Interesting news about the new restaurant coming to 845 Upshur St NW. I previously reported that there were plans to open a Thai / Balinese restaurant in the former China American Inn, and now I have confirmation on the plans for that space.

Local DC chef and Food Network Star finalist Alex McCoy is opening up a Southeast Asian-themed restaurant with business partners Hunter Campbell (who owns Mason Inn restaurant in Glover Park) and local real estate agent Marc Dosik from Help-U-Sell.

“The idea is to have a local pub that has the feeling of an ex-pat bar in southeast Asia,” Marc Dosik told me.

Think of the concept as a bar you’d find in Thailand or Cambodia where Americans would frequent, and where local Asian and American cultures and cuisines mix and combine into something exotic.

Chef Alex McCoy recently spent over a month traveling through southeast Asia sampling the food and coming up with the concept for the restaurant. (Look for an interview with Alex McCoy coming soon.)

“We’re very excited,” said Marc Dosik. “We thought long and hard about Petworth and bringing a place that the community will enjoy — for years to come.”

The interior of the restaurant will offer that ex-pat feel, combining Asian and American influences. Behind the restaurant, and behind the corner lot where Willow and Help-U-Sell is located, will be a beer garden / outdoor pub space for people to enjoy. It will also share the southeast Asian theme.

“We’re looking to make this a very up-beat atmosphere,” said Marc. “Casual environment with high-quality food and beverages.”

The plan is to open the restaurant by this fall, and then the beer garden by Spring 2016.

More to come about the menu and atmosphere!