This one was a tough one but landed at 4 stars. Main verdict is I'd definitely come back for happy hour/ early afternoon bites, but probably not for dinner. The place is located behind a giant door in Rosslyn underneath happy eatery. The second you enter, it had a dark speakeasy vibe. The staff are all dressed very professionally and the decor was fitting. We were seated in the bar area and got some cocktails to start which were very inventive and delicious (got one that tastes like pho). Will definitely be back to try out others in the future. Unfortunately the food left something to be desired. Starting with the positives. The wagyu burger and fries were delicious. Well cooked and perfectly constructed. Granted the price point is a bit higher but during happy hour you can get $5 off. The remaining dishes however were all mediocre at best. The gambas was fine but the tune tasted just like the teriyaki sauce poured over everything. The carbonara was .... Not very flavorful unfortunately despite how good it looked. Minor issues but made me feel like probably a better happy hour/social spot rather than a sit down dinner spot read more

Salt - Clockwise direction from the top left Wagyu Burger Gambas Al Ajillo Bucatini Carbonara Truffle Fries Togarashi crusted tuna - Bars Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

When a friend of mine recently moved to the Ballston area of Arlington and didn't know where to grab a good bite, YELP to the rescue! After a short search I found this needle in a haystack. Why would I use words like needle and haystack to describe SALT, hmmm, this is why. They don't have a name on its entrance door, so of course we were at the upstairs restaurant trying to check in...lol After the young lady couldn't find my name on the reservation list she promptly directed us downstairs, two doors on the right.. WTH? Poof, and there it was..lol A very cool, dimly lit, lounge style restaurant with smooth tunes playing in the background. I said out loud, this is a dope spot. The atmosphere was an instant HIT! Now to why I'm giving SALT a 4 and not 5 stars. The menu! I cannot recall such a classy place having such a limited menu. I asked the server was this it? He responded by saying their brilliant beef short rib was not on the menu and was the special of the day. With more and more people becoming Pescatarians, there was only one fish entrée (Tuna). They also only had one steak entrée (Tomahawk). The server did offer that the menu was shortened because COVID which made the lack of offerings more reasonable. What we had was EXCELLENT. My steak was freaking delicious. The calamari appetizer may have been the best I've ever had. Beware, it was super spicy BUT super good! Look, if you want to to be a little different and have a great time, this is definitely the place. SALT is as trendy as trendy can get. The menu is small and mouthwatering at the same time.. Nice trick! The service was impeccable and I personally can't wait to go back!! read more

Salt - Tomahawk Steak. Best steak I've had this year!@ SALT! - Bars Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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I recently started going to Salt and I don't know how I have lived without it. Definitely make reservations because it books up fast, especially on the weekends. The food and drinks were are amazing. My favorite drink right now is the Girls Just Wanna Have Pho, which is a shockingly souplike flavor in a cocktail. Perfection. But I haven't had a drink there I didn't like. Love the lavender haze, what's up doc, the mezcal one, the mushroom one, all good. The food is great too. I like all the small plates and my favs are the gnocchi and the tuna tartare. But the meatballs and buns are also good. The service and bartenders here are all professionals and I love coming here. Definitely stop here if you are in Arlington read more

Salt - What's up doc - Bars Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

My husband and I came here with two friends after dinner at Open Road on a Friday night. I love a cocktail bar and Salt did not disappoint. We sat in a little booth in the front room, and there was a larger space for bigger groups in the back. My friend and I both ordered the Mo Fi Ya which was presented with a show by our server. We also ordered the hummus with wagyu and it was pretty tasty. read more

Salt - Captain's - Bars Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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I came here with girlfriends to have dinner and drinks. I had heard great reviews about them from other friends before, so I suggested to come here. 1. Reservation: recommended as they have very limited number of seats. We however, didn't have one, but I called in ahead to check if coming now was a good idea and if they had open seats. 2. Food: 3 stars Starting from the menu to the actual taste it was disappointing to me. I understand they are a bar, not a full scale restaurant, so I guess I should not expect too much. 3. Drinks: 4 stars I like to think of myself as a cocktail connoisseur and have been to all notable places, so compared to a large selection of places I've been to, they are solid 4 stars, which is really good. I even liked their cocktail names. We tried almost the entire menu except 2, so I stand by the rating I give them. I also liked the little touches like clear ice that had their logo on it. 4. Service: 5 stars. Our server was professional, courteous and welcoming. He was great. I would say, come here for drinks only, eat elsewhere. read more

