"I'm looking forward to coming back to Reston and reconnecting with my regulars." Ajay Bhatia said that to FFXnow in August. He has worked in restaurants for more than 40 years, including nearly a decade with Clyde's Restaurant Group, and he will be general manager of Ebbitt House at Reston Station.
The quote fits most of what Reston is getting to eat this fall. The biggest openings are names that left and are coming back, or names from nearby that are expanding here. Almost all of them are going up in two places: the Reston Town Center expansion south of the W&OD Trail, and Reston Row next to Wiehle-Reston East.
Clyde's comes back four years later, a mile and a half east
Clyde's of Reston closed at Reston Town Center on May 21, 2022, after 31 years. The group signed the Reston Station lease in March 2023. Later that year, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved changes to Comstock's Reston Station plans that allowed an outdoor dining area for the new restaurant.
Ebbitt House is at 1860 Reston Row Plaza. The restaurant's own site lists a 275-seat dining room and two bars, plus a 125-seat patio with its own outdoor bar. FFXnow's August report gave a slightly smaller count of 260 dining-room seats, along with two private rooms. The name comes from Old Ebbitt Grill in D.C. The menu will be classic American with a raw oyster program, including burgers, steak, house-made pastas and seafood. Executive Chef Diego Ramirez is also a Clyde's of Reston veteran.
On timing, the restaurant's own site says it "opens October 2026." As of late September, no specific opening day had been announced. Plan on sometime this month, and check before you go.
South of the W&OD, the newest blocks of Town Center are filling with familiar operators
The expansion area around Opportunity Way and Inspiration Street is where Town Center is growing. Looking at who has opened there in 2026, a lot of them were already known in Northern Virginia before they arrived.
- Clarity, 1996 Opportunity Way. The award-winning Vienna restaurant opened its second location here on July 24, after first aiming for May.
- Dogfish Head Alehouse, 11995 Inspiration Street. It will be Dogfish Head's first Virginia restaurant since the Seven Corners and Greenbriar Town Center locations closed three years ago. Owner Viswa Vasireddy, who also owns Clarity and the Gaithersburg Dogfish Head, told FFXnow in June, "We are planning for an October opening for now." The space is 7,550 square feet. Reston Town Center's page still lists it as coming soon.
- Toastique, 11900 Inspiration Street. Open since Saturday, March 7.
- Paris Baguette, 2004 Opportunity Way. It had a soft opening on April 15. The Town Center tenant page still says coming soon, but that listing appears to be out of date.
- Grazie Nonna. This Italian restaurant is in a 5,600-square-foot space near Sunset Hills Road and Town Center Parkway. It is still listed as coming soon, with no opening date announced.
Some non-food openings are here too. Livewell Animal Hospital at 11993 Inspiration Street is listed as now open, and Molly's Dog Care operates in the expansion area.
The older part of Town Center has been picking up businesses from elsewhere in Reston as well. MidnighTreats, the vegan cookie shop, moved from its Plaza America storefront to 1826 Discovery Street and announced a May 16 grand opening. The menswear shop Collars & Co. opened at 11869 Market Street on June 6.
At Spectrum, the corner on the other side of Town Center, a familiar local family is opening a new concept. Not Your Average Joe's at 1845 Fountain Drive announced it would close for good on July 15. The Guapo's family has announced Guapo's Mar y Tierra for the same address. No opening timeline has been given yet.
Reston Row is fully built, and the ground floors are getting tenants
Ebbitt House will open into a block that is filling up. Reston Row reaches north from Reston Station to Sunset Hills Road. FFXnow reports that it was fully built out earlier this year when the 419-unit BLVD Haley apartment building and an adjacent retail space were finished. The project also includes two office buildings and the JW Marriott Hotel and Residences.
Here is what is open on the street level now:
- Noku Sushi, 1800 Reston Row Plaza, Suite 120. A sushi and Korean barbecue restaurant that opened February 16.
- Tous Les Jours, 1800 Reston Row Plaza, Suite 110. A bakery that lists current hours and online ordering.
- Vida Fitness shares the block.
Next to arrive is The Back Nine Golf, a Utah-based indoor golf simulator company. It leased 4,500 square feet at 1860 Reston Row Plaza, the same address as Ebbitt House. No opening date has been announced.
The village centers are replacing tenants one at a time
Away from the Metro, the changes this year are mostly one business leaving and another taking its place. These are your closest grocery runs and takeout spots, so they are worth tracking.
North Point Village Center is gaining two businesses. Big Greek Cafe is coming to 1470 North Point Village Center. The owner hopes to open by the end of the year, and otherwise in early 2027. Robeks, the juice and smoothie shop, is listed as coming soon on the center's website.
Plaza America is swapping one pizza place for another. MOD Pizza at 11642 Plaza America Drive announced September 30 as its last day. Andy's Pizza has signed a lease for the space and expects to open by the end of 2026. Two doors down at 11660 Plaza America Drive, a broker's site plan suggested Lidl had signed a lease. FFXnow said it had not confirmed the deal, so treat it as possible for now.
South Lakes Village Shopping Center is losing a long-running restaurant. Lakeside Asia Cafe, the Sichuan restaurant at 11130 South Lakes Drive, Suite J, announced that September 30 would be its last day after 13 years. If you were a regular, this past week was your last chance.
Patch also reports that Huey Magoo's plans a Reston location as one of three new Northern Virginia restaurants. No address or date has been set.
Around the openings, an October calendar at both Metro hubs
With the two biggest openings due this month, the Town Center and Reston Station event calendars give you more reasons to stop by both places. In date order:
- October 5–7: MLB Division Series games on the big screen at Reston Station.
- October 8–12: Washington West Film Festival at LOOK Cinemas, Reston Town Center.
- October 10: Rocktoberfest with Vertical Horizon at Town Center. The same day, Reston Station shows the U.S. Women's National Team vs. Spain on the big screen.
- October 16: The last listed Friday Jazz Happy Hour with Darden & Friends at Town Center.
- October 17: Chalkfest at Town Center.
- October 18: Walk to End Alzheimer's at Town Center.
- October 25: Trick or Treat Beyond Market Street at Town Center, noon to 3 p.m. Then Fall-A-Palooza with Gonzo's Nose at Reston Station, 4 to 7 p.m. The times don't overlap, so you can do both in one afternoon.
- October 30: Fairfax County Dog Adoption Pop-Up at Town Center.
After October, the Reston Holiday Parade steps off at 11 a.m. on November 27, and the tree lighting follows at 6 p.m.
If the new restaurants at Reston Row and south of the W&OD have you thinking about how close you'd like to live to them, Elizabeth Sachero-Perez knows these Reston blocks well, in English or Spanish. Schedule a consultation, or request a free home valuation if you'd like to know what your place near the Metro is worth today.
