Bob & Edith's Diner — Restaurant in Arlington

We had high hopes for this place as it's one of the only mom and pop style diners in the area and the reviews seemed promising. Our experience, however, was far from favorable.

It's a first come, first seated kind of place and fortunately enough, the patrons in this area are all civil and respect the system. We were able to find an open table about 10 minutes after arriving.

Now comes the service....or the lack thereof. After seating ourselves, a waitress finally came over after another 10 minutes had passed and took our food and drink order. We recieved all of our drinks except for the ice waters and the waitress then went on to ignore us for the next 25 minutes. My coffee cup sat empty for close to 20 minutes, my fiancé was dying for her ice water, and we watched as 7-8 other tables that sat after us recieved their food before our waitress remembered that we exist.

When she finally brought our food, we were able to ask for refills on our coffee and for our ice waters that should have come with the straws that she provided 25 minutes ago. The food order was almost correct minus the home fries but she did apologize for the wait and quickly brought us our waters, the home fries, and refilled our coffees before she left us again for the remainder of our visit. My daughters sprite ran dry shortly after the waitress left and no refills or service was provided thereafter.

The food was also less than desirable, especially for the prices. The meal for my fiancé and two teenage daughters came out to $63. The corned beef clearly came out of a can and was flash seered on the outside while remaining a slimy room temperature mess in the middle. My home fries and my daughters french fries were quite bland, undercooked and soggy (how do you mess up french fries?).

Overall, we really did try to find some good with the visit and the food, but our optimism quickly dwindled as they showed us that we really didn't matter at all. When I went up to pay, I felt invisible and eventually our server almost physically ran into me before realizing I was standing there at the register waiting to pay. I usually tip very well but I'll admit that I tipped only $2 today, which was honestly generous considering we weren't really taken care of as paying customers. The manager was visibly frustrated and put off with me requesting an itemized receipt, which I asked for to confirm I wasn't charged for their home fries mistake.

I've paid less at finer establishments in the area for immensely better experiences. It's safe to say we will not be returning to this or any other Bob and Edith diners ever again. My family even questioned if they were ignoring us because of our race, as they noticed we were the only East Asian folks in there, I tried to quickly dismiss that notion but who knows why they acted they way they did towards us. They may want to treat all of their customers with equal respect and attention as they have no idea the reach of one persons...

Well, let me tell you something, my dear friends. I recently had the pleasure of visiting this 24-hour diner that left me with mixed emotions. Now, I must admit, I had my reservations about this place, but I decided to give it a chance. And boy, was I in for a surprise!

Let's start with the star of the show, shall we? The cheesesteak. Oh, what a delightful creation it was! Picture this: succulent chopped and tender beef, perfectly seasoned and mouthwatering. The cheese, oh the cheese! It oozed and melted, embracing the meat in a warm, gooey embrace. But it didn't stop there, my friends. No, no, no. This masterpiece was adorned with onions that were so pungent, they could bring tears to your eyes. And let's not forget the crisp freshness of the lettuce and tomato, adding a burst of color and vibrancy to this already tantalizing creation.

Now, let's talk about the service. Ah, the service. It was a bit of a rollercoaster, I must say. Our server seemed to be juggling the weight of the world on his shoulders. He was overworked, that much was clear. But despite the chaos, he soldiered on, delivering our orders with a smile that could light up a room. Yes, the service was slow, but you could see the effort and dedication in his eyes. And for that, I commend him.

So, my dear food enthusiasts, would I recommend this diner? Well, despite its flaws, I must say, yes, I would. The cheesesteak alone is worth the visit. Just be prepared for a leisurely dining experience, as the service may not be as swift as one would hope. But hey, sometimes good things come to those who wait, right?

In conclusion, this 24-hour diner may not be perfect, but it has its moments of brilliance. So, if you find yourself in need of a late-night feast, give it a go. Just remember to savor that cheesesteak, my friends. It's a true work of art amidst the chaos...

Rational food prices. Attentive service.

Less than a mile from this location I popped in to a "donut" shop thinking I could grab my wife and I a quick bite. After being quoted $21 for six donuts, I thought we might starve to death for our four days in Crystal City because there was NO WAY I was going to pay those prices.

Bob & Edith's has been around for over 50 years and it is popular with the locals. The place was packed on a Sunday morning. Prices were rational ~ $10-$15 a breakfast plate. Lunch was similarly priced.

There is plenty of variety on the menu. My wife and I had breakfast. My meal was corned beef & eggs with breakfast potatoes and Rye toast. That is a meal I can't get at Denny's or IHop. The breakfast potatoes were chunkier than I expected, a pleasant surprise. I found the best way to eat this was to combine fork fulls of corned beef with a potato and eat them together while using my perfectly toasted rye toast with my perfectly over-easy eggs.

While the potatoes were good, they needed some rotation on the grill. Some were burned (crispy is good, burned is not) on one side and blonde on the other.

A highlight was the service. It truly seemed like a unified team effort. Refills came in a timely manner and wellness checks were frequent, but not annoying. We had visits from at least four different staff members to refill coffee, check on our satisfaction, serve our meals, and correct errors.

There was a small error with one order, but it is barely worth mentioning because the staff recovery was blazing fast. The check also came promptly when requested.

I was happy to provide a 25% tip and am envious of those who live locally.

If you are noise sensitive, it is a bit loud. They do have an optional seating...