restaurant

JUST IN: A-Town Bar and Grill Closing

By ARLnow.com

(Updated at 5:20 p.m.) Ballston watering hole A-Town Bar and Grill, which opened in 2012 and helped launch a mini nightlife empire in Arlington, is closing.

Scott Parker, a partner in the business, said in a Facebook post Tuesday evening that A-Town will close as its lease ends on Jan. 1, 2019. It will be replaced by “a brand new concept” in the same space, Parker said.

After an amazing run, our lease is up on January 1st and that will be the end of A-Town. It’s been an amazing journey that we couldn’t be more thankful for, but with our lease ending it’s time to say goodbye. However, we won’t be leaving! We’ve made a deal with the landlord to start a new lease, and we’ll be bringing a brand new concept to the exact same space which we will announce this spring, and plan to open early next summer. Stay tuned!

Though it was often crowded, and had a particularly devoted clientele for its “Sunday Funday” celebrations, A-Town did face challenges over the years. Rowdy customers made notable appearances in crime reports, and Arlington County officials sometimes balked at renewing its live entertainment permit.

Still, the good times kept rolling.

“We had an amazing run, it surpassed all of our expectations a million times over,” Parker told ARLnow.com

“The landlord wants to reinvest in us with a new concept,” he continued. “We’ll announce the concept sometime next spring and hope to open in early next summer.”

In the meantime, said Parker, A-Town fans can expect “a couple big parties” prior to the closing.

“[We] want to thank everyone that supported this place from the bottom of our hearts, we couldn’t have done what we’ve done in this city without A-Town,” Parker said.

Photo by Maryva2

Clarendon’s Alto Fumo: Authentic House-Made Italian Fare With Flair (and a Great Bar)

Not every neighborhood is lucky enough to have a chef-owned, non-chain, full-service Italian restaurant with a lively bar, but Clarendon does. And oh look: Free parking in the rear.

Alto Fumo Pizza and Pasta Bar in the heart of Clarendon is a locally owned business that takes pride in offering fresh and wholesome authentic Italian dishes, created from the finest regionally sourced ingredients and prepared by chefs with more than 30 years of experience.

The pasta is made in the kitchen, nothing is ever frozen, and the pizza… well, one look at the Yelp! reviews and you will be curious about what the raving is about.

There are daily specials on the menu, including Monday evening’s 12-inch, two-topping pizza with two salads and two glasses of wine for a whopping $25. Happy hour Monday-Friday from 3-7 p.m. as well as Saturday and Sunday from 12-7 p.m. includes $4 drinks as well as a list of substantial small plates for $5 — among them, fried oysters in remoulade sauce, the popular crispy calamari and the killer meatball sliders.

You can do the traditional “prima piatto” method of Italian multi-course dining — and you should! — but for a simpler after-work weeknight dinner, Alto Fumo has you and your wallet covered. The pasta portions are generous, the salads ample and the “Old School Subs” (with fries) will easily get you to your next meal.

And if for some rare reason the pizzas and pastas on the menu are not striking your fancy, you can “build your own” from the kitchen’s house-made pastas, crusts, sauces and toppings. It’s your chance to get creative with capellini, gnocchi, ziti, tri-color fettuccine, basil pesto cream, Bolognese, marinara and vodka sauce.

Clarendon is lucky to have a locally owned, authentic Italian restaurant owned and operated by chefs who take deserving pride in their efforts.

Did we mention the free parking in the rear?

Alto Fumo–the name means “high-rising smoke,” as if from a fired pizza oven–is at 2909 Wilson Boulevard; the phone number for carry-out and reservations is 703-276-3099; the email address is [email protected]. Delivery and kids’ menu are available.

New Restaurant Could Be Coming to Former Capitol City Brewing Space in Shirlington

By Alex Koma
1/5

A new restaurant could soon be on the way for the space formerly occupied by Capitol City Brewing in Shirlington.

A tipster recently told ARLnow that workers in the area believe Lazy Dog Restaurant and Bar is eyeing the property at 2700 S. Quincy Street, part of the Village at Shirlington shopping center. The chain is primarily based in California, with locations in Colorado, Illinois, Nevada and Texas.

Barbara Caruso, a spokeswoman for Lazy Dog, confirmed that the restaurant is evaluating the location, which would be its first in the D.C. area.

“Lazy Dog is exploring a potential future location in the Arlington area but a lease has not yet been signed,” she said.

According to the restaurant’s website, the menu is centered around traditional American fare, with brunch options as well. Lazy Dog also boasts an extensive beer list.

