Restaurant Recommendations (Alexandria, Fairfax, Vienna: university, live in, restaurants)

[athousandlogins]

My brother and his wife are coming to town next month, and would like to take them out to eat somewhere nice. We're leaving the kids at home, so upscale is preferred. Even expensive, since this is like a once-a-year thing. (I never get to eat out without the kids! I'm so excited!)

My guests aren't picky, but they favor Italian food and I know that's not NoVA's strong point. Where would you take them? We live in Falls Church, but we're fine with driving a bit.

[oneasterisk]

2941.com is one of my new fav restaurants

[GoHokiesGo]

1789 restaurant (in Georgetown), Central Michel Richard, Blue Duck Tavern, Oya, Citronelle, CityZen are all excellent and upscale, classy restaurants that I have no reservations about giving a recommendation for. Some require a jacket, so your brother may need to bring a blazer/suit.

They're probably the best restaurants we've tried so far in DC, but there are a ton of excellent ones in the area. None are italian, but I still recommend them.

[cdmurphy]

Tosca is really good - but it's in DC. They have valet parking; they're also right by Metro Center.

[Alexys]

I recommend Filomena Ristorante, Italian Cuisine, DC - Georgetown, 1063 Wisconsin Ave, NW, 202-337-2782. Great food and classy ambience. At the end you'll be served a nice drink Amaretto drink to make the food settle nicely which is included with the meal. For two people it cost ~$100. Have Fun!

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Alexys

[twinmma]

i ricci is very good in dc. pricey but I loved it when we ate there

[Denton56]

Chez Francois in Great Falls is my favorite. Beautiful place, nice staff, and wonderful food. If you want someplace closer, Cafe Renaissance in Vienna is very good.

[g3org3]

Obelisk in DC for Italian. 2941 for a great meal in your 'hood.

[AnalyzeThis]

I second Filomena in Georgetown. It is my favorite Italian restaurant EVER! I love their calamari, and the Linguine Cardinale is TO DIE FOR. Depending on which night you are going, it's probably best to call ahead and make reservations. Also, there is a parking garage pretty much right across from the restaurant. It's pricey but worth the convenience IMO.

[bmwguydc]

Filomena is a good choice, but it's not as upscale as other offerings in the city like Obelisk. It's sort of a nice, upscale-homey restaurant as opposed to someplace like Cafe Milano on Prospect Street (Prospect near Wisconsin), which is more of a fine dining Italian establishment, where you will see any number of notable people about town if your out-of-town guests are into people watching/celeb spotting. The garage across from Filomena is in the Georgetown Park Mall, and for Cafe Milano there is a lot across the street, and a garage just to the west of the restaurant. Cafe Milano does also have valet parking, but it's significantly more expensive than parking yourself, if that matters to you.

If you like Old Town, Alexandria, I would recommend Il Porto on King Street. In Fairfax, in the Old Town area, you have two choices for Italian fine dining that are good. One is Villa Mozart on Chain Bridge Road, across from the old courthouse (near the intersection of Chain Bridge & Main), and the other is around the corner on Main Street (Main & University), which is Belissimo. Villa Mozart is excellent, and business casual is acceptable for dinner. Parking can be a challenge for both, but there are municipal lots on University and a garage at University and North, about half a block from the intersection on University. It's not more than a two, short, block walk to either restaurant from a parking facility.

ETA: I know some may not agree with me regarding Filomena, but the reason why I don't note it as particularly upscale is the self-service brunch and daily lunch, which has excellent food, but is not the same ambiance as a sit-down restaurant. That's just my bias, and it does not affect the food at all, which is excellent. If it were an attended buffet line, that would be a tad different, IMO, but that's because I don't like handling food that numerous patrons have handled the implements to obtain, especially during flu season. For dinner, there is no buffet, but I'd still not describe the atmosphere as decidedly upscale.