new restaurant

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com
A jet takes off from Reagan National Airport at twilight (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Whiskey Bar Coming to Clarendon — “Chicken + Whiskey is branching out into Northern Virginia. The Peruvian rotisserie chicken restaurant and whiskey bar, which got its start from a smaller location in Logan Circle in 2017, has inked a deal for a new location near the Clarendon Metro in Arlington County. The 5,708-square-foot restaurant is slated to open late this year or early next at 3033 Wilson Blvd.” [Washington Business Journal]

It’s Flood Awareness Week — “Flooding is the most common and costly natural disaster in the United States and it is becoming more frequent with climate change. As we head into the typical rainy season, Arlington County and Fairfax County are teaming up for Virginia Flood Awareness Week to get out key messages of being informed and prepared.” [Arlington County]

Bill to Limit Gov. Powers — “Five of Arlington’s seven-member General Assembly delegation voted in support of a measure that will limit the power of governors to act unilaterally for an indeterminate period in a crisis. Legislation sponsored by state Sen. David Suetterlein (R-Roanoke) on March 9 cleared the House of Delegates on a 91-8 vote, following earlier passage in the state Senate by a margin of 29-11. Gov. Youngkin is expected to sign the bill.” [Sun Gazette]

Arlington Kids Hold Ukraine Bake Sale — “Our boys and friends wanted to do something to help the people of #Ukraine – they decided on a bake sale. They raised $900+ today and it’s now headed to medical staff that are getting supplies to the Ukraine/Poland border. Nice job kiddos.” [Twitter]

Bishop O’Connell Swimmer Stands Out — “For Kate Bailey, her time to receive deserved recognition as a standout high-school swimmer in Arlington came this season in her final senior campaign. During past winter years, Bailey and other top local swimmers performed in the shadow of 2022 Yorktown High School graduate and Summer Olympian Torri Huske. With Huske now swimming in college at Stanford University, Bailey’s accomplishments this winter drew more attention.” [Sun Gazette]

It’s Monday — Partly cloudy throughout the day. High of 58 and low of 31. Sunrise at 7:22 am and sunset at 7:16 pm. [Weather.gov]

A combo chicken and steak halal restaurant is coming to Crystal City

By Matt Blitz
1/3

A halal restaurant franchise is opening a new concept in Crystal City potentially by the end of this year.

The company, PPOVA LLC, has leased a 2,400 square foot space at 2323 S. Eads Street to launch a combination restaurant featuring chicken concept Peri-Peri Original and beef-focused Kallisto Steakhouse, as first reported by the Washington Business Journal in the fall. Both concepts will be halal and were originally launched in the United Kingdom.

This is part of an effort to bring those restaurant concepts to the U.S., particularly Northern Virginia, representatives of leasing agent Rappaport told ARLnow.

A building permit was applied for at the beginning of the month, county records note, and demolition and construction is currently underway. The hope that the business will open by the end of the year, Rappaport representatives said.

PPOVA LLC also owns food court concept Spice Village in Herndon, where both of these concepts are already serving.

This will be Kallisto Steakhouse’s first location other than Herndon and the seventh Peri-Peri Original in the region. The closest current Peri-Peri Original location is in Alexandria, in the same shopping center as Wegmans.

The appeal of this location in the Crystal City area is obvious to their clients, the leasing brokers said. With already established residential and office density, and Amazon’s HQ2 workforce continuing to grow in the area, this is an investment in the future, the leasing reps said.

“[They] are planting a flag today, so when the transition really comes, they’ll be well-established in the neighborhood,” said Rappaport’s Christian Kingston.

Plus, the availability of surface parking is an attractive feature of the space. With the increase in demand for food take-out and delivery options, the restaurant owners wanted a brick and mortar location that had accessible parking.

Serving halal food is also something the new tenant prides itself on, Kingston noted, believing that the neighborhood is lacking sufficient options in that respect.

The combo restaurant is opening only a few doors down from Crystal City stalwart 24-hour Kabob Palace, which serves halal food as well, and next to Shawarma Gyros Xpress.

Rappaport is also looking to lease the space on the other side of Shawarma Gyros Xpress, noting that it remains available for a new tenant.

Construction begins on revamped Crystal City Water Park and courtyard along Crystal Drive

By Jo DeVoe
1/10

Construction has started on major renovations to the Crystal City Water Park, JBG Smith announced Monday.

JBG Smith will update the existing, 1.6-acre park at 1601 Crystal Drive with new restaurant kiosks and seating areas, a full-service restaurant, new water features — including a “water wall” with a bar perched on top — and a stage.

