Chop’t owners Colin McCabe and Tony Shure closed their brand-new Penn Quarter salad shop for a few hours yesterday afternoon to entertain media with samples of their signature greens and wrap sandwiches. A dressing tasting offered a buffet of carrot and celery sticks to dip into any of the 28 flavors. We especially liked the carrot ginger, General Tso’s chipotle, spa balsamic, and smoky bacon Russian—but don’t kid yourself that you’re eating a healthy lunch if you opt for that last one on your lettuce. It’s amped up with lots of smoked bacon and is so thick that it could double as a dip.
After these tastes, we were happy to hear that Chop’t has three more Washington-area locations in the works. According to Ron Boatright, the company’s Mid-Atlantic director, the next to open (in early January) will be in downtown DC at 1300 Connecticut Avenue. Another is slated for mid-February at 1735 Lynn Street in Rosslyn. No opening date has been set yet for the fourth location, at 1105 19th Street, Northwest, but the Chop’t team is aiming for early spring.
With four Chop’t branches and Georgetown’s new Sweetgreen also in the mix, there’s likely to be a designer-salad spot near you by the time Washington’s summer heat rolls in.
Chop’t, 730 Seventh St., NW; 202-347-3445; choptsalad.com.
