brendanc Posted July 8, 2005 Posted July 8, 2005 a clever plant in ts chat about willow. i don't know what's up but i think maybe its tracy mcgrady's new venture. --- RE: Your Fantasy Restaurant Job: Recently defunct Gaffney's in Ballston is in the process of being reincarnated into "Willow"- I work in the building and have spoken a couple times to the two women owners- they've both worked at Galileo, one was at Kinkead's for a long time the other was one of the originators at Firehook Bakery and spent a year in Tuscany. Their intent is to have EXACTLY the sort of place you describe. I can't WAIT for them to open! Tom Sietsema: Wow! (And good gossip. I'll have to check out the details.)
starfish Posted July 8, 2005 Posted July 8, 2005 i thought the same thing but dismissed it as my skepticism. glad to see that i was not the only one.
JLK Posted July 8, 2005 Posted July 8, 2005 I thought you meant this guy. a clever plant in ts chat about willow. i don't know what's up but i think maybe its tracy mcgrady's new venture.
cjsadler Posted August 8, 2005 Posted August 8, 2005 It is Tracy O'Grady and Kate Jansen's new place. Very nice people-- hope this works out for them.
dcpolicywonk Posted August 8, 2005 Posted August 8, 2005 Sounds interesting. I'm looking forward to its opening.
The Doctor Posted August 8, 2005 Posted August 8, 2005 Here's an excerpt from The Buffalo News a few weeks ago (online version expired): Fans of South Buffalo native Tracy O'Grady -- the Washington, D.C., chef who was the U.S. entrant in the prestigious Bocuse d'Or cooking competition in France in 2001 -- will be happy to learn that she is opening her own restaurant, Willow, in Arlington, Va., on Sept. 6.O'Grady, a former executive chef at Kinkead's in Washington, will partner with pastry chef Kate Jansen in the 150-seat restaurant.Talk about pressure -- the same day that the restaurant opens, O'Grady will be married to Brian Woken, director of operations for the new restaurant and former executive chef at Butterfield 9 in Washington. After the ceremony, she'll change from her bridal gown to chefs' whites and prepare dinner for 500 customers. As a fellow Buffalo ex-patriate, I'll keep my eye on this one.
FunnyJohn Posted September 13, 2005 Posted September 13, 2005 Spent an enjoyable evening at Willow's bar yesterday. This is definitely the nicest restaurant yet to occupy this ill starred space across from Rio Grande opposite the Ballston Metro station, so I fervently hope it will be successful. All indications are that it will be. The wine list is selective but covers the bets both by the glass and the bottle. The food concept is "modern continental" meaning they are dusting off some of the standards from before the new wave(s) of cuisine started battering the restaurant shores in the 70s. Thus no fru fru nouvelle, no (con)fusion, no asian/latino/carricom types of dishes except for perhaps a nod via the utilization of an ingredient from these styles. Heavy on French and Italian influence. I had a rib eye steak served with a very savory mushroom/red wine sauce. The cut was not as thick as I would have preferred, but it was cooked exactly the way I asked. Started with the clams casino which are frankly the bomb! Very lemony and bacony and they don't fuss with the classic recipe. My wife had a pork chop milanese served just like a veal chop -- pounded out a little on the bone -- and from the bite I managed to steal, was quite delicious. Again not pretentious, just very well prepared. Came with a little spinach tartalet and my steak came with a small potato gratin. Due to the fact that I was still fairly full from the Po' Boy I had earlier had to leave dessert for the next visit, but they had some decadent sounding dishes such as chocolate tiramisu napoleon. Additional starters include a selection of grilled flatbreads -- influence, no doubt, of co-owner Kate Jansen, formerly of the Firehook Bakery. The business was not exactly brisk last evening so I had a good opportunity to chat with the amiable staff -- mostly with JB the young but well-versed bar tender, who I believe hails from Evening Star. I pressed the manager to get their website up ASAP. Apparently the menu will change frequently on the basis of availability of ingredients. Come one, come all to support this promising new establishment!
FunnyJohn Posted September 16, 2005 Posted September 16, 2005 Correction: Bartender at Willow formerly from Stardust vice Evening Star. All other "facts" in post above verified again last night in another very pleasurable evening passed at Willow. Sampled the "Blue Fire" grilled flatbread -- onions blue gorgonzola and thyme-- very yummy and along with the clams casino (getting addicted to these), washed down with a few glasses of Piedmontese Rorero Arneis proved to be a nice supper.
LizH Posted September 18, 2005 Posted September 18, 2005 FYI, there is a sweet article about their wedding in Sunday, September 18th's NY Times wedding page.
cjsadler Posted September 28, 2005 Posted September 28, 2005 (edited) Went last night, figuring their participation in the Katrina benefit night was a good excuse to try them. I wasn't expecting such a formal looking space. It's very nice, though, with plenty of warm lighting and wood. As Johnny said, the menu is mainly about classic French and Italian cooking. A couple of us shared a wild mushroom grilled flatbread to start that was phenomenal. The hint of truffle oil and the generous use of thyme really brought out the flavor of the mushrooms. I tried a bit of the gnocchi (in a fondue) as well, which I thought were as good as Palena's. For an entree, I had bacon crusted salmon with broccoli rabe, port sauce and cauliflower gratin. The bacon crust was excellent, sorta like it was coated with crispy bacon bits (but the salmon a bit overdone). Thought the best entree at our table, though, was the one vegetarian dish on the menu: a lentil ragu with some incredible artichokes (seemed like they were cooked with orange and something else I couldn't identify). A promising place. Edited September 28, 2005 by cjsadler
Chris W Posted September 28, 2005 Posted September 28, 2005 I tried a bit of the gnocchi (in a fondue) as well, which I thought were as good as Palena's. This is a monster statement! Good to hear I work across the street and will have to try it sooner rather than later.
lizzie Posted October 10, 2005 Posted October 10, 2005 We tried Willow on Saturday night. I agree with the poster that it is the nicest looking of the restaurants that have occupied this space. We started with the caesar salad, which were ok but somewhat overwhelmed by lemon. This was listed on the menu description, but it was far stronger than expected. The soups were quite good - a butternut squash bisque with shrimp and a corn chowder with a small crab cake. The entrees were also ok, but somewhat disappointing. The pork was breaded and a bit overcooked, which was surprising and detracted from what was a very nice cut of meat still on the bone. The spinach tartlet was a highlight, however. I could eat a larger version of that as an entree, and would love to be able to replicate it at home. My daughter and I shared the halibut with orzo. The fish itself was cooked perfectly and it was nicely complemented by the oranges and sauce, but there was way too much sauce on the plate and the sauce was too thin. The orzo was floating and the serving size was meager - there were barely two or three teaspoonfuls on the plate. We were also underwhelmed by the desserts. The triple chocolate mousse was served in a smaller wine glass and seemed almost too dense for a mousse, although we did order it without the berry sauce. The chocolate tiramisu napoleon looked and tasted neither like tiramisu nor a napoleon. While the cake part was ok, the thin chocolate wafers that separated the layers were inedible - we were not even able to cut them with a fork. All that said, we will try Willow again. We live in Arlington and are always looking to support local establishments and realize that new places usually need some time to grow.
Chris W Posted October 13, 2005 Posted October 13, 2005 I had a great lunch in the bar at Willow today. The Mushroom bisque is solid and hearty, and the apple wood smoked bacon and gruyere sandwich was really tasty and came with a side of beets and picked string beans. Very tasty all around and that include the bartendress..
FunnyJohn Posted October 13, 2005 Posted October 13, 2005 Very tasty all around and that include the bartendress.. So Lindsey is back...She was under the weather yesterday and had to go home before I got there.
Chris W Posted October 13, 2005 Posted October 13, 2005 Let's put it this way, I'll be walking back across the street for happy hour.
