Maple Ave Restaurant. A restaurant on Maple Avenue. Well, one more of life's mysteries has been solved. So, if a restaurant opts for such a plain jane name, how does that bode for the food? I'll tell you- the food here is awesome! This highly rated restaurant is located all the way in Vienna, VA, which is roughly 25-30 minutes from DC. The neighborhood is very quaint with an "old town" look in terms of architecture. The restaurant space is extremely small. It can probably fit no more than 15-20 folks at a time, and that number might be pushing it. As such, reservations are important. I recently bestowed upon a friend the honor of taking me to arguably the best (according to ratings) and perhaps most expensive restaurant in the DC area (Komi) for my upcoming 2014 birthday tour. Hey, don't worry, I earn my keep. Outside of whatever "currency" I'll use to say thank you, I also figured that taking her out for her birthday is probably fair. Billed as offering "New American" cuisine, Maple's menu definitely seemed inviting. While there isn't a ton of options, there's a decent amount of variety with some interesting twists. I tried the Crème Fraiche Wings, Baked Mac, Beer Braised Beef Cheek, Mushroom Zucchini Risotto, Chocolate Dumplings and Bittersweet Chocolate Bread Pudding. The Crème Fraiche Wings consist of an order of 6 medium to small sized wings that were cooked all the way through on the inside, while also achieving the perfect crisp on the skin. Truthfully, the star was the wing sauce, which was a concoction of crème fraiche, Korean chili paste and oyster sauce. Basically a creamy sauce that gave you a moderate heat level and a blast of refreshment at the same time. It made the typical requirement of needing a ranch or blue cheese dipping sauce...a thing of the past. *GASP!* The Baked Mac consisted of three cheeses (gruyere, cheddar, blue) mornay, fresh fusilli and herbed panko crust. Really balanced mac. It was cheesy but just enough to make it noticeable. It was also creamy, seasoned and the crunch from the panko was a great end to each bite. The Mushroom Zucchini Risotto came in a nice sized portion of deliciousness. Served along with three crostinis, the risotto had the perfect consistency as it found a middle ground between being firm and runny. The cheese in the dish was able to stand out without going overboard. I wish there was more zucchini in the dish but there was an abundance of delicious mushrooms. Beer Braised Beef Cheek also comes with sweet potato puree, caramelized onions. The beef cheek came in a heaping portion size. The meat was tender, moist and packed with flavor. It was topped with a marinade that hit sweet notes with slight hints of tang. Chocolate Dumplings was a pretty straight forward dessert. Four dumplings filled with chocolate fudge and served with vanilla ice cream. Nothing amazing, the dish was pretty average. I think the dish would be better served with a different filling (chocolate mousse or marscapone) and just having the fudge sauce on the side. Bittersweet Chocolate Bread Pudding was a slightly better dessert. It was more of a cake than true bread pudding but the flavors were balanced. Birthday girl raved about it so clearly her bday wish before blowing out the candle must have worked out. Talk about flying under the radar. Maple is definitely one of the better restaurants in the DC area and a decent value considering the quality. It is a little pricey (bill was about $100 without tip), but was worth it. Suddenly, the drive all the way out to Vienna doesn't sound so bad after all! read more

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3.5 Stars She hadn't looked at the menu. There was no expectation, just hunger as the driving force of anticipation. I took the liberty of ordering, as my dining partner was unfamiliar with the fare. I, on the other hand, was possibly blinded by the nagging pain in on the left side of my abdomen. I ordered half of the small menu and was intent on inhabiting the satisfaction I knew I deserved (hunger and frustration--due to rain and traffic--absolutely do not mix). The waitress, didn't catch her name, was alarmingly charming and accommodating. She checked on me at least five times to make sure I was ok during my wait for my darling Deena H. Her compassion was probably derived from my look of irritation...not for the anticipation of Deena, but from my loosing streaking on the Domino app with Ruth C. (I'm coming for you Ruth!!). As soon Deena arrived I was ready to order. We requested our food to arrive at our table as soon as the plates were made. Fried Green Tomatoes: Any time they're on a menu, I order them without hesitation, and they didn't disappoint. Melted pimento cheese with sweet tomato relish, the fried green tomatoes were lightly seasoned and fried to perfection. I would order theses again and again. Braised Beef Cheek w/Semolina and Corn: This dish was good, very tender. My only gripe is that I felt though it was missing something. Maybe a little more spice, heat, something that would make it stand out. Like I said, it was good, just not great. Shrimp & Grits: I was pleasantly surprised to find that the broth was seafood based, which quite honestly made me biased. Yes, I liked it. The shrimp was tender and seasoned well with a bit of heat on top of creamy, rich grits I likey. Coconut Risotto & Scallops w/Basil Ice Cream: Perfectly cooked risotto and scallops. I wasn't sure what to make of ice cream in the dish, but was surprised to find a well balanced dish. The only problem I had was the the risotto wasn't hot enough, besides being topped ice cream of course, this is a dish that needs to be served IMMEDIATELY. Creme Fraiche Wings: I thought the wings were alright. Sauced, so there wasn't a need for ranch or blue cheese dressing. Although they were ok, I probably would never order these again. They tested like they were missing a bit of spice. Something extra like green onions might have been the trick. Mac & Cheese: I also didn't think this dish was anything special. I'm not a fan of toasted toppings, so the Mac & Cheese was just blah to me. Chocolate Dumplings: I was most disappointed with this dish based on the lack of creativity and the overwhelmingly doughy dumpling. Meh. Overall, I think my expectations may have been a bit too high. I like Maple and will surely be back just won't be ordering the whole menu again. Prices were reasonable and comparable to many $$-$$$ restaurants in the area. Be prepared for the small space. THIS IS NOT A SMALL RESTAURANT. This is a TINY RESTAURANT with a small parking lot. If you blink you will miss it. I passed it twice. read more

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Came here during restaurant week. Place is very small and intimate. They definitely had the best restaurant deal as well. They were my husband's favorite out of the 3 deals we tried. Portions are huge and price is more than fair. Seasonal menu, so I wouldn't return since we tried most items through the restaurant week deal. Would definitely return when their menu changes again! read more

