What to Eat During Arlington Restaurant Week

Butter chicken at Spice Kraft Indian Bistro (courtesy photo)

Arlington Restaurant Week is back for its third year, spotlighting more than 50 local eateries, including longtime favorites and a few newcomers that are worth a taste. So give your kitchen a rest and make room in your calendar (and your belly) to go out on the town. Below is just a sampler of what’s cooking in area kitchens the week of Oct. 18-25. Visit the Restaurant Week website for a complete list of participating restaurants and menu links in this feast of deals organized by the Arlington Chamber of Commerce.

Spice Kraft Indian Bistro

Restaurateurs Helen Sanjjav and Anthony Sankar and chef Premnath Durairaj opened a second location of their modern Indian bistro (the original is in Del Ray) in Clarendon almost a year ago, where you’ll find a three-course dinner for two ($49) that brings big flavors. Start with spinach pakora chaat, then dig into a bowl of Goan salmon curry or lamb rogan josh, and find a sweet ending in gulab jamun (a milk custard warmed with honey and sprinkled with roasted nuts). The menu specials include several gluten-free and vegetarian items. Each order comes with naan, garlic naan and rice. Closed Mondays. // 1135 N. Highland St., Arlington (Clarendon)

Heidelberg Pastry Shoppe

The beloved European bakery known for its apple strudel and its sausage cart is offering discounts on four menu items through the week. Choose a breakfast sandwich with egg, meat and cheese on a bagel ($4.75) or a croissant ($5.45), both served with a 12-ounce coffee or tea. Or, try one of two lunch specials: a curried chicken salad sandwich with raisins and nuts ($6.25) or a wurst on a roll with potato salad and sauerkraut ($12.95), both of which come with dessert. Closed Mondays. // 2150 N. Culpeper St., Arlington (off Langston Blvd.)

Natural wine at Rako Coffee Roasters (Photo by Drago Tomianovic)

Rako Coffee Roasters

One of Arlington’s newest coffee shops is also an all-day cafe and cocktail bar, serving house-picked strawberries and salteñas in addition to baklava lattes and a negroni made with coffee-infused Campari. During Restaurant Week, pair a cheeseboard (loaded with extras) with a bottle of wine for $50. Open for lunch and dinner, Thursday through Sunday, starting at 11 a.m. // 2016 Wilson Blvd., Arlington (Courthouse)

Tortas y Tacos La Chiquita

Food truck-turned-storefront Tortas y Tacos La Chiquita—which sports a robust menu of its namesake menu items, as well as quesadillas, alambre, flautas and desserts—is offering 15 percent off its food and drinks throughout the week. // 2911 Columbia Pike, Arlington

Sfoglina

Pay a visit to chef Fabio Trabocchi’s upscale pasta emporium for a three-course dinner of select Italian specialties ($45 per person) that go beyond your standard spaghetti. Start with an order of mortadella bolognese with piadina (flatbread) and Sicilian pistachio pesto; then move on to the chef’s ravioli San Leo with goat cheese, lemon zest and fresh herbs. Top off the meal with a blood-orange-infused vanilla panna cotta. Menu offered Wednesday through Sunday. // 1100 Wilson Blvd., Arlington (Rosslyn)

The smoked pork sandwich at Smokecraft Modern Barbecue (courtesy photo)

Smokecraft Modern Barbecue

Pitmaster Andrew Darneille’s refined ‘cue joint, a 2021 Best of Arlington winner, is serving up a three-course menu for both lunch ($25) and dinner ($40). For midday fare, look to the pork belly burnt ends and smoked avocado deviled eggs or, for a lighter option, a smoked beet salad. The dinner menu includes chipotle cherry duck or a half rack of ribs, with banana pudding for dessert. // 1051 N. Highland St., Arlington (Clarendon)

Sushi-Zen

Need a sushi fix? The special three-course dinner ($25-$29) at this family-owned sushi sanctuary starts with miso soup (with the option of adding a garden salad for $1.95); progresses to edamame or seaweed salad; and then invites you to choose from three entree options: a seven-piece sushi combo, chicken teriyaki or shrimp tempura. If you’ve got room for a fourth course, add mochi ice cream for $2.95. // 2457 N. Harrison St., Arlington (Lee-Harrison Shopping Center)

Thai Select

Serving traditional Thai dishes and sushi in Rosslyn since 2019, Thai Select is offering a five-item dinner with drinks for two ($50). Choose two starters (e.g. calamari and larb gai salad), two entrees (such as the “lava lover”—your choice of meat, prepared with tamarind-chili-garlic sauce) and one dessert, with options such as taro custard. The beverage choices include beer, wine, bubble tea or a soft drink as part of the package. //1713 Wilson Blvd., Arlington (Rosslyn)

A breakfast sandwich at The Freshman. Photo by Joseph Tran.

The Freshman

Start the day at Nick Freshman’s National Landing cafe with a breakfast sandwich and drip coffee for $10 (make it a latte for an extra $2) or try a lunch combo ($11.75) with your choice of a half sandwich, a side salad and a cup of soup or chowder. Come the dinner hour, you can choose any two large plates from the menu (with picks ranging from steak frites to seafood linguini to suit your fancy) and pair them with a bottle of wine for $62.50. // 2011 Crystal Drive, Arlington (National Landing)

SER

Javier Candon’s stylish-but-not-pretentious Spanish eatery has a prix fixe menu from which patrons can choose one appetizer, one entree and one dessert ($22 lunch/$35 dinner), with an optional wine pairing ($15) for each course. Highlights include paté de pollo with sherry pearls, berries compote and toasted ciabatta; lomito de ternera (grilled hanger steak) with chimichurri sauce and fingerling potatoes; and torrijas (Spanish-style French toast) con helado with caramel sauce for dessert. // 1110 N. Glebe Road, Arlington (Ballston)