Next month will mark one year since I discovered Down Home Comfort Cafe in Woodbridge, Virginia,…read moreand I can honestly say that finding this place has been one of the best things to happen to me. I was in town when I first stopped by, and what started as a visit turned into spending the entire day with the staff. From that very first day, I felt something special. These wonderful people are no longer just restaurant staff to me -- they are family. Now, every month when I fly into town, I make it a priority to spend the entire day with my Down Home Comfort Cafe family. I love the atmosphere, the food, the conversations, and most of all, the people. I even enjoy talking with the customers and recommending different entrées. It feels like I'm coming home every time I walk through those doors. And let me tell you -- the soul food is absolutely incredible! The food is made with love, and you can taste that love in every bite. If you're looking for delicious, authentic soul food and an atmosphere where you're treated like family, look no further. In my opinion, the best soul food cafe is right here in Woodbridge, Virginia -- Down Home Comfort Cafe!

I've only tried the chicken and waffles, but they never disappoint. The sweet potato waffle with…read morethe cinnamon is absolutely amazing, and the chicken is always crispy, flavorful, and perfectly seasoned. I also tried the bread pudding. I love bread pudding, but this one just wasn't my favorite. It wasn't bad it just didn't quite hit the mark for me. The café itself is small, cozy, and welcoming. They have a small bar area, indoor seating, and a customer restroom that's tucked away in the back. When I stopped in, there were several people dining in, and it had a relaxed, homey atmosphere. Overall, I'd definitely recommend Down Home Cafe, especially if you're looking for a comforting brunch or a laid-back Sunday meal. I'll definitely be back for those chicken and waffles! Oh! Open parking!

Amazing staff! Claudia was excellent to me. The crab and artichoke dip was great! and the drinks…read moreare very well made! Definitely go check it out!

The Spot at Belmont Bay is officially our new brunch problem!!!…read more We went to The Spot at Belmont Bay this past Sunday for brunch, and I'm just going to say it: this is the best brunch in the area. Not "pretty good for Woodbridge." Not "solid little neighborhood spot." I mean clear-your-calendar-because-you're-going-back good. We ordered the Breakfast Board for Two, and it was exactly what brunch should be: generous, fun, shareable, and absolutely loaded. Eggs, bacon, house-made sausage, smashed potatoes, Belgian waffles, biscuit, gravy (so good), fresh fruit, Greek parfait, and pastries of the day all showed up on one board like brunch had assembled the Avengers. And here's what makes it even better: everything is made from scratch. You can taste it. Even the sausage is made in-house, which explains why it stood out so much. The smashed potatoes were seasoned beautifully, the scrambled eggs were fluffy, the bacon had that perfect crispy edge, and the waffles were golden with just enough crunch. The biscuit was soft and buttery, and the cinnamon roll situation on the side had absolutely zero interest in helping anyone make responsible decisions. Respect. But the absolute star of the show was the spicy Bloody Mary. Best Bloody Mary I've ever had. Full stop. It had real zip, great spice, and that pickle salt rim took it completely over the top. Salty, briny, spicy, savory, it hit every note. Add the crispy bacon and lemon garnish = forget about it!! The drink menu is no joke either. They've got mimosa carafes, mimosa flights, sangria, margarita flights, brunch cocktails, dirty sodas, coffee drinks - basically, The Spot looked at brunch beverages and said, "Yes. All of it." We also had a mimosa, and it was bright, fresh, and exactly what you want sitting next to a big brunch board. We also had the chance to meet the owners, and they were fantastic. Warm, welcoming, and clearly passionate about what they're building. That makes such a difference. You can tell when a place has real people behind it who care about the food, the service, and the vibe. The Spot absolutely has that. I liked it so much that I'm already going back for their bourbon tasting Saturday night, and then again for their Father's Day brunch on Sunday. Great food, great drinks, great owners, great atmosphere, and scratch-made brunch that actually delivers. The Spot at Belmont Bay is a winner. It's a cute small place so make sure you call and make reservations!

I rediscovered Rucci's on a cloudy drizzly Sunday for lunch. They're just as good as my original…read morerating 5/5. We were the 1st customers in the dining area, 2 others at the bar so service was very prompt. We had a nice window view and, of course, the joint was still very quiet. We split a steak & cheese and the fries. It was plenty almost too much meat. I had to smooch the meat down to get my mouth around it. That was after eating some of the steak with a folk. Unless you have a huge appetite half a Steak & Cheese sub is plenty. I posted 2 photos of their Happy hour menu and 1 of my meal. Bon appetite all.