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I've been to this convenient speakeasy several times now, it's always a good time. Excellent tasty cocktails... some with a fun show! Food is okay but quite overpriced ...I'd skip if possible unless you are starving. But there is a really cool rooftop area for eating during Happy hour that's lovely when the weather permits ! Service is excellent truly! I have never been happier with the service here. Vibes in the basement is very romantic and intimate --speakeasy style for sure. Love the setting. Upstairs is a restaurant with typical post work vibes. Outside setting is also romantic but casual. read more

I went to Salt for date night this past Friday. It was a vibe! Initially a little difficult to find, but I called and was easily directed in how to find it. Our service was exceptional. To drink, I had the Barrel Aged Maple Old Fashion which was great. For small bites, we had the Crispy Calamari and Waygu Meatballs which were absolutely delicious. The music was really dope too! Again, this spot was a vibe and I would definitely go back! read more

This was an incredible burger. Full of flavor, great balance of savory, saucy, fat from the bacon and it all came together well. Definitely a burger worth trying if you're close to Rosslyn or if you're far. We sat outside and enjoyed the nice rosslyn town area. And the staff was friendly and helpful with our requests. Quality burgers and food. read more

Salt - Blue Cheese Burger - Bars Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

If you want a delicious burger and divine cocktails from a constantly changing drink menu, come to Salt. Great speakeasy vibes and great for a date night. They also have a Monday date night deal you should definitely check out. read more

Salt - SALT food menu - Bars Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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Came here for a quick bite to eat (Small plates) and a couple of drinks. Service was attentive and they give you 2.0 hours from your reservation time. We planned on a few small plates but opted to split the Wagyu Burger and fries. The Burger was absolutely delicious and if you get anything to eat please let it be this. So flavorful! Ambiance was what I expected for a speakeasy, dark and what felt like a 70's decor. No complaints. Would definitely visit again if we are in the area again. read more

Salt - Couple of Hand Crafted cocktails. - Bars Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Actually I really hate this place. The first time I encountered it was when I tried to get a seat for a date and they turned us away because they were super duper busy. I got my free books of matches though. Anyway came in again for another day the other night and my date made a reservation so there's that this time they didn't have the free matches. Boohoo. The major issue I have with this place was the service. We were reminded multiple times that there was a 2-hour limit and basically herded like sheep to order drinks move it along etc. I didn't find it very hospitable and clearly the staff are under pressure to get people in and out. There's plenty of free street parking and the ambiance is pretty dark if that's your thing. I can't say that I'll ever try the speakeasy again and that's coming from a chica who loves speakeasies read more

Loved everything about Salt, the service was amazing and the staff was beyond attentive and helpful with explaining the drink options. It's a warm and intimate vibe, definitely perfect for a date night or a small group of friends to catch up. It's a small restaurant so I'd highly recommend making a reservation even for HH. All the tables come with a 2 hr timeframe and it gets pretty busy. The cocktails are delicious and you can tell they put alot of effort into creating the drinks. The food is also good and I'd recommend the waygu burger, calamari and the pork bao buns. read more

We decided to do an impromptu date night at Salt on a lovely summer evening and it did not disappoint. The ambience was nice and mysterious, as one would expect from a speakeasy. I had the old fashioned and the much raved about Wagyu burger with truffle fries. Hubby had the burger as well and the tuna tartare nachos as an appetizer. We enjoyed everything and felt the burger was one of the best we've had. (And we've had a lot of burgers!) A little pricey but we'd definitely go back again. Great service, too! Highly recommend! read more

I'm not sure how this place is not 5 stars!! The service here is amazing! Damari was awesome and the food recommendations were on point, I'm sure everything in the menu is delicious. Miguel at the bar was also very courteous and helpful. I had the calamari and the wagyu burger and they were both amazing. Perfect place to bring a date. I plan on coming back next week! I wish I could give this place 10 out of 5 stars! read more

