restaurant | ALXnow

Beeliner Diner opens in Bradlee Shopping Center

Published February 25, 2022 at 11:15AM

Beeliner Diner at 3648 King Street. (Courtesy photo)

Noelie Rickey and Markos Panas have been busier than bees lately, and on Thursday (Feb. 24) their Beeliner Diner officially opened in the Bradlee Shopping Center.

The new family restaurant at 3648 King Street is the former longtime home to Atlantis Pizzeria & Restaurant, which closed early last year. Rickey, Panas and partner Dagmawi Abedje also own the Bread & Water Company bakery in the Belle View Shopping Center. They opened a Bun Papa pop-up at the King Street location in November, and the space has been expanded to include the BeeStreet Virtual Food Hall, which is a collection of pop-up concepts ALX Pizza, Boom Chicky (fried chicken) and Bun Papa.

News

Lena’s Wood-Fired Pizza & Tap wins 2022 Heart of Del Ray award

By James Cullum

Published February 11, 2022 at 2:15PM

Del Ray Business Association Board Members and past Heart of Del Ray award winners present the 2022 Heart of Del Ray to Lena's Wood-Fired Pizza & Tap. Joey Civali of the Yates family represented Lena's in accepting the award. (Via Bill Blackburn)

The thoughtful dining experiences have paid off. Lena’s Wood-Fired Pizza & Tap was awarded the Heart of Del Ray award on Friday (Feb. 11), beating out four other local businesses.

More than 1,000 voters cast ballots for the spot that captured the heart of the community. The Del Ray Business Association presented the restaurant with a large heart-shaped award on Friday morning — just in time for Valentine’s Day on Monday, Feb. 14.

News

Five local businesses in running for Heart of Del Ray award

By James Cullum

Published February 8, 2022 at 2:15PM

The nominations are in for the annual Heart of Del Ray Award, and all the community has to do now is find the love.

Voting closes at noon on Thursday (Feb. 10) for the Del Ray Business Association’s annual award to the business that best represents the heart and soul of the community.

News

ESP Tea and Coffee celebrates one year since reopening and rebranding

By Vernon Miles

Published February 2, 2022 at 11:00AM

ESP Tea and Coffee, photo via ESP/Facebook

It’s been a year since Old Town coffee shop ESP Tea and Coffee (1012 King Street) reopened under new ownership following a spectacularly bad collapse.

Killer E.S.P closed in 2020 after its entire staff quit — twice — after alleged misconduct from former owner Rob Shelton. New owner Erik Muendel said the last year has seen extensive menu changes and an effort at revitalization.

News

Cafe 44 in North Old Town planning an extensive indoor expansion

By Vernon Miles

Published February 2, 2022 at 9:45AM

Photo via Cafe 44/Facebook

Rooftop bar and restaurant Cafe 44 (44 Canal Center Plaza) is getting could be getting a new bar, indoor dining room and more.

According to a special use permit (SUP) filed with the city, the outdoor restaurant could be expanding further into the Canal Center Plaza office building with new dining and cooking space.

News

#GWCherryChallenge is back in Alexandria, and so is the George Washington Birthday Parade

By James Cullum

Published February 1, 2022 at 1:00PM

George and Martha Washington wave at the George Washington Birthday Parade in Old Town, Feb. 17, 2020 (Staff photo by James Cullum)

With the George Washington Birthday Parade Celebration coming back to Alexandria, nearly 20 restaurants in the city are competing in the #GWCherryChallenge.

The challenge, which pits restaurants against each other to make the best cherry-oriented appetizer, entrée, beverage, or dessert, runs from Feb. 1 to Feb. 15. The winner will be announced on the official parade website.

News

A bunch of new restaurants are coming to Alexandria this year

By James Cullum

Published January 27, 2022 at 1:00PM

Bonchon Chicken is coming to 3690 King Street in the Bradlee Shopping Center. (staff photo by James Cullum)

Getting hungry? A number of new restaurants are slated to open this year in Alexandria, according to the city’s tourism bureau.

Visit Alexandria highlighted many of these new businesses in their annual “What’s New in Alexandria” update, which was held Thursday morning (Dec. 27).

News

Nando’s Peri-Peri is closing in Old Town and moving to Hoffman Town Center

By James Cullum

Published January 27, 2022 at 9:30AM

Nando's in Old Town, photo via Google Maps

After 10 years in Old Town, Nando’s Peri-Peri is letting its lease expire and will close in mid-March.

Nando’s Peri-Peri opened at 702 King Street in 2010. With its leaser expiring, staff told ALXnow that it’s challenging to do business in the old building that is 186 years old.

News

Matt & Tony’s to open at former Charlie’s On The Avenue at the end of March

By James Cullum

Published January 26, 2022 at 1:15PM

Matt & Tony’s will open for all-day brunch this spring at the former Charlie’s On The Avenue, the new restaurant’s owner tells ALXnow.

Alexandria Restaurant Partners bought the 3,000 square-foot space at 1501 Mount Vernon Avenue last fall with the intention of turning it into a concept called Joe’s Kitchen, but those plans were scrapped when ARP managing partner Matt Sloan announced he was leaving to open his own restaurant.

News

Morning Notes

By Vernon Miles

Published January 21, 2022 at 5:00AM

Horse outside Hard Times Cafe, staff photo by Vernon Miles

Jones Point Park live-action roleplayers fight with foam swords, create community — “It is Sunday at Jones Point Park, and today is the day Marcus finds glory on the battlefield.” [Alexandria Times]

Yunnan by Potomac Noodle House honored on 2022 Yelp 100 list — “The Alexandria restaurant is one of the top 100 restaurants in the country, according to Yelp.” [Alexandria Living Magazine]

Opinion

Poll: Have you ever participated in Alexandria Restaurant Week?

By Vernon Miles

Published January 13, 2022 at 9:35AM

Chadwicks at 203 Strand Street in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

The twice-annual Alexandria Restaurant Week starts next Friday with some new options on the list of restaurants.

Restaurant week’s schtick is that each of the restaurants offers $35 per-person meals at various restaurants around the city, which is still a bit much for the $10-$20 restaurant-goers among us, but is discount at many of the restaurants in question.