Been to Maple Ave many times now. Food is always creative and flavorful. Small and fun for brunch and dinner. Parking is tight. read more

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I've been dying to try this place! The photo's look amazing, the reviews sound delicious and the stars all lined up today between restaurant week, bf off weekend from work and my approval for an extended dinner break! We got to schedule for a table at 4:30 this afternoon! The place is easy to miss, if you aren't looking close enough. It's a tiny little restaurant off the main drag of chain-bridge road. We noticed half of the couples walking to the restaurant from their homes and the other half drove in. We were the only people in the dinning area when we arrive. It was nice to people watch out of the open windows and be front and center for service. We did the $35 prefix meals and shared a bottle of $30 specialty price RR wine. We tried the crispy broccoli, empanadas, pork confit steak, arctic char, fried apple pie and lithuanian honey cake! So much delicious food! The empanadas were packed with a rotisserie style chicken, very delicious. The crispy broccoli had a batter that was so familiar but I couldn't put my finger on it, so we kept eating it to try and figure it out! The arctic char had the consistency of a salmon cooked to perfection. The spaetzle pasta and gold beet relish were a good pallet match but I was hoping for a little bit of something creamy with it. The pork confit steak was divine! It had so much flavor and reminded me of pork steak I get at my favorite taco places. The herbed crisp potatoes, I fought over with my date and we both enjoyed the eggplant caponata (which tasted like butternut squash puree). For desert we had the fried apple pie... OMG get this! This was delightful and would be a perfect pairing for HH! The lithuanian cake was ok. It was better when we spread the cream's ontop across the cake. I would have liked this to be a bit bigger slice and maybe add layers of filo in between for a crisp consistency and plate with an actual honey comb piece. Overall, we had a lovely and amazing date night at this restaurant! The atmosphere was very intimate and romantic, it wasn't loud, patrons were respectful of other patrons, the food was immaculate; just an over all great time! We can't wait to plan another date night at this restaurant! read more

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This is a small cozy restaurant run by a single chef. The menu changes seasonally and ingredients are sourced locally. It was $55 each for a 4-course meal. My date and I picked different items from each course menu and shared to get a taste of everything. The persimmon salad: nothing special but the persimmon was delightfully sweet Ricotta Rice with Mushroom: the mushroom was super crispy and complimented the ricotta. Duck Confit: there was not much duck and the dish was mostly beans. it wasn't bad but really wasn't that great either. Shrimp: my date enjoyed the shrimp and mashed potatoes. again it wasn't bad. Dessert: it was good. more please! There's only one chef so be prepared to spend some time here. I don't know if I liked the current menu but the brunch menu looks delicious. I may want to drop by next time for brunch instead. read more

Maple Ave Restaurant - persimmon salad, trout, ricotta, shrimp duck confit, chocolate mousse - Modern European Near Me - Vienna, Virginia

Came here to celebrate a birthday. The food was delicious however the restaurant was very tight and the heat was on so high I thought we would pass out. It has been very cold so perhaps that is why but to be that crowded and that hot took away from the deliciousness of the meal read more

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Just had brunch here this past Sunday with a girlfriend and it was an OK dining experience. I had high expectations because of the reviews but was a bit disappointed in all of the dishes that we tried. The 2 for $38 brunch tasting menu is definitely a great deal in terms of price. 6 courses to share, and my friend and I were decently full by the end. However, if you were to come with someone who has a bigger appetite you would probably need to order another appetizer to share. Our 6 course menu started off with a Breakfast Parfait (3/5 very interesting mix of flavors, overall taste wasn't bad, but the ginger was too overpowering). Truffled Egg Scramble with Smoked Bacon (5/5 the best thing I ate on the tasting menu). Empanadas (4/5 tasty but nothing special to note). House Spreads (4/5 a lot of different spreads to try but this seemed out of place in the order our food came out). Hash (2/5 the potatoes were a dry and there were only 2 pieces of pork belly that came out with the dish). Lastly, the Fried Apple Pie (4/5 delicious- I mean it's deep fried... but damn was it hard to eat). Also wanted to note that the restaurant is extremely limited in seating. I want to say the whole restaurant (which is just the front part of the building) seats about 20 people? I would NOT recommend parties larger than 4 coming to dine here or bringing a child/stroller. The à la carte brunch items looked more appetizing/large portions from what I saw. If I were to come back I would definitely choose that over the tasting menu. read more

My friend and I both had Maple Ave Restaurant bookmarked for a while, so when we ended up in Vienna one late morning/early afternoon, stopping by for brunch was a no-brainer. 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. Since my friend is vegetarian and I'm not, we were a little nervous at first since the dishes were to be served family-style and we wanted to make sure she would still have enough options to make it worth it. But we had nothing to worry about; the folks at Maple Avenue took such good care of us. For items that had both a meat and veggie component (like the truffled eggs with bacon or the house spreads), they did an awesome job of serving the vegetarian part family-style and the meat component separately just for me. Likewise, for the courses that featured a non-vegetarian dish, they made sure my friend had an alternative dish to eat instead. Huge props to them for accommodating us so seamlessly! 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

