This past year, Arlington has welcomed many new restaurants into the area. There are many different varieties of restaurants from pizza to chicken. Here is a list of some of the new restaurants that just came to our area or scheduled to open soon.
Big Tony’s Pizzeria & Bar
A pizza place in Clarendon is getting revamped and replacing Bronx Pizza. Big Tony’s Pizzeria & Bar is the new and improved Bronx Pizza. The new space features an 80s to 90s retro theme and has a new outdoor dining space.
The restaurant sells some of the same things as Bronx Pizza, but they have added new things to the menu, such as a pizza with mac and cheese and bacon and “The Snooki,” a meatball parmigiana sandwich for $11.
Whether you want a small snack after school or a place to hang out with friends, Big Tony’s is for you. The co-owner, Katherine Basile, wants Big Tony’s to have a fun vibe that attracts many people.
Chicken + Whiskey
Big Tony’s is not the only new restaurant in Clarendon. Chicken + Whiskey is a new rotisserie chicken restaurant that opened in June. The 6,000-square-foot space where the restaurant is located is replacing Hunan Number One, which closed a few years ago.
Their menu features many items, including Peruvian chicken, arepas and reasonably priced sandwiches. The owner, Chef Enrique Limardo, believes that his restaurant is unique because it is the only fast-casual restaurant located on the East Coast with a Michelin star. They earned the Michelin star because of their excellent , fast and cheap food.
Carbonara
A new “old school” Italian restaurant is set to debut this October in Ballston. The restaurant was scheduled to open this summer but ran into issues with the exhaust system.
Carbonara will have a variety of different foods for customers to try. The restaurant will feature traditional Italian dishes such as an eggplant parmigiana tack and stuffed cannoli. Additionally, the restaurant will serve fresh homemade pasta and Sicilian pizzas.
This new restaurant is unique because the owners are making everything from scratch. They want the food to be as authentic as possible. The new space will feature a 150-seat dining space with both indoor and outdoor seating. Inside, the restaurant will feature the owner’s family decor and will have live entertainers on certain nights of the week.
Wagamama
Also set to debut in Clarendon is Wagamama. The restaurant was expected to open this summer. However, it still needs to be opened because they are still working on the building. This British restaurant chain replaces what used to be Oz, the Australian restaurant that closed four years ago.
Wagamama has over 200 locations and is trying to expand throughout the U.S. The restaurant will be located in the center of Clarendon, so they hope to gain many customers.
Wagamama features a variety of Asian dishes, such as ramen and donburi, as well as steamed rice with stir-fried protein and vegetables. Their dishes will feature Japanese, Chinese, Korean, and other Asian cuisines. This location will feature an expansive patio and will be open for both lunch and dinner.
NiHao
Wagamama is not the only Asian restaurant expected to open in Arlington.. Peter Chang is opening his new restaurant this winter in Crystal City. NiHao is expected to open in January 2024 near Alamo Drafthouse.
This restaurant is supposed to be different from the Peter Chang’s located in Lee-Harrison Shopping Center. They are expected to serve small-sized dishes because they want to emphasize the quality and convenience of their food. This location will be similar to their location in Baltimore as they will serve Szechuan cuisine, which is a style of Chinese cuisine with bolder flavors.
NiHao will have an indoor seating area as well as an outdoor seating area. Also, the restaurant is in a great location because it is near a continually developing neighborhood.
These are only some of the new restaurants that opened or are opening in the Arlington area. So, the next time you are looking for a snack after school or a dinner place check out some of these new restaurants.
