Big French Bistro Bar Colline Opens in Arlington Near Amazon HQ2 | Eater DC
"An all-day brasserie from D.C. hospitality brothers Ian and Eric Hilton has opened in National Landing (269 19th Court S.), a 14-minute drive away from their original, debuting Friday, July 11 — coincidentally just ahead of France’s Bastille Day on Monday, July 14. H2 Collective’s longtime chef Brendan L’Etoile imports staples from the five-year-old original, including its top-selling steak frites dunked in bearnaise, croque madame, and duck confit, while the much larger footprint — room for 230 guests, a big patio decked out in string lights that seats 40, and a 50-foot wraparound bar — allows the kitchen to add items like chickpea fritters, chilled corn soup, and weekly specials and to accommodate more walk-ins. “We have a larger assortment of smaller plates for a quick lunch-type thing for people who can’t linger and need to get back to their desks,” Ian Hilton tells Eater. A daily happy hour features $6 red, white, and rosé pours from 3–6 p.m., and hours to start are Sunday–Thursday 11 a.m.–9 p.m. and Friday–Saturday 11 a.m.–10 p.m. Ian also reflects on the neighborhood’s transformation: “I remember this area full of government contractors hanging out at nondescript buildings,” says Hilton, of the artist formerly known as Crystal City. “It’s gone through major changes and it’s nice to see people walking around all the time, even in 100 degrees.” Eric — yes, that Eric Hilton of Thievery Corporation fame — has stepped back from touring to focus on the brothers’ hospitality business, which is juggling several large projects (including a big new El Rey and the long-term restoration of Potomac’s Normandie Farm: “It’s a labor of love that’s taking a long time to do,” says Ian Hilton)." - Tierney Plumb
