Been wanting to try Town since they opened a few months back, finally tried with 2 friends for a guys night. We just had wine and beer, not realizing they have signature cocktails. Our server didn't try to sell us, which I think is a missed opportunity for us and staff training. We had tuna tartare and calamari for starters. Both good, but not great. I wish the tuna tartare had more tuna, but overall it was good. Calamari was ok, but somewhat bland. I deliberately tried without the dipping sauce, which is why it seemed bland to me. I had the ribeye, which was good, but not thick enough for a rib-eye, which is how I prefer mine. All meats are sourced from the Organic Butcher of McLean, but I have to ask for a thicker cut when I buy ribeyes there, so I can't really hold it against Town for not having thicker cuts. I have the same issue with J. Gilbert's cuts. Sides are extra, but that wasn't clear to me, nor was it explained. I'll chalk that up to my old eyes not seeing the fine print on the menu and the server not trained to ask about sides? My friends had the salmon and the steak frites. The steak frites were medium rare, as my friend had ordered. He's French and enjoyed it. My other friend had the salmon, which looked good, and no complaints from him. As to the vibe, I think they nailed it if they're trying to be the neighborhood American bistro. I like the fact that the front windows were wide open. It's definitely an improvement on the decor from the previous Italian restaurant that was there. Overall, the service was decent, not great. They didn't offer fresh silverware between courses, but I guess that's ok? We were there on a busy Friday night and the manager had come to our table after we finished our meal and offered us a free round of drinks at the bar, as they wanted to turn our booth for another reservation. I was fine with this, but my French friend was a bit offended. The manager was very polite and gracious, but my French friend didn't see it that way. Cultural differences... I think they may still have some growing pains with service, but overall, it's a decent place for McLean. I'll be back, but I don't know if my French friend will... read more

Middle of the road review; food was fine. Nothing wrong but nothing stood out. Small appetizer portions (3 mozzarella sticks for $10 is a bit steep). Spinach and artichoke dip itself was good, but 4 small pieces of bread slices with a full dish of dip is off. Steak frites was cooked perfectly, but undercooked fries. Service was fine, but nothing special. Waiters seem to be trying their best but seem to lack the necessary training. Hostesses were not very friendly and one seemed to rush us out at the end. Vibe of the restaurant was fine, but dirty silverware and table ware needs to be addressed. Everything needs a good dusting and check; the potential is there. read more

Just tried this spot which has been hopping it seems. Nice loud vibe, with crowd younger then at J.Gilberts filled with McLean/Great Falls high rollers. Alot of Range Rovers parked. We sat at the bar and did the $10 happy which offered a variety of bar food and discount drinks. Had the sliders which were pretty good along with the grilled wings. Unfortunately we ordered their spinach dip which was inedible. Something was seriously wrong with it so we sent it back which we rarely do. While we were not charged, expected at least a free round which never came. Major fumble thus reason for rating. This place off to a good start it seems and will initially give "Neutral Grounds" next door a run for their money but its still early. Walking out we passed by "Peter Changs"on way to car regretting we didnt eat there instead. read more

I'm not going to ding 'em on service - they recently opened and I always feel like it takes time to work out the kinks until smooth sailing. I'm grading based on atmosphere and food. The food was not impressive. Tuna carpaccio was way too saucy. The fish was fresh but there was just too much going on. The shrimp cocktail was fine/average. I didn't try the steak but didn't hear any complaints. The atmosphere was a let down. Interior design is one thing that should be heavily invested in if your goal is to come across more upscale. Here, it looked aged and the bar area + dining area clashes a bit too much in terms of color and overall seating arrangement. It makes the place look small and awkward. I live in about a 3 min driving distance and was looking forward to putting an American food restaurant in rotation - hopefully it improves over time when it comes to food at least. read more

