El Manantial Seeking to Expand to Outdoor Dining

, the Mediterannean restaurant at Tall Oaks Village Center, is seeking approval from Design Review Board to add outdoor seating.

Owner Humberto Fuentes says business at El Manantial is finally good again after weathering the economic downturn of the last three years. The restaurant wants to add a bar and restaurant area that will seat about 40 people and will be in use three seasons, he said.

"Everyone likes it over at " Fuentes said. "But Reston needs some other places where people can go and hang out."

Fuentes is scheduled to speak to the DRB on May 17.  He sent an e-mail to regular customers recently asking for them to e-mail the DRB with their support. The e-mail suggests that patrons should emphasis points such as:

• There is significant demand for a Reston restaurant with outdoor seating that has easily accessible parking.
• The renovation of the restaurant will infuse the Tall Oaks Village Center with more customers and energize the shopping center.
• The patrons of El Manantial would enjoy an updated atmosphere.
• The renovations could expand the clientele for the restaurant.
• Outdoor dining will encourage pedestrian use of the shopping center and provide an opportunity for Reston residents to congregate.

Anchor store Compare Foods closed at Tall Oaks last month, less than 18 months after opening. There have been three grocery store tenants in that spot in the last four years.  There are also several other storefront vacancies, leaving some residents to question the village center's future.

Marty Flax, senior vice president of property management company Renaud Consulting, sais last week he is close to signing an anchor tenant.

In the meantime, Fuentes says he hopes his restaurant's expansion will be approved and it will help Tall Oaks' future.

"We have a nice clientele, so I have noticed it really does not matter what is here [in the anchor spot'," Fuentes said. "But I don't like to see an empty parking lot."