The Arlington County Board approved plans for the park in March 2021, after deferring an earlier proposal that members predicted would lead to unsafe pedestrian and cyclist interactions.

The privately-owned park has long hosted small food and drink vendors. The new kiosks will highlight local, minority- and women-owned businesses, “local favorites” and “renowned names,” JBG Smith says.

“We are particularly excited about the Water Park kiosks, which will serve as incubator spaces where up-and-coming chefs and [restaurateurs] can experiment and grow,” JBG Smith Senior Vice President of Retail Leasing Amy Rice said in a statement.

In addition to decorative water features, the revamped park will also feature public art installations and a building with public restrooms and bike facilities near the entrance to the Mt. Vernon Trail. JBG Smith says it is working with Virginia Railway Express to build an accessible connection to the future entrance of the relocated VRE station.

The Water Park is not the only JBG-owned public space getting upgrades. Two blocks south at 2121 Crystal Drive, a lightly used private park space in front of an office building will see renovations and the construction of a 5,587-square-foot restaurant. Work on that project also started recently.

The restaurant, named Surreal, will be led by Chef Enrique Limardo and his team, which are behind Seven Reasons and Imperfecto in D.C.

JBG Smith expects to complete both the Crystal City Water Park and Surreal in 2023.

“We see these both as inviting public spaces where families will enjoy a sunny day and colleagues can gather after work for a drink, a bite to eat and live music,” said JBG Smith Executive Vice President Bryan Moll in a statement.

Visitors will be able to keep their drinks in hand as they walk these open spaces. Last year, the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority gave the developer the go-ahead to establish a “sip and stroll” zone within the boundaries of Crystal City Water Park and the courtyard.

It will be Arlington’s third “sip and stroll” zone, after the Village at Shirlington and Westpost (formerly Pentagon Row).

These two projects, plus Amazon’s second headquarters and other redevelopment projects by JBG Smith, will triple the number of retail businesses in Crystal City, Pentagon City and Potomac Yard, dubbed National Landing, the developer says.

Japanese restaurant Yuraku planning to open next month in long-vacant Rosslyn space

By Matt Blitz
1/2

Japanese restaurant Yuraku is looking to open in Rosslyn by next month.

The Germantown-based sushi spot is aiming to start serving by early April, a co-owner says. The menu likely will be “slightly different” than the menu at the Maryland location, we’re told.

There will also be both outdoor and indoor seating. A permit issued in the summer notes that a new sushi bar was added, in addition to other changes including alterations to the kitchen.

ARLnow first reported nearly a year ago that the restaurant was moving into the long-vacant ground floor restaurant space of the Turnberry Tower condo building at 1850 Fort Myer Drive, a block or two from the Rosslyn Metro station.

The off-the-beaten path location, which is somewhat obscured by shrubs, was previously home to Secret Chopsticks and Pancho Villa Mexican Cuisine. Both restaurants closed in relative short order. The space has been vacant for more than four years.

Yuraku first opened in Germantown in 1998, per its website, and serves sushi, sake, udon noodles, sashimi, tempura, and other Japanese fare. The name “Yuraku” translates to “pleasure,” according to a trademark filing.

Hat tip to Edward MacNabb

McLean-based The Union restaurant is coming to Va. Square

By Matt Blitz
The Union is coming to 3811 Fairfax Dr. (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

The Union, a McLean-based “casual fine dining” restaurant, is opening a second location in Arlington.

The hope is to start serving at 3811 Fairfax Drive, in the Virginia Square area, by the end of the month, chef and owner Giridhar Sastry tells ARLnow.

The Union is coming to the former location of Burgerim, which closed early last year. The menu, decor, and experience at the Arlington location will be “exactly the same” as it is in McLean.

Sastry describes The Union’s menu as a showcase for a diverse range of cuisine.

“The DMV is a melting pot of different cultures,” Sastry says. “So, we have a little bit of everything.”

That includes shrimp po-boys, Asian salad, Thai coconut shrimp soup, Mumbai paninis, and churros. The beer menu will keep things closer to home — everything on tap will be local.

Sastry is originally from Calcutta, India and came to America for culinary school about two decades ago. He’s worked as a chef at the Ritz-Carlton, Mayflower Hotel in D.C., and other Northern Virginia restaurants.

He opened The Union in McLean in February 2020, having “one good month” before needing to shut down due to the pandemic. But 2021 was a solid overall, he says, and opening a second location was always part of the plan.

