Maple Ave Restaurant is probably one of THE places to eat if you're looking to bring a date or enjoy some catching up with friends. Having less than 8 tables, it's not good for large groups unless you make a reservation well in advance. I cannot stress how important it is to MAKE A RESERVATION. This place is very tiny so I wouldn't do a walk in on a Friday or Saturday night. The food here is honestly excellent. The chef prides himself on using local produce and the freshest ingredients available. And that certainly shows in the food. Being "New American", this place offers quite a variety from mussels, bugolgi, shrimp & pasta, panko chicken sandwich, etc. All of the dishes I've ate here have not disappointed. However, this place gets 1 star off because of its prices. It's definitely on the expensive side given the portions. If you expect to be full by the end of your meal, you'll have to order at least an appetizer and an entrée. Probably even a dessert too. And their entrees range from the $19-$30 range, appetizers from $7-$12. So it can get pricy. But for a special occasion in the Vienna area, this is definitely the spot to go to. read more

Maple Ave Restaurant - Mini Pulled Pork Sliders at Taste of Vienna - New American Near Me - Vienna, Virginia

The food here is a bit pricey but it is definitely worth it. They use fresh local ingredients in all their dishes and everything is made from scratch. I do recommend making a reservation because the restaurant is pretty small and could fill up pretty quick. I went here a couple weeks ago and ordered the fried oysters as a starter which by the way were super fresh and not overly cooked. For our entrees Jay got the Dr. Pepper short ribs which was phenomenal. The meat was tender and oh so flavorful and the grits were A-Mazing! I had the the Panko Chicken Sandwich on a brioche bun. You can definitely taste the freshness in the chicken and the truffle mayo was divine. The only thing I was a little disappointed in was the red velvet cup. It was dry and flavorless. Even thought the dessert was not on point it did not ruin my dinner. I would love to try this place out again. read more

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This was my first visit here and was really excited for the dinner to be had. First off, they have exceptional chefs in the kitchen! The three courses I ordered was steamed, grilled, and baked perfectly. The decor is minimal and bleak. Creating an ambiance that is cozy and personal with your company at the table. But it is easy to listen into another tables conversation due to the small size of the restaurant. Most items on the menu is rich and heavy. So, I wouldn't be able to eat here that often for health reasons. The menu is quite unique and inspiring to try. On this night the favorites at our table were the steamed mussels & pork belly starters. then the grilled bronzini was covered with beautiful grill marks and inside was still delicate and flaky white fish. Because the beef cheeks and beef rib were too sweet for my taste I have to pass on a second bite this night. Unfortunately, for my lack of a really sweet tooth I didn't find a dessert I would order again. I so wanted to LOVE this place. Just from reading Tim's story, being green restaurant, using local farms. All very inspiring, but it's just a like it and not a love it place for now. read more

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Wow, what a gem! Don't think it's hidden because of all the raving reviews. Dined here with two other girl friends, and we enjoyed all the small plates and entrees. Was very curious about the Latin American/Asian twist to the menu. Small plates: got fries, mussels (very fresh and tasty sauce), and these Korean chicken wings. Entrees: highly recommend the scallops dish! Four large-sized scallops in a creamy risotto with a center of basil ice cream (creative and delicious). Friend ordered the beef cheek entree so I sampled that as well-so tender! We were quite stuffed but somehow managed to engulf the yummy desserts-chocolate dumplings (dumplings stuffed with oozing chocolate sauce) and a mochi sampler of strawberry, chocolate mint, and others. The mochi was okay. Few things about this place: it's really small and fills up quickly so make a reservation. The parking is also a bit of a cramped space so it's challenging getting out. But despite all that, it was a winning dining experience! read more

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

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My family loves to come here on special occasions and this place never disappoints! :D The restaurant is EXTREMELY small, approximately the size of a living room -- so making a reservation beforehand would be a safe bet to get a table! Also, the menu is different depending on what time you come (for lunch, brunch, and dinner). The dishes are also a bit on the pricier side (but they're delicious *^*). I ate here for Father's Day dinner yesterday and I highly recommend the fried green tomatoes; they're perfectly battered so you get that crispiness on the outside, and no mushiness what-so-ever. I had the Moroccan Chicken, which is a seared boneless chicken leg; it was extremely tender (maybe a little too fatty/greasy for me -- but that's what makes it tasty LOL). My dad had the Whole Brozini which is HUGE by the way. I'm not a huge fish person, but my dad loves it. The fish tastes very clean. I was a huge fan of the onion fried rice that was served with it though omg. It just melted in your mouth and it was so addicting to eat. For dessert we ordered the Chocolate cake, which is flourless and not too sweet. I miss the funnel cake and ice cream mochi they used to serve though D: But a huge hit is the chocolate dumplings! (you must try them!!!) Anything really is delicious on their menu, depending on what you like! Maple Avenue is definitely a hidden gem within Vienna, and you should check it out (: read more

