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Largest Circa to Date Debuts in Chinatown

February 19, 2018

There’s two bars, scenic views, and Asian-themed dishes
by Rebecca Gale  Feb 19, 2018, 4:20pm EST | Eater DC

The new two-story Circa scheduled to debut on Wednesday, February 21 in Chinatown is the homegrown chain’s biggest location to date.

Parent company Metropolitan Hospitality Group shut down the flagship Circa in Dupont Circleat the end of last year, but continues to operate the remaining casually themed bistros in Foggy Bottom and Clarendon, Virginia. The Chinatown restaurant (781 Seventh Street NW) is one of at least two planned new additions to the Circa family; a Navy Yard location announced in late 2015is now projected to arrive before the end of the summer.

The latest location is spread across 7,000 square feet upstairs and 1,600 square feet on the ground level, a fully renovated space that includes multiple bars (one on each floor), ample seating, and eye-catching views of the surrounding area. “It’s two bars, so we have two different scenes,” MHG president Matt Carlin tells Eater about the design.

Drinks on the opening menu include drafts of Blue Point Brewing Company’s Toasted Lager, a seasonal offering from local producer Flying Dog Brewery, and specialty cocktails such as the Roseberry Smash (made with fresh fruit) and the turmeric-spiked Treat Yo Self. Featured menu items range from trendy tuna poke nachos and bulgogi lettuce wraps to blackened chicken-cashew salads and Asian-style rice bowls.

The Chinatown restaurant is projected to serve lunch and dinner seven days a week.

MHG is also working on planting more beer-friendly Open Road restaurants throughout the area; new outposts are currently slated to arrive later this year in Rosslyn and Navy Yard.

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