- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Arax Cafe
Categories: Food Coffee & Tea Food Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Coffee & Tea, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt [Edit]
5852 Washington BlvdArlington, VA 22216
(703) 532-3320
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
Mitch S. said: "This is a mini-review. Good chili at Union. I'd buy some more on the next cold day. Not all that cheap at $4.50 a cup, but when it's like 24 degrees outside, I really didn't care. Free toppings was nice. Staff was friendly's and…" read more »
22 reviews for Arax Cafe
Review Highlights
-
"They also offer a tasty Armenian snacks." In 10 reviews -
"Gotta support the mom and pop places." In 3 reviews -
"I live in Westover and this is one of my favorite spots in..." In 4 reviews
Loading...
22 reviews in English
-
Review from Mohanad B.
Arlington, VA
3/29/2012
If you ever pass by Westover , arlington , VA . Stop by here and you won't be disappointed .. Trust me :)
Staff are extremly friendly .. Actually this place is run by an Armenian Husband , and his wife who is Lebanese :D
The way the Date Mamoul is done is just simply flawless ... I've been looking for a decent date mamoul without any Luck .. Till i came here :)
Date Mamoul : A Dough freshly made , mixed with a hint of cardamom ... is filled with dates then baked in the oven ... Really it is the Best of the Best ... Take that with the Armenian Coffee ( Similar to Turkish Coffee ) .. Emmm Emmm Perfect Match :)
They also offer a Pistachio filled Mamoul ( sprinkled with powdered sugar ... Excellent !! )
The other item is their Egg&Bagel ... Yummmmmyyyy ... The egg is FRESH , Cooked perfectly and they sprinkle this AMAZING Armenian Red Spice ... Ahhh it's that good :D
Highly recommended ...
Haven't tasted the other menu items ... but for sure i will :) -
Review from Barbara C.
Seattle, WA
3/2/2012
I have been here a number of times when visiting my daughter in the neighborhood. The middle eastern pastries are yummy, if a bit high priced. I took my toddler granddaughter there a couple weeks ago. One cookie, one baklava and cup of tea was nearly $10.00.
The service is inconsistent...the last time I stopped by there was a man sitting at one of the tables. I assumed he was a customer but after waiting quite awhile, he finally got up and took my order. I guess he was the owner, but didn't seem terribly interested in serving his customers. -
Review from susan m.
Falls Church, VA
9/27/2011
This the best place to feel special. The owners really make a big fuss over you when you walk in, and take time to prepare your meal, just for you. The pastries are home made, and they are to die for. Coffee is excellent, Armenian coffee, easier on your stomach then some others.
I always have the salad and chicken sandwich, and always walk away full, but not stuffed. Highly recommend this mom and pop coffee shop. -
Review from Aaron P.
Walnut Creek, CA
6/11/2011
Stopped in for coffee, left with a couple bags of pastries. Would happily go back for the pastries, the lates at least are worth avoiding -- took a pot of leftover steamed milk out of the cooler, topped it off and turned out a couple of piping hot cups of dishwater, no discernible coffee flavor despite having requested an extra shot of espresso. Chai is from powder mix, but not horrible.
Pastries were really very good and the savory menu looks promising too. -
Review from Elina T.
3/2/2011
This place is great and worth traveling to even if you don't live in the Westover area.
This is tiny cozy cafe owned by an Armenian couple. The husband is Armenian, but lived in Lebanon, for a long time. Thus, the offerings of traditional Armenian and more typical Lebanese food.
I die for the Armenian meat pie. It's not a pie per se, but more like a crepe stuffed with delicious ground lamb and spices. At $2.50/piece, they're also a bargain. My husband has had some of the Middle Eastern fare, and found it to be tasty and filling.
They also serve the best hot chocolate in the area. Beats the fancier stuff at the new chocolate joints, and made with much care and no spare on the cocoa. Just like my mama's.
The pastries are also delicious. The wife bakes them herself daily and they're always fresh. I haven't had a bad thing here.
There are a number of tables and you can sit here and read/study without being bothered. The owner plays classical music, which is soothing.
Please come and support this place, they need it in this bad economy. -
Review from Anne G.
Arlington, VA
5/24/2011
Arax is IMO the best coffee house in Arlington. The coffee is excellent (try the Armenian coffee for a change), and Rosa, the owner's wife, bakes cookies and pastry nightly for the next day's offerings. They also have small items for lunch.
