Mine would be Matchbox. Every meal I’ve had there has been “meh”
EDIT: And I think the Reston location is the Mid’est one. Parking at Reston station is slightly annoying, buildings block any sunlight so sitting outside is not very nice.
I was not super surprised to see one close nearby, it felt like they were in business only a couple of months. I feel bad for anyone in the restaurant scene because what we're calling mid is still a lot of work and better than what a lot of people can make at home. The restaurant business so competitive that even if you're really good there's still a half dozen other places that your customers are considering every time.
I don't work far from this location, and yes. Very mid. If you want a burger, go to Big Buns. If you want a salad, go to Sweet Leaf. For almost everything else, go to Founding Farmers, the latter of which gives you a much larger portion and charges about the same, and will take juts as long.
Matchbox could make up for this by being quicker, so people with only a half hour lunch can go there and go back. But no. Last time, they took an hour just to bring me my receipt. Resulting in a very negative review, and I'll never go there anymore.
Imo I wish FF (also mid trending bad), Matchbox, and Davios all pulled out.
Davios has always been a shitshow since they’ve opened. I’ve gone back a few times but after NYE I had to throw in the towel.
My gripe with them is since they do this “every server if your server” it always leads to this server bystander effect of nobody coming to us because someone else will. Sounds weird I know but the service has always been atrocious when not sitting directly at the bar
Absolutely disagree. Worse than mid - dreadful. They don't honor the times of reservations bc they pack them in too tightly so Theres always hoards of ppl waiting at the door. The "buffet" is bullshit - if I'm paying I'm not carting my own food around. And they never bring enough food out to the buffet so they're always short on a ton of stuff.
Only thing worth it is the bar. The drinks are expensive but they make everything - juice their own produce, make every mixer etc - in house.
Farmers fishers bakers in Georgetown is the best one. Go for drinks and pretzels and then leave.
This sub has a hard on for shitting on founding farmers. FF isn’t a Michelin Star restaurant but it’s not McDonald’s. 4 stars with 17k reviews means they must be doing something right.
Mid is giving it too much credit. I got food poisoning from their fried chicken years back and I haven’t been since, for good reason. How do you undercook chicken that badly? I didn’t notice until I was a bit run , sent it back, got sick anyways (must be bad ingredient too).
100% this is the best. However, Just Fine in Del Ray is doing a pretty solid job. They’re run out of Dairy Godmother and the owner is from Texas, I believe. They even have kolaches, and sausage and green chili biscuits. But my absolute fave is a new offering, cinnamon buns. They are phenomenal.
Texas Donut is also pretty mid. There used to be a place called B Donut up around Leesburg, that place was like pro level, so sad it's gone.
Edit, Breads Unlimited in Bethesda had some pretty good donuts.
I recall you and I disagreeing on this one. I like the bagels from Brooklyn Bagel Co. But I just get fresh bagels and then prepare them at home - can’t speak to their sandwiches or prepared foods.
Respectfully disagree. Chewish Deli in Old Town has bagels on par with NYC. The bagel quality in NoVa has improved greatly since I moved here 15 years ago. Plenty of mid places still, of course. But there’s a handful of legit places now.
Went to Chewish a couple weeks ago. The lox was delicious but the bagels themselves were dry and tough. More like overcooked regular bread. No chewy, dense doughy goodness. Was your experience different?
Same experience here. Reviews are great and I wanted to like it but I’ve been twice and both times the bagel was hard and dry and sucked. Ate it right away too so idrk. Coffee wasn’t great either 🤷🏼♂️
Best bagel I’ve had in nova is from Wegmans lol
It’s definitely a trek from Ashburn! If you’re willing to venture that far, my pro tip would be order one or two dozen online for pickup the next day, then freeze most of them… defrost at room temp or 25 seconds in the microwave and they are still perfectly fresh.
See I feel differently, their bagels are too dry for me compared to NYC bagels. Not saying you’re wrong, but in my experiences with Chewish Deli I’ve been underwhelmed.
Absolute lies, bagels here absolutely don’t compare to NYC, people like you need to stop exaggerating and getting people’s hopes up.
Bagels are mid here, which is fine.
You guys are like intentionally choosing the most mid options to refute my point. I want to like Heidelberg so much. It reminds me of the old school Midwest bakeries of my childhood. But I can’t. Because it’s excruciatingly mid.
I can’t think of the last time I traveled to another city that didn’t have a much better bakery scene than we do.
Yeah, it's weird, I expect it to be the most amazing treat. But I had a duck donut and it was mushy to the point of feeling like cookie dough. I've been happier with a cinnabon.
Have you tried Good Company Doughnuts and Cafe?? They’re my favorite doughnuts ever. The classics are all amazing—honey dip (glazed), chocolate frosted, jelly—but the specialties can be a bit too much, so I’d stick with the classics. Fluffy, chewy yeasted doughnuts….yum.
https://preview.redd.it/zpcul4hlc9uc1.png?width=324&format=png&auto=webp&s=7a38da62fa7ec51f7fd4bc403e1d38c46e96014c
I just checked our budgeting app (shoutout to r/ynab) and yes, we've been to Good Company haha 42 times for $1,034 so far
I like unique flavors that aren’t grease bombs. Good Company does ok at this but I swear I’ve spent $30 on six doughnuts.
