Local diners missing Maggiano’s Little Italy will want to circle their calendar for this year’s Taste of Tysons.
The foodie festival is returning to Tysons Corner Center for a fourth year on May 16 from noon to 3 p.m. with a preview of the forthcoming Italian restaurant among its highlights.
Relocating from Tysons Galleria, where it closed last September, Maggiano’s has been under construction in Tysons Corner Center’s east end since last fall and is now scheduled to open on June 15, its general manager told FFXnow.
Not much has been shared about the new location so far, and a follow-up inquiry didn’t receive a response by press time. But a prominent sign was recently installed near the Coastal Flats entrance, and construction wrapping has been removed to reveal an exterior brick facade and new double doors.
According to Fairfax County permits, Maggiano’s will occupy approximately 17,708 square feet on the mall’s first floor previously filled by Brio and La Sandia.
Known for its family-style dinners of pasta, salad, steak and seafood, the Dallas, Texas-based chain had been a staple at Tysons Galleria since the mid-1990s before joining the Cheesecake Factory in bouncing across Route 123 to Tysons Corner Center. Its only other location in Northern Virginia is at Springfield Town Center.
Maggiano’s will be one of more than 40 eateries offering samples from noon to 1 p.m. at the Taste of Tysons, along with fellow newcomer Hershey Super Sweet Adventure, which made its debut at the mall on April 24.
Other participants confirmed by a press release from Tysons Corner Center and the event page include:
- &Pizza
- Bento Box
- Cha Street Food
- Chef Lin
- China Kitchen
- Chip City Cookies
- Cinnabon
- Dhoom
- Haagen Dazs
- Istanbul Kitchen
- Matcha Cafe
- Moge Tee
- Mo’s Fried Chicken
- Naan & Beyond
- Olivia Macaron
- Shake Shack
- Shilla Bakery
- Shotted Coffee
- Soricha
Diners who pick up a “Passport to Delicious” from PenFed Plaza and collect stamps from the eateries they visit can be entered into a drawing for gift cards from Eddie V’s, Earls Kitchen and Bar, Barrel & Bushel and Seasons 52.
Taste of Tysons will then shift its focus to the Plaza, which will host live chef demonstrations, music from the Baltimore-based band Risky Shenanigans, giveaways and other activities.
According to Tysons Corner Center, this year’s festival will bring a “series of interactive and immersive experiences designed to elevate the guest experience across the center,” including a “Fuel Up with PenFed Credit Union” pop-up with an on-site driving simulator, themed snacks, giveaways and a close-up viewing of a Porsche 911 Cup Car.
“The experience is inspired by PenFed Credit Union’s partnership supporting professional driver Sabré Cook in the Porsche Carrera Cup North America series, bringing a race-day atmosphere to life,” the mall said in its press release.
While Taste of Tysons is free to attend, adults looking for an additional buzz can purchase a $30 VIP ticket for access to an exclusive lounge on PenFed Plaza with complimentary food and drink pairings from select restaurants, including Barrel & Bushel, Eddie V’s, Earls, Nordstrom Café + Ebar, and Seasons 52.
The VIP tickets can be purchased in advance or on the day of the event, but they’re available on a first come, first served basis. Sale proceeds will support the Merrifield nonprofit Food for Others, which collects and distributes food for those in need.
