Neighborhood Eats: Nooshi, Raku and a Little Kombucha

• May 9th 2013

by Jamie Liu

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In this week’s Neighborhood Eats, new sushi for Barracks Row, a kombucha cafe for I Street, and the closing of a Glover Park ice cream institution.

Open: Downtown favorite Nooshi softly opened its Barracks Row location at 524 8th Street SE (map) on Tuesday. The new restaurant is a big boon for sushi lovers left with few nearby options. The menu includes a few new dishes and surprises to accompany the sushi and pan-Asian menu items on the downtown location’s menu.

District Tea Lodge also opened on Tuesday at 1922 I Street NW (map). The tea bar features two flavors of kombucha on draft — one from Capital Kombucha and a rotating option from a guest brewer. There is also a rotating selection of teas, and “cocktails” made with kava-kava root blended with different fruit juices.

Opening…Soon: On May 20, sandwich chain Which Wich Super Sandwiches will be opening at 4300 Wilson Boulevard, #160 (map) in Ballston. The shop takes the phrase “build your own sandwich” to a new level with 10 sandwich varieties that can be customized with more than 60 toppings or be built as a bowl. Options start with a basic BLT and increase in complexity to an Elvis-inspired honey-banana-bacon-peanut butter sandwich. You’ll also be able to sip on hand-dipped shakes and stop by for breakfast items like huevos rancheros.

Mexican restaurant MXDC will be opening in the former Galileo III space at 600 14th Street NW (map), according to Washington City Paper. The new restaurant from Panache owner Aziz Safi will open in the next month with food from J.C. Pavlovich, a protege of Bobby Flay.

In the coming weeks Fed and Fed Lounge will be opening at 2477 18th Street NW (map), according to the Washington Business Journal. The restaurant and lounge are a collaborative effort by Dino Tapper (Pulpo and Floriana) and beverage consultants Ari and Micah Wilder. The restaurant will feature modern American cuisine, but will give local chefs and bartenders opportunities to try out their concepts. In addition to a beverage list of wine and local craft beers, there will be cocktails with the Wilder brothers’ ginger beer, tonics, hop bitters and homemade spirits.

Opening Eventually: Raku has signed a lease for a third location in the Cathedral Commons development at 3336 Wisconsin Avenue NW (map), according to Washington City Paper. Owner Marcel The expects the restaurant to open in a year and a half, after construction work has been completed.

Republic is the name of Jeff Black’s new restaurant in Takoma Park at 6937-6939 Laurel Avenue (map), which he hopes will open this fall, according to Tom Sietsema. In partnership with Pearl Dive chef de cuisine Danny Wells, the restaurant will feature a raw bar and modern American cuisine.

Closing: Beloved Glover Park institution Max’s Best Ice Cream at 2416 Wisconsin Avenue NW (map) will be closing in June due to rent increases in the neighborhood. The space occupied by the ice cream shop will be taken over by neighbor Rocklands Barbecue, and used for additional patron seating.

Events: If you’re planning for Memorial Day Weekend, Policy (1904 14th Street NW) will be hosting an all-you-can-eat crab feast on May 26. For $35, you’ll be able to enjoy all you can eat crabs, hush puppies, corn on the cob, coleslaw, hot dogs, and wings. You’ll also have access to two exclusive brews from Blue Moon — Raspberry Cream Ale and Honey Grand Cru with Ginger — for $5 a glass.

If you’re excited for Mike Isabella’s new sandwich shop G, head over to Graffiato (707 6th Street NW) May 13-17 between 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. He’ll be hosting a G pop up where you can preview some of the sandwiches, salads, and zeppoli that will be appearing on the menu when G opens early this summer at 2201 14th Street NW (map).

Jamie R. Liu is a freelance writer, food nerd, and former DCist food and drink editor. She has contributed to Eater, Washington City Paper, the Express, and AskMen.com.

This article originally published at http://dc.urbanturf.production.logicbrush.com/articles/blog/neighborhood_eats_nooshi_raku_and_a_little_kombucha/7046.