February 14, 2012

The Yards Brings NYC Chef Michael White & the Altamarea Group to DC

Forest City, the master developer of The Yards, a major urban, mixed-use development project located on the waterfront in the Capitol Riverfront area of Washington D.C., and the Altamarea Restaurant Group of New York City today  jointly announced that Altamarea’s latest location of their successful Osteria Morini restaurant concept will open at The Yards in  summer 2013. The Altamarea Group currently consists of six New York-metro-area restaurants and one Hong Kong location by award-winning chef Michael White.
 

The new 4,250 square foot Osteria Morini will be located in the Lumber Shed, an adaptive reuse component of The Yards, located on the riverfront at the northern edge of The Yards Park. It is the first tenant to be announced for the Lumber Shed and the first DC-area location for Chef White and the Altamarea Group.
 

Featuring the rustic cuisine and convivial spirit of the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy, Osteria Morini is a mid-priced, casual restaurant with lunch and dinner menus featuring innovative pasta dishes, grilled meats, fish and several regional specialties. Two current Osteria Morini (www.osteriamorini.com ) locations are in the Soho neighborhood of Manhattan and Bernardsville, New Jersey.

“We are delighted to bring Osteria Morini to the Nation’s Capital and be a part of the community in such a unique and important development as The Yards,” said Ahmass Fakahany, CEO of the Altamarea Group.

The award-winning Altamarea Group restaurants include Marea, Ai Fiori, Due Mari, Osteria Morini NY & NJ, Al Molo and the soon to be opened Nicoletta. Chef Michael White was named “Best New Chef” by Esquire magazine in 2002 and nominated “Best Chef, New York” in 2010 and 2011 by the James Beard Foundation.  Marea was named “Best New Restaurant in America” in the 2010 James Beard Awards. Both Ai Fiori and Marea received three-star New York Times reviews, “Best New Restaurant” in 2010 and 2011 by Esquire, and ZAGAT New York named Marea “Best New Italian Restaurant” 2012 and Ai Fiori “Best New Restaurant” 2012. Osteria Morini was ranked in ZAGAT’s Top 10 “Best New Restaurants” 2012. In addition, Osteria Morini was included in Conde Nast’s Hot List 2011.
 

“We’re thrilled to have Osteria Morini locate at The Yards for their first DC location, said Deborah Ratner Salzberg, president of Forest City Washington. “This is a wonderful and highly unique location for dining in the park and on the waterfront. We look forward to this opening with considerable anticipation and hunger!”
 

At The Yards, Osteria Morini will occupy the southeast corner of the ground floor in the Lumber Shed, offering expansive river and park views from both inside, as well as from its outdoor dining areas on the east and south sides of the building.
 

With the signing of Osteria Morini, the Lumber Shed is now over 60% leased. The second level will be office space occupied by the offices of Forest City Washington. Space remains on the building’s first floor for additional restaurants/retailers.
 

At full build-out, The Yards will feature approximately 2,800 new residential units, 1.8 million SF of office space and roughly 400,000 SF of retail/restaurants/entertainment space. The award-winning Yards Park opened in fall 2010. The Foundry Lofts Apartments, the initial residentialbuilding at The Yards, welcomed its first residents in December 2011. It is currently over 70% leased.
 

Another adaptive reuse of a former Navy Yard industrial building, the Boilermaker Shops, is well underway and due to open in late 2012. Six restaurants and a dry cleaner have signed to open in that building. Additional retail space is available, as well as office space on the building’s mezzanine level. Across the street from the Boilermaker Shops, an all-new construction residential building with 220 apartment units is also  planned at The Yards. Located on 4th Street SE at M Street, the complex will feature a 50,000 SF Harris Teeter grocery store on its ground floor and a major, 28,000 SF health & fitness club in an adjacent building. That residential/retail component is projected to open in 2013.

About the Altamarea Group
The Altamarea Group is owned by partners Ahmass Fakahany and Chef Michael White and is comprised of four Manhattan restaurants, Marea (2009), Osteria Morini (2010), Ai Fiori (2010) and Nicoletta (2012); two New Jersey restaurants, Osteria Morini (2012) and Due Mari (2008); and Al Molo (2010) located in Hong Kong. The group delivers the highest levels of quality and consistency in food and service across its distinct brands and concepts. It has consistently received top recognition and acclaim including Michelin Guide, ZAGAT, New York Times and Relais & Chateaux. The client is the most essential element of the group’s purpose and success. Altamarea is relentless in continually improving the client experience and overall satisfaction.