6. The Stray Cat Café
5866 Washington Blvd., Arlington (Westover Village)
You may know Stray Cat as the sister restaurant of Lost Dog, the café and animal rescue organization that has been a staple in Arlington since 1985. Stray Cat also happens to be a great spot for vegetarian and vegan comfort foods. Diners avoiding animal products can warm up with a bowl of vegetarian chili, made with both black and kidney beans, along with chives, shredded cheddar (vegans can request no cheese) and served with crunchy tri-color tortilla chips for dipping and scooping. Alternately, go for a veggie hotdog topped with said chili. Another satisfying belly-filler: an oversize black-bean burger topped with guacamole, pico de gallo, grilled jalapeños and sautéed onions. The stylized cat portraits that adorn the walls also make this neighborly spot a cool place to hang out.
Other dishes to try:
- Cabo Cat black bean enchiladas
- Skinny Cat sandwich (spinach, artichoke, roasted red pepper and melted goat cheese)
- Black Bean Cat, which finds quinoa, roasted white corn, black beans, fresh tomato and avocado in a flour tortilla wrap