This week's top dish from Eater DC, Curbed's restaurant, bar, and nightlife blog...
DUPONT CIRCLE—Opening any day now in Dupont Circle is the Board Room, an epically designed board game-themed restaurant. There's not much in the way of food here, but an extensive tap list and tons of vintage games to check out make it a compelling visit. Oh and the design scheme that incorporates Risk boards and portraits of Colonel Mustard.
TOP CHEF—Bravo announced the lineup for this upcoming season of Top Chef and DC has three representatives in the mix: Belga Cafe's Bart Vandaele, Seasonal Pantry's Dan O'Brien and former Marvin chef Jeffrey Jew, who is apparently no longer working in DC.
EVERYWHERE—In last week's Open Thread, Eater readers named their top picks for cheap eats in the DC area from the gas station stations of Fast Gourmet to ramen at Toki Underground. Here's a map of 12 of the best recommendations.
DUPONT CIRCLE—Beloved regular yogurt and coffee shop Yola announced this week that it will be shutting down next week after a rough go of it in the small business world. The good news? A project from the Neighborhood Restaurant Group (Birch & Barley, Vermilion, etc) is headed to the space.
MT. VERNON TRIANGLE—The owners behind Al Dente — until recently known as La Forchetta — are already moving onto their next project, another Italian restaurant that will be located down in the Mount Vernon Triangle. Eater gets some details on the as-yet unnamed restaurant, which is sort of a younger, hotter version of Al Dente.
ELECTION 2012—A number of DC restaurants and bars are offering food and drink specials leading up to the presidential election. Here are eight that have created dishes and drinks in honor of the candidates and political parties, keeping tally of the "winners" leading up to the actual electin.
THE CRITICS—A bunch of American food critics were in town recently for the Association of Food Journalists conference and have all been filing dispatches in which they reflect upon DC's dining scene. The takeaway? They're pretty much all in love with Little Serow, too.
PENTAGON CITY—Just last week, Epic Smokehouse opened its doors in Pentagon City offering down-home barbecue in an upscale steakhouse setting. But how's that going over so far? Eater takes a look at the early word.
PENN QUARTER—Curious what the new Minibar is going to be like when it reopens next month? Eater gathers up a few clues and learns that the José Andrés restaurant will begin taking reservations again on September 23.
ADAMS MORGAN—This week's big opening was the debut of Pleasant Pops' brick-and-mortar Farmhouse Market in Adams Morgan. Here's a look inside the market with its small vegetarian menu, Wi-Fi and plenty of produce.
GLOVER PARK—Where is Sweetgreen invading next? Why it's Glover Park, with a new location headed to the former BodySmith space. It's slated to open in November.