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Potenza Opens Downtown

Posted by Columbo
March 25, 2009

Potenza H Street Entrance

Potenza, the new Italian restaurant spanning 10,000 square feet wrapped around the corner of 15th & H Streets NW (1430 H Street, NW) in the Woodward building is scheduled to open today in downtown DC.  When we walked by last night the bar was filled with patrons and it already looked like a lively spot (see the photo after the jump) .  We mentioned the upcoming opening last month and it looks like an establishment we’ll be checking out further in the near future.

We didn't see any other signs for the restaurant!

Who’s the chef you ask? Anthony Acinapura is the Chef de Cuisine at Potenza and he will assist under the Stir Food Group’s Executive Chef/Partner Bryan Moscatello who was also found delivering cooking classes at Zola Wine & Kitchen when it opened in the heart of the Penn Quarter.

The menu itself includes starter dishes such as salumi (prepared meats), seafood, antipasti and salads. Pastas, pizzas (courtesy of a 6,000 pound pizza oven), fishes and meats can act as mains and you can wrap up the meal with cheeses or desserts. You could probably start with the cheeses too. Italian beer and 250 wine selections will be available also.

Lest you think this is just another typical Italian restaurant, Potenza will also include a wine, bakery and gelato/sorbetto shop under its umbrella. In fact, it was this colorful view that first drew our attention to Potenza. With work still ongoing last night in the non-restaurant/non-bar areas (left two windows of the top photo), we have high hopes that this part of the shop will open in tandem with the restaurant. 

More photos from across 15th Street NW after the jump…

15th Street NW view (bar in left two windows, restaurant on far right window)

potenza-15th-street-view

Closer to the bar view from 15th Street NW

Potenza Bar View

Related posts:

  1. Restaurant Updates: Potenza, Siroc & Wagamama
  2. Penn Quarter Entrepreneur Opens Italian Deli & Market On H St Northeast
  3. Penn Quarter Freshfarm Market Opens Today! (Farmer’s Market)
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Comments
Comment by monkeyrotica on March 25, 2009 @ 7:42 am

I appreciate them not putting prices on any of their menu items. This saves me the trouble of questioning whether or not I can afford them. I wish more upscale restaurants were so considerate.

Comment by cat on March 25, 2009 @ 8:32 am

Excellent! We love Zola, so am looking forward to trying Potenza and also can’t wait to see what the store looks like.

When does “Cedar” open (8th and E)? Has anyone found a website for it yet? We got an invite to an event taking place there in April…but was like, is the restaurant even open yet?

Comment by RaiderDan on March 25, 2009 @ 10:26 am

Sure beats a liquor store. But how bout using some of that fantastic sidewalk space the same way LeBar across the street does? Hopefully when the weather is warmer they’d start outside seating.

Comment by Angela on March 25, 2009 @ 12:51 pm

There are plans to have outdoor seating on 15th Street when it warms up and lunch service will be added after a few months too (hopefully). As far as price range, they are “DC-reasonable,” which means that appetizers are around $10-$15, pasta course is about $15 and main entrees are in the $25-$30 range. It’s not super expensive, and the food is fantastic (I went to the “mock service” before they opened – I just walked in and they served us, even though we weren’t invited!). There is also going to be a upscale wine shop around the corner on 15th too. It’ll be nice to have this neighborhood come alive after 6 pm!

Comment by JNo on March 25, 2009 @ 3:29 pm

I love the DC reasonable prices. Talk about living in a bubble here. I guess they have to pay for the place, and if I just order Pizza I won’t be washing dishes. I love the building and the look of the space. This part of Downtown has so much potential, the old buildings really gives a sophisticated urban feel. Wish we had more neighborhoods like this.

Comment by Anon on March 25, 2009 @ 4:10 pm

I called and they also said they have a bar area and a bar menu.

Comment by Steve701Penn on March 25, 2009 @ 9:48 pm

lol @ “DC-reasonable”

Comment by pqresident on March 26, 2009 @ 10:06 am

according to Capital Spice’s review of Potenza, the non-restaurant/non-bar portions are set to open on March 30. it sure will be nice to have a real gelato stop for my out-of-town guests after traipsing the Mall over the summer.

Comment by Anonymous on March 26, 2009 @ 6:08 pm

Good luck, you’ll need it with those prices.

Comment by DanaEllyn on March 29, 2009 @ 9:04 am

i poked my head in yesterday to check it out. they were very nice. they said they were officially open on monday but let me look around. i also picked up a menu which i can scan in – it has the entire menu, wine list and prices. i’ll email it to pqliving later today so it can be posted.

Comment by Columbo on March 29, 2009 @ 10:06 am

Stopped by on Friday night for Happy Hour, the bar was crowded and we had a good time. They could use a better set of draft beers (Peroni & Pilsner Urquell are the best options) but the Peroni etched pilsner glasses the beer is served in are very fun.

I don’t understand the complaints about prices, the most expensive pizza is $15. You can’t get a pizza that good anywhere for $15, and it’s big enough to share. The other items are about what you’d pay anywhere, even a chain like Ruby Tuesday.

In fact we liked it so much on Friday, Mrs Columbo insisted we go back on Saturday. We had an even better time Saturday night. It was about $100 for the two of us to have a couple of drinks each, big charcutiere plate, one antipasta, one gelato (the gelato was fantastic), and finally an after dinner drink. $100 is about what we seem to pay everytime we go out, so this was no different in cost, but possibly a lot more fun.

Comment by pqresident on March 29, 2009 @ 10:20 am

for eating at the bar, the pizza is definitely big enough for 2 people and the honey-thyme gelato rocks. great wine choices too…I had the Super Tuscan red and the Antinori Chardonnay. what I really liked is that the interior is *not* all sleek, euro, trendy nor was the attitude. there are plenty of those super-trendy spots around DC and I think Potenza will have better staying power than taking the super-trend route. will definitely take out-of-towners here for a sit down dinner when they visit.

the Washingtonian put up one of their restaurant video feedback segments on Potenza too.

and no, I’m not shilling for pay. I just really liked it.

Comment by Extremely Satisfied on March 29, 2009 @ 11:22 pm

You must try Potenza. I guarantee you’ll return. The restaurant, bar and bakery is beautiful and inviting without feeling “stuffy”. The staff is extremely attentive and friendly. Went w/ a group and we all sampled each other’s appetizers, entrees and desserts. All were absolutely perfect and sinfully delicious. We’ll definitely be back!

Comment by RaiderDan on March 30, 2009 @ 6:55 pm

Hi Angela. Thanks for the comment on the outdoor plans. Right now, there is no connection with the restaurant to the outside, it seems. No signage on the entrance or the windows to even let you know its open. (See Oceannaire for a good example of window use)

Also, lets hope they use some of that space outside for planters, etc. like LeBar does across the street, which to me, seems a perfect example of what do to with sidewalk space, adding variety, color, etc.

Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.

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