A look at what's going on in Trinidad, on H Street, and in the larger area north of Capitol Hill.
Friday, September 28, 2007
WP: What's Brewing on H?
The Post lavishes more attention on Dr. Granville's(1338 H Street), and also pays a visit to the Pug(1334 H Street). It sounds like the Pug is now serving up hot dogs though plans to serve paninis are still in the works.
32 comments:
Anonymous
said...
I liked that the article emphasized that Dr. Granville's is so popular, at least in part, because it serves real food. Clearly, there is a lot of pent-up demand for solid, sit-down dining options on H street. There's no reason that H street NE couldn't support at least the same number of restaurants as 8th St. SE (Barracks Row).
Well said Mose (8:46 AM). H St. area IS ready for more sit down establishments! Clearly, if it is good, they will come - and I don't think the upcoming Tropicana (FAST FOOD) Restaurant in the 1000 block counts.
Does anyone know the status of what was suppose to be a sit-down restaurant built from the ground up on the South side of the 1000 block (very near WillPower Gym)? I've seen plants on the roof top deck, but it seems that construction activity has stopped. Thanks.
Totally hear you, anon 9:01. The Pug is EASILY my favorite bar in the whole city. Great laid back crowd, super friendly bar tenders, good music, good drinks. Man, that place is great. That's it...I'm going there right this minute.
Mose - I can think of one reason that H can't (at this point) support the same number of restaurants as 8th SE. Barracks Row sits directly on a metro line. The Atlas District sits a mile from one, down a street that many folks (reasonably or not - I say not) are unwilling to walk at night.
I was talking with Tommy Wells at his monthly H Street open house yesterday (HUGE thanks to Frank Hankins at SOVA for hosting it and sharing his delicious espresso and pastries with the crowd).
He mentioned an effort that is currently underway to get a branded bus (think Circulator-style) to make the circuit from Union Station all the way through to the Minnesota Ave. Metro Station. It would run at least until the new trolley line is up and running, and it would serve as a precursor so people will get used to the route. That way, the trolleys will have a pre-established ridership when they're up and running.
Hopefully, something like that would go a long way toward increasing the traffic that would sustain additional sit-down restaurants.
um.. hate to say this, but the X2 already exists and runs from Gallery Place straight down H Street.
I know, I know... people don't like it and if we get a new branded bus that runs basically the same route, more restaurant patrons will come down H St.
I realize this is true, so I support it. I just think it's kind of a silly duplication of resources.
Hopefully the branded bus will be an additional service. The X2 is ALWAYS jammed packed. We need more busses on H. Does metro ever do a Census of riders?
There is another sit-down restaurant coming soon. I spoke to the owner of Cluck-U, and he has acquired the upstairs of his building, is planning to close Cluck-U and put in a multi-level sit-down restaurant with entertainment and roof-top dining. I suspect this will take some time to finish, but it is a great step in the right direction (even if I do love Cluck-U's chicken).
K Street - You're right, the X2 does exist. And it does run all the way to the Minnesota Ave. Metro stop.
But there are a few key differences that a branded bus line would provide:
1. It would actually have a stop at Union Station. Currently, anyone who rides the Metro to Union Station has to walk to either North Capitol and H or 3rd and H if they want to catch the X2 - not exactly convenient, even if you opt to cut through Union Station itself and come out the back (which few visitors to the area know to do).
2. It would operate on a fixed timetable like the Circulator. Departures occur at set intervals, so you don't see situations like the one I experienced today: I was able to walk all the way from 7th & H, NE to 4th & H, NW, without a single X2 passing me.
As far as I know, this is still in the preliminary stages. But it sounds like it would be a great opportunity to expose visitors to H Street and get them used to a transportation option that can easily connect Metro riders to the Atlas District (and the rest of H).
Tropicana is NOT 'fast food'; it's Carribean cuisine, if as I'm told it will be the same Tropicana as the one located on U St NW that is relocating to H.
For the sake of the owners, I hope the corridor can sustain three Caribbean themed eateries within 6 blocks of each other (500, 1000, and 1100 blocks of H respectively, if I correctly recall the proposed and existing locations).
Hmmmm.
Whatever happened to the opening for Liquid (two doors or so down from Willpower Gym), which appears to have a completed deck on top of it and looks essentially finished?
Whenever that opens, that will add another sit-down option.
Speaking of Caribbean, my gf and I got carryout food from Naby's Island on Friday evening. We liked it quite a bit, even if we did have to change our order twice because of stuff they came back to tell us were out of.
The food at Nabys is quite good. I love their meat patties. When I was there, I had the same experience of them running out of the dish I asked for. Luckily they were cooking another batch of rice and peas. I had to wait about five minutes for it. Curried shrimp must be a popular item. Because they often run out of it.
btw-- Nabys is a sit down restaurant with wait service. At least it was when i was there.
