new restaurant

New Panera to open in Ballston this week and its first customers will get free meals for a year

By James Jarvis
1/3

(Updated at 4:05 p.m.) Like a phoenix rising from the ashes — or a Barnes & Noble returning to Georgetown — Panera Bread is making its triumphant return to Ballston.

The fast-casual bakery-cafe chain announced today that it is gearing up for a grand opening this Thursday (Dec. 21) near the Ballston Metro station, at the corner of N. Stuart Street and Fairfax Drive.

(This morning, the company said it would be opening on Thursday. Earlier afternoon, it said the opening date was bumped back a day, to Friday. An hour later, the company said the original date was correct.)

To celebrate the grand opening, Panera is offering a special promotion in which the first 50 customers will receive free meals for a year, per a press release.

The promotional offer — redeemable for up to one free “You Pick Two” meal per month for 12 months — will only be available this Thursday and Friday. Recipients must have a MyPanera account to participate. The free food offer will then run from Christmas Day next week until Dec. 25, 2024.

Between 6-10 a.m., guests can also spin a prize wheel for a chance to win other items such as, free tumblers, cookies and bagels.

The new Panera, at 4250 Fairfax Drive, will take over the space formerly occupied by Cosi, which shut its doors in late 2019 after the company filed for bankruptcy. Cosi, a chain known for its flatbreads, sandwiches, soups, and salads, also closed its other Arlington locations in Rosslyn, Courthouse, Virginia Square and Crystal City.

Panera used to have a location in the old Ballston Common Mall, which closed in 2016 before the mall’s transformation into Ballston Quarter.

Currently, Arlington is home to one other Panera, in Rosslyn.

“We are thrilled to be opening a new Panera in Arlington,” a company representative said in the press release. “We are excited to grow our presence in this wonderful community and look forward to delivering the great tasting food and impeccable service our Virginia guests have come to expect from Panera.”

Soul Thai Kitchen & Bar debuts in Dominion Hills, replacing Meridian Pint

By James Jarvis
1/7

A new Thai restaurant in Dominion Hills is set to open next week.

Located at 6035 Wilson Blvd, Soul Thai Kitchen & Bar stepped in to fill the vacancy left by Meridian Pint in late October. The local brewhouse had shuttered earlier this year due to financial struggles.

This latest transition marks the third ownership change in four years. John Andrade, the original owner, passed the reins to Fitzgerald Lewis in 2021. Lewis, a noted figure in the local restaurant scene, has ownership stakes in about 20 eateries in the area, including Crafthouse Arlington in Ballston and Barley Mac in Rosslyn.

Lewis sold Meridian Pint to co-owner Nancy Kittitaraphan and her partners — consisting of family and friends — earlier this year.

Ahead of its grand opening, scheduled for next Friday, Dec. 22, Soul Thai recently held a soft opening over the last few weeks, giving locals the chance to sample its offerings.

The restaurant will operate seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays and 12-10 p.m. on weekends. Additionally, there’s a daily happy hour from 4-6:30 p.m., says Kittitaraphan.

The menu boasts a range of options, from starters such as spring rolls and fried calamari to noodle dishes such as “hangover noodles” (a twist on drunken noodles), alongside various soups, salads and curry dishes.

In a bid to draw more local patrons, Kittitaraphan took to the streets, handing out menus to nearby residents. She’s offering a 20% discount on their first visit, valid through Thursday, Dec. 21.

“I wanted to invite our family and friends,” she told ARLnow. “The neighborhood or the customers are our family and friends.”

The restaurant has seen some cosmetic updates, through which Kittitaraphan looked to create a cozy, welcoming atmosphere.

“When you come here, it’s like you’re staying in your house,” she said.

New Latin American American restaurant to open this Friday on Columbia Pike

By James Jarvis
1/2

A new restaurant specializing in traditional Honduran and Salvadoran cuisine is opening on Columbia Pike tomorrow.

Located at 3709 Columbia Pike, Variedades Catrachas is expected to welcome its first customers starting at 5 a.m. this Friday, the owner Jessica Canas told ARLnow.

Offering breakfast, lunch and dinner, the menu includes a variety of items such as soups, tacos, enchiladas, tamales and several egg-based dishes.

