kapnos and G
Address: 2201 14th St. NW
Major Players: Mike Isabella, George Pagonis
The Situation: Two new restaurants from Top Chef's Mike Isabella. Kapnos will be focused on Greek food, which Isabella specialized in during his time at Zaytinya. The neighboring G, however, will be focused on big Italian sandwiches.
Projected Opening: Late Spring/Early Summer
[All Coverage of Kapnos, Coverage of G]

18) Penn Quarter: Del Campo
Address: 777 I St. Nw
Major Players: Victor Albisu
The Situation: Del Campo, in the former PS7's space, will be Albisu's ode to Peruvian and South American cooking. Lots of grilled meats, plenty of ceviche and drinks like pisco sours will be available.
Projected Opening: Spring
[All Coverage of Del Campo]

19) Shaw: Mockingbird Hill
Address: 1843 Seventh St. NW
Major Players: Derek Brown
The Situation: Mockingbird Hill will be Brown's ode to sherry and ham. The restaurant near the Howard Theatre will seat about 40 people.
Projected Opening: Spring
[All Coverage of Mockingbird Hill]

20) Penn Quarter: Nopa Bar & Kitchen
Address: 800 F. St. NW
Major Players: Ashok Bajaj, Greg McCarty
The Situation: Bajaj is transforming the former Zola space into Nopa, an American brasserie with a bit of a French influence.
Projected Opening: Late April
[All Coverage of Nopa]

21) Georgetown: The Grill Room and Rye Bar
Address: 1050 31st St. NW
Major Players: Capella Hotels, Jakob Esko.
The Situation: This restaurant within Georgetown's latest luxury hotel will have a European influence to its American menu. The restaurant will have unique touches including champagne and dessert carts, meats carved tableside, and a bar with a unique selection of rye whiskeys.
Projected Opening: Early April
[All Coverage of The Grill Room]

22) Glover Park: Arcuri
Address: 2400 Wisconsin Ave NW
Major Players: We Are 4 Partners
The Situation: Arcuri will be a casual, Italian restaurant geared towards the neighborhood crowd in Glover Park.
Projected Opening: Spring
[All Coverage of Arcuri]

23) 14th Street: Piola
Address: 2208 14th St. NW Washington, DC
Major Players: Nabil Ashi
The Situation: Piola has had a second location in the works for a long time, though utilities troubles have held up construction. This pizzeria will have the same epic happy hour, pizza selection and festive vibe as the Arlington original.
Projected Opening: Late March
[All Coverage of Piola]

Editor's Notes: No response from owners or reps, but a spring opening could still happen for such places as Black Whiskey, Taqueria Nacionale, Richard Sandoval's Toro Toro and the newest Wagshal's. Rose's Luxury and the John Mooney restaurant slated for Union Market and R.J. Cooper's Gypsy Soul wouldn't commit to a spring opening at this point. It's looking like summer for D.C.'s Attman's Deli and Carolina Kitchen. Look, The Gryphon, Red Apron Merrifield and the izakaya portion of Daikaya, all coming up in the next couple weeks, should squeak through with winter openings.