Circa At Clarendon
3010 Clarendon Blvd, Arlington, VA, 22201
Circa At Clarendon Menu
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant menu details.
Visit below restaurant in Arlington for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Arlington for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Arlington for healthy meals suggestion.
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
-
Address :
3010 Clarendon Blvd
Arlington, VA, 22201 - Phone (703) 522-3010
- Website https://www.circaatclarendon.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 12
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Brunch, Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : No
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Trendy
Noise Level : Average
Music : Background
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : Yes
Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sat
Coat Check : No
Smoking : Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
Looky Weed - Buy Marijuana Online
Looky Weed is here to help you navigate the maze of legalized marijuana. We provide you with a complete dispensary directory.
Christine R.
I absolutely love this restaurant. I've been here for brunch, lunch, and dinner and have never been disappointed! Not only is the food great but the service has been excellent as well. At the Clarendon location, I've had items from their lunch and dinner menu. For lunch I started with a crab and corn chowder which was so good I didn't share with my friends. For the lunch entree, I got the grilled cheese which was perfect on that rainy day in addition to the chowder. For dinner, I have mainly gotten the specials and have never been disappointed. I first always get the lobster ravioli and I wish they would make this an entree instead of just an appetizer! First time I went I got the Grouper special which I rarely see outside of Florida and it was cooked great. Also, I've had the lamb chops which were delicious and comforting. My friend has gotten the salmon and said it was very good as well as another friend getting the mushroom ravioli and said it was wonderful. Dessert doesn't disappoint either. First time I went I got the Grand Marnier bread pudding and it was good but a bit too orange-flavored for me. The next time I went I split the chocolate cake with my coworkers and it was divine. The last time I went I had the bourbon bread pudding and its by far the best dessert I've ever had!!!! I hope they never take it off the menu! For brunch, I ate at the Foggy Bottom location and got the French Toast; delicious and I devoured the whole thing! Not only is the food great, but the wait staff has always been friendly, attentive, and helpful on making menu selections. The restaurant has invested in hiring good servers and it shows! I took my mother here for her birthday in hopes she would like it. She's a difficult woman to please and by the end of her meal, she was please! If mom approves, it must be good! My only complaint is that the prices are a bit high-ish, but you definitely get what you pay for and then some, so in the end I don't mind paying a little extra for great quality food!
(5)Jess M.
Came here for dinner and drinks on the outside patio- no wait to sit down, but it took hollering at a waiter to get some attention after about 12 minutes of wondering if they knew we existed. Overall, come here with mediocre expectations on food, and excited for their signature cocktails because they rock. Here's what we ordered: Filet Mignon Sliders- the meat is tender as you would expect, but does not come with any toppings. It could use something like a spicy slaw for texture. Mac and Cheese- I wouldn't order it again, not enough flavor from any of the focus ingredients. Chicken Wings- these kick ass. They use a very different kind of sweet and spicy sauce, it's very balanced, but could stand to sit in the fryer for a bit longer for crispness. Fennel Frisee Salad- Holy radicchio, there's a lot of you in there. Fried Calamari- It's alright, I didn't care too much for the batter, but my friend liked it a lot because it is battered and fried with pickles, zucchini, and jalapenos. Capirinha- Strong. Usually not a point to complain about, unless you don't want to be trashed before the food comes. Orange Crush- Delicious. Light, refreshing, easy to drink. Watermelon Cooler- I had three of these. Enough said. Sangria- Meh. Total Damage: $180 between two people. Would we do it again? Yes, but I'd drink more and try different small plates.
(3)Ryan F.
Circa Clarendon, I so want to like you. Your food is decent, your mojito's devastatingly potent Alas, your Clarendon rendition of circa is lame Your funky long but extremely thin bar is generally full Check out Circa Dupont, nicer scene
(3)Leigh-Ann K.
So my review is based on my really good brunch experience the other (Feb 27) day as well as as the happy hour I went to the first week it opened back in January... Brunch-They have a really good bloody mary that was the perfect mixture of spicy and hearty and had tons of garnishes...I got the breakfast burrito and it was served up with turkey sausage and had a delightfully fresh salsa accompanying it--just really good ingredients and I didn't leave feeling stuffed which usually happans at brunch. When I went to Cicra in January they didn't have Happy Hour specials, which I am glad to see they have added, so I ended up getting some pretty pricey mixed drinks that were just OK in my book. I don't think k a pomegrante martini is that complicated to make so why charge and arm and a leg for it? But the biggest issue I had with the HH was the overall format of the bar, when its packed you can barely move in there because they have a main "community table" running alongside the bar--its a nightmare! I know.. I know the whole thing is this "community table" but really strangers don't want to sit with strangers nor do they want to fight to get spot at the bar or squeeze there way around a crowd of people and bar in the middle of the resturant. All that being said I will come back for brunch but get there early since is a block from my apt...
(3)Emma M.
Went for lunch. I had a pizza and my boyfriend had the mac & cheese (which is technically an appetizer but was big enough to be a meal). Both were delicious - and I'm VERY picky about my mac & cheese. The service was good, the space was nice, and overall I'd like to go back again sometime soon.
(4)Heather R.
I really enjoy Circa, and have been several times. Their food is a little predictable (but still very tasty!), but their location is great, and the cocktails and ambiance are fun. It's also just the right mix of fancy and casual, so you feel like you're getting a nice meal without needing to put on a fancy outfit. We will happily come back, although more exciting specials or a few creative menu options might perk this place up a little bit more.
(4)dwayne t.
Circa is one of my favorite spots in Arlington. The Happy Hour is awesome, food is delicious and the bar tenders go above and beyond to make sure the patrons are happy. Not to mention, it's always got a great vibe; for the Caps playoff games, they put on audio in the bar, and for Thursday-Saturday nights they play a lively mix of music.
(4)Margaux H.
Circa is the restaurant equivalent of a politically correct lullaby. Everything about this place was....eh. The menu is not exactly creative, but the dishes sound tasty enough. The execution also is fine, but missed the mark a bit. I got the fennel and frisee salad, which had an anemic amount of "crispy prosciutto" and way too much raddichio (although the dressing was delish!); the butternut soup was, thematically, eh. Dining partner got the mushroom ravioli, which looked like an (albeit unoffensive) snooze-fest. We asked for bread and got exactly 2 thin, wan slices. And, while our waitress was a bit on the unattentive side, the plate-clearers were *entirely* too overly-aggressive. It's like they were hesitant to bring us food, but eager to take it away! *yawn* (x-posted to my blog)
(3)E K.
All of the food I've had here has really great! The service at my most recent visit was really great. This is a great neighborhood spot and look forward to making this a regular place for drinks and dinner with friends!
(5)Elliot N.
Went to Circa on Wednesday night at 7. It was packed and we were told the wait for a table was an hour. We waited and were called after about 40 minutes. The food was good but more effort was put in to making it look pretty rather than the flavor which was the theme of the other courses. The appetizers were enjoyable but over priced and the dessert had clearly been sat on the plate in the fridge for quite some time which dried it out and took away a great deal of the flavor. The entrees were tasty and a good sized portion so we left full and the wine was really nice. The service was good but a little rushed, bringing the check while we were still eating dessert. With 2 glasses of wine, 2 appetizers, 2 entrees, 1 dessert tax and tip our check came to $110. This seems like a great place for some small plates and wine but i wouldnt recommend it for dinner
(2)Eric D.
I really liked this place. They had good service and pretty good appetizers for the happy hour. I got some wings and some pizza. Overall, a great time!
(4)Tina G.
Great restaurant, great food. Just opened and can use some more staff training. Bar can use some organization, it gets very busy and the servers cant even get by to serve cocktails. Its a fight for a table most of the time so get there early! We started off wanting some wine and food in the bar but nixed that idea when we could not even get by the crown to look for a seat. We tried the restaurant and were pleased to be seated instantly. Once seated our waitress came over and was very shy and not knowledgable about the wines at all. Needless to say she did not even look old to be serving wine. She gave open ended answers to our wine questions with no suggestions. At that point I asked for a sommelier or another wait staff that knew the wine menu better. I think they may be understaffed, or may have just hired new staff that are not properly trained. The food is awesome and this restaurant has great potential! I plan to give it another try!
(3)Dazee D.
Went here with a friend on a weekend night. It was absolutely packed, so I figured it would be fantastic. It was just "OK" - really nothing special and very expensive for the quality. I will not be going back anytime soon.
(2)Julie C.
Had a reservation for 7 people at 12:30pm on Monday for a work lunch. We told the waitress that we had a tight schedule, and she said, "thanks for letting me know" then must have completely forgot about it. It was (no exaggeration) 20 minutes later when we saw her again and she took our meal order (and that's because we flagged her down anxiously). By the time we were served our meals, my coworker had already reached into her purse to hand out snacks since we had waited that long. We were out the door in a blazing 1 hour and 45 minutes (again... despite having expressed how rushed we were) and were incredibly late for our next appointment. It's not like the restaurant was packed (now I see why). The food was OK, nothing great, just OK. This was my first time there and was rather excited to try it out. Won't rush (ha ha) to come back.
(2)Anne W.
I love going to Circa in Clarendon! You could call me a regular, its two blocks from my office and I frequent their HH's. Great appetizers and cocktails. Not to mention Monday nights half off bottle of wine night. Bartenders are always friendly and provide great service.
(5)Tony J.
This was my first visit for dinner. Circa Clarendon does not accept reservations, but, my party of six (6) arrived early at 6pm on a Wednesday so we were able to be seated after a quick cocktail at the bar. We had the large corner table, which was nice. I ordered the Chipotle "Jambalaya" Penne Pasta, which was very good. We were all happy with our respective dinning orders. I will return.
(3)Amber H.
came for happy hour -- great ambiance and good specials. great place to relax with friends after work. they also had a really delicious appetizer ravioli. DELICIOUS but pricey for the portion.
(4)Chris W.
I have stopped by Circa several times for dinner the bar. The diner was excellent. I had a very tasty steak and subbed in some extra vegetables with no problems. The dining area is kinda small, but the service was very good and the prices were in line with the high quality of the food. More recently I stopped in for dinner and had the boneless ribs which were really good. Just falling apart tender with a great reduction sauce. I also had a Strongbow cider, which was nice because they don't serve that everywhere. The bar is less successful. It's too narrow with the long table running down the middle. This causes too many bottlenecks of people trying to circulate versus people trying to socialize. you just cannot stand and have a conversation without being constantly bumped by people squeezing by. Bartender and wait staff are good in this area too.
(4)Liz H.
UPDATE: I received a private message from the owner here on Yelp apologizing for our unfortunate experience. He also invited my friends and I back for a night of dinner and drinks as his guest to sit down with him and discuss some of the changes they have made to their reservation/no reservation policy. Admittedly, we were very hesitant to say yes, but the fact that he remembered our experience and was sincerely trying to rectify the situation impressed us enough to hear his explanation. We went back last night, and unfortunately due to the bad weather putting a tree through his roof, the owner was not able to sit with us after all. Instead, we dined with the manager who was also part of our original experience and he was very entertaining and answered a lot of our questions. Firstly, I will say, the food was delicious, which is why I bumped them up to 3 stars. For appetizers, the manager insisted we try the lobster raviloi, the circa mac n cheese, the shotgun shrimp, and the calamari. All were devine. We also had the frisee and rocket salads, and each were the perfect portion size and very yummy. For dinner we had scallops, steak, short ribs, and the tuna sandwich. Everybody loved their food and we were nibbling off of each other's plates all night because everything looked so wonderful. We finished with chocolate mousse, bread pudding, and the warm apple crisp. The crisp was the least favorite, but the other 2 were good. We also heard that they have a great brunch menu, so we might try that at some point. However, I can't say that I would go back for dinner, because I'm still not totally convinced that they have a handle on managing their floor. They insisted that they have tried everything they can imagine (reservations, call aheads to handle the wait, no reservations at all, 1 private room for reservations, etc) but that nothing seems to work, so they are at a point where they take no reservations whatsoever. This seemed to be true, as a few of their friends/biggest clients walked in the restaurant, came over to our table to say hi, and were still handed a buzzer. Due to fire code they are also having to lock their doors at 9pm on weekend nights because too many people back up and stand around waiting. While I understand new restaurants have to work out the kinks, especially when they have a strong reputation from another store, I have a hard time believing that Circa is experiencing some completely unique problem that other DC restaurants aren't faced with. Other restaurants can handle their tables, give accurate wait times, and treat the customers waiting well. Circa can continue to suffer through these growing pains, but in the mean time, I'll eat dinner elsewhere.
(3)Matt L.
Went here on a recommendation of a friend of a friend. Solid beer / wine list ,but both came ploddingly upon order. I thoroughly enjoyed my spinach salad, but would have been better with a table tray of bread. The Steak Frites were cold and the accompanying fries were soggy. Overall, I'm highly disappointed in Circa Clerendon and I won't be returning.
(2)Karen S.
We went here last weekend. The hostess did not make a good first impression. Although I wouldn't say she was rude, she just couldn't have been more disinterested. Not looking for a best friend, but if you judge a book by its cover - as I am wont to do - then I would put this one back on the shelf. The food was par for the course when it comes to new American dining in Arlington. However, the restaurant does excel when it comes to outdoor seating. Unlike most venues on the Clarendon strip, it is set back from the sidewalk. We were there after the sun had gone down enough, but they have huge umbrellas that look like they sufficiently block the sun when necessary. So much of dining is about the experience, and I would return just for the outdoor seating. We started with the fried green tomatoes - I'll give those four stars. The breading was not over-kill (in other words - not reminiscent of Cracker Barrel). The relish was good, though if I could redo the dish I would replace the cheese with avocado. Still, it was good. For an entree I had the scallops. The scallops were well-cooked (a feat), but a little underwhelming when it came to flavor. However, the risotto and spinach proved a good complement. I would have taken half the risotto, though, and double the spinach.
(3)Courtney G.
Sigh, another night my boyfriend and I find ourselves sauntering from corner to corner deciding which Clarendon establishment will best satisfy our Friday (or Saturday) night hunger. We drop in to read the menus we've seen 20 times before at every restaurant from Highland St. to Whole Foods...yes, whole foods is typically included in the choices, afterall, the loft seating is like a restaurant, no? Every place has a 45 minute wait, but of course, we visit every one just to make sure that one isn't shorter---only to waste 20 minutes during which we could have been waiting with a buzzer---ahh we'll never learn. The moral is, why'll most of these Clarendon establishments have many of the same options, after 3 tries, its safe to report that Circa shines above the rest. You could argue that the cost is a hair above Harry's and a few others, but the quality also exceeds them, and for $2-3 extra per entree, you're not going to break the bank, especially if the bank can afford Clarendon "Centre" to begin with! Try: a cheeseplate...I know, with all of the other delightful options, why cheese?? It comes with several delicious fig 'spreads' and is quite a treat. Gouda was my favorite. Jumbo scallops are the absolute best thing on the menu (so far). I have tried many scallops (off of my boyfriend's orders) and never liked them enough to order myself. I would get them here time and time again. Atlantic Salmon is also delicious, and one of the best parts is the perfectly cooked pearl risotto on the bottom. Just do it. Skip: Veal Piccatta. When I order veal once in a blue moon, i want it to be amazing...the veal was rather tough and tasted more like poorly cooked chicken :( disappointment, but the orzo was well done. Salad--in my humble opinion, there are better things to fill up on here, than salad. Oh and btw, their "40 minute wait" for outdoor seating, only turned out to be 20!! WIN-WIN. Enjoy!
(4)Stefan S.
Good food but nothing spectacular. Happy hour is popular but not sure why as $3 beers and $5 wine is not a great deal. Barbq chicken pizza is wonderful and so is the warm rocket salad. The bread in the bread basket is also wonderful, but we had to ask for it, as our waitress for some reason never brought any. Sweet potato fries are also good. Bar is incredibly noisy so if u want to hear yourself think sit in the restaurant area. The hostess was snooty and rude, they need to drop the attitude. Overall a middle of the road experience.
(3)Courtney R.
Why am I writing this? I don't remember anything about this place. Completely forgettable.
(3)James H.
The food was great the drinks were amazing and the service at the bar and table was impeccable. Great date place. It has all the DC style you like in Clarendon.
(5)Michael G.
A really nice place to bring colleauges for happy hour or plated meal that will leave them with a great impression and you with the boss/colleague of the week award. The salmon dish is fantastic with plenty to fill you up but will allow you to save room for a very delicisious crossaint bread pudding. I would have given them 4 stars, but they recently took the fried chicken off the menu which was a favorite of mine. Be sure to bring some extra $20s as the drinks are a bit pricey but will cover pretty much everyones tastes.
(3)ND DC D.
As a long time Circa Dupont fan I had high expectations. After all, Clarendon is the sequel to their first successful venture...expecting more stars, bigger explosions...bigger budget. The drinks and atmosphere were unbeatable. Large, long bar seating with plenty of chairs so you can actually get a seat. Plus, it's right off the metro so you don't have to walk very far to get there. Overall, food was better than average but slightly below the Dupont standard. I will give them a break as it was standing room only and their first weekend night open. Service was spectacular, buildout was splendid and the beer/wine selection is up there with the best in Clarendon. Would I go here or Liberty Tavern? I'll take Circa.
(4)CC B.
I got the worst food poisoning of my life here two nights ago. And let me tell you that I've traveled throughout the third world pretty extensively and have gotten food poisoning before but NOTHING like this. I ate the spicy shrimp pizza and their oysters. Within an hour of dinner I felt unwell, and was wrapped around my toilet puking from 10pm to 3:30 in the morning. I had a 100-degree fever for a day and a half, and was so weak from dehydration I passed out. I called the restaurant to alert them but they never returned my calls. Whatever quality control they have for their food clearly failed.
(1)Amit S.
nice addition to the neighborhood. I got the wild mushroom ravioli which was pretty tasty but the portion was too small to fill me up.
(4)Alicia M.
The bartender was great- really personable and had great service. The restaurant service was terrible. It was incredibly slow. The server barely came over to take our order after sitting at the table for over 30 minutes. Don't go here unless you plan on making a day of it
(2)Kevin W.
The outdoor seating is great, and we appreciate the great service. Favorite dishes are the scallops and the lobster ravioli.
(4)J R.
Went there for the first time last night. As we drove past it, you can see how packed it was, but my date swore that I wouldn't have to wait more than 20 mins for a table. When we got to the host stand we were quickly informed that the wait for two would be approx. 45 mins, so we went up to the bar to grab a drink while we waited. We started off with the Mussels Marinière appetizer and a side of Crostini bread. The sauce on the mussels was so tasty! Our waitress Julia recommended that for entrees we have the Chipotle "Jambalaya" Penne Pasta and the Circa Steak Frites. I prefer my meat to be medium well , but the medium rare steak tasted wonderful and the Jambalaya tasted as good as it smelled. We opted to skip dessert at Circa and call it a night. I wouldn't recommend this place for a first date or large groups, it's too crowded and lots of noise .
(4)Susan V.
Had a wonderful time for both lunch and dessert/drinks. The food is creative and wonderful. The staff is friendly and helpful. This place could win you with the wonderful menu alone, but the charm and friendliness of the staff makes it a place you want to visit often. The bar staff is knowledgeable and the wine list includes some wonderful selections at very fair prices. Don't miss the chocolate cake.
(5)Lynn C.
Went here the other night with a big group of friends and hung out in the bar area. The space is really big and they have amazing mixed drinks (must try the blackberry margarita) and good beer and wine slection. We ordered pizza, sliders, spinach dip, and macaroni and cheese(which was amazing). Great addition to the Clarendon area. Welcome to Clarendon Circa. :)
(4)S R.
My friend and I were waiting for two seats at the bar, and as two seats opened up, we went in for them. We were stopped by the bartender and said that two ladies who were standing further away were waiting for them. Last time I checked, in the history of bars, saloons, speakeasies, etc, bar stools are first come first served. I bet these girls are friends of the bartender, and he was trying to hold stools for them. It all worked out, but I didn't appreciate being told I couldn't sit at a bar stool. I think he knew he was in the wrong, so it worked out. He provided excellent service and made sure we were happy for the rest of our evening.
(3)Posh K.
The ambiance both in the bar, and the outdoor sitting area are 5 stars and really worth it. I live nearby and Circa has become my go-to spot whenever friends are in town or want to grab a quick bite or drink. The food is consistently good, but the amazing bar area and outdoor people watching take the cake.
(4)Jen F.
I really wanted to love this place because its close to my house and looks beautiful inside, but it just didn't live up to my expectations. First I should say the bar area looks amazing, especially the drink selection and happy hour prices for beer and wine. The bar area is also huge so it looks like it would be a perfect place to grab a drink after work. I however was meeting a friend for dinner, so my review only applies to the main dining area, which I have to say was surprisingly small, and because they dont take reservations I think it would be really annoying to plan on going here on the weekends and being seated in a reasonable amount of time. I was meeting my friend for a super early dinner so when I arrived the dining room was completely empty, but when I told the hostess my friend was not there yet, she still said I had to wait for my whole party to be seated. It was off-putting to say the least. When I finally was able to get seated our waitress came right over and she was great throughout the whole meal. Taking the hostess' attitude aside, the wait staff was amazing. My biggest complaint with the whole meal was that the tap water they serve tasted really gross- I am pretty sure they dont filter the water which I just found surprising. I felt like I was drinking chlorine. The food was also so-so. Our salad was delicious but was supposed to come with a warm walnut dressing and not only was it cold, it was so cold I felt like they had taken the whole plate right from a fridge- I dont think it was freshly tossed. The hamburger I ordered was dry and flavorless, with a limp bun, the fries were fine but i think fast food fries would be better. My friend got the margarita pizza which was delicious, so maybe its just a matter of ordering the right thing. All in all, the prices were way too high for the quality of the food, but the service was impeccable which goes a long way in my book. I would definitely come back for the bar scene and maybe a pizza, but probably wouldnt bother with a sit down meal again.
