Rumor Mill: The Hotels Have It
It seems a lot of enticing restaurant rumors in town are centered around hotels. Let's take stock of what we know and what's been circulating in the rumor mill:
• The Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner: Washingtonian's Todd Kliman claims Gordon Ramsay will most likely take over Maestro, vacated back in August by Manhattan's newest "it" chef Fabio Trabocchi.
• Donovan House: This mod hotel, from the creators of Manhattan's 60 Thompson, is slated to open in March on 14th Street NW and promises a destination restaurant featuring cuisine from "a well-known celebrity chef." (Rendering at right.)
• W Hotel: Renovations are under way to transform the former Hotel Washington into a W. Starwood Hotels promises "a spectacular rooftop bar and terrace and a world-class signature restaurant."
• The St. Regis: This newly renovated grand dame of DC hotels is preparing to announce its signature restaurant this spring. A famous French chef's name is getting regularly dropped.
• 1 Hotel: This new eco-conscious luxury brand from Starwood Capital is setting up shop at 22nd and M streets. Starwood Capital recently partnered with Stephen Hanson of B.R. Guest. Fabio Trabocchi left Maestro in August for Hanson's Fiamma, but told The Washington Post's Tom Sietsema in July "that he might be back in Washington in two years, which is when B.R. Guest Restaurants and Starwood Capital Group, Fiamma's owners, plan to install an Italian restaurant in a yet-to-be-built, eco-friendly hotel in the city's West End." Connect the dots. (Rendering at left.)
• Edition Hotels: The brainchild of Ian Schrager with Marriott as a partner, this new boutique hotel brand has set its sights on 18th Street. Hotel Chatter speculates on the location (a church, no less!) here.
• The Watergate: According to the web site, they're "creating the most luxurious hotel in Washington." Surely the most luxurious hotel in Washington, with a legacy tied to DC's original celebrity chef, Jean-Louis Palladin, would offer a big-deal signature restaurant, right?
• The Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner: Washingtonian's Todd Kliman claims Gordon Ramsay will most likely take over Maestro, vacated back in August by Manhattan's newest "it" chef Fabio Trabocchi.
• Donovan House: This mod hotel, from the creators of Manhattan's 60 Thompson, is slated to open in March on 14th Street NW and promises a destination restaurant featuring cuisine from "a well-known celebrity chef." (Rendering at right.)• W Hotel: Renovations are under way to transform the former Hotel Washington into a W. Starwood Hotels promises "a spectacular rooftop bar and terrace and a world-class signature restaurant."
• The St. Regis: This newly renovated grand dame of DC hotels is preparing to announce its signature restaurant this spring. A famous French chef's name is getting regularly dropped.
• 1 Hotel: This new eco-conscious luxury brand from Starwood Capital is setting up shop at 22nd and M streets. Starwood Capital recently partnered with Stephen Hanson of B.R. Guest. Fabio Trabocchi left Maestro in August for Hanson's Fiamma, but told The Washington Post's Tom Sietsema in July "that he might be back in Washington in two years, which is when B.R. Guest Restaurants and Starwood Capital Group, Fiamma's owners, plan to install an Italian restaurant in a yet-to-be-built, eco-friendly hotel in the city's West End." Connect the dots. (Rendering at left.)• Edition Hotels: The brainchild of Ian Schrager with Marriott as a partner, this new boutique hotel brand has set its sights on 18th Street. Hotel Chatter speculates on the location (a church, no less!) here.
• The Watergate: According to the web site, they're "creating the most luxurious hotel in Washington." Surely the most luxurious hotel in Washington, with a legacy tied to DC's original celebrity chef, Jean-Louis Palladin, would offer a big-deal signature restaurant, right?