RSS FeedCedars Restaurant Grows Towards An Opening (822 E St NW)
It was the soap that made Dick Heidenberger decide to grab the space for Cedars, a new American style café at 822 E Street NW. He had just toured the subterranean spot with Garret of Gould Property Company who owns the two buildings that house The Lexington at Market Square (400 8th Street NW). Dick wasn’t sure yet. But it was a Thursday and the Farmer’s Market filled up 8th Street NW. Garret convinced Dick to buy $60 worth of the “best soap you’ll ever find” and Dick started to love the Penn Quarter. “I saw what great people are here and the level of excitement on the streets and knew I had to be part of it,” Dick said.
Cedars did a soft opening for The Lexington’s spring party serving sliders accented with bleu cheese, ham stuffed into crispy soft buns and tiny mushroom quiche. Matt, the bartender, poured wine and encouraged everyone to make Cedars their “local.” Cedars intends to promote a busy street presence besides the dining room surrounded with large photographs of cedar trees. There will be wood fire grilled fish and steak, rotisserie chicken and lots of good old fashioned American desserts including an awesome raspberry cheesecake, pies, and chocolate cake, all focused on the traditional American menu.
The exciting spirit of Makias, the managing partner who first met Dick when he was a 17 year old serving ice cream at another restaurant Dick owns, would make anyone anxious to return frequently to Cedars. We met him earlier in the month as he was lugging gorgeous blond Italian tables and chairs into the place while he poured out all his plans to make this a neighborhood hangout.
Dick owns twelve other restaurants in the DC metro area and in Rehoboth Beach and Lewes, Delaware including The Front Page, Mad Hatter and The Bottom Line. He knows how to make a place successful so he plans to use the next three weeks for several more soft openings “so we get it all perfect before we open for Penn Quarter neighbors and visitors.”
The real beneficiaries of Cedars will be the residents closest to 8th and E Streets NW who soon won’t have to walk far to find another restaurant serving great food and drink.
Ed. Note: Please welcome a new guest author, The International KG, who volunteered today’s story.
Please see our other posts on Cedar…
– Cedar To Open Monday?
– Spring Showers Bring Some Color To Cedar
– Cedar Restaurant Coming To PQ!
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Comments
It would really be helpful if PQ Living could contact the people in charge of this new place and have them do a post. Specifically, I would like a more detailed idea of: (i) the menu; (ii) how large or small a bar area might be, including its seating; (iii) when they intend to open; and (iv) their hours (so I will know whether I can stop by at 11).
I feel like a lot of new places don’t do as well early on as they otherwise would simply because the residents, who are most apt to immediately support a place, don’t have any information when a place opens.
Great first post! Even more it’s a fun Friday post. Thanks for the great read, looking forward to reading more posts by you in the future.
@Brett – the second to last paragraph says three more weeks of soft openings. the full opening ought to come shortly after the soft openings are done (i.e. four to six weeks from now).
@PQ Guy – we are welcoming new contributors. please contact us at pqliving [at] gmail [dot] com to learn more.
Sounds like the International KG is employed by the restaurant’s PR firm! But good post, just would like to know more about the prices before considering making it my neighborhood hangout…
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So, I read this three times, and I still can’t figure out when Cedars is opening.