From Farm to Taco to Georgetown

GM has learned that a new restaurant will soon be opening in the old woodworking shop of G. Morris Steinbraker & Sons on Grace St. It will be the first bricks and mortar location for Chaia, a vegetarian taco purveyor that has been a popular attraction at local farmers markets (their tagline is “From Far to Taco”).

According to the Post, it was they were one of last year’s top tastemakers (sharing the rarified air with Rose’s Luxury):

Trying to find the Chaia taco stand at the farmers market? Just look for the longest line. Launched in May, the popular vegetarian Latin American-influenced concept is led by self-trained chefs Suzanne Simon (an Ohio native with a degree in environmental science) and Bettina Stern (a Manhattanite who got her culinary start at Ina Garten’s now-defunct gourmet food store, Barefoot Contessa)…A brick-and-mortar restaurant with a focus on plant-based cuisine is the goal, though the two plan to fine-tune dishes like kale and roasted potato tacos on handmade tortillas with creamy poblano sauce at pop-ups and year-round farmers markets.

The choice of location is a great one. G. Morris Steinbraker & Sons is long long-time Georgetown fixture, providing historic restoration work all across Georgetown. Last year, though, the grandson decided to move out of the workshop and lease the space out. (They sold the empty lot they used at the corner of Grace and Cecil, and a new condo building is getting build there).

GM walked by last weekend, and the space is still being used as a woodworking shop:

But as soon as the renovations get approved, the space will probably get cleared out and the last glimmers of the era of industry along Grace St.-amazingly lasting into the 21st century-will finally fade away.

But it should make for a great space for Maia, and GM looks forward to its eventual opening.