Surprising Experience Awaits Patrons Of Ballston's Art WHINO

BALLSTON, VA — Shane Pomajambo wants to create a memorable experience for customers coming to Art WHINO, his new restaurant, art gallery, retail, and event space opening Friday in Ballston Quarter.

For the past 14 years, Pomajambo has operated the Art WHINO Gallery, specializing in lowbrow/pop surrealist art and nationwide mural installations. He sees the new Ballston Quarter space as an extension of what he's learned operating the gallery, blending the eclectic art show experience with exceptional food and drink.

Art WHINO features an open floor design, with several spaces throughout dedicated to different purposes. The idea is for customers to stop at the bar or beverage tasting area, grab a drink, walk around, view the artwork, and then sit down to dine.

"There's many functions happening in the same house," Pomajambo said, walking through the 6,200-square foot space on Tuesday. "There's different murals that are basically defining each of the spaces."

Customers entering the restaurant located on Ballston Quarter's second floor will immediately encounter the "retail space" of the restaurant. Each of the glass cases contain one or more vinyl figures.

"These are called designer toys," Pomajambo said. "These designer toys, you typically have to go to Soho in New York, Kidrobot, or you have to go to California." The toys, like the rest of the artwork in the restaurant, are all available for purchase.

To the left of the entrance is a beverage tasting area, where patrons can sample drinks while viewing artwork.

"We are doing different flights," Pomajambo said. "We're doing spirits, wines and beers. We're also going to be doing events Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. The idea is you come up with an educational event or it could be a tasting or a new product release. It's a nice little setting where people can come and get a nice little experience."

Beyond that, a row of hanging artwork splits the 6,200-square foot restaurant down the middle, with tables extending to the right and back of the restaurant.

Running down the other side of the restaurant is a 51-foot craft cocktail bar that can seat 28 people. Turning the corner, diners will have a front row seat to Chef Eleftherios "Terry" Natas' kitchen.

The menu is a blend of American and international flavors, including Homemade Ricotta Gnocchi and Smoke Octupus with harissa chickpea puree and smoked salt.

As they were brainstorming the menu, Pomajambo encouraged Natas to raise the bar and be creative.

"We were kind of vibing off of different ideas," Pomajambo said. "We were talking one day about how I used to do pig roasts for 16 years at my house for my kids, and he was talking about crispy skins. They call it guardito in Puerto Rico. Next thing you know, we got porchetta sandwiches on the menu."

The Porchetta Sliders are made from fennel and rosemary rubbed pork loin, which is wrapped in crispy skin pork belly shaved fennel and orange slaw. It's served on top of grilled ciabatta and topped with Pomajambo's "secret sauce."

Natas drew on his Greek roots as the inspiration for one of Art Whino's signature dishes.

"I've been eating gyros for a very long time, being a Greek," he said. "So, I wanted to make my own gyro meat and I wanted to make it with Wagyu beef and fresh ground lamb, and season it with my own spices."

Rather than using a traditional tzatziki sauce for his gyro, Natas created his own sauce out of fennel and leek yogurt. The gyro is finished off with pickled red onion and a tomato and cucumber relish. Everything is then wrapped in a cross between pizza and phyllo dough.

Art WHINO opens for business on Friday, with the Arlington Chamber of Commerce cutting a ceremonial ribbon at 5 p.m.

Asked what customers can expect with his new venture, Pomajambo said they should expect to be surprised.

"You might come for dinner and then see an art opening," he said. "You might come for drinks and then see the amazing menu. You might come just for the release of the vinyls. So, really it's going to be a surprise. Like if you're in there for one thing, you're going to find five or six other things, especially with the events. Every week, there are four or five events that are happening."