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The Source
The Source
R. Lopez

So Fresh and So Clean: 10 Recently Renovated Restaurants

It's the perfect time to revisit these D.C. favorites.

by Octavia Silva
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The Source
| R. Lopez
by Octavia Silva

Restaurants make renovations for the same reasons that people make changes to their homes. Over time, the furniture feels dated, the paint starts chipping, or that lamp in the corner suddenly seems hideous and must be replaced. But for restaurants, renovating presents a special challenge. It's not only expensive, but the required closure time adds an additional financial drain.

Here's a list of D.C. restaurants that have recently upgraded their interiors – from paint and seating to light fixtures and dining rooms. These places are definitely worth visiting (or re-visiting) to check out their new and improved digs.

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701 Restaurant

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701 reopened in September 2015 after closing for five days in August to do some renovating. They added two private dining rooms— one for up to 35 people and another for as many as 65. They also updated the paint and changed the color scheme from white and black to slate and olive. The lighting, seating, carpeting, upholstery, and art was also updated.

701 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20004
(202) 393-0701
(202) 393-0701
R. Lopez

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BlackSalt

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BlackSalt closed in September for a month last year and revamped their interior. Changes included the installation of permanent booths in the front of the restaurant, new lighting, and a raised roof to improve the acoustics of the space and new upholstery and tables. Additionally, all of the bathrooms and kitchen walls were redone.

4883 MacArthur Blvd NW, Washington, D.C. 20007
(202) 342-9101
(202) 342-9101
Official

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Boundary Stone Public House

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Boundary Stone underwent some hefty architectural changes just last month. They expanded into the space next door and extended the bar with new indoor and outdoor seating. They also expanded their kitchen to accommodate all the additional seating. better serve the additional seating. This overhaul also paves the way for live music and private parties, which have already started taking place.

116 Rhode Island Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
(202) 621-6635
(202) 621-6635
R. Lopez

Also featured in:

Mandu

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Following their ninth anniversary in November, Mandu decided to do some subtle renovations at the original location. They have since painted the upstairs dining room and installed shutters in the downstairs dining room. These shutters are being used to divide the dining areas while they continue to plan future renovation projects.

1805 18th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009
(202) 588-1540
(202) 588-1540
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Rasika

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In June 2015, Rasika’s Penn Quarter location closed for renovations and reopened in July. With the help of architectural designer Harry Gregory, they upgraded the lighting and furniture, enhanced the color scheme, and added a new ceiling for sound absorption in the dining room. They also replaced the furniture in the lounge with more comfortable options.

633 D St NW, Washington, D.C. 20004
(202) 637-1222
(202) 637-1222
R. Lopez

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Shaw's Tavern

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In December 2015, Shaw’s Tavern expanded their dining space to the second floor (fitting up to 40 people) and also added a second bar. The newly renovated upstairs also includes two fireplaces. This upstairs space can now be rented for special events.

520 Florida Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
(202) 518-4092
(202) 518-4092
Facebook

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Sweetgreen

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Earlier this month, the Sweetgreen in Foggy Bottom did some renovating. They eliminated the frozen yogurt machine, expanded the lobby, moved the menu from the right side of the restaurant to the front, and changed the color scheme from green to white and black. They also added new light fixtures and artwork. New tables made of wood to replace the others made of recycled material.

2221 I St NW, Washington, D.C. 20052
(202) 507-8357
(202) 507-8357
Sweetgreen/Yelp

The Chesapeake Room

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The Chesapeake Room on Barrack’s Row implemented changes to both their menu and interior when they closed back in July 2015. When they reopened, they had repainted, changed the atmosphere with new lighting, and installed new mirrors.

501 8th St SE, Washington, D.C. 20003
(202) 543-1445
(202) 543-1445
Facebook

The Source by Wolfgang Puck

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Back in August, The Source closed for a major upgrade of both their upstairs and downstairs areas, which included changes to the lighting, seating, and artwork. When they reopened a few weeks later, they also added a hot pot table for a four-person tasting menu.

