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What an amazing date night! However, I also recommend it for a solo outing or a girls' night out. I did the pizza and cocktail-making class! I also appreciated that I was able to bring a jar of Alfredo sauce, as I'm allergic to anything and everything tomato-related. When you first arrive, a waiter offers you water and a menu. We didn't order anything since we were about to start the pizza and cocktail-making class. Our pizza host was funny and very thorough. The dough is already prepared for you, but you're guided through the stretching and assembling process. The topping options are endless! For the cocktail class, due to a Virginia law about patrons handling liquor bottles, the liquor is poured for you into a jigger. The cocktail instructors were funny and friendly as well. A bonus: if you're a non-drinker, they have mocktail recipes, too! I ordered dessert after eating the pizza I made (which was delicious, by the way). I went with the tiramisu. It was soaked in coffee, just a little too strong for my taste. All in all, this was a great experience with even better customer service. I really enjoyed myself! I'll most definitely recommend it and can't wait for my next cooking class.
The Commentary is an upscale, yet still casual hotel restaurant. It is located inside the Westin and there is parking on-site. I attended a comedy show there and the customer service was absolutely outstanding. The food was really good as well. This spot is definitely worth a check out if you are looking for a night out with friends.
I've had a few friends mention having a great date night at a fun pizza making class, which also had a cocktail making component. So, once I was able to confirm that they were ALL talking about the same venue, The Commentary - I knew it was going to have to be a 'must visit' for my husband and I. Everything about the hands on 'Artisan Pizza and Craft Cocktail' class was fun and engaging from start to finish. The chef that guided us through the various steps and techniques to create our version of the perfect pizza (and crust), was very upbeat and encouraging. There were loads of opportunities to ask questions, and when it came to choosing your pizza toppings we were all spoiled for choice. Whether you're vegetarian, pescatarian or an absolute omnivore - there were multiple toppings for everyone & enough to go around the entire group. I decided to lean into my creative side, and I made my pizza in the shape of a heart - which actually ended up looking and tasting great!! While the pizzas are baking, we went ahead and got started with the craft cocktail portion of the class, there were several cocktails to choose between... I went with the Paloma, and my hubby chose the Manhattan - both of which tasted divine. Overall 10/10 experience! Great for a date night, girls night, quality time with family and friends, a birthday celebration or solo night out.
This was an OK experience. We ordered some glass of a red blend and received a very nasty glass (besides water stains it had lipstick on it) and an bourbon cocktail (it tasted like a mocktail because it wasn't a hint of bourbon). We had fries, a pizza, broccolini and 3 sliders. The food was ok, nothing was what we would consider delicious but the broccolini tasted better than everything. The menu lacked options especially because online has an oxtail pizza but we didn't know they no longer served that because the website hasn't been updated (big disappointment for a 45 min drive in VA traffic heading towards DC). The wait time to order our food was too long, especially when we saw SEVERAL people walk in AFTER us and were served. Needless to say we were ready to leave. I don't have to return here, the atmosphere looked nice but it was a blah experience.
The Commentary is an upscale, yet still casual hotel restaurant. It is located inside the Westin and there is parking on-site. You can make a reservation; however my husband and I dined early on a Saturday evening and we were able to pick our table. The dining room is large with both traditional table and lounge seating options. The bar area also is nicely setup and has seating. They offer a good variety of cocktails, beer and wine. The food menu is also diverse enough to satisfy most patrons, to include vegetarian options. We each ordered a cocktail and enjoyed those with the baked brie appetizer. For our main dish we ordered the house burger and the steak. Both came out perfect and the timing of the food arrival was also great in my opinion. We plan to definitely comeback again sometime. Thanks!
Meh!! Mediocre fare in a Marriott property. Never a good thing when a kitchen feels the need to drench perfectly good fresh vegetables in cheap oil. Note to the responsible Chef: It's a BAD thing when your "poached" Salmon is super oily. Most of us order it for something healthy. (And don't get started I know salmon has fat, but this Salmon could have greased an axle.)
I had so much fun doing the pizza making class with India and cocktails later with Jose that I've done this twice. Not only will you learn some new tips and tricks, the pizza and drinks are really good. The timing of it all is perfect. By the time you are done making your drinks, pizza is served. I'm sure I'll be back again.
