Metro 29 Diner: Ooey Gooey French Toast

Metro 29 Diner: French Toast

A craving for french toast last Sunday left us stumped, but multiple google searches--validated by a friend's recommendation--revealed that Metro 29 Diner is known for its Challah bread varietal.  Recently visited by the bleach-blonde, brash, Food Network Guy Fieri on his Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, Metro 29 is a classic no-frills Greek diner on Arlington's Lee Highway.  Its penguin-suited waitstaff  promptly serve up grub behind a bar backed by cases full of towering cakes.

Despite the Internet accolades, I was slightly hesitant to go back to Metro 29. Past brunch visits disappointed with heavy, heavy, heavy options, including an egg white omelet that practically necessitated a nap...I could not imagine the side effects of the whole egg varietal. On another trip, some forgettable pancakes were accompanied by the environmentally unfriendly and wholly unorganic Smucker's individual serving syrup.  And then there was the time we asked about the fresh squeezed orange juice, labeled as such on the menu, and saw a waiter pouring a glass of "not-from-concentrate" orange juice right out of a Tropicana carton.  This claim is a stretch at best and blatant false advertising at worst.

But despite these flaws, the french toast lived up to the hype and is worth the trip.  The indulgent slices of housemade challah are dipped in an egg bath and served hot off the grill.  The crispy exterior yields to a warm, gooey center with hints of custard, cinnamon, and vanilla.  For $9, two slices come topped with a mountain of your favorite breakfast meat, which in my case is crispy, greasy bacon. 

The crowds on weekends can be overwhelming, but if you are a party of one or two, you can usually snag a seat at the small counter to the left side of the hostess stand without having to wait.  Service is brisk, efficient, and at some junctures friendly.  And like any good diner experience, you have to pay at the counter following your meal. 

Munching at the Movies: Arlington Cinema N Drafthouse

Arlington Cinema N Drafthouse

I am not normally a movie snacker.  With the exception of the occasional $5 Diet Coke, I hardly ever consume the sugar infused, mass-produced array of over-priced, over-sized standard movie-fare.  But the Arlington Cinema and Drafthouse presents a different opportunity, with waiter service and a menu that claim to be a step up -- albeit a small one in some cases -- from your average theatre. Food options range from pizza to chicken fingers to salmon (!).  The beer selection rivals other local bars with pitchers of some dozen rotating craft brews available for around $20.

It took us Arlingtonians five years to finally give this place a try. Walking in is like stepping into (so I imagine) a 1970s lounge, with orange vinyl swivel chairs and carpeted wall art. Groovy...but I think it's only retro due to not receiving a makeover since then, and therefore is not the cleanest establishment.

Our sever made it very clear from the beginning that food will come out at varying times, so don't even think about complaining about pacing. The reason: people are seated at the same time, by virtue of this being a movie theatre and not a standard restaurant.  Got that?  Good.  But just in case you didn't, the menu, the movie screen, and your servers will remind you. And should you need your server's attention, simply put up your table-tent sign.

Taken on its own, the food is not great (in some cases really bad), but the experience is so much fun, and the beer free flowing that it is easy to overlook the food.  The nachos are topped with that cheez-whiz like substance reminiscent of the kind I used to enjoy with friends while scoping the crowd at the roller skating rink back in Worcester, MA.  Yes, I was that cool!  And while I hate to admit it, on this past trip, I enjoyed this nostalgia that came gratis with the overpriced nachos.

Arlington Cinema N Drafthouse: Chicken Finger Basket

The chicken fingers were probably the best food selection of the night.  Likely frozen, but nicely fried, crisp and juicy, and available with a zesty buffalo sauce. The pizza was doughy and awash in a not-so-flavorful cheese.  And we were not brave enough to try the salmon, so I can't comment on that one.

Is this going to be a world class culinary experience?  Nope.  Can the food anywhere near compete with other Arlington bars?  Unlikely.  But it does make for a really fun evening and a great cold January night out. Though I think for our next trip, we may eat beforehand and stick to the beer.  And while an affordable excursion with movie tickets at only $5.50 -- speaking from experience -- it is easy to run up quite the tab!

Bayou Bakery Brings NOLA to Arlington Courthouse

Let the good times roll!  Bayou Bakery is at last open in none other than my 'hood, Courthouse in Arlington. Well, almost open.  This morning they hosted a soft opening in which the majority of their menu was available gratis, accepting donations for Best Buddies. I suppose the idea behind the concept is that it allows guests to experience a taste of what Bayou has to offer, and alleviates some the pressure on the staff, all while contributing to a good cause.  I thought it was a great idea and they will be doing the same on Monday, November 22nd.

