A Supersized French Bistro Swings Open Near Amazon HQ2
Bar Colline's rustic-chic interior. Mykl Wu/H2
Located a 14-minute drive away (269 19th Court S.), the new Bar Colline joins offshoots of other familiar favorites like dumpling spot Bar Chinois and Cuban cafe Colada Shop at the foot of JBG Smith's new Grace and Riva apartments.
H2's longtime chef Brendan L'Etoile imports staples from the 5-year-old original, including its top-selling steak frites dunked in bearnaise, croque madame, and duck confit. The big difference this time around? It's over three times larger, with room for 230 guests along with a big patio decked out in string lights. More space means there's more room in the kitchen to produce extra dishes like chickpea fritters, chilled corn soup, and weekly specials. Hours to start are Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. The sizable setup also allows for more walk-ins than the first.
Mediterranean seabass at Bar Colline. Mykl Wu/H2
'We have a larger assortment of smaller plates for a quick lunch-type thing for people who can't linger and need to get back to their desks,' Ian Hilton tells Eater. Chinese chef Peter Chang also went the same menu route for his National Landing edition of Baltimore-born NiHao.
'I remember this area full of government contractors hanging out at nondescript buildings,' says Hilton, of the artist formerly known as Crystal City. 'It's gone through major changes and it's nice to see people walking around all the time, even in 100 degrees.' In late 2023, the tech-driven neighborhood welcomed an all-outdoor food hall called Water Park across from HQ2. The Amazon effect 'has brought ancillary businesses in and an assortment of retail,' Hilton says. The area is also now home to sit-down options for Mexican (Taqueria Xochi, Tacombi) and pisco (Peruvian Brothers), but Bar Colline fills somewhat of a French food void. Bar Colline's arrival on Friday, July 11, coincidentally comes just in time for France's annual Bastille Day festivities (Monday, July 14).
A massive private dining room for up to 16 guests is outfitted with its own AV system. Mykl Wu/H2
H2's Parisian cafe game started with Chez Billy Sud a decade ago in Georgetown, followed by Cafe Colline in Arlington and Parc de Ville in the Mosaic District (which is currently closed for renovations). A 50-foot wraparound bar slings spritzes, local beers, and wines, with daily happy hour that includes $6 red, white, and rosé pours from 3-6 p.m. Just beyond the dining room, an outdoor patio surrounded with trees seats 40.
Red, white, and rosé pours are just $6 during happy hour. Mykl Wu/H2
Bar Colline is H2's latest large-scale project this year. Its third area outpost of El Rey – its biggest to date, with 300 seats inside and out – debuted along the Navy Yard waterfront this spring. Other El Rey taquerias sit in Ballston and on U Street NW, and its prolific portfolio also includes Players Club, Solace Outpost in Falls Church and Navy Yard, Crimson, American Ice Company, and recently opened golf bar Muni. Compared to red tape he's used to in his hometown of D.C., the opening timeline across the Potomac was relatively seamless – around 18 months from start to finish, he says.
H2 co-owner Eric – yes, that Eric Hilton of Thievery Corporation fame – has taken a step back from the DJ touring world to spend more time on the brothers' joint hospitality business. Next up: restoring and redeveloping Potomac, Maryland's Normandie Farm, the nearly century-old landmark leased by H2 in 2022. 'It's a labor of love that's taking a long time to do,' says Ian Hilton. 'We can focus some attention on that after we get Colline on solid ground.'
