Tired travelers here. Last week San Diego, this week DC. Pretty much looking for nice comfort food and we got it. Nice grilled shrimp appetizer with naan bread and spicy cilantro sauce (highly recommend). GIANT burger with cheddar, bacon and fries (extra points for the tiny pickle on top), husband had fish and chips. All delicious. Fast service, very kind wait staff. Definitely exceeded our expectations! As for ambiance? Place was small but comfortable. read more

Cardinal Restaurant and Lounge - New American Near Me - Herndon, Virginia

This restaurant is in the DoubleTree by Hilton Washington Dulles Airport Hotel. I picked this hotel because of the free airport shuttle and on-site restaurant. You can order online for pickup or room delivery. My burger and fries were delicious! The portion was more than enough for me to eat. The food was ready earlier than the app promised and they called my room to tell me. I made a quick run down to pick it up and the restaurant area ambiance was nice. There is a bar area and plenty of tables. If I should be in the area again, I would definitely pick this hotel and eat here again. read more

Had a lunch here and was really surprised at how quiet and peaceful. Easy to talk. Service was outstanding. Great place for a meeting. The food was ok- I got the turkey sandwich. The fries could have used another minute in the fryer. Next time I'll try the burger. read more

Cardinal Restaurant and Lounge - the bar area - New American Near Me - Herndon, Virginia

This is the restaurant inside the Hilton and as far as hotel restaurants, this one is pretty good. The service was friendly and fast. They have a nice full bar, and TVs playing sports which I appreciated. They were also very open to me doing some minor substitutions in my salad without the eye roll that you get sometimes. Thank you. read more

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This is the cozy bar/restaurant at the Dulles Hilton. Good service and friendly. The food was hot and tasty. Just the right portions. Perfect before retiring for the night. read more

The Cardinal Lounge was popping for a Wednesday night. Super loud and so many folks having a good time. I went the next day for a Cobb salad and it was so-so. Nothing to write home about. The atmosphere is nice and the employees are great but I think it's a little expensive considering the quality of food. read more

Cardinal Restaurant and Lounge - Cobb Salad - New American Near Me - Herndon, Virginia

I ordered the fried pickles, Caesar salad, and Maryland crab Soup the first night. It ended up being a lot more food than I imagined, which isn't a bad thing. The pickles were great and served with a southwest sauce. The crab soup was a GIANT bowl. And the Caesar salad was very fresh. Fast service. The price is a little high, but what isn't in Virginia? The second time I ordered a burger w/ avocado added and truffle fries (you can upgrade for $2). Pretty good. Still $23 for that. read more

Cardinal Restaurant and Lounge - Burger and truffle fries - New American Near Me - Herndon, Virginia

On a flight to Portugal, I had a layover in D.C. Unfortunately, my flight out of Houston was delayed to the point I missed my connection. As a result, United paid for a night at the Hilton close to the airport. The Cardinal Lounge is the bar/restaurant located inside of this Hilton. I arrived at the hotel pretty late but was happy to see that the bar was still open and was still serving food. After being seated, they had a couple of TVs showing college football which was great. I wanted the TV closest to the table changed to another game but they couldn't figure it out. Come on y'all, it's not rocket science! I ended up ordering the crab cake sandwich with sweet potato fries. Since DC is close to Maryland, I couldn't pass on the opportunity of going with a crab dish. Service wasn't the greatest but the food delivered. It was a generous portion and hit the spot after a long and frustrating day. United also gave me a $20 food voucher which I was able to use as a discount for the meal. read more

We have our yearly meeting here. We always enjoy this Hilton and eat dinner at the Cardinal Lounge. Drinks are quick. The food is outstanding. I must recommend the Cajun ribeye. It will not disappoint. read more

Food: hummus had no spices, just mashed up garbanzo beans Service (by bartender): just the minimum -- no smile, no "can I get you anything else," no "how are you doing?" Ambiance: Cold, stark, and we were the first patrons at dinner time. When we left a few tables had arrived. read more

Stay at the Hilton with work several times a month, where this restaurant is located. It is the only restaurant in the vicinity. Always have optimism that my next time here will be better service. It never is. The food is good. The service lacks incredibly. Tonight, the bartender serving 3 guests, directed me to a server for a to go order, to which the server told me to go to the bar for a to go order. I was then told to wait by the same server as they are quite busy with not even half full restaurant. The servers Gladys and Krish were overwhelmed by an additional request, instead of another table. Not a well oiled machine for #1, a simple menu, #2 a restaurant with not even 25 tables. read more

Awful service! Food was typical diner food... the service was so bad that I almost left. We waited 25 min before we finally got up and asked for waters and a menu. Then it took another 10 min to get that. read more

Bartender kept rushing me to order even though the restaurant was dead and I was the only one at the bar. Extremely limited menu. Cheap looking food. Cheap wines that cost 10.99 at total wine and more they charge 12 per glass and 45 per bottle. I Uber eats the same wine bottle for a total of 15.99. Saved a fortune! I walked out of this place and ordered food in. read more

Service was great. Food was expensive for the quality given. Ambiance was definitely very chill with TVs playing sports on all sides.

