D.C.'s Most Anticipated Spring Restaurant Openings of 2015

Spring and fall are D.C.'s busy restaurant seasons, and this year is proving to be no exception. Exciting openings are kicking off already and should pour right into summer. Here's what to get pumped about:

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, but construction finally seems to have moved along

Projected opening: Spring

*All Previous Coverage of Maketto

Maketto Chefs [Photo: R. Lopez]

Brine

Address: 2985 District Ave. Fairfax, Va.

From: Travis Croxton, John Critchley

The Situation: This new seafood restaurant from Croxton (Rappahannock Oyster Company) and Critchley (formerly Bourbon Steak, Urbana) will feature a huge raw bar, grilled meats, and an emphasis on Mid-Atlantic producers. It's in the Mosaic District.

Projected opening: Late April.

*All Previous Coverage of Brine

Succotash

Address: 184 Waterfront St., National Harbor (Maryland)

From: Edward Lee, designers Michael Reginbogin and Jason Berry

The Situation: Succotash is the renowned Lee's (610 Magnolia, MilkWood) first foray into the D.C. market. The restaurant will be Southern cuisine with Lee's own twist.

Projected opening: Mid-June

*All Previous Coverage of Succotash

Ed Lee [Photo: Hillary Dixler]

Pepita

Address: 4000 Wilson Blvd.

From: Mike Isabella

The Situation: Mike Isabella is opening a Mexican cantina in the same building as his recently-opened Kapnos Taverna restaurant (which will also eventually house Jonah Kim's Yona). The restaurant is trying to recreate the theme of being at a Mexican resort.

Projected opening: June UPDATE: Post deadline, the new estimate is a more generic "summer" projection, though a June opening could still happen.

*All Previous Coverage of Pepita

Veloce

Address: 1828 L St. NW

From: Ruth Gresser

The Situation: This is the Pizzeria Paradiso's chef foray into fast-casual pizza. The pizzas will cook up quickly thanks the the help of a high-tech oven (and there will be breakfast pizza).

Projected opening: May 1

*All Previous Coverage of Veloce

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 (though more are coming). Expect dishes like sauteed mung bean noodles and lumpiang shanghai.  Pop-up events previewing the restaurant drew big crowds.

Projected opening: Spring

*All Previous Coverage of Bad Saint

The line for the Bad Saint pop-up.

Bar Civita

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: April

*All Previous Coverage of Bar Civita

Masseria

Address: 1344 4th St. NE

From: Nick Stefanelli

The Situation: The former Bibiana chef is striking out his own for this restaurant. The restaurant will have room for 60, with a courtyard and the feel of an Italian country estate. The restaurant will be Italian with coastal touches and influences from the Puglia region.

Projected opening: May

*All Previous Coverage of Masseria

Nick Stefanelli at the Masseria space.

Bonchon Navy Yard

Address: 1015 Half St. NE Washington, DC

From: Tom An, Bonchon Chicken

The Situation: The beloved Korean fried chicken place will open in a space with a sleek design, televisions for sports fans, and 16 beers on tap. There will be some new menu items like vermicelli dishes and buns as well.

Projected opening: Next Monday

*All Previous Coverage of Bonchon

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: May

Centrolina under construction.

*All Previous Coverage of Centrolina

Early bloomers: The season has already seen the openings of José Andrés' Beefsteak, Red Robin Burger Works and tonight, Peter Chang in Arlington and steak frites place Maxime.

Beefsteak [Photo: R. Lopez]

Also this spring: Get ready for Barrel & Bushel in Tysons (late spring), Peter Chang Rockville (April), Vienna's new Clarity (any day now), Darren Lee Norris' Maki Shop (any day now), the historical Provision No. 14 (early April), a second Mad Fox Brewery (spring), a second Bayou Bakery in Capitol Hill (April), STK-esque steakhouse Claudia's (April), Urban Heights from Robert Wiedmaier (May), a DGS Delicatessen for Mosaic District (spring), Chaia Taco's brick and mortar location (early June), Mastro's Steakhouse (May), Granite City Brewery at National Harbor (April), All Set in Silver Spring (April), Bethesda's Barrel & Crow (April), Carluccio's Alexandria location (spring), Dacha Beer Garden's expansion April), Pizza Parts & Service replacement Sally's Middle Name (early June), the D.C. branch of Tadich Grill (mid-second quarter), New York transplant Fig & Olive (spring) and the restaurant location of Rito Loco (May) this season.

Looking like summer: Patience is needed for such places as Jonah Kim's Yona, Fare Well from the Sticky Fingers team, PassionFish in Bethesda, Momofuku and Momofuku Milk Bar at CityCenter (no official estimate was given, though pastry chef Christina Tosi has predicted a summer opening), Mike Isabella's Kapnos Kouzina (that could end up being fall), kabob joint SKWR, Jeremiah Langhorne's The Dabney, Convivial from the Mintwood Place team, the Falls Church location of Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken, wine bar Bacaro in Shaw, Mercadito at the Marriott Marquis and the second location of Beefsteak.

Even further away: Restaurants including the second restaurant from Rose's Luxury's Aaron Silverman, Buttercream Bakeshop, All Purpose and several other Shaw projects, the second Columbia Room, Nicoletta in Navy Yard and Eric Ziebold's new restaurants aren't opening anytime soon.

Time will tell: No updates were available for Umaya from the Cafe Asia team or D.C.'s Texas de Brazil (in the old Buddha Bar space).