Liquid is probably waiting for final approval of their liquor license. Their hearing before ABRA is coming up within the next 30 days, as we just considered their application at ANC 6C (as the neighboring ANC we have the ability to weigh in if we want). We voted not to oppose the license, and my guess is that ANC 6A will either not oppose or support the application.
Hopefully the corridor will be able to sustain all 3 Carribean restaurants. I've not been to the other one, but the one at 5th & H has really good food, and now has seating for eating there. Maybe as the corridor continues to improve, they will remove the bulletproof glass and upgrade their service to offer more of a true sit-down experience rather than an order counter with ability to sit or take out.
Tropicana isn't relocating, just opening another branch (I think that makes 3[?] in DC). And it's actually four Caribbean places, unless Caribbean Best (1300 block of H Street) has shut down.
I spoke with one of the owners of Tropicana (at least I think he was) at the festival and he confirmed that the H Street location will have sit down service. He made a point of telling me that the model will be different from the other locations in the city. He was really excited about the H Street location so I think it will be pretty cool.
The place two doors down from WillPower is Napa, as Inked mentioned in her post.
Liquid is actually slated for the north side of the 900 block (roughly across from the dry cleaners and the florist in the strip mall that runs from 8th to 10th on the south side).
thanks to anonymous for clearing up the napa/liquid issue.
does this mean that mr. kimber's post referred to liquid and not napa? i don't even recall seeing something that looks like a potential restaurant space in the 900 block, does anyone have an address for where liquid will be?
i have had the food at naby's (sp?) island at 12th & H and their food is pretty good. i also ate at the other Caribbean place (the name of which escapes me now) at 6th & H and the food there was good as well.
caribbean best? is that the place near rose's dream? yeah, i think they're still open. so, yeah, four places within 7 blocks then.
So it sounds like H st. may become THE destination for caribbean food. Usually the clustering of restaurants or whatever makes everyone more successful, because people like choices. I can live with that.
I enjoyed Naby's curried goat (which they, unlike at least one of the other spots on H Street, offer everyday) on opening day. I picked up a large order, and it, along with a side of plantains, was enough for 2-3 meals.
I agree w/ the comment about clustering...there are places with a lot of Ethiopian restaurants and I think that works in their favor. As for the branded bus I agree that it's kind of silly to duplicate the X2...and a branded bus won't have "pass thru solid traffic" super powers...it'll be dealing with the same forces that cause the bunching of normal buses (unless somehow it's exempt from picking up wheelchairs and bikes). If someone involved with that is reading, why not have the branded bus go from Union Station to, say, the U St. metro stop @ 13th & U. It would allow curious people to go between the two corridors and would not have to stop running when the streetcars start running.
Rob, that sounds a bit like the U Street-Adams Morgan Link (which was not so successful). I think you would do better to have a unique bus service that comes from Union Station because at least it would be super friendly and set aside for a particular purpose. And having a bus come from U Street would come close to duplicating the 90/92 anyway.
Like the circulatur, it should make a loop. Having it mimic the X2 makes no sense. Why not have it run from union station, to downtown, to the mall, up Pennsylvannia Ave to around Potomac Ave metro station and then north to H St., back to Union Station. That would connect red line and blue line, and be much more useful.
I just hope the Tropicana that will be located near me will be of a different callibur than the one on FL Ave that had serious Health Dept. violations a few years back. I'm not very optimistic. I think I would of rather had the once rumored Dominoes going in that location more than these people - that is if they are the same as the other (fast food) Tropicanas.
clustering is a bunch of restaurants, not 3 or 4 or 5 of the same kind of restaurant. E.g., H St. had clustering... just of carryouts. I like Tropicana I like Taste of Jamaica, but it's likely that there isn't enough demand to support 4 places with the same kind of food, especially a cuisine that is not one of the more common ones. The places with tables likely will have an edge, and ToJ won't be competing with the locations east of 10th St.
Here's another idea (even though I still think a loop between Union Station, 14th & H, and 13th & U would be successful). Do a loop that goes from the front of Union Station, around and up H to 14th, and then back down Maryland to Stanton Park, then Mass and back to Union Station...just a triangle. It would hit the length of H St., those places on Mass and the metro at U. Station.
32 comments:
I liked that the article emphasized that Dr. Granville's is so popular, at least in part, because it serves real food. Clearly, there is a lot of pent-up demand for solid, sit-down dining options on H street. There's no reason that H street NE couldn't support at least the same number of restaurants as 8th St. SE (Barracks Row).
The Pug is my favorite bar on the strip -- and now it's cemented its place in my heart. An effective ban on bad preachy and big-haired 80s music!
