BBQ Joint Closing in Union Market
The BBQ Joint, located next to District Fishwife in the main Union Market building, closed yesterday after two years of operation. Another location of the BBQ Joint closed quickly on 14th Street several weeks ago. The sign noted that catering will still be available in DC, despite the two locations closing. No word yet of what may replace the BBQ Joint in Union Market.
Ras el Hanout Soup at Sospeso
Yesterday, District Cuisine previewed the interior and design of Sospeso (1344 H Street, NE), which will be opening in February. We also sampled some of Sospeso’s food and got a sneak peak of the opening menu. Sospeso’s opening menu is now online, and you can view it here.
Salty Fritters at Sospeso
We were impressed by all of the dishes that we have sampled so far at Sospeso. Our tastes started with a Ras el Hanout soup that is a spicy vegetarian (in this case) soup with cauliflower, tomato, onion, and potato in it. The soup was great for a cold and dreary winter day and was not overpowering despite the complex spice blend. Next we tried the freshly made pita that was flaky and warm out of the oven. It will be served with hummus, and guests can add either olive tapenade or roasted lamb to it as well.
Pita at Sospeso
We also sampled the Za’atar roasted chicken (entree), Mercimekli Kofte (lentil and bulgur fingerling snacks), and the salty fritters (dough stuffed with anchovy, potatoes, and capers). The owners hope to not only have great food but also to serve dishes that have stories attached to them and that provide guests with a unique dining experience. They hope to have dishes that you may never have tried before as well as drinks, such as Serbian wines, that may be new as well. The grilled octopus, the whole fish, and the porchetta sandwich are several of the dishes that we look forward to exploring once Sospeso opens.
You can learn more about Sospeso, including the restaurant’s contact information by going to the website here.
Upstairs at Sospeso
Last week District Cuisine sat down with Sospeso co-owners Michael and Hatice Rosato to preview the new restaurant coming soon to 1344 H Street, NE. Michael has extensive experience from around the District’s restaurant scene ranging from Zaytinya to Palena to Granville Moore’s to Toki Underground and most recently Ghibellina and Sotto on 14th Street. Hatice runs a women’s clothing import business and designed the interior of the restaurant. When we spoke, they hoped to open the restaurant in late January but have now moved the opening back to late February (likely by the end of February). As we mentioned in our earlier preview piece, Sospeso will be Mediterranean inspired and will be open for dine in and takeout for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and late night.
Balcony Overlooking H Street at Sospeso
The interior of the restaurant–previously a real estate office–has been completely redone and looks beautiful. The Rosatos, who live within walking distance of the restaurant, are hoping that neighbors will view the restaurant as a cool place to hang out and to do work in during the day.
Tiling Around the Bar at Sospeso
The first floor will be a bar in the front (coffee and alcohol) and tables in the back that are slightly elevated above the bar area. The first floor has extensive and intricate tiling all along the bar area.
Future 3rd Floor Wine Cellar at Sospeso
Upstairs will feature additional dine in seating as well as a balcony that overlooks H Street. The upstairs has a nice mix of two and four top tables as well as a table that can accommodate bigger parties. Above the second floor is a loft-style floor that will be a wine cellar for the restaurant. There will be wifi available in the restaurant, enabling patrons to work during the day.
Sospeso will initially open for breakfast/lunch and then will open for dinner after a few days of service. In the near future, they will be launching a brunch menu as well as happy hour (both drinks and food). We’ll be previewing a sample of their opening menu in a post tomorrow.
Front Windows of Future Sospeso on H Street (1344 H Street)
Sospeso, a Mediterranean restaurant that will serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner at 1344 H Street, NE will open in late January, District Cuisine has learned. According to the owners, the interior renovation is all done, and they are waiting on final inspection from the District government. If everything goes according to plan, they should be open before the end of January. District Cuisine previewed Sospeso, including a sample menu, several months ago (check out our post here).
District Cuisine 