Yahoo! The lifting of a longtime ban on alcohol sales in Kensington restaurants is starting to bear fruit (or lobster bisque, in one case).
In August, K Town Bistro, a continental restaurant is replacing the short-lived K-Town Grill at 3784 Howard Ave., courtesy of Gonzalo Barba, former captain of the restaurant in the Watergate Hotel for more than 20 years. Look for that lobster bisque, in addition to oysters Rockefeller, tournedos of beef and rack of lamb. I hope Barba’s kitchen, staffed by two former sous chefs at the Watergate, will update the dishes, or else make really good versions of them. When I hear “continental,” I think “blue-haired ladies.”
In the more trendy category, Sub*Urban Trading, the eco-friendly market and carryout at 10301 Kensington Parkway, is spreading its local-organic-sustainable wings with a 40-seat restaurant at the same location. Look for a fall opening.
Also coming this August is the appropriately liquor-less Itsy Bitsy Bakery (10419 Armory Ave.), which will set up its itsy bitsy shop in the former bar of Café 1894 (the restaurant is still open). B-CC grad and cookie queen Maria Forline will sell cinnamon rolls, quick breads, pies, fruit tarts and cakes, in addition to her gingerbread and sugar cookies.
What other kinds of restaurants would you like to see in Kensington?
