Originally Published 01/20/00
Bar: Clarendon Grill
Where: 1101 N. Highland St., Arlington, Va. (Clarendon Metro stop)
Crowd: twenty- and thirtysomethings
Getting in: Anyone can get in for dinner but booze is another story
Prices: Moderate
Food: Not very tasty but quite affordable
Dancing: If you want to get down to live music in a tight space
Pick ups: Great spot for groupies interested in musicians and jocks
Pluses: Colorful d?cor and live bands
Minuses: Lousy grub
Clarendon Grill is a great place for anyone interested in having a good time slightly outside the beltway. Located in the middle of citified suburbia in Arlington, Va., the grill offers patrons the best of both worlds.
The restaurant/bar is conveniently located right off the Clarendon Metro stop. The ambiance is a mix between a sports bar and a live music venue. Local bands like Gonzo’s Nose, Mile Post Nine and The Huge frequent the bar as patrons and performers on a fairly regular basis. Televisions that appear to dangle from the ceiling are always turned to the most exciting sports events.
The cozy bar, which stands at the center of the room, is a great place to meet and greet the locals. The bartenders, waiters and waitresses seem to know most of the regulars. As a result, they tend to check for proper ID whenever outsiders try to order a drink.
Anyone interested in getting a bite to eat should look down the street for another option. Be especially wary of the nachos – just take the Bar Belle’s word on this one. The menu includes snacks and entrees – everything from wrap sandwiches to buffalo wings. Everything sounds delicious, but the chefs try to pass watery tomato sauce for salsa. Need I say more?
Clarendon Grill may not be the place for your taste buds, but it’s the perfect home for entertainment. The best part – every Tuesday night from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m., the grill offers half-price happy hour in honor of Less Traveled.
Less Traveled is a D.C. band that combines funk, rock and Motown, and they perform at the grill on Tuesdays. You can read all about them on Clarendon Grill’s spiffy Web site, www.cgrill.com.If you go on a full stomach, and you have the urge to drink beer and sing local anthems, then Clarendon Grill is sure to delight.