(2)Carly P.
Circa is the best thing to happen to Clarendon in years!! The atmosphere is the best in the area, really nice and modern without trying to hard. The bar area is amazing, the bar itself is so big that even on a really crowded night its not that hard to get a drink. The best part is the communal table which spans the length of the bar, perfect for a casual Sunday brunch. The service was great too. My server Keith was such a hoot! I'm going back all the time just in hopes of getting him again!
(5)A B.
Can't say it's bad, but it's not really good or interesting food and it's overpriced. They have a cool bar and awesome outdoors area, and if you're not really a discerning eater, the food is fine. However, there are many places within blocks that are 10 times better for the price. I'd say Liberty, Lyon, and Tallulah all have better food. Screwtop Wine's food is way better and 1/2 the price. The wine list was also overpriced. I won't be going back, but mostly because there are so much better options.
(3)Gee B.
The best part about the place is the staff on the floor (bartenders were unimpressive in picking out folks waiting for a drink) and at the door....and the ambiance. After that....the food for me was mediocre. Had sirlioin sliders that had a slight taste of fish (say what??) and a ceasar salad that definately didnt have any anchOvies (maybe they ended up on the sliders??). But, my wife really liked her meal so perhaps we will be back to give them another try. Dinner for two with a couple of drinks was around 50 bucks. I do think it would be a good place to go for a happy hour drink.
(2)Christina A.
Came here for lunch and loved it! First of all, the pesto that comes with the bread is DELICIOUS. For our meal we split the spicy shrimp pizza and the jerk tuna sandwich. The shrimp pizza had maybe like, 5 pieces of shrimp on it and overall I was just not impressed. The jerk tuna sandwich however, was AMAZING. The slaw is really mayonaise-y but lends a good flavor to the sandwich... my one critique of the sandwich is just that I wish it hadn't been quite as goopy with the mayo in the slaw. Please believe however, that I still finished my sandwich. The restaurant itself is nice and bright with lots of windows and comfy chairs. I will be back to try more items on the menu (and at dinner so I can have a drank!!!!)
(4)Taylor G.
I went here for the soft opening and had a GREAT experience, and all for free! It always helps when it doesn't cost money (well except for tip). The service, drinks, and food were excellent. I have been back since for dinner and drinks and it was good too. My only complaint is that it gets too packed. I understand it's new and probably still pretty popular, but maybe they should think about limiting how many people they let in.
(4)lilibet m.
I would love to give circa 5 stars but because of the lack of good service I can't not justify it, I would even bump it down to 3 stars but the food was that good. I'll start with the cons: the service, or should I say lack if service. The waiter cane over right when we sat down and gave us menus and then another came over to take our order. That was the last we saw of the 2 from the time we got our food to when we got the bill. Thank goodness the food was awesome & didn't need assistance or we would have waited a long time. We ordered 1 white wine & 1 black cherry mojito both were finished before we got our meals but were never asked if we wanted another. An since we never saw either waiter I couldn't ask Jin to get me another. Service needs major help! To the pros: the food! We had the Mac and cheese that had asparagus & prosciutto, that was very tasty. The hummus which tasted homemade and was a very generous portion. For the main meal I had the steak frites which was done exactly like I asked and the Circa fries were great! As I mentioned before I had the black cherry mojito and it was so good! Because the food was so good I will go back.
(4)Travis P.
I had dinner at this newer spot in Clarendon last weekend and it was great! The atmosphere was cool and this place fits in very nicely with the Clarendon seen. The menu was plentiful and everyone in my party liked the food they got! Our server was also very good! Overall, a great experience and I will definitely be returning.
(5)Karen K.
I always enjoy Circa! On my most recent visit, I tried a few new items and enjoyed them all! The Foggy Bottom drink is light, refreshing and just darn good! I also had the short rib sliders for the first time and they were yummy. The coconut cream pie is to die for! Love that they have outdoor seating when the weather permits!
(5)Claire S.
Excellent brunch and reasonably priced with a very upscale feel. We sat outside on the most perfect day at 12:45, the restraunt was not crowded at all which actually shocked me. I was a little worried why they were so empty on a perfect Saturday. Two of us had crab cake benedict a veggie egg white omelet and sweet potato fries. We all had two mimosas and when the waiter noticed me dropping strawberries in my drink he brought the next round out with strawberries in them. Huge fan, awesome service. Awesome outdoor seating and solid menu.
(5)Susan A.
Circa is a popular restaurant with multiple locations in the DC metro area. I came to Circa in Clarendon for a brunch today. They have a nice traditional American brunch with a few funky twists. They have a savory french toast with a corn-flake crust, and nice brunch cocktails. The mimosas are only $3, so I recommend getting one of those to start. The bloody mary's are made in house, so some might not like their take. That was the case with my cousin. I got the egg white omelet with a side of fruit. It was really nice and the goat cheese on the inside was very rich. Any of the egg dishes can be substituted for egg whites. We came at 1:30pm on a Sunday without a reservation, and were seated immediately. During our meal, there were many empty seats, so reservations might not be needed. They have outdoor seating as well, which is first come first serve. Come here for a safe brunch choice.
(4)Jacinta L.
Great service, friendly managers, and fantastic atmosphere! We chose outdoor seating because it was a nice day, and also sipping on mojitos while people-watching was relaxing. However, the food didn't strike me as anything that great. We ordered the bleu cheese buffalo burgers (which came with fries) and the strawberry and ultimate mojitos. The drinks were great, the waiter was very accommodating with any drink needs and I greatly appreciate that. The burgers were cooked to our preferences (medium), and the meat was thick and flavorful. The fries were sort of thin, kind of like the soft fries you find at fast food restaurants, so I didn't find them to be totally amazing. I found the meat of the burger to be the best part of my meal, but overall, the meal itself was just average to me. It took me such a long time to decide on this dish from the menu only because everything else on the menu didn't strike me as "filling" or that appealing. I would recommend this place for maybe happy hour or a business luncheon, but to other foodies and adventurists looking for something new, I think another restaurant may be worth your while.
(3)Meredith V.
Okay after returning several times since my first visit, I've since been more impressed with Circa with each visit. The clientele here can sometimes be questionable, but its got a great outdoor patio that allows you to people watch, big indoor space for mingling, classy atmosphere and a high quality wine list, as well as great specials everynight. Best bar in Clarendon.
(4)Ela P.
Came here for dinner with one of my girlfriends. LOVE LOVE LOVE the cucumber margarita- SO refreshing, and not too sweet. The hummus plate was yummy and perfect to split between two or three. I got the burger and fries- both were delicious.
(4)Seyda C.
I really like it! Margarita and chicken salad were awesome! Good service.
(5)Gavin L.
Despite their claims to being ADA compliant, they're not. The one low table in the bar didn't come with chairs, as though people with disabilities don't have friends or family that they enjoy eating with. All this on the 25th anniversary of the ADA. It took a tantrum and an talk with the manager before they managed to find chairs. They also brought out an extremely dirty knife. Just can't seem to win at this restaurant.
(1)Emily A.
Had brunch here Sunday, Labor Day weekend. The drinks are priced reasonably ($3 for mimosas) and the food is good. I ordered the French toast which was battered in corn flakes-delicious! The rest of the table had the Chesapeake eggs Benny and the biscuits and gravy dish which also seemed to be good. Our waiter was great and so was the experience.
(4)Debi N.
Circa is one of those places if you are looking for something a little more "classier" in Clarendon with an older crowd (late 20s-30s). I've been here many times for happy hours, dinners, and late night drinks. The dining room is inviting and intimate. It's great if you want to bring a date to impress or catch up with an old friend or bring your parents. The bar area can get crowded and it's not built well to mingle but it's a great place to grab a drink with colleagues. The food has never impressed me and the happy hour specials aren't the best. But when the mood strikes and I'm looking for a less "bro-ish" crowd Circa is my go-to.
(3)Roya B.
Came in on a Tuesday at 8pm to meet a friend who was in town for work. I live in DC so it was great that the restaurant can be seen upon exiting the metro. The place wasn't busy so we were seated right away at a table with comfy leather chairs against the window. There is a lot of window seating as well as a patio, as well as booths and a cool bar inside. I ordered the scallops with risotto and my friend ordered 3 small plates (shrimp, Cobb lettuce wraps, and hummus) which ended up being a lot of food. It was my first time eating scallops and I thought they were delicious. However, they did not sit well. I'm subtracting a star for the service. Although our server was nice, he wasn't that attentive and it took him forever to come back and rake our dinner order after we got our drinks. I was okay with it but it's really unacceptable especially when it's not busy. Also, on our way out, I picked up a flyer that advertised a raw bar deal from 3-9 on Tuesdays. I really wish our server would have told us about it before we ordered!
(4)mahtab e.
My go to spot for dinner with friends or lunch with clients ! Salmon salad and salmon entree are delicious . Hummus app is a favorite . Great Moscow mule cocktail
(4)Jenna L.
I'm very impressed by Circa's brunch. $3 mimosas with a decent amount of booze. The food is also very good and reasonably priced. I ordered "the Works" and because of a bet struggled to eat every delicious morsel - you really get some bang for $11 bucks. I take off points for service. It's slow. I was also overcharged. The bill said our group had 8 mimosas when we only ordered 6. Since the service was so slow and we were in a rush to leave, we didn't bother trying to correct the bill. But, I'll be more diligent about it next time.
(4)Tony H.
Great atmosphere and delicious food. Try the short ribs. Refills on ginger ale. Yeah! No tiny bottles at $3 each. Music was strange and varied. Shotgun shrimp and steak frites were favs. No free parking. If u r "cerca de" Clarendon , try Circa!
(4)Jonathan D.
A popular brunch joint in the DC area, Circa has something for everyone. Although this was my first time dining at this location, I have had brunch at the Dupont Circle location (although it has now been several years). Most recently, I dined with two of my good friends on a Sunday afternoon. Although the restaurant was quite busy (to be expected), we called ahead and were promptly seated in a corner window upon arriving. To my surprise, a long piece of blonde hair was laying on the table waiting my arrival. A bit grossed out, I promptly removed the specimen from the table, never notifying our server of this little "oops" moment. Since it was the weekend and the weekend means drinking time (in my book), two of us ordered mimosas ($3) and the other ordered a bloody Mary ($9). I don't know about you, but when I think of a mimosa, I imagine sipping the bubbly beverage from a champagne flute. Well, the surprises didn't stop with the hair on the table. Our mimosas were served in water glasses filled with ice. There were other people in the restaurant drinking mimosas from flutes, I couldn't figure out why were weren't at least asked if we wanted ours served any differently. Luckily I was thirsty and didn't send the drink back, but I sure as heck didn't order a second. For my entree, I ordered the turkey burger served with a side of sweet potato fries. The burger was the highlight of the meal, perhaps even the day? It was moist a delicious. To say the least, I was a bit bummed when I was finished. Now, for the sweet potato fries. I love, love, love sweet potato fries and was super excited to try theirs, however they failed to wow me. Don't get me wrong, they were good but I've had better. Skip the ketchup and ask for a side of honey to dip them into - you won't be disappointed. Circa is definitely a four star spot, but a clearly visible blonde hair on a dark wooden table in a huge no-no. Also, I would have appreciated being given the option to have my mimosa on the rocks or in a traditional champagne flute, but I was not. For that reason, this experience chalks up to be a three star visit.
(3)John R.
Six of us (including 2 children) for dinner on a slow Sunday evening. Everyone really enjoyed their dishes, and service was professional and efficient. The steak frites and blackened tuna were especially good. I also really enjoyed the bread pudding for dessert. The cocktail and beer menus were very intriguing - I want to go back when I don't have to drive!
(4)Diana P.
This place is always packed every time I pass by it on my runs and now I FINALLY tried it out. I think I hyped it up so much, which resulted in extremely high expectations... and... I walked out feeling... Ehh. It is the typical American restaurant with no out-of-the-ordinary menu items. You know, the steak and fries, salmon, and all that jazz. I have to say though, the Mac and cheese starter was delicious! *I must warn you that that statement may be biased as I love Mac and cheese.* My entree was steak frites, cooked medium. It was a bit over salted to me and was over-charred on the grill. I didn't mind it too much but I think someone else would complain about that. The fries were good; although, if they add some seasoning, it might be more intriguing. I enjoyed the scallop entree more than my dish. They were on top of a mountain of veggies. I dig the veggies but the scallops again were a bit too charred. I didn't mind it but I would've enjoyed it a little more if it was not. Would I return? Maybe if the wait for other restaurants in the area were too long.
(3)Justin S.
I've been to this place numerous times and the overall experience has been great! I've been here for brunch where the menu is your typical all american cuisine ranging from french toast, egg white omelets, to flat breads. The atmosphere is quite and nice and finally the service is great. Food: I've had the margarita flat bread, egg white omelet and also the grilled chicken sandwich. All of these dishes were great. The flat bread had a crust had a crunch to it, and had the right amount of tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese and basil. The egg white omelet was fluffy and had the right amount of vegetables. Finally the grilled chicken was cooked perfectly, moist and tender. If you're looking for good all american food, Circa is your spot! Service: Service here has been great! I've been here 3 time and each time, the service has been spot on. The waiters and waitresses are always ready to refill your beverages, and can help customize your drinks as needed. My fiancé wanted a vanilla latte, and at first it was not to her liking. The waitress asked how it can be better and they made another to her liking. The waiters and waitresses also know their menu and can answer any question you have. Atmosphere: Every time I've come here, I sat at the patio. During the summer time, it's the perfect spot to have brunch. The sun doesn't hit you, and the area is very relaxing. The inside is quite nice as well. It's not loud, and very quaint. Price: The price is reasonable. The most you can expect to pay for a dish is about $16.50. Most dishes run between $8 to $13. Overall: Circa is great! I definitely recommend coming here especially for brunch!
(5)Jen F.
Came here for apps/dinner with a friend and got jalapeño mussels, petite filet mignon sliders, and bbq chicken pizza. The mussels were to die for. The broth was so good (not super spicy) that we were taking spoonfuls of it. The petite sliders had a really nice toasted bun and delicious garlic aioli. Most of my meat was fine, but one of the three sliders was kind of fatty. Still really good, though. Barbecue chicken pizza was pretty big and good! Your typical bbq chicken pizza. It was definitely more of a flatbread (it might actually be called that) and was cooked really well. Great blend of crunchy and soft. Recommend it all!
(4)David N.
Whether you are going for lunch, dinner, brunch or happy hour Circa hits it right every time. They have some of the best cocktails and are happy to make items no longer on the menu so long as they are able to (pineapple Mojito I'm looking at you!) they have an impressive wine selection and beers as well. The food is always done right and they are more than happy to make modifications. This place knows all about hospitality and makes you enjoy your time while still being at a nicer place. The staff is what really impresses me though- from host all the way up to the general manager everyone there is well informed and knowledgable about the food and drinks. They are quick to give detailed and honest responses to your questions and willing to take the extra step every time. Keep up the amazing work and atmosphere!
(5)S M.
My girlfriend and I went to celebrate some good news and Circa was the perfect spot. We started with drinks at the bar: a Bulleit Trail for her and a Foggy Bottom for me. I enjoy drinks that are not too sweet and a Foggy Bottom is perfect: lemon vodka muddled with rosemary and cucumber with a little tonic. Hers was Bulleit bourbon, lemon, peach, orange juice, too sweet for me, but she really enjoyed it. Although it was a Friday night around 8pm, we only waited at the bar for about 15 minutes before getting a great table outside (inside is very loud). Dinner was a bison burger for my friend (which was delicious, large, and well topped), and for me the wild mushroom ravioli (it was wonderfully delicious, but a little small. Two more raviolis would have been perfect). Each server, bar tender, and host we encountered was wonderful, but not smothering. Not once did I have food in my mouth when asked "is everything alright?" I appreciated this. I plan to go back, especially for happy hour and maybe try brunch.
(4)Jersey V.
I've been here before for happy hour and stopped in last week for dinner with a friend. I was disappointed in the limited menu for entrees, instead focusing on small plates. I had a hard time finding something worthwhile on the menu-all of the good dishes were on the small plate menu but I was hungrier than that. Also, the menu didn't seem to have any real definition or focus to it and it was hard to settle on a plate. I had the (4) scallops and my friend had an over-sized salad, 1 piece of fried chicken and half a waffle. All were unremarkable and the portion sizes were odd considering my scallops came off the entree menu and her salad and chicken and waffles came off the small plates menu. We splurged on the seasonal fruit tart dessert with ice cream but again, it was unremarkable. Overall, it was pretty disappointing for the price. It is not a restaurant I will return to, given the bevy of better options in a hotspot such as Clarendon.
(2)Stephanie H.
I've been to Circa for brunch on a few lazy Saturdays. Each time, it's evident that the staff seem to genuinely care about your time there, making the whole experience really enjoyable. The food is great, too -- the waffles and bacon are SO good, definitely worth a visit if you're in the area and looking for a good brunch spot.
(4)Dan H.
Haven't eaten the food, just drinks in the bar. The whole vibe of the place is trendy and cool - classy decoration style and slightly dark. The place can fill up but the layout is good if you can't find a legimate spot. Bartenders are friendly and make good cocktails. Great place to hang out!
(4)Sarah K.
Come to brunch regularly and it is great! The food is always yummy and the staff are always friendly. The dinner menu also offers a great selection of food. This is definitely a place I'd recommend for any time of day.
(5)Marcus L.
With it's central location in Clarendon, Circa is a great hh spot. Combined with a cool drink menu (though I wish they offered more wines by the glass), expansive bar area, and great crowd of young professionals, it is hard to beat. Their dinner menu includes many staples such as steaks, pizza, salad, salmon, etc. There are some fun apps including the mac and cheese and hummus but I'm only giving them a 3 here though because the food is just ok, nothing that I would say is particularly memorable.
(3)Katie L.
I love hanging out here!. Good crowd, good drinks, good music. :) Look for Peter and order the strongest drink in the house AKA "orange crush," which is the perfect solution to a long day. I love the Clarendon scene, and this is definitely one of my favorite places in the area. Order some alcohol and some dessert, and enjoy the ambiance, the sights and sounds!
(5)Matt D.
Very good wings. Filet and fries is always legit. Beer a little pricey because of our unreal location . Clarendon top 5 places to live for 25-35 year olds . Also had the chicken sandwich. It's not bad but could use more chicken . Can't really go wrong here
(4)Mattie C.
Had a good brunch here the other day. They have a very pleasant patio where you can sit, and its nice to watch the different types of dogs walking by. Clarendon has a billion dogs living there so it is very nice sitting at patios there. I had a vegetable-y omelette and boyfriend had spicy shrimp pizza. Both of us liked our meals, but i have a small complaint about mine: very small portion. The omelette was delicious but for the price should have been just a bit bigger. The fruit on the side was fresh and scrumptious. Coffee was tasty and served in big cups, though I would have preferred a nice big coffee pot like they give at IHOP. We didn't have any cocktails, but the cocktail menu looked very good. So, this was a solid place for brunch, though I prefer IHOP or Silver Diner since you get larger portions for less price. Still we didn't have to wait in an enormous line and sitting out on the patio was very nice. Fine place.
(3)Jeffrey S.
Bartenders are like Gods. Visit the bar at Circa in Clarendon, order from Peter an "Orange Crush" and your prayers will be answered. Come early as the bar tends to get packed with beautiful people. And for good reason. The gorgeous, hip & trendy ambiance attracts a gorgeous, hip & trendy crowd. Oh, and tip well... don't anger the Gods.
(4)Carey A.
Have since been here several other times for drinks at the bar and brunch. Bar service is always great and we really enjoy their brunch!
(4)Michael S.
I still like the Foggy Bottom one the best. Food is the same. The inside is more spacious than the Dupont one or the Foggy Bottom one. I like the patio out here the best, however. Lots of space outside and it's nice eating out there, though people-watching is kind of lame. It's super close to the Clarndon Metro, too. I don't think you can go wrong here, but it's just sort of "average." If you're not feeling Cheesecake Factory, for instance, stop by here.
(3)Vonetta Y.
It's times like these that I really wish there was a half-star system on Yelp because Circa @ Clarendon is a genuine 3.5 star spot. Went for happy hour with a couple of coworkers the other day, and I was surprised to even see the restaurant sitting there! I had no clue one had opened in NoVa. I must say that it's refreshing having another classy happy hour option in Clarendon that's not mediocre as Eventide or just-ok as Mr. Days. However, the prices lead me to believe that I won't be happy houring every often here, either. Don't get me wrong; the hh drink specials were actually pretty good ($5 wines, $3 draft beers ex Guiness, which stinks, but Sam Adams is always okay), but the food is pretty high-priced for the area. I got the margharita pizza -- tasty, but nothing special at only about 10 inches, if that much -- for $10. Meh. Service was just fine. I quite liked the girl attending to us when we first sat, but I guess her shift ended because the tall, lanky bartender started checking on us. Several times, actually. So many times that we figured that 1 drink each and a pizza between 3 people wasn't enough for us to linger, so we left rather quickly. The seats at the table we were in were pretty cozy, too. I would have liked to stay in mine longer. The space is similar to that of the Dupont location, only longer, I think. The middle communal table gets packed quickly during hh, and makes it uncomfortable to leave the bar area, as you have to squeeze yourself between the bar and all the people at the table. Oh, and the bathrooms are really, really dark. One should know exactly where everything should be in one's accoutrement because it is crazy dark in there. Think that about covers it. So, yeah, decent priced hh drinks, expensive food, nice atmosphere. 3.5 stars.
(3)Nadine F.
