new restaurant

Black Squirrel Coming to Rosslyn?

By ARLnow.com
1/3

Adams Morgan watering hole Black Squirrel may be coming to Rosslyn.

Leasing agents at the Sedona Slate apartment complex, on the 1500 block of Clarendon Blvd, have been telling prospective residents that Black Squirrel will be opening in a ground floor space at the building.

Black Squirrel bills itself as an “old-school neighborhood gastropub.” It boasts an extensive draft beer selection and a food menu that includes spruced-up versions of standard pub fare.

So far, no building permits can be seen on the windows of the would-be bar space. Reached by phone, Black Squirrel co-owner Tom Knott declined comment.

One business that’s confirmed to be coming soon to the Sedona Slate ground floor is Lava Barre, which was formerly located near Clarendon. Interior construction is underway on the future Lava Barre space and “coming soon” signs are posted on the windows. No word yet on an opening date.

Nicecream Factory Now Open in Clarendon

By Ethan Rothstein
1/10

Nicecream Factory, an ice cream shop that features the frozen confection made-to-order using liquid nitrogen, is now open at 2831 Clarendon Blvd.

The shop opened last Wednesday in the former Red Mango space. The shop was “packed” this weekend, according to co-owner Sandra Tran. Many customers read about the shop on ARLnow.com last month, she said, but a few others had been clamoring for her to open when they walked by during the shop’s buildout, which she said took less than a month.

“People were super excited,” Tran said. “There was a mix of families and young people coming in.”

Nicecream sells small cups for $5, regular cups (pictured) for $6 and pints for $10. Monday afternoon she offered flavors like pistachio, lemon jenny, honey lavender and spiced vanilla.

“All but three people who walked in here today ordered pistachio,” she said. “We make it from pistachio butter instead of artificial pistachio flavoring, so it’s really ‘pistachio-y.'”

Bonefish Grill Plans August Opening

By ARLnow.com

Bonefish Grill in Pentagon CityBonefish Grill is planning to open its new Pentagon Row location later this summer.

The seafood restaurant is coming to the 5,350-square-foot former Desi Innovations space, at 1101 S. Joyce Street. Bonefish Grill is a national chain specializing in market-fresh fish and other wood-grilled specialties.

It appears that some construction has already started, although we’re told the groundbreaking for the project is planned for June. According to a spokeswoman for Pentagon Row owner Federal Realty Investment Trust, Bonefish Grill expects to open in August.

Mazagan on Columbia Pike Opens Tonight

By Ethan Rothstein

1/10

Mazagan Restaurant, the Moroccan eatery and hookah bar next to the Arlington Cinema & Drafthouse, is open to the public starting at 4:00 p.m. today.

The restaurant replaced the quirky electronics store Venus Stereos & TVs at 2901 Columbia Pike, and the interior has completely been redone with wood floors, stone wall and a glass-enclosed, “privately insulated” hookah bar, which owner Riyad Bouizar said allows hookah smokers to still feel like they’re part of the restaurant without their smoke disturbing those simply there to eat and drink.

The restaurant will only be open for dinner and late night for the next month, Bouizar said, before opening for lunch. It will be open until midnight Monday through Wednesday, 1:00 a.m. Thursday nights and 2:00 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays. It will also be open from 10:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., including brunch, on Sundays.

The restaurant specializes in Moroccan food with a “contemporary twist,” and includes tajines, food that is cooked over a wood fire and ordered ahead of time. All food and drink will also be served to those partaking in the hookah lounge.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Friday evening in Ballston (Flickr pool photo by Dennis Dimick)

Sweet Leaf Cafe Coming to Ballston — Sweet Leaf Cafe will be opening a second Arlington location. In addition to the existing Courthouse location, the local salad and sandwich chain will be opening a new cafe at 650 N. Quincy Street in Ballston, on the ground floor of the Residence Inn hotel. [Washington Business Journal]

Businesses Optimistic About County Ombudsman — Local businesses and developers hope that the appointment of assistant county manager Shannon Flanagan-Watson as Arlington County’s “business ombudsman” is another sign that that the county is serious about cutting red tape and being friendlier to business interests. [InsideNoVa]

