After getting off a plane from a week-long trip, I ordered takeout from Carlisle for my mom and me…read more I dropped her food off in D.C. and continued on to Catonsville, and somewhere between the drive, stopping at the store, and unpacking from my trip, I realized I hadn't even taken any pictures because I was too busy enjoying the food along the way and when i arrived home. I ordered the steak (sliced steak with mushrooms) , and it was excellent ....well-seasoned, flavorful, and cooked just right. The mashed potatoes were creamy and delicious. We also got the crab and corn chowder, which is always outstanding. Rich, comforting, and packed with flavor every time. Key lime pie .... on point .... oh and a salad. i got the chopped salad and added the ever so good goats cheese. Everything was EXCELLENT. What I appreciate most about Carlisle is the consistency. Whether I'm dining in or picking up takeout, the food is always good. Not just okay BUT actually flavorful, well-prepared, and satisfying. That's harder to find than it should be these days. I've been here many MANY times over the years and the experience is consistently excellent. The service is great when dining in, pickup is always smooth and efficient, and the food never disappoints. Carlyle continues to be one of those reliable places that simply gets it right. And whenever I pick up my to go order the bar is always crowded with folks looking like they are having a great time. That should tell you something. Highly recommended.

After a very disappointing dining experience the night before at Planta Queen, the restaurant Gods…read morerebounded and handed me one of the very best nights I could imagine. We were celebrating an old friend's birthday, so I wanted a special evening. We went to the Signature to see "Safety Not Guaranteed" which was so good and so much fun. Then on to dinner at Carlyle in Shirlington. Carlyle always pumps out some of the most satisfying meals. You are almost guaranteed to love what the kitchen presents you with. This event was no different. I started with the crab & corn chowder. Thick, luxurious, savory perfection! My main course was Jambalaya Pasta which was outstanding. The chicken was moist, the shrimp was perfectly prepared and the andouille sausage added a perfect piquant note. The creamy sauce finished a great dish. There was so much that I could not eat it all (and I usually eat everything that is placed in front of me). But the best - the ABSOLUTE BEST - part of the evening was our perfect server Sebastian. He was professional, friendly, fast, funny, helpful and everything you want in a server. Plus, he did it all with one of the best personalities that I have ever come across in a server. At one point, we were all laughing so hard, that he had to sit down because he was ready to fall over. He served us, yes! But more than that - he ENTERTAINED US!!!! How often has that ever happened to you??? It is a night that I will not soon forget! Sebastian is a smart guy who will no doubt go far in his life. But, for now, for right now, he is at the top of his game at Carlyle! If you love Carlyle, you will absolutely LOVE Sebastian. Please ask to be placed in his station. I promise he will not disappoint you. Thank you, Sebastian, for making my evening wonderful and for making my BFF's birthday dinner a stunning success, thanks to you!!!! I highly recommend Carlyle - and especially Sebastian - to one and all!

Whenever in the DMV, especially during a weekend travel trip; you can find me at the 8:00…read moreAM worship services at Alfred Street Baptist Church, Alexandria VA and then off to breakfast at Busboys and Poets in Shirlington. First, word for the spiritual soul and then food for the physical soul and both places seldom disappoints. Today, 7/19, Kris was my server. Effervescent and attentive. What an awesome way to start my Sunday as well as my work week. Thanks Kris, for the smiles, laughter and memorable service. Chefs kiss for the omelette and the crab grits. Crab grits!?!, really?

I had a great time at Busboys and Poets today. I ordered the Blackened Salmon and an Agua Fresca…read more My waitress, Kristian, was extremely prompt and very courteous throughout my meal. I will visit again and bring my family the next time. I hope I get Kristian again.