Sastry says he chose the neighborhood, within easy walking distance of Ballston, because of the demographics.

“The menu is geared towards the fast paced, younger crowd who’s hungry,” he says.

Construction is nearly done, Sastry said, and the restaurant is now waiting on licenses and final inspections.

New seafood spot casting its line in Clarendon, hoping to catch an August opening

By Matt Blitz
1/3

New seafood eatery Seamore’s is looking to open in Clarendon in the late summer, possibly by August, co-owner Jay Wainwright tells ARLnow.

The New York-based chain first announced its move here in November. It will be the restaurant’s first location outside of New York City. Ownership chose the D.C. region, specifically Clarendon, due to its proximity to the Chesapeake Bay.

“Seamore’s ethos is about local and sustainability,” Wainwright says. “We think the Potomac and Chesapeake Region is the next great place for us for our concept.”

Seamore’s touts fresh seafood from local sources. A large portion of what will be served at the restaurant will be from the Bay, he says.

Wainwright also noted that Clarendon’s demographic is a “perfect fit” due to the vibrancy and walkability of the neighborhood.

Seamore’s will splash into newly-rebranded The Crossing Clarendon, at the corner of N. Edgewood Street and Clarendon Blvd, a spot that was previously the home of Baja Fresh. The space has been without a tenant for more than three years and the building recently underwent major renovations.

The 2,605 square foot restaurant is next door to Tatte Bakery, the Boston-based cafe that opened in September.

Seamore’s decor and menu in Arlington will differ from the New York locations.

“We are working with some local artists to add some Chesapeake accents which we think will stand out,” a restaurant spokesperson told ARLnow in an email in regards to decor. “Keep an eye out overhead when you dine for a school of fish that may be swimming by.”

Much of the menu is still to be determined, says Wainwright, and will be at the discretion of the local executive chef the company is currently looking to hire. But it will also be dependent on what’s being caught locally.

“Essentially, we only serve what the [fishermen] catch,” the spokesperson said. “As a result, our menu changes daily if not hourly based on what the local [fishermen] are bringing us.”

There are currently six Seamore’s locations, all in New York. The menus include local oysters, lobster rolls, monkfish, crispy squid, scallops, steelhead trout, catch of the day, seared tuna, and “fisherman’s stew.” There are also non-seafood options like chicken tinga tacos, kale and avocado salad, and churro ice cream sandwiches.

While this is Seamore’s first foray into Arlington, that’s not the case for Wainwright. He opened the first Cosi in America in the mid-1990s and quickly expanded the fast casual chain. For a number of years, there were several locations in Arlington before the last one closed in Rosslyn early last year.

He also helped grow Le Pain Quotidien in the mid 2000s, which has a location in Clarendon directly across the street from where Seamore’s will be.

Spicy chicken shop Hot Lola’s is expanding into Rosslyn

By Matt Blitz
1/2

Spicy chicken sandwich purveyor Hot Lola’s is opening a second Arlington location, this time in Rosslyn.

The restaurant is opening at 1501 Wilson Blvd, sandwiched between Taco Rock and Miracles Salon. A Virginia ABC permit notice on the door announces the eatery’s intention to serve beer, wine, and mixed beverages.

Hot Lola’s first location at Ballston Quarter, which opened in May 2019, does not sell alcohol, though it’s available for purchase by another vendor inside the Quarter Market food hall.

DCist was first with the restaurant’s intent to open in Rosslyn.

Hot Lola’s is replacing Mediterranean fast casual eatery Roti, which appears to have closed a few months ago, after 10 years in business at that location.

ARLnow has reached out to Hot Lola’s about when the Rosslyn location may open, but has yet to hear back as of publication. The restaurant’s windows are papered over, making it difficult to see the construction progress inside.

The eatery from noted D.C. area chef Kevin Tien is known for its spicy “Nashville x Sichuan hot fried chicken sandwiches.” Other popular options include seasoned waffle fries and chicken tenders.

Hot Lola’s made some news when it instituted a 4% “Fair Wage + Wellness” charge to every check, to help pay for employee health insurance, including dental and vision.

Tien has had other ties to Arlington as well, having previously operated his Wild Tiger BBQ collaboration as a pop-up at Bun’d Up in Pentagon City.

Sushi restaurant Kusshi rolling into Pentagon City this spring

By Matt Blitz
Sushi restaurant Kusshi at Westpost (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Kusshi, known for its sushi and sake, is aiming for an early April opening at Westpost.

