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Check it out! I just washed my chef hat!Best Restaurants in Northern Virginia

with Undercover Restaurant Critic
Wolfgang Kluck, aka Brian Quass of Alexandria, Virginia, USA





Shh, gang, don't blow my cover. It's Webmaster Q here, the famous undercover restaurant critic, just back from another fine but anonymous dining experience in the greater Northern Virginia area. (Come closer so I can whisper!) Welcome to my Web page, where I spill the beans on the gastronomic world around me with my perhaps not-entirely disagreeable reviews about my meals out. Fair enough? So if you're looking for a good local eating establishment, read on so I can give you the lay of the culinary land. And don't forget that you can vote for your own favorite Northern Virginia restaurant on my voting page and watch for the polling results that are updated regularly.

Does that sound like a plan?

But for now we'd better split up on account of I don't want any restaurant owners out there suspecting me of my critical bona fides. (I hate when restaurant owners out there suspect me of my critical bona fides!) Meanwhile, stay tuned for more reviews as I anonymously rush about town and glut myself on the nourishing output of more of our region's famous chefs. Is that a deal? (All rightie, then!)

Until We Eat Again!

Webmaster Q,
Undercover Restaurant Critic
for the Greater Northern Virginia Area

PS Don't forget to do your civic duty vis-a-vis your fellow diners and vote for your favorite area restaurant on this site's voting page!


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Northern Virginia Restaurant Home Pages
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Aegean TavernaGreek
2950 Clarendon Blvd, Arlington VA 22201, PH 703-841-9494 -- MAP




Anthony's RestaurantAnthony's RestaurantAmericanGreekItalianAugust 24, 2003, 3:00 P.M. Pushing my lens-free glasses and fake nose into place, I anonymously enter "Anthony's Restaurant" on West Broad Street in Falls Church in a bid to review my 10th restaurant to date for my culinary Web site. Guided to a booth by one of those "helpful but not overbearing" servers that you read about on the restaurant's home page, I take up my ample menu beside an artist's rendering of a crumbling Greek amphitheater. "Hmm," I reflect, "It seems they offer steak, seafood, and veggie dishes, along with the culturally obligatory gyros, shishkebabs, and stuffed grape leaves. Neither do they stint on their Italian offerings, which include spaghetti, cacciatore, and ravioli, plus pizzas with over a dozen toppings, including feta cheese and meatballs." Thumbing through the menu still further, I was gratified to find a variety of sandwiches (hamburgers, grilled chicken, pastrami), more than a dozen subs (meatball and cheese, and cold-cut hoagies), almost a dozen appetizers (like tzatziki with pita bread and fried calamari) and a multicultural smorgasbord of desserts (including homemade Baklava, German Chocolate Cake, and good old American Apple Pie) .

Casting my vote for the chicken shishkebab on rice (which came, as I was glad to later learn, with a superlatively fresh house salad and rolls), I glanced about me at the two adjoining dining rooms, which struck me as impressively busy for 3:00 on a Sunday afternoon. "So," I said to myself, "this is where Falls Church Mayor Dan Gardner came to celebrate the defeat of the state Transportation Tax back in June of 2002," for I had indeed read a news blurb to that effect prior to arriving at this locally popular eatery. "Well, putting aside the question of the Mayor's political judgment in helping to defeat that admittedly controversial referendum, one can't help but applaud his taste in restaurants," I thought, for I had a good feeling about this bright, modestly sized establishment even before I had so much as set eyes on my Shishkebab. Speaking of which, here it came now, on its fluffy bed of rice, juicily topped with green peppers, onions, and tomatoes! "Now if it only tastes as great as it looks!" I thought, pushing aside the dishes containing my recently dispatched salad and rolls and tucking in my napkin anew so as to be ready to "lay to" at the first possible moment.

Well, what do you suppose? The chicken shishkebab DID taste as good as it looked, thank you very much: i.e., moist, tender, and succulent! In short, I scarfed it down with all the good will in the world. Meanwhile, I reflected that the service had been "helpful but not overbearing," as promised. And the ambience? I had found it homey, laid-back, and (doggone it) just plain friendly. In short, I finished my meal, resolving to return here on the next possible occasion (which is not a resolution that I routinely make after dining at area restaurants, I can tell you!) "Yes," I considered, as I silently summarized my dining experience here in downtown Falls Church, "Tony Yiannavakis knew what he was doing when he started this place back in 1972. No wonder that he was able to open another Anthony's restaurant in Manassas seven years ago!" And so thinking, I left a financial token of my appreciation beside my now-ravaged plate, and betook myself to the front counter to settle my modest bill. Then, removing my trusty nose-and-mustache disguise, confident that my server had failed to guess my true identity as a restaurant critic, I returned to my car, resolving to drive home at once and write this place up favorably as I have just done -- being sure to add, however, the so-far overlooked fact that the Manassas location of Anthony's doubles as a Sports Bar -- hence the establishment's full name: Anthony's Restaurant & Sports Bar.

309 West Broad Street Falls Church, VA 22046, PH 703-532-0100 -- MAP




Argia'sArgia'sItalianAugust 2, 2003, 2:00 P.M.: Scaling the few steps between the lounge and the dining room at Argia's in Falls Church, my waitress (seemingly unaware of my food critic bona fides) guides me to a handsomely appointed table beside a wall-sized mural, whose whimsical depiction of a Renaissance market town turned out to be the impressive handiwork of a local artist, one Thomas Mullaney by name. Queried as to beverage choice, I unimaginatively ask for a Coke, whereupon Rachel, my smiling server, apprises me of the day's luncheon special: spaghetti with Italian Bacon and salad. Greatly tempted by such fare, I was yet unwilling to order prior to scanning the menu, if only so as to be able to broach some additional contents thereof with my faithful readers upon writing this review. And so, vowing to take her suggestion to heart, I turned my attention to the entrees as my hostess hied herself hence, presumably to the next-door bar to get my soda.