The dishes were fair, nothing to make it worthy to go out of your way! The cooking could do more improvement! Large crowds won't get the best of service as usual (billing errors, miss-orders and delayed dishes while everyone already ate and that 1 guy is still waiting for his dish). The lamb burgher is unique and their feta cheese was great! their oily dishes are good and crisp! But it doesn't lock me in to come back again yet! read more

Cardinal Restaurant and Lounge - New American Near Me - Herndon, Virginia

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We checked in to this hotel about 945 after a long day and to our surprise the restaurant was open until 11, so we hurried and got an order in before they closed. The server was nice and I ordered the club sandwich with fries. It was excellent! Thanks read more

Cardinal Restaurant and Lounge - Club sandwich with fries and a side of honey mustard. Excellent! - New American Near Me - Herndon, Virginia

Classy Classy bartender Classy menu: Not the usual boring bar menu : Crab cakes,oysters, risotto etc small bites. I wasn't hungry and had wings, Although I was tempted by oysters. Wings (8) A- due to slight dryness. Note: after watching my hard liquor wife have a hard time getting tipsy on hard alcohol lemon drop drinks I make for her at home. I am VERY familiar with how many shots it takes her to get there. " 1.75" Most restaurants and bars seem to need 3 drinks to get my wife there. The bartender used an old fashioned jigger " sure looked like mine at home" And the added a quick pour. I'f you are a hard liquor or mixed drink guy or gal, I watched this classy , well spoken bartender definitely pour the alcohol allotment that I'd expect in a drink. Wish I was hungry. It all looked Good. Many business class patrons. Several sports tv's I was the grunge , shorts and t shirt. Still felt welcome. Nice bar. I'll show up hungry the next time. read more

Surprisingly good for hotel restaurant food. I had the turkey club which used high quality deli meats, real cheddar cheese (as opposed to lame American cheese) and quality bread. The bacon was crispy (not just some precooked junk) and just the right amount of mayo. The tomatoes were also ripe and flavorful. The presentation was impressive and even the side salad was above average. The ambience was peaceful, service friendly, and I had a nice view of a lily pad covered pond from my table. It wasn't the most amazing club I've ever eaten but above average and efficient. read more

Cardinal Restaurant and Lounge - Club sandwich - New American Near Me - Herndon, Virginia

I'm at the Hilton Dulles hotel roughly once a year for events, and at times when meals aren't provided (apart from breakfast), I'll often be in here. I enjoy their cocktails here. If I recall, they have (or had) a bee farm upstairs and they harvest(ed) their own honey, so I try to get cocktails with honey as an ingredient. The menu is somewhat limited but interesting, and food comes out quickly. There's plenty of tables in the back, and also more seats at the bar and comfortable plush chairs up front. The staff who work here are really nice. read more

I can't believe they are still blaming Covid on their on nonexistent menu and minimal staffing. Get with the rest of the world and open your kitchen. I will not be staying at this Hilton again. read more

The service was outstanding! Sam was super friendly making the ambience special. We had great conversations and enjoyed the evening. I would recommending stopping by just to have great company! read more

The cardinal lounge is located inside of the Hilton airport hotel. When you travel and stay in as many hotels as I do food always seems to be hitt or miss. The cardinal lounge was pretty solid I don't have any complaints. During breakfast hours this same location is called something totally different it's called oak breakfast. There was always a manager available to Seat us and one night I brought a party of eight people in and they may be accommodation to give us our own private area. When you first walk in to the left-hand side there will be a full bar. The cardinal has a very broad drink selection. Scotch vodka and rum. On the right-hand side there are couches and tables where you can sit and socialize. In the back of the cardinal lounge there are all tables with candles lit on each table. I believe I can here total of five times. The breakfast was pretty good I don't have any complaints. One morning I had eggs Benedict and it was OK the next morning I had the breakfast buffet and it was pretty good I wish the bacon was more crispy though. The dinners were good also but I would recommend sticking to the appetizers or the small bites. The tomato and basil soup was very good here. The calamari was also. One night I did have the fish tacos and they were pretty good. I would not order the fish tacos again though. The mini cheeseburgers were on point and it seemed that a lot of people were getting them as their meal. One of the individuals that I was with got the salmon three nights in a row. Overall the cardinal lounge is a good solid place especially for in a hotel but just like every other hotel that I go to if you spend a week eating here you know everything on the menu and you get tired of the food. I do recommend sticking with the appetizers or the small bites if you eat here. PROS: - good bar area read more