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Good, but very pricey. The server really pushed the cocktails - HARD. It was annoying. One of us ordered salmon, but doesn't like snow peas. Asked if he could have something else. The answer was an emphatic NO. Told the manager on the way out, and he said he'd talk to the server. It's very lovely inside, nice ambiance, and all in all, pretty good. read more

Great little spot in Vienna. Went here for a friends 60th birthday. She rented out the entire restaurant. It's kind of small. The menu was delicious and creative. Definitely recommend. read more

Wonderful experience at Maple Ave. Restaurant. Food and service were incredible- hard to believe that two people cook and manage the entire venue. Clear how hard they work. Not sure why previous reviewers complained about the ambiance- it's a small, no-frills restaurant clearly dedicated to the food. The setting adds to the charm. read more

Visited Maple Ave Restaurant for Restaurant Week and I am happy to report that the rumors are true. This was more than a meal, it was a dining experience without unnecessary snobbery. I had the fried green tomatoes, pork confit steak, and honey layer cake. My mom got the empanadas, seared barramundi, and strawberry shortcake. (& of course, we shared each course :-). From the staff to the presentation to the taste, it was all good, more than good. This is definitely an experience I want to have again. Thankfully I was excited to discover they have a restaurant week like special they apply to dinner on Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesdays. Now I just need to determine when and with whom to enjoy another Maple Ave Restaurant experience! Definitely worth a visit. I recommend making a reservation -- this is a small space with limited seating. read more

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Was able to sneak in a 10:15 brunch reservation for restaurant week so we had to try it. We got in almost 15 minutes late but they were very accommodating to us and took us in. For restaurant week, they offered a six course menu for brunch with the optional add on of Almond Ricotta Pancakes ($5 per person) which of course we did. We started with the parfait with granola and currant jam which was the perfect sweet starter. Then we got the bacon and truffles egg. The egg looked pretty plain but got surprised by the truffle flavor and we loved it. The bacon was pretty standard didn't hate or love it. The pancakes were fluffy and nutty with the sliced almonds and perfectly sweet with the small tin of maple syrup. Worth the extra price. The fried green tomatoes were perfectly fried and loved them with the pimento cheese. Super flavorful. The house spread plate was nice but seemed to come with a lot of stuff (Pate I think, pickles, ricotta, duck confit, jam, etc) and not enough crostini's. We maybe should've paid extra for more? It was ok. The main event was the pork hash which really gave got us full. Nice crispy potatoes, Gouda cheese, pork belly and some sauce (I don't know what it is). The doughnuts were a perfect sweet finish to the meal. The service and rw deal for brunch really made this a great meal. read more

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Such a hidden gem. The food is so tasty. I do admit that the decor can use some help. But it's one of those places where I hope people don't find out about it so that I can keep on coming back. But the staff and owners are so nice that I also want them to succeed. read more

The food was fine but nothing really outstanding. The salad was standard and the appetizer bread was a bit too hard for my liking. I thought the pork was tender but I didn't particularly enjoy the flavor. The potatoes were crispy and good though. The dessert of ice cream didn't seem homemade and overall the food would not entice me to return. read more

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This is an amazing restaurant and establishment. The reviews are completely true! I had passed this restaurant multiple times and I kept seeing this quaint little sign and I made it a goal to try it... I am so glad that I did! From my pre-reservation experience, emailing the contact number to be responded to by the chef/owner regarding my dietary restrictions, to the quality of service nothing disappointed at all. I would compare the quality of this restaurant to a Nobu on a smaller personal scale. A much smaller place than I had imagined, but it really does contribute to that Cozy restaurant feeling, the music is nice and relaxing, and the plates are prepared from scratch! Regardless of the size, there were customers arriving constantly. It was the perfect spot to converse, eat, and enjoy an evening. The flavors created by the Chef are married perfectly with the entrees and it is clear time, skill, and dedication to fine cuisine exists here. I ordered the appetizer that had grilled pork belly and octopus. The pork belly was cooked better than I have ever had it, with just the right amount of fatty to tender. The octopus was not chewy and the salad dressing was out of this world. Portions are incredibly adequate for the price and for an appetizer portion. The main entrée I had were the Mussles. The broth itself was coconut and lemon grass with an awesome homage to Thai cuisine and large portion that left me feeling incredibly satisfied. They were able to accommodate my dietary restrictions by not including crostini and by removing potatoes and otherwise ensuring there was no sugar in my dressings. The server was pleasant and smiling and always attentive. They do you have a current special running a three-course appetizer main dessert for around $36 and I believe they will have some specials on Presidents' Day. Overall, I could not be more pleased with this experience and I would highly recommend Maple Avenue for your next dining experience whether it be romantic, a catch-up date with a girlfriend, or just a foodie treat yourself moment. Maple Avenue does not disappoint!! My compliments to the chef!! read more

Maple Ave Restaurant - Charred Pork Belly (VA) and Octopus salad with soy egg! Awesome preparation!! Very impressed - Modern European Near Me - Vienna, Virginia