"Hmm," I reflect, "Their pastas include Lasagne Con Carne, Osso Bucco Ravioli, and Spaghetti alla Genovese; antipastis, in their turn, feature Bruschetta Classica, Calamari Fritti, and Mussels Argia; as for entrées, one finds Veal Saltimbocca, Beef Tenderloin, and Eggplant al Formaggio with goat cheese, tomato, and basil" (which latter dish, as I later learned, has been called "a study in lightness" by Washingtonian magazine). Decisions, decisions, decisions! Still, as I was short on time and (quite frankly) culinary sophistication when it comes to Italian cuisine, I would ultimately order the Spaghetti special upon the return of my soda-toting server. Meanwhile, I glanced about me at the quaint family pictures on the wall opposite the aforementioned mural (reflecting that there was probably a snapshot yonder of Chef Stephen Scott's grandmother for whom the place is named) and meditated on the fact that this spacious dining room (or so one hears) is packed with locals every night. Moreover, I recalled that there was a patio out back, where, according to Barstool magazine, "you'll feel as if you're dining al fresco in the rolling hills of Tuscany."

Roused from these reflections by the advent of the timely Rachel and my mid-afternoon lunch, I went to work on my Spaghetti with Italian Bacon, which, my culinary limitations notwithstanding, I found perfectly al dente and excellently seasoned. In fact, it soon occurred to me that I had never dined better at any of the franchised Italian restaurants in the area. The salad, too, was a pleasantly tasty surprise with its mixed greens and balsamic vinaigrette, and not the same-old tired afterthought of lettuce and croutons. And the bread: where has Ciabatta Bread been all my life? Soft, moist, and subtlely sweet! (And to think I used to be content with those mass-produced breadsticks at You-Know-Where!) In short, I rose from my table after thoroughly dispatching my entire luncheon special, secure in the knowledge that I had found my favorite Italian restaurant to-date in northern Virginia, both as to food and service -- not to mention decor, thanks to that Thomas Mullaney chap. (What's more, my true identity as a high-brow restaurant critic appeared to have remained a secret! Rachel, it seemed, had not caught on to my game. Ha ha! I tell you, this plastic nose-and-mustache disguise works wonders!)

124 N. Washington St. Falls Church, VA 22046, PH 703-534-1033 -- MAP



Austin GrillAmericanMexican
South Austin Grill 801 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314, PH 703-684-8969 -- MAP


Bilbo Baggins Global RestaurantGlobal
208 Queen Street, Alexandria, VA 22314, PH 703-683-0300 -- MAP

Blue IguanaAmerican
Fair Lakes, 12727 Shops Lane, Fairfax, VA 22033, PH 703-502-8108 -- MAP



Broad Street GrillBroad Street GrillAmericanAugust 20, 2003, 1:00 P.M.: Driving past the restaurant's street-side dining area on its namesake Broad Street (better known as Route 7), I turned right onto Maple Street at CVS Pharmacy, in conformance with the establishment's online directions, and proceeded to the rear parking lot. "Just in time for lunch," I considered, as I parked in one of the reserved spaces near the back entrance, mistrustfully re-reading the signs around me in this alleyway where towing, it seemed, was strictly enforced. Confident, however, that my vehicle was parked legally, I betook myself to the aforementioned entrance of this Falls Church night spot (open till 2 A.M. nightly), thinking fondly of the strip steak with grilled onions that I had already resolved to order after perusing the virtual menu. Absorbed in these agreeable thoughts, I opened the door and sidled past a pair of video-game enthusiasts in the foyer, past the lengthy bar, thence even to the restaurant proper, where my hostess tarried not in her coming but led me at once to a private booth, a booth facing one of the establishment's numerous sports-devoted television sets. ("Hmm," I reflected, "Looks like a nice venue for watching Monday Night football with one's fellow Redskins fans. Unfortunately, however, that team seems to be doing lousy so far this season.")

Then, directing my attention to the cheerily proffered bill of fare, I canvassed the menu for the obligatory bar-side snacks, which sure enough included Tortilla chips "with all your favorite toppings," Quesadillas with jack cheese and pico de gallo, and Fried Oysters, with cocktail sauce and lemon. Then, turning to the salads, I was gratified to find more than 10 separate options, including House Salad, Caesar Salad and Spinach Salad, plus several apparent "meals in themselves," including Chicken Salad, Tuna Salad, and Cobb Salad (the latter "topped with poached chicken, bacon, bleu cheese, tomatoes, cucumbers and egg"). Turning at last to the entrees (notwithstanding my preexisting preference for the strip steak), I found a wonderful Crab Cake Platter with backfin and lump crab meat, Stuffed Chicken "with Laverne's homemade cornbread," and BBQ Shrimp, featuring five of those skewered maritime goodies over rice. (As if this menu didn't already constitute a veritable "blueprint for satiety," I was to later learn that there's a Sunday Brunch, too, featuring Breakfast Entrees like Eggs Benedict, waffles, and pancakes, a basket of muffins, and access to an "unlimited dessert bar.")

