amanda mcclements

It's going to be an exciting week on the 1300 block of U Street, with three new promising spots poised to open. First off, new cafe and lounge Creme (1322 U St. NW) is beginning a soft opening tonight with a limited menu. I stuck my head in and met the jovial chef/owner "T" and his business partner Brian. They were beaming with excitement and pride over their new restaurant. They gutted the space previously occupied by Cottage Cafe, and the result is handsomely appealing. Rich jewel tones on the walls are offset by expanses of light blond wood and two oversized gilded mirrors. The partially exposed ceiling shows off shiny new duct work, giving the space a contemporary feel. A roomy bar anchors one wall, and a small open kitchen sits in the back of the space. On the opening menu: shrimp and grits ($15), oven roasted chicken "served with a large portion of love and white rice" ($13), pan-roasted cod with clams, bacon, potatoes and onions in a cream sauce ($16), a...

The quirky Kimpton Hotel and Restaurant Group has done a lot for this city, renovating historic properties and hideously ugly motels and leaving a trail of chic, funky boutique hotels in their wake. What's more, they brought us the delicious Firefly , the mod Helix Lounge, the more subdued Topaz Bar and Bar Rouge (pictured) and the mail-sorting-hall-turned-brasserie Poste. They arguably could be given full credit for creating a vibrant hotel bar scene in D.C., where not much of one existed before. Next stop: the Radisson Barcelo at 2121 P St. NW. Kimpton is planning a $32 million renovation of the aging hotel to transform the building into the Hotel Palomar, the Washington Business Journal reports . Like the Hotel Monaco brand, Kimpton plans to open Hotel Palomars in several cities. Washington's will be the second — there's already one in San Francisco . On the food front, the hotel will house a new Italian restaurant called Urbana , which will occupy the space where Gabr...

We like things big in this country, take for example Wednesday's news flurry over plans to construct the world's tallest building in Chicago . While not nearly the same architectural feat, a crew of chef's from Jaleo will construct a monstrous paella this afternoon (weather permitting) at the Penn Quarter FreshFarm Market . Last year's paella, which cost a voluntary $3 donation, was perfectly tasty, but this event is more about the experience of watching cooks stir such a heaping helping of steaming rice. The paella last summer required 122 pounds of rice, more than 100 pounds of chicken and buckets of vegetables from local farms, all cooked in an 8-foot custom-made pan. Check in around 4 or 5 p.m. to see if it's ready, but keep an eye on the weather — the event has already been delayed once. It's also a great excuse to check out the small market that usually has a great selection of heirloom tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, whole grain breads and other produce. The...

As reported in this Metrocurean post July 18, Al Crostino will open in Opera/Kuna's old spot "hopefully sometime next week," according to the woman who answered the phone Tuesday. In today's Weekly Dish , Tom Sietsema reports on the direction the owners hope to take the new restaurant. "As the name suggests, the script will feature a variety of crostini — slivers of toasted bread with savory toppings — as well as cheese and sausage platters and 30-plus Italian wines by the glass. A handful of entrees (zucchini-crusted fish, a veal chop sauced with balsamic vinegar and honey) will round out the small menu," Sietsema reports. Sounds like Washington has a new mini-trend: the enoteca (or more loosely, an Italian version of a tapas bar with an emphasis on wine). With the opening of Dino , which offers a lengthy menu of crostini, and Sonoma on Capitol Hill, with its Italian-accented menu of shareable plates and broad selection of cheese and charcuterie, snackin...

A recent DCist post reporting on John Roberts' ruling in the case of Metro's juvenile delinquent fry eater had me thinking not about Roberts' fitness to serve on the Supreme Court but about french fries (it was getting close to lunch). French fries have proved their polarizing capabilities, witness the patriotism-gone-bad "freedom" fry fiasco and the case mentioned on DCist. But politics aside, I'm more interested in the sides people take when it comes to the anatomy of a fry. Some people like their fries thick and meaty, with potato clearly dominating each bite (aka steak fries). I'm in the thin, crispy, fry-the-hell-out-of-em camp. Some douse them in tangy vinegar, some smother them in mayonnaise or classic ketchup. A little sprinkling of Old Bay never hurt a fry in my opinion. There are a lot of sub-par french fries out there, so I humbly offer a few of my favorites here, in no particular order. Amsterdam Falafel Shop: This friendly, late-night falaf...

