Buckle up, sweet tooths. And look away, dentists. There’s a new larger-than-life temptation in town, complete with 36 oz smoking “goblet” cocktails, “monster” burgers, “insane” milkshakes, and even a $99 ice cream sundae for twelve.
It’s all part of the enormous menu at the colorful, now-open Sugar Factory American Brasserie in Pentagon City (1100 Hayes St., Arlington). The 5,500 square-foot space has room for 200 and is the first Northern Virginia location of the international candy shop and restaurant. It’s an expanded version of the retail outpost and bar at D.C.’s Union Station and also features a grab-and-go candy store, an ice cream and coffee shop, and sidewalk seating.
Sugar Factory’s food choices give places like the Cheesecake Factory a run for their money. There are red velvet pancakes and s’mores crepes for breakfast; burgers ($14-$17) topped with everything from mac and cheese to mozzarella and panchetta; entrees like salmon and steak; tons of desserts, and 18 milkshakes ($10-$16). One of the craziest of those is the Twinkie Dinkie with vanilla ice cream and Twinkie pieces served in a mug covered in white chocolate and gumballs and topped with marshmallow fluff, rainbow rock candy, whipped cream, and a Twinkie (of course).
Perhaps the most epic offering is the King Kong Sundae ($99). It’s made for a group of 12 and has 24 scoops of ice cream with basically every sundae topping under the sun, including a giant rainbow lollipop and sparklers.
If you get thirsty during dinner, the Sugar Factory extends its sweet and over-the-top theme to cocktails as well. A series of shareable 36 oz cocktails such as the White Gummi, with peach and raspberry rums. Or add to the sugar rush with the Energy Bear—watermelon vodka, Grey Goose, and a Red Bull float. Other locations serve these as ridiculous 60 oz drinks, but Virginia law forced them to cut down roughly in half. A selection of other drinks (there are multiple chocolate martinis) rounds out the beverage menu.
One thing the menu (thankfully) doesn’t include? Calorie counts. Check it out below. (Note: This menu does not reflect the location’s switch from 60 oz to 36 oz Goblet cocktails).
Existing Sugar Factory locations are also magnets for celebrities like Pitbull, Kim Kardashian, Drake, and Rhianna. We’ll learn in due time whether political power players will jockey to see and be seen at this outpost.
Sugar Factory Pentagon City is located at 1100 Hayes St., Arlington. Hours are Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. (retail opens at 10 a.m.) and Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. (retail opens at 10 a.m.). Weekend brunch will also be available on Saturday and Sunday.
Pentagon Menu Web by Travis on Scribd