Meaghan Posted October 28, 2005 Posted October 28, 2005 Weeping Willow Looking back, my expectations were somewhere along the lines of BalckSalt or Tallulah. I expected to find an outpost on an otherwise hollow corridor, at least culinary-wise. Ask my dining companion, I even said in an e-mail before dinner that I was in the mood for "ham-fisted", feisty food. I wanted salt, I wanted starch, I wanted the opposite of Palena, Komi or Sushi-Ko... I really dislike writing with so much ire, but actually this time, I think it's in your favor. The meal started with appetizers, as usual: Fried Zucchini & Ricotta Fritters, $ 7, oddly had an essence of lemon custard and came with a nutty-tasting dipping sauce of tomato and red pepper romesco. It was akin to something you'd find passed at a rather large book party catered by a corporate entity. Willow’s Clams Casino, $10, were the best of the starting courses (I liked the clams themselves well enough). They're traditionally prepared with applewood smoked bacon, leek fondue (translation: leeks that looked and tasted liked scallions*) and lemon bread crumbs. I will say this, there is a huge abuse of something wonderfully simple at this place: lemon juice. Trailing behind was the signature (Willow) flatbread, $16, which is matzah meets Cosi with wild mushrooms, lemon (a-fucking-gain), fontina, chives and white truffle essence. This dish reminded me of drinking a $200 bottle of wine with a microwaveable chicken potpie. Why? Because it was missing a huge element of acidity. It was screaming for really well-aged red or perhaps pickled fiddleheads. And there's a point where you just want to give the person with the bottle of truffle oil your middle finger... That flatbread is way overpriced. The main we shared was the best dish of the night, but I can list at least two dozen places I'd go to get scallops again before this place. The dayboat scallops were properly cooked and extremely generous in size. Three scallops, each resting on a slice of red-skinned potato with applewood smoked bacon and more wild mushrooms, afloat an overly buttery sauce. I think they were fine, but priced in the mid-twenties, there are other places I prefer to patronize. Dessert (the pastry chef is one of the co-founders of Firehook Bakery, and I'm sure many of you know the history of Tracy O'Grady) was a pineapple semolina cake with ginger ice cream. It's essentially pineapple upside-down cake made with semolina flour, and I found it tasty, but a touch on the dry side (could perhaps use some alcohol). Aye-yay-yay. The space itself, the ambiance and Ballston are too depressing to touch on right now. The service at the bar, particularly one guy, was small town-enthusiastic, and he kept calling us grown adults, "kids." I'm not weeping, I just won't go back. The more apropos name might be Billow. *whatever
Jmahl Posted November 4, 2005 Posted November 4, 2005 (edited) Has the pleasure to dine with three friends at Willow this Monday past. A rainy, damp night and Chef O'Grady made up for it. Shared the Willow flat bread - well worth the $16.00. For openers the wild mushroom Ravioli - on the mark. The rib-eye was beautiful - well sauced and well presented. Personally would have preferred a slightly thicker cut @ $26. The sides were perfect. Party also had the scallops which went over very well. The Pork rack didn't quite make it. Wine list is short but with good selections. The wine guy was very helpful. We stated with the 2002 Les Combes Coteaux Languedoc and then the 2001 Atalon Napa Cab. The bread service was a little weird. One small roll per place and then a battle to get replacements. I have read a similar comment elsewere and wonder what is going on. Also the wine list pricing on the web and in house are off. Its a bear to keep them updated but must be donel. We finished with the tiramisu and chocolate parfait. A fine ending. All in all a very good experience - and a difficult audience - two dinners have worked in French kitchens with ten M stars between them. You have to show some stuff to make them happy. Chef O'Grady has the guts to go it alone. We hope to be back and wish her and her partners a long run. Still a few bugs to work out. But only with less then two months open sure she will get it right. Edited November 4, 2005 by Jmahl
goldenticket Posted December 5, 2005 Posted December 5, 2005 I had the pleasure of enjoying a very good meal at Willow last night. Based on previous posts, I wasn't really sure what to expect, but I'm happy to report that food and service were on the mark. Started with a glass of La Bete, La Fete “Cuvee Lambray”, Oregon, 2003 - mainly because I like the name, but taste wasn't bad either. Five of us dined in the chef's tasting room (only because of a friend's acquaintance with someone on the management staff) - ordering from the menu. The room was very nice, cozy, but spacious for a party of our size. The warm seckel pear and drunken goat cheese tart was my choice for a starter. The tart was as described - thinly sliced pear topping creamy goat cheese in a flaky pastry. Endive leaves sprinkled with toasted hazelnuts surrounded a salad of julienned endive and red onions dressed with a sherry vinaigrette. I also tasted the butternut squash and pumpkin soup and it was delicious - creamy and full of smoky, roasted flavor - proof of the server's earlier comment that Chef usually does a pretty good job with the soups. The scallion and Gala apple soup sounded interesting too... Others ordered clams casino and smoked salmon - no complaints were heard and clean plates were all that were left from the first course. I, like others above, ordered the dayboat scallops (I had 5 in my order, wonder if Meaghan ate at the bar or if others complained about the scallop-to-dollar ratio too...) and thought the entire dish was wonderful. The scallops were huge and perfectly cooked - crispy and a beautiful golden-brown, top and bottom, but inside, mm - perfection! The sauce was light, and the mushroom and bacon accompaniment complemented nicely). Others in the party ordered the lemon roasted chicken (2 VERY generous pieces), ribeye, bacon-crusted salmon, and (I believe) flounder. Finished with the cookie and ice cream plate - bittersweet chocolate and peppermint ice creams accompanied by 4 mini cookies - peanut butter sandwich, a fantastic shortbread, less interesting chocolate sandwich, and a meringue strawberry cream sandwich. With dinner - Vin de Pays des Herault, “Les Heretiques”, Iche, France 2003 - another one that caught my eye because of the name - but in addition to an interesting background story, it was also a decent drinkable red. Service was attentive, professional, and efficient. There was a slight lag between first and mains, but not enough to be a problem. The bread was the only curiosity - as mentioned, small rolls, constantly refreshed, but I would have expected more variety or something more interesting from the founder of Firehook! I thought the space was very tasteful and elegant. I could see going back to the bar for a glass of wine as well as enjoying another meal(s) there.
giant shrimp Posted December 9, 2005 Posted December 9, 2005 tom's two-star ratings increasingly sound like watch out for bumps on the menu. and pedigree counts.
Sthitch Posted December 13, 2005 Posted December 13, 2005 My wife and I stopped by Willow after completing what I hope is our last Christmas shopping. We were both very happy with the service, and food. For starters I had the Wild Mushroom Ravioli with Crispy Sweetbreads. This dish was nearly perfectly executed. The sweetbreads were perfect, my anti-offal wife even enjoyed the piece that I gave to her (until I told her that it was a sweetbread). The one complaint I had with this dish is that it is not served with a spoon. The loose filling makes it risky to pick-up the ravioli with a fork, lest it slip off the fork and fall back into the sauce causing it to splatter (no this did not happen to me). My wife started with the Fontina and Proscuitto Fritters. These were delightful. The spicy sauce on the side brought it together perfectly. She said that the last bite was as good as the first, which is not always the case when eating breaded and fried food. She wanted the Scallops for an entree, but they were not available. Instead she opted for the chicken. The bird was moist, with generous portions. She was less impressed by the carrots, as they did not really go well with the lemon sauce. I would agree, but I hate carrots so it would be very difficult to prepare them in a way that I would like. My entree was the Bacon Crusted Norwegian Salmon. This was a nice entree. The crust was delicious, with just a hint of bacon, but also with plenty of fresh thyme, and crispy bread crumbs. This dish comes with two sides, garlic spinach and a gratin of artichokes. The spinach was nice and added to the overall flavor of the dish, however, I was flummoxed by inclusion of the artichokes. They were very nicely prepared (however, my wife did not like the breadcrumbs, but she is a purest about artichokes), but it was served as a separate dish, and did not add much to my over-all impression of what the chef was trying to convey. We decided to share Kate's Cookies and Ice Cream. It was a nice way to finish the meal. I particularly enjoyed the peppermint ice cream that was matched with a scoop of chocolate. The cookies were also quite nice, my favorite being the cut out. All-in-all it was an enjoyable night. I will say that the room is way too noisy, and they should do something to try and abate this. Otherwise I have no real complaints. We will definitely be making a second trip.
Capital Icebox Posted January 4, 2006 Posted January 4, 2006 Does Willow have a bar? And if so, do they have a special (i.e. discounted) bar menu?
Sthitch Posted January 4, 2006 Posted January 4, 2006 They have a bar, but I have no idea if they have a bar menu.
cucas87 Posted January 14, 2006 Posted January 14, 2006 (edited) Went to Willow last night, for the first time, with 2 friends. Overall: ok but not great. If I go back, and I assume I will because it is nearby to me, I will go to the bar and not the restaurant. My friends and I were in the "overflow" dining area, which needs some kind of decorating help. The reviewers are not kidding when they say you won't be too happy if you are in the overflow area. If you sit there, it feels like you are at a conference or banquet that was oversold, so the hotel had to open the extra room divider and you are sitting in never never land, missing out on the real event. The tables in this area are too close together, which made it all the more fun when, 5 minutes after we had sat down, a waiter tried to squeeze between our table and the adjacent one, carrying a chair over his head. Not all of the menu items are available for restaurant week, (for example, not included are: the Willow flatbreads, the scallops, and the poached pear). The restaurant week menu is, however, pretty good, and offers a good cross section of the menu. There was a wine pairing option for an additional $15, and 2 of us had the wine pairings. The wines were ok but not great and I would not order those wines again, and there was only one wine offered per course, which meant my friend had port with his lemon sorbet. Not so great. The service was ok, but not coordinated, too many people asked if we wanted to order drinks (after we had) and no bread was offered to us. I know the restaurant wants everyone to order the flatbreads, but would it be that hard to offer breadsticks or something? The food: I had: the smoked salmon with potato latkes; roast chicken, and a walnut brownie with ice cream. The smoked salmon was very good (but the latkes were too dry to add much to the taste sensation), the chicken was great (and I liked the carrots!) and the brownies were ok, a little dry, but made better by the ice cream. I can't recall the wine pairings, except to say there was a white wine with the appetizers, a red with the mains and port with dessert. The port was nice with the brownies. Another friend (also having the restaurant week menu) had mushroom bisque (very good), the bacon crusted salmon (very good and served with a side of some kind of cauliflower puree and wilted spinach) and sorbets (fine, but not good with port!). My friend's wife did not choose from the restaurant week menu; she started with the potato gnocci (delicious), then had the scallops (really tasty and very, very large, but there were only 3 on the plate and while they were large scallops, I think there should have been at least 4 on the plate). She had the triple chocolate parfait for dessert, it was good. The service was fine. Nothing remarkable. I will go back and sit in the bar area, where I think I will feel like there's better atmsophere and better value, somehow. Right now the food is better than the overall experience, but I'm still happy to have Willow in the area. Edited January 14, 2006 by cucas87
cheezepowder Posted January 14, 2006 Posted January 14, 2006 My friend's wife did not choose from the restaurant week menu; she started with the potato gnocci (delicious), then had the scallops (really tasty and very, very large, but there were only 3 on the plate and while they were large scallops, I think there should have been at least 4 on the plate). I went to Willow for dinner last month, and I'm pretty sure I had 4 scallops in my entree. From this thread, it looks like the number has varied from 3 to 5. I wonder if the number depends on things like the size of the scallops or how many they have left.
Yentruoc Posted January 16, 2006 Posted January 16, 2006 We hit up Willow last night as the closer to our Restaurant week. It was my first time there and the experience was positive. We did stick to the RW menu, although I was tempted to get the scallops (not on the RW menu), partially just to see how many scallops I'd get. I had the salmon with potato latkes as a first course- very good, but the latkes were too small to add anything other than a textural element. For my main I had the lentil ragu with goat cheese and baby artichokes. I'm not a vegetarian, and I almost never choose the veggie dish when going out, but my entree was GOOD- hearty with a bit of tang from the artichokes and creamy from the goat cheese. I would go back just for this. The apple cheesecake for dessert was good- not too sweet, not too rich, but I'm not a big dessert person, so I just had a few bites. Service was competent, although by the end of the night our waitress looked very busy. Bottom line for me: Willow is a bit pricey for me for an ordinary night out, neighborhood restaurant kind of place, but I'd return if we're feeling a little flush and don't feel like going into DC.
Jmahl Posted January 17, 2006 Posted January 17, 2006 If you check out my out of focus photo from November you will see either 4 or 5 scallops. Let the saga continue. Jmahl
FunnyJohn Posted November 12, 2006 Posted November 12, 2006 I enjoyed a meal at Willlow last evening. If you stop by to dine I would strongly encourage trying the Duck breast and confit leg. One of the most "must eat very scrap" meals I have had in a long time. Only regret is that I fled before I had the chance to have dessert.
