The Meatball Shop Hypes Up Its D.C. Opening With a Scavenger Hunt

Fun and games

To hype up NYC import The Meatball Shop’s upcoming opening on 14th Street, the restaurant is putting on a scavenger hunt, and the winners will receive free meatballs for a year, along with additional prizes.

Here’s how to play: Businesses around D.C. will be hiding golden grinders and putting up clues on their social media pages for participants to find. Here’s the schedule for scavenger hunters:

• Wednesday, August 15: Le Diplomate (@lediplomatedc)
• Thursday, August 16: 305 Fitness (@305fitness)
• Friday, August 17: The Watergate Hotel (@watergatehotel)
• Saturday, August 18: Christine Yi (@CY_Eats) with @Churchkeydc

On each day of the hunt, searchers can follow along on social at @meatballers and the partner pages for clues for where the golden grinders can be found. There will be one grand prize winner per each day of the hunt and the restaurant will announce all winners on social media right after the golden grinders have been retrieved.

Not up for a scavenger hunt? Watch out on August 16, when the restaurant will be passing out free meatballs in The Meatball Shop D.C. meatball truck. It’s sponsored by one of the restaurant’s purveyors, Meyer Foods. Look for it driving around town starting at 9:30 a.m., dishing out classic balls in tomato sauce.

Coming attractions

A new restaurant is moving into the former Piola space on 14th Street, according to PoPville.

Fast-casual news

Cava is now open at Seven Locks Road and Tuckerman Lane in the Cabin John Village area, per Store Reporter.

Beer here

Ornery Beer Company & Public House is restarting its brewpub after closing in Woodbridge with a Kickstarter to try to reopen in Fairfax. Northern Virginia reports on the Fairfax plan, which would include a full-service restaurant.

Booze news

Cider is booming in D.C., and Going Out Guide compares and contrasts Washington’s three working cideries.