3 Prominent Chefs Are Contributing to New Wharf Distillery’s Menu

Aspiring rum maker Todd Thrasher has tapped a trio of accomplished restaurateurs to help bolster the dining options at Potomac Distilling Company, the multi-level production facility projected to debut at the newly renovated Wharf later this year.

Thrasher’s long time business partner and Eat Good Food Group co-founder Cathal Armstrong — who is working to open Asian-themed Wharf eatery Kaliwa as soon as possible — was always going to lend a hand with menu development. Thrasher now tells Eater that he’s also recruited restaurateur Erik Bruner-Yang, whom Thrasher is collaborating with at newly opened Brothers and Sisters inside the Line hotel, and Top Chef alum Bryan Voltaggio to pitch in on featured foods.

Everything remains a work in progress, but Thrasher says he envisions serving bar snacks (Armstrong), roast chicken (Bruner-Yang’s contribution), flatbreads, and sandwiches (Voltaggio is contributing one). Thrasher says he’d also like to create a deeply discounted, late-night “family meal” for hospitality professionals looking to grab a bite after work.

His debut distillery will be home to three bars including one on the distillery level, a ground floor “prep bar” where customers can watch staff mix drinks, and Polynesian-themed Tiki Tnt on the roof. The site is still under construction; Thrasher says he’d like to have everything up and running by late spring.

• The Wharf: A Guide to All the Restaurants, Bars, and Clubs [EDC]
• Todd Thrasher Is Planning a Rum-Focused Juggernaut at the Wharf [EDC]