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  • It’s officially restaurant season. Find 26 new and almost-opened spots for pizza, mussels, ramen and cake.
bronson bier hall
  • Food News

It’s officially restaurant season. Find 26 new and almost-opened spots for pizza, mussels, ramen and cake.

From Santana Moss to the Hilton Brothers, restaurateurs are eyeing Virginia as a land of foodies.

By Editorial September 25, 2019 at 9:32 am

Photo courtesy of Bronson Bier Hall

By Jess Feldman, Stefanie Gans and Jennifer Zeleski

After a month of renovations, menu changes and some vacation time for staff, Trummer’s (it dropped “On Main” with the rebrand) reopens Thursday, Sept. 26. It’s perfect timing too, because while summer is about backyard parties, fall is for getting serious about restaurants. Here is list of recently opened places, like Mike Cordero’s Bronson Bier Hall (above) and those to come, like Cake & Death, which snags the corner spot from the recently shuttered Leesburg Vintner. Happy eating season.

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89 Pizza, Wings & Football
Status: Expected Sept. 28
One Loudoun’s Spinfire Pizza location will rebrand as 89 Pizza in an ode to owner Santa Moss’ time playing for Washington’s football team. He also runs his similarly numbered nonprofit, 89 Ways to Give. // 20552 Easthampton Plaza, Ashburn

Ann’s Lobster Rolls
Status: Open
Get your dose of New England fare at this no-frills stop, serving lobster rolls, fried fish sandwiches, seasoned waffle fries and banana pudding. // 3349 Jefferson David Highway, Stafford 

 

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I just finished this adaptation of Gerard Seghers’ 1623 painting of St. Augustine of Hippo, the patron saint of brewing. You can see this artwork in Augie’s Old Town Alexandria very soon when they open up this great space. I have done 4 other pieces in there as well, so check it out, eat some mussels and drink a beer. . . . #portrait #staugustine #painting #brewery #art #artist #artstudio #paint #sohoacrylics #soho #jerrysartarama #eatataugies #brewing #brew #portcitybrewingcompany #eataugies

A post shared by Matt McMullen (@mattmcmullenart) on Aug 9, 2019 at 4:02pm PDT

Augie’s Mussel House & Beer Garden
Status: Expected October
The two-floor mussel-themed restaurant opened late last year for a preview and closed for a major renovation project, and is set to reopen next month with a patio, plus 35 taps, brunch and TVs all over the place, including outside. // 1106 King St., Alexandria

Baddpizza
Status: Expected fall
The new pizza brand will launch in three NoVA cities—McLean, Falls Church and South Riding—with pies like the one covered in blue cheese, hot sauce and chicken strips. There will also be wings, subs and salads. // Multiple locations

Ballywhack Shack
Status: Open
Located in historic Occoquan, the Ballywhack Shack serves paninis, various styles of hot dogs and sweets, right from a window stand on Mill Street. // Ballywhack Shack: 304 Mill St., Occoquan

Bronson Bier Hall
Status: Open 
Restaurateur Mike Cordero debuted Bronson Bier Hall this month as a homage to German fare and craft beer, replacing his previous creation, the rowdy, rule-breaking A-Town Bar and Grill. The new, Ballston-based concept boasts five types of bratwurst, a meat counter, giant pretzels, outdoor games on the back patio and more, all in a 6,000-square-foot space. // Bronson Bier Hall: 4100 Fairfax Drive, Arlington  

Cafe Colline
Status: Expected fall 
From prolific restaurateurs Eric and Ian Hilton, the 50-seat Cafe Colline will be a new neighborhood bistro in Ballston. Based off its sister restaurant in Georgetown, Chez Billy Sud, this cafe will feature French cuisine with Provencal fish soup, steak frites, plus brunch and a curated wine list. // 4536 Lee Highway, Arlington

Cake or Death
Status: Expected December
Closing after 31 years, Leesburg Vintner gives up its coveted corner spot to Cake or Death. The bakery, from Curtis Allred (Delirium Cafe USA, Balls of Glory) will sell pastries and other sweets from local bakers as well as its own goods. There will also be an espresso bar, sparkling wine on draft and beer. // 29 S. King St., Leesburg

Chloez Cafe
Status: Open 

Chloez Cafe offers up everything from avocado toast and omelettes to hoagies and burgers. // 5622 Ox Road, Fairfax Station

City Tap + The Lost Fox
Status: Expected fall
In the former Hail & Hog space inside One Loudoun, find two concepts: City Tap, an upscale bar-food restaurant with locations in Philadelphia, Atlanta, Chicago and DC, and the new rooftop lounge, The Lost Fox, which bills itself as a “tasteful American pub.” // 20374 Exchange St., Ashburn

 

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Nachos, margaritas, and football. Pretty sure we’ve just got your Sunday plans.

