I have been REALLY wanting to try Clarity for quite a while now, and finally had the chance to stop by on a Saturday during lunch for an event held by an organization. Unfortunately, I was deeply disappointed with my long awaited visit here. Maybe my expectations were too high...but I don't think so. The interior is beautifully decorated, spacious, and very open. The kitchen is also open so you can see everything that goes on in there. I was seated on the middle of the room closer to the entrance so couldn't see the kitchen well. First, we were given bread and oil. Then we were given a curri cream soup with croutons. This tasted amazing! Second, we were given a choice of chicken or bass. I ordered the chicken because I do not eat fish. Unfortunately, they served me bass and when I told the waitress that I ordered chicken she said "No, I have you as ordering bass" (which is impossible because I don't eat fish). She then tried to serve me the bass again, and I asked if she could bring me the chicken that I ordered. She said "you want chicken?" and sounded very annoyed. She told me it was going to take a while and asked if I still wanted it. Third, I did receive my chicken and the sauce was delightful and the vegetables were really good. However, the chicken seemed a bit underdone. The person sitting at the table next to me asked to have her chicken cooked a little more because hers was raw in the middle. Later I found out that my mother, who was sitting at a different table, was also served raw chicken. I did hear that the wine was good though. Also, the dessert was also pretty good. But the service fell WAY below my expectations. Overall, I was pretty disappointed with the service here and was really taken aback with my experience. So unfortunate because I've been looking forward to coming here for such a long time. Will not be returning. read more

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We had a party of 10 in a private room. The waiter didn't get anything right and had a bad attitude. He just kept recommending ordering more and expensive items on the menu. He was snarky and said things like, "and you're ordering just that for the whole table?" when we ordered 4 appetizers for the table. Also said, "So just 2 bottles for the all of you?" when ordering wine. 1 person doesn't drink, 2 had beer, and we also ordered 3 $25/drink cocktail. He couldn't remember anyone's orders and the food was mediocre for the price. He brought 4 desserts instead of the 3 we had ordered and then charged us for it. I guess the mandatory 22% gratuity made it ok for him to be rude. read more

Very disappointed. I was excited to try this place. The food was very subpar. We did 2 tasting menus and were just disappointed. This place has prices of fine dining but doesn't do little things. Taste may be a preference thing, I thought the rabbit was over cooked. The lobster bisque was meh. What shows a lack of professionalism is that the ice for the drinks was dirty and not clear. It's obvious they don't clean the ice machine. read more

Wonderful! Always love it! Everyone needs to go Food was amazing and service is delightful. read more

We were nearby and went there for a latish dinner. Nice spot, difficult to find as it is behind a building. The scene is nice with the bar area and wine room being more picturesque than the rest, which is very casual. Service was OK albeit slow despite a relatively quiet night. The wine list was OK although some of the wines being served were not on the list as they had just arrived. Overall the meal was Ok. I picked the fish which was a special on the menu. It was very nicely cooked and was on a bed of leeks also well cooked. The challenge was that the food was excessively salty. It was almost to the point of being almost inedible. I mentioned this to the waitress. read more

Clarity - New American Near Me - Vienna, Virginia

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Great food and service. Creative menu. Great ambience. So happy to see chef Nick is back!

I was here for a networking event, a first of hopefully many gatherings of entrepreneurs and freelance professionals. Jonathan, the owner, gave us the private room in the back and opened early for us (3-5pm). We had an amazing assortment of wine options (at Happy Hour prices, no less!) and prepared plates of scrumptious appetizers: pork belly over black bean on crackers, pimento cheese over little toasted bread rounds, avocado and anchovy over toasted French bread slices, little beet round canapés, and toasted beef raviolis...they were all delectable. This was my first visit to Clarity, but it certainly won't be my last. Beautiful interior, very friendly and accommodating staff. Open kitchen with counter seating as well as dining room seating. I look forward to a full meal here. Great place for a first date, romantic "date night" with your spouse, or even a group dinner. Highly recommend. read more

