Yaku

I had high hopes.

As a beer drinker, I am disappointed when I go to a bar and all the taps are out. I opted for my second choice, the Sangria. The White Sangria was very sweet and peachy (I do not like peachy drinks), but the Red Sangria was delicious, full bodied, and worth trying. If you are only a beer drinker, like my friend Matt, this place was a total let down with the taps (Yuengling, Miller Light, Newcastle Brown and Magic Hat #9) out and no bottles in the house.

The wine selection was extensive with cool wine-coolers along the wall. The color and decor was very retro/hip — yellow and grays, modern lines through the restaurant, very striking. I will say, yellow seats do not mix with red wine. Despite being open only a year, the couches near the bar told us a different story and looked too stained to sit on. What I appreciated about the restaurant is that the happy hour deal was good for the entire restaurant, no matter where you sit. Thank goodness for that — the seats at the bar were already taken, and having 5 people sit side-by-side on a couch does not work.

I was excited to try the crab and shrimp wontons, but found myself again, disappointed, in the meat inside. The general response to the food at our table was, "... it was ok." Chinese Peruvian Fusion sounds delicious — perhaps I just chose the wrong dish?

When the waiters did come by our table, they were quick to take orders. The turn around on our orders was achingly slow for the lack of clientele, and trying to flag the waiters to come fill our empty drinks was at times frustrating.

Overall, I might give it another chance in 6 months. Perhaps there was it was just an off-night with the taps, wait staff, and kitchen... in the meantime, they've got a lot of tightening up to do in order to convince me to wander away from my all-time courthouse favorite: Ragtime.

drafts:
M–F, 5–7*pm
$2 drafts
$3 Sangria/$12 Pitcher
$4 Rail Cocktails
$5 Mojitos

$3-5 Apps (Crab Wontons, Lettuce Wraps, etc.)

*Happy Hour PDF on web site is inaccurate

Yaku

Piola's

This international pizza chain specializes in thin crust, light sauce pizza cooked in a large wood-burning oven. The ingredients are fresh, the crust is perfect, the pizza non-greasy, and the food comes quickly.

The Happy Hour is so-so: house wines, tasty sangria, bottled light beers. This is a good bar for people trying to meet up with both beer and wine drinkers. Most people heading to happy hour in the area flock next door to Cafe Asia, leaving Piola roomy enough to find a bar stool and chat with the bartender(s), or visit with a larger group of friends without standing elbow to elbow.

Hungry? Great deals. What draws me here is the excellent selection of finger foods to snack on (for free!) while you chat with your friends by the bar during happy hour. Last night we had pizza with basil, pizza with pepperoni, olives, blue cheese, bread & dipping olive oil, and bruschetta! A plethora of food, and I went home full... of love for Piola.

Piola has a great location for those meeting up with people from DC and VAasince it is only a 5 minute walk up the hill from the Rosslyn metro station.

2 bonus points for playing soccer on the only TV in the bar area.

the deal:

M-F, 4:30–8pm

$4 House Red and White Wine, Sangria

$3 Beer (only bottles): Peroni, Pilsner Urquell, Heineken, Stella Artois, Miller Lite, Corona

$5 Rails

Free Appetizers

Piola