My friends and I had a fantastic Sunday morning brunch there to celebrate a baby shower. It was such a fancy and friendly environment and they treated us like a real baroness. read more

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I would give zero stars if I could. Absolutely the most appalling customer service I have ever experienced. Sayeed claims to be a 24 year employee but should not work at Cafe Renaissance another day after the incredibly rude, pompous and presumptuous way he spoke to me when I called to inquire about their Mother's Day menu. I will be telling everyone I know to NEVER go to the Cafe Renaissance and I will certainly be celebrating Mother's Day with my family elsewhere. read more

Excellent services and excellent food. Soufflé is to die for. Very cozy and comfortable place.

Such an intimate romantic restaurant. We went for my husband's birthday and the food was amazing! We had one of the seafood dishes on the special menu as well as the seafood crepe.It was so tasty and the portion size was just perfect. For dessert, we tried the chocolate cake, which is an absolute must at this restaurant! IF you are looking to take out your SO on a date, I highly recommend this place! read more

I went here or our office Christmas party. From the outside it doesn't look like much. However, the inside is beautifully done. Love the murals on the walls the ambience was suited for a nice romantic dinner for evening diners. We were there in the middle of the day. The maître d (yes I had to Google the correct spelling) was great! He was a tall presence of a man, who obviously has a lot of experience keeping large groups focused on the menu's. He was not going to be ignored but did it in a way that I thought was funny and not the least bit offensive. They took our orders, no one had to wait for their food, it all came out in perfect timing- I thought my good was a little too cool, by that I mean - not hot enough. However, it was so tasty I was not going to send it back and I finished everything on my plate. Not that it was too difficult the portions were normal size, nothing oversized, thank goodness :) I have no idea what the price was because I wasn't paying but I would love to go back with my beau and see what the evening scene is all about. Your not going to leave Hungary, but if you love doggy bags, you probably won't get one here. Portions are perfect! I had sautéed scallops in saffron and the scallops were cooked perfectly, The sauce was a little tasteless but that just kept it from taking away from the scallops. I also had a Caesar dressing and the dressing was homemade (love that) The filet mignon came with a sauce on top and I would have preferred no sauce. I was always taught a nice cut of beef, cooked to perfection needs no sauce. It was delicious. For desert they brought us each a small sampler plate of all their deserts so we didn't have to decide and I thought that was a great touch! I will be going back, hope my food is hotter next time. :) oh yeah, they did a great job of keeping water and coffee full and paid really close attention to us. It would make a great date night or anniversary place! read more

What a wonderful lunch ,my wife and me,enjoyed at Cafe Renaissance Yesterday was our anniversary,We went here to have a lunch today The food was superb,We got Dover sole and rack of lamb as main courses,while We started with a delicious smoked salmon ,followed it by a mussels in pesto sauce and scargots in garlic butter Our waiter was very attentive,the first thing He did it was to asked if We were there for special ocasion ,and later the owner Saeed joined us to acknowledge our present Both of them and the kitchen staff made our celebration, wonderful!!! read more

The environment and food all seem very out of date. A good place to bring your grandparents for an early bird special

We had our rehearsal dinner here a couple of weeks ago and it was outstanding. The owner was very flexible in working to accommodate all of our needs from a special menu to seating arrangements during one of the mores busy times of the year. The food was outstanding. Great options and masterfully done from appetizers, soups, salads, pastas, main courses. Also the chef came out and chatted with us adding to the experience. The service was impeccable. Anything we needed was ready to go and quickly handled. I will be returning here regularly. This is a hidden gem of Vienna with lots of history. I've lived here for nearly 20 years and can't believe its taken us this long to find this restaurant. read more

I am a West Point graduate and a retired Army General. Following my military retirement I spent 20 years in the business world retiring as a SVP at AOL. During that time I had the opportunity to eat in the best restaurants in the world. My wife and I agree that the best we have found is the Cafe Renaissance in Vienna.. The quality of the food, the ambience and the professional service is the best. When we want a wonderful experience it is the only place my wife and I will ever go. General David Cole read more