Laura24601 Posted January 16, 2007 Posted January 16, 2007 An Open Love Letter to Willow: Dear Willow, I wasn't expecting much, as Sunday was the tail end of Restaurant Week and I've seen and heard mixed reviews about you. Baby, please forgive my low expectations. Girl, you look GOOD. Dark, gleaming woods; honey lighting; interesting artwork. And hey, thanks for the free parking right in the building. Baby, your friend Gabby is a remarkable server; very friendly, attentive, and informed. And your friend the sommelier also was very nice, presenting our $35 Standing Stone Riesling (fresh, fruity, smooth) and later coming over to check on us and to thank us for visiting. But you know why I love you. The FOOD! Thanks for the hot, fluffy roll that told us you give a damn about the bread basket! The savory, rich potato ravioli with two sweet shrimp and fresh herbs was elevated by the bacon crumbles to make a great starter. I was totally jealous of my friend's fried chicken, which had plenty of herbs under the skin, was moist inside, and had a nice crisp skin--and perfectly mashed potatoes and fresh-tasting spinach. But damn, girl. The pepper-crusted filet, perfect medium rare, bursting with juice and flavor. Yum. And two of the sides--red wine marinated olives and crispy, flavorful, thin onion rings--were so awesome that I forgave the "meh" potato tart. Willow, I never knew I would sing the praises of a CARROT CAKE, for crying out loud, but yours is so moist, so delicate, with such rich-yet-light cream cheese frosting that I WOULD SELL MY GRANDMOTHER for another slice. The chocolate mousse pie was delightful and pretty, and the pear crumble with ice cream was wonderful, but I would gladly kill a kitten just to get more of that carrot cake. Baby, it was that good, and it was the perfect ending to a great night. In short, I will be BACK because I love you and your wonderful food and your great service, and because the mere thought that that carrot cake might be there is enough to make me sleep in a pup tent for longer than I did trying to get U2 tickets. Love, Laura
liz2041 Posted January 16, 2007 Posted January 16, 2007 We did Willow for RW also. Agree with Laura's assessment. Our table of 6 had 4 different entree selections. The beef was by far the best. The fried chicken was great also - not too dry not too greasy. The spinach was good, but a tad salty. BUT - the carrot cake!!! Holy cow. Who knew! I'm not a big sweets eater, but it was the best dessert I have had in the last 5 years. Next time I go, I will be sitting at the table next to Laura housing on the carrot cake.
ScotteeM Posted March 25, 2007 Posted March 25, 2007 Last night was our first dinner at Willow. The food exceeded my high expectations. The ambience was really lovely. The service had some very major problems. We started by ordering 2 glasses of Adega de Pegoes, Vihno Regional Terras do Sado, Portugal, 2005. It was light and refreshing, and went well with the Shrimp and Vegetable Tempura that we shared. The tempura was light and delicate, with the shrimp and vegetables perfectly cooked. I loved the lime-vinaigrette dipping sauce (which tasted better after we stirred it up--it does settle). The vegetables were asparagus, zucchini, artichoke heart, and onion, and they all were delectable. My husband had the Potato Gnocchi and Chorizo Gratin. The taste I got was meltingly good, and he cleaned his plate so he must have enjoyed it. I had the Wild Mushroom Raviolis with sauteed Oyster mushrooms, parsnip puree, a Parmesan tuille, and the most divine wild mushroom and truffle emulsion. The raviolis were light and mushroomy and just perfect. We don't eat parsnips often, and this puree reminded me that I want to have more of them. The puree provided a bright, slightly sweet counter-note to the earthy mushrooms. It was absolutely fabulous, and I was declaring the best single dish I've had in a very long time, and breaking off little pieces of bread to sop up the pool of truffle emulsion (I would have used a spoon, if I had had one), when a server appeared with our entrees. She got close enough to see that I was still enjoying my appetizer, and turned around to head back to the kitchen. Our waiter stopped her, took the dishes from her, and brought them to our table. My husband's appetizer plate having been removed, he placed his entree in front of him and took my appetizer plate out from under my hand poised with bread, replacing it with my entree. I declined his offer to leave the appetizer plate on the side, because I didn't see how it could fit on the small table, and glumly bid farewell to the rest of the truffle sauce. What should I have done? Sent our entrees back to the kitchen to sit under a heat lamp? It wasn't just the loss of the sauce, but I really prefer to wait a few minutes between courses (5 minutes would have been nice). The waiter hovered over us until dessert, interrupting us ever couple of bites to pour water or wine, or to ask how things were. I enjoy attentive service, but my husband agreed that this was a bit intrusive. So why was the timing of our entrees so off? OK, our entrees were really terrific. He had the Pan-Seared Jumbo Day Boat Scallops with Ragu of bacon lardons, Brussels sprouts, Oyster mushrooms, and a Dijon scallop cream. The 4 scallops were jumbo, and they were perfectly seared, which can only happen if they're dry scallops. Husband loved the Brussels sprouts and the mushrooms, and liked the sauce although he said he didn't taste much Dijon. My Herb-Crusted Flounder was a large filet nicely crusted and not overcooked, with great flavor. I loved the broccoli rabe, on which it rested, and the wild mushroom agnolotti. It was delicious! The wine we picked to go with our entrees was Chinon, Charles Joguet "Cuvee Terrior", Loire, 2004. It was light enough for the fish and set off the mushrooms in several of our dishes very nicely, IMO. It was, however, served at room, rather than cellar, temperature, and was opened and poured before we had gotten halfway through our white wine. Because I had read such positive comments about desserts here, I decided to order one--the cookies and ice cream plate. It didn't rock my world. I should have stuck with my original plan to end my meal with the pear and blue cheese salad, or even the caesar salad. Husband's torte (plum Florentine?) was reported to be "OK." I looked for carrot cake after reading prior comments, but there was none on the menu. I do plan to go back, but will request to sit in a different section, hoping for a couple of minutes between courses. To our waiter's credit, however, we asked for recommendations, ordered the dishes that he recommended, and were extremely happy with the food.
starfish Posted March 25, 2007 Posted March 25, 2007 It was absolutely fabulous, and I was declaring the best single dish I've had in a very long time, and breaking off little pieces of bread to sop up the pool of truffle emulsion (I would have used a spoon, if I had had one), when a server appeared with our entrees. She got close enough to see that I was still enjoying my appetizer, and turned around to head back to the kitchen. Our waiter stopped her, took the dishes from her, and brought them to our table. My husband's appetizer plate having been removed, he placed his entree in front of him and took my appetizer plate out from under my hand poised with bread, replacing it with my entree. I declined his offer to leave the appetizer plate on the side, because I didn't see how it could fit on the small table, and glumly bid farewell to the rest of the truffle sauce. What should I have done? Sent our entrees back to the kitchen to sit under a heat lamp? It wasn't just the loss of the sauce, but I really prefer to wait a few minutes between courses (5 minutes would have been nice). The waiter hovered over us until dessert, interrupting us ever couple of bites to pour water or wine, or to ask how things were. I enjoy attentive service, but my husband agreed that this was a bit intrusive. So why was the timing of our entrees so off? at the start of your meal, let your server know that you like to have a few minutes between courses.
Drive-by Critic Posted April 19, 2007 Posted April 19, 2007 My husband and I had a phenomenal dinner at Willow last night. I noticed that this restaurant doesn't come up much here. I hope that's not because people aren't going there. The dining public owes it to itself to make sure this place thrives. Unless you live or work in Ballston, I suppose it isn't much of a dining destination, with only a handful of restaurants, many of them lunch spots. This place should be in everyone's rotation - though it is slightly pricey, it is worth every dime. The food is that good. When RTS is SRO, shoot down Wilson Blvd to Ballston (it's on N. Fairfax Drive, in the same building as Rio Grande) and (apologies to Mr. Landrum) you will have just as good a meal - and that's saying a lot since we worship RTS so much that we actually cross the river to eat there. We unfortunately didn't have much time and couldn't really do the experience justice, but what we had was just as good as it gets. Tim had a green salad of organic greens with hearts of palm, dressed with an ethereal sherry vinaigrette and topped with shaved manchego. It doesn't get fresher than this - the greens and the cheese were of the highest quality, and the dressing was applied with a very light hand. Just incredible how important good quality ingredients are. The rolls - not exactly Parker House, but close - were warm and fresh but needed a dash of salt. Tim's day boat scallops were perfectly balanced with a ragu of lardons, brussel sprouts, and mushrooms, topped with a dijon mustard cream - but again, with a light hand. It is unusual that the last bite of a dish is as satisfying as the first. My pan roasted halibut was a perfect piece of fish, perfectly cooked and served over a bed of mixed squash. For desert, Tim had a strawberry and passion fruit parfait. Heavenly, though the passion fruit in particular was so good that I would have preferred that the ratios be reversed (it was two parts strawberry to one part passion fruit). My citron tart had a home-made quality. The crust was perfect. Most tarts are filled with lemon curd. Not this one. This one had a wonderful consistency that I can't describe. Blackberry coulis on the side, and two fresh blackberries on top. About a year ago, I had lunch there...a delectable, juicy burger that elevated burger to the rank of real food (and I'm incredibly fussy about burgers...), and I'd always wanted to try it for dinner. Beyond all expectations, and now I need an excuse to return. The space is so comfortable and pleasant and relaxing. Beautiful and elegant without being stuffy or fussy. Just enough decoration, superb lighting. We were there early, so I can't comment on the noise level. Only a few tables were occupied. Though there were 3 or 4 occupied right near us and we couldn't overhear conversation from any of them. The spacing of the tables seems quite nice. There is also a private back room. The service was pitch perfect (I think it was one of the co-owners who took care of us...). Not obtrusive, just pleasant and well-timed and thorough. We had mentioned that we didn't have much time, and the dinner was paced accordingly. It would have been nice to linger and to have had more time (for drinks, wine) but that's our excuse for a return visit. And they update the menu on their elegant, well-designed website every single freaking day. http://www.willowva.com/directions.html I mean honestly - everything that folks find fault with about pretty much every other restaurant that is written up here - I defy you to find those faults at Willow. They really have it covered. This place was so good that I felt I had to break my own vow never to post again. Ellen
FunnyJohn Posted April 19, 2007 Posted April 19, 2007 My husband and I had a phenomenal dinner at Willow last night.Great Post, Ellen. I wholeheartedly endorse your point about how Willow should be on our community's rotation as much as possible. As a long time resident of that area in NOVA, I have seen too many restaurants come and go in the space now occupied by Willow. It is chef owned and operated, and there is a strong commitment to food and service on their part. So Rockwellians -- come one, come all!
