The building’s exterior reminded the owners of a house in New England.
When it comes to meals made with fresh lobster, local residents don’t have to visit New England. All they have to do is visit Ned’s New England Deck, right in Fairfax City. It’s at 10655 Fairfax Blvd., next to the Baskin Robbins, and recently held its grand opening.
“Little did we know what Fairfax City needed most was a touch of New England – and with outdoor seating,” said Mayor Catherine Read. “You could have chosen any place, but you chose Fairfax City and we welcome you.”
“We couldn’t be more thrilled to have our newest Chamber of Commerce member,” added Doug Church, chairman of the Central Fairfax Chamber of Commerce. “I have a great love for the City, and this restaurant is just wonderful.”
Tucked into a cozy, wood-framed, New England-style house, Ned’s has a warm and inviting atmosphere and was just what co-owners Steve Forbes and Tony Gallotto were looking for. “When we saw this building and corner, it felt like home,” explained Forbes. “This house looks like something you’d see in New England.”
The new restaurant specializes in authentic New England cuisine, including lobster rolls, fried clams, steamers, New England Clam Chowder, lobster bisque and Super Beef Sandwiches. And it’s already become a big hit with the customers. Just ask City Councilmember Tom Ross.
“My wife and I shared a roast beef sandwich and clam chowder, and it was absolutely delicious,” he said. “She’s from New England and gave it an A+. It’s a great addition to the City, and we hope it’s here a long time.”
Forbes and Gallotto have been cooking together since culinary class in high school and are delighted to bring their passion for New England dishes to the local community. “We thought Fairfax needed this,” said Forbes. “The feedback has been positive, and we’re really excited about it. We felt Northern Virginia was missing some authentic seafood offerings, and we added our Super Beef sandwiches to round out our concept.”
Fiona Forbes (Steve’s wife) serves appetizer-sized, ahi tuna nachos during the grand opening. (Doug Church is in the background).
And since lobster is the highlight, they’re proud to serve the real deal. “We bring in the lobsters live from Maine and cook and clean them here,” said Forbes. “We also use a lot of the shells and lobster bodies to make a really strong and flavorful bisque.”
He and Gallotto also own a catering company, Bee Good Hospitality, but this is their first, brick-and-mortar restaurant. “I ran concessions for the National Theater and was the managing partner for a group of large, Washington, D.C., sports bars, and Tony was the executive chef,” said Forbes. “He and I also worked at a half-dozen restaurants together, through the years.”
Now, though, they have something of their own, and they couldn’t be happier. “We like meeting folks in this community,” said Forbes. “And we’re excited to be part of this city.”
Hours are Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; and Sunday, 11 a.m.-7:30 p.m., plus Saturday, Sunday and holiday-Monday brunch, 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Happy hour is Monday-Friday, from 2:30-6:30 p.m., with discounted wine and beer. “We have some really nice wines and sparkling rosés, including a reserve wine list from all over the world,” said Forbes.
As for the food, he said the top three, most-popular items, in order, are the lobster rolls, New England Clam Chowder and Super Beef sandwiches. “Our lobster rolls are New England-style – cold and mayonnaise-based, with tail and claw meat on every buttered bun,” said Forbes. “And our bread is baked fresh daily.”
The clam chowder comes in two versions – classic and fluffy. The classic has bacon, a rich and creamy broth and is loaded with clams. The fluffy chowder comes with butter-poached, lobster claws on top, “making it super rich and indulgent,” said Forbes.
And he said the Super Beefs have a “cult following” on the North Shore of Boston. They’re made with thin roast beef, shaved to order on a slicer, and served rare and warm on an onion roll with white American cheese and James River Barbecue Sauce.
But that’s not all Ned’s offers. Specials include soft-shelled clam steamers in drawn butter; fried clams or strips; a seared, sesame-crusted, yellowtail tuna sandwich; and beer-battered fish and chips. Poke Nachos – made with wonton chips, yellowtail tuna, seaweed salad, pickled onions, avocado and sushi sauce – are a popular starter.
Salads include a classic Lobster Louis and a seared tuna salad featuring yellowtail tuna, edamame, pickled ginger, cucumbers, greens, charred asparagus, avocado and sesame-ginger vinaigrette. Sides are coleslaw, onion strings, hand-cut fries, Boston baked beans and house or Caesar salads.
Ned’s also offers a Buffalo Chicken Caesar Wrap, and a charred veggie-and-avocado sandwich. There’s even a charcuterie platter of meats, cheeses and accoutrements, as well as a kids’ menu of chicken nuggets, hot dogs and cheese quesadillas.
On a recent afternoon, Tony Zelones and his sister Amy had lunch there together. Tony had a Beef Sammie with fries and Pinot Noir, and called the beef “exceptionally good.” Also enjoying a bowl of lobster bisque, he said, “It was phenomenal – fresh, hot, and you could taste the sherry in it. I’d 100-percent recommend this place to others.”
Kara Davis was also there with her daughter Ky, who ordered the charcuterie platter. “The bread was warm and tasted like it was fresh out of the oven,” said Ky. “And there was also prosciutto, salami, mortadella, brie, fontina, pecorino-Romano, honey mustard and strawberry-rhubarb jam – which I loved. All the combinations were just perfect.”
Her mom praised her lunch, too. “The clam chowder was really rich and good,” said Kara. “And the lobster roll was on a buttery roll that was nice and toasted, with huge chunks of lobster – it tasted fantastic. I’d recommend this restaurant for sure. It also has a great wine and beer selection, and it’s cozy with a friendly staff, and is almost like eating at a spot in Maine.”