{"id":228206,"date":"2026-01-03T11:57:52","date_gmt":"2026-01-03T16:57:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/?p=228206"},"modified":"2026-01-17T10:17:03","modified_gmt":"2026-01-17T15:17:03","slug":"january-2026-northern-virginia-dining-news-va","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/january-2026-northern-virginia-dining-news-va\/","title":{"rendered":"From New Pizza Spots to Restaurant Week Deals: Northern Virginia Dining News"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"custom_featured_image\" style=\"display:none;\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/jan_nova_Diner_update-800x533.png\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"margin-bottom: 15px;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/jan_nova_Diner_update-800x533.png 800w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/jan_nova_Diner_update-768x511.png 768w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/jan_nova_Diner_update-585x390.png 585w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/jan_nova_Diner_update-263x175.png 263w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/jan_nova_Diner_update.png 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/div><div id=\"custom_category\" style=\"display:none;\">foodie news <\/div><p>While all eyes were on the holiday cookie platters in December, January brings a handful of important news headlines for <a href=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/capital-area-food-bank-nothern-virginia-va\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Northern Virginia diners<\/a>. Two big players in the pizza game make plans for Northern Virginia locations, the Fairfax County meals tax begins, and three local Restaurant Weeks are announced. <strong>Read on for more January dining news to know in Northern Virginia.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-228209\" src=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/jan_nova_Diner_update.png\" alt=\"nova diner\" width=\"450\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/jan_nova_Diner_update.png 1000w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/jan_nova_Diner_update-800x533.png 800w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/jan_nova_Diner_update-768x511.png 768w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/jan_nova_Diner_update-585x390.png 585w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/jan_nova_Diner_update-263x175.png 263w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3>More Pizza, Please<\/h3>\n<p>There are few things Northern Virginians enjoy more than arguing about which is the best pizza place in the area. Two more regional pizza styles will join the lineup in 2026. <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em><strong>Read more:&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/bucees-virginia-vt-students-va\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Inside Virginia\u2019s First Buc-ee\u2019s Through the Eyes of Virginia Tech Students<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/donatos.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Donato\u2019s Pizza<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, a Columbus, Ohio-based chain, will <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.qsrmagazine.com\/news\/donatos-pizza-planning-further-growth-in-dmv-area\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">open several locations <\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">in the DMV this year and next. A handful will be in Northern Virginia. Donato\u2019s is known for its ultra-thin crust pizzas and \u2018edge to edge\u2019 toppings.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" style=\"background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);\" data-instgrm-captioned=\"\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DQ-kFv8EcCq\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\">\n<div style=\"padding: 16px;\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 19% 0;\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div style=\"display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding-top: 8px;\">\n<div style=\"color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;\">View this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\">\n<div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: auto;\">\n<div style=\"width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;\"><a style=\"color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DQ-kFv8EcCq\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A post shared by Sally&#8217;s Apizza (@sallysapizza)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async=\"\" src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Connecticut-based chain Sally\u2019s Apizza will open <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/sallysapizza.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/12\/SA-Location-Development_2026_V2.pdf\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">15 locations in Virginia<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> over 2026 + 2027. Sally\u2019s was ranked <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.onebitepizzarankings.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">one of the top slices<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in the US by Dave Portnoy, the founder of Barstool Sports and the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/onebite.app\/restaurant\/sallys-apizza-new-haven-connecticut-3b6dab16\/review\/fa98fe69-9473-4787-8e7b-cbf80a243b3a\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One Bite app<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, dedicated to ranking + reviewing pizzas. Sally\u2019s serves Neopolitan-style wood-fired thin-crust pizzas.