I am almost giddy and B is over the moon as Bayou Bakery brings the classics of his college city to Courthouse.  Bayou offers breakfast (and let's face it, the all day goodness) of beignets and chicory coffee by Counter Culture.  Lunch and dinner selections include Gumbo, Po' Boys and Muffulettas.  Beer and wine are available, including Abita Amber on tap.

The space is surprisingly light filled with New Orleans accents laced throughout -- fleur de lis, alligators, street cars -- oh my!  Iced tea (sweetened or unsweetened) is served in mason chars and the air is filled with New Orleans music, but at a volume suitable for conversation.

Bayou Bakery: Gumbo

At $4 a cup, the Gumbo was almost as transportive as a trip to the Big Easy, with a subtle heat and thick, Gumbo Shop base.

Bayou Bakery: Muffuletta

Not quite Central Grocery clone, albeit a more manageable portion, the "muffa-lotta" has a zesty tapanade and includes the addition of Virginia black forest ham.

Bayou Bakery: Beignets

At $3 for 3 beignets and all that powdered sugar goodness, I am worried about the proximity of my house to these fried treats.  Cafe Du Monde they are not, but they are the closest I have had outside of New Orleans.

Yes, there are some quirks.  The Camille's sign of the former occupant of the space on the corner of N. Courthouse Road has not been removed.  The baristas are still getting into the groove.  But so far I am both impressed and excited about this addition to the neighborhood.  Last year at this time, we were in New Orleans, and this year no trip, but still a taste of the Big Easy.

Fall Dining Guide Leads to Eating Around DC's First Bite of BGR

I always look forward to the Washington Post's Fall Dining Guide with a bit of trepidation because I fear that the new "it" place(s) will soon be overrun.  My type-A personality even carries over to dining guides (sad, but true).  So while I pride myself on knowing the ins and outs of DC dining, I am always overwhelmed by the newcomers I have yet to try, and some classic establishments (including Obelisk), that I still have not made it to. 

So with Tom's guide in hand via the Saturday early edition of Sunday's Post, I made quick use of it by trying BGR: The Burger Joint within hours of my initial read. With five locations, B and I opted for the closest one on Lee Highway, next to the always bustling Italian Store

BGR does a brisk Saturday lunch business, which allowed us some time to decide on our strategy to navigate the many menu options. We were a bit overwhelmed with the burger selections--should we go for the classic hamburger (with hormone free, grain fed beef), the Greek lamb burger, or the lobster one?--all of which are cooked to order.  We both opted for the classic burgers, me with the works including a spicy Mojo sauce and B with bacon and blue cheese.  The burgers were well seasoned, the fresh-made brioche bun was delicious and soaked in the juices, and there was nothing to complain about the toppings (caramelized onions, tomatoes, lettuce).  My only minor complaint is that the exterior of my burger (full disclosure: ordered medium well) was a bit too charred.

And while we enjoyed the burgers, the best part of this lunch was not the meat but the sides.  The thick cut, ridicoulously over-sized onion rings were almost sweet, and by far the best I have had in the area if not anywhere.  The double-fried yukon gold French Fries don't look like much, but their flavor and crunch combination worked perfectly.

What really seems to make BGR stand out is the quality of each and every ingredient.  It is the complete burger-joint package.  BGR soars well above Five Guys, and the sides trump Ray's Hellburger.  But as for the burgers themselves, I prefer Desperados (on U) and B is a Ray's Hellburger fanatic. 

BGR also offers milkshakes, which will no doubt draw me back.  That and an order of onion rings sounds like a pretty swell combination.

Quality does not come cheap; two burgers, one side of fires, one side of onion rings, and a diet coke, totaled $28!

One Dining Guide destination down, many, many more to go!

Falling for Fireworks

Fireworks had me at hello. Well, more accurately, as I reported last week, hello, how about I try one of the 32 beers on tap?  But after a return visit this past week for dinner, I realize that I may be falling hard for this newcomer.

Why?  First, their outdoor patio is huge, quiet, and comfortable fronting Courthouse Plaza and set back from Clarendon Boulevard.  The outdoor space will soon have a fire pit and table once they get it re-tiled or so they tell me.  Second, the service is excellent, with knowledgeable friendly servers who really knew their stuff from the beer to the food to the restaurant's story. Third, the pizza, is really good--dare I say bordering on excellent.

I ventured out this past week with a friend to try the food.  We started by sharing the smokey blue cheese risotto balls.  If there was a weak point of the meal, this was it.  While the balls were tasty, with a smokey, creamy center of blue cheese, they could have benefited from an additional crunch--perhaps a few more minutes in the fryer, and a bit more bacon, which was too sparse.  The garlic cream sauce underneath was lacking flavor, resulting in a soggy, unappealing underside.

