restaurant

More Live Entertainment Coming to Clarendon?

By ARLnow.com

Bands, karaoke, DJs and other forms of live entertainment may soon be coming to two Clarendon restaurants.

Mad Rose Tavern (3100 Clarendon Blvd) and Mexicali Blues (2933 Wilson Blvd) both have live entertainment permit applications that are scheduled to be considered by the County Board this weekend. County staff has recommended that both applications be approved.

Mad Rose Tavern is asking for permission to host bands and karaoke between 9:00 p.m. and 1:30 a.m. Thursday through Saturday and between 9:00 p.m. and 12:30 a.m. Sunday through Wednesday. The restaurant is also asking for permission to erect an additional street-facing sign — but the Board is expected to defer that request until its December meeting.

Mexicali Blue is similarly asking for permission to host bands, karaoke and DJs. Since the restaurant is located on the corner of a residential street, however, its managers have agreed to additional time restrictions. Mexicali is asking for amplified music between 10:00 p.m. and 12:30 a.m. on Fridays and Saturday, and acoustic music from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. seven days a week.

While staff is recommending that Mexicali’s request be approved, it’s not without a bit of controversy. The Clarendon-Courthouse Civic Association complained in an email to the county that representatives from the restaurant declined to meet with the civic association. CCCA also expressed concern about the proposed live entertainment hours — ultimately expressing opposition to the permit request.

Numerous Garfield Street neighbors, however, signed on to a petition in support of the request.

Mexicali Blues held a live entertainment permit from 2003 to 2010, but it was discontinued due to lack of use. The permit restricted live entertainment to three nights per week, for no more than two hours at a time, and limited it to “primarily acoustic” music.

“The applicant’s current request would expand the intensity of live entertainment at the site by allowing acoustic music during ‘happy hour’ on weekdays, and by allowing amplified music on weekends for slightly longer than two hours,” county staff noted. “Staff believes that with the proposed conditions, there will be no undue impact to adjacent neighborhoods. Staff is recommending a short adadministrative review to monitor the operation of live entertainment.”

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Norwood Found Guilty of Murder — A Montgomery County jury has found Brittany Norwood guilty of the brutal murder of Rosslyn resident Jayna Murray. Murray was found beaten and stabbed to death in a Bethesda Lululemon yoga store in March. [ABC 7]

Cain Accused of Sexual Harassment in Crystal City — Republican presidential frontrunner Herman Cain has been facing accusations that he sexually harassed female employees while serving as head of the National Restaurant Association. The latest accuser alleges that one incident of harassment happened at an (unnamed) restaurant in Crystal City. [Politico]

‘Puzzle Fest’ This Weekend — Arlington Public Library is hosting its first-ever Arlington Puzzle Festival on Saturday. From 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Central Library (1015 N. Quincy Street) puzzle enthusiasts can compete in crossword and Sudoku tournaments. There will also be speakers and a scavenger hunt. [Library Blog]

Flickr pool photo by Maryva2

South Block Smoothie to Add Espresso, Change Menu

By Katie Pyzyk

(Updated at 10:35 p.m. on 10/27/11) South Block Smoothie and Wrap Co. (3011 11th St. N.) in Clarendon is adding to its list of offerings.

South Block’s new espresso machine just arrived today (Oct. 26), and the eatery plans on serving coffee drinks brewed with Intelligentsia Black Cat Espresso starting in November.

A manager tells ARLnow.com that the staff and atmosphere at the newly opened shop will remain the same, but owner Amir Mostafavi is tweaking the menu. In addition to serving coffee drinks, certain menu items — like Boar’s Head deli meat paninis — will be added.

There’s no specific launch date for the coffee bar and changed menu, but apparently it’s going to happen “sometime before Thanksgiving.”

New Management Revamps Toscana Grill

By Katie Pyzyk

Updated at 6:10 p.m. The name remains the same, but just about everything else has changed at Toscana Grill.

The restaurant in the Courthouse Metro Plaza (2300 Clarendon Blvd.) has completely revamped. From appearance, to management and staff, to menu, Toscana Grill wants to make a new name for itself.

The new management abandoned the vegetarian menu, and now offers a variety of options for lovers of both meat and meatless dishes.

Operating Partner Joe Smith said, “You’ve always got plenty of vegetarian options in Italian cooking, so there’s plenty of variety.”

The switch happened in July and the restaurant has slowly been getting into a groove since then. Smith said the business needed many improvements, which can sometimes seem overwhelming. But he points out it’s important to focus on the overall goal and not become bogged down by everything that needs fixing.

