I've been to Dolce lots of times and do enjoy it. However, it's much smaller and they don't have comfortable waiting space if the restaurant is full. The atmosphere can be less intimate, ironically, because it doesn't allow for as much privacy. GAR is a local chain, not national, and they do a very good job. They will never be as quirky as a one-off. I wouldn't say that Dolce kicks GAR but,
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I know a number of people who work there and they are generally pretty happy with things. Yes, they do have to have uniforms dry cleaned and there are other rules that seem a little strict sometimes. But they are treated well and make good money. I've been going there for years and see a lot of the same faces there year after year. Must not be too bad.
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I'm always looking for good restaurants so please let us in. Who are these great "one operator" places you are talking about? I'll go check 'em out and post my review.
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Typo on the url, should be: http://www.bistrolhermitage.com
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I tried a great little restaurant in Occoquan/Woodbridge the other night for anyone looking for something a little nicer. The food was excellent, the menu is interesting, and the atmosphere charming. Check it out at http://wwww.bistrolhermitage.com
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Is this that place in Reston town center? I gave up on that place after the last bad meal I had there. One of the many complaints I had involved the drink service, in fact. The waiter took my order for a martini and disappeared. After some time he stopped by the table and breezily told me that he had a very funny story to tell us. After a while longer he came back with my martini--in a jelly
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He could easily make La Tasca fit in his budget, not Mexican though. I have had mixed experiences there both in service and quality. Austin Grill is good, but I am not sure it is worth driving to if you are coming from a distance, but I don't think much Mexican is worth the drive. There seems to be an abundance of them in the region and many are on par with one another.
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Mexican? Your only option in Old Town is Austin Grill. In DC, you go to Lauriol Plaza. Be prepared to wait though, but it is worth it.
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Sorry, just scrolled up and saw you were looking for a good one in the Chinatown neighborhood. Your friend may have been talking about the Chop House, but the ambiance is not my idea of a "date place." Zola near the spy museum comes just barely under your budget, but I think it is good.
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You might want to check out this site to help narrow your choices and then come back here and ask opinions of ones you've narrowed down. You are asking people to give suggestions on a universe of tones of restaurants. People have different tastes - for instance, I think Indigo Blue is good for what it does (low country quisine), granted not as good as a good restaurant in Charleston doing the s
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For that price, try Boulevard Woodgrill in Clarendon, Cafe Asia in Rosslyn, Majestic, the Warehouse, or Landini Brothers in Alexandria.
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Chart House is OK. It still is what it is - a chain with not much flavor. The salad bar is overrated and the restaurant, while it has nice views, is bland. For the same amount of money, better views and atmosphere, I would suggest INdigo Landing a few miles north of Old Town on the GW parkway. The views of the capitol at night can't be beat. In Old Town, La Bergerie is second to none. A bit
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