Help Virginia, I'm moving to Rosslyn

[nickdanger]

After years of working in (what is now called Penn Quarter), I will be working in Rosslyn. What to chow, particularly lunch?

[klm417]

I used to think Rosslyn was no good for lunch, but really it's the neighborhood layout that makes it seem that way. There are some interesting / tasty restaurants in hidden locations (hotels, office buildings, etc). Check out this link for a pretty solid list: http://washingtondc.menupages.com/res...

[plumpaisley]

I've worked here for 8 years... our office fave is Allspice, which used to be called Spice of Life. It's at the corner of Oak St and Wilson, but you won't see it until you walk up Oak towards the Japanese place... the front door to Spice faces the grass/"park". Look for the yellow awning and order the Chicken Hummus Veggie Pita with extra hummus on the side.

[littlew1ng]

god have mercy on your soul. thank goodness ray's hellburgers is close by, and pho 75, as someone else suggested. i hear there's a new taco truck in rosslyn that people are pretty excited about.

[nickdanger]

Actually caught taco breakfast at the cart on the corner of Lynn and Wilson. Is that what you're talking about.? Pretty good and cheap.

[Dennis S]

What's the weird Jetson's 70's place right in Rosslyn - maybe with pool tables? The burgers there weren't too bad at all the one time I went. I wouldn't recommend them if you can get to Ray's or El Caminante (which is why I haven't been back) but if I worked there I'd consider that place a regular stop.

[littlew1ng]

ahhhhhh hahahahah the continental!! weird jetson's 70's place, you're too funny...it is a strange spot but yeah good for a quick bite, especially if you want to enjoy a stella draft on your lunch break.

[flavrmeistr]

Didn't that used to be a topless bar back in the day? If it's the same place I'm thinking of, it was weird even back in the 70's.

[alkapal]

it has lots of windows to have been a topless bar, no?

[flavrmeistr]

"Friendly" zoning board and a can of paint, I expect. I'm not sure if it's the same place, because there were more than one that would fit the description.

[alkapal]

i remember that there was a strip club near the location of the first ray's hellburgers. back in the day. when there was also a very good thai restaurant there, and a decent red-sauce italian place run by a south american guy.

~~~~~~
unrelated but just noticed a new kabob place next to the 7-11 on lee hwy and adams (?). i think it was the john edwards campaign office for a stint.

[Dennis S]

I think I might steer clear of the new kabob place, then. I know strip bars can be cleaned up, but a retired John Edwards office? Hazmat.

[ktmoomau]

Best line of the day.

[Lori D]

It was an office for Gen. Clark;s campaign, not Edwards.

No hazmat warning required.

[flavrmeistr]

You still might want rubber gloves.

[alkapal]

yes, maybe that was it. i confuse all the failures.

[ktmoomau]

Hillary's office location is still empty, maybe she kept the lease.

[alkapal]

she could always open a high-priced burger joint. we need one around here, ya know?

[mnadel]

Yeah, you are pretty much screwed for lunch. (Sweth's list is fine, but probably quite a walk, if you are working on Lynn street. The Chinese restaurant instead the former USA Today towers is decent.

[sweth]

Um, yeah. If you're down on Lynn St, you've got Chipotle, McD's, Quizno's, Cosi, and Ruby Tuesday's, so you're basically screwed. (China Garden is edible, but I'd honestly choose Chipotle myself in that area.)

[mjhals]

But there's also Tomo sushi (w/ by-the-pound buffet at lunch that's small but very good), Choppd (build your own salad), and Rosslyn deli next to Tomo (never been for food, but they say the roast their own meats). Also, the Continental on N. Moore street, mentioned by Dennis below has some good options- sandwiches (the cuban is good) and salads.

[ClevelandDave]

I heard China Garden's dim sum is quite good... anyone with some experience with this?

[littlew1ng]

i've been for it a few times, it was good, not amazing, but then again i'm not a dim sum person.

[sweth]

For the area it's pretty good. In absolute terms, not so much.

[dpan]

China Garden only does dim sum on weekends.

[DCDeb]

Hi Nick.

Will you be driving or taking Metro? If driving, the Italian Store is not too far away. I second Piola and Santa Fe--2 of my staples when I worked in that area.

[sweth]

Not that much in Rosslyn that's truly outstanding, but a lot of solid places nonetheless. The stretch of Wilson from Oak to Rhodes is your best bet; you've got, in roughly decreasing order of my preference:

* Ray's Hell Burger (great burgers, but erratic especially when busy)
* Pho 75 (solid pho)
* Santa Fe Cafe (New Mex-style Mex)
* Cafe Assorti (Kazakh; good rustic eastern European food)
* Piola (not bad pizza)
* Red Hot & Blue (perfectly fine generic BBQ)
* Guajillo (OK Tex-Mex--others love it, I'm not as impressed)
* Village Bistro (continental)

[Gigi007]

Sweth's recs sound good to me (I haven't been to Cafe Assorti yet, but have heard very good things about it!). Also, if your new office isn't far from Key Bridge, you might consider a few places in Georgetown like Pizzeria Paradiso and Leopold's Kafe.