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-- Brunch Review Only -- Best brunch I've ever had. The ricotta pancakes changed my world of what pancakes are. These were crispy, soft, chewy, and so flavorful that I didn't even need the syrup. The bacon strips were just average though. I've had better bacon on burgers before. The potatoes were really good too. They were light and crunchy, and not at all oily - but tasted a lot better than being baked. I think they were pan fried. The truffled eggs were pretty good too. Although it was the same price as the pancakes - I know truffles cost a lot of money, but I don't get what all the hype is about. It was good, but I would have been happier if I had gotten extra pancakes instead. The only coffee they have here is french press, which is good enough for 3-4 cups of coffee. Just alright coffee. The place is usually packed full, and from what I hear, it's hard to get a reservation because the place only had about a dozen tables. Small groups of 2 - 4 are easier to accommodate, but big groups will have to jump through a lot of hoops. It's a little pricey, but I think it's worth the treat every once in awhile. Since the place is small, I think there was only 1 waitress working the entire floor. The food is worth whatever wait though. Some of these other yelpers are hating on their dinner service, but i'm looking forward to making my own decision. read more

Maple Ave Restaurant - ricotta pancakes - New American Near Me - Vienna, Virginia

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This is a very nondescript restaurant. I passed by it a million times and never had a second thought about it until Restaurant Week. I looked at the menu and was amazed. We've dined here twice and loved it. The inside only has a few tables, so you MUST make reservations. Also, if you're a self-important, loud-talking asshat, you'll want to use your inside voice, lest you be side-eyed by everyone in the restaurant. Seriously, don't be that guy/gal. Service is great and attentive. But the real star is the food. Very inventive and playful. I mean, who would think to put scallops and ice cream together?!? They did and it was awesome. We've had empanadas here as well as the fried apple pie. Everything is great and I don't think you could go wrong with anything here. Parking is in a little lot out back. read more

Go there if you want to try some interesting and creative dishes~ Many of them seemed to be influenced by Southern and Asian cooking style (FYI, the founding chef, Tim Ma is an Asian graduated from Georgia Tech). Shrimp and Grits It was the best Shrimp and Grits I have had for a while. Different from traditional shrimp and grits, it contains more shrimp and ham than grits. I was very happy about it. Creme Fraiche Wings The wings were good but not impressive. The sauce tasted like regular Korean chili sauce you could find in many Asian restaurants. But if you have no idea about what Korean chili sauce is, give it a try. You will not regret. Duck Leg Confit It seemed that the leg had been marinated for a while. But it was too salty for me. They could have added more apple cider gastrique to bring more sweetness. The best part was the crispy duck skin. Seared Scallops Basil ice cream was definitely the highlight of our meal. Scallops were perfectly seared. You could taste the coconut and cream favors mixing with the aroma of scallion and basil. Delicious! Restaurant's service was also great. read more

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After a long morning bikeride, my fiance and I stopped by this little place for brunch. Downside - the menu is quite limited, which left me wanting a bit more options. Upside, is that this place is DELICIOUS! Since we were literally starving, we opted for the main plates instead of the tapas. I had a panko chicken sandwich, and my fiance had a mushroom omelette. Fiance loved the omelette and the side of mesclun that came with, and I was BLOWN AWAY by the panko chicken sandwich. It was so good that it's a crime! I should mention that when we walked in, the place is pretty full and only had a table that's reserved for later. We promised a very speedy meal, and they were nice enough to take us in! Everything came out fresh and very quickly, and the servers were super friendly and helpful. Definitely, definitely will be back and try the tapas! read more

We dined at Maple Avenue during restaurant week and had a lovely experience. Between the four of us we were able to sample quite a few dishes. The empanadas, barsotto, grilled pork belly and octopus salad, pork confit, Lamb shank, and arctic char were very good. My friends really enjoyed the Lithuanian honey cake and passion fruit crème brûlée. They kept asking how I found this place, so that tells me they really enjoyed it. The restaurant is small, limited parking and packs a punch with the food. read more

