Arlington Restaurant Week Begins Today
The sixth annual Arlington Restaurant Week begins today featuring dining specials at dozens of local restaurants.
Arlington Restaurant Week runs Oct. 14-21. (Graphic: Arlington Chamber of Commerce)
More than 70 county eateries are offering breakfast, lunch and dinner specials during the week hosted by the Arlington Chamber of Commerce.
“Each restaurant sets their price points and designs its own menus and discounts,” said Kate Bates, chamber president and CEO. “This flexibility allows us to showcase a wide range of restaurants, from five-star dining to fast-casual options, reflecting the diversity of Arlington’s dining scene.”
Participating restaurants serve a wide variety of cuisines, from Spice Kraft Indian Bistro in Clarendon to Padaek in Arlington Ridge and The Salt Line in Ballston. Several new eateries are also participating, including Toastique in Clarendon, the Rosslyn food hall Upside on Moore and Ballston’s Immigrant Food.
Another new Restaurant Week participant is The Cafe by Kitchen of Purpose, 3507 Columbia Pike. With its professional development services, Bates called the eatery “a great example of how Arlington’s restaurants contribute to the community beyond just serving food.”
“This event is also a testament to the resilience of our restaurant industry, which has faced challenges like rising food costs and labor shortages,” Bates said. “Arlington’s restaurants contribute so much to what makes our community special, and it’s vital that we support them to ensure they thrive.”
Atlas Brew Works Debuts First Alexandria Brews
Atlas Brew Works is now brewing beer onsite at its Alexandria brewery and tap room, 2429 Mandeville Lane in the Carlyle Crossing neighborhood.
Atlas Brew Works’ Alexandria brewery is now serving two beer brewed in-house. (Photo: Atlas Brew Works/Facebook)
The brewery recently debuted its first two special releases: the Noah Lyles 100m Golden Ale and the Tidewater IPA. Named for Alexandria’s hometown Olympic hero, the Noah Lyles 100m Golden Ale has subtle hints of melon and strawberry with a 4.1% ABV. With a 5.2% ABV, Tidewater IPA is a super hoppy beer with notes of tropical fruit, red berries.
Both are only available at the Alexandria location. They are $5 during happy hour from 3-7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and for $6 from 7-9 p.m. during Trivia Tuesdays.
Wren Unveils New Fall Dishes
With October ushering in cooler weather and Halloween, Wren, located in the 11th floor lobby of the Watermark Hotel, 1825 Capital One Drive South, Tysons, debuted its seasonal fall menu.
The Wren’s new grilled angus beef tenderloin with smashed fingerling potatoes and wagyu demi espuma. (Photo: Wren)
Additions include a variety of cocktails and menu items from Executive Chef Yo Matsuzaki and Erin Edwards, assistant director of restaurants and bars.
The menu is inspired by Japanese culture with modern American elements. New entrées include hotate ($28), day boat scallops with corn succotash, spiced shiitake mushrooms, nori butter and ginger scallion oil; and tori ($24), a roasted green circle chicken breast served with yakumi salad, okoge rice and amazake tare.
Other highlights include wagyu fried rice ($20) with imperial wagyu, garlic chives, green asparagus and soy sesame fried rice; gindara ($19), a miso marinated black cod; gyu ($30), a grilled angus beef tenderloin, complemented with smashed fingerling potatoes and wagyu demi espuma; baby beets and horenso ($15) served with baby spinach, endive, walnuts and candied ginger, topped with maple balsamic vinaigrette.
Wren is also accepting reservations from Oct. 28–Dec. 4 for its omakase tasting experience. Tucked away at a limited six-seat private table, guests share an intimate experience as Executive Sous Chef Hobin Kim prepares an 18-20 course culinary meal.
Wren is open 3:30-11 p.m. Sunday and Monday and 3:30 p.m.-midnight Tuesday through Saturday.
Stellina Pizzeria to Expand into Former Shouk Space
Stellina Pizzeria, 399 Morse St. NE in the Union Market neighborhood, is expanding into the adjacent building that former house Shouk, 395 Morse St. NE.
