T.G.I.F.

DISCLAIMER: I have a multiple blog postings from the weekend, but didn’t get a chance to post anything during the actual weekend, so I’m going to post a few times today instead. I’m actually writing this post en route to New Orleans for work. Writing these posts is a good way to take my mind of the sub-zero temps on my flight.

Friday night B&I wanted to go out to dinner and tossed around a few different ideas, but I was in the mood for pizza; good pizza. Not Dominos or Papa Johns, but something really good. So we decided to go to Rustico.

Rustico is in Alexandria, but not Old Town. It’s sort of an odd locale, but every time we’ve been there, it’s been slammed! I called ahead on our way, and we got there we had the options of sitting outside, inside, or the chef’s table. Outside would have been really nice, but the sky was looking pretty grey and with our luck, it would pour and there wouldn’t be anywhere for us to sit inside. So we chose the chef’s table instead. The chef’s table at Rustico is actually a bar area (with 5 seats) that overlooks the kitchen. During certain nights of the week you can reserve a seat at this area and learn about all the ingredients that go into their foods and beers. It’s a really cool idea and definitely something I’d like to do one night.

One of the great things about Rustico aside from their great food is the beer menu. I don’t how many beers they have on the menu, but I’d day it’s at least 100. I got a German pilsner and B had a Peroni. Next time though, I really want to the Pennsylvania-themed bucket of beers!!

We ordered the tuna tartare as an appetizer (which had the most amazing homemade rustic potato chips on top) and each had the hearts of romaine and roasted tomato salad. I had ordered this the last time we were there but it was during the “tomato scare” last summer so didn’t get to experience how great it was. Then we split a pizza.

We ordered the wild mushroom pizza. It has mushrooms, spinach, mozzarella, and goat cheese. And it was FANTASTIC! But sitting there watching everything come out of the kitchen that night, I can definitely say that everything looked fantastic. What I think is so great about the food, is that it’s simple food with simple ingredients, but put together in way that’s “gourmet” but not pretentious. It’s definitely a winner of a place and I can see why it’s packed every night we’ve been there. Because who doesn’t like good beer and good pizza?!!