At long last, Mott’s Market has opened at 233 12th St. SE, at the east end of Gessford Court. To welcome friends and neighbors, Mott’s held a three-day “soft opening,” where folks could sample the cuisine and service while the 17 or so employees got more practice. But first, some Mott’s history.
Built in 1916 as a small grocery by Jewish immigrants, Mott’s changed hands over the decades. When the store closed in 2022, the Capitol Hill community purchased the building. Local entrepreneur/bar owner Peyton Sherwood assumed the helm; he then gutted and renovated the space. The process took a long time, wading through government red tape and other challenges including ICE, but Mott’s was finally resurrected. 
Accompanied by two friends, I checked out the “new” Mott’s. We were not disappointed. The space has been transformed into a charming country store with funky antiques ‒ including toy cars and a miniature train ‒ lining the walls. A spacious, pet-friendly patio is shaded by pretty white umbrellas and rimmed with herb plants.
Heading the menu is a selection of hot and cold sandwiches, breakfast burritos, Counter Culture coffee and other drinks including a wide array of beer and wine. You can even get wine to go! We’ve also found fresh produce, sodas, canned goods including Sons of Italy beans and pasta sauces, spices, cereals, chips, crackers, household products and even Fancy Feast cat food.
Sipping a glass of rose, I ordered the Italian special, an enormous sesame seed roll stuffed with ham, cheese, salami, lettuce and tomato. My friends chose the eggplant souvlaki sandwich, a focaccia heaped with fresh tasting eggplant, pickled onions, cukes, tomatoes and tzatziki. Among sandwich options are roast beef, Mississippi pot roast, chicken parmesan, chicken salad. Peter loved the roast beef, enhanced by roasted garlic mayo, hot honey and gorgonzola.
I also quaffed cappuccino and chomped on a plump breakfast burrito. The latter was filled with chorizo, scrambled eggs and medium-hot peppers. I could only finish half of it! The rest went to my lunch the next day.
Mott’s ‒ and their customers ‒ enjoyed a successful and fun shakedown cruise. Mott’s Market is closed Monday. For hours and more information, visit www.mottsmarket.com.
Coming Soon
Barracks Row is getting yet another Indian restaurant, Taki Taki Bar de Tapas, set to open later this year at 713 Eighth St. SE, where Crazy Aunt Helen’s used to be. The future two-level endeavor will showcase modern South Asian cuisine along with “global tapas” and “craft” cocktails. The diverse, ambitious menu will offer such exotica as jackfruit dumplings with smoked tomato relish, grilled scallops with yellow curry, Katsu chicken sliders, butter chicken tart,; crab fritters with ghost chili sauce, ghee roast lamb chops, beef kebabs with bone marrow curry, tiramisu with baked coffee cottage cheese.
Taki Taki will join nearby Bombay Street Food (524 Eighth St. SE) and Jab We Met (515 Eighth), which also serve the spicy cuisine of the subcontinent. For updates, visit www.takitakidc.com.
Java Time
Nearby, adding more caffeine to Barracks Row is Llamas’ Corner, which opened recently at 705 Eighth St. SE. The buzzy newcomer percolates with organic java beans, which they roast themselves. Other drinks include mango guava cheesecake matcha, pineapple tamarind iced tea, sorrel & ginger lemonade. To accompany that cup of Joe (or other beverage) are “loaded” breakfast bowls, bagels, sunrise breakfast paninis, brisket paninis, Swiss ham and apple paninis and more. Guests find ample indoor and outdoor seating. By the way, a llama (pronounced “yama”) is a domesticated South American animal related to the camel. For Llamas’ Corner hours and more information, visit www.llamascorner.com.
Wine About It
Just up the street at 523 Eighth St. SE, Ambar Balkan Cuisine offers Balkan wine nights on Wednesdays and Sundays when bottles are half price. For menu, hours and more information, visit www.ambarrestaurant.com.
Market Watch
Husband Peter has discovered Steel Beach Smokehouse LLC at Eastern Market. Based in Maryland, the veteran-owned mobile stand operates in the outdoor farmers lines, usually in front of Rumsey swimming pool. Here’s BBQ aficionado Peter, who ordered the pulled pork sandwich ($8) with a side of coleslaw. “It’s very good, tender and flavorful, similar to the pulled pork we’ve had at Market Lunch in Eastern Market.”
Among Steel Beach’s other smoky options are brisket and pulled lamb, available on a platter or in a sandwich. There’s also BBQ loaded mac-and-cheese. To drink: lemonade and other soft drinks. You’ll find Steel Beach Smokehouse most Saturdays.
New Asian Brunch
ZomTum Laos Thai Bistro, at 660 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, sports a new menu plus a weekend brunch special. For $19.99 guests may choose between crispy wings and spicy papaya salad or larb (minced chicken salad) and veggie-filled curry puffs. Plus: a glass of sauvignon blanc or a Singha (Thai) beer. Weekdays bring the $15.99 luncheon special, with choice of pad Thai, pad Z-U (rice noodles with Chinese broccoli) or drunken noodles, plus a spring roll. For a complete menu or more information, visit www.zomtumdc.com.
Congrats…
to chef-couple Matt Conroy and Isabel Coss, named “Chef of the Year” at the 2026 RAMMYS gala. The winners are with the Popol Group, which includes Pascual, the innovative Mexican restaurant at 732 Maryland Ave. NE. Sponsored by Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW), the annual awards honor our region’s dining and hospitality industry. For the first time, the black-tie event was held at the Arena Stage’s Mead Center for the Performing Arts in Southwest near the District Wharf. For a complete list of winners and more information, visit www.ramw.org.
