Eleventh Street Lounge

The Eleventh Street Lounge is a young, hip bar and restaurant in Arlington. The room is long and narrow, and the walls are decorated with art from local artists. The walls, furniture and wait staff’s clothing are all color-coordinated in a black and red theme. Large double doors at the front of the corridor-shaped restaurant can be opened to let air in on warm nights.

I went on a Wednesday night with friend and fellow Hill intern, Allie Foote, and the restaurant was surprisingly busy.

For an appetizer we split the rare seared tuna with roasted peppers, white anchovies and salsa verde. When the waitress brought me a plate, she noticed that there was a bit of food still stuck to it. She looked at the plate, then up at me, then back at the plate, wiped off the food, and gave it to me anyway. I didn’t bother asking for a new plate, but it was not exactly a classy move on the waitress’s part.

As it turns out, Wednesday is half-price burger night, which brings the cost of the standard burger down from $12 to a more affordable $6 — a definite plus for any cash-strapped young person. I ordered the “One-One Burger,” which I assume is a reference to the restaurant’s name, but it’s a bit of a stretch.

The chic atmosphere made me think that the burgers would be small and dainty, but I was definitely wrong. These burgers don’t mess around. It came with two patties, totaling eight ounces of sirloin. In addition to standard hamburger toppings, it had tempura onions. They get points for originality, but regular red onions would have been better. Overall the burger was delicious, and the french fries, which were coated in a zesty seasoning that the manager prefers to keep secret, were especially good.

Allie is allergic to wheat, so that limited her options. She ordered the pan-seared steak, which was sautéed in Kalamata olives and came with jasmine rice and caramelized red onions. Two skewers of grilled vegetables rested on top. She described the dish as “scrumptious” and commented that the vegetables were “fresh and mouthwatering.”

Although the service could have been better, the good food and stylish surroundings definitely make the Eleventh Street Lounge a worthwhile place for dinner or drinks with friends.

The lounge opens at 4 p.m. throughout the week. It closes at 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and earlier during the week as business warrants.

Allie Foote contributed to this article.