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Washington-area neighborhoods: In Clarendon, look beyond the chain stores
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2605 Wilson Blvd., Arlington. 703-248-0150. http:/
First off, there's nobody named Earl. So don't ask to speak to him when you want to give somebody a compliment on that Louie (roasted turkey with pesto mayonnaise) or Monty (roasted beef with a homemade barbecue sauce) you just devoured. The Earl of Sandwich is the namesake of the cozy little shop that unlike, say, Cosi, roasts its own meat every day. You can find soups, salads, chilis and delicious hand-cut fries on the menu. But there's a singular focus -- and that's two slices of bread and the tasty stuff that goes in between. Meat dominates, but vegetarians will like the Mona Lisa (grilled eggplant, provolone cheese, roasted peppers, garlic and mushrooms), among others. Two more added bonuses: Breakfast is served all day, and save for the made-to-order crab cakes, nothing costs more than $8.
9. Current Boutique
2529 Wilson Blvd., Arlington. 703-528-3079. http:/
There's no shortage of designer clothing stores in Clarendon, but Current is the only place you'll find them regularly at a discount. It's a consignment shop that doesn't really feel like one -- there is nothing remotely haphazard about the displays in the store, which are organized by type of clothing and by size. You'll find all the usual name brands on the racks -- and select new items -- but many of the best finds are in accessories and bags. The consignment process itself is as straightforward as can be. No appointment is necessary if you have 20 or fewer items. If your item sells, you get half of the money. The store might not take all of your clothes (and it sells only women's wear), but the careful selection process helps maintain the store's high quality.
10. Ray's the Steaks
2300 Wilson Blvd., Arlington. 703-841-7297.
With Ray's the Classics, Ray's Hell Burger, Ray's the Steaks at East River and a handful more restaurants to come (Ray's the Game, Ray's the Glass, Ray's the Catch), its easy to forget the original Ray's and what made it such a hit. Now in its eighth year, Ray's the Steaks may occupy a larger, more modern space, but it continues to offer prime cuts of beef priced for the everyman, free sides and an excellent wine program. One thing that has always separated Ray's from its contemporaries is its outspoken owner, Michael Landrum. Whether you find the iconoclastic restaurateur a folk hero or a boor likely depends on whether he has ever expelled you from Ray's for (allegedly) being rude. Landrum clearly does not think that the customer is always right, fiercely defends his staff and believes that the guest-host relationship is one in which respect must go both ways. Landrum's sometimes uncivil demands for dining room civility are just part of a larger pattern of the owner looking out for the regular folks he sees as his primary customers. In any case, Ray's the Steaks remains one of the Arlington restaurant scene's brightest stars.