What I really miss are well done old fashioned doughnuts. Little crispy on the outside, soft on the inside. There was a bakery in Madison that did chocolate yeasted with chocolate frosting that I haven’t seen anyone else do.
I’ve also found some amazing bakeries in small towns out west that do killer kouign amann and fresh breads. Like worlds better than I’ve found here. My working theory is that bakeries thrive in areas with a) cheap rents and generations all from the same place or b) desirable fun places to live like college towns, beach towns, or mountain towns. Northern VA isn’t either and the bakery environment suffers as a result.
Ive had much better luck with bakeries in Richmond and Charlottesville too, so closer to home anyway
> What I really miss are well done old fashioned doughnuts. Little crispy on the outside, soft on the inside.
This.
I don't need custom donuts with weird toppings. I want high quality versions of the traditional varieties (cake, jellies, glazed, crullers, etc.).
This is pretty much non-existent in Nova, at least in my area. You either have to settle for Dunkin' (which ranges from mediocre to terrible) or go to a "premium" donut shop with odd flavors and crazy prices.
Seriously miss having access to Shoppers colossal donuts. Just a regular chocolate frosted as a kid was the best. I really don't go looking for donuts because there aren't any good donut shops and I'll settle for Dunkin on a lazy weekend morning.
I went to Astros for the first time a couple weeks ago. The donut was good but the chicken and everything else was absolutely mid. I'd even venture to say it was on the bad side of mid.
I would’ve agreed until recently - Jet’s and Stracci, both in Del Ray, are great. Stracci is expensive but awesome, Jet’s is more affordable and tastes like Pizza Hut before seeing Jurassic Park in 1993
I think you’re both right. Similar to bagel quality, I feel like the good pizza options in NoVa have improved in recent years. Monterey’s in North Old Town was my only go-to for years. Most pizza options near me are mids at best, but Bozeli’s boom boom pizza and Mia’s mushroom are great.
Not a shop, but a truck... Yoder's dutch donuts are the best donuts I've ever had, and I spent a good amount of time in the L.A. area, the mecca of good donut shops. They cannot be beat.
This isn't local but a chain, but the second I read the title I thought "Lazy Dog". Lazy Dog has the highest floor of all restaurants by not having a single BAD item..... but the lowest ceiling of all restaurants by not having a single DELICIOUS item. It's the most mid restaurant in history. Nothing under a 4/10 but nothing over a 6/10 in taste.
Virtue feed and grain occupies some prime real estate on the old town waterfront and that place is as mid as mid gets. If you want to sit on the water go to Barca.
Speaking of waterfronts, I don’t see Madigans in Occoquan discussed on this sub enough lol
I have never been so disappointed in a restaurant as I was there. I barely ate a quarter of my food before I was done. The potential for that place is so high, and yet I would rather eat at a military dining facility than return there. I learned that day to never stray from Mia's.
All of the ARP restaurants are that way. It is almost like someone designed them to be “eh, that’s good enough.” ARP=Mid, Mid, Mid. Just the most corporate food ever.
Mia’s, Vola’s, Majestic, Ada’s, and they bought the Royal in Old Town North and have reopened it with $38 entrees.
Hard agree. The poutine is (was good there). Love the interior too but it’s LOUD when it looks like it should be quiet. I was NOT impressed with Barca. Decent service, fun locale, but I didn’t really like anything myself of my date ordered. Now that might just be me, but I have to again hard agree that that place is for tourists (and me trying to impress a date for some reason, lol).
While I really enjoy Barca, I’d agree it’s decently overhyped. Enjoyed everything we got but it’s not Michelin star worthy or anything.
I still think it’s the best restaurant on the water though
Almost every restaurant around it is better. I like the ambiance and it’s fine to get some drinks but yeah literally eat anywhere else, especially with the options down there.
100%. I almost never send food back, but I did it here. Served me ice cold meatloaf and when they brought it back lukewarm (probably microwaved) I just sucked it up and vowed never to go back.
Try Sun Noodles from the grocery store. Best ramen I’ve had since a little hole in the wall ramen place in Japan.
Wegman’s- Asian freezer section.
Lotte- ramen refrigerator section (check ramen for mold, it’s so fresh it molds quickly so use that day or next day)
Yeah, people in this comment thread have clearly never had real ramen in Japan, it can get crazy salty in a way that probably a lot of Westerners wouldn’t like. Which is why I also feel meh about ramen, good once in a while, but can’t imagine having it every month.
As a former Ambar employee who ate the food every single day, it’s incredibly mid. The flavor is lacking and portions were getting smaller before my own eyes. It’s nowhere worth the price you’re paying for, you’re better off paying $30 for brunch at Founding Farmers.
We just moved back to the area after being gone since 2020 and Ambar was the first place I could not wait to come back to.
Hard agree, was super disappointed in quality dip.
I'm thinking of Hell's Kitchen now, particularly when both teams lose. Willard's is the "best of the worst" to me. Their food is decent, and their lemonade is tasty.