Great brunch location with a full vegan menu. And appreciate the service offering patrons to select from both vegan and nonvegan menus for prix fixe. Definitely recommend reservations as it's an intimate setting of about 10-12 tables. Presentation was beautiful -- great French press coffee. We enjoyed the summer salad, fried green tomatoes, buckwheat crepe and mushroom risotto. All so flavorful and beautifully presented. read more

My husband and I came back here after we really enjoyed the first time we ever came here, made me think why we didn't come back sooner. We made reservations for our date night. We arrived a little early, theres parking on the right in the back of the restaurant, but very few spaces so definitely make sure you come earlier to secure a spot. The inside is tiny and has less than 10 tables, there's low lighting which makes perfect for an intimate setting. The server greeted us promptly and was able to seat us, even though we came 30min earlier than our reservation time. For drinks, my husband got some kind of a jam cider which was tasty. I absolutely loved my honey ginger bubbly drink, next time I decided ill order a second one lol We did a 4 course. We both got the same things(I guess my husband and I are more similar than I thought lol). We started with the pistachio salad, then had the mushrooms risotto, braised short rib, and for dessert we agreed to get the two different ones and let eachother try the others. Everything was spectacular. Mushroom risotto was one of the best risottos I've ever had my entire life, the mushrooms were crisp. The short rib was soooo tender it literally just melted in my mouth. The desserts were really good too. Service was excellent. I can't wait to go back!! read more

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Maple Ave Restaurant is a teensy tiny eatery in Vienna that could be easily driven by. The unassuming facade and slightly cramped interior dining room do not correlate with the meal price. I love brunch, but spending $14 for an omelette or pancakes is just nuts to me. There would have to be some really creative modification. Or the promise of a huge portion. As a single diner, their $38 multi-course menu for two was not an option but looked like the better deal by far from seeing what my friends got. I chose what I guesstimated would be the best value for me: their $16 panko chicken sandwich. Now, the sandwich was good. But was it $16-good? Nope. The breading could've been fried more, and they could've added bacon to give it a little crunch. I certainly wasn't adding it on. A side runs $4 and I'm not ever spending $20 on a chicken sandwich. I also wasn't the biggest fan of the fries. Their menu doesn't mention that they're immersed in rosemary, and I would've liked the option to just have regular salted fries. I left most of them behind. At $16 for the meal, I opted out of getting a drink beyond water. I didn't see coffee on the menu, but I assume the price was also inflated. I understand that it's a small, locally owned business. I don't mean to be hating on it. I just can't get behind their pricing. Plus, being added as the 5th person at a 4-top despite a reservation made for five meant no leg room and feeling people walk past to the bathroom/deliver food to other tables. It just wasn't comfortable. I don't think I could be convinced to return, but if overpriced meals are your thing, you'll love it here. read more

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I really wanted to like this place. I didn't hate it and there is nothing to draw me back. The place is tiny... 10 small tables with not a lot of room between them. The front door opens to the world so more often than not you get a blast of whatever is outside whenever anyone opens it. The adjacent parking lot is also small and likely to fill before the tables inside do. The space is clean but bare. There are not decorations to speak of. The large front window overlooks busy Rt 123 and the other side that is a strip mall with a surprising number of really good fast food places. When we went, and I guess it's been this way for a while, they served a $55 fixed price menu with two options for each of the four courses. The food was good, not great, and seemed a bit under-flavored. The quantities were fine and we certainly didn't leave hungry. However for the price and concessions regarding the ambience I would have expected better tasting food. The mixed drink and wine selection was somewhat limited and the bottle of Cab we ordered was reasonably priced and very drinkable. The high point was the service. Our waiter, Ricardo, was responsible for all the tables in the place and we still didn't go wanting on that score. I get that we're still not over Covid and there are sacrifices and compromises to be made everywhere. However it's important that you understand what those might be should you choose to go here. read more

The "restaurant" was tiny and cute. Our server knew nothing. For every question we asked, she had to go back to kitchen and ask, so we ended up not asking questions. I really liked the almond pancake. House spread was good too. Couldn't try the brunch tasting with my vegetarian friend cuz there was not many veg options. read more

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Delicious, unpretentious! Love that the food is the focus! Not a place for a proposal but if you are looking for a great tasty meal without all the fluff then this is the place read more

Wonderfully thought out, prepared and presented. Fine dining in a casual, intimate atmosphere. Service was excellent too thanks to Ricardo! We will certainly be back! read more

Came for brunch on a Saturday, and were pleasantly surprised we did not have to wait. Service was great, our server was warm and friendly. Though the prix fixe was a great deal for 2 people, we did not like most things on the menu, we ended up ordering a la carte dishes. We had the truffle eggs and the almond ricotta pancakes. Entrees came out efficiently, and portions abundant. You could smell the truffle in the eggs as they were being set down on the table. One comment on the eggs - could have used some salt. You can taste the truffle, but other than that it was bland. Can't use ketchup, it will just cover up the truffle. The almond ricotta pancakes were fluffy and moist, with a slightly crunchy outer rim. We need to come back for dinner - some of the menu items certainly peaked our interest to try! read more

