I love smash burgers and finally tried Char'd at the Tysons Galleria mall…read more The burger itself was good, but wish there was a bit more mayard reaction for a crust on the patty. That said, the burger tasted very good. The duck fat fries were also good, but I was expecting a bit more crunch and flavor from the duck fat. The bun is really good and tastes home made. Overall, this is a top quality burger. I love that it is grass fed. The ingredients used here are top notch and it shows. I would definitely come back again.

I ordered the single hot char'd with the jalapeño sauce on the side, fries, and orange soda. The…read moreburger plus the sauce were really tasty! The sauce was definitely unique and totally tasty. The duck fat that they advertise they cook their food was noticeable especially in the fries. The taste and smell were strong in the fries but no so much in the burger. Overall the food was great! I would order the burger again and would rethink the fries because their weird duck fat sauce . I did see a few people order their shakes which look tastey as well. Overall the price is expensive . Everything is à la carte and they dont offer "meals".

Nestled along Old Dominion Drive, The Italian Oven is the kind of neighborhood trattoria that…read moretrades culinary theatrics for something far more enduring--warmth, familiarity, and a deeply satisfying sense of Italian home cooking. The restaurant describes itself as a place "where guests feel like family," and that ethos permeates the entire experience, from the convivial dining room to the hearty, classic dishes that arrive at the table. This is unapologetically a family-style local Italian restaurant, the sort where dishes are generous, conversations linger, and regulars greet the staff like old friends. The menu leans toward comforting Italian standards--pasta, seafood, and classic parmigiana dishes--prepared with an emphasis on simplicity and satisfying flavor rather than modern reinterpretation. The Oyster Chowder makes for a particularly inviting beginning. Velvety and indulgently creamy, the soup carries a gentle brininess from the oysters that balances the richness of the broth. It is the kind of starter that quietly sets the tone for the meal--comforting, generous, and thoughtfully seasoned. Among the entrées, the Eggplant Parmigiana stands out as one of the finest renditions in town. The eggplant is delicately breaded and cooked to a tender, almost silky consistency before being layered with marinara and melted Italian cheeses. The result is deeply satisfying without feeling heavy, a classic executed with admirable restraint. Equally impressive is the Calamari Marinara. The calamari itself is remarkably tender--no small feat in a dish where rubbery textures are all too common. Here, the seafood is perfectly cooked, lightly crisp where it should be, and paired with a bright marinara that adds just the right acidity. To conclude, the pistachio gelato offers a gentle, elegant finish. It leans toward the creamy side with a subtle pistachio fragrance and only a restrained sweetness--refreshing rather than cloying, and an ideal palate cleanser after a hearty Italian meal. In an era when many restaurants chase novelty, The Italian Oven succeeds by doing something far more meaningful: delivering dependable, soulful Italian comfort food in a welcoming neighborhood setting. It may not strive for haute cuisine, but its warmth, consistency, and well-executed classics make it a quietly cherished staple of McLean's dining scene. If anything, the experience feels less like dining out and more like being invited to a generous Italian family table--exactly the kind of restaurant every neighborhood hopes to have.

I first heard of The Italian Oven around the time that the owner of Esposito's restaurant in…read moreFairfax was being forced to close her restaurant. This was due to the landlord telling her she had two weeks to close her place, as he intended to put a car wash in its spot. I kept an eye on this story. That's how I discovered that Maria Esposito ended up working at her cousin's restaurant, The Italian Oven. Thus, the place had been on my radar, and finally, we got there. We were here on a Saturday for an early dinner. The place was almost empty at the time, so we were told to pick whichever table we wanted. We chose a booth that was by a window. The place does have an Italian restaurant ambiance, complete with checkered green and white tablecloths. Our server was prompt in getting to us. We gave him our drink orders. I had water while my husband had a Heineken Zero. At that time, we placed our appetizer order, which was fried zucchini. Their menu is overwhelming. It was tough trying to figure out what to try. Finally, I decided to try their spaghetti aglio e olio, and my husband had spaghetti with Italian sausage. We both chose to have side salads. The salads had a nice creamy, garlicky dressing. However, they also had an overabundance of button mushrooms, as well as pickled beets. I'm no fan of either of these items, so my husband gladly took them from my salad. As for the zucchini, we got spoiled after all those years of having it at Esposito's. The Italian Oven's version was a close second to Esposito's. My spaghetti aglio e olio was well seasoned. It contained plenty of sautéed garlic, just enough olive oil, and a sprinkle of black pepper. The spaghetti was cooked al dente. My husband liked his dish.

My friends and I have made it a point to hit up every high tea in the area - this ranks in our top…read more3! The white glove service, super crisp clean and whimsical ambiance, mixed with an array of interesting treats made for an incredible experience. There were many people having a girls day, out with their daughters, and even having high tea as a family. Even if you don't know anything about tea, the servers there are super knowledgeable and will guide you through the process. Starting with the hand towel (so cool!) you begin feeling relaxed and refreshed. I chose to start off with the Gen Maicha, which had a delightful popcorn taste I couldn't get enough of! For my cocktail, I chose a simple bubby rose', but my friends said their cherry blossom flavored tea inspired cocktail was amazing. As you can see, they did not cut any corners with the high tea treats, which ranged from savory to sweet. The peppery pink spread for the scone was one of my favorites. The playfulness of the colors, perfection of the shapes, and subtle but perfect flavors all engaged the senses. I cannot wait to return. For the price point, this high tea was incredible. I highly recommend!

Honeydew pistachio tea Blueberry matcha…read moreWagyu meatloaf Harvest pie Beet waffles Dubai chocolate Polar bear mousse cake Everything was spectacular, from the seating and settings, to the experience, the captured moments of having tea time with your friends... It's nice. Out of all the things we ordered, my favorite was the Waygu meatloaf and the least is the waffle. I don't recommend ordering any type of waffles, it came out cold and even though they replaced it, it just got cold and hard quick, it was not good. I really enjoyed their tea! Felt bougie for the day and burned a hole in my wallet but it was well worth the experience. Definitely need to try at least once.

Parsa Bakery never disappoints. I stopped in to try their New Year cookies and the flavors were…read morewonderful. Each one tasted fresh and perfectly balanced, not overly sweet, just rich and satisfying. You can tell a lot of care goes into the baking. The textures were great and the variety made it fun to try a few different ones. If you enjoy traditional New Year cookies with authentic flavor, this place is definitely worth a visit.

This is a specialty Persian bakery so they might not carry some of the regular pastries that you…read moreare used to. I was a little unaware of that but I still found some interesting goodies. I purchased a half pound of zafons and half pound of almond sour treats to bring home with me. The guy actually explained to me the story behind the zafron plant which is the main ingredient for the zafrons. It's a small part of a flower that is only grown in the middle east, and the people need to extricate a very small portion of the flower in order to get the base flour ingredient. It's an interesting bakery to be sure, and they also sell quite a few other products besides baked goods, from the Middle East.