"Hearing U2 once a week is cool. Hearing them nine times a night is not. And never hearing Jon Bon Jovi is awesome."
btw -- the print article in the Post also has a blurb about the Country Club mini-golf place. Taking a bit longer than planned.
Well said Mose (8:46 AM). H St. area IS ready for more sit down establishments! Clearly, if it is good, they will come - and I don't think the upcoming Tropicana (FAST FOOD) Restaurant in the 1000 block counts.
Does anyone know the status of what was suppose to be a sit-down restaurant built from the ground up on the South side of the 1000 block (very near WillPower Gym)? I've seen plants on the roof top deck, but it seems that construction activity has stopped. Thanks.
BJ
Totally hear you, anon 9:01. The Pug is EASILY my favorite bar in the whole city. Great laid back crowd, super friendly bar tenders, good music, good drinks. Man, that place is great. That's it...I'm going there right this minute.
Wow...I've been a huge fan of the Pug, but my Jersey roots may force me to boycott a place that is so anti-Bon Jovi.
Or maybe I'll just have to suck it up and deal over a nice reasonably-priced beer and some cheesy poofs.
A thumbs-up review from Fritz on Friday means a packed house Saturday. I wouldn't be surprised if Granvilles and Pug were swamped this weekend.
Mose - I can think of one reason that H can't (at this point) support the same number of restaurants as 8th SE. Barracks Row sits directly on a metro line. The Atlas District sits a mile from one, down a street that many folks (reasonably or not - I say not) are unwilling to walk at night.
I was talking with Tommy Wells at his monthly H Street open house yesterday (HUGE thanks to Frank Hankins at SOVA for hosting it and sharing his delicious espresso and pastries with the crowd).
He mentioned an effort that is currently underway to get a branded bus (think Circulator-style) to make the circuit from Union Station all the way through to the Minnesota Ave. Metro Station. It would run at least until the new trolley line is up and running, and it would serve as a precursor so people will get used to the route. That way, the trolleys will have a pre-established ridership when they're up and running.
Hopefully, something like that would go a long way toward increasing the traffic that would sustain additional sit-down restaurants.
um.. hate to say this, but the X2 already exists and runs from Gallery Place straight down H Street.
I know, I know... people don't like it and if we get a new branded bus that runs basically the same route, more restaurant patrons will come down H St.
I realize this is true, so I support it. I just think it's kind of a silly duplication of resources.
Hopefully the branded bus will be an additional service. The X2 is ALWAYS jammed packed. We need more busses on H. Does metro ever do a Census of riders?
There is another sit-down restaurant coming soon. I spoke to the owner of Cluck-U, and he has acquired the upstairs of his building, is planning to close Cluck-U and put in a multi-level sit-down restaurant with entertainment and roof-top dining. I suspect this will take some time to finish, but it is a great step in the right direction (even if I do love Cluck-U's chicken).
The place above Cluck-U is called Twelve (XII).
K Street - You're right, the X2 does exist. And it does run all the way to the Minnesota Ave. Metro stop.
But there are a few key differences that a branded bus line would provide:
1. It would actually have a stop at Union Station. Currently, anyone who rides the Metro to Union Station has to walk to either North Capitol and H or 3rd and H if they want to catch the X2 - not exactly convenient, even if you opt to cut through Union Station itself and come out the back (which few visitors to the area know to do).
2. It would operate on a fixed timetable like the Circulator. Departures occur at set intervals, so you don't see situations like the one I experienced today: I was able to walk all the way from 7th & H, NE to 4th & H, NW, without a single X2 passing me.
As far as I know, this is still in the preliminary stages. But it sounds like it would be a great opportunity to expose visitors to H Street and get them used to a transportation option that can easily connect Metro riders to the Atlas District (and the rest of H).
BJ,
Tropicana is NOT 'fast food'; it's Carribean cuisine, if as I'm told it will be the same Tropicana as the one located on U St NW that is relocating to H.
For the sake of the owners, I hope the corridor can sustain three Caribbean themed eateries within 6 blocks of each other (500, 1000, and 1100 blocks of H respectively, if I correctly recall the proposed and existing locations).
Hmmmm.
Whatever happened to the opening for Liquid (two doors or so down from Willpower Gym), which appears to have a completed deck on top of it and looks essentially finished?
Whenever that opens, that will add another sit-down option.
Speaking of Caribbean, my gf and I got carryout food from Naby's Island on Friday evening. We liked it quite a bit, even if we did have to change our order twice because of stuff they came back to tell us were out of.
The food at Nabys is quite good. I love their meat patties. When I was there, I had the same experience of them running out of the dish I asked for. Luckily they were cooking another batch of rice and peas. I had to wait about five minutes for it. Curried shrimp must be a popular item. Because they often run out of it.
btw-- Nabys is a sit down restaurant with wait service. At least it was when i was there.
