I was in DC for my babysitter’s burial in Arlington. She was not the woman who took care of my sons, but she took care of me as an infant and stayed close to me until the end. We gathered to see her buried atop her hubby, an army colonel.

The night before the service, we ended up at Vin Sur Vingt Wine Bar, where my friend was a regular. We had fabulous, attentive service.

We each sipped a glass of Chateau Martinet ($18), which our server continually refilled, and shared with a  Monsieur ($21) with Paris ham, gruyère and a Parmesan bèchamel, and a salad Niçoise ($24) with fresh seared tuna tomato, pepper, olives, hard-boiled egg, anchovies and greens.

To end our meal, James served us a decadent chocolate mousse ($12) made with Belgian chocolate mousse, fresh strawberry shortcake and a class of Crèmant.

The best restaurant in your hood is where they know you!

And then after the burial, a large group of us stopped in at the Carlyle in the Village at Shirlington for something to eat. Some of what our group of almost twenty ate included the deviled eggs with bacon that we all shared, crab cakes, ribs (where the meat fell off the bone) and shrimp & grits. At least those are the ones I photographed from the many tables.

Service was above and beyond! I’d recommend both places.

Vin Sur Vingt
1529C 14th St NW
Washington, DC 20005
(202) 244-4201
vsvwinebars.com

Carlyle
Village at Shirlington
4000 Campbell Ave
Arlington, VA 22206
(703) 931-0777
carlyleva.com