The Food Austin Network

Mario’s Pizza - 3322 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA - (703) 525-0200

Mario’s has been an institution in Arlington since 1957 - and for about the same amount of time they’ve been a haven for late night eaters. The menu includes some of the typical American staple dishes, meaning, Pizzas, Cheesesteaks, and fries. The pizzas are somewhat unique, they come in squares and are pretty tasty. The wonderful thing here though is that the preparation is quick and painless, so you can fueled up and get on your way into the city or on your way back home after a night of partying. While Mario’s is a pizza joint, the cheese steaks as mentioned before are very tasty as well. If you head in there late at night you can catch the hunks of meat tossed onto the stove, and one of the cooks pulverizing it until it ends up tiny slivers of meat that they pile on your submarine roll. Mario’s is reasonably priced and offers a variety of options for less than 10 bucks. They are open and serving up food until 5am so if you find yourself out after last call and in the mood for some food –a very rare occurance, I’m sure– you should definitely check out Mario’s.

Price: $ (under $10)

3000 K Street, NW Washington, DC 20007 - 202-944-4545

If you are the type who likes to be seen, then Tony & Joe’s is the right place. Located on the Georgetown waterfront, its ample outdoor seating and bustling atmosphere make it a huge draw for the working professional crowd. Aside from the terrific views of the Potomac river and skyline of Rosslyn, Tony & Joe’s boasts some delicious seafood. The shrimp & spinach platter that includes 4 jumbo prawns with lightly sauteed spinach on top is highly recommended. Also a hot item is the lobster fettuccini. On nice cool nights during the summer, Tony & Joe’s can become quite crowded. The surrounding area makes the wait almost enjoyable but you have to get started right away there are 3 bar areas within the restaurant where waiting for a table is a whole different experience.

Price: $$$ ($30ish per person)

Ravi Kabob - 305 N Glebe Rd, Arlington, VA. - 703-522-6666

Ravi is one of your classic success stories. It is one of those places that started out as and has remained a hole in the wall. As the name suggests, the Kabobs are the main draw here. The Boneless Chicken which has become a standard offering at Pakistani and Indian restaurants in the area is especially wonderful. The meat is really tender and extraordinarily juicy. The chick peas that come with almost all the dishes are also a treat. They are greasy but well worth it. You should also try the Chutney, the spicy yogurt sauce that comes with the dishes, it proves to be a great topping for the kabobs. If you’re looking to experiment, you’ll notice many of the customers ordering the Karahi, a spicy chicken or lamb curry served with Naan. This is a typical Pakistani dish that is known to be very good but also not for the faint of heart. As a side note, Ravi can get extremely crowded on the weekends and at dinner times, with a crush of local neighborhood types, taxi drivers and young people coming off of work.

Price: $ ($10ish per person)