Her parents brought us to their favorite local "hidden gem" and Clarity didn't disappoint. So why not 5 stars? This reviewer found the brightly lit main dining area lacking ambiance and although it wasn't in our direct line of vision, there is a massive T.V. toward the back behind the bar. I see that other reviewers gave the T.V. a thumbs down as well so clearly the chefs are sticking with their decision to have it there. Since 5 stars requires that I must be delighted with the atmosphere, the integrity of the rating system mandates a 4 star rating. If I could use fractions it would receive a 4.75 star rating! Our server was attentive and knowledgeable about the menu which changes often, maybe daily. Before writing this review I reviewed the menu on the website and noticed it is quite different than the one we had last night, which in turn was different than the one our hosts had a few nights previous. The goat cheese fritters were presented with a cole slaw and sauce that all combined for a delightful breadth of flavor and texture. What a terrific start! The pan seared wreck fish was perfectly prepared on a little bed of gnocchi and wild mushrooms. I had the tenderloin, and while I rarely eat beef, I thoroughly enjoyed every bite. The use of what's available and fresh was evident - several dishes included wild mushrooms, including the tenderloin, and they were tasty and delicious. The open kitchen is in the rear and watching the chefs and their staff work made for a dinner and a show. I walked back to take all that in from close range and it's quite impressive. We didn't stay for dessert but I enjoyed a Kentucky Lemonade cocktail that was comprised of bourbon, lemon cello and ...maple syrup! I insisted that everyone have a sip because it was delicious but so sweet I would not have been able to finish it on my own. I am not sure that Clarity is truly "hidden" but it is most certainly a "gem." read more

The food and ambiance are wonderful, so is the location right on Maple Avenue in Vienna. It's hard to get a table as a walk-in, so call (a few days) ahead and make a reservation! If there's no tables, you can see if there's room at the "kitchen" bar - very cool to watch the chefs doing their magic :) Food is very flavorful, no matter what you order. I have never been disappointed by anything I had here - high class fine dining quality of every dish, without having to go to DC! Love this Vienna gem of a restaurant! read more

We have been to Clarity many times and this did not disappoint. the New Years menu was amazing, the service terrific. We always get the feeling that we are in a small town restaurant with classy food. The Chef always greets us like old friends, the bartenders remember us. We will return again and again read more

Went here with my Mom and my sister and had a delicious meal! The food is expensive but the plating and quality are delectable.

I had dinner here last night with my boyfriend. We had the tasting menu with the pairings. It was hands down one of the best meals I have ever had each bite and each sip better than the last. Truly a special atmosphere and the chef is front and center, he even took time to stop by the table during one of the courses. Our server, Chablis, was outstanding. All I can say is go here!!! read more

Food is very good, but it's frankly overpriced. Small portions. It's also a bit loud for a supposed fine dining establishment. I will say that the wait staff was outstanding, however. read more

YUM. Best food in Northern VA . Iove watching Jon's team cook

This is my favorite restaurant. The chef is so nice. He made a dessert specially for me. I love the menu and how it changes every time you go there. I would definitely recommend this place to others. read more

Dinner started with the soft shell crab appetizer. Being from the west coast, this was new to us and we loved it! Crunchy rice coating and an herb/ olive oil foam it was very tasty. Their bread is the best - crunchy outside and soft inside, needed to sop up the foam. We had the tuna and the venison and both were perfectly cooked and had amazing flavor. We were told that the menu changes every night, so I think you could go back over and over! Solid wine list, great service. read more

My bf took me here for date night a few weeks ago. We ordered the fois gras, steak tartare, lamb and steak. My lamb was extremely tender and had no gamey taste to it at all! I rarely eat lamb and when i do, i prefer lamb that do not taste gamey and this was it! My bf's steak, along with the appetizers were delicious and hit the spot. However, when I ordered a glass of wine, the pour was downright stingy... for $14/glass, I'd expect a regular sized pour. I only mention this because our waitress came out with a practically EMPTY bottle of wine, and I figured she would just pour the rest of the wine in my glass (with everything poured into my glass prob would not have been a regular sized pour either)... but no,, her pour was extremely slow and stingy. There was probably 3 sips left in the wine bottle but she stopped leaving the rest in the empty bottle at this point. Even my bf (who rarely ever complains about food or drinks) made a comment that was a REALLY small pour and that she should have poured the rest. I'm hoping that was a one time occurrence b/c I do want to try their happy hour and be back for dinner sometime soon. read more

Great experience at Clarity for a Christmas party with 12 people! Incredible food and great environment! Chef visited our table for a special touch. This place is perfect for a nice evening out or special celebration! read more

The fact that the kitchen is open is awesome and the staff are wonderful but I found the food to be just ok. The food was cold and I didn't feel like it was over priced for what we got. We went there on a recommendation from a friend but unlikely we'd go back read more

