Exclusive: 29 Arlington Eateries Violated COVID-19 Restrictions

ARLINGTON, VA — Twenty-nine Arlington restaurants were cited for violating Gov. Ralph Northam's COVID-19 restrictions between Jan. 1 and April 4 of this year, according to data obtained exclusively by Patch from Arlington County Public Health.

Patch obtained this data through a Freedom of Information Act request made to Arlington County.

Public Health reported a total of 43 violations in just over the first three months of 2021, with several restaurants being cited on multiple occasions. These repeat offenders include El Salvador Restaurant (4), Darna (3), World of Beer (3), Bar Bao (2), Crafthouse (2), Don Tito's (2), Dudley's Sport & Ale (2), Guajillo (2), and Pinemore (2).

The restaurants were cited for violating restrictions involving bar seating, physical distancing, congregating, and customer-facing staff not wearing masks. Two restaurants — El Salvador Restaurant and Darna — were cited for selling alcohol after hours, and several restaurants had parties larger than what was allowed — 10 people or 25 people.

"Arlington County Public Health staff conduct compliance inspections on a random basis," said Jessica Baxter, a public information officer with Public Health in an email. "If violations are identified, the businesses are asked to address them immediately. If there are patterns of repeat violations, it could lead to enforcement actions. Our goal is voluntary compliance of the food establishments."

Arlington County Public Health reported the following restaurants in the county in violation of the governor's COVID-19 restrictions on restaurants between Jan. 1 and April 4:

• El Salvador Restaurant - Bar Seating, Physical Distancing (Jan. 1)
• El Salvador Restaurant - Alcohol past 10 p.m.; Bar Seating (Jan. 1)
• Andalusia - Physical Distancing (Jan. 2)
• Sushi Rock - Physical Distancing (Jan. 7)
• Guajillo Grill - Physical Distancing (Jan. 7)
• Pinemore - Parties of more than 25 (Jan. 1)
• Bar Bao - Customer-facing staff not wearing masks (Jan. 7)
• Busboys and Poets - Congregating (Jan. 8)
• Darna - Physical Distancing; Congregating (Jan. 9)
• El Rancho Migueleno Restaurant - Physical Distancing; Congregating (Jan. 15)
• Ballroom Pop Up - Physical Distancing; Congregating; Parties of more than 10 (Jan. 16)
• Don Tito's - Physical Distancing; Congregating; Bar Seating; Parties of more than 10 (Jan. 16)
• Guajillo Grill - Physical Distancing (Jan. 22)
• TTT - Physical Distancing; Congregating; Bar Seating (Jan. 22)
• El Salvador Restaurant - Alcohol past 10 p.m. (Jan. 23)
• Pinemore - Physical Distancing; Congregating (Jan. 23)
• World of Beer - Physical Distancing (Jan. 30)
• Ted’s Montana Grill - Physical Distancing (Jan. 30)
• Darna - Alcohol past 10 p.m. (Jan. 30)
• El Salvador Restaurant - Congregating (Feb. 6)
• Darna - Physical Distancing; Congregating; Bar Seating (Feb. 6)
• World of Beer - Customer-facing staff not wearing masks (Feb. 7)
• Crafthouse - Customer-facing staff not wearing masks (Feb. 7)1
• Kabob Palace - Congregating (Feb. 7)
• Dudley's Sport & Ale - Physical Distancing;Parties of more than 10 (Feb. 7)
• Pop up - Parties of more than 10; Congregating (Feb. 11)
• Crafthouse - Physical Distancing; Customer-facing staff not wearing masks (Feb. 7)
• SER - Physical Distancing (Feb. 19)
• World of Beer - Physical Distancing; Congregating (Feb. 19)
• Bar Bao - Physical Distancing; Parties of more than 10 (Feb. 19)
• Aroma Restaurant - Customer-facing staff not wearing masks (Feb. 20)
• Thai in Shirlington - Physical Distancing (Feb. 20)
• Buffalo Wild Wings/Crystal City - Customer-facing staff not wearing masks (Feb. 21)
• Don Tito's - Physical Distancing (Feb. 21)
• Whitlow's on Wilson - Physical Distancing Congregating (Feb. 27)
• Danny Hookah Lounge - Customer-facing staff not wearing masks (March 5)
• Renegade - Congregating; Parties of more than 10 (March 5)
• Rickys Pub & Grill Entertainment - Congregating (March 6)
• Ireland's Four Courts - Physical Distancing (March 17)
• Thirsty Bernie - Physical Distancing; Congregating; Parties of more than 10 (March 20)
• Dudley's Sport & Ale - Physical Distancing; Congregating; Bar Seating; Parties of more than 10 (March 20)
• Caspi Restaurant and Lounge - Physical Distancing; Bar Seating (March 27)
• Darna - Congregating; Parties after 12 a.m.; Alcohol past 12 a.m. (April 4)