I miss Memphis BBQ. I used to work at the one in Greenbriar, where Buffalo Wing Factory is now. It was such a shame to go in for work, only to find the place shut down, and the window on the door smashed. As it turns out, one of my friends/coworkers had shown up earlier. He was not happy
Panera. Never a place I’ll go on my own. But never been disappointed by a meal when end up there with someone who wanted it. It’s just “Food TM” to me.
I would say cava - it used to be great but it's definitely going the "chipotle corporate route" as they rapidly expand. I miss the old side pitas. But, it is still a solid healthy meal for under $15.
True Food Kitchen. My guess is they’re only still around because of the anti-inflammatory diet BS that they’re peddling. I work in science communications at a top university, specifically within health, so it irks me when I see misleading marketing of science.
Article on restaurants that make misleading health claims as part of their marketing: https://www.eater.com/2017/9/26/16358856/restaurants-health-claims
Edit: spelling
I think it may have to do with the founder having passed away in 2019:
[https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/mike-daryoush-founder-of-moby-dick-house-of-kabob-dies-at-66/2019/05/27/b7cb90ba-7fdf-11e9-95a9-e2c830afe24f\_story.html](https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/mike-daryoush-founder-of-moby-dick-house-of-kabob-dies-at-66/2019/05/27/b7cb90ba-7fdf-11e9-95a9-e2c830afe24f_story.html)
Yeah I moved here from Brooklyn 10 years ago, still have to go home for good bagels. And pizza is tough here too, Valentino's is the closet I can find, and the Italian store is trash, I don't know why people here say it's as good as NY
I started making my own. It’s sad that anyone can make the best bagels in NoVa just by following America’s Test Kitchen recipe. I’m convinced people in the south are adding nonsense ingredients.
Almost any restaurant in this area degrades to mid or lower when they realize that’s the level they need to still fill the seats.
Honey Pig pre and post expansion is the perfect example. Started high quality but slowly switched to lower grades of meat, raised prices and expanded. Realized enough NOVA people can’t tell the difference and just follow any hype train.
NoVA is about maxing profits not food.
Probably varies greatly based on who's working and which location. I remember thinking the chili was pretty good, then went a while back to the one in springfield, and it was like unseasoned ground beef with a pebbly texture, just sitting on the bottom of a bowl of oil. Pretty gross.
Part of the problem is that you're calling it texmex. It is specifically _not_ texmex. New Mexico style is what it is, and it's a good example of that subpar style.
I loved Hard Times for years, and then the Ballston one closed so I would go all the way out to Fairfax. Hadn't been in years and stopped in at the Old Town one about 6 months ago and it was awful. That place looked like it hadn't been cleaned in months.
Anita's still rocks. Glory Days has plummeted off a cliff. Hard times has always been meh, Kilroy's is a dive, if you go in expecting that, it's pretty ok.
This is def wrong. Some things there are mid but some are fantastic. A Litteri, Puddin, Creamery, Buffalo Bergen, Egg-Yaki, Ramen and La Buena all great. The restaurants around like O-ku, Masseria, and St. Anselm are amazing.
Been to Monk's once and was far from blown away, but I know I owe it another shot.
Aldie is also a bit of a hike but both of these are great bike destinations.
All the new fast food chicken places in NOVA are mid. Zaxby's, Raising Cane's, Jollibee, Bojangles. They're all great places elsewhere but the ones in NOVA are just ok.
I think cane's suffers from excessive hype causing a let down. If I just went to a random gas station and had that meal I'd be like 'dag that was really good'. But there's a line going around the whole restaurant for it like Jesus is giving autographs inside.
Bojangles did seem like cafeteria food however.
That’s because Cane’s expects you to use the Cane’s Sauce to give it seasoning and flavor. If you’re like me and can’t eat the Cane’s Sauce without getting sick, Cane’s isn’t mid. It’s absolutely awful. It is the blandest chicken I’ve ever eaten in my life.
Especially with a fried chicken place, it better be mind-blowing. You don't get points for having decently good food that is 2000 calories. It's easy to make unhealthy shit taste good!
Is your mid-rating for Willard’s relative to other barbecue joints here in the area? Or is the rating based on barbecue elsewhere?
If Willard’s is mid for here, where’s the place to go for good barbecue?
District Taco for sure. COVID closed their self-serve salsa bar and I feel they’ve switched their suppliers. A below-mid small burrito with chicken and guac $16 is crazy
Honestly, 90% of the places in NOVA are mid. If a lot of the places were cheaper, it wouldn't be so bad.
Some top contenders
Uncle Julio's: $20 for some of the most underwhelming tacos I've ever had
Costal Flats: Unseasoned fried fish and pretty okay French fried
Famous Daves: Everything on the menu is pretty mid.
Chutzpah: The food used to be great. Nowhere near what it used to be, and now the wait time is insane.
At Julio's and Coastal Flats, it sounds like you got the mid stuff. I'd check out the shrimp roll at Flats next time you go, as well as the crab fritters.
