restaurant | ALXnow

WHAT’S NEW: Visit Alexandria unveils new waterfront experiences, dining options and major events

Published March 11, 2025 at 11:15AM | Updated March 11, 2025 at 1:37PM

Running along the Alexandria waterfront with the Tall Ship Providence in the background (staff photo by James Cullum)

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Running along the Alexandria waterfront with the Tall Ship Providence in the background (staff photo by James Cullum)[/caption]

Alexandria is welcoming a wave of new developments across the city, from waterfront dining to boutique retail and major upcoming events that promise to draw visitors from around the world.

Claire Mouledoux, Visit Alexandria's senior vice president of marketing and communications, presented the city's latest attractions during the "What's New 2025" event at Virginia Tech Innovation Campus in Potomac Yard on Tuesday.

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SNEAK PEEK: Umiya Alexandria is opening in the old Generous George’s spot on Duke Street this summer

By James Cullum

Published March 7, 2025 at 2:00PM | Updated August 8, 2025 at 7:09AM

Front counter of Umiya at 3006 Duke Street (staff photo by James Cullum)

It’s been 16 years since Generous George’s Positive Pizza & Pasta Place closed, and only a few months before it reopens as a Japanese sushi restaurant.

After an extensive interior renovation, Umiya Alexandria is expected to open by August, a contractor working on the project told ALXnow.

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Taco Bell Cantina on King Street to get minor upgrade: pickup window

By Vernon Miles

Published March 3, 2025 at 2:45PM

New pickup window at Taco Bell Cantina (image via City of Alexandria)

The ye olde Taco Bell Cantina on King Street in the heart of Old Town (417 King Street) is set to get a new upgrade that could be getting a new pickup window for to-go orders.

The new plan proposes to add an aluminum framed “pick-up window” to the front of the store. The proposal is scheduled to head to the Board of Architectural Review on Wednesday, March 5.

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New Japanese restaurant replaces Toppers Pizza in Arlandria

By Vernon Miles and James Cullum

Published February 27, 2025 at 3:30PM

Sake Express Japanese Hibachi (staff photo by James Cullum)

Sake Express Japanese Hibachi opened earlier this week in Arlandria.

The new restaurant at 3827 Mount Vernon Avenue opened on Monday and is the latest spot for a local chain with three other locations, including Sake Japanese Steakhouse at 2016 Eisenhower Avenue.

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Pizzeria Paradiso making Alexandria comeback with pop-up in a local bar

By Vernon Miles

Published February 25, 2025 at 3:30PM

Pizzeria Paradiso Chefs Jamie Leeds and Ruth Gresser by Ana Isabel Martinez Chamorro (courtesy photo)

Pizzeria Paradiso said ‘arrivederci‘ to Alexandria in 2020 — but that phrase means “until we meet again” and it could be fulfilled starting next month.

Pizzeria Paradiso announced that it will be returning as an “ongoing pizza pop up” in Hank’s Oyster Bar (818 N. St. Asaph Street) in Old Town North every Thursday-Sunday, starting March 13.

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Founding Farmers to open new Oakville Triangle location next month

By Vernon Miles

Published February 5, 2025 at 11:30AM | Updated February 5, 2025 at 1:06PM

Breakfast at Founding Farmers (image via Founding Farmers/Facebook)

The Founding Farmers location in the new Oakville Triangle development project is scheduled to open next month.

The opening is scheduled for sometime in mid-March at 461 Swann Avenue.

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26 Alexandria restaurants compete in ‘GW Cherry Challenge’ before George Washington Birthday Parade

By James Cullum

Published January 28, 2025 at 8:30AM

George and Martha Washington at the George Washington Birthday Parade in Old Town, Feb. 19, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

George Washington’s cherry-filled past will be celebrated this month with the second annual GW Cherry Challenge.

The challenge is sponsored by George Washington’s Mount Vernon estate and requires participating venues to create the best “cherry-oriented appetizer, entrée, beverage, or dessert,” according to organizers.

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New Japanese restaurant files permit to replace troubled Yates Pizza Palace space on Duke Street

By Vernon Miles

Published January 27, 2025 at 3:00PM | Updated January 27, 2025 at 7:26PM

3006 Duke Street on Jan. 27, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Japanese restaurant Umiya could be opening in a location previously haunted by a ghost kitchen and the pizza palace that never was.

Umiya Alexandria Inc. filed a permit to open a full service restaurant at 3006 Duke Street, offering Japanese sushi, seafood and grilled food.

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Notes: Del Ray restaurant and cocktail bar Zuki Moon to close today

By ALXnow.com

Published January 24, 2025 at 10:00AM

Del Ray cocktail bar Zuki Moon is closing (photo via Zuki Moon/Instagram)

Good Friday morning, Alexandria!

☀️ Today’s weather: Expect a mostly sunny day with a high of 33 degrees and northwest winds at 5 to 9 mph. The night will be mostly clear with lows around 15 degrees. The northwest wind of approximately 5 mph will become calm after midnight.

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Old Town restaurant cracks top ten in Washingtonian’s ‘100 Very Best Restaurants’ ranking

By Vernon Miles

Published January 22, 2025 at 3:50PM

Dish at Nasime Japanese Restaurant (via Nasime Japanese Restaurant/Facebook)

Two Alexandria restaurants made Washingtonian’s 100 Very Best Restaurants 2025 list, with one Old Town spot landing at the number 8 spot.

The list ranks restaurants around DC, Maryland and Virginia.

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NBC4 hosting early morning pep rally for Washington Commanders in Old Town on Friday

By James Cullum

Published January 22, 2025 at 3:15PM

The Washington Commanders Read program visited Mount Vernon Community School, Sept. 26, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

NBC4 is hosting a pep rally Friday morning for the Washington Commanders in the run-up to the NFC Championship against the Eagles in Philadelphia.

NBC4 journalist Molette Green will host the pep rally at Cooper Mill (10 Duke Street), a former Civil War mess hall that recently opened as a restaurant.