The restaurant’s new focus is on making food in the classic Italian style. Smith, who moved to the area nearly seven years ago, claims to be a product of his New Jersey training. He aims to provide an experience he doesn’t believe can be found at any other Italian restaurants in the area.

Loyal customers are building up, and Smith says part of his enjoyment of running the restaurant is meeting all the patrons.

“I’m not sure if it’s this area or something,” he said, “but we have the best guests.”

While the atmosphere has become more casual, staff members work hard to ensure service isn’t lacking. Smith says he wants everyone who visits not only to enjoy high quality food, but also to have a good time.

He said, “We’re working hard, the food is great. Come say hi to Joe.”

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Changes on Tap at Harry’s in Clarendon — Harry’s Tap Room (2800 Clarendon Blvd) is getting a new name and some new food. Renovations at the Clarendon restaurant are expected to begin later this month. When it reopens three weeks later, it will be re-branded as “Market Tavern” and will have a revised food focus. [Bisnow]

Discount on Signature Theater Tickets — Shirlington’s award-winning Signature Theater is offering 15 percent off tickets at the Signature box office when theater-goers present their library card. Two new Signature productions, A Second Chance and Hairspray, will start next month. [Arlington Public Library]

Housing for the Homeless — This week volunteers canvased the streets of Arlington in an effort to identify the 100 most vulnerable homeless individuals in the county. Part of the 100 Homes campaign, the results of the survey will be used to determine which chronically homeless persons will be moved to permanent housing. Findings from the surveys are being presented today to elected officials and to the public. [Washington Examiner, 100 Homes Arlington]

Flickr pool photo by divaknevil

Rabbit to Launch Late Night Grill in Clarendon

By ARLnow.com

Rabbit Salad and Grill (3035 Clarendon Blvd) will be bringing a couple of new options to Clarendon’s late night food scene this week.

The restaurant, a newcomer to the area, will be launching a late night outdoor grill dubbed the “Rabbit Hole.” From the restaurant’s patio, employees will be serving three “grilled to order” sandwiches: The Cuban (braised pork shoulder, deli ham, dill pickles, mozzarella and Dijon aioli), Classic Grilled Cheese (American and sharp cheddar cheese), and Nutella and Banana (sweet hazelnut spread and a hint of cocoa and slice bananas).

“All three standout sandwiches are served on fresh artisanal breads from a local bakery and offered at a discounted price: $8 for the Cuban and $6 for both the Nutella & Banana and Grilled Cheese sandwiches,” the restaurant said in a press release. “With recipes inspired by Consulting Chef Katsuya Fukushima, an Iron Chef winner, as well as one of celebrity Chef José Andrés most trusted collaborators, “Rabbit Hole” is sure to satisfy any late-night hunger pangs.”

The Rabbit Hole will be open from 11:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. on Friday and Saturday evenings, starting this coming Friday.

Among the Rabbit Hole’s late night food competitors will be Goody’s (pizza), Mario’s (pizza and subs), BGR: The Burger Joint (burgers and shakes), East West Grill (kabobs), Hard Times Cafe (chili, wings, burgers, etc.) and Silver Diner. Each of those Clarendon-area restaurants has a closing time between 2:00 and 4:00 a.m.

Arlington Missing from WaPo Dining Guide

By ARLnow.com

For the second year in a row, Arlington is conspicuously missing from Washington Post food critic Tom Sietsema’s fall dining guide.

The only Arlington connections on the annual list of 40 restaurants are mini-chains Pete’s New Haven Style Apizza and Jaleo, which have Clarendon and Crystal City locations respectively — though one wouldn’t know it since the dining guide lists the location of each as “Washington, DC.”

In contrast to Arlington’s goose egg, neighboring jurisdictions Alexandria and Fall Church have three restaurants apiece in this year’s dining guide.

Arlington County, which has seen a boom of new restaurants in the past couple of years, was similarly snubbed in Sietsema’s 2010 Fall Dining Guide. Eventide (Clarendon) and Ray’s the Steaks (Courthouse) both made it on the 2009 Fall Dining Guide.

Video: Pupatella Neapolitan Pizzeria

By ARLnow.com

The county-run Arlington Virginia Network’s “Food For Thought” program recently visited Pupatella Neapolitan Pizzeria (5104 Wilson Blvd), in the Bluemont neighborhood (just west of Ballston).

Owner Enzo Algarme, donning sunglasses and a bright orange fedora, explained to host Katie Greenan how Pupatella make pizza that tastes like it came straight from Naples, Italy.

