Happy Trails

Eating on the run/roll/stroll

By Warren Rojas

Had enough of all the talk radio blather about HOT lane hikes and bipartisan wailing over never-ending roadwork/I’ll-believe-it-when-I-see-it Metro expansions?

Take transportation into your own hands by joining the army of self-propelled denizens who handily get from point A to B—be it for work, fitness or simple pleasure—via the burgeoning network of trails that snake through our collective backyards.

Should you get hungry/thirsty/randy along the way, we’ve plotted a host of dining options ready to cater to your pre/post/intra-travel needs, including: launch pads [REV UP], comfort stations [REFRESH], emergency supplies [REPLENISH], victory laps [REWARD] and relaxing finishes [REGROUP].

Enjoy the sunshine.

Get some exercise.

Your car will still be there come fall.

Cross County Trails

REFRESH
Wakefield Park
8100 Braddock Road, Annandale; 703-321-7081; www.fairfaxcounty.gov
Average entree: Under 12 [$]. Open for lunch and dinner daily

Refreshment here is doled out via vending machine—think: assorted snacks (trail mix, granola bars) to myriad drinks (sodas, bottled water). But the skate park controls a cache of ice creams, including: vanilla/chocolate chip sandwiches, dreamsicles, rocket pops and sundae cones (all $1-$2).

REPLENISH
Lake Accotink
7890 Backlick Road, Springfield; 703-569-0285; www.fairfaxcounty.gov
Average entree: Under 12 [$]. Open for lunch and dinner daily

If you’ve got the constitution, indulge in classic concessions (hot dogs, fries, pizzas) at the marina snack bar. Otherwise it’s prepackaged ice creams (available at the carousel HQ) or bottled refreshment (vending machines stay stocked with Pepsi products, Veryfine fruit drinks, Powerade, fruit 2o blends and bottled water).

REWARD
El Puente de Oro
9534 Arlington Blvd., Fairfax; 703-246-9122
Average entree: Under $12 [$]. Open for lunch, dinner and late-night dining daily, breakfast Saturday and Sunday

This strip-mall cantina is primarily a neighborhood watering hole. And while the happy hour deals are tempting—$1.50 Bud/Bud Light drafts, $3 Corona/Modelo Especial/Negra Modelo bottles, $4 nachos, $5 wings—we dug the tacos al pastor (plied with citrus-marinated pork) and Salvadoran enchiladas (deep-fried tortilla topped with seasoned beef, refried beans and zesty curtido).

REGROUP
Madigan’s
201 Mill St., Occoquan; 703-494-6373; www.madiganswaterfront.com
Average entree: $21 to $30 [$$$]. Open for lunch and dinner daily, brunch Sunday

Just about everyone at Madigan’s riverfront tiki bar is running to/from something—most often personal responsibility. Which is exactly what makes this faux tropical retreat so damn alluring. Daily happy hour deals (3-7 p.m., Monday through Friday; 2-6 p.m. Sundays) usher in cut-rate beers, burgers and bar snacks. But the gorgeous sunsets—those are absolutely free.

REV UP
Santini’s
2975 Chain Bridge Road, Oakton; 703-766-6666; www.santinisdeli.com
Average entree: Under $12 [$]. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner daily

Light eaters can revel in homemade fruit salad, an invigorating rainbow of kiwi, strawberries, grapes and cantaloupe. Heartier appetites can tangle with specialty omelets, breakfast burritos (stuffed with peppers, onions and pig) or the croissant-wrapped chicken club (easy on the cheese, just right with bacon). Wash it down with Minute Maid or V8 juice blends.

W&OD Trail

REWARD
Carolina Brothers BBQ
20702 Ashburn Road, Ashburn; 703-729-7070; www.gamprinters.com/clientsites/carolinabrothers
Average entree: Under 12 [$]. Open for lunch and dinner daily

What looks like a dilapidated shop from the road is actually a finely tuned barbecue operation specializing in ribs, shredded pig, chicken and cow (smoke-infused swine shines sans excess vinegaring; tomato-soaked beef has bite; spicy bird is the sleeper fave) and Southern-style desserts (banana pudding is made in-house. Mom’s Apple Pie Company supplies the remaining sweets).

REV UP
Marvelous Market
1820 Discovery St., Reston; 571-926-9428; www.marvelousmarket.com
Average entree: Under $12 [$]. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner daily

Get your motor running with fruit-spiked muesli, custom breakfast burritos (stuffed with eggs, peppers, bacon and/or sausage), protein-packed salads (a shrimp, red onion and jalapeno number really fires things up) or homemade pastries (cinnamon-dusted apricot rugelach is plenty sweet yet light). Hydrate with organic teas or fresh fruit drinks.

REFRESH
Lazy Sundae
112 N. West St., Falls Church; 703-532-5299; www.mikesdeliatlazysundae.com
Average entree: Under $12 [$]. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner daily

A buddy once decided (naively) to bike from D.C. to Virginia. In August. “That place pretty much saved my ass,” he says of Lazy Sundae. Expect wild flavors (black raspberry, orange-chocolate) available as scoops/sundaes /splits, plus ice-cold drinks.

REPLENISH
Healthway Natural Foods
160 W. Main St., Purcellville; 540-338-2240; www.healthywaynaturalfoods.com
Average entree: Under $12 [$]. Open for lunch and dinner daily

This green grocer traffics in salutory goodies. Indulge in energy bars (Lara, Clif), drinks (probiotic tea blends, San Pellegrino) or (nearly) guilt-free chillers (QB’s redefine cool).

