A new chicken spot has pulled into the former Eat Brgz space just off Barracks Row, bringing rotisserie birds, sauced wings and a distinctly family-focused atmosphere to 250 7th St. SE.
The concept comes from chef Rob Sonderman, a longtime D.C. restaurateur known for opening Federalist Pig and Honeymoon Chicken. But this project, Sonderman said, feels different.
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Sonderman was born and raised on Capitol Hill, just blocks away from the restaurant. “I come from Capitol Hill,” he told us at the friends and family event. “I was born in DC, raised here, just a handful of blocks away. My parents still live about a 10 minute walk from the restaurant.”
The opening in Southeast marks what he called “sort of a homecoming moment for me to get back to Capitol Hill,” he added. “I’m really excited to open up here”.
The name Little Engine nods to a classic children’s book, The Little Engine that Could. The team hopes that reference signals something about the vibe inside. “We hope this is a family oriented environment for kids to come in and and we have a little, little engines kids menu as well, which we hope people will love,” said Will Bernstein, one of Sonderman’s partners in the restaurant.
The menu centers on rotisserie chicken that is marinated for two days before it ever hits the oven. It then goes into a rotisserie oven, where it cooks til it is both crispy and juicy, Sonderman said. It is cut and seasoned to order.
Wings are available with a range of house seasonings and sauces. Among the standouts are “Hazel’s magic dusted wings” and rotisserie chicken finished with “salsa matcha crunch,” Sonderman said. The seasoning blend is named for Sonderman’s daughter.
“She loves her chicken wings. I was trying to come up with something that was not only flavorful, but child friendly,” he said. The result is a mix with a hint of sweetness and just enough kick to appeal to adults as well.
The interior deliberately references the 90s. One wall is tiled with baseball cards, another with CDs. Posters from the Goofy Movie and Space Jam line the walls. Calvin and Hobbes comics paper the washrooms.
The dining approach is chef-driven but intentionally unfussy: crisp skin, juicy meat, bold flavor, quick service. Diners can order quarter-, half- or whole-chicken meals with sides, build family-style combinations for weeknight dinners, or grab wraps and salads for lunch. The goal, Bernstein said, is flexibility.
“We know that the hill is a family community, and we want to have menus that were good for a weekday dinner, lunch, good for afternoon brunch, whatever the occasion is,” he said. “We want people to come in here and feel like it’s good environment and good food.”
The team is also planning to expand the experience outdoors as warmer weather approaches. The patio will feature picnic seating with umbrellas. The restaurant is in the process of applying for a liquor license to serve wine and beer in future.
Located a block from the Eastern Market Metro station and steps from Eastern Market and its weekend market crowds, Little Engine adds a new fast-casual option to a corridor better known for full-service dining. For Sonderman, the opening represents both a professional milestone and a personal return.
After years building restaurants across the city, he is now cooking close to where he grew up — carving rotisserie chicken to order, seasoning wings with his daughter’s namesake blend and inviting Hill families to pull up a chair.
“Get ready, buckle up. Here we come,” he said.
Little Engine, 750 Seventh St. SE, 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. daily, www.littleenginechicken.com/