I came to the newly opened Clarendon location of Circa for a happy hour, and I was impressed. Service was good, and the happy hour specials were more reasonably priced than I expected. I was surprised they were willing to give my group a table, but they kicked us out once the dinner crowd started rolling in, even though we were trying to order another round of drinks. Overall, this is a good choice for happy hour, but it's probably better for a small group that's willing to stand at or near the bar.
(3)Marty L.
Had dinner with several friends last night. Gorgeous night to eat out on the patio. Wait staff was definitely off their game -- glass carafe fell and broke around our feet, wrong wine given to one, and steak salad was brought late to the table - came initially as salmon salad. Management nice enough to comp a couple of items due to mistakes. Will try again, food wasn't bad and hope for better service.
(3)Melanie M.
I was so excited to eat here for my friends birthday. Got the mac and cheese for a small plate- it was just okay, very unforgettable dish. Got the mushrooom risotto for the entree- again not to impressed. The drinks also sounded much more exciting on the menu. If I went here again, it would probably be only for a happy hour and I would stick to just ordering beer or wine.
(2)Charity W.
I would actually rate 2-1/2 stars. We went for lunch yesterday and were the second table seated outside. There were two of us with a 16 month old. I ordered a coke, water, milk and glass of pinot grigio. Tables started to be seated so I understand it getting busy but it took over 10 minutes to get wine and a few more minutes to get my son's milk. The gentleman that seated us was very nice- I think he may have been a supervisor. Our waiter was nice but extremely slow and we had to flag him over to order and then again to get another drink. Orders were coming out so randomly based on when people were seated. We only ordered two appetizers and a side of sweet potato fries. Fries were tasty as was the shrimp. The cobb lettuce wraps- couldn't wrap them up- lettuce is too thin and it all fell apart so I ended up eating it like a salad anyway which was really not the point. If you have white linens on your tables and lunch comes to $65, I should NEVER have to flag you down to get something. Won't be back.
(3)Wen L.
Circa. What started out as one little restaurant in the Metro DC area soon blossomed to a local chain. I usually despise chains, but local chains tend to be a little different. Still, I have never been enamored by this place, but to be quite honest, I had only been for drinks previously. For drinks, the place is perfect. It's not a place to get sloshed, if that's still your thing. But it's a nice spot to sit around with friends, have good conversations over glasses (and glasses... and more glasses) of wine (and other bottled goodness). I've had a charcuterie plate here previously, but never a full on meal. One weekend, the roomie and I decided to go out and "play" in Clarendon. When I say "play," I mean that we wanted to go someplace not super crowded to grab a bite and then pick-up some groceries afterward. There aren't many "fun" grocery stores in DC, so we decided to go to Clarendon for eats, and then make a pit stop at Trader Joe's. There happened to be a race going on; a bike race to be specific, and that soon got our attention. We ended up grabbing a table where all the action was: a patio table at Circa. The fun part about it was that the weather was awesome that day, and the sun was out. So I had my sunglasses on, sipping on cocktails as we waited for brunch to be delivered. It reminded me of the brunches I used to have in Santa Monica or on the Sunset Strip. (sigh) The menu items for brunch were pretty standard, and nothing was clearly jumping out at me. But I did end up with a "PLT Panini," which is made of pancetta, arugula, tomato, lemon aioli, and mixed greens. (I'm pretty sure I also ordered a side of fries because I was being fat.) In a nice way, I was surprised at that meal. The bread was toasted not too hard, but packed a crunch when I bit into the sandwich. The saltiness of the pancetta against the nutty flavor of the arugula went nicely with the fresh tomato. The lemon aioli added that nice kick of flavor that pulled the whole thing together. It was filling, and afterward I swear I may have needed to be rolled out of that place. Roomie went to town with the french toast, and a whole lot of sides. When they came out, it was like we were at a Korean BBQ place, and the panchan was being spread out before us. (Talk about being fat.) But roomie enjoyed her selection, and was also full... so full in fact that she accidentally left her left over french toast behind. Sadness. Not sure if I'd make my way to get back there for dinner, but who knows? It was a nice surprise for brunch. So maybe one of these days when I happen to be in the right place at the right time, I'll swing by Circa to be surprised by something interesting at dinner. We shall see...
(3)Derek H.
I like this Circa location much better than the older brother in Dupont. It is an interesting layout, narrow but makes the most of its space. It will be really cool once the weather warms up and presumably that front foyer will have seating. I did notice the same double-swing out doors were installed, to presumably, open up during the summer to make the place feel completely open. That will be Totes McGotes. I'm hitting this with 4 stars because it is a needed establishment in the area (an upper-scale bar you're not afraid to hang out in on a Saturday afternoon, sorry Eventide), trumps the other similarly themed places that seem to spring up and die in Arlington every six weeks, and has a high upside. The biggest thing keeping this from 5-stars for me are the prices and the food. Drinks are expensive ($9-11 for a cocktail) and while the food is definitely adequate, it isn't incredible. The menu is nice, but your mileage will vary dish-by-dish. The Jambalaya I had was a little bit bland on flavor, but the calamari appetizer with fried jalapenos was really good.
(3)Paige M.
So, I live pretty close to here, so end up at circa fairly often. Its one of the only places I've been to more than 3 times. We almost always order the same thing, mushroom flatbread and sliders. As soon as the flatbread arrives at the table, you can smell delicious truffle oil, and its cooked to perfection. The sliders were a little overdone, bit are usually very good. The 3 dollar mimosas are a nice touch, though they came in water glasses with ice? At least they stayed cold! Circa is definitely a favorite.
(4)Mike B.
Overrated, overpriced and the food is not that good. Every server I have encountered here comes across extremely pretentious.
(2)Tim W.
I'm not going to lie... I was REALLY drunk when I was at CIRCA. I was out for drinks in Clarendon on Wednesday night with my friend, and few drinks turned into a pseudo-bar crawl. However, I enjoyed my time at CIRCA. The crowd was decent and the bartenders were funny and cool. I really appreciated the CIRCA ties of which they make the staff wear as part of their uniforms. I thought the space was nice and "roomy'. I will be back to have more drinks and hopefully, dinner. :)
(4)Angela C.
I ventured to Circa for brunch on Sunday around 1pm. The patio was pretty crowded but there was plenty of seating inside and at the bar. This was my first trip to Circa and I was pleasantly surprised with the service and atmosphere. My bloody mary was spicy (as requested) and the pulled BBQ chicken sandwich was good, but nothing earth-shattering. The sweet potato fries were delicious and the gigantic pickle slice was a pleasant surprise. I'll definitely be back to Circa for brunch.
(4)Jason B.
Been here several times. Food is always good and well prepared. Staff is friendly and attentive. A bit pricy, but dependable if you want something a little nicer.
(4)Mileska R.
Went to Circa with some friends on a Friday night around 630 and was able to get a table pretty quickly. The location is pretty good a block from the Clarendon Metro stop and is in the middle of everything in Clarendon. The bar was packed but that's to be expected in clarendon on a Friday night this is the same with the noise level. I was excited to continue my trek into the restaurants in this area but disappointed with the food. Other reviewers applaud the libations at CIRCA and rightfully so. I had a White Lightning which was strong but taste delicious. Needless to say 100 proof whiskey is all you need in life. They had an extensive wine list and included a fair about of beer, so I may visit again to partake in Happy Hour. On to the food...we ordered the Shorty, braised short ribs and polenta cakes with blue cheese. I can say the meat was tender and the polenta was good but the sauce was reminiscent of Hormel's Chunky soup. Also ordered the Petite Filet Mignon Sliders and that was just ok, they seemed like sliders anyone could make at a summer barbecue. At this point me and another companion were disenchanted. We were looking forward to getting the big filet mignon on their menu but decided if the appetizers were the way they were then spending $30 for a questionable dish prevented me from doing that. I really wanted to leave and swing over to Cava instead. Ordered the NY Strip as nothing else on the menu seems to catch my eye. I ordered it medium rare (vampire in training or zombie) and was pleased it was the way I ordered and the outside was warm and the fat was rendered well. It was accompanied by brussels sprouts and red potato mash, both were good as well. My friends ordered the Steak Frites and Chicken. The chicken was a no-go and the steak was already sliced in a sauce and the fries were the frozen type. My companions ordered dessert a chocolate molten lava cake that came on this monstrous plate streaked with chocolate and raspberry coulis surrounding an upside down cupcake! It was so small and the ice cream that accompanied it was 4 massive scoops further dwarfing the miniature disappointment. The service was decent, our server was Vito a 6 foot 5 soon to be law student. Bottom Line is go for drinks not for the food.
(3)Karen V.
They do good food. You would be surprised how often a cheeseburger gets all mucked up around Clarendon, I was happy to bite into a juicy, cheddar cheeseburger. MMMM. The calamari is tasty, the braised short ribs left something to be desired. My boyfriend loved the Jambalaya. Nice wine nights but, it's always a bit too packed and I would not drive here just for the sake of Circa. I definitely would not walk here... might stop in on my way home on the metro though...
(4)Spike T.
One of my favorite places in Clarendon. Last night the service was the worse I've experienced which made for a special event less special. The food was great as always. We saw the server twice -- and we weren't the only table experiencing this lower level of service. Perhaps new and some coaching is needed.
(2)Ericka C.
My friend and I chose Circa for a Thursday night happy hour. It didn't seem crowded, and we wanted to sit outside. We were planning on ordering an appetizer or 2 and a bottle of wine to share. When we arrived, we were told that we couldn't sit at a table since we weren't ordering dinner. Once I told the hostess we planned on ordering a bottle of wine and we would order food, she reluctantly sat us outside. (side note: our waitress was so inattentive, I'm not even sure how we managed to place an order. It's funny that we were told we had to order food when we had to wait about 20 minutes to even place an order....and like I said, it wasn't crowded). My friend and I split a $60 bottle of wine. Wine was good. Fine. Just dandy. After a glass or so of wine, and a while of scouting out a waitress, I was able to place an order for food. At this point, I was a bit annoyed, so I only ordered an appetizer. The tuna tataki. As slow as my service had been with my waitress, I was seriously surprised when my appetizer arrived LITERALLY 2 minutes after I placed the order. It almost worried me. To me, I feel like that means it was either sitting out, or it was an error order brought to someone else's table and somehow ended up in front of me. Regardless- it was uncharacteristically fast. The verdict on my tuna tataki? Sub par. Tasteless and over accessorized. I certainly would never order it again. The ambiance is nice, and I enjoy sitting outside- for that- I will give Circa 2 stars.
(2)Juliet K.
of all the restaurants in the clarendon are that i've tried (which honestly is not that much) this is probably one of the better ones. they have good food, a decent bar scene, and some delicious drinks. it does get a bit loud in here and the wait for a table can be long, but the bar is first come, first serve and i've never had a problem getting a spot right away at the bar. mussels. pretty good. def not as good at columbia firehouse, but its decent if you are craving mussels. petite filet mignon sliders. pretty darn tasty. good solid slider. ** both of these are good things to share shotgun shrimp. it was ok. im not a big fan of people trying to accomplish asian flavors, because normally they dont get it. so if you're asian, you might not like this, but if you like that fake wanna be asian flavors or unless you dont know what real asian tastes like, then you probably will. Jambalaya penna paste. it was ok. i didnt think it was saucy enough. but it did have the right flavors and had lots of veggies and diff meats - chicken, shirmp, and sausage. overall, great experience. I would totally go back.
(4)Andy T.
Went out here on a Wednesday night during happy hour for dinner with friends. The environment is a good place for happy hour (nice inside and outside sitting areas). Drinks are normal in NOVA ($5-$7 beers and $7-$10 mix). Appetizer: Calamari = good (with friend chick peas, squash, and pickles). Entree: Short Ribs = OK (Some pieces cooked longer that it should of). Scallops and Risotta = Good Shrimp Pizza = Spicy (used a lot of crushed red peppers) The environment was what I liked most about this area and will definitely have to do a happy hour one night when it's nice out since it's in the general area of Clarendon that is busy with the night life.
(3)Mary S.
Most amazing brunch, great location, great tradition in a trendy fun town.
(5)Stacy W.
Do NOT go to Circa if you plan on having a large party!! I decided to have my birthday dinner at Circa a few weeks ago and the experience was horrific. I initially chose Circa based on the overall good reviews on here and their diverse menu selection. My boyfriend called a week in advance to make a reservation and was told that while they don't take reservations, it wouldn't be a problem at all to accommodate a large group (we had about 14 people) and told us to just call in advance. So come Saturday night, we call 3 hours in advance to let them know we'd be there at 8pm, and here's where things go down hill. The staff at Circa refused to give us a straight answer, telling us one minute that they're not sure if they can accommodate us at 8pm, but then a manager tells us that they'll "figure something out" and told us to go ahead and come. A few of us arrive a little before 8pm to try to sort things out. They had a large group that had just left, but they refused to give us that table b/c our entire party wasn't there yet (even though it wasn't 8pm yet and we'd been calling them since 5pm!) and they instead gave it away to another party. They then told us that they should be able to seat us by 9pm. While irritated, we agreed to just get drinks at the bar and wait. So 9pm rolls around, and now they're telling us they can't seat us til 9:30. By then, everyone was starving and really annoyed, and it was obviously too late to book a last minute reservation at a nearby restaurant since everything at that point was already booked. We ordered some apps at the overly crowded bar area and kept waiting until past 10pm. Apparently, they were waiting for the large party that they had originally given our table away to to leave! They're in the restaurant business, so they should obviously know that large parties of over 10 people do NOT finish dinner within an hour!! They falsely promised they could seat us at 9 when they clearly knew they couldn't just to keep us there! I was so livid at that point that we just decided to leave. It would have been fine if they were honest and told us they couldn't accommodate us from the beginning, but the fact that they kept beating around the bush and making false promises just to get us to stay and wait makes me question the management and how this restaurant is run. They not only ruined my birthday dinner but also made 13 other people wait for over 2 hours and leave hungry.
(1)Jason A.
Great brunch. Bloody Marys are not watered down and the huevos rancheros is pretty good; not the best I've ever had, but far from the worst.
(4)Zivar H.
The outdoor sitting area is really nice. The bar tender make good drinks and they waiters are polite and prompt. As far as the food, I should say their menu is very limited. The crab cake is good, their flat bread pizzas are really tasty. but stay away from their burgers :)
(3)Harry T.
What Stacy W. said. yelp.com/user_details?us…
(1)Foodie C.
Food is more 3.5 but rounded up for good service Always a nice experience here for brunch, work meeting, or date night Food 3.5 Service 4.5 Cleanliness 4
(4)Phoenix Simone W.
This place is so hip and cool. It has such a classy vibe, and the servers are always super friendly. It gets pretty crowded on weekends and dinnertime, so aim to get there early, especially if you have a huge group! Also, the mac and cheese is amazing.
(3)Nikki B.
The few times I've come to Circa, my food and service experience has been mediocre, at best. And whenever I walk out of the restaurant, I ask myself why I step foot in this location. I asked to taste a wine prior to ordering a full glass. The bartender is bothered by this common request. I asked for hot sauce. She said, "Just one moment and I'll get it for you." The moment turned into 10 minutes. I was almost finished with my soul when she brought me the hot sauce. And asking for the check... Well, let's just say that my 2 bartenders were no where to be found, so I asked some random guy in a tshirt walking behind the counter for it. He brought me the check. Please note, it's around 2:45pm. Not busy at all. I hate bad service. It's just a bad look for the business. Eh. Back to Liberty Tavern where they give amazing service, I go.
(1)Katherine L.
I've been to this location upwards of 20 times. Everything is always perfect, from the very friendly staff, the perfectly mixed cocktails, to the fantastic food. We keep trying to branch out and try somewhere else for brunch, but nothing even comes close to the experience we have at Circa. Such a gem in Clarendon!
(5)Kathryn R.
I planned my friends birthday brunch for this restaurant because you can never go wrong with $3 mimosas! The manager had to approve our reservation because of the large party size. When he got on the phone he was extremely polite and let me choose how the birthday girl would want to be seated with her friends, which was extremely nice. When we got there they were ready right away for our reservation with Eddy as our server. I felt horrible because the party kept getting larger and larger than we had planned but Eddy was extremely accommodating. He took pictures of us and was constantly making sure we had a great time. The birthday girl and all guests were extremely pleased with our experience. Overall, I really want to give this restaurant five stars because they truly deserve it but some of the portion sizes for the prices were a bit off so I just can't do it. My boyfriend left the restaurant still hungry so he grabbed a snack when we got home :( otherwise the food was fabulous and the staff were wonderful!
(4)Alice M.
Not much to add that is not been covered already. I highly recommend it. Location: In the heart of Clarendon (5) Waiting time: seated immediately out side as requested (5) Environment: Nice decor and very cool (5) Food: No complains what so ever well done and well presented (5) Service: Very pleased with out waiter, she was polite and very helpful (5) Price: reasonable (5) We stopped by this afternoon and had a pleasant evening. It was not busy at all and seated immediately. Food was great and service was excellent.
(5)Belle D.
What a lovely spot for brunch! Food - I had French Toast with a side of eggs and bacon. The cornflakes french toast was delicious. Not cloyingly sweet, since you can dip it in maple syrup for more sweetness. It was topped off with marscapone cheese that is fresh with blackberries and strawberries. My friends had the Steak Benedict, medium and wished she ordered it medium well. My other friend loved her Smoked Salmon Benedict -- looked fab! Service - Was good. Had an attentive waitress. My only small gripe, since we were a party of 5, we kept ourselves entertained while waiting for our food. Otherwise, if it was just my husband and I, and we had to wait long for my food -- no bueno. The drinks took a while to concoct.. Faster to get soft drinks and bottles water. Price - was decent. $12 plus the sides.. Venue- Outdoor seating was fab on a sunny, warm - yet cool day. The establish inside is clean and does not look outdated. Clean bathroom is a plus. Bottom line - yes, I would come again.
(4)Jen M.
Love the atmosphere and looking forward to checking out this location to try the bar/dinner area. However, went to brunch there and it is average. There are many other better brunch places in Arlington I'd rather visit!
(3)Bill J.
Ate at Circa last Sat night - party of 6. Restaurant got pretty loud by 8:30, so it was hard to hold a conversation across the table. The food was good. The service was EXCELLENT! "Casey" was our waitress. She was perfect in every way - a real super star.
(4)Bradley B.
My date and I walked into Circa on Friday night. There was a long wait and the bar was very packed/lively. The mussels at the start of the meal were awesome, very buttery/creamy. My date had the scallops, which were good, but she was disappointed with the serving size. I had the short ribs, which were tender and delicious. The wine list is serviceable. I this place is still enjoying the hype from being new to the neighborhood but I do not think the over-priced food will keep it going strong for long.
(3)Andrea J.
I've never felt compelled to write a restaurant review until my last experience at Circa. Unfortunately, the bar/restaurant that I was initially so excited about has disappointed me in ways unsurpassed by others. I suppose the service was never great - relatively inattentive bartenders, some decently uninterested/almost rude hostesses, difficult to get bread - but no deal breakers...until recently. Three weeks ago: 1. Quoted wait time was half of actual wait 2. Dirty wine glass had to be replaced 3. Brought out wrong wine to table 4. Messed up both entrees 5. Instead of comping us as promised, they ADDED items to my bill Had it not been for the fact that the manager was reasonable enough to then comp the entire bill, I might not have come back. But wait! Last night the manager recognized and welcomed me back. I was genuinely happy to be back, figuring the last experience was just a randomly bad one-off incident. After getting almost everything right last night (except for overcooking my date's tuna - not even close to rare), however, we got the bill. In addition to what we had ordered, there were two additional entrees and appetizer on the bill - doubling what I should have been charged. AGAIN? I was shocked. Twenty long minutes later, the staff was able to draft up a new, correct bill. I paid and left for the last time. MORAL OF THE STORY: CHECK YOUR BILL CAREFULLY! If you don't mind putting up with those kinds of shenanigans, you'll probably enjoy good wine and decent food.
(2)John W.
Visited Circa on 19 Mar 2011 for brunch. We had no trouble getting a table for six immediately. Service was good... Not excellent, but better than average. I gave the menu a pretty thorough going over, and it is imaginative. There were a smaller than average number of vegetarian options. Some of them we're kind of odd. The only strictly vegetarian omelette, for example, was made with egg whites. I didn't ask if I could get the rest of the egg, but the assumption that anyone that is vegetarian is only going to want the white o' the egg, is kind of, well, strange. I didn't ask if I could substitute, but opted for the three egg breakfast... Scrambled... Kitchen service was fast... Suspiciously so, in fact. The potatoes were bland (like eating oily packing peanuts), and painfully over done. My eggs (ordered scrambled) were served over easy. I didn't send them back, as I was wrestling with this decision anyway, and I like 'em both ways. One very small slice of toast. (I don't get this... Toast is cheap... Come on...) I also found what appeared to be either dental floss or surgical thread in my potatoes. This wasn't on the menu, so I assume it was a mistake. I didn't bother to call it to the waiter's attention, as I'd largely finished when I found it. Around the table, the opinion largely seemed to be that while service was OK (mandatory 20% gratuity for parties of 6+, BTW), the food that we were served was just disappointing. Some of the menu items are imaginative, but seem to be not well thought out. The banana stuffed French Toast, for example. I didn't order it, but several of us tried it. Has the owner (or god forbid, chef) sat down and tried to eat a serving of this stuff? Like trying to eat a dozen doughnuts all at once. Why not chocolate coat it and sprinkle powdered sugar on top? (ack!) Consider stuffing the French Toast with something that is orthogonal to the sweetness, vs. adding drastically to it... (perhaps sausage or eggs?) We collectively eat brunch together every Saturday, and I think that Circa is probably not going to be on our list of regular stops. The price was relatively high, the service was pretty good, but the food was certainly not a good value. The visit, over all... Two stars...