Clarity - Red beet canapés. Yum! - New American Near Me - Vienna, Virginia

How does this place continue to take my money and still send me home unsatisfied, month after month? No more throwing away money for a Coastal Flat/Seasons 52 experience. Good service but risotto and other entrees are always sub-par. With the latest Fairfax County Health Department Inspections for the Town of Vienna (ewww)...we'll leave it there! read more

I love Clarity! Been coming here since we discovered it(cute little place tucked away in Vienna) the cool thing about this spot is the menu changes daily and the food is sourced locally! Every single time we have gone to clarity, the food and service was superior!! read more

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The original chef has left so the food is not what it used to be but the cost is the same. Not a good experience.

We've been to Clarity for special occasions three times over the past two years and each time we've had excellent food and good service. Unfortunately that streak came to an end last night when we went there for my wife's Birthday dinner. First, the service was exceedingly poor from start to finish. From simple things like water glasses not being refilled to more important issues like no one checking on us; the length of time it took to have our orders taken; and the time it took for the food to be served everything was really subpar. When our food was finally served it is exceedingly poor quality. My son and I ordered 16 oz ribeye steaks (which were priced at $85 per entree) and when they arrived both were both cold, overcooked, and nowhere near 16 ozs. The menu stated that our steaks came with baked potatoes but instead there were a few cold fingerling potatoes on the plate. My wife told the waiter before ordering that she was allergic to green and red peppers. Her scallop dish arrived loaded with red pepper. I ended up politely telling the waiter that our food was no good and that I would like to speak with a manager to let them know. He told me he "was a manager" and seemed confused and irritated that I was complaining. They ended up taking one of the steaks off the bill which is fair but there was no real apology for the crappy service and crappy food and no discussion about how they could do things better in the future. In our experience when restaurants of this caliber blow it they are usually very apologetic and interested in how they can do better next time. This was not at all the case last night. Bottom line we were extremely disappointed in the entire evening and will not be returning to Clarity nor will we be recommending Clarity to anyone in the future. read more

I've always heard great things about Clarity so I finally booked a dinner reservation a few weeks ago. It's definitely one of the nicer, fancier places we have in Vienna/DMV area. We asked to sit outside on a kinda dreary evening and the staff immediately turned on 2 of their heat lamps, they're on top of it! We mentioned my bf is gluten sensitive and they brought out GF bread for him! We ordered the bone marrow appetizer, sea bass, and soft shell crab entree - everything was delicious! I loved how attentive and friendly the staff was and will definitely be back for another special occasion! read more

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Loved the cuisine and the ambience of the private dining room. Service could be a little better.

An insanely awesome place - I'd definitely recommend it! Clarity is a cute high-end restaurant in Vienna. You can tell this place is insanely popular, but it also does a lot to ensure you feel safe - lots of outdoor dining options, plenty of social distancing, great wait staff, lots of masks, etc. The food here is absolutely excellent. Everything I had on the tasting menu was delicious, and the drinks were no less amazing. Everything was packed with taste and completely unexpected. I didn't want the tasting menu or drinks to end! read more

Perfect fancy full coursed meals here. My bf And I we're feeling Bougie sooo we decided to dine in their parking lot COVID style. BF has the 6 course Pre fix with whisky pairings. I ordered a la carte Food was so cute and well presented. If you're low carb there are plenty of options. I loved that the chef didn't have to rely on carbs. I had the elk--which btws popped my elk cherry-it was lean and scrumptious They had this drink called the perfecto. Omg that's what I dub this review "El Perfecto" I want to warn you the prefix meal portions are small but tasty and they leave you satisfied. MUY PERFECTO read more

Had lunch here on a Friday. The food and service were excellent. Definitely upscale but not stuffy or pretentious. Very enjoyable and relaxing. They started us wih hot rolls that were delicious. We ordered the shrimp with brussel sprouts. They were excellent. Very favorable and the shrimp were very large. For entrees we had the pork belly and cheeseburger. Both were delicious and the presentation was beautiful. Service was friendly and efficient. A very enjoyable meal at a very reasonable price. We will be back. read more