Maple Ave Restaurant - Truffled Eggs - Modern European Near Me - Vienna, Virginia

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Just to get this out of the way because this needs to be said. They did not have a Shirley temple. As I've mentioned before, the Shirley temple is a must if you're going to take yourself seriously as a restaurant. I was worried that I'd have nothing to review but this restaurant saved itself with two words: Donut hole. 5/5 read more

FAVORITE PLACE IN VIENNA Vienna is filled with some amazing restaurants and casual eats (Clarity, pure pasty, just to mention a few favs) but maple avenue still holds a dear place in my heart. Located in a small restaurant with limited seating, its undoubtedly a different atmosphere from your typical multi-dollar-sign venue. It may feel a little cozy, but you'll get to know the waiting staff quite well and will always be in super close proximity to the chef (behind doors). Plus you'll know that the money you spend is going towards quality food and meals rather than fancy interior decorations. The food is always amazing! I definitely recommend the year long staples (empanadas, grits, etc), and their variations on risotto will never let you down. Make sure to save room for dessert! I've tried all of their course deals / brunch menus as well, and if you're looking for something more American or comfort food, definitely stop by for their tasting brunch menu! read more

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Very cute restaurant! As other reviewers have mentioned, it is quite small, however my husband and I were quite comfortable. We ordered the passion fruit sangria (special), pork confit steak, Arctic char fillet, and Yuzu Creme Brûlée. Both entrees were wonderfully plated. The spaetzle pasta that accompanied the Arctic char was quite good and complimented the dish. My husband thoroughly enjoyed the pork and the sweet potato purée pairing. The Yuzu Creme Brûlée was just okay in my book. I'm a Creme Brûlée fanatic and the one here lost points as it was not freshly torched. The jellies citrus pieces also didn't do much for me. I can understand why people rave about Maple Ave! The entrees are a culinary experience everyone should try. read more

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6 courses of pure flavor at this farm to table restaurant in Vienna! A breakfast parfait with Greek yogurt, black currant jam, and coconut ginger granola. A truffled egg that truly tasted like truffle , applewood smoked bacon, and an almond ricotta pancake. A chicken empanada with paprika sauce. The house spread which included pork rillettes, herb ricotta, liver mousse, and black currant jam with crostinis. Pork belly hash and Lithuanian honey cake to seal the deal! I will definitely go back! This restaurant is quite small with a room to fit maybe 20 people. Would not recommend a group outing here unless you rent out the restaurant. They have a private lot but it's very small and tight. This restaurant is located right off of a Main Street and there is one entrance in and out. read more

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Edit: following the comments of the business owner I would like to add some things. 1. The appetite of someone in their 50s or later is naturally going to be less than that of someone that's below 40. Everyone there was older than us. 2. As one of four courses really all four were tiny. I'm sure anyone of sound mind and body can say that a single empanada as one of the courses and two ice cream balls that are 1 inch or less in diameter with a pastry 1 inch or less in diameter would not be to the average person. 3. The name of your restaurant does not reflect anything about your passions in your food that you're making. 4. When I can compare all of your food to places that are much cheaper and don't need a reservation I'm definitely making some legitimate points there. A. The ice cream from your ice cream balls was not of a better quality than Häagen-Dazs across the street. I can get 3 scoops for under $10. B. I can definitely appreciate that you value your childhood street Food. However, you just give one empanada and splash some sauce on the side that does not make it fancy or filling. Empanadas de Mendoza which is about a seven minute drive from your place makes b etter vegetarian empanadas. And I can get two for under $10. Street food is not fancy if you're charging a $59 price tag for a meal and it's based on street food, that food should be elevated for a high price restaurant. Street food should be for the food trucks or fast food places and the snack food you love won't necessarily appeal to the pallet of a paying customer expecting a gourmet meal for a gourmet price. C. The lamb with pasta dish was not very good and a place like tasty kebab in Boro gives you lamb rice and salad with at least 5X quantity of food for $13 and better taste. 5. As I said, the waiter was not very attentive. I did not feel compelled to make a scene and ask for the manager, or go back to the kitchen to complain. If you don't directly open up that line of communication with the customer or make them feel like they are welcome to say good, bad, or ugly. If you want to get a hold of me to make it right? I'm happy to do that. 6. I would suggest you follow the model of Patsy's American nearby. They hate even a four star review. They will do what it takes to make things right with the customer. 7. This meal was the most expensive meal for two my wife and I have ever paid for. I frankly have eaten better with her for $70 less in the Tysons Ritz Carlton restaurant with a much better ambience and better service. You guys should frankly give at least ree more courses or increase your portion sizes. If I spend that much on a meal, I really expect to be swept off my feet and neither me or my wife felt that way. The food should be so good that it distracts us from the ugly surroundings of the street right in front. 8. I mean this as respectful as possible, and I'm not out to target your business for some grudge but I do feel robbed for what we paid. The food cost me and my wife, each a day of pay from our job. I don't care what category of restaurants it is whether it's a corporation or mom and pop. When you charge the prices that you charge, your business should be prepared to handle upset customers. I am upset with the food, service, ambience, and price. 9. If you want to ensure that a customer doesn't report their experience on their social media platforms, etc. you should give your customers a card with maybe a website and a QR code where they can see if they had a bad experience or good one and if they had a bad experience, you could promise them to respond within 24 to 48 hours before they leave a bad review. If you feel your business is as great as you think, make customer satisfaction a guarantee. 10. I stayed within the factual as possible in my review. I gave you plenty of things that you can fix. I don't think in my entire 37 years of life I have been given so many things a restaurant has done wrong that they can fix but especially the location/ambience It screams "leave!" the moment you see it. I am just but one reviewer. I'm sure if you ask 100 people what they think of the location there would be a common consensus right there. I do hope you can grow from this review. 11. Invite Gordon Ramsay to your restaurant. I'm sure you'll see that he will agree with me. Show him my review too if you do get a hold of him. Have a good day. I hope you grow from this. read more

