By Sophie Oberstein

In the last issue of the Citizen, I wrote about a pizza place. This month, I needed to find a more upscale restaurant for a birthday dinner for my husband. As we are new(ish) to the neighborhood, I looked online for recommendations. I was surprised that one of the more highly rated places for special occasions was right in the center of town! If, like me, you’ve also missed Maison Cheryl (which, despite it’s Wilson Boulevard address is actually tucked in beside Ethan Allen on North Filmore), this French New-American bistro, is a neighborhood gem!

Robert Maher, is the owner and chef, and lives right around the corner on Clarendon Blvd. He opened Maison Cheryl, his first restaurant, in 2021. When asked why he chose to open here in Clarendon, he told me he’d seen how amazing the neighborhood was. “There’s something about the area and community that is welcoming,” he said, “It has all the hustle and bustle of a city, but is more relaxed and felt like home.” 

The ambiance was just what I was looking for for Jeff’s birthday celebration. One restaurant reviewer calls it a “sleek, New York-influenced interior,” which is no surprise. Maher is from New York and the photographs of that city hanging on the walls were taken by his brother. Maison Cheryl also decorates for the season, with cherry blossom decorations currently warming up the place. Maher also makes a cherry croissant donut to usher in the turn of the weather. Menus change seasonally with a focus on quality, fresh food and an enhanced customer experience. “It’s what I look for in restaurants when I go out,” Maher notes. 

Our appetizers were terrific. We had the Brussels sprouts (minus the bacon for my vegetarian husband), which were spectacular and are among the more popular dishes, as well as the cauliflower, another standout. For dinner, my husband had the vegan vegetable curry, which, to be honest, wasn’t as good as the rest of our food. My orecchiette pasta with bay scallops and shrimp (pictured) is a best seller—for good reason. The entrées Maison Cheryl is known for are the duck for dinner and the truffle steak and cheese omelet for brunch (served every day of the week). Then there’s Maher’s own favorite, the bucatini with zucchini herb sauce and fried burrata on top, a staple menu item since day one.

All this talk about the great food ignores the extensive bar. Maison Cheryl has a Happy Hour every night and a carefully curated wine list. Additionally, Maher likes to make a cheaper option available, like this month’s lychee cherry mule offered at $9. “I want to give back a little,” he says. “Dining out has become expensive and I try to find little things that can help.” “I love this community and having a restaurant here. It’s flattering to have enough business to have been here for five years. It’s fun to see faces coming back over and over again.” 

Full from our dinners, my husband and I skipped dessert (despite the neon sign in back of the restaurant proclaiming, “Life is short; get the dessert.”) It seems we missed something pretty amazing, as all of the online reviews of the place rave about the cooked-to-order madelines and other sweet treats. Ah, well, dessert is a great reason to go back again to Maison Cheryl! 

Maison Cheryl (2900 Wilson Blvd.; Suite 104): Hours of operation 11:30 a.m.–11 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11:30 a.m.–12 a.m. Friday, 11 a.m.–12 a.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m.–10 p.m. Sunday. Phone number: 703-664-0509. Visit https://www.maisoncheryl.com for additional information. 

By Sophie Oberstein

Tucked away in a two-storefront shopping “center,” is a pizza place that not only serves some of the best pizza in the area, but that is also unique in several ways. You’ll notice right away the huge signs in the windows that proclaim that Troy’s Italian Kitchen offers both “Vegan & Gluten Free” menus. In fact, Neel Vaidya, who co-owns the place with his wife, Palak Patel, says that 65% of their business comes from their vegan menu (“The biggest vegan menu in the DMV!” boasts Neel). Other innovations include the specialty pizzas (more on that below) and the introduction of halal meats, starting with the pepperoni, which my 9-year old neighbor, Harrison, said was “very, very good; some of the best I’ve had, and I’ve had a lot of pepperoni in my life!” 

Neel and Palak have owed Troy’s since 2019 in what was formerly the home of Z Pizza, and then Troy’s. They considered changing the name when they bought it, but “the former owner was Troy and the community knew that name,” so they kept it. Your classic, unassuming pizza place, Troy’s currently seats just six people, but plans to add more seating in the near future. Once that additional seating has been added, Neel, Palak, and their seven employees plan to host “Make your Own Pizza” kids’ parties and other community events. Most pizzas are ordered for delivery or pick-up. 

