The thing about owning a seasonal restaurant is that once the weather turns/the clientele dries up, it’s time to pack everything into mothballs until favorable conditions resume.
Now that he’s exported a slice of life of on Nantucket Island to the District by launching a second Millie’s, restaurateur Bo Blair is free to relive his favorite part of New England living year-round.
“We feel we’ve really built something that will remind people of Nantucket and the Nantucket vibe,” Blair, proprietor of the Georgetown Events family of restaurants (Bayou, Due South, Jetties, Smith Point, Surfside), told Eater about his vision for bringing the coastal-themed restaurant he established in Massachusetts during summer 2010 to Washington.
Constructing the homage to that flagship property took nearly two years. “It’s really the biggest project we’re ever undertaken,” Blair said. The end result boasts a 130-seat patio plus another 130 seats inside, ample room for a sea of customers.
Blair said his partner and chef David Scribner retained various dishes from the original location but also carved out space for new additions, including: yellowfin tuna poke, grilled baby squid, smoked bluefish, and crab fried rice.
“It’s both coasts,” is how Blair described a menu drawing inspiration from New England and Baja, Calif.
Millie's DC dinner menu by Eater.com on Scribd
Millle's DC kids menu by Eater.com on Scribd
Millie's DC drinks menu by Eater.com on Scribd
The draft beer list is pretty evenly split between Cisco Brewers (out of Nantucket) and a handful of local producers (Right Proper Brewing Company, 3 Stars Brewing Company, DC Brau Brewing Company).
Blair said the soft opening has been great, so the restaurant is adding lunch service as of Thursday, April 13.
Status: Certified open for dinner at 5 p.m. Introducing lunch service at 11 a.m. on Thursday. 4866 Massachusetts Avenue NW; website
