Every once in a while, you come across an experience so sublime, you feel the need to tell everyone about it. Such is the dining experience at the Inn at Little Washington, about an hour and a half outside of Washington in the Virginia countryside. This is a truly remarkable place and I suggest you spend your last night here and stay in the Inn (See Special Things) If that is not possible, then take a car service and make the trek to this mecca of amazing food. About 1 1/2 hours from DC.

The dining room is warm and comfortable, awash in deep colors of hunter green, burgundy, brown and gold. Rose colored silk lampshades hang above each table creating an intimate and private setting. Having read all the accolades for this restaurant, there is a sense of anticipation in the air, of something special to come. And it does not disappoint for one second.

We were led to our table and presented with personalized menus that welcomed us by name. Our server, William, was gracious, helpful and fun and gave us ample time to peruse the menu. As we placed our order I asked if it was possible to taste a tiny morsel of the rabbit entrée. I'm usually pretty adventurous, but didn't want to take a chance on something I had not had before. William assured me he could accommodate and to my surprise brought a nearly full portion with our entrees. (at no charge) It was wonderful, delicate, juicy, wonderfully textured and seasoned and it was a white meat which surprised me.

Just reading the menu fills your imagination with the varied flavors and textures; Salty Virginia country ham, sweet D'Anjou pear, peppery baby arugula and tart parmigiano-reggiano to name just one. I started with an herb crusted baby lamb that was sliced carpaccio style and served with tabouli and rosemary mustard, a perfect example of O'Connell's creative take of a restaurant standard. Jen had freshwater prawns over charred Vidalia onions with a mango mint salsa. Great flavors. As we finished our first course, we were served a chilled vichyssoise with fresh sorrel in a small demi-tasse cup. The sorrel added a wonderful pungency to the potato and leek soup. Sadly, I have tried to duplicate these wonderful flavors unsuccessfully so far. For the second course, Jen chose the fricassee of Maine lobster with potato gnocchi and curried walnuts. Who would think to marry curried walnuts with flour dusted and sauté chunks of lobster? I like the combination of poultry and fruit and the marinated pan seared squab on garlic polenta with a fresh blackberry sauce was a perfect choice for my second course. For the main event I had a duet of veal; pan roasted loin of veal and braised veal cheek with raviolis of Virginia country ham, asparagus and forest mushrooms. I love the use of the salty Virginia country ham with the mild veal flavors. Jen had prime tenderloin of Angus beef on red wine risotto with morels and baby white asparagus. Cooked perfectly and the risotto was rich and wonderfully seasoned.

Even I, who seldom eats dessert, couldn't resist the temptation, on this day. We started with "Seven Deadly Sins", a sampling of the Inn's most decadent desserts; chocolate cakes, flans, tarts, homemade ice cream and sorbet. Next we tried the southern butter pecan ice cream sandwich with hot caramel sauce and ended with a selection of imported cheeses. Wow!

As we finished dinner, William asked if we would like to visit the kitchen and meet Chef O'Connell. Just the chance to see this magnificent multi-million dollar kitchen was worth the trip. A gracious and, I am sure tired, O'Connell gave us a mini lesson in how the kitchen works. There is a Chef's Table available for dining in the kitchen and an opportunity to watch a master at work.

Listen to how Patrick O'Connell views his "restaurant", "Ever since we opened The Inn at Little Washington in 1978 we've never really thought of it as a restaurant ­ just a hideaway in the country owned by two people who like to entertain a lot. For over 26 years it has felt as if we've been hosting one continuous house party. A successful party, like a great film or work of art, elevates the spirit, makes people feel life is worth living and enhances a guest's self esteem."

The restaurant has an extensive wine cellar of nearly 14,000 bottles and includes selections from California and France, of course, but also Italy, Spain, Portugal, Australia and local wines from Virginia. There are a couple dozen choices by the glass and nearly three dozen 1/2 bottles, which I think is a wonderful idea as it allows for two wine choices for different courses. My one criticism, as it is with many other restaurants, is that the wine list is overpriced. I do not believe that 3 or more times retail pricing is necessary or fair on a wine list.

Dining here is a special occasion, even if you have nothing to celebrate. As such, dress is semi-formal to formal. Two gentlemen, celebrating anniversaries, wore tuxedos the night we were there, and it seemed perfectly normal in this glorious setting.

Dinner is $128 pp, a tasting menu is $158 without wine and $218 with wine. Prices are higher on Friday ($138) and Saturday ($168) nights. All credit cards accepted. Reservations are very difficult to get, particularly for Friday and Saturday nights. You must book months in advance. Even on the Monday evening we were there, the restaurant was full.



ROMANTIC QUOTIENT: Very High. Ask for a corner table in either the Loggia or the Garden Rooms. They are the most private and overlook the garden and patio.