Prepare to be heckled! Constant up-selling. Unwarranted opinionated wait staff and inappropriate pestering. No wonder the place was empty on a weekend night! Pros: Food was a B+ (Downgraded because the chef overcooked my mussels so they were dry and exploded in the shell). The food and table-side prep of my dessert is the only reason this rating is 2 stars. Cons: Wait staff RUINED the experience. Our waiter & even the owner made inappropriate comments on our dating status and were aggressively trying to get us to buy more. At one point, the waiter sat at the table; my so-called "romantic date" had an unwanted guest. He also tried to hand off his business card and wouldn't leave us alone. Not to mention, the ambiance and decor is old, out-dated and dirty. I've seen french decor nicely done before, but this was just decrepit. There's another review with a one star review on here that happened on a mother's day and basically that was SPOT ON. I wish I would have known sooner so my boyfriend and I could have actually gone on a nice romantic date with only us! My boyfriend echos my sentiment... read more

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A bewildering experience. We had heard good things. The Manhattans were generously sized and delicious. The snails were redolent of oil more than garlic, and butter seemed not part of the recipe. I did not taste brandy at all. The beet salad was bitter and the dressing unpleasant. The salmon special was mystifying. The platter was filled with a small baked tomato covered with tomato sauce, three large, overcooked asparagus, a potato duchesse that was burnt and inedible on the bottom, and a pile of overcooked, muddy-tasting rice and beans on top of which was the well-prepared salmon and crab. The kitchen was out of scallops and one shrimp was substituted for "scallops" on one of our entrees. The captain served us house white wine from a screw-top bottle. The wine was bright but one-note with no finish at all. The evening was very expensive for this level of food. We have lived in Vienna three years and have always wanted to try this restaurant. It was a disappointment. Service was excellent. read more

I was very pleased with my first experience with Cafe Renaissance. From beginning to end. Went to Cafe Renaissance for a birthday dinner date for my girlfriend and had no complaints. I made no reservations, so I called ahead (around 5:30 pm) to see if there was any availability. The host told me to come in as that they had plenty of open tables. The location is in the corner of a small strip mall and can be easily overlooked. Our dinner was at 7pm, on a Monday, so we had an easy time looking for parking. The restaurant is a decent size. The walls are hand painted with European paintings and there were 3 other dates and a small party of 4 there. The host was kind and very personable (may have been the owner). We were all spaced out and had a private piece of the restaurant. The server was a kind and personable elder man from Europe and also made the experience delightful. The bread is freshly baked. They help make the dipping, which is just olive oil and Parmesan. They have a great wine selection. We just ended up sharing a glass of white whine since we were ordering seafood. We ordered the special appetizer, which was baked oyster with crab meat. I ended up getting the baked flounder and my gf got the baked trout. The sides were the same, grilled asparagus and potatoes. They gave my gf a birthday dessert sampler which was delicious. Overall, very good experience. Great for dates and small family dinners. A little pricey but I guess you're paying for the experience. One other small issue was I thought the restaurant was just a tad too warm, but i can't complain because I'm writing this review in the middle of winter. read more

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Hidden gem. We came here before heading to Wolf Trap for a concert and it was wonderful. The service was great, very personable and welcoming. We got the escargot and onion soup to start and both were yummy. We chose mains from the specials and they were equally yummy and filling. We are definitely coming back soon. Excellent service and food. read more

