Exclusive: A festival previewing hot new D.C. bars and restaurants is back
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Photo courtesy Silver and Sons BBQ (left) and Monstera Burrito
A bunch of exciting new restaurants and pop-ups are coming to the D.C. area soon, and you can get the first taste at New Kitchens on the Block.
Why it matters: The pop-up party, now on its 10th run, showcases some of the fastest-rising stars and biggest names in the biz before they launch their bars and restaurants.
Zoom in: Co-founders Al Goldberg of Mess Hall—which hosts the June 1 event — and food writer Nevin Martell curate a lineup that mixes Michelin-level talent with promising pop-ups and fast-casuals.
- The past 60+ participants include Rose Previte with Maydan, Call Your Mother (before it was CYM), Oyster Oyster, and the Salt Line.
Axios got an exclusive sneak peek. Here's who's coming, and what they're planning next:
🌯 Monstera Burrito: Lucky Buns chef Alex McCoy is gaining lines for his burrito pop-ups at Sara's Market in Georgetown. He tells Axios that he plans to open a standalone burrito shop/all-day café (hopefully in Gtown) for killer carnitas and West Coast-style eats.
🍹 Providencia: Maketto chef/owner Erik Bruner-Yang is teaming up with longtime employees Pedro Tobar and Danny Gonzalez for a tiny, tucked-away bar on H Street, NE. All immigrants, the place channels Bruner-Yang's Taiwanese and the bar team's Salvadoran roots in both the cocktails and small plates. ETA: June.
🇹🇭 Rimtang: Yume Sushi chef Saran "Peter" Kannasute is tapping his Thai roots for a casual Southeast Asian street food spot in Georgetown. The head chef: his mom. Family-style plates and easy drinks are coming around fall this year.
🥮 A Vietnamese café: Moon Rabbit chefs Kevin Tien and Susan Bae — both up for Beard Awards—are seizing the moment to open a Vietnamese coffee shop and patisserie with sweet and savory creations (location and name TBD).
🌮 Hijos del Maiz: Boogy & Peel sous chef Saul Zelaya is a maize master in his spare time, importing and nixtamalizing Oaxacan corn for tetelas, quesadillas, and more. He hopes to open a tortillería/restaurant in Rockville.
- In the meantime, the Dupont Circle pizza shop will host Hijos Sunday pop-ups starting in June.
🍗 Silver and Sons BBQ: One of the area's best barbecues is going brick-and-mortar in Bethesda. Chef Jarrad Silver will continue to smoke Mediterranean-influenced meats and dish up sides from his two trucks before opening the counter-order spot with an expanded menu and patio seating. ETA: Fall.
🇧🇷 Bar Cana: The team behind Mercy Me is going Brazilian in Adams Morgan with a vibey listening bar slash restaurant channeling Rio de Janeiro. Think a caipirinha menu and plates from ex-Bourbon Steak chef Robert Curtis. ETA: June.
🔥 Kiln: Alexandria's Hotel Heron, a revamp of a historic 1920s property, will open with this all-day restaurant helmed by a Jean-Georges alum. Expect local Chesapeake-centric cuisine and open-hearth cooking. ETA: May.
If you go: NKOTB is June 1 at Mess Hall. Tickets include food, Right Proper beer, and cocktails from Republic Restoratives for two sessions (12pm - 2pm or 3pm - 5pm) and start at $99 or $139 VIP early bird.