(2)Jimmy H.
I went here in a group of 7 for brunch hoping to get some good food on a nice sunny day. We arrived with no reservation (didn't take reservations), but they were able to accommodate our group very well in a nice table outside under an umbrella. Our party arrived at two separate times so the waitress got us our first round of drinks. The Blood Orange Bellini was very refreshing and about what I expected to pay for it. Our group arrived and everyone began switching to mimosas. These things were huge and only $3. We ordered our meals; I went with the French Toast. The food came out relatively quick; however, mine came out with no syrup. We had to wait 10 minutes for the waitress to come back around before I could ask her. Then I waited an additional 10 minutes for her to bring out the syrup (she also had a drink order). By the time I was able to start my meal, the group had finished 3/4 of theirs'. Despite the wait, the french toast with cornflakes crusted on it was amazing. The fruit that accompanied it was fresh and crisp. One of the strange things I noticed throughout the brunch was that we had a total of 3 different people serving us, and asking for orders. This did not give me a chance really to make a judgement on our individual waitress/waiter. I would go back though, possibly for lunch.
(3)Jackie L.
We were there to meet friends who were already there at the bar. The bar area was so crowded and it's definite the place to meet people and be seen. However, the noise level is definitely deafening!! The drink selection was good; however, 4 beers totaled almost $30 before tip...ouch. The bar food menu was an afterthought. From the sound of other reviews, I'll go other places before giving it a try.
(3)Grant Y.
Was not greeted by the "greeter" & watched others approach the greeter for a "hello". Bar staff very interested in talk amongst themselves about how "slow" it was. Watched the bar staff check their smart phones several times from being so bored. Bartender Tommy? spoke to us briefly how he was NOT into "customer service" when HE goes out (well played). The house "Circa Ceasar" salad was done with browned lettuce pieces at regular price during happy hour (fail). The place looks great, but if the staff does not pay attention to the customer, especially during quiet times, they have failed with me..
(2)Pamella S.
Great looking bar & space. Lively atmosphere with great bar scene. Met a friend for drinks and dinner. There was a wait for a table, so we grabbed wine at the bar. The bartender was quick & friendly even though the bar was packed. We waited for about 15-20 mins for a table in the dining room. One thing that I did not like was the tables in the dining room were on top of each other, so you can hear the conversation of the diners next to you quite clearly if you want to listen or even if you don't. Our waitress was attentive and helpful with the menu suggestions. The warm Rocket salad was average, but not warm and in fact was served on a chilled plate. The lobster ravioli were unmemorable but the filet sliders were delicious. Great wine list helped make up for the inconsistent food.
(2)Brian D.
Good food here, I've had the Jamaican Jerk Tuna sandwich twice now. This is a great lunch time or brunch spot, but don't go here on a Friday or Saturday unless you are good waiting a really long wait b/c this place is small, it really can't handle the dinner crowds of Clarendon. But good food and a great weekend lunch spot.
(4)A. S.
FEH! Shrimp came out almost cold & tasted average. Calamari w/vegetables fritti came out warm, not hot. Tried the $5 happy hour wine & the old saying "you get what you pay for" is still true. Salad was bland, bland, bland. Steak was average. Server hovered & tried to rush us to order. Heard other servers giving word-for-word same menu recommendations as our server. So phony. But what will make me SHUN Circas forever is the insects. Little nasty flying things that invaded my dinner, my ramekin of salad dressing, landed on the table, landed on my napkin, landed in my water glass. Nasty. We were on the patio, and before you say "a restaurant can't control insects flying around outside," let me tell you - yes they can, and I'm in a position to know a bit about this subject (lucky me).
(1)Dan B.
good food, terrific atmosphere, busy happy hour, crappy slow bar service.
(4)Mimi K.
We were told a 40 minute wait but actually stood for an hour but the hostess was very professional about the matter so we did not make an issue out of it. The food here was great but I am not sure if I appreciated the wait staff. They swap around and you never know who to ask for help and you don't have enough time to pick up on their mood so you go without asking for what you want or feel like you are asking the wrong person to bring you some thing. Other than that, I definitely will be back!
(4)Christina G.
Circa is my "go-to" spot for good cocktails and light food. The food is a little inconsistent but service at the bar is typically on point even if they are crowded. Billy runs a great bar and makes delicious cocktails.
(4)Steve O.
Just had the shorty appetizer and it was amazing....melt in your mouth. Went with the bbq chicken pizza since it was on special for the 1 year anniversary and I'd definitely order it again. Crista S is the best waitress
(5)J A.
Excellent bar scene with great variety of drinks. Lots of action and great large screen LCD TVs. Will be back next time I'm in DC and plan to check out the Dupont Circle location.
(4)Maureen M.
I tried Circa for the first time last night. Both the bar area and dining room were pretty full. We were told the wait would be 30 min and that was about how long it took while waiting at the bar. The drinks are fantastic and the bartender, while busy was very attentive. When our table was called we sent a friend to the host stand while closing our tab. Apparently in that time they accidentally gave our table away and we had to wait an additional ten minutes. The hostess could not have been nicer about the mistake and offered to buy us dessert after our meal. We all ordered pizzas for dinner, and they were delicious. Our server was friendly and attentive. And the free dessert was a great way to end the evening. As with all new restaurants, I think they will work out their "kinks" in the coming months. I look foward to returning and am happy to have another place to dine in the neighborhood.
(4)Michelle I.
I came here for dinner with girlfriends. First one to arrive so I grabbed a drink at the bar. Luckily for me, it was right before 7pm, which was when happy hour ended ($5 wines and $3 beers). In order to be seated, you have to have your entire party present. A couple of my friends were late because they couldn't find the place. Apparently the place doesn't come up when you search for it on gmaps. I was able to get the address through trusty Yelp! Once everyone was there, the hostess seated us immediately. Our waiter was very nice. He gave us recommendations on what to get since it was our first time there. I ordered the caramelized sea scallops - which were cooked and seasoned well, but didn't really seemed caramelized. It came with risotto and spinach. The risotto was tasty but unevenly cooked. The portion also seemed kinda of small. I got four scallops which were about medium-sized. It seemed more appetizer worthy. 6 scallops would have made me a happy camper. Since I was still a little hungry, we ordered dessert. We got the bread pudding with pistachio ice cream. It was delicious. Probably enjoyed it more than my entree. Overall, I think I'll come back here again for happy hour and probably will try something else on their menu for dinner.
(3)kevin d.
While some people here want to complain about the service etc, I say get over it...this place should be taken into context....compared to any other joint near by it stands out(great drinks, good food etc). Compared to its sister in dupont it's way bigger. The staff are the best in the area, especially the bar staff. A few of them came over from DC. If you make the effort to get to know them they treat you like family. Yes it gets crowded....but its worth it to be around other successful 30 somethings letting off steam on a weekend night.
(5)M F.
My husband and I went here for our 2nd wedding anniversary. The service was wonderful and the food was delicious! My husband had the jambalaya ziti and I had the rockfish. The rockfish was probably a little better than the jambalaya, but both were fabulous! Excellent touch with a pesto spread in addition to butter as a condiment for the bread. Would return again if we ever went out to eat.
(5)Meek Y.
I see a recurring them with Circa, at both the Foggy Bottom and the Clarendon location. Their bars are decent, their waiting staff is HORRIBLE. This is the second time I have been to Circa in Clarendon and will be the last time. We got to circa at around 4pm on Saturday. There weren't many people there and we were seated immediately. Here is where the review starts: The waitress took about 10 minutes to get to us. When she did get there, she took our drink and appetizer order and then left. She came back about 5 minutes later for the rest of the order and we gave it to her. We waited about 10 minutes and the appetizer came. "I'm getting thirsty, it sure would be great to have those Diet sodas we ordered". It took us close to 30 minutes to get our sodas! This is after I asked two other people for the drinks since the waitress was standing up front in front of the computer. She brought out drinks to us and NO APOLOGY, nothing. I told her "you realize, we have been waiting for drinks now 30 minutes". She replied "I'm the only server here right now and i'm swamped" Still no apology! Anyhow- after getting my pizza that had absolutely no marinara sauce on it and wasn't prepared crispy like I told her about 4 times and then getting the burger that was well done after we asked for medium. We left, I was very disappointed. I now understand why Circa's consistently get low ratings. Great reason!
(2)Windi L.
Circa is probably your best choice when you're out in Clarendon. It's more upscale thus, the 21 year frat boys usually don't frequent here. You can enjoy a nice dinner while still hanging out at the bar area picking up your boy or girl de jour (which will be more quality and most likely have a job making more than $40k a year). Regarding food, it's pretty good. In fact, it's really good. Our table of five each had a different dish and while we shared, all were impressive. I had the steak salad which had the right amount of dressing, my boyfriend had the mushroom pizza (great crust) and the best of de best was the salmon cooked medium rare. The flavor and corresponding corn risotto was an excellent combination. I wish I would have gotten that. They have a unique specialty drink list and we had them all. Dark and stormy, blackberry mojito, and this drink with a jalapeno in it. Quality liquors and we weren't hung over the next day. Portions just right (not too big, not too small [Goldie Locks would be proud]) so that you can be hungry but not so full that you can't bar hop around the orange line. Note: they don't take reservations but they said our wait would be 45 minutes but it was really only five.
(4)Matt K.
Went to Circa for dinner with a buddy on a late Friday night around 10pm... squeezed through the super crowded bar area to get a beer... tight hang-out area. Food was "A-OK". Really crowded bar area with people in their mid to late 20s - young professionals. Appetizer: Mac n' Cheese with Asparagus and Italian prosciutto... Actually this was really delicious and creamy. Entree: Crab cakes - these were good.
(3)John J.
The place to be in Clarendon right now -- I'm a regular there almost every thursday night for a reason -- you just cant go here and not have a great time. Their south american drinks are amazing, including the ultimate mojito and caipirinhas. My favorite drink there however is the Foggy Bottom with extra cucumbers. Its made with throwing chopped cucumbers and rosemary into a glass, smashing it with a pestle and adding vodka with some complex syrup. Its shaken with ice and poured into a cup with a cucumber on the rim. The drink is so refreshing it feels like your eating a spritzy salad; so I'm pretty sure its got health benefits. While I've only had cocktails here my friend tells me his wife and him had a great tasty dinner here; meaning the food must not be bad either.
(4)Vannaly R.
4 stars for food quality and service from our server... Arrived to the restaurant on a Thursday night an hour before their kitchen was closing and the service we received from our server was fantastic! The host staff however, were not as friendly or professional. Our server, wish I could remember his name, made our dining experience seem like we arrived during normal dinner hours and not at 9:30 pm at night. He greeted us promptly after being sat, told us about the nightly specials and asked us if we would like anything other than water to drink. Once returning back to our table with waters he took our drink orders and gave the guys in my group menu suggestions which they eventually ordered. Pizza, Wings, Short Ribs, and Scallop dinner were what was ordered. Everything came out in a timely manner, the food was delicious and the whole dining experience was great. We didn't feel rushed while dining and drinking there. I would come back here again and do recommend others thinking about bringing clients here for meals because the quality and service were great! We didn't go to the bar, but the area was busy and looked like it had a good vibe.
(4)Zachary G.
The food is very consistent and very good and it's a dependable venue for lunch, brunch or dinner. I've eaten here about two dozen times over the years and the food has been great each time. The two outdoor seating options are wonderful as they're an overall rarity for the Clarendon area. My motivation for this review is to call out the staff, specifically the servers. Like any other restaurant there are some servers who are good and others who fall far short of your expectations. For the Circa at Clarendon I tell folk that there are two servers: Jonathan and Not Jonathan. If you get Jonathan, you're going to have a good time and receive an exceptional level of service. Writing as a person who places customer service nearly as high as the meal itself, it's his commitment to his craft that keeps me coming back (there are 101 dining options within a stone's throw). If you get Not Jonathan your food will still be excellent but you'll dine without the service guarantee.
(4)Steve S.
Review for bar only. Many of Clarendon's bars and restaurants have a generic, interchangeable suburban feel. Not Circa, which is a very nice and sophisticated space but still comfortable to go have a drink, even if you are a casually dressed slob like me. Decent happy hour, good service from bartender, who made my drink exactly as requested.
(4)Chris K.
This review its specifically for the bar, and not the restaurant. This is a place to be seen, have cocktails, and hang out with friends--but it is not somewhere to go for good wine and cocktails. The atmosphere is nice, and the staff friendly, and the apps look pretty good. However, your going to waayyy over-pay for what are essentially bottom-of-the-barrel (no pun intended) wines. For happy hour where more emphasis is placed on the quality of libations rather than the location and atmosphere, there are better options less than a mile away.
(3)Jamie G.
I've been to this Circa location for drinks before, but never for dinner. Came for my boyfriend's parents anniversary dinner and the food was excellent. I ordered the crab cakes. Good atmosphere and place to take your family in town!
(5)David S.
Went for breakfast/brunch and wasn't disappointed in the food, however the sullen service could have used a friend and a cup of coffee. Went with a few friends and were able to snag a table outside under a nice shady umbrella. The patio isn't the largest however I did see a "reserved" sign so if you are going with a large group I would suggest calling ahead. Mimosas were 3 dollars and they were large and strong. Stick to those as the Bellini was less then impressive, twice the price, and significantly smaller. They have a varying menu that includes some breakfast and some lunch. I opted for breakfast, because honestly who does lunch at brunch? Egg whites were cooked well and the veggies in the omelette were fresh and crisp. The fruit salad was nice but just full of things I don't like but others said it was fine. Crab cake Benedict and some fancy salad I don't remember were enjoyed by all. Woulda been a 4 had it not been for our mopey, judgy waiter. I get it man no one wants to work on a Sunday but you're fellow employees at least acted like they wanted to be there. Keep the eye rolling and condescending tone to yourself and refill my water once in a while. We coulda been friends.
(3)Mary Kate M.
I am married! Yay! So, we came to Circa to celebrate our eloping occasion. We came here with a couple of friends that were in the wedding. Everything was nice at the time. Food was great. Service was great. The free champagne they gave us to toast the occasion was great.... then... 5:30AM rolls around and lo and behold I am vomiting out my guts. I had not ate anything that was out of the usual, and the only drink I had that night besides the glass of champagne was the pineapple mojito which were both delicious. I know food poisoning, and I know the effects that come with it.... Bottom line I am out of my misery today. Next visit to Circa -- drinks only sans food.
(3)Jen C.
food was fine, have no complaints. I wish they were on opentable so that i could make a reservation and not worry about whether i have to wait or not. Bar area is huge and if you get here after 7 it is packed. Went for dinner around 6. I thought the food was fine. Service good. But the music was a bit loud and there was a tv in the dining area which i wish was not there. People dining were distracted with golf. Tvs should be in the bar not dining area. overall i would come back definitely, but would be worried about having to wait for a seat. And would not go here for a special occasion. Just a regular nite out
(3)Truthful Y.
One of my favorite happy hour spots in Clarendon and it's great to have more choices in Clarendon. I first became familiar with Circa at the DC location which I love. I like the setup and how there is a community table which is more social than individual tables by the bar. Lots of outdoor seating. The drinks are consistently good like the Mojito and other cocktails. The restaurant area is nice and the calamari are good. Great spot for upper 20's, 30's and up crowd.
(4)Matthew H.
it won't take long before Circa at Clarendon starts getting the recognition it deserves. A food first mentality, with a heavy, HEAVY emphasis on drinks, this place is unbeatable for a quick bite during happy hour with cheap drinks, or a fantastic, classy night out in Clarendon for dinner. Sorry Dupont, but as an Arlingtonian at heart, I will be a loyal patron to the new Circa at Clarendon for years to come.
(5)Kate C.
Just ate at Circa with my husband and although the menu looks good it is not well executed. Overall, the food was poor and on top of that we were both pretty ill after our meals. We will not be returning.
(1)Krista M.
We went to Circa to celebrate a girl friends birthday! A group of 9 of us were looking forward to it but were quite disappointed! It was packed and we were squished into the corner. When a few chairs finally opened up we utilized them and attempted to simply move a chair from one side to the other. The manager was extremely rude and told us we were not allowed to do so, would not listen to our explanation and did not provide one himself. He actually said, "The chairs are the way they are for a reason and if I wanted it on that side I would have put it there myself" Nice thing to say to a bunch of girls! The liquor selection was limited! Fast forward to later in the night the manager and owner became overly violent with another customer (had customer in head lock, kicking him) and literally threw him out of the door endangering several other customers, including a pregnant woman. The customer did not appear to be violent and the situation should have been handled more appropriately. Needless to say we will not be returning!
(1)Anh N.
Went to Circa and overall had a good experience. Very trendy and great date spot! I ordered the turkey burger with a side of asparagus and it was delicious! Drinks were good as well.. flavorful and strong. I would definitely come back.
(4)Mojdeh S.
How I heard of this place: Chris and I were taking a walk through Arlington and into Georgetown the day prior and walked right by. We stopped to take a closer look at the menu, posted outside of the establishment, thinking "This is a great place to bring our parents when they visit!" Little did we know that the opportunity to take ourselves out for a sampling would come so soon! Having opened earlier this year, it was a timely culinary experiment. Type of cuisine: Circa in Clarendon offers a typical American style brunch, with eggs, served in a variety of ways, including poached for an Eggs Benedict (classic, with Canadian bacon, or Chesapeake style, with crab), Belgian waffles, banana-stuffed French toast, an omelet Lorraine, steak & eggs, or a breakfast burrito. Also on the weekend brunch menu were a mushroom ravioli, grilled Atlantic salmon, pizzas, a burger, Jamaican jerk tuna, a grilled cheese and chicken salad club sandwhiches. Take your pick, everyone in your party will be pleased by the "American style cuisine with International flair, complimented by the extensive wine list, including over 20 wine offerings by the glass, and an original cocktail list for every season." Ambiance: We spent our entire meal outdoors, seated on the patio in relatively close proximity to twenty others celebrating Mother's Day over brunch. The space was cozy, lined with a decorative black, iron fence and small tables, covered in white linen. The floor-to-ceiling windows along the front of the establishment, allowed us to glimpse inside, under the black and orange awning, where we could see dark wooden hightop tables at the marblized counter at the bar, with backed barstools boasting yellow, leather cushioned seats. Large-tiled floors, hold brown, wooden tables, adjacent to patent-leather red-accented, cushioned chairs, and other wooden-backed chairs. Being such a beautiful day, patrons opted to be seated outdoors, making for a quiet indoor meal for the handful of diners that selected such seating. Plenty of waitstaff and bus-boys served and cleaned the tables with seamless ease, to ensure ample space for the next course, hand-holding, or cards and gifts for mom. What I ordered: To start, we ordered a non-fat vanilla latte ($3.50) for me and a refillable mug of black coffee ($2.50), featuring Greenberry's Coffee House Blend: A light-bodied cof ee with a lively, well-balanced flavor. It's a blend of Guatemalan, Costa Rican and Colombian for him. My dining companion and I were both craving the same dish! I had pointed it out to him becuase he had expressed a desire for scrambled eggs, that seem to be limited in the breakfast and brunch options at every establishment where we perused the menu. After contemplating trying something new and different so we get a better sense of the varied menu, I, too, continued to come back to the Circa American Bistro Breakfast ($12), three eggs, served any style with our choice of bacon, ham or chicken sausage, home fries and toast (either white or wheat) with a ball of butter and berry jam on the side. I selected three eggs, served over medium and white toast. Chris opted for the healthier wheat toast, and requested three eggs, scrambled. Bacon fans, we both selected three slices of the paper thin bacon to accompany our roasted potatoes served with a dollop of caramelized, diced onions. To wash down the meal, my dining companion ordered a tall glass of cranberry juice ($3), diluted by the cupful of large ice cubes surrounding the lone, black straw. What I loved: My dining companion loved the bacon most, as it was the last thing remaining on his plate, with which to complete the meal. He had commented, at one point during our meal, that the caramelized onions, slightly sweet, paired well with the salty, halved new potatoes. While the food was warm when it arrived at our tables, the gooey eggs allowed for perfect bread and potato dipping, while the bacon, thin and crispy made for a light touch of salty, greasy goodness without being overpowering. I enjoyed the meal, the outdoor, patio seating on a gorgeous Arlington morning and the insightful conversation and laughs shared with my dining companion. Why I loved it: The outdoor, patio seating on the brick sidewalk in the shade of a beautiful, warm and sunny day made for the perfect spot from which to dine! Foodwise, I love that only one piece of toast, sliced on the bias, was offered to each of us, and everything else done in more edible portions. Nothing remained our plates, yet both of us were fully satisfied with our meals, and lasted until we made it to our dinner party invitation at seven in the evening, seven hours later. Cost: Low to average ($7 - $19 per brunch entree)
(2)Kelly C.
I don't dislike this place, but I don't like it either. My friends like to come here. It's definitely more of an easy night out type of place and beautifully done. I love the wine bottle wall behind the bar. Other than that, the food I've had here is just okay. The calamari is crunchy and tastes fresh. Their custom cocktails are also reliably tasty, yet nothing I haven't seen done at other bars. The crowd is stereotypical business casual Clarendon/Arlington types. It's usually very crowded at the bar and there's not much seating-- so like I said, Circa is more of a "start here" kind of place and end somewhere else. Unless you're on a date. :-)
(3)Emily M.
Solid place to eat out. Ambiance is great if you're looking for a place to unwind. One strange thing is that they ask you how you want your salmon cooked. I was never asked that before.
(3)Banu T.
Food was good. Mimosas for brunch is $3 but the service sucks! Servers are just standing around while our glasses are empty
(3)Beth Q.