Liquid is probably waiting for final approval of their liquor license. Their hearing before ABRA is coming up within the next 30 days, as we just considered their application at ANC 6C (as the neighboring ANC we have the ability to weigh in if we want). We voted not to oppose the license, and my guess is that ANC 6A will either not oppose or support the application.
Hopefully the corridor will be able to sustain all 3 Carribean restaurants. I've not been to the other one, but the one at 5th & H has really good food, and now has seating for eating there. Maybe as the corridor continues to improve, they will remove the bulletproof glass and upgrade their service to offer more of a true sit-down experience rather than an order counter with ability to sit or take out.
Best,
Alan Kimber
ANC Commissioner, 6C05
Napa is rumored to be held up by permits, and possibly a contractor issue.
Tropicana isn't relocating, just opening another branch (I think that makes 3[?] in DC). And it's actually four Caribbean places, unless Caribbean Best (1300 block of H Street) has shut down.
I spoke with one of the owners of Tropicana (at least I think he was) at the festival and he confirmed that the H Street location will have sit down service. He made a point of telling me that the model will be different from the other locations in the city. He was really excited about the H Street location so I think it will be pretty cool.
Just a clarification:
The place two doors down from WillPower is Napa, as Inked mentioned in her post.
Liquid is actually slated for the north side of the 900 block (roughly across from the dry cleaners and the florist in the strip mall that runs from 8th to 10th on the south side).
They're two different projects.
thanks to anonymous for clearing up the napa/liquid issue.
does this mean that mr. kimber's post referred to liquid and not napa? i don't even recall seeing something that looks like a potential restaurant space in the 900 block, does anyone have an address for where liquid will be?
i have had the food at naby's (sp?) island at 12th & H and their food is pretty good. i also ate at the other Caribbean place (the name of which escapes me now) at 6th & H and the food there was good as well.
caribbean best? is that the place near rose's dream? yeah, i think they're still open. so, yeah, four places within 7 blocks then.
ps: what kind of cuisine will be served at napa?
Liquid is at 914 H Street. Napa will serve new American food with a French twist.
So it sounds like H st. may become THE destination for caribbean food. Usually the clustering of restaurants or whatever makes everyone more successful, because people like choices. I can live with that.
ps the Naby 's chicken curry is awesome.
I enjoyed Naby's curried goat (which they, unlike at least one of the other spots on H Street, offer everyday) on opening day. I picked up a large order, and it, along with a side of plantains, was enough for 2-3 meals.
I agree w/ the comment about clustering...there are places with a lot of Ethiopian restaurants and I think that works in their favor.
As for the branded bus I agree that it's kind of silly to duplicate the X2...and a branded bus won't have "pass thru solid traffic" super powers...it'll be dealing with the same forces that cause the bunching of normal buses (unless somehow it's exempt from picking up wheelchairs and bikes).
If someone involved with that is reading, why not have the branded bus go from Union Station to, say, the U St. metro stop @ 13th & U. It would allow curious people to go between the two corridors and would not have to stop running when the streetcars start running.
Rob, that sounds a bit like the U Street-Adams Morgan Link (which was not so successful). I think you would do better to have a unique bus service that comes from Union Station because at least it would be super friendly and set aside for a particular purpose. And having a bus come from U Street would come close to duplicating the 90/92 anyway.
Like the circulatur, it should make a loop. Having it mimic the X2 makes no sense. Why not have it run from union station, to downtown, to the mall, up Pennsylvannia Ave to around Potomac Ave metro station and then north to H St., back to Union Station. That would connect red line and blue line, and be much more useful.
I just hope the Tropicana that will be located near me will be of a different callibur than the one on FL Ave that had serious Health Dept. violations a few years back. I'm not very optimistic. I think I would of rather had the once rumored Dominoes going in that location more than these people - that is if they are the same as the other (fast food) Tropicanas.
clustering is a bunch of restaurants, not 3 or 4 or 5 of the same kind of restaurant. E.g., H St. had clustering... just of carryouts. I like Tropicana I like Taste of Jamaica, but it's likely that there isn't enough demand to support 4 places with the same kind of food, especially a cuisine that is not one of the more common ones. The places with tables likely will have an edge, and ToJ won't be competing with the locations east of 10th St.
Here's another idea (even though I still think a loop between Union Station, 14th & H, and 13th & U would be successful). Do a loop that goes from the front of Union Station, around and up H to 14th, and then back down Maryland to Stanton Park, then Mass and back to Union Station...just a triangle. It would hit the length of H St., those places on Mass and the metro at U. Station.
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