Jeff Black to Launch Pearl Dive

Logan Circle is netting another restaurant, this time from chef Jeff Black, who announced today that he's buying the building at 1612 14th St. NW on October 20 and calling it The Pearl Dive Oyster Palace. The two-story venue, which he hopes to open in time for Valentine's Day, will feature an oyster bar and 75-seat dining room on the street level and an upstairs bar -- with a bocce ball court -- called BlackJack.

"I have a habit of putting my name in places," says Black, the owner of Black's Bar & Kitchen in Bethesda, Black Market Bistro in Garrett Park, BlackSalt in the Palisades and Addie's in Rockville. His latest acquisition is property once eyed by chef Barton Seaver, for a sustainable seafood shop and eatery that never opened.

"Pearl Dive," as Black abbreviates it, will serve seafood stew, po boys, pasta, maybe fried chicken and a skirt steak, the last making use of the restaurant's wood-burning grill. Black is even experimenting with oyster confit (prepared with olive oil and bacon fat). Until he finds the right chef, likely from within his company, the owner will helm the kitchen.

Breaking with the trend, there will be no small plates at Pearl Dive. "Can I please get an entree around here?" cracks Black.

--Tom Sietsema