Several high-profile restaurants are scheduled to join the local dining scene in the coming months, including some biggies held over from the spring. Here’s a roster of the most anticipated hospitality ventures coming down the pike.
O-Ku
What: Executive chef Bryan Emperor’s sleek 120-seat sushi restaurant will house a lounge specializing in Japanese whiskey as well as a 40-seat rooftop deck. Entrees include Japanese sea bass with puffed rice and goma ponzu sauce, and wood-fired robata-style dishes from the kitchen’s binchotan grills.
Where: 1274 Fifth Street NE
When: Friday, June 22
San Lorenzo
What: Massimo Fabbri, the Italian chef who made a name for himself at power dining spot Tosca, is opening a new Tuscan-style restaurant in the former Thally space in Shaw. The restaurant, named after Massimo’s son Lorenzo, will be an ode to his favorite neighborhood in Florence, Italy.
Where: 1316 Ninth Street NW
When: Late June/early July
*Previous San Lorenzo coverage
Little Havana
What: “Cubano” offerings—aka Cuban food inspired by the entirety of Latin America—will include soups, sandwiches, pastries, Cuban coffee, and medium-sized entrees at this Petworth newcomer. Chef Joseph Osorio was trained in the cuisine at the French Culinary Institute — and the Queens, New York home of his Cuban immigrant godmother. Also expect a big rum bar in the back.
Where: 3704 14th Street NW
When: July
*Previous Little Havana coverage
The Meatball Shop
What: New York chain the Meatball Shop plans to open its first restaurant outside the five boroughs along D.C.’s thriving 14th Street corridor. The nearly decade-old neighborhood restaurant, which debuted its build-your-own-meatball-based meals in 2010 on Manhattan’s Lower East Side, is taking over the space formerly occupied by recently relocated Cork.
Where: 1720 14th Street NW
When: July
*Previous Meatball Shop coverage
Mission - Navy Yard
What: A second Mexican-style Mission is opening in D.C., this time across from Nationals Park. The new restaurants will feature late-night dining, a scenic terrace, and a huge bar for drinking Tecate and tequila. The new 10,000-square-foot location is landing at JBG Smith’s new mixed-use building.
Where: 1221 Van Street SE
When: July
Little Sesame
What: Chef Ronen Tenne and restaurateur Nick Wiseman are relocating the hummus and pita operation that took root in Dupont to a standalone shop. The new restaurant will feature local vegetables and meats while integrating spice blends, sauces, pickles and condiments made on-site.
Where: 1828 L Street NW
When: July
*Previous Little Sesame coverage
The Wharf
What: The next round of eateries slotted to fill out the evolving waterfront project include Rappahannock Oyster Company, Officina, Potomac Distilling Company, La Vie, District Doughnut, and more.
Where: Southwest waterfront
When: Various dates throughout the summer
Leon
What: U.K. restaurateur John Vincent is bringing his health-conscious fast food chain across the pond, making its U.S. debut at Washington Square in D.C. to cater to time-crunched office workers.
Where: 1050 Connecticut Avenue NW
WHEN: Late August
Call Your Mother
What: The new deli from Team Timber Pizza Company is coming to Park View later this summer with wood-fired bagels galore. Look out for some pop-ups and opportunities to preview the fare throughout town leading up to the opening, including at the Department of Agriculture’s farmers market on Thursdays at 12th and Independence Avenue SW.
Where: 3301 Georgia Ave NW
When: August/September
*Previous Call Your Mother coverage
Coconut Club
What: Four-time Chopped champion Adam Greenberg is opening his tropical-themed restaurant, Coconut Club, over by Dolcezza Factory. The Barcelona Wine Bar alum plans to serve poke, jerk chicken, and rum drinks at his first solo venture.
Where: 540 Penn Street NE
When: Late August
*Previous Coconut Club coverage
The Spot
What: Rockville Pike is welcoming two Asian food halls this summer, the Spot and Pike Kitchen. Each will feature shared kitchen spaces for vendors serving everything from poke to Korean fried chicken. The Spot, projected to arrive in July, will feature Poke District, Gong Cha (bubble tea), Cheers Cut (fried chicken and seafood) a dessert bar with Thai ice creams and bubble waffles — a street food craze in Hong Kong.
