The service, ambiance, cocktails and desserts at Surreal are the true star of the show. I can't remember the last time I had a lava cake or pisco as good as I had here. Unfortunately, that is where it ends. The food, being Latin and Asian fusion influenced is always doing a bit too much. The star Bahn mi is both too sweet and also too spicy. The swordfish crudo has just way too much pickled items with the caper berries and gherkins while loading on the cream and Doritos. The tuna poke, while fresh and instagrammable, is too sweet. The food feels like something I would get whilst eating at an upscale hotel restaurant. While that isn't bad, it isn't great either and that is the perspective I want to keep here. That being said, Surreal is absolute worth the trip for a few cocktails and desserts with friends, surprisingly good value, and suitable for lots of different palettes. I just don't think it is the playful adventurous foodtopia it is claiming to be. read more

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I met a couple of friends here for dinner. I ate an hour early with my kids so I didn't get a chance to eat dinner there. I did have some oysters and their spicy house sauce was not bad. They do have valet parking for $8 which was nice. Cash only but they have an app that you can scan and pay with. The service was great! The waiter refilled our water when it was low and didn't hover. Plenty of seating area. The ambiance was surreal. It's got that magical feel and good to meet up for happy hours, catch up with friends, or date night. My friends enjoyed their dinner and I think surreal lives up to its name. I'll be going back soon. Check them out and hope you get the same vibes I felt there. ...surreal! read more

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Amazing service, gorgeous space, easy to walk to, and great menu items! I think for the price, I'd like a little better execution on the menu as the menu items were quite promising. Pizza was decent; sauce could use a little tone down on maybe the red pepper or something else? The branzini was PERFFF but a smidge less oil as the fish does have some natural fats and oils to help in the cooking. That being said, the poke was fab and everything else was darn decent. I'd go back, especially for a work dinner or something casual but classy and fun. read more

Delicious food. Super cute restaurant. Very kind waiters and bartenders. Love the place.

Went here with some friends for lunch and got the chicken sandwich and like it just wasn't good. Some people got the pasta Alfredo and said chicken wasn't seasoned. The people who seemed the happiest was the ones who got pizza and salad which is what I would get if I came again. The place thought? Super cute! I love it so much. Down to the mirrors on the bathroom doors. So photosss are like that. Food to me wasn't. read more

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my good friend @prtygrl_928 treated me to brunch last month to celebrate my graduation [insert screams and hollars] . here's what we had: surreal combo breakfast airy waffle + bacon surreal mojito enchanted lemonade __ i eat. @f.hux i thrift. @dcthriftish read more

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Food was interesting and pretty good. the capachio was mainly everthing but the fish. the gnocchi was very light and pillowy. the service was earily good, super fast to fill your water glass. of course they are secretly charging for water. $100 for my table. oh and they'll charge practically an entire meal if you add a protein. oh and they charge for their fancy payment system. I'm surprised they dont charge you to sit down. If it wasnt for all the extraneous charges they may have gotten 4 stars. read more

Surreal Global Kitchen - Bars Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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Service was below average. Food was average. Our groups had the Caesar salad, which everyone enjoyed. We also had the fried chicken (large portion, but basic), Asian salad (don't recommend), pasta (all enjoyed), and salmon (would not order again). The atmosphere was fine. But the fancy bar drinks were average. Overall, I would likely not return to this location. read more

this place was not good food wise. I had the cheese plate and salmon. the cheese plate was meager and inspired with strange bread. the salmon was not cooked well. many in my party were unsatisfied by the food. the service was just ok and I didn't feel they guided our orders well. plus one star for fantastic ambiance. that's the only thing this place has going for it -- it's gorgeous inside. read more

This is a place you want to like though it is just not great. Pros: Pretty restaurant, good tea and coffee, almond crossiant was on point (one of the best we have had), the eggs and pancakes Brunch: The avocado toast was insanely salty, like so much to where it was not enjoyable. The bacon was undercooked and greasy. And the waffle was inedible, it tasted like it was made out of cheese?! The service was slow and it was not crowded. Parking is a mess with the area under construction and they do not validate. Overall, it was just not a place to recommend. Maybe it was an off day? read more

