New Restaurant Proposed At Old La Bergerie Location

ALEXANDRIA, VA—A new restaurant has applied to open at the former location of La Bergerie, a French restaurant facing a legal battle to open elsewhere in Old Town Alexandria.

The Alexandria Planning Commission will consider a special use permit for Tandoori Nights to open at 218 North Lee Street, the historic Crilley Warehouse. The 147-seat Indian restaurant would offer sit-down dining on the second floor of the building, similar to La Bergerie.

The restaurant would aim to be a late night destination, offering beer, wine and mixed drinks as well as live entertainment like small bands or karaoke. Proposed hours are 10 a.m.-midnight Sunday to Thursday and 10 a.m.-1 a.m. Friday and Saturday.

La Bergerie's owners have been planning to move the restaurant to North Washington Street since 2014 but have faced opposition from a group of Alexandria residents. The city had approved their plans to open the restaurant and an inn at 329 North Washington Street, but a group of residents filed a lawsuit against the city for the approval.

In 2016, the Virginia Supreme Court ruled in favor of the city, and the residents lost an appeal earlier this month, Alexandria Times reports. The project can move forward unless the residents' fule an appeal within 90 days in the U.S. Supreme Court.

The Janowskys, who also opened Del Ray Café in 2012, closed the La Bergerie location at 218 North Lee Street on Christmas Eve in 2016 after 40 years in business.

The Planning Commission will consider the Tandoori nights proposal Tuesday, March 6 at 7 p.m. in the Sister Cities Room 1101 at City Hall.

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