Perfect for celebrating anniversary! We received a warm welcome. First time here and really impressed by the food and staff. I had the halibut, my husband had the red snapper. Came with fingerling potatoes, purple yam, green beans and an amazing cinnamon spiced orange yam. The dessert was amazing. My favorite was the chocolate mousse, made with, I believe, the best chocolate! read more

The Food is Good, but I will never set foot in this restaurant again!! Even the best food isn't worth being treated this rudely. I made a New Years Eve dinner reservation for our group of 8 over Open Table on Dec. 2 (almost a month in advance). With numerous half-hour interval times to choose from, I selected 7:30pm. My reservation was accepted and confirmed. I am sure the restaurant was notified within no time. On Dec. 30 (4 weeks later), Sayeed, the owner, phoned me and in what sounded like accusatory tone asked me why I made the reservation for 7:30, because he said I was supposed to have known he was only doing seatings 4pm, 6:30pm and 9 pm and that the times and the menu were posted on his Facebook page. Who checks Facebook? There was nothing on the restaurant's website. I told him I couldn't have known that because Open Table offered times all night long and it had accepted my reservation. He admitted that "maybe I should have changed Open Table sooner." Really? He repeatedly tried very hard to push me to change to the 9pm seating, but I told him that was too late for us 70+ year old folks to begin eating. Then, he told me "it is obvious (I) you are unwilling to work with (him) me. So, come in at 7:30, and we'll seat you when we can." Yeah, right! So, the fully booked dining room starts dinner at 6:30, and when was he likely to have a table for the 8 of us? Guessing we'd have had to stand around til very close to 9pm! He closed the conversation by telling me "I don't have time for this." And he hung up on me. I called him back to cancel our reservation. It took under 2 minutes for me to receive an email from Open Table confirming the restaurant cancelled my reservation. This is why I am confident he was notified on Dec. 2 that my reservation had been booked and confirmed. #VIennarestaurant #Caferenaissance #Frenchfood read more

Sad to say negative but after sleeping on it I should share the lousy dinner us two couples had last night. My halibut tasted good but was way overcooked; sad way to treat good fish. My friend's veal scalopini was bad, with a soapy taste. My wife's chicken Marsala wasn't good and later made her a little ill. The service was loud and odd. Maybe they didn't like us because we had no alcohol. We looked forward to going to a classy place but it was not so I feel obliged to share, since I almost never review. read more

This place was alright. Everything was kinda salty and underwhelming. The filet mignon was not bad and was cooked well. I think we enjoyed the complimentary desserts the most. read more

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First time there. We both liked décor and ambience. Owned by a Persian trained in French kitchen. Very Nice person. 4 tables filled this Thursday night so perhaps explained very personal attention. May need to slow pace of service a bit. Overall a very nice experience. Would recommend for guests, dates and special or regular occasions. Some kind of gold stars on walls next to tables but didn't understand the explanation on why names and dates were on gold inserts on walls other than they were long term regulars. Loved that it was quiet and conversation was comfortable. A good place for adults and college age children. Dishes , bread, and utensils above average. Held back one star only because need more time there to decide. Perhaps because I was not told oysters were not raw but saucy (although I would not expect raw given August season). I did ruin a shirt eating. Parking absolutely no problem. He and she both liked. We will be back. read more

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I was looking for a great place for birthdays and saw many people come here to celebrate! The waiter/ maybe owner was so friendly and fun when we visited :) it made for a really nice experience! Here's what we got Hemingway in Paris - 3.75/5 we liked this one even more surprisingly! Great balance and also poured a lot lol French martini - 3.5/5 sweet and they poured a lot! Duck confit - 4.5/5 love the sauce and was cooked so tender and juicy. This was amazing! Only minus some points cause the rice it came with was mushy and I liked the flavor but it was sweet and so was the duck so very slightly overly sweet overall French onion soup - 4/5 super cheesy! Love the cheese blend and the taste of the soup and filling was great! However I wish there was a bit more soup and onion in the soup to cheese ratio Hanger steak special - 3.5/5 yummy and tender! It was a good price too Tenderloin - 4.5/5 cooked very nicely and I really really liked the sauce and veggies! Veggies were cooked perfectly and complimented well! The sauce is like black pepper but lighter and creamier Banana flambé - 3/5 they offered us a free dessert between creme brûlée and banana flambé for birthday! So nice and love the fire show! I do wish they cooked it slightly longer to lesson the alcohol flavor but it was good nonetheless! read more

