Around Town

An award-winning Thai restaurant from Reston is laying the groundwork for a new location in Crystal City.

Tiki Thai has signed a lease on the ground floor of Reva at 244 19th Court S. and plans to fill one of the apartment’s empty retail bays within a year, owner and chef Porntipa Pattanamekar told ARLnow.


Around Town

After a nine-month stint as a Caribbean restaurant, Lesly’s Restaurant Bar and Grill has returned to its previous owner and nixed its new menu in Falls Church.

The restaurant at 306 Hillwood Avenue has returned to its roots as a Latin American restaurant and nightlife spot following a dispute in management, departing owner Ricky Bartlette told ARLnow. The eatery has reinstated its previous offerings, which include entrees like carne asada and a variety of fajitas and tacos.


Around Town

An upcoming Thai restaurant in Falls Church is offering a sneak peek of its offerings this weekend.

Dok Khao Thai Eatery is currently under construction at 180 W. Falls Station Blvd, but it will make an appearance at the West Falls Grand Opening and Fall Fest this Sunday. Owner and chef Porntipa Pattanamekar plans to offer free samples before the restaurant’s projected 2026 opening.


Around Town

A combination halal steakhouse and peri peri chicken shop is closing in Crystal City, leaving its space to a Nashville-inspired chicken and burger chain.

Peri Peri Original & Kallisto Steakhouse plans to shutter sometime next month, owner Zayan Abbasi told ARLnow. Soon after, it will be converted into a new location for Abbasi’s expanding Nash and Smashed franchise.


Around Town

A family-owned steakhouse and raw bar from Maryland hosted a ribbon cutting at its first Virginia restaurant yesterday (Monday) in Falls Church.

Olney-based GrillMarX is now open in the Little City, serving hand-cut steaks, hearty entrees and Virginia wines at 510 S. Washington Street. The new two-level restaurant hosted its grand opening on the ground floor of 455 at Tinner Hill apartments.


Around Town

The wait is over in Crystal City for Toastique, a D.C.-based “gourmet toast” eatery opening this weekend.

Grand opening festivities begin this Saturday at 244 19th Court S., on the ground floor of Reva apartments. The new cafe serves a variety of sweet and savory loaded toasts, plant-based breakfasts, smoothies and coffee.


Around Town

A new one-stop shop for Filipino breakfast sandwiches and baked goods opened over the weekend in Pentagon City.

Gwenie’s Pastries x Lapu Lapu, owned and operated by acclaimed culinary sibling duo Stella and Javier Fernandez, offers breakfast and baked goods under one roof at 1417 S. Fern Street. It is the first brick-and-mortar location in Virginia for both Maryland-based businesses.


Events

The annual Falls Church Festival is approaching, bringing back a day of live music, activities and tastings from local restaurants.

Over 90 vendors and civic organizations will join the fun as the festival returns for its 49th year from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 13. The event outside City Hall at 300 Park Avenue is rain or shine.


Around Town

It was, both literally and figuratively, the calm before the storm.

The bottles were all lined up against the wall, awaiting their executioners. The lights were on at the rides, but the vehicles were frozen in place like cars on I-95 and crowded with fair workers savoring their last moment of downtime before the floodgates opened.


Events

Prix fixe dining deals are coming soon to the D.C. area with the start of this summer’s Restaurant Week.

Over two dozen restaurants in Arlington and Falls Church are expected to participate in the biannual promotion, which kicks off on Monday, Aug. 18 and lasts through Sunday, Aug. 24. These include spots like the new Bar Chinois in Crystal City and ARLnow reader favorite Lyon Hall.


Around Town

An award-winning fast-casual restaurant serving Middle Eastern street foods is planning to open in a new location in Crystal City.

Falafel Inc has confirmed plans to open at 500 23rd Street S. on Restaurant Row, where Burke & Herbert Bank closed in 2023. The restaurant, which currently has a spot in nearby Water Park, is known for its affordable prices and efforts to fund food assistance for refugees.


Around Town

A longtime bar and grill on Columbia Pike is introducing new specialty dishes from Bolivia this summer with the help of an overseas restaurateur.

L.A. Bar & Grill’s wide menu of bar snacks and entrees is expanding with Chillamicito, a new pop-up offering a popular Bolivian food, pique macho. The bar at 2530 Columbia Pike launched the menu this summer through a partnership with chef Andrés Ferrufino.


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