The Most Anticipated D.C. Restaurant Openings, Spring 2016

Spring kicks off busy season for D.C. restaurant openings, and there are plenty of blockbuster debuts to get excited about. Here are the top 15 most anticipated restaurant openings, as well as updates on many other projects in the works.

the shaw bijou

Address: 1544 9th St. NW
From: Gregory Vakiner, Kwame Onwuachi
The situation: This ambitious, tasting menu-centric restaurant got even more attention when its chef, Kwame Onwuachi (an Eleven Madison Park alumnus), was featured on this season of 'Top Chef.'
Projected opening: Spring.
*All Previous Coverage of The Shaw Bijou [EDC]

The Shaw Bijou [Photo: Facebook]

Kyirisan

Address: 1924 8th St. NW
From: Tim Ma, Nyi Nyi Myint
The situation: Ma hopes to pay homage to his Chinese roots with this homey restaurant, which is being designed by GrizForm Design Architects.
Projected opening: April
*All Previous Tim Ma Coverage [EDC]

ALL PURPOSE

Address: 1250 9th St. NW
From: Michael Friedman, Michael O'Malley, Sebastian Zutant, Gareth Croke and Colin McDonough
The situation: This pizza restaurant from the Red Hen and Boundary Stone crews will also serve charcuterie and antipasti.
Projected opening: April
*All Previous Coverage of All Purpose [EDC]

The future location of All Purpose [Photo: The Colonel]

SLIM'S DINER

Address: 4201 Georgia Ave. NW
From: Paul Ruppert
The situation: Slim's will be a new D.C. diner from the owner of such places as Room 11.
Projected opening: Mid-April
*All Previous Coverage of Slim's Diner [EDC]

BUTTERCREAM BAKESHOP

Address: 1250 9th St. NW
From: Tiffany MacIsaac
The situation: The beloved local pastry chef will finally get a shop of her very own in Shaw.
Projected opening: April
*All Previous Coverage of Buttercream Bakeshop [EDC]

Buttercream Bakeshop [Photo: Official]

hazel

Address: 808 V St. NW
From: Rob Rubba, Michael Babin, Brent Kroll, Greg Engert
The situation: Tallula veteran Rob Rubba will lead the kitchen at this new American restaurant.
Projected opening: Late April/Early May
*All Previous Coverage of Hazel [EDC]

pineapple and pearls

Address: 715 8th St. SE
From: Aaron Silverman, Jeff Faile
The situation: The coffee shop portion of this restaurant from the Rose's Luxury team has already debuted. Up next: its tasting menu evening portion, which will take reservations. It will cost $250 per person (an all-inclusive price tag).
Projected opening: Early April
*All Previous Coverage of Aaron Silverman [EDC]

Pineapple & Pearls' coffee shop [Photo: R. Lopez]

unnamed Red Apron Barracks Row Bar

Address: 415 8th St. SE 
From: Nate Anda and the Neighborhood Restaurant Group team (Brent Kroll, Greg Engert, etc.)
The situation: This is the first Red Apron project not attached to a butcher shop. Expect an ambitious bar and a focus on charcuterie.
Projected opening: Early April 
*All Previous Coverage of Nate Anda [EDC]

The Watergate Hotel rEstaurants

Address: 2650 Virginia Ave. NW 
From: Euro Capital Properties, chef Michael Santoro
The situation: The Watergate Hotel, coming back after a $125 million renovation, will open three restaurants and bars at the property: Kingbird, The Next Whisky Bar and Top of the Gate.
Projected opening: April 
*All Previous Coverage of The Watergate [EDC]

whaley's

Address: 301 Water St. SE 
From: Nick and David Wiseman, Edit Lab at StreetSense
The situation: The DGS team is opening up a raw bar and seafood restaurant in Navy Yard.
Projected opening: May 
*All Previous Coverage of Whaley's [EDC]

