A sneak peek at Celtic House’s new red oak bar, soon to host rare whiskeys and bourbons. (courtesy of Celtic House)
Site of Celtic House Whiskey Bar (staff photo by Matt Blitz)
Celtic House on Columbia Pike (via Google Maps)
Architectural drawing of proposed Celtic House expansion (via Arlington County)
Celtic House on Columbia Pike says it plans to unveil its new whiskey and bourbon bar beneath the existing restaurant “later this fall.”
In an Instagram post on Wednesday, the pub said the centerpiece of the new bar will be a handcrafted, solid red oak bar, offering a range of rare whiskeys and bourbons. The additional dining space will also add 60 seats to the main restaurant’s current capacity of 90-100 patrons.
Celtic House initially hit a snag when it filed for a permit in March to renovate its newly leased basement unit — previously a defunct dry cleaning business — because the shopping center is located in a historic district.
Despite these hurdles, the permit was approved in August and construction started downstairs that same month.
General Manager Chris Devenney told ARLnow the new bar will be a seamless extension of the existing restaurant. A staircase will connect the two units but the new downstairs bar will have a separate entrance, too.
The main dining area will remain open throughout the renovation, Devenney said.
“Our main pub and restaurant is still fully operational. We’re hoping it will remain fully operational during construction,” he said.
Devenney envisions the new bar doubling as a space for hosting events such as birthdays, rehearsal dinners, funeral wakes and showers.
Although he could not confirm an exact opening date, the general manager said he hopes it will be in the next few months.
“I don’t want to give false hope in case we run into an issue with construction or it’s going to take us longer just getting things ready,” he said.
Metro 29 Diner says it is reopening today (Friday) following a closure that lasted several weeks due to plumbing issues.
Earlier this week, ARLnow reported the restaurant could remain shuttered for up to a month, as it awaited a permit to repair a clogged sewer line located along N. Albemarle Street, adjacent to the restaurant.
The local staple at 4711 Langston Blvd was forced to close after the plumbing issue caused grease and other liquids to flood the parking lot from the restaurant’s grease trap, creating a health hazard.
Arlington’s planning department granted the necessary permit on Tuesday, within hours of ARLnow’s initial story publishing, Metro 29 Diner owner Peter Bota told us.
Construction started Thursday morning and concluded by 1 p.m. Bota said the restaurant has been “given the green light to reopen by the health department.”
“I want to thank the county for their prompt attention and I’d like to thank our loyal patrons and staff for their patience, understanding and well wishes while we were closed,” Bota said.
N. Albermarle Street adjacent to Metro 29 Diner (staff photo by James Jarvis)
Metro 29 Diner will remain closed for at least another week, and possibly upwards of a month, due to a serious plumbing problem.
Peter Bota, the owner of the nostalgic New York-style diner, says it all started a few weeks ago after the restaurant’s grease trap — a plumbing device that separates grease, oil and excess food from wastewater — started malfunctioning.
“The stuff that was in the grease trap, the liquid and the grease started flowing into our parking lot. Fortunately, as nasty as it was, it didn’t come back into the building,” Bota told ARLnow.
Since that incident, Bota says the diner’s been stuck in “a holding pattern,” waiting on the green light from Arlington’s planning department to replace the sewer line along N. Albemarle Street adjacent to the restaurant.
“We are just waiting for our permits to be approved so we can do the [construction],” he said. “There will be a road closure on the side street Albemarle, and then there’s excavation to get to the sewer line and replace it.”
Permits filed with Arlington County indicate the work is slated to take place over the course of three days and cost about $15,000. The construction zone is expected to stretch about 20 feet, resulting in partial closures of the roadway and sidewalk along N. Albemarle Street.
Until the sewer line is fixed, Bota emphasized he can’t reopen.
“There’s nothing that we can do… We’re not allowed to operate since everything that goes out of the business in terms of liquid… is going to come back towards the building,” he said.
As for when the county might approve his permit, Bota remains hopeful but uncertain.
“Everything’s been submitted and is in the review process,” Bota said. “So, hopefully, [the county will] fast-track us since we’re an existing business and allow us to get reopened as soon as possible.”
In addition to being a North Arlington dining staple, Metro 29 Diner has had some famous visitors over the years, including then-Vice President Biden in 2012 and Guy Fieri for a Diners, Drive-ins and Dives taping in 2010.
