seasoned pros
Also Still Cookin’ Anthony’s Restaurant Founded in 1972, this family-owned Falls Church diner turns out gyros, spaghetti, subs, breakfast and big desserts. anthonysrestaurantva.com Bob & Edith’s Diner Known for its classic diner fare, the Arlington institution that opened on Columbia Pike in 1969 now has six Virginia locations, most of which are open 24 hours. bobandedithsdiner.com Carlyle Anchoring the Village at Shirlington since 1986, this new American bistro is the OG of Great American Restaurants’ local empire. carlyleva.com Crystal Thai The kitchen of this homey eatery in the Arlington Forest Shopping Center has been turning out traditional Thai curries and noodle dishes since 1990. Duangrat’s Ed and Pookie Duangrat’s Bailey’s Crossroads business started in 1981 as a Thai grocery store and later became a DMV destination for elegant Thai cuisine. The second floor is now home to One Night in Bangkok, a streetfood eatery with a retro ’80s vibe. duangrats.com El Pollo Rico Opened in 1998 in Virginia Square, the legendary Peruvian chicken joint was featured in a 2009 episode of Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations on The Travel Channel. elpollorico.com
Mario’s Pizza House This no-frills, late-night Virginia Square eatery has been cooking up subs, wings and pizza since 1957. mariospizzahousemenu.com Pistone’s Italian Inn A Falls Church favorite for antipasto, piccata, lasagne and veal ragu since 1972. pistoneitalianinn.com Quarterdeck Maryland steamed crabs are the main attraction at this circa 1979 seafood spot in Fort Myer Heights. quarterdeckarlington.com Rocco’s Italian Since 1977, this McLean trattoria has been serving hearty portions of chicken parm, spaghetti with red sauce and other family recipes alongside carafes of chianti. roccositalian.com Rocklands Barbeque and Grilling Co. Pitmaster John Snedden launched his first barbecue joint in D.C.’s Glover Park in 1990. The Arlington outpost on Washington Boulevard has been a go-to for smoked ribs, chicken, pulled pork and brisket since 2007. rocklands.com Two Chefs Pizza A family-owned Greek diner serving pizza, breakfast, subs and souvlaki in Arlington’s Bluemont neighborhood since 1984. 2chefspizza.com Weenie Beenie Seemingly trapped in time, this onetime drive-in near Shirlington has been dishing up hot dogs, half smokes, breakfast and barbecue since 1954. Foo Fighters frontman and NoVA native Dave Grohl named a song after it. weeniebeenie.net
102 May/June 2024 ■ ArlingtonMagazine.com
Crystal City Sports Pub Open since 1994 Thirty years ago, three friends and college classmates from Mount St. Mary’s University in Maryland decided to open a sports bar. The owner of a hardware store on Crystal City’s 23rd Street was closing up shop and asked the trio—Bill Bayne, Art Dougherty and Jim Madden— if they wanted to take over the lease. They jumped at the chance. Bayne already owned a nearby strip club (the Crystal City Restaurant and Gentlemen’s Club, which had started out as Arlington Luncheon when his father opened it in 1963), so the location just up the street was hard to beat.
ADOBE STOCK (SPOON); MICHAEL VENTURA (PORTRAIT)
■