Firebirds Wood Fired Grill to open first Fairfax County restaurant next year

A chain restaurant dedicated to wood-fired grilling has its first Fairfax County location in the works.

Firebirds, which specializes in hand-cut steaks and seafood, is set to open in Franconia at Festival at Manchester Lakes (7027A Manchester Blvd, Unit 28), a shopping center at the corner of Manchester Blvd and Beulah Street.

A company spokesperson tells FFXnow that a summer opening is anticipated. The restaurant is expected to hire around 100 people for the new restaurant.

Like others across the country, the Franconia restaurant will have an open grill dubbed a “Firebar” as its centerpiece.

Here’s more from the company on what’s in store:

Firebirds takes pride in its scratch kitchen, offering bold flavors and hand-cut, aged steaks and fresh seafood, which are cooked over an open flame visible from the restaurant’s dining room. The new restaurant in Fairfax County will offer staples from its extensive lunch, dinner and weekend brunch menus and features the concept’s striking FIREBAR®. This restaurant centerpiece offers Bar Bite features along with a full liquor bar and Firebirds’ signature martini, the Double Black Diamond® Martini, which is a masterful infusion of fresh pineapple and New Amsterdam® Pineapple Vodka, garnished with a juicy fresh pineapple slice.

Founded about 23 years ago in Charlotte, North Carolina, Firebirds has changed hands multiple times in recent years, most recently getting acquired in March by Garnett Station Partners — whose other investments include Kona Ice and the world’s largest Burger King franchisee.

Firebirds now has 56 locations across 20 states and plans to expand, with Northern Virginia as one focus area, according to FSR Magazine. The company’s only existing Virginia location is in Richmond.

Anchored by Amazon Fresh, Festival at Manchester Lakes is also expected to welcome First Watch, the daytime cafe, next spring.