Men Arrested, Accused of Stealing Used Cooking Oil

By ARLnow.com

Arlington County police have arrested two men in connection with a string of biofuel thefts.

Police say the thefts started in March 2011. Used cooking oil that was awaiting collection was stolen from at least four restaurants, police say.

“The waste cooking oil from restaurants is converted into clean burning biodiesel fuel,” police sad in a statement. “Biodiesel is an alternative to petroleum diesel that can be used in any diesel engine. Typically these oil thieves steal from restaurants and no one notices until the normal collection company arrives to pick up the product.”

“Theft has become a major issue in the restaurant cooking oil collections industry, due to the increase of its value from the evolving biodiesel market,” the statement continued. “Police departments in the region are becoming more involved to remedy this problem.”

Police say they arrested 36-year-old Fa De Zheng of Oxon Hill, Md. and 38-year-old Ming Gang Lu of New York City on Friday, Oct. 7, as they were attempting to siphon oil from a deposit at Ballston Common Mall. The pair is charged with Grand Larceny, Grand Larceny with the Intent to Sell, Possession of Burglarious Tools and Destruction of Property.

Anyone with additional information about the case is asked to call Det. Paul Marseilles at 703-228-4237 or email [email protected].

Restaurant Three Gears Up for Bacon Week

By ARLnow.com

The third annual Week ‘O’ Bacon at Restaurant Three (2950 Clarendon Blvd) is set to get started tomorrow.

From Thursday to Saturday, Oct. 22, the Clarendon restaurant will be devoting an entire menu to its in-house cured and smoked bacon. Among the items on the menu:

  • Bacon on a stick
  • Bacon cheese dip with bacon-dusted potato chips
  • Wedge salad with bacon bits
  • Bacon noodle soup
  • Bacon-crusted chicken wings
  • Country fried bacon with mashed potatoes and bacon gravy
  • Pork loin wrapped with pulled pork and bacon. Also comes with bacon and cornbread stuffing and beer-braised bacon Brussels sprouts.
  • Bacon-studded waffle with maple bacon ice cream
  • Bacon Martini and a Bacon Bloody Mary (both with bacon-infused vodka and a bacon garnish)

The bacon festivities will kick off tomorrow at 5:00 p.m. with a pig roast and $5 pork sandwiches. Each night of bacon week will feature a bacon happy hour from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., complete with bacon specials. Sunday’s brunch will feature a Bacon Benedict and the “Graceland Waffle” — a bacon waffle topped with caramelized bananas and a caramel/peanut sauce.

“We love bacon here at 3, and decided 3 years ago that we wanted to make a week-long celebration of bacon and dedicate an entire menu to it,” the restaurant said on its web site. “We have been curing and smoking fresh pork bellies since we opened and are really proud of the bacon we make. We worked hard on this year’s menu to make sure that every item was full of bacon flavor. We hope that you enjoy it and have as much fun as we have had creating it.”

Three’s Week ‘O’ Bacon is popular among locals, but it has even gained nationwide notoriety thanks to a Travel Channel segment filmed at the restaurant last year.

Shirlington Restaurant Week Starts Monday

By Katie Pyzyk

(Updated at 7:35 p.m.) Right on the heels of tomorrow’s Capitol City Brewing Company 2011 Oktoberfest at Shirlington, another event in that neighborhood touts good eats and good prices.  The first annual Restaurant Week at The Village at Shirlington begins on Monday.

Prices are considerably lower than neighboring cities’ restaurant weeks. Lunch includes two courses for $15 and dinner includes three courses for $25.

The following restaurants have listed their menus for the event, which runs from Monday, October 10, through next Sunday, October 16:  Aladdin’s Eatery, Aroma Indian Cuisine, Bistro Bistro, Bonsai Grill, The Bungalow, Busboys & Poets, Capitol City Brewing Company, Dogma Bakery & Boutique, Extra Virgin Modern Italian Cuisine, Johnny Rockets, Luna Grill & Diner, PING and Samuel Beckett’s Irish Gastro Pub.

To coincide with Restaurant Week, there will be an event on Thursday geared toward ladies. During Shirlie’s Girls Night Out many of the businesses will offer discounts and specials like cocktails while you shop.  The participating stores and eateries are: Ah Love Oil & Vinegar, CakeLove, Capitol City Brewing Company, Dogma Bakery & Boutique, Extra Virgin Modern Italian, Hardwood Artisans, Le Village Marche, Nirvana Reflexology, Periwinkle, Signature Theatre, Studio Salon & Spa and T.H.A.I. Shirlington.

Times for the specials vary by business, but most start at 5:00 p.m.

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