Which Wich to Open Tuesday in Ballston
Which Wich, a new sandwich shop at 4300 Wilson Blvd in Ballston, is planning to open its doors on Tuesday.
The store is the chain’s first in the D.C. area, and the third fourth in Virginia. Which Wich touts its selection, with over 50 sandwich varieties and more than 60 toppings — offering some 56 trillion possible combinations. There’s also a Coke Freestyle machine at the store, with more than 100 drink and flavor combinations.
“The eatery offers a wide variety of options, from flavorful BLTs to offbeat offerings like the honey-banana-peanut butter-bacon-laden Elvis Wich,” said a press release. “Those seeking a healthy spin can choose from over 30 Wiches and Bowlwiches that contain fewer than 400 calories and 6 grams of fat.”
The store officially opens on Tuesday, May 21, according to the press release. It held a “special VIP Preview Party” on Wednesday night.
Which Wich will be open Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., and Saturday through Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Photos courtesy Joy Asico/Which Wich (as noted)
Red Parrot Bistro to Hold Grand Opening
Red Parrot Asian Bistro will be celebrating its grand opening next week.
The restaurant, at 1110 N. Glebe Road in Ballston, quietly opened for business on March 1. But next Wednesday (May 22) the restaurant will hold its official grand opening event, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
The event will feature free food tastings and happy hour specials, said owner and chef Wendy Cheung. There will also be a DJ, ribbon dancers from Dance Asia, and a ribbon cutting ceremony, we’re told.
Red Parrot, which has two existing location in Hanover and Baltimore, Md., serves Thai, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese and Japanese cuisine for dine-in, carry-out and delivery.
Morning Notes
New Bikeshare Stations in Shirlington – Two new Capital Bikeshare stations have been installed in the Shirlington area. The stations are located at Four Mile Run Drive and S. Shirlington Road, and at S. Arlington Mill Drive and Four Mile Run Drive. [Facebook]
Notable Trees Recognized – The Arlington County Board recognized 19 “notable trees” around the county on Tuesday. The honor is “an initiative of the Arlington Beautification Committee that recognizes residents who maintain and preserve outstanding trees.” There are now 265 trees registered in Arlington as part of the Notable Tree program, which began in 1987. “I am proud to live in a community that places such value on its trees,” said County Board Chair Walter Tejada. [Arlington County]
Lee Arts Center Lauded – The Lee Arts Center, at 5722 Lee Highway, is “one of Arlington County’s best kept secrets,” according to local arts writer James George. The county-run facility hosts a gallery and studios for ceramics and printmaking. [Examiner.com]
Fatshorty’s Now Open for Lunch – Fatshorty’s, the new beer and sausage restaurant in Clarendon, is now open for lunch, according to owner Aaron Gordon. The restaurant will be open from 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Sunday through Monday, and 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.
Flickr pool photo by m01229
Z-Burger Now Open in Virginia Square
After more than two years of construction, Z-Burger has finally opened its new restaurant in Virginia Square.
The D.C.-based local burger chain opened its first Arlington location, at 3325 Wilson Blvd, to the public over the weekend.
Inside, the restaurant features a bright interior with high ceilings, plenty of floor-to-ceiling glass, and lots of red design accents, from the seating to the multiple Coca-Cola Freestyle drink machines. Outside, there’s free parking for customers — through several spots require drivers to exit by reversing onto busy Wilson Blvd.
No store hours are posted, but an employee tells us the restaurant will be open very late on Fridays and Saturdays — from 10:30 a.m. to 4:00 a.m. On all other days, Z-Burger will be open from 10:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., we’re told.
Z-Burger offers hamburgers, turkey burgers, hot dogs, cheesesteak sandwiches, a large selection of toppings and sauces, 75 milkshake varieties, and freshly cut fries and onion rings.
More on Shirlington’s Copperwood Tavern
We’re learning more about Copperwood Tavern, the planned “cabin-style” restaurant in Shirlington.
As reported last week, Copperwood Tavern, from the owner of Wilson Tavern in Courthouse, is replacing the former Bistro Bistro restaurant at 4021 Campbell Avenue. The restaurant will offer dozens of draft beers and craft bourbons, in addition to a menu of seasonal American small plates, meats and family-style sides.
From a press release:
Copperwood Tavern will bring a woodsy retreat to the middle of downtown Shirlington Village this summer, replacing the former Bistro Bistro space with a 5,700-square-foot cabin-style restaurant.
Imagine walking through the wilderness of southern Virginia and stumbling upon an inviting cabin. That’s exactly what Copperwood Tavern’s owner, Reese Gardner, envisioned when he started putting together the plans for what’s sure to be a new Shirlingtonian favorite.