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The atmosphere is great. Servers are friendly and knowledgeable. I have yet to have any food from their menu that I didn't like. The Waygu burger is great. They have a nice happy Hour with specials. read more

A great location for happy hour or a date night out. The ambiance is dark and sexy. The staff is welcoming and attentive and the drinks and food were great! Will definitely be visiting again. Reservations recommended. There is a table time limit. I visited for happy hour and had house cocktails and gambas ai aijillo (who was sooo good but really spicy so don't order if you can't handle the heat) read more

Had a short rib and it was very well flavored however, was not brought to us at the table until it had already cooled. One of the people in our party had theirs returned and microwaved to be warmed up again. Also a little difficult to find as it is a speakeasy so it's downstairs Off the street. read more

Arlington's best kept secret. I walk into an unassuming entrance and welcomed into a dark abyss giving me speakeasy vibes. I had no idea what to expect. My girlfriend and I order a round of cocktails. Wow! Blown away at how well made they were and the flavor profile of each drink were so refreshing. This got us excited for the food. We had duck baos, shrimp, truffle chips which were excellent, but the star of the show was the Wagyu burger. INSANELY delicious burger! Tender Wagyu beef with an attractive charred flavor on the outside tied together with crispy onions. Hands down one of the best burgers I've had in the DMV. Service, atmosphere, flavor of food and drink, Salt hit all the marks here. Salt Rosslyn, you have a new fan for life. read more

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This easily became my new favorite restaurant! The food was delish and the restaurant itself has a relaxing atmosphere. It is a bit smaller than id prefer but it kind of adds to the intimate feel. Wish i had taken more photos but I had a few of the drinks and appetizers and they were all amazing! Staff is extremely friendly and helpful as well. 10/10 recommend! read more

Salt - So Fresh & So Green - Bars Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

I have been to salt quite a few times and I am never disappointed. They always have interesting seasonal drinks on the menu, and I often like to try their daily drink. I like the drinks because they are more interesting than the drinks I usually order. We often start with the crispy miso pork belly as an appetizer and its delicious! I love the sauce that comes on the side. Im not a big fatty meat person though, so I usually have very little of this dish. Still, it's tasty. My partner almost always gets the tuna dish. We have also tried the gnocchi which was also a great choice. My absolute favorite menu item is the burger! I actually order this every single time I go. I always get the fries with it. I order it medium and have always had it cooked just right. For dessert, my favorite is the chocolate cheesecake. It's rich, but not so rich that I can't eat most of it myself. It is definitely quite chocolatey though, which I love, but isn't for everyone. I wish it came with more whipped cream to even that out a bit, but I still love it. read more

Salt - Panna cotta - Bars Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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Amazing! Highly recommend making a reservation, especially for $55 date night held on Mondays! You get two appetizers, one entree, and a dessert. AND you can share, so it is a really good deal! We ended up ordering another entree because my fiancé wanted to try the Wagyu Burger. The drinks and the food were great! Here is what we ordered from date night for appetizers- the calamari which had a delicious chili vinaigrette and a spicy aioli, the crispy pork belly bao buns. Both were a decent portion and tasted phenomenal!! For the entree my fiancé had the Wagyu Burger and an order of truffle Parmesan fries. He said the Wagyu Burger was one of the best burgers he has ever had! It was cooked just the way he likes it!! I had the crab cake which was very tasty and full of crab meat! For dessert we had the vanilla bean panna cotta which was paired with berries light and refreshing!!! The drinks were also very good! I ordered the Tijuana Apothecary, I would definitely order again! My fiancé had the G&T, also great!!! You should come here, especially for date nights on Mondays!! read more

The atmosphere was dark and moody. The food was amazing and front door was fun to find. A must go read more

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Perfect date spot for a Friday night. I like how Salt seems small at first when opening the doors, which gives it that speakeasy feel. But when looking to the right, has more sections with tables. We didn't have a reservation but we were able to be seated immediately. They got our drinks and food order pretty quickly and frequently checked on us. I like the dim lighting, not a big fan of how loud the music is but it definitely adds to the whole vibe. That wagu burger is phenomenal - soft and savory. My bf ordered it and swears it's one of the best wagu burgers he's had! I ordered roasted mushrooms on the side just to munch on something. My seasonal cocktail was flavorful and refreshing! Would definitely order it again. The drinks are decorated beautifully. read more

