Prince George’s County soon will soon offer a little taste of Hollywood.
Celebrities including Ashton Kutcher, Tara Reid and Jeff Foxworthy are investors in Los Angeles-based The Dolce Group, which will open two restaurants at National Harbor next year.
“It’s another angle for the ‘US Weekly’ reporter to write about,” Dolce Group partner Lonnie Moore said of the celebrity connections. “Quite frankly, we don’t hang our hats on that. We believe in good food and good service.”
Ketchup will offer “American comfort food, presented in a unique upscale manner,” while Dolce Enoteca e Ristorante will feature “classic Italian food,” according to National Harbor developer Peterson Companies. Both already have locations in the Hollywood area.
“They will have that Hollywood feel,” Dolce Group partner Mike Malin said of the National Harbor restaurants. “But we can’t accentuate enough that we are not trying to be the cool kids.”
Regardless, Peterson Vice President for Leasing Marc Menick said his company found the celebrity element attractive. “Some of their investors,” Menick said, “they have an ability to get some real good press.”
So will the group’s celebrities attend opening night?
“It’s so far away,” Moore said. “We really don’t know. They are financial investors. … This isn’t Planet Hollywood.”
Still, Moore expects to “cater to the tastemakers” of the area.
“Of course, we’ll get the local celebrities, the politicians, the businessmen,” he said.
Malin said National Harbor attracted The Dolce Group because it’s a Peterson project and situated on the Potomac River in a mixed-use development.
Peterson also recently announced a handful of the roughly 10 other “white-tablecloth” restaurants that will occupy some of the 415,000 square feet of retail, dining and entertainment space in National Harbor’s downtown area, scheduled to open in 2008.
The list includes Rosa Mexicano and Sequoia, which already have locations in Washington, and Gallagher’s. Rosa Mexicano, Sequoia and Gallagher’s feature Mexican food, contemporary American cuisine and steak, respectively.
Peterson previously said McCormick & Schmick’s and Grace Fortune, a Chinese restaurant, would open in the downtown area.
“We are trying to attract a number of different categories,” Menick said. “One is the convention center guest, [plus] the tourists to D.C. and the local region.”
