Restaurants come and go in our area all the time, and we are here to help you keep track. Recently opened eateries are serving authentic Thai dishes, Nashville-style fried chicken and desserts that have their own desserts, like a cupcake-topped milkshake. Find your new favorites here.
Last updated Nov. 11.
November Openings
Motto Cafe
The new breakfast concept inside Ryu Izakaya on Columbia Pike opened Nov. 11 to serve hot drinks such as a caramel Biscoff latte and freshly brewed coffee, plus breakfast sandwiches. 3030 Columbia Pike, Arlington
PopUp Bagels
Adding to Ballston’s bagel boom, this Connecticut-born eatery (and New York City sensation) is known for its “rip and dip” approach, whereby customers are given a whole bagel with a cup of cream cheese for dunking. PopUp, which opened Nov. 6, prides itself on making only five bagel flavors and making them well. That means you can tear into a plain, everything, poppy seed, salt or sesame bagel and use the pieces to mop up your choice of plain or scallion cream cheese or salted butter. There are weekly schmear specials, too, in flavors such as cake batter cream cheese. 4300 Wilson Blvd., Arlington (Ballston)
October Openings
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Surfside
Wistfully wishing for fun in the sun as temperatures cool? That’s the vibe at this beach-themed eatery, which opened Oct. 22 in McLean’s Chesterbrook Shopping Center. Load up on nachos, queso, tacos, fajitas and salads, plus happy hour deals on frozen passion fruit margs. 6220 Old Dominion Drive, McLean
Good Trouble Roasters
Opened Oct. 21, Mike Greiner’s new roastery in Cherrydale puts a modern spin on the neighborhood coffee shop. He uses an all-electric Air Motion Roaster that “significantly reduces the environmental impact of roasting coffee beans by eliminating the use of fuel sources like propane or natural gas.” The menu is unfussy: coffee, espresso, cappuccino, cold brew, wine and beer, plus pastries provided by Heidelberg Pastry Shoppe. 3800 Langston Blvd., Arlington (Cherrydale)
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Khao Nom
Chef Seng Luangrath has introduced Khao Nom, a pop-up takeout window at her Southeast Asian restaurant Padaek in Arlington Ridge. The name is a Lao phrase meaning sweets and snacks, and small bites are a cornerstone of the menu, along with sandwiches, rice and noodle bowls, and milk tea. The snack window operates on Saturdays and Sundays during lunchtime, filling orders for both takeout and patio seating. 2931 S. Glebe Road, Arlington (Arlington Ridge)
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Best Buns Bakery & Burgers
Great American Restaurants’ beloved scratch bakery and cafe has a Falls Church location as of Oct. 1. Pop in for house-made pastries, sandwiches, salads and all-day breakfast. Beeline to the second floor for a full food menu that includes burgers, fried chicken sandwiches and hearty salads, plus cocktails, wine and beer. 265 W. Falls Station Blvd., Falls Church
September Openings
Bullfrog Bagels
As of Sept. 28, the Ghostburger stall at Rosslyn’s Upside on Moore food hall is offering Bullfrog’s hand-rolled and boiled bagels as a bread option for any breakfast sandwich, whether it’s a build-your-own number or a house speciality like the Otto Superiore (scrambled egg, bacon, pimento cheese, pickled red onion, pickled jalapeño, cilantro jalapeño aioli). The bagels are also sold by the dozen in flavors such as plain, everything, sesame, poppyseed, cinnamon raisin, asiago cheese and whole wheat. 1700 N. Moore St., Arlington (Rosslyn)
Singha Thai
This small restaurant in the Williamsburg Shopping Center generated big excitement with its soft opening Sept. 15. Early fan favorites include Tom Yum Fries with spicy mayo) and Grilled Beef Spicy Salad, along with five fried-rice dishes, four curries and seven noodle options. The menu also features special bowls, including one packed with popcorn chicken, chili, roasted rice powder, scallions, cilantro and lime juice over rice. 2900 N. Sycamore St., Arlington (Williamsburg)
Rashfa Cafe
The Yemeni Cafe opened Sept. 14 with a menu full of fine tea and traditional coffees. Hungry? Grab something savory like avocado toast or a sweet ice cream-topped brookie. 310 S. Washington St., Falls Church
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Lil’ Cakes & Creamery
Who couldn’t use a little more sweetness these days? This dessert spot in Founders Row debuted Sept. 11 with a cornucopia of temptations. Try cupcakes in fun flavors such as Banana Pudding and White Chocolate Vanilla Chai Latte, or spring for a Double Dubai Chocolate or Oreo Red Velvet Fudge cookie. The place is a sugar lover’s playground, with other treats such as a cupcake milkshake (as in, a milkshake garnished with a cupcake on top), ice cream, brownies and cake jars. This the chainlet’s seventh location in the DMV. 120 Founders Ave., Falls Church
Open Road Outpost & Biergarten
