EatsPlace

EatsPlace is a space that is described as a ‘food incubator’ and a ‘restaurant accelerator’ — meaning, they host many pop-​up restaurants that want to showcase their eats to gauge and receive public feedback. You can also rent the space for private events and for guest chef appearances, or just drop in during the day to check out their current ‘hosted restaurant’ (right now, it’s Baba’s Wonton that offers wonton noodle soups). It’s kind of neat that DC has something like this! The space has a full kitchen and bar, a handful of seating, and an overall cute space. Check their website out for upcoming events, as you’ll never know what your taste buds will experience next! Limited street parking can be found around the area.
+pop-​ups and guest chef appearances
+currently hosting ‘Baba’s Wonton’
+limited street parking off of Georgia Ave

I really like the concept of this place as a permanent spot for Pop up restaurants. Went for Baba’s dumplings. Too bad the soup and the service were mediocre. I also noticed that the drinks were a bit steep. It’s a 4 oz pour for wine and a 14 oz for draft beer– and at no lower prices than across the street for the standard 6 and 16. I’ll check out the next pop up though.

$ 11 dollars for a small plate of stir fry. That’s after it’s discounted. Really disappointed. Looks more like an appetizer than an entrée.
My biggest criticism is that the meal was too easy to make to be overpriced. It was sauce on veggies. No tofu, no seasoning, very basic everyday veggies and one small plate with no sides.

We finally had the opportunity to have dinner at the Filipino pop-​up at EatsPlace tonight. We were especially excited to try it after reading about it all over popville and the blogs. Apparently this was the pop up’s last night.
Upon entering the empty restaurant, we were greeted by the bartender, host, server, and food runner (apparently she takes on all responsibility. she explained that all transactions were done through the bar, including ordering food.
At the bar, we ordered the shrimp, tuna, veggie app and veggie entrée as well as a glass of wine and beer, for a total of $ 62 and had a seat. As our meal went on and new people walked in, the host continued to let everyone coming through the door know that all service was done through the bar. This didn’t do much for the ambiance.
We received two tunas (we’d ordered only one) we could here the multi-​tasking bartender tell the kitchen we’d ordered two, the second was removed from the table. The veggie app came right after. The tuna was awesome. The veggies were uninspired. They tasted similar to what one would get from an Asian steamer bag of veggies, with oyster sauce. Then came the shrimp, which were mushy, head and shell on, and poorly seasoned. Finally we received the veggie entrée, for which we had to pay an additional 1.50 for rice. The veggie entrée was very similar to the veggie appetizer, just a slightly larger size, this time with broccoli, cauliflower and spinach, with a similar sauce.
We left hungry and disappointed. In defense of the pop up, some of the other dishes we saw going by looked off (bbq chicken).
I write this about an hour after leaving eats place, as I eat my second dinner, a left over rotisserie chicken which far surpasses everything but the tuna appetizer. I really like the food incubator concept but would certainly not come back for the Filipino concept.

Just a great place, quiet, cozy and unpretentious. A real jewel in DC dining scene. We had the wonton soup and can’t wait for the next pop-​up. The cocktails were great too.
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Love this concept of this place. I’ve been here for Baba’s dumplings, Kalye Filipino food, and the noodle soup pop-​up-​all were great. I love the community feel of EatsPlace, love the rotating menus, and the staff are all really friendly. Sometimes the food is slow to come out depending on who’s cooking/​waiting but that’s part of the concept — that EatsPlace gives budding chefs and their staff a chance to run full dinner service.
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Good place to host pop ups restaurant, small parties or events. Owners are very nice and «welcomy». Last night’s event was jam packed. Interesting food from the Philippines from chicken feet to sisig. They did talk the talk and walk the walk when they said they’re bringing Pinoy street food to the street of DC. I’ll definitely go back to see what more Eatsplace has to offer.

Will never go again! Waited for couple of hours to get seated. We ordered and they stopped our order because they said we only have 2 people reservation. And they can’t promise they will have everything because they are almost closing! So they stopped all our food ordered. After 45 mins some food came but most of it did’t ended up cancellong the rest. And all they can say is I’M SORRY!!! Are you kidding me!!! they saw we have 3 kids with us! And thats the best you can do?

I loved the Monday night oysters. That was definitely my favorite. I’m not sure if they have issues keeping restaurants on the schedule but it seems like they go weeks without one and are now trying to brand the bar as a place to eat in the middle. The bartender is awesome and so is the front porch seating area.

I’m rooting for EatsPlace. I visited for Delilah’s in March 2015 it was a blast. The only issue was that the space was a little cold, apparently because the heater takes awhile to heat up the place. The food, drinks, and service were spot on though. Delilah’s stand-​out dish was the burrata with nutella sauce, which was surprisingly complex and tasty. I’ll definitely be back for more pop-​ups.

