The Square founders Rubén Garcia (left) and Richie Brandenburg, longtime collaborators at the José Andrés Group. Photograph courtesy of The Sq..
There are a ton of exciting foods halls opening around DC—and then there is The Sq., a enormous indoor/outside culinary complicated that is taking in excess of an complete downtown block in close proximity to Farragut Square and will open up in late May or June. Previous Union Market and La Cosecha culinary strategist Richie Brandenburg and ex-Minibar star Rubén García, along with developer Tishman Speyer, are organizing a person of the city’s most ambitious marketplaces to day. Measurement is not all that sets it apart: the slate of regional expertise going into the foods corridor is beautiful.
The 25,000 square-foot house will contain a entire-company restaurant and bar from García (opening afterwards this summer) and three Spanish-fashion stalls from the founders, who invested several years collaborating at José Andrés Team: a jamón bar, a avenue-foods with grilled meats, and a churro location with delicate provide. Brandenburg and García also curated a specialty grocery and spirits retail store, Shoals Market, stocked with cheffy elements, nearby meats, smaller-batch spirits, and house-built merchandise from the substantial commissary that will gas the procedure.
Local chefs and bartenders make up the 16 sellers who will operate unique stalls—all uniquely made, numerous with counter seating or bars for interactive eating and consuming. The mix contains veteran restaurateurs like John Fulchino and chef Ann Cashion of the late Johnny’s Fifty percent Shell and Cashion’s Consume Place growing stars these as chef Carlos Delgado and cocktail specialist Glendon Hartley of Peruvian hotspot Causa/Amazonia and lauded chefs who’re putting out on their own, such as Masaaki Uchino, who not too long ago departed Sushi Nakazawa after a decade of functioning the Michelin-starred omakase counters in New York and DC.
The opening lineup—dates TBA—will involve the pursuing, with 6 extra sellers to be declared:
Cashion’s Rendezvous (Ann Cashion, John Fulchino) – The comeback young children of DC’s restaurant scene are returning nonetheless again right after closing their Adams Morgan restaurant, Los Companeros. Their stall and 12-seat oyster bar will hearken back again to the early times of Johnny’s 50 percent-Shell, which opened in 1999, with Cashion’s crab cakes, oysters, and shrimp and grits, moreover crisp white wines and fun cocktails.
Mahal Afro-Filipino BBQ (Jerome Grant) – What begun as a pandemic pop-up for the former Sweet Household Café chef has turn into a total-time passion: a barbecue strategy that explores Grant’s African American and Filipino heritage via dishes like smoked chicken inasal and pastrami-design and style Szechuan-pepper brisket. At the Sq., diners can feast on barbecue platters alongside with beer, wine, and cocktails from feminine and minority-owned makes, or grab bowls to-go. A tasting counter for extra treats and cocktails, Kuwento, will open up later on.
Cebicheria Chalaca (Carlos Delgado and Glendon Hartley) – Chef Carlos Delgado and Services Bar cocktail expert Glendon Hartley—recently minted James Beard finalists for their Peruvian hotspot Causa— are branching out with a ceviche and seafood bar that pays homage to Delgado’s indigenous Lima. Count on a whole lineup of Hartley’s creative beverages, far too.
Jamón Jamón (Rubén García) – The Barcelona native channels the hand-minimize jamón bars of his hometown, where prized Iberico pork is sliced for sandwiches and snacking along with cheeses and tapas. Jamón will also be obtainable for diners to acquire residence.
Brasa (Rubén García) – Garcia, an avid mountain biker, listed here normally takes inspiration from roadside Spanish grills and avenue-foods stalls. Diners can dig into uncomplicated, gratifying plates of grilled sausages and veggies with allioli and pan con tomate.
Junge’s (Rubén García and Richie Brandenburg) – The duo are teaming up with community gelato-maker Dolcezza for sweet smooth serve and freshly fried churros.
Kiyomi Sushi by Uchi (Chef Masaaki Uchino) – Sushi master Uchi, the longtime deal with of Nakazawa‘s Michelin-starred omakase counter, is likely a bit more informal for his have enterprise (however splurges like caviar, wagyu, and truffles will nevertheless be on supply).
Taqueria Xochi (Teresa Padilla and Geraldine Mendoza) – José Andrés Team alums Teresa Padilla and Geraldine Mendoza opened their very first Puebla-model taqueria on U Avenue to rave testimonials. A comparable taco spot—now with a complete bar—at the food items corridor will serve their tasty birria, tacos guisados, road tacos, and a great deal of margaritas and palomas.
Flora Pizzeria (Tom Wellings and Camila Arango) – The pastry and pizza skills guiding Pluma by Blue Chook Bakery at Union Marketplace are expanding with a right parlor for pies (whole and slices), appetizers, salads, and beverages.
Yaocho (John Mooney) – Mooney, the chef who has extensive operated Union Market’s anchor cafe, Bidwell, is increasing with an island-fashion eatery. Polynesian flavors selection from fried hen to seafood, superfood juices, and sweet treats.
Shoals Market – The retail hub for the foodstuff corridor will give pantry things, regional meats and seafood, confined-allocation spirits, and extra.
Compared with a large amount of food stuff halls that choose an every single-chef-for-themself method, the mission of the Sq. is to be collaborative on every degree.
“We want to develop a design listed here that will work for everybody. The plan is quantity will convey back again the base line,” suggests Brandenburg, who designs to run the company more like a lodge or casino, with efficiencies like collective paying for, accounting, and shared kitchen methods (a butchery, bakery, and so forth.) that absolutely everyone will use.
The sector will have tons of indoor and outdoor seating, pop-up and celebration spaces, and also free parking on weekends. Brandenburg and García says the eyesight is to enliven the downtown DC area—still hurting from pandemic closures and business office vacancies—like Union Market place remodeled its community.
“There’s the same prospect in this article as there was there,” says Brandenburg. “We have a quite big place, additionally no nighttime neighbors that’ll complain about sounds. We want to have some fun.”
The Sq.. 1850 K Road, Northwest.
Food items Editor
Anna Spiegel covers the eating and drinking scene in her indigenous DC. Prior to signing up for Washingtonian in 2010, she attended the French Culinary Institute and Columbia University’s MFA program in New York, and held various cooking and creating positions in NYC and in St. John, US Virgin Islands.
