A local employee was selected as employee of the year during this year’s RAMMYS.

The awards, which are organized by Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington. Fully vaccinated guests attended the in-person ceremony over the weekend at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

Ruben Avila of PassionFish in Reston Town Center was named employee of the year by a panel of judges. But more than half to the awards were based on public votes.

The awards honor the accomplishments of organizations and individuals integral to the local foodservice and restaurant community.

A complete list of the winner is available online. Silver Diner, which has a location in Reston, was recognized for being a technology trailblazer.

For the next two weeks, Reston area restaurants will take part in the Metropolitan Washington Winter Restaurant Week.

Beginning Mon., Jan. 25 and through. Sunday, Feb. 7, restaurants around the DC region will offer prix fixe meals for two or four people.

A lunch meal for one is $22. The first dinner option includes a $60 meal for two and a $120 meal for four. The second option includes a $100 meal for two and a $200 meal for four.

The launch of the annual restaurant week, which is organized by the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington, delayed by one week “in consideration of the fluid nature of activities and regulatory measures” in effecting the area, according to the restaurant’s website.

The following local restaurants are taking part in the promotional week

• The Melting Pot – Lunch and dinner only
• Founding Farmers Reston – Lunch and dinner only
• Mon Ami Gabi – Lunch and dinner only
• Clyde’s of Reston – Dinner only
• Morton’s The Steakhouse – Lunch and dinner only
• PassionFish – Lunch and dinner only

The complete list of participating restaurants is available online.

Photo via Mon Ami Gabi/Facebook

Reston Ice Rink Offers New Safety Guidelines — “The ice rink at Reston Town Center has been a must stop during the holidays for the past 30 years. This year things will look the same, but with new safety guidelines in place because of COVID-19.”  [WJLA]

PassionFish in Bethesda Closes — The popular seafood permanent closed its Bethesda location on Nov.  15, but the Reston Town Center location will remain open.  [Montgomery County Media]

South Lakes Culinary Students Offer To-go Meals — “Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, culinary students along with their chief, Cynthia, came up with the idea to offer To-Go services to the school’s faculty and staff who are working remotely. Organizers said they have to sell the food the students make to raise money for the program.” [Local DVM]

Photo via vantagehill/Flickr

The regional Summer Restaurant Week — an event organized by Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington — returns August 17 through 30  with some modifications.

The week was extended to allow patrons more time to participate. Events DC and JBG Smith are also covering the costs for local eateries to take part in the regional event. Restaurants are also offering takeout deals in addition to dine-in specials.

Here’s a list of local restaurants joining:

• Founding Farmers (1904 Reston Metro Plaza Drive)
• McCormick & Schmick’s (11920 Democracy Drive)
• The Melting Pot (11730 Plaza America Drive)
• Morton’s The Steakhouse (11956 Market Street)
• PassionFish (11960 Democracy Drive)

Currently, only Founding Farmers at Reston Station and Morton’s The Steakhouse are offering to-go meals for the restaurant week. Both restaurants and The Melting Pot are also including a paired wine or cocktail.

Fixed-price offerings include $22 for brunch or lunch and either $35 for $55 for dinner. Family-style to-go dinner meals are also being offered.

More restaurants may be added over the next several days.

File photo

Although COVID-19 may limit celebrations, there’s still plenty to do locally for Father’s Day this upcoming Sunday (June 21).

PassionFish in Reston Town Center is offering a “premium grill meal kit,” which includes a classic shrimp cocktail, New York strip steaks, heirloom tomatoes, house rolls, dessert, beer and wine. Orders can be placed by calling 703-230-3474.

Mon Ami Gabi, a French bistro in Reston Town Center, is offering a prix fixe menu for $50 per person from noon to 9 p.m. Orders can be picked up at 11 a.m. The three-course spread includes roasted chicken, filet mignon, pommel frites, and dessert.

Reston Farmers Market by FreshFarm, which is open today (Wednesday) from 3-7 p.m. at 11900 Lawyers Road, is offering several deals. Vendors like The Fermented Pig, a father-daughter operation, is offering free local delivery and shipping for items like hot Italian sausage and salumi.

Meanwhile, Reston Strong, a local community advocacy group, is considering hosting a Father’s Day event on Sunday for Rayshard Brooks, a 27-year-old Black man who was killed at a Wendy’s drive-thru in Atlanta. More details are expected soon.

Meanwhile, Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce is encouraging residents to dine at member restaurants through Father’s Day. If patrons spend at least $10 at a member restaurant and email a receipt to [email protected], an entry will be submitted to a drawing to win $500.

Photo via PassionFish

Local employees and restaurant managers are seeking relief as temporary closures and storewide layoffs add financial strain and stress due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Staff from Red’s Table, CraftHouse, PassionFish, Cooper’s Hawk and Uncle Julio’s have launched crowdfunding campaigns.

