Nestled in the corner of a Stafford shopping center, a new restaurant has arrived off White Oak Road: Wild Waylon’s BBQ, a family-owned restaurant that has quickly made a name for itself with its scratch-made barbecue and weekend specials.

Founded by the Murphy family—David and Molly, and David’s parents Tom and Linda—Wild Waylon’s BBQ is the culmination of a lifelong passion for cooking and a deep love for barbecue. David Murphy said he grew up smoking pork for family events alongside his father, Tom. He followed his mother’s footsteps, working in restaurants after college. In 2023, David and his mom Linda worked in the same restaurant and decided it was time to launch their own family spot. Waylon is David’s son, and the restaurant’s namesake.

“We wanted to create a place where we could share the food we love and make everything from scratch,” David explained. They offer seven varieties of house-made sauces for smoked meats like baby back ribs, pulled pork, and brisket, all prepared using an offset barrel smoker and hickory wood. David said “since I was young my dad always said [hickory] gave you the best smoke flavor.”

Wild Waylon’s BBQ offers more than just traditional barbecue. The menu features rotating weekend specials like brisket cheesesteaks, smoked Reuben sandwiches, smoked soft shell crab sandwiches, and homemade desserts crafted by Tom, like pecan pie and banana pudding.

The restaurant sources fresh produce daily and partners with local businesses like Working Man Bread Company, Charlie’s Crab House, and the Fredericksburg Farmers Market to provide seasonal ingredients. This community-focused approach has helped the restaurant establish strong local ties, and they have been active in contributing to Stafford High School’s athletic and theater programs.

The response from the local community has been overwhelmingly positive, with the restaurant quickly becoming a beloved spot in White Oak. David said the pulled pork and brisket sandwiches are popular with customers, but special offerings like the smoked soft shell crab sandwich draw a lot of attention. The staff favors the homemade bacon-wrapped jalapeno poppers.

David said, “We love BBQ and I love getting up every day and getting to make fresh food that people enjoy.”

Wild Waylon’s BBQ is located at 43 Town and Country Drive. They are open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday.

Press release:

Brew Republic Bierwerks, a craft brewery known for great beer and delicious food since 2016, took home three medals at the 2024 Virginia Craft Brewers Guild’s Virginia Craft Beer Cup on Monday night.

A record 128 breweries competed in this year’s competition, including 20 new participants. Brewers submitted up to four beers each, judged in 33 different categories. This year’s competition saw a record 473 beers entered—it continues to be the largest state competition of its kind in the United States.

Brew Republic won three medals this year:
Inception Imperial Coffee Stout won a bronze medal in the strong ale category. Inception (11.6% ABV) features coffee beans infused with the previous batch of beer, then beer infused with those coffee beans, then later more coffee beans infused with this beer, for a dizzying inception.

Weizenbock won a silver medal in the German and American wheat category. Weizenbock (10.7% ABV) was brewed in collaboration with the founding brewer of Brew Republic. Born of our Hefe yeast, banana and clove dominates, closely followed by a sweet breadiness from Munich and caramel malts.
Eisbock (last year’s gold medal winner) defended its crown and won gold for the second time in the strong European lagers category. Eisbock (10.3% ABV) is a strong lager—a Dopplebock that is taken to freezing temperatures, which removes some of the water content to strengthen the beer further.

Our Eisbock will be featured at the Virginia Governor’s Mansion at an event later this year.

These three medal winners, along more than a dozen more of our delicious beers, are available on tap in the Brew Republic taproom, located in the Stonebridge shopping center in Woodbridge, Virginia. To-go formats are available as well in limited quantities. All our beer is brwered is brewed on-site, just steps from the taps that serve it.

Brew Republic also features a kitchen with a rotating selection of entrée sized and small-plate menu items, all designed and crafted by the brewery’s chef and kitchen team. The food is prepared to pair with the beer, and uses fresh and locally-sourced ingredients when available.

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Fredericksburg’s biannual Restaurant Week kicks off this Friday, July 26, and runs through Sunday, August 4, 2024, offering patrons a variety of dining experiences. According to Danelle Rose, Tourism Marketing and Communications Manager for the city, this summer’s event promises a diverse range of specials across over 30 participating restaurants and businesses.

