Around Town

The empty space left by Corner Bakery Cafe in Courthouse is getting a new restaurant, possibly by this fall.

Rocoto’s Restaurant and Bakery hopes to bring “high-end casual” Tex-Mex and Latin American fusion to 2111 Wilson Blvd, owner Jaime Vargas told ARLnow. The restaurant is under construction and recently applied for a state liquor license.


News

Record demand has left Arlington’s largest food pantry with an $891,000 hole in its budget this fiscal year — and it may only get worse.

Almost one out of every 10 Arlington residents, 23,190 people, had an active referral to the Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC) in fiscal year 2025.


News

Ten new food disposal bins have been installed around Arlington, further expanding composting options for people in apartments and condos.

The new bins were installed last week in Pentagon City and Colonial Village, on Columbia Pike and at the Court House and Clarendon Metro stations. They bring county’s total number of collection machines up to 24.


Around Town

Falls Church is getting a new destination for cheese and charcuterie.

Contractors are currently building the storefront for The Cheese Cartel at 922 W. Broad Street, founder Alyssa Romashko told ARLnow. The new small business plans to carry a rotating selection of meats, cheeses, wines and bread.


Around Town

A new Japanese restaurant and speakeasy with a menu from a Michelin-starred sushi chef is underway in Courthouse.

Construction has begun on Saki, a sushi restaurant at 2055 15th Street N. by partners Nick Cordero and Greg Lee. The restaurant hopes to offer high quality sushi and cocktails in a casual atmosphere.


Around Town

A local pastry personality is hosting a festival for cake creators in Clarendon next month.

Chanise Nycole, a cake decorator with over 30,000 TikTok followers, announced in a video that she’ll be hosting Cake Fest DMV on Sunday, Sept. 21, at the Arlington Beer Garden (3217 10th Street N.).


Around Town

Panera Bread is coming to Crystal City.

The fast-casual chain known for its soups, salads and sandwiches has confirmed plans to open at 2450 Crystal Drive. Construction has started in the vacant retail bay next to Navy Federal Credit Union, where Panera received a permit to build last month.


Around Town

A bakery off of Langston Blvd and the chef behind a Laotian restaurant in South Arlington walked away with honors at last night’s RAMMY Awards.

Heidelberg Pastry Shoppe received the Honorary Milestone Award for 50 years in business, while local chef Seng Luangrath won “Best Restaurateur of the Year.”


Around Town

A new tavern with Appalachian charm and an Italian American-inspired menu will soon open for business in Clarendon.

Nettie’s Tavern, opening Monday, Aug. 11 in part of the former Whitlow’s space, is named after a beloved family friend of Arlington restaurateur Reese Gardner. The Appalachia native met Nettie, who he identified only by her first name, six years ago in a bar near Berkeley Springs, W.Va.


Schools

Arlington Public Schools ended the 2024-25 school year with nearly a quarter-million dollars in uncollected debt for student meals.

School Board members authorized the transfer of $248,523 in funding to cover the shortfall on Thursday. Of that total, about 80% was from students who have graduated, while the remainder was from students classified as inactive, according to a staff report.


Around Town

From French bistros to fried chicken, dozens of new restaurants have landed across Arlington and Falls Church in recent months.

Here are some of the latest developments in the local dining scene this summer, along with some highlights of anticipated openings over the next few months.


News

An Arlington nonprofit is launching a new program that invites underserved local residents to enjoy a three-course meal planned by guest chefs.

Kitchen of Purpose (KOP) is repurposing its former cafe space at 918 S. Lincoln Street to host “Meals with Dignity,” a monthly three-course meal “prepared with love” by chefs from local restaurants and the bilingual culinary school’s students, CEO Brian MacNair told ARLnow.


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