Noted D.C. restaurateur Mike Isabella is bringing his Greek restaurant to College Park.
Isabella, whom you may recognize from his stints on “Top Chef,” will bring an outpost of Kapnos Taverna to The Hotel at the University of Maryland this summer.
The restaurant will focus on classic and coastal-inspired Greek dishes, with traditional versions of the classics as well as contemporary twists from executive chef George Pagonis, another “Top Chef” alum. A Greek-heavy wine list and Mediterranean-inspired cocktails will also be offered.
Since launching the original Kapnos in D.C.’s 14th Street in 2013, Isabella has opened two sister restaurants, Kapnos Taverna in Arlington and Kapnos Kouzina in Bethesda. Each one has had a slightly different focus, though indications are the College Park outpost will be more seafood-focused, like the one in Arlington.
The $140 million hotel and conference center is still slated to open in July, though the exact date is still unclear, the restaurant is expected to open at the same time.
An upscale Greek restaurant will be a welcome addition to the local dining scene, which has grown substantially in recent years with Busboys and Poets, the soon-to-open Pizzeria Paradiso and the upcoming Burton’s Grill and Bar at Riverdale Park Station.