The 10th it is.

How about something in Clarendon? Very Metro accessible and not that far from DC. There are lots of options there. We did Liberty Tavern in November. If memory serves, the food was good but service not so much. I've been to Sette Bello a couple of times and would recommend it - it's pretty large, so seating wasn't a problem, and it's right across the street from a free Arlington County parking garage. Happy hour there is from 5:00pm to 7:00pm on Sunday.

Other possibilities include Boulevard Woodgrill (good but often very crowded), Harry's Tap Room (nice beverage selection, if I remember correctly), La Tasca, Tallula, and Tandoori Nights.

Alternatively, Crystal City, also very Metro accessible has some options: Ted's Montana Grill and Jaleo come to mind.

I should be in for this one, unless I have to go to London again.

Last time I was at Harry's Tap Room, it was uncomfortably crowded and noisy. But I'm willing to try it again.

Alright, looks like we're getting to the last stages of negotiation. :D
How about Crystal City then? (either place you mentioned works for me).

However, although it will take a little more effort, I probably can make it to the Clarendon area if that's what you decide.

If clarendon - i'd be interested in trying tandoori nights
If crystal city - i'm not a jaleo fan, so how about montana grill (always wanted to visit that state :) )

I just phoned Ted's Montana Grill and while they can't offer a reservation (I guessed for a party of 10), they said if I phoned about 6:30 pm on the 10th, they'd put us at the top of their wait list and should be able to have us seated by 7:00 pm. The manager also said he'd make a note so that they'd assign earlier reservations in such a manner that we'd all be seated together. Does this meet with everyone's approval? I'll put it as tentative in the first post for now, pending more feedback.

we're talking sunday aren't we? Shouldn't be too crazy esp since the football season is over by then

I agree. Still, phoning 30 mins ahead is no big deal, though I will want to have a fairly firm count by then.

I'm definitely in.

Phew! For a second I thought we were talking Superbowl Sunday and I was about to decline - but then sanity came back - and I realized that it was the Sunday after - phew!

I am in - whatever you decide. (hopefully no last minute plans to NYC).

There is a Ted's Montana Grill in Ballston as well. I would prefer that location to Crystal City. I'm sure others would agree.

By the way, any interest for Wed 6-Feb with Woody125 ? The location would be in Tysons or Ballston.

My office is now in Ballston! Buh-bye loser Gaithersburg! :D After-work events in the Ballston area sounds good to me!

Sid - I should be able to do this. Wonder if there is any BYOB place around there :D:D:D

joke gone bad

Please feel free to phone the Ballston location to check on availability for a party of 10 at 7:00 pm on the 10th. If you can snag a reservation, do it. If they're non-commital about whether they can handle a party of our size at our preferred time, I'd rather stick with the arrangements I've already made at the Crystal City location.

As an aside, I find the ample free parking in Crystal City to be a factor in its favor over the harder-to-find-unless-you-want-to-pay parking in Ballston.

He doesn't own a car, parking isn't really in the equation for him :p

That said, ballston (despite the parking situation) seems more accessible to us West Virginians, as Chtiet would say. It's definitely closer.

Then again, if we go with Crystal City, I'll feel less guilty next time when I push for something AT the beltway or the Tysons area, or *gasp* maybe even further west ;)