New Season of WETA’s Restaurant Reviewing Show Highlights Indigo, Maketto

Feeling overwhelmed by all the local restaurant deals and news? Here’s a quick digest of tidbits you might otherwise have missed. Subscribe to our newsletter, which goes out every weekday afternoon and includes links to the day’s top stories, and/or keep an eye on the Eater DC homepage to stay up to date.

CHINATOWN—Chelsea DeMark, bartender at Denson Liquor Bar, was crowned Miss Speed Rack Mid Atlantic 2018 at the all-female bartending battle held at Union Stage this week. She’ll head to Chicago on Tuesday, May 8 to compete against the other regional winners for the title of Miss Speed Rack 2018. Hank’s Oyster Bar beverage director Jessi Weinstein claimed the local wild card slot, so she’s advancing to finals as well.

CLARENDON—Balkan restaurant Ambar is introducing weekday breakfast at its Arlington location (2901 Wilson Boulevard) starting Monday, April 2. The new service, which starts at 8 a.m., includes sandwiches, omelets, Benedicts, and sweets, alongside La Colombe coffee and cold-pressed juices.

MULTIPLE LOCATIONS—Public broadcaster WETA’s dining series Check, Please! DC — hosted by Maydan owner Rose Previte — returns on Monday, April 16 with six new episodes featuring amateur reviewers’ favorite restaurants from all over the D.C. area. Expect to see Shaw pizzeria All-Purpose, NoMa Indian restaurant Indigo, and combination restaurant/retail shop Maketto pop up throughout the second season.

MULTIPLE LOCATIONS—D.C. fans of iconic Brooklyn restaurant Roberta’s are in luck and can now buy Roberta’s Frozen Pizza at area Whole Foods locations. Look for the margherita ($10.99) and Baby Sinclair ($10.99) in the frozen foods aisle.

MULTIPLE LOCATIONS—Mangia Food Tours DC is offering Cherry Blossom-themed food walking tours in Georgetown from Saturday, March 31 to Sunday, April 15. Accompanied by a foodie tour guide, guests can digest information about the history, architecture, and culture of Georgetown for $65, which includes tasting stops with four portions and one pairing. Afternoon meeting locales are announced upon purchase.

MULTIPLE LOCATIONS—West Coast chain Urban Plates just announced that its Tysons Galleria location — its first on the East Coast — is slated to open on Monday, June 11. A second location in the works for Columbia, Maryland, is now projected to open at the end of June.

PENN QUARTER—Farmer’s Restaurant Group, which is working to open a new Founding Farmers location next month in Reston, Virginia, just procured an 18-wheeler to deliver products each month straight from contributing farms to its D.C. area restaurants. FRG’s owner, the North Dakota Farmers Union, claims the new service will provide participating farmers with bigger profits, save consumers money, and allow for monthly donations to local charity DC Central Kitchen. A celebration to officially welcome the truck to D.C. is slated for May at Farmers & Distillers.