It appears South Asian cuisine will soon give way to comfort food from the southern U.S. at one restaurant space in Tysons Corner Center.
The “Southern-inspired” chain Milk & Honey from Reston-based Thompson Hospitality is planning to open a location in the mall at 1961 Chain Bridge Road, Suite G21U, taking over a roughly 4,900-square-foot space currently occupied by the Indian restaurant Dhoom, according to a building plan submitted last month to Fairfax County.
Milk & Honey anticipates opening in Tysons this November, Thompson Hospitality Chief Operating Officer Alex Berentzen told the Washington Business Journal. A public relations representative for the company confirmed to FFXnow that that time frame is accurate.
It’s unclear when Dhoom is expected to close, as the restaurant’s owners didn’t respond to inquiries from FFXnow by press time. However, Berentzen told the WBJ that Thompson Hospitality expects to take control of the space by Aug. 1.
Opened in February 2024, Dhoom serves traditional Indian food with fusion twists, evidenced in dishes like a masala ramen bowl and Scottish egg kofta. It specializes in tapas-style small plates, but the menu also has some larger platters and a weekday lunch buffet option.
The full-service restaurant is accompanied by Naan & Beyond, a fast-casual counter that serves briyani, naan sandwiches and pizza, and other dishes highlighting regional Indian flavors.
That counter also appears to be closing. Construction plans for Milk & Honey, which haven’t been officially accepted for review yet by county staff, show that the new restaurant will include a “Milk & Honey Express,” the chain’s takeout service.
Designed for a capacity of 281 occupants, including staff, the location will also feature a bar area and an outdoor patio that Berentzen likened to a “southern veranda,” the WBJ reported.
Founded in 2015 by chef Sammy Davis and business partner Monique Rose, Milk & Honey had five locations total — four in D.C. and Maryland, and one in Atlanta — when it encountered challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thompson Hospitality acquired the brand in 2020, adding it to an ever-growing collection of eateries that includes Big Buns, Wiseguy Pizza, Matchbox, Makers Union and more.
Milk & Honey’s upcoming location at Tysons Corner Center will be its 21st, continuing an expansion in Northern Virginia that has recently delivered outposts in Springfield and South Riding. The chain can also be found in Fairfax City, Dulles and Old Town Alexandria.
The menu features Southern favorites like Cajun pasta, a Carolina low country gumbo, shrimp and grits, and Caribbean jerk lamb chops, along with a variety of sandwiches, appetizers, salads and desserts. A few locations offer weekday breakfast with cocktails and other alcoholic beverages, though the only Virginia location with that menu is in Charlottesville.