The dining room has room for over 200 patrons. Mykl Wu/H2
Eater DC
All your essential food and restaurant intel delivered to you Email (required)
Sign Up
By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Cava Invests In Chipotle-Backed Hyphen While Investors React To Slower Growth
Cava Group Inc. (NYSE:CAVA) shares tumbled on Wednesday as investors reacted to a quarterly revenue miss, lowered full-year sales forecast, and news of a fresh investment in food automation technology. The Mediterranean fast-casual chain posted second-quarter revenue of $278.25 million, below the $286.58 million consensus estimate. Adjusted earnings of 16 cents per share beat forecasts of 14 cents. Total revenue rose 20.3% from a year ago, driven by menu pricing and product mix, while guest traffic remained flat. The company opened 16 new restaurants in the quarter, bringing its total to 398, up 16.7% year-over-year. CEO Brett Schulman said Cava recently celebrated its 400th opening and remains on track toward a goal of 1,000 locations by 2032. Also Read: For 2025, Cava cut its same-restaurant sales growth outlook to 4%–6% from 6%–8% while raising its forecast for new restaurant openings to 68–70 from 64–68. Full-year adjusted EBITDA guidance remained unchanged at $152 million to $159 million. During the earnings call, CFO Tricia Tolivar described the macroeconomic backdrop as 'fluid' and 'creating a fog for consumers,' though she noted no significant changes in premium purchase patterns or other key buying behaviors. Schulman added that spending habits remain stable across demographics and regions, with 'no trade down, no check management,' but said the company is closely monitoring the situation. In a separate announcement, Cava said it participated in Hyphen's $25 million Series B funding round to accelerate production and deployment of the food automation company's AI-powered makeline. Hyphen, the company behind Chipotle's automated make line prototype, develops AI-powered food automation systems. View more earnings on CAVA Schulman said the pilot program offers 'the opportunity to increase order accuracy and speed during peak digital hours, while reducing complexity for our team members.' He added that the investment is 'a meaningful step in our commitment to operational excellence and innovation that supports both our growth and our people.' The sharp sell-off stood in contrast to Brinker International Inc. (NYSE:EAT), owner of Chili's, which on Wednesday reported stronger-than-expected earnings and revenue growth. Brinker posted a 21% year-over-year sales increase in its fourth quarter, driven by higher traffic and menu innovation, and raised its fiscal 2026 outlook above analyst expectations. Brinker shares rose more than 9% in premarket trading. Price Action: At last check Wednesday, CAVA shares were trading lower by 17.36% to $69.83. Read Next:Photo by Nicole Glass Photography via Shutterstock UNLOCKED: 5 NEW TRADES EVERY WEEK. Click now to get top trade ideas daily, plus unlimited access to cutting-edge tools and strategies to gain an edge in the markets. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? This article Cava Invests In Chipotle-Backed Hyphen While Investors React To Slower Growth originally appeared on © 2025 Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Business Insider
5 minutes ago
- Business Insider
Mark Cuban says companies should be taxed more for buying back their own shares
In an X post on Tuesday, the billionaire investor said raising the federal tax on the practice would push companies to reinvest in their businesses and hit wealthy shareholders — including himself — the hardest. The "Shark Tank" star called it "a way to charge the biggest public companies more" while shifting incentives toward long-term growth. Stock buybacks, also called share repurchases, happen when a company buys back its stock from investors, often reducing the number of shares in circulation. This can boost earnings per share and, in turn, the stock price, benefiting remaining shareholders. Critics say the practice can prioritize short-term gains over long-term investment. American companies bought back $166 billion in shares in July — the highest July total on record — bringing the year-to-date tally to $926 billion, surpassing the previous year-to-date record set in 2022 by $108 billion, per data from stock market research firm Birinyi Associates. The US has had a 1% tax on stock repurchases on publicly traded corporations since the Inflation Reduction Act, which took effect on January 1, 2023. Cuban said that a higher tax could encourage firms to use the cash to expand or pay dividends to shareholders, which he said would be tax-free for many Americans. "Married households making under 94k pay no taxes on it," Cuban wrote. "If I own it. I pay full taxes." In a follow-up X post, Cuban suggested exempting companies from the higher tax if they distributed repurchased shares to all employees, from interns to the CEO, based on each worker's share of total annual cash earnings. He said this would be a "baby step" toward reducing income inequality and boosting workers' net worth. A market correction could encourage more buybacks Citi predicted in a March note that there would be $1 trillion in buybacks for the year, up 11% from about $900 billion in 2024. The bank said market declines could spur more repurchases, as companies seize the chance to buy their shares at discounted levels. Citi said large firms like Apple, Alphabet, Nvidia, Wells Fargo, and Visa repurchased roughly $190 billion in stock last year alone. Citi's forecast came before a series of market warnings from Wall Street strategists. Analysts at BTIG, Evercore ISI, Stifel, Morgan Stanley, and Wells Fargo have all flagged the potential for a correction in the S&P 500 in the coming months. They cited stretched valuations, seasonal weakness in August and September, and uncertainty over tariffs' economic impact.