WHIP! WHAM! BAM! POW!! ...my mouth didn't know what hit it as I tasted the delightful creative combinations of flavors from the entrees at Maple Ave restaurant. A small cozy and simple looking restaurant (make reservations, there's only a few tables, or sit in their space at the back), I was surprised at how varied and daring their menu was. The menu is generally a huge list of thinking outside the box items. For appetizer I had the Steamed mussels in saffron coconut broth with sausage and crostinis. To sum it up in one word, Amazing! The coconut flavor was nicely sweet and the small bits of sausage added a nice twist on the mussels. I thoroughly enjoyed sopping up my crostinis in the delicious sauce. The portion size is not too bad so if you weren't too hungry you might be able to make this a meal. For dinner I had the seared scallops with coconut scallion risotto and basil ice cream, say whaaaat? The scallops were nicely seared and the risotto was probably the tastiest risotto I've had in a while. I may be a bit biased since I'm a sucker for coconut but it was really good. I was most curious about how the ice cream would go with the meal but the small dollop of ice cream in the middle added a nice sweetness to everything. I wouldn't have thought to try this but it went over very well. For dessert I tried the chocolate dumplings. This was one thing that I'd say was mainly just 'ok'. It basically was like chocolate inside of a wonton that was fried. Not bad, not amazing. I probably would go with another choice if I was back here. Highly recommend! read more

Maple Ave Restaurant - Scallops with coconut risotto - New American Near Me - Vienna, Virginia

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Where price and quality hit perfectly! People have said this is one of the best brunch spot in the Tysons area and I feel somewhat silly for not trying this place earlier. Think of traditional american dishes with Asian influenced ingredients..this is how i cook at home! This is Tim Ma's (owner/ex chef) first restaurant which gets me excited for his other restaurant water and wall. First impression: Outstanding brunch. Shrimp & Grits: 4/5. PBLT: 5/5. Korean Wings: 4/5. Food Quality v Price: 5/5 We will see how my other visits will turn out to keep this outstanding rating. read more

5 stars for food~ 3 stars for environment~ Very flavorful~ just a little bit greasy~ read more

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Two and half star. I was in Vienna on saturday late morning (11ish) and saw Maple avenue restaurant. It's very small so I wasn't sure how it's like inside. I saw a couple of customers inside. MA has full menu for dinner/lunch and dessert AND brunch but it feels like VERY casual cozy cute snack-eatery that I see a lot in asia or europe. I didn't find anything out of ordinary from brunch menu so I just ordered beignets (only $2.50!) and sweet potato gnocchi. My friend got spanish dumpling. 1. Beignets were so airy and light (almost hollow). I was thinking if they vaccumed inside-dough of beignets.. If you want something fried (like fried dough-skin?), try this but this seems .. too light and airy for me instead of fluffy-airy.. They could put some more powder sugar since I didn't taste much sugar.. 2. Spanish dumpling was interesting but it didn't wow me.. The dipping sauce was interesting because it had subtle taste of kim-chee so I am guessing it was made with little bit of kim-chee juice. It was more like fried-dumpling served with unique name. 3. Sweet potato gnocchi.. was disappointing because gnocchi was fried and I didn't know it would be fried. Interesting concept but it made gnocchi dried and oily. without any significant flavor from sweet-potato ... The dish overall was too oily for me... 4. I give some credits to MA for their efforts to come up with interesting name for dishes but overall.. I didn't think any of dishes were tasty. I thought it was very clever to have Beignets on the menu for $2.50, since most people might just order it to try (becasue it's only $2.50) regardless how it is. If it's bad, they might not order it again but wouldn't feel too bad since it's only $2.50. 5. Cute little flowers were on the table next to menu:) cute. Good casual eatery to hang out but I'm not sure if you can say your money was well spent..so..I am not sure if I give another try here. read more

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Truly as good as it gets! Wow! Maple Ave Restaurant (MAR) delivers a flawless dining experience. While I visited today for brunch I have also had the enjoyable pleasure of their dinner service which was also impeccable. It is no wonder to me that MAR is rated among "Washingtonian's" best restaurants. This morning we arrived about 11 am with no reservation. The hostess and server collaborated to find us a spot and graciously led us to a table. We started with coffee, nectar of the gods, which was a delectable French roast...fresh ... definitely putting Starbucks to shame. We opted for the 6 course brunch for two. Honestly I was concerned that it would be enough for the boyfriend and me, I should have known better. We started with truffle scrambled eggs and bacon. Oh. My. Goodness. They were incredible. I know it sounds odd to rave about something as basic as scrambled eggs but these were clearly a cut above. The eggs were fluffy and the truffle oil truly did them justice, other flavors seemed to be cheese and garlic very, very delicious and a highlight of the meal. The other courses, all excellent, included: Crepe, carrot soup, Charcuterie, Mac n cheese, and beignets. I needlessly skeptical of the carrot soup but it was quite good. The six beignets were also delicious. They were light and sweetened to perfection. The wait service was impeccable. Our server was attentive and thorough, nothing seemed to escape his attention and dedication to ensuring our positive dining experience. read more

What this place lacks in size, it DEFINITELY makes up for in just about every other category - food, service, quality, drinks...We had such a great romantic date night here! I love that the drink menu contains little notes from past customers with helpful tips and advice on what to order. I loved my specialty rose lemonade soda and Jolly enjoyed his wine. The star of the night was definitely the FOOD! They just changed over their menu so I will definitely come back before they change it again because our entire meal was just perfect. We over ordered as usual... Do yourself a favor and go NOW. Order the following: -Thai Okra -Thai Wings -Beef Cheek -Pate -Mussels My biggest regret was not saving room for dessert. Those chocolate dumplings will just have to wait for my next visit... You should definitely make reservations since they only have limited seating. read more

