We wanted to find a nice French restaurant near Falls Church to celebrate my husband's birthday,…read moreand my search landed on Cafe Renaissance. I was a little hesitant at first because of some of the reviews, but I've been around long enough to know that there are some on this platform who provide reviews that are unfair and just plain nasty. So here it goes. I would describe this restaurant as a place to have amazing French food with a very engaging wait staff. Saeed himself waited on us, and he is very warm, charming, and very appreciative. I can tell by the clientele dining there, that Cafe Renaissance draws repeat customers who have come back not only for the good food but for the warm service. The room was very ornate, decorated with gold guilded pictures. Tables were adorned with fresh flowers and white linen. The cutlery was beautiful. The food too was amazing. First, the bread was to die for! It came out warm, crusty on the outside, and chewy on the inside, like french bread should be. A table next to us recommended the duck confit appetizer, and yes, it did not disappoint. The duck fell off the bone, and the depth of flavor was mouth-watering. The sauteed cherries and raisin/almond rice were the perfect accompaniment. My husband order foi gras, and yes, it was the lobe - not a terrine, not a tourchon. It was paired beautifully with poached pear and I believe some aged balsamic vinegard. For someone who loves foi gras, this took us back when more restaurants served just the sauteed lobe. My husband was not too fond of the carrots that were served with it, but he doesn't like carrots so that's that. We couldn't decide on the halibut or the scallops so Saeed offered to do the halibut with a scallop on top for us to try. What a nice idea. We both weren't into the scallop (I think maybe it was a little overdone, but it was tasty) but the halibut was the star, especially in the lemon/butte sauce. For dessert, Saeed recommended some simple berries, flambe'd tableside, with a side of ice cream. That was perfect, and again, Saeed indulged us with a small glass of port and slice of chocolate cake. Everything was amazing. So, if you want great French food and a warm and engaging staff, come to Cafe Renaissance. It's what I would call, APPROACHABLE fine dining without the pretence and snootiness. Thank you Saeed for making Christopher's birthday a special one. Can't wait to come back to try your other dishes on the menu.

Where do I begin. My mother and uncle had eaten here twice before and had had great experiences…read more Unfortunately, when I took my wife and mother yesterday (Monday, August 3rd) to this establishment to belatedly celebrate my mother's birthday (it was the first visit here for my wife and I), it was an extremely disappointing experience. When we arrived at 6 PM, we were literally the only customers in the restaurant. The bread service was reheated, not fresh, baguette bread with cold, unspreadable butter. I had specifically wanted to have foie gras which is an item noted on the restaurant's online menu and is a routinely-ordered appetizer in French restaurants. I had wanted three appetizer orders of foie gras for the table and was told by our server that the restaurant had sold out of this appetizer the night before. We ordered French onion soup which turned out to be watery and lacking any flavor. Furthermore, it was brought out piping/too hot such that my mother and I each burned our mouth on sipping the first spoon of this tasteless soup. My wife ordered the scallops entree which was overcooked and rubbery in its consistency. My mother had the fillet de ber (sea bass)--it was too small of a portion. The accompaniments to each entree lacked appropriate seasoning and were relatively tasteless. The service was also unwelcome--our server (a Mongolian gentleman who did not provide his name during the introduction) was overbearing, constantly hovering over us and responding to requests and queries with repeated "Thank you" statements. Though this establishment fancies itself to be a fine dining restaurant, it is far from such. If you're looking for an authentic French restaurant where the food, service, and ambiance are all solid, I strongly recommend going elsewhere.

One of my favorite restaurants in the DC area. Have been here at least half a dozen times, mostly…read morein the dining room and also at the chef's table which is fun. Farm to table experience is excellent, best summer tomato salad ever. Memorable rib eye, rack of lamb, braised short rib, foie gras, wild mushroom bisque soup, pear salad, Manhattans. Good wait staff and superb bartenders. Have taken several friends here and they have all been pleased.

Tucked away in Vienna, Clarity is a great spot for special occasions! It is elegant inside, both…read moresides lined with booths and small tables in the middle. We went for my birthday at 5pm and brought our baby, who they welcomed graciously. That said, I would not recommend this as a baby friendly restaurant. It's a bit too upscale. We got the softshell crab to start along with Cosmo and Wanda cocktail and the Jailbreak. The softshell was big and juicy and very flavorful and both cocktails were delicious. For entrees we got the pork chop and the halibut. The pork chop was a decent sized potion and cooked PERFECTLY. The halibut was smooth as butter but wasn't a very large entree, so I wouldn't recommend if you are super hungry, but if you're not, it's very flavorful and delicate! We then ordered the banana bread, bread pudding to go and ate it when we got home. It was also 10/10! Overall, it was a very nice, elegant experience. I would recommend for special occasions!

