Farrah Olivia is closing
Photo: courtesy of the restaurant
Farrah Olivia, the cutting-edge Alexandria destination, and Mark and Orlando’s, the Dupont Circle neighborhood haunt, will close at the end of April. Although Farrah Olivia’s tables were full of international visitors as well as locals, it was unable to renew its lease when its landlord, Balducci, was sold. The slow economy and dwindling P Street NW traffic play a role in Mark and Orlando’s demise.
But it isn’t all bad news – both of the restaurants’ unsinkable chef-entrepreneurs have plans for new venues. This summer, chef Morou Ouattara and his brother Amadou plan to open Kora, an affordably priced, relaxed Italian, in a yet-to-be-disclosed Crystal City location (although we have to wonder about the just-vacated Bebo Trattoria space). In addition, Morou is actively looking for a venue for the African-influenced New American fare served at Farrah Olivia. Meanwhile Mark Medley, Orlando Hitzig and their team are hoping to reopen in the burgeoning New York Avenue neighborhood, not far from the Convention Center, in 2010. If their plans work out, the new venture will have both casual and more formal dining settings.