new restaurant

Naan Kabob Now Open in Former Pio Pio Space

By Chris Teale
1/7

The kabob restaurant to replace the former Pio Pio restaurant between Clarendon and Virginia Square is now open.

Naan Kabob at 3300 Wilson Blvd opened earlier this week. It serves Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi food and offer carry-out and catering services. Outside, balloons and bunting remains from the restaurant’s opening celebration. In its initial days, the restaurant has offered a ready-made buffet for $9.99.

Inside, the seating and décor looks relatively unchanged from the Pio Pio days. And while it is still early days — Naan Kabob only has a limited menu for now and did not accept credit cards this week — it has already won mostly positive reviews on Yelp.

“Delicious!” wrote one reviewer. “We had the channa, daal, cauliflower and veggie korma. I’m pretty picky about this kind of food–I have cooked many curries and have traveled to the Subcontinent a number of times. This stuff is excellent. The flavors are strong but not overwhelming, especially the daal, which I my daughter and I fought over. The fluffy rice and superbly textured naan were unexpected treats, too.”

‘The G.O.A.T’ Sports Bar Opens Today in Clarendon

By Chris Teale
1/11

After months of anticipation, new sports bar “The G.O.A.T” will open this afternoon in Clarendon.

The sports bar and lounge at 3028 Wilson Blvd, in the former Hard Times space, will begin serving customers at 4 p.m. today (Wednesday) in a soft opening that includes a limited food menu.

The G.O.A.T has three full bars and tables across two levels, with seating for around 350 people. Individual TV monitors line the walls, with a jumbo screen on each floor.

At the back, a champagne room will seat around 30 people and have its own screens, while nearby are several arcade games and a photo booth.

Scott Parker, a local nightlife titan behind the likes of A-Town Bar and Grill, Don Tito and Barley Mac in the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor, estimated there are more than 60 television screens throughout.

On the menu, guests can expect American comfort food with what executive chef Mike Cordero described as an “electrifying twist.” Some Tacos will come with Korean steak, while the sliders will come with smoked pork belly and duck among others.

And for dessert, Cordero said The G.O.A.T’s Baked Alaska will “take the cake,” and be flambéed at the table while customers look on.

Among the cocktails on the menu is the signature “G.O.A.T.,” made up of Hennessy Black, orgeat syrup, homemade margarita mix, lemons and Peychraud’s Bitters. Customers can also experience “The Cavalier” and “The Twenty-Three,” smoked with apple wood chips and hickory, respectively.

The G.O.A.T. will open at 4 p.m. on weekdays, and at noon on Saturdays and Sundays.

The GOAT is opening today (Wednesday) at 4 p.m. in Clarendon. Here's a 360 view inside.

Posted by ARLnow.com on Wednesday, October 18, 2017

Ballston-Based Big Buns to Succeed Former Johnny Rockets in Shirlington

By Chris Teale
1/3

A burger restaurant in Ballston will succeed the former Johnny Rockets burger restaurant in Shirlington.

Permitting applications filed with Arlington County show that the Big Buns Damn Good Burgers & Bar will move into 4251 Campbell Ave., its second location. Its first is at 4401 Wilson Blvd.

On its website, Big Buns — not to be confused with existing Shirlington bakery Best Buns — describes itself as being “[inspired] by a backyard party with killer burgers, ice-cold drinks and good friends.” It serves customizable burgers, “designer” burgers with pre-chosen ingredients and burger bowls, where the meat and toppings are served without buns.

There is no word on an opening date yet. On its website, Big Buns lists what appears to be its new location as “coming soon.”

When an ARLnow reporter stopped by on Thursday morning, construction crews were removing various items from Johnny Rockets, which closed in 2015, including a soda machine.

The restaurant is on the first floor of the Delancey at Shirlington Village apartment building, and across the street from Harris Teeter, the Shirlington Branch Library and Signature Theatre.

Troy’s Italian Kitchen Replaces Zpizza in Lyon Park

By Chris Teale
1/6

A new Italian restaurant is open in Lyon Park, replacing a pizza chain.

Troy’s Italian Kitchen replaced Zpizza at 2710 Washington Blvd in April. The eatery is located between a Discount Tobacco & Phone Cards store and the El Charrito Caminante Mexican and Salvadorian restaurant in a small strip mall.

Troy’s opens each day at 10 a.m. and has garnered mostly positive reviews online so far. An employee at the restaurant said Monday that demand has been good for its customizable pizzas, pastas, paninis and salads.

“People need to eat at different times,” he said of the earlier-than-usual opening hours.

Troy’s stays open until midnight Sundays through Thursdays, and until 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Inside, there is seating for around a dozen people.

Already, a small collection of art by younger customers is starting to grow on the wall, as well as a review written on a plate.

“Great pizza, great atmosphere, love the thin crust,” it reads. “Can’t wait to try out other pizzas.”

