Restaurant recommendation

[Denton56]

Bazin's is a great restaurant but much too noisy to be romantic. While I love Chez Francois, I wish they wouldn't put the tables so close together. When it's crowded you can hear everything the neighbors are discussing.

We've spent many anniversaries at Cafe Renaissance in Vienna. I think it's more romantic than Chez. The food is great, as is the service, and it's very pretty, nice lighting, beautiful flowers, very romantic. I've watched two couples get engaged there. Here are lots of recommendations:
restaurants Vienna, Va - Google Maps

If you go there, you must order and Irish Coffee after dinner, it's quite a performance, at table side, fire included. It's delicious too!

[movingtodcfromseattle]

OP - Kudos to you for doing your research! I'm sure your wife will love anything that you pick....the surprise is good enough in my book!

[GoHokiesGo]

I was thinking 2941 or Restaurant Eve also when you mentioned this. Even though you mentioned no DC, Georgetown is pretty easy to get to; 1789 came to mind as a nice quiet, romantic dinner and they'll valet the car if DC parking is a concern.


My Wife and I are foodies and try to taste the snazzy restaurants as much as our paychecks allow. I tend to use AOL City Guide and Washingtonian a lot for my restaurant research, then read additional reviews when I find a good one.

Washingtonian allows you to sort by state for the DC Area restaurants, so you can limit it to virginia only:
Washingtonian Magazine - Dining and Restaurants, Shopping, Politics, Entertainment, Nightlife, Real Estate, News and Events in Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia

[saganista]

Though the waterscapes are a definite plus factor, 2941 I think takes itself a little too seriously. Bazin's I'd put in the same category as Sweetwater Tavern or Coastal Flats. Interesting and very good food at not awful prices, but a little more noisy and higher energy than romantic. La Rue 123 in Fairfax City is quite small, so like Chez François, reservations would be called for. Traditional French is what they call it, and whatever it is, it's excellent on the food side with a very nice wine list. It occupies several rooms on the first floor of an old house just across 123 from the courthouse complex, so even if a bit stiff at times, it does offer an old style and reasonably warm and welcoming ambience. But if that ambience thing is the deal maker, Cafe Rennaisance might be a better bet. Not as expensive, and the food isn't quite to the same standard, but it's hard to find a warmer, happier place. Sayeed takes wonderful care of everyone, and as noted above, the after dinner coffee of the same name is both an adventure and a delight.

[DC Oldtimer]

I have to second Cafe Renaissance. We go every year for Thanksgiving, and sometimes for anniversaries.

There is a small room off of the main dining room (not that the main room is insufficiently romantic). You might ask to be in there for added atmosphere!

I think you will love it. We do.

[GoHokiesGo]

I can't edit my earlier post for some reason, but I saw that someone mentioned a B&B near middleburg.

I thought I'd add one more - L'Auberge Provencal is a nice B&B that has a wonderful restaurant also, it's a little past Middleburg in White Post, VA (roughly an hour from Tysons/McLean area). The owner and chef was raised in Provence, France and moved here. The food is quite tasty and the staff is great. I proposed to my wife there.