Do yourself a favor and take your kids to The G.O.A.T. in Clarendon for dinner and a night of fun games. It’s located directly across the street from the Clarendon metro and in the space that previously occupied the restaurant Hard Times Cafe. You will be surprised by the fun and yes, kid-friendly atmosphere. Eating might be the last thing on your kids minds once they enter the restaurant and see all the fun games The G.O.A.T. has to offer. The restaurant is large, modern and clean and has two amazing levels. The ambience is part night club, part arcade and all sports bar. It doesn’t matter that it’s a total bar scene—I promise you—it is very family friendly.
The G.O.A.T has three full bars and tables across two levels, with seating for around 350 people. Individual TV monitors line the walls, with a jumbo screen on each floor. At the back, a semi-private “locker room” seats approximately 30 people and can also be rented out for private events. There are a ton of games for kids of all ages, including Pac-Man on a huge screen. Additional arcade games are in the back. There’s skee-ball, foosball, basketball and the ever favorite toy claw machine.
Patrons can indulge in delicious American comfort food with what owner and executive chef Mike Cordero describes as having an “electrifying twist.” The menu consists of smoked pork belly and duck sliders, tuna tartare, bulgogi wonton tacos, barbecue ribs, filet mignon skewers, Mexican Torta and much more.
Our eyes were way bigger than our stomachs when we went there for dinner. We ordered an entire sampling off the menu. My family and I enjoyed the all-you-can-eat-ribs (the daily special on Wednesdays), tuna tartare, Vermont cheddar mac and cheese, the seared tuna salad, the chicken tenders kids meal, the certified Angus beef sliders, French fries and chicken wings. It was wayyyy too much food. The portions are were ginormous. You definitely get your money’s worth here! My kids actually split the kids meal and there was still leftovers for lunch the next day. The service was fast and the food was piping hot and fresh. Head over to my Instagram Stories and check out video clips of our family date night and all the food we had! And the bar staff whipped up some of the most beautiful and strongest cocktails I’ve ever sampled. The signature G.O.A.T drink was by far our favorite.
My husband and I agreed that there was something nostalgic about The G.O.A.T. We weren’t sure if it was because of the 90’s club music pumping thru the speakers, reminiscent of the era my husband and I met and fell in love or if it was because of the arcade and the memories we both had as children playing Pac-Man on Atari. Either way, The G.O.A.T. is both modern and a throwback to our youth! And The G.O.A.T. is the perfect place in Clarendon to go with your friends and your family for brunch, lunch, dinner and happy hour. We’ve already had a couple playdates with friends here.
The G.O.A.T. is located at 3028 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22201.
Huge shout out to Chris, Bryson, Jay & the entire staff at The G.O.A.T. for the generous hospitality and wonderful customer service!
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