It was our first time ! We were greeted by very friendly staff and seated right away. Our waitress was really helpful and nice. Our first choice was the wedge salad which was amazing! Especially enjoyed the fried green tomatoe! I had the Cobia. It was fantastic! My husband had the pork and would have liked more collards and black eyed peas. The bread was also quite delicious! We were too full for dessert and went home very content! So glad we picked Clarity for our 34th Anniversary! Well done! read more

Great spot! Ate there last night with 2 friends. I had the pork chop which was the best I have ever eaten. Another friend had the shrimp risotto which she did not share because it was so good. And the third had a salad. All of us loved our food and can not wait to return. Make a reservation because at 8 pm on a Thursday it was full. read more

Here's the thing, this restaurant has a lot going for it. The ambiance is really nice and cheerful. The wait staff is amazing and not pushy. The prices are very desirable. However, the food is just okay. I got the burger and it was fresh, but flavorless. Two thin patties and barely any cheese with a little tomato. The best part was the siracha ketchup and the fries were thin like I like them. My mom had a salad that was under-dressed. This place is good, but I wouldnt go back for the food. read more

Food was really, really good. We had a nice, fresh brussel salad and the salmon tartare to start out - great, summery dishes. Then we shared one of the chef's specials, the beef brisket. The meat was a bit fatty, but so tender. And the BBQ sauce had a wonderful kick to it. Add to that a side of charred broccoli rabe and it is easy to give a rave review of the food. But the service was just weird. It felt like everyone was still rather new and a bit unsure of themselves, other than the kitchen staff. The front of the house had at least three people working and the way they were seating people seemed pretty haphazard. We got stuffed into a corner by the door despite there being a ton of open tables throughout the restaurant. And one of the guys did this very odd thing where, without any hesitation, he just reached right in front and across my chest to remove the extra settings on the table. We'll go back, of course. I trust the service is something they'll improve on and the food was a welcome step up from what is available in Vienna these days. read more

I love this place. It has a great vibe and the food is amazing and original. This is an awesome addition to Vienna.

We were a party of 5 last night to celebrate my Wife's birthday , we first met a group of friends at the Bar for happy hour celebration and then Dinner with the family. From the time we sat down for dinner I felt we were pushed to order as quick as possible , even though the place wasn't full. We all enjoyed our Meals, I had the Tuna , which was perfect, rare of course. read more

I made a reservation for 10 people at 9pm on a week night. From the second we walked in to the minute we left, we were treated excellent. Jason and Jon really know what they are doing in the kitchen. I highly recommend everyone trying something different and sharing. They have a great wine list and delicious cocktails. My only argument is I live 5 hours away from it. Can't wait to visit again when I come back. read more

Excellent presentation, delicious and interesting menu. Definitely recommend sitting at "the pass" to watch the kitchen in action and be able to ask the Chef questions. The tasting menu is a great deal - 5 selections from a menu that changes seasonally. read more

A refreshing atmosphere excellent service with a personal touch and the food was spectacular. Way beyond our expectations

A great wine selection. Friendly, clean, upscale atmosphere but tucked-away seclusion. Nice place to have a small date with your partner or friends. read more

Excellent service and the schnitzel was to die for...the best I've ever had. Also tried the Hawaiian fish but it couldn't compare to the schnitzel. read more

Clarity is a favorite restaurant. Clearly a neighborhood favorite in Vienna, the reception is always warm, service attentive and the food delicious. We were celebrating a birthday so chose the 5 course tasting menu with wine pairings for the first time. Since the menu changes constantly, depending on what the chef sources, specifics may not be helpful. Our course included, oysters, dayboat scallops, partridge and steak with bittersweet chocolate devil's food cake for dessert. Wine pairings were spot on, including an unusual Pinot Noir from Patagonia, Argentina and a Finger Lakes Riesling. Whether it's happy hour or an occasion or just Friday night with friends, you will enjoy Clarity. read more

Second time here and it didn't disappoint. Phenomenal service and food. Had a couple of questions about the booze in our drinks and next thing we know the chef and bartender are at our table explaining the mixology and flavors. Every course of the tasting was exceptional. Service was outstanding. read more

Food and service was totally delicious. I had the Eggplant Parmesan. Adored it but not used to smaller portions . To me the entree was more like an appetizer portion . My husband ordered the Red Snapper with Acorn Squash with Goat Cheese on to p. The Squash accompaniment could have been my main course with a salad. It was brilliantly delicious. Service was for sure attentive. read more

The food was absolutely amazing and the restaurant itself if beautiful inside. The only negative was the service was absolutely terrible. Extremely slow. I'm not sure if our waiter was awful or the kitchen was backed up, but it was extremely slow for everything; taking drink orders, getting drinks, taking food orders, bringing food out at different times, not close together. read more

