$4M Grand Re-Opening Party Nets Tony and Joe's, Nick's Riverside Grill Plenty Of D.C. VIPs

GEOREGTOWN -- Surveying the damage after last year’s devastating April 18th floods that virtually shut down the Georgetown waterfront, the outlook looked bleak for anchor restaurants Tony & Joe’s and Nick’s Riverside Grill.

Undeterred, however, the Cibel family (which owns both locations) doubled-down on the community that had welcomed them so warmly since they first served their first customer back in 1987.

And after an impressive $4 million worth of renovations, they finally revealed to the District the results of all of their hard work on Tuesday evening, during an official grand re-opening party that lasted well into the night.

With longstanding roots in the D.C. community, the Cibels drew an impressive turnout of area notables, including real estate developer and Washington Nationals Principal Owner Mark Lerner, legendary NFL quarterback (and former Redskins player) Sonny Jurgensen, AOL co-founder Jim Kimsey, and D.C. Council members Vincent Orange and David Catania, ABC 7 anchor Steve Chenevey, and 94.7 Fresh FM radio host Tommy McFLY, among many others.

“It’s great to be at the best spot in the city made even better by the new additions,” said original owner Tony Cibel. “We can’t thank you enough for all your patience and support over the past year and a half.”

In addition to sweeping updates to each restaurant’s now modern interiors – designed by nationally renowned architectural firm Gensler Architects – the floor plans for both Tony and Joe’s and Nick’s have been updated to better emphasize the stunning waterfront views afforded of the Potomac River.

The menu too at both locations has received a complete facelift thanks to newly appointed Chef David Stein. Poached from his former culinary home at Bistro St. Michael’s on the Eastern Shore, he plans on placing a considerable seafood emphasis at Tony and Joe’s, while applying a casual gourmet, ‘new American cooking’ influence to Nick’s.

But as much as things have changed at the newly remodeled restaurants, all of the qualities that made them originally so great have been kept. The family’s hands-on influence and Tony and Joe’s signature Sunday Brunch, for example, will happily continue.

A fresh start for a Washington institution.