While I now live in North Carolina, I grew up in Northern Virginia. If you’re unfamiliar with the area, it’s nestled up next to Washington D.C., or as the locals would say, “D.C.” While the majority of Northern Virginia consists of The Burbs, there are a few great places to visit. One of those happens to be a favorite spot of mine, Old Town Alexandria. Old Town runs right along the Potomac River, making it the perfect place to take a stroll along the shoreline, where patrons are granted fantastic views of the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, and more. It’s filled with historical landmarks, row houses, cobblestone streets, and best of all, some seriously tasty cuisine.
The Bilbo Baggins Restaurant
The Bilbo Baggins Restaurant, located at 208 Queen Street, lies in the heart of Old Town and is a stone’s throw from the water front and Founder’s Park. On a recent trip up north, I was able to stop in and meet with Linda Armellino, wife of the chef and owner of the restaurant, Michael Armellino.
Being that the restaurant is named The Bilbo Baggins, I asked Linda why they chose to name it after such an iconic character. “Michael always had a great love for Tolkien and his books.” she replied. I mentioned spotting several Rankin and Bass collectibles around the restaurant. “You did? Well that was the original, right?” Linda teased. “When [Michael] first came in he noticed how warm and cozy it felt and he said, ‘Hobbits like to eat drink and be merry and it’s just kind of a perfect fit.’ This is a rustic, cozy place. No round door,” Linda laughed, “but that’s how it all got started.”
Michael Armellino, Chef and Owner of The Bilbo Baggins – Image used with Permission
Rankin and Bass weren’t the only themed collectibles I spotted during my visit. Located in the Green Dragon, the pub side of the restaurant, hangs a map of Middle-earth just above a cozy fireplace. I also saw several Lord of the Rings actions figures still in their boxes, LOTR Pez, a Smaug stein, and even an impressive dragon statue. “The dragon!” Linda exclaimed, when I pointed it out. “This guy made that and he was like, ‘I’m moving. I love it, it’s one of my prized possessions, but it belongs in The Green Dragon.'”
The Green Dragon Pub
Upstairs, you’ll find a wine cabinet even Bilbo himself would be jealous of, not to mention a fantastic Rankin and Bass themed mural that spans across the ceiling. “We had [Paula Ramone], a local artist, paint the mural upstairs. She and I had children around the same time. Of course, this was long before the 2000 movie series started to come out, so it was all Rankin and Bass.”
Rankin and Bass Mural by Paula Ramone
With Michael having been trained over in Europe, not to mention the 30+ years experience under his chef’s hat, it’s no wonder it took me a serious amount of time to finally order my meal. Their menu offers all kinds of tasty treats, included some fun Tolkien-inspired meals and drinks. In the end I went with what I would choose if I’d just come from The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug** theater premiere and wanted to stop by for a bite to eat and discuss the film with friends: PIZZA.
Pizza at the Bilbo Baggins is every bit gourmet. I’ve eaten a lot of pizza in my lifetime. No, seriously. I’m practically a bonafide pizza connoisseur. And let me tell you, folks, these are top of the line. There are 8 pies to choose from: Gandalf’s Pie, Sam’s Garden, Bilbo’s, Four Cheese, Smaug’s Delight, Green Dragon, Frodo’s Pie, and The Shire. In the end, I went with Smaug’s Delight, a pie filled with basil pesto, Italian sausage, and parmesan and asiago cheese. It. Was. Phenomenal!
Smaug’s Delight
And what Hobbity meal would be complete without drinks? Thankfully, I brought a friend along so I didn’t look quite so weird ordering multiple cocktails to try. I sampled the Shire Spiked Cider, Sam’s Carmel Apple, and the Toast to a Journey’s End, however, my favorite would have to be the Dark and Stormy in Mordor. Be prepared, though. It’s a blend of rum, lime, and ginger beer, and the ginger’s got a spicy kick to it.
The best part about eating in a restaurant named after one of my “favoritest” of characters, would have to be that on each table sits a deck of trivia cards, and within those cards are some of the hardest Tolkien book trivia I’ve ever been asked. I had a blast dining on the best-tasting pizza my taste buds have known, drinking Tolkien-themed cocktails, and creaming my BFF at Tolkien-trivia. The Bilbo Baggins is indeed just how Linda described it, “a rustic cozy place”, and I can’t wait to visit again.
For more information about The Bilbo Baggins Restaurant and The Green Dragon Pub, CLICK HERE.
**If you are a Hobbit fan in the DC area, be sure to check with The Bilbo Baggins closer to The Desolation of Smaug premiere date (December 13, 2013), as they’ll be celebrating with special menu items and more!
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