Cafe Bonaparte Plans To Acquire Mantis Space

Omar Popal of Georgetown's charming, family-run Cafe Bonaparte tells Metrocurean that his family plans to open a second restaurant in Adams Morgan at 1847 Columbia Rd. NW, currently the home of the minimalist lounge Mantis.

The Bonaparte spin-off will offer a menu similar to its older (but much smaller) sibling, with crepes, a Bonaparte burger and French-inspired dishes. The space will be completely remodeled to echo the stylish European feel of the Georgetown cafe -- but it will be "a sexier version" of Cafe Bonaparte, Popal says. Like Mantis now, the new restaurant will have two distinct levels: the upstairs will offer a low-key spot for dinner and drinks, while the basement, boasting a more modern design, will offer its own menu of small plates, livelier music and, possibly, a Champagne bar. There's also a roomy patio facing quiet Mintwood Place.

Popal said he hopes the makeover of the space will be complete this fall, with a late October opening mentioned. He also emphasized that even though the new restaurant will be three times the size of Cafe Bonaparte, "we still want to keep it intimate."