I've been here many times over the years and it's usually spot on. I came in for a work lunch recently, getting there soon after the lunch rush. Checking in was quick and we were seated immediately. Service was excellent. I noticed something I've not seen before (but it's probably been a year since I was last here), beef back ribs! The server explained how they're bribed and smoked and I just had to give them a try... They were amazing! They were actually Stoopid Good, which oddly enough is the name of GAR's BBQ restaurant and that place isn't very good, but these ribs from GAR's seafood concept were excellent! Definitely worth a try! read more

Coastal Flats - Beef back ribs - Seafood Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

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My family and I recently dined at Coastal Flats, and while we've generally enjoyed our experiences there, this visit was disappointing. We ordered a lemonade for my son, but when it arrived, it was extremely sour--far more tart than a typical lemonade. As a result, I asked a server who was passing by if we could exchange it for a chocolate milk instead. Instead of simply accommodating the request, the server responded by explaining that I should have known to ask for the lemonade to be watered down when ordering. I was surprised by this response. As a customer, I don't believe I should be expected to anticipate that a restaurant's lemonade is so sour that it requires a special request to make it drinkable. If that's a common issue, it may be worth reconsidering the recipe so guests don't have to ask for it to be diluted. I politely responded that I shouldn't have had to request watered-down lemonade, and we left the conversation at that. However, the interaction left me feeling dismissed. My son did receive the chocolate milk a little while later but a simple acknowledgment of the concern would have gone a long way toward creating a positive customer experience. read more

Vast | Service | Variety Vast -- This is a very large restaurant. It's deceptively spacious. From the outside, it looks like it seats maybe 75-100 people, but once you walk in, you realize it's easily 2.5 times that size. The layout feels open without being overwhelming, which helps it handle the crowds well. Service -- We had excellent service, especially considering how busy the restaurant was. We had a primary waiter, but 3-4 other staff members also stopped by throughout the meal to make sure everything was going smoothly. Whether it was refilling waters, checking on our infant child, or making sure our food arrived on time, the staff was consistently attentive and helpful. Variety -- The menu offers a wide range of both drinks and food. The wine list, in particular, is extensive. There are plenty of options for both lunch and dinner, with a strong mix of à la carte selections and traditional entrées. There's enough variety that most people should be able to find something they'll enjoy. Pro tip -- The restaurant is located inside a very busy mall area, so street parking can be limited. Plan to add a little extra time to your commute and parking search. Pro tip -- There are approximately 10-15 Tesla charging stations within walking distance, making this a convenient spot to grab a meal while charging your EV. Pro tip -- Public transit options to this area are somewhat limited, so driving is likely the easiest way to get there. read more

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Always a positive experience. The food is great. The service is good. And the setting always comfortable. There's plenty of free parking right outside the restaurant. And if you go, I recommend starting off with an order of Ozzie rolls; they're worth it. On this trip I went with a tried and true, the hickory grilled chicken breast while my wife tried the special, shrimp with grits patties (she loved). read more

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This was a spectacular meal from start to finish, with attentive and informed service with a clean a seafood themed ambiance. I started with their lobster bisque, which was creamy, rich, and with plenty of lobster chunks. They offer a bread service at $1 that goes to charity, and these were hot and steamy fresh from the oven delicious yeasty dinner rolls, and I rarely notice dinner rolls. Get these! The main course was mahi-mahi over a bed of portobello mushrooms with spinach and crispy onions that completed the trifecta: it was amazing! They offer a surprisingly limited dessert menu, but everything else was delicious and plentiful, so it was no matter. Don't miss this place! read more

Coastal Flats - Excellent lobster bisque! - Seafood Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

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The Ozzie rolls & butter are warm, sweet and unique. The southwest egg rolls are lightly spicy and very tasty. Those two alone are filling. Service is great. Looks pretty popular for businessmen and work lunches/dinners from the weekday & weeknight I've visited here. Go, enjoy! read more

Coastal Flats - Egg rolls yummy - Seafood Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

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I always go to Coastal flats when I don't know what I want because they have a good selection of menu items for everyone and the food is consistent and tastes good. The staff is very friendly and welcoming. The food comes out at a good speed. The interior is always decorated very well and there is plenty of seating. read more

Coastal Flats - Coastal Lobster Roll - Seafood Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

Checking off another GAR restaurant from the list. Costal Flats has a lot of the fan favorites but has a focus on seafood. We got some of the popular seafood dishes like their crab cake, crab/shrimp fritters and shrimp and grits. All the dishes tasted great and seafood was fresh. Not much to say but another good GAR spot and I love the extra seafood options they have! Apps: Baby Cake Sliders and Blue Crab and Shrimp Fritters Entrees: Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes, Wood Grilled Chicken Breast and Shrimp and Grits read more