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Maple Ave Restaurant. Long have I admired you from afar. I first read about this foodie haven in Washingtonian magazine, in their Best Brunches issue. What intrigued me is their chef cooks a fusion of French, American, and Asian cuisine. Admittedly, I was skeptical, but intrigued. Maple Ave sat on my list for awhile until I went with some friends for brunch. My friend was very wise and made reservations. I highly recommend reservations as Maple Ave is a very small restaurant. We were seated immediately once we arrived and given menus. Though we were eating after 12, we were all focused on the brunch menu. We decided on coffee (they serve it in a french press, very classy) then put in our orders. I decided on the venison omelette. My friends got the ricotta pancakes and my fiance ordered the truffle eggs. The food was rich in flavor and delicious. I've never had venison before so I was cautiously curious. It was an interesting combination of flavors but the venison worked in the omelette. I tried my friend's pancakes and my fiance's eggs and they were also delicious. Prices for brunch are decent and similar to other places in the area. I do think for dinner their prices start higher so keep that in mind. The service at Maple Ave is wonderful. Everyone was attentive and helpful. It surprises me that this restaurant is in Vienna but I like it at the same time. It's like a small town restaurant with a sophisticated flavor without trying too hard. read more

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One of my favorite restaurants in northern Virginia. Tip: definitely call ahead and make a reservation. Seating is very limited. I was recommended this restaurant by a random food enthusiast I met while waiting in line for another restaurant. I wish I knew who she was so I could thank her once again for this rec. Maple Ave. restaurant is a hidden gem in Vienna that from the outside looks very unsuspecting but once entered will shatter your expectations and blow your taste buds away. First off service was exceptional as everything was clearly explained by the waiter. I came here as a group of four so we were able to start with two appetizers and tried a bite of each other's entree. We also shared a dessert. I'll describe the items we tried below. Appetizers: 1. Shrimp and grits. A classic. For dinner this was a welcomed appetizer option. Shrimp was grilled and still juicy. Grits were well cooked, soft, and well buttered. 2. Bone marrow. I felt this was the weakest option we tried that night. Onions overpowered the marrow itself. But it was not bad overall. Entrees: 1. Seared scallops..this is the entree I ordered. This was PHENOMENAL. I've never had my tastebuds pulled in so many directions and yet still melded into a single beautiful bite. The coconut risotto with basil ice cream, was an interesting combination, but it works. Especially coupled with the scallops. That is all I can and will describe. You have to try it for yourself. Trust me. 2. Beef cheek..one of the other favorites of the table. The meat was sooo tender and soft. Flavor was complimented by the sauce. 3. Duck confit..not bad, not great. But again, we were not disappointed. Dessert: bread pudding/shared..Again not disappointed. Summary: this restaurant definitely has its strengths and we felt nothing we tried was a "bad choice". I will definitely be coming back here to try some other menu options. read more

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I took my wife here the day after Valentine's Day because we have heard so many great things about this restaurant. It's constantly in the Top 50/Best Restaurants by Washingtonian Magazine and other magazines. It is a "farm-to-table" restaurant so everything is fresh. The place is VERY small. There are no more than 10 tables in the restaurant (unless there are some in the back that I'm not aware of). There is parking behind the building, but also next door and across the street by Panera Bread. The service was excellent as there were about 3-4 servers and only 10 tables. The menu changes frequently so check their website to see what they are currently serving. For the appetizers/small plates, we got the wings and the mussels. The wings were for me and I loved them. Similar to buffalo wings with creamy sauce. My wife loved her mussels and I tried the sauce (I'm not a big seafood fan) with bread and it tasted really good. For the main entrees, my wife got the coconut rissoto with scallops and I got the curried chicken with papaya salad. My chicken was tender and crispy. Also the papaya salad was fresh and sour. My wife's rissoto was amazing. I should have ordered the rissoto and gave her my scallops. I really loved the rissoto. For the dessert we got the mochi flight. I believe they are made in house because the flavors are not the typical mochi flavors you find at grocery stores. Dessert was delicious as well. I really loved this restaurant and the atmosphere. I hate going to restaurants that you are elbow-room within the next table and that the atmosphere is so loud that you can't hear yourself talking. this is NOT the case here. quiet, romantic atmosphere. I love the big windows. You can dine and see the city of Vienna while you eat. read more

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I can not say enough great things about the 3 course brunch that I had the pleasure of enjoying this past Sunday. I had never been to this restaurant and simply chose it, based on other other yelp reviews. The peach salad, truffled eggs/ potatoes and the apple cider doughnuts were all out of this world. The menu was small, which I appreciated, as everything sounded so delicious and if it would have been a larger selection, it would have been nearly impossible to decide in the quick amount of time we had. The meal was simple, fresh and purely the most satisfying brunch that I have had in a long time. Please check this place out. It may not look like much on the outside, but I promise you- you too will be pleasantly surprised by what comes out of that kitchen. read more

I finally had brunch at MAR. As per usual, food and service were consistently top-notch. They were able to accommodate our impromptu walk-in. The wait was under 20 minutes, which let us have just enough time to venture the town of Vienna and grab some local coffee at one of the mom and pop shops nearby. We had their Brunch for Two, which is a six-course tasting menu for $38. It offered just the right portions and savory bites. This is what we had: Egg - truffled scrambled eggs, bacon -- Sounds typical right? Wait, until you try it. The truffle in the eggs makes all the difference and the crispiness of the bacon without any of the oily taste was unbelievably satisfying. I don't think I could go back to eating plain eggs and bacon again. Salad - apple salad, mesclun, blue cheese, spiced walnuts, pickled red onion, cider vinaigrette Crepe - mushroom duxelle, gruyere cheese Side - fried green tomatoes, chili garlic aioli, sauteed greens -- crunchy on the outside and the green tomatoes were extra fresh and snappy! the aioli not overdone and tomatoes not doused in sauce (A+) Lunch - baked mac, gruyere mornay, fresh fusili -- I love how they neatly pack the fusili in the serving dish and how al dente it was. The gruyere leads me to believe that it's made by angels in heaven. It's that immaculately good! The seasoned breadcrumbs generously dashed atop makes this particular dish reach its absolute glory and potential. Dessert - belgian waffle, nutella, vanilla bean ice cream -- Lastly, who doesn't love nutella? I can't stress my dining experiences at MAR enough. Straight comfort food at its best. See pics. read more