Newsweek
5 minutes ago
- Newsweek
China Rival Eyes More US Weapons: Full List
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Taiwan is reportedly planning to place additional weapons orders—including air defense systems and rocket launchers—with its security partner, the United States, as the self-ruled democratic island faces increasing military pressure from its powerful neighbor, China. Newsweek has emailed the Taiwanese Defense Ministry for comment. China's Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Why It Matters The Chinese Communist Party has long claimed sovereignty over Taiwan, despite never having governed the island. Chinese leader Xi Jinping has vowed to use force to achieve unification if necessary, and his armed forces have been preparing for a potential invasion of Taiwan. While the U.S. no longer maintains diplomatic relations with Taiwan, it is required by the Taiwan Relations Act to provide the island with defensive arms and to maintain its own capability to resist any attempt to resolve cross-strait differences by non-peaceful means. Facing China's military buildup, the U.S. has stated that Taiwan should increase its defense spending to closer to 10 percent of its Gross Domestic Product, even though President Donald Trump once refused to answer whether he was committed to defending the island. What To Know Taiwan plans to acquire an additional 28 American rocket launchers—known as the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS)—and nine National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS), the Taiwanese newspaper Taipei Times reported on Sunday. The Taiwanese military conducts its first High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) live-fire test launch at Jiupeng base in Pingtung, Taiwan, on May 12, 2025. The Taiwanese military conducts its first High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) live-fire test launch at Jiupeng base in Pingtung, Taiwan, on May 12, 2025. I-HWA CHENG/AFP via Getty Images According to the report, which cited military sources, Taiwan previously agreed to purchase 29 HIMARS launchers capable of firing rockets or missiles, with the first 11 launchers delivered in 2024. Taiwan's HIMARS launchers were used for the first time in a live-fire exercise on the island in May 2025. The U.S. previously approved the sale of three NASAMS to Taiwan, which are expected to be deployed near the island's capital, Taipei, with the first to be delivered by the end of the year. The additional systems will enhance the defense of central and southern Taiwan. HIMARS is a long-range, mobile, precision-fire launcher capable of firing four different variants of munitions. NASAMS is a short-to-medium-range, land-based air defense system designed to protect bases, ports, populated areas and other high-value assets. Ukraine—which like Taiwan is faced by a hostile neighbor with much greater military resources—has used HIMARS and NASAMS in its war against Russia. The Norwegian Army fires a National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) from the Andøya Space Range in Andøya, Norway, against a simulated threat on May 10, 2023. The Norwegian Army fires a National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) from the Andøya Space Range in Andøya, Norway, against a simulated threat on May 10, 2023. Royal Norwegian Navy Meanwhile, another Taiwanese newspaper, the Liberty Times, reported on Monday that Taipei's military plans to purchase additional Javelin and TOW (Tube-launched, Optically Tracked, Wire-guided) 2B missiles to strengthen its anti-armor capabilities. Citing people familiar with the matter, the report said the total number of new missiles could exceed 2,000, based on their use by Ukrainian forces—which acquired them from the U.S.—and the estimated ammunition Taiwan would need in the event of a conflict. According to manufacturer Lockheed Martin, the Javelin is a shoulder-fired weapon capable of striking armored targets at their weakest points, while the TOW is claimed to be effective against "the most modern and heavily protected" armored vehicles and fortifications. What People Are Saying Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for China's Defense Ministry, said in April: "I want to underline that U.S. arms sales to Taiwan cannot change the strength contrast between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait much less impede the historical and inevitable trend of China's reunification." Tammy Bruce, spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, said in April: "In the face of China's intimidation tactics and destabilizing behavior, the United States' enduring commitment to our allies and partners, including Taiwan, continues. The United States supports peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and opposes unilateral changes to the status quo, including through force or coercion." What Happens Next It remains to be seen whether the Trump administration will approve any weapons sales to Taiwan in the coming months, while China continues to exert military pressure on the island.