Have eaten here twice in the last two weeks and really enjoyed both meals. Pizzas are consistently good and we really enjoyed the fried oyster appetizers, the fried rice, the Mac and cheese, and the Carolina ribs. I would say the veal mcparm did not have a ton of flavor but the short rib ragu was excellent with the sauce being a hit. read more

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An attempt by Seven Reasons Group to create an eclectic but approachable restaurant, but that combo itself resulted in expensive but ordinary food. I ordered the poke (which comes with an enormous rice paper puff), which was fine but clearly overrated by the presentation of the rice puff. The "approachability" is clear as the rest of the menu consists of traditional American foods such as salads, burgers, sandwiches, etc., but it just didn't make sense for the price point and the mood of the restaurant. The dessert (pineapple flan) was great though! read more

Surreal Global Kitchen - flan - Bars Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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I work and live here so I'll tell you like it is. Don't eat here unless it's on the company's dime. The food isn't worth the price point. Not even close. Only use them for two things: drinks in a nice decor. Take out orders of their breakfast egg sandwiches. You're welcome read more

Great food for the pork chop really delicious. Desert the cheesecake very tasty. Service is always great. read more

Surreal Global Kitchen - Pork chop - Bars Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Surreal is one of my favorite new restaurants. We stopped in on a whim during a conference in Crystal City and we were surprised at how fun the menu was. I consider it simple food presented in a new way. We had the crispy tuna poke (how can you not order the big puffs?!), a Nashville brisket sandwich (broccoli inside the sandwich), some gnocchi and pizza. My favorite is the pasta puttanesca - deep and flavorful, it's the first thing I think of when I think of Surreal. The desserts were also fun. Everything from cheesecake to key lime pie and a deconstructed chocolate lava cake. Good, basic food served in a creative and fun presentation. This is my kind of place. If you're ever in Crystal City, you should definitely stop in and give Surreal a try! read more

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Cute place with a nice atmosphere, but the salad was rotten and ruined the experience. read more

Surreal Global Kitchen - Funghi salad - Bars Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

So excited that we came here to enjoy a nice meal with friends. The entire meal was delicious, but I have to admit the dessert was my absolute favorite. The decor inside of this place is very magical. And there are a lot of options to sit with a date or friends or a group. The waiters provided great feedback on which items on the meal were popular. Unfortunately I did not get pictures of our pasta dishes, which were also very yummy. read more

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The design aesthetic is so playful and blends perfectly to be mature and whimsical. You notice it as soon as you walk in. I went for a late lunch on a Saturday evening, surprisingly it wasn't too busy but the food was so fresh and the service was attentive and personable from each interaction. I would go back to try more dishes and will report back. read more

Surreal Global Kitchen - Double Crazy Fried Chicken Sandwich - Bars Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

From the minute you walk up to this joint, you know it's gonna be an elevated experience. Sexy music is playing as you walk up, bright lights beckon you, you walk up to the hostess and see a backdrop of giant green plants and cloud-shaped chandeliers. The open kitchen serves as the perfect backdrop, and you can't wait to order. You order the boomdog, a Mexican street food classic dressed in shredded Oaxaca cheese and served with a side of saucy fries. Next, you enjoy the fettuccine Alfredo is a classic, so creamy and decadent. The chicken sandwich does not disappoint, from the shredded cabbage to that secret sauce, it's a must. The mocktails were fruity and fun, but I would have liked a wider selection. The only knock I have is the service. It's disjointed and disorganized. It dampens the mood and dining experience. Chasing someone down to pay your check isn't great, and neither is waiting to order. Our waiter seemed to disappear for periods of time, so I'm not sure if they were assigned tables in another dining room (it's a large restaurant). If they are understaffed, then it's sad and unfortunate that the waiter was placed in this position. Not sure what happened here . . . read more

