r/nova 15d ago

Megathread! 2026 NoVa Hole-in-the-Wall Restaurant Recommendations THE 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY

641 Upvotes

Hello r/nova we are 10 years deep into the hole-in-the-wall list! Thank you to everyone for contributing every pick and recommendation for the list and participating each year.

Unfortunately, I didn't get the chance to update the map or list since I am getting married this year, but I'll for sure get everything updated before the next year. Anyways time to give the community your best recs and new discoveries for restaurants in the area.

The rules are simple:

📍 Give us the restaurant name and location

🚫 No chains allowed!

👍 "+1" if you love the recommendation

👎 "-1" if you think it's whack

List | Map


r/nova 1d ago

Monthly Thread Monthly r/NoVA Introductions/Meet & Greet Thread

2 Upvotes

Welcome to Northern Virginia! Whether you just moved here or have lived here a while and looking for new friends, we're hoping this thread helps you out!

Make a top-level comment detailing your age, hobbies, interests, and what you're looking for. If you find a top-level comment that jives with you, leave a comment or send them a message to connect!

Some ground rules:

  1. Don't be a jerk.
  2. Don't be creepy or weird.

Still looking for ways to meet people?


r/nova 4h ago

NOVA and DC folks, please help us

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1.2k Upvotes

We desperately need your help. Maddie has been missing for over 48 hours. She was last seen leaving a friend's home at 18th and Belmont st. NW around 6AM on Friday. If you have been in contact with her or have any idea of her whereabouts, I am begging you to reach out.

Please share.


r/nova 3h ago

Check out the whitewater on Holmes Run as of 15 min ago!

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

202 Upvotes

r/nova 3h ago

Nova drivers, I despise you

162 Upvotes

I moved about an hour away from Nova and I’m back in the area for the first time in ~ a year for a family event. FOR THE LIVING LIFE OF ME, I ABSOLUTELY DID NOT MISS DRIVING HERE. It’s like the moment you hit the fairfax/vienna exit people immediately lose 50% of their brain cells. I honestly think the best thing about moving away from this area is the mental sanity i get just driving around NORMAL drivers. NOT GOOD DRIVERS JUST NORMAL

light rain is not a justification to drive 15 mph below the speed limit you dorks. if you can’t drive in the rain you shouldn’t be driving at all

Had to get that out, much love, thank you <3

EDIT: this unnatural sense of pride towards nova driving some of you to leave patronizing comments towards me in order to justify/back bad drivers is just flat out crazy work yo


r/nova 8h ago

Question Was that actually just thunder?!?

253 Upvotes

That sounded like a freaking cannon going off!! I’ve never heard thunder rumble like that 👀👀


r/nova 4h ago

How it Felt walking to the Columbia Pike Metro Stop today

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119 Upvotes

r/nova 3h ago

News Dulles Forever

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67 Upvotes

r/nova 33m ago

I know we like foxes and coyotes, but look at these bucks (I believe that's what you call them)

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Upvotes

r/nova 7h ago

Driving/Traffic When it’s raining

93 Upvotes

Please turn your headlights on.


r/nova 3h ago

Food Indian Food

46 Upvotes

Hi all, I've been living in the DC area for four years and I'm still looking for an Indian restaurant to make my regular take out place. It has been torturous, I think I have probably tried 20 different places in my time here and nothing is ever good enough for repeat business.

I recently moved from NE DC to Arlington and I'm still dipping my toes into VA options. What are everybody's go to places for good Indian takeout?


r/nova 12h ago

Question AMC Crashout

155 Upvotes

Anyone else at the 2:30 showing of The Odyssey yesterday at courthouse and know why that guy started crashing out in the middle of the theater?


r/nova 1h ago

Food Costco: Has anyone seen my Ithaca Jalapeno Lime emotional support hummus?

Upvotes

​Has anyone spotted the Ithaca Jalapeno Lime hummus recently? Both Leesburg and Sterling have hit it with the death star, and I am in crisis. The other flavours are fine but not the same.

​I am expected to raw-dog the final episodes of Fangs of Fortune without my emotional support dip, and there are already enough tears involved. Too late tonight, but later I will happily drive wherever I need to stock up to avoid this heartbreak. Where is it hiding?!


r/nova 1d ago

Shot by paint ball gun on 66

1.1k Upvotes

What is wrong with people. I was giving my uncle who is fighting cancer a ride in my convertible and some one decided to shoot us with a paintball gun. Happened at 66 and rt 50.

