Mike Isabella's Kapnos Kouzina will be opening in Mosaic, a mixed-use development in Washington, D.C., in early 2016. This will be the second location for Kapnos Kouzina, which pulls its name from the Greek word for kitchen. The ambience and menu will match its name, featuring home-style Greek cuisine, rustic Mediterranean dishes, and platters to share.
While Isabella and his team continue to renovate the existing space along with a new roof-top patio for Kapnos Kouzina, Chef Jen Carroll will use the space as a pop-up for Requin, a French Mediterranean concept she and Isabella will open in D.C. in 2017. The pop-up will serve dinner only, Tuesday through Saturday, beginning in the fall and continuing through the end of the year.
"EDENS is excited to have Mike Isabella and his team join the Mosaic community," says Jessica Bruner, managing director of EDENS, Mosaic's owner and operator. "Adding a renowned chef like Mike Isabella and bringing in Kapnos Kouzina adds to what has become Northern Virginia's premier dining destination, with favorites like True Food Kitchen, Brine, DGS, Matchbox, Red Apron's B-Side, and Sisters Thai."
Like its soon-to-open sister restaurant in Bethesda, Maryland, Kapnos Kouzina will offer a homestyle take on regional Greek cooking that is more traditional and classic than the inland and coastal styles presented at the original Kapnos and Arlington's Kapnos Taverna.
Kapnos Kouzina will feature both small plates and large-format platters served family-style. Greek-Spiced Crispy Chicken with attiki honey, Braised Lamb Top Round with lentils, eggplant, tomato, and harissa, and Whole Roasted Branzino in a spicy clam broth will be among the signature dishes. The Kapnos Kouzina menu will also feature a few favorites from the original Kapnos, notably the Stone Bread and Greek Spreads. Like Kapnos Taverna, Kapnos Kouzina will be open for weekday lunch. Chef Billy Riddle will serve as chef de cuisine at the Mosaic District location, while Juan Rivera will lead the kitchen in the same position in Bethesda when it opens this fall.
