Posts Tagged ‘New to the Neighborhood’
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Thursday, June 18th, 2009
By Warren Rojas
Although she’s already got a successful Chinese restaurant parked right next door, Jasmine owner Ming Donovan pounced on the opportunity to grow her hospitality empire when the adjoining spot opened up a few months back.
Donovan and her husband have redone the entire space and recruited a 10-year sushi veteran—the mysterious “Mr. Lin” has traveled the Eastern seaboard, practicing his raw seafood arts from New York City to Charlotte, N.C.—to help craft their Japanese dining program. “Everything’s going to be fresh,” Donovan stresses, noting that Lin is a real stickler about only working with top-quality ingredients (a cornerstone of his culinary reputation). The menu remained in flux at press time, but Donovan anticipates serving signature rolls, tempura dishes and other traditional Japanese fare (miso soup, edamame).
110 South St., Leesburg; 703-737-2288. Open for lunch and dinner daily.
(June 2009)
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Monday, June 1st, 2009
Courtesy of McGinty's Public House
Arlington pub-goers can indulge in Hibernian hospitality while dining on regional favorites at the new McGinty’s Public House, the second local property propagated by co-founders Brian Dolphin (who also has a hand in Fairfax’s Auld Shebeen) and Greg Whelan.
A McGinty’s spokesperson says the Route 1 McGinty’s has seating for around 160 inside, features two full-service bars and an exterior patio.
Management also recruited chef Duane Keller—last spotted across the river at Moon Bay Coastal Cuisine—to revamp their menu, a task he’s attacked with gusto. Keller has tweaked various traditional Irish offerings (imported Irish salmon, chocolate bread pudding with Bushmill’s whiskey), while mixing in local influences (baked Virginia oysters with truffled potatoes, Eastern Shore slaw, Strongbow cider-glazed pork with cheddar grits).—WR
3650 S. Glebe Road, Arlington; www.mcgintyspublichouse.com; Open for lunch, dinner and late-night dining daily.
(May 2009)
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Thursday, April 30th, 2009
Courtesy of Len De Pas/BRABO
Chef/restaurateur Robert Wiedmaier is bounding into Virginia in a big way, unveiling a triumvirate of tony Alexandria eateries that will no doubt grow the ranks of those who crave his Belgian-influenced cuisine.
Chef Chris Watson, a Marcel’s/Brasserie Beck veteran, is to helm both new restaurants as well as The Butcher’s Block—a companion market expected to feature homemade charcuterie, gourmet cheeses, fresh meats and import beers/wines.
BRABO menu to include: curry-cayenne duck sausage, crispy skate wing and braised pork shank.—WR
1600 King St., Alexandria; 703-894-3440; www.braborestaurant.com. Open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and late-night dining daily.
(April 2009)
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Thursday, April 23rd, 2009
Courtesy of Boxwood Winery
Boxwood Winery aims to extend its reach by opening up a second tasting room within the latest Reston Town Center expansion.
“It’ll be even more modern than the one in Middleburg,” general manager Sean Martin says of the updated tasting room—the original tasting room will stay put in downtown Middleburg—poised to feature enomatic wine dispensers stocked with two dozen mixed wines (including homemade vintages and select Bordeaux imports). Martin says they expect to provide a variety of tasting options, including by-the-ounce ($2 to $9), by-the-glass ($5 to $17) and full bottle ($12 to $70) sales.
The Reston shop will also boast more wine-friendly snacks—primarily charcuterie, artisan cheeses and gourmet desserts. “It’s a wine bar and shop, so we want people to stick around and eat and drink,” Martin says of their expanded dining carte.—WR
1816 Library St., Reston; www.boxwoodwinery.com. Open for lunch and dinner daily.
(April 2009)
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Friday, February 20th, 2009
Following the logic that if at first you don’t succeed, try, try, try, try, try, try again, entrepreneur James Justice has unretired the Virginia Brewing Company name (he says he’s the seventh such proprietor to do so since the company was founded in 1889) in order to open a brewery/beer hall in the heart of historic Winchester.
Justice led this latest VBC relaunch by opening up the entertainment arm (they currently feature live acts and deejays on weekends) and expects to get the full-fledged brewing operation underway this spring. He’s tapped ex-Harpoon brew master John Hovermale to develop his forthcoming craft brew line, which is expected to include: pale ale, American wheat, grolsch and a yet-to-be-determined brew.
Justice is also tweaking the entire menu, after which he’ll most likely boost dining hours.—WR
580 N. Cameron St., Winchester; 540-754-1564; www.virginiabrewingcompany.com. Open for lunch, dinner and late-night dining, Friday through Saturday.