Wow!!!! The pizza and cocktail making class at The Commentary was super AWESOME! Upon arrival, my sister and I were greeted by the most friendliest staff who checked us in and helped us get ready for class. As the class started, we met the chef, who made the whole experience so fun. She had the best personality and gave us tips and tricks for getting our pizza dough perfect and being creative with our toppings. We laughed, joked and simply had the best time. Our pizza was delicious and the cocktails are on point. This experience is perfect for Girls Night Out, Date Night, etc. Here are a few tips: The hotel validates your parking for the class; you can enjoy your pizza and cocktail in the dining area or outside on the patio and if you're still in the mood for food, the restaurant has a great lunch/dinner menu that you can enjoy. Check out this class ! It's really fun!!
The Commentary has a somewhat corporate atmosphere, not uncommon for Arlington, VA. The lights are dimmed but not too much so, and the digs are "hip" in the way an uncool person might say. Service was very kind and reasonably expedient, but the food left something to be desired. The crab cake sandwich was well-cooked and quite tasty, as were the fries that accompanied it. I would have liked a touch more acidity on the crab cake sandwich, perhaps more lemon in the aioli and less raw onion. The seared ahi tuna dish was generally a bit unfortunate. The flavors were separated, and the sauce was almost flavorless though somehow still a bit intrusive. I found myself trying to dig past the other ingredients just to eat the ahi tuna, but even that was a bit disappointing. It might be best to stick to pizza and sandwiches with colleagues at The Commentary.
This review is only for the pizza and cocktail class. We were finally able to catch some tickets to this event on a Friday evening. This is a perfect class for a friend outing or date night. I definitely recommend. The pizza was delicious! You are able to make your own pizza with your desired toppings followed by a cocktail (I had an expresso martini). The pizza was a great portion and I had to take some home. The only negative experience I had was that the chef very much embarrassed me for coming in late. We had already called the restaurant to inform them we would be late due to traffic and we were told it was okay to still come in. We take accountability for the lateness but the rudeness when I quietly came to the table was unnecessary. I didn't let it get me down and still enjoyed the class. All of the other employees were very nice and accommodating. I would come back to try the rest of the menu which looks amazing!
This was such a fun class! Thank you so much for a wonderful experience. We celebrated some birthdays from the crowd. We had an energetic host and staff who wanted to make sure everyone had a great time. We made 4 cocktails in the class. I really enjoyed the first three. The last one was too sweet for me (think bath and body works pumpkin candle - legit! Smelled delicious!) you'll be able to meet and mingle with other attendees. The location is at the Westin Hotel in Ballston. You have parking garages available nearby. If you're driving, give yourself an extra 30 minutes - 1 hour post class to walk around and grab something to eat. You also have a metro. Light bites are provided with the drinks. I loved their fries. There were about 30ish people - friends, couples, and people attending this class solo. So mingle with your neighbors! I had such a great time I can't wait to do another class. Such a great vibe.
Staying at the Westin and popped down to The Commentary for happy hour (and to see Jose!!). If you're there, have Jose as your server. Such a great guy! :) I ordered the Margherita pizza (not pictured) which was bigger than I remembered. Then ordered scallop potatoes after a couple hours, which was a decent size and very delicious. I enjoyed a couple glasses of wine with my food, as I people watched and read my book. Jose (and all the other staff) took great care of me (along with the other number of patrons) and made sure I was a happy customer.
Such a beautiful place, wonderful experience! We went there for the cocktail making class. Jose was very engaging and each drink brought it's own flavor! We learned about the tequilas we drank, and a tasty starter matched to each drink, which the chef also described in detail. Our waitress Nishant was the best! My nephews came with us and chilled in the lounge area. After we took them food, she then went over and checked if they like their food! She was very helpful, and super attentive. Such a great time!
