cheezepowder Posted July 3, 2008 Posted July 3, 2008 In the former India Curry House spot, there's now a name on the window and hours and a web address on the door: Spider Kelly's (see the about section).
cheezepowder Posted July 3, 2008 Author Posted July 3, 2008 by the way, it didn't look open when I walked by yesterday but maybe someone around here will post on when they're opening.
Michael Landrum Posted July 3, 2008 Posted July 3, 2008 I wonder--will they have a dress code or a cover charge?
Tweaked Posted July 3, 2008 Posted July 3, 2008 I wonder--will they have a dress code or a cover charge? no dress code. no cover. ever.
edenman Posted July 3, 2008 Posted July 3, 2008 100% BeefRespect the pig. 1/2 pound of house ground beef.
monsterriffs Posted July 3, 2008 Posted July 3, 2008 Hahahaha. DOES NOT COMPUTE. I'd me far more intrigued if this place was called "Spider Jerusalem's"
Nick Freshman Posted July 4, 2008 Posted July 4, 2008 Hi Everybody, Sorry I haven't jumped on earlier, but we've been frantically trying to get ourselves ready for primetime. We're shooting for sometime next week. We took over the space at the beginning of May, so the pace has been akin to barreling down a hill with no brakes. The menu on the web site has been updated to reflect what you will see in person, but the one that some of you may have seen already was very similar. We will be grinding all the burgers daily (including the chicken--trust me, it's good), and just about everything will be made from scratch. We will have two grinds for the beef--one mixed with fatback and one without. Try the one with fatback; it's gooood. The man behind the line is Steve Candler, late of Farrah Olivia and Poste. We have a list of about 20 beers, and a selection of wine that is reasonable, eclectic and very tasty (in my unbiased opinion). I think you will find that across the board, our drink prices are pretty good. Our General Manager is my brother, Ben Freshman, and he should be posting on here at some point as well. He is also the man responsible for the photos on the web site and the walls of our space. I hope that you will all come by and see us to say hi. Oh, and by the way, for no particular reason I feel compelled to point out so that no ambiguity remains--we do not have a dress code and there is indeed never a cover charge...
catharine Posted July 7, 2008 Posted July 7, 2008 Nick - thanks for posting. I'm looking forward to stopping by when you open, so keep us posted. Best of luck!
Apples & Bananas Posted July 9, 2008 Posted July 9, 2008 Nick - thanks for posting. I'm looking forward to stopping by when you open, so keep us posted. Best of luck! They opened tonight. Stopped by randomly and was very happy with the product. I had the veggie pita which was everything you could ever want in a veggie pita. The veggies were cooked perfectly - just the right amount of crunch - with great goat cheese and a fantastic pita. The girl got the chicken burger, which was very moist and very flavorful (which was surprising being it was a chicken burger). The menu is very affordable, and the service was spot on, friendly, and informative. They didn't have a dessert menu yet, but I'd imagine they will by week's end. Also it doesn't look like they'll be open for lunch, but they'll be open late (2am-ish) I'm so glad to see so many independent restaurants not only opening, but really thriving in Clarendon. In another year or two the stretch from Liberty Tavern down to Ray's (which is beyond Courthouse, but still) might be the place to be in NoVA. Makes me really glad I live there.
liz2041 Posted July 9, 2008 Posted July 9, 2008 Me too but let's not lose any more of the variety then we already have, or perhaps add some more back in. That stretch was filled with independent restaurants of the ethnic variety (Queen Bee, Atami, Little Viet Garden, Curry House, the Chinese place with the menu written on the wall). They might not have been the best, but they were different. I enjoy the Liberty Tavern/Restaurant 3/Spider Kelly/Eleven/Woodgrill/Harry's places just as much as the next guy. And although they have their differences good and bad and small and large, remember when Whitlow's was just about the only place to get "American" food between Ballston and Rosslyn?
Dave Pressley Posted July 9, 2008 Posted July 9, 2008 Me too but let's not lose any more of the variety then we already have, or perhaps add some more back in. That stretch was filled with independent restaurants of the ethnic variety (Queen Bee, Atami, Little Viet Garden, Curry House, the Chinese place with the menu written on the wall). They might not have been the best, but they were different. I enjoy the Liberty Tavern/Restaurant 3/Spider Kelly/Eleven/Woodgrill/Harry's places just as much as the next guy. And although they have their differences good and bad and small and large, remember when Whitlow's was just about the only place to get "American" food between Ballston and Rosslyn?Try Kabob Bazaar, Nam Viet, Tieng Thai, Guarapo, Mexicali Blues, Cafe Asia, Delhi Club, Il Raddichio, Sette Bello or any of the many, many other independent ethnic restaurants in Clarendon. Clarendon is an extremely diverse area as far as restaurants go and it's a great time to be in the area! Spider Kelly's is a fun little American joint that is certainly welcome on the block. In the interest of full disclosure, Nick & Nick are friends and business partners of mine at Eventide, so I'll refrain from any specific comments on Spider Kelly's. I just wanted to address the "we have enough American restaurants here" thing. I'm not interested however, in starting a debate.
ngdb Posted July 9, 2008 Posted July 9, 2008 I live down the street and while I have been very sad to see some of my favorite delicious, cheap dining options leave, I am SO glad it is not another Irish bar. I'm hoping this will be a new regular option for me and my friends - and not too much of a scene. I think I'll be stopping by tonight - will report back tomorrow.
liz2041 Posted July 9, 2008 Posted July 9, 2008 Try Kabob Bazaar, Nam Viet, Tieng Thai, Guarapo, Mexicali Blues, Cafe Asia, Delhi Club, Il Raddichio, Sette Bello or any of the many, many other independent ethnic restaurants in Clarendon. Clarendon is an extremely diverse area as far as restaurants go and it's a great time to be in the area! Spider Kelly's is a fun little American joint that is certainly welcome on the block. In the interest of full disclosure, Nick & Nick are friends and business partners of mine at Eventide, so I'll refrain from any specific comments on Spider Kelly's. I just wanted to address the "we have enough American restaurants here" thing. I'm not interested however, in starting a debate. Nor am I, just stating a personal observation. I find the options steps from my front door dizzying and that is a fantastic thing. I appreciate and thank all of you for bringing the new places in and making the neighborhood that much better. Bethesda can go pound sand! Perhaps we can all join forces and get rid of "the place that shall not be named" with the gold dome down the street. Think of all the square footage you guys could play with there! Plan to meet friends at Spider's this evening and very much looking forward to it. Question - is it non-smoking?
Dave Pressley Posted July 9, 2008 Posted July 9, 2008 Plan to meet friends at Spider's this evening and very much looking forward to it. Question - is it non-smoking?Absolutely non-smoking throughout the restaurant. Be sure to ask for Ben, the GM, and give him your opinions about the place. He's really interested in menu feedback at this stage.
Roo Posted July 10, 2008 Posted July 10, 2008 Sat at the bar and tried the "Three Day Chicken." A full meal (half a chicken) for $10. I'm pretty sure the chicken, which is described as being brined for two days and marinated with garlic and cumin for one, is an homage to El Pollo Rico down the street, especially the "zesty rico sauce" that accompanies the dish. I think it also compares very favorably, coming out juicy with a crispy enough, and spicy enough, skin. The bar is smaller than I thought, and I actually had to wait a bit to grab a seat. But the regular seating in the restaurant is self-service, first-come-first-serve, which is a clever concept. Next time I think I'll try the burger, as it is clearly the centerpiece of the menu. I hope they also plan to serve food late (til midnight at least) -- it is tough to get food late at night in this neighborhood.
Nick Freshman Posted July 10, 2008 Posted July 10, 2008 Sat at the bar and tried the "Three Day Chicken." A full meal (half a chicken) for $10. I'm pretty sure the chicken, which is described as being brined for two days and marinated with garlic and cumin for one, is an homage to El Pollo Rico down the street, especially the "zesty rico sauce" that accompanies the dish. I think it also compares very favorably, coming out juicy with a crispy enough, and spicy enough, skin. The bar is smaller than I thought, and I actually had to wait a bit to grab a seat. But the regular seating in the restaurant is self-service, first-come-first-serve, which is a clever concept. Next time I think I'll try the burger, as it is clearly the centerpiece of the menu. I hope they also plan to serve food late (til midnight at least) -- it is tough to get food late at night in this neighborhood. You pegged it right. Years of admiring and studying the birds at Pollo Rico led to this product. We think we got it close, and I am really glad that you liked it. We're using four pound birds as well, which puts a lot of food on the plate. We are planning on staying open until last call every night, and we are planning on serving food every minute that we're open.
