5 Best Restaurants in Arlington, VA

  • Author: Devin Henry
  • Last Updated: May 25, 2022
Table of Contents

Food and restaurant experiences are as diverse in taste as people are.

The Arlington, VA restaurant scene is one with an aesthetic for every food lover. Some might say Arlington is a hidden culinary gem. This city has a restaurant for every foodie, no matter your preferences.

Looking for a new place to have dinner? Are you visiting the Washington, D.C. area? Whether you live there, are moving to the area, or will be in town as a visitor, you’ll want to check out the best local restaurants.

Check out these five best restaurants in Arlington, VA.

1. Ruthie’s All Day

Ruthie’s All Day is quickly being named on many best restaurant lists for a newcomer to the Arlington restaurant scene. 

As the name suggests, the restaurant by Matt Hill and Todd Salvadore is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. 

If you stop for coffee or an early breakfast, you won’t want to miss the applied pie pancakes or fried chicken biscuits.

If you crave authentic BBQ for lunch or dinner, Ruthie’s All Day should be on your bucket list. They make limited quantities daily to maintain the highest quality standards. 

Their menu offers meat plus two or meat plus three options. You select your meat entree, then add two or three options from their sides menu. 

Meat choices include options like smoked brisket, wood friend citrus-marinated chicken, wood-grilled hanger steak, or salmon. 

If you have a hard time deciding on the meat, wait until you get to the sides. Some options include arugula and shaved fennel salad, Ruthie’s mac ‘n cheese, or charred kimchi dirty rice. 

You can visit Ruthie’s All Day at 3411 5th Street South, Arlington. 

2. Ambar

Another of the great restaurants in Arlington for a fun and delicious date night is Ambar. This restaurant, raved about in the DC Michelin Restaurant Guide, serves up Eastern European and Balkan food as their specialty. 

Visitors to Ambar can take advantage of both indoor and outdoor seating options. The restaurant is open for brunch on the weekend and lunch and dinner daily. They also offer their menu for take-out as well. 

Start your dining experience with a special charcuterie board or one of the many Ambar Mezze spreads. These are served with freshly baked pita bread and sourdough bread. 

You might choose from one of their slow-cooked selections for true comfort food, including Beef Short Rib Goulash or Slow Roasted Lamb. 

Their chef delicacies are also worth noting. You might choose either the Lamb Lasagna or the Braised Steak and Frites. 

Don’t worry about being neglected if you’re vegetarian. The menu has many options, including Pepper Croquette. 

You can visit Ambar at 2901 Wilson Blvd, Arlington.

3. Brass Rabbit Pub

Another of the best Arlington restaurants is the Brass Rabbit Pub. The Brass Rabbit is an upscale pub in the heart of Arlington. 

They serve their guests made from scratch cocktails, draft beers, and healthy upscale pub fare food. 

You can visit the Brass Rabbit for their daily happy hour, which runs from 3:00 to 6:00 pm. You can also enjoy their weekend brunch menu.

Want to visit the pub for a drink and appetizer? You won’t be disappointed with selections like lamb meatballs, Tuna poke, goat cheese, and mushroom toast. The whipped feta that comes with a mixed olive tapenade and grilled baguette is not to be missed. 

You might also enjoy one of their several options for lettuce wraps. You can get a plate of lettuce wraps with tuna, chicken, beef, shrimp, or the lobster delicacy.

You can also choose from a wide selection of soups, salads, sandwiches, and entrees. 

You can visit the Brass Rabbit Pub at 1210 N Garfield St, Arlington.

4. Lyon Hall

Looking for another great location for date night in Arlington, Lyon Hall will not disappoint. This French and German hot spot is the perfect combination of trendy and classy. 

Lyon Hall offers guests the option of indoor and outdoor dining and their full menu for take-out. 

Executive Chef Miljohn Dimaano proudly prepares daily for guests many specialties, including steaming mussel pots, house-made sausage and schnitzel, freshly baked bread, handcrafted cheeses, and extensive charcuterie options. 

While they happily pour over 20 beers on tap, they are proud to highlight many small French wineries through their extensive wine selection.

Start your visit with one of their authentic hors d’oeuvres, including oysters on the half shell, French onion soup, or a warm Bavarian pretzel served with warm cheese fondue or spicy honey mustard. 

Then settle in for their Plat of the Day selection served with fresh baguette bread and warm butter. Some Plat of the Day selections includes Coq au Vin, Bouillabaisse, or Seared Duck Breast.

You can visit Lyon Hall in the Clarendon neighborhood of Arlington at 3100 Washington Blvd.

5. Palette 22

Palette 22 is a small-plates, tapas-style restaurant that takes its inspiration from flavors around the globe. 

Focusing on art and music, you can enjoy a pitcher of the Palette 22’s signature sangria while watching the many artists and musicians showcasing their craft around the restaurant. 

Take advantage of the bottomless dining option to taste as many selections as possible. You can try everything on the menu and leave full, happy, and inspired. 

You can visit Palette 22 in the Village at Shirlington at 4053 Campbell Ave., Arlington.

Choose One of These Best Restaurants in Arlington, VA

These top restaurants in Arlington won’t disappoint; in fact, you’re likely to love them so much that you’ll want to visit them more than once. 

You can even create your own best restaurants in Arlington, VA, list to enjoy.

If you’re a renter looking to move into the Arlington, VA, area, check out our renters’ services today.

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