restaurant

Crime Report: Rosslyn Robbery Foiled By Lack of Cash

By ARLnow.com

Two men tried to rob a fast food restaurant in Rosslyn last Thursday night.

According to police, the armed men demanded cash, but fled the scene after they were told that the restaurant had no money. From this week’s Arlington County crime report:

ATTEMPTED ROBBERY, 09/12/13, 1700 block of N. Lynn Street. At 10:46 pm on September 12, two subjects attempted to rob a fast food establishment at gunpoint after hours as employees were cleaning. The subjects fled the scene on foot when they were told there was no money. The suspects were described as black males, wearing all black clothing and masks.

The rest of the crime report, after the jump. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

(more…)

Restaurant Talk: How To Be A Regular

By Nick Freshman

Restaurant Talk is an occasional feature written by Nick Freshman, a native Arlingtonian and co-owner of Spider Kelly’s and Eventide Restaurant in Clarendon. Photos added by ARLnow.com.

The bar at Spider Kelly's, before openingI’ve seen this question come up a lot in other online forums, and we also get it in person at the bar from time to time: You like a place, it seems to fit you, and you wonder how you get to be recognized.

The truth is, it’s pretty easy. Each place is different, and some are frankly not interested in you being a regular — they’re too busy or they just don’t care — but most bars and bartenders love their regulars.

To that end, I offer a few easy tips. If they seem like common sense, that’s because they are — there’s no secret password or handshake. Well, maybe at some of the speakeasies in the city, but you’re on your own there.

  • Be nice. Yep, that’s it. Be friendly, patient if it is called for, and use basic courteous language. It’s a sad statement about our society that being nice often causes you to stand out, but it does. Customer service is a tough business, and bartenders have to endure a lot of people that forgot all the rules we learned in kindergarten.
  • Come often. I know, you don’t feel like you’re learning anything here, right? Again, it’s basic. You have to show up to be recognized. Not every day, but once a week or so is good enough for a good bartender to easily remember what you like to drink and where you like to sit. Also, and this is important, you can’t only come when it’s packed. When there are 400 people in the place, all surging to the bar, the bartender doesn’t have any time to get to know you.
  • Tip generously. Feel like you know all this already? Great, you’re perfectly qualified to be a regular, so come sidle up to the bar and get started. Honestly though, bartenders work for tips, so you’ve got to show some love when you pay your tab. I don’t mean 50%, but if you had a good experience, maybe even got a free cocktail, and you leave only 15%, the bartender probably won’t make space at the bar for you the next time you come in. (See “How to Tip,” below, after the jump.)

Five Ways To Never Be A Regular

This part could be even more helpful, and it comes to you by popular request. Popular request from bartenders across Arlington, that is. Remember that for the most part, bartenders love their job and love taking care of you, but as I said earlier, a lot of people forgot what they learned in Kindergarten.

  • No touching. Keep your hands to yourself, even if you’re just trying to get their attention.
  • No yelling. That also includes whistling, slapping the bar and — the most condescending of all moves — snapping your fingers. The bartenders will get to you, they are not ignoring you. Please be patient.
  • No fighting. Crazy that I have to write this, right? Just relax. If someone bumps you or says hello to your girlfriend, take a deep breath and chill out. Fighting is the best way to not be welcome at the bar. In fact, it will get you instantly banned from Spider Kelly’s.
  • Put your phone down. When it’s your turn, just put your phone down. The call or the text can wait, but the bartender won’t. It’s just basic courtesy. I see this at coffee shops all the time, and it makes me nuts.

(more…)

Dogs Now Welcome at 27 Arlington Restaurants

By Ethan Rothstein

Doggie dining placard (photo via Arlington County)Arlington County has given the go-ahead to 27 restaurants and cafes to host dogs in outdoor dining areas.

The restaurants were approved for variance permits to allow dogs, in a program first announced in April, according to the county’s Public Health Division. Previously, it was against county code to allow pets to hang out in all restaurant dining areas.

“Public Health staff has worked closely with restaurants to ensure that the restaurants’ operating plans comply with all health and safety requirements, and staff will continue to work with restaurants on an ongoing basis,” the county said in a press release. It “is left to the restaurants with variances to decide which outdoor tables are reserved for patrons with dogs.”

Below is the list of restaurants approved for canine dining:

  • American Seafood
  • Arlington Capital View Renaissance & Residence Inn
  • Arlington Capital View Renaissance – Illy
  • Asia Bistro
  • California Pizza Kitchen
  • California Tortilla (Crystal City)
  • Chasin’ Tails
  • Elevation Burger
  • Faccia Luna
  • House of Steep
  • Jay’s Saloon & Grille
  • La Côte D’Or Café
  • Lyon Hall
  • Mexicali Blues Restaurant & Bar
  • Nando’s Peri Peri
  • Rappahannock Coffee
  • Rhodeside Grill
  • Rockland BBQ and Grill
  • Saigon Saigon
  • Samuel Beckett’s Irish Pub
  • Sine Irish Pub & Restaurant
  • Thai at Corner Restaurant
  • THAI Shirlington
  • The Green Turtle
  • The Liberty Tavern
  • William Jeffrey’s Tavern
  • World of Beer

(more…)

Cupcakes to Return to FatShorty’s

By ARLnow.com

Fat Shorty'sRed Velvet cupcakes are coming to Clarendon sausage-and-beer eatery FatShorty’s (3035 Clarendon Blvd).