A post shared by El Rey (@elrey_dc) on Sep 15, 2019 at 11:49am PDT

El Rey Taqueria
Status: Expected winter
Sibling duo Eric and Ian Hilton are expanding their DC-based taqueria concept to Ballston in late fall or early winter, offering tacos filled with al pastor, Thai shrimp and adobo chicken, plus sangria, cocktails and beer on tap. This is part of the Hiltons’ larger infiltration into the Virginia suburbs. // Ballston Exchange: 4201 Wilson Blvd., Arlington

Haifa Grill
Status: Open
Halal-certified shawarma chicken and beef rotisserie dominate the menu, alongside other Mediterranean favorites such as kabobs, taboula salad, falafel, hummus and more. // 3541 Carlin Springs Road, Falls Church

Jefferson Ale House
Status: Open
World of Beer in One Loudon rebrands in name, but keeps the beers and upscale bar food, with the likes of giant soft pretzels, frachos (french fry nachos) and a shrimp burger. // 44699 Brimfield Drive, Ashburn

LEON
Status: Expected winter
This U.K.-based “natural fast food” restaurant is bringing Virginia its first location to the Mosaic District, and will accommodate gluten-free, wheat-free, peanut-free, dairy-free, vegetarian, vegan and pescatarian diets. // 2905 District Ave., Fairfax

My Home Thai Bistro
Status: Open
Find Thai staples like panang curry, chicken satay and pad see ew in a minimalist-chic (hanging greenery, metallic light fixtures) Reston restaurant. // 11830 Sunrise Valley Drive, Suite 800, Reston

 

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A post shared by Open Road Grill (@openroadgrill) on May 2, 2017 at 2:46pm PDT

Open Road + Salt
Status: Opening winter
Metropolitan Hospitality Group is opening a second Open Road in Rosslyn by the end of the year, featuring the same Americana menu (burgers, pizza, ribs) as its original in Merrifield. Located in the plaza of the CEB tower, the concept will be paired with a separate, upscale bar called Salt, which will open next year. // 1800 N. Lynn St., Arlington

Santouka
Status: Expected November
This Japanese ramen chain is known best for its tonkotsu broth (made from simmering pork bones) and is making its DC-area debut in Tysons Corner before the end of the year. // 1636 Boro Place, McLean

South Block Juice
Status: Open
The Arlington-born juice, smoothie and acai bowl company opened its 10th location in Rosslyn last month. // 1550 Wilson Blvd., Suite 104, Arlington

Spice Kraft
Status: Open
After a brief period lacking chicken tikka masala, Del Ray gets Spice Kraft Indian Bistro as a replacement for Bombay Curry Co. // 2607 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria

Taqueria Picoso
Status: Expected fall
A vertical al pastor roaster will be one of the attractions at the forthcoming taqueria from the former restaurant director of Arlington’s Green Pig Bistro. // 1492 N. Beauregard St., Alexandria

The Bar @ChefScape
Status: Open
The Village at Leesburg food incubator is always shuffling concepts, and the newest is the launch of sports bar The Bar. // 1602 Village Market Blvd., Leesburg

The Renegade
Status: Expected October
Clarendon will soon be home to yet another triage concept with The Renegade, a coffee shop, restaurant and nightclub owned by Clarendon Ballroom chef Patrick Crump. The menu will feature snackable bites for just about $5, including lemongrass beef with crushed peanuts, fried yucca with jalapeno aioli and crispy Korean chicken. // 3100 Clarendon Blvd., Arlington 

 

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Let try our Tonkatsu rice bowl 😋😋 on the soft opening Sep 21, 2019 #umairamenandricebowl #tonkatsu

A post shared by UMAI Ramen & Rice Bowl (@umai_ramenandricebowl) on Sep 18, 2019 at 9:03pm PDT

UMAI Ramen & Rice Bowl
Status: Open
The space formerly occupied by Tipicos Gloria (relocated down the street) is now home to this ramen and rice bowl spot. // 482 Elden St., Herndon

Wild Wood Pizza
Status: Expected fall
Opening in The Village of Leesburg, Wild Wood Pizza, from the Rocket Collective Hospitality (forthcoming Cake or Death), will crank out funky pies like the Smoked Manhattan with pork belly, gouda and bacon and the Slow Burn with smoked chipotle aioli, braised lamb, fontina and adobo. Other plates include charcuterie, meatballs, baked pastas and panini. // 1600 Village Market Blvd., Suite 120, Leesburg

 

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