Rosedale Opens Oct. 24 in Van Ness
Ashok Bajaj’s newest restaurant, Rosedale, 4465 Connecticut Ave. NW in the Park Van Ness building, opens Thursday. The space was formerly Uptown Market.
Rosedale’s rotisserie, organic chicken with a salad. (Photo: Greg Powers)
Named for an historic Cleveland Park estate, the new American concept will be led by executive chef and culinary director Frank Ruta while continuing to lead Bajaj’s Annabelle in Dupont. Cristos Harbilas, also from Annabelle, is the chef de cuisine.
Rosedale’s seasonal farm-to-table menu will have daily specials from the kitchen’s rotisserie, such as organic chicken with a choice of salad or a side dish. Other entrées include a 45-day aged rib steak, grilled pork chop, grilled fish of the day and filet of sole a l’ anglaise. Appetizers include potato and smoked cheddar croquettes with mayo and sambal; grilled Rhode Island squid with ginger sabayon; fritto of fluke with shrimp, onion rings and aleppo aioli; and beef carpaccio with anchovy and melonette.
The restaurant will also serve artisanal pizzas, like the New York Avenue with tomato, basil and Not Too Cheesy; Across The Aisle with bacon, fig jam and ricotta; Tidal Basin with clams, fennel, oregano and smoked ricotta; and Van Ness with spinach, pistachio and Reggiano crema. Pastas include amatriciana with house guanciale, tomato and pecorino; and butternut ravioli with toasted seeds, Reggiano and black trumpets. For dessert, diners can choose from chocolate cake with coca nib meringue; hibiscus poached pear with cornmeal, pizzelle and pistachio, and apple pie ice cream with zinfandel sauce and cheddar crumbles. Starters range in price from $12-$16, mains from $28-$45, pastas and pizzas from $20-$28, salads and sides are $14-$16, and desserts are $12.
Martin Vahtra of Projects Design Associates in New York designed the restaurant, which has seating for 100 people indoors and 30 on the patio. There is a U-shaped bar with 14 wines by the bottle and glass, which range from $48-$76 by the bottle and $12-$19 by the glass. Cocktail prices range from $8-$16 and beer available on draft or by the bottle $8-$9. There is also a private dining room.
Rosedale will serve dinner from 5-9:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 5-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 5-9 p.m. Sunday. Brunch will be served from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. A light bar menu will be available from 3-5 p.m. nightly.
Rendering of Cordeilia Fishbar’s main dining room and bar. (Image: Clyde’s Restaurant Group)
Cordelia Fishbar Opens Nov. 11 at Union Market
Cordelia Fishbar, 550 Morse St. NE on the ground floor of the Morse 279-unit luxury apartment building, is slated to open Nov. 11.
From Clyde’s Restaurant Group, the 7,000 square-foot restaurant will serve a seafood-centric menu with a focus on cooking with charcoal. In addition to charcoal cooked seafood and raw crudos, the menu will feature a few signature beef, pork and chicken dishes that also highlight the use of charcoal.
Designed by Karen Herold of Chicago’s StudioK Creative, the 257-seat restaurant includes a large bar, sidewalk patio and private event space.
A loco moco lunch plate from Kau Kau. (Photo: Kau Kau/Instagram)
TaKorean Launches Kau Kau Hawaiian Ghost Kitchen
The team behind TaKorean has launched Kau Kau, a takeout-only ghost kitchen serving Hawaiian food like loco moco and musubi.
Kau Kau, which mean food or to eat in Hawaiian Pidgin, serves Hawaiian lunch plates with bulgogi, kalua pork, chicken teriyaki, grilled mahi mahi, hoisin-caramelized tofu and the classic loco moco, a hamburger steak with brown gravy and fried egg. Plates come with macaroni salad, two scoops of white rice and iceberg lettuce salad with creamy island dressing. Sides include Spam musubi, Korean-style cucumber salad or a lomi tomato salad made with diced tomatoes, ginger and scallion.
