Washington DC

• Coin of the realm. MichelVerdon, the man who ran Les Halles, has opened a restaurant of his own, Bistrot du Coin, in the former Food for Thought space on Connecticut Avenue at Dupont Circle. Verdon describes it as a neighborhood French bistro after his own heart: "French, fun, and friendly." Chef Yannis Felix also hails from Les Halles.

• From the early 1920s until its close in 1978, the Majestic Cafe on King Street in Old Town, Alexandria, was a localinstitution. Now, Florida restaurateur Martin Black anda group of investors arereopening the restaurant. It's slated to have a Southernnouvelle flair.

• Mrs. Simpson's on Connecticut Avenue in Woodley Park has reopened, with front-of-the-house man extraordinaire Martin Garbisu, best known from his reign at The Jockey Club and, most recently, Greenwood atCleveland Park.

• More steakhouses are soon to fill Tysons Corner, including The Capital Grill and Fleming's Steakhouse. Ruth's Chris Steakhouse has been scouting the area.

• Andy Shallal (Luna Grill, Luna Diner, et al.) will open Mimi's at the new Marriott Residence Inn, now under construction on P Street at Dupont Circle. A February opening is planned.

• Matthew O'Dell is now executive sous-chef at the Grand Hyatt in Washington. He was formerly at the Hyatt Reston's Market Street Bar & Grill.

• Enzo Febbraro (ex-Villa Franco) has joined Red Tomato as executive chef.

• Nathan Koons is now executive chef at Old Angler's.