Chop Shop Taco hosted a soft opening event Wednesday night, and the official opening date is set for May 1.
The fast-fine restaurant and bar took its name from the business originally in the restaurant's location — an auto body shop.
The head chef, Ed McIntosh, will offer a rotating selection of meat from a vertical rotisserie. Options may include duck, ribeye, whole roasted chicken, brisket and more. Tacos and tortas form the base of the menu. Sides will include unique offerings like fried rice cheese croquettes, clam and ham on annato-garlic toast and more.
McIntosh launched Tortilladora from Union Kitchen earlier in his career, and worked at Shop Made DC when it opened.
In 2018, he opened Pendleton Carryout here in Alexandria, managing the area's first restaurant incubator.
Chop Shop Taco has a full service bar with both classic and unique cocktails.
Chop Shop Taco will be open Wednesdays through Sundays. It will open at 11 a.m. and close at 11 p.m. Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday, and close at midnight Friday and Saturday.
Chop Shop Taco is located at 1008 Madison Street in the Parker-Grey neighborhood.
When it opens, look for original elements from the auto shop, including the original (but resurfaced) floor, the location of the old car lift and pieces of the car lift that have been used as table legs. The garage door allows the dining room to turn into an indoor-outdoor space.