I've been longing to try Maple Ave Restaurant for ages, and finally had the opportunity to do so, to celebrate my husband's birthday! I knew that this was a small place, but I didn't actually know just HOW small it was until I finally went -- it is TINY. But so, so cute, and the tables are arranged in a way that it doesn't feel claustrophobic. They definitely make the best of a tiny situation! The menu is limited but everything we tried was delicious. I started with the passion fruit sangria which was perfectly balanced and not too sweet -- I ended up getting a second glass! We also got the creme fraiche wings and some fries to start off with -- not what I was expecting to order at this place which mainly seems to focus on New French cuisine, but both were very tasty. The combination of chili sauce, oyster sauce, and creme fraiche on the wings was pretty unique! For my entree, my husband got the arctic char, whic was served on top of this awesome garlicky herby spaetzle, and I got the mussels. I felt the mussels were a little bit lacking in flavor -- the sauce tasted a lot like tomato soup tbh, but the bread it was served with was really good. My husband definitely made the best ordering choice. The very best part of our meal, however, was dessert! We got the brownie bread pudding and it was LEGIT. Super rich chocolate-soaked baguette pieces served warm with melty ice cream on top, and they even brought it out with a candle to celebrate the birthday boy, hehe. I wish we'd gotten two desserts, honestly, because the fried apple pie also sounded aaaahmazing. Ah well, next time! I found the pricing here to be very reasonable, too, which was a pleasant surprise. For drinks, apps, dinner, and dessert, we spent less than $100!! I will happily return to try more of their menu, and definitely would consider coming during the week when they run special deals. read more

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Maple Ave Restaurant has been receiving accolades for years and it's easy to see why, this place is serving up some seriously good food in a no-frills environment. I recently met my friends up here for Sunday brunch and after looking over the menu about a thousand times I finally decided on the pork belly over a black bean puree, rice, and a sunny side egg. Everything about it was absolutely perfect from the crispy on the outside, soft on the inside salty pork, to the crispy, yolky egg, to the fluffy white rice to soak every bite up. It was comfort food at it's best. My friends' truffled eggs looked (and smelled) pretty amazing as well and I'm not even a scrambled eggs type of gal. They gave me a taste of their skillet potatoes and it was so good that we immediately decided to order a second round for the entire table to share. It was so crispy and salty and herby all at the same time. For brunch you can do cocktails a la carte or order an unlimited package for a pretty great deal. I have one more month till I can drink alcohol again (woohoo!) but I perused the menu and was excited to see all of the interesting concoctions using ingredients like elderberry, currant and other delicious fall sounding things. And dessert....you may think you're full but just get it! We split the fried apple pie and pumpkin pie mousse and did not regret any single calorie. This may not be the sexiest place in the world to grab brunch but for high quality and delicious options, this place can't be beat! read more

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Truly enjoyed my dining experience here. The food was exceptional and the service spot on. I'll definitely be back to do the 4 course tasting menu again read more

This was such a disappointing dining experience. We want to this restaurant on Mothers Day and had to stop at a nearby Greek restaurant on the way home for food. The menu choices on the price fixe menu (the only menu available) were much too limited. The appetizer consisted of a root cake, an egg square thing, and a tiny empanada. Only the empanada tasted good. For the main course, I ordered the pancake and received one sad little pancake that had a teeny dollop of crème fraiche and jam in the center. Oh, it had a bunch of fried potatoes and one strip of mushy bacon. For dessert, I received 1/4 of a macaroon (seriously), some sort of purple mousse, and a dried out little pastry with a drop of chocolate in the middle. One member of our party had ordered the eggs as his entree and, although he loves truffle, the voluminous amount of truffle oil used by the chef made the eggs entirely inedible. The server was also not great, but that's another story for another day. Finally, the kicker to this awful meal came when the bill had preprinted amounts for 20%, 30%, and 40% on the POST-tax amount! Insane. I've traveled the world and eaten at places of various calibers, but today's experience is easily one of the worst. read more

