List: Arlington Restaurants That Are Offering Delivery or Takeout

Last year Acme Pie Company on Columbia Pike went from pie wholesaler to restaurant. Now it’s becoming a delivery business as well.

With restaurants ordered closed to dine-in customers by Gov. Ralph Northam today, Virginia is now a takeout- and delivery-only zone. And that means big changes — and major hardship — for many Arlington restaurants and food businesses.

Acme, like other restaurants, has gotten creative to provide meals to those sheltering in place in their homes. It’s offering a “COVID-19 special,” with 1 quart of soup, fresh baked bread, and a 7-inch pie delivered to homes in Arlington County for $20. Tuesday’s deliveries are already sold out, owner Sol Schott said on Acme’s Facebook page.

“‘The Acme Soup Line’ experiment has been wildly successful!” said Schott. “I had no idea there would be so much demand. I hope this in some small way will help you all through this scary time.”

Acme is one of more than 150 Arlington restaurants ARLnow has checked in on over the past week, to compile the following COVID-19 Local Restaurant Status list. The Google Sheet includes information on whether a restaurant is open and providing deliveries and/or carry out.

Ordering delivery and takeout is the most tangible way to support these local businesses during trying times, but it is not a long-term sustainable solution for for many restaurants, particularly those that rely on bar sales from dine-in customers. Kevin Tien of Ballston’s Hot Lola told the Washington City Paper that one of his D.C. restaurants is “doing 2.5 times the normal amount of work for a quarter amount of original sales.”

Despite the tough times, some local restaurants fighting to survive are also trying to give back. Among them:

• “Chef David Guas, the owner of Bayou Bakery (1515 N. Courthouse Road) in Courthouse, has partnered with Real Food for Kids — a nonprofit that aims to promote healthy diets for children — to provide free, plant-based meals for Arlington children and their families… Non-profit Fruitful Planet, associated with regional juice chain South Block, is also offering fresh fruit to accompany the meals.”
• “Joe’s Place Pizza & Pasta (5555 Lee Highway) is… offering free cheese pizzas and fresh salads to those most affected by the school closings and job cutbacks [weeknights] from 5-7 p.m.”
• Gaijin Ramen Shop is “offering FREE delivery of fresh vegetable ramen soup to any elderly in need… for as long as supplies last.”
• Moby Dick House of Kabob is offering “50% off for first responders and healthcare workers with proper identification.”
• “Village at Shirlington’s Palette 22 organized the first worker relief distribution, offering fresh produce, milk and toilet paper to over 80 Alexandria Restaurant Partners (ARP) employees. Through community support and its partners including International Gourmet Foods, Adams Burch and Keany Produce, they have raised more than $18,000 for the ARP family. With a goal of $100,000, they are encouraging the community to purchase a gift card of which 50% will be donated directly to employee relief efforts.”

See information that needs to be updated in our spreadsheet? Please let us know by emailing Turquoise Jackson at [email protected].