IMM Thai Soft Opens on H Street, Official Opening in Coming Weeks

11 Jun
Signage for IMM Thai on H Street

Signage for IMM Thai on H Street

IMM Thai (1360 H Street, NE) held the first evening of its soft opening last night and will continue to have a soft evening opening with a limited menu for the next several weeks.  This location will be their second location as they currently have a restaurant Annandale, Virginia (see our preview post here).  We spoke with the IMM Thai team, and they told us that the soft opening menu will feature several items from the larger menu at their Annandale restaurant.  They plan on being open most nights but recommend that you call their Annandale restaurant to check prior to going to their location on H.

In a couple of weeks, they will hold a grand opening and will roll out their full menu that will be similar to their Annandale menu.  They do not currently have a liquor license but plan on applying for one in the future.  Initially, IMM Thai on H will be open for dinner service only, but they plan on expanding to lunch service in the near future.

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Signage Up at Ben’s Chili Bowl on H Street

11 Jun
Signage Up at Ben's Chili Bowl on H Street

Signage Up at Ben’s Chili Bowl on H Street

Ben’s Chili Bowl on H Street (1001 H Street) has been slowly progressing for months at this point.  Recently, permanent signage went up for the H Street branch of the D.C. legend.  However, it does appear that there is still more work to be done inside prior to opening.

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Texas de Brazil Opens Today on Massachusetts Avenue

10 Jun
Outside of Texas de Brazil

Outside of Texas de Brazil

We attended the soft opening of Texas de Brazil (455 Massachusetts Avenue, NW) on Tuesday evening in preparation for the launch of full service on Wednesday.  The Brazilian steakhouse (or churrascaria) has locations across the United States and in several other countries.  At Texas de Brazil you have the option to eat at their extensive salad bar or to do the salad bar and eat as much as you want (or can) of their freshly grilled meats.

steak at texas de brazil

A wide variety of meats are brought around by servers ranging from bacon wrapped chicken to sirloin to filet to leg of lamb to garlic steak to pork to sausage to ribs.  Many of the meats are hand carved by servers directly at the table.  You are given a double sided card that is red on one side and green on the other.  Green indicates that you are ready for more meats to be delivered to your table.  As our server joked to us, Texas de Brazil guarantees that you will not leave hungry!

acai drink at texas de brazil

This location is in the large space that Buddha Bar previously occupied several years ago, in between Chinatown and Union Station.  It is a very nice design that will also have some outdoor seating.  They are initially only open for dinner but plan to roll lunch out in the future.  Our service was very friendly, and we enjoyed the food as well.  Our favorites included the sauteed mushrooms and scalloped potatoes from the salad bar and the garlic steak and Brazilian sausage. Continue reading →

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Sixth and H Bar and Grill Now Aiming for Mid-June Opening

9 Jun

We first heard about Sixth and H Bar and Grill (523 H Street) last October, and for several weeks, it has appeared ready to open (it has had a coming soon sign outside for quite awhile now).  They initially had targeted being open in time for March Madness this year.  We reached out to the owner recently and were told that they are hoping to get their final inspection done soon with the hope of opening by mid-June.

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Eden’s Union Market Begins to Move West

5 Jun

We’ve spoken previously about all of the real estate that Eden’s owns in the Union Market area in addition to the Union Market building (see all of our previous coverage here and additional coverage from Washington Business Journal).  Eden’s transformation of the warehouse space immediately to the west of the existing Union Market building appears to have begun.  This weekend we walked by two upscale pop-up shops at 1270 and 1274 5th Street, NE that had previously been warehouse space.  One was an upscale interior designer (J.D. Ireland) and one was an upscale fashion store (Emporium DNA Edit).  You can see more details on both from Washingtonian.  It will be very interesting to see what Eden’s plans for these spaces long term.

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Antonio Burrell Now Chef at Driftwood Kitchen

4 Jun
Outdoor Patio at Driftwood Kitchen

Outdoor Patio at Driftwood Kitchen

Driftwood Kitchen (400 H Street, read our review here) has a new chef taking over for the restaurant’s opening chef, James Duke who is now at Provision No. 14 on 14th Street.  Antonio Burrell, who previously has worked at restaurants including Masa 14, Vidalia, and Agua 301, is now in charge of the kitchen at Driftwood and has begun adding his own spin to the menu (view it here) which changes seasonally.

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Masseria Hoping to Open This June in Union Market Area

3 Jun
Construction Progress at Masseria

Construction Progress at Masseria

Masseria, a free standing Italian restaurant by former Bibiana chef Nick Stefanelli, hopes to open this June just to the west of Union Market (1340 4th Street, NE).  The building is undergoing a complete renovation currently and will have a large outdoor patio area in the front.  According to Masseria’s owners, the restaurant’s design “will combine the raw and simple look of an Italian country estate, the industrial grit of the Union Market district.”  The restaurant is in the industrial/warehouse section of Union Market, approximately one block away from Eden’s Union Market (you can view our entire series on the future of Union Market by clicking here).  However, the building immediately to the south of Masseria is slated to become a large residential building with major ground floor retail space and there are several other residential areas planned nearby to Masseria.

