Denizens of Washington’s Eastern Market area have something tasty to look forward to this spring. The Tuscan restaurant Acqua al Due is coming to 7th Street, directly across from the historic market building. Founded in Florence in 1978, Acqua al Due already has a West Coast foothold in San Diego. The Capitol Hill branch will be the first East Coast venture.
The new eatery will occupy the two-storey structure at 214-212 7th Street SE, site of Dottie’s Boutique and recently-vacated A&A Athletics. Dottie’s closed in September due to an electrical fire. The woman’s clothing store was a neighborhood fixture for 25 years.
We have not been able to locate an authoritative review of either the Florentine or San Diego iteration of Acqua al Due. Diner reviews indicate that beef fillet with blueberry sauce is a signature dish.
The restaurant’s name is derived from the original restaurant’s address in Florence (via dell’ Acqua Ni2). It moved around the corner nine years ago.
The Italian restaurant is at Florence’s Piazza della Signoria; the San Diego branch is in that city’s “Gaslamp Quarter.” Impending opening of the Hill eatery makes it official: Eastern Market is picturesque.
Image by Mike Licht. ”Acqua al 2″ and the logo are registered trademarks of Acqua al Due.
(Does the machine-made Italian title need correcting?)
December 2, 2008 at 10:24 am
[...] you’re in Washington DC, the popular Gaslamp restaurant, Acqua al Due will open on 7th Street near the historic market building. Expect a spring 2009 [...]
January 29, 2009 at 8:30 pm
[...] Noise shouldn’t be a problem. Work is almost all in the building’s interior, and the former apartment building across the street is being redeveloped for commercial use. [...]
April 25, 2009 at 2:47 am
I’ve been to the one in Florence and I had the blueberry fillet. It’s fantastic. The fillet with balsamic vinegar glaze is also very good.
April 25, 2009 at 12:14 pm
Ed wrote: I had the blueberry fillet. It’s fantastic.
This is the signature dish at Acqua al 2. People either love it (many commenters do) or hate it. No one ignores it.