Macon Bistro & Larder—the new French bistro with influences of Southern home-style cuisine—is putting the final touches on the restaurant as it prepares for its Saturday opening.
On Tuesday, owner Tony Brown could be found seated at the bar, working on the final details.
“I’ve wanted to do a neighborhood concept for a long time,” Brown said.
Brown previously owned three burrito restaurants in the District. He sold them in 2000, and since then has worked as a technology consultant for the federal government, while constantly scanning the area near his Chevy Chase home for a new restaurant location.
When the street-front spot at 5520 Connecticut Avenue in the Chevy Chase (D.C) Arcade became available, he jumped at the chance to open a restaurant. “It was the aha moment,” Brown said.
Since then he has spent about $500,000 on renovations, settled on the French/ Southern fusion concept and hired Michael Matis as chef. Matis was trained at the Culinary Institute of America, and has worked at D.C. dining powerhouses CityZen and Citronelle. Most recently, he was the sous chef at Yardbird in Miami.
“The emphasis here will be on bistro style cuisine, but at the same time playing off Southern traditions,” Matis said. “We’re not pretentious, we’re just going for good quality on a plate.”
Brown added, “The French style brings classic, time-tested cuisine and technique that gives us discipline and structure, then we lay Southern ingredients and preparation on top.”
The restaurant’s name comes from Brown’s hometown of Macon, Ga., and its sister city, Macon, France. The cozy restaurant seats about 60 at its tables and bar. The interior offers views of Connecticut Avenue, a tastefully appointed bar area, exposed ductwork, and a visible kitchen where the chef and sous chefs can be seen at work. The larder in the name comes from the “pantry” near the front where the restaurant will sell items like tomato jam ($6), spiced nuts ($8) and sea salt caramels ($8).
You can view pictures of the restaurant and the menus below:
