Great ambience but average food. Tried fries and pasta. Fries were good but pasta really had a strong sour taste that didn't go well for me.

Cafesano has an upscale modern vibe. I like the open area/layout, high ceilings, and interior decorations. Even the outdoor patio has nice aesthetically pleasing lights that gives it a homey feeling. The candles placed on every table also adds a nice touch. We started off with the Avocado Bruschetta . I'm pretty happy with the proportions especially for the price. Usually these appetizers have a seemingly endless supply of bread and a baby handful of dip. But at Cafesano the bread and guac dip ratio is respectable. I highly suggest adding olive oil on the bread and salt and pepper to the dip. You can get olive oil and other condiments towards the bar of the restaurant. I ordered the Lasagna Emiliana and for the most part it tasted ordinary. It was too saucy for my liking and part of the dish tasted a little burnt. Other than that it tasted pretty average. I added cheese and extra seasoning to brighten the dish's flavor. The 8 inch Lombardi was split between my friend and I. The pizza is loaded with mozzarella cheese and arugula but could use a lot more prosciutto. A bit more olive oil, seasoning and cheese had to be added to pizza. Food: 3/5 Service: 3.5/5 Atmosphere: 5/5 Price: 4/5 read more

See all

10/10 would recommend They do a great job of keeping it clean with a "fine dining" vibe while still maintaining a comfortable, relaxed family environment. Staff is nice and on top of bussing tables. Loved the food! Vegan options are very tasty. I was impressed and will come back! read more

I never like giving what seems to be a good place a bad review but after several bizarre instances the lack of customer service has made me do this. What is sad is I can see myself going back. 1st thing- walked in not greeted, went to the bar that was unattended and waited. Maybe 6 customers in the entire restaurant. 2nd thing- after looking at everyone in the kitchen I unfortunately bothered someone enough to come over. I ordered a beer and the Kaboobs, lamb and salmon with rice. No water offered or anything for that matter. 3rd thing- someone kindly brings out my food and I dont have any utensils. Now she has to get back in the kitchen I luckily stop her and she bring me a napkin with utensils. Never asked if I needed anything. 4th thing- food looks good but no lamb, they give me steak. Not the end of the world or am I thinking of a review yet. Over 10 minutes goes by, again unattended bar. The original person comes over and I show her steak instead of lamb. She takes the steak skewer to the kitchen. Lastly- I eat the rest of my food, drink my 1 beer and push my plate and drink away. Over 15 minutes I am given a skewer on a plate. But.....not quite the kicker. I'm was asked would I like a box to go! Not I'm sorry for all the delays, never asking can I get you another drink, nothing. I was literally handed my check and brushed off like eh!. Very interesting chain of events. read more

Worst kabob I've had thus far. Ordered chicken kabob and my bf got beef shawarma. We ordered online and was pick up time was 35 minutes from order time. While the shawarma was tasty the chicken kabob was a big miss. The rice portion was extermy small and the chicken was tough and lack season. read more

Cafesano - Chicken kabob from cafesano - Mediterranean Near Me - Dulles, Virginia

Did not realize it was such a huge place. Ordered - Grilled chicken wrap - 4/5 read more

Hip new Italian-Mediterranean non-waiter sit down casual restaurant. Kind of set up like a higher end Panera restaurant where you order your food and they bring it to your seat but again is not formal waiter service so you save money on the tip. The vibe here is very chic and modern. The tables and booths look like the quality of a sit down restaurant. There are very tall ceilings and nice decor and lighting that again makes you feel like your at a fancier restaurant. I went for the prosciutto and mozzarella panini for lunch which was very tasty. Cost was about $9. The sandwich came with homemade chips. My boyfriend got the Italian meatball panini which was also good, but minus one star for a skimpy amount of mozzarella cheese on his sandwich. My niece and nephew got chicken fingers and bow tie pasta which seemed to be well received. I would definitely come back here for a casual lunch! read more

Cafesano - Mediterranean Near Me - Dulles, Virginia

I really like the ambiance, the food is excellent and the servers are attentive. I'm not a fan of the takeout. I've had a couple of issues one too many times for me, so I will be only dining in. read more

This is a really cool place. I have been here twice, and ordered the same (chicken shawarma). The way I see it this is a restaurant Panera Bread style, but better. I will absolutely be going back here on my lunch breaks. read more