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This may be the best brunch I have had since moving to NOVA! I've driven past Maple Ave a ton of times and always wondered what the story was of this teeny tiny building. Finally, I got up the nerve and booked a reservation for brunch and I did not regret it! We tried quite the sampling of food here and nearly everything was top of the line. My dad ordered the 6 course tasting menu for 2, which was a ton of food: -breakfast parfait- tangy yogurt with a fruit compote and granola. Honestly, there were flavors in here that I don't think I have ever tasted before. Some kind of unique fruity drizzle. -truffled egg with bacon- I think I may not be a huge truffle fan because these were just ok to me -fried green tomatoes- really good! crispy and salty on the outside, tender on the inside, with a spicy red pepper sauce -meat and cheese board- toasts served with a sampling of pickles, gouda, whole grain mustard, soaked raisins, a pate, jam, and some other cheese. Pretty good. -pork belly hash- great! pork belly is served over a bed of fried potato hash with cheese -fried strawberry pie- one of my favorites! strawberry preserves inside a flaky, fried crust, topped with ice cream and a drizzle of caramel Additionally, we tried: -cheese danishes- these were good, but pretty standard. Tasted like something I could have whipped up at home. -empanadas- also good but pretty standard. -ricotta pancakes with potato hash and bacon- the BEST pancakes I have ever eaten! Seriously. The hash and bacon were a great savory balance to the pancakes as well. My one tip is that you will have to make a reservation, not because this place is crazy fancy (more like casual upscale), but because it's a single tiny dining room with probably about 30 seats. But just do it and thank me later! read more

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It's been about a year since I've been back to Maple Avenue Restaurant. Everything was just as good if not better than the last time I was here. I came for lunch last time but heard their brunch was really good so I wanted to come back. I got the chicken empanadas, breakfast parfait, almond ricotta pancakes and the choco pie. It was so much food, but all so good. The staff was wonderful. They were all friendly, personable and got all my orders out to me quickly and correctly. All around great job! read more

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Spoke with the owner today who was absolutely hilarious! Definitely worth supporting a unique local restaurant. The soft shell crab with the cilantro creme fraische sauce/thai caramel looked really entrancing, looking forward to trying it! read more

Went to the restaurant for a date night with another couple. Had a wonderful experience. Very small intimate restaurant where you feel invited. Food was very good. I had the scallops risotto and ice cream. Sounded different so I gave it a try. Very tasty! Enjoy the restaurant and our dinner. A bit pricey. Will be back again but probably more of a special occasion place. read more

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Debating between 4 or 5 stars for this place. We did the 6 course tasting menu for 2, which I definitely recommend for anyone coming here for brunch. We started off with the yogurt parfait. The yogurt was creamy and the compote topping was delicious. I only got enough yogurt for a small spoonful though and had a lot of leftover compote which was pretty sweet on its own, so I wish I'd have gotten 2 more spoonfuls to even out the compote. The second dish was the truffle eggs with bacon. The truffle eggs was definitely one of the best scrambled egg dishes I've ever had. The chicken empanadas had the perfect amount of spice and had an incredibly flakey crust. For the charcuterie dish, we added Barruta for an additional $6 but one of my favs was the bacon jam. By the time we got to the pork belly hash, we were both pretty full but it was equally as delicious (my bf ate most of the actual pork belly). The apple fritter with ice cream was the perfect way to end the meal. It was definitely a good amount of food for the both of us and we'll definitely be back. read more

So I came to this exact location years ago following a bike ride on the W&OD trail. It used to be a Mexican/Latin American place. Now, it's been completely flipped and serves great American Brunch food. The place is still tiny inside, but it definitely looks very nice. The food is very delectable, but it comes out in small plates at a relatively moderate price point, slightly on the higher side. One word of advice: make reservations in advance. You'll thank me later. read more

My impression of this place is this is the kind of place that you would make a daily dining experience. All the food is so different and we need more places like this in Vienna. Sometimes I get a few different items. It is a great place for sharing. As my star rating probably spoilered, we loved it. Though the restaurant is faaaar smaller (and honestly less upscale, too) than I had imagined in my head, we had a lovely time and it was one of the best brunches I've had in a while. We happened to go on a day when they were featuring their restaurant week special ($22 per person for a 6-course brunch, and everyone at the table had to participate) and I'm very glad for it. It was a great deal and gave us the opportunity to sample a variety of items from their diverse menu. As for the food, of the six courses the standout items in my book were the chicken empanadas (perfectly-textured and so flavorful), the crispy broccoli (can't go wrong with fried anything, amirite?!), and the house spreads (seriously worth a try). The truffled eggs with bacon were also pretty good, as was the parfait. Unfortunately the pork belly hash and the Lithuanian honey cake were just okay, but did not impress. Dessert was probably the most disappointing of the six courses -- a bummer since it's usually my favorite course -- but because the rest of the food was so good and we were anyway so full (the belt-loosening kind), it luckily mattered a bit less. Also, I would be remiss not to mention how beautifully each item was served; the presentation was really a treat. Hoping to go back again sometime for dinner (and especially hoping to get a taste of some of the other desserts, like the fried apple pie or brownie bread pudding)! read more

