Kendall S.
Yelp
If you've spent any significant amount of time in downtown Arlington, or have friends who do, then you've heard of The Sanford House and brunch at Restaurant506. Lucky for us, they do more than brunch.
The Sanford House is a beautiful little boutique hotel with a gorgeous courtyard and stellar little restaurant in Arlington's historic district. There are two main dining rooms and each looks like a cozy Victorian sitting room, complete with antique furniture and grand oil paintings in grander frames. There is seating outside on the wrap-around porch and in the bar area as well. You might want to make a reservation for weekends and date nights because it can get pretty full. I prefer a quieter weekday lunch or evening cocktail.
My last lunch here I enjoyed the burrata salad with a bowl of their soup of the day, a lovely lentil soup. The burrata was perfect and the tomatoes and arugula were fresh and flavorful. The soup was well-seasoned and velvety, peppery and hot. A super-simple, beautiful, fragrant, and filling little meal enjoyed at my favorite window seat with a glass of dry white wine recommended by my server. I kinda feel like I'm dining at Downton Abbey when I eat at Restaurant506... it feels sort of quaint and special so you're apt to slow down and take your time, to really enjoy.
The lunch menu is modest but mighty. Soup, several gorgeous salads and sandwiches, crab cakes, a burger, a 4oz filet, bruschetta salmon, shrimp scampi, a scallop risotto... Dinner is delectable with Boursin-stuffed chicken, shrimp and scallop Angel hair pasta, Korean glazed salmon, confit leg of lamb, braised veal, bone-in pork chop, herbed rack of lamb, surf and turf, fish of the day -- and that's leaving out all the appetizers and desserts! Then of course Restaurant506 is famous for its weekend brunch with dishes like Creole biscuits and gravy, crab eggs Benedict, beef tenderloin filet and eggs, lemon and blueberry pancakes, prosciutto flatbread, chicken and waffles... Chef David Pacheco really created an incredible menu here. Oh yeah, and THEN there's all the craft cocktails.
It's a fantastic restaurant with a phenomenal staff and really great food. You don't need to wait for a special occasion to visit!