Great customer service so nothing bad to say there. This place is owned by the same owners as Seven Reasons in DC so i was not expecting cheap but i was expecting bigger portions lol. The inside looks like playhouse Disney. Weird array of colors and chairs. Everything else.. I ordered an espresso martini which was really good. The cocktail's are a bit pricey but what is to expect in Arlington. The Caribbean chicken noodle dish was spicy and really small...it was like the size of two fists. It was quite shocking. The pizza was delicious. The spaghetti and meatballs were just OKAY, but there was a problem. The portion was so small i almost wanted to cry LOL. The meatballs were chopped up and undercooked. We had to send them back. I am not sure what happened. The manager came around and said sorry but OFFERED NO DISCOUNT. She said they will make the meatballs smaller so they cook better. When she brought them out the second time, it was three tiny meatballs LOL. OVERCOOKED. I have no idea what happened. It was awful. The biggest waste of money. PS-- i saw a few people send back the fries and a burger. Maybe they undercooked the burger too. haha My sister's Saigon beef sandwich was so spicy. The fries had cheese on them and it was a spicy cheese with something similar to old bay. It was a weird dish. I am not sure what fusion he was going for on this one. I don't think i am a fan of his restaurants. Seven reasons dinner left a lot to be desired, i don't know why i came here. read more

Surreal Global Kitchen - Spaghetti and Meatballs - Bars Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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Supremely disappointed in my experience here given that I have been to other restaurants from the same chef one of which has a Michelin star! He really messed up here. The only nice thing about this restaurant was the beautiful ambience. However, the location is not great. Service was impossibly slow I don't know what was going on! There was a huge gap between the first course and second course. The food was soooo bland it was missing something major like spices or flavoring! I tried the tuna poke app which was NOT fresh and had a weird vinegar aftertaste. I also tried the Margherita pizza which was not a traditional Margherita pizza and was basically a regular cheese pizza with weird cheese added (not fresh ricotta). It was so so flavorless! Like at least add some salt!!! The crust also had a weird texture. Really disappointed in my experience here. I will not be back. read more

Food/drinks were good (service just a tad slow sometimes). We ordered salmon, pizza, pasta and a couple of us shared the deconstructed key lime pie which was the best. read more

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I dined with some friends for a birthday dinner. We were seated promptly and greeted by our server. The ambiance was beautiful and the restaurant was in a great location! I was fasting from alcohol so I was happy to see they had a variety of mocktails. For dinner, I had the salmon. Like other reviews, it was nothing special. I could of fixed it at home. The star of the show was the desserts. My favorite was the chocolate cake with ice cream and caramel sauce. I'd come back for drinks and dessert. Unfortunately, my main entree missed the mark. read more

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Came upon this restaurant with a group of co-workers and were lucky to be seated right away. There were 6 of us so we did need to be seated near the kitchen at tall tables, but it was actually ideal since it gave us a chance to see all the food coming out. All really delicious looking. I settled on the meatballs with noodles; a few of us went with the signature poke dish. My meal was great and all good reviews for the other dishes. Plus the pillow puff looked really neat! I would definitely go here again if I was in town. read more

Surreal Global Kitchen - Bars Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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Stopped by for lunch last week. I was really looking forward to trying this restaurant because I love Limardo's other restaurant, Seven Reasons. Service was slow, but great ambiance. Entrees were just ok. We had the crispy tuna poke pillow and crispy fried chicken sandwich. The pillow had dried seaweed in it - edible and innovative but just ok. The tuna was lacking flavor and sauce. The crispy chicken sandwich was oversauced and not crispy. We ordered a side of fries - the sauce was amazing! It was like an aioli. The show stopper was the chocolate lava cake service. The cake was moist and delicious, and the caramel and soft serve were amazing. I wish the entrees were better or perhaps we need to try other things on the menu. Cocktails were decent. read more

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My husband works nearby and had watched construction of Surreal with eager anticipation. We enjoyed a lovely date night here after drinks at the Alamo bar. Walking in, I loved the rainforest flora running through the center of the restaurant. Other design elements like the gorgeous water glasses, curved cushioned bench seating, and lamps on the bigger tables are attractive. Service was attentive and helpful. To start, we shared a cocktail that was as tasty as it was beautiful. Our waiter steered my husband away from having the carpaccio as a main and recommended that he order something else and have the carpaccio as a starter. It was delicious, as were the scallops that I ordered upon recommendation (bacon relish...oh, my!). My husband's main was the hot honey pepperoni pizza, which was delicious, too. The first two dishes felt very high end, while the pizza was definitely more casual. It was interesting to mix both at one meal, but we enjoy each end of the dining spectrum, so it was welcome in our case. I'm not in sure the concept is completely harmonious and will thrill everyone (the couple next to us thought their portions were too small), but I wasn't deterred by the eclectic nature of menu. Could you walk in and spend only $20 per person? Yes, but you'd definitely have to stand your ground against the server who would recommend the pricier options. If you're amenable to spending closer to $50 per person, you will enjoy a Willy Wonka style experience for adults. read more