Tonight was 'Date Night!' My husband found Cafe Renaissance and he made reservations. I was pretty excited as I am always ready to eat and am always ready to try out a new place! :P The restaurant is located in a little plaza off of Maple and Glyndon, next to the plaza with Michael's. This place has been around for about 21 years and serves up classical French dishes that has a 'modern twist and an Italian accent.' A House Sommelier is on-site to help you choose wine pairings for your dishes. They also offer event services for private dinners/group dining, weddings, rehearsal/engagement dinners, bridal showers, corporate functions, wine tastings, etc. A lunch menu is also available. We actually ran into the owner outside, Mr. Saeed, and he graciously invited us in. All the servers inside greeted us warmly and really made us feel so loved and welcomed! Our server was Mr. Andy, and he was just FABULOUS! He let us know what the specials were for the evening as well as gave us time to look over the restaurant menu. The dinner menu offered items such as Eggplant Parmigiana, Smoked Salmon, seafood dishes, veal, stuffed chicken breast, risotto, etc. We ordered the Soup of the Day, which was a Cream of Porcini soup with spinach (this was well-seasoned, light, creamy, and was pretty good; my husband was such a huge fan!); the Escargot Bourguignonne (came with mushrooms and the escargot was perfectly cooked; great amount of herbs and garlic (where you can sop up with the hot crusty bread)); Sea Scallops with Kahlua and sliced pineapples (this was quite lovely; scallops were perfectly pan-seared; they were plump and juicy, and the Kahlua glaze with the combination of the sweetness of the pineapple was ridiculous!!!); and, Shrimp in a spicy curry sauce (this was like a Thai rendition of panang coconut curry; it was very light and had a subtle coconut taste; the shrimp were deveined, tail-on, and generous in size). For our entrees, my husband had the house signature dish, the Maine lobster with the beurreblanc sauce; Mr. Andy recommended the Chateaubriand, another house special (not listed on the menu nor on the specials, but had it specially prepared! Can you believe that?!); the filet was tender and cooked perfectly, and it had a nice demi glace with some mushrooms that was not overly potent; we also had the Veal Scallopini, Normand style (with fresh apples and calvados cream sauce; the veal was breaded lightly and was very soft and delicate; I liked the sliced apples and the calvados cream sauce was not too thick and not overly creamy). All the dishes came with a side of sliced squash/zucchini, a fillet of fire-roasted red pepper, lovely seasoned herb potatoes (yum!), and a roasted parsnip with cinnamon. For dessert, we had the Bananas Foster, served tableside - loved seeing the flame action and the lovely cinnamon and brown sugar coating over the sliced bananas with walnuts, drenching the generous portion of vanilla ice cream. This was soooooo delicious! We also had the opportunity to try out their creme brulee (out of the porcelin dish), so it looked like a creme brulee pudding, as well as a mini martini glass of a flaming sambuca (the blue flame was pretty! It came with 3 espresso beans floating within; that was some HARDCORE stuff!!!). Another server, Mr. Wes, had a great sense of humor and kept cracking jokes - it was quite entertaining! Mr. Saeed also came by and sat with us to talk; I was just so amazed at how warm and friendly the gentlemen were and they really appreciated you as a dining patron and in making sure that everything was lovely and awesome. Mr. Armando, another server, was always efficient in refilling our beverages and presenting/clearing away the plates. The restaurant itself was also very cute and romantic! There were Degas pieces painting on the walls, a lovely vase in the center of the dining room with beautiful flowers, ruffly curtains, and dim twinkling lights. The restaurant isn't too large, but small, intimate, and cozy. This restaurant also seems to be a popular spot with the locals and there seemed to be a lot of regulars, as Mr. Saeed welcomed them again and again. We had a great time here and I laughed a lot! The food was pretty solid (not too heavy, but surprisingly light!), and I would love to come back and try out their other dishes as well as stick to some of our favorites! I even got my hand kissed by Mr. Saeed - how FREAKING CHARMING is that?! A pleasant surprise in Vienna, check out Cafe Renaissance out if you're in the mood for a romantic French/Italian fare with just wonderful service! :D +Sea Scallops with Kahlua and sliced pineapples +Cream of Porcini soup with spinach +Escargot Bourguignonne +Maine lobster dish with the beurreblanc sauce +Chateaubriand +Veal Normand +yummy side of potatoes and a yummy side of the cinnamon-spiced parsnip! +Bananas Foster for dessert +attentive service! :D read more

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This place is aggressively old world fine dining, but in a charming, not obnoxious, sort of way. Cafe Renaissance is more or less an old world fine dining place in every sense of the term. Extremely French-inspired, the walls are painted with murals, there's a lot of gold and mirrors, and there's definitely an attempt to be a true "fine dining" place despite the relatively unassuming location. Service is very hands-on, which could be good or bad - I found it nice, as even the chef came out to discuss the meal options with us. Still, be warned, the waiter is going to be very talkative, which some may not like. Prices are rather high, even for the area - but that's what the $$$ designation is really for. What stands out here is the food - the chef knows his stuff, period. I had a bronizini in the Oscar style, which means it had asparagus, crab, and Bearnaise sauce. The bronzini itself was perfectly cooked, to the point where it was unbelievably tender, and the execution overall was worth the price. The only warning I have for this place is because of the style of restaurant it is - this is old-world, and that may have limited appeal for younger diners. The dining room was almost entirely empty when we were there - something I found rather off-putting, but probably revealing of how limited of an appeal a place like this has for younger yuppie diners like myself. This place deserves a lot more attention than it really gets, but that comes with the caveat that it's not even remotely like other restaurants in the area. read more