GGW Blasts Streetcar Referendum Idea — Greater Greater Washington writer Canaan Merchant says that the Columbia Pike streetcar referendum proposal floated last week by Congressional candidate Del. Patrick Hope and County Board candidate Alan Howze is “pointless and possibly destructive.” [Greater Greater Washington]

TSA Opens Pre-Check Office in DCA — The Transportation Security Administration has opened a Pre-Check enrollment center at Reagan National Airport. The Pre-Check program allows “known travelers” who sign up to go through expedited screening lines at the airport. [Washington Post]

County to Provide Super Stop Update — County officials this afternoon will be holding a media briefing to provide an update into the comprehensive review into the $1 million “Super Stop” bus stop. Construction of the other 23 planned Super Stops is on hold while the county reviews cost and functionality concerns associated with the first Super Stop.

Flickr pool photo by Dennis Dimick

Pizza Vinoteca Coming to Ballston

By Ethan Rothstein

800 N. Glebe RoadPizza Vinoteca, a recently-opened gourmet pizza shop in New York City, will open a second location in Ballston at the corner of N. Glebe Road and Wilson Blvd this summer.

The restaurant is expected to open at 800 N. Glebe Road, next to Mussel Bar, this July. It will have table seating for 100, a 28-seat bar and seating for 36 at its outdoor patio.

“The restaurant’s menu is grounded in gourmet grilled pizzas with toppings that have been responsibly sourced from an array of American producers,” said spokeswoman Robin Insley. “Its wine menu features a sommelier-created list of about 36 wines designed to be paired with each pizza.”

Each wine will cost less than $10 a glass, Insley said, and be available in tasting pours and flights. The New York location features gelato, gelato floats and gelato paninis, with the Italian-style ice cream wrapped in vanilla cake and served warm.

Located in New York City’s Union Square, Pizza Vinoteca first opened its doors this past March.

Hat tip to Tony Zuccaro

Mocha Cafe & Pastry Opens in Lyon Park

By Ethan Rothstein
1/6

A new cafe is now open in Lyon Park, the only coffee shop in the mostly residential neighborhood.

Mocha Cafe & Pastry, at 2720 Washington Blvd, opened April 19, serving fresh baked goods from owner Minoo Taheri and her daughter, Fojan, as well as several types of cold and hot coffee drinks, including Turkish coffee — which Minoo Taheri said is one of her most popular items — and café glacé, a coffee, milk and ice cream drink.

Taheri’s full-time job is working for Fairfax County, but she said she would bake almost every day and bring the results into work. Eventually, she heard enough coworkers tell her to open a bakery that she decided to go through with it.

“I would bake because I was happy, but I would also bake because I was sad,” she said in her café yesterday afternoon. “It really comes from the soul for me.”

Mocha opens at  7:00 a.m. daily and closes at 9:00 p.m. It serves breakfast fare like bacon, egg and cheese croissants, and sandwiches like the Persian chicken salad — an homage to Taheri’s home country of Iran — and pesto turkey panini.

The community has already responded positively, Taheri said, and she even has a couple of customers who come in every day, use the free WiFi and drink Turkish coffee. Soon, her customers will be able to try her true specialty: eclairs. When she gets the proper fridge, she plans on serving eclairs stuffed with pistachios, caramel, mango and coffee flavors.

Amsterdam Falafelshop to Open in Former BGR Space

By ARLnow.com
1/3

We now know where and when the new Amsterdam Falafelshop in Clarendon will be opening.

The falafel restaurant will be opening at 3024 Wilson Blvd, in the former BGR: The Burger Joint space. Despite its prized location just steps from the Clarendon Metro station, BGR closed in January after 3 years in business.

The new restaurant is expected to open “mid-summer” of this year, according to a spokeswoman.

Amsterdam Falafelshop, which opened in 2004 as a single restaurant serving falafels and fries in the Adams Morgan neighborhood of D.C., currently has three locations but is in the midst of a major expansion. The new Clarendon location is one of nearly a dozen planned for D.C., Boston, Salt Lake City and Dallas-Fort Worth. More franchised locations in various parts of the country are pending.

Restauranteur David Rosenstein, who owns 12 Popeye’s restaurants in the D.C. area, is the franchisee who will be opening the Clarendon Amsterdam Falafelshop, the company’s first in Virginia.