While there is an extensive menu of specialty pizzas, we ordered a simple cheese pie (slices are about $5 each; might as well get a whole pie for around $16 (prices vary)). The dough and sauce is made fresh daily and the cheese is high quality. “We don’t skimp,” says Neel. And you can taste the quality ingredients in the pizza, which is thin crust, but not soggy. Says Harrison, “I enjoyed the pizza; it’s really good.” 

Neel’s claim that “we’re unique because we have options for everyone” includes the specialty pizza menu, including their bestselling Vegan Elote Pizza—with fire-roasted corn, onions, poblanos, vegan chipotle mayo, and vegan parmesan cheese—and the very popular Chicken Tikka Masala Pizza, with creamy tikka masala sauce, grilled chicken, green peppers, and onions. The Big Dill Pizza was also suggested, with bacon, onions, pickles, and ranch drizzle. If none of these specialties appeals to you, you can always create your own pie. 

Lyon Park’s own Paul Showalter happened to drop by while we were there. A regular patron, he said some of his favorites are the huge calzones and the Gourmet Salad with dried cranberries, walnut, feta, green apples and balsamic dressing. Troy’s also has salads, wings, calzones, sandwiches, pasta, and a refrigerator fully stocked with desserts. Truly a full Italian kitchen. 

In addition to our cheese pizza, we had some pepperoni slices (quite large), garlic knots, and mozzarella sticks. The crispy mozzarella sticks got rave reviews. Harrison’s 7-year old brother, Brayden (pictured), says the “cheese can stretch far!” He and his mother gave them a “15 out of 5 stars.” 

If you’re looking for a great slice of pizza in the neighborhood, and you haven’t yet discovered Troy’s, it’s well worth a visit. 

Troy’s Italian Kitchen (2710 Washington Blvd): Hours of operation are 11:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 11:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday; Closed Sunday. Phone number is 703-528-2828. Order online at
https://www.troysitaliankitchen.com (10% off online orders). 

By Sophie Oberstein

There’s a new sweet shop in town—just in time for Valentine’s Day! Kilwins—offering chocolate, fudge, ice cream, and other confections—opened across the street from the Clarendon Metro Station in late December and has been tantalizing taste buds ever since.

It’s so new, it doesn’t yet have an awning (permits are pending), but step inside for a delightful sensory experience—from the smell of the waffle cones to the sight of the bright blue walls, pink tablecloths, and cases of delicacies. Cases are chock full of chocolates, fudge, candy apples, ice cream cakes, and more. 

Wissam is the Assistant Manager. She will welcome you kindly (and recognize you, if, like my friend who joined me, you’ve been there before) and offer tastes of fudge and ice cream. The Kilwins^® Tracks is amazing (creamy vanilla ice cream with chocolate covered peanut butter truffles and swirls of fudge)—and ice cream isn’t usually my passion. The Dubai-Style chocolate fudge was being prepared on-the-spot when we arrived and is a specialty of the brand. The peanut butter fudge was tasty and the peppermint fudge tasted, my friend said, “like a melted candy cane.” 

You may be familiar with the Kilwins brand already—there are over 200 franchise locations across the country (including 2 in DC and 6 others in VA, including Old Town Alexandria). Franchise owner, Omneya, says she chose Clarendon because it’s “a great neighborhood. The people are so kind. And we have a wonderful, central place in an overall walkable area. It’s awesome to be here.” 

Started in 1947 in Petoskey, Michigan with a promise to “make the best possible chocolate fudge & ice cream,” each store still follows the original recipes. The Core purpose at Kilwins is “to create enjoyment and make people happy.” 

A grand opening is scheduled for Sunday, March 8th at 11:00 a.m. Signage will go up soon, and there will be some outdoor seating. But don’t wait for these exterior additions. Get your taste of “Sweet in every sense since 1947” the next time you’re walking downtown. And, of course, the store has plenty of things cooking for Valentine’s Day, right around the corner. 

Kilwins (313 Wilson Blvd): Hours of operation are 10 a.m.–10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 10 a.m.–11 p.m. Friday & Saturday. Visit the website: https://www.kilwins.com/pages/stores-near-me-arlington-va-22201-0282 for more information. 

Have a local business you’d like to see featured in a future issue? Or, would you like to join Sophie for lunch at a local spot she’ll be writing up (NOTE: each person pays their own way)? Contact soberstein@gmail.com.