(thegreeneturtle.com) – Ballston neighborhood, Arlington, Virginia

How I heard of this place: Our new friend Laurie recommended it to Chris and I in an email, after finding out that we were on the lookout for good food in our neighborhood.

Type of cuisine: Appetizers including a plethora of fried and sodium-rich pub-grub, sandwiches, burgers, soups & salads, and entrees, including baby back ribs, crab cakes, T-bone steak, fish ‘n chips, and mac & cheese.

Ambiance: We walked up to the very corporate-looking, windowed building hosting The Green Turtle, and were first greeted by the extensive patio seating available for outdoor dining. Heavy, tiled tables accompanied by matching, luxurious high-backed chairs. We made our way around the patio and through the glass doors to a dark space, only natural light and the two hundred illumined television screens lit the dining room. Wooden chairs pressed against green marbled tables in wooden frames, tiled floors, tall ceilings and sports paraphernalia, including banners, photographs, frames of news articles and jerseys, on every wall and yellow or green pillar throughout the establishment. The bar, at our far left, other than the tall bar seating against long, cafeteria style tables, had the same look and feel of the entire establishment – a sports-watchers haven for any game.

What I ordered: Having given our friends, Darrell & Deb the choice between three of our neighborhood eateries, we agreed on this burger joint for our Sunday brunch hour get-together. Not having had anything to eat for breakfast, Chris and I were long overdue for a meal, and stopped at nothing to indulge. We started with two appetizers: Bacon Cheeseburger Flatbread Pizza ($9.49), certified Angus Beef® deliciously blended with hardwood smoked bacon, sharp cheddar, diced pickles, onion and tomato served over a tangy Terrapin sauce on baked flatbread, and the Loaded Waffle Fries ($7.99) topped with warm and creamy queso dip, chopped bacon, grape tomatoes and fresh scallions. For our main entrees, Chris and I shared the Bacon & Cheddar Stuffed Burger ($10.49), hardwood smoked bacon and cheddar charbroiled in the center and topped with crispy onion straws, sautéed mushrooms, creamy Dijon mayonnaise and A.1.® Steak Sauce. Darrell enjoyed the Maryland Crab Cake Sandwich ($14.49), handmade daily with all lump crabmeat then broiled and served on a soft potato roll. Deb, with her dietary restrictions ordered the Sirloin Steak ($13.99), an 8-ounce USDA Choice Sirloin steak, butterflied (at her request) char-grilled with a side of green beans. A round of “Sweeteas” ($ each) and we were happy campers!

What I loved: The Cheeseburger Flatbread was my absolute favorite. An amazingly uncanny version of a cheeseburger, pickles included, eaten like a pizza. The two best things in the pub world in one bite. Yum.

Why I loved it: Excellent company, a huge space with only one other party in the establishment, and staff ready to serve.

Cost: Average ($9-$18 per entree)

Tags: Featured