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More room for oysters
The Market at Ivy City Smokehouse is undergoing a renovation to build a small raw bar alongside its ice-packed display case featuring products from wholesale partner ProFish. Washington City Paper reports that the first-floor space below the tavern will be twice as big when the work is complete, ample room for a tiny bar that’s expected to open by next spring. The tavern upstairs already sells market price oysters, a dozen clams for $18, and an ice house platter (oyster, shrimp, crab cocktail) for $45. The new raw bar will have a liquor license and will also offer a breakfast menu geared toward commuters. [WCP]
Sal-Mex explainer
D.C. has more immigrants from El Salvador than from any other country, but several of the most recognizable Salvadoran restaurants in town market themselves as part Mexican. Washingtonian reports on the reasoning behind the Salvadoran-Mexican phenomena, finding that the wave of Salvadorans fleeing civil war in their home country coincided with Tex-Mex food becoming popular in the 1980s. Savvy entrepreneurs from El Salvador knew that selling Mexican food would help bring people in the door. [Washingtonian]
Lumberjack games
There’s a new game in Penn Quarter, and it ain’t skee-ball. Popville notes that Kraken Axes has opened a spot with axe-throwing lanes at 840 E Street NW. Bowling alley refreshments like wings and beer are available through packages on league nights. [Popville]
East meets Western soft serve
Instagram-friendly Asian desserts are proliferating across D.C. and Northern Virginia. The Washington Post rounded up a handful of delicacies fusing American sensibilities with sweets from Japan, Korea, and Hong Kong. [WaPo]
Bars consider sports betting
The D.C. City Council this week legalized sports betting, a move meant to capitalize on the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in May to nullify a federal law prohibiting the practice. Washington Business Journal talked to a couple of bar owners who are exploring the possibility of bringing sports betting into their businesses. A license for venues that aren’t close to stadiums costs $50,000 for five years. Getting a license to provide a mobile or internet application run by D.C. Lottery will cost $5,000 for two years. [WBJ]