True to plan, however, I soon found myself going to work on a medium-well-done strip steak topped with grilled onions and mushrooms (a steak, by the way, that was actually cooked to order here, unlike at those restaurants where they send you back a live cow anytime you order anything less than "well done"). The 8-ounce entree came with a small house salad (for which I was pleased to see that they had Thousand Islands dressing among others), a string-beany vegetable dish (cooked al dente), and a biggie-sized dollop of garlic mashed potatoes (which rated high on the all-important fluff-o-meter). And so, resolving to leave a more-than-adequate tip for my pleasant waitress, I made quick work of the meal before me, while silently speculating on the future of this restaurant, which, as I understood, had just been bought by one John McManus, who had big plans: indeed, he's already added the street-side dining to which I alluded in paragraph one, and the restaurant Web site promises "a real outdoor deck" in 2003. So thinking, I determined to end the favorable review that I was now planning to write by admonishing my readers not simply to visit the Broad Street Grill, but to visit the New Broad Street Grill here at 132 W. Broad Street.

132 West Broad Street, Falls Church, VA 22046, PH 703-534-8120 -- MAP




Cafe RenaissanceItalianFrench
163 Glyndon St., Vienna, VA 22180, PH 703-938-3311 -- MAP

Cafe TattiFrench
6627 Old Dominion Dr., McLean, VA 22101, PH 703-790-5164 -- MAP

Coyote Grille & CantinaMexicanAmerican
Main Street MarketPlace, 10266 Main Street, Fairfax, VA 22030, PH 703-591-0006 -- MAP

Clarendon GrillAmerican
1101 N. Highland St., Arlington VA, 22201, PH 703-524-7455 -- MAP

Crystal ThaiThai
Arlington Forest Shopping Center, 4819 Arlington Boulevard (At Park Dr.), Arlington, VA 22203, PH 703-522-1311 -- MAP




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DAKS GrillDAKS GrillAmericanJuly 31, 2003, 2:00 P.M.: Donning my trusty nose-and-mustache disguise lest anyone recognize me for the gadabout food critic that I've become of late , I anonymously enter the small foyer of this cozy family restaurant-cum-nightspot (open till 2 AM Monday-Saturday) and wend my way to the correspondingly small dining room by means of a dim but handsomely appointed hallway, with antique mirrors, flower arrangements, and old wine bottles. Arriving at a low archway, my equally anonymous guests and I poke our heads into the establishment's main serving area -- a cheery rectangular room whose reddish-brown wallpaper, oaken tables, and small, ornate chandeliers evoked (for me, at any rate) a Spanish Colonial ambience. Fortunately, our craning necks were spotted instantly by a smiling hostess, who tarried not in her coming, but guided us quickly to a wall-side table. "Can I get you something to drink?" she asks, as the three of us accept our large (and, as it would turn out, extensive) menus from the outstretched hands of our affable server. As it was mid-afternoon, however, and we all had sober business to attend to after dining, we somewhat uninventively requested iced tea all the way around (which, mind you, it was great iced tea, though, as far as iced tea goes).

Left with my guests to contemplate the menu, I intimated my desire to order an appetizer (as I was treating, of course, so I didn't want them to consider me a cheapskate): "How about these buffalo wings with chilled celery stalks?" I chirped, "Or perhaps these potato wedges stuffed with cheddar cheese, bacon bits, and green onions? (Hmm, friends?) Or maybe this chicken quesadilla with sautéed mushrooms in melted cheddar cheese." Tempted but time-conscious, my guests concluded that an appetizer wouldn't be prudent; however, I did convince one of them to join me in ordering a house salad full of shredded carrots, sliced cucumbers and homemade croutons. These preliminary decisions out of the way, we turned our attention to the wide variety of entrees, including "overstuffed" sandwiches, numerous chicken dishes, and hand-cut steaks. "Hmm," I reflect, "suppose I have the Pork Chops 'coated with cajun spices and grilled to perfection'?" Recognizing this as the hypothetical question that it was (albeit a hypothetical question that I was to answer in the affirmative when our friendly waitress returned), my guests responded by advising me of their own choices: namely, the Cajun Shrimp Pasta with linguine (with diced tomatoes, green onions, and garlic bread) and Daks' Famous Too Big Burger (10 ounces of beef with a choice of two toppings on a home-baked Kaiser roll).

Having duly ordered the aforementioned smorgasbord, we proceeded to gab about the customary trifles ("How has the world been treating you?" -- that sort of thing) ere the waitress returned with our mid-afternoon dinner -- with which, I'm pleased to report, we were all highly gratified. Sadly however, those time considerations I mentioned dissuaded us from topping off the meal with one of the place's extravagant-sounding desserts, like the Caramel Apple Granny with toffee-studded custard and shortbread crust, or the French silk pie with chocolate mousse and whipped cream -- neither could we find time for the Big Blitz with Snicker(tm) Bar Pie with its peanuts and buttery caramel on a purportedly flaky crust. We did however unanimously resolve to return to this unpretentious and friendly restaurant on Columbia Pike on the next convenient occasion, preferably a day when we're all just a little less busy and could therefore accompany our meal with a carafe of house wine (chablis, blush, or burgundy) -- if not the Moet & Chandon from France to prove once and for all that I'm no skinflint, thank you very much. And so, with our anonymity apparently intact, we rose from our chairs and retraced our way through the handsomely appointed hallway, into the foyer, thence even to the small parking lot in front of the establishment.

"Mission accomplished," I thought to myself, as I considered that I now had ample material with which to write the review that you are reading now. "Mind you," I added silently, "I should also tell my readers that Daks has a bar and lounge with a fireplace around which the locals have been gathering since 1990 when the establishment first opened here in Falls Church -- that, plus the fact that the area has since been blessed with two additional Daks: namely, the one in Mount Vernon and the one in Dale City. Oh, and I mustn't forget to mention the framed artistic renderings of the two aristocratic-looking dogs in the foyer, whom I jokingly referred to as 'Dak and his brother Zak' on the way in." (My guests found that bon mot of mine extremely diverting, by the way: They were like, "Dak and Zak? Ha ha ha!")

