I had been reading reviews about this place for a while and when the bf asked where we wanted to go for our 'thanksgiving' dinner I finally remembered this place! As other reviewers noted, it is very quaint, but the flavors are bold! We had the mussels as an appetizer/small plate. It was actually a pretty large sized portion for two. The addition of chorizo gives a nice unexpected element of flavors and textures. The bf had the beef cheek with sweet potatoes, which was great considering I was very skeptical. I had the seared scallops with risotto and basil ice cream. Who would think to put a sweet herb ice cream in your dinner plate?? Crazy, but in a wonderful way. Both dishes were absolutely rich and delicious! We also splurged on dessert, which were the chocolate dumplings. Such a perfectly simple ending to our dinner. We left feeling very satisfied with our choices and full bellies! We will certainly be returning soon! read more

Don't let the sketchy exterior scare you off. This place is well run, clean, and serves fabulous food. We were there for brunch and could not have been happier. Every course was delicious, and they worked wonders with straightforward/honest ingredients. Some highlights: Kika was a friendly and professional waitress. Wonderful mimosa with fresh squeezed juice. Perfectly cooked bacon with super flavorful truffel-oiled eggs (so light, and perfectly prepared). Eggs with KIMCHI--you must try this. Tomato soup with basil oil--literally the best tomato soup I've ever had. (don't tell my great grandmother!!). WORTH the visit! Amazing spiced pear cake--shockingly light and flavorful. read more

Good lord, what an awful experience. Given the rude, inattentive staff and an ambience better suited to a used car lot than a restaurant, you've got to serve to-die-for food to justify the prices charged, and Maple Avenue Restaurant missed on every level. Don't get me wrong. The food wasn't bad; it just wasn't great. The deal breaker for me quite honestly was the wait staff. Not noly were they slow, rude and forgetful, when the orders did finally come, they were wrong. If ANYTHING had gone right, I might assume I just arrived on a bad night. As it is, there are way too many great restaurants in the area to give this one a second chance. read more

A hidden gem (on the busiest street in Town)! I've passed by hundreds of times but finally stopped in for a dinner recently. It truly is a chef's mini-lab with mouthwatering recipe combinations that please the palate and the brain! (Seared scallops with basil ice cream & risotto...roasted marshmallow 'Smores martini with home-made graham crackers...mmm) EXTREMELY limited space so make reservations. High quality, and high cost. Had a lovely dinner and will certainly return. read more

If you drove by this restaurant, you would never guess that inside is some of the best food you'll eat in NOVA. In fact, I almost drove right by it because it's so small and unassuming. But I had one of my favorite meals in a long time here the other night. My friends and I all got the 3 course prix fixe dinner, which was an amazing value at $35 for what we got. We tried the shrimp and grits, the burrata, and the Thai okra. I loved all of them - everything was full of flavor and well prepared. The okra was baked in a nice Thai chili sauce that was tasty without being overpowering and taking away the natural flavor of the okra. The burrata was creamy and melted in my mouth and all the accompanying items on the plate added depth to the dish. And the shrimp and grits were probably the best I've ever eaten. For the large plate, I definitely recommend the scallops. They were seared and cooked just right, and came over a coconut risotto with basil ice cream that melted into the risotto and basically brought a foodgasm on me. One friend highly recommended the bronzini if you like fish. I tried the chocolate dumplings based off the other Yelp comments and wasn't blown away, but they were tasty and not too rich from the chocolate. The bread pudding was a little too rich for me, and the special of the night was a panna cotta that came out looking like it was a piece of art! Thankfully, it tasted as good, if not better, than it looked. I'm still dreaming of that meal days later! This is a great place for a nice night out or a special occasion dinner. I hope to come sometime and try the brunch. read more

Fantastic breakfast. They have a very affordable tasting menu ($38 for two). A nice experience at a low cost. Today we went a la carte with a smoked beet soup & pork belly with adobo sauce. Both were really tasty, nice presentation and a good value. Service is great and it is a cozy casual atmosphere. Great spot for the area!!! read more