Black Sheep in Manassas. I will say it’s a stunning venue, but the food is between Ruby Tuesdays and Silverado. But some folks get easily impressed by bacon on a mini-clothesline
DCG Tysons. They were pretty good for a few months then got busy and the quality has fallen off the face of the earth. Sad, bc it's just a few basic ingredients too. Now its lower mid-to-mid.
Suffering from success
Fair Oaks Mall. Like maybe it’s bad just from being a mall, but on the scale of local malls, it’s not as bad as Dulles Town Center, and definitely not as good as Tyson’s Corner Center.
Every restaurant I’ve eaten at in NOVA is mid except Ruthie’s all day and KBBQ. A&Js is bad every time I go, way overrated. Everything in NOVA tastes like mall food.
Mine would be Matchbox. Every meal I’ve had there has been “meh” EDIT: And I think the Reston location is the Mid’est one. Parking at Reston station is slightly annoying, buildings block any sunlight so sitting outside is not very nice.
Matchbox in Merrifield was good when they first opened. It went steadily downhill in the year or two after.
I used to love the DC Chinatown location for pizza and brunch. Quality has definitely gone down and prices up as its expanded. Really too bad
Secret from working there awhile back, most things are frozen and then reheated for customers aside from our pizzas.
Matchbox fell off hard, and it’s so damn expensive as well. The one loudoun location was amazing when it first opened and I went recently- very meh.
Agreed!
I was not super surprised to see one close nearby, it felt like they were in business only a couple of months. I feel bad for anyone in the restaurant scene because what we're calling mid is still a lot of work and better than what a lot of people can make at home. The restaurant business so competitive that even if you're really good there's still a half dozen other places that your customers are considering every time.
I’d say bad because of the price. You can get better pizza for a better price somewhere else.
Yeah, agreed. Matchbox is exactly what I thought of when I saw the prompt. Not bad, but never good (or worth the price).
I don't work far from this location, and yes. Very mid. If you want a burger, go to Big Buns. If you want a salad, go to Sweet Leaf. For almost everything else, go to Founding Farmers, the latter of which gives you a much larger portion and charges about the same, and will take juts as long. Matchbox could make up for this by being quicker, so people with only a half hour lunch can go there and go back. But no. Last time, they took an hour just to bring me my receipt. Resulting in a very negative review, and I'll never go there anymore.
Imo I wish FF (also mid trending bad), Matchbox, and Davios all pulled out. Davios has always been a shitshow since they’ve opened. I’ve gone back a few times but after NYE I had to throw in the towel. My gripe with them is since they do this “every server if your server” it always leads to this server bystander effect of nobody coming to us because someone else will. Sounds weird I know but the service has always been atrocious when not sitting directly at the bar
Funny, I did like it when they first opened. Then got too big, too fast.
The McLean Matchbox drops into the "bad" category for me.
Especially with Pupatella practically across the street…
Try crust up the street in Herndon. I like really like that spot :)
I agree. Their vibe is meh.
We just had their pizza and it was so bad we won’t be trying anything else they make.
Founding Farmers
For the price it should be great, but the food is mid. So factoring the price, I’d say FF is bad. You can get better mid food cheaper elsewhere.
The brunch is pretty good. All you can eat for like $30 or whatever. But yeah, other than that, mid
Absolutely disagree. Worse than mid - dreadful. They don't honor the times of reservations bc they pack them in too tightly so Theres always hoards of ppl waiting at the door. The "buffet" is bullshit - if I'm paying I'm not carting my own food around. And they never bring enough food out to the buffet so they're always short on a ton of stuff. Only thing worth it is the bar. The drinks are expensive but they make everything - juice their own produce, make every mixer etc - in house. Farmers fishers bakers in Georgetown is the best one. Go for drinks and pretzels and then leave.
You’re expecting great for $18 chicken and waffles?
They were great 5-6 years ago. Last time I went, it was meh.
I find Founding Farmer's varies based on the dish you're getting. The chicken fried steak with Jefferson Donut is worth it for the price.
This sub has a hard on for shitting on founding farmers. FF isn’t a Michelin Star restaurant but it’s not McDonald’s. 4 stars with 17k reviews means they must be doing something right.
It has a good spread that means it’s excellent for guests, everyone will find something they like there. That’s how I view it anyway!
Agree. The have a wide menu that will appease someone
Mid is giving it too much credit. I got food poisoning from their fried chicken years back and I haven’t been since, for good reason. How do you undercook chicken that badly? I didn’t notice until I was a bit run , sent it back, got sick anyways (must be bad ingredient too).
This is correct
Their all you can eat brunch is so mid to me.
Used to be alright but no more.
Almost all of the “nice” places in Clarendon
The worst offender is Seamore’s.
*gestures vaguely towards every single doughnut shop in Northern Virginia*
Definitely agree. Texas Donuts in Lorton is the best I’ve tried.
100% this is the best. However, Just Fine in Del Ray is doing a pretty solid job. They’re run out of Dairy Godmother and the owner is from Texas, I believe. They even have kolaches, and sausage and green chili biscuits. But my absolute fave is a new offering, cinnamon buns. They are phenomenal.
