Idylwood Grill & Wine Bar - Falls Church, Virginia

Natalita S.

I went to Idylwood Grill for the first time and tried their restaurant week brunch menu. The food was phenomenal - every single dish was extremely flavorful and tasty. I think the shrimp was the best I’ve ever had in my life!

This is a modest restaurant that looks like it could use some revamping, however we appreciated the quiet ambiance. The only negative thing we experienced was the service - the server was working alone and seemed to be overwhelmed and unable to provide a sufficient amount of service and professionalism to each table.

Overall, despite the service needing improvement, I’d highly recommend eating here because the food is just that amazing! I’ll definitely return for more.

Samantha L.

Brunch at Idylwood Grill and Wine Bar is a true hidden gem tucked away in Idylwood Plaza! Despite its name, it is a family-friendly with lots of kid-approved options. Brunch is served Saturday and Sunday from 11am-2pm.

We started with warm bread dipped in EVOO—such a comforting treat, while we waited for our meals. My husband chose the Bacon Benedict with home fries and fresh fruit, and I absolutely loved my Flounder Francaise served alongside home fries and sautéed veggies!

Pro tip: Be sure to ask about their drink options—they don't immediately offer a drink menu, but they've got you covered!

Jennifer H.

This place never disappoints! The food is delicious and the place is very cozy. I went with the lamb shank and risotto. My Mom gets the chicken piccata every time.

Oliver H.

We have been going to Idylwood Grill for many years and the food keeps getting better and better. This time my wife and I went there for Valentine's Dinner and words cannot describe how good their menu was this year. My wife had the Fish Duo and I had the Steakhouse Combo. Both tasted fresh and delicious! They were very busy, but we have come to realize that this place cooks everything from scratch so we didn't mind waiting for our food. Good food cannot be cooked at microwave speed. Keep up the good work Idylwood Grill!

Aaron R.

Made reservations for Valentines evening after our show. We waited 90 minutes for our main course. Lamb came out completely raw, and lobster had obviously been sitting in warm water for hours. It was the worst experience I’ve ever had. I was so embarrassed in front of my date. I’m not from this area, so I chose this restaurant off the reviews. Don’t believe the other reviews!

George L.

We decided to try out Idylwood Grill for the first time, this despite living no more than 25 minutes away (at most) in a few Fairfax City locations for over 20 years. I just didn't know about what turns out to be a local stalwart neighborhood restaurant the past 20+ years.

We were not super hungry, so we went right to ordering entrees. We ordered the deboned branzino filet with smoked salmon and vegetables, and the rack of lamb, medium rare, with sauteed vegetables.

The branzino had a nicely crisped skin with good flavor (I'd request a touch less of salt the next time we order it since we go light on salt at home), and the smoked salmon consisted of some moist plump pieces. One thing I'd note is that too many restaurants (in general) in the past decade have gone away from serving vegetables along with a main entree, or the vegetables "fly over" the plate as my family would sarcastically state. However, the sauteed vegetables in both dishes (we shared our entrees to try both) were ample and cooked just right. The lamb was medium rare, with two of the three chops being a double bone cut. Nice and thick.

After thoroughly enjoying our entrees, we decided to try the tiramisu as the desserts are made in house by Aida. Our server Kimmy and her assistant both smiled at our choice as they know the desserts are very good. The tiramisu was freshly made, with the mascarpone balanced just right with the lady fingers. It was a great way to finish off our meal.

From the pleasantness and efficiency of the staff, to the quality of our meal, and a touch of live (Saturday night) music, we had a great time and meal. We definitely will be going back to try more of what is a wide assortment of dishes.

Well done, Idylwood Grill!

Devon T.

The food, service, and atmosphere were all fantastic! The Avocado Salad was fresh and flavorful, and the Shrimp Ajo had the perfect hint of garlic. For dinner, the Salmon Caesar was beautifully prepared, and the Mardi Gras Jambalaya was packed with bold, authentic flavors. For dessert, we enjoyed the Cheesecake and Key Lime Pie - both were the perfect sweet finish to an already amazing meal. The staff was welcoming and attentive, making our experience even better. We had a wonderful time and can’t wait to come back!

Renz O. T.

WORST VALENTINE'S DAY DINNER

I have never felt the need to write a thorough review of a restaurant until now. Our experience at Idylwood Grill & Wine Bar on a Valentine's Day was nothing short of a disaster. A complete failure in service, management, and basic hospitality.

We arrived at 2120H for our 2130H reservation, expecting a nice dinner. Upon arrival, there was no one to receive us immediately, despite a number of waitstaff at the bar/counter. When a staff member finally acknowledged us, he did not seem accommodating at all. Still, we proceeded with our reservation, knowing ahead of time that Idylwood was only offering their $79 three-course meal for the evening.

We placed our orders promptly, around 2130H. At 2205H, we overheard the waiter asking the table beside us if they had ordered and received their appetizers which they hadn't. They arrived before us. At this point, we noticed other tables looking around, exchanging frustrated glances because, just like us, they had been waiting for too long.

By 2220H, we had been sitting for nearly an hour with nothing-no appetizers, no questions, no explanation, nothing. I was hungry, exhausted, and sleepy, but we still gave them a chance, thinking surely our food must be coming soon.

2230H, still no food. That was it. We got up and told the manager or head waiter that we had no idea what was happening, but we are leaving. An entire hour had passed, and we hadn't even received our first course.

Now, let me be clear: I'm not writing this to compare this "chef-owned, family-run restaurant" to a Korean BBQ restaurant, because that would be unfair to both, it's like comparing apples to oranges. But service also matters. We ended up at a Korean BBQ place around 2300H, ordered immediately, had our food cooked and served in a few minutes and were out the door by 2330H. That's efficiency and basic hospitality.

Idylwood may pride itself on its "contemporary American dishes infused with Italian, French, and Mediterranean flavors," but what does that matter when they can't even serve an appetizer within 10 minutes? What's the point of a special Valentine's Day menu if they clearly weren't prepared to handle the evening?

This was, without a doubt, the worst dining experience I've had in years. Valentine's Day or not, this level of service is unacceptable.