new restaurant | ARLnow.com

Fuego Cocina y Tequileria to Open in October

Published August 30, 2012 at 12:05PM | Updated August 30, 2012 at 2:05PM

The restaurant is opening in the former Market Tavern space at 2800 Clarendon Blvd. Interior construction is still underway, but the restaurant started accepting applications from job candidates this week. Job applications — for server, bartender, cooks and other positions — will be accepted through Sept. 7, according to the Market Common shopping center website.

Like Market Tavern (formerly Harry’s Tap Room), Fuego will have two levels: a tequila bar featuring more than 120 tequilas on the first level, and a restaurant serving Mexican small plates and entrees on the second level.

Around Town

Tropical Smoothie Cafe Opens in Virginia Square

By Katie Pyzyk

Published August 28, 2012 at 10:58AM

Owner Marcus Barnett said after the typical county permitting delays, he finally received word yesterday that the restaurant could open. He hurried to the bank, and had the doors open for customers by 4:00 yesterday afternoon. Today is the first full day of operation.

Barnett noted two things that set Tropical Smoothie Cafe apart from its smoothie competitors: the restaurants serves food and uses natural ingredients.

Around Town

Earl’s Sandwiches Expanding to Ballston

By ARLnow.com

Published August 23, 2012 at 5:00PM

The restaurant will be replacing an existing deli across the street from the Ballston Metro station. Co-owner Steve Dugan told ARLnow.com that he hopes to open in early September, after a couple days of renovations. Dugan was unable to confirm the exact address of the restaurant due to a confidentiality agreement.

Earl’s of Ballston is applying for a license to serve beer and wine, according to Virginia ABC records.

Around Town

Clarendon Whole Foods to Add New ‘Arlington Pub’

By ARLnow.com

Published August 21, 2012 at 4:30PM

The “Arlington Pub” will be located on the second floor area of the store and will offer local draft beers, wine by the glass, bottled craft beer, growlers and an organic coffee bar in a “pub style atmosphere.” The pub will also offer “tasty nibbles” for patrons. All beer will come from a 200 mile radius.

Whole Foods is planning a grand opening celebration for the pub on Thursday, Sept. 20. The event, which is open to the public, will feature raffles, beer mug giveaways, beer and food tastings, and meet and greets with brewery representatives.

Around Town

EPIC Smokehouse Expected to Open in Early September

By ARLnow.com

Published August 20, 2012 at 2:15PM

EPIC Smokehouse is being billed as a neighborhood restaurant that “combines the best aspects of a fine dining steakhouse and a barbecue joint.” Work on the restaurant’s interior is still in progress, but according to a press release the eatery is expected to open in “early September.”

“The vision behind the smokehouse is simple — quality smoked meats and seafood paired with innovative cocktails and high-caliber wine at affordable prices, all complete with incomparable service,” according to the release. “Above all, [owners Joon] Yang and [Wayne] Halleran want their place to be an integral part of the neighborhood.”

Around Town

Bronx Pizza to Open Next Week

By ARLnow.com

Published August 17, 2012 at 2:15PM

After some delays caused by permitting issues, the owners of Bronx Pizza in Clarendon are hoping to open next week.

Owner Mike Cordero tells ARLnow.com that he expects to open the pizzeria on Wednesday, Aug. 22.

Around Town

Eamonn’s and TNT Bar Now Open on Columbia Pike

By ARLnow.com

Published August 14, 2012 at 11:55AM | Updated August 14, 2012 at 2:40PM

The cocktail-bar-slash-restaurant is in its “soft opening” phase and will be open starting at 5:00 p.m. each day this week. The owners are currently anticipating a more formal opening on Friday. At some point, the owners say, Eamonn’s will open for lunch — but for now it’s only open for dinner service and cocktails.

The eatery represents a significant expansion for EatGoodFood Group, which operates Restaurant Eve, Eamonn’s, PX, The Majestic and Virtue Feed and Grain, all in Alexandria. Not only is this the first Arlington restaurant for the company, but it expands on the simple fish and chips menu of the Old Town Alexandria Eamonn’s with new menu items like burgers, chili, wings, and shepherd’s pie.

Around Town

Eamonn’s and T.N.T. Bar Opening Soon on Columbia Pike

By ARLnow.com

Published August 9, 2012 at 4:35PM

It may be only a matter of days before Columbia Pike’s most ambitious bar/restaurant effort to date opens to the public.

Eamonn’s A Dublin Chipper and T.N.T. Bar, at 2413 Columbia Pike in the Penrose Square development, were hoping to open this coming Monday, but the opening had been delayed due to permitting issues, according to a PR rep. Nonetheless, the interior of the restaurant appears to be nearly finished and T.N.T. is already being touted as the ” latest and greatest bar” yet for famed local mixologist Todd Thrasher.

Around Town

Italian Restaurant Concept Coming to Clarendon

By ARLnow.com

Published August 7, 2012 at 12:40PM

The restaurant chain, which has some 135 locations in Spain, France and Andorra, is expanding rapidly. AmRest, the restaurant’s European parent company, recently announced that it’s opening La Tagliatella locations in China, India, Germany and the United States. In addition to Arlington, news reports indicate another location is coming to Atlanta.

La Tagliatella is described on the restaurant’s web site as “a chain of restaurants specialising in high-quality Italian gastronomy… from the [Northern] Italian regions of Piamonte, Liguria, and Reggio Emilia.”

Around Town

Chipotle Plans October Opening For Lee Heights Franchise

By Aaron Kraut

Published August 6, 2012 at 3:30PM

The franchise owner and a team of contractors were on site today (Monday) to tour the still-empty interior. But a sign on the boarded-up front of the store promised the “Burritofication” of the former French restaurant and long-time Lee Heights fixture, which closed suddenly last summer.

This will be Chipotle’s fifth Arlington location after one opened in June in the Pentagon City Mall food court.

Around Town

Bronx Pizza, A-Town Bar & Grill to Open Next Week

By ARLnow.com

Published August 3, 2012 at 11:20AM | Updated August 17, 2012 at 2:24PM

Local restaurateur Mike Cordero is planning a culinary one-two punch next week, with official openings scheduled for two Arlington restaurants in successive days.

First up is A-Town Bar & Grill, the renovated successor to Caribbean Breeze in Ballston (4100 Fairfax Drive). Cordero says the restaurant will likely start serving customers this coming Wednesday as part of a quiet “soft opening,” but will hold its official opening on Friday, Aug. 10.

Around Town

Z-Burger Set For Fall Opening In Virginia Square

By Aaron Kraut

Published August 1, 2012 at 3:45PM

In March 2011, Z-Burger co-owner Mohammad Esfahani told ARLnow.com that he hoped to have the location open last summer. But co-owner Peter Tabibian said today the company is now focused on opening its new Columbia Heights location first, in the next few weeks.

Esfahani said construction is ongoing for the 4,000-square-foot space at the corner of Wilson Boulevard and N. Kenmore Street. This will be Z-Burger’s sixth location and first in Virginia.