5838 Columbia Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041, PH 703-820-3333 -- MAP



Da Vinci's Family RestaurantGreek
Barcroft Shopping Center, 6347 Columbia Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041, PH 703-916-1147 -- MAP

Dante RistoranteItalian
1148 Walker Road, Great Falls, VA 22066, PH 703-759-3131 -- MAP

Duangrat's Thai RestaurantThai
5878 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041, PH 703-820-5775 -- MAP



Duck ChangsDuck Chang'sChineseSeptember 16, 2003, 1:30 P.M.: As I trotted expectantly up to the door of this Annandale landmark, already licking my lips over the pork with plum sauce that I had resolved to order (not to mention the spare rib appetizer that I had set my heart on), I asked myself how a restaurant gets a name like Duck Chang's in the first place. Then, getting no answer from myself, I recalled the eatery's web site explanation according to which General Manager Peter Chang had been nicknamed "Duck Chang" on account of his excellent Peking Duck: hence the restaurant name would have been a no-brainer when the place opened in 1975: Peter would call it Duck Chang's and that was that. Nor was the so-called "Duck Man" to regret that decision, for the place has been in business ever since, attracting both celebrities and the hoi polloi, winning over a decade's worth of awards from Washingtonian Magazine, and ultimately being joined by a sister restaurant in Alexandria called simply the "Peking Duck." (Peter knows from Peking Duck, having invented a 6-hour cooking method for the bird whose preparation locally had formerly taken 24 hours, so that now, as the Web site boasts, "you can order Peking Duck anytime as long as Duck Chang's is open!!! ")

Taking my place at one of the white-draped tablecloths in the cozy dining room (ahh! here I was at last, at the famous Duck Chang's!), I pored over the ample menu with a view toward sharing its contents with my readers -- which, fat chance, considering it would take all day. Nevertheless, I concluded that a summary of dishes might still be attempted; hence I was to ultimately pen the following synopsis:

Appetizers include egg rolls, fried won-tons, and sesame shrimp; soups include asparagus, chicken corn and duck bone; chef suggestions feature "bang bang" beef, shrimp pepperada, and pork with chili peppers; and house dinners (for two, three, and four people, respectively) include cha dumpling, mongolian style beef with scallions, and beef with mushrooms and snow peas. Plus, there were the obligatory combo platters for money- and time-conscious working stiffs like yours truly: chicken with almonds, Buddhist Delight, duck meat with bean sprouts.... all for under $10 a person, including egg roll, fried rice, and soup (egg drop, wonton, or hot and sour). And rest assured that Duck Chang's boasts all the oriental mainstays, such as sweet-and-sour pork, orange beef, and moo goo gai pan.

Gratified by the menu's variety and modest prices, I yet held true to my original resolution and ordered the pork with plum sauce with an appetizer of four spare ribs -- which, mm-mm! Moreover, I resolved to visit the sister restaurant (Peking Duck) in Alexandria on the first possible occasion, since any restaurant of Peter Chang's would henceforth be a restaurant of mine (As in yum-yum, babe! Yum-yum!) Besides, hadn't the service been friendly and prompt? (Um...yes!) And hadn't the cashier herself given me a seemingly heartfelt smile? (Um...yes!) Well, okay then, there's nothing more to say -- except perhaps that this Annandale eatery (off of John Marr Road near route 236) is open only six days a week, so be so good as to eat somewhere else on Monday's, okay? Oh, yeah, and there's no smoking allowed, but if you absolutely HAVE to smoke (which, you shouldn't, of course, but suit yourself) then visit the sister restaurant instead, where they've reserved a section for the devil-may-care likes of you. Fair enough? (All rightie, then.)

4427 John Marr Drive, Annandale VA 22003, PH 703-941-9400 -- MAP





Ecco CafeItalian
220 North Lee Street, Alexandria, VA 22314, PH 703-684-0321 -- MAP


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Hama SushiJapanese
2415-B2 Centreville Road, Herndon, VA 22071, PH 703-713-0088 -- MAP




Harvest MoonHarvest MoonChineseJuly 17, 2003, 1:45 P.M.: Disguised as a typical lunch customer, I enter the unprepossessing brick edifice on Arlington Boulevard across from Loehman's Plaza (where I had lunched just last week, by the way, at the Sign of the Whale. Remember? I got the Jamaican Chicken?) Greeted with unexpected promptness by a smiling and formally clad waiter, I am escorted from the ample foyer into a long, wide dining room that appears somehow to be larger than the very building that contains it. "Hmm," I reflect. "1:45 PM and there's still a big lunch crowd. Moreover, there's apparently a private party of fancily dressed patrons seated about a large round table in the back of this long mirror-lined banquet hall." Encouraged by these signs of the restaurant's popularity, I betake myself to the waiting table whither the smiling waiter has directed me and then, Washington Post in hand, seat myself while answering affirmatively to my host's question: "Buffet Luncheon, sir?" (You betcha: especially as it's only $5.95 and features "40 items plus soup!")

1:48 Revolted by the apparently senseless coup in Sao Tome and Principe (another military junta playing "King of the Hill" in Africa), I disgustedly push my newspaper aside to make way for the newly arrived egg drop soup, prepatory to sallying forth to the buffet proper. Having found the appetizer to my liking (which is to say thick and therefore tasty -- for if there's one thing I can't stand, it's watery egg drop soup) I rise inconspicuously from my seat and march over to the awaiting entrees, which as it turned out included a tender General Tso's Chicken, Peking Shredded Pork in a sweet plum sauce, and white rice that, despite the relatively late hour, was still hot and moist. Loading plate number one with these and related offerings, I return to my mirror-side table and set to work on the food before me. "Tasty," I reflect, while noticing with approval that the wait staff has refilled my glass of water in my absence and removed the empty bowl of soup.

