Changes are underway in Erik Bruner-Yang’s extended restaurant empire—particularly at Shopkeepers Gallery on H Street, Northeast. Chef Hiroaki Mitsui, who runs Conbini Cafe by UZU inside the boutique, will take his Japanese eatery on the road for a series of pop-ups after July 15. In its place will be Vietnamese pop-up Ðôi Ðũa, which has been hosting occasional dinners in the space, and will take on a more permanent role for evening service from Thursdays through Saturdays starting July 20.
Partners Anna Vocaturo and chef Sarah Bui have been serving excellent Vietnamese tasting menus at Shopkeepers on-and-off since March. They’re still working out details for their weekly schedule, which may be a mix of set dinners and other services. They expect to be at Shopkeepers at least through September. For daytime food service, a concept called Coronation Café will replace Conbini after July 15 (details to come).
Mitsui, meanwhile, is moving Conbini to Bruner-Yang’s Honeycomb Grocer at Union Market in August. Come September, both Conbini and Honeycomb, the latter of which has operated inside Union Market for three years, will move on, Bruner-Yang says.
It’s worth checking out Mitsui’s cooking wherever he sets up; Conbini Cafe is ranked among the best Japanese spots in Washingtonian’s Cheap Eats issue.