I've driven by this super tiny place numerous times on the way to WF, but it wasn't until a few months ago that we finally had the opportunity to dine here on a much needed post-baby night out. The menu is thoughtful and uses local ingredients and the atmosphere is cozy. Do make reservations as there are all but a dozen or so tables. Although the lighting is nice, you are not paying for ambiance. You are paying for the food which is artful, inspired and perfectly prepared. One final note, I came here thinking it wasn't the kind of place to bring our young son, but there were many tables with children. I'm looking forward to coming back soon -- both for dinner and for brunch. read more

Cute little spot! I went with my friends during restaurant week for lunch and was surprised at all of the good options. I did like the gnocchi, and the apple pie sangria was very delicious too. Definitely want to come back for date night, definitely need to make a reservation. read more

The food was delicious! The staff was very friendly and accommodating. We order the 6-course brunch - the variety of food was spot-on and the portions were perfect. One caution: we made reservations 4 weeks in advance - there are 24 seats in the "dining room" The photos are not very good . . . they give you the impression that its a French fry place, and its any but that!!! read more

Been wanting to try this place for quite some time, and was able to get a reservation on this Memorial Day evening. All my husband & I could say was "WOW!" What an amazing experience. Service was wonderful. Highly highly recommend the scallops & beef cheek dishes! One of our NEW FAV restaurants! Everyone needs to come here to have a wonderful meal! Can't wait to try their brunch! Delicious! read more

Brunch is great. People from Korea or Hawaii should be happy to find Spam, eggs, and kimchi are the star dish on the menu. The scrambled eggs were perfectly moist, fluffy, and flavored with bits of Chinese sausage. The cabbage kimchi was seasoned well and lacked that out-of-the jar flavor you get at most NOVA restaurants. There was also a nice scoop of rice to complete the meal. My only negative comment would be that you only get one small slice of grilled Spam. The crème-fraiche chili wings make for a perfect appetizer. The chilis do not overpower the flavor of the chicken and the cream crème-fraiche gives them a nice texture. The chocolate dumplings are a great desert and reminded me of mini chocolate lava cakes. I will definitely come back to try the dinner menu. read more

Yum, yum, yum. Maple Ave has some great food with nice service. Get the mussels and chicken wings! The mussels included Chinese sausage cut into bits and the wings' sauce tasted a bit peanut buttery. I tried bone marrow for the first time and loved it. WOW! They serve it with crostini so you aren't overwhelmed with the heaviness of the marrow. I think it was the chef's wife who came over to talk to us and see how we were doing. I told her I'd never had bone marrow served like that before and we got into a long(ish) conversation about their decision to put it on the menu. Fantastic/funny lady. Unique dishes and would love to go back. Don't forget to make a reservation! read more

This food rocks. The Thai okra, the curry spiced chicken with that delicious slaw accompaniment and the Asian-take on whole bronzini over amazing fried rice that had a healthy amount of heat without overpowering anything. I picked apart that fish because it took me back to a place - crispy skin and balanced, bold flavors. Served head and tail intact. Just wonderful. The wine we had was an Albarino and definitely one of the better ones. Service was warm and attentive, though it can be spotty at times due to the small space and if there are needy tables. But it was incredibly inviting and courteous from the moment Ricardo opened the door for us. The wine list, like the menu, is small, but carefully curated. Just really smart overall. This is where it's at. But forget the cocktails -- somewhat pedestrian given how cocktails are really trendy now. The big con is the small space. No getting around that. Small dining space, small parking lot and awkward waiting area/bar. We were fine with it and sort of liked its clumsy charm, but it can make for cramped dining. read more

We had an excellent lunch. I had then Planko- breaded chicken sandwich, and my colleague had the fish salad. Both were great!

Maple Ave restaurant is terrific. It's got some really interesting takes on classic American dishes. We loved their version of chicken wings! read more

