You could call this rustic and traditional but I call it old and musty. A Welcome introduction from the host but an unfriendly waiter ruins this dinning experience. The chef is skilled but this restaurant needs a revamp drastically. The average customers besides my gf and myself was 60+. The specials were poorly written by an elementary school child and shoved into the menu on a hand ripped piece of paper. Props to the classically trained chef but the front end disappoints unless your 60+. read more

Haven't been here in many years and we were looking forward to a good meal. I have to say while the service was very warm and friendly, the food was disappointing. The (chicken) Coq Au Vin was very dry and overcooked. The mushroom brown gravy was average. The pasta dish had way too much cream in it. read more

5 stars...here's why... Top notch gourmet food that is cooked homestyle (most likely better than your grandmas cooking) for less than average price. I mean were can you get a meal, salad, and side in Mclean for less than $20??? All entrees include a Caesar salad which is the best Ive ever had. Caesar dressing is to die for The servers are career waiters but with age comes experience so the service is always first class and highly knowledgable. I always bring friends to dinner here to enjoy a really nice meal and conversation and all the reviews they have given me are always very positive. If you want a real European meal this is the place. read more

Big fan of this adorable neighborhood spot that we stumbled across. Reasonable prices. Adorable outdoor seating. Want to try again soon.

As a French person, I've been going to this place off and on for many years. Bread is nice and toasted, and goes great with the shelled escargot and butter sauce. It's definitely one of the better dishes. Their Boutari wine is pretty good too. The main dishes seem so-so, which is why I'm giving this place only 3 stars. Still, when I'm in the mood for the ambiance of a french country restaurant, this is where I tend to go. Frankly, this small restaurant kinda grows on you. read more

I come out to McLean from Chantilly every so often to go to Cafe Tatti. It's a quaint little family run restaurant who caters to more of the older crowed but also nice if you'd like to try something new. The service has always been great. Your water glass is always full and they spend no time catering to your table. They write down their specials daily which I've always found to be fresh and tasty! What I really like is that their food has that 'homemade' taste to it that you really can't find in any chain restaurants. I'd recommend their veal, any seafood dish, and their Caesar salad. They definitely don't pinch you on the salad and it's delicious! read more

Went with our best friends recently on a Saturday evening. We made reservations which is wise as it is not a large restaurant. It is a delightful and well run French/Mediterranean cafe. The appetizers were wonderful (best escargots we've had in many years). All of the dinners were extremely fresh & delicious. The prices were well within reason and if you want to bring your own wine, there is a reasonable corkage fee (although the wine list prices were quite reasonable as well). The service was superb and we loved the old world ambiance. We will definitely be returning again. read more

We had dinner here on New Years Eve and the place was packed, even at 6 PM. The service was excellent, the food was delicious. I had the filet mignon and it was cooked to perfection. Others at our table had the duck ala orange and said it was great. I have two complaints, one is there is no choice of sides. They have boiled and seasoned potatoes and asparagus. Good mind you but I like a choice. The second is that the menu was very limited on this occasion, maybe that was to be expected. But I was disappointed because I had savored over their on-line menu But there was no shrimp, and only one steak item. I will go again because it was so good. read more

What a quaint little place with so much history, culture from the old country and true European home cooking. Our server was old enough to be my grandfather, and so sincere and inviting. The food reminded me of my child hood and was superb. But I also think that it does not appeal to many, but rather a select group of individuals who may have grown up in Europe or are of an older generation. If you want to step out from the so average, everyday cuisines that we encounter everywhere and try some really true European, old school cooking, then this place is for you. Visit with an open mind, and you may just surprise yourself! read more

Not my kind of restaurant, but it was packed. I think maybe I ordered the wrong thing (and the person I ate with also must have too). The duck is covered with a thick brown sauce and wasn't what I was expecting at a French restaurant. Seemed more like a Chinese brown sweet and sour sauce on a baked or roasted duck. It was not at all what I was expecting. The coq au vin was also in a thick brown, non-wine tasting salty sauce. Not bad, but again, not what I was expecting. read more

