restaurant

Management Change at Mad Rose Tavern

By ARLnow.com

It’s been a rocky start for Mad Rose Tavern (3100 Clarendon Boulevard).

The Clarendon restaurant opened last month to mixed reviews and underwhelming crowds. Now, we hear, a management change has already taken place.

General Manager Seamus Phillips, who has been credited with the restaurant’s name and initial concept, is out. On his Facebook page on Tuesday, Phillips told friends that he was fired.

“Make your own conclusions,” he wrote. “And please don’t tell me you told me so.”

Among those who responded to Phillips’ post with words of encouragement was his wife.

“All I know is I love this man and I watched him bust his ass for these people,” she wrote. “Everything that has happened over there is wrong… [I] think it’s gonna be one hell of a year in court.”

Mad Rose Tavern’s owners reportedly spent around $1 million launching the restaurant.

Two Arlington Restaurants Score RAMMY Nominations

By ARLnow.com

The 2011 RAMMY award finalists have been announced, but only two Arlington restaurants made the list.

Clarendon’s Liberty Tavern was nominated for Best Upscale Casual Restaurant and Lyon Park’s EatBar was nominated for Best Neighborhood Gathering Space.

In a fractional victory, Tiffany MacIsaac of Neighborhood Restaurant Group — which operates EatBar, Tallula and Rustico in Arlington, along with restaurants in the District and Alexandria — was nominated for Best Pastry Chef.

Five nominees were announced in each of 14 categories. Among the categories in which Arlington did not have a nominee were Best New Restaurant, Best Mixology/Beverage Program and Hottest Restaurant Bar Scene.

Last year Arlington had four RAMMY nominees. Each went home from the award ceremony empty-handed.

Flickr pool photo by Chris Rief

Shamrock Shake Returns to McDonald’s

By ARLnow.com

Seventy degree temperatures and a tornado watch — sounds like spring, eh? Add this to the evidence: the Shamrock Shake has returned to McDonald’s.

The minty dessert has gotten a facelift since last year. All McDonald’s shakes now come in a clear McCafe cup with whipped cream and a cherry on top. And rather than a flat lime green color, the shake now appears to be a twisted green and white.

We’ve spotted the Shamrock Shake at McDonald’s restaurants in Crystal City and on Columbia Pike. Let us know in the comments if it’s at the McDonald’s closest to you.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

More Names Mentioned for Senate Seat — Is there a Democrat in Arlington County who’s active in local politics and who’s not thinking about running for the state Senate seat being vacated by the retiring Sen. Mary Margaret Whipple? Add Alan Howze, former Arlington County Democratic Committee chairman Peter Rousselot, county board member Jay Fisette and Del. Bob Brink to the five names we mentioned as possible candidates on Friday. [Sun Gazette, Washington Post]

Cava Still Hoping for Spring Opening — Construction has yet to begin on the new Cava restaurant on Clarendon Boulevard, but the owner of the upscale Greek restaurant still hopes to open by “late April or early May.” Cava currently has locations in Rockville and on Capitol Hill. [TBD]

Envirocab Still Wants to Expand — The general manager of Arlington-based Envirocab says the company is still hoping to expand. The county board rejected Envirocab’s request to add more cabs to its fleet of 50 hybrids in December. But the company says they don’t “even come close to covering the requests they get each weekend.” [WAMU]

Arlington Science Focus School Profiled — A local TV station takes a look at some of the unique learning methods at Arlington Science Focus school. [WUSA 9]

More Local Restaurants Falling Behind on Meals Tax

By ARLnow.com

The past two months have apparently not been kind to a handful of local restaurants.

A number of restaurants have fallen farther behind on their payment of Arlington County meals taxes. Such tax delinquencies are sometimes a sign of shaky financial health, as was the case for failed restaurants like Bebo Trattoria, Restaurant Vero and McGinty’s Public House, all of which still owe tens of thousands of dollars to the county.

The latest delinquency list shows that Front Page Restaurant in Ballston (4201 Wilson Blvd) ran up an additional $23,000 tab with the county between December and February. The restaurant now owes Arlington $46,531.82. As of August, it only owed $17,113.52.

Kora Restaurant in Crystal City (2250 Crystal Drive) is also suffering. It owes $25,908.06 to the county, compared to $10,624.41 in December and $5,517.03 in August.

Tandoori Nights in Clarendon (2800 Clarendon Blvd) owes $19,404.69, compared $9,706.29 in December.

Cold Stone Creamery, in Ballston Common Mall (4238 Wilson Blvd), owes $13,959.15, compared to $8,633.35 in December.

Guarapo in Courthouse (2039 Wilson Blvd) owes $13,566.00. It was not listed in December’s delinquency list.

Champion Billards, near Shirlington (2620 S. Shirlington Road), owes $10,547.80, compared to $5,494.71 in December.

In a somewhat bright spot, former Bebo Trattoria owner Roberto Donna appears to be making his court-ordered repayments to the county. Bebo now owes $153,715.976, which is more than any other establishment but less than the $160,898.82 that the county said it owed in December.

Extra Virgin in Shirlington (4053 Campbell Ave) owes the most of any restaurant that’s currently in business. It owes $71,171.50 down slightly from December’s $72,352.56.

The 4 percent county meals tax is collected on all prepared foods and beverages sold in Arlington. Often, this tax is passed directly on to the consumers in the form of a tax charge on the bill.

Flickr pool photo by Chris Rief. No connection with any restaurant named here is implied.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Lee Highway McDonald’s Remains Closed — The McDonald’s at 4834 Lee Highway was still closed yesterday. An electrical fire broke out in the restaurant’s basement Saturday morning.