This restaurant is very small, perhaps the building was once a carry-out, and your best bet for dinner there is to make reservations (though I still had to wait for a table once I arrived at my reserved time, which is awkward because the place is so small). The restaurant seems to get heavy patronage and it can fill up quickly for dinner, though I have never seen a full house at lunch. Unfortunately the tiny size of the space leaves diners feeling cramped, not cozy, with no table being "the good table". I hope that this business can move to a larger location eventually because I have not returned because I don't like hearing the toilet flush during my meal nor do I enjoy getting beat down by ice cold wind whenever someone opens the door. The food was pretty good, though the appetizer portions are shockingly spare, so you might want to skip those and just go for a large entree if you want to get your money's worth. I ordered the special of the night which was a grilled pork chop with sweet potato gnocchi and was generally pleased. The pork chop was huge and cooked well, though the gnocchi were very small and fried, which made them all texture and no taste. Considering that the dish was $20+, I don't think I really got my money's worth. My partner had the ribs, which tasted amazing and were a great value, which I'd recommend. I remember his side veggies being way, way overcooked, which was only redeemed by the yumminess of the ribs. They are called "Dr. Pepper" ribs (or something to that affect), though we only tasted yumminess. Overall, it was a nice restaurant to visit for the first time on a special occasion, but I wouldn't go back. The food is overpriced and the restaurant is cramped, it just doesn't seem to be worth it. read more

Great lunch special! Small, cozy place so make sure you have a reservation. Their steamed PEI mussels are amazing with yummy saffron coconut broth. The thai okra is also very delicious. The panko chicken sandwich is pretty good and a nice sized portion. But of course, I had to try the seared scallops. It came with a coconut scallion risotto and basil ice cream. That's right, basil ice cream. I was really intrigued by this so I had to order. The scallops were delicious and the risotto was very tasty. The basil ice cream melted nicely into risotto. Very interesting and I would have it again, although it is a bit rich. read more

Having lived in the 'burbs my entire life, I'm used to trekking out into the city for the more fancier meals I've had the pleasure to indulge in. Thankfully for my husband and I, Maple Avenue Restaurant is not only, practically in our backyard, but the quality of food and service is right up there with most of the fancier establishments in DC. As others have said, the restaurant is quaint, but very charming. If you happen to drive there, you'll want to bring the smallest car you own, because parking is as tight as can be! We arrived for dinner with a party of 3 on a Saturday night, and thankfully had made reservations in advance, as we witnessed a few other would-be patrons getting turned away for not having reservations. To start with, the cocktails are fantastic! I had the Audrey Hepburn and it might have been one of the best cocktails I've ever had...so delicious and lived up to the name!! The appetizers were also incredible. You have to order: Fried Green Tomatoes (best you'll ever have in this area), Crostini (trust me on this one), and all of the salads (all seasonal and very fresh). My husband and his brother are both carnivores so they orderd a few of the meat dishes as their entrees, and raved about them. Sadly for me, Maple Ave only has 1 vegetarian entree, which tends to be the same year-round: the risotto. Now, you should know, I'm not a huge risotto fan to begin with, so I would have be more than overwhelmed to love this dish. While it was a solid dish, it wasn't one that was very memorable or well flavored, but I did love the crostini that was served with it. I had to deduct a star for the simple fact that as talented as the chef at Maple Ave is, his inability to change the vegetarian dish on the menu to something other than risotto year-round, makes this place a step below the best, but still one that you should definitely try! read more

Absolutely inventive and delectable entrees! This place has the poshness of being in DC but with the coziness of an old town Alexandria hole in the wall. A very romantic spot for any date that is sure to dazzle the eye! Be sure to get the scallops with basil ice cream :) read more

Maple Ave Restaurant - Bread Pudding! - New American Near Me - Vienna, Virginia

As if this place needs another stellar review..... Try the fried green tomatoes!!! They were SO flavorful, perfectly cooked. The duck leg confit with Brussel sprout salad was phenomenal. The brussel sprouts were shredded and mixed with an aoli then drizzled in honey- all the flavors perfectly complemented each other. I wish I could eat this every day! The duck leg was tender and flavorful and I don't normally like duck. It was easily the best meal I've had since leaving San Francisco 4 years ago. The ambiance leaves much to be desired. It's very plain, very loud and very small but honestly I couldn't care less. The dessert was nothing special. I'd skip it next time (had the bread pudding and lime pie). They close early (9pm). MAKE A RESERVATION- even on a week night. And it's not good for large parties, though I wouldn't be surprised if they try to accommodate you (it's just physically impossibly given how small it is in there). They were very friendly. read more

