171985 Mon Sep 27 19:35:18 -0700 2004 16 14 Washington DC & Baltimore Area 0 923510 Will be staying in the Herndon VA area, any great recommendations for dinner? Appreciate any suggestions, will be traveling with two senior citizens so (unfortunately!) any ethnic will not work. Mon Sep 27 19:35:18 -0700 2004 0 WeasieG 1 923515 Additionally, I am also staying in Herndon as a month-long visitor and would appreciate ALL good suggestions for this area. Mon Sep 27 21:45:54 -0700 2004 923510 0 Spike 2 923517 Thai Luang (excellent Thai) 171 Eldon Street -- Excellent Nearby: Chez Francois (L'Auberge Chez Francois) -- Washington legend. On toward Washington: Lebenese Taverna (Arlington) -- worth the drive Mon Sep 27 22:28:43 -0700 2004 923515 0 Amfortas 3 923651 Speaking of the Lebanese Taverna...anyone have any scoop on when the one in the Tysons Galleria will be opening??? Thu Sep 30 09:39:31 -0700 2004 923517 0 Wendy B 2 923532 There is a good sushi spot in the Clock Tower plaza called Hama Sushi. They have a take on the California Roll that is the house specialty. It is made with crab salad (real crab) and then roasted for a few minutes. The avacado becomes almost molten. It is the only reason I miss working in the Herndon area. I have heard that there is another good sushi place further down 28, but I have never been. Tue Sep 28 08:12:10 -0700 2004 923515 0 Sthitch 1 923516 Close enough to Herndon Jasmine Cafe: http://www.washingtonian.com/dining/Profiles/jasmine.html Edwardo (owner/chef) is a wizard with sauces, fish, and red meat. The daily specials can be mind-blowing. Mon Sep 27 22:19:34 -0700 2004 923510 0 Amfortas 1 923522 SBC Cafe - great place off centerville road behind the clocktower plaza. can be a litlte chilly with the AC and is not fancy..but the food...conch chowder and and pepper soup is amazing Mon Sep 27 23:42:22 -0700 2004 923510 0 Chewey 2 923544 I second this suggestion. Recently had dinner here and everything was excellent. Very casual; friendly service. Worth the trip. Tue Sep 28 10:24:10 -0700 2004 923522 0 Geoff 1 923527 When the folks are around: - Amphora on Elden - Friday Fish Fry at Jimmy's in downtown Herndon - Sylvano's in Downtown Herndon for pizza - a few places in Town Center such as McCormick and Schmicks, (dare I say) Clyde's (a lot of bad service, including me this past Sunday, but it would be a good steak for them possibly). - Some very nice meals can be found in Lake Anne in Reston, which is historic to Reston (seating outside is plentiful and has a Euro feel to it), incl. Il Cigno, Cafe Montmarte Places for just you (outside of any of the above again): - the KMart shopping center on Elden is a central point for many small places, including Charcoal Kebab, Pho 75, a couple of good mexican joints, Hard Times for Chili (though expensive for what you get), a couple of viet/thai places, an Afgani place and a japanese place. This sort of stretches from Herndon Pkwy nearly to downtown Herndon, and includes a nice Peruvian place sort of caddy corner from Anita's (as well as what was a good viet place, the ownership just changed a few months ago and I haven't been back since the first week of that when things weren't so smooth). Another small center of things is the clock tower, where the SBC cafe is located (sugg from another poster). Minerva is an Indian place there that is usually pretty good. I'm not a fan of the viet resto there, but there are a number of quick but good lunch stops there for solid but not special fare. Back north of the toll road from there, and then to the east of Elden, is Worldgate, a white mall with some interesting shaping. In there is a good Japanese place with a decent sushi buffet at lunch and even better fare at night. There are a couple of other places in there that aren't chains, but I haven't been to any other resto than the japanese one. Also, back to Elden near Anita's, to the east of downtown Herndon (and don't blink through the downtown or you'll miss it) is a Korean place in a stand alone building across from where the Peruvian and Viet restos are. For another, and possibly better Kebab is the non fancy Reston Kebab which is tucked away right next to the big brown tower known as the "International Center" near Reston Pkwy and the toll road. And lastly, taking Wiehle north from the Toll Road, and once past the McDonalds/Pizza Hut taking a right at the next light, you'll wind around and find a strip mall on the left called Tall Oaks. There is a very good Pho/Viet resto in there called Pho Reston 75 (not related and so much better than the aforementioned Pho 75 in Herndon). There is also El Manantial to the right of the Giant in the same center. Solid Mediteranean fare, link provided below. That should keep you busy for a time, email me if you want some more specifics on directions or something, but be clear in the subject line (otherwise it'll be seen as spam). Enjoy! Tue Sep 28 06:51:13 -0700 2004 923510 0 Dennis S 2 923528 Oops, it's early and the coffee is only now kicking in. Link: http://www.elmanantialrestaurant.com/ Tue Sep 28 06:52:23 -0700 2004 923527 0 Dennis S 2 923644 Went to Charcoal Kebab last night because I couldn't find Pollo Real. CK is awful. The meat was poor quality and overcooked, the