Thomas Circle Hotel Gets Hot New Spot

Donovan House gets new restaurant - Washington Business Journal:: 

"Popular dishes from the Hong Kong native’s New York City spot and other restaurant Lee in Toronto will be served, and sushi plates will land on the rooftop lounge starting this summer.

New York-based Thompson Hotels manages the 193-room hotel at 1155 14th St. NW, which boasts an ultra-contemporary design that includes imported Italian leather seating and a roof-top pool."

I teach at a facility directly behind the Donovan Hotel, a little spot called Thomas Circle Sports Club. A rooftop lounge with a pool serving quality sushi just next door? Please, please sign me up.

Zantan @ the Donovan Hotel

1114 14th Street NW

14th & You: Birch & Barley, ChurchKey Headed to Logan

I couldn't have been happier when Hamburger Mary's became Dakota Cowgirl-- I thought for sure we were getting a decent burger joint in the hood. I was wrong.

I was happy to see it close, thinking it would quickly become something much more smashing. 

"Quick" it hasn't been.

I heard a few months ago we were getting a new restaurant called Birch & Barley as well as a beer mecca called ChurchKey. And now, some news!

From 14th and You:

According to Pfau, B&B will feature a "modern American menu [that] will pay homage to beer in every way." Morales, who will stay on as executive chef at Alexandria's Rustico, is planning a menu that will feature wood-fired artisanal pizzas, as well as more unique dishes such as "duck confit and Kabocha squash crepes with grilled Mandarin orange and roasted red pepper." Altogether now: Mmmmmmm.

I suppose from the sounds of that, I can be more patient. Mmmm is right!

But, that's just downstairs. What about upstairs, in what used to be Titans Ramrod (that name!)? 

Upstairs, Engert will oversee the selection for beer-heavy "ChurchKey", which will serve over 550 beers representing over 100 styles and 30 countries. 

American food might be my least favorite kind, but the beer pairings... I dream of this kind of stuff.

14th & You: Birch & Barley, ChurchKey Headed to Logan