I’ve got lots of little tidbits to report. Here goes:
Finally! Haven Pizzeria Napoletana has announced an opening date of February 15, and it appears to be for real. The partners behind the New Haven-style pizza place on 7137 Wisconsin Avenue in Bethesda were originally (and unrealistically) shooting for an early June opening, but construction delays and county approvals set them back.
The former Hadji Oriental Rug shop now sports a 100,000-pound brick oven fired with anthracite coal, plus other snazzy details.
Speaking of New Haven-style pizza (let the competition begin!), Pete’s New Haven Style Apizza, with locations in Tenleytown (4940 Wisconsin Avenue), Clarendon and Columbia Heights, finally broke down and is now offering 14-inch pizzas.
Previously, the restaurant only offered 18-inch pies, and made a big deal about the value of a larger pizza, making surface area-to-price comparisons with smaller pies. With prices around $25 for a pie, “we had a reputation for expensive pizza, which we never felt was justified,” says co-owner Joel Mehr. But Mehr said that some customers didn’t necessarily see it that way, since the large size pies were more than they could eat. Not that the new 14-inchers are inexpensive—they average around $19—but at least they’re more likely to be finished.
The ambitious trio behind Bethesda’s Cava Mezze Grill (and Cava Mezze restaurants in Rockville, Capitol Hill and Clarendon) have started construction on a new grill in Tenleytown, at 4237 Wisconsin Avenue—the site of the former Simply Ayzen.
Co-owner Ted Xenohristos said it will look similar to the Bethesda location, with a few new design elements and a large outdoor patio. There’s also a Cava Mezze Grill in the works in Tysons Corner Mall that will open around the same time as the Tenleytown location—late March. And one more of the fast casual Mediterranean grills will open in Merrifield, Va. later this year.
Sugo, another restaurant developed by the three Greek friends behind the Cava craze (along with the owners of Mamma Lucia’s restaurants), is now scheduled to open in mid-March. As you may recall (see my blog, Dec. 3, 2010) this one will be Italian, focusing on small plates and artisan pizzas. Xenohristos said it will be “very rustic” and affordable, with prices ranging from $5 to $14.
The menu will also include charcuterie (sliced in front of diners), plus a meatball section, with five or six different kinds (available in a casserole, over polenta, or as mini sliders). The restaurant is located in the Park Potomac development at 12505 Park Potomac Avenue, right between Potomac’s Founding Farmers and Zoe’s Kitchen.
And finally, Assaggi Mozzarella Bar at 4838 Bethesda Ave. in Bethesda is hosting a lunch on Sunday, February 5 with Italian ceramic artist Gerardo Ribigini, whose attractive plates line the walls of the restaurant. The $20 three-course lunch (plus tax and tip), starts with Umbrian lentils with Italian sausage, and moves on to Umbrian strangozzi (long pasta) with winter truffles, olive oil, garlic and spelt bread crumbs. Hazelnut semifreddo with chocolate sauce is for dessert.
The restaurant will also offer a complimentary glass of Prosecco Rose, and there will be a drawing for a hand-painted serving platter signed by Ribigini. RSVP by February 2 to reserve a spot. Call 301-951-1988.