My husband and I came here one night after hearing good things. I was not impressed. Wait staff was slow and not very attentive. My food was just ok. I asked for several modifications and they were not taken into account. Likely will not be a staple for us.
(2)Candace C.
Service was very nice, our waitress was engaging and had intense eye contact so I felt like she cared. Solid brunch options, it was hard to choose but I had the Chesapeake benedict and it did not disappoint. Typical Clarendon crowd...the TVs showed golf and music videos, something for everyone in that room.
(5)L S.
Far too loud on a Thursday evening. We had to shout at each other to get heard. Service was good. Shortrib appetizer was fantastic. Some of the mussels in the appetizer tasted 'off' - which should not happen at at restaurant with these prices. The wild mushroom ravioli was the best I have tasted in a long time, so a big bag of mixed impressions.
(3)Evonne L.
the food here is not great. i went with a friend to HH and ordered the calamari (bleh) and for my entree i ordered the mignon sliders, which were not good. we actually got to sit outside on a 70 degree night, which was fabulous.. until our food got there. so we got our calamari, but it wasn't just deep fried squip, there were also fried jalapenos, and other random fried veggies that shouldn't be fried. i am a burger girl at heart, so after a long day at work i wanted to treat myself to some sliders, and thought the mignon ones would be a nice change. note: do not get the sliders. it totally is three mini pieces of mignon on a roll and a waste of $15- which is $5 a slider! you can get 3 regular size sandwichs at five guys or elevation burger for $15. go for the ambiance and the outdoor seating, or even the very swank indoor area, but dont go to expecting to be wowed by the food.
(2)B. S.
Have been wanting to try this place out since they opened in Jan/Feb and finally made it there for an early dinner on the weekend. Their outside seating area is pretty good, none of the typical issues - wobbly tables, excessive noise or anything like that. From the other reviews i glanced at it looks like they have a problem with service, but that was not our case. I don't know if it was just not that busy yet or what but we had a very quick and knowledgeable waitress. Her only downside was knowingly serving us the crappy food. I ordered a steak salad medium (~$18) and got a charred brisquet on a bed of brown lettuce. It wasn't like there was a piece here or there that was brown - the entire bed of lettuce was visibly rotten. Thankfully I wasn't terribly hungry so turned my attention to the steak, which was a pretty good cut of meat. Unfortunately as i just mentioned, it was way overcooked and dry. I don't know what's going on here, it looks like it could be a good place, at some point... but the food was absolutely awful and there is clearly no quality control in the kitchen. With so many good restaurants in the $15-30 entree range nearby, go somewhere else. Circa is just not worth it.
(2)Fannie G.
I won't lie. I am kind of writing this to beef up my Yelp reviews. Maybe they will take me seriously and make me Elite. Hostess? Incredibly friendly without being perky. I hate perky. Decor? 'K, kinda like sitting in a restaurant at a Westin. Any Westin. Anywhere. Although Topeka came to mind first. Could someone please identify the door? Lots of glass doors; only one actually opens to the restaurant. Lots of lovely outdoor seating with fabulous shade umbrellas. GREAT fried green tomatoes. Here's the deal.... I'm from Mississippi. I had my first fried green tomato in DC at B. Smith's in my 20's. It's kind of a myth that it is a big southern staple. Just like nobody, and I mean nobody, actually says N'awlins. Efficient and courteous waitstaff. Salad was basically a pile of arugula (rocket for all my UK fans) with a little bit of shaved parm and a good but not delectable grilled chicken breast (an add on). Key Lime Creme Brulee? Bangin'. Just. Yes. Bangin'. Value? Yes, totally. I think my salad was $9 and the dessert was $5. Bottom line: look, there are a lot of places in the metro area to eat. If you are Clarendon, you could do worse than eat at Circa.
(3)Kristi M.
This is probably my favorite spot in Clarendon! Awesome happy hour specials, great servers and bartenders and food is delish. BF and I get the hummus app now and again and it's fresh and filling if you're looking for a quick bite... He likes the pizza/flatbreads which are also a great happy hour value on Mondays with a $5 glass of wine. I've had the salmon salad and it's fantastic. I love the decor and feel of the bar area weather your at the actual bar or the high tables... a win every time!
(5)Holly C.
If you're Gluten Free this will be a torture experience for you. They don't carry a cider or a gluten free beer which is almost standard in comparable bars in the Clarendon/Arlington area. If they were a dive bar I would so that's ok but it's an uppitty Clarendon bar. This is a very DC let's network and hand out our business cards kind of bar scene. The bar area is small and constantly crammed to the point you can't move around. The waitresses in the bar area are visable not never actually taking your order so you will need to fight your way up to the bar. It's so busy in the bar you probably won't have anywhere to put your food down and you can't stand and eat it because you will bumped into constantly.
(2)John E.
Always a great place to see and be seen. Slightly older crowd than CG or Mad Rose. Happy hour was busy but not too crowded and then crowd picked up at 10. Chicken and waffles was good, for $12 not a bad deal for one of the more popular places in Clarendon.
(3)Grace B.
I was reading the past essays about this place and I don't agree with the ratings. The food is just ok and not very impressive. Note to self: Never order sushi (though I didn't know it was going to be sushi - Ahu Tempora?) at an all-america place. The rice was pretty bad. It may be cuz I'm asian and I know rice - esp. sticky sushi rice. This rice was either a) old or b) cooked with too much water. Either way, it was very heavy and chewy rice. Not good. Don't know why the waitress said it was so good. It was horrible. Also, the filet sliders were very livery. How can that be? I don't know! It was though! We had one together and bam - trashed! A shame for $15 for 3 sliders. The best things though were the signature cocktails - awesome and so pretty. I had the foggy bottom. Was good. Next best thing were the mussels. Hummus - nothing to rave about. You can get the same taste with the sabra brand at your local food mart. Atmosphere was good.
(3)Mindy D.
I've been to Circa twice - once for dinner on the patio and the second time for HH. I loved both experiences, although the food I had during my dinner was way better than my HH choice of salad (skip it, please). The HH scene was fun, lively and I love the large bar space. My favorite is the fact that there's a dessert truck right outside Circa, so after a long (or short) night, you have your sugar options.
(4)Mikkela T.
In a town of gray suits, this restaurant is a gray suit. The food was okay ($11 for an egg-white omelet, $11.50 for the breakfast burrito, $14.00 for filet mignon sliders, $3.00 for a side of sweet potato fries) but nothing to write home about. The Bloody Mary was acceptable and cost $9.00. Coffee is $2.50. The service is also fine. The staff seem to have been uber-trained. The bathroom hallway faces out to Clarendon Boulevard which strikes me as a little bit odd. But, the mirrors in the ladies' room have hooks for purses, and that is the sort of detail that I can appreciate. Mostly, I like the leather booth seats (very important when sliding into position!). Overall, this place provides more seating for the voracious diners who would also eat at Boulevard Woodgrill and Harry's Taproom.
(3)Tracy L.
"You are such a yup," my boyfriend joked when I told him I liked Circa. I was defensive, hating the label. But whether I like it or not, Circa has yuppies written all over it, with attractive girls, suit wearing boys and trendy air. It tells a story of middle class glamour. LONER UNFRIENDLY? I made plans to meet with a couple of friends here on a Friday evening for happy hour and arrived earlier than expected. While deciding what to drink, I realized that the after-work crowd made this place a bit loner unfriendly, with guys and their man's men leaning against the bar eying queen bees and their sidekicks; coed cliques hogging the bar seats, adding inconvenience to people like me who had to shout awkwardly to the bar tender from a distance. So I did, "A glass of Pinot Grinio please." WAITING LIST = DITCHING A FRIEND The happy hour deal was $3 beers (various options) and $5 wine (their choice of one white and red wine.) I couldn't say I was really psyched about the offer. It would be nice to see some finger food specials, especially because I was craving for some decadent, high-calorie bites. Soon a friend arrived and we decided it would be wise to get a table instead of standing around packed in like sardines. Unfortunately, we couldn't be seated until everyone arrived. The hostess politely apologized and put us on the waiting list. For a hungry animal like me, waiting list pretty much meant starvation. 40 minutes had passed and my other friend was still a no show. "Can we please get a table for two?" THREE APPETIZERS FOR DINNER As whining as I was, I knew my stomach was smaller than my impulsive appetite. Sampling smaller dishes therefore sounded like a perfect plan We ordered beef sliders, calamari, and fried shrimp in sweet and chili sauce. Everything was quite enjoyable to taste and look at. Sliders were juicy, calamari meaty, and shrimp succulent. Towards the end of my gobbling, my friend finally arrived, all apologetic. Equally guilty, we forgave each other right away. She ordered herself a drink and sat patiently on the arm of my chair while we all chatted and waited for the crowd to die down. But the crowd never truly went away. Circa stayed vibrant, thanks to Arlington's out-and-abouters. When we were leaving, I pictured myself telling my boyfriend about coming here with him for dinner sometime, and I could just hear him accuse me of being a yup again. But hey, if that means getting me some wine and good food, I'll take it.
(4)Bryan A.
Good food and restaurant side. I don't care for the bar side much... no standing room and takes forever for drinks.
(3)Cup Of T.
I have been wanting to try Circa for a while and finally had brunch there today. Shared wonderful lobster ravioli as a small plate, had the special which was tomato and apple gazpacho (sounded refreshing, was prepared with too much of an acidic base, had a vinegar-ey taste to it, and only had a few spoons before putting aside) and a side of chicken sausage which was great. I'd like to try some of their cheeses and wine during the evening next time, and will be sure to update my experience when I do. Overall, lovely atmosphere worthy of 4.5 stars, the food 3 stars.
(3)Jennifer S.
Though we've never been to the Circa in Dupont, we did happen upon this locale during their soft opening, before the sign was hoisted up above the door. Our first impressions were that it was good, not great, with sweeping windows and some interesting food/beverage selections. We've been back several times since then and our opinion has changed to be more favorable. It isn't just reliable, a-okay, standard fare; it's pretty darn good. Our favorites: for J it is the steak (we always order extra haricots verts because they are cooked PERFECTLY and are drenched in salty butter); for me it is the wild mushroom ravioli and the pineapple mojito. I must learn how to make this mojito - it is that good! Steer clear of the lobster ravioli- it doesn't even taste like lobster, and why have it if that's the case? Also steer clear of dessert. I think we've tried them all and not a one of them deserved even two golden forks. All in all, a welcomed addition to Clarendon. We hope that many more restaurants of this ilk or finer will find themselves setting up shop in our hood. I'd like to weed out some of the tired losers.
(4)Kati R.
Wine selection is amazing. Bartenders are great.
(4)Kimberly T.
Meh. Went here for a workday lunch; arrived a bit on the early side (11:45 a.m.) and it was totally deserted. Sat down (I will give credit, the leather arm chairs are totally comfortable, and our server was pleasant enough), and drink orders came promptly. After we placed our order, the food came out literally 5 minutes later. It was uncomfortably fast, and felt way to fast to the freshly prepared. I had the Jamaican tuna sandwich, which tasted like absolutely nothing. No flavor, no spice, and to add insult to injury, it was piled on a heap of soggy mayo-laden slaw. I asked for it rare, meaning lightly seared - it was well overdone. The sweet potato fries were okay enough, nothing special. Probably won't be returning.
(2)K. J.
Great weekend bar option for Clarendon - Bartender was nice and attentive, even on a busy Saturday night. There are lots of high tables and chairs near the bar at which to post up. I love that you can get a decent glass of wine, something that cannot be said for their neighbor, Bracket Room. We didn't eat this time.
(5)Bill W.
The 3 of us were there on a Tuesday evening and had a reservation. Good vibe and fabulous service. We had the scallops, crab cakes, and trout. All were tasty, nicely prepared, and presented. We started with a dozen oysters that were very nice, but arrived with no small serving forks, horse radish, or crackers. We were brought horse radish (an essential for our oyster eating style), and were told they had no crackers, and the lack of small forks were not a show stopper but a bit unusual. We had a great evening and the place was packed. We would definitely recommend Circa to family and friends.
(4)Tony C.
I'm always annoyed by places that look as nice as this and not take reservations. I suppose folks can get away with this as places stay popular, but once that goes down, or the majority get sick of waiting an hour for a table, you finally stat realizing that it's a bad policy in the first place. However, I'm not sure why I'm complaining about it since I didn't wait. My wife and I arrived at 6pm before the "hipsters" showed up. Decor-wise, Circa is very nice. Outside, it sits at a busy corner with a lot of foot traffic and plenty of opportunities to people-watch. Inside, they have these plush leather chairs that I didn't get to sit in, but scream "comfy". The food is upscale bar food. We ended up passing on the entrees and just had appetizers. Nothing really stood out as mind-blowing, but everything was pretty tasty. We had the chicken wings, the mussels, spinach/artichoke dip, and the lobster ravoli (the best of the four). I tried the chicken tortilla soup which was not bad either. My biggest complaint with most chicken tortilla soups is that they're made overly salty. This one was fine. I'll come back, just to sit outside on a nice day and have a beer or glass of wine and perhaps a nosh.
(3)Megan S.
I came here for a late dinner on a Monday and didn't have to wait for either indoor or outdoor seating. The servers were attentive without being pushy (they did randomly switch waiters mid-dinner for no apparent reason, but no big deal). The scallops were fantastic! I've had quite a few less-than-mediocre scallop experiences in DC, and was delighted to find a place that could prepare them well. My date had the strip steak, and said it was good (I didn't try it, and so can't confirm). We hung out at the bar after dinner - the bartender was kind of hilarious, and made a killer Caipirinha. Overall, it was great for a weekday dinner. I'm not sure how I'd feel if I had to fight through the weekend crowds to get a table though. Like others have said, it's definitely yuppie (but isn't most of Arlington?). I haven't been to the one in Dupont, and can't compare, but this one is definitely worth a try.
(4)Diana C.
Went to see what the hype is all about... Still not sure if I like the place, I know I don't LOVE it. Happy hour is good $3 draft beers, $5 wines. Nice beer selection, not just the boring Miller Lite things. Didn't try the wine, but the list was impressive. I really liked how the bar area is separate from the dining. And you can sit on both sides at the middle bar, actually seeing your friends and carrying on a conversation. I had the oyster special soup that they have going on for Valentine's weekend. It tasted great, but the portion was smallish, and not a single slice of crusty bread!!! However, I found 2 humongous oysters :) The host was very polite, and the waitress was very attentive and nice. Nice decor too. Location is great, very close to Metro. At one point it got too crowded & loud for my taste, so I left. Not sure if I'll go back simply cause I don't like such crowded places.
(3)Aubrey C.
good place for drinks and to socialize at the bar. interesting people and we love Billy. the food is ok but they took out some of our favs with the menu change. We personally prefer having food elsewhere and coming here for drinks after or before. mainly because the dining room set up is rather tight and the majority of the place is a huge long bar with a long high top table that runs the length of the windows.
(4)N - Pyranhadoc - W.
WOW - wonderful restaurant!! Terrific service, excellent calamari, dinner rocked tonight. So glad we stopped in!!!'
(4)Catherine M.
I really can't say enough good things about Circa in Clarendon. My husband and I love their brunch, and come almost every weekend! My husband has the eggs benedict every time because theirs is the best and is always perfectly cooked! Their dinner is very good, as well. The food here is consistently very good, and they're very accommodating with special requests and substitutions. What makes Circa at Clarendon great, though, is the staff. Because we're there every weekend, they know us, and always seem to go out of their way to make us feel taken care of. Dina, in particular, deserves a special shout out- she's awesome. Everyone though, from all of the servers to the nice hostesses to the managers, is fantastic, and it's not just the food that keeps us coming back every week, but the fact that we know how welcoming and warm our entire experience will be-- every time.
(5)Liza A.
A closest to a lounge - like feeling you'll get in Arlington, relatively speaking. This place has great lighting and a nice crowd. I'm never disappointed when I come here. Nice bar staff and good mixed-drinks. Try their different berry-type mojitos. They don't skimp out on the mint leaves. Although, the best Moscow Mule I've had was in San Diego, Circa's is not bad. Love that they know to use copper cups to serve them in!
(3)Ayana P.
I've been to Circa once for dinner and a few times for drinks. I hate the bar scene here. It is usually crowded and hard to get to the bar. The patrons are the typical people who tend to hang out in Clarendon. It can also be hard to get a drink here. Music is usually hip-hop which I prefer. Had dinner here about a year ago. I can't, for the life of me, remember what it was though. I did enjoy the the experience even though the food wasn't memorable. I had brunch here this past Sunday. A friend and her four-year old son came to visit for the weekend. I usually take my friends and family to Liberty Tavern which has been consistenly good for the few years that we have been going, but today I decided to try something different. We arrived and were immediately seated on the patio. Our waitress came to take our order - Mimosas for the adults along with a glass of water with lemon for me. The mimosas came out in large glasses with ice. I initially thought that I tasted seltzer water and my friend also thought that it tasted weird. We decided that we would just ask for exactly what we wanted. When the waitress came back over, we asked for orange juice and champagne in a champagne glass. Nothing personal, that's just what we wanted. When she brought the real mimosas to the table, she remarked that she doubted they would taste any different. And the damn mimosas did taste different. They tasted much better. After that exchange, service became ten times worse. No lemon ever came even though I had asked again. We had to stop her in passing for extra syrup for the french toast, she never stopped to see how we were doing, our waters were empty and never refilled and someone else came and laid our check on the table, and I could go on and on and on. It was absolutely horrible. It was the worst dining experience I have ever experienced. It was so bad that I decided to ask for a manager. I told her about our experience and how disgruntled the waitress was. She apologized and asked that we come back and even gave me a gift certificate. Three stars is about right for Circa because the food is good. The french toast was amazing. The chesapeake benedict was also really good but the service is what left a bad taste in my mouth that I'm going to remember everytime I see the place (Circa aversion).
(3)Kate M.
Friend and I went here for Sunday brunch. The outdoor seating was a bit windy, but our server was lovely and kept us well supplied with drinks - though I will say the peach bellini was a bit of a bust for me. The French toast and Chesapeake benedict were both outstanding, though, and I will definitely be going back!
(4)Wayland C.
First, good service. Second, tasty food. Third, reasonable price. Fourth, great location. That's how you do it.
(4)Heidi D.
Went there for lunch with my 5 year old son. I usually stick to the "kid-friendly" places. We had a great time:) we sat outside to people watch, and in case he got a little too crazy. The staff was soo friendly! Three different people circled by on regular intervals, each one super nice and attentive. Food was good. Margherita flatbread for the kid was amazing, I had the mussels and panzanella salad. Very, very good. And my son's lemonade was pink lemonade in a kid cup, so although this is definitely a very hip and trendy place, they do very well with the next generation.
(4)T P.
My husband and I enjoyed a Friday anniversary dinner at Circa/Clarendon, and we are fans! The service was good though a little slow, probably due to it being a Friday night. The food was overall very good. We ordered the fried calamari appetizer, which was tossed with fried peppers - yummy - but the fried calamari and veggies were a bit wet and "limp" - maybe not enough time in the fryer? My entree, the salmon salad, was delicious. My hub had steak and Parmesan fries, not as healthy as my dish but just as tasty. We shared the white chocolate bread pudding for dessert. That was also delicious, but it's quite dense, and in our opinion should be served with a larger scoop of ice cream to balance it out. Maybe next time we can ask for extra!
(4)Eric J.
Nice cosy little place for brunch! Foods were nicely prepared and enjoyable
(4)Jackie C.
BIG FAN! I was in town visiting some friends for the weekend and drove past this place (after doing research on yelp of oourse) and decided to make resi's for friday night. Long story short- they only accept a few reservations & keep tables open to walk in's so I got there early with a gf and had some drinks at the bar. The sunrise cosmo was BOMB and the bartender was awesome! The crowd was young and lively which was nice. Finally we got sat (look way longer than anticipated) but we had a lovely evening. I got the mushroom pizza which was so so so so so sooooooooooooooo GOOD! Best gormet pizza ive had in a long time. The sweet fries were awesome and my friend loved her turkey burger. Overall awesome spot, if your in town visiting give it a try you wont be disappointed!
(5)Marla M.
Living in the area, I had really high hopes for Circa. Unfortunately the experience I had wasn't a pleasant dining experience so I will not be returning. The food was bland and not memorable - the service is extremely slow. Maybe if you are sitting in the main area it would be faster, however we were off to the side and our waitress rarely came. Definitely isn't my go-to restaurant in the area. Try the other nearby ones before Circa.
(2)Sam C.
If you want to be seen and just have a drink at the bar, then this place is ok. Bar seen ok and the bartenders are decent. Overall, the food is not very good, overpriced and just "meh." The table service is terrible. That kills the entire experience. Most of the waitstaff were rude, made us feel rushed, and seem to not like their jobs. We could not even get water. I had to go to the bar myself to get a beer and a glass a wine after sitting at the table for 15 mins - and the place was only half full. Again, a place to hang and have a drink, nice atmosphere BUT not to eat or have a pleasurable and fun dining experience. Most of thier other restaurants in DC are the same. Disappointing.
(1)Amy N.