Cupcakes disappeared from the restaurant when it was converted from Rabbit Salad and Grill to FatShorty’s earlier this year. Aaron Gordon, who owns FatShorty’s and the Red Velvet chain, says cupcakes are returning due to customer demand.

“We found that so many people came back to FatShorty’s asking for Red Velvet that we had to bring it back,” he said.

The cupcakes are slated to be offered starting on Wednesday, Sept. 4. Red Velvet cupcakes will be sold “alongside Fatshorty’s in the same way we did with Rabbit,” Gordon said.

FatShorty’s and Red Velvet will maintain the same hours. Brian Scott, the restaurant’s Director of Operations, says eight cupcake varieties will be offered.

“We will feature our 8 most popular flavors… Red Velvet, Vanilla Bean, Devil’s Food, Peanut Butter Cup, Cookie’s and Cream, Carrot Cake, Black Velvet (Gluten free and Vegan) and our weekly feature cupcake,” he said.

Break-Ins at Dunkin’ Donuts

By ARLnow.com

Break-in at Dunkin' Donuts in Courthouse Break-in at Dunkin' Donuts in Courthouse

Two Arlington Dunkin’ Donuts stores were broken into overnight.

The Courthouse and Cherrydale Dunkin’ Donuts locations, on the 2200 block of Wilson Blvd and the 3500 block of Lee Highway, were closed this morning while police investigated the crime.

According to Arlington County Police Department spokesman Dustin Sternbeck, two suspects forced entry to the restaurants via the front door, then broke into the cash register and took cash. The store safe was tampered with, but was not opened, Sternbeck said.

Police are currently reviewing surveillance footage as part of the investigation.

Hat tip to Bill Everingham

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Oktoberfest beers on the shelves of the Harris Teeter store in Pentagon City as of 8/1/13

Concern Over License Plate Readers — Automated License Plate Readers, or LPRs, are mounted on Arlington County Police cruisers, allowing cops to see instantly if a car driving by is stolen or if its owner is wanted. The police department also stores the data collected by the LPRs for six months, to aid in investigations. The American Civil Liberties Union, however, is concerned about the data storage, saying police departments are “storing everybody’s time, place, and location.” [Voice of America]

Meat Returns to Galaxy Hut — Nine months after switching to an all-vegetarian menu, Galaxy Hut in Clarendon is again offering bacon, pulled pork, beef chili and other meat dishes. While veggie dishes will still be offered, owner Lary Hoffman blames lack of sales for his decision to ditch the vegetarian-only menu. [Washington Post]

No More Playboy at the Pentagon — Army and Air Force Exchange stores, which operate at the Pentagon and Fort Myer, among other military installations, have stopped carrying a third of its magazine collection. Among the magazines no longer available, due to declining interest, are Playboy, Penthouse and American Curves. [Sun Gazette]

NewsChannel 8 to Be National Model — Sinclair Broadcast Group, which is buying WJLA, plans to use NewsChannel 8, the station’s 24-hour local cable news channel, as a model for markets across the country. Sinclair will create a “hybrid” channel that airs local news produced by local stations and national news produced by WJLA. [Baltimore Sun]

Mobility Lab Wins Award — Arlington County’s “start-up think-tank,” Mobility Lab, has won a top award from the Association for Commuter Transportation. Mobility Lab “researches and creates solutions for transportation options that are cool, healthy, fun, and efficient.” [Arlington County]

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Tree in Bluemont Park covered in Kudzu (photo by Dennis Dimick)

Claim: County Erroneously Booted Car — A D.C. resident named Rebecca Jones says she parked her car at her fiance’s private residence in Arlington and was surprised to come back from a trip and find it booted. The county claimed she owed nearly $4,000 in unpaid taxes but, Jones says, later admitted that the enforcement computer system targeted her car only based on name association with a different Rebecca Jones. [Sun Gazette]

Arlington Native Makes ‘Most Beautiful’ List — Arlington native Carolyn Walser, 28, has made The Hill newspaper’s annual 50 Most Beautiful People list. Walser, a Democrat, is a scheduler for Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) was a staffer for the former Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.). [The Hill]

Military Appreciation Night at Chick-fil-A — On Saturday, from 3:30 to 7:00 p.m., the Chick-fil-A restaurant at 2200 Crystal Drive in Crystal City will hold a Military Appreciation Night. Active and former military personnel and their immediate family members are eligible for free food and drink with valid identification. [Facebook]

Flickr pool photo by Ddimick

Ray’s Hell Burger Kicked to the Curb

By ARLnow.com
1/3

Equipment and furnishings from the former Ray’s Hell Burger and Ray’s Hell Burger Too restaurants in Rosslyn have been removed and placed in the parking lot of the Colonial Village Shopping Center.