Taking over the former Él Bebe space at The Boro in Tysons as of Sept. 11, this spinoff of Metropolitan Hospitality Group’s popular Open Road concept joins three sister locations, including in Rosslyn and Merrifield. Outfitted with a colorful bar, multiple large-format TVs and an outdoor biergarten, the restaurant centers on American favorites. Think smashburgers, house-smoked wings, hand-cut fries and a shrimp-topped salad. The beverage program includes local brews and rotating drafts, plus cocktails made with spirits from Open Road Distilling Co. in Reston. The biergarten is open Wednesday-Saturday, 4-9 p.m., weather permitting, with live music, corn hole, and full food and drink service. 8354 Broad St., Tysons
Nash and Smashed
The fast-casual chain that started in Manassas in 2023 is now 27 locations strong, with two newbies (in Falls Church and in Arlington’s Buckingham neighborhood) opening Sept. 10. In addition to its signature Nashville hot chicken—available as bone-in pieces, wings and tenders—the eatery also makes smashburgers and shakes. 2333 S. Eads St., Arlington (National Landing); 7450 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church; and 310 N. Glebe Road, Arlington (Buckingham)
Solace Outpost
On Sept. 9, Ian Hilton’s H2 Collective replaced its El Rey taqueria in Ballston (which closed over the summer) with another iteration of the Solace Brewing concept that began in Falls Church. The beer menu centers on Solace faves including a Ballston Lager, Vibrant Thing Strawberry Lemon and Lil Bit Cloudy. Food options include beer-battered onion rings, burgers, brats and bowls. Check the website for upcoming events (read: football watch parties) and swing by for weekday happy hours from 3-6 p.m. Growler fills are half off on Tuesdays and Wednesdays bring trivia nights. 4201 Wilson Blvd., Arlington (Ballston)
Chili Wok
Sichuan dishes take center stage at this new Falls Church eatery that opened Sept. 7. Heat up cool falls days and nights with soup dumplings, Mongolian beef, Dry Fried Cauliflower and a Signature Fish Balls and Lamb Pot. 3400 Washington Drive, Falls Church
Il Radicchio
Talk about a comeback story. After a 30-year run at its original location between Courthouse and Rosslyn, the Italian trattoria was resurrected Sept. 4 in Clarendon, in the former Mazaro space. The menu includes build-your-own pastas, small plates (think fried burrata) and pizzas, including the Salsiccia Grigliata topped with Italian sausage, peppers, arugula, smoky tomato sauce and mozzarella. 2909 Wilson Blvd., Arlington (Clarendon)
Wonder
With its grand opening on Sept. 3, Falls Church became the latest NoVa locale to welcome this food hall concept with strongholds stretching from the Mid-Atlantic into New England. (Locally, it’s also in Rosslyn, Reston, Manassas and Alexandria.) Wonder caters to diners or groups with a variety of cravings by offering multiple dining concepts under one roof. Customers can mix and match dishes from any of the restaurants in a single order for dine-in, takeout or delivery. In Falls Church, the chef-driven concepts include The Mainstay by Marc Murphy, Tejas Barbecue, Alanza, Royal Greens and Limesalt. 100 W. Broad St., Falls Church
Closings
Wildfire
The high-end chophouse that’s sat on the top floor of Tysons Galleria for almost 20 years will serve its last meal Jan. 2, 2027. 2001 International Drive, Tysons
McCormick & Schmick’s
The Crystal City location closed Oct. 25 after more than two decades there. The closest location of the nationwide chain is now in National Harbor, Maryland. 2010 Crystal Drive, Arlington (Crystal City)
Crystal City Wine Shop
The National Landing gourmet wine shop will close Oct. 31 after 14 years in business. 220 20th St., S., Arlington
Tupelo Honey
The Rosslyn location of the Southern-style chain closed Sept. 28 after 11 years there. 1616 N. Troy St., Arlington (Rosslyn)
Captain Cookie & the Milkman
Owner Kirk Francis closed the brick-and-mortar shop in Courthouse recently. But you can still get your sugar fix from his food trucks. Check the website to find out where they’ll be parked next. 2200 Clarendon Blvd., Arlington (Courthouse)
Chip City
The cookie has crumbled for the Northern Virginia locations of this dessert shop. The Clarendon, Shirlington and Tysons stores all closed Sept. 22. 2700 Clarendon Blvd., Arlington (Clarendon); 4014 Campbell Ave., Arlington (Shirlington); and 1961 Chain Bridge Road, Tysons
El Mercat Bar de Tapas
A year after opening at Westpost, the restaurant has closed. 1301 S. Joyce St., Arlington
Preservation Biscuit Co.
Owner and co-founder Tricia Barba announced Sept. 21 that the restaurant would close at the end of the month. “We’ll be here through Sunday, September 27, making biscuits and probably getting a little emotional about all of it,” the post states. 102 E. Fairfax St., Falls Church
Corso Italian
A staple at the Village at Shirlington for 15 years closed Sept. 17. It had been closed for several weeks after construction-related flooding forced what owner Jill Erber had hoped would be a temporary closure. “Flood remediation and repairs could not be completed on a schedule that would allow Corso to reopen in a timely fashion. Given that new reality, we and the landlord agreed to end the lease,” she wrote in an Instagram post. 4024 Campbell Ave., Arlington (Shirlington)
Mister Days
Bobby Lee, who opened the beloved bar in 1977, died at the end of August, and the restaurant closed permanently. Originally situated in D.C., Lee moved it to Clarendon in 1999. He closed it in 2019, but brought it back at a location across the street in 2024. 1101 N Highland St., Arlington (Clarendon)