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I don't see the appeal of this place at all. Food Proportions: The food is in really small portions. The shrimp appetizer was literally just 3 pieces of shrimp (that didn't taste good) covered in a bucket of sauce. The main course, for nearly $60, wasn't that much food either. Food Quality: The food doesn't taste good at all. I'd rate the food quality at C+ or B-. It just isn't that good for the price. I've had better food for $15-20/meal instead of the $60-70 that they charge. Even the free bread is mediocre. Atmosphere: The place is way too small. It's hard to move around at all and the servers generally bump into people or bump into your shoulder or foot. It's just uncomfortable as the space is small and tables are to close to each other. It also seems outdated. Just FYI, most of the customers I've noticed quite old, easily 65+. That is neither a good or bad thing, just something you should be aware of. Location: Awkward. It is located in an out-dated strip mall in Vienna, and doesn't look appealing from the outside. Price: Way overpriced for both the quality and quantity of food. I can get better food for cheaper at other places. You'll be spending anywhere between $60-80 per person (including tax/tip). Service: The owner is rude. He is loud and obnoxious and asks annoying questions or makes annoying comments. I've been there 3 times and each time I got some sarcastic, disdainful, rude comment from him. Since I'm with other company I don't give him a piece of my mind, so I have to tolerate it. Overall: Just don't come to this place. The food isn't good, the service is ok at best, and it is overpriced. If you are curious, well, don't be. Just take it off your list and try something else. tl;dr - I've had better times at TGI Friday's. Edit: In response to what the owner said, I didn't come in on Thanksgiving. It's just coincidence that I wrote this review on Thanksgiving day. read more

I made a reservation here on OpenTable for my husband's birthday weekend. We had escargot for an appetizer and we tried the duck confit and lamb. The duck confit was quite sweet not what I was expecting. The lamb slaver was different but meat was tender vegetables felt a little bit more on the undercooked crunchy side overall, the places, a small and intimate place for a nice lunch or dinner. Service was good. They refilled water often and were not very intrusive. They have two small one stall bathrooms which were clean. They were very sweet and gave us a free dessert to celebrate my husband's birthday. read more

You have out of town guests coming? You want to make sure they have a memorable visit? Take them to Cafe Renaissance. You and your guests will not be disappointed. Starting with a warm greeting from Saeed, a lovely table awaits. Service is superior and the menu is extensive. All palates will be more than satisfied. Leave room for dessert. I recommend Saeed's specialty coffee. read more

Cafe Renaissance - An artist at work. - French Near Me - Vienna, Virginia

Authentic French spot that I struggle to call a "restaurant" because coming here is an experience that can not be encapsulated by the food alone First off, the host of the place is extremely gregarious and jokes around with all of the patrons. He even pulled up a seat to one of the tables near ours to chat with the diners lol Also, the place is extremely regally decorated. From the portraits coving the walls to the ornate silverware and dining ware, the vibe here makes you feel like you are eating at a place. As far as the selection goes, they have a comprehensive menu of wine, cocktails, and food options. They also have a tasting menu, but we did not try it I opted for the "French Martini", a French onion soup, and a fillet. It was all totally delicious. We also got complimentary sourdough bread (+ butter) that was so delicious we took it home with us. Additionally, they also gave us a complimentary small portion of dessert! The servers were all very friendly, but the service was very slow and we ended up being there for almost 2 hours. I also did not have my water refilled for about 1.5 hours of the 2. Additionally, the lid to the to-go box that they gave my GF was dirty (luckily we noticed this before putting it on her food), and, although I struggle to complain about a complimentary dessert, there was a huge hair that was baked into my creme brûlée. I get that stuff happens, but this thing was comically big read more