WHAT OTHERS SAY...
“Heaven on earth” is found in the Virginia countryside at this “mecca of fine dining” that wins the triumverate – earning a No. 1 rating for Food, Decor and Service in the DC Survey; its loyalists find a “gourmand’s paradise” that features the “best” New American cuisine, a setting that’s a “treat for the eyes” and “choreographed” “masterful service” that makes you “feel coddled from the moment” you pull in; everything from the “exquisite” amuse-bouche to the “hilarious” “cow-shaped mooing cheese cart” “exceeds expectations” – but, of course, “perfection doesn’t come cheap.” Zagat 2007



You can make dining reservations by going to our Weekend Planner for contact information. Dining reservations are part of our Trip Planning Services.

"A great chef, who is cooking at a level that far exceeds any Michelin 3-star chef in France", so says Robert Parker of the Wine Advocate. An apt description for Washington's premier chef, Michel Ricard, a true celebrity chef who continues to labor in his own kitchen.

It is not often that you can say a restaurant is exciting, but this one surely is. It is truly a symphony for the senses.

The décor is nothing short of spectacular with stone walls, huge vases of flowers, a glass enclosed exhibition kitchen, a stunning wine display and an amazing "mood wall" that changes color every 59 seconds.

Richard's style is a marriage of traditional French with the lighter influences of California. The result is a menu rich in flavor with delightful subtleties of texture. Imagine the flavors of an "oyster shooter" appetizer; a chilled raw oyster, crème fraiche, tomato, basil and cucumber. I could have eaten these all day.

A succulent John Dory was served with a lemon roasted chicken juice and a zucchini tart and a delicious loin of lamb "en barigoule" was breaded with basil.

Desserts are an adventure and Ricard takes this part of the meal to a new level. I like when he takes one particular item and presents it in a number of different ways. He does this with chocolate and with a delightful apple dessert we shared; sorbet, Napoleon and shortbread.

The dessert menu is paired with an intriguing selection of dessert wines; Tokaji, 5 Puttonyos, Bodegas Oremus 1995, Bayuls, Domaine de la Rectoire 2002 and Moscato d'Asti "Vigneto Biancospino", La Spinetta 2003 to name a few. He continues with a dazzling selection of unusual teas and tisanes; Kyoto Rice, Ceylon Sapphire, African Amber and Jasmine Downy Pearl are some examples.

The Sommelier's Selection of wines has some excellent choices under $75. The regular wine list is extensive and there are some wonderful wines by the glass.

3 course prix fixe at $85. Tasting menu at $150.

Jackets for the gentlemen. All credit cards accepted. Come early for a drink in their great lounge overlooking the dining room. My friends say they serve the best Cosmo (with fresh raspberries) in town.

ROMANTIC QUOTIENT: Wonderfully intimate, dark and cozy.

WHAT OTHERS SAY...
"Georgetown’s “Washington monument” for “visiting dignitaries” is chef-owner Michel Richard’s “extraordinary” New French, where “sterling ingredients, a sure hand and a dollop of whimsy” (try the “breakfast” dessert, a “masterwork of trompe l’oeil”) make it “the best DC has to offer”; get a table near the see-in kitchen to watch the “fun”, then relax in the “lovely” modern space and be “spoiled” by an “impeccable” staff; P.S.“take a full wallet” since the lofty prices match the “high caliber.” Zagat 2007  



You can make dining reservations by going to our Weekend Planner for contact information. Dining reservations are part of our Trip Planning Services.

When I lived in the Washington area in the late 70's Auberge was the highest rated restaurant in the DC area and amazingly after over 30 years, it still is. They are now celebrating their 51st year. What a testament to Monsieur Francois and the Haeringer family to have maintained this kind of consistency for all these years.

Great Falls is about 45 minutes outside of DC, depending on traffic. The trip is an adventure and the drive to the restaurant evokes thoughts of an excursion into the French countryside. In fact, "auberge" refers to little Alsatian, countryside restaurants where the chef is the owner and "the guest is served like a neighbor". The décor, a kind of upscale Bavarian, hasn't changed much since I was last there; stucco walls, stained glass windows and dark wood beams. In this age of sleek and stylish, it is a throwback to another time and may seem a little eccentric at first glance. But, not long after we were seated, we slipped into the warm contentment of visiting an old friend.

We enjoyed a complimentary glass of Champagne and Chambord, with fresh raspberries while we perused the menu. This is classic French cooking, seldom seen anymore. Rene G, our delightful and helpful waiter, guided us through the choices, inquiring about what we liked and steering us in the right direction. We started with homemade veal, chicken and rabbit sausage and a scallop wrapped in bacon on a bed of lentils and medallions of beef tenderloin on toast with tomato and onion confit and garlic butter, both very satisfying. Other choices included; escargot, frogs legs, foie gras, an assortment of pates and terrines, quenelle of lobster, pike and shrimp mousse and much more.all the classics.

