Restaurants

January 4, 2009 - Carrabba's Italian Grill (4/5) [5805 Trinity Parkway, Centreville, VA 20121] Really good chicken dishes and soup. The steak was a bit tough and dry. (dinner: $21)

January 1, 2009 - KFC/Taco Bell (2/5) [5890 Kingstowne Center, Alexandria, VA] Tiny overcrowded dining area, a popular food place for local teenagers. (dinner: $5) (restroom report: 2/4)

December 31, 2008 - Potbelly Sandwich Works (5/5) [401 John Carlyle St, Alexandria, VA] They have the best sandwiches in the world. (lunch: $7)

December 27, 2008 - Bertucci's (5/5) [6525 Frontier Drive, Springfield, VA 22150] Best Italian food in the area. (lunch: $16)

December 26, 2008 - Chic-fil-A (4/5) [1698 Carl D. Silver Parkway, Fredericksburg, VA 22401] Best chicken sandwiches ever. (dinner: $8)

December 24, 2008 - Buffalo Wild Wings (4/5) [12150 Jefferson Avenue, Newport News, VA 23602] Good wings. The sauces are the best part of this place. (lunch: $17) (Restroom Report: 3/4)

December 23, 2008 - McDonald's (3/5) [1701 Carl D Silver Pkwy Fredericksburg, VA 22401] (snack: $2) (Restroom Report: 3/4)

December 23, 2008 - Matsui Sushi (5/5) [6408 Lansdowne Centre, Alexandria, VA 22315] The cooked dishes are the best. The owner is really nice and is always around to chat with the customers. (dinner: $19) (Restroom Report: 4/4 clean and new)

December 23, 2008 - Roy Rogers (2/5) [7013 Manchester Blvd, Alexandria, VA 22310] I have nothing against the restaurant or the staff. The staff is very friendly and helpful. However, I just don't think the food tastes good. (lunch: $7)

December 20, 2008 - Chipotle (4/5) [5955 Kingstowne Towne Center #160, Alexandria, VA 22315] Chipotle is giving Taco Bell a run for their money. They focus on simpler, organic ingredients that make the food taste fresher and seem healthier (lunch: $8)

December 19, 2008 - Burger King (3/5) [5890 Kingstowne Ctr #100 Alexandria, VA 22315] Is it just me, or did Burger King adjust the makeup of their whoppers slightly? Seemed to me like there was less beef and the buns were bigger. Perhaps to cut costs in a bad economy? (lunch: $6)

December 18, 2008 - Kabul Kabob House (5/5) [514A South Van Dorn St, Alexandria, VA 22304] Has a very homey feel to it and polite, courteous staff. The naan bread is excellent. It's Afghan food served with a smile. (dinner: $12)

December 18, 2008 - Plaza Gourmet (4/5) [1940 Duke St, Alexandria, VA 22314] Hot bar and sandwich grill. Sandwiches are grilled to order and have a set price. Hot bar is $5.59/pound for breakfast, and I think $6.99/pound for lunch. They do not open for dinner, as they cater mainly to the nearby US Patent and Trademark Office (breakfast: $8)

December 17, 2008 - Pho Hot Restaurant (4/5) [7442 Little River Turnkpike, Annandale, VA 22003] The soup is among the best Vietnamese soup around, while it's hot. Not so good when it cools down, so eat it while it's still hot and delicious. The inside of the restaurant is very modern and bright with hacked computer monitors mounted on the walls for displaying advertisements. I gave the restaurant a 4/5 instead of 5/5 because of some "shitty face" attitude I got while checking out. Apparently they were displeased that I was leaving early and paying my part of the bill separately, as I was part of a group of 8, and that means they couldn't charge a mandatory 18% tip. (dinner: $10)

December 17, 2008 - Whole Foods Market (4/5) [1700 Duke St, Alexandria, VA 22314] Whole Foods is a grocery store, but they have a very large gourmet hot bar and salad bar, as well as plenty of seating. The food is always very well prepared, but is quite pricey at $9 a pound. The only reason I keep going there is the healthy food choices. So be cautious when you're choosing the foods you eat there... don't be an idiot by getting a big plate of mashed potatoes at $9 a pound. (lunch: $10)

December 13, 2008 - Duck Chang's (5/5) [4427 John Marr Dr, Annandale, VA 22003] Duck Chang Sr. invented the modern method of preparing Peking Duck. You can still have some of the best Peking Duck in the area at Duck Chang's. Duck Chang Jr. is always around and is very friendly and talkative. (dinner:$24) (restroom report: 2/4 a tad old and neglected)

December 8, 2008 - Canton Cafe (4/5) [6396 Springfield Plaza, Springfield, VA 22150] The Chinese food here is usually very good and authentic. The duck is especially good. (dinner: $18) (restroom report: 2/4)

December 6, 2008 - Sunflower Vegetarian Restaurant (5/5) [2531 Chain Bridge Rd., Vienna, VA 22181] Ironically located next door to a McDonald's, Sunflower offers delicious Asian vegetarian cuisine. They make ample use of soy protein in their dishes (lunch: $9) (restroom report: 2/4)

December 5, 2008 - Outback Steakhouse (4/5) [Backlick Road, Springfield, VA] The steaks were a bit dry and tough, but otherwise it was a good meal (dinner: $19)

August 25, 2008 - Pho 495 (5/5) When I first moved to the area 3 years ago I tried every pho restaurant I could find in the area. Pho 495 had the best soup and the nicest people. I still visit regularly for their pho (I almost always order #12), fried spring rolls, and complimentary hot tea. (dinner:$14) (restroom report: 3/4 clean)

August 24, 2008 - Riviera Family Restaurant (5/5) This restaurant is tucked away in the middle of a suburban neighborhood, but was a pleasant surprise. The staff is very friendly and the atmosphere is comfortable. Everything on the menu appears to be prepared fresh to order. I especially liked the garlic knots. (lunch:$15)

August 23, 2008 - Todai (3/5) This is the best sushi buffet I've been to, and buffet-lovers would probably love this place. However, I don't care for buffets because I can rarely eat enough to "get my money's worth". For the price, I can get a more enjoyable sushi meal elsewhere. Todai is about quantity, not quality, as would be evident if you're into sashimi or nigiri sushi. But you're into the California and maki rolls, Todai is the place to be. As a side note, I kind of felt ripped off being charged $1.50 for hot tea. I should have just gotten a soda. (lunch:$22) (restroom report: 4/4 very clean)

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