But, oh my, the pizza! I understand from talking to the floor manager that Fireworks aims to be the best wood fired pizza place in the area, and if my experience is any indication they are well on their way.  I opted for the RT, named for a brewer at Allagash.  This pizza's pesto base was covered with roasted peppers, goat cheese, spinach, and salami.  The crust had a nice crunch and chewiness; the ample toppings, which I thought might overwhelm or cancel each other out, worked well.  Not a traditional choice, but I loved it.

My friend and I had wanted to try the mixed berry cobbler, but they were out.  We went instead with the hot cookie sundae.  This was a Cheesecake Factory-style larger than life dessert, but it delivered on the promise of a gooey, hot cookie and was suitable for sharing.  Perhaps the best part was the pairing of the Brooklyn Brown Ale that my server suggested.

And at least on my visit, I was not the only one impressed with Fireworks.  I overheard the couple at the table next to me also complimenting the server on their margarita pizza.

This is a casual dinner spot with prices to match--around $11 for a small pizza and $17 for a large.  For more details on the happy hour food and beer steals, check out my original Fireworks post.

Fireworks: Courthouse's own Church Key?

No. But now that I have your attention, let me say that our dear home Courthouse recently got what could be the next best thing beer-wise with the recent opening of Fireworks. Showcasing wood-fired pizzas, this Arlington restaurant, reportedly owned by two brothers, is its second--the original is way outside the beltway in Leesburg. Its craft beer selection of over 30 on tap varieties, all available in traditional and tasting sizes, competes only with Lyon Hall in this neighborhood.

This afternoon B and I popped in for a drink at the bar, and discovered confusingly worded (but quite the steal) happy hour specials, which are available from 4 - 6:30 on weekdays. Their "5 for 3 Special," only available at the bar, is simply this: five selected beers at $3 each (save Miller Lite, which is $2), and five of the 10" inch pizzas for $5.  The Abita Purple Haze on tap was effervescent and fresh, as was B's Stoudt Pils, a beer we have never seen before.  Additionally, though now only available if you bring your own, they will soon sell growlers of all of their tap beers.  Despite the signs indicating growlers were available, our kind bartender informed us they need to get a sanitizing machine (no idea) before they can sell the actual growler bottles themselves.

If nothing else, I am thrilled that despite being in a Marriott Residence Inn (which, by the way, also has a strange outdoor fountain which would seem more appropriate in the U.S. Southwest than in Arlington) that my neighborhood has this type of craft beer bar.

As for the pizzas, we did not eat, but our bar perch was directly in front of the wood-fired oven, and what was coming out did not look consistent.  Some crusts looked perfectly charred, others spongy and barely cooked.  But I will reserve all judgment until I actually try it.  As for now my sure recommendation is to go for the beer selection.  I'm going to give the kitchen time to work out kinks, but if anyone tries their pizza, please let me know what you think!

Heavy on the Testosterone, but Good Beer and Great Wings

Thirsty Bernie’s is a gastropub located in a nondescript strip mall in Arlington on Lee Highway. So right away you are probably thinking, why would you go there? That makes two of us, but read on.

The answer this past Wednesday was that B wanted bar food and beer in big mugs, a request he does not make often, so we headed to this man enclave for happy hour with minor protests from me.

Having been there before for lunch, I originally found the food--full well knowing that they craft their own sausages and breads, to be the heart-attack on a plate variety and not all that spectacular. But B has been several times since and insistent that it was worth a return visit. And in thinking about it, who could not use a 23 ounce mug of craft beer on a Wednesday?!

In entering Thirsty Bernie’s it took all I had not to turn right around and leave. It was filled with some of the worst of suburbia: beer-gutted middle-aged men talking too loudly and already slurring their words at 6:30. Nice. I rolled my eyes several times, questioned B as to why it was that we were here again, and reluctantly sat down.

The beer selections are heavy on European varietals, but include rotating specials which this past week including Kona’s Longboard Lager and New York's Hennepin. The aforementioned mugs are $2 off during happy hour from 4 - 7pm  ($5 and $7 respectively) and the beer is served at an appropriate temperature.

Before I get to the food, two comments on atmosphere and service:

1. If you are going to be a man-cave bar with dark wood, lots of beer, flat-screen sports-showing TVs, and blown-up pictures of football players on the walls, you need to think of your music choices. Taylor Swift’s "Romeo and Juliet" as the backdrop to the crowd I mentioned above was just plain bizarre, smirk-worthy.
2. The waitstaff appears to be hired exclusively from some local high school football team alumni association. Our waiter, while sweet and efficient, provided the most humorous moment of the night when we asked about Spaten, a brew from Munich. He shyly responded that while he was pretty sure it was Italian (a name like Spaten just has that Italian ring?!), but then came clean and said since that he was only 20 he really had no idea.