My boyfriend and I did a Valentine's Day dinner a few days before Valentine's Day to skip any crowding . Our service was ok , not stellar. The waiter had to be reminded a few times of items we had requested and one of the servers couldn't speak English well enough to tell us what was on the plate . The decor is modern , and is stylish and while I loved the open kitchen and bar it left me wondering if the cooks and servers were able to socially distance. Loved the different selections of oysters! The drinks and the food were a bit pricier and smaller than expected to warrant such a price tag . If you want fancy and bougey this is a great place for a special occasion or impressive date night , but if your a hungry hippo like myself , I think I'd do better at a food truck lol , cheaper too ! read more

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One of Vienna's neighborhood gems. They've gotten really creative about their offerings through the pandemic, most recently offering Pho! I think people respond positively to most of the things that come out of their kitchen. We finally got to visit them before the 2020 ended as we were celebrating an occasion so we splurged on the tasting menu and I'm so glad we did. Every dish is done beautifully. There's great thought to the way each flavor complements as much as there is attention to the texture on the plates. My favorite had to be the Pan Seared Branzino and the Burnt Honey Pudding (PLUS the persimmon sorbet that accompanied it on the plate). Every plate was delicious though. The service is top notch, everyone is attentive and worked as a team to ensure we had a great time. To me, this is a special occasion spot --- and for that, it's worth every dime. read more

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Right off the bat, probably one of my favorite places... We ordered a little bit of everything. Two 2x4 whiskey flights - which... I can't remember which they were... but the presentation was very nice. Anyways, for our appetizers, we had the Foie Gras (so decadent) and the Panko crusted fried green tomatoes. I loved the Foie Gras! Shortly after, we had both the Rhode Island Fluke and the Hawaiian Kanpanchi. Both very light and fresh. Then we proceeded with a dozen oysters (favorite to least): Wild Brookside, Battle Creek, Luna Bella, and Spindrift. For the main entrees, we ordered the snapper, kangaroo loin, and the veal. Man, if I could eat more if that kangaroo, I would. It was so tender! Lastly, for dessert, we ordered the Chocolate Pot De Creme. The banana miso ice cream that accompanied the chocolate was a pleasant addition. The Chef and Owner also took his time to great us as well. We hope to be able to continue being regulars here when the menu changes again! read more

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Clarity is an all time favorite! It never fails to awe the tastebuds! Everything is just spectacular. If you're ever so inclined, do dine at the chef's kitchen sitting -- what's better than to watch the best in DMV prepare your special course for the evening? Give them a try when they reopen on November 2nd, I can't wait! read more

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Been wanting to try this place for years. Finally came to celebrate my birthday with a friend. The foie gras was melt in your mouth delicious and tender, the burrata could have used a drizzle of balsamic or fig glaze, the sea bass with black lentils and cauliflower was probably my favorite, the beef cheeks were tender and the desserts were amazing. We shared the white mud rum cake with espresso caramel and apple crumble - tasted like Thanksgiving. Our waiter Max was truly a highlight- so accommodating, patient, with great menu suggestions and so friendly and delightful. One of the most pleasant and kindest servers I have ever had. The chef also came out several times to say hi to people at the tables and thanked everyone. Amazing service and food- highly recommend. read more

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Food was impeccable. Highly recommend. Our waiter however was very focused on upgrading our wine choices which seemed bit pushy and unappreciated. However a great experience overall. read more