DonRocks Posted April 19, 2007 Posted April 19, 2007 It sounds like Willow has found its legs (click). Thanks for reminding me to make another overdue visit. Cheers, Rocks.
deangold Posted April 19, 2007 Posted April 19, 2007 I thought Willow had one of the best offerings at Taste of the Nations.... a yummy crab roll. Tasty, flavorful, well made. I will add it to our list of places to try before a show at the Sig.
Walrus Posted April 20, 2007 Posted April 20, 2007 Willow was one of the stops during our week-long celebration of Tripewriter's birthday. He loved the flatbread -- in fact, he's been agitating to go back just to have more flatbread -- and we both had pleasant meals. I have to say, the decor/atmosphere of the place was pretty offputting for me, but perhaps that was a function of where we were sitting. The food, however, was very nice. I really enjoyed my ravioli appetizer scallops, and Tripewriter also enjoyed the other scallop dish on the menu. One thing I really loved about the place was that the menu is The Menu -- it's written up fresh every single day, showcasing the ingredients that chef feels best about that day. Willow is definitely someplace that we'll visit again.
monavano Posted April 20, 2007 Posted April 20, 2007 Based on the recent buzz here, I'm taking Mr. MV tommorow to celebrate his birthday. Can't wait
monavano Posted April 23, 2007 Posted April 23, 2007 Based on the recent buzz here, I'm taking Mr. MV tommorow to celebrate his birthday. Can't wait Mr. MV's birthday dinner was at Willow in Sat night. I can say that I agree with the above regarding the food. The mushroom ravioli, gnocchi and scallops in particular were excellent. Moreover, the lovely way they acknowledged his birthday really made the meal special. I had booked the reservation on OpenTable.com and noted that we'd be celebrating Mr. MV's bday. To my pleasant surprise, our menus were headed with a birthday greeting to him, and our dessert was topped with a candle. A small embossed wine glass filled with cookies and biscotti came to our table attached with his special menu at the end of our meal. These touches were thoughtful and classy, although Mr. MV wondered if there would be any singing after seeing the menu!
Walrus Posted April 24, 2007 Posted April 24, 2007 They did the same birthday treats for Tripewriter after they found out during the course of the dinner that we were celebrating his birthday Those miniature chocolate chip cookies were some of the best chocolate chip cookies I've had. Don't tell Tripewriter
FunnyJohn Posted June 13, 2007 Posted June 13, 2007 Avoiding the rain last evening, I stopped in at Willow and ended up having my dinner there. Here's the new deal now on offer: on Monday's for dinner you can have their most excellent burger ($12), on Tuesday's it's chicken ($15), and on Wednesday's hanger steak ($16). Last night the chicken was a Milanese -- pounded on the bone tender, seasoned perfectly and lightly breaded, and served with a creamed spinach and cheese tartlet that was just as good. The tartlet pastry was savory and buttery and worked harmoniously with the spinach cheese filling. For dessert (no carrot cake alas) they were serving this marvelous white frosting with cream custard filling passion fruit and berries cake. I got an enormous slab, half of which is now in my refrigerator fcr tonight. Allison Christ will be assuming duties as the new sommelier. Go!
DPop Posted June 26, 2007 Posted June 26, 2007 Based on the strong recent recommendations on here, I took the fiancee to give Willow a try last night and was very pleased. We sat at the bar to try out the burger that John recommended, which was very tasty if not a huge mess to try to eat. Tons of sauteed onions, mushrooms, and cheese and a tangy BBQ sauce that hit the spot on this plate. We also had the Orchid, which was a paper thin flatbread pizza with fava bean pesto, pecorino and fontina, lemon, and fresh basil. Again, this was a little on the greasy side, but very tasty and more than enough for two people to share as an appetizer. We passed on the fancier items on the menu, but everything we had at the bar last night convinced us that this is definitely one of the best restaurants in Arlington and will be in our rotation for the near future.
synaesthesia Posted September 24, 2007 Posted September 24, 2007 I don't know if this should go in the Dupont Farmers Market thread or not. But today as one of the special foods for the week at the market, the pastry chef was making "apple fritters." They were more like squares of custard with apples in them, coated with egg and breadcrumbs and deep fried. They then piped caramel sauce over them. They were very yummy, thought not very apple-y in flavor. But deep fried custard. Yum! Apparently, it was special for the market, and she occasionally makes them for large parties, etc.
Baccala Posted October 29, 2007 Posted October 29, 2007 My wife and I took a friend to Willow on Friday night to celebrate her Birthday. We have been there a few times and with each visit we like it more and more. I found both the food and service to be perfect. I was impressed with the special efforts they took for my friend’s birthday. They prepared a special menu and provided her with cookies in a bag, with the menu attached as we were leaving. The menu is creative and the food quality is excellent. This is an example of a place where the chef has a passion about food in my opinion. Apps: Willow “Fritto Misto” Platter with Smoky Paprika Sauce - Prosciutto Friters, Fried Chorizo Stuffed Olives and Blue Cheese Dates-Excellent flavor combinations and product quality. This was also perfectly fried to allow for the combinations to come through. This is an excellent dish to share with the table, but might be a bit much for one person. Shrimp Scampi Gratin -Creamy Fennel, Orzo Pasta, Lemon and Basil with grilled Cibatta Bread-Two plump perfectly cooked shrimp sitting atop a well prepared orzo and fennel mixture. Was a great combination of taste and textures. Smoked Onion and Sherry Soup Gruyere Cheese Gratin-A well prepared soup with a nice balance of taste. Salad Willow Caesar Salad Fried Croutons, Imported White Anchovies, Shaved Gouda and Lemon. This was a miss. I was looking forward to it when the plate arrived. The presentation was nice, a nice portion of romaine, a generous portion of cheese and white anchovies. The dressing suffered from to much lemon and the cheese lacked enough of a punch as did the croutons. Dinner Pepper Crusted Beef Rib Eye or Filet Mignon-Medallions $27 Potato & Smoked Gouda Tart, Red Wine Mushrooms, Crispy Onions and Beef Jus. Excellent all around, perfectly prepared and the meat was prepared as ordered. Everything worked. Sautéed Jumbo Day Boat Scallops -Squash Ravioli, Shiitake Mushrooms, Crispy Bacon and Smoky Tomato Sauce- Excellent plump/succulent scallops perfectly prepared. This was a great combination. Miniature Rack of Pork Stuffed with Housmade Sausage -Creamy Salsify, Cipolini Onions, Roasted Potatoes and Ham Hock Jus Three perfectly prepared chops delivered as ordered. The meat was flavorful and tender. The sausage was a perfect combination with the pork, full of flavors without detracting from the chop itself. The potatoes were diced I a cream sauce and put on a puff pastry. The creaminess of the potatoes and the buttery taste of the pastry were excellent. I loved the cipolini. Overall the dish was perfect and hope it stays around for a while.
cheezepowder Posted October 30, 2007 Posted October 30, 2007 Miniature Rack of Pork Stuffed with Housmade Sausage -Creamy Salsify, Cipolini Onions, Roasted Potatoes and Ham Hock JusThree perfectly prepared chops delivered as ordered. The meat was flavorful and tender. The sausage was a perfect combination with the pork, full of flavors without detracting from the chop itself. The potatoes were diced I a cream sauce and put on a puff pastry. The creaminess of the potatoes and the buttery taste of the pastry were excellent. I loved the cipolini. Overall the dish was perfect and hope it stays around for a while. Tracy O'Grady developed her miniature rack of pork from looking for a unique cut of pork, and it sounds like she'll keep the pork chops around for a while. Click for WashingtonPost article.
Baccala Posted October 30, 2007 Posted October 30, 2007 Tracy O'Grady developed her miniature rack of pork from looking for a unique cut of pork, and it sounds like she'll keep the pork chops around for a while. Click for WashingtonPost article. Thanks for the link. The supplier has the recipe on their site. If anyone is interested. http://www.gamemeat.com/pdf/Tracys-Rib-Rack-recipe.pdf
Dave Pressley Posted October 30, 2007 Posted October 30, 2007 I like Willow. Please don't take my post as an insult here, but can they get a new person to write their menus that has a little more creativity?! Currently on the lunch menu are: Willow "Fritto Misto" Platter Willow Caesar Salad with Mustard and Herb Crusted Chicken Hickory Smoked Double Willow Burger ...and of course a flatbread called the "Willow". I don't understand the need to repeat the name of the restaurant so often on the menu. Does it strike anyone else as being unnecessary?
FunnyJohn Posted October 11, 2008 Posted October 11, 2008 I've been spending a lot of time enjoying the wine-by-the-glass list compiled by Willow's excellent young somellier Alison Christ, but after being guilt-tripped by the bartender for never having any food (not true I've recently had several lunches there), I decided to order dinner last night. I will say what I've said before about Willow -- it just keeps getting better and better. I ordered the crispy duck two ways which includes a duck leg confit with a whole lot of rich meat plus the delectable crusty skin, and a generous serving of succulent breast with a duck jus. Resting underneath this rich offering of protein (and fat ) is a pouch of pumpkin risotto -- creamy and savory. I finished off the repast with a slice of the "cake of the day" a chocolate raspberry layer cake every bit up to snuff from the oven of Kate Jansen. All accompanied by a delicious Givry Chambertin which is on the wine-by-the-glass list. Go now!
collije Posted November 20, 2008 Posted November 20, 2008 I'm in Ballston this week taking an end-of-year training class, and haven't been to the neighborhood lately so this was a perfect time for lunch at Willow. Sat at the bar, & enjoyed a nice conversation w/ Alison who was behind the bar. I ordered a medium-rare Hickory Smoked Double Willow Burger [2 patties, 8 oz. total] with Caramelized Onions, Red Wine Mushrooms and Havarti and includes Hickory BBQ sauce on the side and a nice amount of wedge potato fries. Deee-lish and served at a perfect medium-rare temp. I forgot how much I enjoy the food here. Had a nice glass of 2005 Ribera del Duero to accompany the meal. Might come back on Friday to try something else!
DPop Posted November 20, 2008 Posted November 20, 2008 That burger is so damn good. Did they take the bacon off of it or is it still on there?
collije Posted November 22, 2008 Posted November 22, 2008 That burger is so damn good. Did they take the bacon off of it or is it still on there? I didn't see bacon on the menu for the burger. I'm sure you could gently ask & easily get it. Oh, & on my final training day I stopped back for lunch again. This time I had the 1/2 sandwich & soup special for $11. For soup I had their delicious Wild Mushroom Bisque w/ Sage Oil & Parsley [quite rich & flavorful, nicely surprised that they made it with a bacon base ... rendered bacon fat, of course it's good!]. And for the sandwich I did their Grilled Turkey Reuben w/ Gruyere. Nice combination. For a side I couldn't stop from ordering the Fried Mac 'n Cheese balls [oh so not healthy ... 5-cheese fondue sauce used, but tasty!]. Glad I worked out that day to make me feel better Good pricing, nice space. Must remember to keep Willow as a regular dining option & expose more friends to the place.
