Non-chain restaurants in Tyson's Corner, VA
 

I will be spending about a month in the Tyson's Corner area of northern Virginia on business. During that time, I'll need to take several clients to nice dinners. I always prefer to stay away from the chains, although an occasionall Capital Grill or McCormick/Schmick is perfectly acceptable.

Can someone who knows the area tell me if there are some better, independent places that I should put on my list? I know all about the Georgetown area, but due to traffic and logistics I'd like to keep the dinners closer to Tysons or Mclean.

We had a great meal at J. Gilbert's wood fired steaks in McLean. I would take clients there. ((b))

Possibly Nizams off of Maple Ave. in Vienna. Wonderful Turkish food in a small and intimate setting.

Also Bob Kinkead's Colvin Run Tavern, also in Vienna. Modern American food. Seafood is especially good I think.

If you're willing to drive to Great Falls (20 minutes or so) L'Auberge Chez Francois is a DC institution, always an award winner. Book way ahead.

L'Auberge Chez Francois is a great place for dinner. Jackets & reservations required. I would put this place at the top of your list. ((b))

I live halfway between the heart of Tysons and downtown McLean, a couple of minutes from both the Capital Grille and J. Gilbert's, which Budman mentioned. I think you have received excellent recommendations from Budman and obxgirl, but unquestionably the most-discussed, prestigious restaurant in the Tysons area at present is Maestro in the Ritz-Carlton Tysons Corner. Currently, it is one of the best-reviewed--and most expensive-- gourmet restaurants in the entire Washington area. (By the way, the Sunday Brunch buffet at the Ritz-Carlton was legendary long before Maestro, with prices to match.)

L'Auberge Chez Francois has unmatched renown as the place to celebrate engagements and anniversaries, but it location is somewhat contrary to your desire to keep the dinners close to Tysons. At times, you would find it to be a long bumper-to-bumper creep out there, although the commuters returning to their homes in Great Falls will be driving cars worth looking at. L'Auberge to me presents more the image of a romantic retreat in the country than a business-oriented occasion. I'd put Maestro on the top of my list for business entertainment, if the clients have discriminating tastes and your entertainment budget is extremely generous.

Colvin Run Tavern, recommended by obxgirl, is probably second to Maestro in the area in garnering recent favorable reviews. Despite what it name suggests, it is right in the middle of Tysons. If you are familiar with DC dining, you are probably familiar with Kinkead's restaurant bearing his own name there, which many consider the best seafood restaurant in the city. His Colvin Run is supposed to be a worthy partner.

eCiti and Cafe Deluxe are two very well-regarded and popular American restaurants that are more moderate. eCiti is very oriented towards the computer industry, lively, noisy and trendy. If your clients are in the industry, they'll be impressed with your knowledgeability in choosing it. Cafe Deluxe has a wide range of levels of dining, with a clientele perhaps a little more inclined to read and talk than eCiti's.

I presume you know that in addition to Capital Grill, nearly every national upscale steakhouse chain is represented at Tyson's. J.R.'s Stockyards is an independent alternative which was there before all of them, a little less pricey. If you are familiar with Georgetown, you probably know of Clyde's, the DC area chain which provides admirable bang for the buck. It's Tysons branch is very large, elegant and popular, so popular that I've found conversation nearly impossible on Friday and Saturday nights. But one out of my out of town visitors told me he had the best steak of his life there.

Da Domenico at Tyson's and Buonaroti and Marco Polo in Vienna are long established, fairly pricey traditional Italian houses that might be appropriate for your clients if they particularly like that cuisine.

Vienna is a notable center of good small, intimate restaurants of many different ethnicities in addition to the two large Italians just mentioned. They are clusttered in its town center five minutes west of Tysons on Route 123. Vienna corresponds to McLean, whose town center is five minutes east of Tysons on the same road, which is called Chain Bridge Rd.in McLean and Tysons, but confusingly changes its name to Maple Avenue within the Vienna town limits.

Amazingly, Vienna has four small, intimate and elegant long-established traditional French houses, all in unprepossing strip mall locations, but inside all capable of impressing clients who like that type of place, with prices well below Maestro or Colvin Run. They are closely comparable, but are in the order of my personal preference: Bistro 123, Le Canard, Cafe Renaissance, and La Provence. Very likely a desirable change of pace, for female clients in particular, to the big Tysons steak palaces.

