Restaurant Spotlight of the Week

Sarita's Restaurant

2794 Graham Rd, Falls Church, VA • (703) 533-9448

Hours: Mon-Thur: 11 a.m. - 11 p.m.; Sat: 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 a.m.; Sun: 10:30 a.m. - 11 p.m.

By Darien Bates

On Tuesday the sun came out and the temperatures into the sixties for the first time this year, after months of gray, cold and rainy weather. Despite the official day having already passed last week, spring decided to show up fashionably late to Falls Church.

With the longer and increasingly warm days also comes the desire for fresh and zesty food that wakes a person up from the long hibernation that he, or she, has been in since October.

At Sarita’s Restaurant, now located at the intersection of Graham Road and Lee Highway, spring is fully appreciated within the bright, vibrant confines. For 20 years the spot was located on East Fairfax Street before moving to the new location last year.

No matter where it’s located, though, it remains committed to not only serving food, but creating an atmosphere where one can feel relaxed and renewed.

The first impression one gets when walking into Sarita’s is lushness. Throughout the restaurant, on every available horizontal surface, are decorative plants. Flowers grow in ceramic pots on pedestals along the walls, cut flowers spring from vases on the tables and on shelves, and fichus trees are set on the floor around the tables. On the walls are wreaths of intertwined twigs and silk flowers.

As the rest of the world slowly wakes up to the green and growing world around them, Sarita’s has obviously been at it for a while.

Amid the plants is an impressive amount of light and space. With white arches spanning cream walls, and large latticed windows, the space practically glows. A chandelier hangs over the center of the room.

The medium-sized round tables, scattered throughout the room are distributed in such a way so as to leave plenty of space between each. The increased proximity makes any evening more relaxing, when one doesn’t end up in someone else’s conversation, or their fajitas.

At the end of the restaurant is a simple yet elegant bar, polished black granite set on bright, stained wood, the ideal place to order a nice tropical drink, or even better, a cool, iced horchata, a classic Latin beverage.

Though there are a variety of different recipes for the drink, it is essentially a sweet, nutty beverage, often made with milk and cinnamon. At Sarita’s, the flavors of hazelnut and cinnamon are particularly pronounced, making for a great dessert or a nice pick-me-up in the middle of the day.

Encompassing a range of Mexican and Salvadoran food, Sarita’s serves its food in generous portions, no skimping on the cheese or sauces.

Classic dishes like the fajitas that feature thick, homemade tortillas, rather than the typical store-bought variety, or the rich and hearty chicken enchiladas, ensures no diner leaves hungry.

For a more Salvadoran focus, the Camarones Entomatados, shrimp sautéed in white wine, onion, tomato and garlic butter sauce, are tender and succulent, with just enough spice to make them exciting, but not so much to overwhelm the natural flavors of the meat.

For those who are just now making their way into spring, and looking for sustenance after the long hibernation, Sarita’s is as good a place as any to see the light.