@Cafe Renaissance enjoying an absolutely wonderful meal and desert! This place is always such a beautiful experience! The art is breathtaking and the service is always beyond excellent. Our Maître d' was one of the stars of the show, from stellar drink and menu recommendations to actually creating the Bananas Foster & and the flaming Irish Coffee right at our table. We left stuffed and moved by the evening. The highlights being the food, the service, the chef popping out and visiting with the patrons sharing pictures of his garden, the flaming desert and Irish coffees, the beautiful art and the flowers at every table. Every table was happy read more

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Looks can be deceiving! As most of the reviews have already said, this restaurant is located in a strip mall in suburban Virginia, which normally wouldn't bode well. However, this is truly a hidden gem. Walking inside for our anniversary dinner, we were instantly greeted by an elderly gentleman in a tuxedo and the heavy fragrance of a fresh stargazer lily bouquet at the host stand. (Not always my favorite, but they worked here.) The interior of the restaurant was cozy, intimate and romantic. Sharply pressed linens and fresh flowers (non-fragrant) adorned the tables. Our dinner was solid--exactly what you would expect from a French restaurant serving the classic dishes. We split the duck confit appetizer, which was a little sweet, but tasty. The veal escalope and filet mignon as entrees were solidly prepared and generously portioned. For drinks, stick with the wine list rather than cocktails or spirits. The Kir Royale I had was fine, but the Vouvray with dinner far outshone it. My boyfriend ordered whiskey on the rocks and to his surprise, it was served in a snifter glass. However, the portion was generous enough to compensate the unusual glass choice! To my surprise, dessert was my favorite. They had a generous sampler plate that gave both of us a taste of everything. And everything tasted delicious! What really made this place stand out were the elderly gentlemen who served and managed the dining floor. They, and the rest of the staff were exceedingly charming. They chatted comfortably with us like we had been coming there for years for our anniversary. And, remarkably, it made me want to have been coming there for years. read more

Cafe Renaissance - Dessert sampler - French Near Me - Vienna, Virginia

My friend and I decided to try out more Vienna restaurants after going to same restaurants in Tysons for few years. In a nutshell, this restaurant is a hidden gem in the area! Not only the food was amazing but also the service was top notch. When we walked in, the staffs greeted us in very friendly and welcoming manner. The conversation was indeed entertaining and not too invasive. We could feel that they care about everyone who is dining in the restaurant, and they were doing best to make everyone comfortable. When they realized my friend's order was not available that day, they went above and beyond to substitute her dish. We ended up getting everything that they suggested and needless to say, that everything turned out to be amazing! I tried out the five courses meal that comes out with appetizer samplers, garden salads, fish, filet and desserts. Starting with the appetizer samplers, I was pleasantly surprised! Everything was so tasty, I cannot choose my favorite right now. Their wine selection is also fantastic. They pour very generously and have great port wine. It is not a huge restaurant, which adds to the cozy ambience. We went during the week so it was not as crowded but if you are going there on the weekends, it may be wise to make a reservation. Overall, we enjoyed every minute in the restaurant. read more

In the past I loved the restaurant and have been there many times. The food was great, people were nice to us, but then things have CHANGED. The last time I went there, they wrote the bill in a handwriting that was hard to read, and attempted to charge us more than what we should pay. We asked them and then, they gave us lots of troubles. Dishonesty is something I can't tolerant. Sad. read more

It's been ages since I've been to Cafe Renaissance but the return trip was as fabulous as my previous trips. Four of us dined on a Thursday night and the main room was nearly full, to our surprise. Service was very classy as well as friendly. We started with a salmon trio, but the salmon eggs were replaced with some other kind of caviar, which was fine but would have liked to be told. The smoked and tar tar salmon were very good, wonderful way to start the meal. For mains we ordered beef short rib, scallops, angel hair with seafood, and duck confit l'orange. Everyone loved their dish and the vegetable bouquet of asparagus, potato and sweet potato were shockingly strong additions. We were treated to what I'm guessing was a swiss roll for dessert. They just brought it out so we didn't actually see the dessert menu. Nice little comped addition to our swanky night out. Find a night to go treat yourself to the opulence of Cafe Renaissance. read more