Diane Edwards, a former full-time employee at Red’s Table, told Reston Now the lay-offs of 30 staff members have put her in a challenging financial situation.

“The past few weeks have been uncertain and stressful and the foreseeable future does not appear to be any different. Although I have applied for unemployment, it is not guaranteed when I will receive aid. Money is becoming scarce as I still have bills to pay and basic necessities need to be fulfilled as well,” Edwards said.

Ryan Tracy, the restaurant’s owner and manager, launched the public funding campaign for his employees.

“Unfortunately it seems this could go on for some time. I have been searching for remote employment but haven’t had any luck,” said Stanley Kaplan, 27, who has worked at the restaurant for around eight months.

So far, it has raised $5,660 of the $40,000 goal.

“We look forward to all of our team members coming back to work, where they will have jobs waiting for them. Until then, we thank you for your generosity and support during these unprecedented times,” Tracy wrote.

Other employees have launched campaigns of their own.

“The donations we are asking for extend further than the employees of Uncle Julio’s; it will be reaching the families of our staff as well,” the campaign for Uncle Julios’s reads.

Nine bartenders from Cooper’s Hawk in Reston are also out of work and seeking donations.

“We do not know how long we will be out of work and considering the majority of our money was made via tips, it would be greatly appreciated if you would show your support,” the bartending team wrote.

On Monday, State Gov. Ralph Northam ordered all restaurants to switch to carryout, delivery, and curbside pickup by tonight.

Photo via Oscar Garcia/GoFundMe

Four Reston eateries will be participating in the Metropolitan Washington Winter Resturant Week later this January.

Foodies around the area can enjoy lunch for $22 and dinner for $35 from Jan. 13 through 19.

A few places around the D.C.-area offer brunch specials — but not at any of the Reston locations.

Offerings vary from restaurant to restaurant, and places will feature either a specialed menu or a multi-course option.

PassionFish will offer lunch and dinner specials featuring nine different appetizer options like the Peruvian-style ceviche and main courses from their regular menu, as well as one of three desserts such as the almond biscotti crème brûlée.

A few items on their menu, such as the crab cakes, will include a $10 upcharge.

Other participating eateries in Reston include The Melting Pot (11730 Plaza America Drive), Founding Farmers (1904 Reston Metro Plaza Drive) and McCormick & Schmick’s (11920 Democracy Drive).

Anyone interested in taking advantage of the deals can either call ahead to reserve a space at the individual locations or make a reservation on OpenTable.

Photo via PassionFish/Facebook

Foodies can enjoy discounted prix fixe meals in mid-August during the Metropolitan Washington Summer Restaurant Week.

More than 200 restaurants in the District, Maryland and Virginia are set to participate in the event, which takes place from Monday, August 12 to Sunday, August 18. Restaurants will offer brunch and lunch for $22 and dinner for $35.

In Reston, four eateries will provide discounted lunch and dinner:

• Founding Farmers (1904 Reston Metro Plaza)
• The Melting Pot (11730 Plaza America Drive)
• Morton’s The Steakhouse (11956 Market Street)
• PassionFish (11960 Democracy Drive)

Restaurant menus have not yet been posted on the event’s website. Guests taking part in restaurant week can also sign up for a diner rewards program, which gives guests who opt-in exclusive access to deals on meals and prizes.

The event is organized by the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington, a regional trade association that represents restaurants and the food-service industry in the DC-area.

Photo via RAMV

Updated at 9:35 on Jan. 10 — Includes McCormick & Schmick’s. 

Four restaurants in Reston are among the 250 places in Virginia, Maryland and D.C. on the roster for Winter Restaurant Week in January.

Winter Restaurant Week will run from Monday, Jan. 14, to Sunday, Jan. 20, with prix fixe menus — $35 dinner and $22 lunch.

Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington announced yesterday (Dec. 20) that Founding Farmers, The Melting Pot and PassionFish will offer both lunch and dinner during the event. McCormick & Schmick’s is also on the roster as of Jan. 10, 2019.

Two of the restaurants have certain restrictions.

Located at 1904 Reston Metro Plaza, Founding Farmers will have its regularly priced buffet brunch instead of the prix fixe lunch available from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the weekend of Jan. 19.

The Melting Pot, a fondue restaurant located at 11730 Plaza America Drive, Suite 100, will not allow diners to share or split entrees or ask for substitutions.

Seafood-focused eatery PassionFish at 11960 Democracy Drive and McCormick & Schmick’s at 11920 Democracy Drive do not have any dining restrictions posted on Winter Restaurant Week’s website.

