More Than 100 Restaurants Closed in D.C. in 2015

It was an exciting year for restaurant debuts, but there were also plenty of shutters to make way for new development. Eater has counted at least 104 restaurant closings in the area this year (this includes major players, single location closures and small chains entirely exiting the area), and there likely were even more.

Find a story stream of all 2015's closure news here. Is something missing? If so, send a note to dc@eater.com.

Readers' Saddest Closures

Eater asked readers to vote for the saddest closure of the year. (A note: CakeLove, Monroe's Restaurant and Hello Cupcake's departures had not yet been announced when the poll ran.) Here are the places they're most sad to see go:

1. Willow: Tracy O'Grady's cozy Ballston neighborhood restaurant announced its closure back in September. The restaurant was known for its great pastries and its ambitious, often vegetarian-friendly cooking.

Willow [Photo: Official]

2. Stetson's: This no-frills bar was one of the pioneers in the U Street neighborhood. It shuttered at the end of October.

Stetson's [Photo: Official]

3. Chef Geoff's downtown (pending): It was a double whammy for Chef Geoff's closures: the Rockville location closed in late fall, and the last day of business for the downtown location is New Year's Eve. The building is being redeveloped, so downtown diners will have to find a new source for cheap happy hours, great burgers and convenient pre-theater dining.

Chef Geoff's [Photo: Official]

4. Chief Ike's Mambo Room: March brought last call for this Adams Morgan institution. The divey bar had changed over the years and most recently was beloved for its comedy nights.

Chief Ike's [Photo: Official]

5. Gypsy Soul: R.J. Cooper's ambitious but struggling Mosaic District restaurant shuttered in August. The chef then revealed in December he'd be leaving D.C. for North Carolina.

Other NOTABLE DEPARTURES

Meskerem — One of the city's oldest Ethiopian restaurants closed in April
Jay's Saloon — Arlington loses a beloved dive bar to redevelopment
CakeLove — The bakery that arguably kicked off the cupcake craze in D.C. years ago closed its original (and final) location in December
McFadden's — Really only beloved by college kids, this bar's closure caused an uproar from GW students
DC Coast — A pioneer on K Street, this longtime source for D.C. power lunches will say goodbye New Year's Eve

DC Coast's partners [Official]

most-read shutter story of 2015

Readers just kept clicking on the closing chapter of the story of Piratz Tavern. The oddball pirate-themed bar became famous during a drama-filled episode of "Bar Rescue" years ago.

Additional Closures

100 Montaditos (multiple)

7 Stars Deli

Aggio

Artfully Chocolate Alexandria

Bandolero

Bardia’s New Orleans Cafe

Benny’s Bar and Grill

UPDATE: Bethesda Barbecue Company

Bistro La Bonne

Black And Orange

Bonsai Grill

Brasserie Monte Carlo

Bread and Brew

Bungalow Sports Grill Shirlington

Cafe Deluxe Gaithersburg

Cafe Phillips Downtown

Caribbean Citations

Casa Oaxaca

Chef Geoff's Rockville

Chicken Out

Crumbs & Coffee

DCity Smokehouse (original)

Dahlak

Da Marco

Den of Thieves

Diego Restaurant

Dr. Clock’s Nowhere Bar

Eatonville

Faryab

Fisnhnet Shaw

Fishnet [Photo: Official]

Flying Fish Alexandria

Frozen Yogurt Indulgence

Gaithersburg Silver Diner

Hans Pedr Kaffe

Hard Times Cafe Bethesda

Hello Cupcake

Henry’s Soul Cafe

Indulj

Kite Runner Cafe

La Tagliatella Arlington

Largent’s

Li Ho Food

Lime Fresh (multiple)

Long John Silvers Falls Church

Mad Momos

McKeevers Irish Pub

UPDATE: Mio Restaurant (pending)

Modern Times Coffee House (in Politics & Prose)

Monroe’s Restaurant

UPDATE: Mothership

UPDATE: Murasaki Tenleytown

Native Foods (multiple)

Nature’s Table

No 82 Steakout

Noelia

Noelia [Photo: R. Lopez]

UPDATE: Noodles and Co. (multiple locations)

Nurish

Olea

Oya

Parker’s

Pasta Italiana

Patty Boom Boom

Pharmacy Bar

Pizza Parts & Service

Pizza Pass

Pizza Vinoteca

Potomac Grill

Pound the Hill

RedRocks Arlington

Reserve 2216

Rhino Bar

Ri Ra Clarendon

Rosa Mexicano Friendship Heights

Seasonal Pantry (market)

Shawarma Spot

South China Alexandria

Steamers Seafood

TD Burger Largo

TJ’s Deli

Tai Shan

Tara Thai Bethesda

Ted’s 365

Tel’Veh

The Islander

Ulah Bistro

Uptown Tap House

Vapiano Ballston

Which Wich

Zest Bistro