30
years ago in a little donut shop they converted into a
carry out in Vienna. After Phil's transfer to the U.S.
Postal Service Headquarters in Washington, D.C. forced the
family to relocate from Alburquerque, Anita soon realized
that her family recipes that had been handed down for
generations from mother to daughter were unlike anything
else she found here in Virginia. Her dream of snaring
those recipes with the residents of Vienna and beyond was
soon realized when they opened for business on December
23, 1974.
The basis for a great deal of her first menu was the
flavorful sauces made from New Mexico grown green and red
chiles. Green chiles were picked early in the season, and
chopped to form the base ingredient for the milder green
chile sauce. Those that weren't harvested green were
allowed to ripen fully until red. They were then harvested
and bound into a rista, allowed to dry in the hot New
Mexico sun, and then later ground into a powder that
became the main ingredient in the spicier red chile sauce.
From day one Anita has always insisted that the chiles
used in her recipes come exclusively from the mother land,
and those of you who have enjoyed them before certainly
know why.
Today Anita has five restaurants, with more opening
soon, serving thousands of happy patrons everyday. Her
menu has expanded over the years to include a greater
variety of traditional New Mexican dishes as well as some
popular American favorites.
All her locations serve breakfast, lunch and dinner
seven days a week and most open as early as 5:00 a.m.
We've always placed a lot of emphasis on our entire menu
being available for dine-in or carryout.
For years Anita's has also been providing quality,
affordable full service catering. We've established a
tradition of on-time delivery and setup for thousands of
clients. We provide top-notch service with the same focus
on quality food and personal service you'll find in our
restaurants. Whether you're planning a formal meal for
hundreds or a casual meal for a few you can count on
Anita's experienced staff to spice up your next event with
our traditional New Mexican dishes and more.