REGROUP
The Bungalow
2766 S. Arlington Mill Drive, Arlington; 703-578-0020; www.bungalow4u.com
Average entree: Under 12 [$]. Open for lunch Monday through Friday, dinner and late-night dining daily, brunch Saturday and Sunday

Replace lost fluids in near-record time at the Bungalow, which pours everything—draft beers include: Blue Moon, Sierra Nevada and Woodchuck—by the pint or in belly-busting mason jars. A blackened-shrimp wrap delivers protein and greens, while cheeseburger chowder pumps you full of veggies.

Fairfax County Parkway

REV UP
Amphora Bakery
294 Sunset Park Drive, Herndon; 703-954-0500; www.amphorabakery.com
Average entree: Under $12 [$]. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner daily

Part commercial bakery, part Parisian cafe, Amphora cranks out homemade pastries (danishes, muffins), custom beverages (flavored coffees, fruit smoothies), gourmet sandwiches—damp mozzarella and ripe tomatoes embrace beneath herby foccacia smothered in nutty pesto—and healthful salads (grilled chicken, Greek).

REFRESH
Yogen Fruz
1826 Discovery St., Reston; 571-926-9567; www.yogenfruz.com
Average entree: Under 12 [$]. Open for lunch and dinner daily

They’ve got an arsenal of frosty temptations (low-fat, no-fat and probiotic yogurt blends) plus a wide variety of fresh and frozen fruit toppings (think: blueberries, bananas, peaches, raspberries, strawberries, cherries, pineapple, kiwi, blackberries and mango; crushed candies, energy “boosters” also available) that can be folded into every order or added after-the-fact.

REGROUP
Blue Iguana
12727 Shops Lane, Fairfax; 703-502-8108; www.blueiguana.net
Average entree: $13 to $20 [$$]. Open for lunch Monday through Saturday, dinner and late-night dining daily, brunch Sunday

Whether you come to get your fill of food, drink or vitamin D worship, Blue Iguana’s got the perfect spot to rest those weary dogs. Pungent black olives and herby asparagus keep grilled chicken company on a flavorful flatbread. Sliced steak ups the ante in a salad accentuated by crumbled feta, diced red onions and tart raspberry vinaigrette.

REPLENISH
Mediterranean Stop
7890 Backlick Road, Springfield; 703-981-2301; www.mediterraneanstop.com
Average entree: Under 12 [$]. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner daily

An oasis of hospitality on an otherwise barren stretch of road, the Mediterranean Stop welcomes all with hot food (specializing in pizzas and gyros), cold beverages (stocks assorted flavors of Boylan’s sodas, Everfresh fruit blends and MASH fruit-spiked waters), prepackaged ice-cream bars and a few stray chairs upon which to rest.

REWARD
Homemade Pizza Co.
13300 Franklin Farm Road, Herndon; 571-203-9898; www.homemadepizza.com
Average entree: $13 to $20 [$$]. Open for dinner daily

This Chi-Town upstart picks up where lesser delivery places leave off, heaping its 12- to 14-inch pies—available with traditional or whole-wheat crust; instructions provided for baking or home grilling—with loads of toothsome toppings, including: fresh spinach, crumbled bacon (impressive hickory-smokiness), ricotta (bubbles up like nobody’s business) and zesty chicken sausage (extra cumin-y).

Mount Vernon Trail

REFRESH
Pop’s Old Fashioned Ice Cream Company
109 King St., Alexandria; 703-518-5374; www.fishmarketva.com
Average entree: Under $12 [$]. Open for lunch and dinner daily, late-night dining Friday and Saturday

Mix business with pleasure via Pop’s 20-ounce protein shakes. The pseudo-nutritious pick-me-ups feature milk, your choice of homemade ice cream—they typically field around a dozen flavors at a time, including: strawberry, coconut, cheesecake, pistachio, fudge tracks, peppermint stick and brownie sundae—and whatever metabolic enhancer (straight protein, rapid recovery, vicious vitamin, fat burner) you like.

REV UP
Extra Perks
822 N. Fairfax Drive, Alexandria; 703-706-5886; www.extraperkscoffeeshopandcafe.com
Average entree: Under $12 [$]. Open for breakfast and lunch Monday through Friday, dinner Monday through Saturday, brunch Saturday and Sunday

Unlike its Royal Street sib, Extra Perks pays homage to all things British. Which means early risers are rewarded with Weetabix in warm milk (fiberrific!) and full English breakfast (herby/sweet bangers hit the spot), plus fully dressed bagels (topped with everything from butter to cukes and tomatoes). Green tea-spiked fruit smoothies are ultra-invigorating.

REPLENISH
Super Store
1204 S. Washington St., Alexandria; 703-684-1811
Average entree: Under 12 [$]. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner daily

This convenience mart—no prepared foods/ready-to-eat meals available on site—operates, quite literally, in the shadows of the Wilson Bridge and multi-tiered Huntington Point on the Potomac complex. Sate hunger with energy bars, or cool your dome in Freon-spewing coolers full of multi-flavored sports drinks (vitaminwater, Gatorade).

REWARD
Indigo Landing
1 Marina Drive, Alexandria; 703-548-0001; www.indigolanding.com
Average entree: $21 to $30 [$$$]. Open for lunch Monday through Saturday, dinner daily, brunch Sunday

Indigo’s patio welcomes all, be they society gents and bare-armed ladies who skipper into the marina to still-glistening athletes angling for some well-deserved downtime. Food remains hit-or-miss. But the beers are always cold, cocktails stiff and the cross breeze delightful.

REGROUP
Chadwicks
203 The Strand, Alexandria; 703-836-4442; www.chadwicksrestaurants.com
Average entree: $13 to $20 [$$]. Open for lunch Monday through Saturday, dinner and late-night dining daily, brunch Sunday

It’s easy to relax at this local haven. Stumped about what to nibble on? Mull it over while sipping serious brews (Magners, Hofbrau Dunkel, Redbridge gluten-free lager).

(July 2010)