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Rhodeside Grill
Categories: Restaurants American (New) Arts & Entertainment Music Venues Nightlife Music Venues American (New), Music Venues [Edit]
1836 Wilson BlvdArlington, VA 22201
(703) 243-0145
- Nearest Transit:
-
Courthouse Metro Station (Orange)
Rosslyn Metro Station (Blue, Orange)
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 11 am - 2 am
Sun 10:30 am - 2 am
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Music:
- Juke Box
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Sun, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Yes
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
97 reviews for Rhodeside Grill
Review Highlights
"They have a bloody mary bar on sundays."
(in 5 reviews)
"I highly recommend this place for a breakfast break."
(in 3 reviews)
"This place has the best tomato basil soup I've ever had."
(in 2 reviews)
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97 reviews in English
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Review from Jon K.
Arlington, VA
10/26/2011
I give five stars for the brunch and three stars for everything else. The brunch -- waffle/omelette station -- is really great. You can top the waffles with whipped cream (fresh - or sure seems that way), strawberries, some other fruit, butter, etc. There's also a station that lets you load up on bacon and sausage. Obviously the omelette station is made-to-order; so tell them what you want, and you'll get it. Can't say enough good things about this particular portion of the brunch. The breakfast menu has never disappointed anyone I've taken here either.
The lunch/dinner menu - I give three stars for that. It's not awesome, but it's not bad. It's okay to good. Burgers are decent, though walk half a block to Hellburger if you want something that's much better. Fries are waffle style. You can't do better for breakfast. You can do a lot worse for lunch/dinner. -
Review from Willy Y.
Arlington, VA
11/20/2011
This was really a tale of two visits...or perhaps two chefs.
I will go into depth below, but the first visit was easily a five star event with unbelievable service, and some of the best ribs I had ever had. We left the door with two racks of ribs in our belly's and told each other that we absolutely had to come back. The second visit, was as if we had walked into a completely different establishment. Service was poor, and slow, and the food was just not good. Perhaps it was our fault for straying from the ribs, but the experience soured us so much that we may not give Rhodeside a best of three try.
Visit #1: Like many of the places my girlfriend and I end up dining, this was a place that we had driven by for years and felt we had to visit. It was a warm day and we were pleased to walk into the well air-conditioned, comfortable place and relax with a couple of cold drinks. Our waiter was funny, kind, and attentive. He totally talked us into getting the ribs, which were a special that day, and actually gave us his unsolicited word that we would not be disappointed. Wow, was he right. The ribs were delicious and the servings were generous. They easily ranked among some of the best ribs I ever had. As often occurs when eating ribs, I went through my drink quickly but the waiter was always on top of it, making sure my glass was never empty. We left a fat tip and felt we had felt a diamond of a restaurant right in our back yard.
Vist #2: Ugh. We came on a friday night after a long work week, and we were starving. We were seated right away, but for some reason was placed right next to a party of 12 when the rest of the place was empty. This made it kind of hard to hear, and also probably led to our waitress forgetting about us from time to time.
We ordered some chicken tenders for appetizers because we wanted something quick and easy to hold us while we waited. To my surprise, they somehow managed to mess chicken fingers up. After waiting 15 minutes for them to show up, they were extremely dry and overcooked. We were both shocked because we had an earlier conversation about how chicken fingers are probably the one type of food you couldn't cook incorrectly. Our waitress came by and asked us how the appetizers were, I had never complained to a server about food before, and wasn't about to start now, but it was extremely hard to bite my tongue here.
Despite my glass (diet coke) being empty, the waitress came and took our orders for dinner and offered me no re-fill. Then the wait came. We waited...and waited...and waited...Our server came by and promised us that she had checked on our order and it was coming soon, which was surprising because by that time the table of 12 was long gone and there was really no one else there. Our food finally came out and it was burnt. We begrudgingly ate it up, and unfortunately, I still had no more diet coke to wash it down. When we were both finished eating (our plates still had food on it mind you, we just couldn't eat any more), our waitress asked me if I wanted more soda. I said no thank you and asked for the check. 15 minutes later (of course) we had it and were out the door.
