Silver, from the Silver Diner Team, Eyes Downtown DC

Silver Diner business partners Bob Giaimo and Chef Ype Von Hengst are planning to finally get a concept open in D.C. proper. But it won't be Silver Diner.

The restaurant owners are launching Silver, a more upscale concept, and are shopping around for sites in downtown DC. "We're sort of calling it his third act," said real estate broker Bill Miller of Giaimo, who also ran the American Cafe chain of restaurants in the DC area before selling the company and going on to establish Silver Diner.

Silver locations will have a sleek new look designed by architecture firm Core, with lots of blues and metallic touches. The places look much more restaurant than diner, with wood finishes and catchy lighting. The company is working with Miller Walker to find locations that are between 4,000 and 6,000 square feet in size, but they haven't signed any deals yet.

Silver will serve dishes such as sliders, goat cheese bruschetta and ahi tuna tacos, as well as beverages such as adult milkshake flights and craft beer. The restaurant will maintain its relationships with local farmers that have revitalized the brand in recent years.

The company has flirted with the urban scene before. Its Silver Diner Metro concept had been geared towards more walkable locations, as well as airports, but it was much more similar to the traditional diner format.

· All Previous Silver Diner Coverage [-EDC-]