Local Guides World
Top Bars in Arlington, United States
Top Rated Bars in Arlington
Top Reviewed Bars in Arlington
CIRCA at Clarendon
Pamplona
Bar Bao
WHINO
Green Pig Bistro
The Liberty Tavern
Bronson Bierhall
Bayou Bakery, Coffee Bar & Eatery
Ambar Clarendon
Barley Mac
Grand Cru Wine Bar and Bistro
Scutra
Reviews
A hidden gem, have been many times and the food has been consistently amazing. The parking is limited and somewhat awkward, but once you are inside everything is world class ... the staff, the decor, the atmosphere are all worthy of the 5 stars.
Dined on August 13, 2023. Best bowl of French Onion soup. With the first sip of broth I was in heaven. Think Anton Ego tasting the dish in Ratatouille. Fillet Mignon and everything else was perfect. Wonderful dining on the terrace with the fountain for ambiance.
We’ve been hearing great things for years and finally thought we’d try Scutra for a birthday dinner. Delicious dinner and great service. Appetizers, salads, entrees, desserts and drinks were enjoyed by all. Our waitress was great and very knowledgeable.
The food here is absolutely amazing! Time and time again we leave and are always talking about how good it was even days later. Louie Paparella’s martinis are quite possibly the best I’ve had (especially the Jean De Bon)! Excellent all around!
My husband and I have not been to Grand Cru in years, but it used to be one of our favorite local spots. It’s now back on the list and we are already planning to come back to try a couple of other things.
The service was friendly and efficient. We did not feel rushed, but our dishes arrived so perfectly timed. We had pauses between courses that were the perfect “pause”. Our server, Tuya, was wonderful and welcoming.
We shared the shrimp and chick peas appetizer and the Brussels sprouts salad. Both were excellent, the sprouts were not over charred, I think they might have blanched them. The sauce on the shrimp dish was delicious. Hubby got the steak frites; though the steak was the correct temp (med-rare), it was chewy. The fries were fantastic! I got the scallops with risotto and brown butter. It was so delicious and decadent. Creamy risotto and perfectly cooked scallops.
I highly recommend Grand Cru.
The service was friendly and efficient. We did not feel rushed, but our dishes arrived so perfectly timed. We had pauses between courses that were the perfect “pause”. Our server, Tuya, was wonderful and welcoming.
We shared the shrimp and chick peas appetizer and the Brussels sprouts salad. Both were excellent, the sprouts were not over charred, I think they might have blanched them. The sauce on the shrimp dish was delicious. Hubby got the steak frites; though the steak was the correct temp (med-rare), it was chewy. The fries were fantastic! I got the scallops with risotto and brown butter. It was so delicious and decadent. Creamy risotto and perfectly cooked scallops.
I highly recommend Grand Cru.
This restaurant serves French cuisine that is delicious, of excellent quality, and generously proportioned at a reasonable price; a hidden gem in the Ballston area.
The service was impeccable and couldn't have been better. We're looking forward to trying more dishes on their menu.
The service was impeccable and couldn't have been better. We're looking forward to trying more dishes on their menu.
Came here for brunch with a friend! $42.99 for all you can eat for 2 hours , $0.99 drinks. I recommend making a reservation through open table as it was busy on a Sunday morning. Service is pretty slow when it comes to ordering food but they quickly remove plates and bring water. Getting our drinks was quick, and delicious! The food tasted good but some items were basic without much to them (ex crispy cheese slider is just a mozzarella stick on a bun, waffles were plain with Nutella sauce). Overall, most of the food was pretty delicious with. Wide variety. My favorite were the dips, veggie flatbread, Mac n' cheese, grits, and eggs Benedict. I would probably pass on the cinnamon donuts, they were very tough and hard to eat. The inside is beautiful, with lots of windows for sunshine and looks newly renovated. Will be back for dinner!
Hardly anyone in the restaurant but had to wait for host to seat us management happen to see we were waiting so long very kind to make sure we were good. Food was alright the crab mac had very little crab on it and the mac itself did not have much taste but looked very good. Would not buy again. $60 after tip for 2 sandwiches and some tasteless mac and cheese.
Can’t imagine anyone would not enjoy the atmosphere, food, service, and wine/ beverages.
My wife and I had a fantastic meal and evening: She enjoyed a reasonably priced wine flight while I had a “ Perfect Manhattan”. We split a cheese board appetizer and the roasted chicken breast entree. We finished the evening with our own desserts and perfectly brewed coffee and port. The total bill was three times less than what we have spent for much lessers meals and experiences.
My wife and I had a fantastic meal and evening: She enjoyed a reasonably priced wine flight while I had a “ Perfect Manhattan”. We split a cheese board appetizer and the roasted chicken breast entree. We finished the evening with our own desserts and perfectly brewed coffee and port. The total bill was three times less than what we have spent for much lessers meals and experiences.
I wasn’t really impressed or inspired from this bakery and cafe. It felt very stereotypical and doesn’t embody the bayou spirit. I don’t want to say I was disappointed, but compared to the other cafes in the area it’s average. Perfect for jumping in, getting what you want, and dipping out. The staff was absolutely amazing, bubbly, patient, and knowledgeable about the menu and beverages. I had ordered after a tremendously difficult customer and still received immaculate service. Kudos to them, gave a big tip.
Excellent food. The tuna poke nachos - the lobster arancini , the pesto chicken —- all excellent. The cocktails were also delicious. Great environment - very nice servers. All around would def recommend!
Came for brunch and at least 6 items on the menu were missing or unavailable including 2 meats, 1 dip, berry mimosa etc. We ordered a hanger steak and waited an hour and a half for the dish to arrive.
Service was super mediocre, we tried to split a bill 2 ways and the server was very impatient, food was fine (what was available anyway) but will not be coming back and not worth the service and cost and stress of waiting an hour and a half for food…..
