Bistro 360, the wine bar, bistro and gourmet market coming to the former Café Assorti space (1800 Wilson Blvd), is hoping to open by the end of the month.
Bistro 360 owner Art Hauptman, who also owns Cassatt’s Kiwi Cafe (4536 Lee Highway), said the bistro section to the right of the store will serve entrees and appetizers, seat 50-60 and be open for dinner every night and brunch on Saturdays and Sundays. The wine bar section, in the back of the shop, will have seating for about 30 people and be open during the day and the evenings.
The shop section, which will have more than 120 different wines in addition to beer, coffee, tea, charcuterie and cheese, will also be open during the day and evening.
“It’ll be a gourmet-style market with sort of high-end items,” Hauptman told ARLnow.com today. “It’s not Dean & DeLuca, but it will be more than your corner market.”
The wine bar and bistro will serve food inspired from a variety of international cuisines, but “largely focused on Mediterranean,” Hauptman said. “The idea is exploration and travel lead to the mingling of cuisine. Some will be traditional dishes and some will be fusion.”
The restaurant will be quiet and respectful of the community, Hauptman said, but he hopes to get a mix of middle-aged and mid-20s customers who enjoy a quiet glass of wine.
“It’s not going to be a Clarendon-style place,” he said. “I don’t like noisy restaurants, even though I know people drink more in them.”
Initially, Hauptman was looking to move Cassatt’s during lease negotiations with its current landlord. After he and the landlord were able to agree on a deal, Hauptman had already done location research, he said, so he decided to open up a second restaurant. He chose the Rosslyn location because he owns it, he said, and “landlords are a pain the ass.”
