When I can’t bear to cook breakfast on a Sunday -- especially when we have guests visiting -- I always wish we had more nice brunch options in the Western suburbs. After seeing the Sunday Brunch banner towering over Lee Highway for the umpteenth time, I decided to try Alto Plaza in Centreville. As I like to do with buffets, we arrived right at opening time, 10 a.m. sharp, and waited in the lobby for several minutes until the staff was ready to seat us.  My dining party included two small children, and we were offered a corner table where we could place the high chairs away from traffic. The…

Sometimes after a long day, I just can't seem to muster the energy to cook dinner. I suspect I’m not alone. During a recent takeout-night at my house, we decided to “go veg” and placed an order with Chinese-inspired Lotus Vegetarian Restaurant. These days, it seems like more and more people are cutting meat from their diet. Whether you are thinking of making the switch, reaping the health benefits of a “meatless Monday” sort of ritual, or simply wanting to share an effortless meal with vegetarian/vegan friends, it is handy to have an easy option so close to home. I started my dinner with a …

Thai Basil in Chantilly claims its fame from Executive Chef and owner Nongkran Daks, winner of Food Network's "Pad Thai Throw Down" with celebrity chef Bobby Flay. Located in a modest plaza on Lee Jackson Highway, the décor is simple and the service is shall we say, efficient – that is, matter-of-fact and moderately attentive. A popular weekday lunch spot with working professionals, by noon the dining room is nearly full of people who don’t seem to mind the “no split checks at lunch” rule.   I started with an appetizer called Golden Cups ($5.95) which were crisp bite-sized shells filled with …

As someone who delights in a good bowl of pho, I feel fortunate to live in Northern Virginia where shops selling the Vietnamese noodle soup are plentiful. It's pronounced more like “fuh” than the “foe” commonly said by Westerners, so I'm sorry if those lunch time proclamations and status updates in the vein of "pho real!" just don't seem as clever now. Eaten with chopsticks and a big spoon, the dish is served piping hot in a large bowl with a plate of fresh garnish on the side for the diner to add in their preferred quantities. For several years I have been having lunch at Pho 98 - a family-…