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I'm probably at a 3 to 3.5 star with the potential to go to 4. This restaurant does a lot of things well, and there were parts of our meal there that we really enjoyed, but it has room for improvement. In terms of positives, the appetizers that we ordered (mozzarella sticks, beef tartare, and deviled eggs) were very good, and we are excited to try other appetizers that we saw other people get that looked good too (tuna tartare, Caesar salad). I also ordered an Old Fashioned, which I thought was done well. We enjoyed the restaurants environment too, which had a nice energy. On the negative side, the entrees need some work. It felt like the stuff that the kitchen kept simple, like the streak frites, but other stuff that should be simple was overcomplicated and not that good, like the roast chicken and the pappardelle. I think both dishes would be a lot better if the kitchen just prepared them more simply and the way they are traditionally done. For example, the roast chicken came broken up into lots of pieces in a strange way, and it was served with raw onions and tomatoes. In the end, I think my son, who ordered the pappardelle, and I wished we had ordered something that the kitchen prepared in a less complicated way, like the burger. The service was alright. It was fairly attentive and pleasant. The one issue was that we asked that my daughter's mozzarella sticks, which was all she wanted, be brought out with the entrees, even though they were an appetizer. The waiter heard us, but they still were the first thing brought out. Also, while this isn't fine dining, the price point is high enough that it would be a nice touch if the restaurant boxed up leftovers and put them in a bag; instead, they just give you containers to box up yourself. I'd definitely go back, but I would just try to find dishes that the kitchen was doing in a more straightforward way. The food just suffered when the kitchen tried to put twists on a dish. I'd also probably order more appetizers and less entrees. read more

We really enjoy supporting new local restaurants and we're excited to try Town in McLean. Granted the place has only been open a few weeks so expectations were adjusted. Busy Friday night, had reservations, was able to find parking in their lot and seated on time. The restaurant has a cement pad, front and center, where two high end cars were on display in front of the entrance. Our waitress seemed extremely frazzled and was very distracted. I ordered a smoked old fashion, which is on the menu, and waited over 15 mins before ever seeing the drink. The old fashion was very good; however, was missing the black cherry as listed. The appetizers were the highlight as the quality went down from here. Fried mozzarella was presented in an iron type skillet and was quite tasty. The pupusas were cheesy as well and very good. I overheard the owner tell a customer that the pasta dishes had recently been added to the menu. I ordered one of them Cacio e Pepe. So disappointed in this dish, barely warm, severely undercooked and lacked the peppery punch you want in this entree. The burger was decent but not memorable as the lower bun was soggy. To close the night, the bill was presented slid inside a book: Short Stories to Spark Diversity Dialogue. Regardless of which way you lean, this was strange. The book still had the discounted price sticker on the backside. As if they went out and found a box of throw aways at a bookstore. The night was very odd, felt rushed at times, and unprepared. It's unfortunate because it's a great location and has a fantastic local vibe. If Town plans on making it, more time will need to be spent on the restaurant and in the kitchen, rather than at the discount book store. read more

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The best steak and drinks . I loved it , amazing service good quality food and atmosphere. read more

What a fantastic addition to McLean, VA. In the immediate area it was only J Gilberts which has noticeably declined in quality across the board. This is a really nice atmosphere, American style fare for the most part, clean, warm, comfortable and white tablecloth ambiance. Really nice bar. Parking is available yet tight as evening goes on, nice service, good menu (not great amount of options) , above average prices. Food was delicious- very well done. Quantities are moderate. Big upgrade over nearest competitor however and look forward to trying more options going forward- hope they can add some seasonal specials/menu options. read more

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Cyndy's Bottom Line: Great place for food & drinks especially the espresso martini! *Walk ins welcomed *Reservations on OpenTable *Great space and ambiance *Parking lot available, and street parking *Bar area with two big screen TVs +Newly opened so we stopped in without a reservation and was seated promptly. This is what we ate/drank: +6671 Manhattan -Rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, bitters, dark cherry *Stirred and served on the rocks with a single block of ice. +Espresso Martini -Tito's vodka, espresso, coffee liqueur, simple syrup *A well made espresso martini with the right proportions. Garnished with three coffee beans floating on the foam (representing health, wealth, and happiness in Italian tradition) and served immediately to enjoy the foam. Great presentation with a dome of dry ice. Divine! +GRILLED WINGS -(8) grilled wings with shaved carrot, celery,house blue cheese, and house ranch and a choice of sauce: Virginia Peanut, Sorghum BBQ, or Tangy Buffalo *Great to have grilled wings, nice char on them and the sauces were tasty especially the tangy buffalo. +CALAMARI -Squid tentacles and rings, crispy fried with artichokes and peppers, served with lemon aioli and sweet chili sauce. *Love the calamari. Perfectly fried and not oily. Seasoned well and the sauces were flavorful m. +CARPACCIO -Thin-sliced ahi tuna topped with jalapeño, red onion, cucumber, avocado aioli, crispy shallots, ginger, micro cilantro, and a drizzle of 5-spice caramel. *Fresh and rich high grade ahi tuna. The toppings work well to add good flavor profiles. +Friendly and great customer service from Brian. We had a good experience dining here and will return. +Highly recommend read more