Sergio and his team deliver an awesome dining experience starting when you enter and then every…read morestep of the way until you are ready to leave. Fine dining at its best in Vienna. Sergio knows what to do. He makes drinks behind the bar, selects tables for guests, debones the dover sole like the exquisite chef he is. And he looks after everyone. Very importantly, Sergio manages his staff like a conductor who leads an exquisite symphony. He trained them. More importantly, he retains them over the years to enjoy working for Sergio and his guests. The menu choices are overwhelming. Favorites are always included on the regular menus. Daily specials are my choice each and every time! The people of Vienna and NoVA are extremely fortunate to have the choice to dine with Sergio at Bonaroti's.

3.7 stars! Tried this after a friend recommended it. This place has such an old school vibe but…read morestill felt like fine dining. The owner greeted us and even checked up on us a few times. He seemed to know a lot of the customers which makes it feel homey. They gave complimentary bread which came with butter, olive oil, balsamic, and other fixings. The bread was super soft on the inside and had a nice crunch from the exterior. My boyfriend and I ordered the calamari, scaloppini mare terra, fettuccini con funghi, and fettuccini al frutti di mare. In simple terms: calamari, a seafood vodka pasta, fettuccini alfredo w mushroom, and veal with lobster bits served with green beans and scalloped potatoes. Surprisingly, I didn't love the calamari. It had a good size but lacked flavor. It also could have been cooked a tad bit more for better color and texture. The fettuccini alfredo was super creamy and had such a strong mushroom taste! The veal was nice but a bit chewy for my liking. The scalloped potatoes were good but nothing special. However the star of the show was the seafood vodka pasta! It had such an amazing vodka flavor with loads of seafood! I have to admit, they put way too many calamari pieces and not enough of the other items mentioned in the dish. Another thing was that I found a strand of hair on my plate. When I notified the server, he said it was just from the green beans but would exchange it for me. Later, he explained that the "hair" was green bean skin.. which was odd to me considering the hair was turning black to white. I didn't appreciate him trying to make an excuse. I decided to look past it even though the server didn't apologize. Good first experience (other than the piece of hair). The seafood vodka pasta is def a must-have. The vibes are great and the owner makes you feel like family.

The food, the service and attention to detail were outstanding. Our server, the GM, did everything…read moreto make our dining experience enjoyable. We even received a complimentary dish to welcome us back, as repeat customers. You will not be disappointed if you dine here; definitely try the risotto!

Maple Ave is a small, no-frills bistro in Vienna that serves higher end modern European options ran…read moreby two people! They offer a prix-fixe menu that changes seasonally (?) for brunch and dinner. The ingredients here are high-quality and well prepared and cared for before serving. I've heard great things about Maple Ave from a friends, so I took my family here for dinner this past Wednesday. We really enjoyed the creativity of how the dishes were crafted and plated here and the execution was also phenomenal. This time around, it was 59.00 per person for a 4-course prix-fixe dinner (two appetizers, one entree, and one dessert). Since there were only a couple options per section, we were able to try all the options they had. FIRST: APPLE HAZELNUT SOUP Creamy, pale colored soup with a thicker consistency similar to butternut squash soup. It was lightly sweet, yet savory at the same time. There were some pickled apples and toasted hazelnuts delicately sprinkled on top that added a bit of a crunch. The soup was unique and we enjoyed it. FIRST: ROOTCAKE Between the rootcake and the apple hazelnut soup, the rootcake was my favorite. The vegetables were caramelized and made into a patty, topped generously with almonds with some umami aïoli and pimenton sauce. The rootcake was so good. Each bite was hearty and rich, and it's such a unique way to prepare vegetables. The sauce enhanced each bite and the almonds provided a nutty texture. I would recommend the rootcake as your first option. SECOND: CRISPY SQUASH NUGGETS I didn't think I would enjoy the crispy squash nuggets as much as I did. The roasted squash is breaded with panko crumbs, sitting in some dill yogurt sauce and topped with some raisins and radish. The squash were perfectly seasoned and crispy with a soft interior that left my taste buds wanting more. The dill yogurt sauce was a good complement. I'd definitely recommend this option if you're not a fan of mushrooms and/or you want something more crispy. SECOND: WILD MUSHROOM RISOTTO One of the best mushroom risottos I've ever had. It's rich and creamy, filled with truffle flavor. The shiitake mushrooms had a dry, crispy texture. The manchego shavings on top were a great plus. The squash was used for coloring and probably some flavoring? Not sure. The whole thing was really good and memorable. I'd definitely recommend! THIRD: SHRIMP I'm not a huge fan of shrimp, but my family loved it along with the citrus braised fennel. I was a fan of the creamy semolina, though! Overall, it wasn't for me, but that's more of a personal preference. THIRD: PORK CONFIT STEAK The pork they used was pork belly (?) and seared very nicely, topped with perfectly crispy potatoes, mangoes (?), brown butter sweet potato puree and chimi churri sauce. The pork belly melted in my mouth but as someone who's not the biggest fan of fatty pork, I wish it was a leaner cut. The potatoes were so good and went well with the sweet potato puree. Even though I didn't love the pork confit steak, I'd recommend this entree over the shrimp. FOURTH: MOCK FRIED "APPLE" PIE It was zucchini instead of apple and you can't even tell. I loved the crispy pie exterior which was lightly topped with cinnamon. The vanilla bean ice cream was my favorite as it was creamy and smooth. The dulce de leche and lavender honey were nice touches. Very nice way to end the meal. All the food here were so rich with lots of complex flavors. Each dish was so beautifully plated with many vibrant colors. We were quite full after all the food we ate. I would recommend coming here with another person to try all the options they offer here! The food here is unique and well-executed, and I'd be open to come back to try a different seasonal menu.