Since Cap City closed up shop in March, ending its 22 years in business, the space has seen a flurry of construction activity, but otherwise remained empty. That work could be tied to plans from the shopping center’s owner, Federal Realty Investment Trust, to add new buildings to the area and refresh the development.

The property owner asked county officials for a special General Land Use Plan review of the area last December, which could ultimately clear the way for more density on the site. However, that request “has not been addressed due to the current county staff workload,” according to minutes from a Nov. 14 meeting of the Long Range Planning Committee.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Rare, Tropical Dragonfly Spotted in Arlington — “There was quite the discovery at this year’s Bioblitz in Glencarlyn Park. After a photo posted on the crowd-sourcing tracker, iNaturalist, started to spark a lot of interest… the consensus was that what had been photographed was a Great Pondhawk Dragonfly (Erythemis vesiculosa).” [Arlington County]

Frost Fest Rescheduled — Frost Fest at Pentagon Row, originally planned for Saturday, has been rescheduled due to expected rainy weather. It will now take place this Sunday from 4-7 p.m. [Twitter]

County to Open Garages During Snowstorms — “If a big winter storm – or two, or three – hits the region in coming months, Arlington residents will be able to leave their cars safe and sound in county-owned garages for the duration. It’s all part of an effort to keep residential streets as free of vehicles as possible so snow-plow operators can do their job.” [InsideNova]

Crafthouse Going Big — Beer-centric local restaurant chain Crafthouse, which has a location in Ballston, has inked a $250 million deal to franchise nationally. [Reston Now]

Portion of W&OD Trail to Get Separate Lanes — “A major 1.2-mile stretch of the W&OD Trail bike path that traverses the City of Falls Church… will soon be enhanced with the benefit of $3.2 million from the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority and turned into a dual path — one for bikes and the other for pedestrians.” [Falls Church News-Press]

Amazon News Roundup — Virginia economic development officials say they have “accounted for a host of risks that might arise related to Amazon, from a shift in direction for the company to antitrust litigation.” The Arlington Civic Federation “will host a discussion of the proposed Amazon economic-incentive package at its monthly meeting, to be held on Tuesday, Dec. 11 at 7 p.m. at Virginia Hospital Center.” Arlington County’s building and permitting staff “won’t be doing anything out of the ordinary to accommodate Amazon, such as fast-tracking, a common incentive offered to big economic development prizes.” And, in a new report on the oft-reported subject, “Amazon’s Northern Virginia headquarters could exacerbate existing economic disparities.”

Flickr pool photo by David Giambarresi

Subway on Wilson Blvd Near Courthouse Shuts Down

By Alex Koma
1/2

The Subway restaurant on Wilson Blvd near Courthouse has closed.

The space the fast food eatery once occupied at 2424 Wilson Blvd, under the Arlington Rooftop Bar & Grill, now sits empty. Signs currently list the space for lease.

A tipster first notified ARLnow about the Subway’s closure last week, noting that a sign was posted at the shop thanking patrons for stopping by the business for the last 15 years.

As of Monday, however, that sign was gone, and all of the restaurant’s furniture and equipment had been removed from the site.

Anyone craving a sub won’t have to go far to find other options, though — Subway’s website shows seven other restaurants along the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor alone.

County Inspectors Issue Goody’s A Warning for Painting Unapproved Mural on Storefront

By Alex Koma
1/3

Arlington officials say Goody’s pizzeria in Clarendon didn’t earn the county approval it needed before painting a new mural on its storefront — but the county won’t be taking drastic action against the restaurant just yet.

Helen Duong, a spokeswoman for the county’s Department of Community Planning, Housing and Development, told ARLnow that zoning inspectors visited the restaurant and “concluded that the artwork is considered a sign under Arlington County’s zoning ordinance because the artwork relates to the advertisement of a business and its services.”

That means Goody’s needed a permit before adding the painting earlier this month, but Duong says the eatery “did not receive prior approvals from the county.”

She added that inspectors delivered a “courtesy notice” to the restaurant last Thursday (Nov. 15), laying out steps for how the business can remedy that issue, but has not forced Goody’s to cover up the new artwork or taken any other punitive measures against the restaurant. The county has taken such steps against other businesses in the past, including when it briefly tangled with Wag More Dogs on S. Four Mile Run Drive over similar murals.

Glenda Alvarez, the restaurant’s owner, says she has yet to seek any county approval for the mural, a fact Duong confirmed. She was unaware of any need for a permit before commissioning the artwork, which she says she hoped to add because the building “was not attractive enough.”

“We just wanted to get a little more attention from people walking by,” Alvarez said.

