local flavor
La Finca Gainesville
Inspired by “The Farm” By Amy Falkofske | Photos by Brenda Wolfe
L
a Finca Mexican opened its doors at 11 a.m. on January 25, 2021, with a sizable lunch crowd and an even bigger dinner crowd. The following day was even busier for Gainesville’s newest authentic Mexican restaurant. Although COVID restrictions didn’t allow for a typical grand opening, it’s safe to say that La Finca made an impression on Prince William residents right off the bat. “Awesome food, really nice staff. Can’t wait for it to be warm enough to eat outside. Definitely a spot to try if you’re in the area,” said RJ, Facebook reviewer. “Excellent food and service. I will be back,” said Paul, another Facebook reviewer.
La Finca’s Second Location The original La Finca restaurant is located in Arlington and has been so successful owner Shawn Clark and his partners jumped at the chance to open in the Gainesville/Haymarket area. “My partners and I saw an opportunity to bring that [success] to the Gainesville/Haymarket area and we jumped on it! We live here, we work here, we raise our children here and we wanted to be a part of this economy as well and give Prince William County a place they could depend on for quality authentic Mexican food,” said Clark.
Inspired by “The Farm” La Finca is Spanish for “the farm,” and that’s the inspiration for both La Finca’s food and its décor. According to Clark, many facets of the name are intertwined with the business.
22 |
April 2021 prince william living
La Finca’s house salsa and bean dip with chips.
“Farmers are the backbone of our nation. They work hard until the last task is complete. They are genuine and thorough. They represent the genesis of the food on our tables — the freshness. These are all things that we hope people feel and experience while they dine with us,” he said. Once you step inside La Finca, you’ll be instantly transported to a farm with a western feel. There are pictures of horses and even a wagon wheel on the wall. The counters look like a cabinet out of a farm house and the tables have wooden tops.
Authentic Mexican Food Clark said he anticipates a lot of tacos, burritos and fajitas being served.
