Northern VA Rec

[chesapeakesun]

I'm meeting a business associate for lunch. We need a rec for a nice place easy on / easy off of 95 in Northern VA. I'd like a place where we can have a conversation and tasty food. Expense account pays for it.

Thx!

[rappel75]

There are very few expense account worthy restaurants in the corridor between Dale City and the beltway. Mike's in Springfield might truly be your best bet, unless you want to settle for a big chain restaurant in Woodbridge, such as don pablo's, red lobster, or macaroni grill.

[chesapeakesun]

We'll be meeting at Mike's tomorrow. I emailed their marketing department and they agreed that their website had some flaws. Pretty cool.

[tcamp]

How about Mike's American Grill in Springfield? Get off 95N at Old Keene Mill right before the beltway interchange; you're within a mile of it but check directions for the exact street. It is part of a local chain but a perfectly servicable business lunch place.

http://www.greatamericanrestaurants.c...

[chesapeakesun]

I would have eaten there if you hadn't posted the URL. I almost blew out my ear drums with that lunatic baseball theme. Looks like their web developer totally missed the 'what not to do when designing a website' class. http://www.josiahcole.com/2007/02/14/...

[sweth]

The stretch between Dale City and 495 is more known for shopping malls than for expense-account dining. There are lots of good hole-in-the-wall places, but assuming those aren't going to be appropriate for your business meal, then Mike's is going to be your best bet by far; if you are ruling that out because of their website, then you'd better be willing to settle for a TGIFridays or something similar.

[tcamp]

I know, I felt the same way when I went looking for the link to post. Funny thing is that the place doesn't have a sports bar feel.

Tom Sietsma was doing a poll to find the worst resto websites. I need to go nominate that one.

[MikeR]

Can you be more detailed about "off 95?" That covers a lot of ground, and what you get depends on where you are. Not much around Woodbridge, some good places suitable for a business lunch around Shirlington. And there's about 20 miles in between

[chesapeakesun]

Thanks for the insights. I'm thinking somewhere between Dale City and 495.

[Ericandblueboy]

National Harbor is a great setting. If you're not interested in steaks, there are other restaurants with views of the Potomac. Just check the Nat'l Harbor website.

[dining with doc]

The Palm in Tysons Corner is perfect for your needs!

[bordeauxfan]

Except that it's many miles from I-95...

OP can you be more specific? There's not a lot of expense-account places easily off I-95 in NoVa. Some places in Old Town Alexandria but I wouldn't say they are easy-on-easy-off. The Tysons suggestion is good but it's off the I-495 Beltway, almost 10 miles north of I-95. The National Harbor recs just over the Wilson Bridge into MD are good too.

[sweth]

How is Old Town not easy on/off from 95? You get off 95 at the Rte 1 N exit, you drive a hundred feet, and you're in Old Town.

[bordeauxfan]

I see your point, but I'm just speculating that the OP is thinking of a more suburban setting where you'd get off the highway, and the restaurant (with easy parking or valet parking) would be close at hand. Such as in Houston, Atlanta, or the like.

But I'm all for Old Town if you can suggest somewhere that's 5 minutes or so off I-95, and provides easy enough parking.

[Ericandblueboy]

Old Hickory steakhouse in National Harbor. It's actually in MD.