This is a quaint little restaurant and one I would've never found on my own. A close friend who is also into great food found it and I am glad we visited on a random weekday for their restaurant week menu. Normally I am turned off by restaurant week menus since the chefs create the same dishes for all patrons and there isn't a lot of creativity or effort in the meals (from my experience). When I got here 10 minutes after our scheduled date, I entered and saw my friend. This is a small, tiny, place with 6 (maybe 8?) tables. This is a great thing for someone like me because it assures me the chef is putting a lot of effort into my food and there are intricate details that won't be overlooked. Since it was a Friday lunch, we had agreed it would be one of those days, you know, where one bottle of wine turns into two. So we started with a rose from France and we were not disappointed. For starters we ordered an Empanada and Squash nuggets. For our main, I ordered the gnocchi with mushroom and truffle (oil) and my friend ordered the pork confit steak. For dessert we got the passionfruit cake and 'smores ice cream. In between our 1st and 2nd course, we ordered the shared plate. The empanada and nuggest arrived followed by the shared plate. The empanada was definitely the highly favored 1st course because of the latin flavors that shined through with the chicken and the exterior wrapper was perfectly cooked/fried. The nuggets were butternut squash cut, boiled, battered and deep fried. The house spread included chicken liver mousse, pork rillettes, herb ricotta, pickled cucumbers and black currant jam with baguette. The first course was delicious. Then for main, we got our gnocchi and the pork confit steak. The gnocchi definitely blew me away with the perfect amount of mushroom and truffle flavor but yet also being light and pillowy (as good gnocchi should taste)! The pork was also perfectly seasoned, cooked and tender. We both agreed the main courses were both divine. Our dessert included another bottle of wine as well as the ice cream and passionfruit cake. I love my passionfruit flavors in sauvignon blanc wine but in this taste, it was a balance of sweet, tart and floral. The ice cream was spot on as well. A $22 lunch menu for 3 courses for restaurant week cannot be beat, especially in the 'burbs of DC. Overall a wonderful selection of dishes Service was pleasant and our waters were refilled regularly. The server wasn't overbearing and constantly checking on us, which I appreciate. Everything we ordered blew me away and I was very impressed with all of our food. The food is spectacular and some of the best I've had. I wished I lived nearby to frequent this place more often. It's too bad there aren't more places like this; a restaurant that's very unassuming, the chef is paying close attention to every dish that goes out of the kitchen and the flavors jingle on the guests' palates. Can't speak for parking since I took Lyft here. read more

This was a good experience but I may have set my expectations a little high. We ordered the fried green tomatoes, creme fraiche wings, the duck confit, scallops in coconut risotto and the chocolate dumplings. The fried green tomatoes were pretty good but the wings were dry and lacked the creaminess of creme fraiche that we were craving. The duck came with an apple cider reduction that was definitely on point. Finally the best dish of the night was the scallops which ended up being the biggest surprise as well. Overall everything tasted a little overcooked: the wings (couldn't finish them), brussels that came with the duck and the dumplings. The burnt bitterness came almost with every bite in those particular dishes. Highlights included the basil ice cream in the coconut risotto (who would have thought that???), the duck and the perfectly seared scallops. Give it a go but come in with reasonable expectations. read more

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We came here for restaurant week and the options of the prefixed menu were phenomenal! We had the mussels, shrimp and grits, mushroom risotto and the scallops with coconut risotto!! And to top it off dessert was excellent too! We will definitely be back for the first two courses! The service was really friendly and we didn't feel rushed even coming in close to closing time! read more

Maple Ave Restaurant - Who doesn't love some sort of ice cream in the middle of their coconut risotto and scallops? Yuuuummmm!! - New American Near Me - Vienna, Virginia

Tried this place out for restaurant week. It did not disappoint. The empanadas were fried to perfection and the chicken wings were the perfect level of spice and fried. Everything was delicious, but the creme brûlée was divine. It's tiny dining room was a curiosity, but I liked it. It felt intimate. I was intrigued by the room in the back, but had to leave without satisfying my curiosity. It's definitely worth checking this place out. read more

Quaint. 11 table tops, great wait staff, great food, love the personal attention and that they craft each dish which is perfect for people with lots of food allergies like me. Wonderful service. And lots of options menu options. read more

Maple Ave Restaurant - Small, personable service, great food. - New American Near Me - Vienna, Virginia

My husband and I went for brunch on a Sunday. Had the added bonus of it being restaurant week. I thought the eggs were great. Also a good cup of coffee. Avoid the liver pate. Ew. Even though ambiance is a little odd and the decor is lacking, the limited number of tables makes you feeling like you must place popular. Only one restroom and the sign said "no solid waste". I tried to forget about that while I was eating. Also, parking is a bit of a nightmare. Limited space on site, and there's a dumpster in the way. Plus, you could get towed if you park in adjacent lot or across the street. read more

