5 new restaurants at Loews Arlington hotel include Italian, tacos, & coffee

A new hotel in Arlington is making a splash with a quintet of restaurants, led by one doing authentic Italian fare. Called Farena, it'll open at the Loews Arlington Hotel with a menu that includes Neapolitan-style pizza and house-made pastas.

According to a release, it'll debut on February 13.

With executive chef Mouhssine “Moose” Benhamacht at the helm, Farena will be open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, serving as the culinary center of the 888-room meeting and resort destination among four other restaurants and lounges.

Farena AKA "farina," translates to "flour" although it can refer to the ground, edible portion of any cereal grain. The name is also a metaphor for the granular level at which each part of the guest experience will be executed.

While menu details are still to come, it'll be anchored by two 900-degree wood-fired stone pizza ovens, which will produce more than 70 percent of the menu including Neapolitan-style pizza.

The restaurant will also house a Pasta Lab where chefs make fresh pasta daily, following traditional Italian methods. Culinary classes will also be taught here.

The beverage program will feature Italian cocktails and a wine list curated to complement the Farena menu, which will change seasonally.

The restaurant will also feature The Veranda, an extension of Farena with an expansive outdoor covered patio, dedicated bar, and views overlooking the resort pool.

In preparation for the opening, Executive Chef Moose traveled to Italy for ten days, spending time in Sicily, Trento, Barolo, and Torino, working alongside cheesemakers, foraging with truffle hunters and farmers, and visiting artisan markets.

“Authenticity of ingredients is paramount," he says. "Italians buy the best ingredients and do the least so the food can speak for itself. Simplicity creates sophistication."

Each Farena server and chef will go through a training class to learn about history of each item on the menu from which farm the olive oil was sourced to what dish pairs best with wine.

Loews Arlington Hotel and Convention Center is a state-of-the-art, full-service meetings and resort with 888 rooms, five restaurants and lounges, two pools with a sandy beach, cabanas, a water slide, fitness center, spa and salon, and meeting and event space. It's the second Loews Hotel in Arlington, joining the iconic sports resort, Live! By Loews - Arlington.

The five new restaurants and lounges include:

• Farena - The signature Italian restaurant will deliver authentic Italian experiences and serve as the culinary center of the property. The Veranda - An extension of Farena, the outlet under a covered patio overlooking the Resort pool serves the full Farena menu but offers a change in ambiance for those that want to drink or dine under the Texas sky.
• Tomar El Sol – Translated as “to drink up the sun.” A poolside cantina featuring a menu that includes traditional taqueria favorites such as tacos, empanadas, quesadillas, guacamole, and street corn, supplemented to satisfy all guests with salads, burgers and flatbreads. Sip on agua frescas or a frosty margarita with views overlooking the Resort pool.
• THE | BAR – The Lobby bar serves as a central meeting place and social hub for hotel guests and locals. Enjoy a libation from the extensive cocktail list showcasing handcrafted drinks on comfortable lounges surrounding the indoor/outdoor fireplace.
• Railbird – A coffee shop and artisanal market that gives the option to grab and go or savor and stay. Select from gourmet light and healthy fare with your morning espresso featuring illy Coffee or a sweet treat at the day's end. Railbird offers guests easily accessible yet gourmet prepared meals, snacks and beverages throughout the day.

Debuting summer 2024 will be Soy Cowboy, the upscale pan-Asian concept from Berg Hospitality Group, touring through the flavors of China, Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, and Japan including sushi, tempura, wok, robatayaki, hibachi and teppanyaki, as well as Korean barbeque.