Since moving to Arlington, I haven’t ventured downtown all that often to dine as of late (something about the suburbs; I can see all you city-dwellers shaking your heads as I speak). Luckily, my neighborhood and the surrounding area have given me a few delicious options of their own to tide me over until I get more ambitious (and to be honest, a little less broke). Some successful meals as of late have been at:
Delhi Club: This tiny Indian place right across from the Clarendon is quickly becoming a favorite. Mid-priced, with generous helpings of naan and a nice selection of appetizers and vegetarian options, my only complaint is attempting to get a seat in the intimate space on a Friday night can prove impossible, depending on your timing. So far, I’ve had success with the chicken tikka, butter chicken (a standard offering, but Delhi does it well), saag gosht with lamb (a spicy, spinach-infused dish), and rarah gosht (what can I say; I’m a sucker for anything with lamb, even lamb cooked with lamb). The samosas were fine, but nothing unusual. Next on my things-to-try: some of their paneer dishes.
Ravi Kabob: I visited this hole-in-the-wall Pakistani place first over a year ago, after two friends and I miraculously stumbled on it after just knowing it was “in a shopping center in Northern Virginia.” Hadn’t been back again until last week, though this was by circumstance rather than choice, and the place is even better than I remembered. The seating isn’t much more than what a take-out place offers, but the food is the real deal. I’d heard about it from a Pakistani friend-of-a-friend, and when I mentioned the place to a coworker whose husband is from the region, her eyes lit up, so perhaps that’s a testament for authenticity – it’s been my only foray into Pakistani food, so I lack a basis for comparison. Lamb kabobs, mixed kabobs, beef tikka – all are amazing, and come with generous sides of rice, salad and chickpeas (make sure you get a nice helping of the yogurt dipping sauce). I haven’t tasted anything there that wasn’t assertive, filling and satisfying. While friends of mine will swear by the mango lassi, I experimented with the pink tea, topped with pistachios. It’s a creamy, decent dessert drink, but I wouldn’t order it with a meal again (and the server’s skepticism when I did should have been a clue). Most dishes are under $12, and many are for even less, so you’re getting quite a bit for your money here.
Café Asia: I’m always on the lookout for a good happy hour, and this place fits the bill – cheap beer, and even more importantly, $1 pieces of sushi. I never manage to escape this place, however, without dropping quite a bit of money – maybe it’s the fancy cocktails (loved the mojito, as well as a pink-colored drink, the name of which escapes me), or the varied selection of main courses, and the need to get some sushi to start…ok, clearly there are a lot of reasons why I’m going broke here. I’m not a sushi connoisseur, so my opinion here is somewhat suspect, but I’m a fan of the place’s rolls and daily specials. And the shrimp and roasted pork Singapore noodles (distinctive for their generous shot of curry) are a favorite.
Delhi Club
1135 N. Highland Street,
Arlington, VA 22201
Ravi Kabob
305 N Glebe Rd
Arlington, VA
Café Asia
1550 Wilson Blvd
Arlington, VA