The first time I've been here it was amazing! I went for weekend brunch with a friend and we did the prix fixe and loved everything! However, I've been here several times since then (i.e. valentine's day, mother's day, restaurant week, birthday brunch, etc.), always for weekend brunch...and the menu has not changed. It's a small restaurant with a small menu and although still delicious, the novelty fades a bit. I would not say this is a place I would frequent because after eating the empanadas, truffled eggs, pork belly, etc. so many times you get bored! Still, when I take first time visitors they are always delighted so I will continue to return. read more

Food: Yummy! I visited during restaurant week and tried the vegetarian version of the menu. Everything was super delicious and sampler portion sizes were just right for someone who has a small palate like me. I don't know which dish to praise more. The fried broccoli (not on the menu; made in place of the empenadas) were delicious They even had coffee from café amoure, which was a pleasant surprise. Decor: The interior is small but cute. Service: Can't complain. Staff was friendly and the food came in a reasonable amount of time. read more

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Maple Ave is a shining example of how good things do indeed come in small packages. The tiniest of packages. I was surprised and almost concern upon walking in here, as it's likely the most miniature of spaces I've dined in. With little to no decor and really no ambiance to speak of, Maple Ave feels like a restaurant that has just opened or is on its way out, barely hanging on by a thread. But yet, it is actually neither of those things. Maple Ave has been open for eight years and shows no signs of potential departure. Perhaps its size is part of its appeal--there are maybe six or seven tables in the entire space, which means that reservations are necessary and securing a table could pose a challenge. And with such a manageable space, Maple Ave can afford (quite literally) to keep its team small--there was one server tending to all of the tables when we went, and only two people working in the kitchen. And now that you're painfully aware of the potential limitations of this place, you'll be happy to know that they are not limitations at all--that the service is solid, that the menu is varied and still focused, that the execution of said menu is superb, that the ingredients used are local, seasonal and chosen with care. Came here with the bf and his family at 7pm on a Sunday night. The main dining room almost feels like an entryway here--like the kitchen is where all of the splendor is kept (I guess that's not untrue). This place is as bare bones as it gets (not really in a modern way, more in an oblivious neglect way) which was off-putting at first, but thankfully the service and food are anything but cold and unwelcoming. Drinks are always in order, so let's get to that first. My boyfriend and I split a pitcher of the Mojito Sangria, which was easily the most interesting drink on the menu. Despite including both white wine and rum, it wasn't that strong. They say a pitcher is four glasses, but it's four glasses with a *lot* of ice, so don't be too intimidated. It was, though, tasty. Very refreshing on a hot summer night. On the website, Maple Ave defines itself as "eclectic", which is an accurate descriptor. Though the menu is fairly small, there's a lot going on there. It seems a bit confused and incoherent but each dish taken on its own is thoughtful, creative and delicious. Our eats, below: House Spreads/ chicken liver mousse, bacon jam, herb ricotta, currant jam, crostinis: A This is a magical starter that every party should consider when dining here. Every spread was delicious. A ton of variety, all of it done so, so well. In addition to what's listed here, they also include pork rillette and an eggplant dip, both of which are fantastic as well. Not one weak link of the bunch. Be sure to ask for more crostinis! Charred Octopus and Pork Belly w/ soy brined egg, fingerlings, creamy wuster vinaigrette: B+ I'm still not totally sold on pairing octopus and pork belly together. Though saying that implies that I've given it ample thought in the past, which I have not. I find it strange but not impossible to warm up to. Both the octopus and pork belly were cooked well and seasoned nicely. The salad and egg were uninspired, there simply to "round out the dish" or "add color" or something. Overall, the main components were yummy but the rest was unnecessary. Barramundi w/ chickpea puree, wilted kale, tomato sauce: A- Bold, powerful flavors here. While all accompaniments for tasty, my one complaint is that it felt a bit heavy-handed for a white fish preparation. The puree was delicious, the corn, kale and rest went together beautifully, but it overpowered the fish. That said, the fish itself was yummy--just takes some work to taste it on its own. Melt-in-your mouth good in the way it should be. Pork Confit Steak w/ snow peas, brown butter sweet potato, eggplant caponata, parsley chimichurri: A A very similar type of preparation to the barramundi, but in this case, the protein held up. First off, the pork was unbelievable. So rich, so juicy, so flavorful, so wow. Loved it. The sweet potato was decadent and the eggplant somehow worked despite it initially seeming discordant with the overall flavor profile. There was just an incredible amount of flavor going on here and all of it managed to work. After writing this review, I'm aware that much of what comes out of the kitchen here is not so refined. There's a lot going on and Too Much of a Good Thing is, well, a real thing. Four stars seems appropriate because honestly, everything we had was yummy, fresh and interesting. Proteins were well-executed and we tried many, many different kinds. My only suggestion would be to refine each dish a bit more--take stock of what components are necessary and what's superfluous. It's enticing to add everything you think might work, but sometimes less is more. I'm using a lot of silly cliches here, sorry bout it. Overall, an intriguing, fun, colorful experience. read more

