Around Town

Bun’d Up is closing next month at the Westpost shopping center, making way for a new Indian restaurant led by longtime chefs.

The last day for the Taiwanese restaurant and its speakeasy, Noonchi, is Sunday, Oct. 19, owner Scott Chung told ARLnow. The space at 1201 S. Joyce Street will make way for Pink Saffron, an eatery promising Awadhi cuisine and Indian street food.


Around Town

A family-owned banh mi shop is flourishing during its first year in Ballston, months after its original location unexpectedly shuttered in D.C.

John Tran opened Simply Banh Mi in January at 801 N. Quincy Street as an expansion of his now-closed Georgetown restaurant. The business owner hoped to pass the D.C. store to new ownership earlier this year, but told ARLnow those plans fell through for reasons related to the health of a family member.


Around Town

The family behind a longtime Ethiopian restaurant on Columbia Pike is starting a takeout pizzeria.

Father Dama Pizza is preparing to open at 1499 Columbia Pike, next door to Dama Restaurant and Cafe, co-founder Hailu Dama told ARLnow. The Dama family has led Ethiopian restaurants in the D.C. area since the 1980s.


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.


Around Town

A new golf-inspired tavern is teeing up to replace Bartaco’s vacant space at Ballston Quarter.

Loopers Tavern, a restaurant and bar “inspired by the traditions and camaraderie of golf caddies” is Arlington restaurateur Reese Gardner’s newest project, fresh off the opening of Nettie’s Tavern earlier this month. He hopes to open Loopers at 4238 Wilson Blvd, where Bartaco exited in March, he told ARLnow.


News

A new high-rise Hilton hotel opened for business yesterday (Tuesday) in Rosslyn, bringing new events spaces and an American restaurant to the former Holiday Inn site.

Guests are now welcome at the 36-story Hilton Arlington Rosslyn The Key, equipped with new amenities including a bar and two eateries: the Locket restaurant and Scott’s Coffee Shop & Mart.


Around Town

A new juice shop is coming to Pizza Roma’s former space near the Ballston Metro station, after Scolapasta backed out of plans there this spring.

Paradise Juice has signed a lease and is preparing to open at 4219 Fairfax Drive, owner Sal Salim told ARLnow. He hopes to differentiate the shop from competitors by preparing juices in-house.


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.


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