Gardner, who is a Shirlington resident and also the owner of The Mighty Pint, Irish Whiskey DC, and Wilson Tavern, has created an all star team to help bring out the unique atmosphere of Copperwood Tavern.
Irish Whiskey’s Executive Chef, Sean McIntosh, and designer Maggie O’Neill of O’Neill Studios, will emphasize Copperwood Tavern’s rustic charm with a savory home-style food menu and designs that embody a welcoming backwoods feel.
O’Neill, who is the mastermind behind DC favorites Lincoln and Capitale, is helping create the woodsy retreat by featuring oversized ax door handles and cabin themed décor.
This rustic tavern seats up to 188 people and will specialize in McIntosh’s creations of seasonal American small plates, prime cuts of local game, farm raised poultry, beef and fresh fish accompanied with hearty, family style sides such as macaroni and cheese, corn casserole and seasonal vegetables.
Soon to be a new favorite brunch spot, Copperwood will feature a Bloody Mary bar and seafood buffet, including fresh oysters, clams and steamed shrimp.
The watering hole will not only offer 24 beers on tap and 30 small-batch whiskeys, but it will also boast a variety of superb wine selections and even moonshine! A separate service bar will ensure that all drink requests are filled in a timely and efficient manner.
Dog owners can look forward to the 56-seat outdoor patio with custom copper dog bowls and house baked dog treats.
Little City Gourmet to Open April 15
Little City Gourmet, a new restaurant and coffee shop in the East Falls Church neighborhood, is slated to hold its Grand Opening on April 15.
Located in The Crescent building at 2121 N. Westmoreland Street, three blocks from the East Falls Church Metro station and a block from the W&OD Trail, the cafe will fill a void in the neighborhood left by the closing of Bear Rock Cafe.
“Little City Gourmet will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner — with specialized kids’ menus — as well as specialty desserts,” the restaurant said in a press release. “Illy coffee, fine wines and craft beers will also be offered. The café will offer dine-in seating for approximately 20, with outdoor sidewalk seating available as well.”
Executive Chef and owner Rachelle Slotnick says the cafe will emphasize its food menu.
“Much of the food will be made daily on-site or sourced from our local business partners,” she said. “We will offer a range of meal options for our guests, from ‘grab and go’ meals for take-out or eat-in, to a chef-selected ‘daily dinner’ that can be pre-ordered online and taken home, to tapas-style dinners for groups looking to share a leisurely meal at our café.”
Little City Gourmet will be open Monday to Friday from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Free Wi-Fi and free garage parking will be offered.
Photos courtesy Little City Gourmet
‘Copperwood Tavern’ Coming to Shirlington
A new restaurant from Wilson Tavern owner Reese Gardner is coming to Shirlington.
“Copperwood Tavern” will be opening in the former Bistro Bistro space at 4021 Campbell Avenue. The restaurant’s elaborate interior will be an updated take on an old logging tavern, Gardner told ARLnow.com in February. Old saws and moonshine bottles will adorn the walls.
The restaurant will be more upscale than Wilson Tavern, and will serve American small plates, some 30 draft beers, and 30 craft bourbons, we were told. Interior construction began on Feb. 10 and Gardener was hoping to open at some point in July.
Washingtonian reports that Copperwood Tavern will seat 115 and will have a Sunday brunch buffet.
Fat Shorty’s to Open on Thursday
(Updated at 11:55 p.m.) Fat Shorty’s, a new restaurant specializing in beer and sausages, will be opening in Clarendon tomorrow (Thursday).
The restaurant is located at 3035 Clarendon Boulevard, in the former Rabbit Salad and Grill space. Though it has changed names and formats, Fat Shorty’s is still owned by local restaurateur Aaron Gordon. Instead of gourmet salads and other “slow food,” Gordon has teamed up with chef Rahman ”Rock” Harper, a past winner of the the Fox TV show Hell’s Kitchen, to create a restaurant based around the humble and relatively speedy sausage.
Fat Shorty’s will offer nearly 20 different types of sausage, with prices ranging from $6.75 for “classic” sausages like bratwurst and chorizo; $7.50 for “gourmet” sausage like Andouille and Toulouse; and $8.25 for “exotic” sausage like alligator and rattlesnake (really). The sausages are sourced primarily from local D.C., Virginia and Maryland sausage makers, Gordon said.
The remainder of the food menu consists of two mussel dishes, German potato salad with bacon, baked beans, a side salad, fries and a Snickers pie for dessert. To drink, Fat Shorty’s offers primarily German and Belgian beers, with six varieties on tap and a dozen in bottles. Six wines are also on the drink list.
The food can be purchased to go, or consumed inside the restaurant on picnic bench-style seating.
