There are some restaurants that you fall in love with the minute you arrive. As a result, each time you dine there, your affection for it grows stronger. At some point, you feel at home. Ruthie’s All-Day is one of those spots. It is the perfect “go-to” place and will always have you leaving feeling better than when you arrived. This restaurant brings together the ideal combination of unpretentious great food, gracious service and a welcoming space.
Credentials Matter . . .
Matt Hill, co-owner and chef, and Todd Salvadore, co-owner and general manager, both have impressive hospitality industry credentials. Consequently, they put a lot of thought and care into creating Ruthie’s and it shows – – in spades.
Ruthie’s Perfect Setting . . .
The restaurant is located in Arlington, VA and only 4.5 miles outside Washington, DC. Housed in a red brick, mid-century modern building that once operated as a chocolate factory and ice cream shop and then as a paint store, Ruthie’s feels like something you’d find on Main Street, USA. Its terrific ambiance, by the way, wasn’t by accident. The team at Ruthie’s worked with the Virginia Department of Historic Resources and the National Park Serve carefully to restore and enhance the structure.
Arlington is indeed the perfect place for this restaurant. Low key, comfortable, and stylish but unassuming, Ruthie’s sizable, open dining room is surrounded by large windows and a lovely side patio, ideal for enjoying outdoor dining (especially during these dark days of COVID).
Great Anytime of the Day . . .
Ruthie’s is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. And regardless of which meal you have there – and you should go for all three – the menu delights. Above all, its range of choices and the quality of the locally sourced food are great. Best yet, prices are surprisingly soft, especially given its great menu and level of execution.
Ruthie’s Attention to Details . . .
Details matter here. Herb chimichurri with your streak? Done! Special ranch dressing on the side of your chicken tenders? Check! Four kinds of dipping sauces for your crispy smoked wings? No question! Great food, careful preparation and inventive sides – – what’s not to like? Which leads to my next conundrum… Everything is so good at Ruthie’s; as a result, it’s hard to highlight only a couple of items. Trust me, it is all so good, you’ll have a hard time deciding what to order.
For instance, take Ruthie’s starters. Its skillet cornbread is perfectly crisp on the edges and luscious in the center. Deviled eggs, which have seen quite a renaissance these days, are creamy with just the right amount of zip. Likewise, the Brunswick stew is chock-full of chicken, sausage, corn and lima beans and could be a complete dinner. In addition, Ruthie’s fresh, flavorful and well-balanced tuna tartare is an ideal starter for raw fish lovers. Rounding out its starters are wood grilled octopus, crispy smoked wings, Harry’s hot hushpuppies (with shrimp and roasted jalapeño) – all memorable.
“Meet” with Two or Three . . .
With its roots in old-time southern dining, Ruthie’s features the classic “meat and two or three”. As a result, wood grilled and smoked meats, chicken, duck, shrimp and fish are accompanied with your choice from over a dozen sides, all winners.
Let’s start with the meats. For instance, Ruthie’s smoked brisket is everything you’d want a smoked brisket to be. Succulent and savory, this brisket is worth indulging in. Moreover, plump, juicy and flavorful, Ruthie’s wood fired citrus marinated chicken sets the standard. Likewise, steaks, seafood and duck are smoky and moist, as is its smoked pulled pork shoulder. In short, all of these choices will give even the best BBQ places in the area a run for their money.
Not to be Sidelined . . .
I could write a separate article just on Ruthie’s sides. Indeed they are that good. Braised greens are complex and delicious. Crispy brussels are toothsome and flavorful. The same goes for the smoked cauliflower with benne seed tzatziki and the roasted sweet potatoes with apple cider glaze. For instance, one of my favorites – Ruthie’s Charred Kimchi Dirty Rice – could suffice as a meal in itself. That is to say that here, the sides shine as bright as the main dishes and it is challenging to choose only 2 or 3 of them.
However, are you not in the mood for a meat and 3? Fresh, bountiful salads and inventive sandwiches round out the lunch and dinner menus and offer great satisfying alternatives.
Ruthie’s Early Shift . . .
The menu excels at breakfast and brunch too, wisely incorporating some of its outstanding dinner ingredients into breakfast and brunch dishes. For instance, its luscious brisket is incorporated into a chunky, robust brisket hash. In addition, its smoked pork is smartly combined with its perfectly cooked grits and topped with grilled peppers and a fried egg. And of course, Ruthie’s biscuits are flawless – lightly browned on top, a bit crispy on the bottom, and flaky and moist in the center. They are offered at all meals so don’t leave without indulging in them. (The skillet cornbread is outstanding too.)
Sips and a Sweet Ending . . .
As for desserts, Ruthie’s serves only three: warm “campfire” cookies (its version of chocolate chip); butterscotch pudding; and apple donuts with raspberry jam. Certainly all three will satisfy your sweet tooth and provide a happy ending to a very satisfying meal.
Further, the beverage program neatly complements Ruthie’s fare. Its list is well thought-out. The cocktails, divided into “classics”, “variations of classics” and “originals”, have something for everyone and are interesting and delicious. In addition, there is a rotating list of multiple beers from local breweries.
Ruthie’s Love Affair . . .
In sum, like the best love affairs, my affair with Ruthie’s began at first sight and grows stronger and stronger with each visit. In other words, this is a romance, I believe, that will continue. With unpretentious great food, gracious service and a welcoming space, what is there not to love?
Contact and Location . . .
Ruthie’s All-Day
Summary
Unpretentious great food, gracious service and a welcoming space.