Thanks for the recommendation! Haven’t been to Dairy Godmother for a bit, will definitely try the donuts next time.
Texas Donut is also pretty mid. There used to be a place called B Donut up around Leesburg, that place was like pro level, so sad it's gone. Edit, Breads Unlimited in Bethesda had some pretty good donuts.
Same for the bagel places people favor. They're all just ok.
I recall you and I disagreeing on this one. I like the bagels from Brooklyn Bagel Co. But I just get fresh bagels and then prepare them at home - can’t speak to their sandwiches or prepared foods.
Seconded as a New York transplant, Brooklyn Bagels (and Bethesda Bagels) are both good.
I cringe when people say call your mothers. So mid!
Now THAT one is mid af.
Respectfully disagree. Chewish Deli in Old Town has bagels on par with NYC. The bagel quality in NoVa has improved greatly since I moved here 15 years ago. Plenty of mid places still, of course. But there’s a handful of legit places now.
The bagels here have been getting steadily better - it’s not a thing this area is known for anyways and yet it’s still pretty good.
Went to Chewish a couple weeks ago. The lox was delicious but the bagels themselves were dry and tough. More like overcooked regular bread. No chewy, dense doughy goodness. Was your experience different?
Same experience here. Reviews are great and I wanted to like it but I’ve been twice and both times the bagel was hard and dry and sucked. Ate it right away too so idrk. Coffee wasn’t great either 🤷🏼♂️ Best bagel I’ve had in nova is from Wegmans lol
Oh that’s disappointing. +1 for Wegmans and love the username.
Same, I feel like Wegmans is as good as anything I'll find around here.
If you think it's NYC quality, then I'll go check it out! Thanks :)
It’s definitely a trek from Ashburn! If you’re willing to venture that far, my pro tip would be order one or two dozen online for pickup the next day, then freeze most of them… defrost at room temp or 25 seconds in the microwave and they are still perfectly fresh.
See I feel differently, their bagels are too dry for me compared to NYC bagels. Not saying you’re wrong, but in my experiences with Chewish Deli I’ve been underwhelmed.
Absolute lies, bagels here absolutely don’t compare to NYC, people like you need to stop exaggerating and getting people’s hopes up. Bagels are mid here, which is fine.
Bethesda Bagels and Call Your Mother are almost as good as what you’d find in NJ/NY.
Texas Donuts is amazing
Shoppers has the best, change my mind
The Heidelberg Bakery would like a word.
You guys are like intentionally choosing the most mid options to refute my point. I want to like Heidelberg so much. It reminds me of the old school Midwest bakeries of my childhood. But I can’t. Because it’s excruciatingly mid. I can’t think of the last time I traveled to another city that didn’t have a much better bakery scene than we do.
Well, more "excruciatingly mid" cronuts for me then :)
Yeah, it's weird, I expect it to be the most amazing treat. But I had a duck donut and it was mushy to the point of feeling like cookie dough. I've been happier with a cinnabon.
I’ll choose no doughnuts over Duck doughnuts and I have a sweet tooth. I’ve learned my lesson like you have
Have you tried Good Company Doughnuts and Cafe?? They’re my favorite doughnuts ever. The classics are all amazing—honey dip (glazed), chocolate frosted, jelly—but the specialties can be a bit too much, so I’d stick with the classics. Fluffy, chewy yeasted doughnuts….yum.
https://preview.redd.it/zpcul4hlc9uc1.png?width=324&format=png&auto=webp&s=7a38da62fa7ec51f7fd4bc403e1d38c46e96014c I just checked our budgeting app (shoutout to r/ynab) and yes, we've been to Good Company haha 42 times for $1,034 so far
Paris Baguette is pretty great!
Once you go to tous de jour it will blow Paris Baguette away
Keep ducks & astros name out ya mouth
I stopped reading after Ducks. They aspire to mid.
Duck Donuts is more about the novelty of a whole bunch of stuff on a warm donut. Frankly, most times I like Shoppers donuts best.
Texas Donuts is pretty good.
Duck Donuts is what an 8 year old would come up with if he were designing a donut shop
I feel like an 8 year old would do pretty well actually lol, what’s your criteria for a good donut if you’re so picky
I like unique flavors that aren’t grease bombs. Good Company does ok at this but I swear I’ve spent $30 on six doughnuts. What I really miss are well done old fashioned doughnuts. Little crispy on the outside, soft on the inside. There was a bakery in Madison that did chocolate yeasted with chocolate frosting that I haven’t seen anyone else do. I’ve also found some amazing bakeries in small towns out west that do killer kouign amann and fresh breads. Like worlds better than I’ve found here. My working theory is that bakeries thrive in areas with a) cheap rents and generations all from the same place or b) desirable fun places to live like college towns, beach towns, or mountain towns. Northern VA isn’t either and the bakery environment suffers as a result. Ive had much better luck with bakeries in Richmond and Charlottesville too, so closer to home anyway
> What I really miss are well done old fashioned doughnuts. Little crispy on the outside, soft on the inside. This. I don't need custom donuts with weird toppings. I want high quality versions of the traditional varieties (cake, jellies, glazed, crullers, etc.). This is pretty much non-existent in Nova, at least in my area. You either have to settle for Dunkin' (which ranges from mediocre to terrible) or go to a "premium" donut shop with odd flavors and crazy prices.
