JV's Restaurant

Fun redneck joint with tons of live music, cheap enough beer, and decent enough food. If you like local bluegrass, blues, or country it is worth checking out. It is a very small place so you are always pretty close to the band.

I've been here a few times because I love the music (bluegrass, blues, rockabilly), but I've sworn never to return. JV's habit of charging arbitrary prices for drinks is too aggravating to overlook. The prices aren't posted anywhere, so it's always a surprise when you get this bill. Why exactly are Budweisers $6 at this dive on Sunday evening? And where did this $5 cover come from? Not being upfront about your cover charge and drink prices is terrible practice, and I hope their business suffers for it.

However, the music is excellent, and it's too bad there's nowhere else in Northern Virginia like it. Give JV's a miss. I recommend Quarry House in Silver Spring instead.

On walking into this dive I couldn't fathom how its been in continuous operation for 63 years. It's in a strip mall sandwiched in with a nail salon and cell phone dealer. And the joint smells of decades of beer. Bad beer. And the aging rednecks that drink it.

But, there was live bluegrass which, while not pro, was entertaining enough. And though the clientele are a loudmouthed bunch of 50-somethings, Lorraine is a nice and attentive barkeep. And though the beer sucks, it's cheap. And the BBQ sandwich is actually pretty good.

Lastly, I don't know if it's a joke or what, but there's a phone-booth sized room that says it's for smokers. Which I guess is a good thing.

JV Restaurant (aka: JV's) is still my favorite place. Nightly live music first drew me to JV's about seven years ago, but now it is the live music plus great food and friendly people that keep me coming back. Some have labeled JV's a C&W honky-tonk, but unlike post-WWII honky-tonks you can hear all popular music genres there. Depending on what evening or afternoon (yes, Saturday and Sunday matinees) you choose, you can hear Bluegrass, Folk, Jazz, Blues, R&B, Pop, Rock, Country Rock, Rockabilly, Oldies, Soul, and Classic Motown. Check out JV's website to see who is playing on any given night or afternoon. Lorraine owns and runs JV's. She is there 365 days a year making each customer feel welcome and still proving to her late father and mother that a woman can run a restaurant. Lorraine has turned her father's diner (founded in 1947) into a hub of musical experimentation in Northern Virginia. From across the National Capital Region established musicians and talented beginners travel to Falls Church to play at JV's. This fall (October 2016) will mark the 69th year that JV's has been in the same place and in the same family. February 2015 marked a new beginning for JV's. Lorraine expanded JVs. She doubled its size and added a large dance floor. Consequently, it has evolved into a very lively venue with lots of new faces and dance lovers. Nice, sociable crowd. It's still a relatively small place, and you must look for it. It's right next to Baskin-Robbins on the corner of Arlington Blvd and Annandale Road. I like to dine downtown at Zaytinya, Jaleo, Graffiatos, and Komi on occasion, but I would never date a woman who does not feel comfortable dancing and dining with me at JV's. :)

My thoughts are all scattered (as they usually are) about this place, but it's all good.

I am a singer, who loves music, and also a "blue collar girl with a white collar brain." I absolutely love this place. Debated whether I wanted to Yelp it as I believe it is a hidden gem, but it's tiny. Gotta support though, bottom line.

The area I live in, Falls Church, is money central (as recently declared by Money magazine). That being said, there's an air of pretention, arrogance and yuppiness which I'm not a big fan of, but progress is progress, and this area is exploding because of it.

If you love music, are a musician, go here! They have live music 7 NIGHTS A WEEK! All kinds, but usually blues, bluegrass, country, southern rock, rock ... I have NEVER been disappointed in the music here. Tuesday night is supposedly songwriter night and Wednesday is open mike night (hosted by Vernon, who can pretty much play anything I throw at him! Good job, Vern!).

This place's motto is "ageless charm without yuppie bastardization since 1947!" Says it all, right (and bought the t-shirt)? This is a slice of Virginia or the Civil War Trail at its very best. Lorraine, the owner, is a true sweetheart. It's a bit amusing (sorry, Lorraine), but when you walk in there's a huge painting of her in full "Glamour Shot" mode in the sexy red dress posing on a Harley!

Lorraine also supports her vets (WONDERFUL!) and often has fundraisers/benefits for them, as well as Dogs of War (the military dogs!) and Pets for Vets (suiting shelter animals with vets that have PTSD).

Patrons are warm, welcoming, and boy, they can dance too! One night, I was walking in while a couple was doing either the jive or jitterbug and she literally did a flip (several) while dancing, and she wasn't no Spring chicken (yikes; making me look bad, honey)..

It is beer and wine only and often there is a cover which you don't hear about (ask the bartender) until you get the bill and it's added on. But, I saw a blues guy that had played the Blues Fest in Chicago and the cover was only $5 and I would have gladly paid more!

It is very small and (laffing) there is a phone booth where apparently you can smoke, and as someone who is trying to give up the filthy habit, I wouldn't even do it!

They also serve food and the prices are strangely diverse -- $9 for meatloaf, but cheaper for fish (huh?). But, good, homemade and homemade desserts too! Lorraine gave me peanut butter pie (!) and German chocolate cake when she heard I was gonna be out of town for my birthday.

Lots of fun -- if you're a snot, stay away and leave the room for the rest of us!

A must-do!