We came here on a cool rainy June Tuesday to check out Ichiban. We were allowed to seat ourselves…read moreand since it was middle of the afternoon, there were plenty of tables to pick from. Service was fine and attentive. We like Ichiban and will definitely be back. Sushi and ramen are the biggies here, but there's other stuff too like bento boxes, fried rice and plenty of appetizers. We started out with the miso soup which was rich and flavorful. We also got the crunchy shrimp and crispy shrimp rolls. Both were good, but I especially liked the crunchy shrimp rolls. In addition, we ordered the pan-fried shumai. I'm used to steamed shumai, but I really like pan-fried. The dipping sauce that came with the shumai was tasty. JP ordered the salmon bento box. It came with endamame, pan-fried gyoza, carrots, sautéed onion, broccoli and white rice. The salmon with a nice glaze was delicious and perfect. I ordered the beef bento box. It was the same as the bento box, except instead of salmon, it came with a steak-like cut of sliced beef. This also was an excellent bento box.

I came for the sushi pops but stayed for the sushi lol! Stumbled on Ichiban on a Sunday dinner…read morewhere we thoroughly enjoyed the FRESH sashimi and sushi! Tried the veggie gyoza and the GOLDEN shrimp - that is a must order, so good! they do have Happy Hour from M-FR from 230- 630pm!! such a long HH, you need to take advantage of. The Seared salmon roll from the HH menu was my favorite. The Japanese cream puff was SO light, it was a perfect ending to our meal. The free parking garage next door (library parking) makes it so convenient. Highly recommend for a lowkey dinner date out!

We had an après-theatre reservation and were seated promptly. The banquette with pillow was…read moresurprisingly comfortable. Our waiter Kevin was attentive and personable. I ordered 2 appetizers. I usually order saganaki, but saw Feta Psiti ($19) and had to try it. It's described as "baked feta wrapped in puff pastry, finished with a sprinkle of sesame & a drizzle of honey." It was absolutely delicious and could absolutely be a not-too-sweet dessert. Then I had the Paidakia appetizer ($29) - 2 lamb chops cooked perfectly with lemony Greek potatoes and asparagus. Yum. It was the perfect amount of fantastic food, topped off with a spoonful of my friend's rice pudding (Rizógalo) which was hearty and cinnamony. Wishing I was there eating this meal again...

We loved this place, with its cheery blue and white umbrellas and blue plates. Started with the…read moreolives, tomatoes and feta plate. The feta was mild and delicious and not salty. Then I got the octopus Greek salad and so glad I did. We skipped dessert but the next table over did not. They looked amazing. Service great, delicious Aperol spritz, great night.

You can't go wrong with any of the lobster roll. The chowder are great too. We've ordered both on…read moreUber Eats and dined inside and the quality and taste is consistent.

We ordered the Connecticut lobster roll, clam chowder, a crab roll, and lobster mac & cheese. We…read morealso had the lobster bisque. I would say the best thing that we ate was the clam chowder. However, they ran out and so we got the very bottom of it. All they need to have more. The people working there were really nice and prompt giving us our food. The place was clean, but there wasn't a lot of seating. Overall, it wasn't my favorite. The mac & cheese was bland and there really wasn't that much lobster to be honest. Seriously the best thing was the clam chowder which was yummy.

The all you can eat brunch was a great way to check out a lot of the menu items. Really great food…read moreand great bloody Mary's! Natalie was the BEST!

Palette 22 had been on our list for the longest time, and now we're just upset we didn't try it…read moresooner! We went on a Saturday night and made a reservation, which I'd definitely recommend. The space is so unique and artsy. The walls are covered with beautiful artwork (some of which you can actually purchase), and even the menus are works of art. It made the whole experience feel fun and creative. The staff was wonderful, especially our server Noah, who was incredibly attentive and made the experience even better. We did the bottomless dinner, and the value is honestly unbeatable. We tried the grilled gem lettuce, marinated cucumbers, street corn, hoisin-glazed pork belly bao buns, P22 cheeseburger sliders, spicy shrimp & pancetta pizza, funghi pizza, dan dan noodles, rigatoni norcina, and the sesame steak skewers. Everything was delicious, but the standouts were the dan dan noodles (rich, savory, and packed with flavor), the funghi pizza (crispy with earthy mushrooms and perfectly melted cheese), and the sesame steak skewers (tender, juicy, and coated in a flavorful sesame glaze). The hoisin-glazed pork belly bao buns were soft, fluffy, and packed with melt-in-your-mouth pork, while the rigatoni norcina was creamy, comforting, and perfectly cooked. The grilled gem lettuce was also a fresh, flavorful way to start the meal. For drinks, the white sangria and pomegranate ginger mocktail were both refreshing and delicious. Dessert didn't disappoint either, the flourless chocolate cake (with candied pecans instead of hazelnuts) was rich without feeling too heavy, and the churros were light, crispy, and perfect with the caramel and chocolate dipping sauces. We finished with cappuccinos, which were the perfect ending to the meal. 10/10 experience, we'll definitely be back!