ngdb Posted July 10, 2008 Posted July 10, 2008 Went last night with 3 friends. I was a bit surprised, the bar was smaller than I expected. I think the impression I had gotten before going was that this was a bar that served food. But it is really a restaurant. The space was nice and the people were friendly. Our server was sweet, but seemed a bit nervous (which is to be expected having just opened). We ordered a bottle of Chenin Blanc and my boyfriend got a vodka tonic, which he liked. The server brought the bottle to our table having opened the screw top, but didn't pour it. I'm fine with this I think, but since he didn't pour it, he wasn't there when we found out that although the outside of the bottle was chilled, the wine was warm. When he came back, I told him it was warm and asked if he had an ice bath or something he could throw it in to cool it quickly. He said he could take it behind the bar. This was fine, but annoying - especially since we tend to run through a bottle of wine fairly quickly, and don't really want to wait for it to chill. My friend got the burger. Her comments was that is was nice, but the bun was way bigger than the burger and the meat itself, while the texture was nice, was bland. I tasted it and agreed. I really like the fridge sauce. We also got a side order of rosemary and garlic fries. These - not good. And $6! I thought that was a lot of money for a cup of fries. We found them to be mushy and bleh. I love fries, so even average ones are good to me. But not these, at least not this batch. Overall, we thought it was a nice addition to the neighborhood, although we were all a bit perplexed about what kind of personality/niche it is traying to make for itself. But we all agreed that we would go back, and we want it to succeed.
cheezepowder Posted July 12, 2008 Author Posted July 12, 2008 We went here the other night and are glad to have another late night dining option. I tried an appetizer and two of the side dishes. The buffalo chicken appetizer came with 3 skewers of chicken chunks, maytag dip, and a garnish of thin celery slices that were battered and deep fried. This was my least favorite dish because the buffalo sauce was sweet and didn't have the vinegar tang of a typical buffalo sauce. I liked the cardiac mac and cheese. It was pasta spirals with a creamy cheesy sauce with melted cheese on top (with crisp cheese bits). We also had the French fries which were moderately crispy and ok, but the best part was the deep fried whole garlic cloves that were interspersed with the fries. The garlic cloves were easy to pop out of their papery skins and were soft and like eating roasted garlic. I'll order the fries again just so I can have more of that garlic.
Nick Freshman Posted July 12, 2008 Posted July 12, 2008 Our server was sweet, but seemed a bit nervous (which is to be expected having just opened). We ordered a bottle of Chenin Blanc and my boyfriend got a vodka tonic, which he liked. The server brought the bottle to our table having opened the screw top, but didn't pour it. I'm fine with this I think, but since he didn't pour it, he wasn't there when we found out that although the outside of the bottle was chilled, the wine was warm. When he came back, I told him it was warm and asked if he had an ice bath or something he could throw it in to cool it quickly. He said he could take it behind the bar. This was fine, but annoying - especially since we tend to run through a bottle of wine fairly quickly, and don't really want to wait for it to chill. My friend got the burger. Her comments was that is was nice, but the bun was way bigger than the burger and the meat itself, while the texture was nice, was bland. I tasted it and agreed. I really like the fridge sauce. We also got a side order of rosemary and garlic fries. These - not good. And $6! I thought that was a lot of money for a cup of fries. We found them to be mushy and bleh. I love fries, so even average ones are good to me. But not these, at least not this batch. Thanks so much for coming in the other night. I bought some white wine chillers for the tables, and we have been shuffling cooler space to make sure the bottles are coming out cold. I really like that Chenin Blanc, and it tastes great with a little chill. Next week we are switching bakeries for our bread to go with something that fits a little better. The challenge is finding a bread that can hold up to the burger and doesn't turn to soggy mush. We keep the patties loose and there are a lot of toppings to choose from, so the bun needs some body. As to the burger itself, we season the grind, but it always helps to have some extra salt and pepper when it hits the grill. We'll iron that out as well. The fries you got were way smaller than the spec for the portion, and you won't see those again. As far as the consistency, I can only guess they were pulled from their second blanching a little early. Another easy fix.
susanmab Posted July 22, 2008 Posted July 22, 2008 I am over the moon to have another late night food option. No disrespect to Bob & Edith's or Kabob Palace, but this excites me much. Can't wait to stop in.
Nick Freshman Posted July 22, 2008 Posted July 22, 2008 I am over the moon to have another late night food option. No disrespect to Bob & Edith's or Kabob Palace, but this excites me much.Can't wait to stop in. And we look forward to seeing you. Seems the Going Out Gurus already made it by. They nailed it as far as the congestion when it gets busy, but it is a problem we are working on diligently. By the way, we are offering 1/2 price bottles of wine on Sundays and 1/2 price burgers on Mondays in addition to beer specials through the week.
kneelconqueso Posted July 22, 2008 Posted July 22, 2008 And we look forward to seeing you. Seems the Going Out Gurus already made it by. They nailed it as far as the congestion when it gets busy, but it is a problem we are working on diligently. By the way, we are offering 1/2 price bottles of wine on Sundays and 1/2 price burgers on Mondays in addition to beer specials through the week. i was really excited about spider kelly's and finally got to stop by last night. our waitress was really nice. my girlfriend had already eaten, but came along for dessert. unfortunately, spider kelly's was out of both of the desserts she wanted to try (chocolate creme brulee and the cookies and milk). so my lady was very disappointed. after seeing the daily special was half-priced burgers, i ordered the spider kelly burger medium rare with cheddar and the cardiac mac and cheese (i am a mac and cheese ADDICT). the burger came out VERY well-done, another big disappointment. it was still pretty tasty, the pork fat really helped. but it was extremely crispy, more like breakfast sausage than a burger. the mustard, roasted tomatoes, and the honey-onion marmalade were all awesome. next the mac and cheese. it completely lacked sauce. the noodles themselves were perfectly done, but it seemed the cook had simply mixed together some cheddar and macaroni and baked it, leaving a bunch of rubbery cheese on top, and a huge pool of yellow grease on the bottom. after i asked for the check our waitress brought it back promptly, but charged us full price for the burgers. i inqured about what i had assumed was a mix-up and she said 'oh, thats only till 8'. neither my girlfriend or i could remember seeing time restrictions for the special on the menu. this was another big disappointment. especially since we were charged 9 dollars for a burger that didn't even come with french fries. she was very nice and courteous and asked if we liked everything about our meal and i told her the burger was FAR past medium rare, and the mac and cheese was greasy, but she offered no recourse. i still have a bit of confidence in spider kelly's but i won't be going back often at those prices with that number of issues. 25 dollars for a burger, side dish, and two beers is over the top, especially given the service issues.
u-bet! Posted July 22, 2008 Posted July 22, 2008 Welcome, kneelconqueso! she was very nice and courteous and asked if we liked everything about our meal and i told her the burger was FAR past medium rare, and the mac and cheese was greasy, but she offered no recourse. To clarify, did you let her know about the overcooked burger and the greasy mac and cheese when you were served, or only after you got the check and were ready to leave?
kneelconqueso Posted July 22, 2008 Posted July 22, 2008 Welcome, kneelconqueso!To clarify, did you let her know about the overcooked burger and the greasy mac and cheese when you were served, or only after you got the check and were ready to leave? i was starving, didn't want to wait on my entire order to be recooked, so i mentioned it at the last minute. i wasn't expecting to be comped or anything, but it would have been nice to at least have received my burger at the price i expected.
Nick Freshman Posted July 22, 2008 Posted July 22, 2008 i was really excited about spider kelly's and finally got to stop by last night. our waitress was really nice. my girlfriend had already eaten, but came along for dessert. unfortunately, spider kelly's was out of both of the desserts she wanted to try (chocolate creme brulee and the cookies and milk). so my lady was very disappointed. after seeing the daily special was half-priced burgers, i ordered the spider kelly burger medium rare with cheddar and the cardiac mac and cheese (i am a mac and cheese ADDICT). the burger came out VERY well-done, another big disappointment. it was still pretty tasty, the pork fat really helped. but it was extremely crispy, more like breakfast sausage than a burger. the mustard, roasted tomatoes, and the honey-onion marmalade were all awesome. next the mac and cheese. it completely lacked sauce. the noodles themselves were perfectly done, but it seemed the cook had simply mixed together some cheddar and macaroni and baked it, leaving a bunch of rubbery cheese on top, and a huge pool of yellow grease on the bottom. after i asked for the check our waitress brought it back promptly, but charged us full price for the burgers. i inqured about what i had assumed was a mix-up and she said 'oh, thats only till 8'. neither my girlfriend or i could remember seeing time restrictions for the special on the menu. this was another big disappointment. especially since we were charged 9 dollars for a burger that didn't even come with french fries. she was very nice and courteous and asked if we liked everything about our meal and i told her the burger was FAR past medium rare, and the mac and cheese was greasy, but she offered no recourse. i still have a bit of confidence in spider kelly's but i won't be going back often at those prices with that number of issues. 25 dollars for a burger, side dish, and two beers is over the top, especially given the service issues. Welcome to Rockwell kneelconqueso! Kind of... Joking aside, many of the issues that kneel brought up we are aware of, and I have addressed in the PM I sent to him/her. The fact is, we are having a few growing pains. We opened quickly and are still trying to get ourselves stable--but we make vast strides everyday, and the staff is working very hard. I just wanted to clarify that the burger special will run ALL NIGHT on Mondays. That was a miscommunication with the staff. Thanks.
