Classy Outdoor Dining in Northern Virginia

[BeachGuy31]

I'm looking for some really nice outdoor dining spots anywhere in the Northern Virginia area. Yes, there's lots of outdoor dining available but most of them overlook parking lots or you're crowded onto busy sidwalks. Even Shirlington has become overcrowded. My favorite place had been the outdoor patio of 2941 in Falls Church but they're not serving outdoors this summer. My other favorites are:
The Hermitage Inn in Clifton
Normandie Farms in Potomac
Ovations out at Wolftrap
Are there any other "hidden gem" out there that I've missed?

[Dennis S]

I think it's worthwhile to add the al fresco experiences in Reston, both at Lake Anne (Cafe Montmartre being my fave) and at Reston Town Center.

[Wensleydale]

Indigo Landing, off the GW Parkway just south of DCA, is Charleston-style southern cooking -- fried fish, shrimp and grits, greens, etc. Food is middling to good. They have a large outdoor seating area on the water's edge with a view across the Potomac. Lunch crowd tends to be casual; dinner a little more dressed. Very pleasant if what you want is a breeze and a view.

[BrianD]

In Old Town Alexandria, Le Gaulois has a lovely garden area.

[Dakota Guy]

Unhappily the garden area is far more loevely than th e food. We were disappointed the last several times we were there. The Chart House has outdoor seating onthe Old Town riverfront, as does Indigo Landing closer to the airport.

[BrianD]

Well that's disappointing to hear. I was there a couple months ago and I thought the scallops were excellent. They were some of the best I'd had anywhere, ever. I was a bit disappointed, though, that the prices had gone up so much under the new ownership.

I still really do like the garden though. It's one of the nicest outdoor dining locations in the area.

[Dakota Guy]

Old Angler's Inn has outdoor dining as I recall. That and Chez Fancois are two good choices for "classy" al fresco dining. Both are far better better than Ovations (a contracted buffet) or Normandie Farms.

[meimei]

L'Auberge Chez Francois in Great Falls. Its hidden in the woods, the place itself just look like a house. So the outdoor dining area looks like you are having the most romatic dinner in the garden under starlight. Assuming, romantic was what you were looking for?

[ktmoomau]

Hmm... as I remember Argia's in Falls Church has a patio outback. I am sure they have a website with pictures. They aren't bad for neighborhood Italian. I can't really think of any other outdoor seating that isn't crowded or overlooking roads, condos, street at the moment, but I will keep thinking.