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This hotel bar is located at the Hilton Dulles. We stopped in just prior to attending a fundraising event. The bartender was great, he provided us with menus and drink specials. We had a few drinks and a couple of snacks. All the food was freshly made. There was a full menu available. This lounge reminded me of a place where everyone knows your name. read more

Cardinal Restaurant and Lounge - New American Near Me - Herndon, Virginia

I ordered the mushroom burger, fries, a coke, and chocolate cake. The burger was 2 patties that were cooked way past well done and very dry. The fries were soggy. The chocolate cake was mostly frosting. When I went to the bar to pick up my order the person whom I guess was a waiter was about as personable as a zombie. After I gave him my room number he disappeared into the back returned with a bag containing the meal and then just walked away. Never said a word. I checked my bag before leaving and the coke I had ordered was missing. The only person left at the counter was the bartender. I let him know I was missing the drink with my meal and I thought I mistakenly insulted his ancestors. He scowled at me, and in a huff said if you are missing a coke then we will just have to get you one. He stormed into the back and returned with a can of coke. I thanked him and he ignored me. Don't waste your money. Order out or go out and get food. read more

Ate here last night. The server was so nice and the alcohols was good but I couldn't say the same about the food. I ordered the Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio which is a great wine. The other people I was dining with ordered some beers, a local IPA and a Sierra Nevada. Nice glasses and they definitely give you a good sized pour. For food, we ordered the crab cakes, guacamole and chips, and chicken quesadilla. I was disappointed with all 3 option. I feel like any establishment should tell you the crab is canned. It wasn't that good, the oil they seared them in was burnt and the black bean and corn succotash was sooo bland and disappointing. Might as well have given me a can and corn and black beans with some red onion. The chips for the guacamole were so stale with a few fresh ones in there and the guac was basically avocado mash. Lastly, the chicken quesadilla had the same black bean corn mixture. The salsa was grocery store shelf stable quality, and the cheese tasted like a Monterey flavored American cheese. I expected more but it could have been an off night. The one big big plus are the bar snacks. They were sooooo delicious read more

We stayed at the Hilton that houses this lounge / restaurant for just over two weeks and visited it almost 50% of the stay to visit either the bar or the dining room. Service is very friendly and top notch. They never let your glasses go empty and there's never a wait for a table. Cardinal occupies the evening hours while the Old Ox Grille (separate review - their buffet is best avoided) is open for the breakfast / lunch slot. The dark paneled walls and low lighting provide an intimate atmosphere for you to enjoy your meal, snack and / or drink. Although you can hide a lot in such lighting, everything appears clean to the standard you'd expect from a Hilton hotel. Prices are on the high side but not steakhouse high. I love their housemade chips! Beware that they have a $9 appetizer with a great garlic sauce and a $4 side of chips. I ordered the appetizer twice in an evening for an $18 snack total when I meant to order the side. Drinks are restaurant pricey, around $7 for a non-call drinks, $9 for a glass of red wine and probably a lot more for a call drink. If you have access to the executive lounge on the top floor, you're better off getting your refreshment there. One of my co-workers claimed the fish tacos are great. I really liked the Portobello Mushroom sandwich served open faced on flatbread with fresh slices of avocado! It was a treat to stay at a hotel where eating on site wasn't considered a sacrifice of price and quality. read more

Cardinal Restaurant and Lounge - Veggie Wrap with housemade chips - yum! - New American Near Me - Herndon, Virginia

A good option for dinner inside the Washington Dulles Hilton (really the only choice for guests who don't have a car). Good vegetarian and gluten-free labeling. I recommend the grilled vegetable wrap for vegetarians (the caramelized onions make it). There are lots of choices for vegans (rare in hotel restaurants), including a calm but mildly flavorful wild mushroom ravioli. Diners are brought a couple of rolls and honey butter and peppery olive oil for dipping as they are waiting for their meals. Service is effective and food preparation is reasonably fast. The room is somewhat louder (though not really loud) in the bar portion toward the front so ask for a back table for quiet or conversation. read more

Stopped in for a quick bite. Service was great. Ordered a Caesar salad with chicken. Usually I'm not raving about grilled chicken on a salad, but wow - full of flavor and cooked perfectly. read more

Prime rib was great. Rolls were hot and the service on top. Couldn't ask for anything more. read more

