If your New Year’s resolution is to try more local restaurants, you’re in luck. The first-ever Falls Church Restaurant Week is happening Jan. 19-28, with 40 participating restaurants in The Little City offering special discounts and prix fixe menus. Here’s a snack-size smattering of what’s coming to a plate near you.
Bakeshop
Craving cookies? Buy five and get one free when you mention Falls Church Restaurant Week at Justin Stegall’s bakery. With flavors such as browned butter chocolate chunk, cranberry orange white chocolate and salty oatmeal apricot (who can choose?) you’ll be glad to get the bonus. Vegan cupcake and cookie options are available, too. The menu is stocked with other goodies as well, including cupcakes, fresh bread, icebox pies, regular pies and a gazillion flavors of macarons. // 100 E. Fairfax St., Falls Church
Borek-G
Save some dough at this mother- and son-owned Turkish restaurant, where a discount meal (rice platter or pita sandwich) with a drink and two squares of baklava can be yours for a mere $15—about $5 less than regular price. The Turkish breakfast for two to six people is also available at a $10-$15 discount. Alternately, you can still order off the a la carte menu, which has specialties such as borek (pastries) stuffed with spinach and feta or ground beef. A breakfast plate featuring pita bread, olives, feta cheese, walnuts, apricots and fresh veggies comes with tea. Find red lentil soup, gyros, shawarma and stuffed grape leaves, too. // 315 S. Maple Ave., Falls Church
Café Kindred
This brunchy daytime café is offering a special dish for Restaurant Week: A Croque Madame ($12) made with grilled country ham and Swiss cheese in a fresh croissant with mornay sauce, all topped with a sunny-side egg. Regular menu items include a bacon cheeseburger with fries, four kinds of poutine and breakfast-y things such as pancakes (Fruity Pebble, blueberry, chocolate chip or plain), avocado toast, and an egg and veggie scramble. // 450 N. Washington St., Falls Church
Clare and Don’s Beach Shack
Serious summertime vibes abound at Rebecca and David Tax’s colorful and casual eatery with a coastal menu. For $24.24 (Happy New Year!) you can enjoy a combo that includes homemade soup, a blackened mahi sandwich, four fried shrimp and a slice of key lime pie. Stop in for live music, trivia nights on Thursdays and drag bingo every third Sunday. // 130 N. Washington St., Falls Church
Ellie Bird
Treat your taste buds to a night out at the establishment that was just named Best New Restaurant by Arlington Magazine readers. With salmon ceviche, duck confit and Tuscan kale spaghetti among the options on the three-course menu ($55 per person), it may be hard to decide. But according to our dining critic, there are no bad choices (read his review). For dessert, dig into a slice of chocolate cake with Chai buttercream à la mode. Owners Carey and Yuan Tang both grew up in Falls Church, so their return to their old stomping ground is a homecoming of sorts. Hungry locals have given them a warm welcome. // 125 Founders Ave., Falls Church
The Falls
Seasonal ingredients and house-made baked goods are staples at the newest member of The Liberty Tavern Restaurant Group. During Restaurant Week, a three-course dinner ($39) features starters such as house-made ricotta on grilled nine-grain bread, and mains like roasted chicken, Carolina trout or baby-back ribs. Dessert is a bittersweet chocolate torte topped with salted honey whipped cream. A two-course lunch special ($25) features choices such as blue crab bisque, chopped salad, a vegan mushroom melt or a fried chicken sandwich. Sister eatery Northside Social (205 Park Ave.) is also offering a deal: 10% off checks over $20 when you mention Falls Church Restaurant Week. // 370 W. Broad St., Falls Church
Harvey’s
Owner and chef Thomas Harvey is offering a three-course lunch and dinner menu ($45) with homey comforts such as coq au vin with parmesan polenta, or vegan mushroom “scallops” with green beans and red-pepper ginger broth. Satisfy your sweet tooth with a chocolate chip cookie sundae made with fire-roasted chocolate chip cookie dough, or choose from two types of pie from Arlington’s Acme Pie Co. On the weekend, a three-course brunch ($25) promises highlights such as deviled eggs, buttermilk pancakes and bottomless mimosas. The first mimosa is $14, and each additional is $1. // 513 W. Broad St., Falls Church
La Tingeria
Get two items (tacos, sopes or tostadas) plus rice, beans and a drink for $10 between 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at chef David Peña’s cult-status taqueria, which started out as a food truck. Today, fans flock to his tiny storefront for Mexican street foods such as birria tacos made with halal meat. Also popular: tostadas, sandwiches and sopes, a fried corn flour base topped with veggies and meat. Two vegan options are also available. // 626 S. Washington St., Falls Church
Preservation Biscuit Co.
If you agree that comfort food is a dish best served on a biscuit, head to this fast-casual restaurant, which is offering 10% off checks over $20 when you mention Falls Church Restaurant Week. Fill up on savory sandwiches such as the PBC (chicken strips, hot honey, bacon, Napa cabbage, smoked gouda pimento cheese and dijon mustard) and the Goodness Gracious (pulled pork, house-made barbecue sauce, coleslaw and pickled red onions). Or satiate that sweet tooth with the French Toast biscuit topped with macerated strawberries. //102 E. Fairfax St., Falls Church
Roll Play
For something quick and satisfying, the lunch combo ($20) at this casual Vietnamese eatery includes spicy oxtail pho, two shrimp and pork egg rolls and Viet coffee. Parent company Happy Endings Hospitality’s trio of restaurants at Founders Row also includes neighboring sister establishments Chasin’ Tails Seafood and upscale Nue, where a special three-course meal for two ($65 per person) includes choices like hamachi crudo, whole crispy fish and braised short ribs with pappardelle. // 944 W. Broad St., Falls Church
Sfizi Café
Take a culinary trip to Italy with a three-course meal and glass of house wine for $37 per person. Dinner options include spaghetti polpette—pasta with homemade meatballs—or lasagna. Finish it all off with a sweet treat, then take a taste of Italy home with a special on takeout containers of homemade marinara, alfredo and vodka sauces for $30. // 800 W. Broad St., Falls Church
Thompson Italian
Tuck into Gabe and Katherine Thompson’s easygoing trattoria for warm Italian comfort foods and dreamy desserts. A three-course dinner ($50) includes choices such as eggplant parmesan, a winter citrus salad, rigatoni with beef Bolognese and Katherine’s famous olive oil cake with crème fraîche mousse, maldon salt and raisin marmellata. Note that the restaurant will be closed on Tuesday, Jan. 23 for a private event. // 124 N. Washington St., Falls Church