The move is part of an on-going dispute between restaurateur Michael Landrum and the shopping center’s owner. Both restaurants closed in January after the landlord locked Landrum and his staff out, alleging unpaid bills.

Landrum has since directed diners seeking his famous burgers across the street, to his Ray’s to the Third restaurant at 1650 Wilson Blvd. But the kitchen equipment, tables, chairs and other accoutrements remained in the two shuttered restaurants, at 1713 and 1725 Wilson Blvd.

This morning, the landlord began removing the contents of the restaurants and placing it in the parking lot. Landrum, who otherwise declined comment citing ongoing litigation — he’s suing the shopping center in Arlington Circuit Court — said most of the equipment will be donated.

“The majority of this equipment we’re going to donate to either the Boys and Girls Club or a church or non-profit that deals with feeding the homeless and the hungry,” Landrum said.

Shopping center owner Ominex could not be reached for comment. In February, Washingtonian reported that both storefronts were being offered for lease. It’s unclear if any new tenants have been signed.

Audrey Batcheller contributed to this report

Heat Leads To Temporary District Taco Closure

By Ethan Rothstein

District Taco on Lee HighwayDistrict Taco’s location at 5723 Lee Highway had to shut down Tuesday after the heat caused its air conditioning to break.

The restaurant reopened Wednesday morning with temporary A/C units, District Taco owner Osiris Hoil said in an email. The county’s health department told the restaurant to close Tuesday after it was determined that food was being stored in an environment that was too warm.

“The A/C was a contributing factor, but not the reason for closure,” said Department of Human Services spokesman Kurt Larrick. “With the A/C not working, the refrigerator was overburdened and wasn’t able to keep the food cool enough.”

Hoil said he had already submitted plans to the county for approval to install a permanent replacement for the air conditioning unit. Temperatures reached 96 degrees Tuesday afternoon in Arlington, according to Weather.com.

“We couldn’t work and it was not safe for our food to be exposed in the restaurant,” Hoil said in an email. “So we had to transfer everything at our commissary where we have the toritos (taco stands) because we do have a lot of refrigeration there.”

During Wednesday’s lunch rush, the previous day’s shutdown did not seem to have an adverse effect. The restaurant crowded and warm, as the temporary A/C units struggled to keep the crowded space cool.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Sunset over the Orange Line

Next County Manager To Be Arlington Resident? — A majority of County Board members would like the next county manager to be from Arlington. “Residing in the locality would make someone aware, in a more personal way,” County Board Walter Tejada told the Sun Gazette. But, “our first priority has to be [getting] the best-quality person.” Current county manager Barbara Donnellan lives in Fairfax County. [Sun Gazette]

Hard Times To Get Exclusive Starr Hill Brew — Hard Times Cafe will soon be serving a new brew — Hard Times Craft Lager. The beer is is the result of an exclusive partnership between the restaurant and the Virginia-based brewery. Hard Times’ 17 D.C.-area locations, including its spot in Clarendon, will all offer the beer, starting around the end of the month. [Washington Business Journal]

Video Laments Union Jack’s Closing — Some enterprising local videomaker has created a YouTube video to mourn the closing of Union Jack’s in Ballston. The video is done in the style of the “Hitler Reacts To…” meme. Note that the video contains explicit subtitles and is not safe for work. [YouTube – NSFW]

Bike Lane Boxes Suggested For Arlington — A cyclist who commutes from Washington, D.C., to Arlington every day took note of a bike-friendly feature that can be found on roads in New York City: bike boxes that allow cyclists to stop closer to an intersection on red than cars. Bike boxes could work here in Arlington, writes Brendan Casey, a business development manager at Arlington Transportation Partners.”If Arlington could implement bike boxes, cyclists could get a safe and legal head start on car traffic and build up momentum before cars are on their tails,” Casey writes. [Arlington Transportation Partners]

Flickr pool photo by Wolfkann

New Restaurant to Replace Baja Fresh, Zpizza in Rosslyn?

By ARLnow.com

Baja Fresh in RosslynAre Baja Fresh and Zpizza in Rosslyn slated to close? That seems to be the suggestion from an item that’s set to be voted on by the Arlington County Board next weekend.

Monday Properties, the owner of 1100 Wilson Blvd, is asking the Board for permission to extend the outdoor cafe seating in front of both restaurants further out into the public right-of-way. The new sidewalk cafe will be about 732 square feet. County staff has recommended the Board approve the request.

In a staff report, it’s revealed that Monday is planning to combine the two restaurant spaces into one, larger space.

“The proposed outdoor seating area will be adjacent to a future restaurant, which will be located in the spaces previously occupied by Baja Fresh and Zpizza,” staff wrote. “The applicant plans to combine two restaurant spaces… to create a new restaurant space of approximately 3,750 square feet.”

It’s unclear what exactly will happen to Baja Fresh and Zpizza. No mention is made of which restaurant is proposed for the combined space.

Zpizza was not open today. A manager at Baja Fresh told us that he was not aware of the proposal, but said that the restaurant’s lease is up in November.

View More Stories