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>Fairfax County Meals Tax<\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Spring 2025, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved an additional meals tax, which took effect on January 1<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fairfaxcounty.gov\/taxes\/business\/foodandbeverage\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, 2026<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. The new tax applies to prepared food and beverages sold by a restaurant or other type of vendor that is classified as a restaurant under the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/title35.1\/chapter1\/section35.1-1\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Virginia Code<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Restaurants in Towns of Clifton, Herndon, or Vienna, or in the Cities of Fairfax or Falls Church, are not subject to the County tax. <\/span><\/p>\n<p>This County-specific meals tax is in addition to a 6% statewide meals tax. According to t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.fairfaxcounty.gov\/topics\/food-beverage-tax#:~:text=Projected%20Revenue:%20Each%201%25%20of,to%20advertise%20a%20tax%20ordinance.\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">he County<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the tax will generate $65.1 million in the first six months of the program. The purpose of the tax is to create another revenue stream for the County, with the goal of reducing reliance on property taxes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em><strong>See more:&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/virginialicious-connects-korean-food-and-community-in-annandale\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Mina Kim of Virginialicious Connects Korean Food and Community in Annandale<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For comparison, a handful of other Northern Virginia communities already have meals taxes in place, in addition to the statewide tax. Including the City of Alexandria: 5%; Arlington County: 4%; City of Fairfax: 4%; and the City of Falls Church: 4%. <\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>Winter Restaurant Weeks<\/h3>\n<p>It\u2019s cold and dreary outside, but there are dozens of local restaurants participating in Restaurant Week events across the area. The number and variety of restaurants participating is worth bundling up and heading out for a bit.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>January 16th &#8211; January 25th &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/1ePtXCyiTH9ZOKHSxQWSlW07qGNa6O5U1\/view\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Oakton Restaurant Week<\/a><\/strong><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Over a dozen Oakton restaurants will offer special deals during Oakton Restaurant Week. Some participating restaurants include Mama Tigre, Yalla Pita, and Settle Down Easy Brewing Co.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>January 19th &#8211; 25th &#8211; <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ramw.org\/restaurantweek\"><strong>Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington Restaurant Week<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Several Northern Virginia restaurants will take part in the RAMW Restaurant Week, with special three-course prix fixe menus. Brunch or Lunch: $25 or $35 and Dinner: $40, $55, or $65<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><strong><br \/>\nJanuary 23rd &#8211; February 1st, 2026 &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/visitalexandria.com\/restaurants\/restaurant-week\">Alexandria Restaurant Week<\/a><\/strong> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dozens of Alexandria restaurants will offer their own promotions during restaurant week, with many offering a three-course prix fixe dinner for $55 per person. There are also several fast-casual spots participating, such as Holy Cow in Del Ray (offering The Daily Double: 2 Del Ray Burgers, 2 hand-cut fries for $25, from 11AM to 5PM, during RW)&nbsp; and the Del Ray and Old Town North locations of St. Elmo\u2019s Coffee Pub (offering $9.99 combo meals). <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><strong>January 23rd &#8211;&nbsp; February 1st, 2026 &#8211; <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/fallschurchrw.com\/\"><strong>Falls Church Restaurant Week <\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Falls Church is known as the Little City, but it has more restaurants than cities twice its size. Over 60 restaurants are participating in Restaurant Week, representing cuisines from American to Thai. This year, several restaurants in the Eden Center are participating, meaning it\u2019s a great opportunity to try some classic Vietnamese dishes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Follow @thefairfaxgirl on&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/thefairfaxgirl\/\"><span class=\"s2\">Instagram <\/span><\/a>+&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@thefairfaxgirl\"><span class=\"s2\">TikTok<\/span><\/a> for the latest Northern Virginia updates, and check out our&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/events\/\"><span class=\"s2\">events calendar<\/span><\/a>, which has over 100+ events weekly to peruse.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"categories\"><a class=\"button\" href=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/food-drink\/\">Food + Drink<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>foodie news While all eyes were on the holiday cookie platters in December, January brings a handful of important news headlines for&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":362,"featured_media":228209,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[9709,764,7997,9883,9593,9728],"tags":[9794,9763,9813,9744,9761,9822,9743,9748,9845,9741],"class_list":["post-228206","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fairfax-county","category-food-drink","category-lifestyle","category-news-2","category-local-girl-rss-feed","category-virginia","tag-alexandria","tag-arlington","tag-fairfax","tag-fairfax-county","tag-food","tag-food-and-drinks","tag-northern-virginia","tag-small-business","tag-tlg","tag-vienna"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.6 (Yoast SEO v27.6) - 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