Alexandrians love trying new restaurants and there are plenty of options on the horizon. Here’s a look at some new eateries that have recently opened their doors (or are coming soon... be on the lookout).
Covering the Corridor
Bonchon Chicken: The long-delayed construction of the eatery with a cult following on Richmond Highway may finally be back on track. Permits were issued in the fall to a contractor working on the site, and a company representative said that the popular Korean-style fried chicken chain still plans to open a new location in the first-floor retail space of the Beacon of Groveton. “Our Alexandria location is still underway,” said Carlene Blair, a spokeswoman for Bonchon. Read more here.
Vim and Victor: Located just a few miles from Alexandria in Springfield, this eatery is the brainchild of celebrity chef Spike Mendelsohn. The all-day restaurant inside the St. James — the massive sportsplex that opened last fall in Springfield — will include a lounge, table seating and bar. A Market Cafe will be located on a lower level. Menu options will include specialty pizzas, salads, smoothies, juices, coffee and more. The full service restaurant will have a Grab & Go counter open from 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. serving smoothies, juices, pastries and more.
Catering may also be in the offing. The restaurant is located at 6805 Industrial Road, Springfield. Learn more here.
Photo courtesy of Oak Steakhouse via Facebook
Oak Steakhouse
Surf 'n turf from Oak Steakhouse
Oak Steakhouse: Each Oak Steakhouse has its own locally sourced menu and seasonal offerings, as well as American-inspired “Oak Specialties” such as the Oak burger, roasted local chicken, crab cakes, short ribs and more. Coming to the Gables Old Town/EDEN development at 530 First St. in Old Town North, the restaurant will seat 146 peo-ple. Owners are Stephen Palmer of Charleston, S.C., Andrew O’Keefe of Madison, N.J. and Michael Meyer of New York. The restaurant is being de-signed by Studio 3877, a boutique design firm in DC. There are currently Oak Steakhouse locations in Atlanta, Charlotte, Charleston, Nashville and one opening soon in Raleigh. Here's more info.
Java Grill: A new owner is taking over the space at 611 King St., where the Bread & Chocolate cafe is located. Bread & Chocolate has been open in that spot for decades. The new owner plans to open a restaurant called Java Grill and plans to make few (if any) changes to the menu. The menu will continue to offer coffee, pastries and light fare. Hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. See more about the new restaurant here.
Misha’s: Misha’s is moving forward on opening a second coffee house at 6 Prince St., near the waterfront, and that location may have rooftop dining. The coffee shop would have a total of 48 seats, with no more than 28 of those outdoors. The outdoor hours of operation for the new Misha’s location would be 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Misha’s is also still planning to move its original coffee shop from its current location at 102 S. Patrick St. to 917 King St. — just around the corner. Misha’s has been on S. Patrick Street since 1991. The operation would remain the same, but the new location would be much larger, with more seats.
Taj of India: The Indian eatery was expected to open its doors in December, owner Shahjahan Mia said last fall. Residents have been looking forward to the restaurant’s opening since signs for Taj of India were installed in August 2017. The building, located at 6027 Richmond Highway, is connected to the Virginia Lodge motel and has been empty since Euro Bistro closed in 2015. Read more here.
This article originally appeared in the January/February 2019 print edition of Alexandria Living Magazine. To subscribe, click here.