“Fiya Cracka Chicken Fries” (via For Your Fries Only/Instagram)
“4 X Fries” box, includes chicken, shrimp, steak and Yummy Roni Fries (via For Your Fries Only/Instagram)
BBQ ranch shrimp fries (via For Your Fries Only/Instagram)
A NBRHD kitchen trailer, by REEF, in Clarendon (staff photo by James Jarvis))
A new delivery-only restaurant specializing in “loaded fries” has opened in a parking lot near Clarendon.
For Your Fries Only is serving up fries slathered in sauce and topped with a protein of choice from a trailer in the vacant Courthouse West parking lot across from Whole Foods.
The owner told ARLnow the business had officially launched last week. It operates from one of the three trailers owned by REEF Technology, a company specializing in transforming underutilized urban parking lots into hubs for food and logistics. The food service arm of Reef is called NBRHD Kitchens.
Like other “ghost kitchens,” For Your Fries Only operates exclusively through third-party delivery platforms such as Uber Eats and DoorDash.
The concept has attracted a lot of media buzz and investors in recent years, especially during the pandemic when many people were getting food delivered more frequently. Based on its popularity, the Arlington County Board amended its zoning ordinance in June to streamline delivery for small businesses.
For Your Fries Only initially started with two locations in Ohio and has since expanded to Baltimore, Maryland and Miami and Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, according to its website.
The eatery offers toppings ranging from chicken and steak to shrimp and pepperoni, as well as various sauces. The menu also features chicken wings, available in sets of 10, 20, or 30, and customers can have them tossed in a choice of two sauces.
Westpost 2023 “Fall Movies on The Plaza” flier (via Wespost at National Landing)
Westpost 2023 fall outdoor movie list flier (via Westpost at National Landing)
Get your blankets and popcorn ready: Westpost in Pentagon City will be hosting free outdoor movie screenings this fall.
In less than two weeks, movie-goers can enjoy a range of films, from family-friendly flicks to action-adventures, each Wednesday from Sept. 20 through Oct. 11. Screenings will be held in the plaza at Westpost, formerly known as Pentagon Row.
Shows begin at 7:30 p.m., but attendees are advised to arrive early to secure a spot and allow time to order food and drinks, including alcoholic beverages, from nearby restaurants.
Each screening will be hosted by a different restaurant, and most serve up cuisines that play off the movie, such as the sushi spot hosting the samurai action film “47 Ronin.”
Below is the scheduled movie lineup.
Sept. 20 — “Clueless,” hosted by Nighthawk Brewery & Pizza
Sept. 27 — “Encanto,” hosted by Banditos Tacos & Tequila
Oct. 4 — “47 Ronin,” hosted by Kusshi Sushi
Oct. 11 — “Luck of The Irish,” hosted by Mattie & Eddie’s Irish Pub
Rebuilt interior of Ireland’s Four Courts just before reopening (staff photo)
Rebuilt interior of Ireland’s Four Courts just before reopening (staff photo)
Rebuilt interior of Ireland’s Four Courts just before reopening (staff photo)
Rebuilt interior of Ireland’s Four Courts just before reopening (staff photo)
Rebuilt interior of Ireland’s Four Courts just before reopening (staff photo)
Salvaged jersey (foreground) at Ireland’s Four Courts (staff photo)
Jersey after fire at Ireland’s Four Courts (photo courtesy Dave Cahill)
Salvaged decorative item at Ireland’s Four Courts (staff photo)
Salvaged table in front of the bar at Ireland’s Four Courts (staff photo)
Rebuilt interior of Ireland’s Four Courts just before reopening (staff photo)
Rebuilt interior of Ireland’s Four Courts just before reopening (staff photo)
Rebuilt interior of Ireland’s Four Courts just before reopening (staff photo)
Rebuilt interior of Ireland’s Four Courts just before reopening (staff photo)
Rebuilt interior of Ireland’s Four Courts just before reopening (staff photo)
Rebuilt interior of Ireland’s Four Courts just before reopening (staff photo)
Rebuilt interior of Ireland’s Four Courts just before reopening (staff photo)
Rebuilt interior of Ireland’s Four Courts just before reopening (staff photo)
Rebuilt interior of Ireland’s Four Courts just before reopening (staff photo)
Rebuilt interior of Ireland’s Four Courts just before reopening (staff photo)
Rebuilt interior of Ireland’s Four Courts just before reopening (staff photo)
Rebuilt interior of Ireland’s Four Courts just before reopening (staff photo)
Rebuilt interior of Ireland’s Four Courts just before reopening (staff photo)
Glasses at Ireland’s Four Courts just before reopening (staff photo)
Liquor at Ireland’s Four Courts just before reopening (staff photo)
Coasters at Ireland’s Four Courts just before reopening (staff photo)
Damage inside Ireland’s Four Courts from crash and fire (photo courtesy Dave Cahill)
Damage inside Ireland’s Four Courts from crash and fire (photo courtesy Dave Cahill)
Damage inside Ireland’s Four Courts from crash and fire (photo courtesy Dave Cahill)
Under construction exterior of Ireland’s Four Courts (staff photo)
Under construction exterior of Ireland’s Four Courts (staff photo)
(Updated at 12:10 p.m.) The first thing you notice when walking into the rebuilt Ireland’s Four Courts — which is officially reopening today, at long last — is that it’s both familiar and new at the same time.
