A Selective Guide to Dining at or near George Mason University If you have access to the internet, you can do no better than to consult Mason economist Tyler Cowen s searchable online guide to ethnic dining in the DC metro area: http://www.tylercowensethnicdiningguide.com Another useful online resource to Fairfax dining can be found here: http://www.visitfairfax.com/dine.php?st=st0b8b0&sub=sb3a72a For a more localized guide, we ve prevailed on colleagues and students to help compile this idiosyncratic list of places that we like to eat. Please feel free to double-check our information via your own online searches! On the George Mason University Campus At The Mason Inn: The in-house restaurant, Boxwoods, uses locally sourced food whenever possible, and has a wide-ranging buffet at breakfast and lunch. The Well is GMU s new go-to place for after-work gatherings. The Johnson Center has a food court, located near most of the conference presentation sites, which includes stations for Taco Bell, SubConnection, Burger King, La Vincita Pizza, and a make-your own-salad site, among others. (Slightly fewer options will be available Saturday and Sunday.) If you re looking for a step up from usual food-court quality, you might consider one of the following: Sangam s (in the Johnson Center food court): Sangam offers a daily sampling of menu items from its full-scale restaurant in Arlington. Good Indian food, and one of the featured dishes is always vegetarian. Open on Saturday and Sunday. La Patisserie (in the Johnson Center): Hot and cold sandwiches, fruit, bagels, and soup. La Pat has pretty good breakfast pastries, too. Quick-service window open on Saturday and Sunday. Jazzman s Cafe (in the basement of the Johnson Center): Right across from Dewberry North, Jazzman s serves Seattle s Best Coffee. If the lines are too long, we also have a Starbuck s one floor up in the JC, Both are closed on Saturday and Sunday. Rathskeller (in Student Union Building I): Basically a loud sports bar with decent burgers, chicken sandwiches, nachos, etc., and TVs. Lots of TVs. If you want drinks on campus, go here. Opens at 4:00 on Saturday and Sunday. Southside (in the Southside Building): Upscale food-court has a bistro, a grill, a pasta station, and a multi-ethnic restaurant. Opens at 10:30 on Saturday and Sunday.
In Fairfax GMU is not located just around the corner from many good restaurants. That said, if you re willing to do a little walking, the University Mall area has some options; if you re willing to try out the local CUE bus (see attached information) or walk or taxi the 1.5 mile jaunt into downtown Fairfax, a few more options open up; if you have a car or are willing to taxi around some more, we ve noted a few destinations worth setting up an expedition. The numbers below correspond to the attached maps. 1. Fairfax City Parking Garage: Free Parking a. Enter from Chain Bridge Rd. (Hwy. 123) or from University Drive. b. A few other small, free parking lots are scattered around downtown; keep an eye out for signs. 2. Old Town Plaza, Downtown Fairfax: Green or Gold CUE Bus a. Bollywood Bistro: Indian (a current favorite try the fried spinach appetizer!) 3955 Chain Bridge Rd # 101 (703) 273-0031 b. The Wine House: Wine (wide selection) and small plates 3950 University Dr (703) 352-2211 c. Also here: Potbelly Sandwiches and Panera Bread 3. Chain Bridge Road, Downtown Fairfax: Green or Gold CUE Bus a. Auld Shebeen: Irish Pub and Restaurant (pretty close to the real thing, for all you Anglo/Irish-o-philes) 3971 Chain Bridge Road, (703) 293-9600 b. Courtside Thai (good food, quiet atmosphere) 3981 Chain Bridge Road, (703) 934-8880 c. Villa Mozart: Italian 4009 Chain Bridge Road, (703) 691-4747 d. La Rue 123 at The Bailiwick: French, a bit more expensive 4023 Chain Bridge Rd., 703-691-2266, e. Red Hot and Blue Barbeque 4150 Chain Bridge Road (703) 218-6989 Not really walkable from the bus route; you ll need a car 4. Central Downtown Fairfax: Green or Gold CUE Bus a. Bellissimo: Italian 10403 Main Street, (703) 293-2367 b. Best of Thai 4004 University Drive, (703) 267-9619
c. Firehouse Grill: Inexpensive burgers and grilled food 3988 University Drive, (703) 383-1030 d. Havabite Eatery: Inexpensive Greek & Italian cafe 10416 Main St., 703-591-2244 (closed Sunday) 5. A bit further out, but good enough to be worth a drive (you ll need a car) a. Temel: Amazing Turkish and Mediterranean food 3232 Old Pickett Road, (703) 352-5477 From downtown, take Old Lee Hwy almost to Hwy 50, turn right just past Home Depot and turn left into the bland-looking shopping center b. Bombay Bistro: A Fairfax staple 3570 Chain Bridge Road, (703) 359-5810 Just north of the intersection of Hwy 123 (Chain Bridge) and Hwy 50 (Lee Jackson/Fairfax Blvd.) c. Artie s: New American Cuisine (not a place for a quiet conversation, but good food and attentive service; try the crabcakes!) 3260 Old Lee Highway, (703) 273-7600 Take Old Lee Hwy almost to Hwy 50; it s on the left/northish side of Old Lee d. Coyote Grille: Mexican food (and decent margaritas) 10266 Main Street, (703) 591-0006 University Ave. to Main Street; head westish a few blocks; far end of the shopping center on your left e. Anita s: New Mexico-style food (and decent mojitos) 10880 Lee Jackson Highway/Fairfax Blvd. (Hwy 50) (703) 385-2965 f. La Dolce Vita: Excellent Italian food, somewhat more expensive 10824 Lee Jackson Highway/Fairfax Boulevard (Hwy 50) (703) 385-1530 6. University Mall (about 20 minutes walk from central campus) a. Tong Thai: Several of our students recommend this. Online reviews suggest that the Pad Thai is especially good. (703) 691-0700 b. Brion s Grille: Good burgers and solid American cuisine, with bit of a sports-bar feel. 703-352-7272, c. Fat Tuesday s (around the back of University Mall): According to the Washington Post, this schizophrenic little bar is a New Orleans bar trying to be a college bar that s trying to be a New Orleans bar. (703) 385-5717.
181A PROVIDENCE ELEMENTARY STAFFORD PARK DANIELS RUN ELEMENTARY A Downtown Fairfax GEOR GE M ASON BLVD. A Effective February 1, 2010 GMU CUE Stop www.cuebus.org www.nextbus.com (TTY 711) h
Exact fare is required; drivers do not carry change. Metro SmarTrip Cards are accepted. AM