This a small restaurant serving Pan-European dishes. I tried chicken francaise and started off with a very tasty house salad made with romaine lettuce in a dressing that tasted like a Cesar salad dressing. Very good. My entree was good, however, I was surprised that the chicken was topped by finely minced red onion. Never had chicken francaise with this and it was a little different that what I expect of the dish. On the side was pieces of potato and nice cooked carrot. Food was good. Service was good. There was a smell in the place that I could not place...at first I thought it was gas...and then I realized that there are kerosene lamps on all the tables so I was smelling fuel. I think they could do without these lamps because the place was well lite and the smell got to me alittle unpleasant. The crowd is on the older side that seems to frequent this restaurant. The staff was speaking Greek amongst themselves. Service was quick. read more

Cafe Tatti - the outside of a restaurant - French Near Me - McLean, Virginia

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My family and I have been eating here for close to 30 years. The menu has changed little over those years, and for good reason. The cuisine is excellent comfort food. The waiters have been mostly the same over the years, and it is so nice to return just to see their smiling faces. I also love how cozy the space is, with maybe a dozen tables, and the walls adorned with beautiful plates. Personally, this place has very fond memories for me. It's not Auberge, and it doesn't aim to be. I can tell you that over the years, this restaurant has acquired many regulars, and I have come to recognize many faces sitting at their usual table. In fact, it's been too long since my last meal. I must go back! Santé! read more

Ambiance. A neighborhood gem. We arrived at 6 pm. Only a few of the 25+/- tables were taken. Seated in a cozy spot by the front window, we were surrounded by neat French collectibles and beautiful pottery platters. By the time we left, around 7:15, the cafe was full of regulars, who knew exactly what they wanted. Food. Started with a warm, right-out-of-the-oven baguette, which we slathered with generous amounts of real butter. A cold, tasty Caesar salad preceded our entree. We each had hot veal picatta on a bed of homemade noodles. For dessert we split a piece of homemade lemon meringue pie Fabulous value $55 for 2 -- before tip. Service. Prompt, professional service by seasoned waiters/owners who take obvious, well-deserved pride in their offerings to regulars. They welcome the regulars like family, remembering their drink and food preferences. Plan to try it for lunch. Will return for dinner soon. read more

Although only two check ins we have come here off and on for years. We tend to forget it is here because it is tucked away inside the building pass through but for sure is has always been consistent and never a bad meal. I am a sucker for garlic and love getting escargot. The veal portion was ample and enough for two. read more

I just had lunch at Cafe Tatti and was reminded of how great (and consistently great) their food is. We started with delicious freshly backed baguette and Ceaser salad that comes with every entree. For my entree, I had the Toast Simon-Simon. An open-faced ham and cheese sandwich smothered in a mushroom cream sauce so fabulous for a moment I seriously thought I had died and gone to heaven. My friend had the quiche Lorraine that had a crust so perfect, it was hard to believe we were not in France. The decor shows its 30+ years and was probably always a bit kitschy, but if you love French country cooking and amazing service, this little hole-in-the-wall is for you. read more

French influenced European cuisine, comfortable small dining space, average and old decor. My escargot appetizer is very good w/ lots of garlic and escargot is BIG! Calf liver is not bad with a bit too much sour to balance liver taste, I think Italian style calf liver tastes better. Wine list is limited, service is average good. I'll still recommend this for a causal eating. read more

Cafe Tatti - Calf Liver. - French Near Me - McLean, Virginia

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Lovely local small dining experience. We were a party of 4 and ate, drank and talked for hours with a very support wait staff. The quiet setting is ideal to eat and chat. The house wine is delightful. The veal is excellent, the salads nice and cold and crisp. The baked chicken marvelous. The bread- warm, plentiful and fresh- is perfect compliment to many dishes. A Monday night reservation allowed us to linger and chat over a close to 3 hour seating. ( if customers had been waiting, we would have moved on!) It had been 25 years since I was here and it is still the wonderful experience of old! Well Done! read more

Cozy french restaurant/cafe. Service is great and very friendly. The lamb dishes and scallops were great. Alot of regulars come here, and don't be surprised if the patrons at the table next to you offer recommendations. Also a good place for taking a date if you want a nice quiet dinner, good food, and good service. http://www.cafetatti.com/ read more

