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    Aracosia McLean

    4.8 (479 reviews)
    Closed 12:00 pm - 9:00 PM

    Order Aracosia McLean Takeout or Delivery

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    ARACOSIA MCLEAN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Romantic
    Classy
    Upscale
    Moderate noise

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    Recommended Reviews - Aracosia McLean

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    Mix Grill Mazza
    Rebecca C.

    This restaurant had such a wonderful assortment of unique foods, reasonably priced for lunch. Great dining experience with indoor, outdoor seating. Fine dining but lunch is a little more casual. Servers were great as well to explain new food items to us. Spicy beef dumplings were so delicious, perfectly seasoned. Braised lamb was so tender and juicy. All the portions were ginormous! Parking is free.

    Maitrayee D.

    Very nice restaurant . Enjoyed their free bread with three sauces.Then I loved their saffron tea. We were 6 of us . We ordered variety of their lunch specials . I must say each snd every item were prepared to perfection . Will be back soon .I simply loved their pistachio cake .

    My friend and I are doing foods around the world. This time was my friends turn. She found this site and we decided it was the choice of the month. We chose the tastes of aracosia. Not sure if that is the menu item. I cannot find it online. Anyways it gave 3 styles of dumplings. Sides containing eggplant, squashing like acubed soften style cooked, lentils, chickpeas, lamb, chicken and a couple of other meats. It came with bread and 4 diping sauces. I believe this last thing is complimentary with all the meals. Two people do have to do the meal. We were quite full afterwards. It was deliscious. The atmosphere is nice and calming. A gentleman playing a specialized style instrument, that had relaxing tones in the background. He was right behind us and no interruptions at all in our conversation. I wish I had taken a picture of the instrument. A delightful experience, I recommend trying.

    Naan With Dipping saucd
    Raymond B.

    We've gone to Aracosia a few times times now and they never disappoint. The food is always great and they're always so welcoming. The naan bread with the dipping sauce is always good but we always make sure to get the Mantu Appetizer. You can't go wrong with any of the entree. From the Lamb Chop platters to the simple Chicken Breast Kabob, everything moist and delicious. On our last visit, we tried the Beef Tongue Zuban. The hostess noticed that we had not finished it and asked if we didn't like it. It was good but it was just different. We didn't realize until we got the check that she had taken the Zuban off our check. She didn't have to but we definitely appreciated it. Those small gestures definitely make Aracosia one of our top restaurants picks hands-down. Aracosia is always on top of our list when we want really good food and very welcoming atmosphere. We don't live in the area anymore but it's definitely worth the drive!

    Beef Tenderloin & Chicken
    Raneem K.

    Aracosia is a very cozy. Authentic feel for afghan cuisine. It brings a more upscale look/vibe to it. We ordered their mantu assortment, which was really yummy. One of the choices being their pumpkin mantu, that was my personal favorite. Also, I ordered the beef and chicken combo. The beef was very tender and yummy, and the chicken was cooked well. Overall, I recommend coming and trying this restaurant out. The waiters and staff were very nice as well

    Pumpkin Dumpling Appetizer - delicious.
    Ani J.

    I would give this restaurant 3.5 on food. We went here to celebrate my birthday. They have a branch in DC. But we were excited to try the location in McLean. I had never been to an Afghan restaurant, so was curious to try. They have a huge vegetarian menu. So that's not a problem at all. The server was super nice and very attentive. I ordered the following: - Pumpkin Dumplings: these were really good. A bit sweet of course, but served with different sauces. - Qabulli : this is sweet rice and for vegetarians, it comes with four different veggies. The chickpeas and eggplant were delicious. The spinach was ok. The pumpkin was decent. Overall, definitely on the sweeter side. The bread initially came out very hard and dry. My son was not able to bite it. But then a fresh batch came, and the bread was soft. Overall, great ambiance, service and restaurant. If you enjoy Afghan food, definitely give it a try.

    Shahrzad T.

    The food was absolutely delicious, we were there for late lunch and had their special sampler it was perfect! We tried everything, will definitely go back .

