Fruit Bat Comes to 1236 H Street

Fruit bat exposing tip of tongue, originally uploaded by MDL.hu.

I've mention before that a craft cocktail lounge will occupy the space left vacant by H Street Martini Lounge. I've also mentioned that it would come courtesy of the guys behind Wisdom.  Now H Street Great Street has some more detail, including a name: Fruit Bat. HSGS reports that the place will have a South American theme, so expect lots of good summer drinks, with a tropical flair. This pretty much guarantees that you'll see pisco sours, and capirinhas. Other than that, I expect the drink list will look a bit like the specialty cocktail offerings from Ceiba and Cafe Citron (link plays loud music). The kitchen will offer up South American street food. Sounds interesting.

Restaurant Week @Napa

Napa 1015
Restaurant ~ Lounge
Restaurant Week Menu

Appetizers
Arugula Salad with Ruby Red Grapefruit and Bosc Pears with Lemon Vinaigrette
Pan Fried Chicken Mozzarella Croquettes
A Trio of Wild Mushrooms over Creamy Polenta
Serrano Ham thinly sliced with Asparagus and Aged Parmesan

Entrée’s
Herbed New England Cod Roasted in Red Curry and Lime Broth with Asian Vegetables
Pan Seared Muscovy Duck Breast with Pineapple and Sweet Potato Puree
Mediteranean Leg of Lamb with Couscous, Fresh Mint & Cucumber
Crepes Stuffed with Fresh Vegetables and Crème Sauce

Desserts
Fresh Blackberry Cobbler with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
Hazel Nut Chocolate Mousse Cake
Tres Leches Cake with Fresh Berries
$35.09

WP: A Treat of Frites on H

The Sunday Source samples Dr. Granville's. The author mentions the curry mayo. Is it back on the menu?

Bartending for Change @Argonaut

Here's a notice of an Argonaut event benefiting a good cause. The Argonaut is located at 1433 H Street:

This Thursday, August 30th, the charity organization "Bartending for Change," (aka Salim Bhabhrawala and Marty Claessens) will host FOOD FOR ALL as its honored Non-Profit Charity of the month. The Happy Hour will intoxicate from 6:30 to 10 pm at one of the new and exciting H St, NE bars, The Argonaut. There is a mere $3 optional cover charge at the door, which will be donated directly to FOOD FOR ALL. Inside and upstairs there'll be great drink specials and all tips earned will go to FOOD FOR ALL as well! Please come support us and spend an "entertaining" evening with good friends. Come on out, have fun, and support a great cause!!!



FOOD FOR ALL is a non-profit organization that strives to provide food for those in DC who are in temporary situations of need. Their clients are generally elderly citizens, handicapped or single mothers with young children. The operation is entirely volunteer operated with the assistance of generous donations and a federal grant. You can learn more about FOOD FOR ALL at http://foodforalldc.org. See you Thursday at 6:30pm at the Argonaut!!

A Restaurant in the 500 Block of H?

A vacant, 2nd from the left, aims to become a restaurant.
While walking down H Street on Saturday I noticed people working on a building on the north side of the 500 block, right between the Language Doctors & the former Citi Pizza building. They claimed that the space is being prepared for a "bohemian restaurant." I'm not sure what that means (maybe it means the owner wants a cool restaurant but doesn't have one lined-up yet?), but that particular space has been empty forever. I believe it even had a tree growing out of its roof. Also, if you've been curious about the British and American flags flying outside 508 H Street (formerly occupied by Pet Dreams and Anointed Visions), those signal the 2nd floor occupancy of tattoo artist Paul Roe & his tattoo parlor/art gallery Britishink.

CP: Eat at Joe's

The City Paper blog City Desk has a piece on Joe Englert and his food oriented plans for H street. Not only does Sticky Rice get a mention, along with upcoming grub from the Rock & Roll Hotel (middle eastern inspired fare with an emphasis on the vegan and vegetarian), the H Street Country Club (burgers, or course), Dr. Granville Moore's (unpretentious Belgian food), but the piece also mentions a spot (location not yet disclosed) that Englert hopes might house an Ethiopian restaurant.

