Just as autumn rounds the corner, a sprinkling of fresh new dining destinations are taking shape around the D.C. area.
Arrivals to look forward to include: Chandelier, a fancy steakhouse on tony Pennsylvania Avenue; Ebbitt House, a first-ever offshoot
of a downtown icon in suburbia; Bar Nuestro, a Latin bistro with European flair for Navy Yard; the Berliner, a revitalized biergarten in Adams Morgan; and much more.
Chandelier
What: The dormant Pennsylvania Avenue NW address that formerly housed Del Frisco’s transforms into a super-luxe American steakhouse called Chandelier. Lavish design details include – what else? – a 30-foot custom chandelier overseeing the dining room, which is surrounded by a striking waterfall with fire elements. The massive space seats 40 around the bar, 180 inside, and 77 on the patio, plus a 30-seat private dining room complete with its own dedicated entrance. Chandelier aims to evoke ultra-luxe restaurants, namely the new Ambassadors Clubhouse in New York, and others in London, Turkey, and Dubai. Look for premium cuts, seafood, craft cocktails, and a curated wine list. Chandelier is the flagship restaurant of Keystone Hospitality Group, led by Promod Sharma, Jyoti Mahajan, Kamal Azzouz, Joseph Azzouz, and Anthony Azzouz, the trio of brothers behind Urban Roast.
Where: 1201 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
When: October
Bajo
A moody new Spanish-Japanese restaurant and listening bar from husband-and-wife duo chef Max Rivera and Sarah Montell of Hambre Hospitality is coming to Blagden Alley in Shaw. Bajo’s menu will draw inspiration from the intersection of Iberian and Japanese culinary traditions, complete with tapas, yakitori, and crudo, along with a Spanish and Catalan wine program, sake list, and vinyl music spun by DJs. Rivera’s culinary background spans six countries and Michelin-starred kitchens, including roles as the opening executive chef at Brazilian standout Cana, and most recently, at José Andrés’ minibar. Bajo takes over the subterranean space left behind by the neon-lit drinking den Never Looked Better, which closed a year ago, and Eighteenth Street Lounge sits right up top.
Where: 130 Blagden Alley NW
When: Late October
Twosome Place
What: South Korea’s popular dessert cafe makes its stateside debut this fall in Old Town in 2,600-square-foot digs. Twosome Place is particularly known for its specialty coffee and cakes; a strawberry chocolate cream variety joins a best-selling ice box cake. The Alexandria cafe will also introduce diners to drinks like a Dalgona cream top, black sesame latte, and Misugaru frappe, alongside an all-day menu spotlighting its K-toast with bulgogi and egg, K-chicken panini, and bibimbowl.
Where: 404 King Street, Alexandria, Virginia
When: Mid-October
The Berliner
The expansion-minded Popal Group is at it again, this time with the revival of its dearly-missed German beer hall that closed in Georgetown in 2022. The Berliner reboots service this fall, this time in Adams Morgan, with the same hearty fare, convivial hospitality, sausages, pretzels, and lengthy rotating tap list the modern biergarten became known for. The Berliner joins other Popal Group favorites like Lapis, Lapop, and Maison Bar a Vins in the same Northwest neighborhood. The Berliner’s reboot revitalizes the former home of Mellow Mushroom.
Where: 2436 18th Street NW
When: October
Brisa
The Buzzard Point neighborhood near Audi Field gets a big boost this fall with a coastal Latin showpiece from Carlos Delgado, the in-demand Peruvian chef behind D.C.’s Michelin-starred prix fixe counter Causa and hand-roll bar Maru San. The breezy restaurant plans to serve ceviche, barbacoa ribs, lomo saltado, and cocktails from Bolivian bar director Paola Salinas. Brisa comes from Eaternity Hospitality, the waterfront-loving team behind the Wharf’s La Vie and Kinfolk.
Where: 2121 1st Street SW
When: Late October
Kneads Bakeshop
What: Acclaimed Baltimore bakery and cafe Kneads takes over the high-profile space at the foot of the Thompson Hotel, which originally housed Danny Meyer’s Maialino Mare. The 5,500-square-foot setup will sport a pastry counter, full-service bar, large dining room, dedicated area for remote workers, and a sprawling outdoor patio. Look for all-day service, including breakfast, lunch, happy hour, and dinner. At its Baltimore home base, Kneads’ top sellers include creme brulee doughnuts, pistachio baklava croissants, Basque cheesecakes, and seasonal selections like sundried tomato and roasted garlic sourdough.
Where: 221 Tingey Street SE
When: October
Ebbitt House
Old Ebbitt Grill, the marquee money-maker within Clyde’s Restaurant Group that sits across from the White House, gets its first-ever offshoot this fall in the suburbs. Ebbitt House debuts at Reston Station with a familiar menu of American classics and the impressive raw bar it’s famous for, plus some surprises sprinkled in. The 260-seat dining room, with two small private rooms and two bars, is joined by a 125-seat patio complete with its own bar. Look for oysters, martinis, cheeseburger, steaks, wines, pastas, and dishes designed for sharing. General manager Ajay Bhatia and executive chef Diego Ramirez previously worked at the former Clyde’s of Reston, which closed in 2022 after a 30-year run.