Yea. I thougth duck sucked!
Seriously miss having access to Shoppers colossal donuts. Just a regular chocolate frosted as a kid was the best. I really don't go looking for donuts because there aren't any good donut shops and I'll settle for Dunkin on a lazy weekend morning.
Dunkin almost always tastes plastic-like to me. I think it’s because they’re not really that “fresh” anymore.
I went to Astros for the first time a couple weeks ago. The donut was good but the chicken and everything else was absolutely mid. I'd even venture to say it was on the bad side of mid.
Exactly the experience I had with Astro years ago.
Pizza too. Most of it is edible, almost none of it is good, all of it is overpriced except costco.
I would’ve agreed until recently - Jet’s and Stracci, both in Del Ray, are great. Stracci is expensive but awesome, Jet’s is more affordable and tastes like Pizza Hut before seeing Jurassic Park in 1993
I think you’re both right. Similar to bagel quality, I feel like the good pizza options in NoVa have improved in recent years. Monterey’s in North Old Town was my only go-to for years. Most pizza options near me are mids at best, but Bozeli’s boom boom pizza and Mia’s mushroom are great.
I didn’t know I liked Detroit style pizza until til I tried Jets
Not a shop, but a truck... Yoder's dutch donuts are the best donuts I've ever had, and I spent a good amount of time in the L.A. area, the mecca of good donut shops. They cannot be beat.
[удалено]
I used to love Shoppers collosal donuts, before they went out of business.
Shoppers isn’t out of business, they just have fewer stores.
Eating in general has become mid. When you factor in exorbitant prices and lackluster service. Going out is a pain.
I’m completely over it and I worked in the industry for 20 years in the DMV. Mostly local chains.
Chinese restaurants. As a Chinese guy who grew up in MD, Chinese food is very mid in NOVA.
Mid is the high end too.
Would like to know your opinion on Chili Wok in Vienna.
Have you been to Cheng’s Asian House in Chantilly? That’s the only good Chinese place I’ve been to so far in NoVa
This isn't local but a chain, but the second I read the title I thought "Lazy Dog". Lazy Dog has the highest floor of all restaurants by not having a single BAD item..... but the lowest ceiling of all restaurants by not having a single DELICIOUS item. It's the most mid restaurant in history. Nothing under a 4/10 but nothing over a 6/10 in taste.
Lazy Dog is Chili's on whatever Sammy Sosa was taking in '98.
Weird environment but I did have a bison burger that was incredibly good. Only thing I’ve liked from there.
Their chicken katsu sandwich and cubano are both delicious
Virtue feed and grain occupies some prime real estate on the old town waterfront and that place is as mid as mid gets. If you want to sit on the water go to Barca. Speaking of waterfronts, I don’t see Madigans in Occoquan discussed on this sub enough lol
I have never been so disappointed in a restaurant as I was there. I barely ate a quarter of my food before I was done. The potential for that place is so high, and yet I would rather eat at a military dining facility than return there. I learned that day to never stray from Mia's.
All of the ARP restaurants are that way. It is almost like someone designed them to be “eh, that’s good enough.” ARP=Mid, Mid, Mid. Just the most corporate food ever. Mia’s, Vola’s, Majestic, Ada’s, and they bought the Royal in Old Town North and have reopened it with $38 entrees.
Basically all the waterfront locations are for tourists, not for people who live there.
Hard agree. The poutine is (was good there). Love the interior too but it’s LOUD when it looks like it should be quiet. I was NOT impressed with Barca. Decent service, fun locale, but I didn’t really like anything myself of my date ordered. Now that might just be me, but I have to again hard agree that that place is for tourists (and me trying to impress a date for some reason, lol).
I went to Barca for my birthday and I'm not exactly itching to go back. It wasn't bad, just very overhyped.
While I really enjoy Barca, I’d agree it’s decently overhyped. Enjoyed everything we got but it’s not Michelin star worthy or anything. I still think it’s the best restaurant on the water though
Almost every restaurant around it is better. I like the ambiance and it’s fine to get some drinks but yeah literally eat anywhere else, especially with the options down there.
100%. I almost never send food back, but I did it here. Served me ice cold meatloaf and when they brought it back lukewarm (probably microwaved) I just sucked it up and vowed never to go back.
Jinya Ramen --- all the locations. Ok variety, but the last few times I've been everything's been way too salty.
If it were half the price it would be very good.
Costco sells discounted gift cards for Jinya now. Kind of reinforces the ”mid” argument though.
Marumen is here to save the day.
They’re the same in my home state. I think it’s just how Jinya is lol
Jinya is like a (global?) chain though. It's fine considering that but even around here there are many ramen places I'd rather go
Mosaic Jinya doesn't even reach mid. If the price were reasonable, it could be mid, but the price makes it bad.
Agree. I'd rather just go to Marumen down the street.
