Popular Restaurant Expanding To 3 DC, Arlington Locations: Report

WASHINGTON, DC — Lebanese Taverna has been a big success story in the foodie world of the greater D.C. area, and now the restaurant is expanding its fast-casual version of the restaurant to three new locations: two in Arlington and one in D.C., according to a report.

The Washington Business Journal reports that Lebanese Taverna has signed for three new locations for "LebTav." One will open at Wilson Boulevard and N. Quincy Street in Ballston later this year, and a D.C. version will open at 1401 K Street NW in late 2020. A third is planned for the Pentagon's food court and scheduled for late 2020, according to the report.

The LebTav concept debuted in September in Farragut Square. Lebanese Taverna has been branching out in a number of directions with its concept, offering other variations such as LT Cafe and LT Market to go along with LebTav and its original restaurant concept.

The company also offers catering services to homes or offices. Customers can also sign up for cooking classes through them.

Currently, there are five Lebanese Taverna restaurants, five cafes and express restaurants, and one market. They are scattered throughout Northern Virginia, D.C., and Maryland, with one location in Baltimore.

The company began in 1979 when a family of immigrants decided to purchase Athenian Taverna, a sub and pizza shop in Arlington. Because they could only afford to change half the sign, they renamed it to Lebanese Taverna.

"Lebanese Taverna brought a little piece of Lebanon back to us, and in turn, the customers experienced our Lebanese food and culture," their website states. "My family and I have come a long way since opening the original Lebanese Taverna in 1979. Each night my children still greet old friends and welcome new ones into the restaurants where they grew up and shared their lives."