new restaurant | ARLnow.com

Published April 22, 2011 at 10:09AM

Sazon means “seasoning” in Spanish, which is a good way to describe the contrast of the cafe’s smartly-decorated interior to the rather drab section of Columbia Pike outside its windows. Open since January, Cafe Sazon specializes in South and Central American food and baked goods, with a few American items thrown into the mix.

Co-owner Adriana Torres, who has not left the area since she moved from Bolivia to this section of the Pike as a seven-year-old kid, says that business has started out slow but is picking up. Thanks to a favorable mention on the “22204” email listserv, she says her customer base — primarily Hispanic — has gotten a bit more diverse lately.

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Wiinky’s Enters Crowded Burger Field With A Hope, A Prayer, and Angus Beef

By ARLnow.com

Published April 19, 2011 at 5:57PM | Updated April 19, 2011 at 8:41PM

As it stands now, however, Wiinky’s is a homegrown restaurant concept operating within a very crowded market space — subs, salads and burgers — in a building that has seen a succession of failed restaurants. And they don’t even have a sign yet.

The restaurant is the brainchild of a young George Mason University grad and Arlington native named Ryan, who didn’t want us to use his last name. Ryan — nicknamed “winky” in high school — recently left his job as a manager of a local pizza restaurant to open his own business. He said he wanted to create a “cool spot” that would remind him of the backyard barbecues he used to love as a kid.

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Pinkberry is Coming to Clarendon

By ARLnow.com

Published April 19, 2011 at 2:02PM

Pinkberry, arguably the originator of the upscale froyo craze in the United States, is planning on opening a location in Clarendon. According to the company’s web site, the store will be located at 1220 N. Fillmore Street.

The only open storefront in the 1220 N. Fillmore Street building is the one facing Clarendon Boulevard with the “for lease” tacked on large sheets of plywood. The storefront (pictured) is between Restaurant 3 and the future Cava Restaurant to the right, and the entrance to an apartment building, Urban Halo salon and Gold’s Gym to the left.

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Taqueria Poblano Coming to Columbia Pike

By ARLnow.com

Published April 18, 2011 at 1:18PM

Local Mexican restaurant chain Taqueria Poblano will opening a new location on Columbia Pike.

“Coming soon” signs are up on the ground floor of the Penrose Square development, at the corner of Columbia Pike and South Adams Street.

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New Restaurant Coming to Ballston

By ARLnow.com

Published April 15, 2011 at 9:20AM

Ready?

If you said ‘burger restaurant,’ you are correct! A new burger concept called “Wiinkys” (no, that’s not a typo) is coming to the storefront at 3902 Wilson Boulevard. The space used to house the Pike Grill and, after the grill closed, Papi Pollo.

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Pike’s Club 31-11 Becoming Deewa Restaurant?

By ARLnow.com

Published April 11, 2011 at 9:09AM | Updated April 11, 2011 at 9:53AM

A company has applied for a state liquor license to serve beer and wine at a new restaurant at 3111 Columbia Pike. The restaurant will be called “Deewa,” according to the filing.

The name suggests the new restaurant may have an ethnic theme. “Radio Deewa” is the Voice of America broadcast aimed at residents of Afghanistan and Pakistan.

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Open House at New Artisphere Restaurant ‘Here’

By ARLnow.com

Published March 31, 2011 at 2:23PM | Updated April 1, 2011 at 11:25AM

Here, Artisphere’s newly-christened restaurant/cafe/bar, held an open house for local hotel concierges, nearby office workers and local neighbors today.

A jazz band performed as guests sampled mini versions of some of the sandwiches Here will be serving when it opens to the public on Tuesday. Here’s how Here is being described in promotional literature:

News

Top Chef Spike Mendelsohn Scouting Out Crystal City?

By ARLnow.com

Published March 30, 2011 at 10:10AM

An ARLnow spy spotted Mendelsohn and a man identified as his father dining at the Crystal City Chick-fil-A while chatting up the manager about foot traffic and sales.

“He is apparently opening a new restaurant (or planning to) in Crystal City,” the tipster said. A second source confirmed that Mendelsohn may be scouting out locations in Crystal City.

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Pete’s New Haven Apizza Plans Sunday Opening

By ARLnow.com

Published March 24, 2011 at 12:04PM | Updated March 24, 2011 at 12:27PM

Pete’s co-owner Tom Marr tells us the restaurant has gotten all the necessary county occupancy and state alcohol permits, and is on track to open Sunday at 11:00 a.m. It could open today, he said, but management is focusing on training staff.

Pete’s serves New Haven-style pizza, which is explained at length on the company’s web site. Their “specialty apizzas” include: “Boola Boola” with house-made meatballs, roasted peppers, caramelized onions and cherry peppers; “Merritt Parkway” with Prosciutto di Parma, Kalamata olives, caramelized onions, basil and extra virgin olive oil; “New Haven” with white clams, garlic, extra virgin olive oil, Pecorino Romano and oregano; and “Nighthawk” with basil pesto, grilled chicken, wild mushrooms, caramelized onions and fresh mozzarella.

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Cava in Clarendon Shooting for May Opening

By ARLnow.com

Published March 23, 2011 at 11:43AM

Owner Ted Xenohristos says construction is underway on the 4,000 square foot restaurant, which will be Cava’s third location in the D.C. area. Last July, Xenohristos told the Washington Business Journal that he was excited about the prospect of opening a restaurant in Clarendon.

“It’s like a little city over there,” he said.

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Z-Burger Coming to Virginia Square

By ARLnow.com

Published March 21, 2011 at 2:34PM

The small District-based burger chain is in the midst of renovating a two-story red-brick house at the corner of Wilson Boulevard and N. Kenmore Street, according to county records.

Reached by phone, Z-Burger owner Mohammad Esfahani said that he is hoping to have the restaurant open by this summer. This will be Z-Burger’s fourth location and its first Virginia outpost. The restaurant serves burgers, hot dogs, cheesesteaks, fries, onion rings and 75 flavors of shakes and malts.

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Name Chosen for New Artisphere Cafe

By ARLnow.com

Published March 17, 2011 at 9:31AM

Borrowing the last four letters of Artisphere, HERE is the new name of the cultural center’s cafe. HERE will feature a “seasonal menu of comfort food with Latin flavors made from locally-sourced and fresh ingredients.”

In addition to being a restaurant, HERE will be a full bar, a nightclub and a catering service. It’s owned by Barroso, Inc., the same group that runs Guajillo on Wilson Boulevard in Rosslyn and Casa Oaxaca in Northwest D.C.