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Quaint restaurant with a quaint menu. Was a bit disappointed we only had 4 main entrees to choose from (besides the pre fixe menu) but wow I was ahead of myself. They were delicious!!! I would highly recommend the almond ricotta pancakes, it had the perfect blend of texture from almond crunches and the fluffiness of ricotta. The pulled pork sandwich was dripping in juice/sauce, so flavorful. I think they change their menus but now I have no doubt that everything on their menu tastes delightful. Btw, half of their 1 page menu was all drinks, which I'm definitely not complaining about hehe. I would definitely come by for their pre fixe next time! read more

Maple Ave Restaurant - almond ricotta pancakes and pulled pork sandwich - New American Near Me - Vienna, Virginia

We've been here plenty of times and each time has been great, but this time, we came for their very first tasting (Forest Tasting). Chef Juste gives homage to her country, Lithuania. Each dish she served gives a glimpse into what she grew up eating. Yet, its her take on it, using (for the most part) fresh local ingredients! The very first dish, or, maybe more like a snack was basically, what it is, a bar snack. A cup with a shot of beer (Hefeweizen?) with a stick of fried rye bread with some mascarpone cheese and garlic on top. Delicious! perfectly fried and crunchy, You'd think the garlic would overtake it but not at all. The beer was the perfect medium to wash it down. Next came the pea soup. What? just, pea soup? I can go to vie de france for that!! No. this aint just any pea soup. This is cold pea soup that has cured eggs in it which was used in place of cheese. The bits of baby sorrel leaves gave a very fresh note that complimented everything in the dish. The drops of tangy beet juice balanced the sour cream and pea soup, almost like a pallet cleanser. Very refreshing! Next was a Dumpling. Not just any dumpling! this dumpling as made of potatoes! and im not talking about the filling. The casing was potatoes, not flour. How neat is that? It's almost like a round perogie was turned inside out. And the filling was duck confit. The sauce that it sat on was a mushroom sauce. I wanted to lap it up - canine style! My friend also agreed! Didnt know a mushroom sauce can taste that tasty. Also, the presentation was amazing. There was bits of mizuna flowers ontop with sprinkled of bacon. all around sitting in that smooth grey mushroom sauce, just see the yelp pictures! Its a work of art! Next was the beef tongue empanada. You get 2 empanadas, baked to perfection with a slice of beef tongue to show what you're eating. Some people (like my wife and friend) got sicked out by the thought of it. But not me! that beef tongue by itself was amazing, It's like eating a piece of smoked brisket but twice as more tender, yet some how there was that chargrilled taste to it, and the whole thing was flavorful. Ontop of that was a mizuna salad which was locally grown! Like, 1.5 miles away from the restaurant locally grown! I forgot the name of the farm near by, but thats quite nifty. It gave a fresh note to my pallet as I was munching away on that empanada. Although, my only complaint - yes there is a small complaint in this 5 star review - was the quality control. Mines did not have mizuna flowers ontop and i didnt get as much bacon as my wife's. A small error but no biggie, it did not change the taste. The Ramsay would have flipped, i bet. Last savory meal was Wild Boar Ragu! THIS was quite a treat. Although i was super stuffed by that time... So, it was like pulled pork but the boar was so amazingly delicious. Pulled pork is delicious because they soak it in bbq sauce. This dish, was flavorful cuz its freakin' wild boar! It's as free range as you can get! Whats even better was the "pasta not pasta" it sat on. It was a mixture of vegetables like squash and cucumber and other stuff i forgot in some kind of delicious creamy sauce, drizzled with smoked olive oil. So it had the texture of pasta but the freshness of vegetables. This veggie pasta, paired with the savory boar ragu really balanced the dish and then you have the notes of smokiness from the olive oil. Fantastic! Lastly was dessert. I forgot the name but what i do remember googling on my phone was "sea buckthorn." WTF IS THAT?!!?!? like some kind of weird animal from the sea that has horns or thorns? and its in a DESSERT?! No, its a freaking berry. Yes - a berry. Is it from the sea? No its a shrub. Anyway, it tastes like a tamarind. Tangy, sweet with a little more of a bite. This was made into a beautiful yellow sauce along with the strawberry sauce. The main dish was this round puck of what appears to be cheesecake with out the breading. But this was made with rye bread! So it has that mellow milky rye-like flavor. Very beautifully done and has a very unique sweetness. Its almost like it got it's sweetness from the rye. She even made rye crumbles which looks like bacon bits for a second. All and all, great experience and loved her tasting. I think this was the best tasting i've had in quite a while! Also, it didnt break the bank (too much). I hope she starts this tradition! I'd totally be down for this again. Also, its nice watching all the cars sitting in that horrid traffic while you're sitting back and enjoying some fine foods. read more

Maple Ave Restaurant - Forest tasting! - New American Near Me - Vienna, Virginia

I wanted to rate this a 3.5 But i gave it a 4 because of the Beef Cheek. My friends and I had come for dinner based on a recommendation from his boss. The food did not disappoint but the size and ambiance of the restaurant was underwhelming. Parking was not the easiest to find but i guess for the size of the restaurant, the 7 parking spots was enough (definitely need to make a reservation beforehand!). Beyond that, the rest of the experience was great! I did not catch our waiters name, but he was amazing. He was very helpful when it came to answering any questions about the menu items and would keep a close eye to make sure our party was comfortable and well accommodated for. The Food: Since there were a few of us, most of us tried different dishes. For the Small plates, we had gotten the Shrimp and Grits and Roasted Bone Marrow. The creamy grits stole the show for the Shrimp and Grits. The Shrimp could have been cooked slightly less as ours were a little on the overcooked side. As for the Roasted Bone Marrow; we could have really done without this dish. I am a big fan of bone marrow but the relish topping was too overpowering. All i could taste was the relish. For the Main Plates, we tried the Braised Beef Cheek, Duck Confit, and Seared Scallops. Coming from 4 guys in their 20's, the portions of all the main plates were small. That being said, it was expected. Of the 3 dishes, The Beef Cheek was by far my favorite. The beef cut like a hot knife through butter and melted in your mouth with tons of flavor. the Creamy semolina was a good texture balance to the beef. The most surprising of the dishes we ordered was the Seared Scallops. The scallops were well cooked but the stars of the dish were the coconut risotto and basil Ice cream. Independently they were good, but as the ice cream melted into the risotto, the flavors were enhanced. This was well designed by the chef. Finally there was the Duck Confit. The Duck was cooked magnificently but the dish as a whole left more to be desired. I felt there was a lack of flavor as a whole. For Dessert, We got the Bread Pudding. I don't really have a sweet tooth so this dish was good for me. The Bread pudding was mild in sweetness but the dish overall was only slightly better than your generic Bread pudding. Overall: Besides the extremely small size of the restaurant and limited menu items, we were able to try some creative and well prepared dishes. The portion sizes are a little small for the price you are paying, but if you are looking for the fancy dinner experience in Vienna.. then look no further read more

