Sections
  • News & Politics
  • Food
  • Things to Do
  • Washingtonian Events
  • Home & Style
  • Editors’ Picks
  • Events Calendar
  • Health
  • Longreads
  • Parenting
  • Real Estate
  • Shopping
  • Travel
  • Weddings
Reader Favorites
  • Subscribe
  • Neighborhoods
  • Newsletters
  • Directories
  • Washingtonian Events
Washington’s Best
  • Apartment Rentals
  • DC Travel Guide
  • Dentists
  • Doctors
  • Financial Advisers
  • Health Experts
  • Home Improvement Experts
  • Industry Leaders
  • Lawyers
  • Mortgage Professionals
  • Pet Care
  • Private Schools
  • Real Estate Agents
  • Restaurants
  • Retirement Communities
  • Wedding Vendors
More
  • Subscribe
  • Manage My Subscription
  • Digital Edition
  • Shop
  • Contests
  • About Us
  • Advertising
  • Contact Us
  • Jobs
© 2022 Washingtonian Media Inc.
Privacy Policy
All Rights Reserved
 Rss
Skip to content
Washingtonian.com
  • Search
  • Subscribe
  • Menu
  • News & Politics
  • Things to Do
  • Food
  • Health
  • Shopping
  • Home & Style
  • Real Estate
  • Weddings
  • Travel

  • Subscribe
  • Neighborhoods
  • Newsletters
  • Directories
  • Washingtonian Events
  • Trending Now in Food
  • steak
  • Dissent Gin
  • Albi
  • Food Festivals
  • Le Diplomate
Food

Try Frozen Negronis and Fried Gnocchi by the Water at Morini Piccolo

Osteria Morini's Italian snack stand in Navy Yard pops up this weekend before opening next year.

Written by Anna Spiegel
| Published on October 19, 2017
Tweet Share
Osteria Morini is one of many Navy Yard restaurants throwing down for a boardwalk party. Photograph courtesy of Osteria Morini

It may be mid-fall, but Osteria Morini is taking advantage of the unseasonably warm weather to give patrons a sneak peek of its new waterfront project: Morini Piccolo. The Italian snack stand is located on a dock beneath the Navy Yard restaurant and will pop-up on Friday and Saturday before officially opening next year.

When New York-based Morini restaurateur Michael White became one of the first to open at the Capitol Riverfront in 2013, he had other plans for the small kiosk overlooking the Anacostia River: a branch of Nicoletta Pizzeria. The only problem? The vents (or lack of them). Since then, the space has sat empty. Now Morini chef Ben Pflaumer and his team have come up with a creative way to utilize the dockside space.

When Piccolo officially opens, the 24-seat area will be outfitted with orange umbrellas and tables to give the feel of an Italian seaside retreat. A counter-order cafe menu will include dishes like fried gnocchi served savory with prosciutto and cheese or sweetened with powdered sugar and chocolate sauce for dunking. Other bites will include salads, saffron arancini, and fresh-baked focaccia paninis. The kitchen will also make its own gelato and cookies for decadent ice cream sandwiches.

The pop-up will only include food (see a menu below), but the snack stand will eventually serve draft wines from Emilia Romagna, beers, and frozen cocktails. We can happily imagine a summer spent alternating between Whaley’s rosé garden above and Morini’s frozen negroni garden below.

The pop-up will run Friday from 4 PM to 9 PM and Saturday from noon to 9 PM.

Morini Piccolo. 301 Water St., SE.

 

Morini Piccolo Pop-Up Menu:

PRIMI PICCOLO 

Delicata squash – whipped ricotta, pistachios, pomegranate, brown butter $8

Rucola- baby arugula, hazelnuts, sundried sour cherries, balsamic vinaigrette  $8 

BATTILARDO

Battilardo- prosciutto di parma, soppresata salame, mostarda, gnocco fritto $13

Formaggio- parmigiana gelato, robiola di bosina, red onion jam, crostini  $13

Arancini – crispy saffron risotto balls, parmigiana

FRESH-BAKED FOCACCIA PANINI

$12

Proscuitto di Parma- pecorino Toscana, prosciutto, arugula, pickled red onion

Porchetta- slow roasted suckling pig, fennel sausage, roasted garlic aioli, broccoli rabe

DOLCE

Gelato Sandwiches- 1 for $2 or a trio for $6

Tiramisu – $6

Gnoccho Fritto- crispy donuts, powdered sugar, Nutella $6

More: Benjamin PflaumerCapitol RiverfrontItalianMorini PiccoloNavy YardOsteria Morinirestaurant opening
Join the conversation!
Share Tweet
Anna Spiegel
Food Editor

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.

Most Popular in Food

1

Donald Trump and Ketchup: A History

2

DC Distillery Releases Dissent Gin in Support of Abortion Rights

3

These Are the Top 25 New Restaurants Around DC

4

14 Fun Food Festivals Around DC This Summer

5

12 Great Restaurant Patios for Weekday Lunch Around DC

Washingtonian Magazine

July 2022: Summer Music Guide

July 2022: Summer Music Guide

View Issue
Subscribe

Follow Us on Social

We'll help you live your best #DCLIFE every day

Follow Us on Social

We'll help you live your best #DCLIFE every day

Related

Burmese Mainstay Mandalay Will Make a Comeback in Silver Spring

Lively Bar Spero Coming Soon With Seafood-Centric, Wood-Fired Cooking

Smash Hit Cafe Yellow Is Bringing Wood-Fired Pita Sandwiches to Georgetown

José Andrés Ultimately Wins the Food Fight With Donald Trump

More from Food

Albi’s Dining Room Will Now Only Serve a $95 Prix Fixe Menu

This Friday: Chat With Food Critic Ann Limpert

Donald Trump and Ketchup: A History

DC Distillery Releases Dissent Gin in Support of Abortion Rights

14 Fun Food Festivals Around DC This Summer

Today at 11: Chat With Food Critic Ann Limpert

12 Great Restaurant Patios for Weekday Lunch Around DC

10 Fun Food Events Around DC This Week

© 2022 Washingtonian Media Inc.
All Rights Reserved.
Washingtonian is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
Privacy Policy and Opt-Out
 Rss
Get the best news, delivered weekly.
By signing up, you agree to our terms.
  • Subscribe
  • Manage My Subscription
  • Digital Edition
  • Shop
  • Contests
  • About Us
  • Advertising
  • Contact Us
  • Jobs