1:58 Now the final test: Will the waiter bring me my check promptly once I push back my third and final plate and lean back in my chair in evident satiety?

1:59 Yes! My check IS promptly delivered along with the obligatory fortune cookie. "That's what I'm talkin' about," I say to myself. "I like a wait staff that doesn't keep me waiting during a workday lunch visit like this! " And so thinking, I set an appropriately generous tip beside the now-ravaged plate of Moo Goo Gai Pan and rise from the table with my depressing newspaper, resolving to obtain a to-go menu on the way out so that I can end this review with more useful facts about the Harvest Moon Restaurant. For instance, I'll soon learn that the buffet of which I wrote is available every weekday between 11:30 and 2 PM; that the restaurant itself is open every day until 10 PM; and that the dinner specialties include Tea Smoked Duck, Tung Ting Shrimp, and Crispy Prawns with Walnuts. In addition, the menu with which I'll exit the place will admonish me that there's a Moon Glow Lounge on-site that can accommodate private parties of up to 600 people! (So that's what that large room was that was hidden behind the wooden partition with the dark glass windowpanes! Wow! As if the restaurant weren't big enough already!)

7260 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church, VA 22042, PH 703-573-6000 -- MAP


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Joe Theismann's RestaurantAmerican
1800 Diagonal Road, Alexandria, VA 22314, PH 703-739-0777 -- MAP




King Street BluesKing Street BluesAmericanJuly 1, 2003, 12:38 P.M.: Trying hard to appear like a normal person rather than a restaurant critic, I show up at King Street Blues on North Saint Asaph Street to case the joint for ambience and food. Enthusiastically welcomed in turn by three separate employees (Good afternoon! How am I doing today? Can they get me something to drink?), I betake myself to one of the round blue wooden tables on the first floor and browse the "Roadside Traditions" in the extensive menu. Torn between the Honey Pepper Chicken and the Southern Fried Catfish, I nonetheless do an "about face" at the last minute and order the Slab City Ribs: "House-smoked, pork back ribs mopped with mahogany BBQ sauce, served with coleslaw, Carter's 'Cool Beans,' and cornbread."

12:45 P.M.: Dutifully forking sweet strips of pork into my webmaster mouth, I find leisure to observe the atmosphere about me: "Hmm," I reflect, "There's a generally happy crowd of locals here, both at the bar and at the up- and downstairs tables. Moreover, the place is cheery with its bright-blue balustrade, its cozy dimensions, and its walls tastefully covered with bluesy bric-a-brac: witness the picture of the horn-blowing porkers playing at the night club full of real party 'animals.' No wonder this restaurant, as the menu says, has 'been written about in The Washington Post... and The New York Times.'" So thinking, I put my eyes back in my head and set to work in good earnest on my meal.

12:55 P.M.: Having dispatched the ribs, I mentally canvass the propriety of ordering the Cool Lemonade Pie for dessert, but as time (and my waistline) is pressing, I simply settle my bill and thank the hostess for a great meal. A new arrival, a family of four, makes a beeline for the second floor dining area as I rise discreetly from my round blue table. (Fortunately, no one seems to have recognized me as an undercover restaurant critic!) The toddler boy goes on before, scaling the wooden steps in monkey fashion. "Hmm," I consider, "this is both a bar and a family place. And no wonder: the price range is reasonable, the service is great, and the ambience, like the ribs, is sweeeeeeet." And so thinking, I return to the sidewalk on Asaph Street, along which, of course, I might have eventually found a parking space (who knows?), but I had opted instead to sink $2.00 at the commercial lot at the nearby corner of Asaph and Cameron. (Hey, listen, this is a busy part of town!)

112 N. St. Asaph St., Alexandria, VA 22314, PH 703-836-8800 -- MAP
1648 Crystal Square Arcade, Arlington, VA 22202, PH 703-415-2583 -- MAP





L'Auberge Chez FrancoisFrench
332 Springvale Road, Great Falls, VA 22066, PH 703-759-3800 -- MAP

La BergerieFrench
218 North Lee St, Alexandria, VA 22314, PH 703-683-1007 -- MAP

Le CanardFrench
132 Branch Rd., Vienna, VA 22180, PH 703-281-0070 -- MAP


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Majestic CafeAmerican
911 King St., Alexandria, VA 22314, PH 703-837-9117 -- MAP

Mama's Italian RestaurantItalian
9715 Lee Highway, Fairfax, VA 22031, PH 703-385-2646 -- MAP

Melting PotAmerican
1110 North Glebe Road, Arlington, VA 22201, PH 703-243-4490 -- MAP

MEHAKIndian
7716 Lee Highway, Falls Church, VA 22042, PH 703-573-8076 -- MAP


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Paradiso Ristorante & NightclubItalian
6124 Franconia Road, Alexandria, VA 22310, PH 703-922-6222 -- MAP

Pat Troy's Ireland's OwnIrish
111 N. Pitt Street, Alexandria, VA 22314, PH 703-549-4535 -- MAP

Paya ThaiThai
8417 Old Courthouse Rd., Vienna, VA 22182, PH 703-883-3881 -- MAP

Peking DuckChinese
7531 Richmond Highway, Alexandria, VA 22306, PH 703-768-2774 -- MAP



Peking Gourmet InnPeking Gourmet InnChineseJuly 9, 2003, 12:38 P.M.: Masquerading as a typical lunch customer, I follow one of the ever-helpful waitpersons (female in this case, should some politically incorrect reader find the distinction significant) to my booth beside the autographed picture of General Selzer, which upon inspection I find to be inscribed with favorable comments about the Peking Duck ("Better than the Peking Duck in Peking...." raves the martial patron with a flourish of a thick black pen). Recognizing however that the duck in question would set me back $34.00 (sufferin' succotash!), I bethink myself of the economical luncheon special that I customarily order while dining at this Falls Church landmark: namely, the pork with plum sauce, which comes with the soup of my choice (egg drop for me, thanks, not the hot and sour), plus an ample serving of white rice, one hot, plump egg roll, and hot tea, followed, I need hardly add, by the eternal fortune cookie.