Canas also owns a Honduran restaurant in Alexandria called Las Catrachitas but this is her first foray into the Arlington food scene.

Variedades Catrachas joins the Pike’s bustling scene for Central and South American cuisine, including the recent additions of Mpanadas, Sabores and Taqueria el Poblano.

The restaurant will be open from 5-2 a.m. on Monday, Thursday and Friday; 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday; 6-2 a.m. on Saturday; and 7-2 a.m. on Sunday.

Van Leeuwen ice cream shop and Tatte café among six new businesses looking to open in Crystal City

By James Jarvis
1/4

Six new businesses, including the popular chains Tatte Bakery & Cafe and Van Leeuwen, are setting up shop in Crystal City.

Promotional signs for the new shops are visible in the ground-floor windows of one of the two 300-foot residential towers at 1900 Crystal City Drive. Approved in 2020 and under construction by 2021, the towers — set to open early next year — will house 811 residential units and nearly 40,000 square feet of retail space.

The complete lineup includes a trio of D.C.-based businesses — Chinese-French fusion restaurant Bar Chinois, Cuban café and bar Colada Shop and a nail salon called nailsaloon — plus New York City-based botox spa Peachy, which recently opened its second location in D.C.

Tatte, Van Leeuwen and Colada Shop have filed permits to operate along the pedestrian walkway behind the north tower — known as The Grace — at 269 19th Court S., according to county permit records.

JBG Smith, the predominant property owner in Crystal City and Pentagon City, declined to comment.

Boston-based bakery Tatte, known for its coffee, sandwiches and pastries, operates 11 locations in the D.C. area, including one at Clarendon Crossing, which opened in 2021.

Van Leeuwen, an ice cream chain headquartered in New York, currently operates three outlets in D.C. and plans to launch a fourth at Union Station. The Arlington outpost would be the brand’s first in Virginia.

Colada Shop operates six locations in the D.C. area and, as part of its Arlington expansion, plans to open a new location in Clarendon.

Hat tip to Matt Miller

Westover Taco is set to officially open this Saturday

By James Jarvis
1/3

The aroma of freshly made corn tortillas is permeating the air in Westover.

Westover Taco, located at 5849 Washington Blvd in the pipestem-shaped retail space long occupied by the Forest Inn dive bar, announced via social media this week that it plans to officially open tomorrow (Saturday) at 5 p.m.

“The time has come! We will officially open to the public this Saturday, December 9th at 5pm. Come one, come all,” the post reads.

Initially slated to begin operations in August, the launch of the new taco spot was delayed due to permitting issues. However, the eatery posted on its Instagram last month that the opening was back on schedule.

This week, the Mexican restaurant and bar, formerly the Forest Inn until its closure in 2022, held a soft opening to test its taco recipes and cocktail creations ahead of the grand opening.

The restaurant’s menu boasts several types of tacos, including chicken, pork, steak and fish.

Complementing the taco selection is an assortment of tequila-based cocktails, including a cucumber jalapeño Paloma with grapefruit and lime, a tequila colada with coconut water and coconut Rèal and the classic margarita.

Westover Taco’s current hours are 5 p.m. to midnight from Sunday through Thursday and 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. However, the restaurant announced on social media that lunch service will be “starting soon.”

Scott Parker, one of the co-owners of Westover Taco, is a local entrepreneur in the area with several other well-known hospitality ventures in Arlington, including Don Tito in Clarendon, Barley Mac in Rosslyn, Bronson Bierhall in Ballston, Poppyseed Rye in Ballston and Nighthawk Pizza in Pentagon City.

2910 Kitchen & Bar plans to open next month on Columbia Pike in former P. Brennan’s space

By James Jarvis
2910 Kitchen & Bar on Columbia Pike (staff photo by James Jarvis)

After a several-month delay, 2910 Kitchen & Bar is gearing up to open next month on Columbia Pike pending final permit approvals, according to the restaurant owner.

The family-owned American-style eatery takes its name from its Columbia Pike address, previously the site of P. Brennan’s Irish Pub. The cavernous, two-level bar and restaurant closed its doors in 2017 and remained vacant until last year.

