Colony Grill, Clarendon’s new family-friendly tavern, which features gracious hospitality and famous “hot oil” bar-style pizzas, will partner this holiday season with Wreaths Across America and Dames for Soldiers to remember, honor and celebrate veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice fighting for our freedom. From November 27 through December 31, 2020, the restaurant invites guests to sponsor a veteran’s wreath to be placed at Arlington National Cemetery, and more than 1,600 additional locations across the US. In addition to the new location at 2800 Clarendon Boulevard, Colony Grill has multiple locations across Connecticut and New York participating in this worthy cause. Donations are priced at $5 each. Those who donate will receive an adhesive acrylic wreath in their honor to be placed on the restaurant’s Wall of Heroes.
“This is a small token of thanks to some exceptional Americans who risked it all to defend and protect our country,” said Ken Martin, chief operating officer and co-owner of Colony Grill. “Last year we partnered with Wreaths Across America to remember the fallen and thank military families for their sacrifice and raised more than $5,000, which allowed us to lay dozens of wreaths nationwide. In our second year we hope to double that amount.”
In addition, all Colony Grill locations have a tradition of accepting 8 by 10-inch photos of men and women in their military uniform. These are installed on the walls of each of the restaurants, noted as the Wall of Heroes, as a tribute to those who currently serve, or have served their country. Submissions can be hand-delivered to any restaurant location or emailed to [email protected]. Colony Grill provides all framing. These photographs honor the WWII history of the original Colony Grill restaurant.
In 1935, Colony Grill opened in an Irish immigrant neighborhood in Stamford, Connecticut. Since then, Colony Grill has become famous for what is now its only menu offering: a one-of-a-kind, thin-crust pizza that is best served with its signature “hot oil” topping – a spicy, full-of-flavor, pepper-infused creation which can be ordered with any other combination of toppings. The original owners of Colony Grill were Irish American, but they employed Italian and Eastern European chefs throughout the Great Depression. These men proudly wanted bar patrons to try the pizza recipes of their homelands but needed a way to fit a pizza tray on Colony Grill’s narrow bar top. The solution: the “Bar Pie,” a thin crust pizza that is smaller in diameter than a traditional pizza with a thin layer of cheese and sauce so slices can be easily managed with one hand. The local Irish crowd – and anyone else who visited Colony Grill – seemingly could not get enough of this unique pizza. Eventually, across the decades, the hot oil bar pie became so popular that all the other Colony menu items faded away, as did the need for a grill. But the name Colony Grill remains as a link to their heritage.
Colony Grill, the 85-year-old restaurant brand out of Stamford, Connecticut, opened its latest location in the Clarendon neighborhood of Arlington, Virginia at 2800 Clarendon Blvd., 22201. This is the company’s first investment outside of Connecticut & New York. The restaurant is open daily, from 11:30 a.m. to close and is located just two blocks from the Clarendon Metro station accessible on the Orange and Silver Lines. For additional information about Colony Grill please visit @colonygrill on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, call (703) 682-8300, email [email protected] or visit www.Colonygrill.com.