Take the Silver Line on Date Night
In honor of the Silver Line’s noon debut on July 26, I have put together a guide for those Washingtonians who have never ventured out to the areas that the Silver Line will be serving. For those of us that are don’t have a car or are too lazy to drive out to Virginia, the Tysons Corner area has been untouched territory for Friday night dates.
Tysons Corner
The Tysons Corner Center shopping mall located at Tysons Corner is perfect for the traditional dinner and a movie date. Everything is inside making it an ideal location if the weather is not so great outside. You can head over to La Sandia, a Richard Sandoval restaurant, for some margaritas and chicken enchiladas. If you’re not into Mexican food, check out Brio Tuscan Grille for delicious Italian food. You can delight your date with a filetto di manzo Toscano and a glass of wine. After dinner, you can simply walk over to the AMC Tysons Corner 16 movie theater located inside the mall and catch a flick.
Tysons Corner also has the Tysons Galleria, an upscale shopping center. If your date is into high-fashion, take him or her window shopping at Chanel, Cartier and Gucci among other designer stores. After some window shopping, grab a (large) bite at Maggiano’s Little Italy. With its enormous portions and cozy seating, your date is sure to enjoy his or her dinner. Tysons Galleria also has a Paul bakery, great for a post-dinner coffee and pastry.
Or check out Jose Andres’ new America Eats Tavern at the Ritz-Carlton Tysons Corner, connected to the Galleria. The restaurant, a re-creation of Andres’s 2011 Penn Quarter pop-up, opened June 2 in space that formerly housed Michel Richard’s Michel, and Maestro, a restaurant from Fiola chef Fabio Trabbochi before that. The décor and menu both pay homage to America, Andrés’ adopted home. The décor and menu both pay homage to America, Andrés’ adopted home. The munu includes regional dishes such as chicken pot pie, she-crab soup, Chesapeake soft-shell crabs, hushpuppies, Buffalo wings, chicken and dumplings, Virginia hams and peanut soup made with local ingredients.
Spring Hill Station
If your date is a steak lover, then take the Silver Line over to Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse at the Spring Hill station. The restaurant offers seven different signature steaks ranging from filets to New York strips. The menu also offers seafood options such as fresh lobster and barbecue shrimp. To end the evening on a sweet note, Ruth’s offers various dessert options including a bread pudding with whiskey sauce. I would also recommend the chocolate sin cake for those who cannot get enough chocolate.
Don’t forget to add in one of the handcrafted cocktails from the bar. If you arrive at the right time, take advantage of the Sizzle, Swizzle and Swirl happy hour. The happy hour offers $7 or $8 food and drink items. The sizzle refers to their special food menu for the happy hour. The swizzle and swirl menu has the drink offerings.
Wiehle-Reston East
At the end of the Silver Line is Wiehle-Reston East station. Also located at the end of the Silver Line is Mykonos Restaurant. For those dates that love Mediterranean and Greek food, Mykonos is heaven in Reston. The mom and pop Greek establishment serves different meat platters that are served with horiatiki Greek salad. They also have the favorites such as baked moussaka and giouvetsi (lamb and orzo). Make sure you top your dinner off with a delicious slice of baklava. The restaurant has the ambiance of a cozy, family restaurant and is best for a casual dinner date. If it isn’t too hot out, you can sit on the small, outdoor patio.
If you have ever been to the Tysons Corner area or Reston, then you know the great dating gems that lie around the Silver Line stations. And now that the Silver Line will be up and running, it will be yours for the dating.
Dating and Relationship blogger, Sara Maldonado is a writer and social media guru currently navigating the sea of men while having an affair with the city of Washington, DC. She enjoys coffee, laughter, and a good hair day.