3 months ago
The food is excellent for happy hour and dinner. I loved my truffle mushroom pizza and the chopped salad was delicious. The bread they serve with the baked brie is a delicious sourdough and the drinks are great. The breakfast, on the other hand, is nothing exciting even though it's a Westin property and they focus on wellness. They had a couple of interesting, healthy beverages, and that was it. Francisco, who is one of the evening servers is fantastic and he's also a great bartender along with the other Indian bartender. Those guys are great. However, the morning team has a lot of room for improvement. They were friendly to me but completely disorganized amongst themselves. In fact, I didn't even bother with my second breakfast, which was free because what was the point between bad service and mediocre food. The place is spacious and they do lots of cooking classes which appear quite festive and enjoyable for groups. There's plenty of seating options that make it wonderful for everyone. read more
5 days ago
What an amazing date night! However, I also recommend it for a solo outing or a girls' night out. I did the pizza and cocktail-making class! I also appreciated that I was able to bring a jar of Alfredo sauce, as I'm allergic to anything and everything tomato-related. When you first arrive, a waiter offers you water and a menu. We didn't order anything since we were about to start the pizza and cocktail-making class. Our pizza host was funny and very thorough. The dough is already prepared for you, but you're guided through the stretching and assembling process. The topping options are endless! For the cocktail class, due to a Virginia law about patrons handling liquor bottles, the liquor is poured for you into a jigger. The cocktail instructors were funny and friendly as well. A bonus: if you're a non-drinker, they have mocktail recipes, too! I ordered dessert after eating the pizza I made (which was delicious, by the way). I went with the tiramisu. It was soaked in coffee, just a little too strong for my taste. All in all, this was a great experience with even better customer service. I really enjoyed myself! I'll most definitely recommend it and can't wait for my next cooking class. read more
6 months ago
The Commentary is an upscale, yet still casual hotel restaurant. It is located inside the Westin and there is parking on-site. I attended a comedy show there and the customer service was absolutely outstanding. The food was really good as well. This spot is definitely worth a check out if you are looking for a night out with friends. read more
I've had a few friends mention having a great date night at a fun pizza making class, which also had a cocktail making component. So, once I was able to confirm that they were ALL talking about the same venue, The Commentary - I knew it was going to have to be a 'must visit' for my husband and I. Everything about the hands on 'Artisan Pizza and Craft Cocktail' class was fun and engaging from start to finish. The chef that guided us through the various steps and techniques to create our version of the perfect pizza (and crust), was very upbeat and encouraging. There were loads of opportunities to ask questions, and when it came to choosing your pizza toppings we were all spoiled for choice. Whether you're vegetarian, pescatarian or an absolute omnivore - there were multiple toppings for everyone & enough to go around the entire group. I decided to lean into my creative side, and I made my pizza in the shape of a heart - which actually ended up looking and tasting great!! While the pizzas are baking, we went ahead and got started with the craft cocktail portion of the class, there were several cocktails to choose between... I went with the Paloma, and my hubby chose the Manhattan - both of which tasted divine. Overall 10/10 experience! Great for a date night, girls night, quality time with family and friends, a birthday celebration or solo night out. read more
This was an OK experience. We ordered some glass of a red blend and received a very nasty glass (besides water stains it had lipstick on it) and an bourbon cocktail (it tasted like a mocktail because it wasn't a hint of bourbon). We had fries, a pizza, broccolini and 3 sliders. The food was ok, nothing was what we would consider delicious but the broccolini tasted better than everything. The menu lacked options especially because online has an oxtail pizza but we didn't know they no longer served that because the website hasn't been updated (big disappointment for a 45 min drive in VA traffic heading towards DC). The wait time to order our food was too long, especially when we saw SEVERAL people walk in AFTER us and were served. Needless to say we were ready to leave. I don't have to return here, the atmosphere looked nice but it was a blah experience. read more
The Commentary is an upscale, yet still casual hotel restaurant. It is located inside the Westin and there is parking on-site. You can make a reservation; however my husband and I dined early on a Saturday evening and we were able to pick our table. The dining room is large with both traditional table and lounge seating options. The bar area also is nicely setup and has seating. They offer a good variety of cocktails, beer and wine. The food menu is also diverse enough to satisfy most patrons, to include vegetarian options. We each ordered a cocktail and enjoyed those with the baked brie appetizer. For our main dish we ordered the house burger and the steak. Both came out perfect and the timing of the food arrival was also great in my opinion. We plan to definitely comeback again sometime. Thanks! read more
Meh!! Mediocre fare in a Marriott property. Never a good thing when a kitchen feels the need to drench perfectly good fresh vegetables in cheap oil. Note to the responsible Chef: It's a BAD thing when your "poached" Salmon is super oily. Most of us order it for something healthy. (And don't get started I know salmon has fat, but this Salmon could have greased an axle.) read more