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We had our wedding reception there. The owner was extremely helpful with menu suggestions. The actual food was fantastic! The wait staff was very attentive and it was the intimate dining experience that we wanted. We will be going back to taste the rest of the menu read more

What we have here is the exact opposite of a chain restaurant. You have a very cozy, romantic, personal spot that offers French dishes and many cocktail options from a fully stocked bar. Flaming desserts and even a flaming Irish Jameson coffee drink. I went with the Angel hair pasta, shrimp, scallops, crab cake & herbs entree. Crab cake was really special and delicious. Shrimp was great slathered in the light and tasty sauce. Scallops also garnished with the same sauce that covers the pasta. I forced myself to finish the whole thing as we were on vaca and didn't see myself wanting to eat it cold as our room had no microwave. The staff was even kind enough to give us a complimentary dessert! I made room in my stomach for this along with a really great cappuccino. I do not think you will be disappointed by coming here if you like fine French cuisine. As always people SYOY!!! read more

Cafe Renaissance - Pan seared sea scallops, spinach, mushrooms, lemon white wine - French Near Me - Vienna, Virginia

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Best ambiance, service and very good food. The staff could not be nicer. This is formal dining to the letter.

This is one of our favorite places. We went there this year to celebrate my birthday. My filet minion was excellent. Great cut off meat, perfectly cooked. My wife's rock fish on parchment paper tasted so fishy she could not finish it. It was also cooked in a tomato broth that both of us agreed detracted from the taste, but was a saving Grace in that it partially concealed the taste of the fish. Also, they gave my wife and me a small dessert to celebrate my birthday. Others with birthdays were given big slices of fruit tart, complete with candle and singing Happy Birthday. Guess you have to know someone to get the premium service. All in all , for the money, it'll be a while before I return. read more

1/23/24: absolutely lovely date night spot. we shared the french onion soup and it was AMAZING, highly rec this. i got the chicken with mushroom sauce. hub got veal. he loved his entree. when i go back im gtg the french onion soup and not sharing! their drinks were really good. i got the french 75 and husband got the french martini. fab service by all. they def give a lot of space for yall to talk. they wont rush the dinner. we already talked about coming back. read more

The service and food is is beyond exceptional. I had the chance to take my dad here for his birthday and they made it so special. We started off with the with the Échantillonneur de fruits de mer, which was the shrimp, crab and lobster ravioli sampler. Absolutely amazing! Smaller appetizer portion, but everything was so tasty. My dad and I both got the Jarrets d'agneau braisés au vin rouge. Which is lamb shank which was so fall off the bone tender. Awesome flavor and the vegetables that came with it paired perfectly. They also came out with a surprise plate of desert and a candle for my dad. It was a Monday so the restaurant was quite empty, but the server and the few tables in the restaurant all sang happy birthday to him. Would recommend this place, such amazing service that makes you feel very welcome and at home. read more