575 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20565
(202) 637-6100
(202) 637-6100
R. Lopez

Also featured in:

Thip Khao

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Back in August, Thip Khao briefly closed to do some updating. They replaced the black wood floors with lighter wood. They also implemented some other accent changes to overhaul the color scheme.

3462 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20010
R. Lopez

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701 Restaurant

701 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20004

701 reopened in September 2015 after closing for five days in August to do some renovating. They added two private dining rooms— one for up to 35 people and another for as many as 65. They also updated the paint and changed the color scheme from white and black to slate and olive. The lighting, seating, carpeting, upholstery, and art was also updated.

701 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20004
(202) 393-0701
(202) 393-0701
R. Lopez

BlackSalt

4883 MacArthur Blvd NW, Washington, D.C. 20007

BlackSalt closed in September for a month last year and revamped their interior. Changes included the installation of permanent booths in the front of the restaurant, new lighting, and a raised roof to improve the acoustics of the space and new upholstery and tables. Additionally, all of the bathrooms and kitchen walls were redone.

4883 MacArthur Blvd NW, Washington, D.C. 20007
(202) 342-9101
(202) 342-9101
Official

Boundary Stone Public House

116 Rhode Island Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

Boundary Stone underwent some hefty architectural changes just last month. They expanded into the space next door and extended the bar with new indoor and outdoor seating. They also expanded their kitchen to accommodate all the additional seating. better serve the additional seating. This overhaul also paves the way for live music and private parties, which have already started taking place.

116 Rhode Island Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
(202) 621-6635
(202) 621-6635
R. Lopez

Mandu

1805 18th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

Following their ninth anniversary in November, Mandu decided to do some subtle renovations at the original location. They have since painted the upstairs dining room and installed shutters in the downstairs dining room. These shutters are being used to divide the dining areas while they continue to plan future renovation projects.

1805 18th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009
(202) 588-1540
(202) 588-1540
Facebook

Rasika

633 D St NW, Washington, D.C. 20004

In June 2015, Rasika’s Penn Quarter location closed for renovations and reopened in July. With the help of architectural designer Harry Gregory, they upgraded the lighting and furniture, enhanced the color scheme, and added a new ceiling for sound absorption in the dining room. They also replaced the furniture in the lounge with more comfortable options.

633 D St NW, Washington, D.C. 20004
(202) 637-1222
(202) 637-1222
R. Lopez

Shaw's Tavern

520 Florida Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

In December 2015, Shaw’s Tavern expanded their dining space to the second floor (fitting up to 40 people) and also added a second bar. The newly renovated upstairs also includes two fireplaces. This upstairs space can now be rented for special events.

520 Florida Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
(202) 518-4092
(202) 518-4092
Facebook

Sweetgreen

2221 I St NW, Washington, D.C. 20052

Earlier this month, the Sweetgreen in Foggy Bottom did some renovating. They eliminated the frozen yogurt machine, expanded the lobby, moved the menu from the right side of the restaurant to the front, and changed the color scheme from green to white and black. They also added new light fixtures and artwork. New tables made of wood to replace the others made of recycled material.

2221 I St NW, Washington, D.C. 20052
(202) 507-8357
(202) 507-8357
Sweetgreen/Yelp

The Chesapeake Room

501 8th St SE, Washington, D.C. 20003

The Chesapeake Room on Barrack’s Row implemented changes to both their menu and interior when they closed back in July 2015. When they reopened, they had repainted, changed the atmosphere with new lighting, and installed new mirrors.

501 8th St SE, Washington, D.C. 20003
(202) 543-1445
(202) 543-1445
Facebook

The Source by Wolfgang Puck

575 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20565

Back in August, The Source closed for a major upgrade of both their upstairs and downstairs areas, which included changes to the lighting, seating, and artwork. When they reopened a few weeks later, they also added a hot pot table for a four-person tasting menu.

575 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20565
(202) 637-6100
(202) 637-6100
R. Lopez

Thip Khao

3462 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20010

Back in August, Thip Khao briefly closed to do some updating. They replaced the black wood floors with lighter wood. They also implemented some other accent changes to overhaul the color scheme.

3462 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20010
R. Lopez

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