Grab your buns, May is National Burger Month! And what better way to celebrate than with a juicy hamburger. Burgers are an iconic American food. Americans consumed 52 billion pounds of meat last year – five times more than 100 years ago. And the average American eats 43 burgers every year. To celebrate, several area restaurants are offering their own take on the traditional American burger.

Area restaurants will be serving up special burgers for National Hamburger Month. (Photo: National Hamburger Month)

701 Restaurant, located at 701 Pennsylvania Ave. NW is frying up a portobello burger glazed with black truffle sauce and topped with shaved Brussels sprouts and a roasted garlic aioli for $12 and the 701 Burger made with Cabot white cheddar, crispy onions and smoked ketchup for $13.

Balkan restaurant Ambar at 523 8th St. SE, 20003, will serve the Ambar spicy gourmet burger, a twist on the classic American burger for $12. The burger meat is made of 60 percent pork and 40 percent beef ground in-house daily with onions, bacon, smoked Gouda cheese and chili flakes. The burger is served on fresh house-made lepinja bread and topped with cucumber yogurt, cabbage slaw, fresh tomato and pickled onions and served with house-made crispy fries.

Ardeo+Bardeo, 3311 Connecticut Ave. NW in Cleveland Park, is serving a char-broiled natural beef burger on a brioche bun with pimento cheese whiz, bacon jam and French fries for $14.

Blue Duck Tavern, located at 24th and M Streets NW in the West End, is featuring the Shenandoah dry-aged hamburger with a choice of aged cheddar or Maytag blue cheese and served with steak fries for $22.

City Tap House, located at 901 I St. NW near City Center is serving its special Tap Burger made with Pineland Farms all natural, hormone free ground beef topped with Lancaster rustic cheddar, Agrodolce onions and a beer gastrique on a toasted brioche bun with hand-cut fries with black truffle aioli for $14. Diners can add Benton’s bacon for $3 and fresh avocado for $2.

Copperwood Tavern at 4021 Campbell Ave. in Shirlington, is featuring three spring burgers that include a lamb burger topped with herb goat cheese, tzatziki and pickled red onion for $16; the tavern burger, an eight-ounce coffee-rubbed burger, served with aged sharp cheddar, crisp bacon and red wine shallot aioli for $14; and The Copperwood, an eight-ounce burger with blue cheese, fried green tomato and bacon jam for $14.

Cuba Libre Restaurant and Rum Bar at 801 9th Str. NW, will offer the churrasco steak burger, a half pound hand-chopped skirt steak burger with Cuba Libre’s secret sauce, cheddar and Swiss cheese, lettuce and tomato on a toasted brioche roll with Boniato chips and Cuba Libre steak sauce for $13.50. Diners can add fried egg or bacon for $1.00.

Daikaya izakaya and ramen shop located at 705 6th Str. NW in Chinatown will feature the Hawaiian Ono-licious Burger, a four-ounce griddled burger with grilled spam, brown sugar-soy sauce, roasted pineapple and shredded cabbage for $13. The burger will come paired with a choice of salad or miso soup.

Belgian French restaurant Et Voila!, 5120 Macarthur Blvd. NW will feature three special burgers. First is the burger de moules, a mussels burger served with sweet potatoes fries and an aioli sauce for $15.95; second is the lobster burger with scallop mousse, lobster and shrimp diced and served on a bun with aioli with parsnip chips and a side of Belgium fries for $18.95, and finally the Et Voila! burger, Meyer ground beef, Chimay cheese, bacon, confit, tomato and onions served with a green salad and Belgian fries for $16.95.

Mio Restaurant located at 1110 Vermont Ave. NW is serving a special hamburgesa de res boricua “El Hambergón” made with daily ground grass fed beef, ripe plantains, mayo, ketchup, ajili mojili, white cheddar, sofrito, and red onions for $13.

Nopa Kitchen + Bar at 800 F St. NW is celebrating with the Nopa Burger glazed with a Tonkatsu Japanese sauce before being topped with Vermont white cheddar, Applewood smoked bacon and served with fries for $14.

TKO Burger, which opens Saturday at 2350 Washington Place NE in Rhode Island Row, is serving 8 ounce burgers made certified Angus-beef, seasoned and cooked to order over an open flame and topped with fresh condiments. Burgers include the mac & cheese burger, BBQ burger, brunch burger, Rocky Philly burger, veggie burger, jerk burger, Norwegian salmon burger, Maryland crab cake burger, black bean burger, turkey burger and chicken burger.