It is so seldom that I can get authentic Dover Sole that when it is available my choice is made. This fresh Sole was sautéed with lobster, asparagus and wild forest mushrooms and was the best I have ever tasted. Jen chose the veal scallopini, with jumbo lump crabmeat, local Virginia ham, wild mushrooms and a Madeira cream sauce. Amazing.

Lots of classic dessert choices, but the soufflé, in four flavors, is really the only choice.

The wine list features selections from California, Virginia, Alsace and Italy and is very reasonably priced. We asked Rene to suggest something new for us, but something dry and he selected Reisling Barth Rene Alsace 2001 Grand Cru Mambourg which was delicious.

When the weather cooperates, the place to sit is on the wonderful and romantic terrace. Inside, ask for a table by the fireplace.

Dinner is a three course fixed price at $55-$62 depending on the entrée selected. Very reasonable for food, service and overall enjoyment at this level.

Open Tuesday-Sunday. Dress is upscale casual. All credit cards.

ROMANTIC QUOTIENT: High on the Terrace. Medium in the other rooms.

WHAT OTHERS SAY...
"Generations of “special occasions” are made “memorable” at this “universally beloved” “rustic” Alsatian in a “magical” country setting in Great Falls that “transports” you to “pastoral” France; the “excellent” French fare is served by a staff that makes you “feel loved and taken care of” whether you’re enjoying the “fireplace warmth” in winter or the garden “on a lovely summer night”, so overall many find it a “top-value” choice." Zagat 2007  

You can make dining reservations by going to our Weekend Planner for contact information. Dining reservations are part of our Trip Planning Services.

Set in a renovated Federal house in Georgetown, 1789 has always been a favorite of locals and tourists alike.  Six separate dining areas are decorated in wonderful American antiques, equestrian and historical prints. My favorites are The John Carroll Room and the Pub. The John Carroll Room is decorated with Currier and Ives prints, early maps of the city, and paintings and prints of Georgetown University. A wonderful fireplace makes for a very cozy meal here. The pub has a 5 stool bar, oak banquettes, a gas chandelier, 19th century caricatures and authentic hunt prints. Both are wonderfully intimate and warm.

Chef Nathan Beauchamp is a Culinary Institute grad and has worked with David Burke at the Park Avenue cafe in NYC. He was named the 2007 “Rising Culinary Star” by the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington, a year after being appointed to his new role as executive chef of 1789 Restaurant.

The menu changes often, but we enjoyed some staples; a plump crab cake with jalapeño creamed corn and a grilled pepper salad had wonderful flavors and just the right amount of "bite" to it. Steamed clams with Portuguese chorizo, grilled bread and basil was everything the ingredients promised it to be. I couldn't resist a Beef Wellington special with a delicately flakey crust, flavorful mushroom duxelle, and perfectly cooked tenderloin with a burgundy sauce. A marinated rack of lamb with a lamb merlot sauce was extraordinary.

Dessert was a decadent flourless chocolate cake served with homemade coffee ice cream. All the ice creams and sorbets are made in-house. While we didn't order it, the cheese course looked delicious.

The wine list is a Wine Spectator, Award of Excellence recipient and it is a wonderful wine list both for its selection and amazingly fair pricing. It would be worth it to come here just to drink the wines. There are about 24 wines by the glass, priced from $7-$10. There are also about 24 1/2 bottle choices priced from $19 (yes, I said $19) to about $80. In the whites, most regions are represented with some excellent buys like Cambria, Katherine’s Vineyard at $41 and a Chablis Premier Cru at $43. Reds are a little more expensive which is usually the case, but there are still plenty of excellent choices in the $40-$60 range.

Service was flawless and our white jacketed waiter was pleasant and fun.

Appetizers $9-$15, entrees, $26-$36, desserts, $9-$13. All credit cards. Dress is upscale, most men wear jackets although they are not required.



ROMANTIC QUOTIENT: High. Dark and sexy. Small dining rooms. Very intimate.


WHAT OTHERS SAY...
"Everything” about this “elegant” Georgetowner “screams quality and class”: the “excellent” seasonal New American fare, the “impeccable” service and the “classic” Federal period dining rooms favored for “romance” “by the fireplace”; the recent departure of longtime chef Ris Lacoste concerned loyalists, but early reports say her replacement, Nathan Beauchamp (ex Restaurant Eve), has been able to “liven up the menu while still keeping true to the standards.” Zagat 2007


You can make dining reservations by going to our Weekend Planner for contact information. Dining reservations are part of our Trip Planning Services.

