Protein Bar Opens At Corner Of 7th & Delicious; Penn Quarter Location Kicks Off D.C. Expansion

PENN QUARTER -- Proudly touting its mantra of ‘doing healthy… healthier’, Chicago-based Protein Bar opened its first Washington metro area location in Penn Quarter on Wednesday morning.

The window papers come down…
Located at the corner of ‘7th and Delicious’ (or 7th and D streets, really), the new high-protein eatery brings the chain’s signature line of healthy breakfast bowls, ‘bar-ritos’, salads, and, of course, shakes to the District for the first time.

Opening day lines around the block.

But smelling an opportunity, yesterday’s grand opening marks just the first in a series of ambitious area expansion plans, with Protein Bar planning roughly an additional 14 locations throughout the DMV over the next year or two.

While most ‘fast’ (e.g., high customer turnover) restaurants do their best to conceal calorie counts and ingredient lists from diners, Protein Bar does the exact opposite, with detailed caloric, protein, fat, carb, and fiber counts proudly listed next to most menu items.

The restaurant’s focus on ‘food with a purpose’ likely has much to do with the background of its creator and owner, Matt Matros, who could also be found diligently supervising yesterday’s D.C. opening.

Protein Bar creator Matt Matros greets the Penn Quarter location’s first customer.

A self-described former ‘fat kid’, Matros lost 60 pounds in the summer of 2001 after switching to a high-protein diet and a more active lifestyle. An added perk? He was recently named one of Chicago’s most eligible bachelors.

Unlike the fad diets of yesteryears, high protein to Protein Bar doesn’t translate into an outright ban on carbs. Rather, the focus is on overall health through the use of quality ingredients (think organic quinoa, all-natural chicken, whole wheat flour, and golden flaxseed).

The Washington menu doesn’t vary much from its Chicago counterparts. Indeed, the only real difference is the names of the signature drinks and shakes. Particularly cleverly labeled are the ‘Monumental Perk’ and the ‘Politics Acai’d’ (pronounced ‘Politics Aside’).

Love your food, don’t fry it D.C.