DC Dish: What’s New on the District’s Restaurant Scene

DC is welcoming more celebrity chefs in the months ahead, plus hot new private dining and special event spaces. Here's the latest dish.

New Venues

A chocolate-lover's paradise, Co Co. Sala opened its doors in Penn Quarter, blocks from the convention center, in May. The unique coffee, chocolate and cocktail lounge specializes in espresso and chocolate-based drinks, artisanal chocolates and pastries. Starting in mid-July, a private dining lounge will be available for special events for up to 60 seated guests and 80 standing. Rooftop events offer guests views of the Washington Monument. The restaurant also serves savory small plates for lunch and dinner, plus a five-course selection of decadent chocolate desserts with flavors derived from cuisines around the world. To plan an event, contact Souheil Moussadik at (202) 347-4265 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Local favorite Corduroy has reopened in a new location, just north of the Walter E. Washington Convention Center at 9th and L Sts. NW. A veteran of Michel Richard's kitchens, Chef Tom Power serves up the fresh, seasonal and local fare that earned him acclaim at the restaurant's original location. The new space offers two private dining rooms with seating for up to 14 guests in one room and 21 guests in a larger room. The two rooms may be combined to host up to 35 seated guests. For reservations, call (202) 589-0699.

Just south of Thomas Circle in downtown DC, CulinAerie will set the stage for delicious for food-focused special events and programs. The state-of-the-art kitchen classrooms are perfectly suited for chef's table experiences, holiday fetes, team-building exercises, amateur iron chef competitions and other gatherings. Planners can also check out the cooking classes, wine tastings, workshops and more. CulinAerie is slated for a fall opening. Bookings will be accepted starting July 1; call (202) 236-6111 for more information.

Celebrity Chefs Alain Ducasse & Art Smith Come to DC

DC's dynamic restaurant scene is getting an extra dash of star power this year with the arrival of two new celebrity chefs, Alain Ducasse and Art Smith. The newly-remodeled St. Regis is home to Ducasse's DC entry, Adour, while Smith's restaurant, tentatively named Art & Soul, is opening inside The Liaison Capitol Hill, Affinia Hotels' first DC hotel.

Designed to delight diners with beautiful historic and modern design elements by the Rockwell Group, impeccable service and an original approach to cuisine, Adour is named for a river in southwest France, near Ducasse's home town. Guests can expect elegant cuisine, rich textures and flavors, and diverse wine pairings from Ducasse, the only chef in the world to have operated three signature restaurants honored with three Michelin stars.

"My ambition for Adour in Washington, DC is to bring a different approach to pairing wine and food to an international city that shows a strong appreciation for the art of good living," stated Alain Ducasse.

The restaurant, which seats 60 in the main dining room and 8 in a semi-private space, is expected to open in September 2008. It's the crowning touch for the St. Regis, which recently completed an extensive 16-month restoration.

Two-time James Beard Award winner (and frequent guest on Oprah) Art Smith also makes his first foray into the Beltway with a new restaurant at The Liaison Capitol Hill, an Affinia Hotel. Smith is joined in the kitchen by Executive Chef Ryan Morgan, a rising star in the DC restaurant world who most recently worked as Executive Sous Chef at Ten Penh. Slated to open in August, the 145-seat restaurant is designed to be a new hotspot on the Hill for power players and neighborhood residents alike, with indoor and outdoor patio seating, stainless steel curtains and rolling glass walls. Two private dining rooms can be combined to accommodate up to 44 guests.