These bartenders are trying WAY too hard to be all their regulars' best friends. If you aren't a 30-something who comes here several nights a week and and shares your life story with your younger, yuppier Tom Everett-Scott lookalike barkeep, you may expect to feel a bit like second-class citizen. Walking by here to and from work every day, I had been looking forward to trying Circa for a long time. I had brunch at the Dupont location that I enjoyed, but that was five years prior. My friend and I arrived fairly early in the evening back in late March or so, ready to try a cocktail or two and get a bite to eat. The after-work crowd hadn't really shown up yet, so we had our pick of bar stools. At first, I was really liking how friendly the bartender was. He happily recommended drinks and patiently waited while we decided. Maybe he was a bit overly gregarious, but I'd prefer that to the opposite. The bar began to fill up. The crowd was...older. Not old old, just lots of couples or groups of women looking anywhere from 5-15 years older than us, looking serious, taking themselves really seriously. The bartender also took the couple next to us really seriously, and energetically conversed with them about their many mutual connections, as if they had never in fact left the bar at Circa. On to the food and drink: My blackberry margarita was very good. Not too sweet or at all syrupy, but still clocking in at the downtown DC price of $12. To eat, I went with the warm rocket salad (because only pedestrian middle Americans call it "arugula;" in Europe/Clarendon, we call it "rocket" now) and the spinach artichoke dip, my bar food of choice that I must try everywhere. I liked both very much. The dip was a little gluey; I like a more spreadable texture, but the flavor was good, and I loved the roasted tomatoes in the salad. As my friend and I continued chatting and moved on to a glass of wine, the crowd grew, and eventually seats along the bar itself were apparently becoming a scarce commodity. With most seats available when we had arrived, I chose a spot near the end - but with one seat between me and the support running from floor to ceiling. I like cozy spots, but would have felt overly cramped there. Evidently, we were posing a massive inconvenience to the bar by allowing ourselves some breathing room. The bartender asked that we moved down to allow the aforementioned enthralling couple to sit in prime conversing position with him. Of course, my friend and I politely moved down, but I couldn't help but feel a little slighted. It's one thing when another customer asks you to move, but for the bartender to suddenly assume the role of PR director arranging the front-row seating chart at the Sarah Burton for McQueen RTW F/W '12 show - it was a little uncomfortable. We finally finished our lengthy happy couple of hours, and our bartender, though gracious, seemed all to pleased to see us go; he made sure that we made our seats available to two lovely (older) ladies who had been waiting some unseemly long time and wouldn't we be so kind as to make sure no other patron swooped in and snatched up the precious seats. I'd give Circa another shot - maybe if I could snag a patio seat or if the fam were in town, but I think I'll avoid the bar itself - at least until I'm a little more inconspicuous among the suited, Gen-Yer set.
(3)Kelly L.
I live just around the corner from Circa and have been postponing a visit as the wait times at a new restaurant in Clarendon is typically staggering. A friend invited me to an early dinner on Friday night and we walked over to Circa at 6:3 pm. It was a beautiful night and requested to sit outdoors. We were told the wait time was 30 minutes and grabbed a drink at the bar first. The bar service was quick and friendly. The bar was starting to get busy and it was a lively crowd. I will definitely be back for drinks. Our table was ready early and we were seated to a great spot. Our waiter was attentive and friendly. Circa's menu was typical, and a little disappointing. Every restaurant had the exact same menu, Scallops & Risotto, Short Ribs, Salmon, Rockfish.. But I reserved my opinion for when the food arrived We both started with salads, my friend got the mixed green salad and i got the caesar. Both were just okay, nothing interesting or unique about it. My friend commented that he expected more. I ordered the short ribs and my friend ordered the rockfish. When both your brought out, perfect timing, they looked great. However within a couple of bites - be both looked at each other - bland and just average. With the atmosphere and crowds, we truly had hoped that this was going to be our new restaurant of choice. The pricing was reasonable, but as the food was nothing special, it left you feeling a little hollow and we treated ourself to Pinkberry to make up for the disappointment. Don't get me wrong - it was not a bad experience, but could be so much better. My friend actually mentioned that we should have just gone to the Cheesecake Factory (which we loathe), but at least the food would have had flavor. Circa is equal to Harry's Tap Room which I also find over rated and marginal. Save your money and go to Cava - incredible flavor, better menu choices and oeverall better experience.
(2)Molly L.
Great food and cocktails. I recommend the blackberry margarita. We typically order small plates, rather than entrees, so we can share a few different things. I would recommend the short ribs, the filet sliders, the mac and cheese, or the wings. A few of those sound like "bar food" but Circa does a much more upscale version than you'd find at a pub or sports bar.
(4)Mike C.
2.5 Stars: I have been to this location twice and the service has been terrible on both occasions. Yesterday it was moderately crowded, and my part of two waited ten minutes before we even saw our waiter or had any water. We also had to ask if they could take our appetizer order, then our main entree several minutes later and our menus were closed and sitting on the table. My first visit wasn't far different from this one. I think management needs to find a way to formalize their service, because it was as if the waiters weren't there to work. Aside from the service, the food was decent but nothing that knocked my socks off. I think I will go back again... I know the location is new, so maybe they are working out some kinks.
(2)Marissa T.
Meal: Lunch (weekday) Ambiance: cute. Probably a great happy hour place w/ all of the alcohol they have stacked on the wall. Staff: Nice, well informed, and easy on the eyes. lol Went here for a business lunch. I've only been once, so I'm soley going off of my food experience. Appetizers: Fried Green Tomatoes - eh. It was okay. Wasn't something I couldn't stop eating. I had half of one and I was done. Hummus - Sooooooooo good. Probably the best thing I ate during my visit. I could probably have eaten this for my main course and I would have been satisfied. It was light and delish with pita bread! Meal - I went half and half w/ my boss. She had their day special of a short rib calzone that had spinach, wild mushrooms and cheese. Ehh. the waiter definitly made it sound better than what it was. It wasn't very tasty and I honestly felt like I was at a regular pizza joint with it. Not impressed. I ordered the grilled chicken panini. It was okay. But again, I probably would have had a better experience with my food at Panera. So you can kind of see where i'm going with this. Overall, I give 3 stars. I would have given only 2, but the hummus deserves a star of its own!
(3)Tina I.
Went to this place for lunch with a co-worker since it's just a hop, skip and jump from our building and it was 80 degrees and they had outdoor seating so why not. From the looks of things it is a very nice looking restaurant in terms of decor and cleanliness. We walked up to the hostess and was seated promptly and then a few minutes later the waitress came to take out drink order. So far so good. She then came back a few minutes later for our food order. Things are going well. Then.... Waiting....waiting...........waiting. Almost 40 minutes later our food shows up! To me this was unacceptable and a salad and sandwich should not have taken this long to prepare and serve...during a lunch time where the restaurant was not even crowded. The patio was not full and there was hardly anyone inside the restaurant. However, we did not complain since it was such a nice day and we were not in a rush to go back to the office. But if we were on a schedule it would have been ruined by the service provided. The food was good not amazing but still good. The fries were good! (I'm obsessed with french fries). Given the slowness of the service (the waitress was pleasant and nice I must say) I probably would not suggest going here again for lunch unless you had time to kill and just wanted to sit around and hang out. The menu did have other items that I would want to try but given the service who knows when I'll go back.
(3)Katherine K.
I've been to Circa for lunches, dinners, and happy hours. I suppose I keep coming back because it's so darn close to where i live and they do make an EXCELLENT Jamaican Jerk Tuna sandwich (so yum!). I would come back to Circa just for this dish - it's that good. I also love their wine list. I'm so glad they have wines from South Africa - they're my fave. Just a few complaints though: 1) What's up with that gigantic farm table? Gigantic waste of space, that's what it is. You can't move around if you want to hang out at the bar. Essentially, it's like a herd of cows doing laps around that table during happy hour. Also, if people want to eat at so-called table there - well good luck not getting bumped around by all the people hanging out. 2) Alcoholic drinks - very weak. C'mon bartenders! 3) No reservations?! ! Geez.
(3)Dave S.
Plenty of style and delightful food - needs work on service. Word-of-mouth and on-line reviews led my girlfriend and me to try this place for a late dinner date a few weeks ago. The sophisticated ambiance made a positive first impression; the noise level indoors was a bit louder than we would have preferred, so we opted to sit outside. The food mostly lived-up to the façade, but there were some service flubs that undermined the restaurant's sleek image. The server clearly did not understand us when we ordered the only by-the-glass Côte du Rhone and Tempranillo wines on the menu (both were adequate and served at the right temp). The server asked us to point to our selection while she wrote out the names. This seemed paradoxically unsophisticated, but could probably be overcome with some training. My girlfriend's main course was the braised boneless short ribs. She was happy with most of the preparation and really enjoyed the whipped potatoes and veggie compliments. I enjoyed what she let me taste. My main course was the wild mushroom ravioli. The earthy flavors were exactly what I'd hoped for without being too heavy. The moderate portion of my meal met my expectations for such an establishment; sharing an appetizer would have filled me up sufficiently. Unfortunately, we never received the appetizer that we ordered, but we hungrily waited for the main course so long, it seemed as if they thought we already had something to eat. Clearly there was a mix-up. When our main courses were presented and I asked about the appetizer, the server (not the same person who took our order) offered to take our entrees back so we could get the appetizer first (we did not accept the offer)! As we were in the middle of our meal, our original server returned and offered to bring the appetizer. We declined. Then, she informed us that it would be taken off the bill (no kidding!). I'd write it off as a wait staff in need of additional training and experience. The manager expeditiously rectified the situation with a concise apology and dessert. I have to give him credit for being extremely professional and apologetic without being obsequious and cloying. I find it irritating when a manager is either trying to throw his/her staff under the bus or acting like he/she is about to cry. The response, in this case, was classy. To end on a good note, the dessert hit the spot. The chocolate mousse was enjoyable, but not stand-out. It was sufficiently flavorful without being filling. It rounded out the meal very nicely. In fact, this seems like it might be a good spot for late-night dessert in Clarendon. Though I may not return for dinner right away, the bar looked impressive, and I will certainly give it a shot for cocktails.
(3)Alisa M.
Went for Friday night dinner. I liked the vibe, it's a little nicer and cooler than the average Arlington restaurant. Great for hanging out, drinks, and meeting people. Food was okay. A little bland. I like the dupont location better. Service was not bad. Not many tables in this restaurant, prepare to wait about an hour or more.
(3)Noel O.
I'm not sure I get it. Sure on the surface this place looks like another nicer, fancier bar/restaurant. They have happy hour specials that are just good enough to get you in the door, but then their menu prices aren't as reasonable. Then again, people in this town pay for food they think looks good, so more power to the people at Circa for collecting on people's need to appear upwardly mobile. But that's just a good, and we're talking about a restaurant bar here. The menu wasn't exactly inspiring, though our food was fine. Nothing to write home to mom about, but fine. The bar area looked clean and welcoming, so I liked the idea that the front part of the bar could be nice. But then I remembered passing by the Circa in Dupont and seeing the hoards of people stuffed in there, so I came to the conclusion that it's a decent enough place, but not for me. Maybe the new location in Foggy Bottom right across the metro will be different, but I think it's going to be the old uninspiring model.
(3)Ryan W.
Just a couple months after opening, Circa is the new hotspot in Clarendon, a magnet for the beautiful, trendy people. It has a nice atmosphere, but nothing unique. The bar was hopping. Because they don't take reservations and the wait was around 45 minutes on a recent Saturday night, we got some drinks and apps at the bar to start. Both the filet mignon "sliders" and mac and cheese were very good. The bar tender was a little aloof, but that's pretty common, right? When we got to our table, our server was very friendly. We were very pleased with our entrees: the veal picatta and the harvest salad with tuna. They weren't exceptional, but solidly good. Very warm, above average chocolate chip cookies on the dessert menu earned Circa an extra star in my book. We'd go back. PS - For you really "cool", "non-conformist", "independent" types, beware of all the 20- and 30-something yuppies at Circa. It's the same crowd that ignored you in high school.
(4)Chuck W.
Bar service review only. I love it. Drinks aren't cheap, but they aren't expensive either. I wouldn't show up in shorts and a t-shirt, there seems to be an unsaid code of dress. Think Arlington yuppie out on the town. But, it does seem to attract 'the beautiful people', which was a bit of a surprise having started the night at Galaxy Hut. So really not bad at all, I wouldn't mind going back again at all.
(4)Andy K.
Needs better quality control on dishes leaving the kitchen
(1)M R.
Only commenting on the bar service: it was good. I liked the bartenders and they have a large selection of speciality drinks. Very creative. I like the dark and stormy and the mojito -- any flavor! They make strong drinks, so be careful. And, the price range is not too bad. I did have a few french fries that had very coarse salt on them. They were pretty good! Although, I also had 3 dark and stormys, so that could explain it... Pros: Like the long bar Outside seating Friendly service Fun place to meet friends Cons: Not much parking, but hey, that's clarendon for ya!
(4)Mark R.
Bar area is the place to sit and hangout while enjoying their happy hour specials. There's plenty of adult beverages on the menu and you can pick your poison from beers to wine. I opted for vodka tonic and it was probably the biggest cup (more like widest) ever. It was as big as the water drinking glass in terms of its sheer size. More vodka for me. Mussels and flat bread pizza was pretty good. I wish the mussels were bigger but not bad for the price. Pizza was decent and nothing to really brag about. I was not a big fan of their seating area. It just didn't seem like the tables were supposed to be there. It was more like a dance floor packed with tables. Something was missing. HM. Great location definitely and not far from other great restaurants nearby.
(3)Nikki C.
I really liked this place. First thing I noticed was the really nice shaded patio. Went to go sit at the bar bc it did not look like much was available. Was greeted and given water and menus as soon as we sat. I really didn't find anything wrong with this place except the layout was weird( they had one really long table that multiple parties can sit at) . Not a biggy tho. The drinks were delicious( Bellini) and food was really good. I had the chicken sandwich with fries which was probably one of the best I've had. It came out hot, fresh and it was very flavorful. Also came with a really good pesto sauce on it. Good portions as well not too little and not too big. The Caesar salad was flavorful and fresh. The service was good, and very attentive. The manager was super sweet and friendly. They didn't have a side salad available but she made one of the bigger salads into a side for me and charged me less. That's good customer service! The environment was good, food was good, drinks were good, and service was good! It gets a bit packed so it might be good to go early for lunch or make a reservation ( if your allowed). But if your the type to not mind sitting at the bar I suggest that too, you didn't feel left out bc the bar is right where all the other seating is. Clean and comfortable. I recommend!
(4)Brent W.
Trying to be cool and hip...hang with the 30 something crowd. Great energy. Outdoor eating is fun. Service was great. Drinks were excellent, the blackberry Margarita was particularly good Food was less than adequate. I ordered flat bread - completely overcooked...not burned, but just tough and dry. Would have preferred crispy. Wife ordered filet... Meat as well as other things on the plate lacked any flavor. It was worth experiencing for the energy, but definitely not for the food.
(2)Megan G.
Pretty interesting place. Great on one side for dinner on a Saturday night and the other side is a bar that could be considered comfortably crowded. A nice change of pace for Clarendon since a lot of the bars in the are have a college feel to them.
(4)Osama E.
Best scallops around - and the chicken wraps are great Seating on the patio is some of the best people watching in all of Arlington. They do a great job giving good service without annoying over service. You can actually have a conversation with your guests for longer then 5 mins without getting interrupted. Good job circa
(5)Casey S.
Patio Area is Cute and the Scallops are GREAT!
(4)Terrence N.
I was in Clarendon with two other people at dinnertime and needed a place to eat. I found Circa via Yelp and decided to try it based on the decent reviews. I found that everything was excellent but the food. The service was indeed excellent. Although three people waited on us at different times, I never had an empty glass for long and our dishes were cleared promptly. The third member of our party joined us later and the staff was very helpful in arranging the table to accommodate an additional person. The restaurant itself was very nice and well appointed, but quite loud and lively. It had a trendy feel to it. I was not particularly thrilled with the food or drinks. At first, I'd ordered a Diet Coke, but it was so flat that I asked for a tea as a refill. I think I had three refills. Not once did any have fresh ice in them. They were melted and the tea was watery. I ordered the steak salad and the cheese plate. The steak salad was pretty good as the steak was nicely seasoned and cooked medium as requested. The salad itself was run-of-the-mill iceberg with a good house-made bleu cheese dressing. However, there was way too much dressing. The cheese plate was abysmal. It wasn't that the cheeses themselves were bad, but the pairings of the prosecco grapes, apricot preserves and some balsamic-y glaze with the cheese was just all wrong. I have a forgiving palate, but had a hard time stomaching everything together. These cheeses would have been much better accompanying a charcuterie board rather than sweet garnishes. The two guests with me both had the Margherita Neapolitan flatbread, which they agreed was very garlicky. I found it odd that we were there for two hours and weren't once offered a dessert menu. I doubt I'd return for the food, but it seems like a great place to grab a drink.
(2)Gwen B.
Been here for brunch twice. Meh both times. The food is decent (typical breakfast/lunch dishes) but honestly it was a big overpriced for the quality. I got the chesapeake eggs benedict and the burger (respective outings). It was pretty empty both times we were here and as it was nothing special food-wise, I doubt we would be coming back anytime soon when there are better options in the area.
(3)Ashley P.
I give this place a 3.5. The food wasn't bad but service took a little longer than expected. I would love to re-visit and see if this place would be worthy of a 4 star experience in the near future.
(3)Wajma A.
This place was OK. I've heard a lot about this place and decided to try it out for dinner with a few friends. First off, we had 3 different people serving us. The manager came by and served us water and took our order. Another girl came and took our drink order, and another guy served us our food and took our dessert order . Nothing wrong with that, just a little confusing. As for the food: The mac & cheese as an appetizer was delicious! My entree was the steak frites, medium well. I had to ask for a steak knife and it took about 5 min to get that. When I took my first bite, the food was cold. Not even hot/warm. The fries it came with were really good. For the dessert, the bread budding was really good. Overall, it left me with a "meh" experience.
(2)William W.
Having eaten at two other restaurants in the nearby region of high quality, I was beginning to form the impression that very good restaurants flocked here, and so was looking forward to a new experience at Circa, which, if somewhat generic, at least gave no visible indication of its deficiencies from the outside or within. Service was fine, if somewhat brusque, our server exuding a sense of obliviousness rather than informed confidence that marks a better restaurant. Starting with the food, the menu was heavily biased on the day of our visit to seafood; it seemed as though half of the options had some sort of fish or crustacean in them. Again, fine, but not necessarily what I had been anticipating. After some deliberation we made our choices, informed the waiter, and began our wait for the food, which, on delivery, revealed the mediocrity of its preparation. I could not believe I was paying so much for a piece of beef which, I mean in all seriousness, I could have easily produced myself at home, and likely to better results. Hanger steak can be difficult to make. You have to know how to get it tender enough. The chef here did not. Impressions were similar on viewing and tasting my dinner companion's meal I'd stay away.
(2)Sonj H.
hopping late night bar scene.
(4)Sonia K.
I was really impressed with Circa Clarendon. We came here on a Friday night with a party of 7 (of which 3 were children). Although they wouldn't let me make a reservation because our group was too big (not sure if 7 was actually considered big, or if they wanted to dissuade us from coming because we had children?) - they were very accommodating to the youngest members of our party as well (their drinks were served in plastic glasses with covers and straws). We ordered the crab dip as an appetizer, and while delicious, they are only served with four thin crackers. We asked for additional crackers because there was still quite a bit of dip left, and this time they brought three. Oh well. I ordered the scallops with risotto. Scallops literally melt in your mouth they were that good. The risotto was also very flavorful. My husband ordered the steak frites, which he loved. His entree was served with garlic fries, which were DELICIOUS! We ordered dessert as well - the nutella trifle. My husband loved it, and while I admit it was good, I wasn't as floored as he was (a little too much whipped cream). The waitress was really nice and attentive (which means a lot when your party includes kids). All in all, our experience was really pleasant. I think the ambiance helped quite a bit too. Even though we had kids with us, we felt like we had gotten a night out.
(4)Nikki B.
My favorite happy hour spot in Arlington. Their Moscow mules are the best! Flat bread pizzas are the perfect happy hour addition, as well as the hummus. I've never had dinner there, however. Long table in the center of the bar is a great place to meet new people. Music gets turned up and so do the people after dark!
(4)Jackie N.
The BF and I are hooked on their 1/2 wine nights on Monday. Hey, a little bubbly before an 8pm class can't hurt. I believe it's any bottle over $60 is half off. I have tried various items here, including: lobster ravioli - small portion, but pretty tasty. squash soup - amazing! rich and creamy, perfect for the upcoming fall season. mushroom flat bread - lots of mushrooms and just a hint of truffle oil, if I'm not mistaken. burger - pretty standard, nothing to write home to mom about. brunch - $3 for a HUGEMUNGOUS mimosa. Awesome. I got the omelet lorraine, which was yummy with the leeks and gruyere, but I must have had a rough night since I needed alot of tabassco sauce on my eggs! I still need to get back to CIRCA to try their raw bar on tuesdays. A nice staple in Clarendon and especially great location to sit outside at on a beautiful day.
(3)Marianna O.
I love the atmosphere in this restaurant. We went here for brunch, again. Last time I got the sirloin steak sandwich. The meat was juicy and flavorful. The onions were a bit too much but the flavored mayo was great. 4 star burger. My boyfriend has gotten the BBQ chicken sandwich twice now. He loves it. I'm not a fan of BBQ sauce taking over the taste of everything I'm eating. But if you like BBQ pulled chicken, this sandwich is for you to try. The sweet potato fries that come with the meal are delicious. The cole slaw is more slaw than mayo, which I think is great. The crunchy slaw really cuts the richness of the fries and the sweetness of the BBQ chicken. This time I tried the French toast. It's a large portion with 4 pieces and some fruit. It's really good but after the first or second slice, it's just too sweet. The toast is loaded with caramel flakes and you can barely taste the bread. More berries would make the dish nicer to cut the heaviness of the caramel toast. Unfortunately, there was maybe 5 berries total. I put some pictures up to see it. Hence the 4 stars. The coffee on the other hand was very good. Strong and flavorful. The service was okay. Water was refilled quite often which is a huge plus. But I definitely felt rushed to leave. The check was placed on the table as soon as I finished. The restaurant was half empty so it wasn't for the table and the servers weren't very busy. As a server myself, I really didn't like that. Other than that good food great atmosphere.