Stellina Pizza plans to expand into the empty Shouk space near Union Market. (Photo: PoPville)
According to the liquor license placard, seating inside the pizzeria will increase from 51 to 115. Sidewalk café seating with go from 16 to 28.
The pizzeria has four other locations including Mount Vernon Triangle, Shirlington, Tysons Corner and a pop-up in Rosslyn. In addition to pizza, it serves appetizers, paninis, pasta, salads, desserts and alcohol.
Guapo’s Scraps Plan for Dining Pier at Rio
Guapo’s Cantina, 9811 Washington Blvd., Gaithersburg in the Rio Lakefront, has scrapped plans for a floating dining pier, at least for now.
Rendering of Guapo’s scrapped dining pier in Rio. (Graphic: Guapo’s)
At the beginning of the year the Peterson Companies, which owns Rio Lakefront, proposed adding a floating dining pier for Guapo’s. The Gaithersburg Planning Commission approved the plan in February, but now Guapo’s says “the project will not be happening as of right now.”
Another dining barge for Copper Canyon Grill was approved in 2023 and opened last month. Guapo’s pier was to also be located on the adjacent Washingtonian Lake including open-air seating with two small gangways from the floating pier to the existing boardwalk totaling approximately 1,056 square-feet.
The floating would have had an operable roof and side panels for shade and heating purposes during the summer, fall and spring seasons, along with heaters and fans. Guapo’s in Rio, one of the busiest restaurants in Montgomery County, will continue to offer indoor and outdoor seating.
dLeña Celebrates Día de los Muertos
dLeña, 476 K St. NW, Suite D, in Mount Vernon Triangle celebrates the culinary heritage of Dia de los Muertos through Nov. 3.
dLeña’s empanada de langosta with lobster, sweet corn, squid ink masa black bean purée and chile de árbol sauce. (Photo: dLeña)
This year, Richard Sandoval Hospitality celebrates traditional culinary delights like mole, tamales, horchata, atole and pan de muerto with a twist. The dishes incorporate charred corn husk powder, known as totomoxtle, adding a visual element of remembrance to the gastronomic experience.
dLeña is featuring an empanada de langosta with lobster, sweet corn, squid ink masa black bean purée and chile de árbol sauce. Diners can sip on themed cocktails like the papel picado paloma with Gran Malo tequila, créme de violette, agave, lime red wine and hibiscus. The cocktail’s yellow and purple colors, often used during Día de los Muertos, symbolize purity and mourning. It is believed that the holes in the papel picado, or perforated tissue paper, allows for the souls of ancestors to travel and visit the living. The other drink addition is the monarch made with Abasolo Mexican whiskey, Ancho Reyes chili liqueur, carrot and orange bitters, signifying the warmth and refuge the monarch butterflies find in the state of Michoacán in central Mexico when migrating for the winter. Some believe the mariposas are souls of the ancestors returning to Earth for a brief visit.
On Oct. 24, d’Lena will host a Día de los Muertos dinner. Diners can immerse themselves in the vibrant traditions of Día de los Muertos. The experiential dinner allows participants to connect to the past, celebrate the present and honor the spirit of the holiday. Curated by Sandoval and dLeña Executive Chef Carlos Camacho, the evening includes a four-course pairing menu, showcasing the flavors of traditional Día de los Muertos cuisine.
The four-course meal is $90 with an optional $50 beverage pairing. To see the menu or purchase tickets, click here.
Skydome Offers 3-Course Meal for Restaurant Week
Skydome in the DoubleTree by Hilton Washington, D.C.-Crystal City, 300 Army Navy Drive, is serving a three-course dinner for $65 per person during Arlington Restaurant Week, which begins Oct. 14.
Skydome will offer a three-course meal for $65 during Arlington Restaurant Week. (Photo: Skydome/Instagram)
Menu highlights from Chef Chris Murray include petits lobster rolls, butter poached lobster topped with a tarragon aioli stuffed inside Lyon’s Bakery rolls and a grilled ribeye with whipped potatoes accompanied by sautéed garlic spinach and veal demi reduction. For dessert, the menu features a warm pear and apple crumble and a four layer hazelnut dacquoise. The full menu is available online.
The special is available from 5-10 p.m. Oct. 15-19. The restaurant is closed Mondays.