In addition to the quite elegant and excellent Nizam's in Vienna recommended by obxgirl, McLean also has a fine Turkish place, Kazan's, actually preferred by my friend who has lived in Turkey.

If your clients are ethnically adventurous, they'll find a branch of the District's Busara Thai restaurant in Tyson's, with very eye-catching decor as the original; Konami, widely-praised Japanese; Hunan Lion, an elegant Chinese; and even a gracious Afghan in Vienna named Panjshir (you may assure your clients that the Panjshir was the most fiercely anti-Taliban region of that country.)

Finally, if you are invited by your clients, or invited to bring your clients, to dinner at the Tower Club, you should give it precedence over anything ewlse. It's a private club, atop Tysons' highest building, and reputedly the epicenter of Tysons business power.

I hope you and your clients enjoy your time here.

JBC, that is perhaps the best summary of local dining in Tysons. I don't disagree with any of the restaurants. If you want a truly local experience, add the Vienna Inn to your list. It's a joint, not a restaurant. The beer is cold and the chili dogs don't stay with you long. Nothing fancy, but there are few places left like the Vienna Inn.

Oops. One more. Try the Old Brogue in Great Falls. Classic Irish Pub.

I'm a big fan of Kinkead's in DC (probably my favorite restaurant in the city) but my one visit to his Colvin Run Tavern didn't excite me. The menu is much more limited Kinkead's and I had some difficulty finding something I really wanted. That said, if the menu appeals to you, the quality was good.

JBC's list was phenomenal. I wanted to add that if you need to do a business lunch, Tysons Galleria has a Maggiano's, Daily Grill, Legal Sea Food, and Cheesecake Factor (but I don't think I'd take business clients to the Cheesecake Factory). All 3 of the former restaurants are well-populated by business lunchers throughout the week. Clyde's is also a lot less crowded at lunch, and is a good business lunch destination.

Finally, I work in Tysons, and I don't know what business you're in - but I'm more than happy to be a client if it means you'll take me to a nice lunch or dinner! ;)

Thank you JBC411 for such an informative response. Now this is the reason I visit Fodors travel talk!

I don't know about lunch at Maggiano's, but dinner there is a "pig out." Depending upon the size of your party, you pick a couple of apps, main courses, and desserts, and they keep them coming all night. Not, in my opinion, a place to take clients. Great for large groups of hungry eaters. ((b))

For Sushi- Tachibana can't be beat!Tachibana
(703) 847-1771

Address:

6715 Lowell Ave
McLean, VA 22101

Cross Street:
Old Dominion Dr.

For a super expense account dinner- and it is awesome French food- try this one:

2941 Restaurant
2941 Fairview Park Drive
Falls Church, VA 22042
703-270-1500

How can anyone add anything after JBC's post? This could be the first posting I actual print out. Thanks, JBC.

The above comment has generally good advice but I must mention that La Provence, Nizams and Le Canard are all closed. Cafe Renaissance remains open and is an outstanding restaurant that I defy anyone not to enjoy. The host, the chef, and the rest of the staff go out of their way to make your visit delicious, pleasing and memorable.

good reading as my husband will be there a lot in the next 3 months on business and I am trying to tag along as much as possible.

Made me want a nice dinner at the Ritz!

Well L'Auberge is certainly NOT closed but plan on waiting possibly a couple of MONTHS for a dinner reservation.

I love it..doesn't want a chain but will occasionally go to one anyway.

well Dukey - that won't work either :) Going this weekend. My husband with be there a lot over the next three months and going forward due to some changes in his work so maybe at some point!

Seven year old thread. I was sad to hear of the closing of Nizam's last year though they had a great run that spanned a couple of decades and many accolades. It was the place we always wanted our parents to take us to when they came to town. Lovely food and atmosphere and Nizam always recognized us (or pretended he did).

I have no idea why it was topped... but found it interesting read :)

I didn't check the OP date until after I saw Budman's name and thought "Sheeesh, he's back".