# DC Dopers - Merrifield Lunch Bunch? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 23, 2007, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-dopers-merrifield-lunch-bunch/423706 "2007-10-23T15:37:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2007, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-dopers-merrifield-lunch-bunch/423706/1 "2007-10-23T15:37:27Z")
As suggested in [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=439539) - howzabout any Fairfax County Dopers (and anyone who wants to drive / Metro in) get together for lunch in the Merrifield area in Virginia. That has the advantage of being close to the Beltway, semi-convenient to the Metro (a fellow Doper will have to pick you up), and not too far for those of us out near Fairfax / Fair Lakes. Someone suggested any Thursday in November. So I put forth: Thursday the 8th or Thursday the 15th. Locations: I know I specifically mentioned Sweetwater Tavern, which is at the intersection of Gallows and Route 50. I love the place but it can be pricey (it’s easy to drop 20 bucks on lunch). Fortunately there are lots of other places nearby. Five Guys is supposed to have good burgers - it’s a chain that somehow I’ve never visited. Chevy’s has Tex-Mex. Dunno about prices; I imagine it’s as authentic as any such chain and the food is probably edible. So - who’s up for lunch? Which of those two dates? And which of the restaurants would make you happy? Suggest we meet at 11:30 which would avoid the worst of the crowd. Triskadecamus has offered / threatened to pick folks up at the Vienna Metro (orange line); I can do the same for Dunn Loring (closer to restaurants, not as close to the highway however). Or if anyone out west of Fairfax wants to carpool. ---
**Author:** ![Triskadecamus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@Triskadecamus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Triskadecamus)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2007, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-dopers-merrifield-lunch-bunch/423706/2 "2007-10-24T22:13:53Z")
I’m in. I think noonish is cool. Twenty bucks for lunch, and I want a show. So, let me know how that’s gonna work. Eighth or fifteenth are entirely OK, although I am hemi-demi-semi-committed to the DC Lunch bunch, should any of them actually exist. We’ll see how that goes. Tris ---
**Author:** ![Anita\_Vacation](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Anita\_Vacation](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anita_Vacation)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2007, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-dopers-merrifield-lunch-bunch/423706/3 "2007-10-26T01:06:02Z")
I suggest we go for Thursday the 8th so it’s not in direct conflict with Tris’ attempt at the 15th for a DC lunch. I’ll throw my vote for Five Guys as their french fries are nearly the best I’ve ever had. (Only Thrasher’s beats 'em IMHO.) Affordable, too. Any vegetarian attendees should speak up: Five Guys is strictly burgers and fries. ---
**Author:** ![Triskadecamus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@Triskadecamus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Triskadecamus)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2007, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-dopers-merrifield-lunch-bunch/423706/4 "2007-10-27T15:50:38Z")
OK, so far, it’s at least three for lunch, on the 8th of November, at 11:30 at Five Guys. Hey, everyone, common! I am there. Tris ---
**Author:** ![Anita\_Vacation](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Anita\_Vacation](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anita_Vacation)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2007, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-dopers-merrifield-lunch-bunch/423706/5 "2007-11-01T12:38:24Z")
Hey, everyone uncommon! One week from today! ---
**Author:** ![Scuba\_Ben](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Scuba\_Ben](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scuba_Ben)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2007, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-dopers-merrifield-lunch-bunch/423706/6 "2007-11-01T14:42:20Z")
Well, since **Anita** called for the uncommon folk, put me down as a maybe. I’d be coming from Reston; does anybody want to car-pool? ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2007, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-dopers-merrifield-lunch-bunch/423706/7 "2007-11-01T16:22:57Z")
Cool! So how do we recognize each other? Do we wander around holding up a piece of paper that says I’M A DOPEr??? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Triskadecamus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@Triskadecamus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Triskadecamus)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2007, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-dopers-merrifield-lunch-bunch/423706/8 "2007-11-01T16:51:57Z")
When you get there ask for the the Cecil Adams party. If that doesn’t work, ask for a table for six, for Cecil Adams. If that doesn’t work, look for me. I look like Santa Claus. Tris ---
**Author:** ![Anita\_Vacation](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Anita\_Vacation](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anita_Vacation)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2007, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-dopers-merrifield-lunch-bunch/423706/9 "2007-11-02T00:14:25Z")
I’m sure at 11:30 we’ll be able to snag a table near the door. Five Guys is small, you will have no trouble spotting the Santa. Look for the guy with peanut shells in his beard. Speaking of which, if anyone has a peanut allergy, holler now. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2007, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-dopers-merrifield-lunch-bunch/423706/10 "2007-11-02T00:49:01Z")