12:48 P.M.: Having duly ordered the above-described combination platter, I scan the menu in a bid to fathom the oriental eclecticism of the place. "Hmm," I reflect, "their chef specials include Walnut Chicken, Lamb with Spring Onion, and Hong Kong Style Lobster. Nor does the menu slight such traditional favorites as Jade Chicken, Orange Beef, and Sweet and Sour Pork. And check out this stir-fry with garlic sprouts -- grown from their own farm, if you please, under the scientific supervision of one Robert F.P. Tsui, Ph.D. Very impressive." While so musing, the formally attired waitperson sets a bowl of egg-drop soup before my person, bidding me "enjoy." Startled by this sudden but by-no-means unwelcome interruption, I compose myself just in time to say "thank you" and then return to browsing my menu, this time while intermittently conveying tablespoons of thick soup to my pursed lips (pursed for the purpose of blowing cool air over my apéritif, you understand, on account of the soup was nice and hot as usual!)

12:55 Setting to work on the newly arrived pork with plum sauce (which they serve with a dish of sweet garlic sauce on the side, and God love them for it -- for the sauce, I mean, not the fact that it's on the side!), I stare about me at the hundreds of pictures of generally military bigwigs on the bamboo-trimmed walls of the long narrow establishment. "Popular place," I consider. "Moreover, I seem to recall that ex-President Bush used to dine here back in the late eighties." So thinking, I resolve to include those facts in the restaurant write-up I was to pen later that day, namely the review that you are reading right now. I briefly even consider taking out my pen and writing down some of the monikers of the rich and famous on the walls, in order to drop more big names in said review; but, fearing lest such a display of interest would blow my cover as a "typical lunch customer," I keep my hands busy with the task at hand: namely eating the Peking Gourmet Inn's wonderful pork with plum sauce, which I hereby recommend to all and sundry, along with the establishment from which it came (one restaurant under obviously great management, with Lemon Chicken and Juo Yen Shrimp for all).

6029 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, Virginia 22041, PH 703-671-8088 -- MAP




Preet Palace Indian CuisineIndian
14112 Lee Highway, Centreville, Va 20120, PH 703-815-4500 -- MAP

Ristorante BonarotiItalian
428 E. Maple Avenue, Vienna, VA 22180, PH 703-281-7550 -- MAP


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Sakoontra Thai RestaurantThai
12300-C Price Club Plaza, Fairfax, VA 22030, PH 703-818-8886 -- MAP

Santa Fe EastAmericanMexican
110 South Pitt St., Alexandria, VA 22314, PH 703-548-6900 -- MAP

Savio's Italian Restaurant and BarItalian
516 South Van Dorn Street, Alexandria, VA 22304, PH 703-212-9651 -- MAP



Sign of the WhaleAmerican July 11 , 2003, 12:05 P.M.: Disguised as a normal lunch customer (and not some high-falutin restaurant critic), I insinuate my lissome frame into the wood-paneled coziness of the Sign of the Whale, ready to evaluate this Fairfax County night-spot as to food and atmosphere. My lissome frame is promptly greeted by a friendly hostess who bids me sit at an attractively prepared table across from the bar. Happy to comply, I lay claim to the indicated seat and glance about me at the cheery environment, the spotless green table cloths, the attentive wait staff, and the whale-bestenciled glass in the oaken wall betwixt me and the female bartender (the friendliness of whose occasionally overheard banter persuaded me of her ample qualifications for the job at hand). "Very nice," I reflect. "And I hear they have live music here on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night, too."

Roused from these reflections by the advent of the informally clad (indeed, shorts-wearing) waiter, I order a Coke and begin my perusal of the ample menu. True to its maritime moniker, I find that the restaurant features a good assortment of seafood appetizers (notably BBQ Shrimp and backfin crab with melted Jack Cheese) and sundry seaworthy meals (including Clam Basket, Sea Scallops, and the interesting-sounding Fried Mariner's Platter: as in "One Fried Mariner, coming right up!") Tacking over to the "turf" portion of the menu, I come alongside hamburgers with names like "The Captain Ahab" (with bacon, Bleu cheese and mushroom gravy) and the "Second Mate Stubb," (featuring Swiss, guacamole, and cucumber). Then, weighing anchor for the "Grill" section, I come alongside two landlubber classics: Black Angus Strip Steak (center-cut 10-ounce strip) and Cowboy Chicken ("rubbed with herbs and spices, topped with sautéed mushrooms and onions.")

Short on time, however, and determined to play the skinflint (hey, some people around here don't buy enough books through my Web site; otherwise I'd be the first to order that Mariner's Platter to which I alluded!), I ultimately request the special of the day, which was Jamaican Chicken, it being a Thursday. Nor did I regret my choice when my shorts-clad waiter arrived tableside with a large, hot plate of spicily blackened chicken atop a bed of fried and carrot-besprinkled rice. "Now, this is what I'm talkin' about," I say to myself, as I set to work on the dish and its accompanying crisp salad with blue cheese. "I can't wait till I get home and write this place up favorably on my Web page!" Which I ultimately did, of course, for when I finally re-insinuated my lissome frame into the great outdoors, I was highly gratified both as to the food and the atmosphere of this Fairfax County night-spot.

