Situated right in the heart of Arlington, Bistro 360 offers one of the most cultural menus in this area. What locals may not know is that Bistro 360 stems from the root of a global experience, offering guests a worldly dining experience with a wide array of items to choose from on the menu. Not only is Bistro 360 a restaurant, but it is also home to a Wine Bar and Market. Guests can sit in the Wine Bar (pictured below) and order directly from the restaurant menu while tasting a diverse selection of wine, beer and crafted cocktails. In the market, guests are welcomed to try takeaway meals for lunch or dinner along with a mix of wines, beers, ciders, cheeses, charcuterie, fresh-baked breads and desserts. Fun fact: Bistro 360 is the sister restaurant to the very popular Cassatt's Cafe on Lee Highway!
Upon our arrival, we were kindly greeted by the staff and chose a cozy table in the corner. As mentioned above, Bistro 360 is the best of everything (restaurant, market, wine bar, etc.). There is not much more you can ask for in an inclusive dining experience! We were drawn to the fresh flowers on every table and the beautiful, extensive collection of global decor and antiques placed throughout the restaurant. The owner explained to us the vision behind Bistro 360 and how the entire menu and design has been influenced by him and his wife's worldly travels. Each dish on the menu is something they had along their travels and almost each decoration or item in the restaurant has been brought back from one of their trips making it the ultimate cultural experience for guests dining in this atmosphere. As avid travelers ourselves, we absolutely fell in love with the charm and wanderlust of the atmosphere as we felt we were not in Arlington, VA when we sat down to eat.
We began our tasting by ordering the Naan + Trio of Dips (Guacamole, Black Olive Tapenade and Hummus), Spicy Beef Empanadas and the Mongolian Beef Spring Rolls (all pictured below). The Spicy Beef Empanadas melted in my mouth upon first bite. These were served with a side of guacamole and salsa. We had to stop from ordering more! The Spring Rolls were served over a bed of sesame noodle salad with a sweet chili sauce.
To pair with our small plates, I tried a glass of the Cru Monplaisir Bordeaux Superieur while Blake opted for the Gunsight Rock Cabernet Sauvignon from Paso Robles, CA. I favored mine over his with the flavors of our dishes. As we were finishing our small plates, we chatted with the owner about how Bistro 360 got started (read above) and his favorite dishes on the menu! He ordered us a plate of their famous Fried Green Tomatoes, along with Armenian String Cheese and Parmesan Crisps (pictured below), plus a plate of the Ginger + Scallion Braised Pork Belly.
The Fried Green Tomatoes (pictured below) were highly recommended by the entire restaurant staff, stating that this is one of their most popular menu items. These are served with goat cheese, caraway tomato jam and brown sugar cured bacon. Definitely a winner in our book! We highly recommend you try these or the Spicy Beef Empanadas as one of your small plates. We can go on and on about the freshness and quality of these small plates, but no words can describe until you go in and taste for yourself. These plates are all equally amazing and tasty, including the Pork Belly and Armenian String Cheese (not something you typically see served at a restaurant, but definitely try it!)
For the main entrees, (I know you’re thinking, how can you possibly try more?), I happily indulged in the Lemongrass Pork Chop (pictured below). As a daughter who comes from a family whose mother AND grandmother are avid pork chop eaters, I have very high expectations when it comes to a pork chop. I know that’s a weird expectation to have, but if the pork chop isn’t cooked just right, I will not eat it. Well, it’s safe to say that the Bistro 360 completely surpassed my pork chop worries and I absolutely LOVED it! This dish was full of flavor, more than I ever expected in a meat dish like this. The pork chop was served over a ginger & kimchi puree, snowpeas and potato gnocchi. Talk about packing an American, Asian and Italian cuisine all into one dish. This menu item is also highly popular and one of the restaurant’s favorites!
Blake indulged in the Potato Gnocchi, served with pesto, pearl onions, walnuts and Parmesan (pictured below). After spending time in Italy, Blake’s Gnocchi expectations are also high and these met them with no problem!
To end on a sweet note, we went for the Flourless Torte and the Bourbon Pecan Pie (pictured below). Personally, we are not fans of rich desserts or even desserts with a heavy chocolate consistency. That being said, we absolutely loved the Bourbon Pecan Pie to the point where we fought over the last forkful! This was the perfect amount of sweet and salty but not too heavy or crunchy. This dessert is a must try.
Locals + tourists, you do not know what you are missing here. Bistro 360 seriously has some of the most delicious, cultural cuisine we have ever tasted. Stop by for their weekly Happy Hour from 4-6:30 PM. Every Wednesday is Wine Wednesday with 50% off select bottles of wine PLUS don’t forget about their complimentary wine tastings every Thursday from 6:30-8:30 PM. What are you waiting for!? Get there now!
To find out more about what Bistro 360 has to offer, visit their website.