I had so much fun doing the pizza making class with India and cocktails later with Jose that I've done this twice. Not only will you learn some new tips and tricks, the pizza and drinks are really good. The timing of it all is perfect. By the time you are done making your drinks, pizza is served. I'm sure I'll be back again. read more
1 year ago
Wow!!!! The pizza and cocktail making class at The Commentary was super AWESOME! Upon arrival, my sister and I were greeted by the most friendliest staff who checked us in and helped us get ready for class. As the class started, we met the chef, who made the whole experience so fun. She had the best personality and gave us tips and tricks for getting our pizza dough perfect and being creative with our toppings. We laughed, joked and simply had the best time. Our pizza was delicious and the cocktails are on point. This experience is perfect for Girls Night Out, Date Night, etc. Here are a few tips: The hotel validates your parking for the class; you can enjoy your pizza and cocktail in the dining area or outside on the patio and if you're still in the mood for food, the restaurant has a great lunch/dinner menu that you can enjoy. Check out this class ! It's really fun!! read more
The Commentary has a somewhat corporate atmosphere, not uncommon for Arlington, VA. The lights are dimmed but not too much so, and the digs are "hip" in the way an uncool person might say. Service was very kind and reasonably expedient, but the food left something to be desired. The crab cake sandwich was well-cooked and quite tasty, as were the fries that accompanied it. I would have liked a touch more acidity on the crab cake sandwich, perhaps more lemon in the aioli and less raw onion. The seared ahi tuna dish was generally a bit unfortunate. The flavors were separated, and the sauce was almost flavorless though somehow still a bit intrusive. I found myself trying to dig past the other ingredients just to eat the ahi tuna, but even that was a bit disappointing. It might be best to stick to pizza and sandwiches with colleagues at The Commentary. read more
3 months ago
This review is only for the pizza and cocktail class. We were finally able to catch some tickets to this event on a Friday evening. This is a perfect class for a friend outing or date night. I definitely recommend. The pizza was delicious! You are able to make your own pizza with your desired toppings followed by a cocktail (I had an expresso martini). The pizza was a great portion and I had to take some home. The only negative experience I had was that the chef very much embarrassed me for coming in late. We had already called the restaurant to inform them we would be late due to traffic and we were told it was okay to still come in. We take accountability for the lateness but the rudeness when I quietly came to the table was unnecessary. I didn't let it get me down and still enjoyed the class. All of the other employees were very nice and accommodating. I would come back to try the rest of the menu which looks amazing! read more
7 months ago
This was such a fun class! Thank you so much for a wonderful experience. We celebrated some birthdays from the crowd. We had an energetic host and staff who wanted to make sure everyone had a great time. We made 4 cocktails in the class. I really enjoyed the first three. The last one was too sweet for me (think bath and body works pumpkin candle - legit! Smelled delicious!) you'll be able to meet and mingle with other attendees. The location is at the Westin Hotel in Ballston. You have parking garages available nearby. If you're driving, give yourself an extra 30 minutes - 1 hour post class to walk around and grab something to eat. You also have a metro. Light bites are provided with the drinks. I loved their fries. There were about 30ish people - friends, couples, and people attending this class solo. So mingle with your neighbors! I had such a great time I can't wait to do another class. Such a great vibe. read more
Staying at the Westin and popped down to The Commentary for happy hour (and to see Jose!!). If you're there, have Jose as your server. Such a great guy! :) I ordered the Margherita pizza (not pictured) which was bigger than I remembered. Then ordered scallop potatoes after a couple hours, which was a decent size and very delicious. I enjoyed a couple glasses of wine with my food, as I people watched and read my book. Jose (and all the other staff) took great care of me (along with the other number of patrons) and made sure I was a happy customer. read more
2 years ago
Such a beautiful place, wonderful experience! We went there for the cocktail making class. Jose was very engaging and each drink brought it's own flavor! We learned about the tequilas we drank, and a tasty starter matched to each drink, which the chef also described in detail. Our waitress Nishant was the best! My nephews came with us and chilled in the lounge area. After we took them food, she then went over and checked if they like their food! She was very helpful, and super attentive. Such a great time! read more
2 years ago
This is niceeeeee in my Tiffany Haddish voice!! Street and garage parking nearby.. entrance is on the side of the hotel with blue awnings. Cute swanky decor, great bartenders. We attended the pizza and cocktail making class. The environment was great the pizza instructor was funny and personable! The cocktail portion was ok they had rail liquor and the mixes were mediocre... however I'd definitely go back as it was a good time and the pizza soooo good very yummy. read more
1 year ago