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At first glance, one wouldn't think Maple Ave Restaurant is anything special. A small, hole-in-the-wall restaurant with tight parking and limited seating, it's hard to believe that this is a gem in Vienna. The menu is a quilt of different cultures - Korean, Thai, American, Mediterranean, and Moroccan - and the restaurant serves eclectic cuisine blending flavors from these cultures. The menu changes everyday, . Try their steamed mussels in a saffron-coconut broth with Thai chiles, sausage, and crostinis. Yummy! I had their pork-fried rice as an entree, which is reminiscent of a homemade Chinese cuisine-style meal. For dessert, they have chocolate dumplings (!), fried with melted chocolate ganache and vanilla ice cream. I had the yuzu lime pie with a graham cracker crust and homemade marshmallow and I thought it was great. read more

I've been to Maple Ave Restaurant twice for brunch now and had two very different experiences each time. The first time I went, my friend and I had the "brunch for two" option - $38 for 6 courses. Couldn't pass it up as it seemed like an awesome deal. However, we were less than impressed by most of the items. The only dish we both really enjoyed was the mushroom crepe and really wished we had more of that instead of some of the other things that came with. So why am I giving Maple Ave 4 stars? Because now I know that you must order things a la carte! Today we started with delicious french pressed coffee with fresh cream - you must order the coffee here, it's perfectly made. We then ordered 4 items (two small plates and one larger plate were just the right amount for two young ladies with large appetites): - Thai Okra - Steamed Mussels - Scallop Risotto - Beignets for dessert The Thai okra was by far the most surprising item we ordered. The flavors were deliciously fresh and the okra was crispy and cooked just right. The steamed mussels were plump and juicy with a light coconut/ginger broth. The description doesn't mention it but there is quite a bit of ginger in the mussel dish so be aware of that if you're not a fan. I thought it worked really well with the other flavors though. The scallop risotto dish comes with three medium sized scallops on top of a scallion risotto with a hint of coconut and topped off with a scoop of basil ice cream. Though the description sounds very rich, the kitchen really excelled at keeping the flavors light and pleasant. The dessert beignets were delicious but not your traditional New Orleans style beignet, however, they paired very well with our second round of coffee at the end of the meal. read more

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One of my favorite restaurants in the area. I always make it a priority on the to-do list when I am in the DMV to make a reservation at Maple Ave. Their menu changes, so things are always fresh. Some of their signature dishes like their seared scallop (served over coconut risotto and with a scoop of basil ice cream) and beef cheeks tend to stay on the menu, for good reason. The PEI mussels are always a joy to eat. Subtle hints of saffron in a lovely aromatic broth makes for a great dipping sauce for the crostinis served with the dish. I always drink a little of the soup with a spoon after it is all done. The diced Chinese sausage is a perfect compliment to the moist and tender mussels. The Thai okra is simply amazing. Like the mussels, I could drink the sauce the Thai okra is covered in. Who knew unbreaded okra could taste so good? Save room for dessert as well. My favorite is the Yuzu Lime Pie. I typically don't like marshmallow, but it is not too sweet here and goes together nicely with the tartness of the yuzu. Yeah, parking is a pain. But totally worth it. Brunch is just as good as lunch and dinner. So be sure to make reservations and grab a hot date cause she/he will be impressed. Also, they might be able to set special pre-fixe menus for you as well. My fiancee and I had a dinner with a tasting of a bunch of the menu items. You will have to call in and ask for sure. Chef Tim Ma is amazing! read more

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3.5 stars, but rounded down to 3. I visited Maple Ave Restaurant by myself for brunch recently and was surprised by how casual the place is! It looks a little like it's located in a large trailer off the side of the road (across a car repair place). The tables are very casual inside (almost picnic table-esque) and it has a very small and limited dining area. I ordered the Shrimp and Grits (tiger shrimp, venison blueberry sausage, okra, stoneground grits) and it was tasty, but a super tiny portion! There were only 2-3 shrimp pieces in the meal. It was decently tasty, but the atmosphere and food were not what I was expecting. There is parking, though it could be a bit tight when it's crowded. Bottom line - decent food, though small portions unless you pay a lot more. And a very tiny trailer-looking place, which really doesn't warrant the price tag on the food items. I'd return, but probably not anytime soon. It's certainly not a fancy occasion type of place. read more

Maple Ave Restaurant - Shrimp and Grits - New American Near Me - Vienna, Virginia

Rustic and modern, and wholly unique and local! It's not our first time visiting Maple Avenue Restaurant, and each visit have always been pleasant! Don't let the location fool you. It may not look like much from the outside (or even as you peek inside). But the star of Maple Avenue Restaurant is the food, and that's exactly what you should come here for! Our latest visit was perhaps the most unique with the restaurant's first Chef's Tasting event, this one themed the Forest Tasting. Maple Avenue Restaurant is known to mix a lot of influences from around the globe, and it's just not that I learned that (1) Chef Juste, owner of the restaurant, is a woman, and (2) She's Lithuanian! I'm not actually familiar with foods from that side of the globe, so it was nice to learn where the influences for each dish came from. The chef greeted everyone throughout the courses and took the time to chat with each customer. She explained every dish carefully, include the inspiration behind the dish, and her thinking process in the entire tasting menu. For example, we started with a very common Lithuanian bar item, beer served with rye bread topped with cream and manchego cheese. The tasting ended with the same rye bread, crumbled and sweetened, garnished on top of the strawberry reduction. Basically bringing the tasting to full circle! The highlight of the tasting for me is probably the chilled English pea soup, topped with sorrel, venison sausage, and sprinkled with cured egg yolk. Who would've thought? The egg yolk is simply cured with salt, and wow. It totally "wakes" up the otherwise simple English pea soup. Another highlight for me is the empanadas. Yes, talk about a trip around the globe. This one filled with salsa creolla and served with radish, mizuna (very similar to arugula, but with a bite), and braised, melt in your mouth, beef tongue. At least that's the compliment my husband gave for the beef tongue. Unfortunately, my stomach couldn't handle such delicacy. Yet. I can't be more satisfied with this tasting. The portion was surprisingly large for a chef's tasting, but everything was so delicately put together! I loved every minute of it. It was so nice to finally meet the chef in person. We can't wait to dine here again in the future! read more

