Restaurant Spotlight of the Week

City Diner

5616 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA • (703) 671-4108

Hours: Sun-Thur: 6 a.m. - 10 p.m.; Fri-Sat: 6 a.m. - 11 p.m.

By Darien Bates

Now that the oppressive heat of the summer seems to be just around the corner many are already looking for a cool haven where they can take a break during a steamy day, catch a bite to eat and relax a little.

While ice-cream stores might beckon, their wares are limited to the dairy section of the food pyramid. And while coffee shops offer up a few options, they don’t trace the range of cuisine that full service dining establishments promise.

On Leesburg Pike, just west of the junction with Columbia Pike, sits The City Diner, where the rush of the world seems to be held at bay for a little while, as one lays back in the red booths, at tables lit by stained glass lights, with décor that doesn’t hearken to the past or the future, it just is.

The owner, Peter, a long term resident and restaurateur in New York, opened the establishment over three years ago in Virginia, coming from almost 30 years of running restaurants in the intense, challenging New York market.

But despite his connection to the Big Apple, the restaurant does not advertise Gotham. Instead it connects to genuine and timeless memories from around America. Bric-a-brac and decorations that customers have brought in from across the country, hang on the walls and shelves. Maple syrup jars shaped like leaves, driftwood and boats, a single photo of the New York skyline. Just as the restaurant sits at Bailey’s Crossroads, it also appears to rest at the crossroads for the world.

But crossroads are a place of rest, not travel. While the world rushes from place to place, crossroads are a spot to take a break and prepare to tackle the next leg of their journey.

Appropriately, the restaurant provides an oasis; nothing too fancy, just a gentle combination of cool lighting, polite service and generous servings.

The menu is full of all the classics; roasts, burgers, chicken and fish. Whether one’s preference is for a light sandwich or London broil, The City Diner offers up deftly prepared cuisine that does a good job in finding the balance, not bland but not too rich either.

For light meals, the salad list is a who’s who of mixed greens. The Caesar, the Greek, the Garden Spinach, all make the cut. Especially good is the World Famous Grilled Salad, a mix of greens, fresh tomatoes, cheese, onions and croutons, with the choice of chicken, salmon, gyro meat or London broil.

A little heartier, the triple-decker sandwiches, which run the gamut from turkey to tuna, are crisp on toasted bread, and just right for a large afternoon meal. Nothing pretentious, just a good sandwich.

The freshly charbroiled hamburgers and cheeseburgers, are mouth-wateringly tasty. Served medium-rare, the meat fragrant and succulent. Even the turkey burger, which is often a bit dry, is a pleasant surprise and a good way to eat a little healthier.

Chicken sandwiches, like the Cajun grilled chicken breast, tender and spicy, round out a wide variety of tasty and well-prepared sandwiches.

Day-to-day specials differ but include everything from lamb to seafood, and are all reasonably priced.