Harper, who has been working at D.C. Central Kitchen following several post-reality-TV chef jobs didn’t pan out, says the sausage-themed restaurant is a good fit for the region.
“Everybody loves sausage,” he said. “This is half smoke city. We’re giving people what they love.”
Asked what will bring customers into Fat Shorty’s when boiling a grocery store sausage seems quicker and cheaper, Harper said the sausages themselves — selected after sampling dozens in a marathon taste test with Gordon — are the big draw.
“The product is much better… you’re not going to get this at home,” he said.”We tasted way more sausage that we care to comment about.”
“We tasted every sausage from here to Chicago,” Gordon added.
Gordon, who also owns TangySweet, Red Velvet Cupcakery and a couple of new restaurants in D.C., says the closure of Rabbit “saddened” him, but was a necessary decision since the concept never fully caught on with more than a loyal contingent of customers. Most restaurant-goers were used to the pricing of salads at places like Chop’t and SweetGreen, and were reluctant to pay more for Rabbit’s higher-end salads.
“We heard that people liked them, but they were $3 or so too expensive,” Gordon said. He also said he overestimated the market for healthy eating in Clarendon.
Fat Shorty’s is currently scheduled to open its doors Thursday at 4:00 p.m.
Morning Notes
Blog Points Out Bike Lane Blockers — Frustrated with supposed inaction by Arlington County Police, a local resident has created a Tumblr site to publicly “shame” the owners of vehicles that illegally park or idle in bike lanes in Arlington. [Arlington Bike Lane Blockers]
Clarendon Farmers Market Starts Tonight — The Clarendon Farmers Market is back for the season, starting tonight. The market will run from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m., in the newly renovated Clarendon Central Park, next to the Metro entrance. The market will run every Wednesday through Dec. 18 before taking a break for the winter. Another seasonal farmers market, the Crystal City Freshfarm Market, is set to start the season on Tuesday, April 30. [Clarendon Alliance, Freshfarm Markets]
District Taco to Open Third Location — District Taco, which opened its first location on Lee Highway, is getting ready to open its third location. The new District Taco restaurant, like the second location, will be located in D.C. [Prince of Petworth]
Tejada Talks Immigration Reform — County Board Chair Walter Tejada spoke to a group of pro-immigration supporters at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Clarendon Tuesday morning. Tejada told the crowth that “it is our duty” to “work and fight together for comprehensive immigration reform.” The group is planning a rally at the Capitol next week. [WJLA]
Fire Weather Watch — The region is under a Fire Weather Watch. Gusty winds and low humidity are creating ideal conditions for brush fires. [Capital Weather Gang]
La Tagliatella Now Open in Clarendon
La Tagliatella has opened its first Arlington location.
The international Italian restaurant chain opened its new Clarendon location, in the former Restaurant 3 space at 2950 Clarendon Blvd, earlier today (Monday). The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner daily, from 11:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Though the chain originated in Spain, La Tagliatella has constructed an elaborate interior in Clarendon, designed to mimic an Old World Italian restaurant.
“Acclaimed Atlanta design firm ai3 assisted European designers of DecoRetro to create a special ambiance with a rich tapestry of textures, colors and patterns,” the company said in a press release. ”This authentic style mirrors the Old World culture and traditions, transporting guests to a real and true experience of European dining.”
The menu consists of traditional Italian favorites, plus a selection of beer and wine.
“La Tagliatella’s signature menu features a variety of authentic dishes including several pasta and sauce combinations and unique Napoletano-style pizzas, all created with the finest key ingredients imported from the northern region of Italy,” the company said. “La Tagliatella offers 50 selections of wine by the bottle and glass as well as several bottled and draft beers.”
This is La Tagliatella’s third restaurant in the U.S. The company is planning to open a second Arlington location in Shirlington, in the former Extra Virgin space.
Tropical Smoothie Cafe Adding Ballston Mall Location
(Updated at 12:40 p.m.) Tropical Smoothie Cafe in Virginia Square (3811 Fairfax Drive) only has been open for about seven months, but owner Marcus Barnett is already expanding. He will soon open a new location in the Ballston Common Mall.
“We wanted to branch off and we were tipped off about the upcoming mall renovations,” said Barnett. “An opportunity presented itself and we wanted to be a part of that.”
The mall location will be in the food court and won’t yet feature the full menu offered at the Virginia Square location. The focus will be on smoothies, salads, breakfast and energy bars, but wraps and sandwiches will not yet be offered. Barnett said the plan is to eventually expand to a full menu, probably after the mall renovations are completed.
Although the two locations will be close in proximity, Barnett anticipates a totally different clientele.
