City: Arlington, VA
Category: Restaurants
Address: 4000 28th Street
2. Hard Times Cafe
City: Arlington, VA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (703) 528-2233
Address: 3028 Wilson Boulevard
Description: Chili in one of a dozen incarnations is the best reason to go to Hard Times Cafe. Visit one of the company’s 16 down-home joints in the region, all of which are dark, loud, and lots of fun. Expect a very casual atmosphere. No one will frown if you wipe your bowl clean with a chunk of cornbread. We’re partial to the Cincinnati-style chili, served with shredded cheese and onions atop a dish of spaghetti. They are open for lunch and dinner daily. See the Suburban Maryland section or visit the company’s Web site (www.hardtimes.com) for Maryland locations.
3. Ray’S The Steaks
City: Arlington, VA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (703) 841-7297
Address: 1725 Wilson Boulevard
Description: Ray’s is considered the best steak house in the region by some of its most discerning diners. Unlike downtown’s power-dining emporia, dimly lit and decked out with sumptuous furnishings, Ray’s focuses on the meat, which owner Michael Landrum purchases, butchers, and ages himself. You’ll see the biggest difference between Ray’s and its downtown counterparts when the bill arrives; prices are considerably lower here. The entrees are served with shareable sides of creamed spinach and mashed potatoes.
4. Red, Hot & Blue
City: Arlington, VA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (703) 276-7427
Address: 1600 Wilson Boulevard
Description: Barbecue fan? You won’t find better than Red, Hot & Blue. By now a Washington institution, this crowded joint in Arlington serves succulent ribs, pulled pork and chicken, and brisket. The ribs are served wet (with sauce) or dry (rubbed with spices, no sauce). Sauces and seasonings are perched on each table so you can customize your order. There are other locations in the Metro area (see Suburban Maryland listings), but we think the original one on Wilson Boulevard in Arlington is best. Open for lunch and dinner daily.
5. Silver Diner
City: Arlington, VA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (703) 812-8600
Address: 3200 Wilson Boulevard
Description: Like the Maryland locations (see our entry under Suburban Maryland), these restaurants have the feel of an old-time diner. We especially like the Silver Diner for breakfasts and desserts. Waffles and French toast are great here. If you’re visiting later in the day, try their meatloaf and mashed potatoes, burgers and shakes, or humongous sandwiches. The 3 a.m. closing time on weekends makes Silver Diner a favorite stop for night owls. Silver Diner is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily. There are now a total of 21 locations in Maryland and Virginia.
6. Nam Viet
City: Arlington, VA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (703) 522-7110
Address: 1127 North Hudson Street
Description: The name may be turned around, but we’ve figured it’s for a reason: That’s exactly what you’ll be inclined to do after your first dining experience at Nam Viet. Go back again. And soon. The food is as consistently good as the atmosphere is relaxing and unpretentious, and the prices reasonable. Don’t miss the bon dun, the great selection of soups, or the skewered meats grilled with fragrant herbs. You can enjoy your meal outside in warm weather, but the indoor dining room is several steps above the utilitarian atmosphere found in some of the other low-cost neighborhood restaurants. Nam Viet is open for lunch and dinner daily.
City: Arlington, VA
Category: Restaurants
Address: 1711 Wilson Boulevard
8. La Cote D’Or Cafe
City: Arlington, VA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (703) 538-3033
Address: 2201 West Moreland Street
Description: Striking arrangements of roses, pretty table settings, and intimate lighting all add up to a downtown atmosphere—at downtown prices—right in the Virginia suburbs. The food lives up to the surroundings, as befits highly esteemed Washington chef, Raymond Campet, who decided to set up shop in Virginia. There are all sorts of elegant classics featuring game, duck, and high-quality beef. The daily specials are particularly good but often pricier than the regular menu. The dishes are expertly sauced, such as the game meats with savory berry glazes or the seafood with buttery garlic accents. Desserts, even the simple berries in sabayon sauce, can be a real treat. Several critics consistently rate this restaurant among the best in Washington. It serves lunch and dinner daily.
9. El Guajillo
City: Arlington, VA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (703) 807-0840
Address: 1727 Wilson Boulevard
Description: El Guajillo takes its name from a spicy chili pepper and delivers an equally spicy Mexican experience. In addition to the expected lineup of enchiladas and tamales, check out the shrimp and goat cheese enchiladas and New York strip steak with mushroom chipotle sauce. Your chips and salsa are served with a side of habañero sauce so that you can spice it up to suit your tastes. The chefs also give you ample opportunities to experiment with mole, the classic chocolate and nut sauce. Here it’s made in two other varieties, one seasoned with tomatillo and pumpkin seeds and another crafted with three different chilies.
10. El Pollo Rico
City: Arlington, VA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (703) 522-3220
Address: 932 North Kenmore Street
Description: This modest, Peruvian-owned cafe is among the best of the area’s bargain rotisserie-chicken restaurants. El Pollo Rico (“Delicious Chicken”) does a brisk carryout business, but you can also sit at one of the handful of small tables scattered around the simple room. The menu is limited, and the only real reason to come is the house specialty: marinated, charcoal-fired rotisserie chicken that’s perfectly flavored and practically melts in your mouth. With it, you can have fries, empanadas, or tamales. If you’re in Maryland, try the Wheaton location at 2541 Ennalls Avenue (301-942-4419). El Pollo Rico serves lunch and dinner nightly. It does not accept credit cards.
11. Rio Grande Cafe
City: Arlington, VA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (703) 528-3131
Address: 4301 North Fairfax Drive
Description: Please see Suburban Maryland listing.
12. Il Radicchio
City: Arlington, VA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (703) 276-2627
Address: 1801 Clarendon Boulevard
Description: Il Radicchio is a bargain-priced eatery that still manages to seem trendy. The concept here is simple: Order an all-you-can-eat bowl of spaghetti and pair it with one of a dozen or so sauces offered. There’s variety enough to satisfy anyone, from those who prefer simple pesto to those who think spaghetti ain’t spaghetti unless it has tomato sauce. Il Radicchio caters to families, busy bees in need of a quick meal, and young up-and-comers who want lots to eat and don’t want to pay a lot. The pizzas are good, too. Lunch is served Monday through Saturday and dinner nightly.
13. Italian Store
City: Arlington, VA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (703) 528-6266
Address: 3123 Lee Highway
Description: You’ll be glad you discovered this little Italian restaurant and shop, nestled in an Arlington shopping center. Locals flock here for pizza by the slice or for delicious pies to take home, and the kitchen manages to strike a balance between tomato and cheese on its perfectly kneaded crust. Sandwiches are also delicious, lightly seasoned with oil and oregano on Italian hard rolls. Stop by on your way to a dinner party for a bottle of wine or a couple of cannolis.
14. Layalina
City: Arlington, VA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (703) 525-1170
Address: 5216 Wilson Boulevard
Description: Arlington residents in search of delicious Middle Eastern food will sooner or later find their way to Layalina. Chef and owner Rima Kodsi serves up recipes of her own creation that reflect the most popular tastes of the Middle East, such as hummus accented with pomegranate juice, baba ghanouj, and kafta bil jawz, a blend of beef, walnuts, pepper, and mint. Side dishes and accents like yogurt are made in-house, and the lamb dishes are particularly tasty.