Photos via Passionfood Hospitality, PassionFish, Founding Farmers Reston and Google Maps

This story has been updated

Helmut Jahn building wins award — The Reston Station building known for its iconic X design has won an award for best project and an award for excellence in safety. [ENR Mid Atlantic]

A passion for fish — PassionFish in Reston Town Center is celebrating ten years. Loyalty members can enjoy dinner specials to celebrate the restaurant’s milestone. [PassionFish]

No need to be alarmed — Units from the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department took part in roof ventilation and forced entry training in the area. The building will later be demolished. [Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department]

Photo by Ray Copson

Several Reston restaurants will participate in this year’s Metropolitan Washington Restaurant Summer Week, which begins on Monday (August 13).

Restaurants throughout the greater Washington region will offer three-course lunch and brunch menus for $22 and a three-course dinner for $35 at fixed prices. The annual event is sponsored by the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington, a regional trade association that represents restaurants and the foodservice industry in the DC-area.

Restaurants in Reston that are participated are:

• Founding Farmers (1904 Reston Metro Plaza Drive)
• McCormick & Schmick’s (11920 Democracy Drive)
• The Melting Pot (11730 Plaza America Drive)
• Morton’s The Steakhouse (11956 Market Street)
• PassionFish (11960 Democracy Drive)

Special menus for the week, which runs from Monday through Aug. 19, are available online.

File photo

An artsy flashback — In this blast to the past, check out some artistic contributions to early Reston, as seen in a new online gallery published by the Reston Historic Trust & Museum. [Reston Historic Trust and Museum]

Something’s fishy — PassionFish, a restaurant in Reston Town Center, is closed temporarily through around June 5. Major repairs are planned. [PassionFish]

On the run — A Herndon man wanted for multiple charges, including abduction, may have already left the area. Police believe Osman Osman traveled to New York City. [WTOP]

Free ice cream today — Come out to the pool to enjoy ice cream by the poolside. Dessert is free, but supplies are limited. The event will take place in the North Shore Recreation Area (11515 North Shore Drive) from 4:30 to 4:45 p.m. today. [Reston Association]

Flickr pool photo via vantagehill

PassionFish, a seafood restaurant in Reston Town Center, will be closed next week for renovations.

The restaurant, which is located at 11960 Democracy Drive, will offer discounted menu items on Sunday. The closure begins on Memorial Day and the store should be open by June 5.

Earlier this month, the restaurant began offering free complimentary valet parking for dinner guests on a nightly basis.

“We are still hearing from people who refused to come due to complications of the new parking and we are hoping this will provide a solution for diners at PassionFish,” said Jaclyn Benton, banquet coordinator at PassionFish.

Photo via Passion Fish/Twitter

A handful of Reston restaurants will be taking part in Metropolitan Washington Restaurant Week next week.

About 250 restaurants from throughout the DC area will be participating this year. Each will be offering a three-course lunch for $22, a three-course dinner for $35, and for the first time, brunch for $22. In addition, a “rewards program” will be offered for those who book their reservations to any of the participating restaurants through the RWDMV website.

Reston restaurants that will be participating in the weeklong event include:

• M&S Grill (11901 Democracy Drive)
• The Melting Pot (11730 Plaza America Drive)
• McCormick & Schmick’s (11920 Democracy Drive)
• Morton’s The Steakhouse (11956 Market St.)
• PassionFish (11960 Democracy Drive)

There are also numerous participating restaurants elsewhere in Fairfax County including in Tysons Corners, Fairfax and McLean.

Some of the restaurants are planning additional specials beyond the discounted meal deals.

Our #RestaurantWeek menu incl specially priced wines to benefit the @foodbankmetrodc! Starts Mon Aug 14. Info: https://t.co/X7nEFYqzJG pic.twitter.com/rxDa9JruGQ

— PassionFish Reston (@PassionFishRest) August 9, 2017

For more information, follow the Metropolitan Washington Restaurant Week page on Facebook.

Reston Town Center restaurants are vying to woo customers back now that parking rules have changed.

Starting today, parking in Reston Town Center is free for an hour before 5 p.m. and completely free all evening after 5 p.m. Patrons still have to pay a minimum of $2 for any time spent over an hour in the garages before 5 p.m.

In celebration of the new parking deal, at least two Reston Town Center restaurants are offering specials tonight.

Seafood restaurant PassionFish (11960 Democracy Drive) is hosting a “Parking Repeal Party” tonight in their bar/lounge, according to post on their Twitter account.

Join us TODAY for a #ParkingRepealParty in the bar/lounge! Extended Happy Hour 3-9p w/ $5 specials! Parking now FREE after 5 M-F & wkends! pic.twitter.com/JHrSOR4IsA

— PassionFish Reston (@PassionFishRest) June 5, 2017

“PassionFish has always offered parking validation, but is pleased that its fellow businesses will have the same advantages and that guests can visit more easily,” said Simoneink senior accounting director Meg Malloy, who works with PassionFish.

In addition, according to a Facebook post by French bistro Mon Ami Gabi (11950 Democracy Drive), the restaurant will have a special dinner menu item this week “to celebrate the return of free parking.”