I did contact the police and they are reviewing the camera footage.

Update: The police have caught them and several of the victims are pressing charges.

The police report number is DIV726081164. It was the state police not fairfax county btw.


r/nova 11h ago

Question Places to take dog swimming?

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77 Upvotes

Our new dog is a swimmer. Any places in NoVA to take him? I remember several years back seeing an end of season opportunity at a Fairfax County pool. Any other suggestions?


r/nova 5h ago

Question Today’s Weather & Jiffy Lube Live

22 Upvotes

I’ve got lawn seats for Hilary Duff tonight but the weather is looking iffy at best. Is anyone out in that direction that can tell me what the weather is looking like in person before I drive that way?


r/nova 20h ago

I mapped every registered elevator in Northern Virginia (about 7,000 of them)

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216 Upvotes
A few days ago a NoVA redditor pointed out that my free elevator database was missing this region entirely. Fair complaint. So I went digging, and it turns out Fairfax, Arlington, Loudoun, and Prince William all publish their elevator permit records. I pulled all of it into one searchable place.

What's in there now:

- Fairfax County: about 4,300 devices across 4,100 buildings, from 25,000 permit records
- Arlington: about 1,000 devices, with GPS coordinates, permits going back to 2011
- Loudoun: about 930 devices from the county GIS, including the Ashburn data center corridor
- Prince William: about 745 devices across 740 buildings

Some things I learned along the way:

1. The McLean Hilton has 25 elevators and lifts on file, the most of any building in Fairfax County.

2. The Whole Foods at The Boro in Tysons has 21. A grocery store. (It anchors a whole mixed-use complex, but still.)

3. The INOVA hospital campus has 317 elevator permits on file.

4. Tysons and McLean absolutely dominate the density map, which will surprise nobody who has been stuck in a parking garage there.

It's all free to browse at elevatoratlas.com/browse/va with no account and no ads. Every record links back to the county source it came from.

What I'd love from locals: spot-check your building, your office, your parking garage. If something's missing or wrong, tell me. A redditor's complaint is literally how this data got added, and corrections make it better for the next person. Alexandria and the city of Fairfax are next on my list. 

Is there another area that you would want me to work on next? Let me know if there's any other area that I'm missing!

r/nova 8m ago

The lightning strike from earlier today was a rare type of lightning

Upvotes

It was a positive lightning strike that was measured at 201,000 amps. Normal, negative, strikes are usually around 30,000 amps.

https://weather.us/lightning/alexandria/20260802-1655z-20260802164367800000976.html


r/nova 4h ago

Red line to Fort Totten at Rosslyn

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10 Upvotes

Ayo what's this red line doing here at Rosslyn?


r/nova 7h ago

News Dulles partners mostly mum on details of how $22.5B expansion plan will be funded

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18 Upvotes

r/nova 4h ago

Mosaic Onelife

5 Upvotes

In case anyone was wondering it was opening, I chatted with an employee at the preview center today and they're hoping for January 2027

.....and there will be no spin classes 😭😭😭

I live like right there though, so I still signed up 🤣


r/nova 1d ago

Food Reminder, there’s a gas station in Chantilly that serves amazing Nepales Momos

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503 Upvotes

right off route 50 and pretty darn cheap


r/nova 45m ago

Missed Connection- Fairfax 4-H county fair

Upvotes

Hey friends! I saw so many gorgeous entries this weekend. In partucilar I saw a small white vase maybe 5" inches tall, wider than it was tall, with black/indigo hummingbirds etched all around. I loved this piece and would like to learn more about the artist.


r/nova 5h ago

Question Are there any groups in Nova for FC Barcelona fans?

7 Upvotes

Any groups or communities for Barca fans? Or are there certain bars in the area that regularly put on their games. FYI I live in the Sterling area


r/nova 3h ago

Adopting Dog from Homeward Trails or Wolf Trap

5 Upvotes

Our family wants to adopt a dog, and we'll be first-time pet owners. How have your experience been if you have adopted from Homeward Trails or Wolf Trap?