When Nationals Park opened in Navy Yard in 2008, it sparked waves of development in the Southeast neighborhood that have kept construction cranes busy ever since. With condo after condo (after condo) going up, a swath of restaurants have risen to serve the market. Over the past couple years, that included some of the most anticipated openings in the city in ABC Pony, Erik Bruner-Yang’s versatile neighborhood cafe; Albi, chef Michael Rafidi’s wood-burning venue for Middle Eastern food made with Mid-Atlantic ingredients; and Bammy’s, the waterfront Caribbean restaurant from the co-chefs who brought national attention to Maydan. More development churned on throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, as new restaurants like all-day Puerto Rican place La Famosa and a burger counter from the Swizzler truck opened up shop.
D.C. is limiting capacity at the Major League Baseball stadium to 5,000 fans to start the 2021 season, but that policy is expected to be revisited in April. Game day buzz will still likely provide a boost to neighborhood watering holes when the Nationals are on TV.
D.C. allows indoor dining at 25 percent capacity, and alcohol consumption is allowed until midnight. Many restaurants offer outdoor seating, but this should not be taken as endorsement for dining out, as there are still safety concerns. The Washington Post is tracking coronavirus cases and deaths in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. More information can be found at coronavirus.dc.gov. Studies indicate that there is a lower exposure risk when outdoors, but the level of risk involved with patio dining is contingent on restaurants following strict social distancing and other safety guidelines.
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