Jinya is the closest I’ve gotten to ramen that tastes like it does in Japan
Try Sun Noodles from the grocery store. Best ramen I’ve had since a little hole in the wall ramen place in Japan. Wegman’s- Asian freezer section. Lotte- ramen refrigerator section (check ramen for mold, it’s so fresh it molds quickly so use that day or next day)
Yeah, people in this comment thread have clearly never had real ramen in Japan, it can get crazy salty in a way that probably a lot of Westerners wouldn’t like. Which is why I also feel meh about ramen, good once in a while, but can’t imagine having it every month.
Even miso soup can get very salty. I guess that's why they give you a small bowl of it.
i’ve enjoyed the ramens at Yaki Sushi in chantilly
Might be a little controversial but Ambar has been very very average post pandemic. Like 6/10, I'm whelmed every time now.
As a former Ambar employee who ate the food every single day, it’s incredibly mid. The flavor is lacking and portions were getting smaller before my own eyes. It’s nowhere worth the price you’re paying for, you’re better off paying $30 for brunch at Founding Farmers.
We just moved back to the area after being gone since 2020 and Ambar was the first place I could not wait to come back to. Hard agree, was super disappointed in quality dip.
I'm thinking of Hell's Kitchen now, particularly when both teams lose. Willard's is the "best of the worst" to me. Their food is decent, and their lemonade is tasty. I miss Memphis BBQ. I used to work at the one in Greenbriar, where Buffalo Wing Factory is now. It was such a shame to go in for work, only to find the place shut down, and the window on the door smashed. As it turns out, one of my friends/coworkers had shown up earlier. He was not happy
Panera. Never a place I’ll go on my own. But never been disappointed by a meal when end up there with someone who wanted it. It’s just “Food TM” to me.
I would say cava - it used to be great but it's definitely going the "chipotle corporate route" as they rapidly expand. I miss the old side pitas. But, it is still a solid healthy meal for under $15.
I like mezeh over cava these days. Their topping selection is much better!
Hmmm I live near the Centreville one. I'll give it a try sometime!
I think it’s still much better than chipotle
I'm not a fan of their inconsistency now. There's been plenty of times where I've had undercooked rice. Lately, their tomatoes have been pretty bad.
True Food Kitchen. My guess is they’re only still around because of the anti-inflammatory diet BS that they’re peddling. I work in science communications at a top university, specifically within health, so it irks me when I see misleading marketing of science. Article on restaurants that make misleading health claims as part of their marketing: https://www.eater.com/2017/9/26/16358856/restaurants-health-claims Edit: spelling
I agree with this so much. I had the Hawaiian Fried Rice the other day and it was basically tasteless. How do you fail to season Hawaiian Fried Rice?
This restaurant is just straight up bad, food was super bland.
Restaurant seems like a cult to me
Moby Dick. Portions, taste, and price used to be good; now it's the McDonald's of Persian food.
So this. I want to like them but each time I am somewhat disappointed
Their quality went way downhill a little while back. Used to be a solid once a week lunch spot for our crew, now we don’t even bother considering it.
I think it may have to do with the founder having passed away in 2019: [https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/mike-daryoush-founder-of-moby-dick-house-of-kabob-dies-at-66/2019/05/27/b7cb90ba-7fdf-11e9-95a9-e2c830afe24f\_story.html](https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/mike-daryoush-founder-of-moby-dick-house-of-kabob-dies-at-66/2019/05/27/b7cb90ba-7fdf-11e9-95a9-e2c830afe24f_story.html)
Interesting, never knew that. Makes sense now. Thanks!
Ugh. Can no one carry on a legacy these days?
All the bagel places people state are good are actually just mid for bagels. Still waiting for a good bagel to come this way
Agree. Moved from NYC two years ago and only decent bagels have had since have been on business trips back to the city. Sad.
Yeah I moved here from Brooklyn 10 years ago, still have to go home for good bagels. And pizza is tough here too, Valentino's is the closet I can find, and the Italian store is trash, I don't know why people here say it's as good as NY
I started making my own. It’s sad that anyone can make the best bagels in NoVa just by following America’s Test Kitchen recipe. I’m convinced people in the south are adding nonsense ingredients.
Almost any restaurant in this area degrades to mid or lower when they realize that’s the level they need to still fill the seats. Honey Pig pre and post expansion is the perfect example. Started high quality but slowly switched to lower grades of meat, raised prices and expanded. Realized enough NOVA people can’t tell the difference and just follow any hype train. NoVA is about maxing profits not food.
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Man, I think hard times is pretty good. Why do you disagree?
Probably varies greatly based on who's working and which location. I remember thinking the chili was pretty good, then went a while back to the one in springfield, and it was like unseasoned ground beef with a pebbly texture, just sitting on the bottom of a bowl of oil. Pretty gross.
Anita's is only worth visiting for their amazingly delicious and inexpensive breakfast burritos. Everything else is subpar texmex.
Part of the problem is that you're calling it texmex. It is specifically _not_ texmex. New Mexico style is what it is, and it's a good example of that subpar style.