A new restaurant/lounge hybrid is opening next door to DC Coast on K Street called Lima . I haven't been able to track down any details, though I did find this Web site , which indicates the restaurant will be "blooming" this fall. Metrocurean speculation: Bon Appetit recently declared Peruvian food the next hot cuisine. "With its vibrant ceviches, crispy, spiced rotisserie chickens, and packed-with-flavor empanadas, this is one cuisine we could eat every day," the editors said. Making (total) assumptions from the name, it sounds like Lima could be D.C.'s first trendy Peruvian joint. Anyone heard anything about this new spot?

All chain restaurants are not created equal, and as D.C. prepares for an onslaught of high-end chains with big names attached, Metrocurean can only hope that they will reflect the talents of their absentee chefs. From Richard Sandoval , who owns a handful of Latin-inspired restaurants, comes Zengo , which is scheduled to open in September at 781 7th St. in the Gallery Place complex. In what amounts to Latin/Asian fusion, Zengo's menu jumps from sushi to ceviche, dim sum to antojitos, and entrées that marry Latin and Asian ingredients, such as hibachi salmon with Peruvian corn and organic tofu. The design team Adamstein and Demetriou are making their mark all over this city (see Zaytinya, IndeBleu, Bistro Bis and Zola, to name a few) and they've been brought on to design the 7,800-square-foot interior. There's a guarantee that it will in the very least look pretty. From Masaharu Morimoto of Iron Chef fame comes Pauli Moto's Asian Bistro , slated to open in the Tyson'...

In today's Weekly Dish , Tom Sietsema follows up on the pizza rumor he started last week. It is indeed Carole Greenwood and James Alefantis of Buck's Fishing and Camping who plan to open a 70-seat spot later this fall with a somewhat random ping-pong theme. The pizza joint will take over the former Thai Room location at 5037 Connecticut Ave. NW. As for the pizza style, Alefantis describes it to the Weekly Dish as "Neo-Neopolitan," or "crisp, thin-crusted pies, covered (or not) with sauce as opposed to crushed tomatoes." No word on a name yet.

As people scramble to secure reservations for Restaurant Week , please humor me while I give my personal take on how to get the most out of the promotion. 1. Choose really expensive places with good reputations. For example, going to Garrett's in Georgetown, which is participating, and blowing $30.05 on dinner would be a really bad idea (unless most of that $30 is on alcohol). Going to Palette or Corduroy , on the other hand, where entrées alone can cost nearly $30...now that's good thinking. 2. Call ahead to make sure the selection is good. There are plenty of places that offer practically their entire menus...and then there are places that offer two choices in each course. Would you like chicken or pasta? That's no fun. If you're too lazy to call or check the restaurant's Web site, Jason of dcfoodies.com has kindly done some of the work and listed what some places are offering. 3. Listen out for places that extend the deal beyond the official week. You can the...

Metrocurean is sad to report that the "closed for vacation" sign outside Opera (aka Kuna) was keeping false hope alive. Opera will, in fact, not be returning. The neighborhood will greatly miss the homey bowls of steaming pasta and the congenial guys who ran the place, Mark and Keith. We can only hope that Mark takes his cooking to a new spot soon. Dabbing eyes and moving on, the folks from Al Tiramisu on P Street have taken over, painted the place sunshine yellow and plan to open an Italian wine bar called Al Crostino in the next few weeks. Impressively enough, they already have a Web site up. Al Tiramisu enjoys a solid reputation in town as a cozy neighborhood spot for quality Italian cooking. Here's hoping the same will be true of the new venture. Al Crostino will be located at 1324 U St. NW.

As reported in an earlier post , I was speculating that Bistro Tabaq, a new spot from the former owners of Meze, would be opening soon at 1336 U St. Well, it's official! A sign went up in the past few days. Should be only a matter of time before it opens, so check back for updates.

What Capitol Hill may lack in restaurant choice, it certainly makes up for in bars. Here's a snippet from my column in today's Roll Call about the next bar to arrive on the Hill: "It’s been more than 70 years since Prohibition ended in the District, but a new Capitol Hill bar plans to channel the days of speakeasies and bootleg booze — only this time the booze will be legal. Mark Menard and Mike Schuster, owners of the Pour House and Trusty’s , and Jim Spore have taken over the space formerly occupied by Zack’s at 613 Pennsylvania Ave. SE and plan to open The 18th Amendment in mid-August. The bar takes it name from the amendment that enacted Prohibition in 1920 and will take its design cues from the speakeasies that cropped up in response to the alcohol ban. The renovated space will be divided into an upscale bar on the main floor and a more casual hangout in the basement. The upper level will offer a full bar with high-end liquors and about eight beers on draft in an art...