Kau Kau offers delivery on DoorDash, Uber Eats and Grubhub or pickup at TaKorean, 1212 Fourth St. SE, in Navy Yard, where the food is prepared. Meals range from $16.50-$18.50, with catering coming soon. A portion of the sales will go to Lahaina Strong, helping the Maui community rebuild after devastating fires last year.
Kau Kau is open from 11:45 a.m.-8:45 p.m. daily.
Chef Johnny Li prepares sushi at Raw Omakase DC. (Photo; Deb Lindsey)
Raw Omakase DC Opens Above Takara 14
Raw Omakase DC, an 8-seat counter with just two seatings each evening, opened Oct. 8 at 1326 14th NW, 3rd Floor, in sister restaurant Takara 14’s former private events space.
The new upper-level tasting room comes from Chef Johnny Yi, a 16-year sushi vet who was born in Maryland and runs Takara 14 below.
The fish is imported from Tokyo’s famed Toyosu Market. The first seating, from 6-7:30 p.m. features 15 courses for $125; the second seating is 18 courses for $150 from 8:15-10 p.m. Diners can opt for curated wine and sake pairings.
Yi, who honed his knife skills at Michelin-starred Nakazawa in D.C. and Masa Takayama in NYC, debuted Takara 14 in 2021 with Bangkok-born owner Jenistar Ruksirisopha.
At Raw, he slices and torches a medley of fresh tuna, mackerel, snapper, salmon, squid and wagyu within arm’s reach of diner’s. The handwritten menu changes daily.
Takara 14 and Raw are meant to be separate and use different ingredients. Raw showcases a more expensive and larger assortment of fish from Japan including hirame (flounder), ika (golden eye snapper), fatty, bright-red kinmedai, tuna (akame, chutoro, otoro) and ikrua (salmon caviar), to name a few.
Going up the stairs, diners will see gyotaku, Japanese art in which a fish acts as a printing plate. Rubbed with soot-and-water sumi ink on rice paper, whole fish are immortalized as a 1-D art form.
Level-1 sommelier Tara Ozdol, a Charlie Palmer and Mastro alum who is now Marriott’s food and beverage sales coordinator, curated the wine and sake list.
Spice-crusted octopus at Elyse. (Photo: Alice Levitt)
Former Clarity Chef Opens Elyse in Fairfax
Elyse, a 29-seat tasting menu restaurant from Chef Jon Krinn, opened at 10822 Fairfax Blvd., Fairfax, on Oct. 9.
Previously, the restaurant had been invitation-only. Krinn, a private chef, formally opened Clarity in 2015 after being at 2941.
Expect house-made pastas and unusual proteins, like octopus and pheasant, on the prix fixe menu.
Elyse – Krinn’s youngest daughter’s middle name — serves a $125 five-course menu that changes monthly. There is an optional $85 wine pairing. The cost does not include cocktails, taxes or a service charge. A 20 percent service charge is added in lieu of a tip.
Krinn, who recently went to Morocco, wrote on his Facebook page, “I can’t wait to immediately fuse what I learned about the vibrant and skillful use of tagine techniques, spices, herbs, preserves and cures into Elyse’s fall menus.”
He has been slowly redesigning the space — located in a standalone building next to Fairfax’s La Dolce Vita — with a dark and moody “speakeasy-style.” The restaurant will be open just four days a week, and if Krinn out of town, the dining room will be closed.
Dog Daze Social Club, a cafe, bar and dog park, opened in Logan Circle last week. (Photo: Sophie Macaluso/IRL Agency)
Dog Daze Cafe & Dog Park Opens in Logan Circle
Dog Daze Social Club, 1100 Rhode Island Ave. NW at the former Logan Circle Laundromat site, opened Oct. 16.
The cafe and bar has an outdoor dog garden and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner for humans. It offers a full-service coffee program, featuring special roasts created exclusively by Unido Coffee. Just Juice, popular at the Dupont Farmers Market, provides a selection of smoothies and acai bowls. The café’s menu — available inside the restaurant, seated in the outdoor dog garden or from a take-out window — includes Chicago tavern-style pizza, sourdough focaccia sandwiches and Fior Di Latte Italian gelato.