“I’m enamored with the concept… everything about it,” Rosenstein said of the restaurant, in a statement. “I can only imagine how excited Clarendon residents, the local workforce and nighttime crowds will be to learn Amsterdam Falafelshop is coming to the neighborhood. In my opinion this is world-class falafel. And, the brand is ripe for expansion. We’re bringing it closer to fans who have been very vocal about their desire to have Amsterdam Falafelshop in Northern Virginia.”

Amsterdam Falafelship offers “falafel sandwiches,” “Dutch-style fries” and “nearly two-dozen toppings for patrons to customize their falafel,” according to the company.

Dunkin’ Donuts Coming to Ballston

By Ethan Rothstein
1/3

A Dunkin’ Donuts location appears on its way to Ballston in the former Quiznos storefront in the National Science Foundation building.

The storefront, at 4201 Wilson Blvd — but located at the corner of N. Stuart and 9th Streets — is covered in brown paper but a sign on the window states Dunkin’ Donuts applied for a building permit on April 3.

Steve Roggie, the building’s property manager for Gates Hudson, confirmed to ARLnow.com that Dunkin’ Donuts has already signed the lease for the space. He said he doesn’t have an estimate for when the 1,000-square-foot space will open, but he said the franchise owner is “a really good operator of Dunkin Donuts. They’re very excited to be here, and they want to get in there as soon as possible.”

The location would be the sixth Dunkin’ Donuts in Arlington, not counting its storefronts in the Pentagon and Reagan National Airport.

Hat tip to Bill Colton

Amsterdam Falafelshop Coming to Clarendon

By ARLnow.com

Amsterdam Falafelshop (photo via Facebook)An Amsterdam Falafelshop restaurant is coming to Clarendon, according to an online job posting.

The fast food restaurant, known for its falafel sandwiches and fries, is currently hiring managers for a new Clarendon location. The job posting notes that a manager is also needed for a late night shift.

Amsterdam Falafelshop’s original location is on 18th Street NW in Adam’s Morgan. It has been expanding, with locations opening in Boston, Annapolis and on 14th Street NW in D.C.

It’s unclear where exactly the new restaurant in Clarendon will be located or when it will be opening.

Hat tip to @nicknow. Photo via Facebook.

Four Sisters Grill Now Open in Clarendon

By Ethan Rothstein
1/5

Four Sisters Grill, the fast-casual Vietnamese restaurant in the former Fat Shorty’s space, is now open to the public.

Owner Hoa Lai opened the restaurant, at 3035 Clarendon Blvd, on April 17 and, other than having to close for minor repairs for two days this week, he said the initial community response has been promising.

A lot of people have come in and tried us, and we’ve had a lot of great feedback,” Lai said. “I was expecting this mostly to be a lunch crowd, but so far it’s been about 50-50 between lunch and dinner.”

Lai has been the executive chef at Four Sisters Vietnamese Restaurant, his family’s restaurant, for years, but said he wanted to strike out on his own. He and his wife opened up Four Sisters Grill with the hope of translating his family’s success in traditional, sit-down dining to the more relaxed and affordable venue of fast-casual dining.

A signature item, the 9-inch Banh Mi sandwiches, are $6.25, and the most expensive thing on the menu is $13.95. The most popular menu item so far, according to Lai, is the crispy vegetarian spring rolls. One thing Four Sisters Grill doesn’t have is the popular Vietnamese beef soup Pho.

“People have actually gotten upset because we don’t have Pho,” Lai said with a laugh. “Pho is everywhere. I want to have different Vietnamese food. I’ve always had a vision of doing something like this, bringing Vietnamese more into the mainstream.”

Four Sisters Grill is open for lunch and dinner, but will close from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m., Lai says, since he’s a perfectionist and wants to return the kitchen to peak shape before the dinner rush. Despite the fact that Four Sisters Grill is the third restaurant in the space in the last few years, Lai thinks his concept has the chance to stick.

“I can only really try my hardest,” he said. “It’s all about pleasing the customers and giving them what they want. I want this to be a community place. I want to see kids come in and grow up here. That’s what I like.”

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