Mexicali Blues, Arlington, Va.

Recently I was wandering around alone in Clarendon and happened upon Mexicali Blues, so I stopped in for lunch. Something simple sounded appropriate, so I got the nachos with beef. The nachos in and of themselves were pretty bland and unspectacular and even the jalapeños themselves were lacking zing. The beef, though, was very good—they'd stewed and shredded beef, and aside from making the nacho chips soggy, I thought the beef was quite tasty. I think my choice of Mexican food may have been wrong; I later noticed that the ladies in the kitchen were Salvadoran, and many of the decorations on the tables and walls were from El Salvador. On my next trip (if there is a next trip), I think I'll ask for Salvadoran food. The place stays open late, but I think the emphasis is more on the bar and the cerveza rather than the food.