Review of Wild Onion

The Washington Post reviewed Wild Onion in today's edition:

Chef Rasheed Abdurrahman trained at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, N.Y., and has worked in the kitchens at Kinkead's and the Hay-Adams hotel. Now he mans the spacious kitchen in a bright, appealing eatery that seats 65, and he teaches there two nights a week for the culinary program of Prince George's Community College.  "I want people to come here every day and find something fresh," Abdurrahman says.

Read more at the Washington Post

1 comments - Posted by UTC Living at 6:30 PM - Categories: News | UTC Retail

At Hank's Tavern & Eats, Burgers Are King

The Washington Post published a review of Hank's Tavern & Eats today:

At Hank's Tavern & Eats, a four-month-old restaurant in Hyattsville, there's always something to look at, whether it's the vintage movie and advertising posters or one of 20 flat-screen televisions that blare sporting events, cable news and, curiously enough, the Food Network, on continuous loop. A water feature bubbles behind the bar and glowing red pendant lamps dangle over booths and tables.

The resulting space is a mix between a nicer-than-average sports bar and a casual family restaurant. The dining room seems like the best fit for families or couples who pop in before or after a movie at the theater next door. Want to watch sports? The bar's the place to be. The booths are outfitted with television screens that allow diners to control the channels.

"We want to be the place you could just stop off for a burger and a beer on the way home, and we also wanted a place where you could take Mom out to dinner," says general manager Steve Greehan.

Read more at the Washington Post

3 comments - Posted by UTC Living at 9:00 PM - Categories: News | UTC Retail

Old Dominion Brewhouse Is Now Open!

University Town Center is pleased to announce that Old Dominion Brewhouse is now open on the Plaza at UTC, 6504 America Boulevard in Hyattsville.

Old Dominion Brewhouse is a full-service restaurant and sports entertainment venue carrying 15 products on tap from Old Dominion Brewing Co. The full-service bar features 32 tap handles serving a wide choice of Dominion products and popular non-Dominion beers. Among the Dominion selections are the popular Dominion Ale, Lager, Aviator, Millennium, Oak Barrel Stout and Seasonal specials. The inclusion of the popular Old Dominion Root Beer on tap is a popular non-alcoholic option and great for making Dominion root beer floats.

The most popular ways to enjoy their fabulous beers are the Dominion Sampler and Dominion Tower. The Dominion Sampler, perfect for those new to Dominion, allows the customer to sample 5 ounce servings of their choice of four beers. The Dominion Tower, the best beer value, is a tall, 133 ounce tube of beer complete with its own custom tap that sits on the customers table.

In addition to the large beer selection, the nearly 6,000 square foot facility features over 15 large screen plasma televisions strategically positioned throughout the restaurant so the customer has a clear view of multiple screens from any seat in the house. The restrooms are even equipped with their own LCD screens so the customer won’t miss any of the action.

Old Dominion Brewhouse is open Friday-Saturday 11:30am-12:30am, Sunday 12pm-11pm, Monday-Wednesday 11:30-11:00pm and Thursday 11:30am-12:00am.

About Old Dominion Brewhouse:

Old Dominion Brewhouse, operated by JRC Group, LLC, is an independently operated restaurant. The Brewhouse has a license agreement to use the Old Dominion Brewing Co. brand throughout the Maryland, DC and Virginia markets. For more information, visit www.olddominionbrewhouse.com.

5 comments - Posted by dbw63 at 7:43 PM - Categories: News | UTC Retail

Metro signs lease at University Town Center

The following article was published by the Washington Business Journal on 7/24/2008

http://washington.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2008/07/21/daily56.html

"Metro’s Office of Customer Service and MetroAccess Services will relocate to Hyattsville from Silver Spring next year.

The transit agency’s board of directors authorized the agency to negotiate and execute a lease agreement with Prince George Center I Inc. for 40,000 square feet of office space at 6505 Belcrest Road. The 10-year, $10 million lease would begin April 1, 2009.

The property sits across from the Prince George’s Plaza Metro station at University Town Center, a mixed-use development.

It is expected to save the transit agency nearly $6 million over 10 years, compared with the renewal rate for the existing office space in Silver Spring.