Many locals and coffeehouse devotees swear by Arax. The disappointed man from Kentucky who wrote the first review must have been served by someone just overseeing the shop for the owners, because they are delightful. I've never seen them less than friendly to anyone, regulars or newcomers. There are a few tables and in good weather one outside. If you hate chains and want to sit and chat, try it! -
Review from Richard D.
New York, NY
8/16/2008
Gotta support the mom and pop places. This is another establishment in the Westover Hood of Arlington.
I walked in here one day just to check it out on the recommendation of a friend. I was pleasantly surprised. They had all sorts of pastries and desserts that I don't think you would see at a normal Starbucks or coffee shop. They also serve hot food which I didn't get a chance to try.
The pastries were a little pricey at 2.50 or something for each small piece.
I'm a big impulse buyer, and especially if I see something I haven't tried before, I'll try it at least once. I ended up buying 3 pastries, an Armenian meat pie, and an Armenian coffee. The Armenian meat pie was kind of like an empanada with ground beef. The coffee was like Greek or Turkish coffee... pretty thick with the sediment at the bottom, just the way i like it. -
Review from Hyunoo P.
Falls Church, VA
7/26/2009
I luff date maamouls. Arax makes it from scratch and it is otherworldly. Whenever you get the prepackaged kind it is dry and tastes like you are eating an over sized fig newton (not meant as a slight to Sir Newton). There are two distinct layers- cookie and then filling. You experience the dryness of one then the lackluster flavor of the other.
When you have Arax's maamoul: it is this moist, crumbly, delicious little cookie-esque gem where the lightly powdered outer layer gives way to the full depth of date flavor almost seamlessly. The consistency of the filling, the aroma, the texture of it all is so worth $1.50 or whatever price. It also pairs nicely with the Turkish coffee they serve.
I know their ice cream is nothing to yelp home about, so just keep your eyes on the counter. They also serve lunch but I'm never in the area to give it a go. I've been stopping by here after dinner for a long while though- which fills me with shame that I haven't yelped it already!
p.s.- if they dry clean half as good as they make maamoul...
p.p.s.- sometimes they are open past closing hour, just check the dry cleaner. Sometimes they are closed randomly. Don't get discouraged, they are real people with real emergencies! -
Review from Cari D.
Arlington, VA
5/15/2008
The food is great (Middle Eastern/Armenian), desserts are even better -- baklava, homemade ice cream, YUM! My only complaints: the wire-backed chairs are uncomfortable (better to sit outside on the stoop -- there are a couple chairs out there as well) and the hours seem to be unreliable. I'd love to make this my morning coffee stop, but I've been disappointed by their being closed too many times.
I also wish they'd turn it into more of a coffee house instead of a place to stop off and get coffee -- Westover needs a "real" coffee house and this place would certainly do the trick if they'd throw in a couple of couches.
Also, last time I was there, they didn't accept credit cards. Grr!Listed in: My Neighborhood
-
Review from Judith L.
Richmond, VA
1/4/2010
I had no idea about this place until two friends and I wandered over here after dinner at Stray Cat. Well aware that it was freezing outside, we decided we wanted ice cream. This ice cream was supposedly homemade, so we figured it had potential.
We were greeted by an older man who appeared to be working alone. He showed us a board with about a dozen flavors on it (didn't have mint chocolate chip, but had an unlisted cherry bordeaux). Ended up getting oreo, pumpkin, and the cherry.
Apparently, the pumpkin tasted just like pumpkin. I had the cherry, the top of it was just slightly freezer burned, but after two bites, it was yummy bits of cherry. One scoop was more than enough, and we were able to sit and hang out at one of the few tables inside while we finished our dessert and chatted. A few people came in while we were in there, ordering other desserts or coffee.
Along the walls are reviews of the place as well as articles about the history of what/where this place was named after. Nice, and juding by the other reviews, I have to come back here for a meal! Three stars until I get to try some more stuff! -
Review from Jim A.
Arlington, VA
7/21/2007
Arax is NOT Starbucks! The owners might be next door at their dry cleaners, which means you walk into an empty cafe. Don't worry, just ring the bell and wait for somebody to show up.
They make everything fresh - real espresso and cappuccino, etc. They also offer a tasty Armenian snacks. I mostly come for coffee - a double-shot cappuccino in a small cup - sit down outdoor on the suspect plastic chairs and watch the world go by.
This cafe is located next to Stray Cat and Lost Dog across from Ayers Hardware. Drop by and enjoy! -
Review from Charmaine R.
Falls Church, VA
11/16/2009
I'm a huge fan of this place.