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Salt represents one of the few higher end cocktail/speakeasy experiences in Arlington. It served as the perfect setting for pre dinner drinks among my wife, her two dear friends, and I on a recent Saturday. Salt is located directly underneath the more popular Open Road restaurant behind an unmarked door. The ambiance here feels swanky and intimate, with red velvet booths and dim lighting contributing to the speakeasy atmosphere. Our server was super helpful in explaining the flavor profiles of the drinks and assisting with ordering the right cocktails. All three libations we ordered tasted excellent, from the savory bacon washed Salt Manhattan to the uniquely aromatic Girls Just Wanna Have Pho. In fact, the drinks here outclassed many cocktails we had at more highly regarded bars in DC. Prices here are on par with similar caliber establishments and a fair value for the quality. Reservations are essential, as even at 4:00 essentially all tables were occupied. We wished we could stay for another round, but Salt is an excellent speakeasy option if high class drinks and environs are needed in Arlington. read more

Friends and I went on another persons recommendation. It was spot on. It is a a little difficult to find. Keep searching and you shall find. Interesting decor. Dark, soulful music from 1960-1970 era and decor was very pleasing. Check in was disconcerting. It puts me off when host staff ask "do you have a reservation?" It is the tone and delivery which makes or breaks it for a restaurant. We were told there was bar seating only. They were fully booked. Looking around at 5:30 PM there were plenty of tables. It is allays a hard pill to swallow when being treated as second class patrons. There is only the bar, one table and a very small counter to be seated at for eating in the bar. Knowing the drinks are a cash cow, it surprised us how restrictive the seating was. We were fortunate enough to get the table. Now the fun begins. The non-host staff is beyond friendly and inviting. The introductions never stopped. The staff were wonderful. They kept the water filled, table clean and drinks coming. A special shout out to Damarrie (spelling of his name is a guess). Great server, knows his stuff. He knows his drinks and the Salt menu very well. His recommendations were superior. We were never disappointed with what he felt might be a good fit. It made the check in experience less stinging. The tapas were good as a whole, there were a few that did not wow us. There were some where we wanted more. The flavors were clean, complementary and well versed. The bar was the place to be. It was a party with people who knew how to keep the guests happy, comfortable and well taken care of. read more

Absolutely love this place and can't wait to go back! My friend brought me here for my birthday and I'm so happy she did. The food was superb and the cocktails were not only delicious but had great presentation. I ordered the Mo Fia mezcal cocktail which was Smokey and delicious. We shared everything and so glad we did so we could try a lot of different dishes. They switch up their menus and we went when they started their fall menu for this year. We tried the burrata, crispy miso pork, housemade gnocchi, and pappardelle bolognese. Everything was so flavorful and presentation was also on point. My favorite was the crispy miso pork where the meat was very crispy but also so tender it melt in your mouth. The chili glaze and apple gochujang purée was so tangy, sweet and had a kick to it. The housemade gnocchi also came on a bed of delicious veggies of mushrooms, butternut squash, and brussel sprouts. It was difficult to find though, I was lost and my friend had to come out to find me. You don't go up the stairs but instead inside what looks like an office building and then you see a wall of wood. The door handle towards the middle of the wall is the entrance to Salt. You then head down some stairs to be greeted by the host. The ambience is super romantic, dark and sexy. It would be great to bring a date! They also have large booth tables so good for groups. You must make a reservation though as it gets busy. I also appreciated when the General Manager came by each table to check in on how things were going. The staff is very attentive and well trained. I am already thinking which cocktails and dishes I would try next when I visit again! My husband works in Rosslyn so trying to find an excuse to meet up with him at Salt for dinner when he gets off work sometime. The only downside is I really hate parking in Rosslyn. There are paid garage parking nearby but I was lucky to find street parking right on that street in front of Cava. There is a 3.5 hour max on that street but my friend parked on another street nearby that was only 1 hour max so she had to update on ParkMobile. Overall, for the food, drinks and ambience, definitely will go again and I love it when menus can be seasonal so it keeps it interesting and there's always something new to try. read more

Salt - Food was so good, we shared everything! Best way to try all the dishes - Bars Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