Service was super mediocre, we tried to split a bill 2 ways and the server was very impatient, food was fine (what was available anyway) but will not be coming back and not worth the service and cost and stress of waiting an hour and a half for food…..
Food was really good. Service was sparse. Highly recommend the French fries and corn bread!
I didn't realize this was an all you can eat tapas bar. I did like the fact I can sample Balkan food. Service was good, food came out quickly and prices were reasonable.
Pepper croquette- sweet and flavorful.
Grilled shrimp- was ok
Rainbow trout- wasn't crispy
Istrian Gnocchi- I wasn't impressed with the mushroom sauce. They also use that same sauce for their mushroom flatbread.
Kale Caesar- it was good: I'd get it again
Cheese pie-I liked the dough
Stuffed pepper is good but filling
Hand cut fries- crispy and tasty
We would return... We liked the atmosphere and it would be a great place for cocktails and tapas.
Pepper croquette- sweet and flavorful.
Grilled shrimp- was ok
Rainbow trout- wasn't crispy
Istrian Gnocchi- I wasn't impressed with the mushroom sauce. They also use that same sauce for their mushroom flatbread.
Kale Caesar- it was good: I'd get it again
Cheese pie-I liked the dough
Stuffed pepper is good but filling
Hand cut fries- crispy and tasty
We would return... We liked the atmosphere and it would be a great place for cocktails and tapas.
Slow service and food was just ok.
adding a bit more details based on the restaurants response and request.
We came with a large party of about 20 people and it took over 15 min to get our first drink orders in let alone any appetizers. The restaurant was pretty empty as it was around 6pm . The service was painfully slow to the point We tried to walk up to the bar and order drinks for a table of 20 but we were told to wait for a server which we couldn't locate. We ordered 3 each of the meatballs, brussel sprouts , deviled eggs and calamari. The deviled eggs never came out. After about an 45m and barely 1 round of drinks we couldn't even get water refilled or order our food. We walked constantly around the restaurant to look for a manager or a server . Finally our server took our order and the food came out but during our long wait we had to again find our server in the restaurant and ask for water refills and a few more round of drinks... During our meal same situation.. no checking up on us and we ran out of water and drinks... when we got up we were pretty much the only table with maybe 2 other tables ..
Also the restaurant has turned the lights on off several times probably signaling us to leave or that the kitchen was closing around 9-9:30 when the restaurant doesn't close until midnight. Overall we were out by 10pm. Lost oppty for the restaurant to maximize revenue and provide decent service as most of the 20 folks all work right in Rosslyn and haven't been here before .
adding a bit more details based on the restaurants response and request.
We came with a large party of about 20 people and it took over 15 min to get our first drink orders in let alone any appetizers. The restaurant was pretty empty as it was around 6pm . The service was painfully slow to the point We tried to walk up to the bar and order drinks for a table of 20 but we were told to wait for a server which we couldn't locate. We ordered 3 each of the meatballs, brussel sprouts , deviled eggs and calamari. The deviled eggs never came out. After about an 45m and barely 1 round of drinks we couldn't even get water refilled or order our food. We walked constantly around the restaurant to look for a manager or a server . Finally our server took our order and the food came out but during our long wait we had to again find our server in the restaurant and ask for water refills and a few more round of drinks... During our meal same situation.. no checking up on us and we ran out of water and drinks... when we got up we were pretty much the only table with maybe 2 other tables ..
Also the restaurant has turned the lights on off several times probably signaling us to leave or that the kitchen was closing around 9-9:30 when the restaurant doesn't close until midnight. Overall we were out by 10pm. Lost oppty for the restaurant to maximize revenue and provide decent service as most of the 20 folks all work right in Rosslyn and haven't been here before .
Had such an amazing time here. Came here for a friend's birthday and this was just such a perfect place. We all got the unlimited option so applause to the staff for handling all our orders.
Each little plate was delicious and certain ones like pickled veggies and chicken skewers were ordered multiple times. The variety is truly amazing and in 2 hours we maybe worked our way through 30-40% of the choices and nothing disappointed. The only issue we ran into was that some dishes got lost in the shuffle and had to be asked for multiple times before arriving but that could be chalked up to just how busy it was there.
The interior is warm and the decor is nice but it can definitely get loud in there when it's busy and we found our table having to project to be heard even across the table.
The drink menu is extensive and everything we had was really good. I especially enjoyed the Rakia Old Fashioned and that they had a full rakia list to pick from.
This place is definitely an experience and one I wouldn't mind repeating. Especially since we discovered a whole second dining room downstairs while looking for bathrooms.
Each little plate was delicious and certain ones like pickled veggies and chicken skewers were ordered multiple times. The variety is truly amazing and in 2 hours we maybe worked our way through 30-40% of the choices and nothing disappointed. The only issue we ran into was that some dishes got lost in the shuffle and had to be asked for multiple times before arriving but that could be chalked up to just how busy it was there.
The interior is warm and the decor is nice but it can definitely get loud in there when it's busy and we found our table having to project to be heard even across the table.
The drink menu is extensive and everything we had was really good. I especially enjoyed the Rakia Old Fashioned and that they had a full rakia list to pick from.
This place is definitely an experience and one I wouldn't mind repeating. Especially since we discovered a whole second dining room downstairs while looking for bathrooms.
Very busy and crowded, difficult to find a table. But the food and beer was excellent, and the Toast ordering method worked well.
Atmosphere is always awesome. Beer is great and easy to use QR codes. Wheel chair accessible, my grandma loves to watch football here, and dogs can hangout outside. Great place to go to watch a game, grab a beer and some food
It wasn't all that busy tonight. The large parties got all the attention. Didn't get asked after getting our food if we needed anything. Didn't get asked if we needed a drink refill until after our main course was over. The food was amazing but definitely portioned so you could do multiple courses with sides. Good thing we didn't need to order anything else since that would have meant physically hunting down the waiter. He was a good server and gave good recommendations, just need him to drop by a few more times.