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Tried 5 times. Food is ok. Drinks hit or miss. But the service last time was terrible - no silverware, no waiter for 20 minutes after we sat down. I got up and tried to find the waiter myself. Apparently no one told him it's his table. read more

Love this place, the staff are amazing. Great service, including life saving by Sam the Bartender. If you're chocking on something, he can and will save you! Bartenders Michael, Kevin, Delmy and others are awesome as well! The owners Reza and Eve are hands on! 5 Stars! read more

Town Kitchen & Bar - Eve, making magic! - Bars Near Me - McLean, Virginia

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Burger was pretty good but fries were bland and seemed like they were from a Sysco truck; should be able to do better than those if The Town wants to charge higher prices for entrees, etc. Staff working out kinks. Cheesecake bland. Dining partner liked the swordfish. read more

First time there with three other friends who know good food.. Verdict: Comfort food with a twist- all good. Great variety to choose from. Seafood , pasta, burgers.. The management team knows how to run a first class restaurant (Aracosia). It is safe to say that Town will be a favorite of local foodies! The only problem was the noise - we happened to be there at the time of a big sports event and the bar area was busy& loud. However, we liked the booth seating even though it was near the bar. Service was top notch- attentive, helpful.. all good. We will go again and explore other items - lots tempting! read more

I came from California to hear the food was amazing thank you so much . The owner is nice guy stuff very friendly.

Food is overpriced but expected in this neighborhood. Our wait staff was wonderful. Service speed is good. Food is good. Portion of calamari and shrimp was skimpy for the price. Mozzarella sticks were also good but also overpriced. Menu is limited and inflexible. If you don't want French fried potatoes as a side dish that automatically comes with your meal, they will not permit a substitute from the sides menu. You pay full price for sides even if you decline the fries. Soft drink, $5.00. Of course, don't expect free refills. Ice cream for dessert to clear your palate is not available. If you enjoy a noisy room, the inside dining is ideal. Outdoor dining is preferable if you want to hear your dining partner's voice. They usually have peppermint candies at reception. However, manager/owner's response when restaurant tray is empty, was unapologetic or courteous. "WE'RE OUT!!! read more

This is by far one of the best restaurants I have been to between Washington DC and Virginia! I took my party of 15 there for a ladies night, and I could not have been happier. Service, drinks, and food - felt like I was in a five star restaurant with a very unpretentious, but sophisticatedly cool atmosphere. The vibe is very French classic meets Peaky Blinders. I love the blue walls and the French accents. It definitely does not feel like I'm in McLean Virginia - very European feel. The bar is also stunning! Where do I begin with the food - We were a huge group so we had a lot to try. My absolute favorite appetizer was the octopus appetizer. I also had the tuna, Truffle fries (so good!), salads, pupusa, and a few other dishes. For the entrées, We tried the steak (cooked and salted perfectly), The fried chicken sandwich, the risotto, and a spicy seafood pasta dish. If I had to pick favorites among the entrées steak and the risotto were truly memorable. For dessert - I tried it all, but that bread pudding was a dream! The ricotta cheesecake was a close second but I love bread pudding! Last, but not least - the staff was very welcoming. The owners Eve and Reza have incredible taste and they visited our table multiple times to make sure we were taken care of. We also met Chef Mario. He is amazingly talented and earned a huge round of applause from us. They earned 15 solid returning customers from our group that night. Spectacular! read more

Decent food. When we arrived, we agreed to eat an early dinner within an hour which suited our schedule. Our Burrata was okay, but then only two of our three dinners arrived. Town delivered good Skirt Steaks, but the French fries and side broccolini were just lukewarm. Worse, the staff forgot our third meal. We complained, the waiter and manager did apologize and gave us complementary meal to go. I want this restaurant to succeed, but Town needs to rethink how they deliver an experience and pay attention to detail. read more

