While summer can be a slower season for dining, eager restaurateurs and owners continue to work on the next wave of openings in D.C. From Korean pub food to a Latin food hall, here are the newcomers to keep an eye on throughout the summer months.
Anju (1805 18th St. NW)
After a 2017 fire damaged the interior of what was then Mandu on 18th St., chef and owner Danny Lee vowed to rebuild the popular Korean restaurant. What took shape was a home for Anju, a Korean pub serving food meant to be paired with soju and other drinks. Think grilled meat skewers, bibimbap, and sides. Anju is expected to open in July.
Albi (1346 4th St. SE)
Michael Lee Rafidi rose to acclaim in D.C. for his work at the now-shuttered Arroz, an upscale Spanish restaurant with influences from North Africa. He’s now venturing out on his own with Albi, expected to open this fall. Guests will feast on dishes from around the Levant region, with flavors from Palestine, Jordan, and Lebanon. Chef has been offering an early tasting by hosting a series of pop-up dinners at restaurants around the city. An outpost of Shaw’s Maxwell Park wine bar will open next door and assist with the restaurant’s wine program.
La Cosecha (1280 4th St. NE)
The sprawling new Latin food hall and market is inching closer to opening, just steps from Union Market in Northeast. Vendors include Serenata + Zumo, a day-night concept from the Colada Shop founders, as well as Cafe Unido coffee and others. The opening is slated for September.
Shilling Canning Company (360 Water St. SE)
Modern and seasonal Mid-Atlantic cooking is set to arrive in Navy Yard this summer with the debut restaurant from chef Reid Shilling, whose experience includes time as a sous chef at The Dabney. The seasonal menu will change frequently, highlighting ingredients from across the Chesapeake region.
Tino’s Pizza (3420 Connecticut Ave. NW)
The Cleveland Park stretch of Connecticut Avenue will soon be able to cut into modern takes on Neapolitan pizzas from newcomer Tino’s Pizza. Toppings include squash blossoms, charred octopus, fennel sausage, a variety of cheese, and plenty of San Marzano tomatoes. Per the site, it’ll arrive in late summer.
Xiquet (2404 Wisconsin Ave. NW)
In August, Glover Park’s Slate wine bar is transforming its top level into a showcase for chef Danny Lledo’s paella prowess. Lledo has won competitions across the U.S. for his Spanish rice dishes, and now he’ll get more room to share that with the neighborhood, cooking it in a wood-fired pit. A variety of steaks and seafood will be worked in as well.
The Imperial (2001 18th St. NW)
The team behind Jack Rose is readying to open The Imperial, a three-story restaurant housing the Dram & Grain cocktail bar and a rooftop. The main floor will serve seafood, meats and vegetarian dishes with Southern accents. Drinks will be a draw all their own, with hundreds of vintage spirits on hand, along with a wine cellar and craft beverage program.
Plus some previously noted openings:
Emilie’s (1101 Pennsylvania Ave. SE)
Don’t just label Chef Kevin Tien’s new venture as Himitsu with elbow room. Opening in Capitol Hill during the second half of 2019, Emilie’s will feature a roving oyster cart and a beef rib with condiments as diverse as Greek tzatziki and Korean sauces.—Carmen Drahl
Jônt (1906 14th St. NW)
This summer, Chef Ryan Ratino is inviting guests on a new journey. Inside Ratino’s Michelin-starred restaurant Bresca, at an 18-seat chef’s counter, diners will enjoy as many as 11 courses of meticulously aged meats or fermented delights.-–Carmen Drahl
Reveler’s Hour (1777 Columbia Rd. NW)
The newest project from Tail Up Goat’s owners, opening this summer in Adams Morgan, is a swing-by, come-as-you-are neighborhood joint. The team’s beloved pastas will be here, but the focus will be on the bar, The Washington Post reports.-— Carmen Drahl
