Countywide

Fairfax County officials say they will be ready when the first installment of the new prepared meals tax comes due in early 2026.

“We are on track — prepared and ready to go,” Robert Barr, division director for revenue systems at the county’s Department of Information Technology, told the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors at a Nov. 25 meeting of its Information Technology Committee.


Around Town

Fairview Park’s 2941 Restaurant is back on top in Northern Virginia Magazine’s annual list of the region’s 50 best restaurants.

After dropping to second last year, the West Falls Church-area restaurant returned to the no. 1 spot for 2025, a feat it has now managed in three of the past five years. Both times it missed (in 2024 and 2022), 2941 was bested by The Restaurant at Patowmack Farm in Lovettsville, which closed its doors for good at the end of August.


Around Town

Though the weather is getting colder, Fairfax County’s Mason District hopes to get residents out to their favorite local eateries with the return of its nascent restaurant week campaign.

The second annual Mason District Restaurant Week launched yesterday (Monday) and will continue through Sunday (Oct. 26) with 17 participating establishments — almost twice as many as last year.


Around Town

Longtime food critic Tom Sietsema wrapped up his 25-year run at the Washington Post last week with the release of his final fall dining guide.

Sietsema’s survey of the “40 Best Restaurants in and Around D.C.” is dominated by the District, which is home to all of the top-five ranked entries. But five Fairfax eateries still made the cut, along with one that will soon set up shop in the area.


Countywide

Much of the federal government has ground to a halt, as Republicans and Democrats in Congress remain at odds over a funding plan.

With no clear end to the shutdown in sight after Democrats held firm yesterday (Wednesday) on their demands for a budget that extends health insurance tax credits, local government officials shared resources to help federal workers and other people affected by a loss of services, while some area restaurants are offering deals to ease the financial blow.


Around Town

Two national dessert chains are joining forces for a new paired location in the Town of Vienna.

Dunkin’ and Baskin Robbins have signed a lease for the 3,484-square-foot, drive-thru restaurant at 411 Maple Avenue East, commercial real estate brokerage firm KLNB announced yesterday (Monday).


News

With its opening just a year away, the first concessionaires have been announced for Dulles International Airport’s Concourse E.

The new food, beverage and retail stores “focus on brands that represent the regional D.C. experience,” said officials with the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA).


News

Diners will pay a little bit more to eat at Vienna restaurants starting next year.

By a 6-1 vote yesterday (Monday), the Vienna Town Council approved a one-percentage-point increase to the town’s meals tax, bumping the current 3% rate to 4% indefinitely.


Around Town

For the first time, one of Northern Virginia’s most popular food festivals is expanding to two days.

The Taste of NoVA, returning for its third year, will be held both October 11 and 12 — Friday and Saturday — from noon to 4 p.m., according to event organizers.


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