I really want to like this place, but I'm afraid to go for time No. 3. -
Review from Brent S.
Burke, VA
10/23/2011
If the food didn't take forever to come out, I'd probably give them 3 stars. I've been here several times for lunch, and it always takes longer than an hour, even when there are not many other people in the restaurant.
The food is decent. I've had some good things (french dip and turkey dip), and others that weren't that good. They've got a good selection of entrees, lots of sandwiches, so anyone can find something here.
Prices are a little high for the quality of food in my opinion. -
Review from Amir K.
Fairfax, VA
1/22/2012
the best(most acceptable) eggs Benedict I got in Virginia!! and I found their quality only after moving from there and checking many other brunch places in Tyson Area.
having brunch in sunny days with a little bit of breeze from up-Wilson without so much crowd around you. -
Review from Ben B.
Arlington, VA
1/16/2012
I started coming here after I moved to Courthouse. I used to go to Hard Times a lot, but this is much better - better food, better environment, better staff! The bartenders ask your name when you sit down and ask for your name... it's just the little things like that that make you come back.
This is a great place to watch any game or just chill. The downstairs also has karaoke, but I haven't been there for that yet. This is my new favorite spot! -
Review from Nick H.
Ithaca, NY
12/24/2011
Mediocre bar food. Probably would taste better if you were drunk. Can get quite noisy.
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Review from Juan S.
Miami, FL
9/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
Friendly service, pretty good food in upscale bar atmosphere.
Good thing is they're one of the only restaurants in the area open late. -
Review from Kevin R.
Washington, DC
9/7/2011
Good atmosphere, sports on TVs around the bar, and great food at decent prices. I like Rhodeside Grill.
If you like a French Dip sandwich I thought theirs was great, and it went well with the draft Guinness.
I'll be back. -
Review from Mattie C.
7/7/2011
Came here with a group after 4th of July fireworks. I have walked by this place and wanted to go in for years so it was very exciting to me. First off, the staff was very nice, from the greeter at the door, to the random waiter passing by and our waiter, everyone was nice and cheerful. They had $3 buds all night and some other specials which I don't remember.
I was first struck by all the TVs around the place. If we lived around here this would be a great go-to place for football games. I liked how they had areas with 4 tvs grouped together so you can keep an eye on other games at the same time. Helpful. I didn't expect all the TVs based on the restaurant's outside appearance and this was a happy surprise.
I ordered some bruschetta off the appetizer menu. They serve bruschetta in a weird way. I was expecting 2-3 pieces of bread piled with tomatoes, but intsead it was a giant plate of about 10 pieces of bread with a bowl of tomatoes in the middle. There wasn't enough tomato to sufficiently pile onto each piece of bread but that was OK - it was delicious and so large I needed help to finish the whole thing. Once you finish the tomatoes there is a pool of balsalmic vinagrette and tomato juice that you can pour over the remaining bread. That was delicious too.
The other standout food seemed to be the tomato basil soup. It came in a large bowl and was apparently pretty amazing.
This was such a pleasant difference from our rotton post-4th experience at Summers last year. I definitely want to come back here to watch some sports games and eat more amazing bruschetta. -
Review from Andrew H.
Arlington, VA
4/19/2011
Many places call themselves a "neighborhood bar and grill" and most of them are sadly mistaken. Rhodeside is not.
But the neighborhood status comes with pros and cons.
Pros:
Truly friendly service and an unpretentious vibe. I've walked into this place with warm-up pants and a hoodie and am treated the same way as I do when I go there after work. They're genuinely happy you're there and treat you kindly.
Decent prices. They don't gouge you here like a lot of places on Wilson Blvd., and you can eat dinner here with a few drinks without having to take out a loan.
Spacious and comfortable. Your not jammed in elbow-to-elbow competing with other Arlingtonians for service. There's usually a seat available and room at the bar, which brings us to:
Cons:
Not much of a scene here.
Food won't blow you away.
Beer and wine selection is somewhat limited.