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We spent our last church small group for the semester at Coastal Flats and had the sweet Kari as our waitress. She was super super sweet and tended to all our needs. She even gave us fantastic recommendations for food. Everyone knows the best part about the GAR chain. OZZIE ROLLS!! Kari gave us two baskets of freshly cooked rolls and butter and they definitely hit the spot. My friend also ordered the Spinach Dip and we agreed it could've been a bit creamier and cheesier. I typically always get the salmon but she suggested the fish fingers instead and I thoroughly enjoyed them. The fries were a little salty but still good. I also swapped the slaw for some yummy Broccolini. We went on a Tuesday at 7pm so the mood was just right, not too loud, not too quiet. This was my first time at Coastal Flats not during the day and I really enjoyed the mellow lighting. Overall, we had a great experience and I will definitely be back for more Fish Fingers! S/O to Kari!! read more

Coastal Flats - Fish Finger - Seafood Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

Coastal flats has maintained its food quality with a well trained staff. The menu has some overlap across the Great American restaurants with a seafood theme here. Smoked salmon filet had a smoky glaze on top and a rémoulade sauce with cauliflower mash which I really liked along with some broccolini. Tasted the low country ribs which had a tangy vinegar sauce with a refreshing coleslaw and thin crispy fries. Although there are fewer food items on the menu selection and now they charge $1 for a simple 4 piece bread basket, the consistency at Coastal Flats makes it worth coming if you're in the area. read more

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went today. Probably? my 20th time? EVERYONE knows that their food is ALWAYS reliable...100%. My sister and I went today to "cheer me up" as I'm going through "stuff"...we went AFTER lunch rush, a Thursday, after 2p..wanted to sit outside to enjoy the Fantastic weather. Went through the back way to see if seating was available and if it might be too muggy or buggy. Went to hostess stand...requested outside. they said "it's not available due to staff shortages"....I said "what if we're not in a hurry and understand and don't expect immediate service? We are happy to have a drink at this inside bar while we wait and have a drink"...(Something THEY should have suggested if they were coached/trained well on how to keep business and improve revenue)....LONG story shorter,...we did just that...and met BELLA....the bartender who kept us there versus us walking out the door based on the hostesses who made us feel like we were "high maintenance". Bella listened to us requesting if she could make a pineapple like flavored martini....she was amazing and crafted a drink we dubbed the "bellatini"...were informed a "table was available" and when we were told by one of those hostesses that we'd like to wait for the drink our bartender was gracious enough to go "out of the box" to craft for us and would carry it out, were given "eye roll" and she left taking menus with her. Anyway....we got a a nice table, after asking one of the less than accommodating hostesses to sit us at a less than desirable table, were greeted by our server Ariana. What a pleasant surprise. Young, efficient, polite, accommodating. We had shrimp/crab sliders (which were phenomenal) more "bellatinis" and two noodle shrimp salad, and my sister had sister had field green salad substituting branzino fish special for the salmon. It was very good. Manager Gwen came out to see how everything was going. We politely shared our experience, trying not to slam anyone. Gwen was so real? professional? the reason why Great American Restaurant's have such high reviews. Of COURSE we'll be back cuz we trust they heard our feedback and will educate the front of the house staff that they are hugely responsible for first impressions. What could have been lost revenue was saved by great food, and more importantly, exceptional service - after initial disappointment read more

Delicious and amazing! The service was great and the quality of food is excellent! My hubby got the fish tacos and I got the shrimp roll. The cole slaw is outstanding!!! The apple and pecan pie is well worth saving room for . read more

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I'm usually not a "salad for dinner" kind of girl, but after eating junk most of the day I wanted something light and delicious. I've been to Coastal Flats a million times, so I knew they had good food, but the salad I had was AMAZING!! OMG!! The combination of the warm goat cheese, the tomato, the spiced pecans, the cranberry, and the field greens with the champagne vinaigrette was heavenly!! My girlfriend ordered a salad as well (a kind of Thai salad with shrimp and noodles) and hers was amazing too. Then, we split the salmon entree for dinner and it was cooked perfectly. I'm not sure how they're smoking the salmon, but you could taste the smoky flavor throughout. Add to that a nice glass of wine and it was the perfect "light" meal. 10 out of 10!! read more

Coastal Flats - Warm Goat Cheese and Spiced Pecan Salad - Seafood Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