No wonder this place ranks in the top 50 NoVa restaurants - it's that good. On Sunday, Mondays and Tuesday they run a special prix fixe with 3 course for $35. You can't beat that! For starters, the stand out favorite is crispy broccoli -- deep fried and served with a pungent green sauce. The chicken empanadas pay homage to one of the owner's favorite dishes and comes with some greens. Main courses of grilled arctic char was moist and flavorful. The spätzle was browned in butter and bursting with flavor. The pork belly steak was like having a pulled pork steak, with roasted potatoes and a chimichurri sauce. Yum! Dessert of a yazo crème brulee that creamy and tasty and bits of dried orange Of course I had to try the Lithuanian Honey cake. I counted 14 different layers. Nothing short of amazing. Service was impeccable, prompt, attentive and helpful. Wines by the glass and reasonably priced bottles. Quiet ambience. Note: the place is small. Get a reservation. Been a long time since I had a meal this good. Will be back again. read more

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A nice small place for brunch. Good for less than 4 people (2 ppl are the best). The parking lot is very small and can't be difficult to exit and could be difficult to find a parking in this area. The brunch tasing course menu for two is about right, but not including the pancake. The only thing I don't like is the coffee (We shall have unlimited coffee). The french press for only two cups of coffee for $6 is a lot. The size of the disk, taste and texture of the beef empanadas and truffled eggs are good. The chair and table is kind of small and not comfortable. The rest are OK. read more

I just love all things Vienna. It's such a cute part of NoVA. Maple Ave has been on my radar for just a short while. I was finally able to go yesterday -- we were there for Thursday dinner. This place is SMALL. YOU MUST MAKE RESERVATIONS! I think I counted 8 tables. Small! Intimate! You have space from other diners, so there's a tiny bit of privacy. We ordered a lot of food. The menu has small plates/tapas/apps, entrees, and dessert. We got fries, wings, and baked mac and cheese for starters; scallops and duck for entrees; and creme brûlée for dessert. All the starters were great. My entree was the scallops with coconut risotto, and basil ice cream. OMFG, it was so good. The scallops were soft. The coconut risotto was like butter. I've never had anything like the basil ice cream. It was so good! The creme brûlée was a good way to end the meal. The service was seriously on point. They were great with checking on us and paced the dishes appropriately. I had a good time here. It's kinda pricey so it's not a weekly meal spot; it's a place to go for celebrations. I recommend it for celebrations and special date nights. I'll definitely make my way back to get the scallops again! read more

Maple Ave Restaurant - Scallops. Basil ice cream. Coconut risotto. YES PLEASE. - New American Near Me - Vienna, Virginia

Came here for brunch with my boyfriend at around 10:30am on Saturday. No wait so that was a pleasant surprise since it's such a small restaurant. We tried the 6-course brunch tasting for 2. Most memorable items were the truffle eggs and the liver on the house spreads. Beef empanadas were filled very well and pretty yummy too. We got an order of the creme fraiche wings because it wasn't enough food for my boyfriend. Finished with a nice hot choco pie with ice cream! Service was super attentive even though the restaurant was full. Be warned the parking lot is tiny! read more

Ive been to Maple Avenue a few times now and they never disappoint. They use fresh and local ingredients and take pride in their menu. The location is very small and only has a few tables so I recommend always making a reservation. Parking can be slim but there is a parking lot across the street. My favorite dish is the seared scallop. If they have it on the menu, get it! You can go to their website to see what the latest menu is before making a reservation. I always have to look at the menu beforehand. read more

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

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Oh Maple Avenue how I love you *heart* I love you for brunch, lunch & dinner. The small intimate restaurant allows Chef Juste to create the perfect amount of dishes that will surely satisfy your appetite. I don't need to list all their options because EVERYTHING is delicious. BUT if you haven't tried brunch their yet... make reservations ASAP and go! Brunch Highlights: Truffled Eggs/ Almond Ricotta pancakes (best pancakes you'll ever have/ Panko Chicken Sandwich (brunch & lunch) Lunch & Dinner Highlights: Mussels/wings/Gnocchi /Braised Beef Cheek While typing this review I realized I have yet to try any of their dessert options :( Reservations are a MUST, parking lot is small (turn right BEFORE the restaurant) but you could also park across the street. Even though the restaurant is quaint and petite they have accommodated me numerous times with parties over 5 guests. read more

Small place with Big flavor! I have tried many 'Best 100' restaurants in DC area but I would say this one's flavor is the top 3. A friend and me were tried lunch menu on Oct 2017, foods are all taste great, so did the presentation! The only weakness I see here is that they need to update the lunch menu on official website, as the items I would like to order before I go didn't list on the actual menu. This part disappointed me. read more

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I am a big fan of their brunch. It's usually my go-to since it's close to my house, service is great and food is consistent. My only complaint? it would be nice if they changed their menu up every so often or at least expanded their brunch menu to include a few more items so if we come back, we can switch it up every so often. However, what they DO have on their menu are really delicious - aka truffled eggs and almond ricotta pancakes. I will definitely be back, but please change up the menu occasionally! read more