Where: 255 N. Washington Street, Rockville, Md.
When: Summer
Urban Plates
What: This summer D.C. will get its first taste of California’s burgeoning salad chain Urban Plates, with the San Diego-born restaurant planting new locations in Tysons Galleria and Columbia, Maryland.
Where: 2001 International Drive, McLean, Va.; 10300 Little Patuxent Parkway
When: Tysons is opening Monday, July 9; Columbia will follow in August
*Previous Urban Plates coverage
St. Anselm
What: Smoked & Stacked founder Marjorie Meek-Bradley is executive chef of the updated St. Anselm James Beard Foundation Award-winning restaurateur Stephen Starr and Joe Carroll are opening this summer in D.C. The Top Chef alum and Ripple vet will oversee the kitchen at the neighborhood tavern currently taking shape across from Union Market.
Where: Union Market
When: August
Chop Shop Taco
What: New taqueria Chop Shop Taco is slated to open this summer at the Madison Collective development. Co-founder and chef Ed McIntosh, a Matchbox Food Group alum, was most recently working on self-styled Mexican eatery Tortilladora.
Where: 1008 Madison Street, Alexandria, Va.
When: Summer
*Previous Chop Shop Taco coverage
Bandoola Bowl
What: The Southeast Asian salad stop will integrate flavors from Burma and surrounding countries at its debut Georgetown eatery. Highlights include fresh shredded ginger salad with cabbage, carrot, fried garlic, and crisped yellow split peas and a roasted pork salad with cabbage, onion, tomato, cilantro, romaine, fresh lime, fried onion, fried garlic, red pepper, and sweet soya sauce.
Where: 1069 Wisconsin Avenue NW
When: Summer
*Previous Bandoola Bowl coverage
Calabash Tea & Tonic
What: The 900-square-foot Brookland shop will feature a large outdoor patio curated with medicinal plants and culinary herbs. Like its sister spot in Shaw, there will be over 50 organic tea blends based on founder Dr. Sunyatta Amen’s Cuban-Jamaican great-grandmother’s formulas. Also expect direct trade pour-over coffees, vegetarian vittles, and wellness-focused events.
Where: 2701 12th Street NE
When: Summer
Fruitive
What: The second D.C. location of the vegan eatery will integrate organic fruits, veggies, legumes, nuts, herbs, and spices into its dishes and smoothies.
Where: 1330 Connecticut Avenue NW
When: Late summer
Gravitas
What: Chef turned restaurateur Matt Baker’s first solo project in rapidly evolving Ivy City is finally opening after several delays. The new American prix-fixe dining experience will sit inside a transformed and minimalistic 1940s factory space.
Where: 1401 Okie Street NE
When: Summer
Pennyroyal Station
What: Members of the Bar Pilar/Cafe Saint-Ex group (Erin Edwards) and executive chef Jesse Miller are teaming with Passion Food Hospitality group alum Garrick Lumsden on this new neighborhood eatery. Details about the menu are scarce for now.
Where: 3310 Rhode Island Avenue, Mount Rainier, Md.
When: Summer
Rewind by Decades
What: Dupont Circle nightclub Decades is adding a modern American diner next door. Designed by Reid & Taylor Studio, the sit-down space will serve modern and classic American hits like corn dogs, chicken and waffles, funnel cakes, and boozy milkshakes. Food and drinks will be served starting at 4 p.m for happy hour and continue all night long.
Where: 1219 Connecticut Avenue NW
When: Summer
Scotts Restaurant, Bar & Cask Club
What: Restaurateur Simon Lowe’s new American brasserie is landing downtown later this year, offering an array of gourmet salads, meats, charcuterie, and seafood for lunch and dinner. The 70-seat dining room will be joined by a 40-seat bar. And the companion Cask Club will feature its own private entrance, complete with thumbprint recognition, and additional seating for 35.
Where: 927 F Street NW
When: September
*Previous Scotts Restaurant coverage