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I wish I could leave more than 5 stars, this was absolutely incredible. We went for the restaurant week special, which was a series of chef's tasting plates. It started with a yogurt parfait that was richer and sweeter than any other yogurt I've ever tasted, including Greek yogurt. Next up was truffled eggs and bacon. These were a little bit too rich, you could taste the truffle a little too strongly, but still definitely good. That was followed up with a meat & cheese platter that was absolutely incredible. My friends and I all agreed that we don't normally enjoy cheese platters, but this one was delicious. It had brie cheese, black currant, chicken liver, bacon jam, honey-coated raisins, and we got the optional burrata add-on. Absolutely delicious. Next up was the pork-belly hash. The pork was extremely tender, and just melted in your mouth. The potatoes were an amazing mix of soft and tender on the inside while still being crunchy and fried on the outside, which was really tasty. Finally finished up with a great blueberry pie (with blueberry ice cream), that tasted amazingly fresh. This was very much a diamond-in-the-rough find for Restaurant Week, and I can't wait to go back. read more

Maple Ave Restaurant - Breakfast parfait - New American Near Me - Vienna, Virginia

About a 3.5: I was really excited to finally try this restaurant out, as it has been on my list for quite some time. I liked the whole backstory about the owner, Chef Ma, who was an engineer, went to culinary school, and eventually opened up this restaurant. We came here for brunch (reservations highly recommended), and ordered the following: from the 'Brunch Plates,' we had the Pumpkin Buttermilk Pancakes (included a tiny cup of grade A Virginia maple syrup, diced/small-cubed/wonderfully-fried potato hash with sauteed red onions, and 2 slices of Applewood smoked bacon; the pumpkin pancakes were really good, and probably the best I've had - tasted real pumpkin throughout and no 'artificial flavors' that one is used to from the usual breakfast joints; the edges were nice and crispy, and it was cooked quite well on the griddle); from the 'Small Plates,' we had the Shrimp & Grits (3 tiger shrimp, deveined and with tails, little morsels of venison blueberry sausage, slices of okra, piquillo peppers, and stoneground grits (creamy and delicious)) and the 'Creme Fraiche Chicken Wings' (Kendall Farms creme fraiche, korean chili paste, oyster sauce, and scallions - not salty at all; the sauce was creamy and it had a hint of the gochujang; I asked for the wings to be extra well-done, and it was done perfectly - I loved the fact that they were small and had less meat!); and, from the 'Lunch Plates,' we had the 'Seared Scallops' (coconut scallion risotto, Kendall Farms creme fraiche, with a small scoop of basil ice cream - the scallops were wonderfully-cooked, but the risotto was just way too much (in portions and in terms of the ratio with the scallops). Our server, Jacqui, was very straightforward and efficient. The restaurant itself was small (I believe it only seats about 27 people); it was pretty busy for the morning, and people kept piling in. I would love to try them out for dinner as they have tasting menus. The parking can be quite a pain as it's a tight squeeze, and some people tend to just speed right in off of Maple. +Creme Fraiche Chicken Wings +Pumpkin Buttermilk Pancakes +Seared Scallops (easy on the risotto) +owned by Chef Ma read more

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After finally making it back to Maple Ave, I figured I should get around to updating my review, but to be perfectly honest, I'm not sure how many stars to go with. On the one hand, some of our food was totally fantastic (my PBLT was basically a perfect play on a BLT using thick-sliced but tender pork belly and a tomato compote), but some of it was underwhelming (my potato hash seemed to consist of frozen ore-ida home fries with a few thin slices of onion). The veggie omelet was fine if not amazing, but the mushroom zucchini risotto was definitely a better-than-average brunch offering. And in a minor mis-cue, all of our mesclun salads were over-dressed. Overall I think I'd like to go back once more, probably for dinner this time, but I wouldn't call our two meals to date unqualified successes... read more

Maple Ave Restaurant has definitely become my go-to brunch place in the area. The blending of Asian and Southern flavors with French-style cooking techniques yield dishes that keep me coming back for more. There isn't another place where I can get wings that remind me of Korean bonchon wings along with shrimp and grits with fried okra. The PBLT (pork belly, lettuce, and tomato with sunny side up egg) has succulent flavors and textures that left me licking all of my fingers. Next time - definitely trying the Thai-inspired mussels and baked mac. You can order from the menus - lunch and dinner menus are different - a la carte, or you can do their lunch or dinner specials (week days only). For lunch, it's $20 per person and you can order a small plate and a main plate or a main plate with a sweet plate. This is definitely a worthwhile deal as a main plate can cost between $12-$19. For dinner, it's a 3-course meal for $35 per person. The place is rather small so you should definitely make reservations. read more

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I've been by here many times and yesterday was the day! For a appetizer I ordered the empanada, which was delicious! Of any of you have lived or been in South America it was perfection! We ordered the fried chicken sandwich with cheese and fries, the other dish was ricotta pancakes which is a must try!!!! The bread they use is probably the best I have eaten at any restaurant. The mayonnaise they use in the sandwich has to be homemade because it was excellent! The greens that were served were actually tasty, I CANNOT EMPHASIZE ENOUGH THE FRESHNESS AND QUALITY! I'd definitely make reservations seating is limited and we were lucky they had space. read more