We have always loved this place for dinner. Whenever family visits from out of town we bring them here. Today I went for brunch for the first time, and it was delicious! The three course fixed price is reasonably priced, with nothing but good options. I had the empanada which was excellent, and my friend enjoyed her salad. The pancake and bacon were wonderful, and the portion was perfect. My friend enjoyed her truffled scrambled eggs, and we both agreed the chocolate mousse was to die for. I am excited to have this brunch option- we will be back! read more

Hm, I'm a sucker for Vienna. She's like that not-quite-unattractive girl that lives down the street. You like hanging out with her because she lives nearby and you get each other's jokes. You don't want to call her your 'best' friend because, well, you're hoping theres something better out there for you. Oh sure, you kissed once under the Old Oak Tree, but who hasn't? Who hasn't been young. Still, when she looks into your eyes with that cold, blue innocence.. you have to look away. Blink. What does this have to do with Maple Ave? Probably nothing. But try to stay with me. Maple Ave has put a lot on its plate: quirky location with a sometimes-crowded-sometimes-cozy dining room, a menu that ranges from Kobe burger to chicken sandwich, and a price-point that gives the young man some options to flatter his date or sneak away unscathed. Some people here think the art is kind of.. meh. I'm biased since I know most of the artists (All the pieces are from The Soundry, you should check it out!). It isn't their best work in there but it's better than some mass-print from World Market. At least the art is original. I don't remember having bad service, but considering the size of the place I imagined my beer could have arrived 5 minutes earlier. Speaking of, I didn't look at the wine list and just ordered Allagash White. $5. Our entrees were simply good. My 6 oz Kobe Burger looked quaint and unassuming with its simple skirt of lettuce, red tomato belt, and matched, toasted buns- top and bottom. An exotic Patty, conservatively dressed. I enjoyed that the burger came out medium, and that it juiced.. but did not gush. I gushed, however, on the that fact that it was full of flavor without my hands being full of napkins. Delightful and only $11. The fries deserve their own little quip. Extremely crispy and flaky exterior with a consistently tender center. An excellent fry, however, a bit oily once you start nomming full speed. My friend had the chicken sandwich. Which was very kind of her, considering I was picking up the check ($10 or 11). She was quite satisfied. I can't remember if she said it was the best Parm chicken sandwich she ever had, but she very well may have. Now, the one disappointing part of the meal was my foie gras mousse appetizer. First of all, I didn't hear the waitress clearly and didn't realize it was a mousse until it's rotund body was in my face. Le sigh. I thought the smile I showed her said I was expecting seared. The pickled pears that accompanied it were refreshing at least. I hope the analogy sunk in! read more

Just call me Tony Kornheiser, because I'm gassing up the old bandwagon for Maple Avenue Restaurant. For the four of you that get that reference and want to stick around for the review, let's continue! Located in the original Anita's restaurant space, Maple Avenue Restaurant truly embodies the old maxim, "good things come in small packages." There isn't a lot of space to stretch out in this tiny spot, but once you try the food all worldly cares melt away - TRUST ME! The small plates options were both very affordable and generous - we went with the complex and utterly delightful shrimp and grits, the classic and perfectly dressed apple/blue cheese/walnut salad, the fresh and intriguing tuna tartare, and the deliciously decadent macaroni and cheese. The service was out of this world, as well. Ask for Charlotte, who was our very thoughtful and considerate server. The meal was perfectly paced, nothing was lacking, the flavors were delightful, and the bill didn't break the bank. What more could you ask for? read more

Our visit was specifically for the creme fraiche wings and the eggs w/ kimchi. We also tried the pork belly lettuce tomato (PBLT). The PBLT was a super messy sandwich with the sunny side up egg running all over. The pork belly might need to be cooked a little bit longer, otherwise, it's an ok sandwich. It was really overshadowed by the delicious wings and the eggs w/ kimchi dishes. The wings were made well and had a decent amount of chili paste and some red Korean sauce that is similar to sriracha. It was very spicy and could have used some more green onions, but these wings were very good. The eggs with kimchi is such a great comfort food item. There was a good amount of Chinese sausage (my favorite), and the kimchi was more savory than sweet. It all went together so well and I could eat it on a daily basis - I only wished they provided a bit more spam to eat with the rest of the eggs and rice! The chocolate dumplings are tasty too and not heavy at all. It's the perfect light dessert to a great meal here. The dumplings aren't necessarily like steamed dumplings in consistency, think more like a small chocolate filled empanada a la mode. Very good! This restaurant is really small and reservations are a must. If you want to have a nice, private meal, this is not the place. You sit very close to your neighbors, so it's easy to hear any conversation being had in the dining room. read more

