PROJECTED OPENING: July 20th, 2025 3143 N Street NW Chrys Kefalas will be opening his new ice cream shop, Yala Greek Ice Cream, this Summer. The new shop will serve up scoops using farm-fresh cream and premium ingredients from the Mediterranean in the style the Greek island his family is from serves ice cream. Flavors will include options such as Baklava, Cherry Studded, Rocky Road, and more. For more information, visit their Instagram @yalagreekicecream.

PROJECTED OPENING: Fall 2025 25001 Burnt Hill Road, Clarksburg, MD Chef Tae Strain has partnered with the sibling team behind Old Westminster Winery on a new food and wine destination in Clarksburg, Burnt Hill Farm. The Tasting Room at Burnt Hill is expected to open this Fall, followed by a more casual lounge, then a full tasting menu/chefs counter early next year that will serve Tae’s food in a multi-course dining experience. Burnt Hill will fuse together regenerative agriculture, grand cru–caliber winemaking, and Asian-American heritage cuisine. For more information, visit their Instagram @burnt_hill. 

PROJECTED OPENING: Late 2025 14 Ridge Square NW Chef Michael Mina will be opening a new vibrant Italian dining destination in DC’s City Ridge development this year. Lunara’s menu is expected to blend classic Italian flavors with local flair. Guests can look forward to a refined yet inviting atmosphere at this new concept. More information to come. For more information, visit their website here.

PROJECTED OPENING: Summer 2025 1301 South Joyce Street, Arlington, VA This summer, the team behind El Mercat Bar de Tapas in Rockville, Maryland will be bringing their vibrant Spanish flavors to Arlington with a brand-new location opening in late July. Located in West Post at National Landing, the new outpost combines bold culinary technique, an open kitchen format, and an ambitious beverage program to create a high-energy, welcoming dining experience. A signature highlight of the new Arlington location will be tableside service featuring a Jamónero cart—adding an interactive and authentic touch to the experience. Guests can expect the same beloved menu as the Rockville location at launch, with plans to debut a refreshed lunch menu and a reimagined brunch offering about four weeks after opening. For more information, click here.

PROJECTED OPENING: Summer 2025 1309 5th Street NE Chef Giulio Adriani will be opening a second location of Slice & Pie and Taste of Lucy, an abbreviated version of his popular Italian cocktail bar, Lucy, in DC’s Union Market this Summer. Slice & Pie is known for its NY and Detroit-style slices. Taste of Lucy, will serve highlights of the original location’s menu including Neapolitan pizzas, a rotating pasta option, and select appetizers. An edited selection of Lucy’s cocktail menu, featuring about five cocktails and four to six wines by the glass will also be available, and the new location will offer a Happy Hour menu daily from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. The two concepts will be separated by a wall spanning the 800 square foot space, with Slice & Pie featured on the left and Taste of Lucy on the right. Taste of Lucy will accommodate roughly 20 guests at booths and a bar covered by an Italian-style awning, and Slice & Pie’s space will offer guests a direct view into the kitchen where pizzas are prepared and cooked in the pizza oven. For more information, click here.