Sticky Rice, the Writing's on the Wall

I didn't get a chance to snap a photo yet, but the building that will house the restaurant Sticky Rice now boasts a new paint job (essentially black background with the words Sticky Rice). Here's what it looked like before (when it was painted for the aborted Mexican restaurant the Beehive).


Here's what it looked like before that.


Progress, no?

Langston Bar and Grille Protest

ANC 6A is planning to protest the liquor license for Langston Bar and Grille located at 1831 Benning Road. The Grille's owner originally filed for a CT (tavern) license, but has since downgraded it to a CR (restaurant) license. The license downgrade means the owner will be required to sell more food.

Langston Bar and Grill

A new application has gone in for a CT (tavern) license for a new establishment, Langston Bar and Grill, located at 1831 Benning Road.

Rib Tip Serving Lunch

I don't have the menu in front of me, but I believe the new hours keep them open (closed Sundays) until 3pm during the week, and 4pm on Saturdays. The lunch menu has ribs (I believe it said "Chicago style") and rib sandwiches. Anyone tried the lunch yet? The Rib Tip is located on the corner of 12th & H Street.

WP: Nightlife Forecasts for 2007

The Post has the inside word on the Pug, Dr. Granville's & Stick Rice.

Examiner: Ayele Killing Remains Unsolved

The Examiner ran this story on the killing of Betty Ayele, which is Alexandria's only murder in which no arrest has been made (they hads five murders total). Betty was a part owner of the Ohio Restaurant (corner of 14th & H Street), which has remained shuttered since a couple of days after her death.
By the way, 9 kilograms = 19.84 pounds.

Have You Been to Sidamo?

If you haven't tried H Street's newest (and currently only, since the one at 1359 has temporarly shut down after changing ownership) coffee and tea shop yet, you should. Sidamo offers a variety of espresso drinks as well as their own organic, fair trade, shade grown (prized my many for its superior flavor) coffee. Not a coffee drinker? Sidamo offers more than twenty varieties of loose and bag teas. They even have a loose tea called tutti frutti that's sure to appeal to the younger set. Sidamo serves its teas in individual pots the rest above tea candles so your brew stays warm longer. Bottles ice tea, water, juices, and milk (both regular and chocolate) are available. To eat Sidamo offers pastries and muffins from Uptown Bakery, cakes from Clement's, and yogurt. Soon (hopefully next week) they will also have sandwiches and bagels. The owner was sampling different cream cheese brands when I stopped in Thursday morning. That kind attention to detail is apparent throughout Sidamo. Unlike at many coffee houses, everything (except prepackaged beverages and to-go items) are served with glassware. The floor, though not orignal to the building, is about 85 years old, and was rescued from another building. The owner, Kenfe Bellay, says he likes the idea of recycling materials whenever he can. The chestnut counter behind which Mr. Bellay stands is the reincarnation of old doors.

The chalkboard pictured above now displays the menu
Asked why he chose H Street the owner replies that he looked at threee different neighborhoods, H Street, Takoma Park, and Silver Spring. But somehow H Street, because of the changes he's seen in the neighborhood (he's been watching us for a while, he previously tried to lease space in a building in the 300 block of H Street), and because of its proximaty to Capitol Hill. He says he looks at H Street and sees a nice chance for his shop and the community to grow together. Bringing people together is one of Mr. Bellay's hopes for Sidamo. Every Saturday and Sunday at 2pm Sidamo hosts an Ethiopian coffee ceremony where groups of people come together and talk over coffee. He hopes to hold these events three times a week once he gets more settled.

Sidamo offers free wifi. There plenty of space to sit outside at the three tables located out back. There is even lighting out there to facilitate evening gatherings.
Starting sometime soon Sidamo will offer bags of their own freshly roasted coffee beans for sale at the counter.

Sidamo Coffee and Tea
417 H Street
7am-7pm 7 days a week


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As promised, here is a repost with the photos I couldn't access before.

The Ohio Will Not Reopen

The City Paper reports that the restaurant and building, which have not sold yet, are on the market. The family is walking away from the business, so if the Ohio ever does reopen, it will have to be under new management. Let's hope for a fast sale. The Ohio is located at 1380 H Street.

Twelve Restaurant & Lounge?

I saw a mention of this place in the ANC6A agenda package (a note about a stipulation regarding rooftop noise). 1125 H Street NE. Anyone know anything about this?