Best food near me in Idylwood, VA

I don't normally post reviews, but my wife and I had a wonderful experience at EVs this weekend - so much so that I thought it appropriate to share. We came on Friday night having heard some rough news, and both our server and others seemed to sense this and gave us some space: very much appreciated. Saturday night we returned resolved to make up for the previous night, and Eddie Vs did not disappoint. Service (Mauricio, Tech, and Kyle) were fabulous - very attentive to my wife and her ever-present eagerness to connect with people. FABULOUS drinks - it's very easy to screw up a sidecar, but EV's hits it every time (in a full martini glass, more substantial than this drink is normally served elsewhere). We love EVs for the seafood, and here too it didn't disappoint - salmon and scallops were perfect, and the bread as always was a hit. But we particularly enjoy EVs for the atmosphere - it's a place where people of all types from everywhere all converge, and somehow it just works. It's one of few places where my wife and I can get way dressed up (and her style is very different from mine) - and we never feel out of place. Some people criticize EVs and other upscale chain restaurants as "fake fancy," but I think this criticism totally misses the point. EVs doesn't serve arugula grown next door by a farmer whose land has been in his family for hundreds of years, but it's an upenergy, upbeat and upscale spot that serves terrific food without trying to be something that it isn't - in that way, it's the opposite of "fake." Fake is the vibe I get when I go to a lot of upscale places in DC that try so hard to create a formal atmosphere that they become stuffy and pretentious. Hats off to Kyle, Tech, Mauricio, and the wonderful women at the host stand who greeted us. Eddie Vs helped turn around what could have been a rough weekend. They always make my wife feel like she's the star of the show - and as her husband I can't put a price tag on that. Thank you.

Service was pretty slow! Took us 30 minutes to get water…

The Thanksgiving dinner service was everything we could ask for and more. The food was some of the best I’ve had at Founding Farmers Tyson’s and I feel like we got our money’s worth because the meals we received were enough for two meals and we were able to take Thanksgiving leftovers home:) We also had some time concerns, and the restaurant manager Dean was extremely helpful in getting us out on time and making sure that we had everything that we needed. He was also kind enough to get a requested dessert for one of our guests. We’ve had experience with Dean before and he has outstanding customer service skills! Excellent management, quality food, service and ambience are the reasons that Tyson’s Founding Farmers is our favorite go-to restaurant that we’ve been coming to for years because we can always count on a quality dining experience. I highly recommend them! Andrea Christy (Thomas Rowell’s sister in party)

This restaurant has become one of my top choices in the DMV area. The service we received was exemplary; I would like to commend Gabby and Diego for their outstanding hospitality. As a party of seven, which included a five-month-old baby, we appreciated Gabby’s professional attention to our needs. They provided a stand that accommodated the baby's car seat, positioning her at seating height, which was very considerate and helped the parents manage her comfortably. The variety and quality of the meat selections were impressive and quite enjoyable. I liked having the traditional Thanksgiving fare, one tip I would give is to cook the green bean casserole a little longer, it should be really bubbling when you take it out of the oven. It was nice to have the lobster add-in special during the meal, that was an extra treat for an additional reasonable price.

This was my first time going to this location and I wasn't disappointed in the least. The ambiance was cozy and festive (loved the decorations), staff were pleasant and had approachable dispositions. Furthermore, my request in the reservation to be seated by a window was honoured without me having to remind the hostess. The food was tasty and portions copious. The calamari, the lamb chops, cheesecake and creme brulee were our faves. The turkey was the tastiest we have had yet in a restaurant so we were happy we got to take home the leftovers. Our waiter, Korey, was personable, professional and patient. He didn't vanish for long periods and checked in regularly. He didn't grimace once when we asked him to repeat the specials a few times (sorry Korey)! The icing on the cake was the maitre d''s friendliness and first-class customer service. Kevin F. stopped by, greeted us warmly and wished us a Happy Thanksgiving. He definitely caught my attention - I was impressed because as many times as I've been to the Fairfax Corner location the maitre d' there has never stopped by my table. When one of the dishes we ordered was not served as we had requested, and a specific ask was forgotten, Kevin came and apologised profusely and then went all out to ensure our full satisfaction. He served us himself and checked to see whether the chef got it right the second time around, supervising the staff who rallied around us to give our new plates. Another thing that stood out was Kevin's support of his staff, praising Korey and taking full responsibility for the blunder, not throwing him under the bus as I've witnessed in some instances. Kevin's leadership skills are exemplary and his personality on point, so he has a following! :) We were really touched by his attentiveness and appreciative of his determination to ensure our Thanksgiving celebration was not marred in the least, and it wasn't. We will visit again. Thank you Kevin and Korey, and Happy Thanksgiving!