Emilie’s – A Trendy New Capitol Hill Restaurant – Opens Tuesday, October 10

Emilie’s – A Trendy New Capitol Hill Restaurant – Opens Tuesday, October 10

by Larry Janezich

Emilie’s, Chef Kevin Tien’s upscale eclectic restaurant coming to the new Frager’s Building at 1101 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, is set to open next Tuesday.  The 5,175 s.f. restaurant will seat 110 in the dining areas and 48 in the lounge/bar.  An application for an 80 seat sidewalk café comes up before ANC6B this month and will likely open later in the year.  The main dining room will include at 10 seat communal table and an open kitchen layout with chef’s counter.

In recognition of Tien’s culinary imagination combining Asian, Latin American, and Southern flavors, his first restaurant – Himitsu – was named Eater’s Best New Restaurant in America in 2017 and one of America’s Best New Restaurants in 2017 by Bon Appetit.  Patrons of Emilie’s can expect the same bold approach to his cuisine.

The menu will feature large, family style plates and smaller a la carte menu choices.  In addition, diners will be offered small plate daily specials circulating through the dining area on carts – “tableside” dining.  The menu will change regularly, and feature products from a local community of producers, farmers and ranchers.

Capitol Hill’s latest celebrity chef, Tien is a veteran of Iron Chef Gauntlet and a Finalist in the James Beard Foundation Rising Star Chef of the Year, 2018.  He has cooked for chef Aaron Silverstein’s Pineapple and Pearls and chef Jose Andres’ Oyamel, among others. Tien, until recently, was the co- owner of the highly acclaimed Himitsu in Petworth and earlier this year, opened Hot Lola’s, a restaurant specializing in spicy chicken, in Ballston Quarter’s food hall, Quarter Market.

For his new restaurant concept, Tien partnered with the same restaurant group behind JINYA Ramen Bar, Sheesh Grill, and Hot Lola’s: Sam Shoja, restaurant expert;  developer Arris Noble, and inKind’s Johann Moonesinghe.

Initially, Emilie’s will be open for dinner service from 5 p.m. – 10 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 5 p.m. – 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Lunch and brunch services will be added at a later date.  Reservations may be made at https://resy.com/cities/dc/emilies.