Tag Archives: new h street restaurants

Sneak Peak Inside Pow Pow, Opening This Saturday on H Street

2 May
Sign Inside of Pow Pow (1253 H Street)

Sign Inside of Pow Pow (1253 H Street)

Pow Pow–a new fast casual Asian fusion concept coming to 1253 H Street–will have its grand opening this Saturday, May 7th.  The restaurant, a collaboration of Shaun Sharkey (involved with multiple existing restaurants on H Street), Stephen Cheung (Lavagna in Eastern Market), and John Yamashita (Sticky Rice), will serve a variety of creative bowls, salads, and rolls.  District Cuisine got an opportunity to tour the space over the weekend and was very impressed with the buildout and design.  The space features a gigantic mural on one wall (see pictures below) and clever references to the H Street community throughout (such as a streetcar sign with the Pow Pow tiger logo on the front).  The wood on the main wall is reclaimed from an old barn in Virginia and is used in several of the signs throughout the restaurant as well.  The restaurant owns the building and will lease out the top floor.

Large Mural Inside of Pow Pow

Large Mural Inside of Pow Pow

Pow Pow will initially start out only serving dinner before expanding to lunch once they get going.  While the setup is fast casual and customization will be welcomed, the majority of the menu is crafted in a way where the customer will order a set menu item as opposed to creating their own.

Counter at Pow Pow

Counter at Pow Pow

At this time, there are no plans for a liquor license as the restaurant plans on being a food driven concept.  Some of the exciting menu items we learned about:

  • Pork Sword–giant pork and pineapple egg roll (the egg rolls will be large enough to be entree size)
  • Midnight Marauder–giant steak and cheese egg roll
  • Wu-Banger–Pow Pow’s spin on an orange chicken bowl
  • Superfly Snuka–Asian pork BBQ bowl
  • Fugazi Osbourne–hoisin beef bowl
  • Mock chicken bowls for vegetarians
  • Taiwanese fried chicken (gluten free)
  • Trolly Chips–Kimchi fries

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In addition to these main items, they will have a series of finishers to go on top of the salads and bowls, called “Pow Pow’s”:

  • Sriracha roasted cashews (District Cuisine got a chance to sample these and loved them)
  • Fried capers
  • Togorashi croutons
  • Fried shallots
  • Broken fortune cookies

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In addition to the savory items previewed above, Pow Pow will have one dessert: the Chimi Chimi Pow Pow–a deep fried banana and Nutella eggroll (District Cuisine also got a chance to sample this and enjoyed it as well).

Dessert at Pow Pow: Deep Fried Banana and Nutella Eggroll

Chimi Chimi Pow Pow: Deep Fried Banana and Nutella Eggroll

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Look for Pow Pow to have streetcar specials in the coming weeks as well.  For the opening next weekend, they will likely have a DJ for the opening celebration.  We can’t wait to check them out this weekend once they officially open.

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New Diner Coming to H Street

24 Mar
The Now Closed Danny Todd's Right Off of H Street

The Now Closed Danny Todd’s Right Off of H Street

Our friends at Frozen Tropics have the scoop that a new restaurant called DC Diner will be opening soon in the spot that previously was Danny Todd’s (802 13th Street).  More details here.

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Signage Up for H Street Starbucks

21 Mar
Starbucks Coming Soon to H Street, NE

Starbucks Coming Soon to H Street, NE

We’re a couple of days late to this, but initial signage has gone up for the Starbucks that will be coming soon to the new apartment building at 625 H Street (there is an Unleashed by Petco coming to the same building).  Based upon the construction, it is probably safe to say that Starbucks will open this spring at some point.

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Coffee Shop Joining Whole Foods on H Street

3 Mar
Exterior Construction at Future Apollo Building on H Street

Exterior Construction at Future Apollo Building on H Street

DC Eater has the story that 14th Street based Wydown Coffee will be opening a second location on H Street later this year in the Apollo building where Whole Foods is opening.  According to the Eater article, the coffee shop will have a different name but similar items to the 14th Street shop.  When it opens up, this coffee shop will be right across the street from the Starbucks that is going in the apartment building across the street.

This addition will add another coffee option to H Street that is further to the east than either Uni Bistro or Sidamo.

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Peek Inside Fare Well on H Street

1 Mar
First Floor of Fare Well on H Street

First Floor of Fare Well on H Street

Fare Well, a new restaurant at 406 H Street that will specialize in “veggie-centric comfort food” from the owners of Sticky Fingers in Columbia Heights, has made great progress in its construction.  They have completely overhauled what used to be a shell of a building, and it looks like it is close to completion.  We took a peek inside the first floor window this weekend.

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A Look Inside Nando’s on H Street

23 Feb
Second Floor of Nando's on H Street

Second Floor of Nando’s on H Street

Nando’s (4th and H Streets, NE) is opening this Saturday after a complete renovation of the two store fronts that it took over.  We’ve been watching the construction with excitement over the past few months, and it is finally complete.  Earlier today, Nando’s sent over some pictures of the newly constructed space.  The space has been completely transformed from its previous state before Nando’s signed its lease for the space (it was considered blighted at the time).  Take a look inside–it is an amazing transformation!

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What H Street Needs: BBQ

17 Feb

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What H Street Needs is an occasional series on District Cuisine looking at ways that the neighborhood could be improved even more.  You can see our previous columns on the need for a Thai restaurant and a bagel shop (we’ve gotten both since!).

