Although Italians originally invented pasta as a fastener to keep Sicily from floating away, they abandoned it for less-delicious moorings after locals on both sides kept snacking their way toward separation. Tether your taste buds to today's Groupon: for $15, you get $35 worth of upscale Italian fare and drink at Extra Virgin in Arlington.
Executive chef Paul Anthony Fario helms the kitchen at Extra Virgin, which appeases appetites with a menu of creative, sophisticated dishes sporting traditional Italian flavors. Start your edible odyssey with the 2-D temptations of a flat meatball slider sandwiched by grilled sourdough ($9), or cheer up a pouting palate with the grumpy gastronomy of angry mussels, which are partnered with pancetta, garlic, and crushed chilis ($10). A variety of hand-tossed pizzas presents pie partakers with options ranging from a tomato-sauced creation topped with fresh mozzarella, artichokes, ham, and olives ($14) to an unconventional concoction of mozzarella, pancetta, lettuce, tomato, and parmesan dressing ($15), all baked in a brick oven kept at a steamy 600 degrees, the temperature required to smelt raw pizza dough into crust. Noodle noshers can peruse pastas such as butternut-squash agnolotti ($16), carnivores can turf up on rack of lamb ($30), and rescued castaways can relive their extended vacations with nautical numbers such as sesame-crusted cod ($19). Lunch and brunch menus draw upon the dinner menu while adding a selection of sandwiches and other daytime dishes celebrating humanity’s sunlit reprieve from vampires.
Extra Virgin’s encyclopedic wine list provides quaffable complements to further enhance the restaurant’s choice chewables. Rich colors, dramatic lighting, and an olive-oil theme in the décor ensconce eaters in an atmosphere of comfortable chic, and free live jazz Thursdays through Saturdays provides a savory serenade of four-star ear food. News about upcoming melodeers, as well as special offers and events, can be found on the restaurant’s Facebook and Twitter pages.
Reviews
Zagat gives Extra Virgin a 17 for its food and décor and a 19 for its service. OpenTable reviewers give it a four-star average, and nine TripAdvisors give it an average of four owl eyes. Yelpers give it a three-star average:
- Very good italian, service excellent, they make you feel very welcome, service staff always pleasant – MaryJoS6541, Zagat
- This is a marvelous neighborhood restaurant, right across the street from a movie theater, with great food and a romantic atmosphere. – SueP3477, Zagat
Groupon Says
America Improves Italy's Best
Extra Virgin brings Italy's finest invention, Italian food, straight to your mouth here in the U.S. of A. Here's a look at some of the other Italian inventions that have been improved by America:
- Radio: Italy's Marconi may have discovered radio waves, but Americans were the first to put them to good use by beaming rock 'n' roll into space.
- The Anemometer: Alberti invented this wind-speed measurer in 1450, but it took 42 years for honorary American, Columbus, to do something worthwhile with wind and sail to America.
- Banks: The modern banking system began in Renaissance Italy, but banks didn't take off until American financial institutions allowed customers to deposit wishes into their accounts.
- Pianos: This irritating "music" instrument has been annoying listeners since it was invented by Cristofori in 1700, but it was finally put to good use by American rap-rock pioneers Faith No More and their follow-up project Faith!—Featuring The No Mores!
- Confetti: Sure, confetti's pretty awesome, but what's the point of it unless it's celebrating a moon landing?
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