beezy Posted July 30, 2008 Posted July 30, 2008 Hang on kids, I'm going invent a meme: the black toilet restaurant. There's a whole crop of places that wants to be your new neighborhood bar, yet be refined and upscale so they can charge you $8 for a burger. They remind me of a teenager who wants to impress his date. He focuses on wearing a nice tie, presses his shirt, puts on the fancy jeans, but forgets to not wear his gym shoes. Like any teenager, there's maturity problems. Spider has been open two weeks, and cheerfully admits that they're still fine tuning. I see potential, but I'm waiting for another month for a return visit. Places like this try really, really hard, and under it all, they're really nice. They focus a lot on decor, ambiance, and service, and try to be super cool. Spider Kelley's is no exception. It's decorated like a hipster lair, with that slate gray on the walls, fancy sparkly marble tables, galvanized fixtures, irridescent tile, and yes, a black toilet to go with the marble sink. The service is very enthusiastic, and they're bending over backward at the front of the house. Still, it's too dark in the dining room, the music is about 20% too loud, and sometimes, your waiter can disappear. The food is really, really good, except when it is horrible. First the portions are HUGE - sides really will serve 2-3 people; salads are on platters. We started with a lemongrass beef appetizer (wisely deciding to share after seeing it come out of the kitchen). It was a decent 4-5oz cut of nicely cooked medium rare meat, flavored with traditional Vietnamese spices, service with a nice sauce. It reminded me a lot of the departed Cafe Dalat, except more luxurious. Spider's headlines burgers, including the Spider Burger, featuring a chef's mix of meats, including pork fat (YES!). This is one of the items that seriously needed tweaking - way too heavy on the pork fat, which made the whole thing taste like an old pork rind. The bun was stale, the condiments scanty. I can see how this burger is GOING to be a good idea, but wait til they get the kinks out. All burgers come with astoundingly good homemade-tasting spicy pickles worth a visit on their own. Spider Burger was sent back to the kitchen, only to be replaced with the hands-down best mac and cheese in DC. Eff your effeminate lobster mac n cheese - the 'cardiac' is super cheesy, creamy, and not in the least floury (you know who you are), served piping hot (you also know who you are) with a good crust of cheddar on top. I know some Velveeta is involved somewhere, in the best possible way. This places me at the gym for another 45 minutes, but it's all worth it. We also had the fish, which was a mixed bag. It was a generous cut of fish, but a little overcooked and stale tasting. However, it was topped with a really nice lightly pickled asian flavored mix of onions, peppers and cilantro. Grilled asparagus is good quality, fresh produce, grilled in olive oil with salt and pepper, just until tender. Garlic fries are a good first cut, served with cloves of roasted garlic (peels on - ick). The garlic isn't quite mixed in with the flavor of the potatoes, and the fries are a little soggy, but it's still worthy of eating. Other stuff that looked good were the monster half three day chicken, steak, and all the salads. The burgers look pretty anemic and dry as a whole, but I have hope for the chicken burger. The bar is cozy, and has a small but standard collection of good liquors. Spider's has a lot of potential, but needs to mature. In the meantime, you can sure do worse in Clarendon than dropping in for dinner and beer. I'm waiting til they grow up a little more for another visit, though. http://www.spiderkellys.com monday through friday: 5pm to 2am saturday through sunday: 10am to 2am 3181 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, Virginia 22201 tel 703.312.8888 | fax 703.312.8884
stickmoon Posted September 8, 2008 Posted September 8, 2008 I was really excited to try Spider Kelly's because I'm still looking for a neighborhood bar where everyone knows my name. As others have noted, Spider Kelly's has considerable potential, but needs work. My first impressions: First...the bar area...no beers on tap? seriously? How could any restaurant with a bar area not have even one tap? ouch. Second...the music. Given the somewhat edgy, minimalist look of the place, I was expecting some indie rock or more undergroundish kind of music...instead, its soft rock. In the time it took to drink one bottle of Dogfish 60 Minute, I heard the Goo Goo Dolls and the Spin Doctors...to me, it felt like a huge mismatch, but that could be more about my expectations than anything else. Third...the wine glasses. They are goblets. My girlfriend did not care for them, despite how much she enjoyed the wine inside the glass. The best part, in my mind, is the nightly specials. Their Happy Hour runs an hour later than most in the area, which is great. The night I went (I think on a Tuesday) my Dogfish was only $3...the service was really friendly too.
Sthitch Posted September 8, 2008 Posted September 8, 2008 First...the bar area...no beers on tap? seriously? How could any restaurant with a bar area not have even one tap? ouch. Corduroy does not have any draft lines, and for good reason, they don't have the room.
stickmoon Posted September 8, 2008 Posted September 8, 2008 Corduroy does not have any draft lines, and for good reason, they don't have the room. Fair enough...although, I'm not sure Corduroy is trying to be a "neighborhood bar." Spider Kelly's most surely is.
Dave Pressley Posted September 9, 2008 Posted September 9, 2008 Fair enough...although, I'm not sure Corduroy is trying to be a "neighborhood bar." Spider Kelly's most surely is.What does being a neighborhood bar have to do with not having enough room for a draft beer system?
stickmoon Posted September 9, 2008 Posted September 9, 2008 Oh I see...Sthitch was saying that Spider Kelly's does not have enough space for a draft beer system by referencing Corduroy as an example. I suppose a neighborhood bar doesn't require a draft beer system, but I think it helps a lot. At least for me.
Dave Pressley Posted September 9, 2008 Posted September 9, 2008 Oh I see...Sthitch was saying that Spider Kelly's does not have enough space for a draft beer system by referencing Corduroy as an example.I suppose a neighborhood bar doesn't require a draft beer system, but I think it helps a lot. At least for me. I read you loud & clear. The space that Spider Kelly's occupies is quite small in the back of the house and has a small, kinda scary, cramped basement. The only way they could have done drafts was to have a small draft unit under the bar that could house maybe two kegs at a time (one on line and one backup), which just didn't seem like the right answer. If they had put in the keg unit, there would have been virtually no space behind their bar for bottles. The choice came down to 1 draft beer or 15-20 bottles. The answer was easy.
stickmoon Posted September 9, 2008 Posted September 9, 2008 That's good to know. Given the choice they faced, it's totally understandable to go with the bottles. Thanks for your clarification.
Sthitch Posted October 25, 2008 Posted October 25, 2008 My first thought after finding a seat in the back corner (under the TV) of Spider Kelly's was turn the F'ing bass down. All I could hear (and my wife as well) was boom boom boom, nothing else. I just wish I could follow that up with but you know the food was great. Unfortunately the only thing resonating was the bass. We both ordered Spider Kelly burgers medium rare, hers arrived medium, mine medium well. Things like that happen (the burgers delivered to the table next to me ordered medium arrived perfectly medium). Well onto the burger, others have mentioned that there was too much pork fat, wow I would have loved that problem. My burger was Jenny Craig lean, no fat, just dry crumbly meat, also absent was even a hint of meat flavor, no pork or beef. The two highlights of the burger were the bun (which contained every ounce of juice the meat once held), and the zesty refrigerator sauce. I also have to agree and disagree with Cheesepowder about the fries. I found the actual fries to be nothing special (tasted as if they came from a bag - not saying they did, they just tasted that way) so that is where I agree. Where I disagree is concerning the garlic, I thought that it lent nothing to the dish, and neither did the rosemary. I guess if I wanted to fumble with the garlic and eat it from the paper it might have been good, but I wanted fries not sticky roasted garlic, and the whole leaves of rosemary were left untouched so they did not have a chance to let off their aromas. All-in-all a very disappointing evening. But to be fair, at least the beer was cold.
Nick Freshman Posted December 17, 2008 Posted December 17, 2008 Hi Folks, I wanted to let you all know we have revised and expanded the menu at Spider Kelly's in response to customer feedback. We crossed the six month mark, and we figured it was time for some tweaking. The core items remain--still making the burgers daily, still doing the fries by hand--but we now have more options for appetizers, sandwiches and entrees. Some highlights: Fried Pickle Appetizer. A bowl of fresh cut dill pickle discs lightly dredged in flour & cornmeal with just a hint of pepper. Served with home made buttermilk ranch dressing Crump's Buttermilk Fried Chicken. Half a chicken soaked in our special brine before being dredged in our special batter and fried to order Chicken Noodle Soup. Our own stock is the base for a hearty mix of chunky vegetables, savory pulled chicken and fresh herbs The rest of the menu is on our web site. In addition to the menu changes, our bartenders and managers have created some specialty cocktails. A couple examples: The Kelly Black. Maker’s Mark, Ginger ale, Blackberries Ad’s Sparkling Sangria. Champagne, White grape juice, Mint, Strawberries The beer list has been expanded to include some more eclectic selections, seasonal offerings and large format bottles. Right now we have Ommegang's Three Philosophers and Hennepin as well as Stone's Arrogant Bastard Ale in big bottles and Blue Moon Full Moon and Magic Hat Roxy Rolles for the winter seasonals. We also added a digital jukebox which has been a lot of fun. We still offer 1/2 price burgers, but it's now on Tuesday nights. We will be open for business at 8PM on Christmas Day for those of you needing an escape from family, and for New Year's Eve we'll have decorations and specials, but--you guessed it--no cover charge. We hope to see some of you soon, and we wish you the best for the holidays. Nick
Dave Pressley Posted December 18, 2008 Posted December 18, 2008 pickle discsThat sounds delicious. That was spell-checked, I assume.
