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Walk along the beautiful waterfront of one of DC's most up and coming areas, The Wharf, as you explore restaurants designed by local firm //3877. With a vast knowledge of the area and a keen eye for detail, the architecture and design team will guide the exploration of four recently completed food & beverage projects: Limani, Lucky Buns at The Wharf, ilili, MI VIDA, The Grill, and Easy Company. Displaying stunning and unique designs, each of the four restaurants are inspired by a different cuisine, providing unique insight into design’s relationship with a variety of menus and operations.

Kicking off near The Wharf’s Transit Pier, THE GRILL—an upscale American eatery boasts a mid-century modern theme inspired by Miami living. Around the corner, Easy Company is a French- and Italian-inspired wine bar with al fresco dining with a design inspired by bustling European plazas. The tour will then move to MI VIDA, a fresh perspective on modern, south-of-the-border dining. The restaurant embraces colorful design elements the brand has become known for, particularly the traditional Mexican Árbol de La Vida, or “Tree of Life.” Next, attendees will visit ilili, a stunning Lebanese restaurant housed in a glass box building. The restaurant features a large limestone fountain that first flowed in Provence, France, in the late 19th century, bird cages suspended from the ceiling, and pops of bright orange and turmeric. Further south along Wharf Street SW, Lucky Buns— created by chef and Food Network personality Alex McCoy—showcases a classic neighborhood bar and burger restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating. Last on the tour, Limani’s striking exterior architecture greets visitors with a design that transforms a distinct existing building on the pier into an upscale restaurant with panoramic views inspired by Mediterranean cuisine.

Approximately 0.4 miles each way, please be prepared to walk 1 mile through the duration of the tour.

Learning Objectives:

• Explore and evaluate the unique design strategies employed by //3877 in the creation of four distinct food and beverage establishments, understanding how these strategies contribute to the functionality of food service.
• Learn how cultural influences and themes are integrated into the design of each restaurant, from the European-inspired wine bar at Easy Company to the vibrant, south-of-the-border cuisine at MI VIDA, gaining insights into how cultural storytelling enhances the overall dining experience.
• Study the adaptive reuse of existing structures, particularly at Limani, to understand the challenges and benefits of transforming pre-existing buildings into modern, upscale dining venues with unique architectural identities.
• Discuss the design considerations for blending indoor and outdoor spaces, as demonstrated at Lucky Buns and Easy Company, to create versatile and seamless restaurant environments.

Presented by:

David Shove-Brown, AIA, NCARB, Partner at //3877

David Tracz, AIA, LEED AP, Partner at //3877