Cafe Bonaparte Plans To Acquire Mantis Space

Omar Popal of Georgetown's charming, family-run Cafe Bonaparte tells Metrocurean that his family plans to open a second restaurant in Adams Morgan at 1847 Columbia Rd. NW, currently the home of the minimalist lounge Mantis.

The Bonaparte spin-off will offer a menu similar to its older (but much smaller) sibling, with crepes, a Bonaparte burger and French-inspired dishes. The space will be completely remodeled to echo the stylish European feel of the Georgetown cafe -- but it will be "a sexier version" of Cafe Bonaparte, Popal says. Like Mantis now, the new restaurant will have two distinct levels: the upstairs will offer a low-key spot for dinner and drinks, while the basement, boasting a more modern design, will offer its own menu of small plates, livelier music and, possibly, a Champagne bar. There's also a roomy patio facing quiet Mintwood Place.

Popal said he hopes the makeover of the space will be complete this fall, with a late October opening mentioned. He also emphasized that even though the new restaurant will be three times the size of Cafe Bonaparte, "we still want to keep it intimate."

Comments

culocho said…
I would love for them to be open by beaujolais time!
8/28/2006 5:07 PM
Anonymous said…
I'm kind of bummed. I thought Mantis was a pretty cool place but at least Bonaparte is a quality replacement.
8/29/2006 8:59 AM
Anonymous said…
Somebody pleeeze stop "Coastal Vacations" from spamming every post. That alone is reason enough to never, ever, use their service.
8/29/2006 9:07 AM
Anonymous said…
Hey, Amanda. This is more a tip than a comment. Check out the Web site for PS7, the new restaurant in Penn Quarter. The menu is up and it says it will be open Sept. 14:

http://www.ps7restaurant.com/
8/30/2006 11:17 AM
Amanda said…
Thank, anon. I'm heading over to the space for a (second) preview tomorrow, so hopefully I can share even more details.
8/30/2006 11:51 AM
Amanda said…
(I meant thanks, not thank.)
(Oh, and I love tips ... keep em coming.)
8/30/2006 11:53 AM
Amanda said…
To my knowledge, they're getting out of the biz. That's not to say they won't want back in ever.
9/18/2006 2:58 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

ENTERTAIN } For The Love Of Salt

Image
I'm bidding a reluctant adieu to summer on this first day of fall and looking back with fond memories on one of the season's highlights — our Summer Salt Fest at the Gordy's Pickle Jar headquarters. Ever since opening Salt & Sundry three years ago, I've been dreaming of a down-home party that celebrates all things salty. With the perfect partners in crime, Sarah and Sheila of Gordy's, and my phenomenal team at Salt & Sundry, we hosted a gathering of good friends and toasted our shared love of salt. The feast included fried chicken, boiled peanuts ( made by my husband !), Rappahannock' s Olde Salt oysters, deviled eggs topped with Gordy's Sweet Pepper Relish, and probably the best fried pickles I've ever eaten (yes, I've eaten a lot) ... Gordy's Sweet Chips and Cajun Okra dipped in roasted garlic aioli. There was crisp Virginia rosé from Early Mountain Vineyards , local brews from 3 Stars and DC Brau , and a watermelon cooler tha
keep reading »

STYLE } Bar Styling Tips with Framebridge

Image
  I've always been noncommittal when it come to putting anything on my walls. Art? Photos? Prints? But what if I change my mind? Add the hassle of framing something and voila, a growing pile of unframed prints and photos gathers dust on a shelf. So I much appreciated a recent gentle nudge from friends at  Framebridge , a DC-based company that's making it easier and less expensive to get those pretty-if-neglected pieces framed and on display. We hung out at my place, whipped up some Green Hat gin and tonics, and I shared tips for stocking and styling your bar at home. (Any old table will do!) And yes, I actually put a nail in the wall and hung a print. Head this way for my full interview with Framebridge . Cheers! all photos by  Laura Metzler Photography  for Framebridge
keep reading »

Hello Cupcake Opens

Image
Cupcakes await the first customers at Hello Cupcake For a sweet spot in this final week of August, head to Hello Cupcake , which opens at 10 a.m. today at 1351 Connecticut Ave. NW. I had the chance to sample a few flavors with owner Penny Karas. The fluffy icing on the peanut butter blossom (above) is seriously addictive, and the seasonal root beer flavor is a delightful surprise with spicy root beer cake topped with vanilla cream cheese frosting. I'm going for a Velvet Elvis, banana cake with peanut butter frosting, next. There are gluten-free and vegan options on the menu, as well. Check out all the flavors here . Metrocurean photo
keep reading »