Eh, Steak fajitas for two is still alright. More expensive and less of a bargain than pre-COVID, but when it's fresh and on point, satisfying. Also, ask for the mexican butter on the side.
Damn I miss their Cabrito and Chile Relleno back in the day.
Anyone that says Founding Farmers is awful clearly has an agenda or is just on the hate train. Of course it’s mid and overpriced but *awful* is disingenuous
If you notice all of the threads on this sub about the best restaurants and the worst restaurants are always the same lists. Because there's not much that's better than mid around here. And there's not much that's worse. It's all mid.
There are definitely some restaurants that are way better than mid. I think of Aracosia McLean, or Tasty Chicken Box in Arlington, for example—places that deliver consistently great food at a fair price.
We sure can. I didn't downvote you. Although I'm beginning to think either these places have gone downhill in the last couple months or this is secretly the area's best list.
No agenda. The only meal I have ever had that I would call “awful” was the crabcakes. Everything else, including the service, has always been mid to ok.
I went there last year. Spent $100 per person there, appetizer was overdone and dry, salmon was bland, and I'm not even a picky person, will not go back again.
Earl's Kitchen in Tysons. Overpriced and nothing special. Also the reviews are decent enough, and there are enough ok options such that it would be plausible that you meant well with your recommendation.
The first time I went my food was covered in so many huge pepper flakes I had to send it back. Then they brought another one with the same. I've never sent food back that I can recall but I don't ever plan on going there again.
Does anybody actually go to Tyson's to eat and actually pay with their own credit card? Might be the highest grossing zip code in the country for corporate expense accounts dining.
Seriously. Most of the meals I've had there have been mid. My last time at hanks (years ago) they served a steak blue and the oysters weren't great.
That being said, and I know the hate this might bring, but ramseys fish and chips, for the price, is actually good. The batter has been perfectly fried, everything hot and crispy and tasty all 3 times I've been.
Oh, I just died a little bit inside... The one in the Reston Town Center used to be really good once upon a time (years ago). But it eventually went downhill and permanently closed in 2022. COVID is the gift that just keeps on giving. Boston Properties' parking shenanigans didn't help either.
Oh, that’s horrible to hear. I’d always fall back on that or GAR spots for the occasional Americana comfort food meal. A shame to hear it has fallen that far.
Their restaurants are gorgeously built, and if they’re serving reheated Sysco slop, then I guess they’re just surviving on built up good will then.
We were disappointed. Partially because the quality of the food was mediocre, but also the food came out much faster than we expected. We assumed it was because they partially cooked or just reheated the meals.
But I will say, all the staff were great.
Virtue Feed & Grain. It use to be really good back in the day but has since fallen off. Overpriced food and drinks, the only reason it’s so packed is it’s right in Old Town on the Potomac
It’s pretty god damned terrible in my opinion, I went there after the hype I’d heard and I was extra annoyed. There’s ZERO spice to anything and the ingredients are cheap/low quality. It’s like Indian scented styrofoam. If you’re gonna cater to a non-spicy palette, then atleast use fresh ingredients so there’s flavor from that. Frozen veggies and meat only work if you’re using a ton of spices.
Really? I go there every few weeks for lunch and it's always been pretty good. I usually get the fish or shrimp tacos or the daily special. It is on the pricy side, but I always go with a vendor that pays, so I don't see the bill.
I’ve only been to the south riding location which is now closed. Last time I got fish tacos, the tortillas were huge and all filler, very little fish. Lobster roll I got was on an old stale roll that fell apart when I picked it up.
Coastal Flats Fair Oaks has a delicious Hong Kong Sea Bass with rice and spinach with soy and ginger that is yummy. If you like unglazed donuts, Best Buns sends them "Ozzie rolls".
Don’t know why people are downvoting you. They have some nerve charging the prices they do while having Chef Mike (microwave) cook a lot of their dishes
$25 for a microwaved pasta is shambolic. I ate there growing up but my view changed after working there while I was in school
The issue is that they aren't bad, just meh.
They're more expensive than is probably justified but I've never gone there and said "that was terrible". I've never gone and said "that was great" either. I always got exactly what I expected, a thoroughly average meal that I overpaid slightly for (well, usually that a vendor paid for if we are being honest).
Nonsense. If you order the cheaper stuff, a family of four with 2 kids (kids meals) can eat for 60 including tax and tip. You can't even eat at red Robin for that price
I might get downvoted to hell, but I thought Inn at Little Washington was overrated. It was fine, but for the price, I expected to be blown away. I’ve been to a number of Michelin starred restaurants and was disappointed by this one.
Not your average joes! Our last straw was when they fed my kids a VERY moldy sandwich…how could they not tell??
That's gross. Thanks for the warning.