The Bethesda-based, high-end Japanese restaurant first announced it was coming to the Pentagon City retail center in June 2021, filling the space once occupied by Nepalese eatery Namaste Everest. That restaurant closed about two years after opening.

Now, Kusshi is hoping to open its doors in less than two months at 1201 S. Joyce Street.

Kusshi was initially supposed to start serving by the end of last year, but delays typical these days (supply chain, permitting, materials) forced the opening back by several months.

Kusshi co-owner Tony Chow tells ARLnow that they decided to make the move to Westpost because the development is owned by the same developer Federal Realty Investment Trust (FRIT) as Bethesda’s Pike & Rose, where the restaurant opened its first location in 2018.

Chow also notes Amazon’s growing presence in the neighborhood as another major reason for choosing Pentagon City for its next location.

There will be indoor and outdoor seating and the menu will be “similar” as the Bethesda location, Chow says. That includes sushi, sashimi, ramen, katsu, sake, and other Japanese fare. The restaurant also offers omakase, a formal meal left to the chef’s choice.

Westpost has changed drastically over the last two years. That even includes the center’s name, changing from Pentagon Row to Westpost in late 2020.

A number of buzzy restaurants opened last year, including Cathal Armstrong’s Mattie and Eddie’s, Lucky Danger, and Mimi’s Handmade Ice Cream.

There are still several more looking to start serving in 2022, including Nighthawk Pizza and Banditos Bar & Kitchen. Target is also planning to open a 34,000 square-foot store in the former Bed, Bath, & Beyond space.

Korean fast casual restaurant SeoulSpice opening in Rosslyn next week with free food

By Matt Blitz
1/5

Korean fast casual eatery SeoulSpice is opening a new location in Rosslyn next week and offering free food for its first customers.

The spot at 1735 N. Lynn Street, on the ground floor of the International Place building, will be SeoulSpice’s sixth location and first in Virginia. It is set to open its doors on Wednesday, Feb. 23, and will be open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

On opening day, each in-store customer can get a “complimentary entrée bowl” while supplies last. Customers must physically be in the restaurant to get the bowl.

The growing restaurant chain, which serves Korean comfort food including rice bowls and japchae noodle bowls, was founded by a world-class percussionist.

“Like all musicians, I’m a foodie,” owner Eric Shin tells ARLnow.

Shin became the principal percussionist with the National Symphony Orchestra about a decade ago. So, when friends came to visit, he would often play “tour guide” taking them to all the popular Korean restaurants in the area.

He soon realized there was a need in the D.C. area for fresh Korean flavors in a more simple, fast-casual format.

So, taking what he learned from his mom who opened a restaurant in Atlanta, he opened his own restaurant in 2016. SeoulSpice’s first location was in D.C. and has since expanded to Maryland.

Over the years, Shin says he’s learned a lot, particularly about how his careers intersect. He’s also a faculty member at the music school at the University of Maryland.

“Food, like music, is this pursuit of perfection,” he says. “There’s so many parallels in music and food, both being incredible ways to learn about culture.”

Food runs in Shin’s family. Many of the recipes come from family members, passed down over generations, with nearly all ingredients prepped and made in-house. The menu includes Korean-style burritos, bibimbap, japchae, bulgogi, kimchi, and sauces, which are all made from scratch.

In fact, Shin ran the entire menu by his grandmother, who approved it save for one item.

“[We] offer cilantro-lime ranch, which is one of my favorite sauces… I’m a ranch addict. But my grandma was so pissed off when we showed her this on the menu,” Shin laughs. “But the flavors really work. It took a lot of convincing… to win [her] over.”

SeoulSpice also ended up being gluten-free, not because Shin intended it to be but because he preferred the complexity of tamari as a soy sauce alternative, which is naturally free of gluten.

The lease was signed for the Rosslyn location prior to the pandemic, Shin says, so it has taken a while to open. Plus, it’s a bit of a challenging space, having operated as a dry cleaning business prior and being under a thousand square feet.

Shin is excited for the opening, though, since Arlington was the most requested location for a new restaurant.

“Practically every week, we got emails from someone in Northern Virginia saying, ‘please come out here!'” he says.

Shin believes that his work as a percussionist is in some ways his “secret sauce” for his success as a restaurateur.

“When you’re practicing in music,” Shin says. “You’re always finding interesting ways to do new things.”

Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls in Shirlington hoping to open by early fall

By Matt Blitz
1/3

(Updated, 11:20 am) It’s still likely going to be at least six more months before diners can get some fresh catch in Shirlington.