Masseria's Chef Nick Stefanelli

Masseria’s Chef Nick Stefanelli

Masseria will feature fine Italian cuisine with “touches of coastal cultures.”  According to Masseria’s team, “the restaurant’s name carries a heartfelt meaning, defining the charming agricultural farm of the Puglia region.”

A sneak peak of one menu item sounds delicious: Cavatelli Grano Arso–burnt wheat cavatelli pasta with fennel coffee sausage, bitter greens, red chillies, and Pecorino cheese.

On the drink side, Stefanelli will be bringing an impressive team with him to Masseria when it opens: former City Zen sommelier David Kurka and Julien-Pierre Bourgon from PX in Alexandria. Continue reading →

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Opening Today: Sally’s Middle Name

3 Jun
Sally's Middle Name

Sally’s Middle Name

Sally’s Middle Name (1320 H Street), a new table service restaurant featuring a rotating menu, opens today (Wednesday) in the space that used to house Pizza Parts and Service.  They will initially start with dinner service and then open for brunch on the weekends starting June 13th.  The restaurant’s owners have developed strong ties to local farmers and are trying to source as much as possible within a 100 mile radius.  Their menu of seasonal small plates will rotate daily (you can view it here).  In addition to the daily menu, ice cream and coffee service will be priorities for the restaurant.  Their ice cream will be made from Trickling Springs Dairy products and for coffee they will grind Vigilante coffee to order.

View More: http://jessicaburdgephotography.pass.us/sallys-middle-name

Initially they will not be serving alcohol due to their pending liquor license, but they hope to offer a drink menu soon.  We look forward to checking them out soon!

*Photos courtesy of Jessica Burge Photography

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Ocopa Hoping to Open Patio by Mid-June

2 Jun
Classico (Mahi Mahi) Ceviche at Ocopa

Classico (Mahi Mahi) Ceviche at Ocopa

Ocopa (1324 H Street–read our review here) has been working hard for weeks to build a patio behind the restaurant for outdoor dining.  We are told that construction is wrapping up now and that they hope to open it by mid-June.  We can’t wait to check it out!

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Wunder Garten to Open in May

30 Apr

Good news for NoMa today–Wunder Garten, the beer garden planned for 150 M Street, NE in NoMa, is planning on opening in the month of May.  You can see our preview here.  Wunder Garten received building permits this month and over the past several days we have noticed light construction activity taking place inside.

Complete press release from NoMa BID:

NoMa Beer Garden Opens in May

WASHINGTON, DC, April 30, 2015 — In May, Wunder Garten beer garden is opening at 150 M Street, NE, just steps from the NoMa/Gallaudet U Metro station. The beer garden will occupy the last parcel in the 2.5 million SF Constitution Square development. The 300-seat venue is styled as a Bavarian beer garden and is a place neighbors and friends can meet, socialize,or take an outdoor education class with REI. The drink menu will feature Bavarian, Austrian, and German beers, as well as regional microbrews. Food will be provided by a rotating selection of the region’s most popular food trucks.

“I’m looking forward to sitting down and having a Hefeweizen with my friends,” said Robin-Eve Jasper, President of the NoMa Business Improvement District. “We’re tickled to combine great outdoor education, craft beers and good food in a fun neighborhood space.”

Wunder Garten is operated by Proust Partners, which is owned by Christopher Lynch (co-owner of L’Enfant Cafe in Adams Morgan) and Biva Ranjeet. Munich native Allon Pultuskier advised on the beer garden’s design and ambiance. The owners have been working with property owner StonebridgeCarras and the NoMa BID over the last year on this initiative.

REI, which is opening a 52,000 SF flagship store in the Uline Arena just a few feet away, will hold free classes at the beer garden on a wide range of topics on how to live a life outside. Whether locals want to learn a new activity or advance their skills, REI will offer its expertise on bike repairs, camping, the best local outdoor destinations and more. REI will also host fun events like presentations from outdoor personalities and celebrations of the local nonprofits that take care of DC’s trails, bike lanes and rivers.

Wunder Garten will use umbrellas and tents to shade benches and tables on the rear of the lot. Decorative landscaping will create a causal and inviting atmosphere and transform a currently unused lot into an urban oasis.

“We are excited to provide an inviting space for the neighborhood and the city to gather, enjoy themselves outdoors, and have a beer,” said Christopher Lynch. “With all the rapid growth in NoMa, bars and recreational spaces were two things we have consistently heard that residents want.”

Operating hours are as follows:

Monday — Thursday: 4 PM to 10 PM

Friday: 12 PM to 12 AM

Saturday: 12 PM to 12 AM

Sunday: 12 PM to 10 PM 

For more information, visit wundergartendc.com.

 

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