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Arlington will soon be awash in Margheritas
Pupatella, the certified Neapolitan-style pizzeria that has been churning out destination brick-oven pies, arancini, and gelato at its original Arlington location since 2010, expects to open its second shop in the Northern Virginia hamlet next week. Partner Anastasiya Laufenberg tells ARLnow that she and Enzo Algarme are training staff at 1621 S. Walter Reed Drive and “should” start selling pizza there next week.
The new pizzeria, formerly an Ethiopian restaurant, is just off South Glebe Road, not far from Army Navy Country Club and the Arlington Cinema Draft House. The space, which was originally slated to open this summer, is 2,200 square feet and includes a 40-seat covered patio area.
Formerly a food truck, Pupatella is in the midst of an expansion stemming from a $3.75 million round of fundraising. The brand has franchised two locations in the Richmond area and eventually plans to open eight pizzerias in the next few years. Founding partner Michael Berger told Eater in the spring that Pupatella already has a lease for a third Northern Virginia shop, at 1821 Wiehle Avenue in Reston. [ARLnow]
In other news
- An African-American customer at Alero is accusing the Mexican restaurant on U Street NW of racial profiling after a manager called in police to make sure her party paid its bill. She says she and her friends were taking time to decide how to repay each other after servers refused to split the check, and a cop told her the restaurant often places similar calls with authorities. A manager told Washington City Paper that the party hadn’t paid for 40 minutes before police showed up. The owner says that customers dining and dashing has become a common problem. [WCP]
- Ivy and Coney is down to its last case of charmingly gross Jeppson’s Malört, and with a new owner ceasing D.C. distribution of the signature Chicago spirit, the Shaw bar might have to stop carrying it. [DCist]
- Washingtonian released the results of a reader poll voting on the best restaurants on the area. Rooster & Owl took the title of best new restaurant. Le Diplomate beat out the Dabney and Rose’s Luxury for Best in D.C. [W]
- Northern Virginia Magazine reports that Amore Congelato, a farmers market gelato stand flavors like blueberry pie and chai white chocolate, is opening a standalone store in Arlington (1201 S. Joyce Street) on Saturday, December 21. [NVM]