Best dishes:
- Buffalo Chicken Wrap
- Rhodeside Burger
- Nachos with guacamole
* Cool painting/mural on the far wall
TL;DR: Good neighborhood place with unpretentious vibe, above average food, decent prices, and not much of a scene. Go when hungry and when you don't want to wait long for a table. -
Review from Genesis B.
Annandale, VA
7/13/2011
Came out to see a friend play cover of 311 a few weeks ago. This place is great. If you want live music in a basement/garage kind of setup, this is the place. The drinks aren't obnoxiously priced and the service is fast and friendly. It only slows down when the place gets jam packed for the bands.
The restaurant area has a full bar also with a large sitting area and it's located above the music area which is perfect. So if you want to take a break from the sound, you can move upstairs to the other bar where it's lively but not ear drum blastingly loud. There are also several TVs to watch games on at the bars.
Definitely a great bar to be at. -
Review from Ryan W.
8/27/2011
I met my wife at Rhodeside Grill and have been back exactly two times since that fateful day over 11 years ago, including just last weekend with some friends. That should tell you one of two things: 1) I rue the day that Rhodeside sent me down the path to married, suburban doldrums, or 2) Rhodeside is just an average bar/restaurant with nothing that compels me to return. Go with choice #2. No really, honey, it's #2!!!
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Review from Lauren C.
3/28/2011
I hadn't been here since they redid the outside (and apparently also some of the inside and the menu, at least from what I last remember). What a pleasant surprise!
I had the calamari ceasar salad, which was great. The calamari were breaded with cornmeal and fried, though they were not greasy at all and almost tasted baked. My sister had the Mediterranean Tuna Wrap, which they cooked medium-rare. It was so good. I had avoided this place for anything other than beer and the occasional quesadilla in the past, but I will definitely be back to try some other things that caught my eye on the menu. -
Review from Francisco H.
Arlington, VA
4/8/2011
I would have preferred to give it a 3.5 rather than a 3, but definitely not a 4.
Went on a Thursday at around 9.45pm and attendance looked near 10%. We just had beer and some appetizers and these were ok, but not great. Very good attention and a nice look make up for a slight overprice.
I guess I would recommend the happy hour, where you get much cheaper alcohol and probably get to see more people. -
Review from Chris A.
Washington, DC
9/24/2011
Great place to eat a quality meal, or sit at the bar and enjoy the sports on display at many of the TVs. Great burgers, ribs aren't bad for the area, some good Southern style dishes in an area that doesn't have many BBQ type places, nice selection of sandwiches, always come back here!
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Review from Sean D.
Washington, DC
9/26/2011
Basically only went for the football games. Great atmosphere for watching sports. Each TV has a sign underneath it, telling you which game would be shown. Typical bar food and good specials. I'd go again just to watch the games.
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Review from Hue K.
9/22/2010
After reading Libby F.'s review, I was intrigued by Rhodeside Grill's brunch.
They offer unlimited omelet and waffle bar for about $14 so I chose to go with it since I wanted both. Cons-no leftover-to go...
If you like omelet, you should try one at Rhodeside. You can get a HUGE omelet that might be comparable to Chipotle's burrito. For omelet or waffle, you can get self-serve fruits (cantalop/honey dew, strawberries and water melon) and home fries, bacon and sausages as much as you want.
Waffle wasn't good, to be honest. It was too bready and dense. Next time I will just go for french toast or pancake if I want carb..
Service can be slow but you can relax with multiple games on flat screen TVs in the restaurant.Listed in: Brunch
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Review from Libby F.
9/3/2010
Yes, I actually crossed The River for french toast. And boy, was it worth it! My friend had pancakes and she said they were the best she had ever had! True story! They looked good too. Not too thick and golden brown. My four pieces of French toast were soft and thick. The dish came with crispy strips of bacon for my four-legged pal back home! He approved wholeheartedly.
We got there right when they opened at 10:30am on Sunday. They had the omelet bar set up and ready-to-go. Service was quick. The food was perfect. I highly recommend this place for a breakfast break.Listed in: The ABCs of French Toast in…, I Crossed the River and…
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Review from Elina T.