The beverage menu showcases Lost Barrel Brewing in addition to a lineup of other craft beers and handcrafted cocktails.
Outside, registered dogs can run and play in the secure 6,600 square-foot garden. Dogs must be registered online and provide up-to-date vaccination records. The outdoor area is staffed to ensure safe interactions. Picnic tables are available for owners to relax or dine.
On weekdays a dog pass will be $5 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. and $8 after. On weekends, the fee is $10.
The café seats 45 inside, 75 on the garden patio and 30 on a sidewalk café.
Dog Daze is open from 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday, 8 a.m.-11 p.m. Thursday and 8 a.m.-midnight Friday and Saturday, with the garden closing at 11p.m.
Juneberry Garage is open in at Airsteam trailer at The Parks at Walter Reed until is building is completed. (Photo: Bryanw/Instagram)
Juneberry Garage Opens at Old Water Reed
Juneberry Garage, 6810 Cameron Dr. NW, opened Oct. 10 at The Parks at Walter Reed.
It is housed in an Airstream trailer parked on brightly-painted asphalt, but will move into a former auto mechanic’s shop on the old Army hospital grounds.
Josh Saltzman and Chris Powers, co-owners of Shaw’s Ivy & Coney, partnered with Trent Allen and Robin Webb of Midlands, the Park View beer garden. They all attended the University of Michigan together and were involved with the former Columbia Heights barbecue spot Kangaroo Boxing Club.
Saltzman, Powers, Allen and Webb bought the former auto body shop in March and are rehabbing it. As construction continued, they were eager to open, so they settled on the Airstream until the garage opens in mid-2025.
In the meantime, bar options include nonalcoholic house-made sodas like cucumber-mint limeade, sparkling cider, ginger beer and a house juneberry soda, made with juneberries, a local specialty also known as shadbush or serviceberries.
Add alcohol to the sodas, as in the “Meet-Cuke” — cucumber-mint limeade with gin — pick from rotating draft IPAs and Radeberger or warm up with hot toddies and whiskey-spiked pumpkin spiced cider.
By next summer, the offerings will be more substantial. The garage space will open with a kitchen serving American comfort food. Meanwhile, a food truck will visit every day.
For now, Juneberry Garage is open from 4-10 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday.
Hyde Social opened in Clarendon’s former Pamplona space on Friday. (Photo: Hyde Social/Instagram)
Hyde Social Debuts in Clarendon
Hyde Social — named after Clarendon’s namesake, first Earl of Clarendon Edward Hyde — opened Friday at 3100 Clarendon Blvd. in the former Pamplona space serving appetizers, drinks and entrees in a relaxed atmosphere.
The restaurant is a project from local restaurateur Chuck Lee, DJ Phlipz and John Cerrito, better known as Hot 99.5’s Intern John.
The interior is decorated with leather couches and chairs, brick accents and bookshelf wallpaper. The menu includes salmon, a burger with pork belly, hand-breaded chicken tendies, cheesesteak egg rolls and a poke tower. Drinks include cocktails like an espresso martini, a pistachio martini and the Hyde and Jekyll, a gin-based cocktail with lavender mint lemonade.
Hyde Social is open from 4 p.m.-1 a.m. Monday through Wednesday, 4 p.m.-2 a.m. Thursday and Friday, 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-midnight Sunday.
Her Diner to Replace Duplex Diner in Admo
Her Diner will replace Duplex Diner in Adams Morgan. (Photo: Michael Glasser/Instagram)
Her Diner, 2004 18th St. NW, will replace the beloved Duplex Diner after more than 25 years in Adams Morgan.
Duplex’s longtime general manager, Kelly Laczko, and her wife, Kethida Laczko, bought the diner. They want to keep the spirit of Duplex alive, but with some fun changes including a Beyoncé-themed bathroom. They hope to open this month or November.