Alvarez took over ownership of the restaurant earlier this spring, after its previous owners sold her the business. Goody’s closed briefly in April to account for the changeover before reopening in May.

Lebanese Restaurant Badaro Closes in Ballston

By Catherine Douglas Moran
1/4

The Lebanese fast-casual restaurant Badaro has closed down seven months after it opened in Ballston.

The restaurant, located at 933 N. Quincy Street, has signs on both of its doors. “We are sorry to inform you Badaro Restaurant has closed down. We thank you for being a part of our Badaro family — from your Badaro employees,” both of the signs read.

Readers first alerted ARLnow to the closure last week.

Badaro opened at the spot on March 23, replacing the a former NKD Pizza location. Prior to its opening, Badaro’s owner predicted he would be opening a second location in the summer of 2018 and then expanding beyond that.

Across the street, Sichuan Wok also appears to have shut down. Located at 901 N. Quincy Street, the Chinese restaurant has been closed during normal business hours since Nov. 1.

‘Common Ground’ Food Hall in Rosslyn Pushes Opening to Next Spring

By Alex Koma
1/2

Hungry diners in Rosslyn will need to wait a bit longer for a new food hall slated to open in one of the neighborhood’s new skyscrapers.

Social Restaurant Group, the same company behind Clarendon night-life spots Bar Bao and Pamplona, plans to someday open the “Common Ground” food hall in the Central Place building at 1800 N. Lynn Street. However, SRG co-founder Mike Bramson told ARLnow that the company is currently targeting the “end of spring 2019” to open its doors, despite previously hoping to do so before the end of this year.

The main hold-up in moving forward on the project is the permitting process, Bramson said, a common complaint among Arlington restaurateurs.

“We are at the mercy of the permitting office,” Bramson said. “We will move quickly once we receive those.”

Bramson hasn’t revealed many details about the new eatery, but he says it will be located on the second floor of the massive skyscraper across from the Rosslyn Metro station, “above the McDonald’s overlooking the plaza.” The building sits directly across from the CEB Tower, a 31-story structure rapidly attracting businesses and retailers of all kinds, and is already home to ground-floor restaurants The Little Beet and Sweetgreen.

SRG is also working to open the new “The Lot” beer garden in Clarendon, another project it’s hoping to wrap up this spring.

Photo 2 via Google Maps

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Restaurant Owners Eye Crystal City — “Andrew Dana, owner of Parkview bagel sensation Call Your Mother and lauded Petworth pizza spot Timber Pizza Co., texted his business partner Jeff Zients on Tuesday night with one question: ‘How do we get into Amazon HQ2?’ It’s a question many restaurant and bar owners will likely be asking in the coming months as Crystal City and Pentagon City prepare to host parts of Amazon.com Inc.’s HQ2 and its eventual 25,000 employees.” [Washington Business Journal]

Last Vehicle Decal Deadline is Tomorrow — “Nov. 16 is the deadline for owners of vehicles garaged in Arlington to display the 2018-19 county vehicle decal. Decals, which signify payment of vehicle taxes, should be placed adjacent to the state-inspection sticker on the driver’s side of the windshield.” [InsideNova]

Columnist: Ban Cars in National Landing — “It seems pretty obvious what Arlington, Amazon, and JBG Smith (Amazon’s future landlord) absolutely need to do: Take the dramatic but wholly necessary step of banning cars and closing all the parking lots throughout National Landing.” [Washington City Paper]

Home Sales Down, Prices Up — “The arrival of Amazon may change things over the long haul, but for now, the Arlington real estate market seems to be moving through a dormant period, sales-wise – with few signs of improvement on the near horizon. But while sales were down, the average sales price was up slightly and prices of single-family properties averaged more than $1 million during the month, according to new figures.” [InsideNova]

First Word of HQ2 Win Received in Wendy’s Parking Lot — “Virginia learned it had won the biggest economic development contest in U.S. history when a low-profile state official got a phone call in the parking lot of a Wendy’s restaurant in the Shenandoah Valley at 2 p.m. Monday.” [Washington Post]

Tips for Thanksgiving Travel at DCA — “Construction delays and big holiday crowds mean you’ll have to add extra time to fly in or out of the D.C. region’s airports for much of the next month and a half.” [WTOP, MWAA]

Flickr pool photo by Lisa Novak

Neighborhood Spotlight: Eat Creative, Authentic Southern Revival at Tupelo Honey Café

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

https://www.facebook.com/kerishullteam/videos/1730316303684577/

Stepping inside this Courthouse neighborhood restaurant, you’ll first notice the striking warm tone interior, with its American Flag in a nook and artfully spaced rows of honey in mason jars. Weathered window panes suspend from the ceiling, crisscrossing pulleys and cables connect three two-blade ceiling fans. It’s a rustic and comfortable atmosphere. This is Tupelo Honey.