2/20/2011
This is a nice, clean and cozy bar, with above average food, and a friendly wait staff.
We used to live down the street and this was out place to brunch every weekend. We don't live there anymore, but still come quite a lot.
This place has the best tomato basil soup I've ever had. It is perfect and I crave it, especially on a colder day. They also have really good wraps, which is rare for a bar. My favorite is the Mediterranean tuna wrap, which comes with tuna served rare (if you ask) and feta. It is very very good and the tuna is always fresh. They also serve good omelets. The guy who makes them is very attentive and will put whatever you want in it. I actually used to grab spices from the bloody mary bar and he would put them in my omelet. They also serve waffles and you can get unlimited waffles for something like $12 (if you can eat that much).
They have a decent number of televisions and there is always some game going on. The only downside is that they usually don't put the volume on and, once, when the Giants were playing the Redskins, they stuck us downstairs (which I'm not a fan of - it's dark and dreary) and they didn't even have the volume on the Giants game.
Aside from the small thing, this will continue to be one of my favorite places in Arlington. -
Review from Julien W.
Alexandria, VA
6/11/2010
I've been here twice in 5 years and neither time did I ask for a drink and get it.
I went here Thursday (June 10th) and the bartender asked my two friends what they wanted and walked away from me. Then he came back and I had to ask him if I could get a beer. He didn't get it and talked to the other bartender for 10 minutes until she got me a beer. Things on this variation went on the next hour until I finally paid and left
I understand there are places where rudeness is a part of the service: Peter Luger's in NYC, Dicks in Myrtle Beach, etc. but I just wanted a beer and to talk to a couple of friends and passed 3 places I like a lot better to go here.
I hear the downstairs bar is cool, but at this point I expect to fall down a flight of stairs and be swept into a corner while I bleed out. I'll just avoid making this mistake again and I'll convince any of my other friends to avoid it too. -
Review from Julie R.
Cromwell, CT
8/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
A darkly decorated bar and grill, Rhodeside offers predictable fare and a decent variety of beer. I had the "Chicken Fantastic" sandwich which didn't quite live up to its name. It was tasty with its dijon mustard and pretzel bun, however overall it was pretty unremarkable.
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Review from Jess C.
Arlington, VA
8/19/2011
I LOVE THIS PLACE! Their Chicken Fantastic is excellent - though I like to get it as a wrap, and with blackened chicken. They have lots of karaoke nights - DJ Wayne is the best! Good Happy Hour specials, great for groups, a date, or whatever. Outdoor and indoor seating, as well as a lounge-esque basement with televisions. Great service, good quality food, and good beer selection. I crave this place on a regular!
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Review from Mickey C.
Arlington, VA
8/21/2011
Loud bad music. We sat outside which was better than inside since we didn't have to fight the crowds. We usually order takeout which is great. Their beans and cole slaw is the best! Great BBQ sauce too.
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Review from Sarah S.
10/27/2010 2 Check-ins Here
Hook 'em Horns! Yes, I am a longhorn fan and this is the UT hangout spot, but Rhodeside Grill does a decent job at putting out some yummy grub. So, what's better than cheap drinks ($5 sangria, $3 beers), great bar-style fare, an expansive atmosphere, and college football?! Not much...
My top two picks for game-day munchies: The nachos (seriously good and the portion is huge) and the mashed potato quesadilla. I know the latter sounds off-the-wall, but I'm telling you the combo works and it's damn delicious. Just think, a massive tortilla filled with melted cheese, bits of bacon, and instead of the usual steak or chicken, it's stuffed with mashed potatoes! Plus, the guac on the side is excellent and accompanies it well. It is awesome, just try it. In fact, Rhodeside Grill is awesome... -
Review from Daniel B.
3/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
I love the brunch at this place. And the specials are nice once in a while. Good beer selection and lord is it convenient for me. And yet I almost never come here. The main reason is the food outside of brunch? Pretty solid "med", nothing to really note or cause me to stop by other than to meet up with someone.