These cheese covered and purportedly homemade potato chips are not on the menu, but somehow B knew to order them.  They were really good, but what kept them from being great was the gratuitous amount of blue cheese on top.  The chips were hearty and thick cut, which made them a natural fit for the amazingly tangy German cheese sauce below and scallions above.  Minus the blue cheese they would be better (and even worse for you) if they added bacon or some house cured pancetta.  Clearly Bernie's food is not meant for weekly consumption for anyone but the men that so disgusted me upon entering.

Since we happened to be there on a Wednesday, when wings are half priced, we decided to try a dozen hot wings and went with a mix of crispy and grilled. These were quite possibly the best wings I have tasted and as a poor graduate student in my past life, I have quite the advanced wing pallet.  The wings had a firey heat, compounded by the sprinkling or red pepper flakes and countered by the chunky and ample homemade blue cheese dressing.  The wings themselves were just the right size -- not too small, but not so large that the sauce to wing ratio was off.  I would venture back into to the 'burbs just for these wings.  The grilled were my favorite, though spicier!

One oddity: Thirsty Bernie's claims to be 95% organic.  I'm not sure what is going on with the other 5%.  The food and beer selection at Thirsty Bernie's is actually worth the trip, and you can tell the owners care and put a lot of heart into the place.  Plus the price is right.  Two 23 ounce mugs, twelve wings, and the cheesy potato chips, tax, and tip were $35.

Tutto Bene: Better at Home

Tutto Bene is a family-owned Italian-American restaurant in Ballston that dabbles in Bolivian fare on the weekends. When we first moved to Arlington five years ago we tried this place for dinner a few times, and I recall it being a decent if unremarkable red-sauce Italian joint, nothing on par with the offerings in Boston's North End, which was a short stroll away from our old apartment. And as I remember the wine list was overpriced and the interior was over the top tacky; the location, sandwiched in between the Harris Teeter, Mercedes dealership, and Ballston Mall does not exactly exude urban charm.

Tutto Bene proudly proclaims that "everything is good." While I can't validate the claim, I was quite pleased when we went the lazy route and paid the fee and upcharge to get Dr. Delivery to bring it to our door this past weekend.

Our two entrees, fettuccine alfredo and eggplant parmesan, arrived in about an hour. Both entrees were hot and rather attractive considering their delivery containers. The fettuccine alfredo was great with a pungent kick of parmesan. It was even better with some fresh ground black pepper. The eggplant was magnificent--thinly cut, fried, and then smothered with a tangy red sauce and broiler tinged mozzarella--and came with a side of spaghetti and marinara.

While the meal with delivery charges was not cheap--$50 with tip for two entrees, it was worth it. I was able to appreciate Tutto Bene's food in a more pleasant location with a nice bottle of 2006 Chilean Cabernet from our cellar (read: guest bedroom closet).

Café Asia: Best and Worst of Americanized Asian Food

The cavernous space that is Café Asia includes a similarly vast selection of Asian specialties ranging from Chinese to Japanese to Thai to Indonesian. The menu is incredibly affordable with appetizers ranging from $4-7 and entrees from $9-14. Both locations--on Eye Street in DC and on Wilson Blvd. in Arlington--have specials until 7:30 every night but Sunday. And with the Virginia smoking ban, the Arlington location is no longer filled with smoke during happy hour, during which a great selection of cheap draft beers, including Ichiban and Sam Seasonal (both $2.50), as well as a appetizers are on discount.

On the other hand, in trying to do all types of Asian food, they do not excel at any one. The sushi, made onsite, is mediocre. The service is hit or miss. The Arlington location tries to become a alterna-hipster (?) club at night, but Not being especially hip, I cannot speak to this last point.

Overall though this is a great bet for happy hour, takeout, or dinner with big groups of friends, given the array of choices and the budget friendly prices. B & I called in a (free) delivery order on Sunday night, which arrived right on time. $30 (including a tip) bought us two entrees and an appetizer, all of which were hot, flavorful, and filling.

Another one bites the dust...

I was very excited that Arlington (the Ballston-Rosslyn corridor) was finally going to get a non-chain bakery. Bayou, a New Orleans-themed bakery, was supposed to take over the old Murky Coffee space on Wilson Blvd.

But alas, On Tap reports in its No Longer column, that this project is in fact no longer. Conceived as a joint venture by the people behind Liberty Tavern , the idea as I understood it from press releases was a New Orleans style bakery complete with king cakes and beignets (Yum -- New Orleans is calling).

So -- if anyone is a baker with a penchant for business. Arlington needs you! (Unless you count the Corner Bakery and Le Pain Quotidien as adequate bake shops)