Award-winning celebrity chef and restaurateur Mike Isabella’s coastal-inspired Greek dishes are now available to travelers of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Terminal C near Gate 37 where a new Kapnos Taverna opened this month through a partnership between global restaurateur HMSHost, Mike Isabella Concepts, MarketPlace Development, and the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority. Kapnos Taverna will serve as destination for travels craving a taste of the Mediterranean before their travels.
The airport is the second location for Kapnos Taverna with the original location in Arlington, Virginia, near the Ballston metro station—just a short drive from the airport. Kapnos Taverna is the sister restaurant of Kapnos on 14th Street in Washington, D.C., and forthcoming Kapnos Kouzina concepts opening in Merrifield, Virginia, and Bethesda, Maryland, in 2016.
“We’re ecstatic to be opening Kapnos Taverna in Reagan National Airport with Mike Isabella. He is a culinary icon and as a local D.C. metro area company it means a great deal to HMSHost to have such great partners in our hometown with MWAA, MarketPlace Development, and Chef Isabella,” says Bryan Loden, HMSHost vice president of business development. “Chef Isabella’s exquisite menu will be enjoyed by travelers who are looking for something innovative and unique. His ability to fuse ethnic regional cuisines with his own creativity really resonates in the menu and will be an exciting experience for National Airport travelers.”
“D.C. and Virginia residents have embraced our take on Greek cuisine and allowed us to expand and focus on different regional concepts,” Isabella says. “I think Washingtonians and visitors will love getting a taste of the Aegean while traveling through our nation’s capital.”
Kapnos Taverna looks toward the Aegean Sea with an expansive coastal Greek menu, including a gallery of mezze such as roasted spiced cauliflower, spicy olives, and fried Greek potatoes. Guests can dress stone-baked flatbreads with classic tzatziki, hummus, or htipiti spreads, and nosh on crispy squid, lamb chops, or a bifteki burger. The menu also spotlights breakfast and brunch with savory choices ranging from a Greek yogurt to baklava crusted French toast. A kids mezze section offers items like orzo pasta and crispy chicken.
Isabella’s recipes are made with locally sourced and seasonal ingredients. Of course, all of this Greek Island-inspired cuisine can be paired with refreshing seasonally crafted signature cocktails, a selection of international premium wines specially selected for Mediterranean cuisines, and a variety of beers including local craft brews.
“With the opening of Kapnos Taverna, Reagan National offers our passengers the first taste of traditional Greek cuisine. We welcome the joint venture operating the new restaurant—HMSHost and Morgan Group Ventures—two local partners, further connecting the airport to the communities we serve,” said Steven Baker, Metropolitan Washington Airports Authorityv president for customer and concessions development.
“It is our pleasure to work with HMSHost and Chef Mike Isabella,” says Paul McGinn, president of MarketPlace development. “The opening of Kapnos Taverna is a testament to successful collaboration in bringing a chef-driven concept and the culinary culture of D.C. to the travelers at Reagan National Airport.”