(4)Disgruntled D.
I came for brunch. The food was good, I had The Works due to another reviewer saying it was large; I'd say it was larger than average but definitely not massive nor difficult to finish. It was tasty and a good value though. Their $3 mimosas are like Orangina that gives you a headache, but they're not even strong. They say they use Cava instead of champagne (which is fine), I'd like to know what brand they use as I expect it not to be of quality. The bowl of fruit as a side was better than average though. I'd go again but it's not making my list of places to go.
(3)S M.
This is probably the most expensive happy hour I've ever been to. For some reason, place is always packed. I was here for 2 hours and managed to ring up $50 on my card for drinks and a pizza (the only thing that is $5 for happy hour).
(2)Angela N.
I ate at Circa a few years ago for my birthday when it first opened, and sat outside. I've always been a fan of the outdoor patio area, especially for eating al fresco and it being a bit quieter dining experience. I went this past Saturday night and ate indoors. The noise level was a bit high - I had to yell to be heard by the one other person I was with. In addition, we arrived around 8 PM and had to wait about 30 minutes for a table. Not too big of a problem, we just went to the bar and had a drink. The food was outstanding. We started with the mac and cheese small plate, which was cheesy but not over the top and had a nice crispy topic. For dinner, I had the quinoa arugula salad which was fresh, not too heavy and really hit the spot. I tried my friend's crab cakes, which he recommended because of the large portion of crab meat in comparison to filler. Overall, it was good culinary experience and I appreciated the ambiance. The noise level and the service (our serer disappeared for a bit) were the two negatives of the evening.
(4)Ev K.
Nice place for a drink and some conversation on a Sunday afternoon when Bracket Room is packed and noisy. Bellinis (and other brunch-type cocktails) are $3 if I remember, great for when you want something refreshing and only moderately alcoholic as you're still getting back to 100% after your Saturday night. And we got fries to snack on. I wouldn't say Circa has a whole lot of 'character' if you compare it to other spots in Clarendon like Lyon Hall, Liberty, ex-Eventide, or Whitlow's... go figure, it's a chain. This would never be high on my list of spots for a drink but it's not too shabby a choice by any means.
(3)Trish R.
Lovvvvve the brunch here and the outside seating is fab! When friends or fam is in town this is the place to be:)
(5)Courtney L.
Love this place! The pineapple mojito is amazing. I've ordered it on three separate occasions and it was awesome. I am a huge fan of the wings. This is an awesome happy hour spot!
(5)Ani J.
As we were walking around Arlington looking for a place to eat, we walked past Circa and decided to try it out for brunch. We were welcomed in and instantly given a nice corner table. We ordered the following: - Belgian waffle: AMAZING!!! Even though its listed under Small Plates, its big enough for a person. Even though I was full, my heart wanted to keep eating. - Hummus plate: Delicious. Its big enough for two people. - Egg white omelet: My friend ordered this and absolutely loved it. - Cappuccino: Well made, perfectly heated. I would love to go back here and try the dinner menu. Thumbs up from me!!!
(4)Anthony T.
I came to Circa for brunch with a friend this past weekend. Overall, the food was tasty, though expensive for the amount compared to some other brunch locations in the area. My friend ordered an Egg White Omelet and I ordered the Omelet Lorraine. Both options were pretty sizeable, but I wish I had some more ham in mine. Service was fairly attentive for a busy Sunday later morning/early afternoon. No complaints here. However, for some reason, the area in which we were sitting in (next to the windows and at the opposite end from the bar) had no air con...it got unbearably warm halfway through our meal and we were drinking water like crazy. In all, a good brunch option, but I'd probably try another place for cheaper food.
(3)Jammy S.
Great location. It's in an active neighborhood and close to the metro. Limited food menu but my dish was good. The hostess and waiters were friendly and attentive. The seating is comfortable. It is great for a group or for a special date. It's an upscale, casual, sports lounge in a restaurant.
(3)Natalie M.
Food poisoning tonight - anyone else? Had chicken and quinoa salad. Was served around 815.
(1)Alina M.
Amazing turkey burger! Probably the best I ever had.. It was so moist and juicy, it was delicious.. I ate every bit of it and even wanted more. The sweet potato fries were a perfect touch to my burger and were not hard and just enough crispness. The only thing was I wish they had a bigger selection of food on their menu.. But the food that we chose was spot on!
(4)Anjali K.
Happenin' hotspot for happy hour! I've been to Circa of Clarendon a few times for Happy Hour and a few times for dinner. Most recently, Hubby and I ended up at Circa for an impromptu Happy Hour on a random Saturday night. Upon entering around 8 PM, we (a group of 4 at the time) walked into a PACKED bar area. Okay, they must be doing something right? Yes, yes they are. We were treated to great bar service, despite the number of people crowding around. Notably, Billy provided great service to us - definitely see him when you go in! Our party of 4 quickly grew to 5 to 7 to 9 to 11. Whew, despite all the people, we were still treated incredibly well. Some friends of ours ordered a regular cheese pizza and were happy with it! Previously, I've been for lunch and dinner and had the calamari, buffalo wings, and the turkey burger (with sweet potato fries). All of which were VERY tasty - a girflriend and I particularly liked the calamari - I suggest you get it next time you're there! Also, any place that serves sweet potato fries has a softspot in my heart, so I'll be back for them again, and again, and again, and again... You'll find me (and Hubby) back there circa 8 or 9 PM on a weekend :).
(4)Bethany H.
Food is so so. Go for the mid 30's to 40's singles crowd. Desserts are good. Wine selection is ok.
(3)Kristie L.
Came here for lunch on a Saturday and was completely satisfied. The cream of broccoli soup and beef sliders were very tasty. The meat in the sliders was cooked perfectly. Service was good too. There was nothing exceptional or unexceptional here.
(3)Hadil A.
I was looking for a place for brunch on a sunday around 2pm and i am so glad we chose Circa. As soon as we walked in we were seated and our waiter quickly took our order. My waiter even made me a custom mocha and was so nice about it! The french toast is the BEST i have ever had. Very clean, big windows for great lighting, and great service. This is my new brunch place!
(5)Jade N.
Circa maybe my new favorite "go to" spot in Arlington. The food is amazing. I had the Diver scallops and they were the best scallops Ive ever had in this area. The hummus app is also excellent. I love how they serve it with carrots, cucumbers and pita (most places only serve it with pita). The bar offers a great happy hour, and an elegant large space to meet up with friends. They don't play loud music and although there is a few tv's, they aren't overbearing. The crowd is definitely a bit more upscale, which I personally find refreshing in Clarendon. So if your tired of the overabundance of college kid/sports bars in the Arlington area and looking for something a bit more upscale, with a gourmet menu and adult atmosphere, Circa is the place for you!
(4)Liton K.
Regular here and always a good time ! Wish the noise level was little low as you have to talk super loud to be heard, even next to each other. Definitely not a place for quite dinner date but for groups it's just perfect ! Love the patio !!!
(5)Va Beach M.
Another good meal from Circa. We ate outside on a beautiful Friday evening. They have three large umbrellas over the dining area and they really muffle the noise and make the area pleasant and not too noisy. The servers were pleasant and prompt. The food was fine. I had steak and my partner had the fish with crabmeat. My steak was four stars while my partner licked her plate clean of the tuna with crabmeat! Five stars for that, the service, and the ambiance.
(5)ElleRae P.
went here for lunch with a friend. he got the jambalaya, i got the steak frites - delish! the med-well steak was tender, moist, and so flavorful...i keep dreaming about it. lol! the fries were the same texture as burger king's but were still good. my friend loved his jamba - had asked for it to be extra-spicy and it was perfect. the service was awesome - our waiter was friendly, knowledgeable, attentive and present. we didn't have to wait long for anything. def going back, and soon. oh, and it wasn't at all crowded
(4)Pat M.
Just in for drinks on a weeknight. Bar not crowded but the bartender disappeared for about 10 minutes after leaving our check. When he finally showed up we reminded him that we had been waiting to pay the tab, to which he responded, "I was busy". I asked if that was an apology and he said, "No, just a fact". The guy was a prick, which seems to correlate with a few other comments here.
(2)David C.
Best place in the Ballston/Clarendon/Courthouse/Rosslyn area (and for that fact in the Arlington area in general) to meet cool professionals and the food is awesome!
(5)Cliff W.
I had a bad experience at the Circa in Dupont, the bartenders were jerks, I met some sketchy underground poker guys who were trying to hustle me, and the food I had was awful. That was a few years ago, haven't stepped inside another Circa since. Until today. With the nice weather some coworkers and I went to Circa for lunch. We work in Rosslyn where few options are really available so sometimes we like to mix it up by venturing into other neighborhoods. When we showed up around noon we were seated quickly and outside on their patio. With the weather as beautiful as it was there really was no other option. Our server was quick, nailed down our drink order and our food orders in a prompt fashion and our food came out just the same. I ordered the Turkey Club with fries and it was actually really solid for a simple sandwich. The other half of it which I didn't eat is in the fridge currently calling my name. The fries were also better than average fries as well. Other people in my group ordered the mushroom ravioli, the wild mushroom pizza, tomato bisque, and mac n cheese. All the items received positive reviews except for the mac n cheese. I was only inside for a moment, but the place looked pretty slick, and we plan on going back for a happy hour sometime.
(5)Kelly J.
Okay, I see lots of reviews already so I will keep it short and sweet. I really want to like this place, and I find myself coming back from time to time, so I have to say it has some great attributes. However, it just seems a little pricey for what it is, so hence the three stars. Pros: Great Wine selection Excellent Drinks Good bartenders and service overall Decent Food- the scallops and salmon are both good choices Good atmosphere on the weekdays Cons: Can get crowded on the weekends Overpriced Drinks and Appetizers Desserts lacking
(3)LG G.
My partner and I recently had dinner at Circa Saturday, March 30th. Let me say we were very very pleased with the quality of the service, intensity of the cocktails and EXCELLENT muscles appetizer we had! They were some of the best I've ever had. I tend to enjoy 5 star steak houses and rather selective dining throughout the metro. Let me say Circa was no let down at their price point. I was impressed that this restaurant also deliver such high-quality authentic cuisine at a very reasonable price. We will return on a regular basis and order the blood orange martini again and again! A very happy diner... Check out the picture of the muscles I left with my review Ciao, LG
(5)Simone D.
Their happy hour isn't that happy for me. Their drinks are still pricey when compared to happy hours in DC, and they aren't worth the $$ as well. Their draft selection is minimal. Their specialty cocktails are good, but they are not on the happy hour menu. On a more positive note, I do like the happy hour food selection, the $6 flat bread pizzas are a great choice. The pizza is the only thing that made my happy hour happy.
(2)Mick M.
My wife an I try to go there at least once week. I LOVE their hummus appetizer platter. The staff is also extremely friendly and welcoming. It's one of the best food establishment I've ever been to. Awesome food, Awesome service.
(5)Naomi M.
I'm indifferent about this place. Their bar is absolutely impossible to go to. Completely overcrowded with a whole bunch of those Arlington people who think they are all that. The restaurant food is only mediocre. I wasn't all that impressed. People talk about this place all the time and built up my expectations. Not great, but not bad either.
(3)Amanda J.
My girl friend and I were in search of brunch with good food and cheap mimosas and Circa was a perfect option. $3 drinks and the best French Toast I've ever had. I'll definitely be coming back! We did have some issues with our service. The restaurant wasn't very busy and our server kept disappearing. The hostess was more attentive to us then our waitress. If not for the service I would have given 5 stars.
(4)Lauren S.
Overall: Pretty basic "nice" restaurant. Food is ok, service is fine... best part is the outside seating. Food: I had high expectations based on the prices, but left fairly unimpressed. We started with a cheese plate and it wasn't bad.... just not particularly challenging. I ordered the special, halibut with some macaroni and cheese type item and other something on the side. (you can tell it was a lasting memory.) The fish was kind of bland and very overcooked. My husband ordered the wild mushroom ravioli and it was pretty flavorful... but something I probably could have made at home. Drinks: I started with a blackberry margarita and it was probably the highlight of the meal for me. Berry-filled without being sweet. Service/Atmosphere: Our server was good and I loved being able to sit outside on a nice evening. Cost: Expensive for what it is.
(3)Kassie C.
I went to CIRCA at Clarendon for a happy hour with friends. Best part was that there WAS happy hour as there are other CIRCA locations that don't feature this daily special. I arrived at 5:45 PM and while it was crowded I was still able to get a table at the end of the bar for myself and six other friends to sit at. The service was typical on a busy weekday happy hour but the waitress at our table was very nice and on it in regard to getting to the bill. Tuesdays CIRCA at Clarendon also features a 1/2 off bottle of wine deal that runs all night! This was perfect to share a bottle with a friend and also grab a Mushroom Flatbread (only $6 during happy hour)! It was just such a great experience overall and I would definitely go back!
(4)Amy C.
I live closer to CIRCA at Dupont, but my boyfriend and I were in the neighborhood so we decided to try this location for dinner. Just like CIRCA at Foggy Bottom, this location is spacious, especially when they can use the outdoor seating which was the case on this particular night. We didn't have to wait for a table. Because we were in VA, the drinks were slightly cheaper than the DC menus. Other than that, the menus feature the same dishes. We didn't have any complaints about the food and service was terrific.
(4)Monica H.
Just as good as its Dupont and Foggy Bottom sisters. Seating can be hard to come by, but don't worry about taking up residence at the bar. The bartenders are knowledgeable about the menu and offer thoughtful wine and food pairings. I like that they have TVs for watching games but aren't one of those packed-to-the-gills-at-gametime places that are elsewhere in this neighborhood. Good noise level, not too expensive (though this is Clarendon, so your wallet will be a bit lighter after dinner here). They have outdoor seating that is pet friendly during the warmer months, too!
(4)Food L.
Came in for happy hour. They have a decent special of $6 glasses of wine as well as several appetizers for $6. The food wasn't impressive (tried the calamari, pizza, clams, and oysters). The win was decent. The servers were on par whenever we needed something, but I was kind of shocked at a $200 bill for 3 for Happy Hour for what we ate/drink. Was worth about $50 in my mind. Overall - It's an okay spot if you are in the neighborhood, but nothing to rave about.
(3)Vim I.
My friends took me to Circa for a nightcap, the night before I left DC. It was just what i wanted--something chill and low-key. I didn't try any of the food but the cocktails were good and generous in portions. They have plenty of bar seating and high top chairs--and TVs to keep sports lovers pre-occupied. It seems fairly easy to find parking in and around the Clarendon area.
(4)Johnny A.
Great place. Happy hour drinks are excellent and bartenders and servers are very friendly.
(3)Krystle B.
I really enjoy this restaurant. The food is really good, I've had the calamari, bang-bang shrimp, pizzas and chicken, all delicious. My first time there I took my sister for her birthday on a Monday Surprise for us it was 1/2 off bottles of wine. Our server George was awesome and remembered me subsequent times we went in. We also met the introductory smollier (Andrea I believe) who talked to us about wine. She was very knowledgeable and friendly. We also had a bottle of wine we brought, they charge a $25 corking fee but with the discount on the wine at the time it was cheaper to get their bottle. I believe we got a Malbec. Pretty good wine list too. I ended up going back for my birthday as well which was on a Saturday which was very busy. Ambiance is very nice even though it was busy. A lot of suits and young professionals. A good place to get together and get a glass of wine on any night of the week.
(4)Ashley G.
I really, really want to like Circa, but I have struggled so much and have now decided it is not worth my energy. If someone wants to take me for dinner, I will happily oblige provided we are sitting away from the bar at our own table, and not at that long bar table. If someone wants to take me for drinks, better luck next time. When one is there for drinks on a Friday or Saturday night, the layout makes it extremely difficult to maneuver. That long-ass table between the wall and the bar makes for 2 very narrow passageways on either side, where you have to worm your way through hoards of people. And then you get to the bar (finally, hallelujah!), and yes the bartenders are very nice, but I've had way better screwdrivers at other local places...
(2)Collin S.
Circa is one of those places that's "ok." The food here isn't anything to really write home about, though it is fairly tasty. It does seem like it's loaded in heavy sauces, butter, etc., though, so I would be pretty scared to see what the nutritional info looks like for some of the dishes. I think my favorite is the scallops and risotto, and I don't even like scallops! Drinks here are also pretty good. Circa is one of those places, though, like many "trendy" locations in the DC area that attracts a certain kind of crowd. If you're not one to like to overhear a ton of conversations with 20-somethings complaining about their love lives, their super cool professional jobs downtown, or some other stuff, then stay away. There are some much better eats in and around Clarendon that offer a less trendo-douche crowd. Good for lunch, though -- avoid the ridiculous rush and get some of the same good food.
(2)S. Paul L.
The service was really good. The waiter was really friendly and had a lot of suggestions. We've tried to go here before, but it gets really busy after 7:00pm, so if you're just going for dinner I would highly suggest going before 7. We got there around 6:30 and had no trouble being seated right away. We had the gnocchi as an appetizer and it was pretty fantastic. Had a really nice creamy sauce with roasted brussell sprouts. For dinner my wife had the scallops with safron risoto on the waiter's recommendation and I had the short ribs. We were both satisfied with our meals and were surprised at the portions in relation to the cost. Relatively speaking, you get a lot for the price, which is really nice. I only gave 4 stars because though the food was really good it didn't "wow" you or anything, but it was a nice quality meal. It looks like a pretty fun place to go for happy hour and it seemed like most of the patrons were young professionals and not the college kid scene that some other places in Clarendon have a problem with. We'll definitely be back.
(4)Ruth C.
Not bad for the Arlington scene, which is probably why it was so damn full of trendy fxcks on a Friday night. Chic modern interior, subdued mood lighting but pretty noisy environs. The actual entrance is a little hard to see after dark. Securing a seat or two is almost a cutthroat business, but plentiful windowsills and such allow for crowded milling about. Busboy constantly wading through crowds to clear empties. Music videos play on some of the screens. Crown and 7 was decently strong but heavy on ice. The drunks are SUPER friendly here, as Craig can attest to. Ladies' bathroom was out of all paper products, bleh. Pro-tip: $3 parking garage is inaccessible after a certain time in the evening, so if you party like a rockstar... park on the street.
(3)Uzma K.
Great place for after work drinks! Although they did not have too many drink specials, the food was great. I would definitely go back. I highly recommend the lobster ravioli.
(4)Jenny T.
Went here with a group of about 15, and was very happy with my experience. The service was attentive, the bartenders very friendly, and the hostess very accommodating. Circa Clarendon reserved an area for our group, which neither Circa Dupont and Foggy Bottom allowed. The Happy Hour deals are excellent. 3 dollar drafts, 6 dollar calamari, wings, and pizzas. I ordered the calamari and it was really delicious. I'm looking forward to trying their oyster happy hour. I'm not in the Clarendon area too often, but next time I am, I'll definitely be back at Circa.
(4)Mark B.
I ate at the bar with an old friend, and we both have steak variations. Nice. Ambiance is very upscale and hip. Service was friendly if a tad bit slow. Prices were reasonable. If I lived in Clarendon I could easily see myself becoming a regular.
(4)Craig M.
I've been here three times now and have really enjoyed each visit. The service is very good here, they make sure you're happy. We definitely are a fan of the brunch the most, though. I had the hollandaise crab and it was so good. We even spent a semi classy little NYE here and it was perfect. I'm positive I'll be back to this place. My only recommendation is to dress nicely because, let's face it, you can dress like a slob almost everywhere else now-a-days.
(4)Tierra H.
Me and some alums of my college gathered here for a college celebration. We wanted a spot in the bar, but were told that we couldn't reserve it. Just get there early. Whomp. Really? 25 ladies and all you can tell us is to prepare to bust heads for a table? So we get there, all 20 something of us. The space is cute. We got the long bar table in the middle of the bar. Go us. The server was really juggling a lot and didn't get back to us as quickly as we would have liked. I did, however, like the way she kept tabs. We didn't have to figure out the bill and a bunch of foolishness. This place is not for the rowdy. At all. There were a group of middle-aged, Hair-Club-for-Men-rejected, trying-too-hard-to-be-cool dudes sitting at the tables behind us. They requested that we be quiet. Whomp. It's a bar, ass. I don't think tables for actual dining should be in a bar. That's just me. But, this place has a low jerk factor. Many bars and such in the Clarendon area are filled with annoying college-age kids who really kill the vibe of a place. They weren't here, thank god. I had 2 really great glasses of merlot and shrimp pizza. Both were really awesome and well-priced.
(3)David K.
I write this recognizing I'm the Duke of the joint at this moment in time. Doesn't that kind of say it all? Try the spinach salad, happy hour on Thursdays or brunch on Saturday, you won't be disappointed with any of them.
(4)Libby F.
Circa is a great place to meet up with dear friends, especially if its been a long time since your last get-together. It's easy to hold a conversation and catch up, especially if you dine al fresco on one of their patios overlooking Clarendon Blvd. The service is attentive and the food is well prepared. My 6 piece wild mushroom pizza was really good. try it if you love mushrooms! It is probably more filling than the wild mushroom ravioli, and about $5 cheaper! Others at my table had the tuna sandwich, hamburger, and calamari. no complaints from anyone. I love the location. There are many dining options in this neighborhood of Arlington, but Circa is a solid choice if you want a chic bar to hang out in, or a casual outdoor dining experience. Huge brownie points go out to our waiter who offer the six of us separate bills without us asking. Who does that, and doesn't complain? Circa does.
(4)Leslie J.
