We had Roy as a bartender and he was excellent. Recommended a few whiskey drinks that were amazing. Definitely will come back again !!

Nice, simple buffet for the price. Pleasant wait staff. Not terribly busy. Give it a try. read more

The Commentary - a man behind a counter in a restaurant - Bars Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Used to be the Westin bar and they did totally revamp It. The drinks are pretty strong and the food is okay! I had a margherita flatbread which was decent. It is pretty quiet here but a good spot for drinks I think more so than food. read more

The ambiance was very nice. The aesthetics are beautiful and modern. Definitely an upscale restaurant. The service was wonderful. They were late bringing out one of our orders and gave us a drink on the house! The food was good. It was well cooked. My burger was huge and filling. The waiters were professional and checked on us often. read more

Came here for dinner on a work trip. I got the pork belly pizza and wow. It was soooo good. The service was excellent and it was super nice inside. read more

Jose the bartender makes an AMAZING Gin cocktail!! I recommend stopping in for great service and amazing drinks.

From the calm atmosphere to the amazing pizza making class with Rita and the cocktail making segment with Roy- I totally recommend furthermore, the service provided by Walter at the bar and Celine with her honest opinion about which selection! 10/10 read more

The Commentary - Bars Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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Stopped by this place after a basketball game in DC. Wow and wow! Even the pickiest of eaters in our clan of 5 found something to please them. For our apps we got the pretzel bites, teriyaki wings and loaded tots. The only negative thing I have to say is - GIVE US MORE! The wings were perfectly crisp and glazed with pineapple next to them, the tots were just loaded with goodness. Now, the main courses: grilled cheese perfection with soup and old bay chips! Our 13 year old finished it all up! Hubby has the fish tacos, two other littles had the club sandwich and the bread was so impressive. I splurged on the burger with the candid bacon Desserts were not a let down, if anything stop in for one of their larger then life milk shakes. read more

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Good food and good drinks, but the service is off. The really cater to the hotel guests which is fine, but it may not be worth a visit if you are not staying at the hotel. The poor service started once they asked if we were guests in the hotel. Tried to place us in a really poor spot even though the restaurant was empty. You could see the focus was on the people staying there. The server was nice enough but the focus was elsewhere. At the price level that just doesn't work for me. The food is very good and the PBJ cocktail is great. We live in the area and probably will not return based on the service. read more

After reading several 5 Star Yelp reviews, my husband and I traveled to visit The Commentary for Breakfast. The Commentary is located inside of a Hotel. Therefore, upon entry the Hostess asked if we would be using Hotel Guest Meal Vouchers. We stated we would be ordering from the menu. We were seated and pleasantly greeted by the waiter. Our waiter insisted we use the bar rather than order from the menu but the bar did not have the Breakfast items we were interested in. We ordered the Rancheros and the Eggs Benedict. The food was decent but there was a lack of balance between rich, fat, salt, and freshness. If you live in the area, are in walking distance, or are staying in the hotel, the Commentary has friendly service and a breakfast bar. However, the Commentary's food quality and dining experience is not a breakfast/brunch location worth traveling down the highway for. read more

The Commentary - Rancheros - Bars Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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The service was really good and it clearly had low worker help. The guy managing did a great job. Food was very good and a great selection of items. Overall excellent for hotel restaurant read more

Great food and service, hopefully it gets more popular since it was kind of dead. Overall I'd definitely go back read more

Very spacious dim casual modern lounge restaurant located inside The Westin. Dined for 2 around happy hour. Beyond Meat Burger$14 (plant-based patty, caramelized poblano peppers & onions, avocado slices, bibb lettuce, pico de gallo & pickle on a multigrain vegan bun) - delicious patty (not dry), used all the avocado slices. Towards the end of finishing my burger, the multigrain bun was a little too much (too multigrain lol). Seasonal Fruit $6 - the size/portion of this item was surprising. Literally smaller than a palm sized ramekin. Service - hostess and server were extremely friendly and patient! Parking - validated valet parking (valet parking is located on N. Vermont Street). I completely missed the hotel entrance/valet and parked on Fairfax Drive for $4 for 2 hrs. + artwork + lounge areas near the hotel/restaurant doors with couches and high back chairs read more