Amazing. I had two fantastic signature cocktails and a barley risotto appetizer and braised beef cheek in delicious gravy and perfect potato purée and a lovey Japanese flavor infused creme brûlée followed by a sweet after dinner liquor. The place is very tiny and can probably only seat 20 or so. But it is warm and cozy and the staff is excellent. A true gem! read more

The Maple Avenue Restaurant is a cozy place that produces dishes with big flavor. I thoroughly enjoyed everything I ordered and sampled from my friends plates. The selection of small plates were all tempting. My table selected the mac and cheese and the shrimp and grits to share. The mac and cheese was creamy and smoky. The shrimp and grits was both buttery and fresh. The duck leg confit with fried brussels sprouts was delicious. The sprouts were crispy and nutty; they were probably my favorite thing I ate. The beer braised beef cheek was well prepared and served in a silky sauce that equally compliments the sweet potatoes and the caramelized onions. Julienned scallions brightened up the dish. The service was great and the prices were reasonable for the quality of the food. Maple Avenue Restaurant is an intimate space best shared with a close friend or two. read more

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This is possibly my favorite restaurant! I've eaten here many, many times and am always thrilled with the food, service, and atmosphere! The menu does change frequently, but I highly recommend the creme fraiche wings and duck leg confit for dinner and the truffled eggs for brunch. You should make a reservation, but they can *occasionally* squeeze in a walk-in. If you get there early for dinner, let the hostess know and then head to the bar around the back of the building. They'll come and get you once your table is ready and take your drinks to your table (you can't take them yourselves because you have to go outside). Recently I attempted to make the creme fraiche wings myself and failed miserably. When I came in next, they cheerfully told me where I had gone wrong and how to make them myself. As if I didn't already love this place! read more

Came here for brunch on a Sunday with my boyfriend because my co-workers rave about how good their brunch is here. I ordered the eggs w/ kimchi brunch plate and my boyfriend got the venison omelette. Both plates were "Ok", nothing special at all. A bit disappointed in their food but maybe we didn't get the popular dishes that are actually good?...I don't know. It is a little hole in the wall restaurant. Maybe about 8 small tables? So make sure to make a reservation because it was busy. The reason I am giving it 4 stars instead of 3 is because of our dessert. We got the mochi flight....and omg, it was sooooooo good! Now I can't eat frozen mochis from the grocery store because it won't compare to the mochi they make here. I might just come back here for the mochi flight :) read more

This is a gem in Vienna. It's hard to find a good non-chain, foodie type restaurant outside of DC. This is a very small place, it might fit 25-30 people in the entire restaurant. Service is personal and very friendly. I'd would recommend reservations for weekends. We started with the creme fraiche chicken wings and the pear salad. The wings are nice and crispy with a korean sauce. For the entrees, we had the duck leg confit and the beer braised beef cheeks. The meals were well prepared, seasoned and tasted delicious. I don't remember the multiple cocktails we had, but they were very good. The chocolate bread pudding was a nice finishing course. Overall, we were very impressed with the service and the food. We would definitely go back and try the other dishes on the menu. Tim Ma is a great chef in this area and I look forward to trying his other restaurants & upcoming restaurants. read more

It's hard to find value for dollar anywhere anymore. A diner can get creative food for hundreds of dollars, or you can get lousy food for a moderate bill. Maple Avenue has a very creative foody menu for a reasonable price. I was impressed with the service, presentation and execution. I'll certainly go back and explore other menu items. I had the crem fraiche wings and the duck leg. It was probably a bit too much bird for one meal, but they were both great, so who cares? read more

Very small place with only about ten tables inside. There was a loud group of people next to my table so it was a little annoying. Food was delicious. Especially the green tomatoes. I ordered a bunch of little plates because I wanted to try as many different dishes as I could and it didn't disappoint. Four plates was enough for me to get full :)) The chef accommodated my order of half a plate of scallops. (I wanted scallops but they didn't have it among the little plates or tapas). The waiter was great as well. All in all a very good place. I would come again! read more

It's a very small restaurant with a few tables but it makes up on big flavors, love the fried green tomatoes and the duck just perfect very friendly staff overall great experience! read more

Fantastic food and service! I went here with my boyfriend for the first time tonight and it was AMAZING. I ordered the House Gnocchi with the Apple Pie Sangria - Perfection! Just made reservations for this weekend already! read more