I did love the Christmas decorations! So well done!
I did love the Christmas decorations! So well done!
Everything was super delicious but the Mac-n-cheese tasted more like flour I'd say (maybe fresh noodles?) and the chicken piccata was just ok so I hate to say I could do the same at home as it wasn't remarkable unfortunately. We did come in at 8:30 (kitchen closes at 9:00) but there should still be attention to every single food item. Steaks were cooked per requests and other appetizers were spot on. Atmosphere is beautiful whether for a romantic date or getting together with friends.
I absolutely adore the green pig bistro! I went on a blind date for brunch and the food was delicious. I live close by so I walked over for a happy hour and was so delighted !! Excellent food and drink prices. The atmosphere is so cozy yet elegant. I will definitely be a regular here !!
Great place ...happy me and few friends found this spot. Staff could be a bit more friendly and engaging
Ps: they did charge us for more drinks than we drank but we had them correct it. That was not cool. Check your receipts !!
Ps: they did charge us for more drinks than we drank but we had them correct it. That was not cool. Check your receipts !!
Because of all the good reviews and the neat looking website I decided to go here, but nothing was as neat as they let it seem.
I had a black angus bacon cheeseburger and a side of fries which was a complete let down. The bread was dry, the meat was more rare than medium, very under seasoned and dry. The side of fries was fried more than once making them not better.
Besides that the table was not clean, they do have a lot if staff but no none of them attentive enough.
All in all a letdown.
I had a black angus bacon cheeseburger and a side of fries which was a complete let down. The bread was dry, the meat was more rare than medium, very under seasoned and dry. The side of fries was fried more than once making them not better.
Besides that the table was not clean, they do have a lot if staff but no none of them attentive enough.
All in all a letdown.
The brunch is a fun experience. The drink package is an extra $15 and 25c per drink. The brisket and avocado toast was so good! Wish they had better seasonal decorations but overall it was an escalated experience.
What a great restaurant! We reserved a table for my wife's birthday. We had a fabulous meal .. great cocktails, delicious appetizers and entrees .. the service from our server, Louie, was amazing. He was so personable it felt like he was an old friend. This was a very special birthday meal thanks to Louie and an amazing kitchen.
Went here twice. Steak is good, and its portion is satisfying. The grilled octopus is just so-so. The waiter was really nice and helpful.
Loved this restaurant for the atmosphere , food and service. We had the gluten free pork chop, a huge delicious portion which I shared, the Caesar salad needed a bit more dressing, and the huge, cooked to perfection hamburger. The place was packed on Friday, but we had a reservation. Otherwise, I heard that the waiting time was 1 hour. Nice wine and cocktails. Excellent service.
Atmosphere is really good. Good cocktails and drinks but this time we didn’t get good taste of food. We been there 2 years ago and we remembered good taste of food. This time unfortunately we didn’t taste good, cheese pie was dry and hard , Balkan kebabs was chewy and dry, lasagne was heavy. Restaurant was full during the dinner time and they are doing probably double seating. We will try on the future again and see how are they doing.
We met a party for a reservation and they were already seated so that went quickly. Drinks and appetizers were ordered quickly, but then the waiter disappeared for what seemed like longer than expected as we were sitting with empty plates and glasses for awhile waiting to order main courses. Overall the food was excellent.
Perfect place for our Girls Night. I was looking for a chic, cute place with a cozy atmosphere, and this restaurant brought it all. We both ordered the Chilean Wine Flight which the glasses were generously filled, the Cheese Fondue and the French Onion Soup which was DIVINE. 5 out of 5 stars, will definitely be returning!
I stopped in here while working for a local hotel to pick up to go breakfast and lunch. I got the seasonal soup which was butternut squash beignets and a pistachio latte. The service was quick and friendly, the beignets were larger than I got when I was in New Orleans and a little denser but they were delicious.
This is my first experience with this restaurant and my husband brought me something to go. The Monday special, and one would think because it’s the special it would be the one thing that the kitchen would get right. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. As you can see from the photos all of my check and biscuits were burnt and extremely greasy. So disappointed. But let’s not stop there. The collard greens were bathed in vinegar. They tasted as if someone poured the whole bottle in the pot, and don’t even think about the mac and cheese. What! The noodles were over cooked and they used some type of white shredded cheese that was sour. If southern comfort food is not your specialty, please don’t try to sell it.
Stopped in for casual breakfast with a friend and was not disappointed. The beignets were appropriately buried in sugar. Definitely recommend the biscuits and pepper jelly. Everything was good though.
I highly recommend Barley Mac - a very high end restaurant with a large variety of great and popular dishes!
The general manager, Sam was very respectful, warming and polite.
The servers are very knowledgeable on their menu, and are sure to assist if you are unsure what you’re into that day.
The bar itself is one of the best bars I’ve been at in the DMV.
10/10 - will be back again!
The general manager, Sam was very respectful, warming and polite.
The servers are very knowledgeable on their menu, and are sure to assist if you are unsure what you’re into that day.
The bar itself is one of the best bars I’ve been at in the DMV.
10/10 - will be back again!
The service was really great. The burger slider was really, really good.
If in the area I recommend stopping in for sure. I wish I would have tried more food.
If in the area I recommend stopping in for sure. I wish I would have tried more food.
We enjoyed this place. Service was great. Pizza was not good. We had the meat lovers. It was like having a frozen pizza at home with prosciutto on top. Great decor. I would recommend this place.
Pretty nice spot. Beignets were good not great. They were kind of tough instead of delicate. Coffee just OK. Other food was good (avocado Benedict), but the portion was small for my hunger level. Also didn’t love that practically every table had a sign that says it’s for 3-4 people. Sorry I am by myself!