You can add my voice to the five-star chorus singing the praises of Maple Ave Restaurant... ...of course you probably won't be able to hear me, because my mouth will be so full of creamy macaroni and cheese, yummy venison sausage and tasty tuna tartare. In fact, let's just skip the recital and head straight into covering me with the delicious peppery sauce from the shrimp and grits. While you're at it, slather me in whatever they dressed the apple and walnut salad with. On a serious note, I'm incredibly happy that my ladyfriend suggested this place and, as usual, I'm incredibly happy that I listened to her. The food was great, the atmosphere was relaxed and the service was excellent. Eight cheers to the chef, whose talent made for exciting and complex flavour combinations. read more

This was out 2nd visit to this tiny restaurant. The first time I was not super impressed due to some greasy dish I had (honestly no longer remember since it was some years ago...soon after it was opened replacing some Salvadorian family style joint that closed), however this time around the story is different and it compelled me to write this review. It was my wife's birthday, and after restaurant we wanted to attend that night was closed, we opted for this place last minute with very low expectations. One appetizer was an order of chicken wings with spicy tomato sauce reduced with sweet creme, which had barely noticeable level of heat which was due to way to much fresh créme in the sauce clearly made on premises (good but needed more spice), so calling it spicy was huge overstatement. Few of us enjoyed chared octopus and pork belly on a bed of mixed greens with spicy smoked paprika smear and soft boiled eggs, which based on the description was not super appealing, rather read bit weird (due to the egg part), but it turned out to work and it was well executed by the chéf. My daughter ordered chicken empanadas - roasted free range chicken, mixed greens, Spanish paprika sauce and they were perfectly done. They were perfectly fried, the dough was flaky and filling was super tasty (spiced to perfection, not to hot, just right). They came with perfectly fried and well seasoned with salt and Mediterranean herbs french fries, which was an interesting tasty touch. I ordered braised beef cheek on a bed of creamy semolina, gold beets, radish, with red wine demi glace. It was without doubt THE best dish of the whole meal and one that solidifies everyones desire to come back at some point. A friend of mine enjoyed Arctic chard, which was sustainable char, greens, soy brined egg, fingerlings, creamy wuster vinaigrette. The fish was perfectly cooked, the fish skin was crispy while it was juicy on the inside but not raw, and the side dish was unusual but well executed, flavors and technique. Likely the least favorable dish of the night was my wife's order of burrata gnocchi which was house beet gnocchi, organic basil pea pistou, wild mushrooms all coated with smoked olive oil, however it was still ok dish but not one you would order again...nothing particularly wrong with it, but likely one of those things that just didn't hit any of us as something we liked. We finalized the whole thing with yuzu crème brulee which was a japanese citrus infused custard, topped with turbinado sugar crust, which we shared. All of us thought it was perfectly executed and something if we eat less and if everyone ordered it, would have been a nice finish for all of us, while even a taste of it left a very good impression about the desert. We washed the dinner down with two bottles of California sourced zinfandel, Angela's Table Seghesio. Wine was solid (sells in the stores for ~$16-$19 while they had it for $49) but not perfect, and one of the best choices they had (this place has a small wine list and its nothing special and we didn't expect better). We knew the wine and it paired well with half of the dishes we all ordered, since those had either beef or fatty parts of the pork, and this wine required something rich. Overall I gave it 4 stars due to few things that could be improved. Even that it was a slow night (it was Monday) the waitress was overwhelmed, so she forgot one order, but we didn't fuss about it, but it would help her to practice a bit and keep notes of everything; tables are super tiny, which in some ways is understandable (tiny place tries to maximize on the number of patrons they can fit at one time...), but cramping 6 mini double tables in a space that can barely fit 4 put you in position that as you eat and drink you constantly hit the person sitting next to you, which is not nice experience; some dishes could be less fatty and still be tasty.; when you label something spicy make it spicy! Overall, unexpectedly very nice dining experience, we recommend and will visit the place again. If nothing else for the perfectly executed beef cheeks dish, which everyone liked. Lithuanian Chéf Justė Židelytė did a really great job! read more

