Moving into the space recently vacated by Mickey’s Patio on Eighth Street Southeast is The Old Siam, a family-run Thai restaurant that is expected to open next week. In a corner of the city where Thai restaurants are surprisingly sparse, the new restaurant will add yet another cuisine choice to the budding Barracks Row.

The meandering space comprises a long bar covered in ornate black and gold Thai fabric, a rear dining room with skylights that looks out over a patio, and a second dining room painted in warm earth tones.

The restaurant, located at 406 Eighth St. SE, will be open for lunch and dinner and will offer take-out and possibly delivery.

On Mount Vernon Square, the talented team behind DC Coast, TenPenh and Ceiba will unveil its fourth restaurant in September at 901 New York Ave. NW.

Acadiana, named for the Southwestern bayou region of Louisiana, is being billed as a seafood house and will feature classic Louisiana cocktails like the hurricane, Sazerac and Ramos fizz.

Owners Gus DiMillo, Jeff Tunks and David Wizenberg are heading down to the Bayou State for a research trip in April to collect recipes and inspiration.

Diners can look forward to Gulf Coast-inspired cuisine such as gumbo, oysters, crawfish bisque and turtle soup. Pastry Chef David Guas’ dessert menu is already taking shape with confections like beignets, brandy milk punch crème br<@TM>lée, bourbon chocolate ice cream and pralines.

Iron gratings, plantation shutters, chandeliers and murals of the bayou in the dining room will also help transport diners down South.

A few blocks down Ninth Street, Oya is expected to open near the end of the month. D.C. native Errol Lawrence has hired Kingsley John to head the kitchen in his new restaurant. John previously worked under renowned Aquavit Chef Marcus Samuelsson in New York City.

The restaurant, located at 777 Ninth St. NW, will combine fine dining with a vibrant lounge scene. Stay tuned for more details.

To Do List. Head to one of the numerous Washington-area restaurants participating in Dining Out for Life on March 10, and a portion (or all) of your bill will go to Food and Friends, a nonprofit organization that provides meals and groceries for people in the metropolitan area living with HIV, AIDS and other serious illnesses.

Restaurants donating 100 percent of dinner sales include Ristorante Tosca and Opera (formerly Kuna). The 50 percent bracket includes Andale, Georgia Brown’s, Luigino and Mimi’s American Bistro.

On Capitol Hill, Banana Café, Café Berlin, La Plaza, Meyhané, The Monocle, Mr. Henry’s and Starfish Café are donating 25 percent of sales.

As added incentive, all diners will be entered to win two roundtrip airline tickets courtesy of Jet Blue. For addresses and a complete list of participating restaurants, visit https://www.foodandfriends.org.

On March 24, Share Our Strength will host its 18th Taste of the Nation at the Wardman Park Marriott.

More than 50 wineries and restaurants, including Equinox, Zola and Palette, will be on hand to offer samples. This year’s “Destination DC” theme will highlight the work of the city’s local artists and designers along with its top chefs.

General admission is $75. For an additional $35 in advance, guests gain access to a private lounge hosted by Kimpton Hotels featuring food from Firefly, Poste, Bar Rouge, Helix Lounge and Topaz Bar. Specialty martinis, massages, tarot card readings and a DJ are also included.

A $200 VIP ticket offers dedicated seating for the event, a full bar and access to the Kimpton lounge.

Ticket sales benefit Food and Friends, Community Family Life Services and the Capital Area Food Bank. Call (877) 268-2783 or visit https://www.tasteofthenation.org for tickets.