District
Centrolina
Projected opening: Spring
Chef Amy Brandwein, formerly of Alba Osteria, is bringing an Italian market/osteria to CityCenterDC. Her 52-seat restaurant will serve wood-roasted meats and fresh pastas, while the shop will supply cheeses and charcuterie. 974 Palmer Alley, NW.
Convivial
Projected opening: Summer
After the success of Mintwood Place, chef Cedric Maupillier and restaurateur Saied Azali are on to their next venture: a casual French-American place with all-day, cafe-style dining in Shaw. 801 O St., NW.
The Dabney
Projected opening: Summer
Chef Jeremiah Langhorne—formerly of the landmark McCrady’s in Charleston, South Carolina—will debut in Shaw with a Mid-Atlantic-inspired restaurant centered around a ten-foot wood-burning hearth. 1222 Ninth St., NW.
Unnamed Momofuku Restaurant
Projected opening: 2015
After years of speculation, restaurateur David Chang confirmed plans to open a 4,500-square-foot restaurant in his native Washington’s CityCenterDC. Also look for a branch of business partner Christina Tosi’s award-winning bakery, Momofuku Milk Bar, with sweets such as “crack pie” and “compost cookies.” 11th and I sts., NW.
Maryland
Projected opening: Spring
After six years in Reston, PassionFish chef/owner Jeff Tunks is opening a sister seafood restaurant in downtown Bethesda. Expect an international array of fish dishes, including a longtime PassionFish staple: lobster with red Thai curry. 7187 Woodmont Ave., Bethesda.
Projected opening: February
Rockville’s Chinese-food scene is poised to get even tastier when former Chinese Embassy chef Peter Chang shows up bearing wontons in chili oil and other fiery Szechuan dishes. 20-A Maryland Ave., Rockville.
Virginia
Brine
Projected opening: March
Rappahannock Oyster Co. co-owner Travis Croxton will unveil a 5,000-square-foot eatery in the Mosaic district. A raw bar is a given, but diners can also look forward to wood-grilled seafood and Prosecco on tap. 2985 District Ave., Fairfax.
Clarity
Projected opening: February
Chefs Jonathan Krinn and Jason Maddens met at Fairfax restaurant 2941. Now, they have transformed a deli into a dining room, communal bar table, and chef’s counter. The menu will change frequently, with pastas plus steaks and game. 442 Maple Ave. E., Vienna.
Projected opening: Spring
Ballston is getting a ramen shop, thanks to former Pabu Izakaya chef Jonah Kim. The menu will nod to his Korean heritage and his Japanese training, with pork-rich noodle soups and small plates such as steamed duck buns and gochujang-and-bourbon-glazed chicken wings. 4000 Wilson Blvd., Arlington.
This article appears in the January 2014 issue of Washingtonian.
Ann Limpert joined Washingtonian in late 2003. She was previously an editorial assistant at Entertainment Weekly and a cook in New York restaurant kitchens, and she is a graduate of the Institute of Culinary Education. She lives in Petworth.
Anna Spiegel covers the dining and drinking scene in her native DC. Prior to joining Washingtonian in 2010, she attended the French Culinary Institute and Columbia University’s MFA program in New York, and held various cooking and writing positions in NYC and in St. John, US Virgin Islands.
