Hank & Mitzi’s Italian Kitchen is opening Thursday, Aug. 13.
The restaurant, from chef and restaurateur Jamie Leeds, is the long-awaited replacement for Hank’s Pasta Bar, that closed last year for renovations.
Hank & Mitzi’s is named for Leeds’ parents. She credits them as her inspiration for becoming a chef.
“Hank & Mitzi’s is a come-as-you-are neighborhood spot celebrating the joy that isregional Italian cuisine,” Leeds said. “From an array of sharable plates, hand-craftedpastas and oven-fresh pizzas, we bring every aspect of the seasonal Italian kitchen to ourguests.”
New menu items include new individual pizzas and some Leeds’ family recipes — Hank’s Meatballs and Mitzi’s Chicken Cacciatore. In addition, expect to see a few Hank’s Pasta Bar favorites, including Jamie’s signature linguine with clam sauce and mafalde with fennel sausage, broccoli rabe and cream sauce.
Executive Chef Chris Edwards, most recently of Hank’s Oyster Bar on the Wharf, will head the kitchen at Hank & Mitzi’s. He brings over 20 years of culinary experience with stints at the Salamander Resort and Spa in Middleburg, as well as at Patowmack Farm restaurant in Lovettsville, Virginia.
“My ultimate goal is to serve delicious food that people remember and return for,whether it is for a casual evening out or a family celebration,” Edwards said.