[QUOTE=Anita Vacation] I’m sure at 11:30 we’ll be able to snag a table near the door. Five Guys is small, you will have no trouble spotting the Santa. Look for the guy with peanut shells in his beard. Speaking of which, if anyone has a peanut allergy, holler now. [/QUOTE] Not relevant for this occasion but I gather there are peanuts all over the place there? Useful for me to know as Dweezil _is_ allergic to peanuts, so this sounds like a place we won’t be taking him. Fortunately, I have no such limitations 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2007, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-dopers-merrifield-lunch-bunch/423706/11 "2007-11-02T04:22:07Z")
Location of Five Guys: [http://www.fiveguys.com/store\_locator.aspx?s=VA](http://www.fiveguys.com/store_locator.aspx?s=VA) 2960 Gallows Rd , Falls Church, VA 22042 The map the page links to for Merrifield shows the place right in the middle of Gallows Road. I _believe_ this is on the west side of Gallows - the same side as the Multiplex theatres - since the Boston Market is at 2988 Gallows Road and I _know_ that’s on the west side. It would be between Route 50 and Route 29. ---
**Author:** ![Scuba\_Ben](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Scuba\_Ben](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scuba_Ben)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2007, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-dopers-merrifield-lunch-bunch/423706/12 "2007-11-05T18:38:49Z")
Count me as a Definite. If nothing else, I’ll look for **Anita** and a bunch of peanut shells. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2007, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-dopers-merrifield-lunch-bunch/423706/13 "2007-11-05T18:53:16Z")
[QUOTE=Scuba\_Ben] Count me as a Definite. If nothing else, I’ll look for **Anita** and a bunch of peanut shells. [/QUOTE] Me too - it’s in my portable brain (i.e. Palm Pilot) so the odds of me spacing out and forgetting are, um, what was I saying? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Scuba\_Ben](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Scuba\_Ben](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scuba_Ben)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2007, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-dopers-merrifield-lunch-bunch/423706/14 "2007-11-07T22:48:54Z")
_bump_ to remind people (particularly me) of tomorrow’s lunch. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Cymbeline](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_cymbeline/32/9244_2.png) [@Green\_Cymbeline](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Cymbeline)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2007, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-dopers-merrifield-lunch-bunch/423706/15 "2007-11-07T23:43:48Z")
I should be able to make it - 80% sure… Ok make that 98% sure! Unless some crisis happens at work, count me in too! ---
**Author:** ![Triskadecamus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@Triskadecamus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Triskadecamus)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2007, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-dopers-merrifield-lunch-bunch/423706/16 "2007-11-08T00:27:21Z")
[QUOTE=Triskadecamus] OK, so far, it’s at least three for lunch, on the 8th of November, at 11:30 at Five Guys. Hey, everyone, common! I am there. [/QUOTE] Still there. Tris ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2007, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-dopers-merrifield-lunch-bunch/423706/17 "2007-11-08T02:18:19Z")
[QUOTE=Triskadecamus] Still there. Tris [/QUOTE] Me too, though I’ll have to dash out _right_ at noon, sigh… received notice of a teleconference I need to go to at noon, so I’ll be teleconning from my cell phone in the car. Still, half an hour is better than nuthin. ---
**Author:** ![InLucemEdita](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7ab992/32.png) [@InLucemEdita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InLucemEdita)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2007, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-dopers-merrifield-lunch-bunch/423706/18 "2007-11-08T02:58:58Z")
Can’t make it, I’m afraid. Flying out of Dulles at 10:50am. I’ll try next time. ---
**Author:** ![Triskadecamus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@Triskadecamus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Triskadecamus)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2007, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-dopers-merrifield-lunch-bunch/423706/19 "2007-11-08T14:31:15Z")
[QUOTE=Mama Zappa] Me too, though I’ll have to dash out _right_ at noon, sigh… received notice of a teleconference I need to go to at noon, so I’ll be teleconning from my cell phone in the car. Still, half an hour is better than nuthin. [/QUOTE] I will, as is my nature, be early, so c’mon in. Does the place open before 11:30? Anyone know? ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2007, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-dopers-merrifield-lunch-bunch/423706/20 "2007-11-08T18:23:01Z")
Great burgers and great company! Sorry I had to wolf down my food and dash - spent the next half hour sitting in my car, listening to the conference call on my cell phone in the parking lot. I’d much rather have been inside with you guys. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-dopers-merrifield-lunch-bunch/423706.md?page=2)