Service was amazing. This place is like a little second family, even if you aren't family. You can…read moretell the folks that eat here and work here love being in the restaurant. Our service was fast and easy. The server was very kind and helpful. As for food, I got the meatball and chef salad which were both exactly what I'd been hoping for, but with a little let down. (Causing the star drop) The meatball was a great flavor. It came with a beautiful red sauce and bread on the side (would've liked for it to have been warm and toasted, with garlic butter). I think it may have been slightly colder than it was hot, but the flavor was still wonderful. Salad was fresh, crunchy and a hefty dinner portion. Perfectly layered, very well done salad. Filling and satisfying

Everything was splendid at breakfast this morning! We had a 9:30 a.m. reservation and were seated…read morepromptly in a comfortable booth. The restaurant was clean, bright, airy, and vibrant, with a trendy atmosphere that we absolutely loved. We started with the cornbread, which had a lovely texture, somewhere between traditional coarse cornbread and a sweeter version. It was tender, delicately baked, and served with delicious butter. I ordered the three-egg omelet, accompanied by a beautiful, fragrant, and refreshing arugula salad that I thoroughly enjoyed. The eggs tasted farm-fresh. My mate enjoyed a full breakfast of beef sausage, bacon, potatoes, over-easy eggs, and a biscuit. The coffee was hot and delicious, and my hot matcha was equally enjoyable. One small tip: specialty drinks ordered from the drink bar may take a little longer to arrive at your table, so keep that in mind. Our server was excellent, and the overall experience was wonderful. We were happy to leave a 25% tip for the great service. Between the delicious food, welcoming atmosphere, and attentive staff, this was an thoroughly enjoyable breakfast. We loved it and would gladly return!

Disappointing First Visit -- Unfortunately, I Won't Be Returning…read more I was genuinely excited to finally visit Ruthie's All-Day in Arlington after hearing so much about the restaurant. Unfortunately, my first experience was disappointing, especially considering how much I was looking forward to it. We started with Harry's Hot Hushpuppies, made with shrimp and jalapeño. They arrived nice and hot, and the batter was crispy, which I appreciated. The flavor was decent, although I think a different dipping sauce would have complemented them better. Overall, they were okay. For my entrée, I ordered Ruthie's Big Plate. I specifically requested my eggs scrambled soft with cheese. Unfortunately, they arrived without the cheese and were not cooked the way I requested. The beef sausage was another disappointment. After taking one bite, I found the texture unusually soft and mushy, almost as though it hadn't been cooked thoroughly. I couldn't enjoy it. The bacon, however, was excellent! The portion was generous, and the flavor was really good. It was honestly one of the highlights of my meal. Unfortunately, the breakfast potatoes were the complete opposite. They were dry, lacked seasoning, and had very little flavor. I did enjoy the grits, which were another positive. My husband ordered the fried chicken biscuit. I tasted his chicken, and it was extremely salty. There was a sweet honey glaze that helped balance the saltiness somewhat, but the salt was still overpowering. The biscuit itself was just okay. I did speak with the manager about my experience, and I want to acknowledge that she was very apologetic and offered to have something else prepared for me. I appreciated her professionalism and willingness to make things right. However, I declined because my husband was already eating, and by the time another meal arrived, he would have been finished. I didn't want him sitting there waiting while I ate. For me, dining out is about more than just the atmosphere or a restaurant's reputation. The food should be flavorful, properly prepared, and served as requested. Unfortunately, too many items fell short during this visit. I really wanted to love Ruthie's All-Day, but based on this experience, I don't see myself returning. I hope management takes this feedback constructively because there is definitely room for improvement in the consistency, seasoning, and preparation of the food. I also want to acknowledge the manager's effort to make things right. She came back over to check on us again, and a server brought us complimentary apple donuts with cookies and cream ice cream. I must say, the cookies and cream ice cream was absolutely delicious! When I spoke with the manager again, she told me, "I didn't want you to leave dissatisfied." I genuinely appreciated her saying that and, more importantly, making the effort to turn our experience around. I even told her that the ice cream was my "happy place" because I enjoyed it that much! Although I was disappointed with several aspects of our meal, I believe in giving credit where credit is due. The manager was attentive, sincere, and genuinely concerned about our experience. Her hospitality did not erase the issues we had with the food, but it certainly made a difference in how we felt leaving the restaurant. I truly appreciate her kindness and willingness to make things right, and I felt it was only fair to acknowledge that in my review. So I changed it to 3 stars for the effort to make things better.

Unique family owner southern eatery, not a chain. Not like all the usual in the area…read more Tasty southern fish, shrimp, BBQ and more. Owned by a retired Navy type-all you sailors muster here NOW!

If you want to enjoy delicious soul food AND support an amazing small business owner -- don't sleep…read moreon C & E Southern Bites! It may be hidden away in Data Alley, but it's well worth the drive. Owned by a sweet Black American couple who deeply understand the ins and outs of Southern cuisine, you will feel the warmth of home at this simple storefront restaurant. They feature a menu replete with St Louis Ribs, gumbo, catfish, whiting, Mac n Cheese, Greens w Smoked Turkey, candied yams, banana pudding, homemade sweet potato pie and more! This was such a find. We had the 1/2 pound catfish platters and the batter was seasoned so perfectly. Additionally, the candied yams were cooked with just the right mix of sweet and savory and I could have had second. Greens are difficult to nail, and C & E nailed the texture and flavor. So good -- just add a little hot sauce and you're ready to eat! The potato salad and fried okra are also tasty options. Next time, we'll try the Mac n cheese. To finish the meal, we really enjoyed the special dessert: peach cobbler cinnamon roll. My spouse loved the banana pudding as well. 10/10 recommend! Spread the word and support small businesses. There are a lot of chain soul food restaurants out there, but Southern Bites deserves its flowers. Total class of its own!