DannyNoonan Posted February 10, 2009 Posted February 10, 2009 Dinner last Sat evening at Spider's with my wife and our 2 yr old daughter. Not seemingly an ideal spot for dinner with a kid, a bit bar-like, but the decibel level actually helped in that regard. Service was friendly and prompt, not overly intrusive. We ordered chicken noodle soup and house salad for appetizers. The soup was outstanding, very flavorful broth, though the salad was boring. The dressing and goat cheese were bland and the greens were uninspired, making the whole thing not bad but underwhelming, despite the enormous size. Entrees were po'boy and 3 day chicken, as well as order of fries, mac & cheese, and grilled veggies for sides. Shrimp on the po'boy were fine, bread was very good. Overall, a decent sandwich. Chicken was quite good, juicy and flavorful. Sides were all good, esp the fries. Overall, a fine experience. Not bowled over by the food but certainly a good effort, nice service, and a decent neighborhood place worth supporting.
stickmoon Posted March 9, 2009 Posted March 9, 2009 I keep coming back to Spider Kelly's for their Grilled Veggie P.E.T.A ($7), which is everything I could ask for in a veggie sandwich. The generous assortment of grilled veggies retain some of their crunchy freshness, they get a light touch of a tangy vinaigrette, some feta crumbles, and are wrapped in a warm, chewy pita. The sandwich comes wrapped in paper which keeps everything in place, and none of the yummy drippings from the veggies drip down my arm. The fries ($5), which I usually order without the rosemary and garlic, are the right size for two people to share. They have always been crispy and hot, except once, when we notified our server who graciously replaced them with a fresh batch within minutes. Ask for some of their zesty "fridge sauce" on the side if you like a little spice. I tried the Buffalo-style chicken wings ($9 for ten wings), and thought they were pretty good. The sauce has just enough honey for the sweet-heat effect without being cloyingly sweet. They were plump - bigger and better than the wings at Four Courts or Clarendon Grill. The service has always been friendly and efficient. On Mondays all bottles of wine are half price, and on Tuesdays all their burgers are half price. Pretty good deals...for us, it's a nice mid-week, quick night out.
SeanMike Posted March 17, 2009 Posted March 17, 2009 Last night I decided to make thick cut pork chops that I'd bought from Harris Teeter. After a while cooking them in the oven, they were still really, really rare, so I upped the heat, and next time I checked them they were well done. Oops. However, despite how tough they were, they were still tasty. Which reminded me of the Dr. Pepper Pork Chop I had at Spider Kelly's on Friday night. Marshall and I hit it for dinner, as he'd never been there sober(-ish). We split an order of the fried pickles, which I thought had a good combination of pickle to batter for the taste, though they got a bit greasy as we went through them. (As a side note, I think that Southside 815's fried pickles are too thin and Clare & Don's Beach Shack's are too thick.) For dinner I got the pork chop and it took a decent amount of sawing to cut off pieces, often causing my plate to move around the table. Still, it was tasty, and wasn't that chewy - just hard to cut, much like my pork chops last night. My chop at Spider Kelly's was ordered medium rare and was that; next time, I might consider medium, simply because of how thick the pork chop is (that was a LOT of red in the middle). We split an order of the rosemary garlic fries and they were rather goshdarned tasty, especially when I found one or two of the fried cloves of garlic. Marshall got the Spider Kelly burger but I'll let him talk about that. That wasn't the only time I went to SK last week. On Monday night I ended up there and it's not only half price bottles of wine but also half price bottles of beer (not the big ones, just the $6 and under ones). While there's no way in heck I'd pay $11 for a 15.2 ounce Grolsch (Grolsch? Really?) I paid it willingly for a 22 ounce Arrogant Bastard on Friday night and I paid $17 for a Chimay Monday night (after two $3 Anchor Steams). Monday night I got an order of the onion rings and the three day chicken. The onion rings were tasty - not the best I've ever had (I still leave that for Dave's Taverna in Harrisonburg but that might be a combination of nostalgia and drinking at the time) but better than most in the area. I'd hesitantly put them near #1 that I've had in this area. The chicken was GREAT. Juicy, delicious, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it. Now to just find out if I can get all dark meat next time I order it...
TMFIII Posted March 17, 2009 Posted March 17, 2009 Marshall got the Spider Kelly burger but I'll let him talk about that. Don't mind if I do. As Sean stated, I hadn't yet made it to Spider Kelly's on the sober side of life and have been craving a trip to give it another shot. (The last time being after a cocktail class at EatBar with Gina, Sean, Nicole and Vince that was fueled by beer and whiskey shots . . . but I digress.) Being starved and feeling a little decadent, I ordered the Spider Kelly Burger (medium) with american cheese, bacon and the fried egg. I'm a sucker for eggs and putting a fried egg on just about anything makes me happy. I've also discovered the joys of a fried egg with smoked spanish paprika. Oh that's just tasty. Damn tangents. Anyway, the burger was perfectly cooked, the egg yolk mixed happily with the cheese soaked down into the meat and bun. The bacon was lean and perfectly crisp, as I prefer. The only downside to the burger, for my tastes, was the pork fat. Now don't get me wrong, I love porky goodness as much as the next gentile and the idea of mixing fat with the beef in a burger makes me swoon. However, in this case, it was just too much. It overwhelmed the flavor of the beef to the extent that I felt I was eating more pork than beef. With that said, I polished off 4/5s of the burger. Next time, I plan on ordering the regular burger just so I can get a baseline. As Sean stated the accompaniments were spot on great too. In all it was a great meal and I'm very glad I went back. I definitely plan on returning! I may even bring in some smoked spanish paprika to add to the fried egg added onto my bacon cheese burger. Ummmm . . . Lipitor . . . Cheers!
BookGuy Posted March 31, 2009 Posted March 31, 2009 I was looking at the topic of Dive Bars and I thought of Spider Kelly's because it definitely not one but is setting itself up to appear to be one. It had the low lighting and booths of many dive bars but the price of the booze and beer is much higher than, say, Jay's or the Tune Inn. The food, slightly above mediocre (although the chicken noodle soup is excellent), is more decently priced. I had the fried chicken with moist meat but over fried.
hopsing Posted April 1, 2009 Posted April 1, 2009 I was there for the first time this weekend and was not impressed. Burger was tasteless and the bacon was totally burnt and hard. Ok atmosphere but there are a lot better places to spend my money for now.
Merry Mary Posted April 3, 2009 Posted April 3, 2009 Had a very nice dinner the other night with a group. My burger was quite lean, so next time I will try the pork fat version. French fries with rosemary and garlic were delicious, drinks were good, we didn't save room for dessert. The service was outstanding!
mdt Posted May 2, 2009 Posted May 2, 2009 Walking through Clarendon last night we decided to try one of the new places and Spider Kelly's had immediate seating. While dark (they have a fondness for black) and on the louder side we were seated in a booth to review the menu. We ordered the following from the menu and were more than happy with the food. Three Day Chicken - $10 - A chicken brined for two days, marinated with cumin and garlic for one, then fire roasted; served with our zippy rico sauce. 100% Beef Burger - $7 (with cheese +$1) Cardiac Mac-n-Cheese - $6 Hand Cut Fries - $5 Chocolate Brownie a la Mode - $5 The half chicken was excellent, full of flavor and not dry at all. Personally I would have preferred a crispier skin, but that did not distract much from this dish. The fries were some of the best that I have had in a long time, crispy with the right amount of salt. The roasted garlic and rosemary did not add much flavor as the roasted cloves are tossed around with the fries. They are however easily mashed to make a tasty spread. The mac-n-cheese was good and according to the waiter is made with a combination of Velveeta®, cheddar, and possibly one other cheese. I has a slight Kraft® taste mixed with a helping of the cheddar. Next time I will ask for some tabasco to give it a little kick. Dessert was decent. How can you go wrong with a warm brownie smothered in ice cream and whipped cream? Overall an enjoyable meal for a very good price. I only wish the beer list was a bit better.