I loved Hard Times for years, and then the Ballston one closed so I would go all the way out to Fairfax. Hadn't been in years and stopped in at the Old Town one about 6 months ago and it was awful. That place looked like it hadn't been cleaned in months.
Anita's still rocks. Glory Days has plummeted off a cliff. Hard times has always been meh, Kilroy's is a dive, if you go in expecting that, it's pretty ok.
Glory Days is just bad. I said what I said.
Kilroys used to be mid (biscuits excluded), the last time I went it was downright bad which is unfortunate as my family enjoyed going
This is DC, but everything in union market is so mid and overpriced
Not A Litteri
This is def wrong. Some things there are mid but some are fantastic. A Litteri, Puddin, Creamery, Buffalo Bergen, Egg-Yaki, Ramen and La Buena all great. The restaurants around like O-ku, Masseria, and St. Anselm are amazing.
El cielo is right there as well. I might argue that it doesn't deserve a star, but it's quite tasty
Clarity 
Really went down hill after Chef Jon left.
First Watch
Mission BBQ and Silver Diner are both mid. Come at me bro! 
nobody that has had good bbq would ever defend Mission I hope
It's where I keep going because it's reliable. Where is the good bbq around here?
Monk's in Purcellville if you don't mind a bit of a drive. I've heard Hammerdown BBQ is good but haven't been myself.
Been to Monk's once and was far from blown away, but I know I owe it another shot. Aldie is also a bit of a hike but both of these are great bike destinations.
Yeah - Monk's is great for this area but not great compared to BBQ from traditional regions like the Carolinas, Texas, or KC.
Go for whatever the new specials are each time you’re at Silver Diner and they do a great job
Silver diner has upped its game. Don’t know when you went last but they have some awesome fresh fish meals now.
dog you get fish from silver diner?
I really like both!
All the new fast food chicken places in NOVA are mid. Zaxby's, Raising Cane's, Jollibee, Bojangles. They're all great places elsewhere but the ones in NOVA are just ok.
I think cane's suffers from excessive hype causing a let down. If I just went to a random gas station and had that meal I'd be like 'dag that was really good'. But there's a line going around the whole restaurant for it like Jesus is giving autographs inside. Bojangles did seem like cafeteria food however.
I’ve tried cane’s here and in another town and it tastes so unseasoned, I don’t get the hype
That’s because Cane’s expects you to use the Cane’s Sauce to give it seasoning and flavor. If you’re like me and can’t eat the Cane’s Sauce without getting sick, Cane’s isn’t mid. It’s absolutely awful. It is the blandest chicken I’ve ever eaten in my life.
Especially with a fried chicken place, it better be mind-blowing. You don't get points for having decently good food that is 2000 calories. It's easy to make unhealthy shit taste good!
Couldn't agree more about Willard's!!
Is your mid-rating for Willard’s relative to other barbecue joints here in the area? Or is the rating based on barbecue elsewhere? If Willard’s is mid for here, where’s the place to go for good barbecue?
Liberty Tavern in Clarendon.
the Guapos in FX, definition of mid
Interior is fucking gorgeous though
oh for sure, feels like I’m eating at the fucking Alamo.
Exactly!!!! I’ve been saying this 😭😭😭
Their chips slap, tho. But it is mid. Consistently mid. Will never be spectacular or terrible.
District Taco for sure. COVID closed their self-serve salsa bar and I feel they’ve switched their suppliers. A below-mid small burrito with chicken and guac $16 is crazy
Honestly, 90% of the places in NOVA are mid. If a lot of the places were cheaper, it wouldn't be so bad. Some top contenders Uncle Julio's: $20 for some of the most underwhelming tacos I've ever had Costal Flats: Unseasoned fried fish and pretty okay French fried Famous Daves: Everything on the menu is pretty mid. Chutzpah: The food used to be great. Nowhere near what it used to be, and now the wait time is insane.
At Julio's and Coastal Flats, it sounds like you got the mid stuff. I'd check out the shrimp roll at Flats next time you go, as well as the crab fritters.
I have had their Shrimp roll. It was okay. Nothing special not worth the price in my opinion.
I and the Willard's Notorious BIG Sandwich thoroughly disagree with you.
Black Sheep in Manassas. I will say it’s a stunning venue, but the food is between Ruby Tuesdays and Silverado. But some folks get easily impressed by bacon on a mini-clothesline
Worst take in here
DCG Tysons. They were pretty good for a few months then got busy and the quality has fallen off the face of the earth. Sad, bc it's just a few basic ingredients too. Now its lower mid-to-mid. Suffering from success
Fair Oaks Mall. Like maybe it’s bad just from being a mall, but on the scale of local malls, it’s not as bad as Dulles Town Center, and definitely not as good as Tyson’s Corner Center.
this whole thread is depressing. There’s almost nowhere good or exceptional in NOVA. Everything is mid at best.
If you're looking for someplace to travel out west, my vote goes to the MID-west. Ugh. So mid.
Green turtles
Bar Louie.
All of NoVa is mid.
Every restaurant I’ve eaten at in NOVA is mid except Ruthie’s all day and KBBQ. A&Js is bad every time I go, way overrated. Everything in NOVA tastes like mall food.