Me, my cousins and my sisters visited the commentary for Galentines We went for the pizza and cocktails classes. The commentary itself is a decent restaurant. The atmosphere is inviting and cozy. I love the menu and the options though I did not try anything beyond the pizza I made. The servers and instructors were also super nice and energetic. I only gave 4 starts instead of 5 because the pizza and cocktails class is EXTREMELY basic! I kind of understand why - possibly to not complicate things and take too much time. I guess the person I am would have enjoyed making the dough and truly doing things from scratch. However, I totally understand the "quick and dirty" approach. I would return to give lunch or dinner a try.. read more
The Pizza and cocktail making experience was a fun overall experience and makes a great date idea or a solo fun one! It's a bit pricey but I think you get what you pay for with the friendly staff that's very involved and having fun with you through the process! read more
2 years ago
I happened to stumble to find The Commentary, since it was located in the Westin in Arlington, VA. I ordered the crab pizza and it was very tasty. The crust was perfectly baked and there was a lot of crab meat. The service was quick for lunch, but there were no other diners. Even the dining area is rather large, modern, and clean. Great ambiance. read more
1 year ago
1 year ago
Best thing to do in Arlington on a Friday night! We attended the Pizza and Cocktail event @ The Commentary. Located inside the Westin is The Commentary. Shout out to Rita, Jose P and Jose C for delivering superior service. My friend and I loved the entire experience. Rita guided our group of 8 on how to make pizzas - which turned out crazy good after being cooked. The variety of toppings was mind blowing. Our group was led by Jose P who taught us how to make a craft cocktail. The Paloma cocktail was exquisite! This event would be great activity for couples night out or for team building. Overall, a 10 out of a 10! Extremely fun. Price for the workshop is reasonable. Service was priceless! read more
I visited for a birthday celebration: pizza making and cocktail class. Lots of fun! After the food and drink prep that was perfectly timed--not too long, not too short, I was hungry! I'm no chef, but my pizza was fantastic. I give credit to the establishment's already prepared pizza dough. Is it possible to like brick oven pizza/wood fire pizza but don't like the black/charred dough bubbles? Well, that's me and The Commentary delivered! Golden crust and perfect! I'd go back for pizza; I don't have to make it, lol. Lively environment and the servers were nice... Especially the instructors. I loved the full experience. read more
The Commentary is as good as many other hotel bars. It's comfy and the service is generally A-OK. There aren't too many seats around the actual bar itself, but there is a lot of seating in the large space; sofas, tables, etc etc. They have a full bar with a number of their own cocktail suggestions as well. As a beer fan, I believe they only have 4 on tap, but a good mix for 4 taps. As far as hotel bars go, this gets the job done. read more
The Commentary is inside of the Westin. Parking is available in the garage and was validated at the lobby. I signed up for the pizza and cocktail making class and it was such a fun activity. The chef leading the pizza class is Italian and very fun and engaging. All of the ingredients were very fresh. After the pizza we moved onto the cocktail portion of the class and had a choice between gin, bourbon and tequila. We chose bourbon and the cocktail came out delicious! I would recommend this experience for friends, a date, family, it really can be catered to anyone. The entire staff was extremely helpful and attentive. You can book this on Eventbrite but make sure you do it ahead of time as it fills up pretty quickly. read more
1 year ago
1 year ago
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7 months ago
Came on a Monday night for happy hour. We stood by the host stand for a couple minutes but no one came to seat us, so we grabbed a couple menus and sat ourselves. A waiter came shortly after and gave us some different menus and some water. We were there for happy hour, but didn't see happy hour options on either of the two menus we had in front of us, so we asked our waiter for the happy hour menu. He didn't have an updated one to give us, so he gave us an old one, saying some options may no longer be available. From this menu, we ordered crab dip, deviled eggs, and some pizzas. Unfortunately, the deviled eggs were one of the outdated menu items, so we just went with the crab dip and pizzas. They had good happy hour prices for the items we ordered, but it took around 30-35 minutes for them to be brought to us, despite it seeming to not be very busy. While waiting for our food, we did enjoy the ambiance, and the booths in which we were seated were reasonably comfortable. Our waiter never came back to check on us, which is a shame because we both finished our water rather quickly. The food itself was very tasty, especially for the price, so no complaints there. We only wish the service had been better. read more
1 year ago
Last weekend I checked this place out with friends. It's inside a hotel. They had a cool cooking and cocktail class-- perfect for friends or a date. Everyone was so friendly including the other participants. It was a cool thing that was different to do. I picked up a few new tips! read more
2 years ago
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More info about The Commentary
801 N Glebe Rd
The Westin Arlington Gateway
Arlington, VA 22203
Ballston
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(703) 537-4204
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https://thecommentaryarl.com
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Is it dog friendly?
Maybe if you sit outside. I can't really imagine them allowing animals that aren't service dogs because it's a bit fancy in there. hope this helps!
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