DonRocks Posted June 3, 2009 Posted June 3, 2009 100% Beef Burger - $7 (with cheese +$1)Hand Cut Fries - $5 The fries were some of the best that I have had in a long time, crispy with the right amount of salt. The roasted garlic and rosemary did not add much flavor as the roasted cloves are tossed around with the fries. They are however easily mashed to make a tasty spread. Overall an enjoyable meal for a very good price. I only wish the beer list was a bit better. I stopped in last night for a half-price 100% Beef Burger (now $8, discounted to $4 on Tuesday nights, cheddar $1, bacon $2, (condiments not discounted), grilled onions and mushrooms free), and I thought it was one heck of a burger for $7. I agree with mdt that the fries are some of the best I've had in a long time, although I actually liked the rosemary (for scent) and garlic (I don't mind whole cloves if they're thoroughly cooked). The fries are enough for two people, and I took half of them home with a beautiful Flat Iron Steak ($14), ordered rare so it wouldn't overcook when reheated. I agree the beer selection could be better, but it isn't "bad" per se - I enjoyed a Dogfish Head 60 for $6. Thanks also to Ben for allowing me to order off the regular menu after 10 PM (it was about 10:15-10:30, and he did not know who I was) - Spider Kelly's serves a limited, late-night menu until 1 AM every night (hungry revelers, take note), but stops serving the full menu at 10 PM. The bartender was a nice guy, despite pulling for the Penguins, and a short evening of hockey, burger, fries, and beer was everything it could have possibly been. Cheers, Rocks.
apples Posted July 9, 2009 Posted July 9, 2009 Never ceases to please. I'm there probably once a month, almost always Tuesday nights, for 1/2 price burgers, rosemary fries (love those fried garlic cloves) and a beer-- or, lately, the dirty golfer cocktail, which is probably overpriced at $9 but is a delicious mix of Firefly sweet tea vodka and lemonade. Wish it had the sugar rim like the bubble drop. In any case, the burgers are always good, the pickled veggies are fantastic (and I get to eat BF's too, which is nice) and the service, while not always the most refined, is efficient, friendly, and comfortable. I vote yes.
TinDC Posted July 10, 2009 Posted July 10, 2009 Never ceases to please. I'm there probably once a month, almost always Tuesday nights, for 1/2 price burgers, rosemary fries (love those fried garlic cloves) and a beer-- or, lately, the dirty golfer cocktail, which is probably overpriced at $9 but is a delicious mix of Firefly sweet tea vodka and lemonade. Wish it had the sugar rim like the bubble drop. In any case, the burgers are always good, the pickled veggies are fantastic (and I get to eat BF's too, which is nice) and the service, while not always the most refined, is efficient, friendly, and comfortable. I vote yes. Interesting that they call it the "dirty golfer". I have seen it many places referred to as a "John Daly".
Dave Pressley Posted July 11, 2009 Posted July 11, 2009 Interesting that they call it the "dirty golfer". I have seen it many places referred to as a "John Daly". A "John Daly" is an Arnold Palmer (half iced tea, half lemonade) with the addition of vodka. Thus, the golf reference.
Freshmanf64 Posted July 14, 2009 Posted July 14, 2009 Since it's not exactly a "John Daly" because we're using Firely vodka, not a standard vodka and iced tea, I figured it wouldn't be right to use the name and came up with something close. Thanks for commenting and stopping by everyone. Ben, GM- Spider Kelly's
DannyNoonan Posted July 24, 2009 Posted July 24, 2009 Went to SK's last night after work with a bunch of guys from work. We were glad to grab a table there just before the rain started and the crowd outside looked for cover. Sat in the back with a good view of the TV, though we were soon disappointed by the satellite feed periodically dropping out. We all ordered various beers, I like the diversity in the beer list here, and a bunch of appetizers. I thought the onion rings and fries were good but the fried shrimp were way too chewy. Entrees were burgers all around. My portobello burger with provolone and grilled onions tasted good but was very hard to eat with the mushrooms slipping out the sides with every bite. Not sure how you alleviate that but the mess i made might give me pause before ordering it again, despite it being rather tasty. Service was attentive and prompt, as usual. Beer were cold, orders came out of the kitchen in a timely manner, and noise level was actually such that you could hold a conversation. So, a good evening overall.
evilkim Posted August 23, 2009 Posted August 23, 2009 Very belated post... but went to Spider Kelly's maybe 2 weeks ago and found a new black bean veggie burger on the menu! I am not a fan of a grilled portobello mushroom on a bun, so I was eager to try. The burger had a nice amount of spice, very nice flavor and good texture. My vegetarian heart has been won over- a very good veggie pita and a yummy black bean burger, SK is my perfect weeknight spot! I am planning on going back on a tuesday for half priced burgers and a cold beer. Cheers!
stupidusername Posted November 23, 2009 Posted November 23, 2009 The retail spaces next to Spider Kelly's that used to belong to Orpheus Records and some luggage and random stuff store are being cleared out. The permits on the door indicate that this is for the expansion of an existing restaurant. It would appear that Spider Kelly's may be tripling in size unless I misread what is happening (I don' have any inside information). I like Spider Kelly's a lot but its small size is one of its nice features. It would be interesting to see what it would be like three times as large.
dcs Posted November 23, 2009 Posted November 23, 2009 I like Spider Kelly's a lot but its small size is one of its nice features. It would be interesting to see what it would be like three times as large. Only 8 hardy souls there about an hour ago. Three times as large might be a problem. Then again, it is a Sunday night.
dcs Posted November 23, 2009 Posted November 23, 2009 BTW, the hand cut fries with garlic and rosemary were very good. The shrimp po' boy roll seemd a tad stale, but otherwise a serviceable sandwich. The "tart tangle of sweet red peppers [and] cabbage" were a nice touch. Solid 100% beef hamburger. Pickle slices were good, tart, and appeared homemade. Unless I was halucinating, which is always a possibility, there was no draft beer. This seems misguided in a bar with this menu.
SeanMike Posted November 23, 2009 Posted November 23, 2009 BTW, the hand cut fries with garlic and rosemary were very good. The shrimp po' boy roll seemd a tad stale, but otherwise a serviceable sandwich. The "tart tangle of sweet red peppers [and] cabbage" were a nice touch. Solid 100% beef hamburger. Pickle slices were good, tart, and appeared homemade. Unless I was halucinating, which is always a possibility, there was no draft beer. This seems misguided in a bar with this menu. If you read further up in the thread: The choice came down to 1 draft beer or 15-20 bottles. There's never been draft beer there. At first, I thought that was a bad thing, but as I've gone there multiple times I haven't missed it. Friendly service, good food, and enough of a decently priced bottle selection that I don't get too bored.
dcs Posted December 13, 2009 Posted December 13, 2009 The retail spaces next to Spider Kelly's that used to belong to Orpheus Records and some luggage and random stuff store are being cleared out. The permits on the door indicate that this is for the expansion of an existing restaurant. It would appear that Spider Kelly's may be tripling in size unless I misread what is happening (I don' have any inside information). I like Spider Kelly's a lot but its small size is one of its nice features. It would be interesting to see what it would be like three times as large. On a telephone pole in Clarendon is the following Public Notice of a Special Exception Use Permit: U-3233-09-1 Spider Kelly’s for live entertainment and dancing in “C-3” General Commercial zoning district under Section 27 and Section 26.B.14. Property is approximately 13,915 sq. ft., at 3181 Wilson Blvd. (RPC# 15-075-002). Applicable policies include GLUP “Medium Density Mixed Use” 3.0 F.A.R. with special provisions for up to additional 1.0 F.A.R. for residential. I do not know what this will do for the food, but it should be quite a boost for the alcohol sales. More live music is always good. Hopefully they will attract bands more of the caliber that play at Iota rather than those you would find at Whitlow's on Wilson.
DonRocks Posted December 13, 2009 Posted December 13, 2009 The retail spaces next to Spider Kelly's that used to belong to Orpheus Records and some luggage and random stuff store are being cleared out. The permits on the door indicate that this is for the expansion of an existing restaurant. It would appear that Spider Kelly's may be tripling in size unless I misread what is happening (I don' have any inside information). I like Spider Kelly's a lot but its small size is one of its nice features. It would be interesting to see what it would be like three times as large. I think Spider Kelly's is expanding "up" as well as "out." With Liberty Tavern, Clarendon Ballroom, and Eventide, this could turn out to be the single busiest food-and-drink block in the DC area (if it's not already). My goodness, just three short years ago you could pull up and park with NO problem. Now? It's the garage or nothing.
stupidusername Posted December 14, 2009 Posted December 14, 2009 On a telephone pole in Clarendon is the following Public Notice of a Special Exception Use Permit: I do not know what this will do for the food, but it should be quite a boost for the alcohol sales. More live music is always good. Hopefully they will attract bands more of the caliber that play at Iota rather than those you would find at Whitlow's on Wilson. I suppose many of these decisions have been made and are just now being built (website says they are now closed for renovation), but just a plea to keep this place much like it is, with better than expected food and a nice vibe. I would hate to see it turn into Mister Days or something like that. Bigger is not necessarily worse but often can be worse.
dcs Posted December 14, 2009 Posted December 14, 2009 With Liberty Tavern, Clarendon Ballroom, and Eventide, this could turn out to be the single busiest food-and-drink block in the DC area (if it's not already). The Navy League Building block looks like an up and comer also.
TSchaad Posted December 14, 2009 Posted December 14, 2009 Don't leave out Zoso Flats. Flatbreads, Winebar, Chocolates and soon a Cupcake Bakery. If this keeps up I'll die poor,fat and slightly inebriated. TSchaad
dcs Posted January 22, 2010 Posted January 22, 2010 I think Spider Kelly's is expanding "up" as well as "out." I walked by this morning on the way to pick up a French press coffee at Liberty Tavern and noticed the original space of Spider Kelly's is closed for the construction of the expansion.