Arlington’s Most Accident-Prone Intersections — Following up on our Arlington’s Most Dangerous On-Ramps article, TBD has come out with a list of Arlington’s Most Dangerous Intersections, courtesy of data from the police department. The most dangerous intersection? Route 50 and Southbound Washington Boulevard, with 113 accidents. [TBD]

Brink Wins Passage of Inspector General Bill — An anti-fraud bill co-sponsored by Arlington Del. Bob Brink has won final approval in the Virginia legislature. The bill, HB 2076, will establish a statewide Office of Inspector General “to combat fraud, waste, abuse or corruption in state-funded agencies.” It must now be signed into law by Gov. Bob McDonnell. [Richmond Sunlight]

Cuccinelli Examines Fraud Case Against Donor — A man who gave $55,000 to Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli’s 2009 campaign may be prosecuted by Cuccinelli for fraud. An investigation by Virginia’s consumer services department determined that the U.S. Navy Veterans Association, which has been accused of diverting money intended for veterans charities, solicited $2 million from Virginians under false pretenses. The head of the group, who donated to Cuccinelli’s campaign, is currently at large. Retiring state Sen. Patsy Ticer sponsored legislation intended to help the group last year, then urged Gov. Bob McDonnell to veto it after she read about the fraud allegations.  [Washington Post]

Courtesy photo

“Corkage” Bill Will Let Restaurant Patrons Bring Their Own Wine

By ARLnow.com

Yesterday, by a vote of 78-18, the Virginia House of Delegates approved SB 1292, a bill that will allow restaurant patrons to bring their own bottles of wines to restaurants.

If the bill is signed by Gov. Bob McDonnell, as expected, any Virginia restaurant with a liquor license will be able to charge customers a “corkage” fee to open their home-brought wine and pour it at the table.

The measure had the backing of the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington.

“RAMW supports the rights of consumers to have a choice, and we see no evil in allowing patrons to BYOB, so long as there is no restriction on a restaurant’s right to charge a service fee or so called corkage fee,” the organization said on its web site. “Not having such an option puts Virginia restaurateurs at a competitive disadvantage in locations that are in close proximity to areas that allow BYOB, thereby depriving Virginia of sales, and the attendant sales tax and revenue. The availability of this option allows restaurants to attract the high end wine aficionado who enjoys dining out, but prefers the option of bringing wine from their own collection.”

Of course, only certain restaurants will allow the practice if the bill does become law. For the inquisitive, here’s some advice on the etiquette of bringing your own wine.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Early Buds — Maybe Punxsutawney Phil was right. The photo above was taken by Flickr pooler Clio1789 near Rosslyn on Friday.

Dr. Dremo’s Site Set for Development — Construction could begin by the end of the year on the hallowed ground that once was home to Dr. Dremo’s and Taco Bell. The site, on the 2000 block of Wilson Boulevard, will house 154 residential units and 30,000 square feet of retail space. Meanwhile, a development on the 1800 block of Wilson Boulevard is still awaiting financing. The project — a 107,000 square foot office building — will eventually displace the Rhodeside Grill and Il Radicchio restaurants. [DC Mud]

Westover Beer Garden Forum Planned — A public forum has been scheduled to discuss the Westover Beer Garden. The meeting will take place at 7:00 p.m. on March 8, at the Westover Library. The forum will allow “all members of the community to come together to agree on common positions regarding the beer garden.” [Tara-Leeway Heights Civic Association]

Neighborhood College Program Accepting Applications — Arlington County is accepting applications for its “civic leadership development program.” The Arlington Neighborhood College offers a free, seven-week introduction to Arlington civic life and community participation. [Arlington County]

Flickr pool photo by Clio1789

Fire Breaks Out at Lee Highway McDonald’s

By ARLnow.com

A fire broke out at the McDonald’s at 4834 Lee Highway Saturday morning.

The fire started in an electrical panel in the basement around 7:00 a.m. Customers and employees were evacuated as light smoke started to fill the restaurant.

Firefighters eventually were able to shut off the power to the building and get the flames under control.

An electrical inspector and a health inspector were called to the scene once the fire was extinguished.

Bayou Bakery Owner Nominated for Award

By ARLnow.com

Bayou Bakery owner and chef David Guas has been nominated for Food & Wine Magazine’s The People’s Best New Chef award.

Guas is one of ten chefs nominated for the award in the Mid-Atlantic region, and one of 100 chefs nominated nationwide. Other local nominees include Kyle Bailey of Birch & Barley, Dan Giusti of 1789 Restaurant, and Nicholas Stefanelli of Bibiana.

The ultimate winner will be decided by an online vote. The winners in each of the ten geographic regions will be featured in the July issue of Food and Wine.

Bayou Bakery is located at 1515 North Courthouse Road in Courthouse.

District Taco Applying for Licence to Serve Cerveza

By ARLnow.com

District Taco (5723 Lee Highway) hopes to have a permit to serve beer in time for some warm-weather cerveza drinking.

The popular new restaurant just applied for an ABC license from the state.

“We think it’s going to be a couple of months” until the license is granted, District Taco founder Osiris Hoil said. “We hope to have it by the summer.”

“A lot of people are asking for it,” Hoil added. “Our salsa makes people sweat… it would really go well with some beer.”

Hoil says he’ll keep the beer list small so that that he can keep the beer as fresh as possible. Among the brews he plans to serve are Negra Modelo, Modelo Especial, Pacifico, Sol, Corona and Tecate — all Mexican beers.

“No Coors Light,” Hoil said with a laugh.

Meanwhile, District Taco is offering special deals for public safety and military personnel. The restaurant is offering 50 percent off for police and firefighters and a free drink for members of the military.

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