3.5 stars We came here for dinner on a Friday around 5. We ordered the falafel appetizer, potato leek soup, caprese panini and beef schwarma. They were out of the potato soup already (argh) so we got chili instead. After ordering at the counter, you find your own seat so we sat in a booth by the window. It's a very spacious place with plenty of seating at tables, booths, and at the bar. They gave us a buzzer to let us know when our food was ready to be picked up at the counter, but they brought all our food to the table, maybe because they weren't very busy? But it was nice! I've never had falafel before so I have nothing to compare it to, but I thought theirs was yummy! It comes with tzatziki sauce on the side which was good, but I've had better. The chili was just ok, but my 3 year old liked it (and he likes good food so that's saying something). I really enjoyed my caprese panini although there was a little too much arugula for my taste. My husband liked his beef schwarma, but he said the romaine lettuce on it was kind of bitter. Even though everything wasn't perfect, we would definitely come back to try some other things, and we really liked the ambiance. read more

Cafesano - Cool ceiling - Mediterranean Near Me - Dulles, Virginia

See all

Great fast casual restaurant for Mediterranean cuisine. Usually kept pretty clean in the seating areas and has an overall nice aesthetic. The food is good quality for the price and staff have always been pleasant! read more

I've been meaning to try Cafesano out as I've driven by it countless of times. My vegan coworker tried it recently and raved about it, so we went for a quick lunch today. Outside, it looks a bit unassuming, but when you get inside, it is larger than anticipated and I was impressed. The decor is modern, but not tacky. Hints of Italy with the wines and olive oils on display. The walls are made of stone and the open kitchen concept behind the counter is framed with tile. There's a large mural on the ceiling of some treetops and leaves which is a nice touch. The restaurant is very clean and lively with a nice bar area on one side. Their menu is extensive and they have vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options available. You order at the counter, and they bring your food out to you quickly. They also give you a buzzer with a number, but this wasn't used at all - not quite sure what this was for, but I didn't mind. I ordered the Dip Sampler for appetizer and chose the Tzatziki and Roasted Eggplant with the regular Hummus that came with pieces of grilled pita bread. My table enjoyed this and even more so because it was free! (Text DULLES to 33683 and you get a free appetizer with the purchase of an entree). My friend ordered the Avocado Bruschetta which was even better. This was a nice, fresh mix of avocado, tomato, basil, garlic and parmesan with EVOO and the softest, grilled ciabatta bread ever . For my meal, I ordered the Chicken Shawarma wrap which was huge. The roasted chicken was tender and seasoned well. It came with a garlic spread of some kind which was also good, but be warned, very garlicky. I ordered mine on a whole wheat wrap and was not disappointed. It came with baked lavash chips which I've never had before, but was nice to dip in in the hummus. I was really impressed by Cafesano, and am considering joining their eClub. The food was great, and they were quick with the service. Not to mention my entire meal was a little over $8 (of course this includes the free app, but still). I'll definitely be taking more lunches here soon. read more

See all

A solid 4 stars. My friends and I drove pass the restaurant quite often after rock climbing so one day, we decided to try Cafesano. The interior is spacious and nicely decorated. Not what I expected, but then again, I don't know what I expected. The windows add to the bright lighting and there's plenty to tables/booths. The line to order was straightforward. To my disappointment, they ran out of ravioli at noon on a Saturday. Sort of shocked by that, so I'm assuming it's good. I ordered the penne with pesto sauce instead. Pesto is usually hit or miss for me and luckily, it was a hit! The sauce is flavorful but not overpowering. The pasta cooked perfectly. My brother ordered the fettuccine chicken alfredo, which was also delicious. My other friends ordered the caprese sandwich and a turkey one. She enjoyed her caprese sandwich very much, but apparently the turkey sandwich wasn't anything special. Service was fast and friendly. I'd like to come back to try the ravioli and maybe some of the wines they sell. read more

See all

Finally decided to visit this place today. Got to the place after watching movie around 3:30 pm. Slow few customers. Me and my girlfriend got in line for dine in and ordered a chicken platter and Greek salad. Simple items and it took over 35 minutes to get our food. I wanted a drink for bar and they had no employee. Finally someone came and gave me beer. I asked her for a chilled glass and she took a glass rinse it and pour my beer. What you guys think about this? Not sure .... Okay about food the chicken platter arrived and the chicken was super dried up and no taste at all. Salad was so so as well. First and last time I will visit this place and waste my money. Though very reasonable for money. Don't know what to tell the owner. A) either close your bar down or get a full time knowledgeable stuff who knows how to prepare drinks and serve them B) serving food fast enough and not to cook chicken or meats so dry that one can't eat. My girlfriend left it all there and we left. read more

