It's no secret that we love a good reason to celebrate the businesses that make Prince William, Virginia such a fun place to visit, and we have two more reasons to raise a glass!
Two Prince William County businesses have been named finalists for the 2026 Ordinary Awards, an annual awards program presented by the Virginia Restaurant, Lodging & Travel Association (VRLTA) that recognizes the people and businesses helping make Virginia’s hospitality and tourism industry extraordinary.
This year, Proof Kitchen + Bar and Tempo by Hilton Manassas are representing Prince William, Virginia as finalists in two brand-new award categories: New Restaurant of the Year and New Lodging Property of the Year.
And here's where you come in: the winners will be decided by public vote!
Proof Kitchen + Bar: New Restaurant of the Year
Located at the NOVA LIVE campus in Manassas, Proof Kitchen + Bar is one of the newest additions to Prince William's growing dining and entertainment scene. The restaurant serves modern comfort classics, including burgers, flatbreads, fish and chips, French onion soup, and other creative takes on familiar favorites. The menu changes seasonally, so you get something new each time you come visit! Its cocktail program also incorporates spirits from their next door neighbor, MurLarkey Distilled Spirits, adding an extra local touch to the experience.
But the experience doesn't stop at the table. Since Proof is part of the 21-acre NOVA LIVE campus, visitors can pair dinner with craft beer at 2 Silos Brewing Co., spirits from MurLarkey, live music at theYARD, and other entertainment! Best part? They're all within steps of one another.
The New Restaurant of the Year award is one of two new categories introduced for the 2026 Ordinary Awards. It recognizes a restaurant that opened in 2025 or later and has made an extraordinary contribution to Virginia's restaurant industry through innovative ideas, passion, and community involvement.
Tempo by Hilton Manassas: New Lodging Property of the Year
Just steps from Proof is another one of Prince William, Virgina's newest hospitality additions: Tempo by Hilton Manassas.
Located directly on the NOVA LIVE campus, the newly built hotel gives visitors a place to stay right in the middle of the action. The property features 92 rooms, a wellness studio, café and bar, flexible event space, and convenient access to the restaurants, brewery, distillery, and live music venues throughout the campus. If you're looking for something to do within the hotel, make sure you check out what's behind the wall right before you get to the front desk! And, just from us, you might want to wear your best 1920's fit and make a reservation.
The location also makes Tempo a convenient home base for exploring the rest of Prince William County. Historic Old Town Manassas, Manassas National Battlefield Park, the Hylton Performing Arts Center, and Jiffy Lube Live are all within about 15 minutes of the hotel.
Like the restaurant category, New Lodging Property of the Year is new for the 2026 Ordinary Awards and recognizes qualifying lodging properties that opened in 2025 or later.
What Are the Ordinary Awards?
Presented by VRLTA, the Ordinary Awards celebrate the restaurants, lodging properties, attractions, destinations, and hospitality professionals that help make Virginia a destination worth visiting. The 2026 awards feature 26 individual and organizational awards across four primary categories. While most categories are selected by a panel of industry professionals, this year's two new awards, New Restaurant of the Year and New Lodging Property of the Year, give the public a chance to help select the winners.
For Prince William, Virginia, having two finalists in these inaugural categories is an exciting opportunity to showcase the county's growing hospitality scene on a statewide stage.
How to Vote
Now it's your turn! Public voting is open through Sunday, August 16, 2026. You can vote for your favorite finalist in both the New Restaurant of the Year and New Lodging Property of the Year categories.
If Proof Kitchen + Bar or Tempo by Hilton Manassas has been part of your Prince William experience (or you're simply excited to see local businesses represented among Virginia's hospitality leaders) cast your vote and share the opportunity with your friends and family.
The winners will be announced during the 2026 Ordinary Awards celebration on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, at the Hilton Richmond Hotel & Spa/Short Pump. All finalists will also be recognized during the Stars of the Industry Reception before the awards ceremony. And yes, we will be biting our nails until then!
From new restaurants and hotels to breweries, wineries, distilleries, attractions, and the people behind them, Prince William County's hospitality scene continues to grow and we're excited to see two of our newest additions receive statewide recognition.
Don't forget to vote by August 16 and help us cheer on Proof Kitchen + Bar and Tempo by Hilton Manassas!