My boyfriend surprised me with dinner at Clarity to celebrate my birthday. He knows I love oysters, so he wanted to pick somewhere that had good food and good oysters. We checked in for our reservation with a hostess in front and were asked if we wanted to do indoor or outdoor dining. We chose to do outdoor. My boyfriend had noted on the reservation that it was my birthday, so they had printed out custom "Happy Birthday" menus, which was a thoughtful touch. We ended up having 4 drinks - the garden gimlet, just what the dr. ordered, MTM, and the grapefruit Hefeweizen. They were all great, but the garden gimlet was my favorite. However, sitting outside - the were gnats trying to dive into our drinks all night. Can't fault Clarity though - comes with wanting to do outdoor dining. We did a dozen oysters - 3 each of Glacier Point, Dutch Island, Whaleback, and Pickering Passage, which was a great selection of harder to find West Coast oysters. The Glacier Points from Alaska were my favorites. We both loved the mignonette that's came with it. For our entree, we did the 27oz bone-in ribeye. The menu only offers 38oz, but luckily, our waiter let us know there were other smaller sizes. The 27oz was the smallest they offered and was already more than enough food for 2. It was served perfectly medium-rare as we requested, and already plated for us. The red wine sauce was delicious as well as the other accompaniments. For dessert, we ordered the pumpkin spice panna cotta and they also surprised me with a chocolate cake with raspberry sorbet. I normally never order desserts at American restaurants because I find them cloyingly sweet, but I think lovers of desserts would have really enjoyed it. The pumpkin spice panna cotta was true to its name. Service was really great and from the people there, I could tell this place has a lot of regulars. This is a great place to come for a special occasion or just for a normal meal. read more

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Food was excellent. It was clear that the kitchen knows what it is doing. I could see the Chef leading the team and could tell that it was a well-oiled machine. Certainly one of the best food experiences we've had around the DC area. The service, however, left something to be desired. When we entered the restaurant we sat at the bar for about 10 minutes before being offered drinks. The bartender was busy, but when you're serving $20 drinks, people expect prompt service and attention when they sit down. When we were sat for dinner, the bartender was also our server which compounded the issue as he was still busy. Throughout dinner, we had empty water glasses and slower service, a symptom of the dual job bartender, again. It's unfortunate that the service was lacking as the food was excellent. At this price point you don't get two chances, you have to nail it the first time with so many other great restaurants around. read more

My favourite restaurant. The menu is amazing. It always changes with something fresh and new. Sometimes I do the tasting menu, sometimes just a glass of wine and an appetiser. They never fail. I always smile. Service is exceptional. read more

I heard about this place so many times. I was able to check this place out on Friday night. The place seems to be busy. The space is not big. I would recommend to make a reservation. They have an extensive wine menu. I am sure you will find a wine that you like. We had a scallop as an appetizer. I love the sauce. Also we had 18 oz of steak. It was nicely cooked. The seasoning was perfect. What I like was the service was pretty quick. I will come back to try different things. read more

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We thoroughly enjoyed this restaurant. It's on the more fine dining with a hint of homemade food atmosphere, open kitchen concept. A wide selection of drinks. We had the oysters, two entrees and dessert . You get what you pay for, it's in the pricier side but no where near in DC rates. Try the desserts! read more

Clarity - 15 oz steak - New American Near Me - Vienna, Virginia

Oh my...greatness. This. Place. Was. Fabulous. Like, over exceeded my expectations. Came here for Valentine's dinner (so glad I made my honey choose a spot). First time for the both of us and everything from the first course to the last was perfection. FOOD Ordered the Foie Gras, French for "duck liver" , as an appetizer. It. Was. Exquisite. YUM. I got the steak for dinner and it was cooked to perfection. Almost always order mine MR aka medium rare - it was nice red and juicy. Will get five stars because the food was that good. SERVICE The service was standard, not the most exciting. Could be because it was Valentine's evening and they of course were supe Dress code: "sharp" casual Parking: plenty Will come back for the food without a doubt. read more

