Restaurants come and go in our area all the time, and we are here to help you keep track. Check out recent openings that include sweet treats and international flair, plus places to watch out for in the coming weeks.
Now Open
Fantasticks
This gelato and popsicle shop that lets you customize your frozen treat is now open at The Crossing Clarendon. Pick a gelato base and add a chocolate drizzle and toppings such as candy, fruit, nuts and sprinkles to create Insta-worthy pops. DIY kits are also available for making creamy creations at home. The concept, says owner Kishan Bikki, is custom pops handcrafted daily in small batches. Flavors include pineapple coconut, caramel brownie brittle and vegan mangonada. Don’t forget your pet! Dog-safe PuPsicles in peanut butter banana and yogurt and berries are also available. Opened: June 27. // 2800 Clarendon Blvd., Arlington (Clarendon)
Bap Bowl
Perch Putt mini golf, situated atop Capital One Center in Tysons Corner, welcomes this food truck to its offerings. Find bowls with choose-your-own bases of rice, greens and japchae topped with Korean braised short ribs, barbecue chicken, chili-roasted salmon, or sweet and spicy tofu. Want something smaller? Get a side of japchae spring rolls—sweet potato noodles wrapped in seaweed—or a Korean corn dog with mozzarella cheese. Bap Bowl joins existing food trucks Los Dos Carlos and Rhum Roost at 11-story-high sky park The Perch. Opened: June 26. // 1805 Capital One Drive, Tysons
Neutral Ground Bar & Kitchen
Chef, TV personality and humanitarian David Guas has opened his first full-service restaurant, focusing on American fare with seasonal influences. Kick off dinner with smoked whitefish or wood-oven-roasted Chesapeake oysters. For the main event, choose from entrees such as whole roasted branzino, fried quail or New York strip. Top it off with the Chocolate Candy Bar dessert (flourless cake, praline crunch, mousse, nibs, salt and smoked mandarin caramel) or Lemon Icebox (blistered strawberries, whipped honey-mascarpone and basil syrup). Signature drinks include the Old Dominion (Bowman Brothers small-batch bourbon, Catoctin Creek hot honey rye, Mularkey Smokehouse whiskey, grapefruit and honey) and the frozen Pink Palm (rosé, vodka, strawberries, basil and lime). Opened: June 19. //6641 Old Dominion Drive, McLean
Van Leeuwen
The long-awaited New York City-based scoop shop is now serving made-from-scratch flavors at its first Northern Virginia location in National Landing. Find more than 30 of the brand’s signature flavors, such as Malted Cookie Dough Shake, Black Cherry Chip, Earl Grey Tea and Marionberry Cheesecake, plus custom sundaes, handmade ice cream sandwiches, root beer floats, milkshakes and to-go pints. Opened: June 11. // 269 19th Court S., Arlington (National Landing)
Café Levantine
With a focus on Mediterranean dishes and Lebanese hospitality—“where generosity and kindness are at the heart of our service,” according to the website—this husband-and-wife-owned eatery serves za’atar grilled cheese, lentil lemon soup and sandwiches such as the Levant Halloumi Cheese Press (levant white cheese, haloumi, olive oil, sliced tomatoes and dried mint in a pressed pita). The menu also includes fresh baked goods, including croissants and muffins, and signature coffees and teas. For a pick-me-up, try the Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso. Opened: April 18. // 6829 Elm St., McLean
Coming Soon
Immigrant Food
With a focus on gastroadvocacy, this eatery with three locations in D.C. is planning a July 23 opening in Ballston. The first location in Virginia will also be the restaurant’s largest, and will feature a signature cocktail available only in Arlington. Called the Kanha, it’s named after a national park in India and is made with basil, jalapeño, cucumber, fresh lime juice, honey and shochu. Menu items will include a miso Caesar salad and the popular Madam VP Heritage bowl (which pays homage to Kamala Harris’s Indian and Jamaican roots), made with coconut-curry chicken, turmeric rice, baby spinach, plantains, chickpeas and pineapple. // 4245 N. Fairfax Drive, Arlington (Ballston)
Dolan Uyghur
The former home of Pizzeria Orso will now house the third location of this restaurant—and the first to add Mediterranean cuisine to its Dolan and Uyghur menu. Owner Hamid Kerim’s goal is to give Northern Virginians a taste of this ethnic group’s Central Asian culinary traditions, according to the website. Appetizers include samsas (oven-baked buns with minced beef and onions) and Chuchura soup (mini dumplings with minced beef, lamb and onions). In addition to nine noodle dishes and six types of kebabs, the restaurant serves Uyghur specialties such as Kawa Manta (vegetarian steamed buns stuffed with pumpkin, bell peppers and onions), and Dolan dishes like stir-fried crispy shrimp with garlic, onions and bell peppers. Look for it to open in early September. // 400 S Maple Ave., Falls Church
Scolopasta
This fresh-pasta place is slated to open two locations at a time yet unknown. Watch for it in Ballston at 4219 Fairfax Drive, in the former location of Pizza Roma, which closed in February, and in McLean at 2001 International Drive.
Wagamama
The U.K.-based full-service Asian restaurant will open its eighth U.S. location in Clarendon on Aug. 1 with a sold-out private party. Public dinner service starts Aug. 2 and lunch on Aug. 5. The 5,100-square-foot space will seat 131 inside and 47 outside, plus 17 at the bar. Get ready for dishes such as grilled duck ramen, spicy salmon teriyaki and chicken katsu curry, plus new libations crafted with SOTO Sake. Those include a Vietnamese espresso martini, Matcha Mule and Passionfruit Paloma. // 2950 Clarendon Blvd., Arlington (Clarendon)
Ice Cream Jubilee
This award-willing local chainlet of ice cream shops is adding a Falls Church location (and one in Reston, too) in mid-August. Meanwhile, existing locations, including in Ballston (4238 Wilson Blvd.), are now offering two new summertime flavors: Blueberry Crisp with homemade blueberry jam mixed in vanilla ice cream and Peaches and Cream. // 151 W. Falls Station Blvd., Falls Church
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The Salty
Coming soon to the Mosaic District, this baked goods-focused fast casual eatery promises to serve a “really freakin’ good donut” and “perfectly crafted coffee,” according to its website. With several locations nationwide, this spot will be the first in the DMV. The menu in other cities features a strawberry-frosted Pop Tart, mini key lime pie doughnuts and a Cinnamon Cereal Milk Latte (a double shot of espresso with house-made cinnamon cereal milk syrup). Make the drink vegan-friendly by asking for milk alternatives. // 175 Strawberry Lane, Fairfax (Mosaic District)
Shut
Booeymonger
The deli and sandwich shop closed this month, and reports indicate that a Nepalese restaurant named Himalayan Wild Yak will move in, most likely early next year. //1010 N. Glebe Road, Arlington (Ballston)
Extreme Pizza
Arlingtonian and franchisee Ernie Harris closed this Virginia Square pizzeria in late May. The pizzeria’s sister location at 1419 S. Fern St. in South Arlington is still open to cure your craving for signature pies such as Mr. Pestato Head with homemade pesto. // 3444 Fairfax Drive, Arlington (Virginia Square)