If you like conversing, the owner is quite entertaining and has lots of great stories!
The Armenian coffee is thick, rich and has the bite that good coffee should.
The pastries are to DIE for. Any of the baklava or similar pasties are tasty (I go for the one with the most pistachios). The Kadeyif (shredded wheat dessert with honey and walnuts) is sweet and chewy. They all taste like they are homemade.
They also have homemade ice cream that I would recommend over the place across the street.
I would highly recommend coming here for a quick bite to eat or dessert. -
Review from M G.
Burke, VA
4/16/2011
I see a lot of 4/5 star reviews...maybe I just went in on a bad day.
I don't expect much out of your typical neighborhood coffee shop - a few tables, a few newspapers to sort through, but most importantly I expect "atmosphere." Coziness is a must - and was severely lacking at Arax.
The 5 tables and sets of chairs are of the black-painted metal patio furniture variety. Not comfortable at all. Today, there were a bunch of kids there (apparently family of the owners) who kept running in and out of the front door. It was cold and raining, so I got irritated pretty quickly.
No newspapers - just a few dozen old National Geographics.
As for the coffee, I got a latte and it was fine. Not great but not bad. -
Review from Aaron F.
Falls Church, VA
1/29/2010
A good local coffee shop with character. Stopped by Arax after dinner for coffee and desert. We had the Armenian coffee, shortbread cookies, and something very similar to baklava. The Armenian coffee was surpassingly mild, and the cardamom gave it a tea-like delicateness. It's worth a try. The shortbread cookies were perfectly spiced, not too sweet and not too bland.
I will definitely be back for coffee, all the baked goods i can stuff into my mouth, and some of the homemade ice cream. in that order. -
Review from MinPin B.
Arlington, VA
1/2/2010
We had a hot chocolate and a Café au lait. The hot chocolate was nice and spicy. It is far from the typical instant chocolate. Certainly worth the try.
The Café au lait was a different story. It is made in the American style of using drip coffee. It tasted like something had soap left in whatever equipment was used and very watered down. The gentlemen at the counter insisted it was perfectly fine and said for stronger coffee to order the caffè latte. He did not offer to re-make the Café au lait in question or bother to double check his equipment. -
Review from Tom N.
2/12/2011
Arax Cafe is absolutely charming as a little local coffee shop. The proprietor was busy whipping up something in the back while two grade school children were running around, playing in the store while explaining the menu options. They're all plainly written up on the wall, but I'm not too familiar with middle eastern fare. Armenian coffee was super strong, and the cardamom aroma did not have my companions envying me. The chai and pastries were supposedly pleasant. I'll return to spin the coffee roulette again soon.
-
Review from Jason Y.
Arlington, VA
8/24/2006
Arax is an Armenian Coffeehouse on Washington Blvd in Westover. They have pita sandwiches (chicken w/garlic sauce, yum), coffee, chai (from a mix, and in flavors but its drinkable), and icecream. The icecream is made for them and is good...including the chocolate and the seasonal flavors like peppermint or pumpkin. They have little baklavas too. Try an Armenian coffee, which is turkisj coffee w/cardamum. Hutch and Rosy own the place and are really nice.
-
Review from Tim D.
Arlington, VA
I just had the best bagel egg sandwich ever!! This guy here named Sam is the best!! Good coffee too!
-
Review from Sandra R.
Arlington, VA
11/23/2008
Love love love their chicken shwarma ! And their coffee is great! I live in Westover and this is one of my favorite spots in the neighborhood! Much better coffee than across the street!
-
Review from Pisik K.
Los Angeles, CA
4/10/2009
Every time we stop by this cafe, it feels like we are somewhere in Europe or Middle East. The owner of the cafe makes it feel very cozy. Their coffee and pastries are T.A.S.T.Y. Everything is homemade, what makes it even more delicious. They even have homemade ice-cream, it is very good.
Stop by for a cup of tasty Armenian coffee and wonderful pastries, you will like it! -
Review from Alex S.
Baltimore, MD
10/11/2009
Chicken wrap was delicious and coffee was good too. It's homemade so you do have to wait a little bit. Still, the wait was worth it.
-
Review from Brian A.
Woodland, CA
5/3/2011
Nice little mom-and-pop (literally) coffee shop. The Armenian coffee is very good. I had it unsweetened, and it was good, but probably a bit strong for most folks. I will try it sweetened next time. The apricot cake was a bit like shortbread with apricot filling. Not overly sweet - it goes well with the coffee. Glad I stopped by.
