The restaurant group behind two D.C. hotspots has made its first foray into Virginia with a new dining concept in Arlington.
On July 10, The Angie began serving quintessential French fare and classic cocktails in Ballston. The owners of Balos Restaurant Group, who also operate the District’s lively Greek restaurant Balos and the newer, New-York-inspired Bar Angie, hope that the new day-to-night bistro will become a go-to gathering spot for casual weekend brunch, happy hour revelry and polished evening dinners.
“We wanted to bring something to Arlington that we thought was missing,” says Joe Ragonese, who operates the Balos restaurants alongside fellow partners Stefanos Vouvoudakis and Tom Tsplakos. “There’s plenty of good restaurants, but I don’t think the full package of what we’re doing is anywhere in the area.”
A Menu of Old and New Favorites
The new brasserie’s menu, executed by Culinary Director Alex Oradei, shares considerable overlap with its D.C. sibling Bar Angie. The carryover items are pride points, including a bone-in, pan-fried Pork Chop Martini smothered in cherry peppers; the Angie’s Burger, a triple-smashburger with American cheese, red onion, and hand-cut fries; and what Ragonese refers to as “the star of the show”: a Wagyu French Dip served with mozzarella, jus and creamy horseradish.
Joining these reliable hits are new additions inspired by classic French cuisine. Find chicken pâté served with toast points, cornichons and fig jam, as well as Duck au Poivre, featuring a grilled duck breast blanketed in rich pepper sauce and served with more hand-cut fries.
“It fits the motif of the place, and it’s flying,” Ragonese says of the duck. “We’ve had people try it, and they’re coming back and ordering it again on their own, which is really cool to see.”
A raw bar menu features oysters on the half shell and classic shrimp cocktail, along with caviar service, branzino ceviche and tuna carpaccio.
The Angie’s cocktail program also takes a page out of Bar Angie’s book, with several twists on classic cocktails (think margaritas flavored with lychee and mules made with mezcal and passionfruit), as well as a dedicated martini menu with offerings such as Coconut-Espresso, the Filthy Greek (with kalamata olives), and the Fleur de Angie with elderflower and cucumber.
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Exclusive to The Angie is the photogenic Martini Fountain, in which a table’s choice of gin, vodka, or espresso martinis is served in an absinthe-style fountain with chilled glasses for sharing.
“It’s cool for groups. It’s cool for pictures,” Ragonese says.
During daytime hours, an in-house café serves coffee drinks from Vouvoudakis and Tsiplakos’ roastery, For Five Coffee Roasters, and a selection of fresh-baked pastries. Brunchtime brings a roving spritz cart toting $10 cocktails.
Growing Roots in Arlington
The first thing you’ll see when you step into The Angie is its massive, U-shaped bar, accented with deep-green marble and overlooking a meticulously scallop-tiled dining room. Ragonese says the bar is an intentional centerpiece.
“We believe in big bars … especially in a suburban area when you’re meeting new people, and you want new regulars, and you want people to socialize,” he says. “You want someone to be able to come by themselves, or with a group, and maybe not want the formality of a table.”
The team also aims to “bring in a little D.C.” to Arlington, he says, with the aforementioned signature menu items, as well as some design Easter eggs, such as a private dining room ceiling inspired by the one in Union Station.
At the same time, the proprietors hope that Arlington diners will make this spot their own. After just over a month of operation, Ragonese says The Angie already has a roster of regulars.
“We built [The Angie] as a gathering place, like a neighborhood bar, built for people to meet in that community,” he says. “We want to be that suburb restaurant with a little bit of vibe and fullness.”
Find The Angie at 3901 Fairfax Drive, Arlington (Ballston)