Initially, 2910 Kitchen & Bar had set its sights on a summer opening. However, husband-and-wife owners Raheel “Ray” Khan and Griselda Giselle Fernandez say they had to postpone the launch after discovering some issues with the building, which caught the attention of the county’s historic review board.

“The previous tenants had done a couple of things they shouldn’t have,” Khan told ARLnow. “Until those issues were fixed, we were not able to move forward.”

Several “opening soon” signs are displayed in the windows, and the number “2910” now occupies the space where the old P. Brennan’s sign once stood.

The restaurant interior has undergone some dramatic changes, including revamping the staircase, redoing the bar and adding chandeliers. The restaurant will have an upstairs VIP area, complemented by a more casual dining option on the lower level.

The renovations are nearly done, Khan says, and he’s just waiting for a final inspection.

The menu will include classic American cuisine, including steak and pasta dishes, but the dishes and desserts will rotate seasonally, says Khan.

Earlier this year, Khan and his wife brought on Rob Szydlowski as their executive chef. He has helped with more than 50 restaurant openings over his career, including several Well-Hung Vineyard restaurants in southern Virginia.

If all goes well, Khan hopes to open 2910 Kitchen & Bar soon after the new year.

“We’re hoping for Jan. 8 to do the soft opening, but if not, then the middle of January,” he said.

NEW: Nepalese restaurant in Ballston appears to be replacing the last remaining Booeymonger

By James Jarvis
Booeymonger in Ballston (staff photo by James Jarvis)

(Updated at 9:15 p.m.) Booeymonger in Ballston will be replaced by a new full-service Nepalese restaurant this spring, according to the incoming tenant.

Booeymonger, known for its sandwiches, wraps, bagels and salads, closed its doors at its two locations in D.C. this year, including Friendship Heights and Georgetown.

The storefront at 1010 N. Glebe Road was the well-known local deli chain’s last remaining location.

While the closure date for Booeymonger in Ballston remains uncertain, there are active plans for the deli to return to its former home in Friendship Heights, according to Booeymonger’s current owner, Rumana Chodry. She confirmed to ARLnow that the delicatessen will reopen with a new owner.

The new tenant in Ballston, Dipar Magar, told ARLnow he plans to open a new restaurant called Thakali Bhatti sometime between February and May. He owns another restaurant, Himalayan Wild Yak in Ashburn.

As of now, Magar has applied for a liquor license and the restaurant is still in its early stages of development.

“It’s going to be Nepalese food… similar to the food we have right now,” Magar said. “It’s gonna be pretty small, like 50-60 [seats], not more than that. It’s a pretty small space.”

Columbia Pike staple The Broiler has opened a second location in Maryland

By James Jarvis
The Broiler’s second location in Clinton, Maryland (via The Broiler/Facebook)

After 64 years of serving subs and pizza in Arlington, The Broiler has expanded into Maryland, per the company’s social media accounts.

The long-time eatery, a local institution that opened back in 1959 on Columbia Pike, held a grand opening for its second location, in Clinton, Maryland, in late October. It announced the move to Clinton, which is about a 20-minute drive east of National Harbor, earlier this fall.

A video tour accompanying the grand opening announcement included footage inside and outside the restaurant as well as a montage of its famed cheesesteak sandwiches and pizza.

Khalid Elayan, the owner, opted not to comment on the new location.

Photo via The Broiler/Facebook

Ocean Shack is open for dining (and sports viewing) in the Glebe Road Shopping Center

By James Jarvis
1/3

(Updated at 2:45 p.m.) Ocean Shack, a new seafood restaurant and sports bar in Waverly Hills, is now open.

The restaurant officially opened on Wednesday, Nov. 15, but the owner, Cody Zhou, says he also plans to host a grand opening on New Year’s Eve.

“We will host a New Year’s Eve party where we will have a photo booth, DJ and champagne toast… and also give away a lot of gifts, drinks and food,” he told ARLnow.

The 1,767-square-foot space at 2163 N. Glebe Road in the Glebe Road Shopping Center became available after Thirsty Bernie closed in May due to poor sales.

