Best Restaurants Thread

Are both Zeffrilli's owned by the same mgmt? Are the menus similar? We have been to the one in Leesburg and hated just about everything about it...

 

While I have not tried it myself, a few people have told me Marco Polo in Vienna is a great Italian restaurant:

http://www.marcopolorestaurant.com/gallery.htm

 

Thanks, that restaurant looks nice, but not really an Italian restaurant. I found this place online, it's in Reston, more of a standard Italian menu, anyone tried this place?

Il Cigno
http://www.ilcigno.com/Food_Wine.asp#

 

Maggiano's Little Italy in tysons II mall is also excellent, at least is was the last time I was there a couple of years ago.

Zeffrilli's in Herndon is much better then the one in Leesburg from what I have been told. I have only been to the one in Herndon and I have stayed away from the one in Leesburg because of what I have heard.
Lee J Buividas

 

Supposedly, they're the same company, but you couldn't tell by the food or the service !!

Guess they feel that since people in Leesburg think Johnson's Steak House is good, anything will be OK there !!

 

PIZZA: Bravo Pizza, if you're looking for the thin-crust, New York style variety. We've been searching the area for something even remotely similar to a pie we had once in a dinky little place in Manhattan, and this is the closest we've come to it in Loudoun. No delivery, but pies are ready in about 15 minutes. We've had a few misses -- soggy in the middle, mostly -- but overall, this is our #1 Papa John's alternative.

 

LKelly, you may be the only person who frequents Bravo. I have never seen anyone actually in the restaurant. I don't know how they stay in business.

 

I'm from NJ and have grown up with real NY and NJ pizza. Bravo doesn't cut it, at least not for us. A little closer to real NY style we've found is Pomodoro, the one by TJ Max, and Broadlands Brick Oven.

 

smheese, I'll have to try Pomodoro... thanks for the heads-up on that! We've only had pan pizza at Broadlands Brick Oven and weren't all that impressed, but we'll try it again with a thin-crust.

 

I tried Bravo Saturday night and liked it better than the standard delivery options. It's nice to have a place that sells pizza by the slice. I'll go back, but it may have to be soon...we were the only family in the entire restaurant by the time we left at 7:30.

 

I think Bravo is great. They make a pretty good steak and cheese (or chicken cheese steak), and their calzones are really good too. Have had the pizza twice and it's very good. They get way busy at lunch - I think a lot of people from MCI/AOL come out this way to eat there.

On a separate note, I think Il Cigno closed in Reston. Zeferelli's is not good. Then again, I think San Vito is awful too and they still seem to get a crowd!

 

I myself am fond of New Haven pizza, but nonetheless, I am at a loss for how bad the pizza and Italian food around here is. I've resorted to making my own on both counts. And yes, I'm Italian...

 

Do you deliver?

 

Food is like beauty movies books architecture art etc if you like it that is all that counts. I have also seen many bad Italian cooks. No offense to anyone here.

I do like Pomodoro's pizza and personally can't tell the difference between the one at the skating rink or the other one.
Any good Lithuanian Restaurants around here????

Lee J Buividas

 

What about Domani for Italian? We went a couple weeks ago on a Friday night - the food was great - there were 7 of us and no one had complaints. The calamari and mussel appetizers are YUMM-O.

 

I'm of Italian descent (2nd generation born in the states), went to Domani when it first opened ... gagged. Sauce tasted like puree right from the can, with added oregano.

OK .. gave it another shot a year later ... much the same. Its not good Italian. Zefferelli's in Herndon is a great Italian place.

 

Domani is not a real Italian restaurant. Any place that also has a Philly Cheese Steak and Greek food, is not authentic. WHY o WHY do the "Italian" places around here also serve Greek food... ? Doesn't make any sense to me. I avoid any place that has gyro on the menu.

 

IMO - there ARE no real Italian restaurants in this area, but everybody's opinion is different. Since I'm Italian, I make everything from scratch, therefore never need to bother eating in Italian restaurants so really can't comment one way or another to the restaurants in this area. Some people must think they're good and that's fine, to each his own. I just happen to be very spoiled and enjoy the Italian recipes passed down from my grandparents. And I agree what's up with mixing Italian with Greek food...never made sense to me.

 

Broadlands Best IMHO- these are my faves in town, and I am a BIG restaurant person...

Asian- Cafe Opera: welcoming ambience, friendly service, original and flavorful dishes.

Mid price steak- Original Steakhouse: outstanding service, delicious fresh bread and soups, high grade beef, and steak salad that will have you scraping the bottom of the bowl!

Sushi- Matusba Sushi: tight rolls and the complimentary fresh orange at the end is so refreshing! and they don't sneer at me when i ask to add cream cheese...

 

Most of the Italian places around here are either owned by Greeks (go figure) or non-Italians, so they figure anything mediterranean goes !!

Case in point: Mediterranean Breeze ... great Greek, ok (note small ok) Italian.