    Taste of Aracosia menu was the way to go for us.
    Oliver G.

    None of us have had Afghan cuisine before so the set menu lets you sample so many dishes and the portions are generous. Lots of veg options. The ambiance is bright and lovely for friends catching up, or co-workers unwinding. The service is friendly and informative, exactly what you need when trying new cuisines.

    Taste of aracosia menu.
    Thuy L.

    I ate here once on a work trip and have thought about it almost weekly since then. Imagine how happy I was to come back when I moved here?! The food is delicious. I'd never had Afghani food until this place so I don't have a frame of reference but I don't think this keeps it from being objectively delicious. Came for my anniversary and the servers were swamped but so sweet, even brought us a dessert on the house! We order the taste of Aracosia to try everything. It's a great deal and we had so much food for two more meals after. It's a nice spot, dark and moody, pretty lively and has always been busy when I've gone. I love this place and will be bringing family and friends over and over.

    taste of aracosia for 5
    Priscilla T.

    Excellent place to try Afghan food! The place was very decorative and you can park in the garage below for free. We had to wait 15 minutes for our table even though we had a reservation unfortunately. Our server was funny and entertaining! He was as friendly as most of the staff. Food came out super quick and all at once which was overwhelming. We got the Mini Taste of Aracosia for 5 people ($46 per person) and an order of Assortment of Dumplings for 4 people ($24.95). Everything was super flavorful and delicious! My favorite things were definitely the dumplings. We all really also enjoyed the Grilled Lamb Chops, Banjaan (eggplants), Daal (lentils), Rumi's Veal, and the qabuli rice. It was definitely way too much food. I think we were only able to eat half of the whole tasting menu. Very generous portions so come hungry, or be prepared for a whole feast for leftovers LOL

    Sharon H.

    For a special date night out to a family gathering, Aracosia serves really unique, well-spiced, and unique dishes that are hard to find in the area. We ended up getting the complete taste which includes the mini taste and the assortment of dumplings. The meaty dumpling was probably the best. It came with two different rices, an each of which pair nicely with the complete taste dishes including the lentils and sweet ribs. The complimentary bread was warm and the sauces were either sweet or savory with a bit of spice. While the wait for the food was admittedly longer than expected, they were also generally pretty busy. We also got a lot of food at $55 each person. Docking off one star because when we sat down, and I got my plate, it was left with a bunch of crumbs. Very great experience overall for trying Afghan food for the first time.

    Momo
    Tiffany T.

    The waitress was friendly but service was a bit slow. I think it's just cause they don't have too many workers and honestly wasn't a problem! We ended up getting the complete taste since it was our first time and seemed like a great way to try everything. I feel like the deal was pretty good because it was more food than I expected we ended up having to take some home for yummy seconds! In this fog - 3/5 little sweet which I like but still kinda strong In the garden - 2.5/5 a bit strong but still good Complete taste of aracosia Dumpling sampler - 3.5/5 very soft skin and flavorful insides! I liked all but in order I would say the beef, the sweet potato(?) then the lamb Chicken Sabzi Lawaan - 3.5/5 great flavor and not dry * Lamb Shank Moghuli - 3.5/5 cooked nicely and good sauce! * Rumi's Veal - 2/5 soft but too sweet * Grilled milk fed Lamb Chops - 5/5 the softest and so juicy and flavorful!! Loved this so much and not games * Grilled Beef Tenderloin - 4.75/5 prob one of best tenderloin I've had! Super soft * Nakhoud (Chickpeas) - 3/5 good amount of spices and yummy * Kadoo (Squash) - 3.5/5 like th e filling of the earlier momo. Sweet and easy to eat * Banjaan (Eggplant) - 2/5 this is only cause I don't like eggplant. I usually can't really eat it but this was good for an eggplant * Daal (Lentils) - 3.5/5 good spices and goes well with the meat * served with chalou and gabuli rice. - 3.5/5 love the flavors on the rice! Special shout out to the free bread dips I kept going back for more and all 4 were so good

    Baklava
    William H.