Tupelo Honey Café is a North Carolina-centered chain that specializes in Southern Revival dishes made from scratch. Tupelo Honey pride themselves on cooking with sustainably-sourced seafood, pasture-raised beef, chicken raised without the use of antibiotics and fruits and vegetables grown responsibly. In the video above, see Drew Carpenter of the Keri Shull Team take us inside Tupelo Honey.

Southern dishes have their roots in American history, as the south was the farming center of the nation in its infancy. Simple dishes depend on the quality of their ingredients, so early southern cooking was focused on grains and vegetables that flourished in pre-industrial farming days. Southern Revival cooking explores the heritage of southern cooking and then builds on that history.

Tupelo Honey’s creations will appeal to those open to a new take on Southern food. Here you can order grits with goat cheese and chorizo; or sweet potato pancakes with pickled blueberries, apple cider bacon and grilled fruit. For brunch you can get avocado toast points with a sriracha honey drizzle.

Tupelo Honey’s general manager Ryan Daly recommends the honey-dusted fried chicken, a half bird brined for 24 hours, flavored with 19 different spices, and sprinkled with the house’s signature “honeybee dust.”

Handmade Cocktails

Stepping up to the bar you’ll see the bar front is reclaimed wood. Above the bar you’ll see a row of plants behind hexagonal-patterned chicken wire. Behind the bar, liquor bottles nestle inside metal honeycomb shelves.

At the bar you can get cocktails shaken, muddled and mixed using handmade syrups and house-made liqueurs. The Tupelo Bloody Mary is made with Dixie black pepper vodka, and comes garnished with pickled okra, pimento cheese-stuffed olives, shrimp and more. Ryan also recommends the Tupelo margarita — made with El Jimador tequila, house-made honey liqueur, lemon, lime, mint and chili-salt on the rocks.

If you prefer a pint, Tupelo carries 20 draft beers, including DMV-made favorites like Right Proper’s “Raised by Wolves,” Center of the Universe’s “Chin Music” lager, Port City “Optimal Wit,” Triple Crossing’s “Paranoid Aledroid” American pale wheat ale. and “Suns Out Hops Out” Session IPA by Solace brewing.

Your Turn

Southern Revival has been increasingly popular for years now in the DMV. What’s your favorite spot for delicious Southern Revival in Arlington?

Barley Mac Waiter Lauded for Saving Patron from Choking on Cauliflower

By Alex Koma

Barley Mac is earning high marks from diners these days for perhaps the best possible reason — one patron says a waiter at the Rosslyn restaurant saved her life a few months back.

A woman with the Yelp username “Taylor E.” posted a review of the eatery last Thursday (Nov. 1), awarding Barley Mac a full five stars not only for a quality meal, but in commemoration of the time a server at the restaurant saved her from choking on a particularly large piece of cauliflower.

“I immediately stood up and began to choke, needing immediate [Heimlich] assistance,” she wrote. “The waiter immediately ran to me and gave me the proper assistance and saved me from passing out. He was so helpful and really was prepared for the situation at hand.”

Milos Mihajlovic, now a manager at Barley Mac, says he remembers the incident quite well — after all, it isn’t often he gets a chance to save a life. He estimates it happened around lunchtime five or six months ago, when he was still waiting tables at the restaurant.

“I was taking care of another table right next to it, and everyone stepped away from the table and started screaming,” Mihajlovic told ARLnow. “The girl was in tears and her friends were yelling that she couldn’t breathe.”

Luckily, Mihajlovic once worked as a lifeguard, so he says he was no stranger to the Heimlich maneuver. Between that and the training he received upon starting at Barley Mac, he says he was able to get Taylor breathing again after just a few seconds.

“It was this huge piece of cauliflower that got stuck in her throat,” Mihajlovic said. “She started crying after that and was so thankful… and all her friends left a very generous tip.”

Mihajlovic says he’s even seen Taylor return to the restaurant since that fateful day, so it would seem the incident hasn’t dissuaded her from returning to Barley Mac. He adds that it’s not exactly commonplace to need to leap into action as he did with her, but he’s been sure to be vigilant ever since.

“We always tell our servers to always it have on their mind that if something like that happens, you need to be there to help,” Mihajlovic said.

File photo

View More Stories