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Careful with the draft beers. They either have old, gross tap systems or do not completely wash their glasses because the beer tastes of asshole. Sketchy bartenders and people who also smell of asshole make dining difficult....On the other hand the wings are delicious and you can't beat 35 cent wings. Just be prepared for the repurcussions as you may be wiping with wonderbread after eating those fireballs. The Chicken Connoisseur gives one thumb down.
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The dude and I went here on Labor day after driving past it this weekend. What a pleasant surprise! It is an average bar and grill, but the happy hour specials were pretty good for the area and my Veggie Delight sandwich was great - albeit a little messy to eat. It had this great mix of portobello mushrooms, roasted red and green bell peppers and provolone cheese. The sandwich was stuffed, so I had to use a fork. Our waitress was very pleasant and we look forward to going for brunch when I'm back in town.
The only downside of the place (and it wasn't really Rhodeside's fault) was the crazy drivers honking outside. They have a great patio area, but beware because some people get confused as to where the driveway to the parking lot is - causing much confusion on Wilson Blvd.
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I'm a big fan of Rhodeside Grill and I think a large part of that is the fact that it's across the street from me. The convenience pushed it from 3 to 4 stars in my book! I don't know if I would seek it out if I was driving, but as a quick place to go it was great. The burger was fantastic and not terribly expensive. I've been wanting to go for brunch, but haven't really had the motivation although I've noticed that's when it's the busiest. When we went it wasn't crowded which made the service fast and friendly. If they were at capacity it might be a different review, but as it was I would recommend it to someone in the area.
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I am a fan of Rhodeside. I would be an even bigger fan if it was non-smoking. After being inside for 2 minutes you REEK of smoke. Other than that, the food is pretty good and the staff is friendly. So, if you smoke you will really like this place.
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Beware of this place on Saturdays during college football season, as the lower level is the watch party site of the University of Texas's DC alumni chapter. The establishment is way too small to accommodate the chapter.
Overall, it's an average bar & grill. The beer on tap at the downstairs bar is good and cold. Stay away from anything barbecue on the menu, though. The sauce is thick, sticky, and almost sickeningly sweet.
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I give it a 4 for the brunch. It's a good , consistent option in Arlington, and is usually less crowded than the places in Clarendon (where lines and waits are out the door at Whitlows and Boulevard Woodgrill). The food is good, but not spectacular. Specifically, I really like the eggs ranchero! They have a bloody mary bar where you can make your own, as spicy as you like. Also, easier to park here than in Clarendon for those coming with family/crowd or for those who don't ride Metro.
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We got drinks here a couple of nights with friends when we were in town for the weekend. Nothing spectacular, but we got good service and they did not skimp on the mixed drinks (always a good sign.)
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This is the closest bar to my house, and yet I probably only go here 5 or 6 times a year. Food is OK, but service is normally pretty slow and aloof. Occasionally service is better, but more often not.
My two regular meals here are the steak salad and the tuna wrap. It is bar food, and you get what you expect for bar food.
Indoors is often pretty smokey, and if you don't like sports bars, you'll want to avoid this place. I've never seen it packed, so if you want someplace where you have room to move, then maybe you should give it a try. And there is outdoor seating in the warmer months, which is dog friendly.
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3.5?
While waiting to be seated at Ray's, my family walked over here to grab a drink, being about a half block away. From the outside it looked like a reasonably decent place, but the inside was pure dive. Not that I'm complaining in the least. It was smokey, the bartender was covered in tattoos, and the beer taps were prominent fixtures in the middle of the bar. I ordered a gin and tonic, and was pleased when the decent-sized glass was more than half filled with gin, then topped with tonic. I didn't actually see the price, so I can't comment, but the drink was nice and strong. It took a little longer than expected for the bartender to notice us, despite an almost entirely empty restaurant, but I'm not holding it against him, really, he was talking to another patron. I'll have to come back sometime and try the food.
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I used to live very close to this bar and would periodically stop in for dinner/drinks.
I have never ever ever ever had a place that was more hit or miss. The first time I went I got a Reuben and my friend had a spicy chicken wrap.
In full disclosure I'm a bit of a Reuben snob. I like certain foods a lot and will almost always try them at a new place. When you're this type of person you can go away happy or miserable because some idiot ruined your favorite food. This is even harder when you're dealing with a Reuben which is not exactly easy to make in the first place.
The Reuben fully exceeded expectations. It was yummy. The bread was cooked just right so it was crunchy and the down side was not soggy by the time you ate. My friends sandwich was also very good. The fries were of the waffle variety but were not as good as even a Friendlies quality. But the sandwiches made me say....YUM.