    We tried this restaurant on the way back from Union Station. The ambiance of the restaurant is similar to a fancy steakhouse. We did not have a reservation and they were really busy. We were lucky to be able to sit at the bar. The restaurant provided house bread for starter with four kind of sauces to taste. We also got the potato and leek turnover as appetizer. For the main course, we got the Lamb Shank Moghuli, Qabuli Palou, and French rack of Lamb. All the dishes were excellent and cook to perfection. The lamb falls off the bone on my shank. For the rice with the main dishes, get the Chalou if you are not into raisins and carrots. For dessert, we got the Pistachio Ricotta Cake that tasted almost like an ice cream cake and Baklava. The food is a bit on the pricey side but reasonable for lamb dishes. The wait staffs are very attentive. We would definitely return to try other dishes on the menu and that Pistachio Cake.

    Lamb shoulder platter

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    Love this place ! Great food and service is amazing. Definitely going back and recommend

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    Ask the Community - Aracosia McLean

    Is this place halal?

    If you're asking about their meat, yes, it's halal (it's also halal at their other restaurants). The owner has reassured me and my guests in person on multiple occasions, and once on the phone. Lamb might be a good option if you're one to play… Read more

    Is there a dress code?

    Not a hard dress code - nice casual should be sufficient. Jeans and a nice shirt should be fine.

    Is your ( food) meat halal?

    Thank you for your message. Yes, all our meats are halal.

    Is the food Zabiha halal hand slaughter? Waiting for the owner to reply so that everyone is aware of…

    Owner mentioned halal . Not clear if it hand slaughtered. You can call location to confirm it .

    Do they deliver? Is there a lunch menu?

    Hello, Thank you for your message. We do not deliver but you may order carry out by calling the restaurant 30 minutes before pick up. Please click on the link below to view… Read more

    Is it serving halal meats?

    Hello, Thank you for your message. Yes, we do serve halal meat.… Read more

    View All 7 Questions

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    Earls Kitchen + Bar

    3.9
    (1.9k reviews)
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    I've been coming to Earls since 2017, and it's rare for a place to keep the same spark it had when…read moreyou first discovered it, but Earls is definitely one of those places. From the decor and music to the service and food, everything is consistently top notch. Whether you're there for a business meeting, a quick bite, happy hour with friends, a date night, or a celebration, Earls fits every occasion, and I've done all of the above here. If you're planning to go Friday through Sunday, definitely make a reservation because it does get packed. They also have one of the best happy hours in town, so it's absolutely worth checking out. Can't wait to be back!

    I gave Earl's a shot for a random date and there were some highs and lows…read more Ambiance: The outdoor patio seating was great. They have a few tables with umbrellas for cover during the day and even some lighting for nights. Food: The steak and sushi combo was interesting. The sirloin bites were small, but good, the sushi was mid - just not enough tuna on the crispy tuna rice and not enough flavor. The pesto spaghetti (Shrimp and Scallop Spaghettini) was good, but came with only two shrimp and a handful of the smallest scallops I've ever been served. The salmon entree was cooked well. Drinks: The cocktails were the highlight of the night. Several good margarita and martini variations on the menu that were perfect for the weather. Service: This was the worst part of the meal. Our server seemed to be frazzled the whole night. Twice during the meal we had our drinks delivered to the wrong table. The manager verbally apologized, but took nothing off the bill. It wasn't just our table though - we saw several of our server's tables get the wrong food or drinks. It also took a really long time to get water refilled at the table which was an issue in the heat. Verdict: 6/10. If they ironed out the kinks with service and dropped their prices by 10% on select dishes (tiny sirloin bites and subpar crispy tuna rice for almost $50 is madness), they would probably be an 8/10. I'll probably give them one more try and just avoid some dishes.

