new restaurant

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Construction of a building on Wilson Blvd in Ballston

Blog Points Out Bike Lane Blockers — Frustrated with supposed inaction by Arlington County Police, a local resident has created a Tumblr site to publicly “shame” the owners of vehicles that illegally park or idle in bike lanes in Arlington. [Arlington Bike Lane Blockers]

Clarendon Farmers Market Starts Tonight — The Clarendon Farmers Market is back for the season, starting tonight. The market will run from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m., in the newly renovated Clarendon Central Park, next to the Metro entrance. The market will run every Wednesday through Dec. 18 before taking a break for the winter. Another seasonal farmers market, the Crystal City Freshfarm Market, is set to start the season on Tuesday, April 30. [Clarendon Alliance, Freshfarm Markets]

District Taco to Open Third Location — District Taco, which opened its first location on Lee Highway, is getting ready to open its third location. The new District Taco restaurant, like the second location, will be located in D.C. [Prince of Petworth]

Tejada Talks Immigration Reform — County Board Chair Walter Tejada spoke to a group of pro-immigration supporters at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Clarendon Tuesday morning. Tejada told the crowth that “it is our duty” to “work and fight together for comprehensive immigration reform.” The group is planning a rally at the Capitol next week. [WJLA]

Fire Weather Watch — The region is under a Fire Weather Watch. Gusty winds and low humidity are creating ideal conditions for brush fires. [Capital Weather Gang]

La Tagliatella Now Open in Clarendon

By ARLnow.com
1/14

La Tagliatella has opened its first Arlington location.

The international Italian restaurant chain opened its new Clarendon location, in the former Restaurant 3 space at 2950 Clarendon Blvd, earlier today (Monday). The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner daily, from 11:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Though the chain originated in Spain, La Tagliatella has constructed an elaborate interior in Clarendon, designed to mimic an Old World Italian restaurant.

“Acclaimed Atlanta design firm ai3 assisted European designers of DecoRetro to create a special ambiance with a rich tapestry of textures, colors and patterns,” the company said in a press release. “This authentic style mirrors the Old World culture and traditions, transporting guests to a real and true experience of European dining.”

The menu consists of traditional Italian favorites, plus a selection of beer and wine.

“La Tagliatella’s signature menu features a variety of authentic dishes including several pasta and sauce combinations and unique Napoletano-style pizzas, all created with the finest key ingredients imported from the northern region of Italy,” the company said. “La Tagliatella offers 50 selections of wine by the bottle and glass as well as several bottled and draft beers.”

This is La Tagliatella’s third restaurant in the U.S. The company is planning to open a second Arlington location in Shirlington, in the former Extra Virgin space.

Tropical Smoothie Cafe Adding Ballston Mall Location

By Katie Pyzyk

Tropical Smoothie Cafe in Virginia Square(Updated at 12:40 p.m.) Tropical Smoothie Cafe in Virginia Square (3811 Fairfax Drive) only has been open for about seven months, but owner Marcus Barnett is already expanding. He will soon open a new location in the Ballston Common Mall.

“We wanted to branch off and we were tipped off about the upcoming mall renovations,” said Barnett. “An opportunity presented itself and we wanted to be a part of that.”

The mall location will be in the food court and won’t yet feature the full menu offered at the Virginia Square location. The focus will be on smoothies, salads, breakfast and energy bars, but wraps and sandwiches will not yet be offered. Barnett said the plan is to eventually expand to a full menu, probably after the mall renovations are completed.

Although the two locations will be close in proximity, Barnett anticipates a totally different clientele.

“All those businesses in the area [Ballston], they don’t really come down to us. Even though it’s so close, just five minutes away, they don’t really come over here,” he said. “There’s a lot of new people and businesses in that area and we want to give them a healthier option.”

Tropical Smoothie Cafe should open sometime in May in the space previously occupied by Crêpe Paris.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

View across the Key Bridge into D.C.