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I've only had takeout food as I came across the Maple Ave restaurant during the pandemic, but I'm a big fan of their quality and unique flavors offered for their dishes. I've ordered from them multiple times over many months and the quality has been consistent. There are a core set of dishes that seem to be on the menu line up, like the wings (very tasty and unique sauce gochujang/creme fraiche sauce, I love it), the empanadas (very tasty, these tend to disappear fast when we've got guests over), and the pork confit steak (great blend of flavors, juicy/tender pork). Their salads appear to go on small ingredient rotations, probably based on what's in season, and we always double or triple order this item because it's that amazing. Hoping to be able to dine in in the near future and try their other dishes as well! read more

Ordered dinner for 2 last night on the Curbside Covid-19 system. What a delicious and special dinner! Arctic char & the Pork... Chef's dishes are always delicious and created with freshest ingredients. All cooked, prepared and packaged for safety -and taste! We ordered to give a vote of support to this innovative, delightful restaurant venture. Always a destination treat. We were rewarded with a break from anxiety and the consolations of such well-prepared and delighting dishes... Their curbside system is not fancy but is clearly thought-through for distancing and employee-customer safety. Looking forward to returning in person, post-crisis. Bravo Maple Avenue!! and Thank you for last night's uplifting special dinner. read more

Dinner last night at Maple Ave in DC was everything and more than my boyfriend had told me. The staff are lovely, the atmosphere cosy and clean....I ordered the Artic Char ( the most perfectly cooked piece of fish I have ever had- Amen) with herb spaetzle, lemon thyme, oregano and an amazing smoky tomato sauce. My guy had seared scallops with coconut risotto, scallions and basil ice cream - drooling. Dessert was fried apple pie with dulce de leche, cinnamon sugar, lavender honey and vanilla ice cream. We both ordered a Mojito Sangria. Ahhhhhh Perfection. Every sip, slurp and spoonful. read more

Tried to have lunch there right when they opened. A couple of minutes after we were served our food, a mouse ran across the dining room floor and over my wife's purse. The waitress, cook, and manager all came out and chased the rodent around the dining room with a broom, sheepishly saying that it looks like our meal is no charge. My wife had already bailed out of the restaurant, so I picked up our things, made sure the mouse wasn't in her purse, and we left. I had barely started to eat, so cannot comment on the food, but if they have such a rodent problem, maybe that is a good thing. read more

Third time was not a charm...finally went last night. We had tried twice previously but life got in the way and a 30 minute jaunt to Vienna made rescheduled impossible (we tried). My wife is a vegetarian and the choices we limited. Sweatpants Sunday - we went as a belated-b-day dinner but we dined with family in sweatpants, other couples in date attire, and kids playing angry birds on iphones. I wanted to like it and not be a hater but sitting two feet from the door with blasts of cold air turned me green. The decor is fine, the space is small; they have a few local photos and pieces of art amongst the random power outlets, cords, and other building guts that spill out from the back wall. I spent a good portion of the meal wondering what this space used to be. The food was good. The portions were fair. Our server was meh; the entree came out while we were still working on our salads (apple - yum!) and thai okra (super yum!). No asking, just dropping. We lived and finished our meal but the entire experience, ever for a Sunday, felt rushed. Desert was bread pudding (yum) and lime pie (marshmallow topping wonderful but too much crust and way, way, too sweet). I'm sure it's great for Vienna but I'm surprised it's so high on the Washingtonian magazine ratings and can say that we will not return. read more

This is a small wonder found right on 123 (Maple Avenue) in the heart of Vienna. You could easily miss it when you're driving by, but make sure you don't! This day we went for brunch, and I had the truffled eggs with breakfast potatoes, bacon and a side salad. They were sensitive to my gluten allergy, and did a great job catering to it, as the menu was marked with what was what as far as gluten free goes. Everyone at the table loved everything they tried, each had unique flavors and felt like they were homemade especially for us, not in a restaurant kitchen. The size of the restaurant is very small, and therefore, make sure you make a reservation, even for brunch or lunch. They also do not do any substitutions, but why would you need to with this menu? Too bad we didn't leave room for dessert, with the funnel cake we saw at a neighboring table, my mouth was watering again. There are just enough parking spots in a lot next to and behind the restaurant, so get there a little early to make sure you can find one. read more