I ordered a coffee cup and I found out that was cold. Not only I waited long time for the coffee. I guessed the waiter heat it in the microwave. Very disappointing read more

Just a few observations about the chicken in the kabob: overcooked, unseasoned, and dry. I understand the safety aspect, but please try not to overcook, and burn the chicken. This is not an occasional occurance. I concur with some comments made about the gas grill taste - to overpowering. On the positive side the food is fresh (big plus), the place is clean, and atmosphere is nice. I've sampled their sandwiches which are very delicious. It's hard to find an establishment that has a good menu, where the food is fresh, and the tables, bathrooms, and overall kitchen seem to be clean. Their prices are reasonable given the ingredients are fresh. In general eating out is expensive and I always expect the food to be well prepared, served in a timely manner, and served right off the grill. I expect friendly, accomodating service with no attitude. read more

Cafesano - Mediterranean Near Me - Dulles, Virginia

For a quick stop by to grab something, it was a mistake. I wasn't really impressed with the menu and the food quality was not as good as I had hoped. I ordered the chicken kabob and it was really dry and to me, tasteless. The Greek salad was eh, nothing really special, and the hummus tasted like it came out of a tin can. The staff isn't that friendly either and it took forever to get the food. I'm having trouble figuring out how it's so crowded all the time. It may be good for some, and they may like it but, there are better kabobs, Greek salads, and hummus to be found in the DMV area. The Mom and Pop restaurants! read more

The food is great. Don't get me wrong. But this place has the worst service in the world. Come here and you're almost guaranteed to get a rude encounter with their staff. Keep the food. Fix the service. read more

Great Place, I only visited the Reston location once, but I like the feel of the Sterling location better, it feels so much more open, they did a great job. The menu is a mix of Mediterranean and Italian and the prices are about the same as panera, but the quality and flavor is so much better. They also appear to have ridiculously cheap beer and wine, so that's a plus! read more

See all

So happy to have this new Sterling location! I'm a longtime fan of Cafesano in Reston. Everything was just as expected and delicious as the Reston location. This one is way better though in terms of store layout and ease of accessibility. Only two negatives: I got fries instead of chips with my falafel wrap, and I should've just gotten the basket of fries side. They only give you a few fries otherwise, and it just wasn't enough. Along those same lines, the dill sauce or whatever it is for the wrap came in a small ketchup-like container and only was enough for about half of my wrap. Overall, this is one local chain that I just continue to love! read more

I've been anxiously awaiting and keeping an eye out for this location to open. For those who have been to their Reston location a few differences 1. This place seems much bigger, 2. They have a full bar at this location. I've been raving about this to the hubby so it didn't take much to convince him to check it out. For those who haven't been they have sandwiches, pizza, and kabob platters. The sandwiches are great. One of these days I'll try the pizza. At any rate my husband ordered chili to start, I got hummus, he got the cheesesteak panini and I got the roasted turkey blt. All that and a drink set us back around $30. You order they give you a tracker thing and then they bring food to your table. The chili was great not spicy but flavorful and the hummus was good a nice creamy texture although if it had some garlic ahhh that would be heavenly. The sandwiches were great and the seasoned pita chips that they are served with is out of this world. The staff was friendly and attentive too. For being a new location they didn't seem to have any new location hiccups. I will most certainly be back especially now that it's a bit closer. read more

This place was soooo good! The inside of the restaurant is very nice and unexpected. I had the chicken Alfredo and the portion size was amazing for what it's worth! read more

Cafesano - Mediterranean Near Me - Dulles, Virginia

I usually go to the Reston location but tried the Sterling location today. The interior is really pretty and open which I really liked. I was there at an off-hours time and the service was quick and the people taking my order were very pleasant. I had tzatziki and pita which was delicious as always. The avocado and lemon tahini wrap was delicious and was full of ingredients. The crispy chips were delicious as well. I had a peaceful delicious lunch. I will be back again! read more

