Italian Restaurants in Arlington/Alexandria

I have lived in the DC region going on 7 years and have had a difficult time finding decent Italian restaurants that don't cost an arm and a leg. There are quite a few in Baltimore, but you're likely to find better Peruvian or Ethiopian here than Italian cuisine. I am pretty happy with three as regular eating "haunts:"

1. Cafe Italia - This Crystal City restaurant on 23rd Street in Arlington serves basic Italian food, no frills, but their menu is traditional and their marinara sauce (or gravy) is possibly the best in the Beltway. Sometimes the service is frenetic and the atmosphere isn't Le Cirque, but I go to eat not oggle the space.

2. Atlantis - King Street's Bradlee Shopping Center in Alexandria, near Farlington Towne, is this host to this neighborhood landmark. They have good Italian offerings and pizza, but their Greek is better. The decor is out of My Big Fat Greek Wedding, but I don't care.

3. Mom's Pizza Restaurant - At the intersection of Glebe Rd and Columbia Pike, this small place with pre-modern decor (I think there's a theme here) is better than just an adequate pizza palace. It serves up some great Italian. Their basic garlic bread is also the best in the area, bar none. Their Lasagna is also very good.

These places probably aren't of the local grown/organic/hormone free school, but their food is consistently tasty, and, to me, that's what counts. I know there are more renown places in the area, but these three places are great values and should not be confused with the Cafe Milanos and Toscas of the region.

Best and Worst of Alexandria/Arlington Neighborhoods

After some very rigorous, totally scientific, analysis the bloggers around Shrlington Circle have decided to award the following neighborhoods as the Best and Worst in Alexandria/Arlington.

Top 3 Neighborhoods:

1. Parkfairfax - Where can you get parks, public transit, and easy (affordable) living, all rolled into one? 1/12th houses, 11/12ths greenspace...you don't get that anywhere in the DC region.

2. Shirlington - While the restaurants tend to be overrated, it's got great movies/arts, transit, and a state of the art workout facility, without the fratboy scene of the orange line. It also has the Cadillac of supermarkets, Harris Teeter.

3. Delray/Rosemont - Yes, there is a bit of upper middle class yuppieness about Rosemont/Delray, this neighborhood is quite, well maintained, and all about family.

Bottom 3 Neighborhoods:

1. Landmark - Traffic is a mess (try not hitting the pedestrians). Shopping is spread out and rundown. If you like communist bloc architecture, this is your place.

2. Crystal City - The metro, the great companies (like PBS and Lockheed) and underground make this neighborhood tolerable, but there's a total lack of personality here. Concrete Chic.

3. Ballston - Frat party atmosphere with housing prices only 4 roommates could love. I mean, really, let's get some professionalism. The night out attire requires a half-buttoned down collared shirt for men and too much make-up and leggings for women (of all ages). But on the upside, the National Science Foundation is there.

Shirlington Circle on I-395

I like to consider the Shirlington Circle on I-395 as epicenter of all that's hip and cool in Arlington and Alexandria. Around the circle you have Fairlington, Parkfairfax, and Shirlington Village, and from this hub of urban living sprouts a dynamic region that capitalizes on culture as well as bad driving. As you venture further out Ballston, Clarendon, Fairfax, and the land where taxation and no representation await. Shirlington Circle is the hub of the Nation's capital's wheel. With a healthy dose of sarcasm, this blog will comment on daily life in these neighborhoods and the region at large. I hope you find something to read and enjoy. Come back often.