In yesterday's Washington Post dining chat , Tom Sietsema dropped this juicy tease: "(cough cough) is rumored to be opening a pizza place next to his popular (cough cough) restaurant up on Connecticut Ave. I'm "coughing" because I can't confirm the details. And far be it from me to spread rumors!" (Warning: unsubstantiated rumors ahead.) I was initially speculating Frank Ruta of Palena, though the restaurant is smushed beside a gas station. But the folks on donrockwell.com are speculating on James Alefantis of Buck's Fishing and Camping , which he owns with chef Carole Greenwood. Sounds like it could be a New Haven-style pizza joint that would open this fall. Besta Pizza is right next door to Buck's at 5029 Connecticut Ave. Could they be taking over or going for the spot on the other side? Anyone have any theories?

After sampling some of Dino's goods this evening (a smoky and haunting lasagne with veal bacon and pork and veal ragu, beautifully cooked local rockfish with a tangy herb garnish, crisp skinned roasted chicken with lemon and garlic, and a creamy limoncello tiramisu), and being thoroughly impressed by its hospitable and passionate owners, I saw this Wednesday's Weekly Dish, in which Washington Post food critic Tom Sietsema weighs in with an initial impression of Dino . Looks like this newcomer, just off the Cleveland Park metro stop, is off to a promising start.

Joe Englert has been a busy man. After bringing the city some of its most beloved bars, including Lucky Bar and Capitol Lounge, Englert has set his sights on pioneering new nightlife in some of D.C.'s underserved neighborhoods. His extensive plans to open several bars and nightclubs on H Street Northeast have met with concern from neighbors, but he has received approval for several liquor licenses. But in a quadrant south of his ambitious plans, Englert has already opened Trusty's at 1420 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. (So I don't really know if this is the link, but is that a creepy "Silence of the Lambs" joke?) As reported by On Tap , the "1940s/1950s service station-themed tavern is home to a fully stocked turn-of-the-century bar and plenty of bar stools and comfy booths from which TV viewing is easy. Trusty's, open as of early June, will emphasize local sporting events by showing local events on their many TVs, and by hosting happy hour for all Nationals and...

Feeling left out each time D.C. and Virginia restaurants slash their prices for Restaurant Week ? Well, the Greater Bethesda-Chevy Chase Chamber of Commerce decided it doesn't have to be that way. The Washington Business Journal reports that Bethesda and Chevy Chase will hold their first Restaurant Week July 18-24. The deal is different than D.C.'s $20.05 lunch and $30.05 dinner: Two course lunches will be offered for $10 and three course dinners for $18 or $25, depending on the restaurant. Participating restaurants include Brasserie Monte Carlo, Café Europa, La Miche, Clyde's of Chevy Chase, New Orleans Bistro , Mon Ami Gabi, Passage to India , Ri Ra Irish Pub & Restaurant, South Beach Restaurant & Bar, Tragara Ristorante, Caddies on Cordell, Bistro Asiatique, Centro, Divino Lounge & Restaurant , Faryab Restaurant, La Panetteria, Taipei Tokyo, Thyme Square, Trattoria Sorrento and Bacchus Bethesda.

Three chefs with impressive résumés plan to open Willow in Ballston, replacing Gaffney's at 4301 North Fairfax Dr., reports Linda Roth of Linda Roth Associates. Tracy O'Grady, Brian Wolken and Kate Jansen are the minds behind the new spot, which is described as "classic modern American fine dining at a fair price," Roth reports. O'Grady, formerly of Kinkead's, made news a few years back when she was America's sole representative at the esteemed Bocuse D'Or international cooking competition , beating out 120 other chefs for the honor. O'Grady met Jansen, a founder of Firehook Bakery , back when they were both working in the kitchen at Galileo. For more than a year now, the two have been collaborating on Willow Consultants in addition to teaching cooking classes. Wolken, meanwhile, has cooked his way around the city at spots such as Colvin Run, Cabanas and Butterfield 9. That's a lot of talented cooks in the kitchen. No word yet on an opening dat...