Grabbed dinner with a friend here - it was a good choice! The cocktails are tasty and the food…read morepairs well. Particularly enjoyed the fried goat cheese appetizer and deviled eggs. Pork chops were yummy as well. The courtesy corn bread was a nice touch. The service was great; our server checked on us regularly as we ordered a variety of things on the menu. Ambiance as casual and relaxing.

Had lunch there couple weeks back and sat outside. Outside area is clean and servers were friendly…read more The food for brunch has a lot of variety and they also give free popcorn! Definitely recommend to try them out.

Amazing restaurant. Their all you can eat option is absolutely fantastic. Best bang for your buck…read more Highly recommend the seasoned garlic butter. Not too salty, just perfect.

About three weeks ago, I left a 5-star review for Hook & Reel Cajun Seafood & Bar because, until…read morerecently, it had become one of my family's go-to seafood spots due to its convenience and generally good food. Before that, our preferred restaurant had always been Crazy Crab, where we consistently had excellent experiences. Unfortunately, after today, I will not be returning to Hook & Reel. I brought family members who had just driven in from Massachusetts and planned to treat them to dinner. There were four of us dining, and while three planned to order the All-You-Can-Eat option, one person preferred ordering directly from the regular menu. After we had already ordered drinks, we were informed by the manager, Vivian, that either everyone at the table had to order All-You-Can-Eat, or everyone had to order from the regular menu. There was no flexibility, no customer consideration, and no appreciation shown for the fact that we are repeat customers who have spent a significant amount of money there over time. In fact, several friends and members of our church began dining there based on our recommendation. What was most disappointing was not simply the policy itself, but the way the situation was handled. We were made to feel as though the restaurant viewed us as people trying to "game the system" over a few shrimp or crab legs, rather than loyal customers bringing business and referrals into the establishment. To make matters worse, this was communicated only after our drink orders had already been placed. Rather than create a scene, we simply paid for our drinks and left. We immediately went to Crazy Crab, where the experience could not have been more different. Staff members remembered us even though it had been months since our last visit. We were welcomed warmly, treated with dignity and respect, and received exceptional service from beginning to end. We gladly spent over $230 there instead. As a retired Army veteran, retired federal executive, business owner, and someone who frequently hosts family, friends, church members, and professional guests at restaurants, customer experience matters greatly to me. One poor interaction can cost a business far more than a single table. It can impact repeat business, referrals, community reputation, and future opportunities. From a business perspective, this experience should concern ownership. In today's economy, restaurants do not simply compete on food -- they compete on customer experience, relationships, and reputation. One inflexible interaction from management did not just lose a single dinner sale; it likely lost repeat visits, family gatherings, business meals, church referrals, and positive word-of-mouth within the local community. Strong businesses empower managers to protect both policy and customer relationships. Unfortunately, in this situation, customer loyalty and hospitality were sacrificed over what appeared to be concern about one person potentially sharing food. That decision ultimately cost the restaurant far more than it protected. If you want to dine somewhere where hospitality, consistency, and customer appreciation still matter, I would strongly recommend Crazy Crab. I truly hope Hook & Reel reflects on how situations like this are handled in the future, because no loyal customer should leave feeling disrespected after choosing to spend their hard-earned money at your establishment.