FunnyJohn Posted March 18, 2009 Posted March 18, 2009 I violated my own principles and went to a bar on St. Patrick's Day -- but the bar happened to be Willow so it was ok. Jim -- one of the bartenders -- was inappropriately dressed in orange (have to find out how many fights he got into after I left) but the wine list is as good as ever. Allison -- the sommelier -- proudly showed her wines under $50 list which is quite impressive and worth a gander if you are of a mind for a good bottle to go with a good meal.
DonRocks Posted April 13, 2009 Posted April 13, 2009 I'm glad I'm not forced to name the best restaurant in Arlington, because I'm not sure I could. I haven't been upstairs to Eventide, but there can be credible arguments made for Tallula, Liberty Tavern, and Ray's The Steaks. That having been said, hold a gun to my head and I might just blurt out "Willow!", which is currently one of the most underrated restaurants in the entire DC area - I'm doing my part to put a stop to that right now. Willow's biggest strength might be that it doesn't have any glaring weaknesses: the atmosphere, service, food, and beverage program are all clicking right now, and now that Clarendon has become such a hotspot, the free parking in Willow's garage is looking awfully attractive. Alison Christ, Willow's titular sommelier (who has been at the restaurant since four months after they opened) has done a splendid job with the wine list, which is somewhat expensive in terms of markup, but so well-chosen that it's worth the premium. On my most-recent visit, there were 32 wines by the glass, 34 wines by the half-bottle, and 275 wines by the bottle (for dessert wines, there are an additional 17, 6, and 5, respectively). There's also a separate page listing 50 wines, each costing under $50, and this is where you should be looking. A 2007 Domaine de Reuilly "Les Pierres Plates" ($48, Reuilly being a Loire Valley AOC) imported by Kermit Lynch was one of the best Sauvignon Blancs I've had in recent memory, and I'm actively seeking to purchase a case of this wine at retail. This is an excellent wine program, and there are also fully 30 beers by the bottle that are worth ordering. The best Gougères in town are neither at Central, nor the popover at BLT Steak (a disappointing version of which I had just two nights ago); they are absolutely right here at Willow, on the bar menu. Served with an irresistible black-truffle dipping sauce, these $8 beauties thankfully take a full fifteen minutes to make, and they are worth every minute of the wait. Crispy Crab "Cakes" ($16) are a mini-stack of two, with tempura-like batter demanding immediate attention. And look at what they're served with: purple potatoes, watermelon radish, pink grapefruit, and lemon-butter sauce. Purple potatoes sounds like an outlier here, but it's a well-integrated combination that I'd happily order again. And of all the flatbreads I've tried here, the Oliva ($18) may have been the best. A hearty, perhaps Nicoise-inspired combination of smoked tuna, green-olive tapenade, parmesan, fontina, and arugula, it's as good as it sounds (on their website, it's listed as Il Tonna Affumicato). I had Willow highly rated in the past, but one off-night last year temporarily took it off my radar screen; I won't be making that mistake again. A great night for this restaurant. Cheers, Rocks.
Walrus Posted April 13, 2009 Posted April 13, 2009 We also thought that their gougeres were the best we've had. I think that the only thing that keeps us away is, sadly, the furnishing/decor. The food is excellent -- we've never had a bad meal there -- but when we've dined there in the past, it's felt to me like dining in a cheesy hotel conference room. Maybe I'm just not seeing it right, and I'll be more than happy to return, but I think that's why it's been at the bottom of my list for so long...
nator53 Posted April 16, 2009 Posted April 16, 2009 Hey Don, this is my 2nd post! It was a great time waiting on you last week! I am very happy that you gave us such a glowing review. Sometimes I wonder why we don't receive BETTER accolades in "certain" publications. But, I'm no expert, except for making drinks! Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that the Gougeres you spoke so highly of, are ACTUALLY only $5. They're part of our rather inexpensive bar menu, which has about 8 or 9 snacks for $5(sorry for the shameless plug!)! I guess being in Ballston is somewhat akin to mediocrity.....I hope more people get the word about us soon enough! Thanks so much and I hope to see you again soon. - Jim - The Bartender at Willow By the way, having worked in many a cheesy hotel, I can honestly say that Willow has a very warm and comforting look and feel to it! It's not at all stuffy, but it's not a sports pub, either!
hopsing Posted April 26, 2009 Posted April 26, 2009 I had been to Willow about 5 or 6 times since it opened, but kind of forgot about it plus it was a little pricey. However, after this review, it got on my radar again so we went tonight. Wonderful meal! Just interesting new taste treats we never had before. Loved the cauliflower tart and the day boat scallops with shitake mushrooms. Everything was wonderful. My husband who is very picky really enjoyed the crabcakes and filet mignon. Plus we had a nice bottle of Crianza Rioja. We will be back!
susannewton Posted April 29, 2009 Posted April 29, 2009 I ate lunch at Willow yesterday afternoon, and it was perfect. The outdoor patio was lovely, and I sat under the wind chime looking at lush flower pots and sniffing whatever was flowering. Mushroom bisque was rich, creamy, earthy. I ordered the flatbread/salad lunchtime special, which had just the right amount of food. Flatbread with blue cheese and carmelized onions was crisp on the bottom, tasty on top. The salad was my least favorite part of the meal, but it was good, with crisp celery, cucumber and radish sticks. For wine, I had the viognier for $8. Dessert was strawberry rhubarb crisp w/icecream. I asked for it room temp if possible (I don't like it when the icecream melts too fast). They happily complied, and the topping was sweet and crunchy, while the filling was tart and tangy. Even with the office buildings and traffic, I really felt transported out of the Ballston corridor to somewhere much more charming. Very much worth a visit if you haven't been. Go now and enjoy the patio!
Joe H Posted April 30, 2009 Posted April 30, 2009 A friend asked me to post this for them to share with the board: they had lunch at Willow recently and "when asked for separate checks, the waiter not only didn't fuss, but very graciously and honestly told them that the restaurant's policy for separate checks required that the gratuity be added on automatically. We all appreciated his candor, because we knew that many waiters would have said nothing, hoping that patrons wouldn't notice and would inadvertently double-tip. After an excellent lunch (a sandwich made with high quality ingredients, made special with excellent bread and a nice side of beets and green beans, and red onion rings that were like crunchy oniony lace), he returned with the checks and told us he hadn't added the gratuities after all. This is the kind of wait staff you would always hope to have but almost never do. And something that is always a special touch, and that makes me want to return - a very warm and genuine farewell (from Tracy O'Grady, I think)."
dori Posted May 4, 2009 Posted May 4, 2009 I went to Willow for drinks and appetizers a couple weeks ago. I've been talking it up ever since. I sat at the bar with a friend. The bartenders were so nice and welcoming that I'd have considered coming back even if the food sucked. But the food didn't suck. It was great! We got a few of the $5 dishes (happy hour special). The crab dip (artichoke crab dip? I don't remember...) was so good that we ordered it twice. I know crab dip is hard to mess up, but this was the best execution of it that I've ever had. We also split a salad (which they split for us). It was perfect. Willow is pretty out of the way for me, but I still plan on going back. The food was great, and the service was exceptional.
apples Posted July 27, 2009 Posted July 27, 2009 Stopped by Willow last Thursday with a girlfriend, after hearing great things. Sat at the bar and had attentive (but not overly so) service from the very knowledgeable bartender. I wish they'd had a cocktail list, but I was very happy with my dirty martinis. My friend and I ordered and split the mushroom and thyme flatbread ($10), which was a little overly cheesy/greasy and under mushroomy for my taste, but was very well seasoned and enjoyed. We also tried the grilled cheese poppers ($5), which were breaded squares of something akin to cheddar jack with a really tasty tomato-bisque-esq dipping sauce, and the fish and chips ($5), which included several tasty onion rings, a couple fried shrimp, a couple nice hunks of white fish, and, I think, a ring or two of calamari, plus a fried lattice of potato-y goodness. That was plenty of food for the two of us, but I left with an intense craving for something green, and a need for a wetnap to get all the grease off my hands. Luckily, I was too sauced off two martinis to do much about it. Overall, a very pleasant experience, and we'll be back.
Merry Mary Posted August 24, 2009 Posted August 24, 2009 Had another wonderful dinner at Willow last Friday night. We got a late reservation and the room was not full, but let's hope that is just because it is late August. Between us we had: Roasted Beets and Goat's Cheese Salad - Frisee, Endive, Romanie, Apples, Candied Walnuts & Beet Vinaigrette - his stardard, fine but I find the walnuts too sugary Heirloom Tomato Salad - Local Heirloom Tomatoes, Basil Marscapone Mousse & Garlic Croutons with Basil Balsalmic Glaze - a standout, large slices of yellow and red heirlooms and wedges of a cherokee purple, no blight issues here, a generous portion and could have had another for entree Crispy Fried Crab "Cake & Soft-Shell Crab - Corn Pancake, Corn Sauce, Radish & Thyme - delicate, lightly seasoned, never enough soft shell for me Brian's Ceviche Shrimp, Scallops, Crab, Mango, Chilies, Thai Basil & Crispy Yucca - had never ordered, so fresh and light, really nicely done Sautéed Alaskan Halibut Filet - Fennel Ravioli, Asparagus, Snap Peas, Basil & Fennel Broth - so fresh, and a large portion I could not finish Pepper Crusted Dry-Aged Sirloin - Creamed Spinach Tart, Portobello Fries & Red Wine-Shallot Sauce - had a portobello fry, quite tasty and never had them done like that The food is outstanding, the service professional as always.
ktmoomau Posted September 18, 2009 Posted September 18, 2009 Went to the bar at Willow the other night to try the $5 menu because I wasn't up for cooking and it is conveniently right beside our condo building. Had a glass of Gruner Veltliner, which was refreshing and crisp not really any after taste, it was ok. It would have been really well liked by my SIL. We ordered the gougeres, spring rolls, chicken nuggets and crab and artichoke dip. The gougeres were great- put the ones at Central to shame in all seriousness, light puffy, cheesy the dough wasn't over worked or cooked and the dipping sauce with them adds a nice salty balance to their taste. The Spring Rolls were good- they were like two bites size which made it nice for sharing and the dipping sauce was good, they are not something I would have to reorder but they weren't bad at all. I am not sure how I felt about the texture of the chicken nugget- it tasted like they minced breast meat then put it back together breaded and fried it. The texture as it broke apart in your mouth was just a little odd. A nice flavor but really odd texture. The crab and artichoke dip was by far the best dish with a really nice rich crab and cream flavor balanced by the tang of the artichoke and a nice crumb topping. Had sticky toffee pudding, one of my favorite desserts, for dessert I like the fruit sauce they serve with it that really cuts some of the sweetness in a great way. It tasted very peachy a little lemony then had all the good sweetness of the toffee with the dense but moist cake. It was a nice time to sit at the bar, service was nice and it was a good deal for Hubby and I who weren't too hungry for a big dinner. I would go back am interested in trying some other things recommended by our neighbor at the bar- fish and chips and blt with halibut. Will probably do a girls night happy hour here as it was very affordable and a nice place to relax at the bar after work.