Where: 1860 Reston Row Plaza, Reston, Virginia
When: Mid-October
Bar Nuestro
Colada Shop’s busy founder Daniella Senior is at it again, this time with Bar Nuestro – a Latin bistro bringing seafood, meats, pastas, and retro European vibes to Navy Yard in a sleek white space lined with tiled floors. Her newly formed 5C Hospitality group also includes Union Market’s new cocktail bar Elegancia.
Where: 1331 Yards Place SE
When: Targeting October 20
Bizzeria
What: Michael Rafidi, the star-studded chef behind Albi and La’ Shukran, finds a permanent home for the wood-fired pies made popular at his Georgetown Levantine cafe, Yellow.. Tucked within a Georgetown alleyway, the restaurant is home to pastry chef Alicia Wang’s 48-hour-fermented sourdough pies, which joins a list of meze, charcuterie, and natural wines on the menus.
Where: 3246 Prospect Street NW
When: Fall
Major Yum
What: This Asian fast-casual restaurant from D.C. chef Scott Chung debuts in the storied space that formerly housed Filipino standout Bad Saint. The Columbia Heights newcomer celebrates Chung’s approach to Chinese, Korean, and other Asian flavors he showcased at Bun’d Up, Sparrow Room, and Rice Crook. One incoming dish to note is “Chung’s Chicken,” a mash-up of General Tso’s and Korean fried chicken. Drawing inspiration from banchan spreads found at Korean restaurants, each dish will also come with a selection of house-made pickled vegetables. To drink, Major Yum slings specialty Asian-leaning beverages, beer, and wine. Preview pop-ups set for fall include one at Kuya Ja on Friday, September 11 in Rockville, Maryland, followed by others at Morena Cafe, Timber Pizza, and Little Engine.
Where: 3226 11th Street NW
When: Fall
Botiwalla and Spicewalla
What: The James Beard Award-winning team behind Union Market’s color-soaked Indian restaurant Chai Pani D.C. will open not one, but two, new spots in D.C. this fall: casual-leaning Botiwalla by Chai Pani in Tenleytown and sibling spice counter Spicewalla in Georgetown, which sits next to the team’s fellow Asheville-based friends at East Fork Pottery. Chai Pani’s chef-owner Meherwan Irani will add even more to his plate this fall with a debut cookbook coming out on Tuesday, September 22 that you can preorder now.
Where: Botiwalla by Chai Pani (4000 Wisconsin Avenue NW); Spicewalla (1317 Wisconsin Avenue NW)
When: Fall
Electric Bull
Chef Victor Albisu, the founder of fast-casual chain Taco Bamba, returns to his sit-down steakhouse roots with a new Argentinian grill and butcher shop called Electric Bull. Located three doors down from his Vienna Taco Bamba, the former chef at D.C.’s BLT Steak and Del Campo (which he also owned) caters to carnivores with hanger, flank, and flat iron steaks; South American-style short ribs; sweetbreads; and a family recipe for chorizo. Albisu will also spotlight the same rolled skirt steak that out-grilled Bobby Flay on his Beat Bobby Flay cooking show. His charred honey lamb ribs with chimi-chermoula and smoked oyster barbecue sauce – the winner of this year’s South Beach Wine & Food Festival national grill competition hosted by chef Tyler Florence – will also make an appearance. Albisu recently tapped two big names to help lead the kitchen: Pittsburgh’s James Beard-nominated chef and master butcher Justin Severino (Morcilla), who’s a partner, and executive chef Adam Hoffa of Arlington’s now-closed Pirouette Cafe & Wine Bar.
Where: 176 Maple Avenue West, Vienna, Virginia
When: Fall
Maurizio’s
What: Ted Xenohristos, co-founder and owner of fast-casual Mediterranean chain Cava, brings a modern Italian restaurant to Potomac, Maryland. The team’s sixth full-service project to date will showcase starters, pastas, and mains from its executive chef Aris Tsekouras, including rosemary focaccia, fritto misto, linguine and clams, chicken Parmesan, and grilled branzino. One unique feature is a dedicated Negroni bar menu full of riffs on the classic cocktail. HapstakDemetriou+ and CedarHouse Creative transformed the former home of Renato’s in Potomac Village with lively greens, floral patterns, curated artwork, striking photography, terracotta floors, brass elements, and reclaimed wood beams. Cava’s team is also behind Bouboulina, Julii, and Melina, a cluster of sit-down spots in Rockville’s Pike & Rose development.
Where: 10120 River Road, Potomac, Maryland
When: Fall
Itiyah
What: The 20-seat tasting room in Shaw claims to be D.C.’s first-ever Haitian fine dining restaurant. Chef Sebastien Salomon, who formerly cooked at the White House and the Haitian Embassy, has prix-fixe courses in mind like a coconut-milk brioche or grilled pigeon with caramelized leeks and breadfruit puree, plus plenty of use of epis, an herby paste synonymous with Haitian cuisine.
Where: 1416 11th Street NW
When: Fall
