Great American Restaurants may own 12 similar restaurants in the Washington, DC metropolitan area, but Carlyle’s is a unique and special place. It is a semi-formal American Bistro restaurant that is vegetarian and gluten free friendly with vegan options.

Their prices range from $4 sides to a $29 rib-eye steak and a variety of dishes in between. They serve sandwiches, salads, seafood, pasta, red meat and more. Kids are also welcome, for there is a kids menu with a juicy cheeseburger, chicken fingers, steak, penne pasta, and salmon. Carlyle’s even has a “best buns dog biscuit” (carry out only) for just $1! 

The menu is not the most extensive I’ve seen, but the dishes they do have are pretty spectacular. Start off the night (or day) with their must-have hot spinach and artichoke dip. It is $11 and can be split among friends and family. The chips are crunchy, the cheese has a great pull to it, and it’s well melted.

When I last visited, I ordered the penne primavera and it was delicious. The pasta was perfectly cooked, the sauce tied all of the ingredients together, and it was rich and creamy. Even better, the portion size was large, so it was well worth my money. I also tried the hangar steak with broccolini, bacon bits, and crispy brussel sprouts. It was my first time having steak of any kind and I can confidently say that I would try it again. Bacon is not my favorite food, but fortunately it did not overpower the flavor of the steak, so I still enjoyed the dish as a whole.

In addition to tasty food, Carlyle’s offers great service. The waiters and waitresses are friendly and professional and are guaranteed to make your experience a positive one. I went with a group of friends as a surprise for one of their birthdays. The staff gladly allowed us to decorate the table before hand and hide a cake in their fridge. They started a conversation with us as we were ordering and were even willing to take pictures for us when we asked.

The restaurant is a popular one, so it’s a good idea to make reservations in advance. They are open from 11:30am-10:30pm weekdays,10:30am-11:30pm Saturdays, and 9:30am-10:30pm on Sundays. Go ahead and make a reservation at 4000 Campbell Ave, Arlington, VA 22206 and enjoy a classy evening filled with great service and food.