Cardinal Restaurant and Lounge - New American Near Me - Herndon, Virginia

I frequent this lounge regularly due to my schedule taking me to the hotel. The food it ok but it's gone downhill over the past year. The wait staff tries hard and do the best they can but without proper management you can only do so much. The kitchen is not close to the lounge so service is slower than normal. Beer and wine selection is ok. A good place to go if you find yourself actually at the hotel. But there's no reason to make a special trip here. Too bad. With good management this could be a good restaurant. read more

Crab cakes are out this world!traveling from Florida and they have us beat! Great ambiance drinks are wonderful. Relaxed at the lounge area. read more

Cardinal Restaurant and Lounge - Crab cakes - New American Near Me - Herndon, Virginia

The snack bowl was stale, ordered ginger ale and it tasted terrible. The wine glass, I believe, had that dirty dishwater smell. The oysters on the half shell were not fresh and tasted off. My wife ordered a side of seasoned fries and they were pretty good. I figured that maybe ordering the basic, bar food was the best option after the more high end options didn't pan out. So, we ordered chocolate molten lava cake with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. The cake was disappointing and tasted very strange. My wife and I discussed the taste for some time and couldn't agree on what it actually tasted like. However, the vanilla ice cream tasted normal. The final bill for this fine meal? $48.76 was the damage... we should have just ordered fries, beer and a scoop of ice cream. Save yourself the trouble, and the money, go somewhere else. read more

My 1st night stay, I had an amazing dinner accompanied with great cocktails. I cannot recall the name of the bartender, other than it was a female and she knew how to make a drink. The following nights we had a male bartender who didn't know what he was doing. Other than that, the food was okay. Bit too pricey for the quantity, quality and the service you get. It seems you pay for the convenience. There's nothing nearby. read more

The cardinal lounge is located inside the Hilton Dulles airport. I sat down and had a few of the local IPAs which were fantastic but the show grabber was the Cajun grilled ribeye. Absolutely fantastic. When staying at this Hilton there is no need for takeout or Uber to go out to eat the cardinal lounge has all you need. read more

Poor service, steak was over cooked and over salted, for $37 it must be perfect. They gave 15% discount because of the complain, but the place is still not worth the money, there are much better places in the area read more

We were staying at the hotel lovely, Lounge had a nice variety of food choices. I enjoyed the Sliders and my husband the Filet of Salmon. The music is rock and roll very nice, our server both nights was Madlaen very professional knows her kraft loved her suggestion we will be back next time we are in town. read more

This is a good place. It's 5 star, adjusted for being in a hotel in a business park with no other options around. The staff makes it great--a comforting environment that is well-suited for an airport hotel, maybe the most placeless of places. I received a warm greeting, and every interaction with the waitress made me feel as if she truly cared. I had a Cobb salad with salmon: a huge, well-cooked piece of salmon. There was lots of fresh avocado and high-quality bleu cheese and bacon. The place reminds me of a country club. It's dark, wood-paneled, regulars sit at the bar. The staff know them. The menu is from the early 2000s. Don't hesitate to go here, though I'd only recommend it for dinner, as the ambiance is best then. Especially don't hesitate if you have airline meal vouchers, hotel dining credit, or can expense the purchase. read more

Had the molasses glazed salmon with cheddar smashed potatoes and asparagus, and it really was delicious. The service is excellent; my waitress Aliya, from Indonesia, is really a sweetheart, and so was the bartender from Jamaica. I was there only for my flight layover, so I am glad the experience of just staying in for dinner was so good. read more

Sometimes you just don't feel like going out after you get to the hotel. Since it was raining/sleeting and I failed to park in the garage; this was one of those nights. And so it was that found myself at the mercy of the hotel bar; the Cardinal Lounge. First thing you notice when you walk in is that this is a dual purpose space: bar and lounge up front and restaurant style seating and service towards the back. Menu wasn't expansive but offered good variety at 'reasonable' prices (this is a hotel restaurant after all). Staff was welcoming and engaging, in a very real way, not forced at all despite being somewhat overextended between tables. They have a good selection of appetizers and small plates in addition to entrees. Meal started with two fresh warm rolls I ordered the chicken salad lettuce wraps to start and was very impressed by both the quality and quantity. Chilled chicken breast in a lightly spiced and thin (but clingy) dressing with Butter Lettuce leaves, almonds and cranberries. Had a known how much food this was, I probably would have just ordered it for my meal. But I didn't. so I had to eat my Chopped Salad too. Not that that was a chore. The chopped salad here is unique: Pasta, Romaine, Bacon, Chicken Breast, Blue Cheese, & Cabbage with their House Dressing. A nice change of pace from the ordinary. read more

I got cheeseburger sliders. They weren't very warm but the rest of the food was hot and it all tasted good. My wife has the Seafood pasta and she said was very good. Fish tacos were also good but had maybe a bit too much sauce on them. It may be worth asking for sauce in the side. read more