The interior is a bit brighter and more open — the crash that smashed and torched the long-time Courthouse watering hole last summer revealed to the owners that the columns near the front were decorative, not structural.
The predominant color scheme is now teal instead of red. The mugs that used to hang behind the bar are gone — the heat from the fire melted them, leaving just handles hanging from the peg board. Additionally, the back room is now more inviting for patrons and private events, with a library and an upgraded second bar.
On the other hand, the general layout is the same. And you’ll notice touches that were salvaged from the old Four Courts: the handmade-in-Ireland tables have a fresh coat of paint and varnish, the soccer jersey that miraculously survived the flames, the antique Irish fireplace that needed 30 hours or restoration work, the Men of Aran sculpture, and a few other items.
Four Courts would have probably needed an interior refresh at some point this decade, but this was not the way managing partner Dave Cahill and other owners wanted it to happen.
When the rideshare driver who was suffering an apparent medical emergency slammed into the pub on Aug. 12, 2022, a group of coworkers were marking an occasion together near the front. They never saw the car barrelling toward them.
The 14 people who were injured, including the three critically hurt from that group — who spent an extended period of time in the hospital — were honored during a private event at the pub Wednesday evening.
The Arlington first responders who rushed to the scene and — along with fellow patrons — helped to pull the injured out of the building just as the inferno started spreading were also honored at the event. Without them, according to Cahill, multiple people would have died and Four Courts would never have reopened.
That everyone survived is its own miracle. The force of the impact was such that a patron sitting at the bar, well away from where the car came to rest, with the dazed driver and rideshare passenger inside, was blown off of his barstool.
Ahead of their reopening, @irelands4courts honored ACPD, @ArlingtonVaFD and community members who provided critical assistance and care following the vehicle crash into the building on August 12, 2022. Plaques recognizing their heroism are displayed in the restaurant. pic.twitter.com/dasmvjid6g
After eight months of a complete interior demolition and reconstruction — and despite some work left to be done with the exterior facade — Four Courts will reopen to the public at 4 p.m.
There will be live music today, Friday and Saturday. And as before, those hoping to catch some sports from across the pond can expect a 9 a.m. opening time on Saturday.
For Cahill and others who witnessed the crash and its aftermath, memories of the horror of that day are still fresh. But for now he’s focusing on the reopening, which is also a homecoming for Four Courts’ legion of displaced regulars.
“I am feeling a huge relief to be at the finish line and a great of excitement to open the doors and see all the familiar face again,” Cahill told ARLnow. “Four Courts is a home and away from home for so many of our customers and we are excited to welcome them back. It’s like having my birthday, St. Patrick’s Day and Christmas Day all at once. We can not wait!”
New interior of Ireland’s Four Courts (via Instagram)
New interior of Ireland’s Four Courts (via Instagram)
Food at Ireland’s Four Courts (via Instagram)
New interior of Ireland’s Four Courts (via Instagram)
New interior of Ireland’s Four Courts (via Instagram)
New interior of Ireland’s Four Courts (via Instagram)
New interior of Ireland’s Four Courts (via Instagram)
New interior of Ireland’s Four Courts (via Instagram)
Under-construction exterior of Ireland’s Four Courts (via Instagram)
Just over a year after a car plowed into Ireland’s Four Courts, seriously injuring several people and sparking a devastating fire, the pub is set to reopen.
