BookGuy

A friend and I ate at the Del Merei Grill on Mount Vernon Avenue in Alexandria on Friday evening. Friend hadn't wanted to go because she had had some bad experiences in the Calvert Grill that was a prior restaurant at that location. We shared frickles, fried pickle chips, which were tasty enough but a little goes a long way. I had some excellent braised beef with potatoes and collard greens. She had steak with squash. The service was excellent and the beer and wine fine. It seems to be a pleasant neighborhood place with slightly better parking than in downtown Del Ray. The parking lot is rather small.

I’d like to put in a word for Jay’s, my favorite dive bar. It is on North 10th Street in Arlington, about two blocks from the Clarendon Metro. It meets many of the dive bar requirements: greasy spoon food, a pool table, and an eclectic group of clients. And of course, it is rare that anyone drinks anything other than beer. I worry about places like Jay’s which are in the path of progress as is evidenced by many high rises going up in the area. Still, we can enjoy it while it is there.