The next time I went I had a burger (patty melt). Again a great burger and was very happy. Again the fries were lousy. (Also the blue cheese dressing I got on the side was disgusting tasting so if you like blue cheese don't go. In fact i skipped on getting wings here for that reason alone).
But the next time the food was AWFUL. I tried my girlfriends and her's was also very poor. I couldn't believe I was eating at the same place.
Service is good. Lots of smokers which is bad if you're a non smoker. Food can be great...food can be horrible.
Let's just say, I had had a semi-rough Saturday night and my original noon lunch date with Annettka P. had been pushed back to 2 p.m. at this point, so I was really hoping the weather would perk me up and asked A.P for a sunny location but wouldn't be too crowded with the after-church crowd.
In walks Rhodeside with their *are we actually in the parking lot?* seating. We were seated right away as the hostess led us past the ridiculously well-stocked Bloody Mary (SO MANY HOT SAUCES!)bar and out the door to a sunny spot.
If you ever find yourself here, skip the appetizer and grab a garden salad, either as a side or a main meal. It was delicious, with its cucumbers, tomatoes and even big chunks of corn. My lunchin' partner expressed her jealously.
I also got a turkey reuban , which in itself isn't much to brag about, but the fries the sandwich comes with are definitely worth mentioning. Waffle Fries! And according to other reviews they're actually baked, which makes you feel that much better about yourself.
And what took me from a three star to a four star was the music. Did I just hear Pink Floyd... twice?!
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HEALTHY fries? So, it's Thursday night and the youngster hipsters are happy hour-ing. And we needed to grab dinner. So I ordered a chicken philly with fries... and my fries were healthy! They were real potato slices cut in a cross-hatch pattern. And, they were baked so that they still tasted kind of like a baked potato... can't a girl get a transfat-laden serving, anymore? No, they were tasty. At least my hoagie roll was zero-nutrition-pure-sugar-white!
Oh, and the dude singing and playing the guitar sang good songs (gotta love "crazy" and "I still haven't found what I'm looking for"), if you like that sort of thing. So, this place is a good neighborhood hangout.
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I came here last night for the first time with my sister for dinner. The bar was packed with everyone watching the March Madness. We were immediately seated in the dining area. Thank goodness the dining area was non-smoking section, because I'm not sure if I would have lasted through our meal. Our server was very friendly, and knew the right times to inquire how we are faring throughout the meal. I ordered the Rhodeside burger, medium well. It was juicy and pretty big. Despite how much pepper I put on my waffle fries, they were still pretty bland.
A solid 3.5 stars. I definitely have to minus a star, because Rhodeside is not smoke-free. Even though the dining room was somke free, I still had to shower immediately after getting home.
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Rhodeside grill is a fun place for dinner, lunch, or brunch. They have outside seating - which is great for people watching and enjoying the night. People are always sitting outside til late hours. The food is typical American - sandwiches, salads, burgers, pasta, wraps, etc. All that I've tried has been good!
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Started coming here when the Broncos Fan Club selected it as a game-watching bar. Since then, I've just taken a liking to the place. It's never too crowded to get a table, beer and food are inexpensive but great - particularly the 35-cent wings; get a half & half platter and you won't regret it.
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Rhodeside is perfect for take-out if it's convenient. The bar gets too smokey if there is a game going on. Bar staff will be attentive if you are a regular and grease 'em up well.
The wraps and sandwiches are fine. Fries get soggy and starchy quickly. Better items on the menu are the Southwestern Wrap, the Walnut and Blue Cheese Salad, Spinach Dip (served with Tortilla Chips) and Chicken Philly Sandwich. Skip the pastas, there are better places for anything complex, but if you want an easy convenient sandwich in Arlington this is one of your better alternatives.
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Funny Kevin should mention choking...the first time I ate (funny I ate there a second time) there I ordered some kind of vegetarian sandwich in roll form with melted cheese. Being the trusting person I am, I assumed there was no CHICKEN in it and started munching away, 10 seconds later I was choking, throwing up and crying all at the same time in the bathroom.
Granted the waiter was very nice, got me a salad right away and comped my meal (should have comped the whole thing), my trust in prepared foods was shaken for the night. We have eaten here since...my boyfriend likes it. But if you don't eat meat I would stick to the salads.
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The Rhodeside Grill was prominently involved in the best night of my entire life, but don't be fooled by only the four stars. Although the food is rather pedestrian and the beers are moderately priced, this is the ultimate spot to watch Texas football in the metro DC area. Even when the Longhorns are done, it still rivals as one of the best places to watch college sports in metro DC.
