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Alami Rahim, owner of Souk (1208 H St. NE). Photo: Andrew Lightman.
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As always, there is much happening on the H Street Corridor. Many new businesses are poised to open their doors in the coming months. I was lucky enough to talk with the owner of one of these new establishments.
Souk
I recently spoke with new H Street NE business owner Alami Rahim about his soon-to-open Mediterranean/Middle Eastern restaurant Souk (1208 H St. NE). “Souk” is Arabic for market or restaurant and generally denotes the best place in a market to get food. Rahim hails from Morocco, where his family owned and operated restaurants. He described his upbringing as very food centric, even going so far as to say that food and its preparation was the favorite topic of family conversation. He left Morocco for the DC metropolitan area nine years ago chasing the American Dream.
He spent five years as the general manager of the Lebanese Taverna, and he will serve in the same role at Souk. He has hired a Lebanese woman named Nelly as the chef, and he assures me that her cooking is amazing.
I’ve seen a copy of the opening menu, and I must say that it made me hungry just looking it over. They have a variety of appetizers, salads and sandwiches, as well as entrees priced around $9-$13. The menu consists of the familiar classics but also some items that are relatively unique. Rahim highlighted the Souk salad in particular. It consists of shrimp, feta and watermelon on a bed of arugula. Every item will be prepared in-house and made fresh (no defrosted desserts). For now, diners will have the option of dining in or picking up for carryout. In the future, Rahim hopes to add a delivery service.
The H Street corridor was on Rahim’s short list of possible locations from the start, but it was the advice of a friend that convinced him to give it a go. Originally, Rahim scouted locations in the 1300 block of H Street, making frequent trips to Sova (1359 H St. NE) and chatting with owner Frank Hankins.
One day, he saw a “for lease” sign and immediately contacted the owner about its availability. That same Friday he made up his mind and negotiated a 12-year lease that he signed soon after. I eagerly await the opening.
Family Friendly H Street
One demographic group that has substantially increased its presence on H Street over the past few years is young children. These days they are everywhere along the corridor, and it’s no wonder. Local entrepreneurs have stepped up their offerings for the younger set. Here’s a non-comprehensive look (from east to west) at some of the attractions.
Family Night at the Argonaut
An obvious and well-known choice, the Argonaut hosts family night every Wednesday. Kids can order one free entrée from the children’s menu. The friendly hostess is always armed with crayons and placemats for coloring. As you can imagine, the evening is pretty popular. 1433 H St. NE, 202-397-1416, www.argonautdc.com.
Boogie Babes at Sova
Boogie Babes (www.boogiebabes.com) features live music by different performers. The music is geared to children ages 6 months to 4-plus years but is also intended to appeal to parents or other adults who might accompany the young fans. The cost is $5, and there is generally one show at Sova (1359 H St. NE, 202-397-3080, sovadc.com) a week, but the days vary. Adults can sit back and relax over a cappuccino while the kids work out some of that extra energy.
Baby Loves Disco at the Rock and Roll Hotel
The dance phenomenon sweeping the country (and even popping up in some international locations) has set down some strong roots in DC. Those roots have grown into a recurring event at the Rock and Roll Hotel (1353 H St. NE, 202-388-ROCK, www.rockandrollhoteldc.com). During each Disco, one can spot small children, strollers and balloons overtaking the 1300 block of H Street. The next event is Nov. 14 and boasts a pajama theme. Tickets are $12 ahead of time, or $15 at the door (they have often sold out ahead of time). For more information, visit www.babylovesdisco.com/locations/dc.
Spa, Boutique and Video Game Lounge from Spoiled and Rotten
Spoiled and Rotten Children’s Boutique and Spa (1012 H St. NE, 202-277-1772, www.spoiledrottenboutiqueandspa.com) offers manicures, pedicures and much more for kids who like to be pampered. The owner also operates a nearby video game lounge that, like the spa, is ideal for birthday parties and other celebrations. The boutique, which also sells online, offers a variety of children’s clothing.
Infant Massage Classes at Healthy Motions
This local massage business operates out of the home of three area residents. The parents, Kevin Kelly and Grenatta Coleman, are licensed massage therapists offering massage for adults, and group or private classes on how to massage your infant. The rowhouse is located at 702 K St. NE. More information about Healthy Motions and pricing is available at 202-246-4738 or www.healthymotions.com.
FRESHFARM Market on H Street
It’s out of season right now, but the market (www.freshfarmmarket.org/markets/h_street.html), which has been around for five years now, merits a mention because it’s become a regular Saturday morning outing for many families. Located at 625 H St. NE, the market offers an opportunity to meet the farmers who grow your food. Having children choose their own fruits and vegetables can make it easier to get them excited about eating healthy.
Napa 1015 Closes Its Doors
Beloved local restaurant Napa 1015 (1015 H St. NE, www.napa1015.com) is ceasing operations of its restaurant. Owner Jorge Velazquez will continue to operate his successful catering business. I was able to dine there on the final Thursday night and chat with Velazquez. We discussed the closing and the possibility that Napa 1015 may reopen at some point down the road (Velazquez owns the building and lives above the restaurant). He said he felt proud to have been a part of such a wonderful community and had no regrets about opening Napa when he did. Napa’s food and atmosphere never disappointed; I hope for a successful return in the future. Until that time you can enjoy their food from Napa Valley Catering (www.napavalleycaterers.com).
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