Short rib is great. Bread is also great. Service is really good not like that I read before. Beef wellington is ok for the price but the taste is normal
Great small plates and tasty brunch, accompanied by craft cocktails and a rambunctious crowd. Heavy beats and dim lighting reliably creates an enjoyable nightlife of music, cocktails, dancing, and daft debauchery. Frolic with friends for fun, fare, fashion, folly, and funkin.
This place is always busy especially on the weekend, but we were curious so we decided to try it on Saturday.
We ordered shrimp and grits, a black Angus cheeseburger and a sticky toffee pudding cake.
The shrimp and grits have a hot sauce and tomato sauce base which was good but not our favorite flavor, but if you like the tomatoe sauce base, you would love it.
The cheeseburger was ok and pretty typical of a nice bistro. It was much better than a cheaper place but a little under seasoned.
The pudding cake was pretty underwhelming as it seemed like a bit dried out spice cake swimming in sweetened condensed milk. The carmel topping and the corn flakes were good, but all in all I would not get this one again.
We ordered shrimp and grits, a black Angus cheeseburger and a sticky toffee pudding cake.
The shrimp and grits have a hot sauce and tomato sauce base which was good but not our favorite flavor, but if you like the tomatoe sauce base, you would love it.
The cheeseburger was ok and pretty typical of a nice bistro. It was much better than a cheaper place but a little under seasoned.
The pudding cake was pretty underwhelming as it seemed like a bit dried out spice cake swimming in sweetened condensed milk. The carmel topping and the corn flakes were good, but all in all I would not get this one again.
An old favorite in Arlington. The menu always entices with inventive choices and the atmosphere is comfy and friendly. The salmon was fantastic.
First time here for Restaurant Week and their 5”4 course meal was fantastic! The duck breast charcuterie was amazing. The mushroom ragout had so much flavor. Skip the wagyu sliders, they were just okay but the ceviche was delicious! Cocktails were delicious too. And the art, music and aesthetic made it an enjoyable environment to eat in.
Two South street Satan’s Pony Amber Ales before meeting friends for dinner at Gyu San BBQ around the corner. Great atmosphere, lively, strong happy hour. Only had time for one round but will certainly return and look forward to having dinner here on the next trip through. This place was cool. Keep up the great work Bronson Bierhall and thank you.
Nice spot for an eclectic menu with southern influences. From scratch sausage biscuit, beignets, hearty salad all good. The cream cheese croissant did not work for me. The decor is really cool
Food was Good . Server Jonathan was amazing. But if it wasn’t for the fact of getting kicked out so rudely by the supervisor Issac. It would have been a 4 star or 5. Unfortunately a bad apple like that can make the whole place look bad . I worked in the food industry as server to bartender and supervisor so I know there are is no way to treat people specially in a birthday party like that. This goes for the attention of the business.
From start to finish, the service and food were absolutely impeccable. I can't say enough about our server, John. He was so funny and entertaining, while also thoughtful and attentive.
For example, I love this cocktail called Paper plane, but it is not super well-known. We showed John the ingredients and he said "Oh yeah, we can do that". Then, he brings over the cocktail complete with a Paper plane on top and playing the song "Paper planes" on his phone. Next level service! Not to mention, the cocktail was the best Paper plane I ever had.
The fresh, warm bread was top-notch and our appetizer was incredible (got the strudel special). The eggplant/tomato salad exploded with flavor and was so good with the bread.
For entrees, I had one of the specials, salmon with lobster ravioli in a saffron cream sauce. It was so rich, flavorful, and just amazing... and such a value for the reasonable price. My husband had the beef wellington. When it came out, the presentation alone left us in awe. Such a beautiful dish. It was cooked perfectly and it was by far one of the most delicious meals he ever had. I had a couple bites and couldn't agree more.
Then... coffee and dessert. We had the strawberry shortcake. Best ever... and I've had a lot of strawberry shortcakes in my life. Had this fresh strawberry sauce that gave it some tart... all of the sauces in all of the dishes were phenomenal.
When we received the bill, we really thought it was such a great value with all that we ordered. Especially with the quality, taste and presentation of the top-level cuisine.
I do not typically write reviews, and certainly not ones that are this long, but felt compelled to. We had one of the best meals and experiences ever and Scutra is such a gem. We can't wait to go back. Thank you, Scutra! - Kacey and Jeff
For example, I love this cocktail called Paper plane, but it is not super well-known. We showed John the ingredients and he said "Oh yeah, we can do that". Then, he brings over the cocktail complete with a Paper plane on top and playing the song "Paper planes" on his phone. Next level service! Not to mention, the cocktail was the best Paper plane I ever had.
The fresh, warm bread was top-notch and our appetizer was incredible (got the strudel special). The eggplant/tomato salad exploded with flavor and was so good with the bread.
For entrees, I had one of the specials, salmon with lobster ravioli in a saffron cream sauce. It was so rich, flavorful, and just amazing... and such a value for the reasonable price. My husband had the beef wellington. When it came out, the presentation alone left us in awe. Such a beautiful dish. It was cooked perfectly and it was by far one of the most delicious meals he ever had. I had a couple bites and couldn't agree more.
Then... coffee and dessert. We had the strawberry shortcake. Best ever... and I've had a lot of strawberry shortcakes in my life. Had this fresh strawberry sauce that gave it some tart... all of the sauces in all of the dishes were phenomenal.
When we received the bill, we really thought it was such a great value with all that we ordered. Especially with the quality, taste and presentation of the top-level cuisine.