Earlier this year I moved to DC after living in Vienna for near 6 years. While in Vienna, I was able to witness the transformation this tiny restaurant went through. The location and the building itself would probably discourage most to start a restaurant, however, Chef Tim Ma took a risk and it has paid off, as they are one of the best in the greater DC area. During my visit, we shared shrimp and grits, MAR baked Mac, and curry spiced chicken. Everything tasted well, but the shrimp and grits was the highlight. Also, I tried the Fentiman's dandelion and burdock for the first time and it was delicious. Overall, visit this restaurant not only for the great food but for the great people behind it. read more

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One of my very favorite dining establishment in Vienna and apparently a hidden gem to all the locals as well. The menu is eclectic and offers modern interpretation and fusion of traditional ethnic fares. The seasonal specials offer a different enticement with every visit. The libations are limited but thoughtful. The establishment is small and cozy. Come early at 5pm if you want a seat without a long wait. read more

I was veryyyyy excited to eat here as Ive heard many positive things about it. But i have to admit, I wasn't satisfied nor impressed. It could be possible that after hearing all the raves, my expectations mightve been too high. Just like another restaurant in DC that I've recently been to, called roses luxury, Maple Ave's menu is limited and the items rotate (seasonally? or monthly? Forgot what the waiter mentioned). Which is a very neat concept.....Although this concept is only successful if the food was good. We pretty much ordered all the small plates (which included: thai okra, roasted bone marrow, shrimp & grits, creme fraiche wings, pear salad, steamed pei mussels, bittersweet chocolate bread pudding, irish cream liqueur french press coffee) Each dish was seemed* enticing, unique, and conceptually innovative, but that was all it offered. I felt each of the dishes were just too simple and just didn't deliver. I definitely will give it another visit because i am determined to raise my impression this restaurant read more

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JUST AWESOME! Had amazing time at Maple Ave! Very small restaurant with limited parking, but the food was to die for. Had reservations on Saturday for dinner, and met the rest of our small group there as they were already seated inside. We were promptly greeted by our server, and we ordered a bottle of the Cabernet Sauvignon with our appetizers. The server also brought out some crisped bread with garlic butter, which was also very tasty. I chose to start with the Thai okra, which was SPECTACULAR to say the least. The okra was roasted, and served with a garlic lime chili sauce, with scallions. For the main course, I went with the seared scallops, coconut risotto, scallions and basil ice cream. I requested a glass of Riesling to go along with dinner. The scallops were seared perfectly, were not rubbery, and seemed to just melt in my mouth. Both the coconut risotto, and basil ice cream worked perfectly with the saltiness of the scallops. Very satisfying! Other than the venue being a very tight space, the entire experience was very enjoyable for me. I would without a doubt recommend this restaurant to any foodie who wants a great dining experience in the Vienna area! read more

Maple Ave Restaurant - Thai Okra! AMAZING! - New American Near Me - Vienna, Virginia

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Great experience. Tried their $38/couple brunch tasting course menu. Every dish was thoughtful, well-balanced, and most importantly, delicious. I hate to leave this review for the fear of more waiting, but I gotta be honest and tell the world how it is. Will be back for their dinner. This chef is definitely worthy of praise. Ricardo, manager was very attentive and friendly. Overall, legit 5-star experience. read more

This little hole in the wall place on 123 in Vienna is definitely a place worth checking out. Looking at it from the outside, it looks like a little rundown place but the inside is so cute and not what I expected at all. They have awards and rave review plaques hanging on the walls from publications such as the Washingtonian, the Washington post, etc. One detail that really caught my eye was the little personal notes other patrons had written in their menu. That really gave it a cozy little feel. I agreed to go here for brunch even though I was a little skeptical after perusing the menu. We decided on the 6-course for 2 brunch. We started off with the truffle eggs and bacon. The truffle oil in the eggs was a different taste but I loved it! The bacon was perfectly cooked too- crispy but still soft as well. The second course was the cucumber gazpacho soup. To be honest I could have done without the soup, however I am not a huge fan of cold soup to begin with but the couple of slurps I did take were refreshing. The third course was the pork belly potato hash. OH MY GOSH!!! Best pork belly I've had in a while. The potatoes were crisp and had the best sauce with it. If I could have just ordered this as a meal I definitely would have! Go here JUST to try this, not kidding! The fourth course was the crostinis, salami, gruyere cheese and mustard. It was a really good meat tray and the bread was perfectly toasted. The fifth course was the fried green tomatoes in a garlic aioli sauce. To die for!!!! They were so yummy and I couldn't get enough of the sauce. The last and final course was a peach crepe with chocolate sauce drizzled overtop. I am not a huge peach fan but my boyfriend ate it up in minutes. This dining experience was great and I would definitely recommend going here! Just be sure to make a reservation because the restaurant is pretty small and it will ensure that you don't have to wait. Also, the staff is very friendly and inviting, and our server was always on top of our drinks and checking in to make sure we were ok. He also did a good job at describing what we were about to eat. read more

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This place was super cute, we had a great waiter, and I would totally come here again. Unfortunately, they were out of some of the things that we had specifically come for, so the food we got was delicious--just not the knock-it-out-of-the-park we had been thinking. We got the dip spreads and fried green tomatoes to start, and I had the gnocchi and the peach pie. Of all those things, the gnocchi was probably my favorite--very flavorful but also light, so I didn't feel super stuffed after. The peach pie was kind of meh but not bad at all--I just might get a different dessert next time. The fried green tomatoes were really good and I would totally get those again, if we hadn't been hearing about some of the other appetizers. read more

Too expensive for the portions. Zero atmosphere. I left hungry. Service was good. Nothing more to say.

