A blend of cultural transplants and local experimentation has been shaping Northern Virginia’s food culture for a long time. In the past decades, the region has witnessed an increased number of restaurants that both maintain their owners’ hometown flavors and conform to the changing palate of a transient community. Whether it’s Korean barbecue restaurants squished between strip malls or old diners filling up on every weekend, the region’s culinary identity has slowly come to include the new and the old. Of these, one place in downtown Herndon has stood out—not for trying on trendy fads, but for remaining true to the founder’s hometown tastes while quietly cultivating a loyal clientele.
Jimmy’s Old Town Tavern, situated in the heart of Herndon, has become an enduring fixture in Northern Virginia’s dining scene. While the town itself has evolved—from its railroad-linked past to a modern suburb—this tavern has stayed rooted in tradition, albeit one that hails not from Virginia, but Buffalo, New York. The restaurant, established by Jimmy Cirrito in 1997, has over time become associated with an authentic expression of Buffalo comfort food, drawing regular patrons and media attention alike. Cirrito, a native of Buffalo, brought with him a deep familiarity with the region’s cuisine, particularly its famed chicken wings, hearty chili, and signature sauces. His decision to center the tavern’s identity around these elements gave it a distinct culinary niche in a crowded market. Inside, people from all walks of life—day laborers, federal employees, doctors, tradespeople, and tech professionals alike—gather under one roof. It’s a spot where “everyone is treated like a regular,” a guiding ethos that has helped the tavern become more than just a neighborhood restaurant; it’s become a local institution.
Cirrito’s menu choices have helped define the establishment’s reputation. Items like the Old Town Burger, Jimmy’s Famous Chili, and the widely requested “JOTT HOTT” sauce have remained popular menu staples. These dishes don’t rely on gimmicks; instead, they reflect a simple, hearty approach to food, one that has attracted a consistent stream of accolades. The wings, in particular, have helped cement the tavern’s status. Northern Virginia Magazine has awarded Jimmy’s Old Town Tavern the title of “Best Wings in Northern Virginia” five separate times. More recently, the same publication named its cheesesteak as the best in the region, spotlighting the tavern in its March 2023 issue.
Recognition of this kind, especially across multiple years and categories, points to more than just fleeting popularity. It reflects a sustained standard of quality and consistency in an industry where that’s hard to maintain. The wings, for example, are not only a crowd favorite but also a direct callback to Cirrito’s upbringing in Western New York. He worked in several restaurants and taverns in the Buffalo region and Northern Virginia before opening his own establishment in Herndon. His background is not just a personal narrative—it has informed the entire culinary ethos of the tavern. As other establishments shifted their menus in response to fads or changing dietary trends, Jimmy’s has largely stuck to its roots.
In March 2023, Jimmy’s Old Town Tavern was featured in Season 1, Episode 6 of Kitchen Commando, a restaurant-focused reality series produced by Studio Ramsay Global and hosted by Chef Andre Rush. The episode, filmed in Herndon, presented the tavern as a longstanding local business facing challenges related to evolving dining trends. The show described the establishment as having “not evolved with the times,” and followed Rush’s efforts to offer culinary and operational advice. The national exposure added another layer to the tavern’s media visibility, placing it within a broader conversation about restaurant longevity and adaptation.
The growth of the restaurant over time also mirrors this commitment to its identity. In 2021, Cirrito supervised the development of Jimmy’s Old Town Tavern into a nearby space, opening up a new dining room named “The Buffalo Wing.” This expansion was not merely a matter of fitting in more patrons; it was also an opportunity to double down on the theme of the tavern and leave more space for its most sought-after items. The move reflected a confidence in its appeal and a clear understanding of what its customer base values most.
The tavern’s physical expansion has coincided with plans to stretch its culinary presence further. Cirrito has openly expressed his goal to repurpose Hazel’s Diner, the building next door, as a small-batch microbrewery. Although the proposals are still evolving, the concept is to establish an in-house brewing facility that would enhance the tavern’s menu and its own distinct identity. If implemented, the brewery would provide an added element to the tavern’s product mix, enabling craft beer pairing with its popular menu offerings.
While it has received awards and press, Jimmy’s Old Town Tavern doesn’t rely on that recognition to define its significance. Much of its staying power seems to stem from consistency, not only in its menu but in its approach. The restaurant doesn’t appear to chase accolades, though it has earned them. It doesn’t pivot with every shift in the culinary zeitgeist, though it remains relevant. It stands out largely because it knows what it is and doesn’t stray from that core.
The tavern also functions as a regional hub for fans of the Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres, further reinforcing its identity beyond food service. On game days, particularly when the Bills play, the venue streams every game across all its televisions with surround sound and accompanying stadium music during commercial breaks. These events consistently draw large crowds of fans, many clad in team apparel, creating an atmosphere more akin to a live viewing party than a typical bar setting. For select away games—particularly against nearby teams such as the Washington Commanders or Baltimore Ravens—the tavern organizes ticket and bus packages, often filling two or more charter buses with fans traveling to the games. Similar trips are occasionally arranged for Buffalo Sabres matchups, underscoring the establishment’s deep connection to Western New York sports culture.
Cirrito, who is still actively involved in the daily operations, remains a recognizable figure in Herndon, but it’s his early vision of bringing Buffalo comfort food to Northern Virginia that continues to define the tavern’s place in the region. As dining trends move quickly and new restaurants rise and fall, the tavern offers a reminder of the value of sticking to one’s roots, particularly when those roots come with five-time “Best Wings” honors and a menu that continues to draw in regulars.
Jimmy’s Old Town Tavern, founded by Jimmy Cirrito in 1997, has grown from a local hangout to a recognized name in regional food journalism. Its reputation, grounded in straightforward flavors and a Buffalo-based identity, reflects a rare kind of culinary focus. Without relying on trends or overexposure, the tavern has carved out a notable place in Northern Virginia’s food culture.
