When Michael Smith dug into the box of chicken he had bought at Popeye’s Chicken on Route 234 in Dumfries, he found a fried piece of “something” and felt it required a closer look before he bit into it.

He examined it and said he was shocked to see that it was what he thought was a chicken head. Not a juicy drumstick, succulent thigh, or even a breast packed with white meat like many other Popeye’s chicken eaters have experienced. No, this looked like a chicken head, beak and all.
So he did what everyone else does today – whipped out his cell phone, took a picture, and posted it to social media.

“I sent it to their general manager so they could see what’s going on; she never got back to me,” he said. This didn’t sit well with him.

It all started on Tuesday, December 19, when Smith stopped by the Popeyes Restaurant with his son to get something to eat. He had been to the drive-through window at this store, but it was the first time he got out of the car and went inside.

Once his order came, Smith looked at one piece and felt he could see the beak and the rest of it was shaped like a head, so he became alarmed. He got a second opinion on the picture and then sent it to the manager.

Not so fast, said “Thi,” the manager at that Popeye’s store in Dumfries. She looked at the picture of a fried glob of batter and saw that the head Michael pointed out was just “a piece of bone that looks like a chicken head,” she said. “We know that it was not a chicken head,” she added, but just in case, she took it further in the process. “We forwarded it to our HR,” she said.

It’s not a done deal for Smith, though. He called the health department and consulted an attorney.
A chicken head discovery at the Popeye’s chain is not new. In September 2023, another apparent chicken head was found in another Popeye’s meal, and it turned out that the image used to back up the claim was a 2021 image.

“A Popeyes spokesperson told USA Today it has since been recirculated and mistakenly attributed to Popeyes,” said a post on the USA Today site under “Fact Check.” In 2019, a chicken head was found in a Popeye’s dish in Livingston, Texas, and another “chicken head” was found in a box of chicken in Williamsport, Penn., but this was at a pizza restaurant, and it turned out to be a real chicken head—lots of question marks on that one.

Mike Salmon is a freelance reporter for Potomac Local News.

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Press Release: “Moe’s Southwest Grill locations are proud to announce their continued partnership with Toys for Tots in its mission of providing toys to children and military families.”

“Moe’s is providing 12 drop-off locations for new and unwrapped toys in Falls Church, Leesburg, Alexandria, Ashburn, Herndon, Manassas and Gainesville, Virginia; Annapolis, Hanover and Frederick, Maryland; and Washington, D.C.”

“The deadline to drop off toys is December 16. As a thank you for dropping off a toy, Moe’s is happy to offer $3 off customers’ in-store purchases.”

The following restaurants contain a box for toy collection:

• 12841 Galveston Court (near Prince William Parkway and Hoadly Road in Woodbridge)
• 8148 Stonewall Shoppes Square, #101, Gainesville

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Bob & Edith's Diner: "Bob & Edith's Diner is Expanding to Manassas, VA! Get ready, Manassas! We're thrilled to announce the upcoming opening of our 7th diner located in the Manassas Corner Shopping Center, by the end of 2023!"

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Manassas City officials want the General Assembly to end a moratorium on annexation by Virignia cities.

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Brew Republic Bierwerks in Woodbridge launched a membership program that gives customers nearly unlimited pours for $99 per month.

The brewery in Stonebridge at Potomac Town Center opened in 2016. Owner Jeff Frederick says he wants to take the concept of a weekend beer fest and apply it to every day.

“Times are challenging. When basics like gas and groceries are wildly expensive, we want to keep beer and the fun that comes with it affordable,” said Frederick, owner, in a press release. “While others are raising their prices, we’re making sure we serve our community well by offering an incredible deal for those who want to be the most loyal citizens of the Republic.”

The program works like this: Customers sign up and get 12-ounce pours of select beers every day before 9 p.m. in the taproom. Frederick says there are blackout dates and other restrictions, such as the beers must be consumed on-site, and bartenders will cut you off if you drink too much per Virginia law.

The brewery will limit memberships to the first 500 customers.

Manassas Economic Development Department: "This family-owned and operated restaurant brings Chef Jose's Hispanic and American-inspired cuisine to life. Don Jose's Kitchen is owned by husband and wife Jose and Maribel Tenas; the team also includes their three adult children, Yasmin, Mari, and Erik."

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If you’re looking for a casual, family-friendly restaurant in Manassas that offers a menu that features Italian and a variety of other cuisines, consider visiting Il Faro. It is located at 7845 Sudley Road, where Mama Mia used to be. Il Faro, which means lighthouse in Spanish, opened on July 26.

One could say it was fate that the restaurant came to be. The owners, Jorge Contreras and Edin Lopez, who went to the same elementary school in Guatemala, bumped into each other at an apartment complex in Falls Church.

“As a coincidence, Jorge recognized me, even though we hadn’t seen each other since 5th grade.”, Lopez explained. They became friends and talked about opening a restaurant, as they both worked as cooks at various restaurants in the D.C. area.

“One day Jorge called me and said that Mama Mia closed after the owner retired and that we should consider opening it back up,” said Lopez. “We decided to have our main focus on Italian food since people are familiar with that from Mama Mia. We wanted to give our customers a family-oriented experience and bring the feeling of eating in Italy.”

In addition, Mexican, Greek, and American dishes are on the menu. Their vision became a reality when the restaurant opened in July.

“All of our food is made from scratch, from meatballs, pasta, sauces, salad dressings, and desserts. We’d rather sacrifice profits and deliver better quality to the customer,” explained Contreras.

The seafood bucatini pasta dish is one of their specialties, and the pizza al pastor, with pineapple, roasted pork, bacon, and jalapenos. Another specialty pizza dish is the meat affair, a meat lover’s pizza with Italian sausage, chorizo, tomato, basil, and Aleppo pepper.

Their hours are Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Saturday, 9:30 a.m. -10 p.m. They are closed on Sunday.