This is a free preview of the restaurant tracker report sent monthly to ARLnow Press Club members. Join the club to get this and other exclusive features, like our Court Update monthly emails and the ad-free Pro Update daily newsletter.
Hi everyone, this is Katie Taranto, with more updates for ARLnow Press Club members on food and drink in Arlington and Falls Church.
An unusual race is coming to Arlington this Thanksgiving weekend, involving 50 kilometers and copious amounts of Taco Bell. Also coming up soon is a more seasonal race that’s easier on the stomach: the annual Arlington Turkey Trot. It’ll take place at 8 a.m. Thanksgiving Day, and as usual, its proceeds will benefit several local nonprofits.
As always, here’s a recap of the latest dining headlines over the past few weeks.
Recent local food news
- Biden at Carbonara: The former president dined at the Virginia Square restaurant with Lloyd Austin, his former defense secretary, then stopped to sing “Happy Birthday” with a group of Washington-Liberty students.
- Closures hit Ballston, Columbia Pike: Pirouette Cafe & Wine Shop and the Lost Dog Cafe’s South Arlington pizzeria shut their doors last month. Both businesses cited declining sales and struggles to stay afloat amid this year’s economic headwinds.
- Restaurants rebranding: Fire Works Pizza in Courthouse and Wilson Hardware in Clarendon are both under new ownership, with renovations and changes at both local restaurants expected to come in the new year.
- Tiki Thai in Crystal City: Later next year, the award-winning Northern Virginia Thai eatery plans to close its Water Park kiosk and relocate to a full-service restaurant on the ground floor of The Grace and Reva apartments.
- WaPo winners: Local favorite Ruthie’s All-Day and Our Mom Eugenia in Shirlington received praise from The Washington Post’s departing food critic, Tom Sietsema, in his annual fall food guide.
Recently opened
- Tatte, 1001 W. Broad Street (Falls Church)
- Daydrift, 1550 Crystal Drive (Crystal City)
- Falafel Inc, 500 23rd Street S. (Crystal City)
- Van Leeuwen, 2831 Clarendon Blvd (Clarendon)
As always, we’ve also tracked and compiled a sizable list of future restaurant openings in Arlington and Falls Church.
Anticipated fall openings
- Neko Panchi, expected to open on Nov. 17 at 1700 N. Moore Street (Rosslyn)
- Life Alive Cafe, expected to open on Nov. 12 at 818 N. Quincy Street (Ballston)
- Paris Baguette, expected in November at 169 Hillwood Avenue (Falls Church)
- Duck Donuts, now expected in November at 1100 S. Hayes Street (Pentagon City)
- McDonald’s, now expected to re-open in November at 4834 Langston Blvd (Hall’s Hill)
- Stratford Gardens, expected in November at 300 W. Broad Street (Falls Church)
- Takumi, expected by November at 11oo S. Hayes Street (Pentagon City)
- Top Pot, expected in November at 671 N. Glebe Road (Ballston)
- Paradise Juice, expected in November at 4219 Fairfax Drive (Ballston)
- Panera Bread, expected in mid-November at 2450 Crystal Drive (Crystal City)
- Rocoto’s Restaurant and Bakery, expected this fall at 2111 Wilson Blvd (Courthouse)
- Buffalo & Bergen, delayed; now expected this fall at 1028 N. Garfield Street (Clarendon)
- Pink Saffron, expected this fall at 1201 S. Joyce Street (Pentagon City)
- Lil Cakes & Creamery, expected this fall at 110 Founders Avenue (Falls Church)
- Scolapasta, expected this fall at 4238 Wilson Blvd (Ballston)
- Little Beast, expected this fall at 111 E. Broad Street (Falls Church)
- Kilwins, expected this fall at 3101 Wilson Blvd (Clarendon)
- Scapegoat Beer Garden, expected this fall at 556 22nd Street S. (Crystal City)
- Nash and Smashed, expected in late fall at 310 N. Glebe Road (Ashton Heights) and 2333 S. Eads Street (Crystal City)
Anticipated winter openings
- Fish Taco, expected this winter at 109 Founders Avenue (Falls Church)
- Saki, expected this winter at 2055 15th Street N. (Courthouse)
- Ember Kitchen and Spirits, expected this winter at 1301 S. Joyce Street (Pentagon City)
- The Angie, expected in “late 2025” at 3901 Fairfax Drive (Virginia Square)
- Maman, expected by the end of 2025 at 2055 15th Street N. (Courthouse)
- MyHome Thai Bistro, expected by the end of 2025 at 1001 W. Broad Street (Falls Church)
- Paris Baguette, delayed; expected by early 2026 at 3101 Wilson Blvd (Clarendon)
- The Cheese Cartel, expected in early 2026 at 922 W. Broad Street (Falls Church)
- iPanda Dumplings, expected in “early 2026” at 110 Founders Avenue (Falls Church)
- Dok Khao Thai Eatery, expected by February at 180 W. Falls Station Blvd (Falls Church)
More anticipated 2026 openings and TBD dates
- Three Notch’d Brewing Company, expected in fall 2026 at 2800 Clarendon Blvd (Clarendon)
- Tiki Thai, expected by fall 2026 at 244 19th Court S. (Crystal City)
- Qahwah House, arrival date TBD at 2200 N. Westmoreland Street (East Falls Church)
- Father Dama Pizza, arrival date TBD at 1499 Columbia Pike (Foxcroft Heights)
- Loopers Tavern, arrival date TBD at 4238 Wilson Blvd (Ballston)
- Takagi Coffee, arrival date TBD at 721 15th Street S. (Pentagon City)
- Sushi Seki, arrival date TBD at 480 11th Street S. (Pentagon City)
- Van Leeuwen, arrival date TBD at 4075 Wilson Blvd (Ballston)
- Bowl’d Masala, delayed; arrival date TBD at 1100 S. Hayes Street (Pentagon City)
- Mezeh Mediterranean Grill, delayed; arrival date TBD at 1100 S. Hayes Street (Pentagon City)
- Dolan Uyghur, delayed; arrival date TBD at 320 23rd Street S. (Crystal City)
- Port of Subs, delayed; multiple locations expected with arrival date TBD (addresses TBD)
Anything missing? Let us know.