FunnyJohn Posted January 22, 2010 Posted January 22, 2010 I walked by this morning on the way to pick up a French press coffee at Liberty Tavern and noticed the original space of Spider Kelly's is closed for the construction of the expansion. Been closed for a while. When it reopens Spider Kelly's is going to be huge!
stickmoon Posted March 15, 2010 Posted March 15, 2010 Big changes at Spider Kelly's. Shuffleboard, anyone?
dcs Posted March 15, 2010 Posted March 15, 2010 Looks like they are going for the Dave & Buster's crowd.
DannyNoonan Posted March 15, 2010 Posted March 15, 2010 Going the D&B route would be disappointing to me. Echoing stupidusername's sentiments, the earlier SK's was different - not exclusively devoted to the drinking/bar scene nor to the restaurant scene. Better than average food with some real care put into several notable dishes (the chicken noodle soup, cardiac mac & cheese, and the garlic rosemary french fries) served in a setting that looked, but didn't feel, like a bar. I'm afraid the new place will be overrun by frat boys and software sales guys standing three deep at the bar jockeying for red bull vodkas and Miller Lite pitchers. Not that those guys don't deserve a place to unwind but I thought that's what Whitlow's was for. Wait and see I suppose.
ktmoomau Posted March 16, 2010 Posted March 16, 2010 Going the D&B route would be disappointing to me. Echoing stupidusername's sentiments, the earlier SK's was different - not exclusively devoted to the drinking/bar scene nor to the restaurant scene. Better than average food with some real care put into several notable dishes (the chicken noodle soup, cardiac mac & cheese, and the garlic rosemary french fries) served in a setting that looked, but didn't feel, like a bar. I'm afraid the new place will be overrun by frat boys and software sales guys standing three deep at the bar jockeying for red bull vodkas and Miller Lite pitchers. Not that those guys don't deserve a place to unwind but I thought that's what Whitlow's was for. Wait and see I suppose. I am hoping this means I can get to the bar at Liberty Tavern. I really enjoyed the old Spider Kelly's too, the food was great and a steal, so if it is still that good, I will be back. But it did have a nice calm vibe. But in the map they seem to have tables in their own area, so maybe it will still kind of be a pick your atmosphere kind of place.
cheezepowder Posted March 17, 2010 Author Posted March 17, 2010 It's reopened, and yes, it's huge now. Reading the menu, I recognized alot of dishes from the old menu. They now have draft beers unlike before (see comments upthread).
Iceman Posted March 17, 2010 Posted March 17, 2010 I got a chance to pop in here Monday night briefly and have a drink. The original space is almost unchanged, but they've opened it up a bit so it can seat more diners. The middle space has a huge bar, loungey-couch areas, and a dart room in the back. The area closest to Eventide has 3 pool tables, 2 shuffleboard tables, a couple of video games, and a few tables. Definitely a huge space, with tons of TV's for the sports fans. The menu is pretty much the same with some additions - I was always a fan of the menu, as it is not typical bar fare. Happy hour specials seemed to be very aggressive, but I did not take note of all of them. It will be interesting to see whether this place loads up on weekends - I bet it could.
stickmoon Posted March 17, 2010 Posted March 17, 2010 Happy hour specials seemed to be very aggressive, but I did not take note of all of them. It will be interesting to see whether this place loads up on weekends - I bet it could. We were skeptical at first, but after checking it out first hand we love the new layout. Like Iceman said, the three rooms have distinct purposes but their look and feel overlap enough to give the place a cohesive vibe. Probably 20 tv's in the large, center room...if they get the NFL Sunday Ticket this could turn into the best sports bar around, at least in terms of the food, ambiance, and sight lines to the tv's. The original room is basically the same, except more tables, no couches, and it's a little brighter. They still do half-price burgers on Tuesday nights, except now the burgers come with the choice of fries, onion rings, grilled veggies or greens...at the same price as the old Spider Kelly's ($8, $4 on Tuesdays). All thirteen drafts were $2.75 for happy hour, which goes until 8pm. Mostly sports bar standards like Bud light and Blue Moon, but they also had Lagunitas IPA on tap. Some decent bottles as well. Last night our bill was 18 bucks for 3 happy hour beers and 2 black bean burgers, one with fries and one with onion rings. Score! Oh, and they have a Ms. Pacman arcade near the dartboards in the back.
FunnyJohn Posted March 17, 2010 Posted March 17, 2010 Probably 20 tv's in the large, center room...if they get the NFL Sunday Ticket this could turn into the best sports bar around, at least in terms of the food, ambiance, and sight lines to the tv's. They still do half-price burgers on Tuesday nights, except now the burgers come with the choice of fries, onion rings, grilled veggies or greens...at the same price as the old Spider Kelly's ($8, $4 on Tuesdays). All thirteen drafts were $2.75 for happy hour, which goes until 8pm. Mostly sports bar standards like Bud light and Blue Moon, but they also had Lagunitas IPA on tap. Some decent bottles as well. Last night our bill was 18 bucks for 3 happy hour beers and 2 black bean burgers, one with fries and one with onion rings. Score! Oh, and they have a Ms. Pacman arcade near the dartboards in the back. Regardless of what happens next Football Season -- March madness starts tomorrow. If they have 20 TV screens and the right permissions everyone will be able to see their game in the early rounds. Now that's a SCORE!
Dave Pressley Posted March 18, 2010 Posted March 18, 2010 Dear Nick Freshman, Congratulations on getting SK open! Sorry you got your asses handed to you tonight! The place looks great and it looks like you had a lot of happy people in there....and on the sidewalk waiting to get inside. With a healthy shot of bourbon in mind, -Dave
cheezepowder Posted March 20, 2010 Author Posted March 20, 2010 I'm afraid the new place will be overrun by frat boys and software sales guys standing three deep at the bar jockeying for red bull vodkas and Miller Lite pitchers. Not that those guys don't deserve a place to unwind but I thought that's what Whitlow's was for. Wait and see I suppose. It will be interesting to see whether this place loads up on weekends - I bet it could. Last night (Fri night) Spider Kelly's was packed. I couldn't walk around the bar - there were too many people. Maybe it was because of the nice weather and basketball games, but I was wondering where all these people came from. Glad they're doing well. We were in the mood for something quieter so ended up at the bar at Harry's Tap Room for a drink, where it was a noticeably older, quieter, sparser crowd.
SeanMike Posted March 22, 2010 Posted March 22, 2010 I swung by there yesterday. French fries were good, the fried chicken sandwich seemed fried a bit differently to me than I remembered but was still very good (especially with fridge sauce) and I happily slurped down a few draft beers (though they had to ask someone if it was okay if I had a pitcher on my own...). The bar was packed (MD and WVU were both playing at the time) but the dining area I was in had a few TVs, much better light than before (as I like to read while I eat I really appreciate that) and was fairly quiet. I'm happy to see SK reopened.
Nick Freshman Posted March 25, 2010 Posted March 25, 2010 Thanks to those of you who have come to see us in our new digs. If you have ordered food, you're more than likely aware that we are still...adjusting. Going from 70 seats to over 300 with a menu that has nearly doubled has completely destroyed a kitchen that had a scant few days to practice before opening--my new chef, Pino, is my hero. We're trying like hell, however, and we are making strides in service every day. My apologies to those of you who may have come in only to wait too long for the food. Hey, at least we have draft beer! That said, I hope you will all come by and see us sometime. We've worked very hard to assemble a terrific staff front and back, and as they learn their way around the bar, they'll get better every day. My brother Ben, whose photography still hangs in the dining room, has moved on to a day job and the domestic bliss that comes with being home to his beautiful wife every day by 5, but the management that we have is doing a great job of filling his big shoes. Please introduce yourself sometime to our Bar Manager, DJ Suan, or our Floor Manager, Emily Wroten. Both were cornerstones of the original SK who have been promoted to handle new responsibilities. I'll handle the General Manager duties, and I hope you'll say hello--and give me your most brutally honest feedback--if you decide to swing by. Meantime, the new menu is on the web site here. The Virginia ABC, in their sad, outdated, hyper-bureaucratic brilliance prevents me from mentioning--or in their mind, advertising--my happy hour specials, so if you're curious, send me an e-mail here, and you will get an auto-reply.