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Review from Serena B.
6/8/2011
There are few restaurants in this neighborhood, but I was not very impressed with my brunch experience here. I wanted the french toast, which is served with a side of bacon. I asked if there was another side selection as I don't eat bacon and they said that would incur an additional charge. Wtf? That's not very sensitive to dietary needs, so I was turned off by it. The prices are good, however the service was kind of slow and there were lots of large groups there (kind of a Sunday after church crowd), which also made it difficult for others to get attention from the staff.
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Review from Cliff W.
3/27/2010
My girlfriend and I are the types to thrive on sunshine. Furthermore, we are not fans of winter, especially after the great snowpocalypse of 2010.
This past Sunday, in search of a place to sit out in the beautiful day where we could have a beer we found Rhodeside Grill on Yelp.
After calling and checking to see if there was a wait, which there was none, we got in a cab and went to see what the hype was about.
We get there, get seated outside immediately, and quickly order two Newcastles and an order of the chicken sliders. Beers came with chilled glasses, I can dig it. We were waiting on some friends to show up so the appetizer was an opening round of sorts. Our friends arrived shortly and about the same time as the sliders, so pretty quick service.
We offer sliders to our friends and one of them took us up on it. He was sold immediately and that's what he ordered as an entree. The siren song of poultry overtook him and that was that. These things were crispy, tender, and juicy. There were quite possibly one of the best chicken sandwiches in general I've ever had. After my first bite I was feeling pretty good about giving Rhodeside a chance.
When it came to order lunch, I went for a burger with swiss and cheddar on it (yes two cheeses, go big or go home i say..) and my girlfriend ordered a chicken philly. Her chicken philly was so good that when I asked for a bite I was denied, and for the record, she always shares with me. She wanted it all to herself and by the look in her eyes I thought better not to mess with that. She couldn't finish it so took one half home and ate it later for dinner.
My burger, ordered medium, was perfect. It was juicy and it had both cheeses on there (I mention this because most places screw that up. Two cheeses, one burger, not rocket science). It tasted like it was off of a grill from someone's backyard. Was it the best burger in my life? No, but then again I've traveled 3000 miles for a cheeseburger (See 25 Degrees in my past reviews). What it definitely was though was a great burger at half the price of the aforementioned 3000 mile away cheeseburger.
I also found it to be the perfect burger for a nice calm and breezy sunny day. It was exactly what I set out for when looking for a place for a lunch.
I highly recommend this place, and I'm pretty sure this might be my summer spot for 2010. -
Review from Venu N.
Updated - 2/9/2009 2 Check-ins Here
4.75 stars. The Rhodeside Grill update is a long time coming. Basically, I had shunned this place for over a year as the result of a rather unbecoming awakening to the involuntary partition agreements one apparently signs following a particularly rough breakup. Even when I started dating a girl who lived in Courthouse, I still avoided the Rhodeside Grill until, much like an unbridled night of lovemaking, I couldn't hold back anymore. In a series of rhythmic, uncontrollable passion, I began to appear here over and over again. I'm still not back to my regular status, but I can finally rest assured that my involuntary exile from one of my favorite bars will finally run its course this summer. At that point, it can pretty much be assumed that I will be here at least once a week. And all will be right in the world again.
Why do I have so much love for what others might rightfully call a painfully derivative sports bar? Well, like a properly sweetened tea, it boils down to simple ingredients. Does the bar have a beer on tap that is cheap that I like? Yes (Shiner - the unofficial beer of Texas). Does the bar have multiple TVs that make it easy to watch college sports? Yes. Does the bar cater to one of the most passionate groups of fans in America? Yes (this is the Texas Longhorns game watch bar). Are the quesadillas better than any of that crap you'll find at Rosa Mexicano? Absolutely. Am I glad to have it back in my life? You better damn believe it.
