Popular D.C. Barbecue Spot Signs On for Ballston Food Hall

Half of the 12 newly announced restaurants coming to Ballston’s massive Quarter Market food hall will be breaking into the Virginia dining scene for the first time.

Homegrown eateries making the leap include: local barbecue operation Sloppy Mama’s; District roaster Compass Coffee; fledgling arepa stand Maizal; pro-local products carrier Union Kitchen Grocery; and Baltimore-based seafood restaurant the Local Oyster.

Other new additions to the 25,000-square-foot hospitality hub currently scheduled to debut this fall include: the first brick-and-mortar version of French Exit, the pop-up gourmet sandwich shop Gravitas founder Matt Baker introduced to the area a years ago; another outpost of Mediterranean-style chain Mezeh; another All About Burger; another Chick-fil-a; another smoothie shop from local chain South Block; another Ted’s Bulletin; and the first Virginia restaurant for global seafood restaurant Slapfish.

These latest entries join the 10 others projected to populate the main food hall and companion dining gallery. That group includes Italian restaurant Cucina Al Volo, frozen treat supplier Ice Cream Jubilee, and Neapolitan pie maker Timber Pizza Company.

Forest City Realty Trust [Official rendering]

Here are the details about the latest recruits:

• All About Burger: the local chain is opening a 2,973-square-foot store, it’s fifth in the area
• Chick-fil-a: the fast-food giant is opening a 2,925-square-foot store
• Compass Coffee: the local chain is opening a 2,170-square-foot store on the ground floor of one of the complex’s residential buildings
• French Exit: aspiring restaurateur Matt Baker is opening an 820-square-foot sandwich shop
• Maizal: the aspiring chain is opening an 843-square-foot South American street food stand
• Mezah: the local chain is opening a 1,932-square-foot Mediterranean-style eatery
• Slapfish: the burgeoning brand is opening a 2,341-square-foot seafood restaurant
• Sloppy Mama’s BBQ: the local brand is opening a 195-square-foot food stand; it’s second in the area (after Union Market)
• South Block: the local chain is opening a 1,231-square-foot shop on the ground floor of one of the complex’s residential buildings
• Ted’s Bulletin: the local chain is opening a 4.534-square-foot upscale diner
• The Local Oyster: the aspiring chain is opening a 1,495-square-foot-eatery featuring regional seafood (crab, shrimp, oysters)
• Union Kitchen Grocery: the local chain is opening a 2,812-square-foot store on the ground floor of one of the complex’s residential buildings.

The completed Quarter Market is currently scheduled to debut in September 2018.

• Ted’s Bulletin Joins Crush of Restaurants Head to Ballston’s Mega Food Hall [EDC]
• Ballston’s Quarter Market Food Hall Will Host 18 New Restaurants [EDC]