If there’s one thing you can say about the densely-populated stretch of Route 29 we call Lee Highway, it’s that there’s no shortage of restaurants offering a wide range of price points, vibes and cuisines. How do you know which places are best for cheap eats, which will satisfy your sweet tooth, and which spots are better for kids or a date night? Here are 10 eateries you can count on for great times and good food. Some are right on the main drag, while others are tucked along adjacent side streets.
Yayla Bistro
Sure, this Turkish delight in East Falls Church has a children’s menu, but we think you should save a trip here for one of those wonderful evenings when the wee ones are otherwise occupied. Slip into a booth with a flickering candle, take in the serene surroundings—painted in pale blue and vibrant orange—and order a trio of mezze. (We highly recommend the htipiti, an addictive dip of roasted red peppers, feta, garlic and mint.) The usual staples like kebabs, pizza-like flatbreads (pide) and marinated lamb chops are here, and the wine list features varieties from Turkey, Lebanon and Greece.
2201 N. Westmoreland St., Arlington, yaylabistro.com
Jaipur Royal Indian Cuisine
Pretend you’ve landed in a Northern Indian palace with a visit to this pink-hued dining room (perhaps because Jaipur is known as the “Pink City”). It’s decorated to the hilt in beads, exotic animal figurines, Indian artwork and a gilded chair with tufted pillows. Never mind that the restaurant, located due west of Merrifield, does the usual Indian buffet during lunch. Turn up in the evening for a more relaxed, less rushed experience when you’ll have time to appreciate the fact that the kitchen prepares and blends its spices daily for each dish. Try the charcoal-smoked eggplant, the tandoori prawns and the Murgh Makhni, a dish of barbecued chicken in a creamy tomato sauce accented with fenugreek.
9401 Lee Highway, Fairfax, jaipurcuisine.com