Toro Toro, located at 1300 I St. NW puts a Latin twist on the American cheeseburger with the Toro Toro Burger made from hand-ground USDA prime beef burger with a choice of cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle and chipotle remoulade priced at $14; and the BBQ turkey burger with chipotle BBQ, habañero slaw, avocado and Gruyere cheese for $14.

Phillips Flagship seafood restaurant closed recently to make way for The Wharf development. (Photo: popville.com)

Phillips Seafood moving to L’Enfant Plaza

Just a few days after its Phillips Flagship on the Southwest waterfront closed to make way for The Wharf development, news comes that Baltimore-based Phillips Seafood will open a small, food-court style location in the L’Enfant Plaza food court.

According to the JBG Cos., which owns the underground retail and restaurant area along with several buildings there, Phillips will take 896 square feet in the food court.

Other new restaurants coming to the L’Enfant Plaza food court include Amsterdam Falafelshop and a Red Robin’s Burger Works, a fast-casual burger concept from Red Robin Gourmet Burgers & Brews. It’s the first of that Red Robin concept in the D.C. area and on the East Coast. There are four in Denver and one in at Ohio State University in Columbus.

In all, there will be a dozen new restaurant and retail offerings as part of the remodeled shopping area.

Nopa Kitchen+Bar in Pen Quarter (Photo: Mark Heckathorn/DC on Heels)

Nopa Kitchen + Bar celebrates first anniversary

Nopa Kitchen + Bar at 800 F St. NW, the 160-seat American brasserie located in Penn Quarter, is celebrating its one year anniversary. Executive chef Greg McCarty’s most popular dishes during the opening year will be featured beginning May 8 through early July.

Featured dishes include amaranth and quinoa salad with orange vinaigrette, pine nuts and dried cherries for $12; butter poached lobster with spring pea risotto, nori and passion fruit for $34; and a sautéed pork chop with rhubarb mustard and sweet and sour mustard greens for $25.

Then for the perfect pairing, Nopa’s wine director Jesse Hiney has crafted a Time Flies cocktail made from a combination of bourbon, sparkling wine, grapefruit and brown sugar simple syrup priced at $10. And what birthday would be complete without a special cake? Pastry chef Jemil Gadea has created a roasted blackberry shortcake with rhubarb sorbet priced at $10.

Alba Osteria(Photo: Urban Living)

Alba Osteria to hold two events with Manincor Wines

Alba Osteria at 425 I St. NW is teaming up with Manincor Wine Estate, located in the Alto Adige region of Northern Italy, for two wine events on May 14. Producer Matthias Jaeger will lead the evening with wine discussion.

From 6-7 p.m., guests can enjoy three Manincor wines paired with small plates created by executive chef Roberto Donna and chef de cuisine Amy Brandwein for $22 per person. Then at 7:30 p.m., dinners can have a five-course meal paired with Manincor for $100.

The menu for the wine tasting includes smoked salmon paired with a 2012 La Rose de Manincor, broccoli with shrimp sauce paired with a 2012 Riserva della Contessa and grilled beef with green sauce served with a 2011 Riserva del Conte.

The dinner menu includes warm lobster salad with artichokes and asparagus served with 2012 Riserva della Contessa; burrata and rapini tortelloni with clam broth, razor clams, sea urchin and Sicilian olive oil paired with a 2012 La Rose de Manincor; speck served with a 2012 Kalterersee Keil; venison with walnut and herb and grappa sauce paired with a 2011 Riserva del Conte; and a ricotta cheese and raspberry tart with honey ice cream served with a 2011 Le Petit Manincor.

The outside of The Gryphon (photo by Travis Vaughn)

The Gryphon to reopen in Dupont this month

The Gryphon, 1337 Connecticut Ave. NW in Dupont, will reponen mid-May as a steakhouse rather than a sports bar. Located in the old Heritage India location, The Gryphon opened in March 2013, but closed for “renovations” three months later.

An announced October reopening came and went. Now comes word that the 5,000 square-foot space restaurant from the folks behind Lost Society has scrapped the sports theme focus and about a fifth of its 31 TV screens. Others have been covered with framed mirrors that can be used for special events.