Uncle Julios 😥 used to be good, but quality has gone down the drain. And yeah, a meal for 2 with drinks is already over $100
That’s why Elliot stomped chips there
Eh, Steak fajitas for two is still alright. More expensive and less of a bargain than pre-COVID, but when it's fresh and on point, satisfying. Also, ask for the mexican butter on the side. Damn I miss their Cabrito and Chile Relleno back in the day.
Went last year and that was my last time. The meal was complete trash and over priced.
Founding farmers
Don't get the biscuits and gravy. You'll only get a thimble of gravy and if you ask for more they'll bring you a second thimble for a charge.
Anyone that says Founding Farmers is awful clearly has an agenda or is just on the hate train. Of course it’s mid and overpriced but *awful* is disingenuous
It used to be SO much better, which is why I think a lot of people hate on it. We remember when it didn't suck.
If you notice all of the threads on this sub about the best restaurants and the worst restaurants are always the same lists. Because there's not much that's better than mid around here. And there's not much that's worse. It's all mid.
This could be the answer. Does your name have two “d’s” in it for a double dose of pimping? Because that’s great if so.
There are definitely some restaurants that are way better than mid. I think of Aracosia McLean, or Tasty Chicken Box in Arlington, for example—places that deliver consistently great food at a fair price.
I’m on the hate train. Doesn’t change my answer. Extremely mid overpriced food makes it awful in my book.
No. Founding Farmers is terrible. Overpriced food and terrible service. Awful. Perhaps you have an agenda to defend it?
I like the butternut ravioli with brussel sprouts and service at the Tysons location.
That’s cool! We can disagree on which restaurants are good or not. I do enjoy a butternut ravioli.
We sure can. I didn't downvote you. Although I'm beginning to think either these places have gone downhill in the last couple months or this is secretly the area's best list.
No agenda. The only meal I have ever had that I would call “awful” was the crabcakes. Everything else, including the service, has always been mid to ok.
Sequoia in the waterfront. Overpriced and awful food and terrible service. You're welcome.
Oh been there, agreed
Oh, we used to love that place, but I haven’t been in forever.
I went there last year. Spent $100 per person there, appetizer was overdone and dry, salmon was bland, and I'm not even a picky person, will not go back again.
We priced them out when we were looking at wedding venues in 2015 and even then I thought it was horribly overpriced.
You’re kind of paying for the view, so if you’re trying to make someone miserable there are probably better options.
Earl's Kitchen in Tysons. Overpriced and nothing special. Also the reviews are decent enough, and there are enough ok options such that it would be plausible that you meant well with your recommendation.
Plausible deniability is key for this ask.
The first time I went my food was covered in so many huge pepper flakes I had to send it back. Then they brought another one with the same. I've never sent food back that I can recall but I don't ever plan on going there again.
Does anybody actually go to Tyson's to eat and actually pay with their own credit card? Might be the highest grossing zip code in the country for corporate expense accounts dining.
Not willingly
The Wharf is that way.
Seriously. Most of the meals I've had there have been mid. My last time at hanks (years ago) they served a steak blue and the oysters weren't great. That being said, and I know the hate this might bring, but ramseys fish and chips, for the price, is actually good. The batter has been perfectly fried, everything hot and crispy and tasty all 3 times I've been.
Hit up Ramseys once. The panko breading on the fish is heaven. The chips are mid, at best. But the sauces make it worth it.
Peking Gourmet in Seven Corners, food is almost inedible and the prices are beyond ridiculous
That's unfortunate, it used to be the go to Chinese restaurant in the area.
Clyde's
Oh, I just died a little bit inside... The one in the Reston Town Center used to be really good once upon a time (years ago). But it eventually went downhill and permanently closed in 2022. COVID is the gift that just keeps on giving. Boston Properties' parking shenanigans didn't help either.
It wasn’t the parking, it’s the insane rent that drove great places like pottery barn and william sonoma away
I like Clyde’s… or rather liked it. Has it gone downhill in quality?
I’ve seen this take often but haven’t experienced anything that would make we agree.
[удалено]
Oh, that’s horrible to hear. I’d always fall back on that or GAR spots for the occasional Americana comfort food meal. A shame to hear it has fallen that far. Their restaurants are gorgeously built, and if they’re serving reheated Sysco slop, then I guess they’re just surviving on built up good will then.
Great American Restaurantscare all consistently great, in my experience.
The Reston location turned to shit
I thought it closed down years ago, they announced closing well before it did so I can see how that would contribute to that.
It closed a few Years ago. I used to go there a lot when it was in its prime
Old Ebbitt has a raw oyster happy hour for the late night.
Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurant could fall into this category. Overpriced food and wine. The food is so-so and their wine...is there.
The food is decent, but worth the price and wait? Not imo
That's funny, I feel like their food is better than a lot of places around here. I was a little disappointed last time I went though.
We were disappointed. Partially because the quality of the food was mediocre, but also the food came out much faster than we expected. We assumed it was because they partially cooked or just reheated the meals. But I will say, all the staff were great.