Never had a bad drink or meal here. The Wagyu beef sliders are AMAZING!! Good cocktails as well. People are very friendly and attentive and work hard!! Much needed place. read more

From the moment you walk in, the space feels upscale but still welcoming--perfect for a date night, drinks with friends, or even a business dinner. McLean has been waiting for a spot like this. TOWN Kitchen & Bar is already setting the bar high, and I'll definitely be back. Highly recommend checking it out early, recommend making a reservation on the website. You can tell this place is going to be a local favorite fast read more

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Had reservations - Waited a considerable time to have a hostess acknowledge me - was seated for a good 15 minutes or so with no one coming to the table for water or drinks - looked around the restaurant- no one had food - not many had beverages - incredibly understaffed - very noisy - we decided to leave - things were not going to get any better - felt badly for staff - maybe they shouldn't accept all the reservations if they don't have adequate staff - not sure I will go back anytime soon read more

The good Our food was good Server was terrific the bad - They have already raised prices 10% on all the items I ordered, or looked at, a month ago, during their first month of business. It's very loud. I was with a group of 5 women and we couldn't hear each other. It is particularly bad design that the kitchen is open and makes a lot of noise banging things. There is no protection from the cold when the entrance door is open. Both times I was there they were missing a lot of items on their menu. My husband I arrived at 5:30 on a weeknight, and seated in a very small table in the middle of the dining room. Not cozy, and really cramped area on the table. read more

I went to Town Kitchen and Bar for Valentine's Day and had such an amazing experience. The food, the ambiance, and the service was top notch. There are not very many restaurants in McLean so having something that is both classy and casual in town is wonderful. The owner was splendid and walked around and greeted everyone. Even the bus boys were dressed up and made sure all the plates were off the table before the next course came. The drinks were delicious!!! We both got dirty martinis and they did not disappoint! The wine selection was perfect for the food choices as well. I would recommend this for any date night or any night in general. read more

YUM!! We stopped in on a whim late on a Sunday evening and were seated and served promptly, even though it was busy. We ordered the rockfish and the wedge salad with steak... both were superb. So excited to have a place like this in downtown McLean! read more

Not great. We sat at a 2 table near the kitchen and kept getting bumped by wait staff. Waitress was super nice, but very distracted. Food did not match the menu! Rockfish: Brown butter mandarin beurre blanc, leek potato crisp, spinach purée was actually just a couple of fingerling potatoes, no leeks, no crisp, and whole spinach leaves just warmed up, no puree. Not worth it. Ambiance was pretty cool. We will not be back. read more

Great cocktails, but wow, the food was so disappointing. The mac and cheese is somehow the worst mac I've ever had, has absolutely no flavor, and looks unfinished. The steak frites are tiny for the $28 price tag--you get four pieces. All in, you will spend $100+ on a dinner for two. Please save your money and come back when this place has their menu together. read more

Town Kitchen & Bar - Steak frites - Bars Near Me - McLean, Virginia

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excellent food and service, but noisy and lacks soundproofing. also sorry to see FOX news on which is known for distorting the truth.

The service was amazing as the staff were very friendly and efficient. The skirt steak was perfectly cooked and appetizers were amazing . read more

I had a great expectation but after four time at the place I'm very deeply disappointed. Steak Tatar historic European dish was supposed to be made from fresh filet mignon with capers, there's one master onions tiny bit of the sour cucumber to drops of Tabasco sauce has to be served with the high quality toast on the side and the whole fresh yellow part of the egg this one was old meat very bad presentation why don't you go to the historic Martin tavern Georgetown. Another lousy dish I had was fried calamari which was undercooked overpriced and very oily and not presented the correct way and another dish I had was disaster was a classic wedge salad supposed to be with scrambled blue cheese fresh blue cheese Campbell and the fresh cooked bacon high quality and this game was like an old bacon from refrigerator from you you know a week old everything is so far when it comes to food is disaster don't go to there this Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon for $12 so no more from Sonoma county next to Napa it was good but there was the owner very arrogant he was a promoter and became a lawyer and he does not understand this place it's not another Cafe Milano was the wonderful Franco who started 1992 who knew the customer service and high quality food and also European style you know hospitality I'm deeply disappointed read more

