Neighborhood Eats: A New Hank's Oyster Bar, Shaw's Tavern is Back

• April 12th 2012

by Rebecca Cooper

This week brought news that a couple of DC boozehound favorites will be back behind the bar soon: “mixtress” Gina Chersevani is heading to Capitol Hill for the newest location of Hank’s Oyster Bar, and former Brasserie Beck beermonger Thor Cheston is opening Right Proper Brewpub. And that’s not the half of this week’s food news!

Opening…soon: The management of Shaw’s Tavern gleefully tweeted earlier in the week that they have received their official liquor license from the District of Columbia and will be serving libations soon. It’s been a tough road so far for the upstart bar at 520 Florida Avenue NW, which closed in September after being cited for operating without a proper license. They should be setting an opening date fairly soon.

Opening…eventually: Details emerged this week about the new venture from Thor Cheston, who formerly managed the beer program at Belgian beer bar and restaurant Brasserie Beck. Cheston’s teaming with the Rockland’s Barbecue and Grilling Company folks to open up Right Proper Brewpub sometime in 2013. He’s looking at a Shaw location right now, although nothing is finalized, he tells the Washington Post. In the meantime, he’s busy lobbying the DC government to allow bars to sell growlers.

Hank’s Oyster Bar owner/chef Jamie Leeds has sure been busy during the past year. After finishing an expansion of the Dupont Circle space, and undertaking an expansion of the Alexandria location, she’s planning to open her third Hank’s restaurant on Capitol Hill in June. The restaurant, which is taking over the old Ba Bay space at 633 Pennsylvania Avenue SE, will have seating for 40, in addition to the 20-seat Eddy Bar. Eddy will feature a cocktail program designed by Gina Chersevani, who made her name during the past few years as the brains behind PS7’s innovative bar program.

The mystery of what would take over the Artfully Chocolate space in Logan Circle at 1529 14th Street NW didn’t take long to solve. Aaron Gordon, the owner of Red Velvet (cupcakes), TangySweet (yogurt) and Rabbit (upscale entree salads), has leased the space for a yet-unnamed restaurant and pub. It will feature a small, chef-driven menu of comfort foods, as well as a diner-style breakfast and a nod toward soccer fans at the bar. Gordon’s hoping for a summer opening.

It wouldn’t be an “opening soon” category without another location from Taylor Gourmet, it seems, and this week does not disappoint. The Philly-style deli is opening up a Dupont Circle location in the former Mixt Greens salad shop at 1200 19th Street NW, Prince of Petworth confirms. The location will serve breakfast, which is sure to put some smiles on the faces of those that live — or work — in the neighborhood. They’re hoping to have the new location open by July.

Open: Clarendon’s newest addition, Green Pig Bistro, opened April 5 at 1025 N. Fillmore Street. Veteran chef Scot Harlan is behind the French-influenced bistro, bringing his experience in the kitchens at 2941 and Inox and his preference for “nose-to-tail” cooking. Harlan and co-chef Will Sullivan are cooking up a menu that includes dishes such as the octopus, chick pea and pork rinds appetizer, a steak with marrow butter, and a pork shank with grits and greens. For now, they’re only serving dinner, but of course, they’ll be launching brunch in the next few weeks.

New Silver Spring hangout Society Lounge also opened early this month, brought to you by former pro basketball player Jason Miskiri. The Caribbean-themed menu includes jerk chicken, guava-glazed ribs, and plenty of habanero-tinged sauce. The spot at 8229 Georgia Avenue is likely to be a nightlife destination as much as a draw for diners; the bar and lounge is planning to be open until 2 a.m. on weekends.

Events: If you’ve got $60 to spare and want to taste some of the season’s first crawfish, this Saturday is Pearl Dive Oyster Palace’s Louisiana Crawfish Boil. To be held in the upstairs bar, Blackjack, the boil will feature all you can eat crawfish, suckling pig, sides, and Abita beers. The 2 p.m. seating is already sold out, but there is still space available for the 12:30 p.m. slot.

For a less expensive alternative, head over to Meridian Pint on Sunday for the DC Brau brewery’s first anniversary party. Admission is free, and the brewery — the first to open in the District in decades — will be pouring 20 of its beers for $5 a pop. Just be sure to get in line before the party’s 4 p.m. start time; there’s sure to be a crowd.

This article originally published at https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/neighborhood_eats_new_spots_from_hanks_red_velvet_owners_shaws_taverns_back/5403.