Ballston’s Getting Turkish Pizza and Sangria Slushies Next Month

Barring any last-minute delays, catering vets Mary Marchetti and Nelson Gonzalez are just days away from injecting Turkish street food and wine slushies into Arlington’s dining scene.

ARLnow reports that the hospitality professionals, who shut down predecessor Backstage Bistro Cafe in Sterling, Virginia last fall in order to migrate eastward, expect to slowly roll out their latest dining venture beginning Monday, August 7. The roughly nine-month transition has produced a new restaurant (900 N. Glebe Road) that can accommodate around 200 patrons, featuring seating for 125 in the main dining area, space for 50 more in back, nine spots at the bar, and 28 seats on the outdoor patio.

Featured menu items include pide, a Turkish flatbread that can be topped or filled with myriad ingredients (think: seasoned beef, roasted vegetables, freshly cracked eggs), as well as soups, sandwiches and pasta with Mediterranean accents. Weekend brunch is expected to hinge on chefs whipping up custom dishes in addition to buffet service, while the bar plans to court loyal followers with frozen sangria drinks.