Place is cozy and more European. Food is fresh and decent portions. Price is fair. The decorations is lovely but the lighting is very depressing and is not welcoming. I like their duckling dinner. They do listen when you are placing your order. The complementary drink is very kind. I do recommend it. read more

Birthday luncheon. Quiche tasted like it had been microwaved, Caesar was fabulous. Bread just from the oven, warm and inviting. Staff attentive. So cozy and intimate read more

Cafe Tatti is so warm, welcoming and tasty! If you are looking for a place with a European flare to it, this is it! The owner and the staff will make sure your experience is Grade A. Ask Yiannis, the funny Greek owner, about his past restaurant experiences in NYC, you will hear great stories! I highly recommend the specials! Enjoy it! read more

So wonderful! Was here on a recent visit to the area. The food was amazing. Could not get enough of the fresh bread. Staff was super attentive. Had a great time and was so happy to have ate here! read more

I am French and ashamed after my experience at this "restaurant". Even desserts aren't home made, but industrial. Everything is fake.

It doesn't get much better. My wife is french and we've eaten MANY places. Most French places "americanize' the food....and frankly, it makes it really not french. This is one of our favorite authentic french restaurants. Yay,Cafe Tati! Thanks! read more

A long time favorite of locals and regular visitors to the area, Cafe Tatti is a small treasure. The decor is...well...visually entertaining. Their renowned lamb dishes are all that they are espoused to be. This is a very small, family eatery with seating for maybe 40, so call ahead for reservations. read more

Really more of a 2.5 star experience, but I would be really hard pressed to give this three stars. We had dinner here recently on our standard date night - hubby ordered the pork schnitzel and I started out with the shad (turned out to be entirely roe, no fish - more on this to follow) and ended up having the shrimp cooked in a tomato garlic sauce. We've been passing by this restaurant forever and have always been meaning to try it, so I was quite pleased when hubby announced that this was our date night selection. I had always imagined that it was a stuffier, more formal restaurant. I was pleased to see when we walked in that it was not as formal as I expected and there were people dressed in everything from t-shirts to more formal attire. We definitely brought down the average age of the place by at least half, and we're no spring chickens. So we started by ordering a glass of chardonnay and pinot noir respectively. My better half ordered french onion soup, I had lentil soup. Lentil soup was blah, I felt like it needed to be salted, didn't have much flavor, but the lentils were perfectly cooked. The french onion soup was declared quite good. I had ordered what I thought was shad + roe (exactly as it appears on the menu). That to me indicates that there will be fish served with the roe. That, there was not. That said, the server who otherwise hadn't been so prompt, did quickly take it away after I had a bite and really declared it inedible (a first for me). The shrimp I ended up having were good, could have used a little less lemon and a little more garlic, but good nonetheless. Hubby's pork schnitzel looked quite good - was cooked in a rustic style with a fried egg on top. All entrees come with a Cesar salad to start. Creme caramel dessert was just ok .. really good consistency, but the flavor just wasn't there. We discussed whether or not this would be on our return visit list, and while it's not something we'll avoid, it would probably have to stay in the rotation multiple years to be worked back in. read more

Wonderful, cozy, charming service and delicious food made from quality ingredients. Rare to find something so individual and unique in a day and age of corporate sameness. read more

Attended a "go away" lunch for some departing coworkers here. The dining room is quaint, if a little tired. The beer selection was decent. I ordered the pork schnitzel, which was a special of the day. It tasted strongly of fish, sort of like it was cooked in the same pan. Not a problem, per se, but it didn't improve the dish. read more

My wife and I have been going to this restaurant for several years now and have introduced several friends to it. While the food is not haute cuisine, it is far better than what you find in a typical American restaurant and on par with a decent neighborhood restaurant in France. The atmosphere is cozy and as "authentic" as you are likely to get around here. What I appreciate most are the professional waiters who do not tell you their name and inform you that they will be your "server." They also do not make the mandatory perfunctory 5 min check back at your table ("Howz everything, Guys?") and they do not dump the bill off at your table as soon as they can ("I'll take it whenever you're ready, Guys."). Anyone who has lived in Europe and longs for a modest but pleasurable European dining experience will like this place. read more