tentimesodds Posted March 25, 2010 Posted March 25, 2010 Thanks to those of you who have come to see us in our new digs. If you have ordered food, you're more than likely aware that we are still...adjusting. Going from 70 seats to over 300 with a menu that has nearly doubled has completely destroyed a kitchen that had a scant few days to practice before opening--my new chef, Pino, is my hero. We're trying like hell, however, and we are making strides in service every day. My apologies to those of you who may have come in only to wait too long for the food. Hey, at least we have draft beer! That said, I hope you will all come by and see us sometime. We've worked very hard to assemble a terrific staff front and back, and as they learn their way around the bar, they'll get better every day. My brother Ben, whose photography still hangs in the dining room, has moved on to a day job and the domestic bliss that comes with being home to his beautiful wife every day by 5, but the management that we have is doing a great job of filling his big shoes. Please introduce yourself sometime to our Bar Manager, DJ Suan, or our Floor Manager, Emily Wroten. Both were cornerstones of the original SK who have been promoted to handle new responsibilities. I'll handle the General Manager duties, and I hope you'll say hello--and give me your most brutally honest feedback--if you decide to swing by. Meantime, the new menu is on the web site here. The Virginia ABC, in their sad, outdated, hyper-bureaucratic brilliance prevents me from mentioning--or in their mind, advertising--my happy hour specials, so if you're curious, send me an e-mail here, and you will get an auto-reply. Nick, did you kill the pork burger? Because honestly, I had it one time, and it was gross. The fries were amazing though, and I like what you are doing enough to come in to sample the rest of the new menu. I don't mean to be an asshole critic, I just thought the pork fat burger was kind of nast. Cheers for the expansion
eatdrinkmore Posted March 25, 2010 Posted March 25, 2010 I went to Spider Kelly's last night to check out the new digs. As soon as I walked in, I was amazed. The new space is awesome, and immediately I thought Spider Kelly's is going to be my new favorite bar in Arlington. I liked the old Spider Kelly's a lot, and I am impressed that they were able to combine a sports bar, with an upscale yet comfortable feel. I haven't seen another bar like it. The beer specials were awesome last night ($2 bottles till 8). So the drinks were great, the new space is great, now onto the food. Unfortunately, this is where the evening went downhill. I had not read the previous post about the growing pains Spider Kelly was having before I visited last night. It was very obvious they were having trouble keeping up. Our food took forever to arrive at at our table, and once it arrived, we found out that our orders were not put in correctly. I have to say I miss the old fries and the fried chicken was super greasy. The hamburgers are still good though. But, the important part is, the manager at Spider Kelly's acknowledged the problems, corrected our orders, asked for feedback on the new menu and comped part of our meal. Every restaurant needs some time to iron out the kinks and I think once Spider Kelly's does so, it will be the best bar in Arlington, hands down.
SeanMike Posted March 25, 2010 Posted March 25, 2010 When I went there the other night with my brother, they were out of the fried chicken - so they comped my main dish (the pork chop, which kicked butt). That was very cool of them.
Nick Freshman Posted March 26, 2010 Posted March 26, 2010 Nick, did you kill the pork burger? We did kill the SK burger. Ironically, I have gotten a lot of grief about that and the chicken burger not making the transition. The SK burger had many fans, but it was inconsistent. It was hard to get the ratio right, and they cooked differently than the regular burgers. We just never seemed to be able to dial it in. There was no way we could handle it with our new capacity of 455, so we decided to stick with just the beef burger. One of the problems with growing is that it is much harder to be creative with the menu. Right now, the guys are still holding on for dear life during service, but soon we'll revisit the new menu and start messing around with it.
SeanMike Posted March 29, 2010 Posted March 29, 2010 Finally got a chance to try the fried chicken again tonight. For $10 it was basically half a chicken, delicious and a bit greasy. Well worth it.
dcs Posted May 29, 2010 Posted May 29, 2010 It may be a small thing, but sometimes it is the little things that matter. When having a burger or sandwich, opt for the grilled vegetables rather than the fries or onion rings. Zucchini, squash, carrots, and red peppers - perfectly grilled with a lot of bite left in them and nicely seasoned. It makes even an ordinary sandwich that much better by being in their company.
goodeats Posted July 28, 2010 Posted July 28, 2010 So I looked in the Everything Else Index and could not find a post on Nachos. I have a bad bad craving for nachos. I almost swear that I read a thread recently about good nachos, but it could be my mind creating that because I want them. So I want to know where your favorite nachos are, and why those are your favorite. Important factors to consider would be type of chip and how it holds up, toppings and type of meat and cheese. And I am not looking for chips with yellow goo. This wasn't my favorite (I'm not sure I have a favorite place for nachos), but it was more than average, and close to you, which in turn, may satisfy your craving tonight. "This" means the nachos ($9) served at Spider Kelly's. It was tri-color chips, the thin version, with lots of toppings (with either shredded fajita chicken or chili) and lots of cheese (it was the yellow kind but good). I asked for extra cheese on the side (because the day I tried it was the final world cup game and the kitchen was swamped, so things were thrown on a bit haphazardly) and the server gave me a full ramekin of without extra charge or looks. Hope this helps! ETA: A search on nachos yielded a Sports Bar thread and Seanmike's post about the nachos at Ragtime in Arlington.
eatdrinkmore Posted August 13, 2010 Posted August 13, 2010 Just curious if anyone has tried their food lately. The food was great when they opened, then it went downhill with the expansion. I was wondering if they fixed their kitchen issues they were having during the relaunch. It is a great bar, hopefully the food is good now too.
goodeats Posted November 30, 2010 Posted November 30, 2010 ARLnow.com reports of light smoke caused by malfunctioning heating unit late last night. Hope all is well folks there.
Nick Freshman Posted November 30, 2010 Posted November 30, 2010 ARLnow.com reports of light smoke caused by malfunctioning heating unit late last night. Hope all is well folks there. ARL.now doesn't miss much, do they? We are fine over here. One of our heaters did indeed spew a bunch of smoke right after closing, but there was no damage, and we'll be open at 4 today as usual.
Nick Freshman Posted January 22, 2011 Posted January 22, 2011 Get it while it lasts: Sierra Nevada Hoptimum Imperial IPA I love Sierra, but this one is not for the weak: 100 IBUs & 10+% ABV. All I could get was a 1/6keg, so it won't last long.
Davo99 Posted January 22, 2011 Posted January 22, 2011 Get it while it lasts: Sierra Nevada Hoptimum Imperial IPA I love Sierra, but this one is not for the weak: 100 IBUs & 10+% ABV. All I could get was a 1/6keg, so it won't last long. Wow - what a beer! It started off a little overwhelming with hoppy accents but mellowed after the first few sips. I surmise that was the 10+% ABV doing it's work! FWIW, this was my first visit to the "new" Spider Kelly's, and I was impressed by the energy of the bar late on a bitterly cold Saturday afternoon.
SeanMike Posted March 31, 2011 Posted March 31, 2011 I don't go to SK's super-often, but I like hitting it occasionally. I've found the chicken in various forms is tasty as is the pork chop. The beer selection isn't great, but there's usually something I'm willing to quaff. After Tuesday, though... I was hungry and craving steak. Ray's was full (apparently - I didn't go in, but didn't see any open seats and saw people waiting). Besides, I needed more of a walk than just to Ray's, and figured what the heck. I hadn't been to SK in a while and I've always liked their onion rings. It was after 8 when I showed up and grabbed a seat at the bar. It took a couple of minutes to get the beer order in, but whatever. I'd hoped they would have Oberon on tap but was fine with Two Hearted. The bartender asked me if I'd like to start a tab and asked for a credit card. That was fine, I figured, some bars do, some don't. Then it was clear they were going to keep it. Bleh. I understand why some bars do that, but I don't care for it, but whatever, I'm tired and hungry and just want some food... ID? I got carded coming in... Denying my better instincts (to say no, and leave) I say sure and hand him my ID. Which gets rubber banded to the credit card and put in a glass with everyone else's ID/credit card combos. WTF. I should've gotten up and left. I regret not having done that (and not just because the steak I ordered there was not that good -- too tough by far, for one thing, though the onion rings were still delicious). But...uh...yeah. I'm still hugely annoyed at that. I understand holding onto a credit card but I'm not going back again with the possibility that they want to hold onto my ID. Why the heck did I stay? I should've left and gone elsewhere...
thetrain Posted March 31, 2011 Posted March 31, 2011 I don't go to SK's super-often, but I like hitting it occasionally. I've found the chicken in various forms is tasty as is the pork chop. The beer selection isn't great, but there's usually something I'm willing to quaff. After Tuesday, though... I was hungry and craving steak. Ray's was full (apparently - I didn't go in, but didn't see any open seats and saw people waiting). Besides, I needed more of a walk than just to Ray's, and figured what the heck. I hadn't been to SK in a while and I've always liked their onion rings. It was after 8 when I showed up and grabbed a seat at the bar. It took a couple of minutes to get the beer order in, but whatever. I'd hoped they would have Oberon on tap but was fine with Two Hearted. The bartender asked me if I'd like to start a tab and asked for a credit card. That was fine, I figured, some bars do, some don't. Then it was clear they were going to keep it. Bleh. I understand why some bars do that, but I don't care for it, but whatever, I'm tired and hungry and just want some food... ID? I got carded coming in... Denying my better instincts (to say no, and leave) I say sure and hand him my ID. Which gets rubber banded to the credit card and put in a glass with everyone else's ID/credit card combos. WTF. I should've gotten up and left. I regret not having done that (and not just because the steak I ordered there was not that good -- too tough by far, for one thing, though the onion rings were still delicious). But...uh...yeah. I'm still hugely annoyed at that. I understand holding onto a credit card but I'm not going back again with the possibility that they want to hold onto my ID. Why the heck did I stay? I should've left and gone elsewhere... I met people here every once in a while for Happy Hour, and that's been the policy for a while at the main bar (oddly I don't remember them doing this at the side one - but you usually can't get drafts there). If you have a waitress at a table its not an issue. While I'd be furious if something happened to it, this place can get packed, and with their clientele (esp later in the night) I see why they do it. 1) Cuts down on people leaving their credit card bc they don't want to wait to get it back (not sure how tips work in this situation, but I assume the bartender gets screwed) 2) Cuts down on the number of open tabs, which I'm assuming is logistically easier 3)Prevents people from calling and reporting the card stolen (a completely juvenile/asshole thing that I would not put above the patrons here). That being said, they have my favorite nachos in the Clarendon area - they use regular cheese and queso.