“This is a wonderful fit for our site, which is a transit oriented development, and a smart growth project,” said Tim Taylor, vice president of leasing at University Town Center.

Metro would receive three months free rent and have $1.64 million to make improvements under the lease agreement."

More details are available at http://www.wmata.com/about/MET_NEWS/PressReleaseDetail.cfm?ReleaseID=2211

1 comments - Posted by UTC Living at 2:00 PM - Categories: News | Metro

A Place for Students To Study in Style

From the Washington Post:

A Place for Students To Study in Style
Luxury High-Rise Caters to Collegians
By Ruben Castaneda, Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, July 19, 2008; Page T05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/18/AR2008071801419.html

This isn't your father's or mother's dorm.

From the rooftop pool deck of the Towers at University Town Center in Hyattsville, one can see the top of the Washington Monument and the National Cathedral to the west.

On that side of the deck, one can also gaze down at the Mall at Prince George's, which includes Target, Macy's and Ross. On the other side of the deck, which is atop the 16th floor of the complex, one can look down at a plaza with a large, open water fountain; outdoor tables; the Royale 14 movie theater complex; and several eateries, including Carolina Kitchen, Wild Onion (an organic restaurant) and a Three Brothers pizza place.

Stepping inside the complex feels a little like walking into a high-end hotel. A friendly security guard is stationed at a desk just inside the entrance. To the right is a large exercise room, featuring stationary bikes, treadmills, weight equipment, seven 42-inch flat-screen TVs and two tanning rooms.

The first floor also has a large game room, with three pool tables, table tennis, a foosball table and another game table. Six large flat-screen TVs are suspended throughout the room. There's a machine with DVDs for rent -- and two 96-inch projection screens that can be unfurled to show the DVDs.

Individual units are furnished with black leather couches in the living room, and each bedroom includes a double bed and a private bathroom. Each of the 910 apartments has a washer and dryer and is equipped with cable and high-speed Internet. Students pay rent per bedroom.

The apartment building, which comprises two joined towers, opened in August 2006. It was built specifically as market-rate student housing. Students from more than a dozen schools live at the complex, though more than 40 percent attend the University of Maryland's College Park campus, which is a 10-minute drive away.

The university runs a shuttle to and from the campus. In addition, the Prince George's Plaza Metro station, on the Green Line, is across the street.

Read more at WashingtonPost.com

2 comments - Posted by UTC Living at 11:44 AM - Categories: News | Towers

The Carolina Kitchen Bar and Grill Opening Soon

It looks like they are putting the finishing touches on The Carolina Kitchen Bar and Grill, which is scheduled to open in early June.  The restaurant is located right next to the Royale 14 movie theater on America Boulevard at University Town Center.

The original Carolina Kitchen in Silver Spring burned down in 2003 and relocated to the Boulevard at the Capital Centre in Largo in 2005.  The new Hyattsville location will be more than twice the size of the Largo restaurant, seating up to 375 people.  It will serve soul food and American cuisine, and will feature a full-service bar with a fireside lounge, waterfalls, jazz performances, and two rooms for private events.  According to owner Lance London, "The concept is incredible home-style cooking done with an upscale flair."

London has big plans for his new location.  "Carolina Kitchen Bar and Grill needs to not just impress but amaze customers.... It is one of the most magnificent build-outs ever seen--not just in D.C. but in America."  He also has great things to say about Hyattsville, calling it "the new Bethesda."  "When I saw all the wonderful things going on in Hyattsville, I new it was the place for my brand-new, explosive restaurant," says London.

Sources:
Restaurateur to take Carolina regional, Gazette.Net (3/7/2008)
Hyattsville is the new Bethesda, WhyHyattsville.com (5/2008)
Prince Georges Restauranteur Brings Las Vegas to Hyattsville, Inside Prince George's Advertising Supplement.  Thanks to WhyHyattsville.com.

29 comments - Posted by UTC Living at 8:29 PM - Categories: News | UTC Retail

Three Brothers Italian Restaurant Opens at the Town Center in Hyattsville

Three Brothers Italian Restaurant is now open at University Town Center.  The 4,000 square foot restaurant specializes in pizza and Italian-American specialties. This is their 15th restaurant in Maryland.

Read more...

15 comments - Posted by UTC Living at 9:32 PM - Categories: News | UTC Retail