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29 Jul 12 I was excited to try this restaurant because of all the rave reviews. TIP #1: The building is very small so look for the Merchant Tires sign (white/blue) then take the next turn into the small parking lot. I didn't like the building a sort of dilapidated building disguised as a restaurant. It even has a bench sitting on top of the roof. Inside it is very small and it is very noisy. TIP#2: Sit close to your dining partner so you can have a conversation. We sat in the corner literally looking outward. Sitting so close to the windows you can't help but notice that the windows needed a bit of cleaning. Now the food choices - I was surprised at the menu because it was so limited. At first I thought we were provided with the lunch menu. Our waiter explained the (3) specials so that added to the limited menu. We ordered the mac and cheese, the special order of scallops with a chili sauce on top of pea shoots, and the braised beef cheek sandwich on a brioche bun with french fries. If you are looking for a wine list it is very limited too but I managed to find an Italian white that was pretty good. The mac and cheese was divine but not the best I've ever had. The amount of cheese to the fusilli pasta was superb and the Gruyere cheese is very decadent! The special scallop was cooked to perfection but it did not have the caramelizing on the outside. It was sitting on a bed of sauteed pea shoots. I believe that sauteing the pea shoot did not do it justice. The pea shoot stems were rough to eat. I would have rather have the pea shoot in its raw state with this dish. My hubby had the braised beef cheek sandwich which was a well put together sandwich but could have used more beef cheek in the sandwich. The beef cheek was nice and tender full of flavor but there wasn't enough in the sandwich for dinner. The french fries were nicely fried golden on the outside and sprinkled with some herbs. We decided to throw in the towel and leave because the atmosphere was not quite right and decided that the price point was high for what you don't receive. The service was mediocre our waiter was OK took our order and disappeared never to be seen until our food arrived. But remarkably I was able to flag our waiter down for a second glass of wine. TIP#3: this restaurant is better for lunch but the prices are high. BTW: Who wants sandwiches for dinner, not me. We ended our night at another restaurant. read more

i've been sitting on this review for months becauase i cou;dn't wrap my head around how negative of an experiece i had. I went to Maple Ave with my wife for some special occastion. it was terrible. TERRIBLE. Which is too bad because i went once before and it was amazingly good. I had a korean style pork belly in lettuce cups. it was disgusting. the pork belly was hard and was so salty that it actaully burned my mouth. Inedible. Also, how the EFF are you gonna try to do Korean food and screw it up when you are a stones throw away from a billion killer korean joint is Annandale??? That'd be like opening a crappy Chilidog place downthe street from Ben's. I can;t rememeber what my wife had, but she was unenthused. The rolls had been microwaved. the music was some god-awful DJ mix of machael jackson and mom jams that what playing on a 20 minute loop. so bad. $65+ for a horrible meal never going again. read more

I had been wanting to try Maple Avenue for some time and finally got my chance with friends this past Saturday night. We made reservations about three weeks in advance and I would recommend you do if you plan to dine here. The restaurant is small with probably 12 tables in the main dining area. There is another small dining area in the back of the restaurant but it appeared to be even more casual and screened in rather than enclosed. Driving past, Maple Avenue does not look like much more than a divey diner. There is nothing attractive about this building and if not for Yelp, we would probably never have stopped in. The building looks like it once was a Krispy Kreme, but we were told by our server that this was the original location of Anita's. Inside there are small granite top tables and chairs - no fussy tablecloths - just simple and clean. The food is what stands out here. The menu is interesting and changes frequently - check the website as they keep menus updated there. We started with some small plates, shrimp and grits, mussels and Thai okra. They were all good, but I was surprised the Thai okra was my favorite. I've never had okra before and to be honest it never really appealed to me so much so that I resisted trying this dish. I am so glad I did - tender caramelized okra in a garlic lime chili sauce with scallions was delicious! The mussels were also quite tasty - the crostini were delicious dipped into the broth which had just a hint of spice from the Thai chili. Of the appetizers, shrimp and grits was probably my least favorite. Three tiger shrimp atop tender grits were just not quite as flavorful as I would have liked. For our entrees we chose the seared scallops, Moroccan chicken and soft shell crab. I am not a fan of soft shell crab so I declined tasting that dish. My friend enjoyed it quite a bit - just not for me. My husband's Moroccan chicken was so good - my favorite entrée of the night. Crispy, well flavored skin on a boneless chicken leg with a saffron sauce, roasted vegetables and couscous. I would order this dish next time. My dish featured four decent sized seared scallops on top of coconut risotto with a scoop of basil ice cream. The basil ice cream melted into the risotto resulting in a super creamy tasty dish. Scallops were fresh and had a lot of flavor as well - nothing like the Moroccan chicken, but delicious nonetheless. For dessert, we chose the chocolate dumplings. How can anyone say no to chocolate dumplings. They were fried just right - crispy on the outside with chocolate oozing out in every bite. I ordered coffee and Baileys to end my meal and was pleasantly surprised when they brought me a French press. Maple Avenue Restaurant is a wonderful gem in Vienna. I hear the brunch is quite good as well and am looking forward to giving that a try too. My experience here proves you just can't judge a book by its cover. Service was spot on all night and I thought prices were reasonable considering all the food we ordered. I will caution if you are a big eater, you definitely will find the entrees small. I almost finished my dish and that never happens when I am eating out. Love that they try to source most of their foods from local farms! read more