Business in Brief: Rosedale, a farm-to-table restaurant, opens in Van Ness; New restaurant “Hall of Fame” inductees

The Rosedale dining room (photos by Greg Powers)

by Marlene Berlin and Forest Hills Connection

Ashok Bajaj
Why did Bombay Club and Rasika founder Ashok Bajaj choose Van Ness for his latest restaurant? In part, his friendship with the baker across the street.

Bajaj and Bread Furst owner Mark Furstenberg have been friends and collaborators for decades. And it was Furstenberg who told him the space at 4465 Connecticut was available.

If that was the beginning of the story, this is the conclusion: Rosedale, the newest restaurant in Bajaj’s Knightsbridge Restaurant Group, opens today.

Bajaj told me his vision of Rosedale is of a community gathering place, which grew out of the sense of community he felt during the pandemic.

“People came to me and asked ‘What can we do?'” Bajaj said. He was surprised by the outpouring of support, and he remains grateful.

Bajaj has built his community over many years. His Bombay Club, which opened in late 1988, was a revelatory experience for me and my husband. Later, Rasika in Penn Quarter became a favorite. So, when we heard that Bajaj’s newest concept would open in our neighborhood, my curiosity was piqued.

George Manolatos
Early last week, that curiosity led me to poke my head through an open door at Rosedale. Bajaj was there, and I introduced myself. “I know who you are,” he responded. Bajaj was already familiar with me and Forest Hills Connection, and he introduced me to George Manolatos, Rosedale’s general manager by way of Sababa in Cleveland Park.

My second meeting with Bajaj was on Friday, October 18th, and this time he was expecting me. He led me inside, where I gawked at the beautiful decor and furnishings. Even the bar was striking. I had to resist the urge to sit in what look like very comfortable seats for conversation with the bartender and neighbors.

Bajaj led me to a small table in the middle of the dining room, and motioned for me to take a seat on the banquette. I would not have chosen it for myself, because all banquettes I’ve tried are too deep and too soft for someone on the shorter side. This seat, however, felt just right.

Bajaj smiled at my surprise. “That is what we wanted,” he said. Rosedale has also thought to accommodate those of us who equate comfort with low noise. For quite a while, I have been choosing restaurants based on decibel levels. When asked about that, Bajaj looked up, then replied, “You will have to become a regular in order to help pay for this expensive acoustic ceiling.”

These touches and a farm-to-table menu that includes rotisserie chicken and thin crust pizza (try the “Van Ness,” topped with spinach, pistachio, and reggiano crema) are meant to invoke a sense of home. Bajaj wants Rosedale to be a neighborhood hangout where people regularly stop in to eat, as well as celebrate special occasions. In a few weeks, takeout and delivery will also be options.

Read more about Rosedale in Eater, Axios, and Washingtonian.

The Tom Sietsema Hall of Fame: The Washington Post’s restaurant critic says Bombay Club, Bread Furst and Buck’s Fishing & Camping (at 5031 Connecticut Avenue) are three of the 13 restaurants that “continue to set the bar for dining in and around D.C.” Bread Furst also makes Sietsema’s 2024 list of the area’s 40 best restaurants.

Farm-to-farmers market: Curious about the vision and people behind the UDC Van Ness farmers market, which is now in its 11th year? Read more about it here.

Van Ness pop-up markets coming soon: Van Ness Main Street is accepting vendor applications for its December 14th Holiday Pop-Up Market through October 31st. Also, its Second Saturday pop-up market series returns on Saturday, November 9th with a dozen local vendors. They will pop up at 4340 Connecticut Avenue.

Forest Hills Connection is an editorially independent program of Van Ness Main Street.

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