Arlington Eateries Roll Out Seasonal Menus Highlighting Fall Flavors

ARLINGTON, VA — Three restaurant chains with locations in Arlington are offering up a selection of seasonal specials to help diners ease into autumn.

Matchbox Pizza recently rolled out its new fall menu, with a variety of seasonal items, featuring:

• Corn Ribs – chili lime mayo, cilantro, salt, queso freso
• Roasted Chicken & Butternut squash Salad – mixed greens, romaine lettuce, butternut squash, apples, cranberries, candied pecans, feta, creamy mustard vin.
• Roasted Salmon – butternut squash risotto, cremini mushrooms, oven-roasted tomatoes, goat cheese, arugula, shaved parmesan.
• Country Fried Chicken – served with hot honey and french fries.

Since October also happens to be National Pizza Month, matchbox has also added three new pizzas to its menu:

• Burrata & Salami – crushed tomatoes, salami, fennel sausage, burrata, fontina, parmigiano reggiano, hot honey.
• Corn & Jalapeño – crushed tomatoes, mozzarella, goat cheese, roasted corn, zucchini, jalapeno peppers, chipotle lime crema.
• Roasted Garlic Chicken –roasted garlic puree, crushed tomatoes, gorgonzola cheese, caramelized onions, roasted chicken, mozzarella, olive oil, arugula, balsamic.

Thompson Restaurants, which is a minority-owned hospitality company, has multiple matchbox pizza locations across Northern Virginia, including one in Pentagon City at 1100 S Hayes St., Suite H20.

Guests who show their "I Voted" sticker on Election Day at any of Thompson's restaurants (Makers Union, matchbox, Hen Quarter, Milk & Honey, and Wiseguy Pizza) will receive 10 percent off their meal.

Tupolo Honey Southern Kitchen & Bar, located at 1616 N Troy St., has injected Southern style into its new Autumn menu.

"Delight in new seasonal flavors like spiced squash, sweet tea glaze, and apple cider donut," according to release. "Cozy up with a bowl of Spiced Pumpkin Bisque, or warm up with a spicy ‘Jalapeño Business’ Bloody Mary."

Other seasonal fare includes a trio of new cocktails to sip: a Grasshoper Iced Mocha, with peppermint, dark chocolate coffee and oat milk; and an Iced "Dirty" Chai, which is a Chail latte with oak milk and topped with coffee.

Tupelo Honey is also tempting diners with a Sweet Tea Glazed Chicken and a true Southern classic — Mississippi Mud Pie.

On Wednesday, Corso Italian, the woman-owned modern Italian restaurant and market, debuted its fall menu, offering a selection of seasonal dishes and cocktails. The menu includes:

Starters

• Arancini – chanterelle risotto, mozzarella, Italian herbs, pomodoro sauce

Pastas

• Oxtail Ravioli – red wine, parsnip purée, thyme
• White Pesto Rigatoni – walnut and ricotta pesto, lemon, oregano
• Spaghetti con Crema di Zucca – butternut squash, sage, almonds
• Orecchiette with Broccoli Rabe and Sausage - fennel, garlic, red pepper

Fall Cocktails

• Lambrusco Spritz – aperol, rosso lambrusco, orange
• Cider Spritz – aperol, cinnamoned cider, prosecco, rosemary
• Corso Sour – amaretto, bourbon, lemon juice, egg white, bitters, amerena cherry
• Milan Mule – vodka, limoncello, ginger beer, lemon, rosemary

The restaurant’s weekly specials also continue to draw regulars:

• ‘Tini Tuesday – Signature and Classic martinis for $5, all day
• Wine Wednesday – Half-priced bottles from Corso’s Italian wine list
• All-You-Can-Mangia Brunch – Saturdays and Sundays, with endless small plates for $29 and cocktails starting at $5

Corso Italian also has two wine events on its calendar. Owner Jill Erber will host a Lambrusco Tasting Event on Oct. 20. Then on Nov. 4., customers can Meet the Winemaker, featuring G.D. Vajra winery from Piedmont.