The Commentary - Beyond Meat Burger - Bars Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Our commentary is not great for "The Commentary." Believe me I really wanted to like this place. We want to have a lot of favorite places within walking distance of our house however all three legs of our value stool fell short: food, service, price. For the positive, no one was rude and I believe everyone was relatively pleasant. Also, the interior is nicely refreshed from Pinzimini (the previous restaurant that occupied this space). Unfortunately, the service was just not up to par at this price point. Understandably, this is a new restaurant and maybe some kinks will be worked out. (1) We waited at the host station for too long wondering if anyone was even coming. A couple of servers walked past and lacked either the initiative or the training to let us know someone would be with us. (2) I didn't have any napkin or utensils. The host acknowledged this (to his credit) and said I would get some shortly. Unfortunately, "shortly" was not until my first order arrived, and would not have happened if I hadn't ask again. The server almost walked away after dropping off my food. (3) The wine we ordered did not arrive until the second course and ONLY after we prompted the server AGAIN. (4) Water glasses were rarely filled until I asked even after giving staff a couple of passes by our table (in fact one time someone was even carrying a water pitcher ?!?). The food was ok. I know this is listed as a casual eatery, so I think our expectations were in check. However, the menu looked like it had some interesting choices. We shared a prosciututto flatbread and spinach salad to start. For entrees, we had the pork chop and pan seared spiced chicken. The food was presented nicely, and I think there was real thought to the accompaniments with the hopes of enhancing taste. To be fair, we ate everything. However, both the meats and accompanying grains were too dry, and I think everything was over salted. I noticed it somewhat at the time, but I really noticed in the middle of the night with a salt mouth that I could not quench. For dessert, (I will have to pick on this too.), we shared a sorbet ($10), not exactly a casual price for a casual eatery, given the small size and tasted like supermarket quality. We've had much better quality and more quantity at a lower price at many other places. To recap, two starters, two entrees, two glasses of wine, and one dessert resulted in total price including tax and 15% tip (sorry this was not a 20% experience) was $132. We've had much better meals (accounting for food and service) at a much lower price point in this area. The Commentary is just not a good dinner value for us. We MIGHT try again. I will keep my eyes on the reviews, but based on our experience, the restaurant has numerous growing pains to reconcile at those prices. The location for us is very attractive and the restaurant has a nice appearance. If service and meal preparation improve, we'd love to return. Hopefully, it will. read more

The Commentary - Bars Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

We were looking for a happy hour venue where we could hear each other w/o screaming and were able to keep socially-distant from other groups. This place is it! It's relatively quiet but comfortable. The pours are generous and the food is surprisingly good. We tried the margarita flatbread and the roasted veggie flatbread and both were good. Yes, it's a hotel bar but it is very cozy and the staff is nice and friendly. BTW, hours on Yelp and hotel website are wrong. These are the current hours as provided to me via email from the hotel: Breakfast Monday-Friday 6am-10:30am Breakfast Saturday-Sunday 7am-10:30am Brunch Saturday-Sunday 10:30am-1:30pm Dinner Daily 5pm-10pm. Happy Hour Monday-Friday 5pm-7pm read more

The drink selection is good and a wonderful atmosphere. Food is normal for a hotel bar/restaurant.

We're staying at the Westin Gateway Hotel and have eaten in their restaurant on two evenings. The menu is incredible. You can make a meal of the appetizers. I highly recommend the crab cakes, grilled artichoke and cheese & marinara! The brisket burger and the short ribs s are a must. The decor is soothing and the contemporary music doesn't drown out conversation. The bar area is a great place to hang out! read more

Great place for delicious brunch! The food was delicious and the mimosas were too, and there were enough options to choose from on the menu without being too overwhelming. The only downside is they don't have outdoor seating, so it lacks a little in the ~vibes~ department. read more

I really like this place now that it's been remodeled. The bar/lounge area is very comfy and cool. I live in the area and actually enjoy popping over just to have a drink at the bar... Lots of big TVs too. The food is surprisingly good! The burger is good, the salmon with sweet potato purée is good, the salads are good... I think it's a really decent little restaurant/bar with a great vibe. The only downside is the service is wonky... They are better staffed on the weekends, but during the week it can be a little hit or miss for food. The bar staff is always great! Always great and always super nice. read more

please please please order their Fall Violet. It is ridiculously delicious and I was super tipsy! I bring people here for that drink and the great appetizers. read more