Stageplate Bistro Plans Grand Opening

By Katie Pyzyk

Stageplate Bistro in Ballston hasn’t always been open during normal business hours recently, but it’s not closing down. In fact, despite the limited service hours, the staff is preparing for the new restaurant’s upcoming grand opening.

A message on the front door at 900 N. Glebe Road, which is also posted on the restaurant’s website, thanks patrons who already have tried the restaurant during its recent soft opening. The grand opening is scheduled for Monday, October 16.

General Manager Mary Marchetti said the limited service has been to work out any snags, as this is the team’s first restaurant. She said customer feedback has been positive and staff has been able to incorporate customer suggestions in order to perfect operations.

“Just those little things, we were working it out,” Marchetti said. “We’ve had wonderful interactions with guests. I feel really good and really confident now that we’re going to be great.”

When an ARLnow reporter passed Stageplate Bistro during the typically busy dinner hours one day last week, customers trying to go in were met with locked doors. Upon reading the sign, though, several said they would come back for the grand opening and that they were just glad the locked doors didn’t mean the restaurant had met its demise so quickly.

The restaurant will serve its full menu at typical operating hours starting on Monday, October 16. It will open starting at lunchtime from Monday through Saturday, and for now it will be closed on Sundays, although brunch will be added in the future.

Marchetti says the Stageplate Bistro team is excited to be a part of the Arlington community. “We tried to talk with every single table [of customers] that came in,” she said. “Everyone was really interactive. The community has been so unbelievably great.”

Photos: A Closer Look at Wilson Hardware

By Chris Teale
1/12

The just-opened Wilson Hardware in Clarendon is already looking to ramp up its weekend offerings after a successful first few weeks.

Open since earlier this month at 2915 Wilson Blvd, co-owner Faris Ghareeb told ARLnow this afternoon they are looking to experiment with opening at 11 a.m. this Sunday (October 1), then start doing the same on future Saturdays too. Then, Ghareeb said, the successor to the former RiRa Irish Pub would look to start serving brunch in addition to its usual evening offerings.

The new spot has several distinct areas: a main dining area, a mezzanine above it with lounge seating, a rooftop deck, a small dining and lounge area next to the deck and a first-floor patio. The rooftop deck has a full bar, and overlooks the first-floor patio.

In the main dining area are six custom-made metal chandeliers, while a mural stretches across the main wall and up into the mezzanine area. Just inside the bar’s entrance off Wilson Blvd, another mural hints at the building’s history as the Virginia Hardware store, which occupied the space from the early 1960s until 2005.

The Little Beet Opening Today in Rosslyn

By ARLnow.com
1/3

The Little Beet is opening its new Rosslyn location at 1800 N. Lynn Street today.

The fast-casual vegetarian restaurant is the New York-based company’s second in the D.C. area. Following today’s planned 11 a.m. opening, the eatery is expected to be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner on weekdays. (It will be open for just lunch and dinner on weekends.)

Over the weekend, The Little Beet held a soft opening and staff training session, serving free food to anyone who wandered in.

More from a press release, below.

Acclaimed fast casual restaurant concept, The Little Beet, is proud to announce its newest location opens today at 11am in Arlington, VA, just outside Washington, DC.

The latest addition to The Little Beet family is located at 1800 North Lynn Street in the base of Rosslyn’s new Central Place residential development.

“We are extremely excited to open our second DC-area location today,” says Andy Duddleston, Managing Partner of The Little Beet. “Rosslyn is a vibrant community with amazing energy, making it the perfect fit for The Little Beet.  We look forward to welcoming in area residents and business professionals alike to enjoy our healthy, seasonal menu for breakfast, lunch or dinner.”

Headquartered in New York City, with seven locations in total, The Little Beet opened its first DC outpost in November 2015 near Dupont Circle.

The vegetable-focused menu is 100% gluten free, mostly vegan, always fresh, and void of refined sugar.  The culinary team, led by Chef Gabe Kennedy, draws inspiration from global flavors and incorporates exciting, nutrient-dense ingredients into every tasty bite that benefit both body and mind.

At the new Rosslyn location, guests can select from an array of composed Chef Made Bowls with three base options including mixed greens, ancient grains or spirulina-flecked brown rice.  Guests can also get creative and choose the Make Your Own option featuring a selection of cool and warm vegetables (acorn squash, shaved Brussels sprouts, roasted kale, bok choy, etc.), high-quality proteins (beet falafel, grilled avocado, tofu, chicken, steak or salmon), house-made sauces (piquillo garlic, turmeric tahini, salsa verde, etc.), and flavorful garnishes (hibiscus pickled onions, turmeric toasted almonds or super seeds).

In addition to lunch and dinner offerings, breakfast is available Monday-Friday from 7am-10am.  The breakfast menu features an assortment of chef-made bowls, egg sandwiches, yogurt parfaits, and beverages such as Almond Banana Cold Brew, Chaga Chai Tea, and more.

