new restaurant | ARLnow.com

Westover Beer Garden to Open Second Location Near Clarendon

Published March 11, 2014 at 1:20PM | Updated March 12, 2014 at 9:27AM

(Updated at 3:05 p.m.) The Westover Beer Garden (5863 Washington Blvd), which once struggled to stay open under onerous Arlington County regulations, plans to open a second location near Clarendon next year.

The new beer garden will open on the ground floor of the new Garfield Park apartment building (925 N. Garfield Street). It will features a “beer garden and haus,” a “butcher shop with emphasis on local farms,” and an on-site brewpub that will offer “Arlington County’s first local brew,” according to owner Devin Hicks.

The new beer garden will also serve as a music and event venue and will offer food similar to the current location, but with an expanded menu.

“Our present Beer Garden and Haus utilizes the local, grass fed meats of our in-house butcher shop,” Hicks noted. “Menu items include burgers with house-cured bacon, brisket, pulled pork, house made roast beef, corned beef, sandwiches, salads and a vast array of sides.”

The brewpub will initially offer a double IPA, an IPA, a German-style pilsner and seasonal beers, all brewed on-site, according to Hicks. The brewpub will utilize a 10-15 barrel system, he said, and a brewing line may be made available for select local homebrewers. (A 30-barrel system is typical for a new, production craft brewery.)

“Arlingtonians love their beer and… I think the area’s excited about having a local brew,” said Hicks. “We wanted to stay in Arlington and this seemed like the appropriate spot. The area is begging for a venue like this.”

The outdoor beer garden, in the semi-circular area in front of the Garfield Park building at the corner of Washington Blvd and 10th Street N., will have a 122-person capacity, according to Hicks. The venue’s indoor capacity is 210.

Hicks says he hopes to open the new location by March of 2015.

Photos: Bill Cosby Helps to Open Ben’s Chili Bowl in Rosslyn

By ARLnow.com

Published March 6, 2014 at 12:00PM | Updated March 6, 2014 at 12:33PM

(Updated at 12:30 p.m.) Comedian Bill Cosby joined Arlington County Board Chairman Jay Fisette and other local notables in helping to open the new Ben’s Chili Bowl in Rosslyn this morning.

Cosby’s jokes and antics drew laughs from the large crowd of media and spectators that gathered to see the ribbon cutting for the iconic U Street eatery’s first stand-alone, brick-and-mortar expansion. Other attendees and speakers included the Ali family, which owns the restaurant; the ambassador of Trinidad and Tobago, late founder Ben Ali’s home country; WPGC DJ Shack Nd Pack; and Rosslyn BID President Mary-Claire Burick.

Cosby joked that as an aging Navy veteran, he was glad to have a Ben’s Chili Bowl near Arlington National Cemetery.

“The reason why this establishment has decided to open here is for me,” he said. “I’m 76-and-a-half years old. I’m going to have my 77th birthday in July… I spent four years in the Navy, which means I am eligible for a military funeral. Now, my can ghost make the trip here instead of flying over to U Street.”

“Over in that cemetery there is no cholesterol,” he continued. “There are no triglycerides. Eat as many as you like. Double down on the cheese and fries. A lot of people may not go to heaven, because this is heaven.”

Arlington County Board Chairman Jay Fisette presented Cosby and Virginia Ali, Ben’s widow, with keys to Arlington. Cosby quipped that he would use it to get out of parking tickets.

“Whoa, who put me on stage after Bill Cosby?” Fisette said, to which Cosby shot back: “your mother did.”

“Thanks for choosing Arlington… for your second spot,” Fisette said. “As I’ve always said, chili for breakfast, chili for lunch, chili for dinner and a half smoke for dessert.”

Customers flooded into the the restaurant following the ribbon cutting, leaving a large crowd outside the doors, waiting to get in. Hundreds showed up to the Colonial Village Shopping Center parking lot to see Cosby speak and get some of the first tastes of chili, half smokes, hamburgers and milkshakes after standing outside in near-freezing temperatures.

