Chef Tim Ma Decides to Take on DC With New Resto in Shaw

In today’s latest DC restaurant news, celebrated Virginia-based Chef and Restaurateur Tim Ma (of Water & Wall, Gather + Feast) officially announced plans for his first restaurant in Washington DC.   ‘Freehand,’ an upscale casual French & Asian Bistro with a “home-like setting” should open in Shaw as early as November 2015 in the new mixed-use commercial and residential space The Shay.

Get ready for a fascinating and unexpected menu – that will constantly change – but will debut with such temptations as 5 Spice Polyface Pig Ears ,Pan-Seared Sweetbreads, and Raw Fluke.

It will be a smaller pace, with seating limited to 50, included a communal table (one of Chef Ma’s signatures) with a revamped Tasting Table experience.   Freehand’s bar will have a separate identity from the restaurant, but will serve as a complement with a simplified menu.

“A large number of chefs and restaurateurs in DC continue to shape Northern Virginia’s growing dining scene, but I think it’s time to reverse that trend a bit by bringing some of Virginia to DC, says Ma, who will also be bringing his “right-hand man”  Chef Nyi Nyi Myint with him to the  new venture. “We love to continually challenge ourselves with new experiences.”