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Another Great American Restaurant that nails it. The servers are attentive and the food tastes good. I like that there are similarities across menu items at any GAR. We ordered the blue crab & shrimp fritters and calamari to split. The fritters were nice and crunchy with large pieces of shrimp. The sauce and corn were a nice touch. The calamari was fine, sweeter than expected and not as spicy as we expected. I ordered the crispy fish tacos, which were loaded with slaw and corn. The fish and sweet potato fries were definitely fresh and crispy. They're a bit messy to eat and I do think only ordering two would've been fine. read more

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Love all the great American restaurants. Only complaint is they only have booths so for parties larger than 6 you might not sit next to your other table. Service was really good and the food was bomb read more

Coastal Flats - Jambalaya pasta - Seafood Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

Another Great American restaurant that just absolutely kills it! I've yet to go to a location where the beef ribs were available and wow were they good! Meat feeling off the bone good!! If you're ever at Coastal Flats, the crabcake sliders are an absolute MUST since they don't have them at other locations (at least from what i know)!! This is a NON negotiable, so freaking good!!!! The bread pudding is always warm inside and the ice cream is a perfect pair to match with it. read more

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Always a solid choice. Our seven wax fantastic- friendly and responsive without too much! The salon is always a favorite. Tastes great but I feel like I'm still eating decently healthy. Fun coastal decor. Parking is tough here now... be prepared you might need to walk a bit. read more

I had a wonderful evening at Coastal Flats, I've driven past it for years and had never been until the other night. Their crab cakes were out of this world! I'm a fan of their shoestring french fries and of course their famous Ozzie rolls. The waiter made us feel like we were royalty, there was plenty of parking and the ambiance was perfect. read more

Coastal Flats is another gem in the Great American Restaurants family, and it never disappoints. The Ozzie rolls are straight-up heaven -- honestly, you could make a whole meal out of those alone and be perfectly happy. For starters, we usually rotate between the blue crab and shrimp fritters, the lobster bisque, or the crab and corn chowder -- all outstanding every time. My go-to entrées are the Hong Kong-style sea bass, jumbo lump crab cakes, lobster rolls, crispy fish tacos, and the rockfish whenever it's available. It's hard to go wrong no matter what you order. The staff and service are always top tier, and the atmosphere is consistently lively and welcoming. Coastal Flats is just one of those places that delivers every single time. read more

Between Christmas 2025 and New Years 2026, we went here to order the "shrimp and grits". Unfortunately, this item has been taken off the menu. As we know it, now, none of the Great American Restaurants offer this dish. read more

Always a great place to stop in and sit at the bar for a lunch and drinks. Service is always prompt and they make consistently good cocktails. Surrounded by a cool coastal vibe and murals that provide you with a seaside feel. Today we had the crispy two noodle salad with tuna instead of shrimp. One of the things I like about this place is that you can substitute your proteins. read more

Coastal Flats - Seafood Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

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The restaurant has a colorful, engaging design and atmosphere. The menu, which has comparatively few options, offers a decent variety of meal choices. Our server was friendly and attentive, and the food was delicious. We ordered the filet mignon tips and the chicken pasta dinners. Both were great! read more

In the middle of a bussling happening village. Great atmosphere! Food was solid. Portions are decent. Prices are a bit high, but service was good. Don't live in the area, but we'd return if we did. read more

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Service is good, ambience is fine. Food just doesn't have any flavor, just tastes like "grill" flavor. read more

Great food and outstanding service. Try the orange crush if y our looking for a good summer drink. I had the fish tacos read more

Coastal Flats - Open kitchen - Seafood Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

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TLDR: Normal restaurant. Nothing special. Good food after shopping all day. Food (4/5): It's your normal run-of-the-mill American food. It's good, has flavor, and anyone can find someone on the menu. Ambiance (3/5): It's sea themed. Plenty of parking. Service (4/5): Decent. Lots of young kids. I only had 1 issue years ago where the server refused to server a girl in our group. The waitress gave us no reason, just that she didn't want to serve her. So we left. read more

Wife's birthday and I let them know at the front desk - she takes us back and sits us next to a group of employees in training! Ten minutes (which has never happened) passes and I asked if we could get a waiter. The server says I can take your order, then a few minutes goes by and another server comes by and they take our order. It was not the service from years ago. Also, I order my salmon Medium Rare and it comes out Well done. ...and I had to ask for more water (used to be they were filling water every 5 minutes) - Great American Restaurants are not what they used to be. We did not stay for dessert. read more

Coastal Flats - Coastal Flats Training - Seafood Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