From the moment we stepped into Surreal, we knew we had made the right choice. The ambiance was perfectly curated, with a music selection that set a relaxing yet vibrant tone. Every staff member we encountered was incredibly kind and attentive, making us feel genuinely welcomed. The food? Absolutely outstanding! We enjoyed the Avocado Toast, Salmon Croissant, Tequeños, and Lava Cake, and each dish was a delight. The flavors were fresh, well-balanced, and beautifully presented. What made this visit even more special was that my friend had just arrived from Chicago to DCA, and I suggested we stop here for brunch. It turned out to be the perfect first impression of the DC metro area--delicious food, warm hospitality, and a fantastic atmosphere.From the moment we stepped into Surreal, we knew we had made the right choice. The ambiance was perfectly curated, with a music selection that set a relaxing yet vibrant tone. Every staff member we encountered was incredibly kind and attentive, making us feel genuinely welcomed. The food? Absolutely outstanding! We enjoyed the Avocado Toast, Salmon Croissant, Tequeños, and Lava Cake, and each dish was a delight. The flavors were fresh, well-balanced, and beautifully presented. What made this visit even more special was that my friend had just arrived from Chicago to DCA, and I suggested we stop here for brunch. It turned out to be the perfect first impression of the DC metro area--delicious food, warm hospitality, and a fantastic atmosphere. Props to our server, Jennifer! read more

Surreal Global Kitchen - Salmon croissant - Bars Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Parking: There are two parking garages nearby (literally right across the street) with free parking after 4:00PM and on weekends! Valet is an option if you don't want to or can't do the walk! The vibes: Went here for dinner with a friend on a Friday evening, but it gives more of a happy hour vibe. I was annoyed with how loud the music was upon entering, but it got better as time went on. There was a DJ in the corner playing music that sounds like it belongs in soft porn movies . Destiny was our waiter and she was amazing. Very knowledgeable about the menu, proactive about asking about allergies/food sensitivity, and gave necessary disclaimers about being out of stuff and the spice level of menu items. I ordered the Peruvian style Branzino and scallops ceviche for my app and the Fra Diavolo pizza. The ceviche was a bit too spicy and the pieces are larger than a traditional ceviche. I'm going to give the pizza its own section because OHMYGOOOD. It was so good!! I added grilled chicken to mine and it was perfectly seasoned. The shrimp to chicken ratio was great. The shrimp is also perfectly seasoned. Sauce was delicious. It took it a little longer to come out than I anticipated, but after the first bite I didn't even care . My friend got the cheese pizza and added chicken to it and she also loved hers. (I will add that it's $12 extra to add chicken, but it's so worth it). I didn't get a picture of the pizza, but it looks as good as it tastes when it comes out. I'll definitely be back. Hopefully on a night there isn't a DJ. read more

Surreal Global Kitchen - Ceviche - Bars Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Man, this food was a miss. The shakshuka has overly sweet and smoky and just not good. The omelette was runny and watery, but looked appealing. The coffee was Folgers quality. Service was slow and lacking, with no one in the restaurant. Overall, I'm really puzzled by this place, it's definitely surreal. read more

I honestly am baffled that this place has a 3.5 rating, I would give it a solid 4.7. My fiancée and I ate here for his birthday tonight and had such an incredible time. We enjoyed every single thing that they prepared. You can tell that the chef took their time to prepare a dish that was cohesive and well thought out. The plating was even more whimsical and artistic than the interior design, which is a vibe. The staff were also very attentive and kind! The only con is that the tables are pretty close to each other and we would have liked to have a little more personal space. read more

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As soon as walked in, loved the ambiance - tall ceilings, lots of greenery, bright colors, large glass walls, and Latin music. The wait staff were friendly and attentive. The food was both presented beautifully as well as tasty. We had a mix of dishes - pizza, salad, tuna poke, waffle, avocado toast, and desserts. Pretty empty on a Sunday afternoon. Definitely plan to return. read more