Marcel’s is a favorite of the Washington elite, whether you are a Congressman, lobbyist or someone with a “niece” in town. Its aura evokes that of an old time supper club, comfortable, inviting and familiar. First stop is the dark and sexy lounge. A brick wall, huge mirror and fresh flowers are flanked by a semi-circle marble bar, hanging lights and arched ceilings. Noted singer Alex Jenkins is at the keyboard and he makes it the perfect place for a pre or post dinner cocktail.

Guests are greeted warmly at the door and ushered either into the lounge to directly to your table. The intimate dining room has a Provence like feel with stone walls, hanging pots and striking artwork. The room is dark and warm with table candles and wall sconces providing most of the light. Spotlights splash the walls with indirect illumination and provide some drama to the scene.

On my visit between Christmas and New Year’s the menu was scaled back a bit….I really wanted to try the Osso Buco. But, nevertheless, I found plenty to my liking. To start; a baby arugula and frisee salad with caramelized balsamic shallots, rocca cheese, eggs and a hint of an aged sherry vinaigrette. My entrée was a sweet and tender roasted pheasant breast served with braised tart cabbage over chopped and smoky Applewood bacon. Wonderful.

 I like this wine list. It’s predominantly French and tends toward the expensive, but there are still lots of choices under $50 in both reds and whites, particularly from the Rhone Valley and Provence. There are about 18 wines by the glass and about a dozen ½ bottles.

Marcel’s offers a wonderful twist to pre-theatre dining; a $48 pre-fix, 3 course meal that includes car service in a Cadillac or Mercedes to and from the Kennedy Center. Guests often return to the restaurant for dessert after the show.

Appetizers, $16-$32, entrees, $29-$42. There are also 3 tasting menus from $58-$98.



ROMANTIC QUOTIENT: Dark and sexy. Perfect for a romantic evening.



WHAT OTHERS SAY…
“A class act” from the “exquisitely prepared” French-inflected Belgian fare to the “first-rate” staff to the “door-to-door” sedan service to the Kennedy Center, this West End fine-dining venue oozes ambiance; chef-owner Robert Wiedmaier’s cooking, including a “wonderful” pre-theater prix fixe, “makes your heart sing”  Zagat 2007 



You can make dining reservations by going to our Weekend Planner for contact information. Dining reservations are part of our Trip Planning Services.

"Dramatic" only begins to describe this remarkable restaurant located in an unlikely spot, an office park, in Falls Church, Virginia. Picture palettes of rich blues, golds and browns, floor to ceiling windows, 30 ft. ceilings, soaring columns, fireplaces and views of a lake and waterfall. The walls are faux finished and topped with wood paneling and huge slanted mirrors give you a peak at everyone around you. Quite extraordinary.

Be sure to leave some time before dinner for a cocktail. The bar, set to the far left of the dining room, looks out onto a beautiful waterfall and pool. Have one of their specialty martinis and prepare yourself for an amazing evening.

We sat in one of the booths set on a raised platform with a great view of the rest of the dining room and the lake beyond. Our server was smartly dressed in all black; suit, shirt and tie and the service was impeccable.

The setting would be worth the trip alone, but the food is more than a match for the beautiful surroundings. First taste of what is to come is the basket of homemade bread (baked twice daily). Served with sweet butter, these delicious breads include 10 choices with items like garlic and chive, olive rosemary, golden raisin pine nut and more. We started with a blue crab risotto, set in lobster broth with a lemon verbana sauce and the most wonderful and rich roasted wild mushroom soup served with aged sherry. My entree was a spiced Millbrook venison loin with roasted porcinis, sage spaetzle and blackberry vinegar. Jen enjoyed a roasted Japanese sea bass with carmelized shallots and a lobster red wine sauce.

A delightful cheese course (4 types) with more homemade bread and fruit ended a very memorable meal.

The wine list is quite extensive (55 pages) with some 5000 bottles and 600 labels and they take their wine very seriously. A recommended Hendry Block 7 Zinfandel was right on the money, the perfect match for our venison. Sadly, there are few wines under $50.

Appetizers - $9-$24, Entrees - $24-$48, Desserts - $9-$14.



ROMANTIC QUOTIENT: Amazing views, fireplaces and soaring ceilings make this a very romantic place.


      
WHAT OTHERS SAY:
“Manhattan meets the Beltway in this surprisingly sophisticated suburban enclave” set in a Falls Church office park, where “wonderful” French-inflected New American is served in “gorgeous” tall-windowed dining rooms overlooking koi ponds and waterfalls; chef-owner Jonathan Krinn “architects flavors masterfully”, pairs them “excellently” with wines and has them served by a “gracious, pampering” staff; but with all those “generous” end-of-meal goodies (chocolates, cotton candy), you’ll wonder “does 2941 refer to the bill or the calories from the extra desserts?” Zagat 2007 



You can make dining reservations by going to our Weekend Planner for contact information. Dining reservations are part of our Trip Planning Services.