This week's top dish from Eater DC, Curbed's restaurant, bar, and nightlife blog...
PENN QUARTER—Wonder no longer what's going to happen to Minibar when America Eats Tavern closes on July 4. José Andrés announced this week that he's taken over nearby and now-shuttered Zola Wine & Kitchen space and putting a less mini version of Minibar in there until he figures out what he wants to do with the AET space.
FREDERICK—Bryan Voltaggio opens Family Meal, his interpretation of an American diner, out in Frederick tomorrow evening. It'll be dinner service to start, expanding out to breakfast, lunch and dinner on July 7.
EVERYWHERE—The past 30 days or so have seen a whole lot of restaurant closings, particularly just in this past week. Eater rounded them up in the 30 Days of Terror.
PENN QUARTER—The team that's opening up a ramen/izakaya restaurant next door to Graffiato has also revealed designs to open a Japanese cocktail bar nearby. Details are scarce, but owner Daisuke Utagawa explains to Eater what he means by Japanese cocktail bar.
BEVERAGE WIRE—Local chain Sweetgreen debuted its latest trendy undertaking this week: cold-pressed juice that they're calling Sweetpress, of course. Eater has all the details on the flavors and when you'll start seeing them in Sweetgreen locations.
DOWNTOWN—News broke this week that both Zola and Potenza are closing their doors for good this summer — and that Vidalia/Bistro Bis owner Jeffrey Buben is planning to take over the Potenza space, where he'll have "two concepts under one roof."
MT VERNON SQUARE—All signs are pointing to the shutter of Buddha Bar, from the closed doors and missing furniture to the disabled OpenTable account and, oh yes, an email a former employee sent Eater from management explaining how DC just didn't understand Buddha Bar.
COLUMBIA HEIGHTS—This week, Kangaroo Boxing Club opened up on the "hip strip" of Columbia Heights with a menu that'll be familiar to all the fans of the owners' other project, Porc Mobile.
CHINATOWN—In more sad shuttering news, Capital Q BBQ announced this week that it'll close for good after a solid 15-year run in Chinatown. Owner Nick Fontana tells Eater about his future plans, including a possible reincarnation for the barbecue joint.
OBAMA ENDORSED—When President Obama hit Lincoln for lunch last week, he ordered yet another cheeseburger, a presidential favorite. Eater rounded up the spots where the President and First Lady have indulged in cheeseburgers in Washington.
DUPONT CIRCLE—And in yet another shutter, Current Sushi closed in Dupont Circle on Thursday as its owners have decided to turn their focus to Rosebar upstairs.