Her Diner will continue traditions such as drag shows and menu favorites including meatloaf, pigs in a blanket and tater tots. It will also tweak and expand the menu of casual American diner fare with Salisbury steak and “breakfast for dinner” plates as well as specials like a fall kale salad and chicken tortilla soup. Also added are plenty of vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options.
Her Diner will keep Duplex’s signature squeezes, which started as boozy lemonades with muddled citrus, but expanded to other flavors including orange, grapefruit and strawberry. The diner is also bringing back milkshakes, including some boozy options in “old-timey” glasses.
Look for classic cocktails such as cosmos and negronis plus pitchers of mimosas or Aperol spritzes. There will also be “She’s a Big Dill” pickle martinis and a pink Kamala Harris-inspired cocktail dubbed “We’re With Her” made with vodka, coconut milk and strawberries and a green sugar rim.
The owners along with interior designer Joe Ireland have given the space a colorful makeover with new padded diner-style bar stools and a retro, non-working payphone with a neon sign above that says “Answer her.”
At Duplex Diner, one bathroom was devoted to Madonna and another themed around “divas.” Her Diner has repurposed a lot of the diva art behind the bar, and the owners worked with local artists to give the Madonna restroom a facelift while turning the other a BeyHive shrine to Beyoncé — both of which will play music from the artists inside.
Istanbul Kitchen is moving into the former 7-Eleven space at Tysons Corner Center. (Photo: Angela Woolsey)
Istanbul Kitchen Moves, Hey Tea Coming in Tysons
By Nov. 1, Istanbul Kitchen will open in the former 7-Eleven’s first-floor space next to Gap at Tysons Corner Center, which closed Sept. 23.
The Turkish restaurant, which opened in the mall in 2021, closed its old location next to Capital Musubi in the first-floor food court on Sept. 30 in advance of the move.
“We’re moving just a short walk away,” Istanbul Kitchen’s website says. “We’re so grateful for your continued support and can’t wait to welcome you to our new home” with “your favorite dishes, just as you love them (and) a comfortable, inviting atmosphere (with) seating for friends and family.”
Hey Tea, a chain of tea shops that began as Royal Tea in 2012 n Shenzhen, China, will open in Istanbul Kitchen’s former space.
Known for creating cheese teas, the company says it aims to revive “ancient tea with a cool twist” and now has over 4,000 stores worldwide. After opening its first U.S. store in New York City last December, Hey Tea has added more New York locations, along with California and Washington state. The Tysons Corner Center location is the first in the DMV.
Signs for the new cafe are up, but a Hey Tea spokesperson says there still is no opening date.
Pelicana Chicken is coming to the former Woodside Deli in Rockville next month. (Photo: Pelicana Chicken/Instagram)
Pelicana Chicken to Open in December in Rockville
Korean fried chicken restaurant Pelicana Chicken is slated to open in early December at 4 N. Washington St., Rockville, in the Courthouse Center shopping strip near Rockville Town Square. The space was previously occupied by Woodside Deli, which closed in August 2022.
“After the success of our first location in Annandale, which has been serving the community for over six years, we’re excited to bring the same quality, passion and authentic Korean flavors to our third (DMV) location in Rockville,” manager Patrick Jay Moon said. The eatery’s second area location is in Sterling.
Pelicana, established in 1982 in Daejeon, South Korea, is known for its fried chicken that comes original, crispy, spicy and soy garlic. It offers options such as wings, breasts, thighs, boneless and sandwiches.
In addition to fried chicken, the restaurant serves other Korean-inspired dishes including rice bowls, beef bulgogi nachos and tacos, deep-fried dumplings and kimchi chicken sliders. The menu also includes traditional Korean items such as rice cakes; jimdak, a braised chicken with a soy sauce base; fishcake soup; dakdoritang, a spicy chicken stew; and black ramen inspired by the Korean movie Parasite. All the meat is halal.