Furthermore, it would not be exaggeration to note that one of my visits here resulted in what surely ranks amongst the top 5 nights of my entire life (that might be a first for Arlington, Virginia). It was here that I watched the University of Texas win their first football championship in my lifetime with an enthusiastic bunch of revelers. Portions of the night changed me forever; it opened me up to the idea of potentially moving out of the Deep South and into Washington DC. I thought that I could have the best of both worlds: an international infused education experience in one of the most powerful cities in the world combined with the electric passion that pulsates from the beating heart of Deep South football. Indeed, it was the visage of hope free from obfuscating influences and a present sense excitement for the near future.
And without delving too far into a lecture regarding the substantive merits of base existential theory, I think it suffices to state simply that trite phrases such as "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" muster true meaning for me at this otherwise unassuming dump of a bar located halfway between Rosslyn and Courthouse. Thank you Rhodeside Grill. I look forward to being your patron for years to come.Listed in: The Return of My Narcissism…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/26/2007
The Rhodeside Grill was prominently involved in the best night of my entire life, but don't be… Read more »
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Review from Kori K.
Washington, DC
5/5/2008 ROTD 6/1/2008
Let's just say, I had had a semi-rough Saturday night and my original noon lunch date with Annettka P. had been pushed back to 2 p.m. at this point, so I was really hoping the weather would perk me up and asked A.P for a sunny location but wouldn't be too crowded with the after-church crowd.
In walks Rhodeside with their *are we actually in the parking lot?* seating. We were seated right away as the hostess led us past the ridiculously well-stocked Bloody Mary (SO MANY HOT SAUCES!)bar and out the door to a sunny spot.
If you ever find yourself here, skip the appetizer and grab a garden salad, either as a side or a main meal. It was delicious, with its cucumbers, tomatoes and even big chunks of corn. My lunchin' partner expressed her jealously.
I also got a turkey reuban , which in itself isn't much to brag about, but the fries the sandwich comes with are definitely worth mentioning. Waffle Fries! And according to other reviews they're actually baked, which makes you feel that much better about yourself.
And what took me from a three star to a four star was the music. Did I just hear Pink Floyd... twice?!Listed in: Kori's ROTDs.
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Review from Courtney R.
Arlington, VA
7/23/2009 1 Check-in Here
Scarily, I haven't been here in over a decade. I used to hold meetings here when I started my first magazine out of college, Snap Pop! Then I went twice last week.
I got the turkey reuben the first time and the patty melt the second. The service the first time was amazing, the second time (we sat in the bar area), not so much. Paul if you're reading this, suck it.*
Both sandwiches were a bit below the mark, but good enough to go back for. My turkey come off like the slimy deli kind--folded into a thick slab vs. the shaved, messy pile I prefer on my reubens. The patty melt's onions weren't sauteed long enough for me--they still had a hint of raw crunchiness. In itself not a bad thing, but not what I'm looking for in a patty melt.
The fries are awesome--waffle style and cooked perfectly. The price is decent--you could walked of there stuffed, lunch or dinner, for around $10.
*made you look, bitch -
Review from Matt C.
Arlington, VA
3/4/2009
Most of my experience with Rhodeside is in the sweaty, dark basement wearing high soccer socks and siphoning beer from friends' and strangers' pitchers.
Finally went in wearing pants, sat upstairs and ordered a meal and the food was great.
The honey pepper wings were outstanding. The special that night was a full rack of ribs with salad, veg and baked potato for $18.99 and I couldn't say no and it was great. The ribs were on point: juicy, meaty and they had a nice char under the sweet, tangy sauce. Potato and house salad received no complaints. They covered the skin of the potato in kosher salt before baking which is how every good baked potato should be.
All in all, Rhodeside is a great place to grab dinner and drinks. Just don't forget that the action is downstairs, sweating and stealing its friends pitchers. -
Review from Mikkela T.
2/1/2008
HEALTHY fries? So, it's Thursday night and the youngster hipsters are happy hour-ing. And we needed to grab dinner. So I ordered a chicken philly with fries... and my fries were healthy! They were real potato slices cut in a cross-hatch pattern. And, they were baked so that they still tasted kind of like a baked potato... can't a girl get a transfat-laden serving, anymore? No, they were tasty. At least my hoagie roll was zero-nutrition-pure-sugar-white!
