D.C.'s Most Anticipated Restaurant Openings, Fall 2016

Fall in Washington, D.C. will see the launch of new distilleries, a destination casino, and plenty of neighborhood restaurants. Here's what to watch out for:

Sweet Home Cafe

Address: 1400 Constitution Ave. NW
From: Smithsonian, Carla Hall, Thompson Hospitality, Jerome Grant
The Situation: Carla Hall is consulting on the menu for this restaurant within the soon-to-open National Museum of African American History & Culture. It will feature foods from four different regions.
Projected opening: September 24
*Previous coverage of Sweet Home Cafe

The Smithsonian's soon-to-open museum. [Photo: Official]

Owen's Ordinary

Address: 11820 Trade Street, North Bethesda/Rockville, Md.
From: Neighborhood Restaurant Group/Greg Engert
The Situation: This long-awaited beer garden is headed to the Pike & Rose development, with a carefully-crafted beer list and a steampunk-influenced design.
Projected opening: October
*Previous coverage of Owen's Ordinary

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 the most recent season of 'Top Chef.' There's a $185 per person price tag before drinks or service.
Projected opening: November 1
*Previous Coverage of The Shaw Bijou

Dirty Habit

Address: 555 8th St. NW
From: Kimpton, Sarah Ruiz, Kyoo Eom
The Situation: This "apocalyptic" import from San Francisco is the awaited replacement for Poste at the Hotel Monaco.
Projected opening: Late September
*Previous coverage of Dirty Habit

Dirty Habit [Rendering: Official]

Ari's Diner

Address: Hecht Warehouse, 1401 New York Ave NE
From: Ari Gejdenson/Mindful Restaurant Group
The Situation: This American-style diner is one of several restaurants the restaurateur has planned for the Hecht Warehouse development in Ivy City.
Projected opening: Early November
*Previous coverage of Ari's Diner

Colada Shop

Address: 1405 T St. NW
From: Juan Coronado, Daniella Senior, Mario Monte 
The Situation: After opening its first location in Sterling, Va., D.C. gets its own version of the Cuban cafe and coffee shop, which also emphasizes cocktails.
Projected opening: Late October
*Previous coverage of Colada Shop

Colada Shop's team [Photo: Official]

Farmers & Distillers

Address: 600 Massachusetts Ave. NW 
From: Farmers Restaurant Group/Jon Arroyo/Rick Wasmund
The Situation: The restaurant group behind Founding Farmers and its affiliated restaurant tackles its most ambitious place to date, which has its own on-site distillery.
Projected opening: Mid-November 2016
*Previous Coverage of Farmers & Distillers

Founding Farmers Whiskey [Photo: Official]

Sfoglina

Address: 4445 Connecticut Ave. NW
From: Fabio and Maria Trabocchi
The Situation: This latest Italian restaurant from the Fiola and Fiola Mare owners will focus on handmade pastas.
Projected opening: Fall
*Previous coverage of Sfoglina

The Bird

Address: 1337 11th St. NW
From: EatWell/Michael Bonk
The Situation: Similar in concept to The Pig, this restaurant will focus on all-things poultry.
Projected opening: October
*Previous Coverage of The Bird

On Rye

Address: 740 6th St. NW
From: Ilyse Fishman Lerner
The Situation: This Jewish deli got its start at Nats Park and will soon open its own restaurant as well.
Projected opening: Fall
*Previous coverage of On Rye

On Rye [Photo: Facebook]

TenPenh

Address: 7900 Westpark Drive, Tysons Corner, Va.
From: Passion Food Hospitality, Gensler (design)
The Situation: This former downtown Asian institution, which shuttered in 2011, will mount a comeback in Virginia. Expect drinks in the Jade Room, a private Tea Room, and more.
Projected opening: Mid-November 
*Previous coverage of TenPenh

MGM Casino National Harbor's Restaurants

Address: 7100 Oxon Hill Road, Oxon Hill, Md.
From: Jose Andres, Marcus Samuelsson, Bryan Voltaggio, MGM Resorts, more.
The Situation: The upcoming casino at National Harbor has several celebrity chef-driven restaurants, plus a separate dedicated food hall.
Projected opening: Fourth quarter 2016
*All coverage of MGM Casino

MGM National Harbor [Photo: Official]

ALSO THIS FALL: Also coming this season: Lupo Verde's Palisades location (October), Ambar in Arlington (October), Mexican restaurant La Puerta Verde (November), soccer bar Dock FC (November), Ethiopian restaurant LeTena, Mythology Restaurant and Lore Lounge (late September soft-opening), Ocean Prime (fall), Proper 21 (October).

COULD STILL OPEN BY SUMMER: Don't rule out a summer debut (in other words, before late-September) for distillery Cotton & Reed, sandwich shop Smoked & Stacked, the relocated DCity Smokehouse, Alexandria's Myron Mixon's Pitmaster Barbeque, Little Coco's on 14th Street, Community in Bethesda, sausage restaurant Halfsmoke, Northside 10 in Alexandria, Service Bar, Coton and Rye in Loudoun County, BLT Prime at The Trump Hotel, Aperto from the owner of Al Tiramisu, and Taco Bamba Vienna. On the relocation front, Johnny's Half-Shell should be set up in Adams Morgan by September.

Cotton & Reed's team [Photo: Missy Frederick/Eater.com]

LOOKING LIKE WINTER (OR LATER): Expect to wait a bit longer for the restaurant developments at The Wharf, Nobu in D.C. (which just announced it's not arriving until 2017), the Wahlburgers local outposts, The Rooster & Owl's brick and mortar, poke restaurant Lei'd, Whiskey and Oyster from the Pork Barrel team, Taco Bamba in Springfield and Black Squirrel's Dunn Loring location.

NO UPDATES AVAILABLE: No new information was available or reps could not be reached/did not respond for Blue Diner/Spile & Spigot, Laduree, Liu Chaosheng's Rockville restaurant, the D.C. Jinya Ramen, 1230 DC, Addie's Restaurant, Alta Strada in Virginia, La Limena's second location, Marble Alley, Nicoletta DC, Pamplona, Smoke's Poutinerie, Sugar Shack DC, The Dish and Dram, Village Whiskey, Wet Dog Tavern, Khao Poon, Unconventional Diner, Vitality Bowls, and Bacaro.

Know about another fall restaurant opening? Email dc@eater.com with information and we'll update this guide.