Oval Room Changes; New Mockingbird Hill Chef

FARRAGUT SQUARE— Restaurateur Ashok Bajaj plans to close The Oval Room for a portion of the summer for renovations. Before it closes, head there in June and sample some of the restaurant's most popular dishes (priced at $25 for two courses or $50 for three at dinner). Designer Martin Vahtra (Rasika West End, Nopa) will handle the renovations, which will include new art and lighting and a new burgundy and blue color scheme. It will reopen in August. [Eaterwire]

SHAW— Scott Ryan is the new chef at Mockingbird Hill (Julien Shapiro continues to oversee Derek Brown's other two bars in Shaw). His menu will continue to lean Spanish, according to the Washington Post. [WaPo]

U STREET— The second location of Yamas Mediterranean Grill is open, PoPville reports. [PoP]