FunnyJohn Posted September 28, 2009 Posted September 28, 2009 Breaking News: Willow's young and talented Alison Crist is departing [see Liberty thread] and Christianne Sargent from Source will be assuming the Sommelier duties. Alison's legacy at Willow includes a very fine selection of moderately priced bottles (Fifty for under $50) and attentive service to Willow's diners. I wish her continued success, and look forward to experiencing Ms. Sargent's take on the wine biz.
hapatite Posted September 28, 2009 Posted September 28, 2009 I went to Willow last November for my then-company's Orientation/Training dinner. I did not care for my food at all, in fact I didn't like any bit of it. I remember the scallops being slightly cold and having large amounts of grit in them. I don't care for wine (other than ume-shu or sparkling), so that's not a redeeming factor for me. Even though my boyfriend and I plan to move to Arlington and we both used to work there, I have no intent on ever going to Willow. I have tried to forget my bad dinner there, so forgive me for lack of details.
DonRocks Posted December 11, 2009 Posted December 11, 2009 Alison Christ, Willow's titular sommelier (who has been at the restaurant since four months after they opened) has done a splendid job with the wine list, which is somewhat expensive in terms of markup, but so well-chosen that it's worth the premium. On my most-recent visit, there were 32 wines by the glass, 34 wines by the half-bottle, and 275 wines by the bottle (for dessert wines, there are an additional 17, 6, and 5, respectively). There's also a separate page listing 50 wines, each costing under $50, and this is where you should be looking. A 2007 Domaine de Reuilly "Les Pierres Plates" ($48, Reuilly being a Loire Valley AOC) imported by Kermit Lynch was one of the best Sauvignon Blancs I've had in recent memory, and I'm actively seeking to purchase a case of this wine at retail. This is an excellent wine program, and there are also fully 30 beers by the bottle that are worth ordering. The best Gougères in town are neither at Central, nor the popover at BLT Steak (a disappointing version of which I had just two nights ago); they are absolutely right here at Willow, on the bar menu. Served with an irresistible black-truffle dipping sauce, these $8 beauties thankfully take a full fifteen minutes to make, and they are worth every minute of the wait. ... I had Willow highly rated in the past, but one off-night last year temporarily took it off my radar screen; I won't be making that mistake again. A great night for this restaurant. Sommelier Alison Christ has departed for Northside Social, her role being filled by Christianna Sargent (name remembered courtesy of Missy Frederick of Washington Business Journal - Willow's website still lists Alison as sommelier). The wines by-the-glass were expensive enough so that this wine lover stuck with beer. First, a bottle of Weyerbacher 'Merry Monks' Ale ($8) from Easton, PA, while I waited for my Warm Gruyères Cheese Puffs ($5) from the bar menu. I raved about these in the above post as "the best Gougères in town," which, based on tonight's performance, isn't even close to being true. No longer $8, you now get eight large puffs for $5 (the entire bar menu is $5). These had the persistent impression of being undercooked (despite taking the full 15 minutes to arrive), with too much cheese in the middle mimicking raw dough, and any finesse that previously escalated (picture a gougère riding a high-speed escalator) the puff to the gold-medal podium, absent. When I go out on a limb, like I did for these incredible Gougères, I feel an obligation to "right my wrong" when they don't meet my expectations the second time around - "Best In DC" is quite a statement. Best In DC tonight? No way. But $5 for 8 of these, with that same, irresistible dipping sauce? A screaming Yes! Yes! Yes! bargain. I've fallen in love with the Belgian bottled beer Gulden Draak ($12), the name translating to Golden Dragon, and arriving at over 10.5% alcohol in a beautiful, opaque, white bottle. This Belgian ale has a vortex of complexity, but is in very good balance, like a great wine, and is so potent that it's the equivalent of drinking a half-bottle of German Spätlese (even though you don't realize it as you're ordering your second one ). It paired well with the Fish Stew Served in a Roasted Pumpkin ($29) - "Tuna, Shrimp & Calamari with a Thai Coconut Milk Broth in a Roasted Pumpkin" is how the online menu describes it, but it's more complex than that (there were mussels, for example), and more visually interesting. The overly mild broth is certainly Thai-influenced, and the diced potatoes made it come across as more of a slightly Thai-tinged clam chowder as opposed to a Tom Kha Gai. While there were probably a half-dozen types of seafood here, the two incredible bleached-white rings of calamari were the highlights. I cannot imagine the total cost of seafood in this cleverly presented entrée being any more than $5-6. My dinner tonight at Willow was good, and in the Dining Guide, it unquestionably remains the top restaurant in Ballston, but out of the ten-or-so times I've dined here, this visit fell somewhere in the middle of the pack. Incidentally, at 9 PM on a frigid December Thursday, the bar area was packed. The $5 bar menu is a fantastic bargan, the teaser item to get people in there and drink expensive glasses of wine (which come in huge pours). Instead of the "50 under 50" section of the wine list (which features 50 bottles under $50), I'd rather see "20 under "20." That would be much more impressive, and would afford truly budget dining at this otherwise pricey restaurant. Cheers, Rocks.
agm Posted December 11, 2009 Posted December 11, 2009 Sommelier Alison Christ has departed for Northside Social, her role being filled by Christianna Sargent (name remembered courtesy of Missy Frederick of Washington Business Journal - Willow's website still lists Alison as sommelier). Or you could have looked two posts up to get the name
FunnyJohn Posted December 11, 2009 Posted December 11, 2009 My dinner tonight at Willow was good, and in the Dining Guide, it unquestionably remains the top restaurant in Ballston, but out of the ten-or-so times I've dined here, this visit fell somewhere in the middle of the pack. Incidentally, at 9 PM on a frigid December Thursday, the bar area was packed. The $5 bar menu is a fantastic bargan, the teaser item to get people in there and drink expensive glasses of wine (which come in huge pours). Instead of the "50 under 50" section of the wine list (which features 50 bottles under $50), I'd rather see "20 under "20." That would be much more impressive, and would afford truly budget dining at this otherwise pricey restaurant. Cheers, Rocks. A couple of days ago Tracy (chef-owner) told me that recently the bar has been slammed (not by Liberty standards, I'm sure) in comparison with the way it has been in the past. She said the bar is full practically every evening and the draw seems to be the $5 bar food menu. Aside from Gougeres there are many tasty offers -- a couple of which in combination would even pass for a nice supper. Also the flatbreads are available, and I think they are quite good. BTW Don, calling Willow still the best restaurant in Ballston may be damning with faint praise, don't you think? [if you want to give yourself a real treat don't skip dessert at Willow, Kate Jansen didn't win a RAMMY for nothing]
The Doctor Posted January 19, 2010 Posted January 19, 2010 Restaurant Week here was great tonight. I needed quick and casual, and the bar area provided just that. The lobster agnolotti first course was terrific with two or three tasty bites of lobster tucked into each pillow. The cod, my main course, was seasoned and done perfectly. And the desserts were definitely noteworthy. The top layer of the banana panna cotta was one of the finest chocolate products I've ever tasted.
ktmoomau Posted March 2, 2010 Posted March 2, 2010 I am a little disappointed to say we had an ok, but not great meal at Willow the other night. It is right in our neighborhood, so we really want this restaurant to be good and do well, but the other night, it was ok. Which is not good for a restaurant at it's price point and growing competition in the area. I started with mixed greens, which were very good, but not anything very unusual. Trying to watch what I eat a little, so went for the salad to balance my entree. Had the scallops for my entree. The scallops themselves were cooked well, but the dish overall was very rich and in need of some sort of balance. I think it needed some sort of acid component that it didn't have. It was served with artichoke ravioli, and while the pasta was well made, you couldn't taste the artichoke enough, I think it was overwhelmed by the sauces and purees. Hubby had the steak with portabello fries. The fries were not great, not prepared badly, but they didn't add anything to the dish and had little flavor and the creamed spinach didn't have a lot of flavor so the dish was very flat. I was kind of sad about this because they used to have a steak dish with mushrooms, mashed potatoes and a red wine reduction that was fantastic. But this dish again was missing a key flavor. I was glad I ordered the haricot verts with shallots as a side because I needed something to cut the richness. They were perfectly cooked, still crispy, but just tender enough these were very good. Our dining companions had flatbreads and they seemed to enjoy them, but I just don't expect to go to Willow for flatbreads, I expect more. So overall it was ok, but it didn't leave any of us really wanting to return. I wish it did.