It’s the First Day of Spring — At 7:02 this morning, astronomical winter ended and spring officially began. Spring also means longer days. Currently, we’re gaining about two and a half minutes of daylight per day. [Capital Weather Gang]

EFC Has Fullest Metro Parking Lot — East Falls Church has the fullest parking lot in the Metro system, with a 120 percent usage rate. Demand for the lot is only expected to increase when the Silver Line opens. [Washington Examiner]

Playground Coming to Long Bridge Park — The Arlington County Board yesterday approved $186,000 in funding for a new playground at Long Bridge Park, near Crystal City. [Sun Gazette]

La Tagliatella to Open in Shirlington — La Tagliatella, which is starting to wrap up work on its new restaurant in Clarendon, will be opening a second Arlington restaurant in the former Extra Virgin space in Shirlington. La Tagliatella is a global, European-based Italian restaurant chain. The Arlington restaurants will be the company’s third and fourth locations in the U.S. [Northern Virginia Magazine]

Board Approves Neighborhood Projects — As expected, the County Board yesterday approved $2.5 million in funding for five Neighborhood Conservation projects. The funds will come from bonds approved by Arlington voters. [Arlington County]

La Tagliatella to Open April 1

By ARLnow.com
1/3

It’s still under construction in Clarendon, but owners of La Tagliatella say the new restaurant will be opening on Monday, April 1.

The European-based Italian restaurant chain has more than 130 locations worldwide, but the Clarendon location — in the former Restaurant 3 space at 2950 Clarendon Blvd — will only be the company’s third U.S. location, after two in the Atlanta area.

“Showcasing traditional Italian recipes made with the highest quality ingredients, La Tagliatella offers guests a relaxed-yet-distinctive atmosphere,” the company said in a press release (after the jump). “La Tagliatella’s signature menu features a variety of authentic dishes including more than 400 pasta and sauce combinations and several unique Napoletano-style pizzas, all created with the finest key ingredients imported from the northern region of Italy.”

After it opens on April 1, La Tagliatella will be serve lunch and dinner seven days a week. It will be open Sunday through Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.

(more…)

Sweet Leaf Cafe Coming to Courthouse

By ARLnow.com

Sweet Leaf Cafe in Vienna (photo via Facebook) Hikaru Sushi (photo via Google Maps)

Sweet Leaf Cafe, a local coffee-sandwich-and-salad shop with locations in McLean and Vienna, will soon be coming to Courthouse.

Building permits are up at the former Hikaru Sushi space at 2200 Wilson Blvd, one block from the Courthouse Metro. At that location, Sweet Leaf will be competing with a nearby Starbucks and Java Shack for cafe customers, but will fill something of a salad void following the closure of Rabbit Salad and Grill in Clarendon.

Sweet Leaf’s menu includes breakfast items, sandwiches, salads, ice cream, frozen yogurt, cupcakes and other pastries, tea, coffee and espresso drinks.

Owned by Arita and Andre Matini, Sweat Leaf Cafe first opened in McLean when the siblings were just 22 and 27, according to the restaurant’s website. The Vienna location opened in 2011.

One local business owner, who didn’t want his name used for this article, lauded Sweet Leaf and its owners.

“I think it will be f–king awesome for this neighborhood,” he said. “That’s one of the places we need around here, I think it’s great news and they’re really great people.”

Photos via Facebook, Google Maps

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

A small sailboat on the Potomac (photo by Sunday Money)

‘Mussel Bar’ to Open in Ballston — Mussel Bar & Grille, from restauranteur Robert Wiedmaier, is set to open at 800 N. Glebe Road in Ballston this summer. The small gastropub chain has existing locations in Bethesda and Atlantic City. Wiedmaier is also known for BRABO in Old Town Alexandria and Marcel’s and Brasserie Beck in D.C. [Washington City Paper]

Deputy County Manager to Retire — Deputy County Manager Marsha Allgeier is planning to retire, and the county is now searching for her successor. Allgeier has worked for Arlington County since 1998. [Sun Gazette]

Arlington Mom Survives Flesh-Eating Bacteria — An Arlington mom has survived a case of necrotizing fasciitis, the flesh-eating bacteria. Erin Smythers, a mother of three, developed the infection after getting a small cut on her finger. [WJLA]

Wakefield in State Semis Tonight — The Wakefield Warriors boys basketball team will face John Marshall in the state semifinals tonight. Tipoff is scheduled for 8:45 p.m. at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond. Update at 2:00 p.m.: The video will be streamed live online, via the Wakefield High School website. [Northern Va. Sports]

Flickr pool photo by Sunday Money

New Restaurant Coming to Virginia Square

By ARLnow.com

Pines of Florence restaurant in Ballston

(Updated at 10:25 p.m.) A new restaurant is coming to 3811 Fairfax Drive in Virginia Square, but details about it are sparse.

