PQ Retail Activity: Peruvian Connection & Sei Sushi

A construction worker opened the door to the old Orange for Mayor headquarters, the space for the new Italian restaurant. The floor is still dirt, there is nothing installed, no opening there yet.

There is a lot of activity at the old chopsticks place, I forgot what is going to open there.

that’s true. there have been a lot of renovations going on at Chopsticks.

I also noticed new paint and a new Japanese bar and grill sign up on a place on H just west of 6th on the north side of the street.

#1: You’re referring to Vapiano? I walk by that space almost every day and haven’t seen much activity there in months.

#2: I’ve seen the same thing and am hopeful that this place will be better than Wok & Roll across the street.

Sorry for the additional post, but RE: sushi, has anyone tried Asia9 yet?

“Santoy Hospital” ? That’s an odd name for a company starting a sushi bar!

#4,

We tried Asia9 last weekend. Didn’t try their non-Asian entrees but ordered from the Asian menu (e.g. Thai curry, sushi). Prices were reasonable, food was okay (we found it too Americanized for our taste). Other tables were raving about their short ribs on the non-Asian section. I supposed I can’t complain- reasonably priced food and delivery to our condo!

#1: They actually starting working on that building a lot in the past couple of weeks. Workers put up cinder block walls on the west side and put some HVAC stuff on the roof – they should be starting on the interior soon.

CBD: Santoy Hospital is the name of the construction company doing the work.

@ Kimberly …asia 9…
the bar was fun!!.. the sparkling saki was particularly good…as were the lychee martinis !!
xoxo

gpliving, what is going up on the chopsticks site?

#4, Asia 9 reminded me alot of Cafe Asia. I’m a fan of both but I agree with #6 that some people may find it rather Americanized and unadventurous Asian cuisine. While it’s a great addition to the neighborhood, I don’t think it’s going to be on anyone’s “wow” list.

# 6 — Delivery to your condo? They offer delivery service?

Would be cool to put all the reviews of new restos in one area/post. I went to Asia Nine last night and it was moderately busy. Unfortunately for the new staff, it was causing a lot of miscues. Our waiter said they were ‘slammed’ (terminology for busy) but it was maybe 60% capacity.

Here’s what we could gather as we tried different foods to gauge the resto:

sushi: We tried sake nigiri (salmon sushi). Salmon quality was great but not fantastic. We also had a spicy tuna maki. The roll was reasonably well done. The rice a little on light soft side compared with other rolls we’ve tried.

We both had noodles. I had the Asia Nine lo mein which was kinda like a spagetti noodle with minced meat. Not bad. my companion had the rice noodles but it was so spicy (and we can take spice if you’re wondering) we sent it back with no problems.

All in all, lots of apologies about the service to our table and the table beside us, but we hope that they will work out the kinks — improve service (and nerves), hone the dishes for the palette and they will be a fantastic addition to the neighbourhood. They only have a few chances to win or lose customers.

#9: I don’t know.. I’m guess the upper floors will just be office space. The retail part – anyone’s guess!

I’ve eaten at the back bar twice now at Asia Nine and the service has been fine. the sushi was very good and the desserts have generally been good too.

Nobody has addressed the question about whether they deliver. Their website was not working for me earlier, so I can’t get answers there.

#15: Please call Asia 9 at 202-629-4355 and let us know the definitive answer – thanks!

re: Chopsticks — I was always under the impression that the restaurant was coming back to the space after the bldg was renovated.

re: Sei — this month’s Washington Flyer magazine said it was opening this month (wrong, I know), but appeared to be reading off a menu and sake list. Of course WF doesn’t give a negative review (they don’t do bad reviews), but it did sound pretty good.

re: Peruvian Connection — I remember a while back on this blog a commenter saying that Doug Jemal doesn’t fill his retail spaces immediately because he likes to search for the perfect stores to fill out the neighborhood. West Elm, Zara, H&M… it took 10 years after he rehabbed the Woodies bldg, but he did pick some good stores there. But Commerce Bank at 7th & I, and Peruvian Connection in that beautiful space at 10th & F?! And in the meantime Akridge has secured Alden Shoes, Mia Gemma, CoCo Sala, and iDoc right across the street in a building that opened a year after Jemal’s Atlantic Bldg.

Sorry for the rant, but I am fed up with Jemal’s high-end blight. Visitors often comment to me that they can’t understand why there’s so many empty storefronts in what appears to be such a great place to open a business. Several years of living with this, and I don’t have any answers for them.

They informally deliver to the Artisan which is the condo building that they are in. I don’t think that they have a full-fledged delivery service.

I just called Asia Nine. They say that they don’t deliver now but hope to in the near future (about a month).

I just got takeout from Asia 9 and it was excellent (a variety of maki sushi and tom yum vegetable soup).

I have to agree with #17. Why does it take Doug Jemal so long to lease out premium space? I know it’s an expensive proposition for most companies, but it doesn’t seem like it should be so hard. At least he rennovates them, which is more than you can say about the spaces he owns around the convention center and H Street NE. It wouldn’t be such a big deal if he didn’t own such a huge amount of downtown property. It seems like nearly every vacant space is a Doug Jemal property.

I would love it if Jemal would come speak to the DNA meetings. Forgive me if he already has, I’ve made it to most but not all of the meetings.

On another note, has anyone heard any more news about Zola Wines? I am so excited for the possibility of a real wine store downtown!

I feel like I’m about a month behind y’all in checking out new restaurants. Walked by Asia 9, looks cool and could accommodate large crowds. Will check it out.

Did get a chance to check out LeeLoo Lounge last night that . . . suicidial . . . blonde . . . reviewed . . . xoxo Very friendly, cool but comfortable atmosphere, dinner was good (a bit $$$ however).

Would definitely go back, except some red flags that they aren’t going to last long. It was the bartender’s last night, she is moving on already. Their XM radio they were piping in apparently had been “cut off” according to our waitress, so we listened to her i-pod instead. Plus, most of the clientele (at 10pm) were middle-aged guys at the bar drinking draft beers . . . not the crowd to pay the bills.

If you have any interest in keeping a neighborhood lounge going, now is the time to patronize.