Cafe Renaissance made me feel like we were one of those Greek gods/goddesses getting pampered while being fed grapes. Their service is definitely up there. When they bring out your entree they even ask you if you want freshly ground pepper on your dish and do it for you. Never had that option before! We made a reservation at 6 PM on a Friday evening and it turns out we didn't even have to. We were the first ones at the restaurant and it was pretty empty. Lots of people didn't start rolling in til around 7. Now let me get started with the food.. What's hott and what's.. unfortunately.. not. Hott stuff: - Filet mignon.. so tender.. so juicy.. so flavorful and yummy. - Diane's Steak.. surprisingly tender, juicy, and flavorful as well. I thought it was cool that our server actually cooked it in front of us. - Mashed potatoes; you don't get that much but it's still pretty bangin' - Fetuccini with a dash of smoked salmon and vodka cream sauce: this wasn't da HOTTEST but it was still pretty good. When they say a "dash" of salmon.. they mean a DASH of salmon. Don't expect a much salmon. It's mainly just the pasta and the vodka cream sauce. Not so hott stuff: Tiramisu.. My head perked up when our server was listing off the desserts and said tiramisu.. ah my beloved dessert. When it came out I was disappointed but not surprised to see a very meager amount of tiramisu. They seemed to have taken a cinnamon-y twist on it. I'm not a huge fan of cinnamon-y twisted tiramisu's but it was still alright. Wouldn't pay $8.50 for it next time though. But luckily that was made up for with a complimentary chocolate dessert plate which was pretty nice but then afterwards I got sick of chocolate, haha! read more

Cafe Renaissance - Complimentary chocolate dessert platter - French Near Me - Vienna, Virginia

Went here to celebrate my high school graduation. Our waiter was very friendly and gave great service. One of the best waiters I've ever had. For a party of six, he offered complimentary desserts for all of us, each with a big slice of layered cake, a little blueberry pastry, and little chocolate mousse. My brother wasn't feeling so well after drinking his cocktail too fast, and so our waiter offered us ANOTHER slice of cake free to help him out. All the food was great but it was a special surprise when they brought out all the desserts and said they would be free to celebrate my graduation. The look of the restaurant is also nice, I love looking at the pairings and it's fun seeing them serving Irish coffees and having the little fire show. Definitely recommend! read more

I really felt spoiled when I was here. The interior is breathtaking, with hand painted walls, a large bouquet of flowers in the center, and waiters that are beyond prepared to serve you. I went during lunch and was the youngest one there, with a group of elderly folk who were talking about which Congressman and senator they had met the night before. They tested the waiter's knowledge by asking them how the food was made, so on and so forth. The chef was kind enough to greet them personally and even stopped by my table to ask how I was doing. Not only was I flattered, but I was overwhelmed by the outstanding food. I had escargot for the first time and it was an awesome experience. The best portion of my meal was the poached pear (I believe that's what it was called). Phenomenal. I was even treated with a free dessert by my kind waiter. This is the absolute best hidden gem of a restaurant in Northern Virginia and it most definitely lives up to its high class name. read more

Cafe Renaissance - Ravioli and poached pear - French Near Me - Vienna, Virginia

We had reservations to celebrate our anniversary at Café Renaissance, and when the day came around, the Washington area was hit by a snow/sleet/ice event that kept most rational people off the roads. The restaurant called us that afternoon and said they had only one other reservation for two people, and they asked if we were still intending to come. We said yes, but didn't want to put an entire restaurant staff out just for us, so they said they would check with the other couple, and if they weren't coming, they would close. We arrived at the restaurant to find that they stayed open just for us. We felt bad for keeping them open, but the (apparent) owner said he felt it was important to keep his customers happy. After being seated and having our drink orders taken, the chef came out and sat at our table with us, talked about what our likes and preferences were, and gave us suggestions for the meal. The appetizers came out, and they were wonderful. The entrée was Chateaubriand and lobster with various sides. Although the food was fantastic, the real pleasure of the evening was being treated as honored guests and getting such focused attention from the chef, owner, and staff. Our experience at Café Renaissance was one of the very best we have had in the Washington area, and we will definitely return! read more

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Great for special occasions. Fine dining with a French influence. The service is top notch and the food never disappoints. The only drawback I can think of is that the menu hasn't changed in about ten years. But that doesn't stop us from celebrating holidays, anniversaries, and sometimes just plain old weekends here. read more

Always a steady go to, cozy, fine french cuisine. Dont know much about the menu as always have to get the same things, eacargot, filet with pepper sauce, great dish read more

Came here with a friend. The service and food was fantastic. The staff does care about their patrons. Will come again.

