Zack's Bistro — Restaurant in Arlington

What a gem! We are always looking for new places to try and came across this place less than 10 minutes from our house. It looked nice online, the few reviews were positive and the menu looked good. It doesn't look like much from the outside. It's on the first floor of a two story commercial building along a loud and busy highway. From the street you'd never see it. Now, inside, I have to say, the decor could use some updates. It feels a little off. One wall has that faux stone laminate on it, the other some nice wood covering. Row of mirrors, a large piece of art from, Turkey? Two rows of mismatched LED lighting. Another colorful wall covering of what looked like a tandoori pot with assorted foods. Makes you wonder what kind of food you'll get. Now, I don't even want to write this review because I don't want you to go here. I want this place all for myself! The food - the food is AMAZING! Not like, one thing, but ALL THE THINGS!! We got wine to start, which was excellent. The menu is all kinds of things any red-blooded American would want: meatloaf, lasagna, stroganoff, chicken cordon Bleu, chicken fried steaks - vegans need not apply! They have specials - usually fresh fish - just ask. We got these ravioli starters - they were not what I was expecting - they were MUCH BETTER. 3 round arancini-esque balls of spinach and cheese in red sauce. These were sublime. Nearly liked the plate. Dinner - I had the beef stroganoff, she has a salmon special. Mac and cheese on the side, because I am a child, and some bread. The beef stroganoff - holy crap - this stuff doesn't just feed your belly, it feeds your SOUL. Beef so tender, no fork needed. The sauce was amazing, and, unusual for a stroganoff but there were some tomato pieces in there but it was brilliant! Cleared that plate. She loved her salmon - fresh and perfectly cooked. The Mac and cheese - I think I detected 3 different cheeses in there and man, so good! Not overly clumpy or watery - it was perfect. The bread - if I am writing about the bread in a place, you KNOW it's the real deal. The bread - slices of white buttered and lightly fried/toasted on BOTH SIDES. Ethereal and light and melts in your mouth. Dip it in whatever sauce is on your plate and die happy! The staff is also super nice and it's because they are so proud of the food. You can tell. It makes the place unique - you'll never get proud staff from a chain restaurant. It's a little pricy, but absolutely worth it! They deserve those prices for sure!

That food. It is to die for. A place that is killing it like this place deserves its own building, deserves some upscale decor, deserves a star! It is so rare that I eat someplace that not only was everything good, but stunning! That kitchen is KILLING IT! Hats off to the chef and cooks!!!! I mean I'm dreaming of that stupid bread! Bread! This will definitely be our...

I want to start this review by saying that I was in the area near this restaurant, and I searched on Google for restaurants nearby. This place came up, and when I saw the photos of the dishes and the interior, it seemed like an interesting place to try. I’m the kind of person who sometimes gets nervous about trying new places because you never know if you’ll be disappointed. However, I can honestly say that this has been the first restaurant during my entire time here in the U.S. where I truly felt that the food was cooked by someone who really knows what they’re doing. The salmon was extraordinary. The way they cooked it brought out the flavor in an impressive way. The meatloaf dish was also excellent, and the pasta was delicious.

Additionally, the waitress was very kind and sweet. She offered suggestions for the dishes and helped me choose what to order. She truly has great charisma, does her job very well, and makes you feel very comfortable. I can honestly say that this is a place you have to visit, and you’ll realize that from this point on, you’ll be much more selective with food because they cook at a very high level here. I wish them much success, and I have no doubt they will have it. Their dishes are truly wonderful. Deserts so good too , bread pudding and...

Small Bistro in strip center with upscale dining options. Staff was extremely friendly and attentive. Food was, in general, pretty good. Bacon- wrapped deviled eggs were a little strange - a deviled egg that was wrapped in bacon and then breaded and deep fried. Weird consistency and just ok. Cobb salad was a nice concept with a molded style containing lettuce, blue cheese, and egg. Unfortunately, ours didn't contain any bacon, as the menu stated, and it desperately needed the acid of more than one little cherry tomato on top. The filet was well cooked and delicious, and the baked potato was solid, with all the fixings. Shrimp and grits were great - four large, tender shrimp and delicious cheddar grits under a rich Cajan sauce. They offer a full bar with decent wine choices. The night we visited, the interior was pretty stuffy and smokey from the open kitchen. Some additional ventilation would be welcome so diners don't leave smelling like the grill. We are always happy to support local businesses and hope Zack's will continue to improve and flourish. We'll definitely give them...