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Had a fantastic experience at Town! The service was top-notch and the ambience is really cool. The food was delicious and the menu has a lot to offer. It's the perfect spot for a date night or for some cocktails. McLean doesn't have many restaurants of this kind/quality, so it's very exciting to see a spot like Town open up. Can't wait to come back! read more

Town Kitchen & Bar - Bars Near Me - McLean, Virginia

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We wanted to love Town, but think they are still getting their footing under them as a new restaurant. The servers were all nice, but never brought our onion rings (we didn't get charged for them either). The food was really meh for the price. Burger was over cooked on the outside and really rare on the inside, fries just ok, rockfish was good. Chocolate mousse had slightly burnt tasking dry cookie crumbs around it. They bring your bill inside a book. They brought ours in "The Diary of Anne Frank" which albeit a great, important book was just an odd end to a restaurant dinner. We will go back to give them a second chance once they've been open longer as McLean can definitely use a restaurant like Town. read more

The highlights: ambience as a community gathering place is exceptional, the food was great. The decor tasteful. Our waitress was so on it and made our dining experience pleasant and worth returning. Our only concern was the hostess who is so unwelcoming we almost walked out upon arrival. I'm so glad we didn't because after getting past her the rest of the evening was marvelous. read more

We celebrated my sister in law birthday last night in there. The food, the drinks , the people , everything were just great. We felt very welcomed by the owner and our servers. read more

HAVE to be neutral in that, it appears from reviews , bit pretentious including the reviewers, most of whom think that the fish they order in restaurants was caught that morning. (Not even that month in most cases).So, owner is walking around, as all restaurant owners do, greeting people. Presumably there is hand shaking? And then we move on to eating the chicken wings and burger. Ok, some may have hand sanitizer with them or make trip to washroom? And the bill inside a book.At least at low end places , it can be assumed that the plastic pouch that bill arrives in gets washed periodically. Can you do that to a book? I will stick to fast food filet of fish sandwich going forward (5 of them , discard bread, keep tartar sauce , for under 40 dol) over the 200 dol dinner. May stop by again for the bar ambiance, assuming there are some chicks at the bar like it should be! read more

Nice looking interior. The steak frites was disappointing. The meat was tough and the fries were no better than frozen ones from the grocery store. The fish dish was very good. The restaurant needs a general manager and more wait staff if they want to keep busy. read more

"Wonderful experience all around. The food was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. The staff was welcoming and attentive without being overbearing, and the atmosphere was warm and inviting. You can really tell they care about quality and service. Definitely a place I'd come back to and recommend to others!" read more

Food is amazing and service was excellent. Very welcoming space and ambience. This will be our go to local spot for sure. Highly recommend!

Excellent service, ambiance and food. So glad this restaurant opened for the community. Great location and the whole family enjoyed. I certainly plan to return. read more

Best restaurant in McLean! I love the bartenders. Such good vibes and amazing food. Can't wait to come back with my friends! So excited to have a new spot in town. read more

Best bartenders in town. Great drinks and great service! McLean really needed a new spot like this. I will be introducing Town to all my friends. read more

We paid a visit to this restaurant on its opening night and it was not ready. First the positive--the space is lovely and it's a good menu with reasonable prices. The food we ordered came promptly and while being under seasoned (steak frite) it was generally well executed. Now the not so good--the service is a disaster! Despite having three or four bartenders, we didn't get our drinks until after our food arrived and even then we had to ask a server for them. The bill was messed up even after we asked the manager for help (we were given the wrong bill and were charged twice even though we were assured that we wouldn't be). And if you're going to have an open kitchen, for gosh sakes don't have shelves of clutter on display! The service staff seemed extremely harried (with that deer in the headlights look) and there were lots of people just standing around. A notable exception--the older server with a beard was heads and tails above the others and was genuinely helpful--make him a lead. I am hopeful that this restaurant can turn things around because we can use a great gastropub in McLean. My intention is not to trash the place but rather to provide feedback so they can improve. But you might want to wait a bit before trying this out. read more