“Restaurant Week allows the restaurants to showcase their creativity with the flexibility to offer specials that suit their capabilities and resources,” said Rose. Each establishment has the autonomy to design its menus, ensuring that offerings cater to all budgets—from gourmet three-course meals to budget-friendly treats like cupcake specials at coffee shops.

This year’s Restaurant Week also coincides with opening new culinary spaces in Fredericksburg, adding to the city’s vibrant food scene. Highlights include Ironclad’s bourbon tasting room at the Kenmore Inn and Suad Majles on Princess Anne Street, which serves Bahrainian cuisine, notably pastries and chicken shawarma. Both businesses are new to the city.

The event is a promotional tool and a critical economic booster for local businesses, helping them manage operational costs. “Restaurant Week helps cover expenses like rent, making it a vital part of our local economy,” Rose explained. The initiative also fosters community engagement, drawing both locals and tourists to explore new dining options and revisit old favorites.

Despite inflation and staffing shortages, Fredericksburg’s restaurateurs remain resilient despite challenges. “They are tired but committed to offering quality service and food,” Rose remarked. She emphasized the importance of supporting local businesses, which benefits the local economy and reinforces community bonds.

Get more information about Summer Restaurant Week on the city’s website.

The Prince William Board of County Supervisors unanimously approved a Special Use Permit for a new Starbucks near Dumfries.

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Paris Banh Mi Café & Bakery will be opening in the next couple weeks in Fredericksburg. The chain offers traditional Vietnamese banh mi along with croissants and assorted pastries made daily. A traditional Banh Mi is a sandwich that reflects a blend of Vietnamese and French culinary influences.

The café also features a line of specialty drinks with add-ins like Boba bubbles, flavored jelly, and fruit slices. They were unable to provide an exact opening date, but list July 2024 on their website.

Paris Banh Mi first opened in 2019 in Orlando, Florida and the brand now has over 50 locations nationwide. The chain also has locations in Richmond, Fairfax, and Virginia Beach.

Paris Banh Mi is located at 1150 Carl D. Silvery Parkway, and daily hours will be 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Always Flavored, which just relocated its restaurant to the heart of downtown Fredericksburg, will now have its custom sauces available in Food Lion stores.

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Fredericksburg’s Summer Restaurant Week returns this year from July 26 through Aug. 4, 2024. The city has held a Restaurant Week each year since 2005, eventually adding a second week. In Jan. 2024, Winter Restaurant Week had 18 participating restaurants. 

During the week, restaurants offer special menus with a set price. These prices often reflect the current year – $20.24 for an appetizer and an entree, or $10.24 for a lunch combo.

According to the city’s website, menus are still being finalized.

Diners can pick up Restaurant Week Passports online or at the Fredericksburg Visitor Center at  706 Caroline St. Once you earn five stamps on your Restaurant Week passport, you are entered to win gift cards.

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Jumbo Lump Crabcake Company, serving 100% jumbo crab meat, opened in March 2024 at 7541 Presidential Lane in Manassas.

Owner Brandon Frye was filming food shows along the East Coast when he visited G&M Restaurant in Baltimore, known for their crabcakes and winner of “Best of Baltimore” for many years.

“I was eating their crab cakes and realized that they were just as good as mine and I knew I was on to something”, he said.

Frye opened a commercial-based kitchen in his house in 2019 offering takeout and catering, before opening Jumbo Lump Crabcake Company in Manassas this past March.  They offer carryout, delivery, and catering for Virginia, Maryland, and DC.  Nationwide shipping is also available. “What sets our crab cakes apart is that they are 100 percent jumbo crab meat, the most expensive part of the crab,” Frye explained.  “Most people will use half jumbo lump and half lump which is more shredded than big pieces of meat.”

They don’t stop at crab cakes, however.  They also offer crab pretzels, shrimp pasta salads, sides, and cupcakes, all made in-house. One of their specialties is a special sauce to accompany the crab cakes called Boss Sauce.  For an alternative to seafood, they make “The Big Bad BLT” with nine pieces of bacon.

Jumbo Lump Crabcakes is open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday.