Bar Civita Founder Works Doughnuts and Fancy Dinners Into His New Gig

Days after closing his two-year-old Italian restaurant in Woodley Park, chef Liam LaCivita is back in the kitchen again — this time, making glazed doughnuts and stuffed bomboloni in Georgetown.

Last Sunday, LaCivita officially closed Bar Civita, the neighborhood restaurant he established after leading the Liberty Tavern-fronted family of restaurants in Arlington, Virginia. “You put your blood, sweat and tears in something, and for one reason or another, things didn’t work out,” LaCivita tells Eater.

LaCivita’s new home is at Italian market and restaurant Via Umbria on Wisconsin Avenue in Georgetown, owned by Suzy and Bill Menard. As executive chef, he’s already introduced new breakfast, lunch and dinner menus. An early hit? Breakfast sandwiches like a porchetta and an over-easy egg with provolone and honey butter on ciabattini.

He’s rolling out his latest innovation on Saturday, July 29: an array of fresh doughnuts his pastry team intends to serve every weekend. “It’s what I used to do over at Bar Civita,” he says. Expect to find regular yeast doughnuts in two different glazes along with fried-to-order crullers and bomboloni — Italian doughnuts stuffed with a jam or cream filling.

Photo: Via Umbria

The doughnuts will be available every Saturday and Sunday starting at 9 a.m. until they run out.

In addition to featuring more gourmet breads, cheeses and Italian pastries, LaCivita wants to play with tasting menus at Via Umbria. The restaurant currently hosts frequent “Dinner at the Chef’s Table” ticketed meals. “We’ll do different regions of Italy depending on season,” LaCivita says. “Right now, it’s four courses for $75. They’re a little larger than tasting portions. Later on, we’ll have a full-blown tasting menu.”