The restaurant is located at 1725 Wilson Blvd, in the former Ray’s Hell Burger space. It’s owned and operated by three sons, Nizam, Kamal and Sage, and one daughter, Vida. The family said during the ribbon cutting that the restaurant plans to stay open until 4:30 a.m.

“The chili will sober you up,” Cosby said of Ben’s likely late night customers.

Heavy Seas Alehouse in Rosslyn Now Open

By Ethan Rothstein

Published March 4, 2014 at 11:45AM

Heavy Seas Alehouse in Rosslyn (1501 Wilson Blvd) opened last week and welcomed big crowds immediately.

General Manager Keith Kirkland said the restaurant has done more than $70,000 in business in just five days, including its soft opening last Wednesday. They’ve also gone through more than 50 kegs of Heavy Seas beer, he said.

“That’s much more than we expected,” he told ARLnow.com today. “Those number are even bigger considering we were shut down yesterday [during the snowstorm].”

The restaurant is open every day at 11:00 a.m. (10:00 a.m. on Sundays) and is open until 2:00 a.m. Friday and Saturday nights. In addition to the seven Heavy Seas beer offered on draft, the alehouse offers six other Virginia beers, eight beer cocktails and lunch and dinner menus.

Pizza Pizza: Little Caesars Coming to the Pike

By Ethan Rothstein

Published February 27, 2014 at 2:30PM | Updated February 27, 2014 at 4:53PM

A new location of the Little Caesars pizza chain is expected to open in the Columbia Pike Plaza shopping center at the corner of Columbia Pike and S. Dinwiddie Street.

The location is in the former AT&T Wireless store at 5025 Columbia Pike, in the shopping center across S. Dinwiddie Street from the Arlington Mill Community Center. There’s no hint of an expected opening date.

The location, when it opens, will be Little Caesars’ second current location in Arlington; its other store is at 5175 Lee Highway and opened late last year.

Paisano’s Coming to Lyon Park

By ARLnow.com

Published February 24, 2014 at 3:35PM

Paisano’s, the local pizza, pasta and sandwich chain, is coming to the ground floor of the recently-built apartment complex at 2201 N. Pershing Drive.

The eatery plans to sell wine and beer, according to a permit application.

No word yet on an opening date for the new restaurant, which is located in Lyon Park. Paisano’s has one location in Arlington — near Crystal City — in addition to two in Falls Church and one in Alexandria.

Sign Up at New Ben’s Chili Bowl in Rosslyn

By ARLnow.com

Published February 21, 2014 at 3:15PM

Workers erected a sign at the new Ben’s Chili Bowl in Rosslyn this morning.

The sign, advertising the landmark D.C. eatery’s half-smokes, burgers, hot dogs and milkshakes, is now up at 1725 Wilson Blvd, which was formerly the home of Ray’s Hell Burger. (Ray’s moved to a new location across the street.)

Ben’s owner Nizam Ali was originally hoping to open the location — the first in Virginia — as early as New Year’s Day. Due to construction delays the opening is now expected to take place in about two weeks.

We’re told a grand opening celebration is planned for 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 6.

Photo courtesy @hilary1121

Heavy Seas Sets Feb. 27 Opening Date in Rosslyn

By ARLnow.com

Published February 18, 2014 at 10:00AM

Heavy Seas Alehouse plans to open at 1501 Wilson Blvd in Rosslyn next week.

Heavy Seas says it will open to the public on Thursday, February 27. It’s the Baltimore brewery’s second restaurant location.

A press release from the company notes that it plans to make food, not just beer, a major draw.

For Heavy Seas’ menu, Chef Seeber highlights fresh seafood sourced locally whenever possible. Starters include local oysters, soft pretzels with crab, grilled sausage sliders and Tasso ham hushpuppies. Choose from small plates like chicory salad with a soft poached egg or Prince Edward Island mussels in a broth of Heavy Seas Gold Ale seasoned with fennel, roasted garlic butter, tomato and, in true Baltimore fashion, Old Bay. Larger dishes have their place here as well with options like savory braised rabbit fettuccine and pan roasted sea scallops. Seeber’s bill of fare pushes expectations of Alehouse food overboard. Plated beautifully with bold flavors to accompany their selection of beers, the menu is as purposeful and satisfying as the beer.