bread it was sitting on was flavorless and soggy from the meat sitting on it and the spinach was limp and lifeless. I would definitely skip this one for anyone considering going there. I'm sure there is better Afghan fare than this is the area. Thu Sep 30 08:51:17 -0700 2004 923527 0 Spike 3 923647 Wow, it's been awhile since I've been there now that I think about it, but it used to be very good. Including the spinach. I wonder, though, if the timing was what made it so bad. They have always seemed to be a lunch place more than a night place. This, I don't believe, is an excuse. If the resto is open, then they should be able to execute well. I respect the restos that end service for the midafternoon out of this reality (think anything from any fast food place near the end of the shift, or in the dead of the afternoon - how fresh is that, really. Same thing often applies to non fast food). I believe the same applies somewhat to Reston Kebab on the weekends, and to a lesser degree in the evenings as well. If either of these places were in Arlington or DC, though, they would be busier during the evenings and on weekends and the food would maintain the higher level of quality. All in all, I would rec. another visit, but at lunch. Also realize where you are at what time. I hate that out in the burbs, but I've learned my lesson the hard way, as it sounds like you may have. Also, go ahead and give Reston Kebab a try (again, watch the time) and let us know. Joe H, Bilrus and I had some individual taste offs some time ago that then culminated in a chow lunch at Shamshiry in Tysons (which is an evening place to go ) I've provided the links to two of those discussions. http://www.chowhound.com/midatlantic/boards/dc/messages/42492.html http://www.chowhound.com/midatlantic/boards/dc/messages/42741.html Thu Sep 30 09:16:37 -0700 2004 923644 0 Dennis S 4 923648 Oh, and there is a more complete Afgani resto there, over by the MasterCuts. Not sure if there was confusion from my first post on that point. I've not been there, or to any of the places in that section (I know there's a virginia kitchen and maybe also an Indian place?) Thu Sep 30 09:20:30 -0700 2004 923647 0 Dennis S 3 923666 Did anyone mention Bamyan in the K-Mart plaza for Afghan fare in Herndon? It's always been really good. They do a fantastic job with the fruits and vegetables. Thu Sep 30 11:09:54 -0700 2004 923644 0 Bob W. 1 923560 A few more that have not been mentioned: If Japanese will do for your senior citizens, Yoko on Elden Street on the outskirts of the K-Mart plaza does a good job on its cooked dishes, as well as its raw ones. The interior is attractive in a minimalist way, and they generally have a good jazz soundtrack. The senior citizens in my family enjoy milder Korean dishes, and Yee Hwa on Elden Street is a refined setting for them. The waitstaff is very attentive and can make recommendations for milder dishes. Teocalli Tamale(2 doors down from Yoko) does a good take with fresh ingredients, but has a fairly funky downscale interior. Simply Grill is near Reston Town Center (plaza with the Best Buy) and has good Persian rice dishes and kabobs. Downscale interior. The recommendation for El Mannatiel is a good one but you will need a map; the Tall Oaks Plaza is hidden from the main drags. There's a decent Peruvian chicken place on Elden Street, I think it is Pollos Inka. The interior is a downscale, but the chicken is good and we enjoyed the cerviche at our visit a few weeks ago. On the off-chance that you see a place called China Star at the intersection of Sunset Hills and Michael Faraday, do NOT mistake it for the much-loved China Star in Fairfax. There is no relationship and you do not want to eat at this one. And as a somewhat risky recommendation: Fortune in the North Point shopping Center off Reston Parkway is a mixed bag. They do dim sum at lunch with a wider selection on weekends. The dinner menu is good if you order seafood dishes. I have heard some very vocal criticsm about some of their more "Chinese-American" dishes, allegations that they use a microwave to reheat, etc. We've generally been happy with the seafood, vegetable, and banquet dishes (stuffed duck, stuffed chicken). They were also very accomodating last week and retailored one of their better dishes at my request to substitute chicken for shrimp so our 90 year old grandmother could enjoy it. (She doesn't eat shellfish.) It probably helps a lot that the waitstaff recognize us and dote on the chowpup. The interior is fairly typical for a Chinese restaurant, although they really need to replace the carpet. It is very quiet there at dinner time. Tue Sep 28 11:26:26 -0700 2004 923510 0 PollyG 1 923581 Thanks so much for everyone's input - lots of great places to try. When we lived there 20 years ago, there was not much of a variety. Just out of curiousity is the Ice House Cafe still in downtown Herndon? Tue Sep 28 14:30:01 -0700 2004 923510 0 WeasieG 2 923582 It is, and the Tortilla Factory is still where it was. Oh, and one more place for Peruvian chicken - on Elden behind KFC is Pollo Real. I love the place. There cooker is down right now but should be back in operation by the end of the week. Tue Sep 28 14:36:38 -0700 2004 923581 0 Dennis S