Amphora Restaurant: The Late-Night Spot
Feb 23 '01
The Bottom Line The Amphora Restaurant offers high quality food, variety, and a laid-back 24-hour atmosphere.
I lived in the DC Metro area for more than 10 years, including my high school years and summer vacations during college. When my friends and I wanted someplace to go for a late-night snack, the Amphora Restaurant in Vienna, Virginia was one of our top choices.
What makes the Amphora such a great choice is that it has many of the features of other late-night diners while at the same time being quite unique. As for its diner-like qualities, it is open 24 hours a day and allows you to order many different kinds of food at all hours of the day. Perhaps even more importantly, it is the kind of place where you can sit and talk over coffee or snacks for hours without any pressure to leave.
From this description, the Amphora may sound like just another Denny's with a fancier name. But in fact, the Amphora has a lot more to offer than your average diner. One important factor is the quality of the food. While most 24-hour places offer mediocre food, the food at the Amphora is actually quite good. Their menu includes both standard diner fare (french toast and pancakes, sandwiches, etc.) and much fancier items you would usually not find in a 24-hour restaurant. For instance, in the past I have enjoyed the fried cheese ravioli (don't tell my doctor), and others with me have enjoyed their various dinner salads and their gyros (which must be good since it is a Greek restaurant). I don't imagine that late-night diners usually order such heavy items, but their presence does illustrate that the Amphora is more than just a diner.
Another very special feature about the Amphora is its bakery. In fact, at this same location the Amphora has an entire bakery from which people can buy whole cakes, large pieces of baklavah, and other treats. The Amphora bakery is well-known throughout the area. While the bakery itself is not open 24-hours, you can order many of the delicious desserts in the restaurant itself, so the Amphora is a great place to go for those late-night diners with a sweet tooth.
The one downside to dining at the Amphora is its price. While the "plain" menu items which you could find at any diner are reasonably priced, any of the fancier items or the desserts are more pricey. The cost will end up being more like going to a chain restaurant like Ruby Tuesday's than like going to other late-night eateries. But if you can afford it, it's worth it, since the food is of much better quality.
This 24-hour Amphora Restaurant can be found at 403 Maple Ave West in Vienna, Virginia. You can also visit the Amphora at 1151 Elden Street in Herndon, Virginia (also with attached bakery), although I am not certain that the Herndon location is open 24 hours.
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Epinions.com ID:
lernerj
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 - Top 1000 |
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Member: Jennifer
Location: Vienna, VA
Reviews written: 141
Trusted by: 99 members
About Me:
Sociology professor, reality-tv watcher, and kitty lover
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