(February 2009)
Desiderio Italian-American Grill
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Thursday, February 19th, 2009
When people ask Rick Marrero what regional cuisine he most identifies with, his pat response is, “Little Italy … in the Bronx.”
Marrero has roots in that storied borough, so it’s only natural that’s the food he and partners Greg Keating and Victor Rodriquez will recreate at Desiderio.
The menu will focus on the Americanized cuisine of Marrero’s youth, including: a fried mozzarella sandwich (plain for kids; embellished with prosciutto and balsamic vinegar for adults), shrimp- and pancetta-stuffed calamari and a chicken marsala rolatini. Cannolis, meanwhile, will be delivered straight from Artuso Pastry in the Bronx.—WR
7960 Crescent Park Drive, Gainesville; www.desideriorestaurant.com. Open for lunch and dinner daily.
(February 2009)
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Monday, December 15th, 2008
Following its latest multimillion-dollar renovation, the Rosslyn Hyatt has unveiled the new cityhouse—an urban escape focused on contemporary American cuisine.
The recently revamped property displaces the Mediterranean-themed Mezza9, though Culinary Institute of America alumnus and veteran Hyatt toque Richard Paish remains in charge of the kitchen.
The re-imagined menu features regional creations ranging from Maine lobster and Louisiana crayfish ravioli to Chesapeake Bay crab dip. Specialty items include: NY-strip sandwich on toasted ciabatta, wild salmon over mushroom ravioli, rack of lamb with polenta and wilted spinach, Cajun chicken linguine and a filet mignon and sea bass duet in roasted garlic demi-glace.—WR
The carte is expected to change seasonally. 1325 Wilson Blvd., Arlington; 703-276-8999; www.arlington.hyatt.com. Open for dinner daily.
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Monday, December 15th, 2008
Local restaurateur Melissa Schultze wants to warn Fredericksburg residents who might frequent her new roadhouse: “Scooter” doesn’t actually exist.
“I just wanted a fun, whimsical name,” Schultze said of the proud-to-be-American eatery she’s erected with the help of family and friends.
The red, white and blue menu will feature such classics as beef on weck and chicken wings. But that doesn’t mean Schultze and co. aren’t planning a few surprises.
Two tweaks worth mentioning include a make-your-own pizza bar that will sling 6-inch pies to be personalized with over a dozen toppings, including: ground beef, pineapple, broccoli and mixed peppers. Schultze also laid out plans for nearly a dozen “stuffed burgers”—grilled beef folded around myriad fillings ranging from blue-cheese crumbles to avocado, bacon and caramelized onions.—WR
5426 Southpoint Plaza Way, Fredericksburg; 540-891-8929; www.scootersroadhousegrille.com. Open for lunch and dinner daily.
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Monday, December 15th, 2008
Downtown Herndonites should prepare for a small-plate invasion of their own, courtesy of Sake Club—a District-born Japanese “tapas” joint now making its way west.
General manager Jody Montana said the new Herndon restaurant will mirror their flagship D.C. property, which produces over two dozen inventive “tapas” creations (tuna tartare, grilled scallop wraps, orange roughy risotto, unagi-avocado sandwiches), exotic sushi and sashimi offerings (sweet shrimp, grilled toro, sea urchin, giant clam) and mixed grill specialties (eel, bulgogi, filet mignon, salmon jaw).
Meanwhile, the drink carte boasts over four dozen sakes (served either chilled or warm, depending on their particular character), ranging from traditional to unfiltered rice wine.—WR
752 Elden St., Herndon; www.sakeclub.net. Open for lunch and dinner daily.
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Monday, December 15th, 2008
Wine Kitchen principal Jason Miller loves how food savvy Loudoun County is getting.
“There’s no reason that this can’t be a foodie downtown,” he said of historic Leesburg’s main thoroughfare. That’s where he and his associates plan to plant their new wine bar/gourmet eatery.
The wine program will focus on nearly 30 wines by the glass, as well as themed flights and retail sales. Meanwhile, Miller said he hopes to always keep at least one local vintner in the rotation. “The criteria is good wine,” he stressed.
Chef Christopher Carey’s (last seen at Middleburg’s Hilltoppers) menu will most likely feature “tapas-style” portions of gourmet cheeses, cured meats and other seasonal fare. “We’re going to be as farm-to-table as possible,” Miller pledged.—WR
7 S. King St., Leesburg; 703-777-9463; www.thewinekitchen.com. Open for lunch and dinner, Tuesday through Sunday.