Beer aficionados won’t be disappointed with the array of beers able to be paired with any dish. Heavy Seas offers a selection of six year round drafts on tap including their flagship brew, Loose Cannon, a triple-hopped IPA with notes of grapefruit, herbs and pine, as well as the Small Craft Pilsner, Peg Leg Imperial Stout, Gold Ale, Powder Monkey Pale Ale and Cutlass Amber Lager. The bar will have rotating seasonal drafts like the Winter Storm and Riptide White IPA. As advocates for the microbrewing industry, the Alehouse is proud to feature a selection of craft beers local to the DMV alongside Heavy Seas taps. Now food and beer enthusiasts alike can plunder the stores of Baltimore’s best craft brewery just outside of DC.

The restaurant will offer lunch and dinner Monday through Sunday; 11am daily – close.

Taylor Gourmet Eyes May Opening in Ballston

By ARLnow.com

Published February 12, 2014 at 10:45AM

Taylor Gourmet, the Philadelphia-inspired hoagie shop and “gourmet deli,” is hoping to open in Ballston as soon as May.

Interior construction on the restaurant, at the Liberty Center South development (4000 Wilson Blvd), is scheduled to start this month, we’re told.

Construction is expected to take about three months, shortly after which the restaurant will open.

Photo via Facebook

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published February 10, 2014 at 9:15AM

APS Boosts Bus Service to TJ, Kenmore — In response to criticism from parents, Arlington Public Schools has extended bus service to more than 200 additional Thomas Jefferson Middle School students. It has also added bus service for another 28 Kenmore Middle School students. [Sun Gazette]

TV Station Goes on Pothole Patrol in Arlington — WUSA9 has gone on “pothole patrol” in Arlington and found “a plethora of pits along North Harrison Street.” One of the station’s attempts to report the potholes online apparently didn’t work and the county acknowledged there were “a few bugs in the system.” We’ve previously reported on pothole problems on Columbia Pike and elsewhere in the county. [WUSA9]

Annual 9/11 5K Race Registration Open — Registration is now open for the 13th annual Arlington Police, Fire & Sheriff 9/11 Memorial 5K. The race will take place this year on Sept. 6. [9/11 Memorial 5K]

District Taco to Open in Dupont Circle — Arlington’s own homegrown restaurant chain District Taco will be opening a location at 1919 M Street NW in Dupont Circle. The location is District Taco’s fourth brick-and-mortar restaurant. A fifth location, in Vienna, could be coming later this year. [Washington Business Journal]

Flickr pool photo by Ddimick

Turkish Restaurant Coming to East Falls Church

By Ethan Rothstein

Published January 31, 2014 at 1:30PM

A new Turkish restaurant appears on its way to East Falls Church.

Yayla Bistro, at 2201 N. Westmoreland Street, applied for a liquor license with the state Alcoholic Beverage Control Board on Jan. 15, requesting the ability to sell wine and beer on and off premises.

According to an employee at La Côte D’Or Cafe next door, the restaurant will be located in their former private dining room, which was sold recently “to a group that wants to open a Turkish restaurant.”

The owner of Yayla Bistro, listed as Gozukaya Entertainment LLC, did not return messages seeking comment.

Hookah Lounge, Smoothie Bar to Replace Kung Fu Studio

By ARLnow.com

Published January 29, 2014 at 1:45PM

A combination hookah lounge and smoothie bar is apparently coming to 2526 Columbia Pike.

The Twitter account @alongthepike first reported the news, then wondered aloud about the combination of business lines. “Really? Those go together?” @alongthepike tweeted.

Building permit applications show that a business tentatively called “Al-Huda Hookah & Smoothie Bar” is seeking permission to construct a new interior, with a section for hookah smokers and another for smoothie drinkers. The business will replace the former White Birch Traditional Martial Arts kung fu, tai chi and kettlebell gym, located in the back of the small brick-construction strip mall on the 2500 block of Columbia Pike.

Photo via Google Maps