The new menu will be heavy on steak and fish, nearly identical to Lost Society with the addition of a raw bar and more seafood. The wine list will also be nearly the same as Lost Society with a few extra bottles and 20-25 craft beers.

Co-owner Tony Hudgins told the Washington City Paper that The Gryphon’s opening, which has already been delayed due to construction, was rushed. “We probably — and we’re not afraid to say it —s hot ourselves in the foot opening at that point,” he said. “Service just wasn’t up to par.”

Dark chocolate wood covers the walls for a warmer look and some of the antler chandeliers remain. The front of the restaurant is also getting a makeover with a collapsible glass wall that can open up to an outdoor patio. And the large open space inside has been sectioned off into more intimate settings and to divide from the bar.

The Gryphon, which was previously open only for dinner, will be open for lunch, dinner and brunch.

Liquor Bar coming to Chinatown

Liquor Bar, from Ari Gejdenson’s Mindful Restaurants, will open in late summer in the Oriental Building Association building at 600 F St. NW.

The bar from the owners of Acqua Al 2 and Ghibellina will have a European hotel bar style with round leather booths and brass finishes, according to a press release from Douglas Development, the buildings owner. The bar will feature a menu of hand-crafted cocktails, as well as an extensive selection of scotch and other fine spirits, wines and craft beers. A small food menu will also be available.

Gejdenson will open Sotto, a cocktail bar beneath Ghibellina, in September, according to the same press release.

Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab (Photo: popville.com)

Joe’s Seafood raises money for Miriam’s Kitchen

Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab at 750 15th St. NW will donate $1 for each slice of strawberry cream cheese pie sold to Miriam’s Kitchen, a local organization committed to ending chronic homelessness in D.C.

The pie features a graham cracker crust, whipped cream cheese layer and sliced strawberries. Each month, Joe’s donates a portion of the proceeds from a different specialty pie flavor to a select charity.

Mintwood Place team to open Shaw restaurant

Restaurateur Saied Azali and chef Cedric Maupillier of Mintwood Place will open a second restaurant together in City Market at O, 801 O St. NW, in Shaw. The yet-to-be-named, 120-seat restaurant will be a take on the business partners’ first restaurant, which serves American food with a French accent.

The new place will serve smaller portions at lower prices in the hopes of reaching a younger crowd. They hope to reach a younger audience. The 5,000-square foot restaurant will be on the ground floor of the Cambria Suites hotel and be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Ground breaking is set for August with the opening set for early 2015.

This year has been a bonanza for D.C. foodies. 2013 saw many restaurant openings, a few sad goodbyes and more than a little drama.

Without a doubt, most of the attention in 2013 was focused on 14th Street NW. You just can’t argue with a list stacked from top to bottom with trophy winners like Le Diplomate, Kapnos/G, Ghibellina, Pearl Dive, BakeHouse, Doi Moi and Garden District. Plus, Ted’s Bulletin has tip top doughnuts and there’s Peregrine for killer coffee.

The restaurants of 14th Street NW. (Photo: Luis Gomez)

There is no other neighborhood with the number of restaurant openings that has created a huge impact on D.C.’s restaurant scene, even drawing national attention. From out-of-towners such as Stephen Starr and local chefs Ari Gejdenson, Mike Isabella, Peter Pastan and Amy Morgan all opening up shop.

With the empty buildings dwindling, we can’t imagine we’re going to see too many more new establishments opening in there in 2014, although we reluctantly anticipate a few closures — competition and all — but it’s not easy to get a table without a hefty wait, even on a weekday.

It’s too early to say the 14th Street corridor is the “best” neighborhood for dining. There are too many newcomers who will have to prove they can flourish with the increased competition. But 14th Street is the most exciting dining neighborhood of the year. But Penn Quarter with Jaleo, Rasika, The Source, Minibar, Fiola and Zaytinya are in for the long haul and will give the new 14th Street establishment a run for their money. And the Shaw neighborhood with its new food offerings like Baby Wale, Tally, Southern Efficiency, Mandalay, Mockingbird Hill and Right Proper Brewing Co. will challenge the 14th Street eateries as well.