The restaurant will be run by Tim Ma and Joey Hernandez, of Maple Avenue Restaurant in Vienna. This month Ma was named “DC’s Hottest Chef” by the food website Eater. No word yet on what type of food the restaurant will serve, but Maple Avenue Restaurant serves “eclectic American Cuisine… blending Asian, Latin American and French flavors.”

Reached by phone, Ma declined to comment except to confirm that plans were in the works. A state permit application describes the restaurant generally as having a seating capacity of 100 or less and serving wine, beer and mixed drinks. So far, we’ve been unable to find any building permit applications associated with the restaurant.

Local restaurant chronicler Don Rockwell reports that the restaurant will be called “Water & Wall” and will replace the current Pines of Florence restaurant.

Fast, Casual Thai Restaurant Coming to Rosslyn

By Katie Pyzyk

Tom Yum District to open in RosslynIf you’re looking for a quick bite, but prefer Asian to Chipotle, a new restaurant coming to Rosslyn may be the answer.

The owners of T.H.A.I. in Shirlington are launching a restaurant called Tom Yum District at 1515 Wilson Blvd., which will focus on on fast, made to order dishes. Co-owner Aulie Bunyarataphan and her husband Mel Oursinsiri have been planning this for some time.

“We are very excited about this one. We have been working on this concept for more than two years,” said Bunyarataphan. “It’s the first Thai restaurant around in this format.”

The restaurant will be geared toward customers who want Thai food without having to engage in a full sit-down experience. The menu will feature standard rice and noodle dishes with Bunyarataphan’s special sauces, along with some of her specialty dishes.

“Thai food can be easy and healthy and top quality, fast and fresh,” she said. “By the time you get to the cashier, the food will be ready.”

Initially, customers will be able to eat in or carry out, but the plan is to add online ordering and delivery in the future. Construction is underway at the site and the owners expect a late spring opening, hopefully in late May or early June.

New Ballston Sandwich Shop to Open in April

By ARLnow.com
1/5

A new sandwich shop is expected to open in Ballston in April.

Which Wich, which is replacing the former Daily Grind coffee shop at 4300 Wilson Blvd, has set Monday, April 22 as a tentative opening date, according to company spokesperson Hala Habal.

Based in Dallas, Texas, Which Wich has more than 300 locations in 30 states. The Arlington location is the first in the D.C. area and the third in Virginia.

The company is best known for its customizable sandwiches and its unique ordering system.

Which Wich offers more than 50 varieties of customizable, toasted “wiches,” from the signature Wicked® sandwich, loaded with five meats (turkey, ham, roast beef, pepperoni, and bacon) and choice of three cheeses, to unique items such as Thank You Turkey®, with stuffing and cranberry sauce. The Which Wich menu also includes plenty of vegetarian options, such as tomato & avocado and black bean patty, as well as 30 healthy wiches and bowls for less than 400 calories each. Guests can dine in or take out. Catering is also available.

Which Wich is known for its creative ordering system. Guests use red Sharpies® to mark up pre-printed menus on sandwich bags. They select a sandwich from one of 10 categories, then choose the bread, cheese, spreads, and toppings. The sandwiches are prepared to guests’ exact specifications, toasted to perfection, and delivered in the now-personalized sandwich bags. After they’ve enjoyed their wiches, guests are encouraged to draw on their bags using red Sharpies and hang their “artwork” on the community wall.

In addition to customized, toasted wiches, customers can enjoy hand-dipped shakes, signature house chips, and just-out-of-the-oven cookies in an edgy yet magnetic environment. Which Wich locations newspaper reading stations, free wi-fi, and a community wall showcasing the sandwich bag artwork.

Which Wich is also proud of its Sandwichfaction Guarantee®. We stand behind all of our sandwiches. If you’re not 100% satisfied with your wich at the time you receive it, we will replace it, refund your money, or both.

Store photos courtesy “JohnB2”

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