Rhodeside Grill your typical american restaurant/bar. Dark wood inside, on the floor and walls. The food is mediocre, with some incosistency when I order my usually philly cheese steak. The selling point for me is the outdoor seating, unlike other neighboring restaurant, the outdoor seating is set up to be more intimate than Cafe Asia or Gua rapo, with not as much foot traffic as it's neighbor. It's nicer to see trees than an office building.
So my brunch team anticipated going to Beacon Bar and Grill. However, half of us were too lazy to cross the key bridge. Lo and behold, Rhodeside Grill with its back facing iL Radicchio's, my favoritest spaghetteria in Arlington, VA. Rhodeside Grill is quite cozy and I love the art on the wall. At least 2 of my senses were fed this past Sunday. I recall there was a painting of a drivethru theater with davy crockett on the wall. Don't you just love randomness?
One of the first things I noticed upon entrance was a mini bar area with tobasco among other hot sauces, endless brands of worchestershire sauce, celery stalks, etc. I'm new to the concept of make your own bloody mary's. For 5 dollars you get about 2 shots worth of vodka in a pint glass and you pour endless amounts of bloody mary mixer along with other condiments to customize your very own. I pulled a "Van of the Dawn"* and did a dash of everything. That was a very bad mistake. My friend, Hassan, followed suit and we both did not like the end result. Needless to say, neither one of us wasted the alcohol. I will, however, have to google the recipe for a perfect Bloody Mary on the next trip.
I'm always gluttonous and looking for a great deal. Quantity with no sacrifice to quality. So I opted for the Ultimate Waffle and Omelette station. I started off with a "Pile as much food as you can on the skillet please sir" omelette. that along with a slice of sausage, 2 slices of bacon, home fries and fresh fruit. I didn't quite finish the first plate, so the $13.45 was not well spent.
In the end, fair pricing, a nice relaxing atmosphere for food and company is what won me over. I would definitely go back and have brunch. Perhaps outdoors next time.
*Van of the Dawn is a character from a Japanese Anime called GunXSword. My main dude, also named Van (pronounced Vaaaaan like how Taj says it in Van Wilder), is known for piling every possible condiment on whatever food he gets a hold of.
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SUNDAY BRUNCH REVIEW
This place is a basic corporate restaurant cum TGI Friday's minus the corporation. You won't be disappointed as long as you don't expect anything beyond the basics. But they do deliver on the basics and at a reasonable price. If you liked that girl you hooked up with last night well enough to let her stay for breakfast but you're not sure how much more beyond that, then this is the perfect spot.
THE BREAKDOWN
As a nearby resident trapped in corporate housing for a few months, I am sure I will be back because it is so convenient, however it is definitely not a destination unless you too live within 1,000 yards.
I sat at a table near the bar and was finally noticed after a good ten minutes. Clearly, the bar staff was about as hung-over as I was. The overwhelming theme for the day could easily be described as "lackadaisical".
The brunch options on the buffet were very basic and I was disappointed to see that you couldn't find eggs or pancakes in any of the chafing trays. Instead, you had to place an order resulting in a wait. Thank goodness it wasn't busy, but I decided to opt for the regular menu anyway. They had all the basics and the AC was great for a muggy summer day.
It will be interesting to see what I think when I return at night.
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This is actually one of a very few places that I don't like. And to be honest, probably 25% of the reason for that is because I choked one time I was there, on the first bite of my wrap and lost my appetite.
Choking aside, I just don't think there's much reason to come here. The food is not very good, it's hard to park (the lot is always full), it's crowded usually, it's not really in a good location.
One of my old roommates loved to come here so I have given it several chances, each time going in with an open mind. And each time leaving disappointed.
If I am in that area, I just prefer to go to the Wendy's drive-thru. At least there I know what I am getting, don't get my hopes up, and am not disappointed.
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i feel like rhodeside is hit or miss. good for a burger, but dont make any special orders. they are often understaffed (last time i was there our waitress was the only server on...and it was brunch time). fun and close to rosslyn (a definite plus) but not the best service in the world. their brunch is good, but a little pricey...and you cant go wrong w/the buffalo chicken wrap.
"Why don't we just go across the street and grab something at that grill place?" she asked.
"Rhodeside Grill isn't exactly classy," I quipped.
"Today's not about being classy."
And off we went. It wasn't classy, it wasn't anything I'd ever write home about... but it was there, across the street. I suppose I was thankful for it, but not overly so.