The background: After frequenting Meze in Adams Morgan, I got to know Melih, one of the affable owners. He and his brother, Omer, left the popular Turkish bar more than a year ago, and I've since spotted Melih on the 1300 block of U Street again and again. The facts: For nearly a year now, Melih has been telling me that he plans to open in the U Street area what he called one of the coolest places in the city "very soon." He told me it will be called Tabaq and will serve food (presumably Turkish?), including brunch. He refuses to tell me where exactly it will be, preferring to keep it a surprise. (The suspense was killing me.) The Metrocurean speculation: So I've done a little sleuthing, and I'm speculating (with near full confidence) that Tabaq will be located at 1336 U St. in a beautiful old — previously abandoned — four-story brownstone, now painted a steely blue (see photo). A view from across the street reveals just the tip of a glass-enclosed top story (per...

When Red River Grill owner Matt Weiss closed the popular happy-hour spot in January, "rumors started flying that upscale neighbor Lounge 201 had acquired the space with avaricious plans to turn it into another pricey martini joint," this blogger reported in Roll Call on Jan. 27. "What the disgruntled patrons didn’t realize was that Red River Grill and Lounge 201, which share a building at Second Street and Massachusetts Avenue Northeast, had always shared an owner." Weiss closed Red River to rehab the space and start fresh come summer. Well summer's come and just in time for patio season, Red River has reopened as Union Pub with a new look, new menu and more great happy hour deals. For sports fans, the revamped bar also boasts 10 large TVs, three with 50-inch screens. Washingtonpost.com's Fritz Hahn had this to say about the new spot: "The patio is vastly improved, thanks to smart new furniture (no more plastic chairs); there are now 15 different frozen...

When Yanyu closed its doors back in February, fans of its peking duck and pan-Asian tapas shed a collective tear. But the space (3435 Connecticut Ave. NW) will once again welcome diners when Dino opens Wednesday, July 6. Billed as "somewhere between a wine-based osteria and a family-run trattoria," according to a press release, Dino will serve artisan cheeses, pasta, grilled and rotisserie meats and fresh seafood. The man behind the stove is CIA graduate Johnny Neilsen, formerly of Aria, The Mark/Andale, Palena and Tribecca Grill in New York City. Liquor connoisseurs take note: Dino is boasting D.C.'s first exclusively artisan alcohol program. The beverage list comprises small, artisan producers like Broker's Gin and Old Pogue's Bourbon. A few of the cocktails that will be featured (prices will range from $7 to $11): *Bellini of the day - Flavors include Blood Orange, Pear Brandy and Peach *Anna 'Sta Notte - Limoncello, Prosecco, grappa-sugar cube *Negroni...

Props to Whole Foods for its new "local produce" signs. The signs highlight "produce from farms a day's drive away," like Lady Moon Farms in Pennsylvania. While the stores have generally done a good job labeling where produce comes from, the new light brown signs are easy to spot among the standard signs, making it easier to eat local .

In other U Street news, Opera (aka Kuna) has closed for summer vacation, which will probably spark rumors that they've closed for good. Last summer Kuna took about a month off—causing closing rumors—and returned as Opera. With a new menu and slightly higher prices, business seemed a little sluggish. Protests from loyal customers over menu changes prompted a slow return to the old Kuna menu. (The menu even said "Opera AKA Kuna" at the top.) There's no message when you call with any details about a return date. I, for one, will be crossing my fingers and hoping this cozy neighborhood joint returns.

Looks like a new cafe and lounge called Creme is taking over the Cottage Cafe at 1322 U Street. Permits are posted and the glass is covered. A fancy, modern-looking new awning with the name is already up. Stay tuned for more details...

Amanda McClements is a Washington, D.C.-based freelance writer. A native North Carolinian who counts herself in the "eastern" barbecue camp , she has cultivated her love of all things culinary by reviewing restaurants and reporting on food news and trends for various publications. Her work has appeared in Food & Wine , Washingtonian , The Washington Post 's Express , Roll Call , DC Modern Luxury , the Washington Business Journal 's OnSite magazine, Food Service Monthly and Capitol File and on Daily Candy and AOL's City Guide . She can be reached at amandamc@gmail.com.

Wonder what's new and hot on the D.C. restaurant scene? Metrocurean brings you the latest news on restaurant and bar openings, buzz and noteworthy happenings, along with a side dish of epicurean adventures.