H Street’s dining scene continues to expand in new and interesting ways every month.  However, there is a gaping hole in our culinary options: barbecue.  Good barbecue is hard to find, partially because there are so many different options for style (Texas, Carolina, Kansas City, Memphis, etc) and even for protein (brisket, pork, chicken, ribs, etc).  Some places try to do a wide variety of styles and fail to do any of them particularly well.  Yet good barbecue that mixes smokey tasting moist meat with well crafted barbecue sauce, is one of our favorite types of food.

A good barbecue restaurant would do particularly well on H Street because it could serve both lunch and dinner and, if done right, have a thriving bar scene as well.  It could also do a solid takeout business and cater for events on the Hill.  Barbecue appeals to a wide variety of customers as many people will tell you that they enjoy barbecue.  At either end of H Street (or even in the middle), a good barbecue restaurant would be able to attract a large clientele.

For a little while we had a barbecue carry out spot in Inspire BBQ, but it was carryout only and wasn’t that great of an option.  TD Burger just up the street in NoMa has begun serving barbecue, but we concluded several months ago that it was best to avoid that.  The best option for barbecue (arguably in the DC area) is DCity Smokehouse previously at the corner of North Capitol and Florida Avenue and soon moving closer to Shaw, but DCity is somewhat far away, only does takeout, and frequently attracts extremely long lines.

A well done barbecue restaurant that does both food and drinks well is needed on H Street.  The next location of DCity Smokehouse?  A brand new concept?  H Street is waiting.

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Cool Exterior Developing for Blue Diner/Spile & Spigot

12 Feb
Future Blue Diner/Spile & Spigot on H Street

Future Blue Diner/Spile & Spigot on H Street

Construction has been underway for several months at the future location of Spile & Spigot (1st floor) and Blue Diner (2nd floor) at 1248 H Street.  In the last week or so, the exterior of the building has dramatically changed (for the better).  Looks like both places are still several months away from being open.

Blue Diner/Spile & Spigot

Blue Diner/Spile & Spigot

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Nando’s Grand Opening on H Street February 13-14

29 Jan
Exterior of Nando's on H Street

Exterior of Nando’s on H Street

Nando’s (411 H Street) will be opening up on Saturday February 13th for the first time.  The weekend of the 13-14 they will be throwing an official housewarming event where all proceeds will go to the Atlas Performing Arts Center on H Street.  You can RSVP to attend by clicking here.

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H Street’s Horizon: What’s Coming Soon (Winter 2016)

20 Jan

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Last fall, we looked at the new restaurants and bars that were coming to H Street.  Over the past year, several new restaurants have opened up, so we will now take an updated look at restaurants that have opened, ones that have made construction progress, and new restaurant concepts that have been announced recently.  For each of these categories we list the establishments in order of going west-east down H Street.  If we’ve missed a place, please let us know in the comment section.  You can see previous versions of H Street’s Horizons here, here, here, and here.

Opened in Last Year

  • Sixth and H Bar and Grill (523 H Street)–sports bar that opened in July of 2015.  Good place to watch NFL on Sunday and the wings are legit.
  • Starbucks (600 Block of H Street)–chain coffee shop will be opening in new apartment building on southern side of H Street in 600 block.
  • Fresca Taqueria (701 H Street)–new taqueria that replaced The Spot Deli.  Extensive menu but no liquor license currently.  Our coverage here.
  • Addis Ethiopian Restaurant (707 H Street)–Ethiopian restaurant serving lunch and dinner that also does takeout.  Our coverage here.
  • Ben’s Chili Bowl (1001 H Street)–new location from the popular U Street restaurant that serves breakfast as well.
  • Ten 01 (1001 H Street)–bar and small plates on second floor of Ben’s Chili Bowl on H Street with large patio area; opened just a couple of weeks ago.
  • Copycat Co. (1110 H Street)–two story restaurant serving dumplings and grilled skewers on the first floor and craft cocktails (as well as food from downstairs) in a sleek bar area upstairs.
  • Sally’s Middle Name (1320 H Street)–restaurant with menu that changes daily and focuses on locally sourced ingredients.  Took over spot that had previously been Pizza Parts & Service.  It will be expanding up into the second floor (currently a small boutique store) in 2016.  Well reviewed by The Washington Post.  Our coverage here.
  • Maketto (1351 H Street)–new spot by Toki Underground owner that is part retail market, part bar, part coffee bar/bakery, and part restaurant.  Well reviewed by The Washington Post. 
  • IMM Thai (1360 H Street)–second location of IMM Thai (original is in Annandale) that opened in June.  Serves both lunch and dinner as well as offering takeout and delivery.  Our coverage here.

New Concepts Announced in Last Year

  • Two Boots (1025 H Street)–cajun inspired pizza restaurant based out of New York that has a location in Baltimore as well.  Concept recently announced, so construction will probably take a little while.  Details from Washington Business Journal.
  • Spile and Spigot (1248 H Street)–a pub that will have various ales and English food.  Same owners as Blue Diner and will be located on the first floor of the building that houses Blue Diner.  More details from our friends at Washington City Paper and Frozen Tropics.
  • Blue Diner (1248 H Street)–24 hour diner that plans to open sometime in the spring.  From the same owners as Spile and Spigot and will be located on the second floor of the building that houses Spile and Spigot.  More details from our friends at Washington City Paper and Frozen Tropics.
  • Sospeso (1344 H Street)–new Mediterranean restaurant that will serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner by the current General Manager of Sotto on 14th Street.  Aiming to open in the spring.  Our coverage here.

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