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My wife and I have dined at Cafe Renaissance several times, with our most recent experience being our Anniversary. Cafe Renaissance is very fine French dining, with high end menu options. For a high end restaurant I expect high end service and food. Cafe Renaissance delivers a much higher fine dining experience and higher quality of the dining options than you would expect, if I could rate higher than 5 stars I would! As usual my wife and I shared the escargot appetizer, which is excellent, but also makes a great dipping option for the really good bread that is served. I would highly recommend. For our dinner, my wife ordered the Cheveux d'ange aux crevettes, crabe et saint-jacques, Angel hair pasta, shrimp, scallops, crab cake & herbs. The angel hair pasta was incredible, as were the seafood items in the dish. I tried the crab cake and thought it was especially delicious. I ordered the duck confit, a go to favorite of mine. Their orange zest on the duck and the rice was top notch flavors on the dish. The asparagus with sauce is incredible, as was the carrot which was very delicious. Cafe Renaissance is a small, quaint, high end romantic restaurant that I would highly recommend for any occasion, or just a night out when you want something extraordinary. To top it all off, being our Anniversary, they brought out a special dessert consisting of a cake roll, raspberry mousse and a flaky pastry which was mmmmmm. To make the evening sparkle, they served the dessert plate with a sparkler to end our night extra special. There are only a few restaurants I consider among the best in the DC area, and Cafe Renaissance is one of them read more

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What a cute little place! We made a reservation and came here for Valentine's day. It is in a little shopping center so parking isn't an issue. Four our drinks, I got a glass of red wine and my boyfriend ordered the Hemingway in Paris cocktail which was easy to drink and pretty good. I was not a fan of the Professor cocktail that he ordered as it was a little stronger and a little more bitter. The staff is so friendly and personable and just made the experience amazing. The owner/host socialized with all the tables and was fantastic. For our appetizer, we got the Huîtres chaudes gratindées aux épinards which were the baked oysters. The oysters were a decent size and a great flavor. We also ordered the Terrine foie de Volaille et Parc. The flavor on this was great and the sauce paired well with the bread. For dinner, I ordered the Jarrets d'agneau braisés au vin Rouge which was the Braised Lamb shank. The Lamb was SO tender but I did wish there was a sauce with it. My boyfriend ordered the Confit de canard à l'orange. That was the duck confit and it was SO good. It was tender and well cooked and the flavor was amazing. For our desserts, I was poured some complimentary port and I ordered a creme brulee cheesecake and my boyfriend ordered the flour less chocolate cake. The Cheesecake was a standard NY cheesecake but I die like the creme brulee topping with the raspberry sauce. The chocolate cake was just a tad too rich for me but still good. Overall definitely recommend coming here! read more

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Had a wonderful dinner once again at Cafe Renaissance! We were a group of 9 and everything was delicious. I had the Halibut, delicious and always a beautiful presentation. I always enjoy the piano for elevating the night! Our waiter, was wonderful taking care of us. Love having this restaurant in the area. read more

Cafe Renaissance - French Near Me - Vienna, Virginia

I took my partner here for her birthday, but I think I had just as much fun as she did-- one of my favorite dining experiences in recent memory. It's located on an unassuming corner of a strip mall, but we were greeted immediately by a friendly host and some extensive "old money" decor (settings, tablecloths, gold wallpaper, and all). The menu lives up to it-- the escargot, beet salad, entrees, and dessert (so much dessert) were all delicious. What really made it, though, was the service. Both the host and server were super attentive, warm, and good-natured - in a genuine, almost quirky way. As the night went on, I got the distinct feeling that the "high-class" feel of the restaurant was less a matter of airs or concept... and more just that this was the kind of restaurant the staff wanted to have. I'm all for it, and I'm definitely coming back. read more

Been here several times and always have a good experience. Had the halibut and scallops, both outstanding. Very attentive service as well. A real gem for Vienna read more

This was one of the best dining experiences I've ever had. The ambience and atmosphere of this restaurant is very inviting and feels very high end. The management of Cafe Renaissance made us feel like family, and the food is so mouthwatering. We didn't realize that this restaurant was going to be so busy. Despite not having a reservation, the staff accommodated our party, and even went above and beyond with their customer service. The filet mignon and almond crusted halibut was the best meal I've had in a long time. Already looking forward to our next dining experience here. 10/10 read more

