Business & Tech
Hidden Gems: Part 2
A couple of tucked away places that are worth checking out. This is the second piece of a two-part series on yummy off-the-beaten-path spots in our neighborhood.
Arlington has tons of restaurants to offer, and we all pick our favorites. In the of this two-part series, we talked about hidden spots in Arlington hotels. Now, we'll check out some places down side streets that are sure to help you expand your favorites list.
Wine Bar and Euro Cafe
Tucked back into a courtyard amidst corporate buildings in Ballston is a wonderful gem called Grand Cru Wine Bar and Euro Cafe. With an extensive wine selection, a great menu of small plates, fondues, and entrees, it's a great spot for a happy hour, a romantic date, or a get together with a bigger group of friends. If you're looking for a great draught beer, Grand Cru isn't the right choice for your craving - they serve wine exclusively. But if it's a great deal you're searching for, their happy hour is a good one Monday through Friday. At all times, they have a $5 house wine list with a few nice choices. They also have specialty wines at a discounted rate. One of the most fun deals is the rotating wine flights to get a summer sampling of whites.
Find out what's happening in Arlingtonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Paired with a glass of Simonsig Sauvignon Blanc (crisp and clean and wonderful), I had the beet salad, which was fantastic and beautifully served. I enjoyed a sampling of the tapas menu: Warm Brie and Honey, Bruschetta, and Wild Mushroom Strudel, probably the favorite.
Grand Cru also boasts a great wine store with a few hundred choices for bottles to take home with you after you've enjoyed meal there. Their staff is friendly and helpful - they all seem to have an extensive knowledge of the wines and how to pair them with the food.
Find out what's happening in Arlingtonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
M-F 11am - 11pm, Sat 4pm - 11pm, Sun 4pm - 9pm
4401 Wilson Boulevard (courtyard behind Vapiano)
If you are on the prowl for a beer - and, uh, a really big one - you should hit up another hidden gem, Hunan Number One. Serving Thai food and sushi, Hunan is number one because of its unbelievable drink offers. Their happy hour spans from 11 am to 9pm, wow! And the beers are nothing to sneeze at: the big 36 ounce servings start at $4.50; bottles are even cheaper; and there are shooter specials (2 for $6) to top things off. They also have great sushi specials all day long.
Because of this delightful offering of a vat of your favorite brew, Hunan gets packed - and loud - pretty early in the evening, so get there early. The ambiance of the restaurant and bar isn't that great (sometimes it smells like floor cleanser,) but everyone there just seems so darn happy. It's a great place to meet up with a group, grab a tall stool and a tall beer, and post up until you work up an appetite for some of their great sushi specials. And, to appeal to your old school side, there's a jukebox. The 80s jams flow like the draught beers they so generously share!
Sun-Tue 11am-11pm, Wed-Thu 11am-12am, Fri-Sat 11 am-2am
Hunan is in the 3033 Wilson Boulevard Building, but the entrance is on N. Garfield. http://www.hunanone.com/
Bakeshop
And of course, there’s always room for dessert. On North Fillmore, a bit off the beaten path, lies Bakeshop, a quaint, cute little bakery with delectable delights to finish off any meal with a sweet ending. I’m not much of a sweets fan in general, but Bakeshop got my attention.
Part of the bakery’s specialty appeal is that they offer a wide array of vegan choices. Vegan or no, Bakeshop boasts ice cream cookie sandwiches, fresh-outta-the-oven cookies, layer cakes, cupcakes that are fluffy and brightly colored and delicious. They say their buttercream frosting is “the bomb,” and they’re right.
The folks at Bakeshop make themselves very available for advice on planning your sweet treat for a wedding, birthday, or to celebrate your special someone (or, uh, yourself). Bakeshop has also started serving brunch on Sundays so that you can get a bigger sampling of what their weekends have to offer: waffles, pancakes, and specialty pastries. Go get your sweet tooth on.
Tues-Fri 8am-8pm, Sat 10am-8pm, Sun 12pm-6pm, Mon Closed
1025 N. Fillmore Street, Suite G, in Clarendon
Grand Cru has a great feel, great food; Hunan has amazing specials despite the lack of great surroundings; Bakeshop has a warm, trendy feel that translates to a great sweet treat to finish it all off. That’s a great line up for an evening out in Arlington.