I love the entire feel of this bar. It's dark and intimate, a hidden gem in the Rosslyn metro area. Their cocktail menu is unique and I like that they do a new weekly "Captain" cocktail. The truffle fries and pita and hummus go well with their delicious cocktails! I will definitely be back for their happy hour. read more

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This is a wonderful date night spot. The ambiance is very calm and relaxed and the music is not too loud. You can have a conversation with the individuals sitting at the table. read more

Enjoyed my experience here. Cute speakeasy in Arlington, VA. Food and drinks were good. For drinks we ordered the old fashioned and Mo-FiYa. We got some calamari, burrata salad and wagyu burger. Food came out pretty fast. Ambiance was nice. Our server was polite and attentive. Definitely will be back. They almost didn't serve me a drink because my ID was expired. I had to provide them with proof of extension... So they pay attention to everything. read more

Made Reservations on Open Table for a Girls Treat Yourself night & Take my breath away why don't you! If your looking for a date night out. Whether it be with your S.O. x girlfriends x tribe @saltrosslyn will exceed your exceptions. Tucked away adjacent to D.C. You'll want to skip across the river for this restaurant. What started out as a plan to follow the typical coursed meal. Our eyes were bigger than our stomachs all up and through the appetizers. They did have a #Valentinesday menu available with signature dishes and a few desserts to offer. Apps: Hummus with spiced wagyu - that meat melts in your mouth. - The hummus was divine! Crispy Calamari- Top tier. Eye opening! Can't put my finger on the sauce but there was a tartness to it....in a good way though. There's another sauce hiding at the very bottom that's more sweet and my goodness!! Put them all together and it'll blow your mind. Gambas al Ajillo: so garlicky so goodt ! The way that butter just dissolved into the bread oh my?! Signature Drink- Toki'n on the bayou - You can tell it's strong but the smokiness takes all of that away. It was mighty tasty. Truffle fríes- could have done without them but they weren't horrible. If they would have put a dash of rock salt on top it would have been just a tad bit better . The Experience: overall wonderful! 10/10 read more

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So we were excited to try out Salt and arrived early to have a couple of drinks at the bar. The drinks were great and our bartender, Jamar, was fantastic and the only reason this is getting three stars. He is also the only reason we will be back. We sit down to our table and this is where things go awry. Waiter takes awhile to show up, but no biggie. We place a food and drink order and the appetizers show up and that was the last time our waiter (baldish man with a beard) came to our table. We got a charcuterie plate, but never received small plates to use, which was a little awkward, but whatever. We also got the pork buns, which were good. We never ordered dinner bc our waiter literally never came back to the table. This was strange bc he had a table right next to ours and as he took their order and brought them small plates for an appetizer that they hadn't even received, we assumed he would turn around and take our order. But no. At this point we're laughing quietly bc it's just snowballed and was ridiculous. Maybe another 10 minutes goes by and he still hasn't come back or acknowledged us in any way. We've given up on eating dinner here at this point bc we are just frustrated. Miraculously I am able to flag him down and ask for our check. He is completely oblivious to the empty glasses, plates, and doesn't say even a cursory 'oh hey sorry it's busy tonight. I know I haven't been by in 30 minutes.' We wait another 10 minutes for the check. I've only stiffed a server twice in my life, but this guy should have been the third. Despite this, I couldn't make myself do it bc of the awesome bartender, but the tip wasn't great. Unless the waiter was just having a really off night, he is doing Salt a disservice and at least for us, cost them $100 on the evening and if it weren't for Jamar we would write this place off. When we come back, we'll just stay at the bar. read more

Seriously love this place! It's a bit of a drive and parking kind of sucks (we always look for street parking). I'm a little surprised to the bad reviews but to each their own! My fiancé & I are big cocktail lovers and if you've ever watched Drink Masters, literally this place gives Tao vibes. It is a bit dark in here but most speakeasy-esque places are! Drinks are fabulous and we love the random specialty ones. As for food, we haven't tried too much but the Pork Belly, Buns, & Burgers are pretty great! The last time we went, I swear there was a foodie couple next to us and she gave the biggest compliment on a crab dish. Can't wait to explore more food options next time we're here! read more