I do not typically write reviews, and certainly not ones that are this long, but felt compelled to. We had one of the best meals and experiences ever and Scutra is such a gem. We can't wait to go back. Thank you, Scutra! - Kacey and Jeff
Stopped by with a couple of friends for a casual late lunch couple of days ago and the food was amazing. Our server was very good and recommended drinks and appetizers that came out quickly. The mains came along quickly as well and were very good, burgers and sandwich were nice and juicy and the fries are just perfect! Overall great experience with a swanky ambience that you don't have to pay an arm and a leg for! Will be back very soon! Highly recommended.
i came here for a birthday brunch with my partner and best friend after a night of partying. the atmosphere was everything, incredibly cozy and welcoming. we all got different signature meals off the brunch menu and tasted eachothers and everything was amazing. also beignets to share, which ive never seen such large ones haha. it's a bit of a drive from where we live, but id absolutely make the trip again for a nice brunch date. the bathrooms were clean, customer service was good, the system for ordering and putting dirty dishes away was easy and efficient. i guess my only complaint would be that they close so early on a saturday! we could easily have spent another hour there chatting over coffee.
I have had the pleasure of dining here a few times. It is mostly shareable small plates. The prices aren’t too bad themselves. At night time, there is a DJ who played some really good music. There are also art works to check out. I loved the vibe and the atmosphere here. Taste-wise, the food was good as well. They give you a decent portion so that you can truly share it. I would definitely dine again!
The server was kind but never really checked on us (luckily, we didn't need anything). I'm unsure if they offered free refills on pop or not because I only ever got the first glass. The buffalo mac was delicious! It came in a tiny skillet, but it was plenty of food (deceiving portion upon first glance).
WHAT WHAT AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE @ PAMPLONA!! Never miss out on an oppuntinity like this when in the DC area. Thanks to their attentive staff and management!
WOW!! What an experience to share from this exceptional tapas resturant. Our unlimited 1.5hr tapas dinner has raised the bar for any similar restaurants of its kind. The host was unlike any other as attentive and prompt as you could possibly desire..."HUGE UPS" to our waiter and you know who you are. Please check out these amazing dish photos and plan your visit.
It was my birthday yesterday so I went here on my daughter's recommendation. It was my first time visiting a restaurant in the Balkan, so I was excited and looking forward to it. First of all, the bright and understated kindness of the staff was pleasant enough. Since all you can eat, I ordered tomato soup first. I was happy because the bowl was so pretty, but the soup was by far the best tomato soup I've ever had.
The food we ordered was served quickly and accurately, so it's a pity that we ate it all without taking a picture.
As my eldest daughter expressed, the food at this restaurant gives a warm feeling like a home. We all agreed. The food and staff (Mr. Michele) of this restaurant make it the number one restaurant in my life. I will definitely visit this place again and would like to say thank you. Every time food was served on my birthday, the food was so warm and delicious that it made me excited, so much so that I forgot everything and enjoyed it.
The food we ordered was served quickly and accurately, so it's a pity that we ate it all without taking a picture.
As my eldest daughter expressed, the food at this restaurant gives a warm feeling like a home. We all agreed. The food and staff (Mr. Michele) of this restaurant make it the number one restaurant in my life. I will definitely visit this place again and would like to say thank you. Every time food was served on my birthday, the food was so warm and delicious that it made me excited, so much so that I forgot everything and enjoyed it.
Decided to check this spot out for brunch. Waited for about 15 mins before a waitress approached. She was efficient but not very friendly so will chunk that up to the restaurant being busy. We both ordered the fried chicken sandwich and shared the French toast..food was pretty good. The passion fruit mojito was so good though and only 4 dollars.
I may return if I'm in the area but service could be improved.
I may return if I'm in the area but service could be improved.
Good food and great staff! Went here for happy hour, which is 3-7 pm/ Monday thru Friday. The happy hour food selection is good. Outdoor seating is available.
This place is advertised as the “Ámbar Experience”, but don't be fooled; it's essentially the food equivalent of a Golden Corral.
Food: The quality of the food here is poor, though it tastes okay. It's a mix of a college dining hall and reheated Costco frozen meals. It's not terrible, but it's far from great. Most people don't visit restaurants for reheated food.
Service: Terrible. Our waitress seemed indifferent and somewhat rude. For instance, because the food took so long to arrive, we ended up ordering more out of hunger. Trying to get our waitress's attention was a challenge; it felt like she was intentionally ignoring us. When she finally came to our table, her attitude was a bit rude, and it seemed like she was judging us for ordering more. Additionally, as a non-drinker, I checked online to ensure that the brunch would offer a non-alcoholic option. To my surprise, the restaurant didn't provide one, even though their website claimed otherwise. It was confusing because the bill had separate charges for food and alcohol brunch, but the menu was unclear.
Final Thoughts: In today's economy, this place is not worth the money. The food quality is subpar, the service is terrible, and they need to clarify whether they offer a non-alcoholic brunch menu, as stated on their website. The DJ was amazing though.
Food: The quality of the food here is poor, though it tastes okay. It's a mix of a college dining hall and reheated Costco frozen meals. It's not terrible, but it's far from great. Most people don't visit restaurants for reheated food.
Service: Terrible. Our waitress seemed indifferent and somewhat rude. For instance, because the food took so long to arrive, we ended up ordering more out of hunger. Trying to get our waitress's attention was a challenge; it felt like she was intentionally ignoring us. When she finally came to our table, her attitude was a bit rude, and it seemed like she was judging us for ordering more. Additionally, as a non-drinker, I checked online to ensure that the brunch would offer a non-alcoholic option. To my surprise, the restaurant didn't provide one, even though their website claimed otherwise. It was confusing because the bill had separate charges for food and alcohol brunch, but the menu was unclear.
Final Thoughts: In today's economy, this place is not worth the money. The food quality is subpar, the service is terrible, and they need to clarify whether they offer a non-alcoholic brunch menu, as stated on their website. The DJ was amazing though.
This is an awesome place for a group meal!! Definitely take advantage of the "all you can eat" appetizer deal!! Lots of options and they are all delicious.
I don't drink alcohol but my friends with me go wine and said their choice was perfect for the time of day and the weather. We sat outside which was super nice too.
I don't drink alcohol but my friends with me go wine and said their choice was perfect for the time of day and the weather. We sat outside which was super nice too.
Great location, great atmosphere, great food. We came during restaurant week and tried the $45 and $55 menu, and both were amazing. Especially the braised short-rib and Thai shrimp salad.
It is expensive, but you are paying for quality.
It is expensive, but you are paying for quality.
Amazing resturant for any day, but came here for my boyfriends birthday dinner. Lovely atmosphere and the service was great. Felt a little rushed, but overall very nice and helpful. We got the ribeye for two with the potato’s, mushrooms and salad. All delicious. We had the lobster and heart of palms and cornbread with maple butter appetizer. Highly recommend. Will definitely be coming back.
Fantastic place for a bottomless food restaurant. Each dish was very unique and had lots of taste. Highly recommend going with friend because it's small dishes meant for sharing. The menu is very broad and diverse so even if you're vegetarian you'll have tons of options. Unfortunately if you're vegan though you're out of luck. Mostly everything has cheese. Overall 10/10 experience with a great ambiance to top it off.
The bratwurst was delicious and the pretzels are massive! The caprese pretzel was divine! Highly recommended
One of my favorite places in Ballston! There's always a great selection of beer on tap for a reasonable price, especially during happy hour. The cheese curds are one of the best things I have ever tasted! There's indoor and outdoor seating available and the service here is always incredibly fast. Lots of nights they also have live music.
This place has the potential to be awesome. However, it missed the mark a bit. I got the Brussels sprouts. They were ok...really tough and not a lot of flavor. They would be awesome if they had a sweet, spicy, smoky butter sauce. Goat cheese bruchetta was nice. The burger was not anything memorable. I was hoping for more. Cheesecake was yummy.
Great place with a cool, artsy vibe. Our server was attentive and engaging. Tried several drinks and dishes and were not disappointed with anything. Hope to come back soon to try their brunch.
The staff here is super friendly and very helpful. The food more than just bar food and the drinks are definitely good and the atmosphere very unique. I feel like I’m a spot in NYC and love that you can purchase the art on display as well.
Shrimp salad was super delicious! Inside was super loud but once moved outside it was much easier to enjoy everything. Mac and cheese was also great! Drink was just okay.
This restaurant was very elegant Lee decorated. There were a bunch of art pieces hung up that were very abstract,modern at the same time. We sat at a round table very comfortably the view was very nice. DJ Gonzo was playing music which really set up the atmosphere vibe my 19-year-old daughter and I enjoyed our brunch date we will be returning because the food was absolutely delicious. The atmosphere was very fun and not overly too loud With the music choices and really liked the attention of the waitresses that were walking around checking up on us constantly.
This place is hopping!! Fun atmosphere and great ambiance!! Despite the crowds, the service was tremendous!! You order at your table via QR code and it seems like seconds when your drink orders arrive. There were a couple of times I needed special orders and the bartenders did not disappoint. They listened and were very accommodating!! The sausages were a little dry, but flavorful. The pretzel, fries (ordered twice) and pizza hit the spot for our group. A little loud, but a very fun gathering place!!
Ballston and nearby metros. Easy access.
Ballston and nearby metros. Easy access.
Great service, good location, good vibe( outside) and decent-tasty food!! Will be back to try other dishes! Serving team were very polite and hard working and this 5- star good to the host who tried to do everything ( take the dishes, clean table, assign table..) to make sure you won’t wait long for a table! Thank you 🙏🏻
Visited here with family! Great outdoor seating in the heart of the city. All waitstaff were very kind and accommodating! Efficient service. I would say that while the food was good, most of it was under-seasoned. A little salt would go a long way for several dishes. Nothing super inventive, but was kind of expecting a chain restaurant dining experience. Overall good, not great.
This is a nice spot in the burbs for brunch. It's near a metro stop, so it's convenient. The food was solid but not spectacular. It's a fairly casual place with a decent outside patio, as well. It won't curl your toes, but it won't disappoint, either.
First time here and just walking up to the restaurant I knew it was going to be good! Very cool atmosphere and friendly staff. Even on a Saturday night during prime dinner hours, the service was so quick we were blown away. My dinner companion remarked “these might be the best Brussels I ever had” on the first bite of our app, so 10/10 recommend those and the shotgun shrimp to start. I ordered the steak frites, which I was a tad disappointed in the steak. I also ate half of the grilled chicken sandwich which was delicious. Overall a great dining experience and will certainly return
Really good for happy hour. Food was affordable and well executed. Had some decent beer on tap but not as many as other beer halls I've been to in the area. One note is that the noise level inside was positively deafening. So if you have any interest in talking to other members of your party and don't want to shout, you're going want to sit outside.
Love this wine bar (they have amazing cocktails, too). Somewhat limited food menu, but I don’t consider it a full restaurant. The gallery is fun, they have different artist exhibitions and DJ on weekend nights! I enjoyed celebrating my birthday there 😊
We had a great meal at CIRCA today! We had been to the Foggy Bottom location a few years ago, and saw this location on our way to the metro. We stopped in for a late lunch and the service was prompt and friendly. The spinach salad was wonderful and the waitress double-checked if I wanted a protein on it, which was great since I had forgotten to ask for chicken. My husband’s chicken sandwich was also delicious. We were both pleased with how perfectly the chicken was cooked. We will be back!
On my last night visiting DC, a friend who lives in town invited me to this place in Clarendon. Our server Jackie was very outgoing and helpful. I ordered the steak frites and it was great. Loved the fries! My friend ordered the 4 cheese flat bread and he said it was awesome. The place has a cool vibe. Great food and service! Definitely recommend.