Another hit from the Great American restaurants group. This one has some nice aquatic themed decor with lots of glass fishes. The fish fingers are excellent, possibly one of the best fish & chip dishes around town. Thin, crispy batter with flaky fish inside paired with shoestring fries and a solid coleslaw with not too much mayo. The fish tacos use the same fish pieces, and the jalepeno slaw packs a real spice punch. Don't forget to get the Ozzie rolls! read more

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Delicious meal! It was super busy when we went, so recommend a reservation if you're planning on coming during the weekend. The service was fine- we did get charged for an order of rolls we didn't place but it didn't bother us. The food was great, and great prices. A nice space perfect for a casual date night! read more

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Great food and ambiance. The shrimp cocktail is really good. The crab cake sandwich has little filler and is delicious. The chicken havarti Sandwich is awesome and tasty. Margarita is always perfect. The sea bass is nice, the taste is a little too sweet for my liking. The two noodle salad is a great addition to the menu. It's an Asian salad. It has some flavored noodles underneath tossed greens with crunchy little bits of fried wonton tossed with fried battered shrimps. The tangy, ginger flavor really brings everything together nicely in this salad. It comes with additional dressing on the side but I would never use it because it is already tossed in the dressing and adding it would make it to salty. We came back today and had the fish of the day which is a red snapper on top of orzo and the taste of the grilled fish was as though it was fresh off the grill. It was seasoned with very fresh lime juice and delicious. We also have the deviled eggs and crab cake sliders which were delicious. We also love the ceviche which had bits of mango as well as tomatoes and onions. It is super delicious served with crackers. You can't go wrong with Great American Restaurant group. Their food is always the best in NOVA. read more

Coastal Flats - Beef ribs - Seafood Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

Most restaurants these days have at least a couple options, even with modifications, for vegans like me. Almost nothing here is vegan unfortunately. The veggie burger sans the cheese and mayo is likely safe but I'm unsure about the bun. A side of french fries is also likely okay if you're comfortable with shared oil. We ordered a couple of Moscow Mules, which were good and strong. read more

Although I've been to Coastal Flats many times before, I failed to ever write a review. Unfortunately, this most recent experience was probably the worst GAR experience we've ever encountered. Our family loves supporting GAR at all their locations and this dinner for my birthday was not great. Now I'm not saying this was a super horrible experience, but it was not your typical outstanding GAR meal. My husband tried to make a large party reservation at Sweetwater, but the time presented to us would not work so we went with Coastal Flats instead. We were told they could seat us on the patio at 3 tables next to each other. When we arrived, we discovered they were round patio tables bolted to the ground so we were not exactly seated together. Upon trying to decide what to order, I realized sea bass was no longer on the menu. That was a disappointment. So then I decided on fish fingers -- they were out of fish fingers... as well as fish tacos and kids salmon. Another disappointment for me as well as for the kids in our party. One of the servers also completely forgot to take orders at one of our tables. My sister's Sprite was not good - low on syrup perhaps? Our soup appetizers never arrived so the manager rectified that by apologizing and removing it from our bill. My brother's drunken Ribeye was not the outstanding savory taste I've had before. It was pretty bland. To be honest, it seems that most of the entrees we ordered that evening were bland. There was another large party in the patio area at the same time and I overheard the manager apologizing to them for failing to bring out the entrees at one of their tables. Maybe they just had an off night? Been a GAR fan for years and years and I've never had less than great service or food at any of their locations so I was very surprised for this experience. read more

Want to celebrate something with your friends or family at a good American restaurant? Then, come this restaurant. Fantastic food quality, reasonable price, and beautiful spot! Food quality: 5/5 Food Price: 5/5 Customer Service: 5/5 Ambiance: 5/5 Cleaness: 5/5 read more