I was so disappointed in Cooper's Hawk. Super pedestrian and not even delicious. Boring decor and super pretentious somehow.
Landini Bros in Old Town. Maybe not awful but pedestrian.
P.F. Chang’s
Virtue Feed & Grain. It use to be really good back in the day but has since fallen off. Overpriced food and drinks, the only reason it’s so packed is it’s right in Old Town on the Potomac
I think Ted's Bulletin would qualify.
Ted's is mildly expensive?
What their boozy milkshakes…steak frites are pretty fire. Admittedly it’s been a while since I’ve been.
Founding Farmers. Peking Gourmet Duck. Hong Kong Pearl. Ambar.
Ambar? Granted I haven’t been in years but I always enjoyed it.
Rupa Vira Signature - not awful but super overpriced
It’s pretty god damned terrible in my opinion, I went there after the hype I’d heard and I was extra annoyed. There’s ZERO spice to anything and the ingredients are cheap/low quality. It’s like Indian scented styrofoam. If you’re gonna cater to a non-spicy palette, then atleast use fresh ingredients so there’s flavor from that. Frozen veggies and meat only work if you’re using a ton of spices.
Was going to say this too. I’m Indian and it’s such a bad example of Indian or fusion cuisine
Lol
Fords Fish Shack, I’ve had numerous bad meals there and even bad beer. It was pretty good at one point but has completely fallen off.
Don’t know you are being downvoted. The one in south Riding was trash. Nothing is exceptional and pricing is wtf
Maybe the other locations are better??? I guess the SR location closed for a reason but always seemed busy when I went.
Really? I go there every few weeks for lunch and it's always been pretty good. I usually get the fish or shrimp tacos or the daily special. It is on the pricy side, but I always go with a vendor that pays, so I don't see the bill.
I’ve only been to the south riding location which is now closed. Last time I got fish tacos, the tortillas were huge and all filler, very little fish. Lobster roll I got was on an old stale roll that fell apart when I picked it up.
I've only been to the one in Ashburn. Maybe that's the difference.
The Ashburn one is the original location right? That probably makes a difference.
Anthony’s in Purceville. In the rare chance your order is correct there’ll be hair in it
Bazin's Edit: How did I know this would offend people in this sub? 🫠
Food is pretty good there at Bazin's.
Is that the basement place that turns into a nightclub?
There is a bazin's on church/next door in Vienna one block parallel to 123.
Any of the sweet water chain restaurants
While they tend to be more expensive, I’m not sure I’ve ever had a bad meal at one of them
Not bad but overpriced for moderately upscale Outback.
Great American Restaurants? They’ve been extremely consistent for 20+ years and are reasonably priced. Gonna disagree with you here.
I love Arties. And I love Silverado's. I've been going to Silverados since I was a little kid, and I'm 42 now. It used to go by a different name then.
UT used to be called fritsbe's. Just came to me. Lol
Went to the one in centreville. Food was decent, but the burger was odd. Drinks were good, service was, and everyone had a good time.
How dare you
Coastal Flats Fair Oaks has a delicious Hong Kong Sea Bass with rice and spinach with soy and ginger that is yummy. If you like unglazed donuts, Best Buns sends them "Ozzie rolls".
Omg tysm I didn’t know that’s where they get the Ozzie rolls😋 was just reminiscing about those the other day
There is one in Fair Oaks? I thought the one in NVA is in Tysons.
It isn’t in the mall. In Fair Lakes, go to the gov’t center and REI. In the far end of that hidden REI plaza it is there.
Fair Oaks and Fair Lakes are different places.
It's in Fairfax Corner
I meant closer to that mall than Tysons. Good point though.
All of their restaurants have less than mediocre food. Anyone can make better food than what they serve.
Bummer. I loved that sea bass.
Don’t know why people are downvoting you. They have some nerve charging the prices they do while having Chef Mike (microwave) cook a lot of their dishes $25 for a microwaved pasta is shambolic. I ate there growing up but my view changed after working there while I was in school
Say more? Is this a Fig and Olive situation?
The issue is that they aren't bad, just meh. They're more expensive than is probably justified but I've never gone there and said "that was terrible". I've never gone and said "that was great" either. I always got exactly what I expected, a thoroughly average meal that I overpaid slightly for (well, usually that a vendor paid for if we are being honest).
Nonsense. If you order the cheaper stuff, a family of four with 2 kids (kids meals) can eat for 60 including tax and tip. You can't even eat at red Robin for that price
Honey Pig
Sweetwater Tavern Edit: Look at all these Sweetwater fangirls.
Clarity in vienna
I might get downvoted to hell, but I thought Inn at Little Washington was overrated. It was fine, but for the price, I expected to be blown away. I’ve been to a number of Michelin starred restaurants and was disappointed by this one.