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“Upscale Peruvian” en route to Blagden Alley
The team behind Shaw’s popular Service Bar is planting its next project in Blagden Alley (920 N Street Rear NW). According to a recent liquor license application, the new bar is called Causa and will focus on “upscale Peruvian food service with a focus on raw seafood and grilled meats.” The long, rectangular space can hold 162 people inside and 50 on the patio. There’s a request for live entertainment both inside and outside.
Service Bar co-owner Glendon Hartley, who’s listed as a contact on the ABRA filing, told Eater over the weekend he can’t comment on the project for a few more months. Service Bar, known for its fried chicken and cocktails, hosted a short-lived pop-up with the Peruvian Brothers food truck last summer. The brothers are currently getting ready to open their first standalone restaurant at the incoming La Cosecha market near Union Market.
The Causa space was previously going to house Village Whiskey, a gourmet burger bar from Philly restaurateur Jose Garces. His 2018 bankruptcy filing likely got in the way. This weekend, the building will briefly come to life with a planned projection installation from D.C.-based visual artist Robin Bell for Art All Night DC.
More ramen for Adams Morgan
Another new ABRA filing reveals details for an Isshin Ramen coming to Adams Morgan (2418 18th Street NW). The Japanese restaurant will seat 30 with a small sidewalk cafe. This is the replacement to 1 Juicy Cajun Seafood, a short-lived spot next to Ethiopian standby Zenebech. The strip also houses Sakuramen Ramen Bar, the small basement noodle place that typically draws a line outside the door. Farther north on 18th Street NW, a new vegetarian spot called Vegz just opened inside the former Arepa House, reports Popville.
Busboys to HoCo
Busboys and Poets will open its eighth local cafe/bookstore in Columbia, Maryland. Washington Business Journal reports that owner Andy Shallal wants to attract customers in the suburbs, and he’s going to have a huge venue to do it. The new location will reportedly go into the humongous Downtown Columbia development across from the Merriweather Post Pavilion music venue. With more than 400 seats, the Howard County location will be the biggest Busboys and Poets yet. [WBJ]
Drinking for a cause
A new citywide “#dcdrinksforbahamas” fundraising effort is on to help victims of Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas. Washington City Paper reports that from now through the end of October, $1 to $3 from each Caribbean-themed cocktail sold at participating D.C. bars will go towards relief groups like World Central Kitchen. Tail Up Goat — the main organizer behind the charge — got dozens of places to sign up, including Whaley’s, Doi Moi, and the Salt Line, to name a few. [WCP]
Whisky highballs for 14th Street NW
Chicken + Whiskey’s windowless back bar just installed a pricey Suntory Toki Highball machine — a Japanese contraption found at only a handful of other bars across town (Jinya Ramen at Pike & Rose is one). Tomorrow at 8 p.m., the team plans to formally unveil the machine with a pouring party hosted by the U.S. ambassador for Suntory Whisky, featuring $7 whisky highballs all night.
Pepperoni wheels
Homegrown fast-casual chain &pizza is giving away a skateboard that contains one of its skateboard-shaped pies cast in resin:
