Valde

O'Briens is still around. There is another location out in Sterling, VA. Almost as far out of DC as their Rockville (very north Rockville) location. There is a Marino's with a pizza even worse than Mario's in Alexandria. I didn't know the two were associated, but now that you guys mention it, the quality (or lack thereof) is similar. Strangely enough, the best NY Style pizza you can get in the DC area is in Landmark Mall, right off of 395. It's a place called Cosmo's and you have to tell them you want it hot, otherwise you typically get it lukewarm. This is one of the few pizza places I have found that actually has garlic powder that you can sprinkle on. You guys might think I'm crazy for suggesting a pizza place in a mall, but I tell you it's NY style pizza, by the slice!!! As for Mr. Eagan's, I am still mourning that place. What a great bar! Free popcorn, consistently empty booths and a table top Ms Pac Man. (Not to mention a dart board and an awesome pinball machine, I think it was called Carnival.) It was one of the only real bars in DC, no themes, no gimmicks just good strong drinks at more than reasonable prices!

Has anyone ever heard, or seen a beer called "Prior's Double Dark". I've never seen it in a bottle, just tap. I know of only two places that had the beer, both being in New York City. One was the Barrow Street Alehouse, which no longer carries it. The other bar was one on 6th Street between Avenue A & B. I forget the name of the place. It has always been one of my favorite beers, well worth going out of your way for, however I'm not quite sure if it's because of it's taste or the novelty of finding it. It is a dark beer, like it's name says, but tastes like a lighter beer going down. I can't quite describe it, but Warsteiner Dark may be in the right neighborhood. It's been a while since I've had a pint of the stuff. Anyways, if you've got any info at all on this beer, I would be grateful.

A beautiful place to stay and eat is the Hostal de Cardenal right in the walls of Toledo. I recommend staying there for the night too. Not expensive at all. The restaurant is excellent. I only stayed one night so I had no other dinner experiences there.

Malawry, If you don't eat meat, then I really have no recommendations for you. Dumpy places rarely excel at vegetarian cuisine. China King is wonderful for hangovers, must be the grease. The $4.50 is what keeps me coming back, although I prefer the Connecticut Avenue location north of Dupont. Anyways, I don't care much for the Redskins or the Cowboys, but Bob & Ediths is a great short order diner that seems to be in relative short supply (I'm not sure if I have been there before 2AM). If you don't eat meat, there isn't any reason to go. The only relatively inexpensive place for a non-meat-eater would be the Lebanese Taverna Market on Lee Highway in Arlington. This place has the same stuff their high priced full service restaurant counterparts carry, at self serve prices. The tabooleh and hummus are above average, but it's the $4.95 chicken shwarma that always gets me back. If you ever think of cheating on your vegetarian diet, I'd cheat with Edy's then over to the Lebanese Taverna.

The best food, regardless of price, must be the rotisserie chicken at Edy's in Alexandria. It's located just west of 395 on King Street. This place is cheap and has the best rotisserie chicken I have ever had. The white quarter chicken is their best cut. Juiciest white meat I've ever had, consistently. For $4.50 you get a quarter chicken (specify white or dark with no difference in price), a salad, and fries or yuca. (You also get a choice of potato salad which I would definitely pass on.) You can't beat that. If you get an extra white sauce and an Inca Cola, you're there for $6 even. Better enjoy the wait. There are ALWAYS crowds of locals. China King next to Vidalia was listed in the Post (presumably) for it's 'low-prices-to-high-meat-content' ratio. For less than 5 bucks you get a meaty chinese meal and unlimited use of the water cooler. It's chinese takeout, what else do you want? I've always skipped the Waffle Shop by Ford's Theatre for Ollie's Trolley a few blocks away. Great burgers, fries and onion rings. Surprisingly a bit on the pricey side. I think you'll have to drop 6 bucks and some change for the burger, fries and a drink. Carribean Grill on Lee Highway in Arlington is cheap enough. Pass on the jerked chicken and get anything with pork, preferably the ropa vieja. Make sure yo get them in sandwich form which gets you a good portion with a baguette toasted by one of those heavy iron machines which end up flattening the bread as it is heated up. Skip the sides, none are worth getting. You could get out of there for less than $6 without a drink. Then there are the standards, Five Guys, Ben's Chili Bowl, Bob & Edith's Diner, and a few others. Get some Edy's, you'll thank me later.