I loved this place! The ambiance is cozy and the service was top notch. We ordered a bunch of sides to share (charcuterie, truffle fries etc) and loved it so much we ordered whole meals. The cocktails were divine! My mezcal drink came with flames, and the lavender haze cocktail was so dreamy. I'll definitely be back when I return to the D.C. area! read more

Salt - Mezcal was fire- literally! - Bars Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Honestly, this place ended up becoming a favorite of mine and I go here any chance I get. They also made their food menu better so I gotta give it 5 stars. read more

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Holy crap, this place is a gem. I came here for cocktails and was absolutely impressed in every way. The space is well-decorated and classy, the staff is responsive and friendly, and the cocktails are absolutely superb. There's a real effort being made to elevate the entire experience, and it shows. There's not a single thing I can complain about. If you haven't made it here yet, I highly recommend you do so - it's worth every penny. read more

The drinks were well prepared but we sat at a large table and the hanging pendant light fixture was extremely bright and made everyone's face look bad. It was kind of like the lights they use to keep food warm. I decided to unscrew the bulb and the table next to us asked me to do this for their table too. The manager came over and chided us for doing this; apparently they need extremely bright lights so that their customers can see their smoky concoctions. I used a tiki drink umbrella to shield my eyes before we headed home. I guess I'd go back but only to a smaller and better lit table. If you're going with a larger party bring sunglasses. read more

I love this place. I actually have exercise discipline to keep from going there more often because it is, after all, a high end cocktail bar, which should be a treat and not an everyday thing. But unlike a lot of bars with high end price points in DC, the experience itself is *actually* high end and feels very worth it. The ambiance is elegant. The cocktails are elegant. The service is elegant. Even the food is really good, when ar many places I would have expected jusy a cheese plate or something - I love the tuna tartare nachos and my bf says the wagyu burger is among the best burgers he has ever had. The classic cocktails are expertly made and the house cocktails are perfectionistic and nuanced. I don't necessarily love every cocktail I've had because they are very stylized and nuanced and they take risks - they also put smoke in things I wouldn't normally smoke - but that's kind of the point - if everything pleased everyone it would be artless. It's fun trying different things and seeing what works for you. And then when you find a drink that you love, it's a treasure. And then you order 3. And then you start talking about buying your own smoke bubble gun and wanting 3 more orders of tartare nachos. The only thing I didn't care for was the burrata dish - I love burrata but I didn't think the flavors or texture of the panzanella went well with the creamy goodness of the burrata. read more

All these food options were tasty! Can't go wrong with any of them. The service was good and waiters were nice. The place was classy and good for a date night, great vibes. Buns were real crispy and juicy. The short rib was tender and everything on that plate complemented it. I didn't think I'd like the toragashi tuna but that joint was good as well! Drinks were great (amount could be more given the price), even the zero proof one ( bicycle race) tasted great. read more

Great cocktails, great food, and fun atmosphere! We made a reservation for 7:15p. At 7p I got a text saying our table was ready. Upon arrival at 7:13p, our table was no longer ready and we had to wait until about 7:45p to sit down. The staff found us some seats at the bar in the meantime though. They sent us a starter on the house which was nice. The experience really was good overall though!! The calamari was probably the best calamari we've ever had! So good!! read more

Salt - Bars Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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This place is really special. The ambiance is magical, very dark with speakeasy vibes. Always great tunes playing. All staff are really fun and engaging. The food is incredible. I've been here 6 times now, and my favorites are the seared Tuna udon Noodle stir-fry (really flavorful and delicious), the wagyu burger (super rich, and very large- it's a nice one to split), the calamari (perfectly crispy and flavorful sauce) and the hummus with grilled bread (you can order it with wagyu beef, which is amazing... it is the best hummus I've ever had). The crème brûlée is also really great even though that's not my favorite dessert. The fruit sorbet is mango with berries and that is refreshing also. Ps Go on a Monday night (they have a deal: 2 apps, 1 entree, 1 dessert for $55). This is a great deal as this place is expensive. Pps some things I don't recommend are the crab cake (it's tiny and not what you'd expect from a place this nice), and the tuna tartar nachos can be very hit or miss, sometimes too weighed down or wet from sauce/toppings. read more

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