Restaurant roundup: Hill Country, Carmine's vets team up for new BBQ joint, another District Taco

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Courtesy McClellan's Retreat

The inside of McClellan's Retreat, named for Civil War Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan.

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Rebecca Cooper

Staff Reporter- Washington Business Journal

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Coming soon to Leesburg: A combination barbecue joint and live entertainment venue at the Wegman's-anchored Village at Leesburg shopping center.

Smokehouse Live will open in 16,231 square feet in the development, which is also home to a 12-screen movie theater and an LA Fitness gym.

The spot comes from Pitmaster Hospitality, a new restaurant group founded by Jim Foss, formerly the director of operations at Hill Country BBQ Market; and Kristopher Diemar, who served as director of operations at Bond 45 and Carmine's, among other restaurants.

Foss will oversee the kitchen and Diemar will manage the front of the house, according to a press release from Rappapport, which manages the Village at Leesburg. The restaurant will be located at 1602 Village Market Blvd. aims to open in the spring of 2015.

District Taco: Next up for the District Taco: Dunn Loring. The homegrown taqueria from owner Osiris Hoil has signed another lease, this one on the ground floor of the Avenir Place apartment building, according to a photo he posted on Facebook. This will be the sixth location of District Taco. The local chain, which began with two taco carts parked in Arlington, also signed a lease for a location in Old Town Alexandria earlier this year.

McClellan's Retreat: This replacement for the now-closed Veritas Wine Bar at 2031 Florida Ave. NW in Dupont Circle opened Thursday. Billed as a place to retire and retreat, McClellans' Retreat is named for a statue of Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan that lives up the street. The menu includes familiar cocktails such as the classic daquiri, a negroni and a good, old-fashioned dry martini, but also specialties named after historical figures, such as the Mary Todd, made with sherry, pear brandy and ginger liquer.

Rebecca Cooper covers retail, restaurants, tourism and the arts.