The Mexican-themed Agua 301 just opened on the Capitol Riverfront in December, but a new chef has already taken over. As first noted on DonRockwell.com, opening toque Antonio Burrell has left the kitchen. A spokesperson for the restaurant tells us a replacement has already been found: Will Vivas, formerly the executive chef at Recess Tapas Lounge. Vivas took the helm last Tuesday.
Before coming to Washington, the Venezuelan-born chef ran Vivas restaurant in Belmar, New Jersey. He’ll keep much of Agua’s menu the same—those pork-belly tacos aren’t going anywhere—but diners will also find a number of changes, including more South American dishes inspired by Vivas’s cooking background.
As for Burrell, there’s no word yet on where he’ll land. He’s been known to kitchen-hop in recent years, including stops at Masa 14, El Centro, and Bethesda’s Redwood.
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.