7279 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church, VA 22042, PH 703-573-1616 -- MAP




Squire Rockwell'sAmerican
8700 Little River Turnpike, Annandale, VA 22003, PH 703-560-3600 -- MAP

Stardust Restaurant and LoungeAmerican
608 Montgomery Street, Alexandria,VA 22314, PH 703-548-9864 -- MAP

Sushi-ZenJapanese
2457 North Harrison Street, Arlington, VA 22207, PH 703-534-6000 -- MAP

TGIF Friday'sAmerican
multiple area locations, see website for directions




Tempo RestaurantTempo RestaurantFrenchAItalianugust 11, 2003, 2:00 P.M.: I entered this 13-year-old establishment on Duke Street with misgivings, being totally unaware of the price range on the menu therein (a topic upon which I had found no Web site that was willing to speculate), but, reflecting that an undercover restaurant critic's job is inherently dangerous, I marched stalwartly on behind my smiling hostess to my assigned table, resolving to ignore my qualms for the moment, at least until I had an opportunity to peruse the menu. Sure, the sunny, window-lined dining room looked ritzy enough with its impeccably set white table cloths, and its patrons evinced a smartness of dress that bespoke some measure of affluence. Moreover, I had recently learned that the restaurant had been judged "excellent" by "Toronto Life" magazine in 2000. Still, there was no need to jump to conclusions about pricing, the more so in that I was visiting for lunch, a time when even rich folks might expect to profit from the traditional price break given the local working class, with a view toward earning their routine midday patronage. In any case, I need not have worried, for the majority of the Italian and French entrees from which I was to ultimately choose turned out to be inoffensively priced, many under $10.

After apologetically advising my waiter that I'd start with "just a Coke," the formally clad server identified the soup du jour -- bean with ham -- and noted that all meals came with either soup or salad. Thanking him for this economic good news, I began to study the menu in earnest, where I quickly identified three major categories of entree: 1) Pastas like Capelli d'Angelo Napoletana and Cavatelli Amatriciana; 2) Seafood such as Sole Amandine and Coquilles Anna; and 3) Meat dishes, including Medaillon de Boeuf au Roquefort and Steak Diablo. (I settled on the Beef Bourgignon, as it happened, in wine sauce with cute little snippets of cooked carrot. Aww!) And although I had previously opted to forgo the hors d'oeuvres on behalf of the circular integrity of my waistline, I was gratified to learn, if only for future reference, that this latter category included Calamari Salada, Salmon Gravlax, and Carpacio ("sliced tenderloin on a bed of garlic vinaigrette, capers, and Parmesan"). Mind you, I couldn't resist the desserts (which alexandriacity.com calls "unmatched in the metropolitan area"). I was tempted by the Tiramisu, coaxed by the Cheesecake, and almost hooked by the Hazelnut St. Honore -- until I discovered a menu insert for the seasonal Peach Melba and I knew I had found my true love. (For the record, I went with soup instead of salad.)

The reasonable prices notwithstanding, I pessimistically readied two 20s to settle my bill, only to find that one Andrew Jackson alone would acquit me of my obligations for lunch, tip included. Pleasantly surprised and still smacking my figurative lips over the sweet syrup in which that ice-cream-topped peach had been dipped, I rose from my wall-side table and traipsed contentedly through the room full of casually clad diners, many of whom I now pegged as local yokels on account of their gossipy conversations full of regional scuttlebutt and their quaint habit of addressing the waiters by first names (Aww, once again!). Back inside my car in the ample and private parking lot, I found myself silently agreeing with the Tempo Restaurant's self-description on their home page: The place was, indeed, "elegant, but unpretentious." As for being "Alexandria's best kept secret," however, that may be changing, I reflected, for I've heard that reservations are strongly recommended for dinner. Granted, the lunch tables had been little more than half full during my visit, but then I was dining at 2:00 P.M., just a half-hour before closing time, when the staff begins preparing for its nightly prime-time performance from 5:30-10:00 (till 9:00 on Sundays). At any rate, I now resolved to share this "best kept secret" with my readers when I next updated my Northern Virginia restaurant page (which, of course, I've just done) admonishing them to visit the Tempo Restaurant, too, on account of its delicious (and yes, reasonably priced) food.





Thai LuangThai
171 Elden Street, Herndon, VA 22314, PH 703-478-2233 -- MAP

Thaiphoon RestaurantThai
1301 South Joyce Street, Arlington, VA 22202, PH 703-413-8200 -- MAP

Tokyo Japanese Steak HouseJapanese
66 Canal Center Plaza, Alexandria, VA 22314, PH 703-683-8878 -- MAP


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WharfWharfAmericanJuly 23 , 2003, 2:05 P.M.: Stunned beyond words to have found a two-hour parking space right in front of Alexandria City Hall (I must have read the sign five times to make sure there wasn't some catch -- even then I was occasionally looking behind me as I walked down the street to today's targeted eating establishment, half expecting to see a tow truck pull up and drag my car away, if only through force of habit on its part) I waltzed into the Wharf Restaurant on King Street near the waterfront in a happy (but still incredulous) daze. The welcoming hostess, perhaps ascribing my lingering uncertainty to my status as a first-time customer, confronted me reassuringly with the time-honored query: "Smoking or non-smoking?" Ever the health nut, I opted for a non-smoking table and was thus directed to the back of the narrow oaken-lined establishment, where yet another waitperson promptly inquired my intentions with regard to the beverage menu. Would I like some wine, perhaps, or a vodka or gin? (No, thank her, as it was only 2:00 in the afternoon, although I was certainly tempted by the extensive list of malt scotches and single-barrel bourbons: like the song says, after all, "It's 5:00 somewhere.")