To add a unique creative touch to the new location, The Little Beet collaborated with Virginia-based artist Troy Summerell (aka, OnieTonie) for a custom, hand-painted mural.  With “fruits and veggies” as the theme, Troy’s bold, playful artwork is on grand display in the main dining area for guests to visually savor.

The Little Beet is committed to sustainability and eco-friendly practices.  Like its siblings, this new location features energy-efficient kitchen equipment and lighting throughout.  Plus, packaging is recyclable and biodegradable, and a composting program is utilized.

The Little Beet’s Rosslyn location is open Monday-Friday from 7am-9pm, and Saturday and Sunday from Noon-8pm.  Catering and delivery services are both offered.

Founded in 2014 in New York City, The Little Beet is owned-and-operated by NYC-based restaurant group Aurify Brands. With seven locations throughout Manhattan, Long Island, and Washington, DC, The Little Beet strives to serve real food deliciously.  The vegetable-forward, seasonal menu is 100% gluten free, mostly vegan, always fresh, and void of refined sugar. The culinary team, led by Chef Gabe Kennedy, draws inspiration from global flavors and incorporates exciting, nutrient-rich ingredients into every tasty bite that benefit both body and mind. All ingredients are carefully sourced from local farmers and food purveyors you can trust–good food never tasted so great!

Podcast: Scott Parker of A-Town and The G.O.A.T.

By ARLnow.com

Scott Parker is part of a group of partners who together have built something of a nightlife empire in Arlington.

A-Town Bar and Grill, Don Tito and Barley Mac have all been hits along the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor. And now Scott and his partners are getting ready to open (in the next couple of weeks) The G.O.A.T., a new sports bar right across from the Clarendon Metro station in the former Hard Times Cafe space.

Scott has helped to build this empire based on Sunday Fundays and happy hour drink specials all while having a somewhat unique personal background for a bar impresario: he does not drink.

On this week’s 26 Square Miles podcast, we sat down with Scott to discuss how he achieved success after success in the notoriously difficult restaurant industry, what to expect with the G.O.A.T., what comes next, and what he thinks of the current state of the Arlington bar and restaurant scene.

Listen below or subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher or TuneIn.

Update: Dudley’s Sport and Ale Creeps Towards Opening

By Chris Teale
1/6

The long-awaited Dudley’s Sport & Ale in Shirlington appears to be moving closer to opening after months of delays.

In a Facebook post earlier this week, owner Reese Gardner said the inside of the sports bar at 2766 S. Arlington Mill Drive is “85 [percent] completed and we are just waiting for the final finishes.”

Gardner said those finishes cannot be done until after the steel arrives and welding is finished. The steel is scheduled to be delivered on October 14, he said. After that, an opening date could become clearer.

“We understand the frustration and trust us we want to be open as much as you want us open,” Gardner wrote. In the comments on the post, would-be customers wondered whether Dudley’s would open before the end of football season.

The sports bar had planned to open last year, but struggled with permitting issues and other delays.

A 28-seat bar, a 125-seat dining area, and a “stadium style” viewing area are planned, as well as a rooftop bar — Shirlington’s first — with a game area, a 15-seat bar, and patio seating for about 114 people.

Dudley's update: We wanted to give everyone a brief update on where we are out with the build out. The interior is 85…

Posted by Dudley's Sport and Ale on Tuesday, September 19, 2017

Silver Diner Coming to Ballston

By ARLnow.com

A new Silver Diner restaurant will be opening in Ballston.

The 6,700-square-foot eatery will join Target and Enterprise Rent-A-Car as retail tenants in the currently under-construction 750 N. Glebe development. Set to open in 2020, 750 N. Glebe will be a 12-story building with nearly 500 apartments, across from Ballston Quarter mall.

The new Ballston location will be the 14th Silver Diner in the D.C. area. The company has an existing Arlington location at 3200 Wilson Blvd in the Clarendon area.

The Washington Business Journal reports that, at least for now, Silver Diner plans to operate both Arlington locations simultaneously. (It has a long-term lease in Clarendon.)

Current plans are to operate both Ballston and Clarendon, although [Silver Diner founder Bob] Giaimo has acknowledged in the past that site where the Clarendon Silver Diner sits at 3200 Wilson Blvd., would likely be the subject of redevelopment at some point, putting the diner’s future there in flux.

More about the lease signing from a Ballston Business Improvement District press release, after the jump.

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Signs Up for New ‘Naan Kabob’ in Former Pio Pio Space

By Chris Teale
1/5

It’s official: signs are going up for a new kabob restaurant in place of the former Pio Pio restaurant between Clarendon and Virginia Square.

Naan Kabob at 3300 Wilson Blvd will serve Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi food and offer carry-out and catering services. Its parking lot is currently taped off for renovations, while work is getting underway to revamp the inside too.

A copy of the menu suggests it will have kabobs, Karahi dishes (cooked in thick, circular pots) and curries, as well as traditional desserts. As of Monday, signs had gone up advertising its new name and food offerings.

Employees at the restaurant declined to say for sure when it would open, but are hopeful of getting underway “soon.”

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