Hosted my birthday party here two years in a row. Service team so friendly, helpful and responsive. They truly went the extra mile and were accommodating even in this difficult COVID era. THANK YOU! read more

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The food was okay, nothing to write home about but the food definitely wasn't bad. The restaurant itself is a nice atmosphere and I went with a group of around 10 people and they were easily able to accommodate us. read more

Staying at Westin and this is our breakfast place - we had a coupon. My review is based on a fact that I paid tips only, the rest was covered by the coupon, otherwise my review will be harshly different. It is a nice convenient place with good breakfast selection for those who can eat it all. Being allergic, I did not found a lot of vegan options for breakfast especially plant based items or similar; nor dairy free creamer, cheese or butter/spread. I thought that the crepes are dairy based so I didn't risk it. Instead, good choice of fruits/berries and porridge which in my case is fair play. If you're vegan / dairy free - you will be somewhat disappointed but still have some options. If you vegetarian- you have better choice. The price tag may be surprisingly high considered the choices (it is $$ per person). But the waitress was nice, the tea was quickly served and the used dishes were cleared quickly. read more

First of all, the food is sooo good. A good mix of healthy/light options, gluten free, vegan, and also dank comfort food so there is something for everyone if you have friends with food allergies. Beautifully decorated with interesting art, signs, neon lights, etc. I am so excited this is open for business in Arlington! read more

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This is a pretty casual lounge in the Westin that is, admittedly, kinda hard to find despite being centrally located in Ballston. The food and drinks are good, but perhaps a bit safe and underwhelming - not unexpected for a hotel restaurant that has to serve a wide variety of folks. I find it somewhat hard to recommend this place given all of the other amazing places opening up nearby. read more

Ok so this is a restaurant in the Westin. That might normally limit the upside. These were the best Huevos Rancheros I have had. It was very light (if not nonexistent) on the cheese but was an excellent size, with fresh ingredients and perfectly cooked eggs. I would not hesitate to go back and take this down again. read more

Super slow service. Unbelievably slow service. From sitting down to waiting to give our order to waiting to receive the food (1+ hour) and finally to waiting for our bill. Had to ask other severs for help. We were a party of two for lunch and it was NOT busy. Ordered the Beyond Burger and it wasn't cooked well. It was very hard, overcooked and cold, like it was forgotten in the kitchen, which seems to align with the slow service. Asked for a side salad with the burger and they had all animal products on it - cheese, egg, bacon. Not a big deal, asked if I could have another one without all that. Waited 20 mins for a small side salad. Waiter never checked on us and food was not good and overpriced. read more

We were in need of a large resturant to host 50+ people for an after funeral event. The Commentary was one of our options and we are so pleased we went with them! The good was amazing, the staff was so helpful and accomodating. The food was hot and ready on time. The setting was very relaxed, and it was a great place to gather with our family and remember our matriarch who recently passed. Highly recommend! read more

My first experience with The Commentary was during their first cooking class and it was exceptional. The customer service and atmosphere was amazing (shoutout to Eve, B Bee, Lorenzo, Chef Fran, and Chef Bobbie). The cocktails we had were excellent (the Strawberry Shortcake and the Espresso Martini) and so were the flatbreads. While I don't remember exactly what the flatbreads were called, I remember one had short rib on it and the other had cauliflower crust. Both were delicious! And they validate parking! So I'll surely be back. read more

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I was excited to go here because it's listed as a Breakfast & Brunch place but the hours are wrong on Yelp. The place is open from 5-10pm Mon-Sat or something. read more

Went for breakfast with a friend and it did not disappoint! Super cute spot with yummy breakfast food. They also had mimosas with different juice options and then mango was delish. read more

The Commentary - Egg in hole with a mango mimosa - Bars Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