Solid 4, maybe even 4.5. I'm not knocking them for anything, its a 5 star experience, but if we all go doling out 5 stars for every good time, it just lessens the value of a true 5 star place. First and foremost, I was invited to attend the soft opening, which I did, and that is when I took the photos, but held back on writing a review until I had gone back at least once more. While I love being invited to special events, I don't want my reviews to be based on the bias of a free good time, and I'm always curious to see if a new restaurant has the staying power to stick in the back of my mind and gnaw at my brain. I'm happy to report to you that Cafesano did just that. My first meal was the chicken alfredo, just about everybody does it, few do it better than peeling back the corner of a frozen square, and subsequently nuking it for 2 minutes. Sure, you might get a larger portion at Macaroni Grill, for an inflated price, but are you getting a better quality or just more food? The answer is you're just getting more food. Its like going to a pizza buffet knowing you get subpar pizza, but you get way more of it. I will happily take a smaller than the big pasta chains portion, but still larger than I should, and/or can consume portion of pasta, when it is cooked to perfection, my sauce doesnt begin to separate while I'm still eating, my broccoli has enough crunch to let me know it was never frozen before being steamed, and my chicken is seasoned well, not overdone, nor does it have that ominous I came precut in a frozen bag texture. You walk in and they have the menu items up on the walls, but you can also pick up a menu to look at, if you perfer not to stare wide-eyed, ans open mouthed at the wall while you decide what you wish for your mouth to enjoy, to quell the cries of sustinence from your growling belly. Once you've decided you proceed to the counter and order, your meal (s) as well as adding a beverage, which both beer and wine are an option, if you care for something stronger than a fountain drink. You take your tray, adorned with silverware and cups (if fountain drinks were ordered) or glasses of adult beverages, and peoceed to seat yourself. Seating is ample, there are tables and booths to accomodate large groups, as well as an outside patio complete with a large halfwall, that doubles as a fire pit. Thats right, you heard me, fire comes out of the wall. Don't care to sit outside? Sit by the window and watch the fire from the warm interior. Now along with your cuttlery and beverages/beverage containers, you also received one of those handy dandy "food pagers" that alert you to your food being ready. Only, thus far each time I've gone, my pager goes off, and a well dressed, smiling person appears with my food. Perhaps this is different during busier times of the day. The wood grilled shrimp. You won't like it, its way too good for you, so stay away from it, it's mine! Its seasoned very well, although it may be a bit salty for some. It's not overly salty, but it does have a nice bit of tang from the salt that gets your mouth watering and enhances the flavors of the other spices, and brings out that wood grilled taste. The prawns are large, meaty, and do not have that wimpy, soft I was frozen texture. The accompanying tzazki to go with your shrimp, grilled veggies and pita is thick, and not overdone with dill, as so many places in the area seem to do. If it is noticed that you are finished someone will come and clear your plate, or perhaps offer you a box to takw your uneaten food home in. So while you are ordering at the counter, and getting your own (fountain) drinks, you are still be taken care of and served in a polite and timely fashion, while not having to wait for the bill or figuring out a tip at the end. Its a great mix of sit down dinning and quick service food. The atmosphere is modern, yet cozy. It's well lit, well decorated and you dont have to shout to hear the person on the other side of the table. The menu is diverse enough for one to feel adventurous, yet stable enough for those I just need comfort food days. Service is quick and friendly, so it's a great option for a lunch break that doesn't involve ordering from your car, and will still have you back to work in a decent amount of time. read more

See all

We had a large order for the office, with particulars. Order was perfect, packed with care and was still warm when received. Always so good!

Bianca Insalata Healthy and delicious! Highly recommend this new addition to the area. read more

Cafesano - Italian & Mediterranean Cuisine - Mediterranean Near Me - Dulles, Virginia

See all

Salty everything ... the sauces and the fries .. The kabob was undercocked and cold. Otherwise the quality of all is good. read more

First time visit to this restaurant. The i terior is elegant casual. Order your food and ot gets delivered to yoir table. I got a pizza and my hisband ordered a shawarma. The food arrived about 16 minutes later. It was good and original looking when compared to traditional pizza this one had salad in the center of it. read more

