Pastis Will Open in Washington D.C.
Restaurateur Keith McNally shares pictures on Instagram
Over a year and a half ago, Eater DC shared the news that New York City’s beloved Pastis would open its second location in Washington D.C.
The restaurant, a collaboration by Stephen Starr and Keith McNally, was set to open the bistro at a former warehouse space in D.C.’s Union Market neighborhood.
Of course, Pastis Miami opened in April 2023, making it the official second location for the Meatpacking District bistro.
Now, finally, word is out that Pastis D.C. will open — with Keith McNally posting the news on Instagram: “Construction of Pastis in Washington D.C. Opens November. (With tremendous luck).
Although a rep for Starr Restaurants had no further immediate information, Pastis’ website confirmed the news, adding that McNally is the “chief designer of the space”, while Starr and team, “focus on culinary and operations”.
Pictures on McNally’s Instagram confirm that Pastis D.C. will look strikingly like both its original New York City and Miami siblings. A curved zinc bar will invite people to sip on martinis and peruse the specials written daily on vintage mirrors. The restaurant will also be decorated with its signature subway tiles, mosaic-tiled floors, and warm lighting.
Pastis D.C. will offer brunch, lunch, and dinner though no word yet on whether it will initially open with dinner service only for the first few weeks, before moving on to adding lunch and brunch (a strategy that proved well in Miami).
McNally opened the original Pastis in 1999 in the still-gritty Meatpacking District. The restaurant became one of the city’s most loved restaurants — as much for its vibrancy and welcoming feel as its steak frites and oysters on the half shell.
The restaurant closed after 15 years and was reopened in 2019 as a partnership between McNally and Stephen Starr. Lightning, indeed, struck twice with the rebooted Pastis quickly reclaiming its title as one of New York’s favorite bistros.
When Pastis opened in Miami this past Spring, I was skeptical. Pastis is on my personal “top ten” of all-time favorite restaurants — but would it be “Miamified” and lose its charm?
Let’s just say when I first walked in my black coal lump of a heart melted as years of memories flooded back: McNally and Starr did such an incredible job of lovingly recreating the classic bistro that I felt like I was somehow time-warped to my beloved New York spot instead of slurping oysters in Miami’s Wynwood neighborhood.
The food and service are also impeccable at Pastis Miami and I have no doubt that when D.C. opens, it will hit the same high note.