DonRocks Posted May 9, 2010 Posted May 9, 2010 Hubby had the steak with portabello fries. The fries were not great, not prepared badly, but they didn't add anything to the dish and had little flavor I had an order of these Portobello Fries ($5) last week as a standalone, and I thought they were really good, particularly dipped into the Romesco sauce. It's odd, because there were aspects of them that seemed cooked to order, and aspects that didn't, but I really enjoyed them either way. Likewise the Fontina and Prosciutto Fritters ($5) with smoked paprika aioli. These fritters had no breading at all on the inside, and were just gooey balls of fried fontina flecked with pork (which is a very refreshing change from your standard fried mozzarella). At another level entirely was an incredible main course of Smoked Pekin Duck Breast ($27), served with a miniature duck confit and chicken pot pie (served decapitated), English pea mousse, and foie gras sauce. This was dish was so good (and took so long to prepare) that I wonder if it didn't get re-fired, or at least cooked with a little extra attention. (I tried to fly incognito, guys, I really did try.) Regardless, it reinforced what I already knew: Willow, when at its best, is a formidable kitchen. Cheers, Rocks
thetrain Posted October 16, 2010 Posted October 16, 2010 Had the sweetbreads appetizer on a recent visit - described as Crispy Veal Sweetbreads with Mushroom Ravioli, Grilled Maitake Mushrooms & Creamy Potato Emulsion - but I also tasted some truffle in the ravioli. I really enjoyed it and it was a sizable portion for a starter. The bar area here has a lot of friendly, local regulars; if someone is looking for a place to eat a nice solo meal at a bar and not feel awkward, this is the place. My only gripe is the lack of draft beer - but they do make a good martini and pour it dangerously full, so its a minor quibble.
jwhite Posted February 13, 2011 Posted February 13, 2011 My wife and I had an excellent, early Valentine's day dinner here. Service was near perfect; that wonderful balance of attentiveness without being intrusive. I started with the Coquilles St Jacques which was good but I must confess to wishing my wife would have shared more of her Sherry and Tomato Steamed Mussels. With the latter, the smokey ham really deepened the flavor of the tomato broth and made me wish I had more bread to sop it up. A minor quibble with both appetizers would be that the provided toast, while beautiful in presentation, lacked the mass required to mop up. For the mains I had the Duo of Veal and my wife had the Pan Roasted Flounder. The duo was osso bucco and a chop. I enjoyed the balance of the richness of the shank with the lighter chop which had a hint of tartness. Having previously lost some points by making a run at Guajillo's massive burrito on a date night, I did not give into my impulse to pick up the chop and get at the meat on the bone. Beverage-wise I will echo comments previously made about the wine list and note that I drank (good) beer. As I've seen the topic of Groupon use come up regularly, I'll add a note that we did use a Groupon. I did not present it at the start as I guess is technically required but instead simply put it and my credit card in the bill. When the server returned she simply mentioned the Groupon was applied and had both the adjusted receipt and an original one with the total highlighted, a not so subtle reminder for tipping purposes. I found this to work well and balance the concern of the diner about receiving lesser service while at the same time making sure a server does not get half a tip.
nator53 Posted February 14, 2011 Posted February 14, 2011 Hey, I'm so glad you enjoyed your meal! The Groupon promotion has been a tremendous success!! Combined with Restaurant Week last week and Valentine's weekend this week, people have gotten their money's worth. Sorry about the highlighter on the check, it was the most subtle way of saying "there's a MASSIVE discount on your check"......short of actually stating it on the check! Our staff is pretty gracious when it comes to promotions....we're not big into up-selling, either.....we just want you to enjoy your meal, tell your friends and come back......OFTEN!!!! Thanks for the positive critique and hope to see you again soon! Jim (Bartender at Willow)
Kibbee Nayee Posted August 6, 2011 Posted August 6, 2011 Lunch today at Willow was very good. I started with the heirloom tomato salad, nicely dressed with a creamy avocado sauce, extra virgin olive oil and a few drops of aged balsamic vinegar. It was very satisfying. I followed that with the sandwich special -- egg salad with dill that would have made a New York deli proud. One companion had the Norwegian salmon kabobs and two other companions had barbecue chicken flatbread. Thumbs up all around, with the added comment that the chicken on the flatbreads tasted like real chicken. I love it when dining companions who are used to eating at chains that get their chicken from Sysco bags come face to face with real food. I live for those epiphanies.
dcs Posted August 28, 2011 Posted August 28, 2011 I went to Safeway around noon today and noticed that the masses had cleaned the store out of all their toilet paper. I do not know how those folks spent their evening with all those rolls, but we had a lovely time at Willow during the so-far underwhelming storm. This was the last night of their extended Restaurant Week menu, with the optional $15 wine pairing. There was a lot to recommend here, but I will leave it at the tempura fried soft shell crab and crab cake with summer cous cous. The tempura batter on both was delicate and delicious, as was the crab. I believe a version of this is on the regular menu, and it is worth checking out. The service was outstanding at the bar and at the table, as usual. The place was hopping despite all the rain, with a Virginia Tech gathering taking up much of the central dining room. They called around 6:00pm to make sure we were still coming. As if that was ever considered!
FunnyJohn Posted August 31, 2011 Posted August 31, 2011 It's the end of an era with the departure of its (almost) founding bartender Jim Malfatti who has decided to get a real job as a teacher in Loudon County. His departure did not occur without a hale and farewell, however. Sigh, the departure of yet another bartender that I spent so much time and effort on breaking in.
jheathw Posted August 31, 2011 Posted August 31, 2011 It's the end of an era with the departure of its (almost) founding bartender Jim Malfatti who has decided to get a real job as a teacher in Loudon County. His departure did not occur without a hale and farewell, however. Sigh, the departure of yet another bartender that I spent so much time and effort on breaking in. My wife and I grabbed dinner at Willow's bar quite frequently before we traded in spontaneous restaurant excursions for bedtime routines a few years back...the food is why we liked going to Willow; Jim is why we chose to eat at the bar. The children of Loudon County are in good hands. Best of luck Jim! And remember, there's nothing wrong with a "yinz" now and then...
darkstar965 Posted September 12, 2011 Posted September 12, 2011 I'm rarely in Ballston but this past week had to choose a spot for a lunch there. Luckily, my dining companion knew Ballston better than I did and gave me three choices from which to pick. One, Willow, rang a number of bells but I'd never before been there. So, quick check here on this thread and that made clear Willow would have to be the choice. Really enjoyed Willow. Easily enough to head back without any reason other than for a good meal. FOOD Nothing disappointed. More specifically, we had: - Caesar salad ($7.50): This looked very good with fresh romaine and maybe a bit richer and thicker dressing than some others but I didn't try it. My dining companion finished it and clearly enjoyed. Then again, she'd been to Willow many times so probably knew something...many things...I didn't. - Mixed greens ($7.50): I wanted something healthy and lighter to start so went with this, boringly named, salad. It was very good as far as mixed greens go. Fresh and varied greens. Served with nice grapefruit and a tasty grapefruit-based vinaigrette to bring it all together. - Salmon kabob ($19.50): Didn't try. Looked very good. Happily finished. - Soft shell crab ($20.50): very well done. Maybe just less than one good sized crab fried tempura style. The tempura was delicate allowing the juicy crab to really star. - Coconut cream cake (aka the "cake of the day" @ $9): maybe my favorite thing. This was generously sized but light and perfectly (not too much) sweetened. I really enjoy a good coconut cake and this was better than most I've had. SERVICE Very good and professional. My dining companion arrived well before me and was well taken care of. We never felt over or under served. Friendly and effective. VALUE As I wrote at the beginning, I'll definitely be heading back to Willow; likely for dinner next. But, hard to call this a good value at $75 for two for lunch pre tip and tax and without any alcohol. We enjoyed everything we had but it wasn't exceptional so kind of expensive on the value meter IMHO. I look forward to more "research" to inform a more comprehensive view. PHILOSOPHICAL THOUGHT I was taken enough by the coconut cake to ask our server about Willow's pastry chef. As I'm sure many on this board know and as I learned, there is indeed a dedicated pastry chef who is also Willow's co-owner. Well no wonder, I thought. After leaving Willow, I thought about what ownership does to improve the quality of a restaurant's offerings. This cake was better than most others I've had so it of course made sense that the owner made it and it's what she specializes in. I had a talk recently with a different restauranteur about considering sharing equity (ownership) in a restaurant with key staff as a way not only to retain but also to ensure high morale, productivity and consistently superior output. My sense is that's not very common in the business but maybe worth considering for some. Howard Schultz (Starbuck's founder) was ridiculed in the early days for sharing equity with baristas. But that and generally better-than-average benefits and management were central to the success Starbucks later enjoyed. All that inspired by a damn fine piece of coconut cream cake. If you own part of a business...and you're formally trained to bake...your cake is probably better than the other guy's...or gal's.
FunnyJohn Posted September 15, 2011 Posted September 15, 2011 VALUE As I wrote at the beginning, I'll definitely be heading back to Willow; likely for dinner next. But, hard to call this a good value at $75 for two for lunch pre tip and tax and without any alcohol. We enjoyed everything we had but it wasn't exceptional so kind of expensive on the value meter IMHO. I look forward to more "research" to inform a more comprehensive view. PHILOSOPHICAL THOUGHT I was taken enough by the coconut cake to ask our server about Willow's pastry chef. As I'm sure many on this board know and as I learned, there is indeed a dedicated pastry chef who is also Willow's co-owner. Well no wonder, I thought. After leaving Willow, I thought about what ownership does to improve the quality of a restaurant's offerings. This cake was better than most others I've had so it of course made sense that the owner made it and it's what she specializes in. I had a talk recently with a different restauranteur about considering sharing equity (ownership) in a restaurant with key staff as a way not only to retain but also to ensure high morale, productivity and consistently superior output. My sense is that's not very common in the business but maybe worth considering for some. Howard Schultz (Starbuck's founder) was ridiculed in the early days for sharing equity with baristas. But that and generally better-than-average benefits and management were central to the success Starbucks later enjoyed. All that inspired by a damn fine piece of coconut cream cake. If you own part of a business...and you're formally trained to bake...your cake is probably better than the other guy's...or gal's. Well, coincidentally, Tracy has just introduced a Nosh Menu which is intended to offer some items on the full dinner menu individually priced. It merges the old bar menu offerings (which still are pretty good value for money) with these additional items. And I still say that Kate's Cakes are absolutely THE BEST! (although I can no longer eat them due to my no carb routine )
beachgirl54 Posted October 29, 2011 Posted October 29, 2011 Boy, did we miss him last night - gathered with some friends for an early birthday celebration and while the bar staff was nice, we had to work hard to grab their attention (it was busy but not overwhelming) and twice our drinks were removed before we were finished with them which, I think, was done by the busboy/helper. To their credit, the bartenders replaced the removed drinks but I really missed Jim last night. It's the end of an era with the departure of its (almost) founding bartender Jim Malfatti who has decided to get a real job as a teacher in Loudon County. His departure did not occur without a hale and farewell, however. Sigh, the departure of yet another bartender that I spent so much time and effort on breaking in.
Dave Pressley Posted October 30, 2011 Posted October 30, 2011 to get a real job as a teacher in Loudon County. Just saw this. I gotta say...saying that restaurant jobs aren't "real" jobs really pisses me off (because it is my career and livelihood). I know for many people they are a temporary thing, but the job pays the bills. Any job that pays the bills is a "real" job. Standing down from my soapbox now...