Fat Shorty’s sausage grill in Clarendon was one of 2013’s restaurants that didn’t last a year. (Photo: Rock Harper via Instagram)

Come and gone

Two notable restaurants opened and closed in 2013. The first was Fat Shorty’s, the sausage grill with mussels and Belgian beer from Hell’s Kitchen winner Chef Rahman “Rock” Harper and restaurateur Aaron Gordon, which opened in Clarendon in April and had closed by October. Gordon is also the owner of Drafting Table, which opened on 14th Street NW in October 2012, and Bar di Bari, both of which opened in the same neighborhood in June of this year. Gordon said he had a buyer for the building and had decided to concentrate on his other ventures.

The other closing was Azur, the three-story seafood restaurant in Penn Quarter from chef Frederik De Pue. It opened in June, but by October it had also closed. De Pue said the number of diners just wasn’t enough to keep the large restaurant open. The chef, who owns the building, will next try a multi-concept plan to get customers in the door. Set to open in January, Menu will be a market on the ground floor, serving up produce, sandwiches and soups. A bar will open on the third floor with a lounge component during later hours. There will also be a 40-seat restaurant on the top floor serving pastas and American fare, with a bigger beer program than Azur had. The second floor is all kitchen.

Coming in 2014

This week is a time to reflect on 2013. But it’s also an opportunity to look ahead to next year, which should still provide plenty of restaurant excitement.

Some restaurants set to open this winter in addition to Menu include:

1. Lupo Verde from Med Lahlou and Antonio Matarazzo at 1401 T St. NW, is expected to open any day now. The intimate 100-seat restaurant, from the owner of Ulah Bistro and Tunicliff’s Tavern, will serve authentic, rustic, Italian fare.
2. Flight Wine Bar from Swati Bose, Kabir Amir, Bradley Curtis will open in early January at will open at 777 6th St. NW. The casual, neighborhood wine bar will focus on wines by the glass from all over the world, as well as light fare such as flatbreads.
3. Roofers Union from Marjorie Meek-Bradley, Roger Marmet and Daniel Lobsenz at 2446 18th St. NW is scheduled to open in January. The restaurant, in the former Reef space, is the second project from the Ripple team. Expect dishes like sausages, corn dogs with homemade Whiz and more.
4. Bidwell, from John Mooney and Edens at 1309 5th St. NE is scheduled to open in January. It will be Union Market’s first sit down, full-service restaurant. New York chef Mooney is leading the operation, which will have a local, American bent.
5. Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak and Stone Crab from Mike Rotolo at 740 15th St. NW is set to open in January. This is the first D.C. outpost of the Florida-based chain, particularly known for its seafood and key lime pie.
6. Pinstripes, a chain, is expected to open at 3222 M St. NW in January. The combination restaurant, nightclub, bowling alley and bocce court is opening in the Shops at Georgetown Park. The restaurant leans Italian, with dishes like pizzas and chicken marsala.
7. GCDC, a grilled cheese restaurant at 1730 Pennsylvania Ave. NW from Bruce and Steven Klores and Sophie Slesinger, is set to open in early February. In addition to various spins on grilled cheese, there will be options like tater tots and egg creams.
8. Nicoletta from Michael White and the Altamarea Group at 301 Water St SE is projected to open in March. White has already made a splash in D.C. with his Osteria Morini restaurant. Nicoletta will sell pizza out of two kiosks in Navy Yard.
9. Toro Toro from Richard Sandoval and Ivan Iricanin at 1300 I St. NW is expected to open in March. Sandoval’s new project is a Brazilian-inspired steakhouse. The restaurant will also feature a selection of small plates.
10. Maketto from Erik Bruner-Yang, James Wozniuk, Ansuron Plyraharn, Chris Vigilante and Angel Franco at 1351 H St. NE is expected to open sometime this winter. Bruner-Yang and company are opening a combination restaurant and Asian market in the building. Vigilante Coffee will also make its home there. Diners can sample dishes from the Cambodian- and Taiwanese-influenced restaurant at the pop-up, now running at Hanoi House.

Also expected in January are Ivy and Coney, TKO Burger, Carolina Kitchen and Ri-Ra. February’s expected openings include Compass Rose and Heavy Seas Alehouse. Other expected winter openings include STK, Lunchbox and Fiola Mare. Tentatively set to open in the spring are American Eats, China Chilcano, District Doughnut, Gypsy Soul and Mad Fox Tap Room.

Which are you anticipating? Let us know in the comments, on Facebook or on Twitter.