Restaurant Spotlight of the Week:

Papaya Garden

Papaya Garden (Vietnamese Cuisine & Grill)

6280 Arlington Blvd. Falls Church, VA • (703) 237-4656

Hours: Mon, Wed, Thurs: 10:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.;

Fri - Sun: 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.

Tue: Closed

It's hard to know what to expect at Papaya Garden at Seven Corners. The outside artifice of the store, located in the white and red shopping center, is decorated with a sign that reads, "Papaya Garden: Authentic Vietnamese Cuisine" and a couple other window signs indicating restaurant specialties. But there are few hints about what one is to expect inside the doors.

Unlike many restaurants serving Asian cuisine, Papaya Garden doesn't advertise the Orient. Other than a small shrine near the door, a couple vases, and a statue of a smiling Buddha, there is little to differ it from an elegant European or American restaurant. The walls are a creamy shade of light green, ornamented with white wood molding and hung with still life paintings. Modern, colored light fixtures are hung throughout the room and a dark stained bar hugs the left wall.

In many ways Papaya Garden is pretty generic. There isn't any catchy theme or splashy visuals. But the food makes up for any lack of spice in the ambience, which ends up not being dull in any way, but rather, a charming and simple background to a tasty and inexpensive dining experience.

A good starter, for those fond of a little spice, is a serving of the Sate Chicken Wings. Sweet and fiery, the wings are meaty introduction to a menu of excellent main courses.

Leading the way among the dining options are the noodle soups, of which the restaurant has several choices. Whether it's made with pork, beef, chicken or even crabmeat, the soups are one of the biggest draws. Some spicy, others more tame, they are an excellent choice for a cold winter day.

But while the soups are an attraction, they are hardly the only thing worth sitting down for at Papaya Garden. Across the board, from the grill to the greens, the restaurant satisfies with well made, unpretentious fare.

Those looking for interesting vegetarian options will find in the tofu curry a hearty, exciting, presentation of the often bland staple. The curry manages to be quite spicy without adding excessive heat. The sauce is creamy and the tofu is firm and meaty. Another good choice is the stir fried ginger beef. The ginger flavors are fresh and work well with the beef. The beef, meanwhile, isn't at all heavy or greasy. Instead, it is light and tender.

For those that appreciate intensity in their food, the lemongrass chicken is a welcome option. The citrus flavors aren't masked by the spice, yet the spices are still strong enough to leave the tongue tingling. Other recommendations include the roasted quail which is succulent and more fragrant than chicken, and the pork vermicelli, with fresh noodles and lightly marinated meat.

While a great place to grab dinner, Papaya Garden is also a nice spot for a quick happy hour stop, the highlight being the seafood happy hour specials. From crab legs to oysters, the food is fresh, carefully prepared and perfect as a light and invigorating bite to eat.