Annapolis-based Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls is readying itself for a potential late summer or early fall opening at 4017 Campbell Avenue in the Village at Shirlington, a company spokesperson told ARLnow.

Mason’s is moving into the 1,334-square-foot space formerly occupied by Nirvana Reflexology Spa, which closed late last year.

With construction plans all but finalized, the spokesperson said, the restaurant is now applying for county permits. Records show the restaurant started applying for permits in November.

Mason’s first announced its Arlington arrival in December, its first such location in the county and third in Virginia. The other Northern Virginia location is at Reston Town Center, which opened in 2018. There are also three locations in D.C., in Dupont Circle, Georgetown and Foggy Bottom.

The company has scouted Arlington for a long time, the spokesperson said, particularly Shirlington due to its “town center atmosphere” and abundance of foot traffic. Shirlington has continued to be a hot spot for new businesses with a number of openings announced in recent months, including Astro Beer Hall and CHIKO. Also nearby, The Cookery announced it was closing after the owner choose not to renew the store’s lease.

Opening its Arlington restaurant is part of the lobster roll eatery’s continued expansion, with a number of locations opening recently across the country. With Reston and, soon, Arlington, though, there are no current plans to open more locations in Northern Virginia, we’re told

The menu at Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls consists of, yes, lobster rolls, but also a number of variations of the red crustacean, including lobster bisque, lobster grilled cheese, lobster mac and cheese and lobster salad. There’s also shrimp salad, clam chowder and hot dogs (for the kids).

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Pentagon City Plan Passes Unanimously — “The Arlington County Board adopted a new vision for a vibrant and livable Pentagon City, following an 18-month planning process. The Board voted 5-0 to approve the Pentagon City Sector Plan (PCSP) and its associated Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Ordinance amendments.” More than 110 people spoke at the Board’s meeting on Saturday, many of them opposed to a portion of the plan that would allow a significant increase in density on the RiverHouse property. [Arlington County]

Second HQ2 Phase Advancing — “PenPlace, the 3.2 million-square-foot second phase of Amazon.com Inc.’s second headquarters, has earned the key support of Arlington County staff as it heads into its final stretch of reviews. During the last Site Plan Review Committee meeting Thursday, Peter Schulz, a staffer with the Arlington planning division, said ‘staff has no major outstanding issues’ with regard to PenPlace’s architecture and landscape design.” [Washington Business Journal]

Chipotle Lists Clarendon Location on Website — Despite denying plans to open a Clarendon location, Chipotle has now listed the soon-to-open location at 3017 Clarendon Blvd on its website. [Chipotle]

Cookie Purveyor Coming to Courthouse — “Captain Cookie & The Milkman is opening across the river for the first time as a part of the local treat-yourself brand’s ongoing regional expansion. The shop should open at 2200 Clarendon Blvd. in Arlington’s Courthouse neighborhood this spring. The space was most recently a GNC. “It’s just a calcium supplement store now,” co-owner Kirk Francis jokes. The menu spans eight flavors of cookies that are baked on site, local milk from South Mountain Creamery, and Ice Cream Jubilee ice cream.” [Washington City Paper]

Metro Reducing Delays on Local Lines — “Additional weekday service improvements will start Monday, February 14, with customers seeing more trains, more often on the Blue, Orange and Silver lines, at least every 20 minutes. The change expands on earlier service improvements to the Red (every 12 minutes), Green and Yellow lines (every 20 minutes).” [WMATA]

Arlington Company Admits PPP Fraud — “Zen Solutions Inc., located in Arlington, Virginia, has agreed to pay approximately $31,000 in damages and civil penalties to settle allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by obtaining more than one Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan in 2020. Zen Solutions also agreed to repay the duplicative PPP loan in full to its lender, relieving the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) of liability to the lender for the federal guaranty of approximately $192,000 on the improper loan.” [U.S. Attorney’s Office]

Vehicle Flips Along Washington Blvd — From Dave Statter on Saturday night: “Crash with a vehicle overturned at Washington Blvd & Brookside Dr (betw Rt 50 & Pershing).” [Twitter]

Icy Conditions Possible This Morning — From Arlington’s Dept. of Environmental Services: “Road surface temperatures above freezing have meant no deployment of salt with today’s winter weather event. But be prepared for possible slick spots overnight into the morning. Crews will be on the lookout.” [Twitter]

It’s Valentine’s Day — Today will be mostly sunny, with a high near 33 and wind gusts up to 21 mph. Sunrise at 6:59 a.m. and sunset at 5:45 p.m. Tomorrow will be sunny, with a high near 41. [Weather.gov]

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