PROJECTED OPENING DATE: Late 2020 1100 15th St NW Nick Stefanelli new Greek concept, Philotimo, is set to open up to the public by the end of the year. This dynamic concept will offer traditional indoor seating as well as a summer garden and sidewalk cafe. In terms of cuisine, Philotimo will offer guests authentic imported cheeses, wines, wild herbs, and olive oil. Stefanelli is dedicated to represent all sections of Greece, borrowing food and wine influence from the regions of Thessaloniki all the way to crete.     

PROJECTED OPENING DATE: 2022 The Wharf, D.C. The Wharf will soon be receiving its fourth hotel: The Pendry. Coming from Pendry Hotels & Resorts, a boutique brand, this new 140,000 square-foot concept will have 136 guest-rooms as well as three new food & beverage ventures within the space. Guests can also expect a full-service spa as well as a meeting and event space.  

PROJECTED OPENING: Late 2020 924 5th St NW Commercial Real Estate Exec Mark Brody will be bringing his new venture, Play off Pizza, to the Mount Vernon Triangle neighborhood of D.C. by the end of this year. This new neighborhood sports bar will feature pizza, wings, and bar food at this 199-seat location. This new space will also incorporate newly legal sports betting and will feature multiple kiosks, a Dragons ascent game, pinball, and a golf simulator. Photo by PoPville    

PROJECTED OPENING: Late Summer/Early Fall 2021 200 Massachusetts Avenue NW Chef Makoto Okuwa and Eric Eden are teaming up to bring a new Japanese food hall to D.C. next year. Love, Makoto will be a 9,000 square foot concept, located in the new Capitol Crossing. This new food hall will serve as a "love letter" from Okuwa, showcasing all the things he loves about his homeland. While final plans are still in the works, guests can expect a ramen shop, a Japanese bakery, a robata grill, a dining room, and a smaller sushi offering in this food hall.  Photo by PGP

PROJECTED OPENING: October 2020 2800 Clarendon Boulevard This October, an 85 year-old restaurant brand from Connecticut, known for family-friendly tavern settings and hot oil bar-style pizzas, will be opening in Arlington. Each location showcases a "Wall of Heroes", that features portraits of veterans and first responders, submitted by guests to honor the WWII history of the first Connecicut location. Arlington guests are asked to submit photos of friends and family, in their branch of the military, to be added to the collection. This 5,100 square-foot location offers seating for 170 diners and features a dining room, bar area, and mezzanine level. The menu offers one-of-a-kind, thin crust pizza, that is served with their signature "hot oil" topping.  For more information on Colony Grill, click here.  

PROJECTED OPENING: October 2020 1155 14th Street NW A new hotel is expected to open this October, dedicated to celebrating the empowerment and accomplishments of women. Hotel Zena will be located in the Logan Circle area of downtown D.C. and will feature 191 rooms for guests to stay in, a cocktail-led lobby bar offering small plates and seasonal snacks, a 14th floor rooftop and pool, and other private event spaces. For more information on Hotel Zena, click here.

PROJECTED OPENING: Late 2020 11010 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD Popular dive bar Hank Dietle Tavern is expected to reopen by the end of the year, after closing in February 2018 following a massive fire. New owners Thomas Bowes, Sarah Bonner, and Alan Kresse are hoping to refurbish the bar, while also making some changes to the establishment like offering a greater variety of live music, featuring more genres of music, and having bands perform on more days of the week. The owners are also looking to put on a fundraising concert for the bar. Photo by Charlie Wright      

PROJECTED OPENING: Fall 2020 2827 Sherman Avenue NW Chef Paul Yellin, also known as "The Rhum Chef", will be opening a new Carribean cocktail spot in D.C. this Fall. After growing up in Barbados, Yellin hopes to bring Carribean food, culture, and rum to the world stage. Yellin's food is sustainable, healthy, well-prepared, and bursting with color and flavor. A variety of delicious cocktails will also be available for guests to chose from. Yellin recently held a meet and greet to address capacity limitations and other COVID-19 related adjustments, after originally planning to open in March.. For more info, click here.

PROJECTED OPENING: Late 2020 4201 Georgia Avenue NW Rob Sonderman, the chef known for Federalist Pig, will be focusing on chicken later this year, with the opening of Honeymoon Chicken. Honeymoon Chicken aims to be higher quality than typical fast food chains, but looks to be better than a KFC or Popeyes and be a once a week stop for its customers. While a menu is still in the works, sides are also expected to elevate this spot. Sonderman is looking to add large plates like a chicken fried rib-eye. Photo by Nevin Martell

PROJECTED OPENING DATE: Winter 2020 1451 Maryland Ave NE Daru, brainchild of Dante Datta and Suresh Sundas, will be introducing a cocktail bar that borrows influence from Indian culture. Sundas, currently the bar manger at EllÄ“, will be bringing his cocktail expertise to the new concept by incorporating various Indian spices into each of his creations: fenugreek, black and red cardamom, tamarind, and coriander. Daru, meaning hooch in Hindu, will be located on the basement floor and will also be serving some small plates. Some standouts from the menu include the jackfruit kati roll, kebabs, and chicken wings. Photo Credit: www.washingtoncitypaper.com