Four Courts is planning to reopen to the public this coming Thursday, managing partner Dave Cahill tells ARLnow. Some private reopening events are likely to take place between now and then, in part to make sure staff get up to speed.
Photos posted by Four Courts to its Instagram account over the past week or so show construction wrapping up, with a new bar, a new mural, and a new library room stocked with books.
The crash that closed the beloved Courthouse watering hole, located at 2051 Wilson Blvd, happened on Aug. 12, 2022.
The driver of the rideshare vehicle that slammed into the building and caught fire was not charged. Police say he suffered a medical emergency prior to the crash.
In all, 14 people were injured, including eight who were taken to local hospitals. All three pub-goers who suffered serious, potentially life-threatening injuries were released from the hospital by the next month.
The Courthouse-based hospitality commerce startup GoTab raised $18 million earlier this month.
Truist Ventures led the Series A funding round, per a press release. This milestone marks the startup’s first fundraising round after nabbing smaller seed investments a few years ago.
Founded by Tim McLaughlin in 2016, GoTab makes it possible for guests at restaurants, hotels, resorts and stadiums to order and pay from kiosks or phones — without needing to download an app — while streamlining order fulfillment.
“We have been incredibly intentional with the solutions we develop for our customers, and this latest capital injection will help us further enhance our existing solutions, while also helping us continue to scale the business across sectors and geographies,” McLaughlin said in a statement.
That includes going outside the U.S. and breaking into other industries. Last year, the startup announced its plans to expand into Canada and equip hotels with its solutions.
Already, GoTab says, hotels and resorts that use its platform see an average increase in sales of 28% and a 14% decrease in costs.
It attributes greater profits and deeper savings to its platform, which makes it easier to split checks, place multiple orders and communicate with the back of house. Participating vendors can combine GoTab with other services, such as the reservation platform OpenTable.
GoTab Founder and CEO Tim McLaughlin (courtesy of GoTab)
Meanwhile, the company is focused on making its platform easy to use for people who are colorblind or have other impairments, per a recent interview McLaughlin gave to Forbes.
This commitment to improving the experiences of customers and staff is one reason Truist Ventures said it led the startup’s fundraising round.
“Truist Ventures seeks out companies that drive innovation, deliver impactful solutions, and support their communities; this investment in GoTab is a testament to these values,” Truist said in a statement.
The interior of Ireland’s Four Courts, under construction as of August 2023 (courtesy Dave Cahill)
Rendering of new Four Courts exterior facade (courtesy Ireland’s Four Courts)
Damage inside Ireland’s Four Courts as of 9/15/22 (staff photo)
Damage inside Ireland’s Four Courts as of 9/15/22 (staff photo)
Damage inside Ireland’s Four Courts as of 9/15/22 (staff photo)
Damage inside Ireland’s Four Courts as of 9/15/22 (staff photo)
Ireland’s Four Courts on fire and an injured person being helped after a vehicle crashed into the pub (photo courtesy Craig Smith)
Aftermath of car crashing into Ireland’s Four Courts (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
Immediate aftermath of the crash at Ireland’s Four Courts, before the fire spread (photo via Alan Henney)
One year and three days ago, a rideshare vehicle plowed into Ireland’s Four Courts, seriously injuring several patrons and sparking a devastating fire.
Six months after the crash, the pub began to rebuild and has since targeted reopening in August. With construction still in progress as of mid-August, managing partner Dave Cahill tells ARLnow he aims to throw open the doors in early September.
Cahill says the interior is getting its final finishes. Photos he shared show a cozy interior with a large stone fireplace, dark wood paneling and brass light fixtures. A large wood fireplace and some stained glass survived the fire and are prominently featured as well.
We are working on finishes and pass our inspections towards end of month. It will be just after Labor Day hopefully . pic.twitter.com/aQEOic8rGG
A greenish-blue and gold exterior will replace the old red-and-black façade. Inside, the layout of the pub will be more or less the same, though there will be some new features, including a new draft beer system.
The pub marked the anniversary of the crash in a Facebook post on Saturday.
Today is the one-year anniversary of the accident which closed the pub. In that time the level of support that we have received from our local community in Arlington and our friends across the country has been heartwarming.
