A double gift for Virginia pizza & beer lovers

Northern Virginia good-beer lovers receive not one but two early Christmas gift this week and next: two new beer-with-pizza emporia.

Ruth Gresser has operated Pizzeria Paradiso at two locations in Washington, D.C. Today, she's opening a third, but in Old Town Alexandria, on the waterfront at 124 King Street.

The phone number is (703) 837-1245.
METRO: King Street station, Blue Line (and a 20-minute brisk walk down King Street, or a ride on Dash bus system).

The pub features a 180 bottled beer selection, 14 draft beers, one dedicated cask ale line, several wines, and, of course, wood-fired pizza.

More photos from the soft opening: here.

Rustico Restaurant on Slaters Lane in Alexandria gets a twin early next week.

The Neighborhood Restaurant Groups's restaurants —Churchkey, Birch & Barley, Rustico, Evening Star Cafe, Vermilion, Tallula, Columbia Firehouse, etc.— have all been quite different from one other. A brand new Rustico, however, is scheduled to open next week in the Ballston district of Arlington. It will be similar in theme to the original, but with 260 seats and an expanded beer selection: more than 400 bottled beers, 40 taps, and 3 handpulled real ale lines. There will be artisinal ciders, wines, a full bar, and a menu by Chef Steve Mannino: dishes emphasizing local ingredients and "robust seasonal flavors," as well as wood-fired oven pizzas. [UPDATE: opened Tuesday, 26 October. Photos from opening day: here.]

Rustico Ballston
4075 Wilson Boulevard., Arlington, Virginia.
(571) 384-1820
METRO: Ballston station, Orange Line.
[The website is not live yet. Refer to the original location's site at: www.rusticorestaurant.com]



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Caveat lector: As a representative of northern Virginia wholesaler Select Wines, Inc., I sell beer and wine to these restaurants.