2015 is going to be a big year for Washington. There are big-name arrivals like Momofuku, next chapters for D.C. chefs like Eric Ziebold and...cat cafes, for better or worse. There's already been some early excitement, such as the opening of China Chilcano from Jose Andres on Monday.
Last month brought our Most Anticipated Winter Openings list. Here, we take a broader look at restaurants to get excited about throughout 2015, listed in no particular order.
1) The Dabney
Address: 1200 Block of 9th St. NW (Blagden Alley)
From: Jeremiah Langhorne
The Situation: McCrady's veteran Langhorne is planning a farm-to-table restaurant with a big hearth and a bar. It will be designed by Edit Lab at StreetSense. They've been tracking progress on Facebook.
Projected Opening: Spring
· All Previous Coverage of The Dabney
2) Convivial
Address: 801 O St. NW
From: Cedric Maupillier, Saied Azali
The Situation: A second restaurant from the team at Mintwood Place will open at the CityMarket at O development this year. Convivial will meld American and French cuisines, and operate at a slightly lower price point than Mintwood.
Projected Opening: Spring
· All Previous Convivial Coverage [EDC]
Cedric Maupillier.
3) Pepita
Address: 4000 Wilson Blvd.
From: Mike Isabella
The Situation: Mike Isabella is opening a Mexican cantina in the same building as his upcoming Kapnos Taverna restaurant. The restaurant is trying to recreate the theme of being at a Mexican resort.
Projected Opening: First quarter 2015.
· All Previous Pepita Coverage [EDC]
4) Yona
Address: 4000 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, Va.
From: Jonah Kim, Mike Isabella
The Situation: Kim is partnering with Isabella on this Korean-influenced noodle bar headed to Ballston. There will be small plates, kimchi, soups and more.
Projected Opening: Spring
· All Previous Yona Coverage [EDC]
5) Bar LaCivita
Address: 2609 24th St. NW
From: Liam LaCivita
The Situation: The former chef of Liberty Tavern and Lyon Hall is opening up his own place where Murphy's used to be. It will have Italian influences.
Projected Opening: February
· All Previous Bar Civita Coverage [EDC]
6) Maketto
Address: 1351 H St. NE
From: Erik Bruner-Yang, James Wozniuk, Will Sharp, Chris Vigilante.
The Situation: Bruner-Yang and company are opening a combination restaurant and Asian market within the H Street NE building. Vigilante Coffee will also make its home there. The project is a long time coming.
Projected Opening: February
· All Previous Maketto Coverage [EDC]
The Maketto team.
7) Bad Saint
Address: 3226 11th St. NW
From: Tom Cunanan, Nick Pimentel, Genevieve Villamora.
The Situation: Bad Saint will be one of D.C.'s few restaurants devoted to Filipino cuisine. Expect dishes like sauteed mung bean noodles and lumpiang shanghai. A pop-up event previewing the restaurant drew long lines.
Projected Opening: Winter.
· All Previous Bad Saint Coverage [EDC]
8) Kinship and Other Unnamed Eric Ziebold Project
Address: 1015 7th St. NW
From: Eric Ziebold
The Situation: CityZen veteran Ziebold will strike out on his own with this multi-level, two restaurant project in Shaw. Kinship will be the more casual of the two; another restaurant will emphasize the kind of fine-dining cuisine for which Ziebold is known.
Projected Opening: Fall
· All Previous Kinship Coverage [EDC]
9) Centrolina
Address: 974 Palmer Alley, CityCenter DC
From: Amy Brandwein
The Situation: CityCenter gets a restaurant from a local chef. This Italian restaurant features the cooking of Brandwein, a veteran of Roberto Donna's restaurants and Casa Nonna.
Projected Opening: Spring
· All Previous Centrolina Coverage [EDC]
10) Peter Chang's Rockville Restaurant
Address: 20A Maryland Ave.
From: Peter Chang
The Situation: Renowned Virginia Chinese chef Peter Chang will open his closest location to D.C. next year in Rockville Town Square. The restaurant is expected to have a slightly healthy spin.
Projected Opening: First quarter 2015
· All Previous Peter Chang Coverage [EDC]
Peter Chang Rockville.
11) Momofuku and Momofuku Milk Bar
Address: CityCenter DC
From: David Chang, Christina Tosi
The Situation: DC will get a Momofuku. Superstar chef is planning a hybrid of several of his Momofuku restaurants for D.C., and there will also be a location of Milk Bar, the empire's dessert spin-off.
Projected Opening: No updated estimate was available
· All Previous Momofuku Coverage [EDC]
12) Beefsteak
Address: 800 22nd St. NW
From: José Andrés/ThinkFoodGroup
The Situation: Andrés makes his first foray into fast-casual dining with Beefesteak, which will open its inaugural location on the George Washington University campus. Beefsteak is designed to be vegetable-centric (if not vegetarian) dining.
Projected Opening: February
· All Previous Beefsteak Coverage [EDC]
13) Masseria
Address: 1344 Fourth St. NE
From: Nick Stefanelli
The Situation: Stefanelli has left his longtime gig at Bibiana restaurant to strike out on his own with this project, an Italian restaurant.
Projected Opening: Spring
· All Previous Masseria Coverage [EDC]
14) Clarity
Address: 442 Maple Ave East, Vienna
From: Jason Maddens, Jonathan Krinn, Nico Gaskell (wine)
The Situation: This bistro from Central vet Maddens and Inox vet Krinn will try to cover all price points, offering such dishes as steaks, pastas, salads and some higher-end fare. There will be a chef's counter and an open kitchen and private dining.
Projected Opening: Mid-January
· All Previous Clarity Coverage[EDC]
15) Crumbs & Whiskers
Address: No lease signed yet
From: Kanchan Singh
The Situation: D.C. is poised to get its first permanent cat cafe next year, though it may be closer to dream than reality stage. Singh is raising money for the project, which would ideally open by spring but more likely by fall.
Projected Opening: Spring or later 2015
· All Previous Crumbs & Whiskers Coverage [EDC]
A pop-up cat cafe in D.C.
What 2015 opening are you most excited about? Let us know in the comments.