We want to thank all of you. We look forward to welcoming everyone back to the pub soon. Please continue to follow our social media pages for updates on our reopening date.
The driver, who was reportedly suffering a medical emergency, was not charged. All three pub-goers who suffered serious, potentially life-threatening injuries in the August crash were released from the hospital by the next month.
Tuna Ceviche at Buena Vida (photo courtesy of Buena Vida Restaurant & Lounge)
Ruthie’s All Day interior (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
Get your stomachs — and wallets — ready for Summer Restaurant Week, which is coming to Arlington in two weeks.
From Monday, Aug. 28 to Sunday, Sept. 3, eateries around Arlington will be dishing out three-course lunches, brunches and dinners for prices that only come around twice a year. Brunches and lunches will cost $25 and dinners either $40 or $55.
“This bi-annual event invites diners to experience Washington’s top restaurants at an affordable price point,” a press release said.
Here is what some participating local spots have on the menu:
Ambar Clarendon, a small-plates restaurant celebrating Balkan cuisine, will serve lunches and dinners with spreads, charcuterie, flatbreads and slow-roasted meats and dessert.
Clarendon Mexican restaurant Buena Vida will offer a lunch and dinner menu.
Pentagon City barbeque joint Epic Smokehouse will have breakfast, lunch and dinner options.
Shirlington Italian restaurant Osteria da Nino will have a dinner menu featuring pizzas, pastas and more.
The Crystal City location of a global steakhouse chain, Morton’s Steakhouse, will have a dinner menu.
Potomac Social Tavern, an American restaurant in Crystal City, is offering guests a dinner menu.
The award-winning Ruthie’s All-Day, an Arlington Heights standby for Southern fare, will offer lunch and dinner menus this year.
For its dinner menu, WHINO in Ballston Quarter will serve modern small-plate dishes fusing American and international flavors and ingredients.
Other local participants include Bar Ivy in Clarendon, Cheesetique in Shirlington, Circa in Clarendon, La Cote d’Or Cafe in East Falls Church, Lyon Hall in Clarendon, Matchbox in Pentagon City, McCormick & Schmick’s in Crystal City, Rustico in Ballston, SER in Ballston, Sfoglina in Rosslyn, Spice Kraft in Clarendon, Liberty Tavern in Clarendon, The Melting Pot in Ballston, Salt Line in Ballston, and a number of restaurants inside National Airport.
Many restaurants will pair their courses with wine or a cocktail.
The event is happening across the D.C. area. A rewards program gives guests the option to access discounted meals and the chance to win gift cards to participating restaurants.
Empty retail spaces at 4245 Fairfax Drive (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
Empty retail spaces at 4245 Fairfax Drive (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
(Updated at 12:20 p.m.) D.C. restaurant Immigrant Food appears to be coming to Ballston.
The eatery looks to be moving into a building across the street from the Ballston Metro station, according to an application filed with the county.
This would be the restaurant’s first foray out of the District, where Immigrant Food has three outposts: the Planet Word Museum, the White House and Union Market.
As part of its move, the restaurant applied for permission to build out a patio seating area for the space it is leasing at the base of a 7-story office building. The office tower, owned by The Nature Conservancy, is located at the corner of Fairfax Drive and N. Taylor Street, while the restaurant’s address is 4245 Fairfax Drive, Suite 150.
“The proposed changes, if approved, would further the Countywide goal of promoting the economic vitality of Arlington by increasing the walkable restaurant space within the high-traffic Ballston Metrorail area,” land use attorney Andrew Painter wrote in a letter to the county filed with the patio application.
The head chef of Immigrant Food is Enrique Limardo, of D.C. restaurant Seven Reasons fame. With the expansion of Immigrant Food into Arlington, Limardo cements his culinary presence in the county, as he is also behind Chicken + Whiskey — another restaurant that started in D.C. and opened in Clarendon earlier this summer.
The space was last occupied by Zoë’s Kitchen, a Greek-inspired soup, salad and sandwich restaurant, which appears to have closed some four years ago. Fast-casual chain Cava purchased the Zoë’s Kitchen in 2018 and has since taken over many locations.
Immigrant Food did not return requests for comment submitted to their website.
The proposed patio for a forthcoming location of Immigrant Food in Ballston (via Arlington County)