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Clarity is a gem in Vienna. I wouldn't say hidden because it seems like everybody knows about it. I had to try 3 times to get a walk-in table. They have the entire parking lot turned into outdoor dining. All separated for social distancing, it's quite impressive what they have created. Show up with no reservation at your own risk. My plan was to try some oysters and an app and move on with my day. Went with 9 west coast oysters. The place was so inviting I had to stay for the entire chef's tasting menu. 4 courses plus an amuse bouche and extra dessert. Could not turn that down after so many months in lockdown. Make sure you try the Luna Bella oysters! A gift from the kitchen: Fried oyster with curry noodles 1st: Chanterelles over big eye tuna tartare, compressed peach, mangalica jamón segovia, kalamata olives 2nd: Pan roasted wild red rockfish with tomatillo jam and tomato saffron jus, patty pan squash, shishito peppers 3rd: Spice rubbed Australian kangaroo loin, smoked tomato, potato galette, red wine sauce Free dessert: banana with vanilla ice cream, white chocolate crumble Dessert: Almond cream cheese cake with huckleberry compote, black sesame crumbles and blackberry ginger sorbet read more

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Went to go celebrate my fiancé's birthday. All I can say is, AMAZING! From the first greeting from the hostess to the goodbyes, it was all good. We sat the " Chefs table" at the hostess suggestion and throughly enjoyed the view and the food. The waitstaff was really attentive and super friendly. Everyone worked as a team and seemed to really enjoy what they do. My fiancé and I got the tasting menu that night and really enjoyed all the flavors. We also got one cocktail each. Mine was their old fashioned and he got the "el perfecto?" It was very similar to a Manhattan. Enjoyed our dinner date that night. Will be returning again. read more

A Clarity fan who will not go back again. I have been a frequent patron of Clarity and have introduced more than 40 others to this restaurant. I wanted to support the restaurant during the pandemic, so I made three donations including an online gift certificate. I waited until all members of my family were well enough and comfortable eating inside, I made a reservation with the intent of using the gift certificate. I made note of that on my online reservation. At the end of the meal, I presented the gift certificate which was for an amount substantially larger than the bill. The wait staff checked with the manager. They refused to honor the Clarity gift certificate. Initially, the woman who seemed to represent management said it had expired. When shown that there is no expiration date, she said it was not their certificate and walked away. After paying for the dinner, I went to speak with her again, away from the table and other patrons. After restating that it was not a Clarity gift certificate, her discussion became a diatribe against former employees. When I redirected the conversation back to the email, she said she wanted to see the credit card statement showing the charge. I provided it for her several days later and subsequently received the offer of a dinner for one totaling less than one-third the amount of the certificate. At no time has Clarity made an offer to honor the certificate. read more

I came here on a Friday night with a group. It's a nice restaurant for a special occasion. It's definitely more expensive, and although the food is good I'm not sure if it's worth that price point. You get complimentary freshly baked bread (a few different varieties which included chocolate cherry- very unique and delicious). For my entree I got the sea bass atop black lentils- the fish was very delicious and mostly juicy and well cooked. It was a rather smaller portion, though a friend had a piece twice the size. Other people at the table ordered the ribeye and the pork chop. I was able to try a bite of all meats. I think I preferred my bass to all the rest. Though the pork chop cake with gnocchi and pumpkin which looked delicious! I decided to also get dessert- the bittersweet chocolate flourless cake with pistachio ice cream and candied pistachios. The cake was quite delicious, but the ice cream really didn't have that pistachio flavor I was craving. I also tried the orange creamsickle- this was delicious as well and very refreshing and unique. I'd definitely come back for a special occasion but I had very high expectations and it wasn't quite met- but I know that the menu is constantly changing so I'd be curious to try different items! read more

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I recently went to Clarity for the second time ever, the first time I went to was on my birthday two years ago. In my recent visit, for my first course I had the Earths & Eats baby arugula and kale salad which is blended with oranges and orange vinaigrette. This blend is trending now and it's absolutely gorgeous. For my main course I had the pan seared Norwegian skrei cod. The food was well presented and delicious which was a delight to see that they have kept their quality and fresh ingredients. What stole my heart however was the dessert. I'm always extremely picky about my desserts and usually opt for a classic flourless chocolate cake. I ordered the bittersweet flourless chocolate cake which is presented with chocolate ganache, shortbread crumble and strawberry ice cream. I thought at first that this might be an excessive combination but I was wrong - it came delicately arranged in a portion that was just right. Sweet! I cannot wait to be back to eat this dessert once again. read more

