A mere six months after opening seafood restaurant Azur in the former Cafe Atlantico space, chef/owner Frederik de Pue gave it the axe. His new concept, Menu MBK, opens today. Here's what to expect.
Menu is three concepts in one: market, restaurant, and bar. Frederik tells us he's been imagining a combined market and restaurant space for years: "When the bar at Azur was struggling, I realized that given how huge the space was, it would be a perfect fit for my market. And we could have taken the easy route and kept the top floors as Azur, but I wanted everything to work together perfectly." Each of part of Menu MBK is its own thing, "but they are all designed to play together."
In addition to takeout meals and pastries, the market will feature a wide selection of locally, regionally, and nationally sourced specialty grocery items. Local growers like Bounty Hill Farms will stock the market with seasonal produce. Charcuterie, cheese, and dairy products will come from the likes of Cured DC and Chatham Sheepherding Co. Groceries will include honey, infused oils, chocolate, and more. Takeout options range from sandwiches to salads to pastas, and the pastry case will feature pies, cookies, sticky buns, and macaroons by pastry chef Jason Gehring (formerly of Astro Doughnuts). Pre-made sauces and items will also be on hand for the busy home cook.
Menu Kitchen, the six-seat chef's table experience on the second floor, will open on Feb. 20. Each night, the $65 fixed-price menu will feature five different ingredients from the market and offer refined twists on comforting favorites like casseroles, slow roasts, and stews. It will be an interactive experience for diners, who will have a full view of the chefs in action; each dish will be presented by the chefs with an explanation of the dish's inspiration. Photo: Greg Powers
The top two floors will house the BistroBar, which opens next Friday. Featuring lounge-style seating, the 42-seat space will offer free WiFi by day and transform into an upscale casual restaurant by night. A menu of bar bites and casual plates will accompany a craft cocktail list, wines by the glass, and an extensive beer program that nods to Frederik's Belgian heritage.