This place was a definite surprise! Its located in a shopping center so I thought what are we getting into. How good could the food be at a location like this. Dont get me wrong its not that awful but...I digress. Dont judge a book is all I can say. Upon entering, we thought it was a super cute and quaint place. Has a very authentic French feel. We didnt have reservations (it was a Monday night - didn't feel we would've needed one and we were right). As we were seated, we were handed the wine and dinner menus. After some deliberation, we had the following: Bottle of Beaujolais Gamay (French Red) - couldnt finish the whole thing so took some home. Very good! Asparagus Soup, 3-Cheese Onion Soup, Escargot, Halibut with Scallops and the lamb Shank. EVERYTHING was delicious - it did not disappoint one bit! Additionally our server M (forgot his name ‍) was just amazing between his hilarious jokes and stories, he was also a treat! He also treated us to a glass of the best port wine (Rubys Porto) I'd ever had. I ended up having 2 cause it was that good!! Cannot wait to visit this place again! read more

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Café Renaissance has been one of our top dining choices for about 25 years. We had another enjoyable evening last night and I realized I'm overdue in updating my review of Café Renaissance. If you're expecting the typical snooty French restaurant, you won't find it here. Everyone, from the owner greeting us at the door to our waiter, the busboy, and the chef who joined us for dinner create that hard-to-find neighborhood café vibe -- that just happens to serve fantastic food. The atmosphere is relaxed with an extensive and reasonably-priced wine list, a select globe-spanning menu where you can close your eyes and select your dinner -- and be impressed with whatever you choose. Service is professional and friendly -- with a adept touch so that romantic moments aren't disturbed. Just a wonderful restaurant -- great for romantic dinners, engagement parties, business meals, and any other event where you want that rare integration of wonderful food, great service, and a friendly room of fellow diners. read more

Came here for my 24th birthday and I'm glad I did! Pros: * We made reservation on Open Table so they use Open Table! * Got their 15 minutes early and they let us choose where we wanted to seat. We chose by the window and behind where the door opened so cold air wouldn't blow on us. * The interior was decorated with paintings and French/Italian themed. * The service was AMAZING. They gave me a birthday surprise made of lemon cake, chocolate cake, raspberry, blueberry, and macaroon. They also sang happy birthday to me. Awesome! * We were getting ready to leave, and I think the owner/manager came by and said "Wait! Don't leave so fast. I have something for you" he went back and came back with a box of another piece of chocolate cake and lemon cake, since I guess he saw us liking it very much. * The service was so amazing wonderful. I think if I could pay for their service, I would. * The food was good! I ordered the meat (forgot what it was called, sorry). And it was huge. Wow. I couldn't finish it all. Cons * Bad location. Not sure about being the most romantic place in NOVA...but once you get past the parking lot and mini strip mall it's in...it gets better. * The guy couldn't find our reservation, guess he was new since the manager/owner came and showed him how to look it up. Kinda got scary there... Best food service in NOVA. read more

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We arrived around 12 PM for Easter Lunch. Our waiter arrived in clothes caked in food stains from what looked like his previous 4 or 5 shifts (his food runner's attire was the same.) He handed us the menu...it was a 2-page screen print from their Facebook page stapled together. (I asked him if the ran out is menus, he laughed and said no). We ordered apps and main courses. And a glass of wine. Bread came out with a bowl of butter that looked like a stick that had been hastily chopped and thrown out to us. Apps came out. Lobster Ravioli cold and pasty on a cold plate. Porcini Soup that was almost as good Campbell's Cream of Mushroom. Between the food and the managers and chef sitting and chatting with the table next to us, we didnt feel it was going to get better. Wine came out in a glass pre-adorned with lipstick. (It wasn't my dad's color, so we sent it back) Entees came out. Bland. Luke warm. Absolutely forgettable. Vegetables and fish cooked to a mush texture. Some bizarre Crust on the halibut. An absolute culinary embarrassment. read more

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Having lived in NOVA over 30 years I have been to most all of restaurants. To me Cafe Renaissance is not just the best restaurant the Vienna/Fairfax (city) area; it is one of the all-around truly great ones in NOVA. Very reasonably priced, each thing is hand prepared from scratch. It is one of those rare establishments one does not go to eat, but they go to dine. Saeed who is the owner and Maitre D always provides a fine dining experience. If you are visiting the area Cafe Renaissance is as an iconic restaurant to take in as Galatoires is in New Orleans. It is still very unstuffy and as perfect for just dining out as it is a special occasion. My wife and I come here for both. Today was a special occasion though. It was our 25th. wedding anniversary. We could have gone anywhere, but we chose Cafe Renaissance. Need I write more? Is a rhetorical question. Thanks Saeed as always for another perfect dining experience that is now a fond memory. read more