Oh, and the dude singing and playing the guitar sang good songs (gotta love "crazy" and "I still haven't found what I'm looking for"), if you like that sort of thing. So, this place is a good neighborhood hangout. -
Review from Zach W.
Arlington, VA
2/9/2009
After a long absence from Rhodeside Grill, I headed over to this popular Courthouse sports bar the other night with Venu N. to grab some beers and watch the Lakers-Celtics game. Similar to my past experiences, I found Rhodeside to be above-average; just good enough to keep it on my list of backup options when better plans don't pan out.
Rhodeside is best for warm weather happy hours, when one can avoid the gloomy interior and enjoy some decent beer specials and great food specials on the patio. During the winter months, Rhodeside will suffice as long as you have an interesting game to watch on the multiple TVs surrounding the bar.
Venu N. declared multiple times that he "loved" Rhodeside, significant praise from one of Yelp's more experienced reviewers. My enthusiasm, however, was more tempered. Unlike Venu N., my impression of Rhodeside is not colored by a Texas orange-tinged allegiance.
I am not impressed with Rhodeside's beer selection. With half of the taps wasted by mainstream domestics, the only palatable options are Sam Adams, Blue Moon, and Guinness -- three beers that I feel queasy paying the premium price for when they are so easily available at the gas station next door. And unlike Venu N., I am not a fan of Shiner (there's that Texas thing again), considering it the Southwest's version of Yuengling - a supposed higher-end beer whose lofty aspirations are betrayed by it's low price.
Rhodeside's menu is probably the only thing that draws me back. It is huge, and replete with tasty and large servings of everything from shrimp quesadillas to the french dip. Rhodeside has a food special for every day of the week, and it's worth dropping in on Mondays to enjoy steak night, Wednesdays for cheap wings and nachos, and even Thursday for the steamed spiced shrimp special.
I'm sure Venu N. and I will be back. Maybe next time, the Celtics won't lose. -
Review from Alex O.
Los Angeles, CA
6/7/2010
Picture this, a smoked turkey breast sandwich with swiss cheese, thousand island and coleslaw inside on grilled rye bread. That's right its the Turkey Reuben. It might not be for everyone but to me one of the best sandwiches ever!!!
I will be back in Arlington later this week and I'll be returning to the Rhodeside Grill in hopes that they still make the Turkey Ruben and that is as good as I recall. -
Review from Sarah F.
Brooklyn, NY
7/11/2007
Funny Kevin should mention choking...the first time I ate (funny I ate there a second time) there I ordered some kind of vegetarian sandwich in roll form with melted cheese. Being the trusting person I am, I assumed there was no CHICKEN in it and started munching away, 10 seconds later I was choking, throwing up and crying all at the same time in the bathroom.
Granted the waiter was very nice, got me a salad right away and comped my meal (should have comped the whole thing), my trust in prepared foods was shaken for the night. We have eaten here since...my boyfriend likes it. But if you don't eat meat I would stick to the salads. -
Review from van n.
Ashburn, VA
5/30/2007
So my brunch team anticipated going to Beacon Bar and Grill. However, half of us were too lazy to cross the key bridge. Lo and behold, Rhodeside Grill with its back facing iL Radicchio's, my favoritest spaghetteria in Arlington, VA. Rhodeside Grill is quite cozy and I love the art on the wall. At least 2 of my senses were fed this past Sunday. I recall there was a painting of a drivethru theater with davy crockett on the wall. Don't you just love randomness?
One of the first things I noticed upon entrance was a mini bar area with tobasco among other hot sauces, endless brands of worchestershire sauce, celery stalks, etc. I'm new to the concept of make your own bloody mary's. For 5 dollars you get about 2 shots worth of vodka in a pint glass and you pour endless amounts of bloody mary mixer along with other condiments to customize your very own. I pulled a "Van of the Dawn"* and did a dash of everything. That was a very bad mistake. My friend, Hassan, followed suit and we both did not like the end result. Needless to say, neither one of us wasted the alcohol. I will, however, have to google the recipe for a perfect Bloody Mary on the next trip.
