Mess Hall is opening its doors later this month for a preview of 11 upcoming restaurants. (Photo by Travis Mitchell)

Mess Hall is opening its doors later this month for a preview of 11 upcoming restaurants. (Photo by Travis Mitchell)


The Mess Hall (703 Edgewood St. NE) business incubator is home to some of D.C.’s most up-and-coming food concepts. On March 19, it’s reprising its “New Kitchens on the Block” event, a public showcase for a handful of D.C.’s most hotly-anticipated new restaurants. Last August’s event included eight producers, including Marjorie Meek-Bradley’s Smoked & Stacked and the D.C. location of the Cuban-inspired Colada Shop. This time, the number has increased to 11.

Here are five things to whet your appetite for the event:

1. Fast-casual Indian food with a local connection: Rahul Vinod and Sahil Rahman are preparing to open their fast-casual Rasa (1247 1st St. SE) concept in Navy Yard in Fall 2017. The two are sons of the co-founders of Indique (3512 Connecticut Ave. NW) and Bombay Bistro (98 W. Montgomery Ave., Rockville). They’re planning to serve a spiced braised lamb dish along with several handmade chutneys including tamarind-ginger and spicy coriander chili.

2. A chance to sip on natural wines: Dio Wine Bar, coming to 904 H St. NE this summer, is out to hook D.C. on natural grapes and a better glass of wine. In brief, that means wines that are produced with organic or biodynamic farming and without added chemicals or colors. Owner Stacey Khoury-Diaz will be pouring three wines for the event—a Lambrusco, a white, and a red.

3. A peek into Johnny Spero’s Reverie: Chef Spero is currently cooking up dishes alongside cocktail pairings at the Columbia Room and has worked in some of the best kitchens in D.C.. He also did a stint at the revered and innovative Mugaritz in San Sebastian, Spain. His next target is 3210 Grace Street in Georgetown, where he’ll open the modern-American Reverie, with food inspired by his travels and work experience.

4. New ballpark bites: Guests can check out a sneak peak of The Salt Line, a new project coming to Navy Yard (79 Potomac Ave. SE) from chef Kyle Bailey (Sixth Engine, previously Birch & Barley) and part-owner Ryan Zimmerman of the Washington Nationals. It’s just a stone’s throw away from Nationals Park and is described as a New England meets the Chesapeake fish house. For the Mess Hall event, Chef Bailey will prepare Johnny cakes with honeyed creme fraiche and smoked trout.

5. Tacos from one of the city’s favorite empanada purveyors: Husband and wife team Shawn and Anna Leis have made a name for themselves in D.C. with their DC Empanadas food truck and Union Market food stall. Their next move: Taqueria del Barrio, which will bring tacos (surprise) to Petworth (821 Upshur St. NW) this spring. The upcoming space will be modeled after taco shops in Mexico City.

Here’s the full list of participants:

New Kitchens on the Block happens Sunday, March 19. There are two, two-hour slots at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Tickets are $65 for general admission and $95 for VIP entrance.

Filed Under: events, food, food news, mess hall, restaurant openings, restaurants,