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Dining Out in the Neighborhood (and a review of La Strada in Del Ray)

June 5th, 2009 · 5 Comments

As we begin One Local Summer this week, it’s a good prompt to remember to eat locally when dining out as well. Family-owned, independent restaurants are struggling in this economy, and don’t have the corporate safety net that chain restaurants do. We’re lucky to live in a neighborhood with several great independent establishments that also emphasize fresh, local ingredients.

la strada del ray alexandriaWe recently celebrated a family birthday at a fairly new addition to our neighborhood, La Strada in Del Ray, Alexandria. La Strada has been open for about a year, and was top of the list of places we’ve been meaning to try. My in-laws were in town for my father-in-law’s birthday, so we thought it might be a family-friendly yet celebration-appropriate choice. It probably helped that we were dining on a slow Monday night, but the staff was warm and welcoming, even going out of their way to secure a birthday cake on extremely short notice. It is owned by a lovely family; Chef Stephen Scott has two young children and his mother graciously exchanged grandmother stories with my mother-in-law.

la strada del ray alexandriaWe had just enough room at the round corner booth, though on busy evenings I imagine the outdoor patio would be a great place to eat with kids. The boy was supplied with reading material and crayons while we waited for our orders to arrive, and the food was a great blend of fresh, seasonal ingredients incorporated in classic Italian dishes. You can check their website for daily specials featuring local produce. My father-in-law loved his light-as-air gnocchi in a hearty meat sauce; the husband and I split a family-size portion of ravioli in a morel cream sauce. It’s a little more upscale than your typical neighborhood Italian restaurant, yet the family-style servings enable you to enjoy great food without breaking the bank.  For an even better deal, visit La Strada during Del Ray’s Dining Week, which kicks off today and runs through June 14. La Strada is offering a 3-course dinner for just $29. Any restaurant that can satisfy picky New Yorkers and an active 2.5-year-old is a winner in our book. (Restaurant photo by La Strada.)

La Strada Osteria & Enoteca
1905 Mount Vernon Avenue
Del Ray (Alexandria), VA 22301
703.548.2592
www.lastrada-ontheave.com

discover del ray dining week

“Discover Del Ray” Dining Week, June 5-14, features special deals at just about every restaurant in this kid-friendly neighborhood, including the deal at La Strada, 15% discount at Caboose Cafe, and free gelato at Cafe Pizzaiolo. Visit the website for full details.

(Shared with Fight Back Fridays hosted by the Food Renegade. Visit the round-up for more inspiration from fellow real food lovers!)

Tags: foodietots reviews · NoVA Locavore

5 responses so far ↓

  • 1 FoodRenegade // Jun 5, 2009 at 12:33 pm

    What fun. It’s so rare to be able to eat out without feeling ANY pangs of guilt.

    Thanks for submitting this to today’s Fight Back Fridays carnival!

    Cheers,
    KristenM
    (AKA FoodRenegade)

  • 2 humblegourmand // Jun 5, 2009 at 12:57 pm

    i’ve been meaning to try la strada since i moved to del ray, and this has definitely inspired me to finally get in there. i think i’ve been in a del merei/evening star/taqueria rut!

  • 3 Jasmine // Jun 5, 2009 at 8:26 pm

    So would my date who has the Irish palate of a 4 year old find anything he would like? Because I would love to try it out and he has made the statement that he likes American food — what does that mean? I need to get pickier about who I date.

  • 4 foodietots
    Twitter: foodietots
    // Jun 6, 2009 at 8:53 pm

    @Food Renegade – thanks, Kristen!

    @humblegourmand – that’s not a bad rut to be in, but let me know what you think of la strada!

    @Jasmine – they make a simple spaghetti & meatballs if all else fails. I feel your pain, my husband is less than adventurous though I have made gradual progress.

  • 5 Fight Back Fridays June 5th | Food Renegade // Jun 11, 2009 at 4:06 pm

    […] 13. Simple, Good, and Tasty (”ode to a radish”)14. Edible Aria15. Agriculture Society – The Unparalleled Health Benefits of Coconut Oil16. Review of MFK Fisher’s The Gastronomical Me (Farm to Table)17. Cafe Cyan (Purple Asparagus)18. Local Nourishment (Low sugar real food Guest Dessert)19. MomsforsafeFood – Is 60,000 cows a farm?20. Girl Gone Domestic (creamy easy mac & cheese)21. Wardeh @ GNOWFGLINS (Homemade Coconut Milk Yogurt)22. It’s Frugal Being Green (Aunt Ann’s No Knead Bread)23. Clean Your Plate Recipe Challenge @ Nourished Kitchen24. Colleen@FoodieTots (Dine Out Locally, too) […]