Fast-Casual Zoup! Makes Its Arlington Debut This Fall

Zoup’s on in Ballston

Fast-casual Zoup! Eatery will open its first Arlington location this fall at 4401 N. Fairfax Drive. The 21-year-old nationwide chain makes a dozen rotating soups daily, like chicken potpie and lobster bisque, served with fresh-baked bread for dunking. There’s also seasonal salads, sandwiches, juices and teas, and a “proprietary” mac and cheese available soon. The new location will also debut healthy build-you-own bowls with bone broth and cauliflower rice as base options.

A new house for falafels

Locally renowned Middle Eastern chain Moby Dick, which closed its 27-year-old Georgetown location last month to perform a full-on refresh, is back online this week (1070 31st Street NW). The space was entirely gutted and rebuilt to create a “much safer, cleaner and presentable facility,” a rep told Eater. Mike Daryoush, the Iranian immigrant owner who founded the chain 30 years ago, died this spring at 66.

Moby Dick/official photo

Juice box-ing

Arlington-born juice shop South Block opens in Rosslyn on Monday, August 26, next to the new Bash Boxing (1550 Wilson Boulevard), reports ArlNow. The 1,300-square-foot juice box will serve cold-pressed juices, smoothies, and acai bowls inside the former Cafe Asia space, splashed with a colorful mural by MasPaz and CheLove. Hours are 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends. A grand opening “block” party for South Block’s 10th area location is scheduled for Saturday, September 7. [ArlNow]

Love connection

The Washington Post interviews chef Tunde Wey, who put on matchmaking dinners at H Street’s Thamee pairing U.S. citizens with non-naturalized immigrants. He says: “In a climate where immigrants have been vilified by the administration and other folks … I’m actively trying to bring folks together to be in love.” [WaPo]

When one bun closes, another opens

Fuddruckers just went dark in Rockville (1592A Rockville Pike), reports Bethesda Magazine, leaving Silver Spring as its only remaining Maryland location. Meanwhile, Smashburger just returned to the strip after closing in March (1800 Rockville Pike), despite previous reports the eviction notice-slapped location wouldn’t return. Smashburger’s locations in Bethesda, Gaithersburg, and Germantown closed in 2017, the same year D.C.’s sole Fuddruckers disappeared. [Bethesda Magazine]

Puttin’ on the Ritz

The Ritz-Carlton Georgetown, Washington, D.C. has a new late-night happy hour on Fridays and Saturdays (9:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.) through the end of September. A frosé is $10, wines are $7, and beers are $6, available in its Living Room lobby area or terrace.

Ritz/official photo