When will the restaurants in “downtown” McLean get better?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:North Arlington is a restaurant wasteland, be happy with McLean!

Are you crazy? North Arlington is leagues better.

Ok then name some great n Arlington restaurants.

Lebanese Taverna and Lost Dog in Westover are good.

Both have declined significantly in quality over the past several years; however there are a lot of new restaurants in Ballston that I'm excited about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A few to try if you haven’t yet: Chiang Mai, Aracosia, Masala, and Dal Grano. I haven’t heard much about Divan but would like to try - and will check out Matchbox eventually. Not sure what forces limit more restaurant options in McLean. Rents may be too high. That building where McL Organic Butcher is has been mostly vacant for over 5+ years, long before Covid.

These are very niche places and Chiang Mai has like 2 tables.

What do you mean "niche places"? They are restaurants.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:North Arlington is a restaurant wasteland, be happy with McLean!

Are you crazy? North Arlington is leagues better.

Ok then name some great n Arlington restaurants.

Lebanese Taverna and Lost Dog in Westover are good.

we saw a cockroach crawl across the table at that Lost Dog. Done.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The new Matchbox opened, and while that would not normally make me excited, it is a big step forward for “downtown” McLean. Please wise insiders of DCUM, when will the restaurants get better?

I really hate to tell you this, but even my seventeen year old DD thinks Matchbox quality is pretty poor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The new Matchbox opened, and while that would not normally make me excited, it is a big step forward for “downtown” McLean. Please wise insiders of DCUM, when will the restaurants get better?

I really hate to tell you this, but even my seventeen year old DD thinks Matchbox quality is pretty poor.

I really hate to tell you this, but you're likely raising a brat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:North Arlington is a restaurant wasteland, be happy with McLean!

Are you crazy? North Arlington is leagues better.

Ok then name some great n Arlington restaurants.

Lebanese Taverna and Lost Dog in Westover are good.

Both of which are also in McLean.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A few to try if you haven’t yet: Chiang Mai, Aracosia, Masala, and Dal Grano. I haven’t heard much about Divan but would like to try - and will check out Matchbox eventually. Not sure what forces limit more restaurant options in McLean. Rents may be too high. That building where McL Organic Butcher is has been mostly vacant for over 5+ years, long before Covid.

Add Amoos. Tachibana. THe new burger place next to Lidl. Esaan. Fahrenheith Asian. El Tio. Capri Italian. There are plenty of food opions in McLean, actually. Also Gilbert's.

Love Chiang Mai.


Are they all great? No. Where are the restaurants all great--nowhere.

I have friends that live in Potomac--there really is NOTHING there. Could be much worse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The major commuter rds go right near downtown. I think the old people have a cabal on dirty pasta restaurants.

Not really. The main commuter route from Arlington to Fairfax is Route 123/Dolley Madison. It bypasses downtown McLean. There's basically one restaurant - J. Gilbert's (a steakhouse) right off of Dolley Madison. Everything else is a few blocks away.

In comparison, Route 123 runs right through the center of Vienna. It means there are more restaurants along that stretch of Route 123 (Maple Avenue) but the congestion is also far worse. And some of the best things that used to be in Vienna - Cenan's Bakery, Rose Kabob, and the Amphora - are gone now.

The restaurants in McLean are mostly patronized by people who live in the immediate area. Say what you want, but MFR has the diner food; there is good Japanese; there is good Thai; there is is the aforementioned J. Gilbert's; there's a good Indian place; there are multiple burger joints now; there's a good kabob place near the Chesterbrook center; there's a bit of fast casual/fast food (Chipotle/Cava/Chopt/McDonald's); a few delis (Santini's, Madison Deli), and a fussy Italian place. There's a Lost Dog off Anderson Road. Now there's a Matchbox as well. And there are a ton more options in Tysons and Falls Church.

[Anonymous]

Have not eaten out in Mclean since Ichiban Sushi closed. Only place we liked.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A few to try if you haven’t yet: Chiang Mai, Aracosia, Masala, and Dal Grano. I haven’t heard much about Divan but would like to try - and will check out Matchbox eventually. Not sure what forces limit more restaurant options in McLean. Rents may be too high. That building where McL Organic Butcher is has been mostly vacant for over 5+ years, long before Covid.

These are very niche places and Chiang Mai has like 2 tables.

What do you mean "niche places"? They are restaurants.

I guess I’m being picky but I wouldn’t bring my family with kids to most of those because they generally serve one type of food, which my kids wouldn’t like. I would go to them on my own.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:North Arlington is a restaurant wasteland, be happy with McLean!

Are you crazy? North Arlington is leagues better.

Ok then name some great n Arlington restaurants.

Lebanese Taverna and Lost Dog in Westover are good.

Cafe Colline
Maya Bistro
Sloppy Mamas
Modo Mio
Charga

Lebanese Taverna, ok. Lost Dog, come on now. Sloppy Mamas, nope. Modo Mio is Joe’s the same except super expensive. Restaurant wasteland. If only they would level that hell hole block on Lee Hwy and George Mason and do something useful.

Clearly you haven't had the pizza at Modo Mio. Yes its the same owner but completely different style.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have not eaten out in Mclean since Ichiban Sushi closed. Only place we liked.

+1 Same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The major commuter rds go right near downtown. I think the old people have a cabal on dirty pasta restaurants.

Not really. The main commuter route from Arlington to Fairfax is Route 123/Dolley Madison. It bypasses downtown McLean. There's basically one restaurant - J. Gilbert's (a steakhouse) right off of Dolley Madison. Everything else is a few blocks away.

In comparison, Route 123 runs right through the center of Vienna. It means there are more restaurants along that stretch of Route 123 (Maple Avenue) but the congestion is also far worse. And some of the best things that used to be in Vienna - Cenan's Bakery, Rose Kabob, and the Amphora - are gone now.

The restaurants in McLean are mostly patronized by people who live in the immediate area. Say what you want, but MFR has the diner food; there is good Japanese; there is good Thai; there is is the aforementioned J. Gilbert's; there's a good Indian place; there are multiple burger joints now; there's a good kabob place near the Chesterbrook center; there's a bit of fast casual/fast food (Chipotle/Cava/Chopt/McDonald's); a few delis (Santini's, Madison Deli), and a fussy Italian place. There's a Lost Dog off Anderson Road. Now there's a Matchbox as well. And there are a ton more options in Tysons and Falls Church.

I don't know if I should ask - what is the "fussy Italian Place"??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:McLean Family Restaurant FTW!

How is that place still in business?

i love ❤️ McLean Fam Restaurant. Go for breakfast sometime! It’s busy.

I have been there 4 times. It was gross. I am done.

+1

What on earth is the attraction? Is the owner of MFR chiming in? So confused.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:McLean Family Restaurant FTW!

How is that place still in business?

i love ❤️ McLean Fam Restaurant. Go for breakfast sometime! It’s busy.

I have been there 4 times. It was gross. I am done.

+1

What on earth is the attraction? Is the owner of MFR chiming in? So confused.

It’s perfectly fine for breakfast, burgers, and sandwiches.

Complaining about MFR is like complaining about the Vienna Inn. You can complain all you want and it will still outlast you.