Terrible experience. Ruined my date. Sat at the table and waited for nearly 30 minutes for the waiter to come in and try to be funny about it. Ordered some appetizers to start with before entrees and the waiter seemed upset that we didn't decide to get entrees right from the start and he didn't even ask about the drinks. I was trying to talk to him to get a bottle of wine and he rudely left the table (literally the 2 tables next to us saw that and it was embarrassing to my date) then the other guy brought the food and it was barely average at best and didn't check on us not once! I had to leave the restaurant at take my date somewhere else. Terrible experience and will never come back nor recommend to anyone. read more

We had dinner here with friends. This place has been open since 1993. The service is incredible and the food was great. We highly recommend. The owner takes such pride in what he has to offer and he should. This restaurant far exceeded our expectations as we hadn't been here in a long time. We will certainly will come back. read more

Outstanding in every way - Food taste/presentation/quality - Service - Ambiance. We live in Maryland and recently dined at the Cafe Renaissance to meet with friends from Virginia who recommended the restaurant. The dinner, wine and cocktails were excellent. We often dine out (at least before COVID) at the top restaurants in DC and suburbs. We are frequent dinners at Mortons, Capital Grill and local Potomac/Rockville restaurants so are bar for good food and service is high and the Cafe Renaissance was over the top of the bar. My wife had filet mignon which was prepared perfectly cooked to her desired medium temperature. She loved the sauce. We were presently surprised that the steak was 8 oz and not the standard 6 oz at Mortons (which is also very good). She loved the onion soup appetizer. I had the duck appetizer and lamb chops. Hugh portion (5 perfectly prepared chops) with an outstanding array of vegetables accompanying the entree. Most importantly, great flavor for all items. The food and drink prices at the Cafe are very reasonable and less than other restaurants in my area - an additional plus. Having dined in France and throughout Europe at Michelin star restaurants, I think Cafe Renaissance is as good or better. Although we live in Maryland, we we return to the Cafe for future meals. It is easier for us to drive to Vienna VA than downtown DC and, based upon our meal at the Cafe, we will frequently make the trip. read more

I took my daughter here for her 16th birthday luncheon because they have rack of lamb during lunch. And I am glad we did. The lamb chops were delicious and so was everything else we ordered. The owner found out it was her birthday and he presented us with the best limoncello cake I have ever tasted. Be sure to ask for it next time you go there. I certainly will be back! Kudos to Chef Ocean who made our delicious meal that day and came out to say hello and posed for pictures. read more

Cafe Renaissance - Lamb chops for lunch at Cafe Renaissance - French Near Me - Vienna, Virginia

Soon as you walk in, this place smells like a sewer. The place is dark and musty and the so called French food is more Turkish than French thanks to the Turkish chef and overly salted and too much garlic which is NOT classic French Also if you are unfortunate enough to get a visit from the fish smelling and dirty uniformed chef then it will be a guarantee to ruin your night. Oh I forgot! the hand written receipt if you can even read it is wrong and YOU WILL BE OVERCHARGED it has happened to me twice and to my friend 3 out of six times. We gave it another chance and never again. Once shame on you, twice shame on me. Caveat emptor! read more

I have been here twice now, and it was absolutely stunning both times. This is the best restaurant I've been to in the area. I first went on my birthday because I saw that they had paintings by Degas inside the restaurant, and Degas' "The Star" is very special to me, so I was absolutely delighted to be sat directly across from it so I could look at it during the meal. Each time we were given a dessert sampler on the house, and everything I've tasted from here has been magical. The avocado stuffed with crabmeat tastes like jumping into a sparkling pool on the most pleasant day in summer, and the mustard champagne sauce on the salmon feels like a warm, spicy board game night in a large library. I'll definitely be back. read more

I love the ambiance of this really great French restaurant with the music and how it was decorated. The maitre d was was gracious and very nice. The drink specials we're above and beyond, very much noting. The food there is phenomenal. I had the filet mignon and lobster tail. Both were exquisite. He prepared it right in front my date and I. We'll definitely come here again!! read more

The wait staff was excellent, so was the wine and appetizers-Beet salad and escargot were excellent. Unfortunately the angel hair pasta was very lumpy and seafood was over cooked. The vegetables with white fish were over cooked too. The desert was great especially the creme brûlée. read more