Rappahannock Oyster Bar Is Weeks Away From Opening at the Wharf

Shucking good news

Rappahannock Oyster Bar will soon have workers shucking Chesapeake Bay shells at a new location in the Municipal Fish Market. Executive chef Autumn Cline tells Eater that the Southwest D.C. location, which will be based in a restored oyster shack that dates back to 1912, is expected to open within a few weeks. The location at the Wharf, Rappahannock’s second restaurant in Washington, will open this month according to its website.

Cline, who serves as executive chef for the Rappahannock location at Union Market, caught up with Eater last week after emerging from a four-chef field to win the Capital Food Fight culinary competition benefitting D.C. Central Kitchen. Cline later told Eater via email that the location at the Wharf will feature new menu items such as a surf and turf that pairs lobster with coppa pork steak and mashed yucca and a blue catfish sandwich made with Carolina vinegar slaw on a potato bun.

Paul Morigi/Getty Images for DC Central Kitchen’s Capital Food Fight

Imperial preview

The design of the Imperial, the forthcoming project from Jack Rose Dining Saloon owner Bill Thomas, will veer in a much lighter direction than Thomas’s wood-covered whiskey bar in Adams Morgan. Washington City Paper shared renderings of the new bar and restaurant (2001 18th Street NW), revealing a space covered in white marble and tile. Dram & Grain, the basement bar that will relocate from Jack Rose, will open first in January, WCP reports. [WCP]

Bubble tea downtown

Gong Cha, a bubble tea chain from Taiwan that claims to be approaching 1500 locations worldwide, has started welcoming customers at a new location downtown (1399 New York Avene NW). A Popville reader shared the news last week. According to its website, Gong Cha specializes in mixing tea with salty milk foam. Gong Cha already has two locations in Rockville, Maryland. [Popville]

Veterans Day deals

Several local restaurants are showing their gratitude to service members today with complimentary items and deals. Washingtonian has a roundup of Veterans Day deals that began on the holiday yesterday and continue to run today. [Washingtonian]

Life-saving service

Kudos appear to be in order for a Barley Mac employee who saved a choking customer with the Heimlich maneuver. After learning of the heroic act in a five-star Yelp review, ARLnow reports server Milos Mihajlovic was responsible for removing the offending piece of cauliflower about six months ago. Mihajlovic, a former lifeguard, has since been promoted to manager. [ARLnow]