Need Advice Fun Casual, Good Food Dinner Place

Need a nice dinner place to take my parents on a Saturday at 7:30. Someplace that is a casual fun atmosphere but has really good a reasonably priced food. (Like Sweetwater), But I need someplace close to Broadlands that we can make reservations for so there is no wait... (on a clock with the babysitter).

Looked at Vintage 50 but it looks expensive for the quality of food. Looked at Blue Ridge Grille, never been there, the menu looks limited and there are no prices on it. Any other suggestions?

 

Both Vintage 50 and Blue Ridge have very good food...the menus are not huge but there meat, fish, poultry and pasta choices at both places...Prices seem pretty much in line with similar restaurants...I don't think Blue Ridge does reservations unless it is a party of at least six...I've never tried to make reservations at Vintage 50, but I've also never waited for a table...Vintage also has a great selection of hand crafted beers. The atmosphere is quiet yet not reserved and the service is quick but never seems hurried...Blue Ridge is more of an upscale Applebees type atmosphere.

 

A place I like because the food is really reasonably priced and the atmosphere is a lot of fun is Mimi's Cafe at Dulles Towncenter. I love the food there, it has a homecooking feel. I am always surprised when we get the bill because it is so low compared to many other restaurants. We have never made reservations, but we rarely had a wait ... not sure if it is because people are not sure what to expect and they don't really go there that much. Or maybe I just don't have the expensive palate that some others have, lol. ... anywho ... I like the foodstuffs there.

Marianne

 

Bonefish's dishes always exceed expectations and are worth the money.
Not Your Average Joes (NYAJ) in Lansdowne is as nice and casual as you can get with FABULOUS food and Bloody Marys- excellent service too. If you want Ethnic- Lansdowne also has Silk Road- Afghan cuisine- SPECTACULAR- (coupon on my site) and Mariachi for a variety of Latin food.
Michelangelo is also wonderful Italian with massive portions- the Osso Bucco falls off the bone... ridiculously tender.

MY #1 Pick of these? NYAJ. Different, special, reasonable price and did I mention the Bloody Marys...?

 

American Flatbread!
NYAJ rocks too. It'll be very busy on Saturday night, and isn't exactly around the corner, though.

 

Blue Ridge Grill is great! Yummy salads, burgers and app's...that is all I can personally vouch for.

 

Nagoya by Safeway. They take reservations. Without alcohol you can get out at $25/person because you really do NOT need an appitizer and you'll probably have leftovers. Fun? Heck - they throw shrimp at you!!!! Dinners take 60 minutes, that's it.

Dang - I'm hungry - nom, nom, nom

 

We LOVE Mimi's (muffins are AWESOME), plus they are REALLY kid friendly. Portions are huge

 

Not Safeway, GIANT! One off of Claiborne on the other side of the Greenway.

And it is fun!

 

I don't know what the prices are like at Sweetwater but Clyde's is close to you and nice. It all depends on what kind of food you're looking for - if you want American food like steak, chicken, etc. with potatoes and veggies that's one thing. But if you want ethnic you have many different choices.

Mimi's can be good but sometimes their food tastes a bit on the frozen dinner side. At least the turkey dinner did.

 

I was going to say Clyde's too. They have call ahead seating, I think.

Went to NYAJ on Tuesday night for GNO--$2.97 happy hour martinis!!! Awesome.
I had crab lettuce wrap appetizer--OK--crab was good but not enough for the huge lettuce leafs. For dinner I had spinach pear blue cheese salad with grilled salmon. Very good.

 

must disagree- Clydes give great atmosphere but the food is way more expensive than it tastes. it's not BAD, it's just not nearly as good as many other places for the money. go for the bar scene, go for the gorgeous atmosphere, go for drinks, and even appetizers or the bar menu- but for dinner...? MANY better choices out there for the money.

 

That's true, Redon, but it does offer a variety of foods similar to that of Sweetwater. It's hard to find a good "American" place in the Ashburn area that hasn't been mentioned already, except for the Original Steakhouse.

Now, if the guests are interested in a more diverse food selection, we have A LOT of that around here. If they want a very casual place there's always Foster's Grille. People I've taken there have enjoyed it even though there isn't a lot of variety.

 

we agree there on the "american style" being a bit more rare. as a big fan of american- and food in general- i found Clyde's to be a disppointment in food when compared to sweetwater.

Orig steakhouse- good standard American fare- their steeak salad is FAB.

it is SO HARD to choose!

NYAJ has simple and fancy food.

 

Dang! Right!!!

Think LOCAL!!!!

 

you don't consider Lansdowne local...?

 

Nope. I consider "Ashburn" local. Lanesdowne is full o'them gentrified folk that ruin a perfectly good walk by swinging a stick at a little ball.

 

Getting shrimp thrown at you is NOT my idea of fun. Had that happen to me with a brand new sweater....stain NEVER came out.

 

You can make reservations at Clydes.

 

You can always tell them not to include you in the shrimp toss.