I attended an event here on Sat. evening, and the food was atrocious--easily the worst pizza I have ever eaten. If you like sauce from a can of Chef Boyardee, then you might love this tasteless pizza. The drink was an apple pie bourbon drink for an outrageous $15 and no apple flavor whatsoever, just bourbon. The single giant ice cube does not work either as it did not keep the drink chilled. I realize this is a hotel bar, but I feel as though I wasted money for a truly terrible pizza and worthless drink. Try literally anywhere else in Arlington but The Commentary. read more

The honest truth is I came to the Commentary because it was giving out 1,000 Opentable points for a reservation. The menu didn't seem bad, and the Yelp pictures looked okay. I didn't realize until getting here that it's the Westin bar/restaurant though (should've read the Yelp reviews). I mean nothing against hotel bars/restaurants, but they tend to be overpriced (even by DC standards) and nothing to write home about. That's exactly the case with the Commentary. Our happy hour for two, where we got two draft beers, flatbread, spinach and artichoke dip, and loaded tater tots ran us about $50. Everything was fine. However, with so many other choices around in the same block, I probably won't be back (unless I'm looking for another boost in my Opentable account). read more

I really want to rate this place higher but the food here is just disappointing. The highlight of this place is the bartender who is super attentive and friendly. Definitely come here for a happy hour drink or four! Grab a bit to eat somewhere else though. They have ceviche on the menu but both times I've been, it's not available and they haven't removed it from the menu yet. I got the steak tonight and it wasn't great. Came medium instead of medium rare and no seasoning - not even any salt or pepper on that hunk of meat. The biggest problem were the brussels sprouts - they were obviously from a bag of microwave frozen, steam-able brussels. Nobody wants unseasoned, boiled/steamed Brussels with an unappetizing sauce. I actually sent them back because I wasn't going to eat them. The highlight of the dish was the potatoes which were delicious, crispy, and well seasoned. Not sure how the potatoes were better seasoned than the steak! Anyway, bottom line is to definitely come here for a drink but dine elsewhere. read more

Talk about fabulous service!! This place went above and beyond I can't even begin to tell you but I will try to! I'm pretty sure the manager that we had was Lorenzo. He made us feel like royalty. We ate here for New Year's Eve and it was absolutely amazing the food was some of the best! The chef came out and talk to us after we had tried her amazing salmon with sweet potatoes and carrots and the short ribs with mashed potatoes... don't even get me started on the raw seafood bar that was to die for!! also the desserts were absolutely amazing. They had all their New Year's Eve decorations decked out and it made us feel like we were celebrating in style it was so much fun and everyone Loved it and wants to go back for happy hour as soon as we can. Thank you to everyone there that made us feel so welcome and like we were part of their family. It was also awesome to have the oyster Schuckers come around to the tables that was an experience that I had never had before. We will be back! read more

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Really lovely renovated restaurant in the Westin hotel. This place has the potential to become a neighborhood hangout. Decorations are lovely, and the food is quite good - though I've only been once. They're working out the kinks. For example, friends and I arrived one Saturday night and went to the bar, as did most other patrons. Instead of moving servers to the bar high top area, they remained in their assigned restaurant area watching over empty tables. Meanwhile, the bartender was running around trying to manage many tables. They need to figure this out, and I am confident they will. Please give them a shot because they offer some pretty unique offerings. Try the goat cheese and veggie flatbread. read more

We sit at the bar when we come and AJ the bartender is amazing!!! Shrimp flatbread, spinach salad and the salmon are our favorites! Food and atmosphere is great... it is not what you think of when you of a hotel restaurant! read more

Big fan of this place after only being there one time. Great food at a good price point. Brunch cocktails were cheap but also not mixed great hence the 4 stars. Incredible service. read more

We have eaten here a few times and have had wonderful experiences each time. The vibes and ambiance are awesome, the food is delicious and for being a hotel restaurant, it is not entirely over priced. It is definitely a change from the pinzimini that was in this location last year. I hope they can stick it out as a hotel restaurant because we really have enjoyed eating here on multiple occasions. I also really like how they do little parties that bring the Ballston community together. It's great to see a restaurant give back to its community and share its delicious food! Giving 4 stars because they list that they are open u til 2 am but twice we have tried to come in for a night cap around 11:00pm and the doors were locked, but people were still inside at the bar. read more

Went for first time, food was really good and the atmosphere was fun! Really solid menu from both a food and beverage standpoint. Would recommend! read more