Remarking favorably on the dim and cozy nautical setting, which I later learned dated back to the Civil War (a setting in which Queequeg himself might have felt at home, albeit slightly out of his price range), I turned my attention to the menu entrées as the casually clad crowd about me sawed away merrily at their crab legs and whatnot in an atmosphere of low-key elegance. "Hmm," I reflect: Southern Fried Catfish, Broiled Deep Sea Scallops, Maryland Fried Oysters, and Stuffed Chesapeake Flounder.... All the usual maritime suspects, in short, plus the obligatory whole lobster for which one must ask for a daily price quote. Then, glancing meaningfully at the appetizers (would I or wouldn't I?), I discover topneck clams on the half shell, corn-fried select oysters, and the time-honored shrimp cocktail with four (count 'em: four!) Jumbo Shrimp. Finally, I suffered my eyes to fall on the Dessert menu, (even though I really "didn't dare" thanks both to time and waistline considerations): Key Lime Chess Pie, Mixed Berry Crème Brulée, and Traditional Chocolate Cheesecake with fresh strawberries in their own grand marnier strawberry sauce! Decisions, decisions, decisions!

Still fearing for the safety of my incredibly parked car, however, I resolved to forgo both appetizer and dessert and order the lump crab cake luncheon special, at least partly on the theory that it would be delivered more promptly than some of the more exotic dishes (like, say, the admittedly tempting-sounding East Coast Cioppini, with its half of a Maine Lobster, Shrimp, Scallops, Littleneck Clams, etc., etc.). Nor did I regret my choice, which indeed arrived promptly enough, with its delicious crab meat, its tender fries (optional cole slaw and rice) and a House Salad with Garlic Mustard Dressing. Mind you, I hated to leave without an appetizer and dessert, but I really did want to check on my car. (You don't know how unusual it is to find street-side parking at this hour of the day in Olde Towne, Alexandria -- there had to be a catch!) Not that you'll have any problem parking, but you will want to keep in mind the locations of the nearby garages, lest you eternally circle this seafood restaurant like the Flying Dutchman. Not everyone will find a place right in front of City Hall, after all. And so by all means, set sail for the Wharf, but plan to dock your car at one of the following ports in the storm of local traffic:

Parking Garage locations, as recommended by the Wharf Restaurant website:

--Behind the 100 Block of King Street
--at the corner of King and Fairfax Streets
--at the corner of Queen and Union Streets

119 King Street, Alexandria, VA 22314, PH 703-836-2836 -- MAP



Whitlow's on WilsonAmerican
2854 Wilson Blvd, Clarendon, VA 22201, PH 703-276-9693 -- MAP







Links

--ACVA Fun: Dining Guide "The Fun Side of the Potomac
--Alexandria, Virginia, Area Fine Dining






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Books About Virginia Restaurants




Of course, if we're talking about the bestest bestest restaurant in all of Virginia, we might want to mention the Trellis Restaurant in Colonial Williamsburg under the deft onion-slicing tutelage of the award-winning Marcel Desaulniers. (Ah, the award-winning Marcel Desaulniers!) But lest you can't betake yourself to the actual restaurant in short order, any cook worth his salt can make some of the chef's simple but sophisticated recipes at home. At least that's the premise behind this popular 400-page book at Amazon.com, the Trellis Cookbook. Recipes include: Curried Apple and Onion Soup, Smoked Catfish with Country Ham, and Braised Tenderloin of Beef with Mushrooms, Raisins, Figs and (sigh...) Red Wine.


Speaking of Maurice Desaulniers, guess who's president of the Virginia Chefs Association? That's right: Maurice himself. (What a busy fellow!) In fact, in 1987, he published a book on their behalf entitled, "The Great Chefs of Virginia Cookbook." This illustrated tome tastefully demonstrates the eclectic and multicultural nature of Old Dominion fare through almost 200 recipes from contemporary Virginia chefs, including Jonathan Zearfoss (also of The Trellis) and Paul Elbling (of La Petite France in Richmond).

Yes, Virginia, now you can impress your friends at the next dinner party with real local fare: Imagine your guests' surprise when you waltz out into the dining room with a gleaming tureen full of Williamsburg Inn Chilled Shrimp and Crab! And just wait till they realize that that's merely an appetizer, and that you'll be back soon with Grilled Lamb Chops with Jalapeno-Mint Butter! And when you finally appear with that dessert plate full of truffle brownie cakes, your culinary reputation will be assured!


For those of us who like to take our appetites on the road (guilty as charged, your honor!), Blacksburger Joanne Anderson has published Small-Town Restaurants in Virginia, a delicious dossier of Old Dominion restaurants, featuring price range, menus, and cuisine styles from 240 establishments in 150 towns. Restaurants reviewed include the Dip Dog in Marion, the Poney Pines in Chincoteague, and the landmark Lowery's in Tappahannock on Route 17 ("since 1938") where yours truly can personally vouch for the Prime Rib dinner special, including two vegetables, hot rolls, and lemon chess pie. (Why not get a nice fresh garden salad with that, too? And yes, they do have thousand islands dressing, thank you very much, unlike some restaurants around here! Humph!)

Culinary Secrets of Great Virginia Chefs edited by Martha Hollis Robinson: These culinary secrets are so hush-hush that I can't even find a decent review of this book on the Internet (just a bunch of hopeful links from webmasters like myself back to the relevant page at Amazon.com!) However, I did happen upon one no-doubt representative recipe from the book in question -- Flounder Paupiettes by Anthony Conte, pastry chef at the Country Club of Virginia in Richmond -- wherein we learn that "Flounder...becomes an elegant entree when rolled and stuffed with a mouthwatering crabmeat and scallop farce." (Hey, you're preachin' to the converted here!) Besides that, I can merely pass along the following apparently declassified information from the terse book summary at Amazon.com: the book is 343 pages long, contains over 200 recipes from Virginia's best chefs, and was published in 1995 by Rutledge Hill Press.


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