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Prepare to feel like you've been transported back to a world that was once normal. Last Saturday on a beautiful evening in Vienna, you couldn't help but feel Jon Krinn and the entire Clarity family were really doing their best to make it during this unprecedented time. Clarity's tailgate concept and extended patio was second to none. You can read more about it at the link below. Thanks to the entire Clarity team for keeping safety first in your re-opening. https://www.washingtonian.com/2020/05/14/a-prominent-virginia-chef-will-serve-drive-in-tasting-menus-from-his-parking-lot/ read more

Clarity - Jon and his Clarity family continue to re-invent the new! - New American Near Me - Vienna, Virginia

Probably the best fine dining in the greater Fairfax/Tysons area. The menu changes daily, the service was impeccable, and all of the food is gourmet-level. The biggest knock is this is very, very expensive -- as pricey as the Michelin star restaurants in DC. And while the food is very good, it wasn't at that level and overpriced for what it is. If you are looking for fine-dining in the Tysons/Fairfax/Vienna area, this is probably your best bet -- just make sure to brace yourself for the bill. read more

Had an AMAZING birthday dinner here last month with my husband. We were new to the area and decided to take a chance on this spot spaced on the Yelp reviews. This has been one of our favorite restaurant adventures so far! The restaurant location itself is just odd, in a commercial development in a quiet neighborhood with an awkward patio on the front that hides the main entrance. But what this spot may lack in ambience it gains in menu and service. It was obvious as soon as we walked in the door that every staff member took personal responsibility for their guests' positive experiences. All of our dishes were fresh and seasonal and the special bubbly they gifted for our celebration was a lovely last touch. Pro tip: if you make a reservation in advance, they will print a custom menu for you. read more

Clarity - Birthday desserts. - New American Near Me - Vienna, Virginia

Clarity is my go to spot. It actually deserves a 4.5 out of 5. The food is definitely 4+, but you expect that their seasonal menu always gives you something new. Their oyster selection is the best in the area. The happy hour menu is on a whole different level. Maybe only 2 or 3 options on a given day, but damn. Don't get me started on the fois gras or their house made bread. But what deserves 5 stars is the cocktails. Hands down Victor is the best in the DMV. He will put you together cocktails that are on and off the menu. He knows his ingredients, plus he is really cool. Grab a seat at the bar and watch his kung fu. Your home mixing skills will level up. read more

A revisit to the best of the best. There is no parallel to this restaurant in this area. Every dish is prepared with meticulous focus and plated to perfection. The progression of the dishes is carefully juxtaposed, which prompts subtle appreciation for the consideration that went into this culinary experience. Also, the seating was separated with beautiful yellow drapery, proving the establishment to be forward-thinking in addressing recent health concerns. Bravo Clarity! read more

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Their menu is always different and the staff are extremely professional and friendly. Great selection of whiskies and wines also. It's my favorite place to dine with local friends. read more

Clarity - New American Near Me - Vienna, Virginia

We love love love this place. Great chef, food, and drinks! I can emphasize enough of the last point. They always manage to find amazing wine, and they have pretty interesting wine/whiskey pairings for their fixed menu. We recently did one where they had a lot of rye whiskeys in the pairings, and my husband loves that stuff. Food is always very good, and they have guest chefs come in every once in awhile and I get to try different DC chefs without having to drive outside of Vienna. One thing I'm really particular about is fish - I hate dry overcooked fish and prefer it on the rarer side, and I've always enjoyed the fish dishes here. Definitely a place that's in our usual rotation. read more

Clarity - New American Near Me - Vienna, Virginia