Since opening the first Pelicana in the 1980s, the restaurant has expanded to more than 3,000 locations around the world. In addition to Virginia, the chain has locations in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas, Georgia and Michigan.
Raising Cane’s is moving into the former La Tasca space across from the Capital One Arena in Chinatown.
(Photo: Raising Cane’s/Facebook)
Raising Cane’s Coming to Chinatown
Raising Cane’s is planning a Chinatown location just blocks from the Capital One Arena as the chain continues to expand in the region.
The fast-food, chicken finger chain signed a lease on the former La Tasca space, 722 Seventh St. NW. The location is slated to open in fall 2025.
Raising Cane’s opened its first D.C. location inside Union Station in January, adding to a larger portfolio of local spots, including Falls Church, Fairfax, Forestville, Bowie, Manassas and Sterling. A second D.C. location is set to open on M Street in Georgetown soon.
The restaurant serves chicken fingers, chicken sandwiches, crinkle-cut fries, coleslaw, Texas toast and its own special Cane’s sauce.
The company is also planning other area locations, including College Park, Stafford and Frederick. Baton Rouge, Louisiana-based Raising Cane’s announced plans earlier this year to open more than 90 new restaurants by the end of 2024.
The Greenheart Juice Bar in Ballston closed on Oct. 11. (Photo: James Jarvis)
Greenheart Juice Shop Closes in Ballston
Just over a year after opening, Greenheart Juice Shop, 4121 Wilson Blvd., Ballston, closed on Oct. 11. It hopes to relocate to a smaller space in the neighborhood.
The juicery and café, founded in 2013, served smoothies, cold-pressed juices, cashew milks and light breakfast items. It opened last September in the former Philz Coffee location.
In March, Greenheart opened another location at 2016 Wilson Blvd., in Courthouse. It also opened in D.C.’s Western Market in June. A Reston location is in the works.
Arlington-based Wooden Nickel Bar Co., which also owns Copperwood Tavern and Brass Rabbit Public House in Shirlington, bought the shop.
There is no word on a location or opening date for the new Ballston location.
The Mixx Delight in Vienna will close Nov. 17. (Photo: Angela Woolsey)
Mixx Delight in Vienna Is Closing
Family-run The Mixx Delight, 448 Maple Ave. E, Vienna in the Wolftrappe Shopping Center, is closing Nov. 17.
The Asian fusion restaurant is looking for a new location after just opening in May 2023.
In a social media post, the Tran family said the restaurant is closing “due to unforeseen circumstances.” Co-owner Phi Tran said closing was not the family’s choice.
“We got so blindsided by what was going on and [the landlord’s] intention of what they’re doing with their property,” Tran told FFX Now. “It’s definitely a landlord thing, and they already have new tenants coming in December.”
A representative for the landlord said that The Mixx Delight had an option to renew its lease, a claim Tran denied.
Mixx Delight started as a New Gourmet Delight food truck and catering. The restaurant specializes in Asian fusion dishes, serving entrées, desserts, drinks and more. The menu ranges from a classic bahn mi and bao buns to banh mi-style tacos, brisket bulgogi panini, acai bowls and tayaiki fish-shaped ice cream cones.
New Gourmet Delight’s food truck and catering will continue after the restaurant closes.
Sole D’Italia Restaurant in the Layhill Shopping Center has closed. (Photo: Google Maps)
Sole D’Italia Restaurant in Layhill Closed
Sole D’Italia Restaurant, 14324 Layhill Road in the Layhill Shopping Center, closed more than a week ago.
The restaurant’s doors are locked and repeated attempts to reach them by phone were unsuccessful.
The restaurant, a Silver Spring staple since 1974, was sold by its original owners, “Papa” Nick and Frank Gambo, two years ago. The new owners transformed a portion of the restaurant into a nightclub called Embassy Lounge at Sole D’Italia, while most of the original menu remained unchanged.
The menu featured pizza, pasta, wings, salads, calzones, stromboli and subs.
