Eli Hengst is a D.C.-based restaurateur, owner of Mendocino Grille in Georgetown and Sonoma on Capitol Hill. His latest venture, Redwood in Bethesda, is set to open later this spring.
How long have you been a restaurant owner in D.C.?
My first venture actually began in 1998, and it was Tryst Coffeehouse. My business partner was the current owner, Constantine Stravropoulos.
How did you end up in the restaurant business?
I was in graduate school in Georgetown for foreign service; Constantine and I met through a couple of mutual friends. We hit it off, and I decided to postpone my second year of grad school to go into business with him. We opened Tryst in September, and a year and a half later, opened the Diner in Adams Morgan.
How is Redwood going to be distinct from your other restaurants?
The starting premise is pretty similar — an emphasis on seasonal, naturally raised, organic ingredients and a great neighborhood restaurant, the kind of place where if you’re traveling from out of town and have a friend who lives in the city, they say, “I know a great place.” In terms of scale, it’s much larger. About 90 percent of the food will be wood-grilled. I would say it’s traditional American cooking with a strong emphasis on locally raised and wild meats.
When do you expect to open?
That’s the million-dollar question; probably mid-May.
What’s your favorite wine you serve at your restaurants?
We get wines from Turley, a pretty small cult winemaker with a limited allocation. It’s a great little winery.
Where do you like to eat when you’re not at your restaurants?
I’d say Cork is one of my favorite new places — it’s another restaurant that fills the niche of a great neighborhood place. Hank’s Oyster Bar’s another great one; these are the kind of places I gravitate to.