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Pretty good French spot and friendly staff! It took a while for them to take our orders but can overlook that. Overall food is good! My pasta was tasty with the sauce and seasoning although the seafood could be seasoned a little more. The duck dish is terrific though! The dessert was nice, cheesecake was a little softer than expected but the mousse was great. Dessert was free too! Very nice restaurant for French food and they're very welcoming. Most people dress nicely but you don't need to if you don't want to... no one cares and they'll still treat you the same. Pleasant experience! read more

Cafe Renaissance - Dessert - French Near Me - Vienna, Virginia

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This place is an old school place with the ambiance and staff to match. It's like being teleported to an old French restaurant the escargot....yum. Properly served whole with an abundance of butter and garlic. Delicious. The bread. Lovely. The wine. Decent although quite a mark up and the vintage wasn't what was on the menu. It was a more recent vintage and the price was for the older vintage which was my only gripe about this place. Traditional French menu except no dessert cheese selection. The atmosphere/decor appears to be original to when the restaurant opened years ago; however, it seems to have been well maintained and it adds to the character of this place. In you're in the mood for a restaurant where the servers have character and the ambiance to there too, this is the place to go read more

Food and service here are exceptional! While the location seems unassuming, Café Renaissance is a hidden gem. Everything we had was delicious, from the appetizer sampler to the main course and dessert sampler. Service was excellent and the owners the nicest people imaginable. read more

Both food and service are always excellent. Our favorite place for special occasions. Inauspicious from the outside, but the ambiance inside makes up for it. read more

I lived in London for a few months and did multiple high teas while I was there, but this was better than all of them. The tea was amazing and so was the food and the owner was so amazing and personable it felt like he knew everyone! read more

Cafe Renaissance - French Near Me - Vienna, Virginia

We went for the first time last weekend and were not sure what to expect. When we got there (with a reservation), we were greeted and promptly seated. Then it got a teeny bit bumpy as we were offered a drink menu but no actual food menu for a little while. They eventually took notice and got it all sorted out. It seems everybody arrived all at once and they were overwhelmed for a moment. That was the only bad thing I have to say so let's get on with it! My wife and I both had "The Professor" which was an excellent cocktail. We split the Échantillonneur de fruits de mer which was out of this world! The crab cake, while small was pretty much all sweet crab meat, the shrimp was perfectly cooked and the ravioli was heavenly! For entrees, my wife had the duck which was cooked perfectly. I had the filet which was huge and cooked precisely as ordered. The sauce was pretty good with my filet and the carrot accompanying it was cooked perfectly. I had a glass of the house red (might have been a Chardonnay) and it was fantastic and a rather generous pour. For desert, the owner offered us profiteroles and a wonderful mango cake. Both were out of this world. Cafe Renaissance is on the small side and every table was full when we left. The service was fantastic and it was clear many of the other patrons were repeat customers as the owner knew many of them. While not cheap, I felt this meal was an incredible value given what we have paid elsewhere. We will definitely return to sample more of the menu!! read more

The flaming Irish Coffee is a must to cap off your meal. The staff is friendly and welcoming. I love the mixed and matched fine dishes they use for plating their meals. The food is consistently good and the options are plentiful. read more

Cafe Renaissance - a glass of wine and a plate of bread - French Near Me - Vienna, Virginia

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It was my first time trying this restaurant and I came in with high expectations based on being a French food lover. We were seated quickly by a bright smiled gentlemen and were treated very well from the get-go. The ambience was great as it was filled with beautiful table settings and artwork on the walls. Our waitress was top notch, attentive, outgoing and very friendly; along with the rest of the wait staff. Saeed also made us feel very comfortable by stopping by to check in on us, and converse. The food came out perfect. Everything was presented perfectly and tasted great. There wasn't a bad dish or a bad bite! The whole experience was something that I enjoyed and would love to have again! I will definitely be recommending this restaurant to my family and friends, and I will definitely be coming back! read more

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My daughter had many choices for her 30th birthday dinner and her choice was here! Can't compliment them enough on level of service quality of food and dedication to customer service! Thank you so much for taking care of us so well! read more

