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Canal Park Needs a New Restaurant

Navy Yard eatery has turned over twice in recent years

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The former Il Parco pizzeria in Navy Yard.
Photo by Warren Rojas / Eater DC

The city is just days away from welcoming a bunch of new restaurants, bars, and clubs at the massive Wharf complex, but other parts of the District have seen local spots disappear. Meanwhile, any aspiring restaurateurs looking to join all the action in Navy Yard need look no further than the vacancy smack dab in the middle of Canal Park.

14TH STREET CORRIDOR—Restaurateur Andy Shallal closed Mulebone last month, replacing the Southern-themed restaurant with Middle Eastern-focused Ancient Rivers. Mulebone was Shallal’s latest shot at a jazzy, historically influenced eatery; Eatonville preceded it.

NAVY YARD—Yet another restaurant has called it quits in Canal Park. Upscale pizzeria Il Parco is the latest property to flame out there; chronic underperformer Park Tavern was the first. “This place is in a great location! With proper management, proper use of ingredients, this place could potentially be a hot spot!” suggests one arm-chair critic on Yelp.

SILVER SPRING—After nearly three decades of welcoming dim sum lovers with open arms, family-run Oriental East has officially closed. The owners of the neighborhood fixture cited redevelopment plans in the area as one reason for moving on from the hospitality trade.