Had brunch today with a few awesome ladies from work. Service and food were both great. Would like to give a big thank you to Melanie for going above and beyond to accommodate a last minute +1 to our reservation. That was very nice of her!
Unacceptable carry out. I ordered the smoked Turkey club WITHOUT onions and a side of tomato soup that comes with croutons. What I received was a half cup of soup without croutons on the side in a container. I hadn’t looked at the sandwich yet when I made the first call. I asked about the croutons and was told by a very rude young lady that “croutons were not added because they may become soggy.” I asked “why weren’t they placed in a separate bag, as the French fries were for a side to the sandwich?” Her response “because we don’t do that, is there anything else?” I said “oh yes I’m not paying for this soup take it off my bill and I will be calling my credit card company to dispute this 8.00 charge.” She agreed to take it off and then I opened the sandwich container and ONIONS are on it. I called back and of course they didn’t answer so called my credit card company and they will be disputing the charge for the sandwich as well. I will get the full refund but imagine if I had paid cash? I will never, ever order food from here again. There are too many great restaurants for carry out or dining in, in Arlington.
UPDATE: Having read the response from the business, I find it both unacceptable and slanderous. I do not believe referring to an employee as a female dog as foul language. If an employee acts as a mongrel I will point it out. I have no interest in giving this so called “restaurant “ a second chance. “Smokecraft BBQ” is the one I should have ordered from again. So much for giving local businesses a chance.
UPDATE: Having read the response from the business, I find it both unacceptable and slanderous. I do not believe referring to an employee as a female dog as foul language. If an employee acts as a mongrel I will point it out. I have no interest in giving this so called “restaurant “ a second chance. “Smokecraft BBQ” is the one I should have ordered from again. So much for giving local businesses a chance.
Delicious small plates and cozy atmosphere. Sat at the bar. Johnny, our drink slinger, made deliciously amazing cocktails.
Truly amazed by this restaurant! Great portions, flavors, and value for your money! Tried the Mr. T sandwich, Mac and cheese and of course the beignets. The beignets have authentic New Orleans flavor and are fresh. Can’t recommend this place enough. Truly a gem in Arlington! 10/10 service, decor and food 🤩🤩🤩 please note that a lot of their dishes have bacon in the case you don’t want bacon.
Celebrated with family at this marvelous restaurant. The seafood-themed appetizers we ordered were savory and fresh. The meat entrées had robust and nuanced flavors. Everything was nicely presented and our waitress, very cheerful and helpful. Great place.
Amazing art and the open kitchen is wonderful. The vibe is just refreshing...come check out it.
The murals plaster the ceilings, the hallways, the kitchen, and they have canvas tastefully spread out in the middle of the floor which is a nice touch. Oftentimes the art is just hung discreetly off to the side and to most patrons it's just background noise.. An afterthought. When it's front and center, you can't help but walk by and take a nice gander.
The food is almost an accessory to the art. No complaints here but it's the art that takes the main stage here. When I visited, you had @woes, @imagine876 (Nepali artist) and @dragon76art as the main artists.
The murals plaster the ceilings, the hallways, the kitchen, and they have canvas tastefully spread out in the middle of the floor which is a nice touch. Oftentimes the art is just hung discreetly off to the side and to most patrons it's just background noise.. An afterthought. When it's front and center, you can't help but walk by and take a nice gander.
The food is almost an accessory to the art. No complaints here but it's the art that takes the main stage here. When I visited, you had @woes, @imagine876 (Nepali artist) and @dragon76art as the main artists.
Definitely recommend happy hour! It gets pretty busy at dinner time so we went a little early and still had a great experience. The happy hour menu has a tasty selection and the service was really fast!
Great friendly vibe in the outside area , quieter inside for private conversation. Menu was extensive as Carlos our waiter was attentive and efficient. Bruschetta was great . My friends ordered lamb rack which was huge , shrimp and andouille pasta , monkfish and I had lobster fritters with a salad beautifully presented. Great night we all thoroughly enjoyed the food etc but the very loud annoying drunk woman at a nearby table was a little annoying. Should have been handled quietly by the Restaurant rather then raining on 50 peoples dinners. We ordered a cone of silence for her ! We will be back though !
Decided to finally try out this place today since I wasn’t too far from the establishment and I thoroughly enjoyed the food and the drink I got. I ordered the kama Sutra drink and it was pretty good. I came for the bao buns, I got the shrimp tempura, braised pork belly and short rib bao buns…they were delicious. I ordered bulgolgi fries and took them to go they were good but got too much of a kick to it for me so next time i’d do without the kimchi and sauce. I ordered the chicken lo mein for my son and it DID NOT MISS! The establishment was pretty clean and the staff were courteous…the chair my son was on was broken (we did not notice) & one of the staff members and a security came up to us inspecting the quality of the chair and asked to switch out the chair. My experience was good.
You definitely want to come here! Geo was our bartender and he made EXCELLENT margaritas and green tea shooters! The food was exceptional. They have a fun vibe, with an outdoor patio/ bar. Service was fast and friendly. Geo took the time to come to our table and talk with us. Loved the bulgolgi fries (really delicious and unique) and drinks were strong (that's a plus!) and the buns were delicious! Definitely a new favorite spot!
Buns are delicious. I tried the short rib, shrimp and fried chicken ( a little spicy) and all were great. Chicken fried rice is also a no-brainer to order. Service was on-point and atmosphere was lively. If you're just going there for the food, I would say to get there before eight pm. Overall great place for food, drinks and music. Not a family restaurant.
