Opening a sit-down restaurant east of the Anacostia has its challenges, but proprietors don’t lack media attention. Last year, Ray’s the Steaks East River opened to much press fawning. This year, Uniontown Bar & Grill debuted to an even more rapturous reception, with almost too-good-to-be-true tale of a hometown gal who’d decided to give back to her long-neglected neighborhood, demonstrating its revival for all to see. Alas, the locals don’t always eat happily ever after. Ray’s closed “for renovations” in October, and the proprietor of Uniontown has been charged with possession and trafficking of cocaine. There’s a chance that Ray’s will re-open, and that Uniontown will continue operations. But in an area with precious few white-tablecloth joints to claim as its own, the dinged reputations will be difficult to overcome.