New Restaurants
New Nightspots
| Name |
Address |
City |
Phone |
| Café Sureia |
3629 12th St. NE |
Washington |
202-269-9444 |
| Growlers |
227 E. Diamond Ave. |
Gaithersburg |
301-519-9400 |
Coming Soon
Bar Jose
Next winter, Jose Andres (Jaleo, Zaytinya, Café Atlántico) plans to open this Penn Quarter tapas bar (address TBA) showcasing gourmet Iberian products.
D'Acqua
Chefs Francesco Ricchi (Cesco) and Enzo Febbraro (ex Filomena) are teaming up to open this Italian seafood restaurant in the Penn Quarter space (801 Pennsylvania Ave.) that once housed Signature's; it should be ready by the end of the year.
Locanda
Adding another modish option to the burgeoning Capitol Hill dining scene, this Italian (633 Pennsylvania Ave. SE) will pair cicchetti (tapas), as well as classic antipasti, pastas and entrees, with boutique vino. Expect an October debut.
Pacific
Patterned after its popular siblings, Sonoma and Mendocino Grille, this wine-focused New American bistro will pour over 40 wines by the glass, including many from New World producers, when it debuts in the upcoming Bethesda Row development (Bethesda Avenue and Arlington Road) in 2008.
Good Deals and Other News
Chef Michel Richard will guide home cooks through the preparation of a three-course meal from his newly published cookbook, Happy in the Kitchen, during a series of demonstration classes; afterwards, participants will eat the lesson, paired with wine, for lunch (classes held on September 21 and 28, October 5 and 12 and December 14; 10:30 AM–2:30 PM; $130 each; 202-339-6304).
Galileo
Will close early this fall, for about a year, while the office building it inhabits is renovated, and the restaurant itself undergoes a redo. In the meantime, chef-owner Roberto Donna and his crew will open Bebo Trattoria in Crystal City, Virginia (location TBA), featuring moderately priced favorites from his osteria menu, including fried rabbit, housemade salami, grilled panini and pizzas.
Celebrates its 30th year of feeding Alexandria's mayors, national newsmakers and the local gentry by serving (in addition to its usual menu) a four-course dinner for the vintage price of $30; the meal will include lobster bisque, tomatoes with homemade mozzarella, a choice of salmon or veal and tiramisu.
A newly renovated adjoining space doubles its seats and adds an outdoor patio with a decorative fire pit to ignite romance on autumn nights; brick-oven-baked flatbreads and skillet desserts are also being added to the menu.
Launches its fifth season of "Q & A cafe" luncheons, with owner Carol Joynt interviewing Washington Post gossip czarinas Amy Argetsinger and Roxanne Roberts (September 14), General Bernard Trainor, author of Cobra II (September 21) and lawyer/power broker Vernon Jordan (October 5); each lunchtime event includes a seated two-course meal and a question-and-answer session with a news-making personality (12:30 PM; $30 per person, includes tax and tip; 202-338-2200; www.nathansgeorgetown.com).
Traditional variations of paella, Spain's national dish, will be served throughout September at lunch ($22 per person) and dinner ($26 per person), including versions made with chicken, rabbit and vegetables; octopus and fava beans; lobster and squid ink; and seasonal vegetables.
Thursdays from 7–9 PM, this Golden Triangle eatery puts its own spin on wine tasting by circulating 2-oz. samples ($3–$8) of its premium sake choices (usually available only by the pitcher or bottle at $8–$100) on its conveyor belt.