Arlington Restaurant Week returns Oct. 14-21 with more than 50 eateries countywide offering special menus and discounted deals. Presented by the Arlington Chamber of Commerce, this annual dining extravaganza is the perfect opportunity to try a new-to-you place or a new dish. Here’s a sampling of what’s on the menu at various gathering spots close to home.
Ambar
Get unlimited Balkan small plates during the lunch hour for $25 (or $29.99 with one dessert per person) or $55 with dessert at dinnertime. Menu options include pita with spreads such as beet tzatziki, lamb lasagna, eggplant moussaka and beef short rib goulash. Note that the kitchen will be serving brunch on Oct. 14, Indigenous Peoples Day, in observance of the federal holiday. The Restaurant Week lunch specials will be available Oct. 15-18. // 2901 Wilson Blvd., Arlington (Clarendon)
Good Company Doughnuts & Cafe
Both the Ballston and National Landing locations are offering a pick-two menu deal for $13. Options include half sandwiches, salads, a cup of turkey-pumpkin chili and a mushroom grain bowl. // 672 N. Glebe Road, Arlington (Ballston), and 1350 S. Eads St., Arlington (National Landing)
Immigrant Food
The recently opened gastroadvocacy restaurant in Ballston is embracing its first Arlington Restaurant Week with $55 and $40 dinner options and a $25 lunch special. Find all three menus here. Favorites available during the evening hours include shrimp ceviche verde, roasted branzino, Venezuelan tequeños, a roasted mushroom lomo saltado, tropical beignets and flan. At lunchtime, try the gazpacho, Mumbai Mariachi Bowl and chocolate chip cookies. // 4245 Fairfax Drive, Arlington (Ballston)
Maison Cheryl
Clarendon’s French-New American bistro has a three-course, $52 dinner menu featuring starters such as honey nut squash soup and Brussels sprouts with bacon, and mains like seared duck, seared salmon or orecchiette pasta with bay scallops and shrimp. Top off the meal with something sweet: raspberry cheesecake, berries and cream, or double chocolate cake. // 2900 Wilson Blvd., Arlington (Clarendon)
Jinya
The Landing Kitchen & Bar
The $50 three-course meal at this dining destination inside the Hilton Arlington National Landing features a jumbo lump crab cake to start, a choice of beef or Chilean sea bass as a main, and citrus-lavender crème brûlée for dessert. Cocktail specials include One Smoky Night in Jalisco ($15), made with Casamigos Anejo tequila, Angostura Bitters, orange bitters and smoked cherry wood; and the Sapphire Sling ($15) with Bombay Sapphire, cherry liqueur, Grand Marnier, Bénédictine, pineapple, lime, Angostura Bitters and club soda. // 2399 Richmond Highway, Arlington (National Landing)
Padaek
Chef Seng Luangrath’s colorful menu, which features Lao and Thai cuisine, is where you’ll find starters such as sakoo (tapioca pearl dumpling), banana salad and chicken (or tofu) wings. Follow one of those with braised pork ribs in caramelized fish sauce, steamed blue catfish or grilled chicken thighs. Then top off the meal with vegan pumpkin bua loy, a warm pandan coconut milk dessert with pumpkin and black sesame mochi. // 2931 S. Glebe Road, Arlington (Arlington Ridge)
Palette 22
Part restaurant, part artist workshop, this Shirlington eatery is offering a weekday bottomless lunch ($28.22) from 11 a.m.-3 p.m., and a bottomless dinner for $38.22 through Oct. 21. Inspired by global street food, menu items include marinated cucumbers, hoisin-glazed pork belly bao buns and jerk chicken skewers. Add a glass of house sangria for $5.22 or select wine or beer for $6.22. // 4053 Campbell Ave., Arlington (Shirlington)
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Pirouette
From Oct. 15-19, the Ballston wine bar and bottle shop is offering a three-course dinner for $50, plus $20 for a wine pairing. Savor dishes such as flounder crudo, mac and cheese croquettes, pork and beef Bolognese over radiatore pasta, or semolina-crusted fried branzino. The sweet treats include orange and ancho fudge, berry tart and lime ice cream. // 4000 Fairfax Drive, Arlington (Ballston)
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Seamore’s
Stop by this sustainable seafood restaurant in Clarendon for a $25 two-course lunch on weekdays and dig into New England clam chowder, salad, and fish or grilled shrimp tacos. A three-course dinner deal for $45 presents the same appetizer and entree options with the addition of fish and chips and a dessert of pumpkin cheesecake. See the full menus here. // 2815 Clarendon Blvd., Arlington (Clarendon)
SER
Tuck into a three-course meal of Spanish classics ($25 for lunch or $40 for dinner) at proprietor Javier Candon’s family-owned establishment. Appetizers include butternut squash soup and green apple salad with Manchego cheese, while mains include grilled tuna, hanger steak or duck leg confit. For dessert, consider Spanish-style French toast with ice cream, chocolate flan or crème brûlée. Wine pairings are available for $25. // 110 N. Glebe Road, Arlington (Ballston)
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Sfoglina
Chef Fabbio Trabocchi’s Rosslyn pasta house—whose name means “pasta maker”—has a three-course dinner menu ($55) highlighting specialties such as a signature Caesar salad and a cauliflower and parsnip soup. Main course options include vegetarian mafalde alla fungi, pappardelle with ragu Bolognese or grilled swordfish. End the evening on a sweet note with seasonal apple cider gelato or some of Nonna’s Cookies. // 1100 Wilson Blvd., Arlington (Rosslyn)
Skydome Restaurant
Ascend to this revolving restaurant atop the DoubleTree by Hilton Washington D.C.–Crystal City between Oct. 15-19 and treat yourself to a dazzling view of the D.C. skyline, plus a $65 three-course dinner (available 5-10 p.m.) with choices such as petit lobster rolls, grilled ribeye and decadent desserts to the tune of a warm pear-and-apple crumble and four-layer hazelnut dacquoise. // 300 Army Navy Drive, Arlington (National Landing)
Upside on Moore
The kiosks at Rosslyn’s new food hall are offering $13 lunch specials on weekdays from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Find temptations such as kahlua pork sisig at Kam and 46, Ghostburger’s famed smashburger, La Michoacana’s tacos, a grilled chicken pesto sandwich and salad at Lili’s, ‘neo-Neapolitan’ pizza at Stellina Pizzeria, and Chinese takeout faves such as General Tso’s chicken, orange beef or drunken pork at Lucky Danger. // 1700 N. Moore St., Arlington (Rosslyn)