EaterDC – Tierney Plumb
It’s almost time for Fat Baby, Inc. alum Haidar Karoum to make his comeback with the opening of his first solo project: Chloe, a new 103-seat modern American restaurant set to arrive in Navy Yard before the end of 2017.
The original head chef at Proof, Estadio, and Doi Moi called it quits last year to take a breather after nearly two decades in commercial kitchens. Situated in Arris, a newly completed building at 1331 Fourth Street SE, Chloe is named for Karoum’s eldest niece as well as the ancient Greek goddess of agriculture.
The roughly 3,200-square-foot space will include an open kitchen with a green herb wall, outdoor patio space, and large glowing lighting fixtures coordinated by designcase. Expect to see similarities between his former restaurants, which were also designed by Michelle Bove.
The hybrid menu, featuring seasonal Mid-Atlantic fare colored by Karoum’s extensive travels to Western Europe and Southeast Asia, will include the following: roast chicken with Vietnamese-style greens and toasted chili-lime sauce; grilled Berkshire pork chops with escarole, crispy fingerling potatoes, and Calabrian chilies; and Bavarian-style white sausage with mustard spatzle, savoy cabbage, and golden raisins. Karoum plans to highlight his Lebanese roots via dishes such as cauliflower with lemon, tahini, toasted pine nuts and mint (dad’s favorite dish).
Tyler Mitchell, a longtime former colleague, is the general manager and will double as beverage director. Behind the bar, drinkers can expect boozy concoctions such as Remember the Summer? (vodka, rose hips, gewurztraminer, lemon) and Dr. Apples (rum, apple cider, lemon, egg white).
Chloe’s opening is bittersweet, as Karoum helped the late Mark Kuller open his own first restaurant, Proof, over a decade ago. He cooked by his side thereafter, departing the restaurant group about a year after Kuller’s death in 2014.
Stay tuned as more details about the offerings and exact opening date are finalized.
Nearby, hospitality scions Rahul Vinod and Sahil Rahman are putting the finishing touches on Rasa, the quick-service Indian restaurant now tentatively scheduled to arrive next month as well.
