The names alone might make you happy, and many neighbors are happy to have two new restaurants in Glover Park. Divino opened a couple of weeks ago at the Glover Park Hotel, and Joia Burger likely will open in January, replacing Maharaja and All About Burger prior.
Divino
Divino replaced the American-style Glover Park Grill, which supplanted Casolare in 2020, which had a coastal Italian theme. Divino highlights a northern Italian accent, with colorful pasta made in-house, and meats and fish cooked over a wood-fired grill. Experienced DC restauranteurs Luca Giovannini and Daniel Perron have teamed up to lead the restaurant. They worked together many years ago at Georgetown’s Fiola Mare where Daniel was a sous chef and Luca was the bar manager and beverage director.
The interior looks similar to the Glover Park Grill, no major renovation, with some minor decorating changes including blue-upholstered chairs and bench seating with small trees and other greenery throughout. The outside bar/dining area should be open for limited drink service currently (status unclear) with plans to expand dining service in the spring. Also, the hotel has kept alive the idea of a roof deck with dining service and entertainment, which faced resistance from the Glover Park ANC3B in its previous form years ago. Stay tuned…
The antipasti menu includes salamis, cheeses, tuna, focaccia, olives meatballs and more with prices ranging from $8-$24. Dinner entrees include pork chop, chicken, steaks, red snapper, burger and the pièce de résistance (or pezzo forte in Italian) – the 32 ounce tomahawk – a bone-in porcini rubbed ribeye (for $130). Other entrée prices range from $24-$38. A selection of colorful handmade pastas will be the center of attention at the open chef’s station where diners can see the pasta being made. Pasta entrees range from $20-$30. Divino has a full bar with a thoughtful and changing selection of Italian (and other) wines available.
They did not forget the kids – simpler chicken, burgers and pasta are available for kids for $12, plus juices and milk. Maybe let them skip dinner and go right for dessert – tiramisu, dark chocolate torta, cheesecake and a selection of gelatos and sorbettos ($11-$13). Divino is open every day from 7:30am-10pm (11pm Fri and Sat) and they also serve breakfast and lunch.
Joia Burger
If you are hankering for something simpler but no less satisfying if you like burgers, Joia Burger will be opening in January at 2414 Wisconsin Ave NW! The owner of Maharaja needed to close that exciting new restaurant after only four months, citing personal reasons. DC restauranteur Patrice Cleary opened the first Joia Burger in Mount Pleasant earlier this year and it has become quite popular. In addition, she started Purple Patch in 2015 in Mount Pleasant – one of the first Filipino restaurants in DC.
Joia Burger has a much simpler menu than the comprehensive Filipino menu of Purple Patch: Wagyu burger, veggie burger, fries and ube soft serve ice cream (plus a short list of sides) – that’s it. Burgers come single, double or triple (starting at $9) and they include cheese and an innovative chopped mix of traditional toppings (lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle) instead of having them layered. It is annoying biting a tomato slice or large lettuce leaf only to have the entire thing fall out, so this sounds convenient.
If you ask for a chocolate or vanilla cone, you won’t get it – the only flavor available is ube. Ube is a bright purple yam and is a popular ingredient in Filipino desserts. It has been described as “cookies and cream, with vanilla flavor and a hint of coconut.” Others describe it having a hint of pistachio, nuttiness or the milk left in the bowl after eating Fruit Loops. You give it your own review after it hits your own taste buds. A kids’ lunch box goes for $10, fries for $5-$7 with interesting dips if you desire more than ketchup, and you can dash out with an ube for only $6. The Mount Pleasant store has beer and wine, so you can bet the owner will pursue a liquor license here in Glover Park as well. The 2414 Wisconsin Ave location is a decent size, with ample sit-down space if you would like to eat in.
The divine joy of dining – Joia Burger and Divino are welcome additions to the Glover Park neighborhood, which now has 21 restaurants within a four block stretch!
Note: photos and images are the property of the restaurants from the restaurant websites.