Top 50 restaurants in NOVA, anyone been to any of them? (Arlington: house prices, high school)

[Mike10]

Was looking around the Northern Virginia Magazine website and saw their list of top 50 restaurants in the area. The list I'm providing is dated 2008, but you get the idea.

Anyone been to any of these establishments?

50 Best Restaurants

[CaliTerp07]

Eaten at Carlyle, Rustico, Jaleo, Liberty Tavern, and Cafe Renaissance.

I'd definitely recommend that last one for a special occasion. It was really charming and reasonably priced for how good the food was.

[khuntrevor]

Bangkok 54. It's been a few years, but we all thought it was authentic and great. Great lunch menu. $ or $$.

[spencgr]

No need to refer to the 2008 list, here is their 2011.

Fifty Best Restaurants 2011


For super special occasions, the tasting menus at 2941, Restaurant Eve, and Ashby Inn are exquisite. The sommeliers are spot on with the wine pairings.

For nice meals, you cannot go wrong with Liberty Tavern or Passionfish (best seafood in the area, IMO)

While there are certainly restaurants I'd put on the list above some of the ones already on it, the list is decent. Very few I haven't been to.

[Bigfoot424]

Carlyle. Was ok but way too loud. Won't go back due to this alone.

Lebanese Taverna. Was decent but not as good as was reported by a friend.

[reebo]

Been Iron Bridge in Maryland. I'm not a wine person, but met a high school friend there--it was her choice. A bit too pretentious for me, but then again, I was shocked, shocked I say that Chipotle wasn't on the list.

[oneasterisk]

Not surprised 2941 is on that list, it's pretty great. I've been to the Jaleo in DC, not sure if it's the same one as in Arlington.

[stpickrell]

From the 2011 list:
Bazin's on Church -- a little too crowded/trendy/pricey for my tastes
Fire Works Pizza -- great, especially for kids. But it gets crowded quickly in Leesburg
Jaleo -- great for lunch, couldn't go there every day
Lightfoot -- pretty pricey, I like Tuscarora Mill better
Maple Avenue -- way too trendy, tiny portions, huge price

Of the five, I'd recommend Fire Works Pizza, then Jaleo.

From the 2008 list:
Meaza -- it was GREAT. I regret there's no Ethiopian here in Leesburg. My favorite of the places I've been to. It seems there's not even one in Sterling, but there is one in Frederick.
Bangkok 54 -- it was GREAT.
Tuscarora Mill -- better than Lightfoot IMO.
Ristorante Bonaroti -- I've heard the charge "long in the tooth" levied against it, but I loved it. Great anniversary/prom place.
Bebo Trattoria -- I was a shade less impressed with this place than the other Arlington places, but still good.
Jaleo -- see 2011.
Bazin's on Church -- see 2011.
Lightfoot -- see 2011.

I do regret not going to Cafe Renaissance -- I think one sign that I feel more at home in Leesburg is that I've made it a point to go to the nice places with my wife.

[Riley09swb]

I've been to Fireworks Pizza in Leesburg and it is really good. Busy, but good. I've also been to Lightfoot and I agree w/ another PP that Tuskie's is better. I am waiting to try Magnolia's in Purcellville. I saw a couple of places to try in Lovettsville as well.

[weezycom]

Hank's Oyster Bar is good, casual -- try to get a seat in the back room, if you can, b/c the front room is can get very crowded/cramped. All the seafood is wonderfully fresh and cooked very well, but they undersalt (at least to my taste buds, but easily corrected).

La Bergerie is good, classic French in a very elegant, quiet (some would say stuffy) restaurant. Nothing innovative but all well executed with good service.

Majestic is good, solid new American cooking, a bit noisy if the restaurant is full. The Sunday Dinner gets a lot of buzz but the people I've talked to indicate that that meal can be hit-or-miss. When it's good, it's very good, but when the kitchen is having an off day, it can be meh.

Ray's the Steaks, great steakhouse steaks at much better than typical steak house prices. Excellent wine list/sommelier with some terrific bargains. Great sides, great crab bisque. Service can be a little rushed; some reservations, some walk-ins. If you like hot/spicy, try the diablo sauce.

2491 -- undergoing a change in direction right now and soon to renovate the dining room if not already in progress.

Me Jana -- excellent Lebanese food and has a liquor license. Have heard some complaints that prices seem a little high for portion sizes. Not a good choice for big appetites unless willing to get extra mezze.