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

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.


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

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.


Around Town

The only Domino’s in Falls Church will soon relocate to a shuttered bike shop, possibly making way for another pizzeria to set up shop.

The Domino’s, currently located in a strip mall at 1106 W. Broad Street, plans to move to 438 S. Washington Street in mid-November, operations manager Himel Uddin told ARLnow.


Around Town

A pair of Arlington entrepreneurs have partnered with a local taqueria to debut a new cantina-themed booze cruise on the Potomac River.

Sea Suite Cruises’ new “Cantina Cruises” party boat, which debuted on the Fourth of July, comes with a full-service bar plus chips and salsa courtesy of District Taco. Private parties can also get catering from the regional taco chain.


Around Town

Two new retail tenants have signed leases to join the ground floor of an apartment building in Falls Church.

Livewell Animal Hospital and laser hair removal studio SEV Laser are the newest additions to Modera Falls Church at 1033 W. Broad Street. The apartment began welcoming residential tenants in April and expects to open a cafe and Thai restaurant later this year.


Around Town

A D.C.-area meal prep company is launching a new initiative to feed first responders going through financial hardship.

Beginning on the Fourth of July, Muscle Cell Health’s “Operation Fuel The Force” will deliver one free meal per day to first responders, including military members.


Around Town

Pentagon City restaurant 1983 Chinese Cuisine is set to “soft open” this Thursday, serving up traditional Cantonese dim sum at the Westpost shopping center.

The restaurant will start accepting customers, but General Manager Cuong Vo says the food and menu won’t be a finished product — they’re looking for feedback from the public before hosting a “grand opening.”


Schools

More partnerships with civic and business leaders could be coming to Arlington Public Schools as the school system seeks to rebuild relationships that suffered during the pandemic.

Superintendent Francisco Durán spotlighted a work-based readiness program at a meeting with School Board members earlier this month. He said that enhancing the program is one of the primary goals of a partnership improvement plan.


News

A vegan soul food institution is living on just east of Shirlington, even after its original location in D.C. closed last year.

NuVegan Cafe — formerly Everlasting Life — used to attract long lines in Columbia Heights, with locals and visitors alike lining up to get soul food from an entirely vegan menu.


Around Town

Mexican flavors and a new moniker have arrived at a cafe near Courthouse following a change in ownership.

Business partners Jessica Cordova and Arturo Encarnacion took the reins of Mumu Cafe late last month. Now called “Cafecito,” the coffee shop at 1924 N. Uhle Street serves new beverages, lunch items and pastries sourced from local Mexican-American entrepreneurs.


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