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Typical bar, atypical food. Teriyaki wings and steak quesadillas are quite delectable.
The Rhodeside Grill is what you'd get if you made all-American food and served it in a place that didn't have Radio Flyer wagons on the wall and overly-perky pinstriped, flair-laden waitstaff.
I took a date here for dinner last night. You see, I was looking for a decent restaurant with a good vibe that served great food without breaking my bank. I'd come here a few times since I've been in DC (too long ago to reliably yelp about before, though), and remembered I'd always gotten good food.
We were seated within about 30 seconds... the place was busy on a Friday night, but not so busy that you've gotta stand around and wait for a table. I don't like to wait. Fun Jason Trivia Tip: when I lived in NJ, the first TGI Friday's in the area opened up with a four hour wait! WTF?? I mean, I've got a weakness for Electric Lemonades, but that was one hell of an intervention. And no, smartass, we didn't wait :)
Okay, so the place was jumpin' and we got seated. Our server, Paul, bore a striking yet passing resemblance to John Cusack from his "Better Off Dead" days. In any event, he was funny, upbeat, provided fast, good service, and was able to walk that fine line: on top of things to know when you needed another beer, but wasn't hovering over you every two minutes (or nowhere to be seen!).
They've got their menu online, and as you can see, they offer all sorts of traditional American goodies, but you can also get wraps n' stuff if you want. The date's tuna wrap was very good (you'll have to take her word for it!). I could have been creative, but no... I reverted back to my default burger with bleu cheese and bacon. Probably the best such burger I get with the exception of, maybe, Sign of the Whale. Fries were okay. Nothing to write home about, but tasty enough.
The verdict: I seem to average a visit here once every few years. I really don't know why I don't come more often. I probably should. The food's good, Stella on draft isn't a ripoff, service has always been good. It's kinda like a Bennigan's without all the negatives that entails, if that makes any sense. It's also by the Courthouse Metro, so unless you live on Capitol Hill or thereabouts, it really isn't that much of a hike. The only potential downside I can think of is that they allow smoking indoors. However, it's confined to a certain area of the building, and they've got ceiling fans going. While you can't smell it that much while you're there, it's enough to stick to your clothes, which was just confirmed by me taking a whiff of last night's shirt (Oy! The things I do for you people!). I wasn't gagging on it or anything, which is pretty good for a former-smoker-turned-antismoking-fascist. But I wanted to warn you nonetheless.
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The location of this place is great for me - easy to walk to, but for those who don't live nearby, it also has it's own lot and plenty of street parking nearby. It's a busy spot for brunch (though I've never been I understand they have a variety of entrees as well as omelet and waffle stations), patio seating (lunch and dinner) and the downstairs pool hall/music venue. The upstairs has a very comfortable decor with mural paintings done by a local artist. The bar area is a great spot to chill with friends when you aren't looking for anything too happening. For lunch the sandwiches and wraps are perfect - served quickly and good, solid food. Downstairs gets a little smokey, but they have featured some great bands.
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There is a serious problem in this area of business owners COMPLETELY relying on location to continue collecting a revenue and staying in operation.. What does this place actually have thats supposed to keep me coming back ? The service is an insult to anyones intelligence.. the food, if it ever makes it to your table, looks like it came out of a frozen dinner box.. The beer is as warm going in you as it is when it leaves you..
I came in on a Thursday evening, around 8pm, and the bar was dead except for a few people getting situated for the live performance that was about to begin on the main floor. I got warm beer and wings that looked like they spent more time under a hot lamp than a fryer.. I must of spent at least 15 min. trying to get the bartenders attention away from his friends at the end of the bar just to answer my question about who the band was that was about to play... when that didn't work i tried to wave the manager down who, i swear, looked at me dead in the face while i was trying to get her attention, and went right back to reading her book or magazine.. a few minutes later i see a couple approach the host stand and wait for what seemed like a good while.. They then walked out with the same stressed look on their faces that i had.. Unimpressed, the managers head fell right back over the obviously intense literature she was perusing.. Finally, with still only a few people at the bar, my lungs just couldn't handle it anymore.. I think i ate two wings and just sipped the beer... I payed and couldn't be happier to leave..
Worst restaurant in Arlington..
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This was the first real bar/restaurant I drank/ate at when I moved up to northern VA. It's a cool place to hang out - the food is pretty good (there's a pesto/chicken/something-or-other wrap and their mashed potatoes are quality) - and they carry good beers on tap. There is a downstairs area that I didn't frequent much, but they used to have live music there on the weekends. They also have a handful of outdoor seating which I nice when the weather is good.
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