Food

Popular Pandemic-Born Pierogi Shop Expands to Three VA Food Halls

Rogi (formerly Zofia's Kitchen) will dish up creative dumplings and deli fare in Ballston, Leesburg, and Tysons.

Rogi, a fast-casual pierogi and deli concept, will operate three restaurants in Virginia. Photography courtesy of Rogi

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Sometimes a craving turns into a business plan. That’s the story of Zofia’s Kitchen, a pandemic- and hunger-born pierogi ghost kitchen that went brick-and-mortar in December and is in the process of rebranding and expanding to two additional counter-order locations in Northern Virginia. Chef/owner Ed Hardy catered a request from a friend last fall who was craving pierogi, a specialty in his native Chicago, and couldn’t find any satisfying DC-area options. What started as a favor turned into a popular takeout and delivery concept run out of Cookology in Arlington, where Hardy was an instructor. And the rest is stuffed dumpling history.

What the team is rebranding as “Rogi” currently operates out of a kiosk in the Ballston Quarter food hall. Another counter-order location will open in Leesburg’s Chefscape food hall and culinary incubator on Friday, September 10. Hardy is also planning a Tysons branch in the Urbanspace food hall at Tysons Galleria shopping mall, which will likely open by the end of the year.

At all locations, diners will find a menu of globally-inspired pierogi with dipping sauces, sandwiches, and fun snacks like latke doughnuts—reflective of Hardy’s eclectic resume, which runs the gamut from Bacon N’ Eds food truck owner to finer-dining positions with Marcus Samuelsson and Danny Meyer in New York.

House-made pastrami reuben. Photograph courtesy of Rogi.

With the rebrand and expansion, Hardy says he’s tweaked the concept to be “part pierogi shop, part modern deli that’s an homage to great Pittsburgh and Chicago delis.” New sandwich items include a house-braised pastrami Reuben or a grilled cheese on marble rye with gouda, apples, and tangy mustard. And of course, new dumplings. Currently the menu stars pierogi stuffed with fillings inspired by loaded baked potatoes, crab dip, or an everything lox bagel. Joining the lineup are a French dip-style pierogi with caramelized onions, herbs, gruyère, and a beef stroganoff dipping sauce. There’s also an Indian samosa-style dumpling and a dessert spiced apple concoction covered with oat crumble and crushed Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal.

Latke doughnuts, a fun deli-style side at Rogi. Photograph courtesy of Rogi.

Diners can order the menu items to stay or go, and also get delivery through third party services (check the website for hours and availability). The new Leesburg location is hosting a variety of specials and events this weekend for the opening, including a tap takeover/pierogi pairing with Old Ox Brewery and live music.

Rogi. 4238 Wilson Blvd., #145, Arlington; 1602 Village Market Blvd SE, #120, Leesburg. Tysons location coming soon. 

*This post has been updated

Food Editor

Anna Spiegel covers the dining and drinking scene in her native DC. Prior to joining Washingtonian in 2010, she attended the French Culinary Institute and Columbia University’s MFA program in New York, and held various cooking and writing positions in NYC and in St. John, US Virgin Islands.