I had the crudités(not sure what happened to the carrots?) Husband had the sliders and said they were tasty! Great presentation. My drink smells yummy and tastes great! Love the concept. Early coffee and pastries to go. HH time during dinner prep good idea. We will come back Portia the bartender is nice! read more

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This place used to be great when they opened but I've taken a few business dinners here since they definitely have gone downhill. I do have to give them a huge shout out. The staff is always friendly and the drinks are fabulous. But their portions have gotten smaller and just lack spices. The restaurant is really cute and my team members are always impressed. But the restaurant really needs up their flavors. read more

Surreal Global Kitchen - Bars Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

I have been coming here for a couple years. Tonight was the first time I felt it was not up to par. The air conditioning seemed broken. The bar was wide open. A first. I used to wait. Staff chatting and socializing with each other while my water and wine glass were empty. Not attentive despite a relatively quiet night. Food: I did enjoy my scallops. Very tasty. But when the overall experience was not so enjoyable it tends to override the food quality. The employee, who I assume finished a shift and ate dinner at the bar, got much better service than I did. Time for a meeting and a reset with staff. I'll come back and see if it was just an off night. I do like this place. Disappointed tonight. read more

This is not the place for anyone who needs to eat gluten-free. Nothing is marked on the menu and my server was okay with telling me what he "thought" was gluten-free or could be prepared as such. Only after asking him to ask the chef was he able to accurately share what items were gluten-free. The only thing surreal about the whole experience was the pricing. $6 for four spears of asparagus? Had there been some avant garde plating techniques or molecular gastronomy techniques used in plating the food, I may have been able to look past the pricing. One redeeming element was the manager who did introduce himself and ask for feedback. He's the reason for the stars. read more

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I enjoyed my time here, but I was expecting a lot more than what it was. It's very pricey for what you get and I wasn't really blown away. I think the branzino is the best thing on the menu. It comes with some corn tortillas you can wrap and it's just delicious. Everything else was just ok. I wouldn't come back for a meal, but perhaps I'll sit at the bar for a cocktail or two and the "guangerine" cheesecake, which was divine. read more

Surreal Global Kitchen - Branzino, pasta puttanesca, steak frites, oysters, tuna poke. - Bars Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

I hadn't been to a Seven Reasons restaurant before, and now I would go try all of them! Walking in, I was immediately excited by the beautiful decor that melds Surreal in with its surroundings. All the dishes on the menu were interesting as well, but I have to recommend the Marguerita pizza! While simple, the crust was delicious and the sauce was fresh! read more

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Wow! What a disappointing experience. We decided to host a group dinner here with our VIPs. There were numerous issues (incorrect orders, forgotten orders, food not prepared properly, slow/no service, etc. etc. etc). When we attempted to provide feedback to the manager, she argued point- by-point, rather than at least listen to the feedback. No acknowledgement was given and no accommodations were made. Very disappointing. read more

No doubt one of the most beautiful restaurants in the area. I come here weekly for coffee and the best croissants I've ever had. They are huge, come out warm and super delicious. The coffee is fantastic as well. The manager is always so sweet and I can't wait to try their happy hour soon. It is definitely Surreal read more

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Two stars for the cool room with nice feel, and the very friendly and efficient service, but the food doesn't get stars from me. Wife and I visited early evening on a Saturday (we had plans later), and picked inside table because it was humid. Outside tables look great though. We asked the waitress what was good and she took us through the menu, noting that she considers many entrees appetizers for she and her friends. We started splitting the Waldorf salad. It's a twist, in that the dressing was stiffly sitting on one side of the plate and the cukes were cut lengthwise, which seemed strange to me because now they had noodle texture instead of crunch. Still, not bad. I had the steak for dinner, and I ordered it medium rare. When it arrived, it was underwhelming (did not look like the advertised 10 ounces) and it was uniformly grey throughout... well done. I decided not to send it back, but as I ate, the piece of meat was a gristly mess. The "mille-feuille" potatoes that came with it were awesome though. My wife got the double cheeseburger, which she was warned was smash style and couldn't be made to order, which was fine. She didn't eat much of it and she asked me to taste it, and something with was definitely off with the meat. The atomic fries were nice. Come for the views and service, but I can only recommend the potatoes for eating. read more