Celebrating 27 Years
of Neighborly Hospitality

The Neighborhood Restaurant Group (NRG) was founded in 1997. What began modestly with the Evening Star Cafe, a convivial corner restaurant in Alexandria’s Del Ray neighborhood, has now grown to include seventeen restaurants, two breweries, a wine shop, a bakery and coffee shop, a butchery, a food hall, a retail concept with numerous locations and more. Combined, the restaurants employ over 1000 people and participate in a number of charitable projects to benefit organizations such as Share Our Strength, Capital Area Food Bank, Boys & Girls Club of America, Alexandria Child Fund, Carpenter’s Shelter, Martha’s Table, DC Central Kitchen and Think Local First DC.

As its name suggests, NRG is a group of companies, not a single corporation. We are a collective of talented and committed restaurant professionals who share common goals: to open and operate independent, exceptional, distinctive, and conscientious chef driven restaurants with ambitious beverage programs, to create unique gathering places that reflect the communities in which they are located, and to surpass the expectations of our guests.

NRG’s businesses include the Evening Star, Planet Wine, Vermilion, Rustico, Josephine, Mallard, ChurchKey, Buzz Bakeshop, Red Apron, Bluejacket, Iron Gate, B Side, The Sovereign, Slice Joint, The Roost, Caruso’s Grocery and Owen’s Tavern & Garden, and others. The Neighborhood Restaurant Group remains focused on and committed to its community and guests and is constantly seeking new ways to better serve them both.