three-minute walk to Ledo's Pizza and Pasta

While you might not have noticed it, Ledo's Pizza and Pasta is just across Route 50 from Westmoreland Terrace. The Ode Street Tribune's expeditionary force recently went to there on a fact-finding and eating mission.

Several years ago Ledo's took over from the MacArthur Cafe as the Quality Inn Iwo Jima became a Best Western. Many of its customers in the past have been military veterans. The long-time manager George Davis, beloved of his customers, died in action at the restaurant last year. The WWII veteran market has been rapidly shrinking over the years. Moreover, the loss of Mr. Davis, the change in name from MacArthur Cafe, and the change in the hotel name to less prominently feature Iwo Jima seem to have hurt the volume of their veteran customers. The restaurant was sparsely attended when I had dinner there on a Monday night.

The restaurant is open Monday to Friday from 6:30am, and Saturday and Sunday from 7am. It has a quite full, standard-fare breakfast menu (served until 11am) inherited from the MacArthur Cafe. Ledo's is open until 10pm Monday through Thrusday, 11 pm Friday and Saturday, and 9pm on Sunday. The lunch/dinner menu has much more than pizza, but pizza is their main seller. This Ledo's doesn't do delivery, but you can call ahead (703 528-3570) and pickup a pizza on your walk back from the metro. If you want delivery, you have to call the Ledo's on Columbia Pike at 703 521-5336.

I had a small-sized Zesty BBQ Chicken Pizza. Thin crust, not gourmet pizza, but quite tasty. The size was enough for a dinner. Inexpensive at $7.89, including tax (but not tip). Service was fast and friendly. Recommended for an inexpensive and convenient meal.

Other notes: The restaurant has a happy hour every day, 4-7pm,with $1.99 14oz Bud drafts. Toastmasters meets there every Wednesday from 7pm to 9:30 pm (different Toastmasters' groups on alternating Wednesdays).

In addition, the restaurant has available a meeting room that accommodates up to 30 persons. It is available from morning to evenings for meetings. Contact the restaurant for details and reservations.