Thanks to the pandemic, the ‘burbs are having their moment. From more Northern Virginia residents opting for permanent telework, to former District-dwellers migrating across the Potomac, our region is experiencing a boost in population, construction, and new businesses.
And that means a resurgence in new restaurants, too. This year, dozens of new restaurants will open across NoVA, including two new concepts from the owners behind Michelin-starred DC spots Maydān and Rooster & Owl.
Read on to get to know these unique and highly anticipated spin-offs coming to our region soon.
Tawle
Summer 2022
Restaurateurs Rose Previte and Mike Schuster have earned notable prestige over the years for their DC hotspots: Michelin-starred Maydān and sister restaurant Compass Rose. Now, the duo will open their first restaurant in Northern Virginia, a Middle Eastern concept called Tawle, in Fairfax’s Mosaic District this summer.
The idea for Tawle was born out of the pandemic, inspired by a forced shift from fancy plates to plastic containers, but at its core still wants to inspire something so many have been yearning to do for nearly two years: gather around a table to enjoy a meal.
Tawle, meaning “table” in Arabic, will “reflect the spirit of gathering and joyful abundance shared over a meal together,” according to the owners. But, in the spirit of our new normal, Tawle will be just as inviting for takeout, delivery, and grab-and-go as it is for dine-in.
“During the pandemic, we all became so deeply aware of what we were missing, not being able to have meals with friends and loved ones,” says Previte. “As [restaurant] operators, we had to learn how to quickly adapt operations to retain that connectivity and bring food to people in new ways. Tawle is our way of putting all those lessons into practice for good—reaching new communities with a gathering place that is truly relaxed and flexible, where you feel comfortable coming in anytime or bringing the food and the spirit home with you.”
But why Northern Virginia? Previte and Schuster recognized that many of their guests now live and work in the suburbs.
“Bringing Tawle to their backyard and the opportunity to reach new guests was an opportunity that drew us to this project,” says Previte.
Tawle will open in the former space of JINYA Ramen Bar and be led by executive chef Omar Hegazi, most recently head chef of Egyptian fast casual restaurant Zööba in New York, and previously sous chef at Bourbon Steak in DC and Zaytinya in Texas. Mosaic District, Fairfax
Ellie Bird
Late 2022
Falls Church natives Yuan and Carey Tang are both newcomers to DC’s Michelin-star restaurant club, having earned a coveted star for Rooster & Owl on 14th Street in DC last year. They’ve decided to return to where it all began — literally, since their first restaurant jobs were on Broad Street — to open Ellie Bird, named after their youngest daughter, Ellie.
Both Ellie and the idea for Ellie Bird were born amid the pandemic in 2020.
“At the time, we were deep into takeaway service, and realized that guests often seek comfort and opportunities to try new flavors in a more familiar environment, whether that’s a low-key, family-friendly dining room or at home with takeaway cuisine,” says Carey Tang.
Ellie Bird will seat 70 and feature variations of Rooster & Owl’s to-go menu items offered during the pandemic, including its famous pineapple buns. Like Rooster & Owl, Ellie Bird’s menu will evolve with the seasons, so diners can expect things like fresh melon salads and grilled bone-in pork chops with local peaches for the summer, and crispy duck confit cassoulet and Vietnamese French onion soup with oxtail for the colder months. Ellie Bird is also planning to offer brunch featuring tasty dishes like Spam-and-egg sliders and avocado-and-banana bread with whipped maple butter.
“Ellie Bird will be akin to the little sister of Rooster & Owl,” says chef Yuan Tang. “Our cuisine will still be creative, lighthearted, and chef-driven, just like Rooster & Owl, but we wanted to make sure it was a bit more family-friendly and approachable at Ellie Bird.”
The Tangs say Ellie Bird’s cuisine will be “a little bit of classic American, a little bit of Italian, and some California with its simple approach to seasonal ingredients.” The restaurant will also have a house pasta program.
Ellie Bird is scheduled to open later this year in the new Founders Row development in Falls Church. 110 Founders Ave., Falls Church
Feature image courtesy Ellie Bird
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