Upcoming Special Events
Willow Nominated ”Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year”
Recently, Willow had the great honor of being nominated by the Restaurant Association of Metro Washington for a RAMMY Award in the category of Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year. We’re very proud of our reputation as a great place for our friends and customers to get together and enjoy each other’s company.
But we need your help if we’re going to win! The award will go to the restaurant that receives the most votes in an online poll from April 4-18, so please vote here. In honor of our nomination, please stop after 4 pm any day during the vote (after 5:30 pm on Saturdays) and take advantage of our “Meet Your Neighbor” specials:
The Ballston Express ($6)
Jeremiah Weed sweet tea vodka, lemonade, and Sprite
The Ballston Burger ($10)
8 oz double-smoked burger with American cheese, fried egg, and smoked ham on a house-made potato bun. Enjoy with a Troeg’s Pale Ale ($4).
“The Ballston” Flatbread Competition Winner
We’ve received an amazing selection of creative submissions for our Ballston themed flatbread competition! It was a tough choice, but we’ve finally selected a winner.
The announcement will be on Monday, April 15th, and the winner will receive dinner for 2 at Willow and assistance from our staff in executing their idea at Taste of Arlington on Sunday, May 19th. Good luck to all who participated!
Third Time’s The Charm
Our talented mixologist Chris Cunningham will be one of the many competitors in this year’s Best Martini in DC. Chris is a fierce competitor and has placed both third and second in past years, so we look forward to seeing him take the top prize this year. The martini Chris is making for the competition will also be featured at Willow, so come down to try it out and show your support!
If you’d like to come out and watch Chris compete, you can purchase your ticket for the April 17th competition by clicking here. The event will run from 5:30 to 8:00 PM.
Gluten-free Pasta
Willow will be at the Falls Church farmer’s market on Saturday, April 20th to usher in the spring. We’ll demonstrate a healthful gluten-free pasta dish and will also bring our signature Wheatless line of gluten-free products.
Come out and visit with us!
Other Updates
An Evening with Celtic Chefs
On April 24th, Chef Tracy will be at the Embassy Row Hotel in Fairfax cooking Irish fare to support peace in Ireland. 
The event is hosted by the Washington Ireland Program and will feature several prominent Celtic chefs, including Chef Jeff Black of the Black Restaurant group (BlackSalt, Addie’s, Pearl Dive Oyster Bar), Chef Conor Gadd of Trullo in London, Huw Griffiths of the Tabard Inn, and Geoff Tracy of Chef Geoff’s.
The Patio is open!
In celebration of spring, come dine outside with us on our newly re-opened patio.
Buffalo Fridays are Back
Now that Lent is over, we’ll return to offering our beloved Beef on Weck and house-made kummelweck rolls every last Friday of the Month.
Sunny Days Are Here Again
Willow’s patio is finally open! We’ve had some lovely sunny days since the opening, and we’re looking forward to having a lot more soon. Come by for a happy hour drink, a dinner al fresco, or a slice of cake under the stars. Check our Facebook page for more pictures of our newest dining room and updates on days when we’ll be cooking outside. We can already smell that intoxicating char-grilled aroma!
New Season’s Greetings
With spring finally here, Willow is celebrating with changes to the menu, incorporating spring favorites like halibut, soft-shell crabs, new Nosh items, and our contest-winning flatbread, submitted by Heather Callahan-Stevens. In honor of her winning entry, Willow will be bringing her with us to Taste of Arlington, where we’ll show off her creative take on a “steak and cheese” Ballston flatbread with braised short ribs, caramelized onions, mushrooms, cherry pepper relish, and three cheeses (provolone, smoked gouda, and smoked mozzarella.)
Now that Lent is over, Willow will also be bringing back Buffalo Fridays on the last Friday of every month. Come in this Friday the 26th to enjoy Prime Shenandoah beef on kimmelweck rolls, Buffalo chicken wing dip, Tracy’s moms cheesecake and Southern Tier beer.
Bringing Wheatless To The People
Willow is happy to announce that starting May 2nd, you can find us and our signature gluten-free Wheatless products every Thursday at the Ballston FRESHFARM Farmer’s Market at Wellburn Square. This week, we’ll be giving out samples of gluten-free spring vegetable tartelettes, and we’ll have a selection of other goodies on sale as well. Come out and see us!
Last Martini Hero
Our very own mixologist Chris Cunningham took home 2nd place at this year’s
Best Martini in DC competition, offering up his take on a Spring classic. We’re very proud to have such a talent on our staff, and with his new selection of spring cocktails, we know you’ll feel the same way. Chris’ new drinks for the season offer up plays on strawberry, sour cherry, and spiced pear, blending old favorites with seasonal ingredients. Willow’s bar is open and ready to serve!
Mother’s Day Menus
Willow will be open for brunch, lunch (11-3) and dinner (4-7:30) on Mother’s Day on Sunday, May 12th. We’re still working on special menus for each, which we’ll have ready later this week. Treat your mom to a nice meal this year — she’s earned it!