Dupont Circle Hotel’s Redoing Its Restaurant and Bar

Renovation report

Dupont Circle Hotel is undergoing a multi-million dollar renovation this fall to transform its bar, restaurant, and lobby areas. The glitzy Doyle Collection property (1500 New Hampshire Avenue NW) also just tapped a luxury hospitality player from Manhattan as general manager. Joel Freyberg hails from Royalton Park Avenue Hotel (formerly Gansevoort Park Avenue). Across town, the W hotel’s restaurant and sibling whiskey bar are also getting upgraded this year under a $50 million renovation.

Brisket on the brain

Monday, July 16 marks the start of the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington’s annual BBQ & Grilling Week, with newcomers like America Eats Tavern in on the action. Nearly 20 area restaurants plan to serve an assortment of smoked, spiced, and grilled dishes for $11, $22, and $33. And the locations and menus for Summer Restaurant Week, scheduled for August 13 to 19, are live (though the site appears to be currently down).

Free fish on Friday

SoCal’s fast-casual chain Slapfish set an opening date for its debut East Coast location: Friday, July 20 at 12055 Rockville Pike in Rockville, Md. To celebrate, the modern seafood shack plans to hand free lobster rolls to the first 107 customers. Two others are landing in Ashburn and Ballston by the fall, and Eater just learned another is coming to 1800 M Street NW in December.

The shutter

Chinatown staple Ming’s (617 H Street NW) has served its last sushi roll, reported Popville. According to a sign posted on the door, the longtime eatery lost its lease due to the future redevelopment of the property.

Charity wire

South African-inspired chain Nando’s Peri-Peri will donate the first 67 minutes of sales at all of its U.S. locations on Wednesday July 18, in part, to DC Central Kitchen to honor what would have been Nelson Mandela’s 100th birthday. Signs on the windows on all Nando’s read: “Mandela gave 67 years working for social justice. What if each of us gave just 67 minutes?”

It’s now safe to drink, D.C.

On Sunday, July 15 D.C. officials cancelled its widespread boil water alert, which caused a sea of D.C. residents and businesses to scramble for fresh water on Friday and Saturday. The alert impacted areas of Northwest and Northeast after an issue occurred at the DC Water Bryant Street pumping station Thursday.

• Aging Mediterranean Restaurant Pinea Is Closing [EDC]
• SoCal Import Slapfish Details Big Area Expansion Plans [EDC]
• Ming’s in Chinatown closed due to “upcoming redevelopment of the property” [Popville]