See all

Walking in, I was under the impression that this was some nice modern sit down service restaurant but it's basically like an upscale Italian/Mediterranean Panera where you order and pay at the register and they buzz when your food is ready. I heard of this place through my friends who highly suggested this place. I don't really live near the area so I never went out of my way until I was nearby last night with my friend and this was top of my list to try! The ambiance was really nice, I like the clean modern look and how spacious it was. I came for dinner with my friend and wanted to sit in the patio which looked really nice but it was too cold unfortunately. This would be a great place to lounge for lunch or dinner to catch up w a friend, the music wasn't loud and it's a nice place to grab a wine or beer if you'd like. We had ordered the avocado bruschetta as an appetizer and it was bomb.com highly suggest, they give a panini toasted bread to spread it on and it was a good ratio of bread to spread which most places I feel like they give your more bread then there is of the spread. It was really refreshing with the avocado and tomato mix, we added a bit wee of salt, pepper and olive oil which was the game changer! we also ordered the Lombardi pizza which was a white sauce pizza with arugula and prosciutto. It was a ok for me, my friend seemed to enjoy it. I felt like it was a little bland and could use a little more sauce and prosciutto. He ordered the lasagna which was nothing too special but it wasn't bad either and I got the fettuccini alfredo with broccoli instead of peas which was pretty average too, I forgot to add meat to it which I think would have made it a bit better but we both agreed we were underwhelmed with the pasta options. I think there sandwiches and Mediterranean options were probably the move because they had such high reviews. I don't think I would really go out of my way for this place since I live in falls church city, but I think whenever I'm in the area it would probably be my go to for lunch. It's cheap and they give you a decent quality for what you're paying for but there weren't any food options that really stuck out to me compared to others. I give it 4 stars because overall the experience was good! Also the service was really sweet, they actually came and dropped of the food and checked up to make sure everything was ok. read more

See all

Excellent ambience! The moment you enter Cafesano you are bound to notice their modern and chic interiors! I love it! It's very open and inviting! Dulles location is really good, close to our residence plus the seating is big enough. Their menu has lot of options, healthy options. I love how the menu caters to Mediterranean, Italian as well as American! I usually get either Falafels, Caprese panini or chicken platter. The food is always fresh and delicious. Nothing to complain about. I also love that it's served to your table. Servers are fast and courteous. What not to like here?! Go for it! read more

Came here with friends for the first time. Inside was huge and open. I sort of got fancy Panera vibes but have never been to a restaurant quite like this. The food was delicious- a little pricey but good portions. I like that the dining experience is more casual. You order at the register when you are ready and drinks are self serve. read more

We had a family party at Cafesano and truly enjoyed the experience. The Store Manager, Sergio took care of every detail and ensured that all our needs were met on time and the food was top quality. Falafel, Kobabs, Fatayer, Hummus etc were Just right. The presentation was also special. Sergio was personally engaged in selection of the platters and in setting the venue for all our guests. He did so in a cheerful spirit and with full competence and efficiency. The entire team was wonderful. We are regular customers at Cafesano. The restaurant is very clean, the food is always fresh, cooked just right and presented by a cheerful staff. Highly recommend this Cafesano. read more

The food is great here. We have tried the kabobs, pizza, ravioli, and lasagna. Highly recommend this place. The indoor decor is very nice and they have a nice outdoor patio for the warmer months! read more

Because of the pandemic we haven't been to Cafesano in many months. But they maintain fine quality of pizzas and salads. The small version of each is plenty for us. Get the large to share or for leftovers to take home. We've heard from friends that the restaurant is packed at lunch and dinner time, but mid-afternoon there were only a few other patrons. Order at the counter with the food brought to your table by the staff makes for efficient service. We'll be back. read more

I had great service and I do love mediterian food and found it very fresh and a great lunch spot!

Clean, nice atmosphere, and professional customer service. The menu contains a variety of mediterranean, middle eastern, and Greek dishes. Very reasonable prices and beautiful outdoor seating... I will definitely go back read more

Really good food and lots of options for vegetarians, the falafel is one of the best I've had. The decor is also very laid back and relaxing. If I lived closer I'd definitely be a regular. read more

See all

My go to for casual get togethers. Avocado, tomato & mozzarella salad unique, tasty, fair price and well presented. Counter order, then they bring, always works well with thoughtful staff. Great when only "to go", better now that they are back open inside. Just consistently worth it. read more

Outdoor seating was beautiful. Food was delicious. Grilled chicken parmigiana panini was very good. The garlic potatoes were amazing.

The marinated chicken was delicious. The side of humus was lemony and very good. The portion was big enough to save some for later.