Whaley's [Rendering: Official]

duke's counter

Address: 3000 Connecticut Ave. NW 
From: The Duke's Grocery team
The situation: This second restaurant will be similar to Dupont favorite Duke's Grocery, with a children's menu and a bigger draft selection. It replaces longtime dive Zoo Bar in Woodley Park.
Projected opening: Late May 
*All Previous Coverage of Duke's Counter [EDC]

radiator

Address: 1430 Rhode Island Ave. NW
From: Kimpton, chef Jonathan Dearden, Grizform Design Architects
The situation: This is a new bar and restaurant opening at the upcoming Mason & Rook hotel. 
Projected opening: April 
*All Previous Coverage of Radiator [EDC]

smoked & stacked

Address: 1239 9th St. NW 
From: Marjorie Meek-Bradley, Geoff Dawson, Peter Bayne
The situation: D.C.'s recent "Top Chef" challenger Meek-Bradley (Ripple, Roofers Union) will smoke up pastrami, chicken, and more for this sandwich shop at the convention center. 
Projected opening: Late April
*All Previous Coverage of Smoked & Stacked [EDC]

the passenger

Address: 1539 Seventh St. NW 
From: Tom Brown
The situation: Tom Brown's beloved cocktail bar, which closed in its original location more than a year ago, plans its return in a new home in Shaw. 
Projected opening: Around April 
*All Previous Coverage of The Passenger [EDC]

Haikan, Bantam King

Address: 805 V St. NW (Haikan); 700 Fifth St. NW (Bantam King)
From: Daisuke Utagawa, Yama Jewayni, and Executive Chef Katsuya Fukushima
The situation: The team behind Daikaya plans to open two different ramen shops this spring. Haikan will offer Sapporo-style ramen and small plates (the ramen will be different than what's served at Daikaya). Meanwhile, Bantam King will serve chicken ramen and Japanese fried chicken.
Projected opening: May (Haikan will open first)
*All Previous Coverage of Haikan [EDC]
*All Previous Coverage of Bantam King [EDC]

Haikan and Bantam King's partners [Photo: Official]

METIER

Address: 1015 Seventh St. NW
From: Eric and Celia Ziebold
The situation: This is the tasting menu portion of Eric Ziebold's new duo of restaurants, located just below Kinship (recently a James Beard semifinalist for best new restaurant).
Projected opening: April

Also opening this spring: The upcoming season should also include the openings of vegetarian chain HipCityVeg (late May/early June), the second location of sushi burrito chain Buredo (May), new Alexandria Kimpton restaurant Ashlar (April), several restaurants coming to Woodmore Towne Center (Cajun seafood, etc.), Del Ray's Junction Bakery and Bistro (late May), new bar Hugo within The Wine Kitchen in Purcellville (April), Unconventional Diner at the convention center (spring), fast-casual Chao Ku (April), Spike Mendelsohn's Morris (late spring/early summer), the area's first Tasty Burger (May), Cheesetique Ballston (May), new bar within La Ferme Cognac (late May), Latin-Asian Sakerum (late March/early April), distillery Cotton and Reed (late April/early May), Shake Shack Arlington (spring), import RPM Italian (late spring), Doran Petersen's Fare Well (April), cider purveyors Anxo Cidery & Pintxos (late April/early May), Lupo Verde's Palisades location (May), Asian restaurant Umaya (May), wine bar La Jambe (May or June), Georgetown's Flavio Restaurant (April), Merrifield's Oklahoma Joe’s location (May) and two suburban locations of The Tilted Kilt (April/May), Beefsteak Tenleytown (April) and the brick-and-mortar Timber Pizza Company (May). Announced post-publication: Andrew Evans/the Hilton brothers' summer camp-themed bar.

Could still open this winter: Since March is their projection, such restaurants as Michael Schlow's Alta Strada, the reopening of The Sheppard, the D.C. location of Bozelli’s, Social Restaurant Group's Bonfire, fast-casual Korean Zannchi, Bangkok Joe's reopening in Georgetown, and beer garden Takoda could still squeak by before spring's official debut March 20.

Looking like summer: Such restaurants as Pizzeria Vetri, the Merrifield Black Squirrel, the new Virginia Taco Bamba locations, the brick-and-mortar Alfie's, Two Boots Pizza on H Street, and diner Community won't open until summer or later.

No updates available: These restaurants either declined to give an estimate, did not respond to inquiries or could not be reached: Rakuya, Mythology, Midlands Beer Garden, 1230, Pamplona, Jinya Ramen, Homestead, Republic Restoratives, Laudree, Simit and Smith, the second location of Fat Pete’s, The Drop, Liu Chaosheng’s next project, Nicoletta, Bacaro, Helen’s the Bar, Khao Poon, and Commodore.

Have more spring openings intel? Curious about an opening not mentioned? Email dc@eater.com. Additional updates will be added once confirmed.