Él Bebe is out, and a brand-new restaurant with a beer garden from the Northern Virginia chain Open Road is in at The Boro in Tysons.
Open Road Outpost & Biergarten opened at 11 a.m. today (Tuesday) at 8354 Broad Street, taking over an approximately 5,000-square-foot space that had been occupied by the tacos-and-tequila eatery since December 2022.
After closing at The Boro on Aug. 30, Él Bebe is back down to a single location at the Navy Yard near Nationals Park in D.C. Like its still-open neighbor, Circa Bistro, the restaurant was developed by Falls Church-based Metropolitan Hospitality Group, whose collection of concepts also includes Open Road.
“We’re incredibly excited to bring Open Road Outpost & Biergarten to The Boro and introduce guests to a new take on the Open Road experience,” Metropolitan Hospitality Group president and co-founder Matt Carlin said in a press release. “We wanted to build on the biergarten’s success and create a menu and atmosphere perfect for a weeknight dinner, post-work cocktails or Sunday football.”
Started in Merrifield in 2013, Open Road serves a variety of American dishes, including burgers, pizza and fajitas, complemented by an extensive list of craft beers and cocktails. It expanded to Rosslyn in 2019 and added a spin-off with a distillery and a speakeasy called Heirloom at Reston Town Center in August 2023.
Incorporating an outdoor biergarten previously used by Él Bebe, Open Road Outpost is another variation that similarly centers “elevated” bar-style food. Its menu ranges from sandwiches, wraps and salads to a 7-ounce filet mignon, jambalaya and grilled Atlantic salmon with basmati rice.
According to the press release:
The restaurant features colorful bar areas, artwork by local artist Jack Labadie, multiple large-format TVs throughout the dining room, and a menu of American grill favorites, including, hand-smashed burgers, house-smoked wings, hand-cut fries, shareable platters and seasonal specials. The beverage program includes craft beers, local brews and rotating drafts, as well as handcrafted cocktails made with spirits from Open Road Distilling Co. in Reston Town Center.
At the heart of Open Road Outpost is the outdoor biergarten that was part of the former Él Bebe concept and had already become a popular destination at The Boro. Open Road Outpost carries the biergarten forward while expanding its role within the restaurant’s food, beverage and entertainment experience. Open Wednesday through Saturday … weather permitting, the biergarten offers live music, cornhole, cold drafts and full food and drink service. Guests can order from the full Open Road Outpost menu.
The transition to Open Road Outpost will be officially celebrated with a grand opening this Friday through Sunday (Sept. 11-3). Friday will include live music from 8-11 p.m., and throughout September, residents of The Boro can receive 10% discounts on all orders.
According to the release, additional events and specials are planned at the new restaurant this fall, including dog-friendly Yappy Hours and weekend specials for the professional football season.
Open Road Outpost will open at 11 a.m. Tuesday through Sunday, closing at 10 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, midnight on Friday and Saturday, and 9 p.m. on Sundays. The biergarten will open Wednesday through Saturday from 4-9 p.m., depending on the weather.
“We’re so excited to welcome Open Road Outpost & Biergarten to The Boro,” said Tom Boylan, senior vice president at The Meridian Group, which owns and developed The Boro. “This will bring a fun gathering place to the neighborhood for a great game-watching environment with an awesome menu.”