Zhou, who operates several restaurants in Fairfax and Alexandria, including Ocean Crab in Chantilly and Mochinut in Reston, says he decided to expand into Arlington after the property owner approached him with a lease offer for the soon-to-be former Thirsty Bernie space.

“She’s a regular customer at Ocean Crab,” Zhou said. “She invited us over to the space. We looked at the surroundings and felt like this area could use something different.”

Zhou said he was also inspired by the increasing diversity in Arlington’s dining scene.

“When you look at the surrounding area, you will see a lot of Japanese restaurants opening up like Tiger Dumpling… so many Vietnamese restaurants and bubble tea restaurants are popping up around Arlington because there’s a population supporting those non-traditional American foods,” he said.

Like its Chantilly counterpart, Ocean Shack offers a variety of seafood dishes such as lobster rolls, tilapia sandwiches, fried oyster baskets, fried shrimp tacos and snow crab bowls.

The restaurant also has 16 beers on draft and serves specialty cocktails.

While seafood is on the menu, sports are on the numerous TVs at Ocean Shack. Taking a page from its sports bar predecessor, Ocean Shack bills itself as a destination for catching the big game.

“Whether you are stopping in for a business lunch, family dinner, date night or a night out with your friends for watching sports,” says the restaurant’s website.

Operating hours are 5 p.m. to midnight from Monday through Wednesday, noon to midnight on Thursdays and Sundays, and noon to 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

Makers Union set to open in Pentagon City next week

By James Jarvis
1/5

Makers Union, an upscale gastropub, is set to open its doors on the ground floor of Amazon’s second headquarters in Pentagon City next week.

Its first day open will be Tuesday, Dec. 5, according to the restaurant’s website.

This is the third Makers Union location in the D.C. area, following the debut of its Reston location three years ago and a recent opening at the Wharf in early October.

Open seven days a week, the 3,075 square-foot restaurant serves lunch and dinner on weekdays, and brunch and dinner on weekends. A happy hour is available from 3-6 p.m., Monday through Friday, and live music is scheduled for Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.

“It’s designed to be a pub where you can come and celebrate any of life’s occasions, whether that be wings and a beer at the bar, watching a football game, or coming in and enjoying some more elevated options,” Makers Union Director of Operations Alex Brown told to ARLnow.

The restaurant seats 84 indoors, including 34 at the bar and 50 in the dining area, and 80 outdoors, he said.

Brown recommended a few menu items, including the tomahawk steak with poached eggs, hollandaise and breakfast potatoes, and the grilled chicken alfredo pasta with garlic bread.

Makers Union joins a slew of new businesses and eateries, including Good Company Doughnuts & Coffee and Conte’s Bike Shop, on the ground floor of the first phase of Amazon’s second headquarters, also known as Metropolitan Park, which opened earlier this summer.

Last month, Peruvian Brothers, a D.C.-based Peruvian food truck and fast-casual eatery, opened its second location adjacent to the gastropub.

Thompson Hospitality, the pub’s owner, operates other local favorites including Matchbox, Big Buns Damn Good Burgers and Wiseguy Pizza.

Westover Taco on Washington Blvd is gearing up to open next month

By James Jarvis
1/5

Tacos are closer to being served in Westover, just in time for the holidays.

After a nearly 4-month delay, Westover Taco at 5849 Washington Blvd — previously the home of the Forest Inn, a long-time dive bar which closed in June 2022 — is set to open around mid-December, per the company’s Instagram account.

“Alright! We are super excited to announce that we’ve overcome all the hurdles and will be opening to the public in the next few weeks,” the company posted yesterday (Tuesday). “We’ll announce the exact date as soon as we have it.”

Originally, Westover Taco aimed to start serving back in August. However, co-owner Scott Parker said the opening was delayed due to permitting issues.

“It was just the usual permit delays. Nothing too exciting,” Parker told ARLnow.

Construction began last spring, and it appeared the restaurant was adding the final touches when ARLnow recently checked in on its progress.

The restaurant’s menu boasts several types of tacos, including chicken, pork, steak and fish.

Complementing the taco selection is an assortment of tequila-based cocktails, including a cucumber jalapeño paloma with grapefruit and lime, a tequila colada with coconut water and coconut Rèal and the classic margarita.

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