Fantastic wine tasting dinner! Each course was paired with a…read moredelicious Italian wine. Giovanni is a wonderful talented chef! We hope to attend future special dinners! Gratzi!

My husband and I enjoyed Cafe Tatti's first Sicilian wine tasting dinner last night and it was…read morefabulous. Every one of the 5 courses were amazing and perfectly paired with the Sicilian wines presented by wine expert Guiseppe! The asparagus Arancini, the Citrus tonno crude which melted in your mouth, the Sicilian specialty pasta alla Norma and the very tender veal involtini was over the top. Despite how full we were we ate the entire homemade Cannoli!! The best we have ever had. Gracie, Giovanni and Sema

This place is beautiful, especially the outside. Wish it had been daylight to experience the…read morewaterfalls and nature through the windows. There are tasting menu, prie fixe, and a la carte options and you can mix and match at the table. Don't sleep on the cocktail/mocktail situation, and my friend who did the wine pairing did compliment the pairs. They do drinks well here. They are also very generous with the DELICIOUS bread and butter for the table. The highlights at our table were: - yuzu mocktail - crab tostada - branzino (one of the best fish dishes I've ever had) - katsu wagyu beef (never had anything like it, GET IT) - chocolate tart Service was grand. We were a bit of a rowdy bunch compared to the other clientele (this place is pretty classy, but no strict dress code or anything -- would recommend looking nice-ish, however) and they made sure we were taken care of. I would absolutely return here to try more of the menu and not hesitate to recommend it! Excellent!

This was my first time dining at an upscale restaurant. The food was delicious. My partner and I…read moreenjoyed how each course was described to us. The pace in which we were served was perfect for such a setting. It really let us enjoy our meal without feeling rushed. Our primary waiter was personable and fun. The ONLY negative would be the price. It's not unreasonable but for most it's likely not doable. It was a very expensive meal.

A very reasonable $40 set menu for restaurant week allowed me to sample a truly delightful…read moreassortment of flavors. The Avocado vinaigrette salad had a light mustard dressing that set the palette for the meal to come. I have never tried a Swai filet before, and was surprised by how not "fishy" it tasted. Absorbing the flavor of the butter and breading more than anything, it was both filling and delicious. The floating island was a perfect way to round out the meal, hitting the sweet spots and leaving me satisfied. The seating was comfortable, with delightful art lining the walls. Some close quarters within, but enough space to have private ish conversations. The service was prompt and lovely, despite charging for the wrong table's order at first (which was quickly corrected).

Wonderful classic French restaurant in Falls Church. Cozy atmosphere with dark wood floors, nice…read morelighting and white tablecloth tables. Comfortable yet the feel of a more formal special occasion location. There are 3 price fix options but you can order à la cart if you prefer. The food is outstanding- fresh and delicious. Service is outstanding. Parking is to the left of the entrance. Why the 4 stars?! I thought the 2 times I've been there the desserts have been dare I say average/ok and maybe even disappointing? I'll still return as I believe it to be a high quality meal and experience if you want French cuisine.

I'm so sad to hear that my favorite crepe spot is permanently closed! Throughout the years this has…read morebeen my go-to coffee and laptop spot. They have the BEST dark chocolate strawberry smoothie I've ever had. Their Poulet Gruyere crepe was my regular order and it never once disappointed. The staff was always very nice. RIP crepe amour

This was spot #3 of 4...a slight detour from the coffee marathon for me & fellow Yelper, HeideAnn…read more I originally didn't plan on getting anything, but then we chose to share a savory crepe, which was perfect! We ordered the Poulet Gruyere ($12.10) without the cracked pepper...and let me tell you, it did not disappoint. They cut it it in half, exactly as I requested. This crepe was generously packed with chicken/mushroom/peppers/cheese consisting of intense flavors. While I appreciate the generous amount of filling in the crepe, the ratio of crepe to filling was a little off. The filling probably would have been easier to eat in a wrap form. Nonetheless, it was still very flavorful and I highly recommend it. They have an extensive menu including sweet/savory crepes, all-day breakfast, waffles, various beverages. There is definitely something for everyone. The cafe has plenty of seating (inside & outside), but I would assume it may be a little crowded if/when they get busy. The employees were very friendly and accommodating in that they gave us an extra cup with ice and split and plated the crepe. I thought it was cool they sell the crepe mix separately. There are plenty of outlets for anyone who needs to charge their devices. One thing to note, the cafe is located in a very tight and potentially busy strip mall. While there is enough parking, it can be limited in the evening (from past experience. Would I return? Possibly, if I'm in the area.