What are your absolute "must-eats" in NOVA?

[Anonymous]

Gotta give Jaleo a shout out.

[Anonymous]

Mmmmm, Mokomandy. Love that place. Those pot roast sliders melt in your mouth.

Haven't been to Clarity yet but a friend raves about it.

Absolutely agree with El Pollo Rico on Kenmore in Arlington.

Duck Donuts, try the maple bacon.

I've had amazing and so-so dinners at PassionFish in Reston.

I know it's a local chain, but I still adore Clyde's. My favorite is their Willow Creek Farm location way out in Ashburn. Fireplaces, multiple bars, outdoor terrace. There's a lot of history in the buildings.

I've been to Sisters Thai in Fairfax once. It was delicious and very reasonably priced.

[Anonymous]

Me Jana in Arlington
Taco Bamba in Falls Church
Church St pizza is pretty good. Best I have found around here (which isn't saying much)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What about the Italian Style deli across from the McDonalds on Elm street in McLean. Great subs

Next to the bbq place? It is good and the owner is very nice.

[Anonymous]

The gyro at Plaka Grill.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The gyro at Plaka Grill.

This place is really good.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Oh for sure sandwiches at Italian Store in Arlington

Nooo...

Agreed. Blech! I never understood all of the fuss about this place (And I am Italian). The bread they use is tasteless and soggy and the meats are no better than what you buy at a grocery store deli counter. Then, they slap on some onions, oil, and peppers and call it an Italian sub. And they charge you $10.00 for a small sandwich. They have no competition though, and this is probably the only reason for the hype.

If you're from Italy and expecting it to replicate something from home, you've missed the point of Italian Store. It has a title competition now, but it is one of only a few non-big chain sandwich shops.

NP. I don't think Italians eat Italian subs like this, moron.

Aren't you the cutest little button!

I was a very cute baby.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The only must eats in nova are....I got nothing.

Annandale has the best Korean food in the country. Better than NY and better than SF. That is the definition of "must eat."

Nope, not better than LA sorry!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The gyro at Plaka Grill.

This place is really good.

Gyros are good. The other dishes are hit or miss (salad dressing is really bland, chicken often isn't charred enough, and some of their other dishes can be weirdly over spiced/unbalanced). It's weird that Greek salad can be bland, but it's a lesson I learned at Plaka.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mmmmm, Mokomandy. Love that place. Those pot roast sliders melt in your mouth.

Haven't been to Clarity yet but a friend raves about it.

Absolutely agree with El Pollo Rico on Kenmore in Arlington.

Duck Donuts, try the maple bacon.

I've had amazing and so-so dinners at PassionFish in Reston.

I know it's a local chain, but I still adore Clyde's. My favorite is their Willow Creek Farm location way out in Ashburn. Fireplaces, multiple bars, outdoor terrace. There's a lot of history in the buildings.

I've been to Sisters Thai in Fairfax once. It was delicious and very reasonably priced.

I miss Sisters Thai. I used to eat there at least once a week when I worked in Fairfax .

Moby Dick's - several locations - has great kubideh.

Villa Mozart in Fairfax is amazing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:Oh for sure sandwiches at Italian Store in Arlington

Nooo...

Agreed. Blech! I never understood all of the fuss about this place (And I am Italian). The bread they use is tasteless and soggy and the meats are no better than what you buy at a grocery store deli counter. Then, they slap on some onions, oil, and peppers and call it an Italian sub. And they charge you $10.00 for a small sandwich. They have no competition though, and this is probably the only reason for the hype.

If you're from Italy and expecting it to replicate something from home, you've missed the point of Italian Store. It has a title competition now, but it is one of only a few non-big chain sandwich shops.

NP. I don't think Italians eat Italian subs like this, moron.

Another NP. Then maybe the Italian Store isn't the right place for someone looking for authentic food??

As an Italian American who grew up in an area with many great Italian restaurants/delis, the Italian Store isn't perfect, but it's the best nearby in this area.

Italian American and Italian are two different cuisines. Totally different. My mother cried when we found out we were moving to Italy because she didn't like American Italian.....she loves Northern Italian (regional) food. That said, when I saw some place called "the Italian Store", I thought it was an import shop and got excited. When I saw what it was I turned around and left. There is a little place called "The deli" in the K-Mart Shopping plaza in Herndon has really good Italian subs!!

We tried The Deli and were terribly underwhelmed. The search continues!

Litteri's. Red Apron also has a pretty solid Italian-style sub.

[Anonymous]

Taqueria Poblano: great fish tacos, tostadas, and margaritas with fresh lime juice.

If you're willing to journey to Springfield, Afghan Kabob is very good.

[Anonymous]

Greek Salad with chicken at Malek's in Springfield

Pizza from Joe's NT Style Pizza in Kingstowne

Salad with Goat cheese at Mike's American

The Italian Cafe in Falls Church

Etanye Ethiopian in Herndon (the wife cooks, the husband and nephew wait tables and tend bar.)

ozzie Rolls at any GAR that carries them

Salami and butter sandwich served in a split soft pretzel and Swiss bakery

[Anonymous]

the mussels appetizer at Sea Pearl

People will argue over which is the best Peruvian chicken, Korean fried chicken, Korean BBQ, Pho, or Vietnamese sandwiches, but they are all things you must eat while living in NoVa.

Our pizza is really not that great, so don't put that on your short list.

[Anonymous]

Dinner at The Inn at Little Washington