First time. Kept hearing how great it was. Got there at 6 on Friday and was seated immediately. By 7 the line was out the door. Bread was was fantastic. Warm and crusty. Caesar salad for all. Real home made Caesar dressing, but I despise anchovies, and wasn't given an option. So couldn't eat the salad. Ordered crab stuffed flounder. Smelled and tasted fishy. Like it was frozen way too long. Too bad as I was told the fish was fantastic. Everyone got candied carrots. Depending on taste, you would love them for leave them. I left them. Yuckq Others at our table had the town and Country fillet and loved it. Same for the lamb shank. Was told the atlantic salmon was over cooked and dry. Service was fantastic. My water glass never got below 70% full. Be warned, place is tiny. Its Like a maze going into back to the bathroom read more

I Have not had one bad dish at this restaurant. The Ceasar salad is the best i've ever had. If you are a fan of italian dishes, you can not go wrong the the Chicken Parmagiana. To this day, I have not been able to find another Chicken Parmagiana that comes close to this one. The service is amazing. Perfect place for dates. read more

There's no way to run a restaurant since 1981 and pull in so many regulars without being great at what you do. The food here is consistently good and reasonably priced. This is a small place, but it is cozy and comfortable. The staff is so sweet and kind and friendly - they are probably my favorite reason to go. Cafe Tatti doesn't have a WOW factor, but you certainly won't be disappointed here. read more

Bread should always be freshly baked, especially in a French Restaurant. The bread here was dry, and it was served with butter that had been sliced off of a larger stick- an odd presentation. After the bread came a Caesar salad. The dressing tasted home made (I could tell because they were heavy-handed with the anchovy paste, but I did like it), but the lettuce was absolutely slathered with dressing, and the croutons weren't made in house. Finally, I had the chicken Marsala. The chicken was cooked well and was well seasoned, but the sauce broke and my plate was covered with oil. I did like that I could tell that the sauce was made with fresh mushrooms. Also, the vegetables on the side were simple, but good. My Cabernet was also good. All in all, nothing was great but everything was ok. read more

Old school restaurant with good food, good service but dated decor. Was very reasonable on price. read more

I stopped in for lunch after passing this place by for the last ten years. I'll now skip the heavy, overpriced food at McKeevers in favor of Cafe Tatti. It's quaint, with a slightly tired decor. Career waiters pleasantly serve you and offer the daily specials. The food was fresh, properly prepared and tasty. For twenty dollars I enjoyed a chop sirloin steak with mushroom sauce which included roasted potatoes and a caesar salad. I also opted for a very light and flavor lentil soup as a starter. Skip the over priced burgers in McLean and give Cafe Tatti a shot. I'm glad I gave this place a try. read more

Five Star when I compare the local restaurants many favorable but Tatti has that ring that puts it above the rest for its popularity and flavor. read more

Solid and dependable. Food is good and consistent. Nothing earth shattering but it's a favorite for my elderly father for lunch. We always enjoy our meal there. read more

I have been going here with my wife since I moved to McLean seven years ago. We have had both lunch and dinner and can recommend this restaurant for anyone wanting a good tasting, reasonably priced meal. They include a small Caesar salad with all entrees and the prices are very reasonable. I particularly like their flounder dish and beef medallions. My wife enjoys any fish dish on the menu. They also have daily specials that include appetizers and entrees. The professional waiters know when you are a patron and will tell you they appreciate it. Their service is not 5 star but I would give it a 4. A much better place than most all in its price range. read more

We've been coming here for many years. It's an ideal local restaurant: friendly staff, consistently good food and reasonable prices. The noise level is subdued, even on busy weekends read more

My husband and I have been eating here fro 12 years. They advertise a European cuisine and the atmosphere feels like a small European café. The food is terrific and the wait staff is always attentive. Whether I have taken my parents (one of their favorite spots) or my children, everyone enjoys their meal. The vegetables are always delicious and the bread--irresistable! read more