One of our favorites in Vienna, had delicious high end food with a relaxed atmosphere. I recommend sitting at the chefs bar in the back because it's an experience of it's own watching their process. read more

This restaurant unfortunately does not have many vegetarian options. One thing I HIGHLY approve is they cater to any alterations. I have severe nut allergies and they were very informative and provided me with options to make me feel safe. The restaurant was also very hospitable. read more

We came to Clarity to celebrate a birthday based on the amazing reviews and proximity to a show. Given the three dollar signs, we were looking forward to a nice experience to unwind from the week. Not the case. We were seated on time, which was a plus. Our waitress hardly welcomed us, but did bring water. A long while later, she came by to ask for our order - she a) never went over the menu, tasting menu, etc and b) never asked for our drink order. We all ordered first courses, but they arrived before the drinks! Our food arrived in what seemed like forever but was decent. Only at the end of the meal when given the dessert menu were we asked about drink refills. Um, no thank you. Terrible service, food was good but not excellent, definitely won't be back. read more

Best food I've had in the DC area. They are a bit pricy (usually runs $120 for dinner for two and a few drinks) but it's totally worth it. I've been there three times and each time they deliver. Menu constantly changes but the quality is always the same. read more

Easy reservations and accommodation. Business Casual attire fits right in for your celebration. Jonathan Krinn, Chef/Owner, was very attentive. The tasting menu might be the best bargain around. The restaurant can get a bit loud. It's kind of nice in a way as too many upscale restaurants (and Clarity is definitely upscale) seem to try to evoke a worshipful atmosphere. Worship is not on the menu here. One thing to mention. Clarity was heavily criticized in the past for its service. My experience is that they are working very hard to improve and maintain a high standard. You can see it in the ongoing training. read more

Clarity for some strange reason is not at the address where it says it is, so you have to call then leave a message then they text you back then you text back then they call you to give directions (instead of just picking up the phone). The food is good but in miniscule, bird-sized portions, and expensive for what it is. My dessert was barely one inch across. More importantly, always ask how much specials are, as I ended up paying $124 for a tiny "prime quality" 4 ounce steak, which I would certainly have foregone if I had known it was that "prime"! For comparison, my total bill for myself was $168, which is more than 2 of us paid at Fiola de Mare in Georgetown after a great, several-course meal. The place was about a quarter full and the noise level was deafening. I will never go there again. read more

The flavor of the food was 5 stars, as was the atmosphere. The service was very good and menu selection, though limited, unique. However, I was surprised that the ravioli was as thick as it was with the small amount of filling, the sauce too thin for this type of pasta. The entre was barely warm, with even a chill in the 1 stalk of broccoli it came with. Did I send it back? No, as the taste was very good and I did not want to wait for a hot dish to be prepared. The Compressed Endive Salad was excellent. The price was way too high for what was served. My friends' comments were "That's Vienna". My work of 30 years has taken me to major cities around the world. Yes, major cities are pricey., but I rarely leave a restaurant disappointed in the overall quality of the food, and hungry still. read more

Got to tell you... the food and service here. F'n ridiculous. They say the menu changes every day. Ordered local middle neck clams & Elysian Fields lamb with Florida gulf shrimp & the bluefin Tuna. Haven't even had dessert yet, compelled to write this review. F'n ridiculous. Go to Clarity in Vienna. read more

Clarity is definitely an "it " place to be these days. Indeed the food is interesting and very good. It feel nice inside and the bar is cool. In my view it is overpriced and a tad snooty. With that said, definitely worth checking out. My wife and many of her friends love the place. read more

GREAT STAFF. Celebrated a friend's birthday. We had several dietary restrictions yet they made the tasting menu work for us. FOOD was perfectly prepared and well timed throughout the evening. Next celebration we are going coming back. read more

Great food. A little disappointed in service. Had read reviews about people who had celebrated anniversaries. They received a glass of bubbly and a bag of baguettes to take home. Unfortunately, we only got a menu saying happy anniversary and they did give us one dessert. One for me but not my husband. Do like the idea that the menu changes daily. read more

The drinks are amazing. The waitress was super. The deserts are phenomenal. The main courses are very good. The chef came out and introduced himself. We love the fact that they printed happy anniversary on our menu. Spouse is a vegetarian and they were very accommodating. Go and you will not be disappointed. read more

Clarity is really a cool place with delicious food and exceptional service. I will pick this restaurant anytime because of the wonderful experience my wife and family had. The staff as well as the owner are just superb people. Kudos to them for doing such a great job. Clarity is among my most favorite restaurants to bring family and friends for good food and great service!! read more