4 Fairfax, VA Spots Your Valentine Will Love

With Valentines Day approaching, your thoughts may turn to romance. The area around Fairfax, Virginia, boasts a number of stylish restaurants that provide the perfect ambiance for a romantic dinner. Here are four of the best.

21 Great American Bistro

With its exposed brickwork, dark wood furniture, tasteful decor, subtle lighting, and candlelit tables, 21 Great American Bistro on North Street creates an intimate atmosphere that is perfect for Valentine’s Day. The menu features American classic dishes along with French, Italian, and Spanish influences. Before dinner, you could enjoy one of the superbly-made traditional cocktails.

The dinner menu offers a variety of fresh salads and “Teasers” such as baked Brie en croute, grilled beef lollipops, artichoke and spinach dip, scallops and mussels. Entrees include Sous-Vide Duck Breast, Duroc pork chop, Lamb Rack Provencale, and fish dishes like salmon filet, barramundi, and Seafood Royale. Vegetarian options are also available.

Dolce Vita Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar

Dolce Vita on Fairfax Boulevard has a separate wine bar and restaurant. The wine bar offers the casual ambiance of a traditional Italian tasting room with wine racks covering the walls. It offers cozy seating inside and an outdoor all-season patio. The bar menu features cicchetti (small plates) that are ideal for sharing. A large selection of wines is available by the glass or bottle.

The restaurant has a relaxed, rustic feel with hand-painted murals on the walls. Aromas of fresh herbs and the wood-fired oven waft from the open kitchen. Choose from a variety of antipasti, soups, and salads to start your meal. Main courses include a range of pasta and risotto, meat and seafood dishes, and wood-fired pizzas.

703 Bar & Kitchen

Tucked away in the Fairfax Marriott at Fair Oaks, the 703 Bar & Kitchen features contemporary decor and a comfortable and relaxed ambiance. The service is friendly and attentive without being intrusive. The bar offers an extensive wine list, rotating local beers, and an awesome range of Bourbons served by Bourbon certified bartenders.

The menu is influenced by south-eastern American cuisine and features appetizers such as Mom’s Pimento Cheese, smoked brisket spring rolls, breaded almond Brie, and crispy Brussels sprouts. For your main course, you could choose Jambalaya, seared Cajun cobia, shrimp and Anson Mills grits, bison meatloaf, or fried chicken and waffle.

Clarity

A short distance from Fairfax is Clarity, a tastefully decorated restaurant on Maple Avenue East in Vienna that offers a fine dining experience. The knowledgeable servers provide personal and professional service, and the chefs go out of their way to adapt dishes to be just the way you want them.

The menu changes daily, but you can expect to find appetizers like Coriander Spiced Oiishi Shrimp Salad, Drunken Heritage Pork Belly, and Emilia Romagna Style Raddiatori. Main courses feature items such as Cast Iron Roasted North Dakota Capon, Caramelized Day Boat Scallops, and Matsutake Mushroom & Farro Risotto.

These restaurants will help to kindle the fires of love in your heart as you enjoy a special meal with your Valentine.

Image via Pixabay

Posted in Around Town | No Comments »