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This is a cute little restaurant. It's sorta like a diamond in the rough. The outside I think should be little more updated. You really have to be on the lookout for this place, it's really easy to miss. The inside is very quaint, nice lil ambience. It's only about 8 tables seating 2 or 4. The menu is very small but I think it has enough of items that people would be happy with. Very unique all around. The waiter was very nice and seemed very cheerful. He was the only one there. They had a set 3 course meal for $35 which was great. I had the empanadas as the appetizer (it centre with 2, presentation was nice), green gnocchi as my main dish, it was just ok; nothing to write home about. It was on the side side and I would have preferred to see the gnocchi a lil more form. Lithuanian honelayer cake for dessert, it wasn't terrible but I wouldn't get it again. Overall the place is nice, try it atleast once only because it's different. read more

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Hadn't been here in years - after seeing it on NoVa Mag top 10, I thought we needed to revisit. As you would expect from driving by, the parking is tough, and the inside is tiny (maybe ten, 2 top tables). Being so small the tables are very close, hopefully you won't have loud neighbors like we did. Despite it being slightly cramped and the decor needing a refresh, there is a pleasant, homey ambiance. There was one server for the restaurant who was attentive and friendly. I was pleased to see several non alcoholic drink options on the menu - more and more high end restaurants are doing this and I love it. The menu is seasonal, and tight. I think I read somewhere that the intention was to only have 2-3 options per course so everyone at the table could order something different and all dishes could be tried - mission accomplished. I started with the pistachio cream salad. It was a miss for me - just a very basic spring greens salad with an occasional pistachio and punch of orange zest. My wife however ordered the roasted vegetable cake - which was outstanding. I never would have ordered this dish, but after tasting it I felt like this is the type of food you'd find at a Michelin restaurant - great respect for the ingredients, just letting them shine through superb technique. Second my wife had fried squash nuggets. She didn't care for it, but I found it to be playful and enjoyed the flavor combinations with the caraway in the sauce. I had the mushroom risotto which was by far the winner of the evening. No points for technique as the rice was broken and unevenly cooked but the flavors were phenomenal - I could eat this dish at any meal multiple times a week and not get sick of it. Third my wife had mussels in a citrus and fennel broth which was fresh and lovely - the mussels were large and plump. I opted for the short rib. While the whole dish came together well, the quality of the meat wasn't what I would've hoped for (or perhaps it was old, I couldn't tell). The beef notwithstanding, the bed of grits, with pickled beets and fried onions on top provided a fantastic contrast of flavors and textures and I really enjoyed it. Fourth my wife ordered the honey cake, which was a bit dry and felt like a very basic fall dessert. I ordered the birds milk however and we both loved it - creamy, earthy, sweet, savory all at once. After dinner we were sufficiently full so I don't agree with all the complaints around portion sizes, especially given the price $55 per person). Were prices higher I'd probably agree that more food should be offered, but I found it all to be appropriate. While a couple of the dishes weren't great, we did have a few fantastic ones. I'd definitely recommend Maple Ave Restaurant for a casual date night in Vienna - we'll be back! read more

Maple Ave is the first place that comes to mind when I'm looking for good 'local' brunch in the Tysons area. Reasonably priced for high quality and super tasty food. with superb service. It is hard for me to stray away from the Shrimp & Grits -- crisp, perfectly-cooked shrimp with fresh grits and an awesome sauce. The grits did dissolve a little bit in the sauce, but not too noticeably. And the cute little okra slices that look like flowers! And bits of venison sausage! Definite favorite. When I have torn myself away from this favored dish, I have found the Venison Omelette and PBLT (pork belly!) to be solid dishes. I'm not a fan of the Truffled Eggs, as the truffle oil tastes... over-truffle-y. I also think that truffle oil is a 'cheat' ingredient that doesn't belong in restaurant food. But hey, to each their own! My friends liked it, so if you are partial to it then go for it! Mesclun salad this last time was salty and overdressed. Homefries with onions are super tasty and definitely cooked in lard or something (greasy plate residue might be a hint), but I suggest you don't think about it and just walk it off later -- it's worth it! Small venue, so reservations are highly recommended. And as it is difficult to maneuver out of the parking lot, try parking across the street instead (which also allows you to walk off your homefries). read more

Maple Ave Restaurant - PBLT - Pork Belly Lettuce Tomato Lime Compote sandwich w/ egg - Modern European Near Me - Vienna, Virginia