Food was great. Parking is a nightmare! We went there because google listed that this "asian restaurant" is open late until 12-1am. We drive 45min there for family dinner of 8people. Theres no information online saying that the restaurant will close at 10 and turn it into a club. We was shock! After 45min of driving, we have 45min to dine in To super rush on eating and get kick out before 10pm. Some food dish is not even done cooking before we have to get out of there. Our bill is near $250 for a super rush dine in. It was an unhappy experience for our first time visiting the area. A plus for the food but the hours and bar/club info need to be listed clearly and correctly for first time visitor like me who based on google info.
Great vibe and food! Did the small plates and everything was delicious, my taste buds exploded. The atmosphere was welcoming, the staff treated us like family and our waitress Diana treated us like VIP. Ordering was done safely using our phones to see the menu. This restaurant is great for families, sister girl fun or happy hour….a must visit
We stopped by because my friends liked the outdoor seating area and wanted a drink. They have good beer on tap and a nice outdoor space. That’s where the good things. Food is pricy with just okay portions. The kimchi bulgogi fries are $19 with little meat and kimchi but a lot of mayo. The food is not anything special. The service is not consistent and confusing. Your best bet is to order drinks and food at the bar and then wait there until it comes. The outdoor patio is great when there’s nice weather but I would not order food again.
Great little place to pop in for brunch - top notch service and cozy urban atmosphere. The Irish coffee is strong! 😁
❗ Escargot DELICIOUS! So flavorful with fresh herbs, philo dough and great texture!
Warm brie, very creamy and light.
The biggest lamb shanks we've ever seen!
Steak was on point and the white chocolate bread pudding was also amazing. Staff was attentive, fast and super friendly.
Warm brie, very creamy and light.
The biggest lamb shanks we've ever seen!
Steak was on point and the white chocolate bread pudding was also amazing. Staff was attentive, fast and super friendly.
Stopped in on a weekend trip for brunch and this Bakery is great! It’s easy to get to from the hotel and way better food than what the hotel had! Should’ve had breakfast here twice! The fresh biscuits and rolls were delicious! We tried the quiche and also liked that. Was a bit disappointed a lot of things that were on the menu weren’t available though when we went. With no clear signage that basically if those items aren’t in the case then they don’t have them. It’s always a peeve when then the host gets rude as if I, guest, am supposed to know that and where they store what; after rushing me forward to order when then other things aren’t prepared for the menu that were also full kitchen items. My host was a bit rude while their coworkers serving other guests seemed nicer and less abrasive. But all in all a great spot and he did NOT ruin my experience! They have this pepper jam by the pick up counter that was absolutely delicious! The prices were great too and liked how I could build out my sandwich to my dietary restrictions. They’re spacious with a great ambiance too! I really liked seeing their light fixtures which were really unique! I’d definitely go back again and recommend you stop in if you’re in the area.
There's some street parking around, we didn't end up making a reservation but it didn't really matter so it was quiet which surprised me.
We opted for the bottomless brunch and the carafe of mimosas which was totally worth it. Our server, James, was awesome. The brunch was $36.99/person and the carafe of mimosas (~8 glasses was only $13.99).
We ordered the Calamari, Honey Shrimp, Chicken & Waffles, Bulgogi Hash, Braised Pork Bao, Breakfast Tots, Salmon Benedict, Pork Dumplings, Home Fries, JFC Bao, Shrimp Tempura Bun, Short Rib Bao, Steak Frites and Nutella French Toast.
Notables and recommendations: Honey Shrimp, Chicken & Waffles, Bulgogi Hash, JFC Bao, Short Rib and Nutella French Toast were amazing. The other ones were ok and not bad but too salty or the sauce was too overpowering for my taste.
Overall, genuinely surprised about how great everything was! Definitely recommend!
Total before taxes ~ $88
We opted for the bottomless brunch and the carafe of mimosas which was totally worth it. Our server, James, was awesome. The brunch was $36.99/person and the carafe of mimosas (~8 glasses was only $13.99).
We ordered the Calamari, Honey Shrimp, Chicken & Waffles, Bulgogi Hash, Braised Pork Bao, Breakfast Tots, Salmon Benedict, Pork Dumplings, Home Fries, JFC Bao, Shrimp Tempura Bun, Short Rib Bao, Steak Frites and Nutella French Toast.
Notables and recommendations: Honey Shrimp, Chicken & Waffles, Bulgogi Hash, JFC Bao, Short Rib and Nutella French Toast were amazing. The other ones were ok and not bad but too salty or the sauce was too overpowering for my taste.
Overall, genuinely surprised about how great everything was! Definitely recommend!
Total before taxes ~ $88
This place was so amazing and so under the radar. The restaurant had a beach bar theme in the back with a quieter, yet still hip atmosphere in the front. The server and the hostess were both so attentive and helpful. The bao buns were incredible and small bites were great too. I highly recommend the bottomless brunch on the weekends for $35 all you can eat + 25 cent mimosas! The happy hour menu also has some interesting selections for reasonable prices too.
This is a good, pretty inexpensive European-style bistro, with a decent beer and wine selection and a good selection of light plates. The outdoor dining area is very pleasant when the weather is right, and is mostly shaded by the tall buildings surrounding the area and is also lined by small trees. The indoor seating used to be a bit problematic: you'd end up smelling like the food because the seating area was so small! They've moved to a larger space now, so I doubt that's a problem. The service is generally good and helpful, although I had to remind them to bring my draft beer the last time I went.
I didn't try these myself, but the menu has a fair number of European dishes that aren't that common here: frog legs, snails, duck and so on. My dining companion tried these and liked them very much. The pictures shown are of deviled eggs, baked brie, potato gnocchi, duck strudel, escargot, and frog legs.
I didn't try these myself, but the menu has a fair number of European dishes that aren't that common here: frog legs, snails, duck and so on. My dining companion tried these and liked them very much. The pictures shown are of deviled eggs, baked brie, potato gnocchi, duck strudel, escargot, and frog legs.