tl,dr; great food, really small venue, go here (for you people on mobile phones looking for quick summaries) Long version: came here with a friend, did not disappoint. The menu appears boring, but don't let that fool you. Our waitress told us that we could opt to eat the "small plates" either as an appetizer for a main plate or treat them like tapas. I wasn't sure if I wanted some variety in life, or maybe I just wanted to see what the hell this restaurant is, but I chose to order five small plates and share. Portion size was pretty good and the items were things I've never really tasted before, like Thai inspired okra or beef tongue and tripe salad. They were all very good, even the more familiar items like beer battered fries or steamed mussels. Since I still wanted to talk some more with my friend but not wanting to seem like dicks just sitting at a table, overextending our welcome, I pushed for dessert. While my moral, health conscious self regretted ordering two fried items, I personally enjoyed their homemade funnel cake and chocolate dumplings. I admit, it's probably kinda stupid to get two similarly fried desserts, in the words of the wise man Drake, YOLO. No but seriously, it was good. It didn't feel heavy at all and the textures were great--crisp on the outside, rich and decadent on the inside. My GI tract is going to get its revenge on me tomorrow morning, but I'd probably come back here again. Fair warning, it's really small and parking sucks, but in another light it's cozy and makes you feel like you're in one of those Hobbit homes (not really). You could also bring some friends here to just sample desserts and drink coffee, this places seems great for that. read more

I enjoyed this place! It's very small and looks like a dive restaurant from the outside, but it has character. My mom read in the Post that it only has 2 servers, but it doesn't need any more. It only holds 26 people and that would be tight. Apparently the man who owns it is also the Chef and he changes the menu according to what food is fresh and available. We were in a group of 4. Anyway, I had the baked mac and cheese which was fantastic -- made with gruyere cheese. I also had the duck frise salad, which was amazing. I also had the whole fish which was served to me right out of the kitchen, hot and fresh. I asked that they remove the head and tail and they obliged. The fish still had the spine, but that's ok, it's just a little harder to eat, but worth it. The thai Okra is excellent and so is the apple salad and tomato soup. The beet salad was bit underwhelming. I also had the shrimp and grits which I thought was pretty good, but some of the other food was better. For dessert, the chocolate dumplings are to die for!! read more

I was very excited to see they had opened a restaurant in this little spot since its so close to my house! My boyfriend and I went there for dinner one night and after a brief wait we were seated and had some great beer and awesome homemade dumplings. He got the steak and I got the salmon, both were delicious! The best part though was the desert! We got the funnel cake with ice cream and I was in my own personal heaven! The place is a tad bit tight, but service is friendly and it has a cozy atmosphere. I hope this place stays around!! read more

We breezed into Vienna looking for a new curiosity and we stumbled upon the Maple Ave Restaurant. I vaguely recalled the name but then again I'd never been inside. I'd assumed it was a mom and pop diner or something of the sort. I've never been more wrong in my life. It was like a tiny little fine dining experience. A little old beat up building chintzed up to look elegant inside. But, what really seals the deal was the meal. We enjoyed the barzotto, intensely flavored. Topped with "baconesque" mushrooms. And then we had an order of their muscles which were excellently flavored and not overlooked. The sauce creamy and delicious. Finally we had the red beet gnocchi which were soft and melty as opposed to the doughier ones I've had elsewhere. Their sauce was really perfect with the veggies and cheese too. Everything left you wanting more. I finished off the meal trying out the beer float. It was an interesting flavor. I recommend this to people who enjoy more bitter beers, definitely not for lite beer drinkers or someone like me who prefers a good Guinness from the tap. Short story long, this place blew my taste bud's mind. read more

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Delicious!!! That is all. Pumpkin buttermilk pancakes, OMG!!! My boyfriend had the venison omelette and it too was delicious. They give you a personal French press at the table for your coffee which he LOVED and for me, the bottomless mimosas were delish!! Was worth the drive, although we were going to a show out there which was the main reason that we made the reservation. Oh yes, and DON'T FORGET to make your reservation!! read more