Maryland’s Popular French Brasserie Duck Duck Goose Debuts in Dupont

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Duck Duck Goose, chef Ashish Alfred’s beloved French brasserie in Bethesda and Baltimore, makes its anticipated D.C. debut on Wednesday, December 8 (2100 P Street NW). Top-selling dishes headed to its new Dupont digs include steak tartare, chicken liver pate, escargot, duck leg confit, and an eponymous burger dressed with seared foie gras. Big-ticket orders include a 36-ounce bone-in ribeye main with bordelaise sauce ($125) and a foie tasting for two ($96). Duck Duck Goose’s bar program centers around French wines and an extensive zero-proof cocktail list. The 80-seat restaurant with a huge year-round patio will open for dinner to start, followed by breakfast, lunch, and brunch in the new year.

A small sushi stall for Foggy Bottom

Western Market/official photo

Foggy Bottom’s growing Western Market food hall just added a small stall for Japanese comfort foods and bright sashimi platters. Onkei comes from Ferry Huang, the owner of Glover Park’s revered Sushi Keiko. The sibling sushi counter offers a lengthy list of nigiri (fatty yellowtail, octopus, mackerel, shiitake), uramaki and hosomaki rolls, with most sushi plates around $7-$8. The food hall (2000 Pennsylvania Avenue NW) started filling out this fall with arrivals from Capo Deli, Rawish, Roaming Rooster, and Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls.

Meet the new Destino at Union Market

Las Gemelas Cocina Mexicana, Team Espita’s casual coastal cafe at Latin marketplace La Cosecha, is now a modern Mexican eatery dubbed Destino. The ambitious rebrand goes live on Tuesday, December 7, with inventive riffs on classics like Brussels sprout quesadillas, mole verde with crispy pork belly and handmade egg noodles, and seasonal butternut enchiladas. Neighboring Mexican sibling Taqueria Las Gemelas remains the same, and tortillas from Guerrero native Yesenia Neri-Diaz will still be served at Destino. [W]

Alamo Drafthouse brings Bryant Street dozens of draft beers

D.C.’s anticipated Alamo Drafthouse (630 Rhode Island Avenue NE) is scheduled to open on Friday, December 10, reports The Washington Post. The cinema chain’s in-house Highbinder bar, billed as a “spy-themed speakeasy,” slings holiday specials like a peppermint Schnapps shake and spiked hot cocoa, plus lots of local beers on draft. The menu also stars pizzas, sandwiches, salads, and bottomless popcorn. [WaPo]

A one-percenter bourbon shop for D.C.

The Bourbon Concierge, an online store for the deep-pocketed bourbon collector, plans to sell its five-figured bottles IRL.The team is pursuing a liquor license to open a storefront at 2816 Pennsylvania Avenue NW. A for-sale section of “Unicorns” on its site includes rarities like a 25-year Pappy Van Winkle listed for a whopping $49,400. [TGM]

Winter restaurant week is coming

Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington’s biannual restaurant week returns on Monday, January 17, through Sunday, January 23. Around 250 participating restaurants will offer brunch and lunch menus for $25 per person and dinner for $40 or $55 per person, with to-go deals on meals and cocktails too.