I'm always gluttonous and looking for a great deal. Quantity with no sacrifice to quality. So I opted for the Ultimate Waffle and Omelette station. I started off with a "Pile as much food as you can on the skillet please sir" omelette. that along with a slice of sausage, 2 slices of bacon, home fries and fresh fruit. I didn't quite finish the first plate, so the $13.45 was not well spent.
In the end, fair pricing, a nice relaxing atmosphere for food and company is what won me over. I would definitely go back and have brunch. Perhaps outdoors next time.
*Van of the Dawn is a character from a Japanese Anime called GunXSword. My main dude, also named Van (pronounced Vaaaaan like how Taj says it in Van Wilder), is known for piling every possible condiment on whatever food he gets a hold of. -
Review from C.P. S.
Arlington, VA
12/10/2007
Rhodeside is perfect for take-out if it's convenient. The bar gets too smokey if there is a game going on. Bar staff will be attentive if you are a regular and grease 'em up well.
The wraps and sandwiches are fine. Fries get soggy and starchy quickly. Better items on the menu are the Southwestern Wrap, the Walnut and Blue Cheese Salad, Spinach Dip (served with Tortilla Chips) and Chicken Philly Sandwich. Skip the pastas, there are better places for anything complex, but if you want an easy convenient sandwich in Arlington this is one of your better alternatives. -
Review from T S.
Memphis, TN
9/2/2008
The dude and I went here on Labor day after driving past it this weekend. What a pleasant surprise! It is an average bar and grill, but the happy hour specials were pretty good for the area and my Veggie Delight sandwich was great - albeit a little messy to eat. It had this great mix of portobello mushrooms, roasted red and green bell peppers and provolone cheese. The sandwich was stuffed, so I had to use a fork. Our waitress was very pleasant and we look forward to going for brunch when I'm back in town.
The only downside of the place (and it wasn't really Rhodeside's fault) was the crazy drivers honking outside. They have a great patio area, but beware because some people get confused as to where the driveway to the parking lot is - causing much confusion on Wilson Blvd. -
Review from Rachel C.
Bristow, VA
3/28/2008
I came here last night for the first time with my sister for dinner. The bar was packed with everyone watching the March Madness. We were immediately seated in the dining area. Thank goodness the dining area was non-smoking section, because I'm not sure if I would have lasted through our meal. Our server was very friendly, and knew the right times to inquire how we are faring throughout the meal. I ordered the Rhodeside burger, medium well. It was juicy and pretty big. Despite how much pepper I put on my waffle fries, they were still pretty bland.
A solid 3.5 stars. I definitely have to minus a star, because Rhodeside is not smoke-free. Even though the dining room was somke free, I still had to shower immediately after getting home.Listed in: Good burgers
-
Review from Adrian M.
Washington, DC
7/29/2007
SUNDAY BRUNCH REVIEW
This place is a basic corporate restaurant cum TGI Friday's minus the corporation. You won't be disappointed as long as you don't expect anything beyond the basics. But they do deliver on the basics and at a reasonable price. If you liked that girl you hooked up with last night well enough to let her stay for breakfast but you're not sure how much more beyond that, then this is the perfect spot.
THE BREAKDOWN
As a nearby resident trapped in corporate housing for a few months, I am sure I will be back because it is so convenient, however it is definitely not a destination unless you too live within 1,000 yards.
I sat at a table near the bar and was finally noticed after a good ten minutes. Clearly, the bar staff was about as hung-over as I was. The overwhelming theme for the day could easily be described as "lackadaisical".
The brunch options on the buffet were very basic and I was disappointed to see that you couldn't find eggs or pancakes in any of the chafing trays. Instead, you had to place an order resulting in a wait. Thank goodness it wasn't busy, but I decided to opt for the regular menu anyway. They had all the basics and the AC was great for a muggy summer day.
It will be interesting to see what I think when I return at night.