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    Earls Kitchen + Bar
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    Parallel Wine and Whiskey Bar

    Parallel Wine and Whiskey Bar

    4.0
    (474 reviews)
    18.9 mi
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    Parallel's creative brunch menu caught my eye, so my wife and I decided to check it out with some…read morefriends on a Saturday morning. We made reservations since we were a group of 6 including 2 infants, and these were warranted as the restaurant progressively filled up as we got closer to peak brunch hours. We were offered a large booth, which was appreciated as we needed space for the babies. The food here tasted quite good. My wife ordered the Pork Belly Benedict, which offered tender-crisp, thick slices of braised pork belly atop soft, buttery focaccia and coated with well poached eggs and creamy hollandaise. We both highly enjoyed my Broadlands Breakfast Sandwich, a clever take on a standard bacon, egg, and cheese breakfast sandwich swapping crispy, perfectly sweet French toast for standard bread. The breakfast potatoes served alongside were crispy on the outside with fluffy interiors and good seasoning. Our friends enjoyed their sandwiches as well. As the name alludes, the drink program is strong and offers something for everyone. In addition to wine and whisky, a solid selection of both cocktails and draft beers are available. Prices for both food and drinks were quite reasonable given the quality of what we received. I do dock a star for just so-so service. Our waitress was a bit MIA during the first part of our meal when we were trying to order, and then kept checking in on us every 5 minutes once our food arrived. We also had to remind her a few times to get a high chair for our little one. Fortunately, the food and drinks all arrived accurately and within a timely manner once ordered. Service woes aside, the creative fare satisfied our taste buds and we look forward to returning soon for to sample more of the brunch menu and libations.

    Our first to this local wine and whiskey bar. We had read about their "crazy" hour and "happy…read morehour". The crazy hour was excellent. The drink and food specials were not to be missed. Our fantastic bar server was Abby. She joked about trying everything on the menu... and we almost did. Short of maybe one or two items, we did enjoy all the food. The drink pours really weee generous and the selection of crazy hour wines knocked it out of the park. Ambiance- well lots of outdoor space and garage door walls made it well lit and enjoyable. It's easy to slide from crazy hour to happy hour because of the food, drink and service.

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    Bacon lollipops are incredible!!
    Bacon lollipops are incredible!!
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    Bourbon Boulevard

    Bourbon Boulevard

    2.8
    (292 reviews)
    14.5 mi

    This was our first time visiting Bourbon Boulevard and it was definitely an experience. My…read moreboyfriend brought me here for an early Mother's Day dinner on a Saturday night, and we really enjoyed ourselves. The atmosphere was calm and relaxing. The lights were dimmed, which gave the restaurant a cozy vibe I almost fell asleep lol. Since the restaurant is still fairly new, it wasn't too crowded, which made the experience even better. One thing I really liked was that the menu is chef-curated, so the dishes are served as-is and thoughtfully put together. You can really tell there's intention behind the flavors and presentation. For drinks, we ordered a smoked Old Fashioned and a chocolate martini for me, which was absolutely delicious. For appetizers, we tried the Wagyu sliders, and they were juicy, flavorful, and cooked perfectly. For our entrées, my boyfriend ordered the lamb shank over mashed potatoes. The meat literally fell off the bone, and the mashed potatoes soaked up all the lamb juices, giving them so much flavor. I ordered the salmon with broccolini and added chimichurri and garlic butter sauce on top. I loved that they asked how I wanted my salmon cooked. I ordered mine medium well, and it came out perfect. The skin was crispy, theand the broccolini was soft and cooked just right. Our waiter was fun, attentive, and really helpful when it came to choosing drinks and entrées. Overall, we had a good experience.

    Stumbled upon this place coming to the mall to kill time. Currently serving brunch. When we…read morepreviewed the menu, had to get ribeye and eggs. Server was great but have bugs to work out, as it was a soft opening. Ordered toast and the server came to tell us that they don't have rye. I also thought he would have offered the liquor menu, as I had to ask for it. Was brought our food but was missing our hash browns. A few minutes after apologies, received our hash browns. Steak and the eggs were perfect. The place is absolutely gorgeous. Really like the atmosphere. Maybe a while to return as I live in CA, but I definitely will be back with hopes to upgrade to 5 stars.

