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Dinner and a Movie Under One Roof: Arlington Cinema ’n’ Drafthouse Expands
By
Peter Bryce
You know the feeling. The movie’s over, but it’s still all that you can think about. The drama or comedy you just witnessed on screen still seems real and relevant. You step out of the theater and walk down a long hallway to the lobby with an almost heavy heart, unwilling to admit that it was all just make-believe.
For the duration of that walk, you overhear the conversations: “I thought that was wonderful.” “It sucked.” “What did you think of Denzel?”
Then the crowd files en masse into the outdoors, the conversations stop, and you return abruptly to reality.
It doesn’t have to be that way at the Arlington Cinema ’n’ Drafthouse, which recently added a new bar and restaurant, the Old Arlington Grill, to the premises. With eight beers on draft, popcorn to snack on, and a full dinner menu, this small, slightly gritty bar is a fine spot for moviegoers who aren’t quite willing to let the magic of the silver screen dissipate into the night air.
The Old Arlington Grill is sparsely decorated, letting its six small screens and one big screen (usually showing a classic movie) do the talking. Although the restaurant may be dead during movie time, patrons stream in after a showing to discuss what they’ve just seen over beer and cocktails (including a list of mini-martini specials for $4).
The decor isn’t exactly thrilling: 12 hospital-white tables scattered in an off-lobby enclave with drab, empty walls. (Where are the movie posters? This is a place that begs for some kitsch.) The direct view into the kitchen from the bar further diminishes the experience. The food is simple bar fare (appetizers $6 to $8, entrées $14 to $22). Our hamburger ($6.95) was juicy and tasty.
Still in its infancy, the Old Arlington Grill isn’t a destination in and of itself. But if you’re looking for a quick nightcap where movies are the thing, it’s hard to go wrong here.
2903 Columbia Pike, Arlington; 703-486-2345. Open Sunday through Thursday 5 to 10 PM, Friday and Saturday 5 PM to 1:30 AM (closing times are flexible depending on the last movie showing).
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Comments
So I have heard that the owner laid off the chef because he wanted to use fresh foods and the ower wanted from freezer to hand. Now this place has turned to crap. Why would you have a restaurant if all you serve is warm up microwave stuff that collage kids serve. It obvious that they have never ran a food service business does. You guys have to get exactly what your concept it. Wraps and chicken fingers don’t cut it for me to spend my money. Good luck chef Tony. I hope you open a place next door to them and kick their buts!!!!
Posted by: Ben | May 01, 2008 01:21:48 PM
Don’t listen to Elize E. She is from a rival bar up the street and is biased.
Posted by: Jessica | Apr 23, 2008 01:14:56 PM
I went there 2 weeks ago for a show, and found the food to be sub-par and the service to be terrible! The mozzarella sticks could have come out of a box, and the focaccia chicken was basically on white bread, and the chicken was about one third the size of the bread. Worse yet, the waiter was asked 2 times for water before the manager had to get it for us, and then he forgot to give us our bill. We were late to the show, despite being told we would get priority seating for eating there, because our waiter was so slow. There is no way I would recommend this place, nor would I go there again under any circumstances.
Posted by: Karen | Apr 22, 2008 11:00:34 AM
I agree with Dave. I was just there last weekend and the food was great! I met Chef Tony and he was a great guy. He cares about the food. If they ever get rid of him I will NEVER come back. It’s hard to find a Chef that cares about the food he makes. The bartender is funny and knoes his stuff. It’s a new place and the menu is evolving. Always getting better! Chef Tony ROCKS!!!
Posted by: Isabella | Apr 16, 2008 11:01:55 AM
i have no idea what the hell eliza e. is talking about i just went there this friday night and the menu has up graded to a even better then ever the chef is with the times!!! thats more then i can say for l.a. and the other bars that have just the every day bar food. this food is tops i had the southwestern ancho chicken great and my date had the walnut spinch salad out of this world!!!!!!! the food is fresh the menu is up scale with a twist a little of new school old school all in one the drinks from the bar menu are crazy cool the head bar tender is a fun a cool guy !!!! and yes i did meet the chef his name is tony a great chef from new york city cool guy i told him that we loved the food he gave us a free sample of a buffalo roll wow i have never seen this before great stuff i would like to say that he "the chef
’ is like the next bobby flay just the way he cooks and the menu but i am not the one to give him a star or what ever they give to the chefs these days.the menu on the web site is old and not up dated yet so untill then just go down check it out .some great food then pop in a movie for 5 bucks it’s worth it all the way!!!!!! p.s. the tabels are black marbel why? the hell is that person calling them white and plus there are posters and movies playing all around the grill!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: dave | Apr 06, 2008 12:42:56 AM
I did have the buffalo wraps. I couldn’t finish them, and really wished I hadn’t eaten as much as I did. Their smell even made me feel a little sick. The sliders were beyond mediocre... on the wrong end of the scale. Their desserts were either "unavailable" or had obviously been pulled out of their box in the freezer.
Posted by: Eliza. E. | Feb 21, 2008 11:59:54 AM
Did the Old Arlington Grill happen to open as a NO SMOKING restaurant?? That is the one big drawback with the theatre!
Posted by: Nancita | Feb 21, 2008 11:29:04 AM
Simple bar fare? There are no cheese sticks on it. If you actually looked at the menu you would notice that there is a nice twist to it. And the chef cares.
Posted by: Jon | Feb 21, 2008 10:18:32 AM
Not sure what you are talking about but the tables are not white. They are black marble. And have you had the buffalo wraps? Amazing!!! Don’t see how you can write a review if you only had a hamburger.
Posted by: Ken | Feb 21, 2008 10:15:34 AM
Old Arlington Grill isn’t worth it. Granted, it’s still in its infancy, but the food tasted like it had been pulled out of the freezer (and probably was), warmed up, and slapped on a plate. The mixed drinks were only passable, similar to the quality of the Cinema Drafthouse itself. I love the Drafthouse because of the beer and movies combo, but its food has long been the stuff that would give you horrible nightmares and make you long to be bulimic. The Grill has not really improved upon this standard, and I’ll find some other place for pre- and post- movie chilling, even if it requires walking several blocks away.
Posted by: Eliza. E. | Feb 21, 2008 09:27:34 AM
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