Every once in a while, you come across a restaurant that pleases you so much, you can't wait to return. Maple Ave is that restaurant. My initial thought when I first walked through the doors was concern over how small the restaurant was. Fortunately, I had made a reservation and was seated within a few minutes by the beautiful waitress. After cheerfully presenting my choices in terms of the specials of the day, I was presented with the unique menu that blends asian, latin, and americana dishes with a classic French feel to it, but spiced with a contemporary twist. Since the first trip, I've made numerous trips back, and each time I bring a friend (or three) that have never been before, in order to spread the happiness which I have after eating here. Among the many dishes I've had that were delicious are the crab cake sandwich, the "dr. pepper" ribs, and my personal favorite: the chicken and waffles. The dish features a number of phenomenal appetizers as well (which they refer to as "small plates"). And when the meal reached its end, I had a heavenly lime pie. I'm excited to always make a return to Maple Ave. read more

S:Subjective O:Objective A:Assessment P:Plan S: I agree with Aylin S. in that Maple Ave is a hidden gem in Vienna. And hidden is a key word because this place is so tiny, your GPS realizes you've passed it a few seconds too late. Eclectic menu. There are some items that are undeniably signature to this restaurant. O: Lucked out in that we went for lunch and they had a pick 2 items off the menu $22. # Shrimp & grits- tiger shrimp, venison blueberry sausage, piquillo peppers, stoneground grits # Crème fraiche chicken wings -kendall farms crème fraiche, korean chili paste # Seared scallops -seared scallops, coconut scallion risotto, basil ice cream # Moroccan chicken - boneless chicken leg, roasted vegetables, cool saffron sauce A: Assessment of myself at Maple Ave 1. Clausterphobia- Some anxiety cooped up in a 10x20 dining area with strangers. But I guess still better that seating situation at a Comedy Improv. However, some of the anxiety melted away after I scooped into their shrimp n' grits. 2. Borderline personality disorder- I traveled all the way from Columbus OH. And I just wanted to give the chef the Bird when she wouldn't accomodate me to buy a scoop of basil ice cream for dessert. But I got to love the chef for making my favorite ice cream, and taking a giant leap and putting it together with risotto. P: 1. Make a reservation for 10 and pretty much have restaurant with familiar faces to ourselves. Now, I gotta make 9 friends. 2. "I would like to pre-order a gallon of your basil ice cream." What, you can't do that? OK I would like to order 20 scallop and risotto dishes, can you just separate the ice cream into another container? read more

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After seeing a friend's post on Instagram about Maple Avenue Restaurant my parents and I decided we needed to try it. After an unsuccessful attempt a few weeks ago, we got the chance to try it this evening. It certainly exceeded our expectations. My parents who live nearby certainly have decided they will need to come back soon and my boyfriend and I will definitely be adding this to our list of must eat restaurants when we are home for visits. We ordered three small plates: Thai okra, chicken liver pâté, and the roasted bone marrow. All were delicious! The Thai okra seemed to be the favorite of the table, while I preferred the pâté, but that could be due to my weakness for pâté. The Thai okra was flavorful and a great portion to share between the four of us. The pâté was smooth and served with the warm crostini, delicious. The bone marrow was something we've never tried before but we definitely enjoyed it. Now onto the entrees: pan seared sweetbreads, whole Bronzini, bacon wrapped rabbit, and their new item added last night, curried beef cheeks! All was delicious, I think the high points were definitely the Bronzini and beef cheeks. The Bronzini portion was huge, definitely can be shared. It was nice to try a fish we've never had before, especially being the foodies that I consider our family to be. The beef cheeks were very tender and the sauce mixed with the jasmine rice was delicious. I will definitely be ordering that next time we visit. The sweetbreads were well prepared and the sauce complimented it well. The rabbit was tender and definitely filling. Finally we tried the chocolate dumplings based on the yelp reviews we've read. Very delicious. All and all we were very impressed by the restaurant and we definitely plan on returning soon. Also our waiter was great, Ricardo, he knew the menu well and checked on us just the right amount. 5 stars for sure! :) read more

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Think diner, but upscale. Think farm-to-table, but eastern European inspired. Situated directly nex to a busy NoVa road, Maple Ave offers a delightful culinary experience. Lucky enough to grab a reservation for the 5 course, summer tasting menu, Chef Juste Zidelyte brought her own background and culture to each dish served. This is also represented in her seasonal rotating menus. Before each course she gave us a short story of the inspiration behind the dish. This added an intangible bonus to each meal. One could even taste the emotion, injected into each course. As she explained, " I try to offer something different, something you have never heard of before. It is my hope that you will leave today having tasted something new." She succeeded. The 5 courses: watermelon gazpacho, heirloom tomato panzanella, smoked pig's ear slaw, bison hanging tender, and summer tartlet. Every course was meticulously designed and tasted phenomenal. The pairings of soft and crunchy, sweet and sour, light and rich were very well balanced. The presentation, taste, and originality is indicative of Michelin starred restaurants I have been to in the past. The intimate setting adds to the ambiance as well. It feels as if you're in an old neighborhood joint with life-long friends, enjoying wonderfully prepared cuisine. Word of advice, signup for their newsletter so you don't miss out on the fall tasting menu experience. Check out Maple Ave for yourself. I can assure that you'll leave with a full belly and a new appreciation for food. read more

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Maple Ave Restaurant provides a delightful brunch on weekends. My wife, two sons (9 yrs, 7 yrs), and I came at 10:00am on a Saturday morning after making an Open Table reservation. Since most Yelpers said it was not a kid-friendly restaurant, we came right at the opening. It's a cozy space with only 10 tables and dark gray walls. I think one reason why the restaurant is not deemed kid-friendly is the limited space in the restaurant itself. That said, if your kids are well-behaved, the weekend brunch is fine. As others have noted, the dedicated parking lot is limited to perhaps 10 vehicles. If you have a large SUV, you may want to consider parking on Church St. (one block north of Maple Ave.). We ordered the excellent French press coffee (enough for 2 people). For the main dishes, my 9 year old son devoured the scallops dish (he loved the basil ice cream gradually melting into the risotto). This was a delightful dish. My wife ordered the omelette with Chinese sausage, accompanied by a side of boiled kimchi and slice of SPAM. This was also an outstanding dish. My 7 yr old has an aversion to spicy food, but he enjoyed the almond pancakes ("yummy, like cookies"). The only blemish of the morning was the "shrimp and grits". It did not have the spice or excitement of the other dishes. I'm not sure why it seemed bland, but it was a disappointment compared to the other options. Next time, I might try the PBLT (pork belly, lettuce, tomato) sandwich instead. Service was friendly. Maple Ave Restaurant is a sophisticated, creative mecca for foodies in the heart of downtown Vienna! However, if you like fancy decor without a scenic view of Route 123 and the adjacent car wash, Tim Ma has a second restaurant (Water & Wall in Arlington, VA), which is also a haven for foodies, but in a more elegant setting. read more