Anything new or interesting around Virginia Square?

[Amy B.]

Besides pollo rico? I have a meeting over there tomorrow night.

[ktmoomau]

I would walk to Clarendon or Ballston if I were you. Not really anything new of note. Mei's Asian Bistro on the backside of GMU law school has some good things.

[Amy B.]

So what is good in Ballston these days? I live near Clarendon so I eat around there all the time but don't get further up the orange line very often. I know Willow and I tried Big Buns, what else?

[ktmoomau]

I like some of the dishes at Grand Cru, they are normally pretty solid, although last time I went they had stale bread so that isn't a good sign. But I eat their about once every two months and it is normally good. I like the mussels, the mac and cheese, the duck is normally good. I wish they would put some of their lunch sandwiches on their dinner menu.

I also think 1Gen Thai and Thai Terrace are pretty good. I am more partial to Thai Terrace. Not particularly new though.

Rocklands has some ok things. I don't like their bbq chicken, the ribs are ok, but they have some great sides and draft root beer. I could get mac and cheese collard greens and red beans and rice and be perfectly happy their.

[sekelmaan]

Couple of decent food carts in the little square at lunch. Super Pollo for the chicken. I find Willow very inconsistent and have stopped going there. Ravi Kabob is down the road a little and is great.

Ted's is ok for a business meeting. I have done that, though don't get the burgers, they are dreadful and are steamed. If it is just an expense account meal and they aren't terribly finicky about food Willow would be ok. It is good service usually.

[littlew1ng]

i love vapiano...fresh pasta, great pizza and the best salad in the area (insalata mista — zucchini, carrots, cucumbers, radishes, mushrooms, arugula, romaine, scallions, cherry tomatoes, fresh shaved parmesan and i get it with shrimp, it is so amazingly delicious.)
the pizza is thin-crust and their tomato sauce is to die for. the only problem i've found is they don't always use the best cheese, but sometimes they do.

[sekelmaan]

Funny, I never considered eating there. Always seemed so "chainy". I will give it a shot. Always lookin' for good pie.

[mjhals]

I agree w/ littlew1ng about the impressive quality of Vapiano- I even tried their carpaccio and was very impressed. But I wouldn't select it as a destination dinner. It can get really crowded (at lunch mostly) and you line up to order and get your food. Which insures the food is fresh and made to order, but it doesn't have the same feel as a sitdown-and-be-waited-on place. Great for lunch, but only for dinner if you're already in the area for a movie or shopping, but I just wouldn't seek it out for dinner.

[ktmoomau]

If you go there a word of advice- don't get the whole wheat pasta.