FunnyJohn Posted October 31, 2011 Posted October 31, 2011 Just saw this. I gotta say...saying that restaurant jobs aren't "real" jobs really pisses me off (because it is my career and livelihood). I know for many people they are a temporary thing, but the job pays the bills. Any job that pays the bills is a "real" job. Standing down from my soapbox now... Well Dave, that's how he put it
FunnyJohn Posted October 31, 2011 Posted October 31, 2011 Willow had its Halloween observance on Saturday Night. Anticipating a full bar and wanting a seat at it I timed my arrival early and came in during the staff meal. Tracy and Deb, gracious as ever, welcomed me and asked if I would like a bowl of what everyone else was having -- a lucious mac and cheese with baby peas. I said sure, but didn't want to interrupt their meeting (they were also going over additions/deletions from the wine list and the menu), but Deb soon came over and placed the mac 'n' cheese in front of me. Since I hadn't had lunch, it disappeared quickly along with the first glass of red that evening. The purpose of this post, however, is to highlight an item on the nosh menu -- pork belly "porchetta" which Tracy said she may remove from the menu soon because no one orders it. If it happens this may not be a national emergency, but would certainly be sad for all those who haven't had a chance to sample it. It is pork belly cured, then pounded a little and then wrapped around pork loin. I don't know how, but on the plate it looks like a single cut of meat and the effect is the fattiness and porkiness of the belly is firmed up with the meatiness of the loin. Oh and it is served with a jus -- I think with a note of sage -- that makes the whole thing all the more juicy. Really a clever and flavorful take on pork belly. Hope those who can will hop over and try it for themselves while it remains available. A good crowd of Halloween revelers materialized early in the evening and general merriment ensued. Photos here .
Dave Pressley Posted November 1, 2011 Posted November 1, 2011 Well Dave, that's how he put it I'm sure. (I didn't mean to insinuate you came up with that line.)
DonRocks Posted November 1, 2011 Posted November 1, 2011 I'm sure. (I didn't mean to insinuate you came up with that line.)
nator53 Posted November 1, 2011 Posted November 1, 2011 Just saw this. I gotta say...saying that restaurant jobs aren't "real" jobs really pisses me off (because it is my career and livelihood). I know for many people they are a temporary thing, but the job pays the bills. Any job that pays the bills is a "real" job. Standing down from my soapbox now... Correction.....I told John and all my other regulars that I was seeking a "grown-ups job".....which is a funny way we hourlies say we are getting a day job. I've been in the business for 25 years now and know the value of having such skills. Entertaining people with food and wine never gets old, but the body does and it's time to move......I'm still up for guest bartending, though!!!
nator53 Posted November 1, 2011 Posted November 1, 2011 Boy, did we miss him last night - gathered with some friends for an early birthday celebration and while the bar staff was nice, we had to work hard to grab their attention (it was busy but not overwhelming) and twice our drinks were removed before we were finished with them which, I think, was done by the busboy/helper. To their credit, the bartenders replaced the removed drinks but I really missed Jim last night. I miss Willow, too.....I'm rockin' the exurbs out in Leesburg!! I hope all my peeps are doing well?! My sarcastic wit is going unused out here......except on my fellow employees, of course!!
Sundae in the Park Posted November 30, 2011 Posted November 30, 2011 We tried Willow for the first time a few weeks back and were very happy. The food and service were quite nice, and the dining room was far larger and more pleasantly bustling that I'd imagined for the location. We enjoyed our choices (duck, scallops, mushroom soup, crabcake), but the things that stood out the most were that the flatbreads look very intriguing and the hot buttered rum (delivered by the widely grinning barman, as he'd only put it on the menu the night before) was AWESOME. 'Tis the season and this is a great drink for warming the head and the belly
Pizzaandbrew Posted December 1, 2011 Posted December 1, 2011 Correction.....I told John and all my other regulars that I was seeking a "grown-ups job".....which is a funny way we hourlies say we are getting a day job. I've been in the business for 25 years now and know the value of having such skills. Entertaining people with food and wine never gets old, but the body does and it's time to move......I'm still up for guest bartending, though!!! The incredible irony of this is the industry's collective perception of themselves. Few work harder for their money and yet fewer (on a "pound per pound" basis) are more reticent to honor or acknowledge the value of the service they provide.
porcupine Posted December 2, 2011 Posted December 2, 2011 We tried Willow for the first time a few weeks back and were very happy. So did we, but we were somewhat disappointed. The petit filet mignon was well prepared but nothing special, and the price seemed a little steep. Black bean and chorizo soup was also tasty but nothing inspired or unusual. Mr P and our friends also seemed to enjoy their meals, but no one was raving over anything. The ambiance is nice. Our friends seemed a little put off by the service, as we were largely ignored by the waiter, but I rather liked that, since I prefer not to be interrupted too often, especially when trying to catch up with friends, but I know that's an unusual perspective. The wait between starter and main courses was about an hour, and we were starting to gopher about for the waiter when the food arrived. It would've been nice to be told why, but then again, I was probably giving off the "don't pester me" vibe. Important note: there's a parking garage in the building, and parking is partly validated. I spent 15 minutes circling in an ever-widening radius before I found this out (actually I pulled off the road and called my husband, who'd arrived earlier). I think the last time I saw such an awful parking situation was in San Francisco. Also, a big F*** YOU to the four knuckleheads standing in a parking spot talking on a cell phone calling their circling friend in for a landing. I was really tempted to start a slow parallel park and just sit there, blocking traffic if need be, but I seldom act on revenge fantasies; that's what bitching on the internet is for. Also I didn't want to be late and risk having my car vandalized. [yeah Don I know off-topic rant go ahead and delete it later]
adjen Posted June 13, 2012 Posted June 13, 2012 Sat at the bar at Willow last night for late dinner and drinks and had unexpectedly fantastic food. I say unexpectedly because we got there ten mins before the kitchen was closing (took longer than expected to put the little one to bed), and the bartender said there was a new sommelier and they were in the process of re-doing the whole drinks menu. My appetizer of gnocchi with shaved asparagus, peas, carrots, in an asparagus sauce (for lack of a better term) tasted like the farmers market. And the gnocchi themselves were different in a good way. They tasted really potato-y and not doughy, with a slight crunch to the outside. A little like a potato hush puppy. Really yummy. And my halibut slider was a firm, perfectly seasoned croquette, and I liked the tartar sauce so much I ate it with a spoon. And the desserts are always a highlight. Last night I got the pineapple upside down cake, which was caramelly and acidic in the right proportions, and unlike many such cakes, it was actually moist. And finally, I have to mention the barley side that came with the roast chicken. I have never seen barley devoured so quickly.
captcourt Posted August 3, 2012 Posted August 3, 2012 My +1 and I walked in to the bar for drinks and dinner (as we try to do every few weeks), and who's standing there behind the bar but Chris Cunningham! He said he'd been there about 2 weeks. We are quiet, background devotees of his drinks from previous locations; my +1 mentioned one she'd had (I can't remember what it was), and he grinned and said brightly, "hey, how about a rickey!" She was happy with all three of them. After a glass of wine, I asked him to make me an interesting gin drink, nothing sweet, and he came back with a tasty black raspberry basil gin fizz. The food included the fish and chips, which had some perfectly fried, sweet scallops; the pork spring rolls and mussels with chorizo; and the caesar, which includes grated smoked gouda, was good enough to make my +1, who hates smoked cheese, reconsider that whole idea of splitting dishes. Dessert was the double chocolate cake. We're happy to have Chris in the neighborhood.
DannyNoonan Posted August 24, 2012 Posted August 24, 2012 We had an unusually bad experience last night at Willow, much different than what we have typically found there. It seems as if a few forces (they extended Restaurant Week and had a large private party and our waiter was apparently having an off night) might have conspired to bring about the events so we won't hold a grudge but it might take a little while for this to wear off. I won't go into detail on the missteps but they ranged from really, really slow service, uncleared plates, and not being offered happy hour drink prices to me being delivered the wrong entree after a really long wait. The result was that we spent longer than we cared to spend at dinner and I ended up not even eating because I didn't have time to wait for them to re-fire my proper entree. They comped us two glasses of wine for our troubles and apologized profusely. All was not lost, however. It was a pleasant evening to sit on the patio, I drank two well crafted Negronis, and the heirloom tomato salad with basil mascarpone was quite good. We'll give Willow another try at some point but maybe not for a little while.
SeanMike Posted August 24, 2012 Posted August 24, 2012 What time does the kitchen typically close here? I went late-ish on a Saturday night (around 9:30) a couple of weeks ago when I saw that they were open until 11...but the kitchen was already closed and the bar looked shut down. There were some people still hanging out on the patio, but I needed food...
Chris Cunningham Posted August 25, 2012 Posted August 25, 2012 It's been a full month since I took over at Willow and I too was a bit confused with a dining room that shuts around 9 pm or 9:30 even on weekends... But it seems that this has been in response to the fact that most of the diners have wrapped up by this time. I personally don't usually eat till 9 or later . We just haven't had the demand to stay open later and serve and after talking with some regulars they expressed a desire to come in later but know we don't usually serve late. I would like to build a later food and at least bar business and want those regulars and new guests to be able to at least know we r open till 11-12 on Friday and Saturdays. It's a case of build it and they will come... Hopefully I hope to implement this in September and at least have a consistent time at the bar for you to eat and drink Let me know of youre interested
Chris Cunningham Posted August 25, 2012 Posted August 25, 2012 Well I'm at least happy that the Negronis I made hit their mark I discussed your issues with Debra and she acknowledged the missteps that were made last night and the attempts to rectify them Thanks for your candor and please say hi next time you return.
Kibbee Nayee Posted August 25, 2012 Posted August 25, 2012 Willow has a Groupon thing going on right now. If you're a fan of Willow, this is a deal.
SeanMike Posted August 25, 2012 Posted August 25, 2012 I would like to build a later food and at least bar business and want those regulars and new guests to be able to at least know we r open till 11-12 on Friday and Saturdays. It's a case of build it and they will come... Hopefully I hope to implement this in September and at least have a consistent time at the bar for you to eat and drink Let me know of youre interested Personally, I am - I tend to go out late on Fridays and Saturdays to eat if I'm by myself, as so much of the area is insane. I'd love somewhere nicer to eat then...uh...Ted's (which is where I ended up last night, and honestly the prime rib wasn't bad, especially for the price).
hopsing Posted August 25, 2012 Posted August 25, 2012 Ted's has prime rib??? Was it good? If so, I'm going there. Hard to find good prime rib around here.
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