    Photos
    Bar scenery
    Bar scenery
    Russian Osetra
    Russian Osetra
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    Texas Jack's Barbecue

    Texas Jack's Barbecue

    4.0
    (1.4k reviews)
    6.1 mi
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    Amazing food, amazing servers, and amazing atmosphere would've given 20 stars. If possible. Very…read morefriendly staff would highly recommend. --12 year old boy with a big appetite. :)

    For starts, Yes! I would definitely visit again and recommend for others to try it as well…read more In a to-go order, I got the wings, one meat with two sides (brisket, Brussels, and esquites (corn)), and a 2 piece cornbread. The brisket was pretty good. Not the best I ever had. However, it had great texture and was thick cut. Dipped in their bbq sauce- it was even better. The grilled wings were great. Fat juicy drums! *I gave my aunt the flats, and she enjoyed them too. The brussels and esquites were great. Im not a big parmesan guy, but on the brussels it surprised me. The cornbread had a great texture as it was moist and held up nice; it wasn't dry and crumbly. I prefer my cornbread sweet though. Id pass on it next time. Upon request, the pickles were great, but the pickled onions not so much. They were more bitter and "onion'y" if you know what I mean (it tastes like they used white onions, the ones that go on hotdogs). Im used to them being a little sweet when I get them from bbq places and even Mediterranean spots. And lastly, I didn't like the blue cheese too much it was more bitter (im used to sweeter blue cheese similar to Ken's). Another thing I'd pass on in the future. Overall, the main courses and sides were good. I recommend and would go back again to get the same things and even try the white meat chicken.

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    Smoked NY Strip Loin and Rustic Mash Potatoes
    Smoked NY Strip Loin and Rustic Mash Potatoes
    All You Can Eat Brunch!
    All You Can Eat Brunch!
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    Starr Hill Biergarten

    Starr Hill Biergarten

    4.1
    (145 reviews)
    1.8 mi
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    Great rooftop brewery with 20+ beers, ciders, and seltzers on draft overlooking the beautiful lush…read moregardens and live music at The Perch. The biergarten has ample canopy seating with long benches and tabletops, perfect for groups! You can't make reservations. They have a strict policy of no outside food or drinks. The ambiance is very casual and there's no table service. Rather than ordering through a QR code, place your order at the bar and then you'll get a text alert when the food is ready for pick-up at the long table closest to the bar. The line is always pretty short and you can get a drink within 5-10 min, the food takes longer and even up to 1/2 hour for fries. I would stick to the beer on draft, the cocktails can be hit/miss depending on the bartender, the draft drinks tend to have better consistency. The Wildberry Mule cocktail and Pina Colada Sangria and Peach Seltzer on draft were my picks while the Bourbon Smash, Passionfruit Mojito, Pina Colada Mojito, and the Passionfruit Seltzer were misses. On the flip side, the bartenders poured a generous amount of Prosecco for Mimosas, much appreciated! The bottled Angry Orchard apple cider is generally my go-to. There's always a mocktail on the menu (came in handy when I was pregnant!) The new battered fries are so much better than last year! The menu is limited with simple bar food (bbq pulled pork sandwich, burger, grilled cheese, hot dog, fries, kettle chips). Wish there were more vegetarian options like charcuterie board, hummus and crackers, nachos, mac and cheese, etc. While I give credit for having a Veggie Burger on the menu, it's sad and disappointing. It has a very smoky meaty flavor (from the grill, not the patty) with lackluster toppings - the vegan cheese is disgusting. I would swap out the kettle chips and pay the upcharge for fries. The doughy pretzel sticks are quite salty and a step up from the movie theater. They are good for absorbing the alcohol! Despite these minor complaints, I love coming here with family and fries. So glad The Perch opened up, Starr Hill Biergarten is a great spot to kick back and relax with a beer or 2!

    Such a sweet spot! They have a great beer selection, but also a fully bar. They have tvs and a huge…read moreprojection screen for games! We always have a good time here, especially when it is nice weather!

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    The view
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    Aracosia McLean - afghani - Updated July 2026

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