By Nicole Bayne
&pizza opens tomorow at 11 a.m. in Springfield Town Center, which is Springfield Mall two years and $250 million later. It’s one of the many new food choices hitting the shopping strip, here’s the breakdown:
&pizza; Opens tomorrow at 11 a.m.
Signature Dish: Maverick, $9.50
Tomato sauce, housemade mozzarella cheese, pepperoni, spicy sausage and salami make up &pizza’s Maverick meat lover’s pizza. Manager Carlos Villena recommends adding the optional “finishers” oregano, oil and grated Parmesan for maximum flavor, but the mozzarella puts their pizza over the top.
“We make the cheese fresh everyday, very good with the meats,” he says.
The gourmet pizza chain from D.C. also has locations coming soon to Dulles Airport and Reagan National Airport. This is a causal dining venue with craft beer and wine and vegetarian, vegan and dessert pizzas. / 6801 Springfield Mall, Springfield
Wood Ranch BBQ & Grill; Expected May 2015
Signature Dish: Tri Tip, $20
General manager of Wood Ranch, Phill Helton, says the focus of the dish’s popularity is the seasoned, mesquite-grilling style. “It can come as an entree steak cut to order with our signature barbecue sauce after being mesquite-grilled with the fat cap on overnight, or thinly sliced on a sandwich or salad,” says Helton.
This will be the first Wood Ranch in Virginia. The family-friendly restaurant began in Moorpark, California by Eric Anders and Ofer Shemtov using state-of-the-art smokers for their barbecue and as a bonus, almost everything is homemade. They will have a full bar and happy hour, dessert, a takeout menu, and gluten-free options. / 6797 Springfield Mall, Springfield
Zinburger Wine & Burger Bar; Expected Early 2015
Signature Dish: The Zinburger, $10
Manchego Spanish cheese and Zinfandel-braised onions with mayo and lettuce make for a sweet and savory burger. “It’s kind of like eating a cheese board but on a sandwich,” says Charlottesville manager Matt Grimes. He recommends upgrading to American Kobe style beef for an extra $5. “It adds this mouthwatering butter taste to the burger,” says Grimes.
This is the first Zinburger in Northern Virginia. A quirky, family-friendly venue specializing in gourmet hamburgers, the menu includes cocktails, local beers and a wine selection. They also have signature milk shakes and Grimes says “salted caramel’s the best” because it “goes well after a burger.” / 6795 Springfield Mall, Springfield
Already Open
Chuy’s Fine Tex Mex; Sunday-Thursday 11-10 p.m. and Friday-Saturday 11-11 p.m. Try the signature sauces and margaritas. / 6793 Springfield Mall, Springfield
Maggiano’s Little Italy; Monday noon-9 p.m., Tuesday-Thursday 11:30-10 p.m., Friday-Saturday 11:30-11 p.m. A family-friendly venue with dessert, takeout and delivery plus a full bar and lounge area. / 6500 Springfield Mall Drive, Springfield
Nando’s Peri Peri; Sunday-Thursday 11-10 p.m. and Friday-Saturday 11-11 p.m. Specializing in South African-style flame-grilled chicken, it also has beer, wine and sangria and gluten-free, dairy-free and vegetarian options. / 6802 Springfield Mall, Springfield
Yard House; Sunday-Thursday 11 a.m.-12:30 a.m., Friday-Saturday 11 a.m.-1:20 a.m. Try the porcini-crusted halibut sauteed in a white truffle oil. There are 58 locations of the American Fusion chain but this is the first in Northern Virginia. / 6791 Springfield Mall, Springfield
The Food Court now offers Chipotle, Panda Express, Pholicious and Sarku; Dino’s Little Italy and Thai Max are coming soon. / Springfield Town Center; 6500 Springfield Mall, Springfield