“All those businesses in the area [Ballston], they don’t really come down to us. Even though it’s so close, just five minutes away, they don’t really come over here,” he said. “There’s a lot of new people and businesses in that area and we want to give them a healthier option.”
Tropical Smoothie Cafe should open sometime in May in the space previously occupied by Crêpe Paris.
Morning Notes
It’s the First Day of Spring — At 7:02 this morning, astronomical winter ended and spring officially began. Spring also means longer days. Currently, we’re gaining about two and a half minutes of daylight per day. [Capital Weather Gang]
EFC Has Fullest Metro Parking Lot — East Falls Church has the fullest parking lot in the Metro system, with a 120 percent usage rate. Demand for the lot is only expected to increase when the Silver Line opens. [Washington Examiner]
Playground Coming to Long Bridge Park — The Arlington County Board yesterday approved $186,000 in funding for a new playground at Long Bridge Park, near Crystal City. [Sun Gazette]
La Tagliatella to Open in Shirlington — La Tagliatella, which is starting to wrap up work on its new restaurant in Clarendon, will be opening a second Arlington restaurant in the former Extra Virgin space in Shirlington. La Tagliatella is a global, European-based Italian restaurant chain. The Arlington restaurants will be the company’s third and fourth locations in the U.S. [Northern Virginia Magazine]
Board Approves Neighborhood Projects — As expected, the County Board yesterday approved $2.5 million in funding for five Neighborhood Conservation projects. The funds will come from bonds approved by Arlington voters. [Arlington County]
La Tagliatella to Open April 1
It’s still under construction in Clarendon, but owners of La Tagliatella say the new restaurant will be opening on Monday, April 1.
The European-based Italian restaurant chain has more than 130 locations worldwide, but the Clarendon location — in the former Restaurant 3 space at 2950 Clarendon Blvd — will only be the company’s third U.S. location, after two in the Atlanta area.
“Showcasing traditional Italian recipes made with the highest quality ingredients, La Tagliatella offers guests a relaxed-yet-distinctive atmosphere,” the company said in a press release (after the jump). “La Tagliatella’s signature menu features a variety of authentic dishes including more than 400 pasta and sauce combinations and several unique Napoletano-style pizzas, all created with the finest key ingredients imported from the northern region of Italy.”
After it opens on April 1, La Tagliatella will be serve lunch and dinner seven days a week. It will be open Sunday through Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Sweet Leaf Cafe Coming to Courthouse
Sweet Leaf Cafe, a local coffee-sandwich-and-salad shop with locations in McLean and Vienna, will soon be coming to Courthouse.
Building permits are up at the former Hikaru Sushi space at 2200 Wilson Blvd, one block from the Courthouse Metro. At that location, Sweet Leaf will be competing with a nearby Starbucks and Java Shack for cafe customers, but will fill something of a salad void following the closure of Rabbit Salad and Grill in Clarendon.
Sweet Leaf’s menu includes breakfast items, sandwiches, salads, ice cream, frozen yogurt, cupcakes and other pastries, tea, coffee and espresso drinks.
Owned by Arita and Andre Matini, Sweat Leaf Cafe first opened in McLean when the siblings were just 22 and 27, according to the restaurant’s website. The Vienna location opened in 2011.
One local business owner, who didn’t want his name used for this article, lauded Sweet Leaf and its owners.
“I think it will be f–king awesome for this neighborhood,” he said. “That’s one of the places we need around here, I think it’s great news and they’re really great people.”
Photos via Facebook, Google Maps
Morning Notes
‘Mussel Bar’ to Open in Ballston — Mussel Bar & Grille, from restauranteur Robert Wiedmaier, is set to open at 800 N. Glebe Road in Ballston this summer. The small gastropub chain has existing locations in Bethesda and Atlantic City. Wiedmaier is also known for BRABO in Old Town Alexandria and Marcel’s and Brasserie Beck in D.C. [Washington City Paper]
Deputy County Manager to Retire — Deputy County Manager Marsha Allgeier is planning to retire, and the county is now searching for her successor. Allgeier has worked for Arlington County since 1998. [Sun Gazette]
Arlington Mom Survives Flesh-Eating Bacteria — An Arlington mom has survived a case of necrotizing fasciitis, the flesh-eating bacteria. Erin Smythers, a mother of three, developed the infection after getting a small cut on her finger. [WJLA]
Wakefield in State Semis Tonight — The Wakefield Warriors boys basketball team will face John Marshall in the state semifinals tonight. Tipoff is scheduled for 8:45 p.m. at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond. Update at 2:00 p.m.: The video will be streamed live online, via the Wakefield High School website. [Northern Va. Sports]
Flickr pool photo by Sunday Money