DannyNoonan Posted March 31, 2011 Posted March 31, 2011 I met people here every once in a while for Happy Hour, and that's been the policy for a while at the main bar (oddly I don't remember them doing this at the side one - but you usually can't get drafts there). If you have a waitress at a table its not an issue. While I'd be furious if something happened to it, this place can get packed, and with their clientele (esp later in the night) I see why they do it. 1) Cuts down on people leaving their credit card bc they don't want to wait to get it back (not sure how tips work in this situation, but I assume the bartender gets screwed) 2) Cuts down on the number of open tabs, which I'm assuming is logistically easier 3)Prevents people from calling and reporting the card stolen (a completely juvenile/asshole thing that I would not put above the patrons here). That being said, they have my favorite nachos in the Clarendon area - they use regular cheese and queso. I used to like SK alot, before they expanded. Back then, it was unique bar/restaurant hybrid. Not enough of a bar that you wondered about eating there and not so much of a restaurant that you felt weird just drinking beers or watching a game there. And the food was good. The chicken noodle soup was really good, the fries were good too. And I seem to remember a mushroom "burger" that was messy but good too. Then it expanded into Whitlow's West or Bailey's East and it went downhill. I went in for a couple beers a few weeks ago with a friend since it was early and nothing else was open yet and was disappointed to see how it had become nothing more than a place for frat boys to drink Miller Lite bottles and play darts. Maybe I am just bitter because this isn't my scene anymore but it's disappointing to see something that was unique and quirky turn into such a cliche.
Nick Freshman Posted March 31, 2011 Posted March 31, 2011 1) Cuts down on people leaving their credit card bc they don't want to wait to get it back (not sure how tips work in this situation, but I assume the bartender gets screwed) 2) Cuts down on the number of open tabs, which I'm assuming is logistically easier 3)Prevents people from calling and reporting the card stolen (a completely juvenile/asshole thing that I would not put above the patrons here). This is exactly right, and #3 is an easy scam that costs us real money. To that I would also add that the policy helps us from screwing up and handing the wrong card to someone (how many people have the same blue Wachovia card?). The problem is, we write a lot of our policies for when we have 500 people inside because that is when the lowest common denominator comes out to play. Or should I say, when we turn into "Whitlow's West or Bailey's East." We make rules like that to protect ourselves and our customers, but we also like to make exceptions to them for people we know, and when it is slow--when we like to think that the spirit of the original SK remains. I am surprised that we didn't make an exception for SeanMike, but I can't fault the barstaff for sticking to the rules, even though they are annoying. For what it's worth, we are also the strictest in town with carding people. By that I mean we actually hold to the law instead of breaking it on a regular basis. Some of you may be surprised to know that in Virginia, many IDs that seem perfectly legit are in fact not allowed: foreign passports(makes us look xenophobic on a routine basis), State Department IDs*, Green Cards* and an expired license of any kind. We lose tons of business by being strict, but the alternative is to jeopardize our liquor license. It sucks being yelled at every night and castigated on Yelp, but that's how it goes. Spider Kelly's is indeed not the same place it used to be--the quaint bar that was barely viable financially and poised to be crushed by an out of town monster. That place would now be closed. However, we are still proud of it, and we still have fun here. We're still locally owned and operated in a neighborhood where that is becoming increasingly rare. I'd like to find another owner in town who grew up three miles from the front door and still lives the same distance away. Yes, our onion rings come from a box, we serve almost as much Miller Lite as Nats Park and on the weekends we are invaded by what I will judiciously call "the Clarendon crowd," but we like to think we still maintain some of the spirit of the original. At least as much that can remain when you quadruple your square footage. *Note that these are issued by the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, but they still aren't good enough for Virginia.
SeanMike Posted April 1, 2011 Posted April 1, 2011 Nick, Thanks for your response. I figured that it was something like that (heck, there were some drunk as hell folks at the bar on that Tuesday night already at 8:30...). The onion rings might come from a box but they're still quite tasty, especially with the fridge sauce. And I agree totally with thetrain on the nachos - the combination of liquid and regular cheese is da bomb. Heck, I can't even argue with Miller Lite, my usual go-to choice of cheap beer. I even like the music at SKs quite a bit (because they play the same crap-pop I usually play in my car when I'm not listening to GWAR...). Too bad I can't just show some kind of flash card to say "I'm not a piker who is gonna bail on my check"...you know, something like a donrockwell.com membership card.
DonRocks Posted April 1, 2011 Posted April 1, 2011 Too bad I can't just show some kind of flash card to say "I'm not a piker who is gonna bail on my check"...you know, something like a donrockwell.com membership card. Don't laugh. Those things are going to be worth something one day. No, really. Just live a long, long time (and I'm talking Guinan long).
SeanMike Posted November 7, 2011 Posted November 7, 2011 Met some friends at Spider Kelly's yesterday. Not only do they have Fat Tire on tap, but they also have the Fat Tire Ranger IPA on tap. Yum. Also good: the breakfast sandwich. Not good: service. They didn't bring me silverware with the food, and our waiter in general was not too interested in checking up on us regularly. More than once we had to yell for him (as he'd walk near us, then walk away), which was really frustrating because I wanted to eat my potatoes and needed a fork! Also we were brought the wrong beer (in a pitcher) once, but just sucked it up. (Bud Light versus Miller Lite, whatever...)
SeanMike Posted November 17, 2011 Posted November 17, 2011 I went back the other night to get the pork chop. Man, I used to love the pork chop. Not the one(s) I had Tuesday night. Instead of one, nice, thick pork chop, it was two pork chops, each very thin. I had wondered why the bartender didn't ask me how I'd like them cooked, and it was obvious that it'd be nearly impossible to get them anything other than well done. They didn't taste too bad, though I had issues of the bones breaking up and had to pick them out of my mouth as they stabbed my cheek. Then the freshly-botoxed drunk lady next to me called me Zach Galifinakis and I left.
Nick Freshman Posted February 9, 2012 Posted February 9, 2012 For the bravest among you, we have a full keg of Bell's Hopslam in the cooler. We'll tap it on Tuesday. Come get some while it lasts--which won't be very long...
Rovers2000 Posted October 20, 2013 Posted October 20, 2013 I have to give a shout out to the folks manning brunch at Spider Kelly's this morning. For a place that I think of mainly as one to grab a post work beer or head on a weekend (although, as I continue to age, those come fewer and farther between ) vs. a place to eat, they really do an excellent and well priced brunch buffet (I believe it was all you can eat for 18 bucks). Food was excellent and the discounted pitchers (12 bucks for a pitcher of Dogfish Head Punkin Ale - normally the cost of 2 pints) were a nice surprise. But the real reason for the kudos was their ability to easily seat a party of 12 (with one baby) and provide seamless service Tucked away in the back of what used to be the former Spider Kellys (in it's non-game room incarnation), we were able to enjoy the meal and catch up with the family in from out of town. Our waiter (I want to say it was Juan, but I may have misheard) was just tremendous - water was filled, drinks and food were delivered quickly. With a group that big, ease of dining was all I cared about and Spider Kelly delivered in spades. I'd highly recommend it as a brunch spot (we walked in right at 11 when they opened) for those needing to feed a crowd. 4
cheezepowder Posted April 17, 2014 Author Posted April 17, 2014 While walking by Spider Kelly's this past Sunday, I noticed that they didn't have their brunch buffet set up next to the windows like they had previously. And, on 4/16/14, they tweeted about a new a la carte brunch menu. So the buffet is no more. I'm suspecting they didn't have enough brunch business for the buffet to be worthwhile.
Nick Freshman Posted April 18, 2014 Posted April 18, 2014 While walking by Spider Kelly's this past Sunday, I noticed that they didn't have their brunch buffet set up next to the windows like they had previously. And, on 4/16/14, they tweeted about a new a la carte brunch menu. So the buffet is no more. I'm suspecting they didn't have enough brunch business for the buffet to be worthwhile. True. We scrapped the buffet for an a la carte menu, and we are adding Saturday which we haven't done in the past. Starts tomorrow at 10AM though we test ran it last Sunday to some success. There were a couple reasons, but you're right in that the big one was that the business wasn't there. A lot of food was just sitting there. The a la carte give us a chance to offer some unique dishes more suited to our, ahem, personality: signature items are 'The Walk of Shame' and the 'Yoga Pants Omelette.' Egg whites and spinach for the latter. Plus, we will offer, as always, the full menu from open to close, so you can have wings with your omelette if you like. We are keeping the Bloody Mary, but also adding a few brunch cocktails largely based on bartender creations for our regulars every weekend. We took some liberty with the names for those as well. See for yourself here. 1
jasonc Posted April 18, 2014 Posted April 18, 2014 I always appreciated that you could get grilled veggies with your burger here instead of fries for no upcharge.
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