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Maple Ave is located right next to a Mechants (FYI: don't park in their lot--they can and WILL have you towed immediately) in very small, very unassuming building with a teeny tiny dinning room that looks out onto rt 123 in the cute little town of Vienna. I have had this restaurant bookmarked for quite some time, so I'm very glad we finally got to try it! I would highly, highly recommend making a reservation to secure one of their ten or so tables, there isn't a whole lot of space to wait on a table (read: it takes a baby step to get from the front door to the host stand and another to the first table), so I can't imagine showing up without one. The menu is also on the smaller side, which I like, but everything sounded amazing, so it was still hard deciding what to order! Our server, who could have been Kristen Wiig's sister btw, was really helpful and quite amusing. At one point, she even busted into the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air's theme song! lol She actually ended up helping us pick our meals and was just all around a really awesome part of our experience! We ended up splitting mussels and baked mac and cheese with our dinner companions as an appetizer, and I thought both were phenomenal. The broth that the mussels were cooked in was fantastic! I actually wish the dish had come with more toast points to soak it up. Then the mac and cheese was rich and creamy, with the hint of blue cheese really making the dish pop. I ordered the duck confit as my main and may possibly never taste anything else on subsequent visits because it was sooooooooooooo good. Seriously. Picture this: perfect crispy skin, with the most moist and succulent, fall off the bone, juicy duck meat over top of the most amazing, perfectly charred and seasoned Brussels sprouts I have ever had. That's one hell of a run-on sentence right? Well it was one hell of a meal! It seriously may be the best thing I have ever put in my mouth. My dinning companions were also very happy with their meals, and thankfully no one objected to giving me a bite of their food for a taste of mine. My girlfriend's risotto with scallops and basil ice cream was interesting. When ordering, our server explained that the ice cream melts into the dish and makes this divine sauce, which I agree with her description, and found it very flavorful, but made for a kind of luke-warm risotto. However, my husband's mushroom risotto was fantastic and our other friend's chicken curry was very good as well. For dessert, our table split the bread pudding. To me, it was just OK. I'm not a huge bread pudding fan, so it takes a lot to really wow me, but the rest of the table seemed to really enjoy it. Overall it was a delicious meal and I am already scheming coming here for brunch asap since their brunch menu looks awesome too! Update: Their brunch menu is also fantastic and service was just as friendly on my second trip as it was on my first. This is a really great restaurant! read more

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4.5 stars. Great food, caring service (the waiter asked right off the bat if there were any special dietary needs or food allergies), and all in all a great and creative little establishment. Best shrimp and grits I've ever had. seriously. The unique blend of okra, venison blueberry sausage, spices, and plump tiger shrimp were perfectly coupled with smooth, creamy, and flavorful grits that really set the tone for a fantastic dinner. The steamed mussels were also brilliantly served in a thai-inspired coconut sauce with what I initially thought was bacon, but found to be Chinese sausage! What a pleasant and not to mention, delicious, surprise! The bone marrow plate was a tad bit over salted, however had a nice buttery texture that melts in your mouth, coupled with a side of refreshing parsley pickle relish that helps to balance out the flavor. And to top it all off, the chocolate dumpling dessert was to die for. I felt like I had gone to chocolate heaven, while scooping generous portions of vanilla ice cream to eat with each bite of the crispy shells filled with a warm, gooey, and sweet chocolate ganache filling. In the best way possible, I felt like I was eating a disassembled fried ice cream dessert! Another thing I enjoyed about this place was that they have a handmade scrapbook with their sweets and drink items, as well as extra pages in the back where their visitors may write comments! Adorable. This place is culinary mastery at its finest. And hey, the sangrias are pretty good too! read more

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This was going to be our only night in the area, so we chose to eat dinner in the immediate vicinity. Hence, we picked Maple Ave Restaurant. Reservations are recommended, but due to the eatery's svelte size, hard to attain. Worry not, there is another section in the restaurant's rear for which reservations are not required. The ambience at Maple Ave is rustic with a capital "R". Our server was super nice. I haven't been here in the Mid-Atlantic but for a few hours, yet I can say the vibe is different here; people seem less edgy and stressed than in the PacNW. The guidance provided to us was that two small plates were equivalent to one large plate - and that a lot of people order small plates to enjoy as tapas - which is what we did. The best dish, by far, was the roasted bone marrow. Yes, though $14, and only a little bit of marrow, it was fantastic! Contributing to its deliciousness was the accompanying salsa, made from pickle, shallots, parsley, lemon juice and olive oil. Yum! Before we dined, JP had the sangria ($9) and I went with a traditional martini ($9) made with Burnett's gin. The sangria was tasty and loaded with fruit, but for our second round, JP switched to a martini after tasting mine. I would characterize the rest of our dishes as very pleasing in appearance, well-crafted, if you will. But to be honest, the seasonings and spices didn't completely click with me. The mussels (served with crostinis) were fresh and the broth was very good ($9). However, there was bits of sausage in the broth that were particularly pungent. The sorrel salad ($9) was fresh and we liked its toasted goat cheese balls. But the salad was seasoned with something that was a cross between cinnamon and cloves, and it didn't really work for me. The baked mac ($12) was hefty, and we loved its bread crumb crust. The macaroni was a long and straight variety, not your typical mac & cheese macaroni. Its cheese cream was rather slippery. The mac & cheese was seasoned with possibly either marjoram or thyme. Overall, it was OK. The crème fraiche wings ($9), made with chili paste and oyster sauce sounded very interesting. The drummette-style chicken pieces were blanketed in a creamy tomato-ey sauce that was decent and not too hot. This dish, like the mac & cheese was "OK". Overall we had a very decent experience. read more

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