New Restaurants
| Name |
Address |
City |
Phone |
| Bamian |
5634 Leesburg Pike |
Falls Church |
703-820-7880 |
| Indigo Landing |
1 Marina Dr. |
Alexandria |
703-548-0001 |
| Praline |
4611 Sangamore Rd. |
Bethesda |
301-229-8180 |
| Tapeo |
1301 S. Joyce St. |
Arlington |
703-416-6432 |
Coming Soon
Bastille
This casual, wine-friendly New French venue off King Street in Old Town, Alexandria, will showcase the cooking of chefs Christophe Poteaux and Michelle Garbee; it's slated to open in early September after the toques' current gig at Aquarelle expires (both that restaurant and the Watergate Hotel it's housed in will close on July 31st, when they will become a luxury condo complex).
Montsouris
When Johnny's Half Shell moves to Capitol Hill at the end of this month (see "Other News" section below for more details), its Dupont Circle space will be transformed into this offshoot of Capitol Hill's Montmartre; a French bistro and wine bar, it will offer classic Gallic small plates like bone marrow (eaten with a little spoon), charcuterie and, bien sûr, hanger steak when it opens by early summer.
The Source by Wolfgang Puck
Puck's corporate venture in the upcoming Newseum (slated for a fall 2007 opening on Pennsylvania Ave. and Sixth St. NW) will feature two concepts on two levels – a casual, contemporary bar and grill, and a fine-dining room doing riffs on his menus at Spago, Chinois on Main and Postrio.
Good Deals and Other News
David Greggory
Hosts a four-course wine-pairing dinner every Saturday night; guests are encouraged to bring bottles from their own cellars (no corkage fee) but they can also choose from the restaurant's wine list. Menus are posted a week ahead on www.davidgreggory.com; the cost of the dinner is $68 per person, which includes a glass of bubbly.
New chef Daniel Amaya brings a seasonal sensibility honed at California's Blackhawk Grille to this Cleveland Park Italian's expanded small-plates menu.
This Brazilian all-you-can-eat steakhouse offers a varied 30-item salad/antipasto bar option for $19.50 per person during lunch and dinner.
Will feature market-fresh mushrooms in paella, stuffed piquillo peppers, marinated mackerel and other seasonal menu specials from May 16th–28th; there will also be a mushroom-centered Spanish wine dinner ($75) at each location – May 22nd (DC), 23rd (Bethesda) and 25th (Crystal City); for information and reservations, call 202-628-7949.
Is shucking its DuPont Circle digs at the end of May to re-create its quintessential oyster bar atmosphere at the former Capitol Hill address of La Colline (400 N. Capitol St. NW); the new space, which is three times the size of the original, will also house a take-out tacqueria.
Will join in Chile's monthlong celebration of the seafood harvested along its 4,300 kilometers of coastline by serving dishes like red abalone with white wine sauce and snow crab with fennel salad and orange vinaigrette.
New sushi chef Noriaki Yasutake (ex NYC's Bond Street) is fun to watch from a seat at the counter when he's preparing an omakase (chef's choice) dinner; the cost usually runs from $45–$50 per person, though customers can set the budget.
Is drawing up plans for its new Rockville Town Center space, which will include a bar/lounge and a fresh, modern dining room; its present location is slated to be demolished when its new digs are ready early next year.
Is offering a special four-course dinner menu focusing on a different seasonal ingredient each month ($65; served in addition to the regular menu); May brings asparagus in a pasta dish with ricotta, morel mushrooms and crispy pancetta, as well as in three other preparations.
Will host a five-course wine dinner every Friday night in May with a different themed menu each week (7 PM; prices vary, call 202-659-1990 for details). It also offers free hors d'oeuvres and 20 wines priced under seven dollars at its wine bar from 5–7 PM on weekdays.