As an almost 40-year patron of the Great American Restaurants, it still confounds me how they do it and do it so well. Whether Italian, American, Seafood, Steak eats, you're in for a treat. The consistency, the value, the tastes as well as their impeccable service seem to always stand up to time. Coastal Flats proves my thought of their ongoing appeal, therefore their growth in a difficult industry. Our most recent visit did not fail us. Throughout my visits to Coastal we've had the opportunity to sample and enjoy such offerings as the Yucatan Shrimp Cocktail with gulf shrimp, mango, jicama and avocado in a traditional tomato, orange and lime sauce, a very unique and flavorful rendition that is well above par to any other similar seafood resto offering. They offer the best Hot Spinach, Parmesan and Artichoke Dip with fresh tortilla chips served anywhere in the country that I have visited! Whenever at any GAR resto, we order this appetizer - it's the bomb! They offer their superb Crispy Sweet and Spicy Point Judith Calamari that is "tossed" with really, really thin beans and a tasty tangy pepper jelly. Their Crab and Corn Chowder is to die for; and the Lobster Bisque in a subtle yet delicious Sambuca cream with fresh chives is like nowhere else. Last, yet placed first, is their uniquely fantastic Community Breadbasket with your choice of Best Buns (an incredible GAR bakery) bread Ozzie rolls or an assortment of each and served with the best honey butter anywhere - we got the assorted to enjoy their array of fantastic and perfectly made dough. And for desert, you'll never go wrong with GAR's Warm Flourless Chocolate Waffle with vanilla ice cream along with toasted almonds - superb! Unfortunately, we are no longer Virginians, but with every visit to the Metro DC region we visit at least one of GAR's places which now stand at 9 restaurants with 18 locations. This visit was Coastal Flats Fairfax Corner! We miss your great foods while we return home to Phoenix, and hope someday, the Valley of Sun may have a Great American Restaurant. Kudos to Management, Staff and Cooks as well as Randy Norton and Jim Farley, founders of, and provisioners of excellent hospitality and simply terrific food - also your fab server Deshawn. Bon appétit! read more

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We had high hopes coming into Coastal Flats, and in terms of the food, it absolutely delivered. Every dish was flavorful, fresh, and well-prepared. Exactly what you'd hope for from a place with a strong reputation. From the appetizers to the entrées, everything tasted fantastic. However, the experience was unfortunately overshadowed by the service. Our server, Sean, seemed to be in a rush from the moment we sat down. Plates were cleared quickly, questions felt brushed off, and we got the strong impression that we were on the clock. When we didn't immediately pay the check, simply taking a few extra minutes to talk and finish our drinks his demeanor noticeably shifted. He became cold, and we could clearly tell he was irritated. It made the end of the meal uncomfortable and left us feeling like we had overstayed a welcome that shouldn't have been rushed in the first place. read more

Coastal Flats - Seafood Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

My mom and I visited CF recently. She had been wanting to revisit for a while because she missed the lobster roll she first tried here 10 years ago when she visited the NoVA area. The lobster rolls were just as tasty as before, and my mom was delighted. She normally can't finish all her food, but in this very rare instance, she finished everything. At many other restaurants, food and service tend to degrade over time, but here, everything was just as great as before. Our waitress was warm, friendly, and an all around happy person. The service was fast, and the food was perfect. At the end of our visit, Josh (a business partner/manager) came by to say Hi and even extended a nice offer to us the next time we stop by! They were very kind. It was so awesome to see how much they valued their customers and appreciated our visit. They truly made my mom's day. We will definitely be coming back frequently, and hopefully, I can convince my mom to try some of their other wonderful dishes. read more

Coastal Flats - Seafood Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

My son and I had lunch and a couple drinks at the bar for Father's Day. The ladies tending bar could not be any nicer or friendlier than they were. Excellent service, thoughtful, great suggestions on menu options. Just the best! The food was fantastic and they even customized a cocktail for me so it would not be super sweet. Thank you for helping make our day great. read more

A reliable spot for seafood lovers--the lobster roll and fish tacos are fresh and satisfying. The coastal-inspired vibe is relaxed yet polished, though prices lean toward the higher side. Great for a casual but nice dinner out! read more

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Our go to for a good dinner. They do have options, but three out of four of us got the chicken entree. The thin noodles, green beans is just right amount of everything. It's in the middle of having a healthy salad and entree of just protein. If you're had it, you know what I mean. Sorry, forgot to take a picture before eating. Their baby back ribs is my next favorite entree. Cole slaw is yummy and their French fries are thin, which is the type I prefer. Waiter was training, but he was attentive and seemed like he would do well. It was mid-week, but the place was busy. It always is. Although it was busy, its open an enough that we all had our own space to enjoy. read more

Food was really good and the service was efficient! The ambiance was nice and cozy, too. The only big con was that the water glasses were dirty. The calamari was coated in a sweet and sticky sauce - I wish they didn't toss the calamari and just put the sauce on the side, but I still enjoyed the appetizer. The ozzie rolls were really good! They had a nice chewiness and fluffiness to them. The salmon filet was cooked medium rare and was delightful. The sauce it came with was a tasty accompaniment. The pecan crusted trout was my favorite of the night! The flavors were light and fresh, and the candied pecans added a touch of needed sweetness to balance the tartness of the sauce. I had a great dinner here and will be coming back! read more

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