Great food, quick service that wasn't overbearing. Generous portions! We'll be back.read more

Another year, another 5-star review!…read more Johnathan yet again was the gem at the bar! Great service, drinks how we like them, and food worth another visit! Love this place!

Great addition to the Colonial Beach dining scene - highly recommend!…read more We were there yesterday and they had three soups on the menu. We ordered one of each and they were all fabulous. The churros were also really good - especially the sauce. They have beer on tap, typically from a local brewery. The cocktails are pretty basic, but are available too. This is our third time there and the food has always been great. They have a small menu and the food is excellent. If the menu is small because they can focus on doing a few things well, its definitely a winning strategy. I'm not sure if the small menu is a winter plan, or if it will be that way all year. But if it is, don't be turned off by the small menu, the food is great! It is outdoor dining and takeout only. They have a cute outdoor seating area with a number of picnic tables and benches. In the winter they have a heaters, a wood fire pit and a propane fire pit table (which our kids love). I love that they are able to stay open through the winter - we try to get a meal in there if we are in Colonial Beach on the weekend.

Great food. Super awesome and friendly staff. Cute outdoor setting. GET THE BBQ PLATTER. It rocks…read more The baked beans and the mac and cheese were amazing. Churros where so good too. They serve beer too. Enjoy!

Visited here with my Dad for lunch. He likes simple country cooking. Alot of reviews here are for…read moretheir breakfast items but dont sleep on the other selections. My Dad got the Meatloaf lunch plate with two sides. Mashed potatoes and green beans. He ate more of this plate than Ive seen him eat in a long time. The meatloaf was REALLY good. The gravy, the sides..everything. The absolute HUNK of cornbread was a very nice addition. I stepped out of my comfort zone and ordered something that I would not normally order, A meatball sub with fries. It was absolutely amazing. 4 Large meatballs on and very nice roll with a tasty sauce and a great melt on the cheese. The fries were solid as well. The sweet tea was also very good. There is no other place in the tri county area that you can get this portion size and quality of food for the price. We both ate for around $30 +tip. Service was great and there is quite a bit of seating in what seems like a small building. The place does have some "diner grime"..like a slight greasy coating on everything and the food did take a little while to get to us, but the overall experience was VERY positive and I think we will be frequenting Maries from now on.

Actually I was quite impressed! I got the breakfast with…read morethe two eggs two pork links biscuit and potatoes. Plus a cup of tea all of that cost around $13. The meal itself was around 899. I was just happy that they had pork link sausage because that's one of my favorite breakfast items. I'm dinging them because nobody seems to be able to get eggs over medium right and the yolks were runny. Service is good it's a bit of a greasy spoon kind of feel. I thought that the tea was a bit overpriced given that it was a generic bag of it. They did provide two packets though. Plenty of parking and lot. Seems like a good value for the price and the quality of food

I love The Charles! You can't beat the food, ambiance, drinks and price! It feels like home and…read moreI've never had anything I didn't enjoy.

The Charles restaurant in La Plata, Maryland, is a hidden gem that I had forgotten about. It's been…read morea while since I last visited, and the restaurant has undergone some changes in ownership. However, the food and ambiance have remained consistent. When I last went there, the customer service was top notch. The menu was extensive and delicious, and we had a great time chatting with the customers and employees while we sat at the bar. The lamb chops were particularly impressive, and I highly recommend them. The restaurant is conveniently located near my home, so I'll definitely be going back to try more of their dishes. I've heard that they sometimes have a jazz band playing during the week, so I'll have to check that out as well.

Maaaaaan where do I start?? The food was incredible, the customer service was superb, and the…read moreatmosphere was great. They were closing at 8, we went in just to grab a few desserts. Normally ppl wanna rush you out. The entire staff and owner gave us great conversation and suggestions on what to get. Love love love this place will visit again. A++ Mac&cheese, yams, salmon, fried whiting, oxtails, sweet potato pie, we literally tried everything lol

Ohhhhhhh Ruby's! The new location was not at all what we remembered it to be…read more Was in this shopping center yesterday and decided to pick up Sundays dinner. Bigger store front. Plenty of seating if you want to dine in...& welcoming and friendly staff. Order the Blackened Salmon for my self and my boo thang went with the blackened catfish. For our sides I went mashed potatoes, cabbage. Also added an extra side of mac & cheese, potato salad and string beans. My love- had the yams and cabbage. The yams were dry! OH MY...I couldn't believe it... and the cabbage and my salmon FLAVORLESS. ;((( HOW?!!!! I was really disappointed in my order. The portions were also a lot smaller than I remembered which was ok given the fact last nights food was a total wash! And I hate throwing away food. Last nights meal was not worth what I paid for it.... However the potato salad and mac and cheese- those I would come back for after going to Carolina Kitchen and ordering the other items we ordered. Come on Ruby's!!!! Hopefully they'll return to the old location and find their cookbooks & seasonings!! Maybe I just came on an off day...who knows but tonight's visit was not was it used to be... Happy Yelping!