By Stefanie Gans
Here are the topped clicked stories about Northern Virginia restaurants and breweries this year. Yea, you all like your beer.
10. Twinpanzee Brewing Co.
A George Mason graduate ran a Kickstarter campaign to open a brewery near the Fairfax college. According to his campaign page, Antonio Maradiaga only raised $3, 386 of his $25,000 goal. He then moved his crowdsourcing over to Indiegogo, still falling short of his goal. [Twinpanzee Brewing Company Will Try to Bring Craft Beer to the College Set + Free Tasting Preview this Saturday; July 9]
9. Sugar Shack
Virginia Del. Rob Krupicka will bring this Richmond-based doughnut shop to Old Town Alexandria. Planned for next door: a speakeasy. The shop should open soon, says this Facebook post. [Part Doughnut Shop, Part Speakeasy: Sugar Shack Opening in Old Town Alexandria; Aug. 20]
8. Mango Mike’s, Tres Hermanas & Sweet Fire Donna’s
When Mike “Mango Mike” Anderson closed the doors of his eponymous restaurant, he wasn’t done giving Northern Virginians a place to hang out. He opened both the Mexican-themed Tres Hermanas and the barbecue counter-operation Sweet Fire Donna’s. The latter of which landed on the cover of our August Sandwich issue. [With Mango Mike’s Gone, Mike Anderson Will Open Two New Restaurants in Six Weeks; Feb. 5]
7. Chase the Submarine
Speaking of sandwiches, Tim Ma, the chef behind the beloved Maple Ave Restaurant in Vienna and Water & Wall in Arlington, will team up with Michael Amouri, owner of Caffe Amouri, to open a much needed sandwich shop in Vienna. Opening in the fall of 2015, it will be a modern deli with a butcher counter. Click through for the draft menu. [Opening Next Year: Chase the Submarine, A Joint Venture from Maple Ave Restaurant and Caffe Amouri; Oct. 7]
6. New Restaurants
Food is the new national past time, which means you must keep up with restaurant openings. Here’s one of the many listings we post through out the year about new restaurants, coffee shops and breweries. Plus: restaurant opening archive. [New on the Block: Restaurant Scouting in Northern Virginia; Aug. 18]
5. Caboose Brewing Company
With Whole Foods as the best option for grabbing a beer in Vienna, friends Matt Greer and Tim McLaughlin decided their town needed a local place for good sipping. You can watch the live feed of the brewery’s construction here. [Flatbread, Beer and Kid-Friendly: Caboose Brewing Company to Open in Vienna; Feb 28.]
4. Gypsy Soul
It was big news when James Beard award-winning chef R.J. Cooper released an opening date for his much hyped Gypsy Soul. In its short existence, the Mosaic District restaurant already landed on this magazine’s 50 Best Restaurants issue and was one of my favorite meals of the year. [James Beard Award Winner Chef R.J. Cooper to Unveil Gypsy Soul Next Month + First Look at Preview Menu; June 25]
3. 29 Diner
Phew. It was sad news when it was announced 29 Diner would be closing. Lucky, a new owner came to save it and reopened the 67-year-old classic. [Iconic 29 Diner in Fairfax Plans to Reopen in Late July Under New Ownership; June 17]
2. A-Town
Apparently stories and pictures of over-age frat boys drunk in daylight, little persons dressed in costume and magnum bottles of champagne arriving with sparkles is something you are all into. [A-Town’s Sunday Funday: Not Your Mother’s Brunch; Apr. 30]
1. Naughty Girls Donut Shop
It’s got to be the name. Why else would this Front Royal pin-up-themed donut shop owned by a 16-year-old and her mom garner so much attention? [Four Freaky Things to Try at Naughty Girls Donut Shop; June 5]