Application for liqour license, La Fonda
We knew that the AM/PM Carry Out would be closing soon, as their lease was coming to an end (which I know I read about somewhere, but can’t find a story about it). It appears to be closed now, and there is already a liquor license application up on the building for La Fonda, a Tex-Mex style restaurant. The application says that the seating capacity will be 220, with a sidewalk cafe with seating for about 50. The application also says there will be live entertainment. The hours stated are pretty long, from 7 am to 2 am on weekdays, open till 3 am on Friday and Saturday.
I gotta say, I’m a bit sad to see this place close, though we knew it was inevitable. Here’s hoping La Fonda is good.
U Street Girl 
September 20, 2010 at 10:16 am
So, AM/PM carryout is worth trying before they get booted?
September 20, 2010 at 4:16 pm
I’m not sure if they’re still open (the place looked pretty cleared out when I walked by). The food isn’t spectacular, but it’s an affordable lunch option for the neighborhood, which is slowly losing affordable options.
These type of no-nonsense, carry out places serve a purpose in neighborhoods. I don’t know if La Fonda will be upscale, but my guess would be yes, especially with the sidewalk cafe.
It’s gentrification, when it comes down to it. I’d like to live in a neighborhood that caters to more than one type of person, and that has more than one type of person that lives there. I think seeing this place close just means U street is getting further away from that.
You probably didn’t want that long of a response, but that’s what I meant to say, but didn’t, when I said that I was sad to see it go.
September 22, 2010 at 10:35 pm
Hmm. Is this the same La Fonda that used to be at the corner of 17th and R back in the day? The one that would suspiciously burn down every few years? The food was mediocre, if I remember correctly, but the margaritas were strong and yummy.
September 23, 2010 at 8:48 am
Maybe, Christine? I’m doing some digging but not finding any info about the names of the old owners of the place at 17th and R – if you have that info we could verify it easily.
September 29, 2010 at 3:56 pm
Does this mean the community center in the back is closing too?
September 29, 2010 at 6:14 pm
John, I’m not sure – it’s not clear yet. I’ll post when I know.
October 4, 2010 at 8:28 am
[…] 20 years, a fixture in the neighborhood for sure. Farewell, AM PM Carryout. Tex Mex restaurant La Fonda will take over the space. Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)New Year’s Eve on U street […]
October 4, 2010 at 4:08 pm
Good to have more variety in the area. Still plenty of cheap options in the U Street area. 24-7, Greek Spot, Chix, tons of happy hour deals at a number of U street establishments, and hop over to 7th St and you’ve got Wilson’s, a couple of Caribbean places, and Food Corner that serves Pakistani food.