Image: Alfred Eisenstaedt, Italy, 1932

We here at 17 Degrees follow the D.C. food scene pretty closely, but damned if we can explain what is going on. There are places that are opening right as the city girds for winter and COVID cases rise. The closures are easier to explain. The fundamental rule remains the same: if you care about a place, give them business. Now on to the updates and news for the week.

Updates to the Recommended Restaurant List:

Coming back from Closure:

Boqueria (Penn Quarter) – Its neighbor in Dupont has been open for some time, but now the other location comes back on-line.

1789 – The Georgetown tradition returns with indoor dining and a new chef. Previous chef Tracy O’Grady – who we are big fans of – moved to the Green Pig Bistro over the summer.

Closing for Winter:

Hazel – With it large outdoor space, Hazel could hang on for awhile, but now will fold back into the parent company’s delivery model to conserve capital.

Tosca – The white tablecloth, expense-account Italian spot closed down operations October 10. It plans to return in the spring, likely without the white tablecloth experience.

Closed for Good:

Johnny’s Half Shell – The place so many have a soft spot for announced they will throw in the towel.

News:

Let’s start with good news: Chef Kevin Tien, previously of Emilie’s and Himitsu, opened Moon Rabbit in the Kith/Kin space at the Wharf. The cuisine is rooted in the Vietnamese tradition. Dine-in only for now.

Bloomingdale/Truxton mainstay Boundary Stone is shutting down November 25, with hopes of coming back in some form at some later date. They will watch the Last Waltz and all the people will sing, “Na, la, la, la, na, na/ La la, na, na, la, la, la, la, la”

Washingtonian referred to restaurants closing going into winter as hibernation, but that understates the drama by imposing a metaphor of natural recovery on what is in reality a granting of last rights with hopes that somehow they make it.

The pop-up pastry shop that led to Republic Cantina is calling it quits. Republic Kolache will continue accepting final orders today, with pick-up at Republic Cantina available until November 8.

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