15 DC Bars & Restaurants To Look Forward to Opening in 2015

Lets face it: if there is one thing DC loves, it is a new restaurant or bar opening.

At the end of last year we asked some of our our favorite DC food writers to tell us which they really liked, liked a little less, hated etc. While we were at it we ALSO asked them which restaurant openings they were SUPER excited about in 2015. We took those answers, combined them with some of our personal, internal excitement and here it is: a great list of 2015 BAR + RESTAURANT openings to be jazzed for now, and for the next twelve months too.

• China Chilcano – One of the most anticipated 2015 openings ALREADY happened this week in Penn Quarter. Jose Andres’ new concept will serve Peruvian meets Criollo/Chinese/Japanese dishes and looks typically gorgeous AND delicious. Check out our full first look here

• Momofuku – In case you’ve been hiding under a rock for the last few month, here’s some exciting news: David Chang is coming to town. Or at least his restaurants are. The signature Momofuku concept AND Momofuku Milk Bar (bring on the crack pies and bring them on NOW) are slated to open at City Center which, as you’re about to find out is about to become a veritable epicenter of openings. To carry you over till this happens, binge watch The Mind Of A Chef on Netflix NOW. BONUS: David Chang is probably the only chef out there with a legit gif collection made in his liking.

• Bad Saint – The Filipino project by Room 11 team is coming to Petworth (3226 11th Street) soon, hot on the heels of their  and every pop-up preview (which featured dishes like mung bean noodles and lumpiang shanghai) has sold out ASAP (And yes, that includes the one this weekend)
• The Dabney – even last year, everyone was salivating at the idea of what McCrady’s alumn Jeremiah Langhorne may have in store. Now the project has a name, a location (Blagden Alley), a concept (celebrating the Mid-Atlantic, which we think means seafood and a melange of Southern and Northern influences?) and a variety of social media for you to follow.
• Convivial – How much do we LOVE Mintwood Place? A LOT. Chef & owner Cedric Maupillier’s latest is coming to Shaw (801 O Street NW, at City Market at Shaw) in early spring and you can expect a combo pack of French and American influences, but in a more casual setting. Sign us up.

• Beefsteak – NOT ANOTHER STEAK HOUSE. Instead, Jose Andres & his team go fast casual with a …. wait for it… A VEGETARIAN CENTRIC outpost opening near GW Campus.
• Pepita -Mike Isabella is slowly colonizing the 4000 block of Clarendon Blvd. The same building will house both the more seafood centric Kapnos Taverna and the new Mexican cantina concept which is “supposed to recreate the vibe and feel of being on a Mexican Resort”. In Arlington. (the pop-up they did at G this past Fall, gives us a good sampling of what the menu will be like)

• Orange Anchor – The team behind Copperwood Tavern and Second State are adding another restaurant to Georgetown’s Washington Harbor offerings (address: 3050 K Street NW). The nautical design done by Maggie O’Neill will pair well with a strong seafood theme of the menu (and the location).
• Clarity – This Vienna project (442 Maple Ave East) features a team with Central and Inox pedigrees and while information is scarce thus far, there’s plenty to feel optimistic about.
• Centrolina – Amy Brandwein has long been one of DC’s (and beyond) best Italian Chefs and after Casa Nonna and Alba Osteria, she finally gets her own restaurant, located, yes, you guessed it at City Center. The concept is reminiscent of Eataly (which DC has been hankering for for seemingly forever) in the sense that it combines a dining experience with a market one, and is inspired by Chef Brandwein’s trips to Italy. WaPo has more of the scoop.
• Yona – DC food fans have had their eye on whatever Jonah Kim was going to do after PABU Izakaya shuttered its doors in Baltimore and the talented chef headed our way. After pop-up projects with Mandu, and a lot of speculation, we now know that thing is going to open in Spring of 2015, be Ballston based, Mike Isabella partnered creative ramen and small plates restaurant in the same building where Kapnos Taverna and Pepita are opening. I guess we’re all going to Virginia in 2015 at some point.

• The Peter Chang Project – Peter Chang is bringing his Chinese cuisine mastery closer to DC from his usual Charlottesville/Fredericksburg operations (Rockville Town Center, to be precise).  Washington Post has more of the scoop.
• Mango Tree – Richard Sandoval continues his take-over of the Washington’s dining scene with a sixth feather in his DC hat. This one will be, naturally, at City Center, and Thai themed operation with a sidewalk cafe, a happening bar scene AND dancing.
• Stanton & Greene –  Located at 319 Pennsylvania Avenue SE, Stanton & Greene, an ambitious three floor, 180 seat operation aims to become the new DC destination a “for classic American cocktails and cuisine, (…) in a meticulously restored building just two blocks from the US Capitol and Supreme Court, the 180-seat Stanton & Greene will evoke the easy elegance of the Capital city’s bars of the early­- to mid­- 20th century.”
• Maketto – Ok guys, lets make this happen for sure in 2015, ok? (latest rumored date is as early as February)

Holler if we missed something you felt was unmissable.