Lovely meal...
Last night was a happy birthday celebration, so we decided to try INOX. Relatively last minute decision, but in the end a very good one.
First off, the location. I know others have complained about being in an office park. Well, other than 2941 (which is in an office park, just with one heck of a view), or Chez Francois, that's what you get in NoVA...and what happens outside their windows isn't that controllable. I care more about the mundane aspects of their location. Is it easy to get to? Good signage? Do I drive past, drop an F-bomb, and have to turn around? So it more than passed that test. Left the car with the valet and we headed inside.
The decor is modern. Elegant, refined, and not overly fussy. There were some decisions I found a bit odd...most notably the kitchen. But overall, I found the interior to be nice and comfortable and very conducive to relaxing. The stained glass across the front window was especially nice. Muted colors, nice lighting, and
About the kitchen. Its open, but sunken off on the side of the dining room, so not really possible to see unless you get up and walk over. And it has a glass wall in front of it. In my mind, the kitchen is the worst of both worlds. Its rather hidden, so the guests can see that its there, but really can't see what's going on. Its also open enough that on several occasions I heard someone in the kitchen shouting at/to a colleague. They probably figure the glass will dampen the sound...sorry guys, but you were VERY clear up in the dining room. Actually interrupted our conversation a couple of times. Not horrible, but annoying, and rather out of place with the overall ambiance.
But the food...the food made up for the bursts of voices.
We decided to forgo the tasting menu. Neither of us is a big fan of sweetbreads of fois gras, so Jonathan's obvious love for them meant we were going ala carte. Not that that was a big loss.
First up was the amuse...in this case, a nice one-bite lobster salad. The dressing was rather acidic, but I liked that. It was a rather bold way to start, and it definitely put me in the right frame of mind.
First course was the PUMPKIN PEIROGI (for me) and the BUTTER POACHED MAINE LOBSTER (for her). The Peirogi was a bit thick and chewy, but I liked that. It also seemed to be missing something...not sure if it was a herbal note, or a bit of spice, but it seemed a bit hollow tasting. Still very good, but I get the sense it was a work still a bit in progress. The lobster, simply put, was divine, cooked to perfection. That did not need any more work.
For main course, I had the DUO OF HOUSE CURED BERKSHIRE PORK BELLY AND TENDERLOIN. For those of you who had the Pork belly at 2941, then you know what I ordered, and how good it is. Its fatty and a bit salty and flavorful and rich and has that amazing Pork flavor. The tenderloin was cooked medium rare, was rich in flavor, and perfectly prepared. But really, the heart of that dish is the Pork belly...its amazing. The accompaniments of Brussel sprouts were good...and the little pearl onions with it, I've never had them so sweet before. They were amazing.
My wife had the DAY SCALLOPS. They came on top of two kinds of beets, and that addition made all the difference. Now, a bit of a word about Scallops. I love them, and my typical view of Scallops is that I like them seared on the outside, and almost raw in the middle. I want a real gradation of doneness. My wife, on the other hand, prefers hers cooked through. Somehow, they managed to satisfy both our tastes with this preparation...they were cooked through, but the center was still noticeably softer and juicier. The outside was a little crisp, but not crunchy. It was, quite frankly, some of the best Scallops I've ever had in my life.
Finally, as is appropriate for a birthday, we had desert. My wife went with the BAVARIAN CREME with Earl Grey ice cream(!), and I had the Tangerine <something>, sorry, can't remember the exact name. They were excellent, and stood up well to the tone set by the previous course.
We had several folks stop by, include one of the managers (Matt), who stopped by right at the end of the meal. The staff was friendly and observant, without appearing to hover (a very difficult skill, especially in a place only open for 31 days so far).
I also wanted to highlight the wine. My wife and I lived in Germany for a few years, and we have a good appreciation for German style white wines. The Riesling selection was excellent, and a real testament to the person pulling together the cellar. They obviously know that wine is more than just who has the most big red's in their collection, and as someone who appreciates the less "in your face" varietals, I am totally thankful.
I enjoyed INOX a lot, and I'm sure we'll be back. It was an excellent meal, excellent service, and given how long they've been open, a remarkably refined experience. I'm sure it will only improve with time, and I have no doubt that I'll be back.