Atmosphere: The restaurant is tucked into the back of a shopping center but has ample parking in the back. Even though it may not look impressive from the street the inside of the restaurant is beautiful. Fresh flowers throughout the dining room compliment the golden mirrors and frescos that adorn the walls. You definitely feel you have stepped into old Paris dining here. Service: The waitstaff are very friendly and the Maitre d treats you like old friends. Service was a bit slow due to a crowded restaurant week but was acknowledged and we were comped a take home desert. The waiter also asked if we were celebrating anything and when I responded it was just date night he still brought us a small cake with a sparkler. A very cute touch my wife and I enjoyed. Additionally you must order the Irish Coffee for the spectacular show that goes into making it. Food: The food was very good but was not the best French I have had in the area. This may have been due to the restaurant week menu and I intend to come back on a regular evening. However, I was still very impressed with the quality and preparation. Cafe Renaissance is a Vienna gem and I see why it has so many regulars. Definitely worth a reservation when you are looking for a nice evening out. read more

Their beef tenderloin is on the dry side and bland. Bearnaise sauce and au jus barely saved the dish. I rate it a 5.0 Their foie gras is not that as tasty compared to other French restaurants like Le Diplomate or Pastis. This is another 5.0 Their escargot is a disappointment. It's tasteless. I rate it a 2.0 Their duck confit met my expectations. It's tender, juicy and tasty. I rate it an 8.0 Ambiance is mid. Service is excellent. An easy 10! Staff is super friendly. read more

The ambiance of the restaurant is romantic, with flower bouquets and beautiful paintings. For the appetizers that we ordered, the portions were very small but the food was good. The duck confit was sweet, the ravioli sauce was great, the french onion soup was standard, and the crab cake sauce was delicious but very small. Free desert came with small samples of chocolate mouse and raspberry cake. read more

The service and food were exceptional! Definitely one of the best places to dine in NoVa.

Today, I stepped into Cafe Renaissance for the first time and was immediately impressed with the beauty of the interior. From the paintings to the fresh peonies, hydrangeas, and tulips, everything was lovely. From the first impression to the moment we left, everything was superb. My friends and I came for afternoon tea to celebrate a birthday, and we enjoyed the food, tea, cocktails and the service. Henry, our waiter, was attentive and charming as was the owner. This group loves tearooms and we are always on a quest for new ones. Cafe Renaissance is now rating at the top of the list. read more

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Recently, we had dinner there and were not treated well. First, they couldn't locate the reservations. Once seated, we asked for the wine list and clearly stated the taste we wanted to saying we wanted an Italian wine. The almost rude waiter came and just sat an unopened bottle on the table. When we inquired about it he said it was a house bottle. We asked for a wine from the Italian wine list. When it was served he spilled. Then another waiter sat a tall base and other items on our table without asking if it was ok to do so. The table was for four. The good was ok but the service was horrible. read more

This is a hidden gem ! We loved everything about this restaurant. The food was amazing, the service was excellent and the atmosphere was great. They even gave us complementary desserts and drink! We will definitely come back again. read more

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Siad and staff went above and beyond to make my daughters baby shower a memorable event. We went for tea. The presentation of the sandwiches and desserts were beautiful and equally tasty. I had asked if I needed to bring flowers, and was told there would be plenty, and there were!! Highly recommend. read more

Came here with my girlfriend for an evening dinner and couldn't have been happier with the experience. The space is intimate and cozy with staff offering a warm welcome upon entry. The service here was unmatched, we were served by Henry who was an absolute gentleman throughout; he had the utmost patience and was a pleasure to chat with throughout the night. We both ordered daily specials (spare rib and flounder) and both dishes were cooked perfectly. Our cocktails were also incredible and they provided an extensive wine menu. Overall would 100% recommend Cafe Renaissance for anyone seeking a top tier dining experience in Northern Virginia; this was easily the best dinner we've had in the DMV in quite some time. We'll be back soon! read more