Love this place — it is such a wonderful addition to the neighborhood. I can’t tell enough friends about it. It’s a cute little space that hosts pop-​ups every few weeks.
The first time I visited was for Delilah’s, which combined seemingly discordant ingredients in the most delightful way. The burrata in a not-​too-​sweet nutella-​like almond/​pistachio sauce was dreamy. The pan-​seared calamari were tender and so flavorful with the black garlic and bits of chorizo. The stinging nettle gnocchi was pillowy soft with delicious morels, and the halibut was tender and went perfectly with the cauliflower «rice» and punchy penang curry. The service was friendly and attentive without being overbearing, and I felt like the prices were a notch lower than most spots.
I’ll be coming back frequently to check out all the other wonderful pop-​ups that are sure to come through. I don’t get excited enough about trying new restaurants in DC — so often, they seem overpriced, too much like the others, and lacking in inspiration. Not the case here. Can’t wait to return!

I visited EatsPlace with my friend and discovered «It’s Monday Mothershuckers!»
I had a great time eating decent oysters, they could have been a little more briny but what they lacked in flavor they made up in size. They were huge! The bartender Chris was extremely friendly and did a great job keeping my friend and I entertained. The space was just beautiful with unique artwork and a wide open building space letting the spring breeze roll in. I would go here a thousand times over. Cannot wait to try the next pop up!

Went to check out Bev’s pork and grits pop up. Heartiest $ 9 bowl of deliciousness. Relaxed vibe, friendly service, looking forward to other pop ups!

YES! An awesome space to host pop-​up restaurants and aspiring restauranteurs! I’m in love! So far there have been three pop-​ups (I’ve made it to all three). Some last a few months, some a few weeks. It’s a phenomenal concept that works beautifully, allowing me the client to try so many new things, and allowing the aspiring restauranteur and chef to try new things and learn by doing before making massive investments. The only downside: if you love a pop-​up, you know it won’t last for long (as was the case of Katie’s dumplings) and will miss eating them whenever you want.
If you go and don’t have the best experience with food or service, don’t take it out on EatsPlace — you will come back with the next chef hosting and have a completely different experience! Please keep that in mind when visiting and reviewing. The pop-​up chef sets things like price, and often has their own staff there, too. So keep coming back to support this brilliant idea and encourage folks out there to follow their dream (and sharpen their skills) in making and selling food!

I’m glad I finally got up here to check out Eatsplace, but I was a little disappointed with our visit.
We came for opening night of Baba’s Dumplings. The dumplings were tasty (both meat and vegan), but the noodle soup was a let down. The noodles in all four bowls of soup that came to our table were clumped together, so they were undercooked in parts. I liked the meat broth, but it was very one-​dimensional (spicy) without much more going on until you added soy, rice vinegar, and fish sauce. The meat in the dish was well seasoned, but a small portion that couldn’t quite make up for the rest of the dish.
But it was the first night for Baba’s, so I’d give them a break. However, Eatsplace has been open for awhile, so «working out the kinks» doesn’t really explain the other problems. The service was very strange, almost bossy. The person taking orders seemed rushed and stressed out, but the place was almost empty. The restaurant itself was freezing. My toes were cold inside my boots and wool socks from the draft. We walked past the thermostat and it was set for 63! That might work if the place was absolutely packed, but with only a smattering of diners, it was pretty unpleasant.

Really delicious visit here for Baba’s Dumplings. Well-​made broth with the noodle soup, great dumplings, which were expertly folded. Dough was very good. The broth was the highlight. They take 24 hours to brew it. Get an egg in the soup! They soft boil them and they are delicious.
They have vegan options, which I did not try. They also have beer pairings for Baba’s: Tsingtao and Asahi.
You pay first and grab condiments. Glad to see the rice vinegar for the dumplings.

I spoke too soon. I’m sure this is a start-​up mistake, but I showed up yesterday and the place was closed, without a sign indicating why. Even though they were supposed to be in place until January, Mason Dixie Biscuit Company has abruptly ended the contract with Eatsplace, to refocus on opening a brick-​and-​mortar location in 2015.
After being in business for such a short amount of time, and just starting to build a customer base, it’s disappointing.
No biscuits for you. :(

Mason dixie biscuit Co.
–relatively inexpensive for dc!
–cute patio/​well lit seating
–biscuits are really good!
–knives could be sharper. I was trying to cut fried chicken with a butter knife. =[
Definitely want to come back. Too bad I return to a 9 – 5 work schedule next week. This place is only open m-​f.

So I’m from a very Southern family in the South, and I stopped in for a fried chicken biscuit for lunch today with the modest expectation for something decent, but not mind blowing or anything. I must now confess and say it was the BEST damn fried chicken biscuit I’ve ever had. Sorry granny. Sorry mom. Sorry South (DC doesn’t count as Southern in my book).
Go get one while the popup lasts. It’s a real, buttery, substantial Southern biscuit. The chicken was out of this world. Mason Dixie Biscuit Company does the weekday breakfasts and lunches for a few months (EatsPlace is a new space that hosts popups) and dinners and weekend brunch is done by another chef, which I hope to try soon.
Prices are right too.

We stopped in for a drink and a bite on just their second day open. Katie poured us some very tasty local beers while she described how they are a food incubator that invites new chefs in to practice their craft in their kitchen.
They get their coffee from Qualia down the street and their Cold Kidult Coffee with Bailey’s and Kahlua is pricey but delicious. The ladies were adamant that I say the bathrooms are very nice and clean.
The crab and mac and cheese was simple and delicious with fresh caught Maryland blue crab.
This is a much needed addition to the Petworth area that everyone can enjoy.