This is a bar-only review. I heard their food was good, but have yet to try it. Drinks are on the expensive side, but they're made strong and the bartenders serve them fairly quick. I do recall seeing $4 beers M-F during happy hour on the chalkboard. The wait staff is prompt and discreet in clearing away any empty glasses at the tables. One of the more "upscale" restaurant & bar establishments in the Clarendon area. This really just means that the chances of you getting hit on by a college kid or frat boy asking where you go to school is significantly reduced by at least 95%. However, I can't say the d-bag population isn't floating around here and there. You will also find some older, not exactly attractive men staring and lurking around hoping to snag them women half their age. Attn: gold diggers, this may just be the place for you! And I can't forget the desperately dressed-to-get-laid women as well -- busted face, dangling boobs, whatthehellareyouwearin' types. Attn: d-bag men, this may be the place for you! OK, I know, a little harsh, but it's the honest-to-god truth. If this review gets flagged, oh well. Maybe the DC location is a little less trashier, and rakes in a more classy bunch.. Besides the clientele, it's a decent place to grab drinks with your group of friends and maybe catch a game or two by the bar area equipped with 4 TVs.
(3)Gene B.
This was the first place I checked out when I moved to Arlington. What a stroke of luck! I happened by on Tuesday, which is raw bar day and it's been my Tuesday night spot ever since. The staff is second to none. Led by GM DAVID Schoen, they just get it right. Every single time. If you aren't up for the huge, fresh oysters try the filet. It's to die for! I can't say enough about how great this place is. Lotsa pretty people to check out too which is never a bad thing.
(5)Anthony I.
Great wine list here, I am working my way through it one bottle at a time. I also really enjoy the small plates. Really nice portions, the filet sliders are my favorite and mac and cheese is pretty awesome too. A great addition.
(4)Audrey M.
Wandered in here with my fiancée on Saturday around 5:30, and found seating at the long, high center table. There was one family with 2 small kids at the actual bar, and a rowdy group of frat guys a few seats down from us (I know I'm sounding old), but not crowded overall. The bartender that came over to serve us was super nice, and I wish I'd gotten his name. He was speedy with the drink orders, and helped us break a tie in deciding between the bbq chicken or pork belly/pineapple flatbreads--I always appreciate when servers actually have an opinion regarding the entrees. My fiancée isn't a fan of pineapple, but we went with it and he agreed to just pick it off. When it arrived we were pleasantly surprised to find half of the flatbread free of fruit--another much appreciated gesture! We also devoured the filet mignon sliders which were juicy, and cooked to perfection. Our server noticed when my hot water and lemon was empty, and promptly brought out another without me waving him down. Loved the attentive and friendly service--definitely bumped this up to 5 stars. I should also note that the aforementioned frat bros were apparently given several warnings to tone it down, but alas they were eventually asked to leave. I certainly didn't complain! Overall solid experience and I won't hesitate to stop in again!
(5)Roxana A.
My friends and I went on a Friday night and it was perfect. The crowd is a mix of young professional, ages ranged from late 20's and older. I loved the atmosphere and service was great!! I definitely recommend this place!! I love Circa!!
(4)Catherine M.
I really can't say enough good things about Circa in Clarendon. My husband and I love their brunch, and come almost every weekend! My husband has the eggs benedict every time because theirs is the best and is always perfectly cooked! Their dinner is very good, as well. The food here is consistently very good, and they're very accommodating with special requests and substitutions. What makes Circa at Clarendon great, though, is the staff. Because we're there every weekend, they know us, and always seem to go out of their way to make us feel taken care of. Dina, in particular, deserves a special shout out- she's awesome. Everyone though, from all of the servers to the nice hostesses to the managers, is fantastic, and it's not just the food that keeps us coming back every week, but the fact that we know how welcoming and warm our entire experience will be-- every time.
(5)Liza A.
A closest to a lounge - like feeling you'll get in Arlington, relatively speaking. This place has great lighting and a nice crowd. I'm never disappointed when I come here. Nice bar staff and good mixed-drinks. Try their different berry-type mojitos. They don't skimp out on the mint leaves. Although, the best Moscow Mule I've had was in San Diego, Circa's is not bad. Love that they know to use copper cups to serve them in!
(3)Ayana P.
I've been to Circa once for dinner and a few times for drinks. I hate the bar scene here. It is usually crowded and hard to get to the bar. The patrons are the typical people who tend to hang out in Clarendon. It can also be hard to get a drink here. Music is usually hip-hop which I prefer. Had dinner here about a year ago. I can't, for the life of me, remember what it was though. I did enjoy the the experience even though the food wasn't memorable. I had brunch here this past Sunday. A friend and her four-year old son came to visit for the weekend. I usually take my friends and family to Liberty Tavern which has been consistenly good for the few years that we have been going, but today I decided to try something different. We arrived and were immediately seated on the patio. Our waitress came to take our order - Mimosas for the adults along with a glass of water with lemon for me. The mimosas came out in large glasses with ice. I initially thought that I tasted seltzer water and my friend also thought that it tasted weird. We decided that we would just ask for exactly what we wanted. When the waitress came back over, we asked for orange juice and champagne in a champagne glass. Nothing personal, that's just what we wanted. When she brought the real mimosas to the table, she remarked that she doubted they would taste any different. And the damn mimosas did taste different. They tasted much better. After that exchange, service became ten times worse. No lemon ever came even though I had asked again. We had to stop her in passing for extra syrup for the french toast, she never stopped to see how we were doing, our waters were empty and never refilled and someone else came and laid our check on the table, and I could go on and on and on. It was absolutely horrible. It was the worst dining experience I have ever experienced. It was so bad that I decided to ask for a manager. I told her about our experience and how disgruntled the waitress was. She apologized and asked that we come back and even gave me a gift certificate. Three stars is about right for Circa because the food is good. The french toast was amazing. The chesapeake benedict was also really good but the service is what left a bad taste in my mouth that I'm going to remember everytime I see the place (Circa aversion).
(3)Kate M.
Friend and I went here for Sunday brunch. The outdoor seating was a bit windy, but our server was lovely and kept us well supplied with drinks - though I will say the peach bellini was a bit of a bust for me. The French toast and Chesapeake benedict were both outstanding, though, and I will definitely be going back!
(4)Wayland C.
First, good service. Second, tasty food. Third, reasonable price. Fourth, great location. That's how you do it.
(4)Heidi D.
Went there for lunch with my 5 year old son. I usually stick to the "kid-friendly" places. We had a great time:) we sat outside to people watch, and in case he got a little too crazy. The staff was soo friendly! Three different people circled by on regular intervals, each one super nice and attentive. Food was good. Margherita flatbread for the kid was amazing, I had the mussels and panzanella salad. Very, very good. And my son's lemonade was pink lemonade in a kid cup, so although this is definitely a very hip and trendy place, they do very well with the next generation.
(4)N - Pyranhadoc - W.
WOW - wonderful restaurant!! Terrific service, excellent calamari, dinner rocked tonight. So glad we stopped in!!!'
(4)T P.
My husband and I enjoyed a Friday anniversary dinner at Circa/Clarendon, and we are fans! The service was good though a little slow, probably due to it being a Friday night. The food was overall very good. We ordered the fried calamari appetizer, which was tossed with fried peppers - yummy - but the fried calamari and veggies were a bit wet and "limp" - maybe not enough time in the fryer? My entree, the salmon salad, was delicious. My hub had steak and Parmesan fries, not as healthy as my dish but just as tasty. We shared the white chocolate bread pudding for dessert. That was also delicious, but it's quite dense, and in our opinion should be served with a larger scoop of ice cream to balance it out. Maybe next time we can ask for extra!
(4)Eric J.
Nice cosy little place for brunch! Foods were nicely prepared and enjoyable
(4)Jackie C.
BIG FAN! I was in town visiting some friends for the weekend and drove past this place (after doing research on yelp of oourse) and decided to make resi's for friday night. Long story short- they only accept a few reservations & keep tables open to walk in's so I got there early with a gf and had some drinks at the bar. The sunrise cosmo was BOMB and the bartender was awesome! The crowd was young and lively which was nice. Finally we got sat (look way longer than anticipated) but we had a lovely evening. I got the mushroom pizza which was so so so so so sooooooooooooooo GOOD! Best gormet pizza ive had in a long time. The sweet fries were awesome and my friend loved her turkey burger. Overall awesome spot, if your in town visiting give it a try you wont be disappointed!
(5)Marla M.
Living in the area, I had really high hopes for Circa. Unfortunately the experience I had wasn't a pleasant dining experience so I will not be returning. The food was bland and not memorable - the service is extremely slow. Maybe if you are sitting in the main area it would be faster, however we were off to the side and our waitress rarely came. Definitely isn't my go-to restaurant in the area. Try the other nearby ones before Circa.
(2)Sam C.
If you want to be seen and just have a drink at the bar, then this place is ok. Bar seen ok and the bartenders are decent. Overall, the food is not very good, overpriced and just "meh." The table service is terrible. That kills the entire experience. Most of the waitstaff were rude, made us feel rushed, and seem to not like their jobs. We could not even get water. I had to go to the bar myself to get a beer and a glass a wine after sitting at the table for 15 mins - and the place was only half full. Again, a place to hang and have a drink, nice atmosphere BUT not to eat or have a pleasurable and fun dining experience. Most of thier other restaurants in DC are the same. Disappointing.
(1)Mark R.
Bar area is the place to sit and hangout while enjoying their happy hour specials. There's plenty of adult beverages on the menu and you can pick your poison from beers to wine. I opted for vodka tonic and it was probably the biggest cup (more like widest) ever. It was as big as the water drinking glass in terms of its sheer size. More vodka for me. Mussels and flat bread pizza was pretty good. I wish the mussels were bigger but not bad for the price. Pizza was decent and nothing to really brag about. I was not a big fan of their seating area. It just didn't seem like the tables were supposed to be there. It was more like a dance floor packed with tables. Something was missing. HM. Great location definitely and not far from other great restaurants nearby.
(3)Nikki C.
I really liked this place. First thing I noticed was the really nice shaded patio. Went to go sit at the bar bc it did not look like much was available. Was greeted and given water and menus as soon as we sat. I really didn't find anything wrong with this place except the layout was weird( they had one really long table that multiple parties can sit at) . Not a biggy tho. The drinks were delicious( Bellini) and food was really good. I had the chicken sandwich with fries which was probably one of the best I've had. It came out hot, fresh and it was very flavorful. Also came with a really good pesto sauce on it. Good portions as well not too little and not too big. The Caesar salad was flavorful and fresh. The service was good, and very attentive. The manager was super sweet and friendly. They didn't have a side salad available but she made one of the bigger salads into a side for me and charged me less. That's good customer service! The environment was good, food was good, drinks were good, and service was good! It gets a bit packed so it might be good to go early for lunch or make a reservation ( if your allowed). But if your the type to not mind sitting at the bar I suggest that too, you didn't feel left out bc the bar is right where all the other seating is. Clean and comfortable. I recommend!
(4)Brent W.
Trying to be cool and hip...hang with the 30 something crowd. Great energy. Outdoor eating is fun. Service was great. Drinks were excellent, the blackberry Margarita was particularly good Food was less than adequate. I ordered flat bread - completely overcooked...not burned, but just tough and dry. Would have preferred crispy. Wife ordered filet... Meat as well as other things on the plate lacked any flavor. It was worth experiencing for the energy, but definitely not for the food.
(2)Terrence N.
I was in Clarendon with two other people at dinnertime and needed a place to eat. I found Circa via Yelp and decided to try it based on the decent reviews. I found that everything was excellent but the food. The service was indeed excellent. Although three people waited on us at different times, I never had an empty glass for long and our dishes were cleared promptly. The third member of our party joined us later and the staff was very helpful in arranging the table to accommodate an additional person. The restaurant itself was very nice and well appointed, but quite loud and lively. It had a trendy feel to it. I was not particularly thrilled with the food or drinks. At first, I'd ordered a Diet Coke, but it was so flat that I asked for a tea as a refill. I think I had three refills. Not once did any have fresh ice in them. They were melted and the tea was watery. I ordered the steak salad and the cheese plate. The steak salad was pretty good as the steak was nicely seasoned and cooked medium as requested. The salad itself was run-of-the-mill iceberg with a good house-made bleu cheese dressing. However, there was way too much dressing. The cheese plate was abysmal. It wasn't that the cheeses themselves were bad, but the pairings of the prosecco grapes, apricot preserves and some balsamic-y glaze with the cheese was just all wrong. I have a forgiving palate, but had a hard time stomaching everything together. These cheeses would have been much better accompanying a charcuterie board rather than sweet garnishes. The two guests with me both had the Margherita Neapolitan flatbread, which they agreed was very garlicky. I found it odd that we were there for two hours and weren't once offered a dessert menu. I doubt I'd return for the food, but it seems like a great place to grab a drink.
(2)Gwen B.
Been here for brunch twice. Meh both times. The food is decent (typical breakfast/lunch dishes) but honestly it was a big overpriced for the quality. I got the chesapeake eggs benedict and the burger (respective outings). It was pretty empty both times we were here and as it was nothing special food-wise, I doubt we would be coming back anytime soon when there are better options in the area.
(3)Ashley P.
I give this place a 3.5. The food wasn't bad but service took a little longer than expected. I would love to re-visit and see if this place would be worthy of a 4 star experience in the near future.
(3)Wajma A.
This place was OK. I've heard a lot about this place and decided to try it out for dinner with a few friends. First off, we had 3 different people serving us. The manager came by and served us water and took our order. Another girl came and took our drink order, and another guy served us our food and took our dessert order . Nothing wrong with that, just a little confusing. As for the food: The mac & cheese as an appetizer was delicious! My entree was the steak frites, medium well. I had to ask for a steak knife and it took about 5 min to get that. When I took my first bite, the food was cold. Not even hot/warm. The fries it came with were really good. For the dessert, the bread budding was really good. Overall, it left me with a "meh" experience.
(2)Megan G.
Pretty interesting place. Great on one side for dinner on a Saturday night and the other side is a bar that could be considered comfortably crowded. A nice change of pace for Clarendon since a lot of the bars in the are have a college feel to them.
(4)Osama E.
Best scallops around - and the chicken wraps are great Seating on the patio is some of the best people watching in all of Arlington. They do a great job giving good service without annoying over service. You can actually have a conversation with your guests for longer then 5 mins without getting interrupted. Good job circa
(5)Casey S.
Patio Area is Cute and the Scallops are GREAT!
(4)William W.
Having eaten at two other restaurants in the nearby region of high quality, I was beginning to form the impression that very good restaurants flocked here, and so was looking forward to a new experience at Circa, which, if somewhat generic, at least gave no visible indication of its deficiencies from the outside or within. Service was fine, if somewhat brusque, our server exuding a sense of obliviousness rather than informed confidence that marks a better restaurant. Starting with the food, the menu was heavily biased on the day of our visit to seafood; it seemed as though half of the options had some sort of fish or crustacean in them. Again, fine, but not necessarily what I had been anticipating. After some deliberation we made our choices, informed the waiter, and began our wait for the food, which, on delivery, revealed the mediocrity of its preparation. I could not believe I was paying so much for a piece of beef which, I mean in all seriousness, I could have easily produced myself at home, and likely to better results. Hanger steak can be difficult to make. You have to know how to get it tender enough. The chef here did not. Impressions were similar on viewing and tasting my dinner companion's meal I'd stay away.
(2)Sonj H.
hopping late night bar scene.
(4)Va Beach M.
Another good meal from Circa. We ate outside on a beautiful Friday evening. They have three large umbrellas over the dining area and they really muffle the noise and make the area pleasant and not too noisy. The servers were pleasant and prompt. The food was fine. I had steak and my partner had the fish with crabmeat. My steak was four stars while my partner licked her plate clean of the tuna with crabmeat! Five stars for that, the service, and the ambiance.
(5)ElleRae P.
went here for lunch with a friend. he got the jambalaya, i got the steak frites - delish! the med-well steak was tender, moist, and so flavorful...i keep dreaming about it. lol! the fries were the same texture as burger king's but were still good. my friend loved his jamba - had asked for it to be extra-spicy and it was perfect. the service was awesome - our waiter was friendly, knowledgeable, attentive and present. we didn't have to wait long for anything. def going back, and soon. oh, and it wasn't at all crowded
(4)Sonia K.
I was really impressed with Circa Clarendon. We came here on a Friday night with a party of 7 (of which 3 were children). Although they wouldn't let me make a reservation because our group was too big (not sure if 7 was actually considered big, or if they wanted to dissuade us from coming because we had children?) - they were very accommodating to the youngest members of our party as well (their drinks were served in plastic glasses with covers and straws). We ordered the crab dip as an appetizer, and while delicious, they are only served with four thin crackers. We asked for additional crackers because there was still quite a bit of dip left, and this time they brought three. Oh well. I ordered the scallops with risotto. Scallops literally melt in your mouth they were that good. The risotto was also very flavorful. My husband ordered the steak frites, which he loved. His entree was served with garlic fries, which were DELICIOUS! We ordered dessert as well - the nutella trifle. My husband loved it, and while I admit it was good, I wasn't as floored as he was (a little too much whipped cream). The waitress was really nice and attentive (which means a lot when your party includes kids). All in all, our experience was really pleasant. I think the ambiance helped quite a bit too. Even though we had kids with us, we felt like we had gotten a night out.
(4)Jackie N.
The BF and I are hooked on their 1/2 wine nights on Monday. Hey, a little bubbly before an 8pm class can't hurt. I believe it's any bottle over $60 is half off. I have tried various items here, including: lobster ravioli - small portion, but pretty tasty. squash soup - amazing! rich and creamy, perfect for the upcoming fall season. mushroom flat bread - lots of mushrooms and just a hint of truffle oil, if I'm not mistaken. burger - pretty standard, nothing to write home to mom about. brunch - $3 for a HUGEMUNGOUS mimosa. Awesome. I got the omelet lorraine, which was yummy with the leeks and gruyere, but I must have had a rough night since I needed alot of tabassco sauce on my eggs! I still need to get back to CIRCA to try their raw bar on tuesdays. A nice staple in Clarendon and especially great location to sit outside at on a beautiful day.
(3)Hadil A.
I was looking for a place for brunch on a sunday around 2pm and i am so glad we chose Circa. As soon as we walked in we were seated and our waiter quickly took our order. My waiter even made me a custom mocha and was so nice about it! The french toast is the BEST i have ever had. Very clean, big windows for great lighting, and great service. This is my new brunch place!
(5)Jade N.
Circa maybe my new favorite "go to" spot in Arlington. The food is amazing. I had the Diver scallops and they were the best scallops Ive ever had in this area. The hummus app is also excellent. I love how they serve it with carrots, cucumbers and pita (most places only serve it with pita). The bar offers a great happy hour, and an elegant large space to meet up with friends. They don't play loud music and although there is a few tv's, they aren't overbearing. The crowd is definitely a bit more upscale, which I personally find refreshing in Clarendon. So if your tired of the overabundance of college kid/sports bars in the Arlington area and looking for something a bit more upscale, with a gourmet menu and adult atmosphere, Circa is the place for you!
(4)Marianna O.
I love the atmosphere in this restaurant. We went here for brunch, again. Last time I got the sirloin steak sandwich. The meat was juicy and flavorful. The onions were a bit too much but the flavored mayo was great. 4 star burger. My boyfriend has gotten the BBQ chicken sandwich twice now. He loves it. I'm not a fan of BBQ sauce taking over the taste of everything I'm eating. But if you like BBQ pulled chicken, this sandwich is for you to try. The sweet potato fries that come with the meal are delicious. The cole slaw is more slaw than mayo, which I think is great. The crunchy slaw really cuts the richness of the fries and the sweetness of the BBQ chicken. This time I tried the French toast. It's a large portion with 4 pieces and some fruit. It's really good but after the first or second slice, it's just too sweet. The toast is loaded with caramel flakes and you can barely taste the bread. More berries would make the dish nicer to cut the heaviness of the caramel toast. Unfortunately, there was maybe 5 berries total. I put some pictures up to see it. Hence the 4 stars. The coffee on the other hand was very good. Strong and flavorful. The service was okay. Water was refilled quite often which is a huge plus. But I definitely felt rushed to leave. The check was placed on the table as soon as I finished. The restaurant was half empty so it wasn't for the table and the servers weren't very busy. As a server myself, I really didn't like that. Other than that good food great atmosphere.
(4)Disgruntled D.
I came for brunch. The food was good, I had The Works due to another reviewer saying it was large; I'd say it was larger than average but definitely not massive nor difficult to finish. It was tasty and a good value though. Their $3 mimosas are like Orangina that gives you a headache, but they're not even strong. They say they use Cava instead of champagne (which is fine), I'd like to know what brand they use as I expect it not to be of quality. The bowl of fruit as a side was better than average though. I'd go again but it's not making my list of places to go.
(3)S M.
This is probably the most expensive happy hour I've ever been to. For some reason, place is always packed. I was here for 2 hours and managed to ring up $50 on my card for drinks and a pizza (the only thing that is $5 for happy hour).
(2)Nikki B.
My favorite happy hour spot in Arlington. Their Moscow mules are the best! Flat bread pizzas are the perfect happy hour addition, as well as the hummus. I've never had dinner there, however. Long table in the center of the bar is a great place to meet new people. Music gets turned up and so do the people after dark!
(4)Liton K.
Regular here and always a good time ! Wish the noise level was little low as you have to talk super loud to be heard, even next to each other. Definitely not a place for quite dinner date but for groups it's just perfect ! Love the patio !!!
(5)Angela N.
I ate at Circa a few years ago for my birthday when it first opened, and sat outside. I've always been a fan of the outdoor patio area, especially for eating al fresco and it being a bit quieter dining experience. I went this past Saturday night and ate indoors. The noise level was a bit high - I had to yell to be heard by the one other person I was with. In addition, we arrived around 8 PM and had to wait about 30 minutes for a table. Not too big of a problem, we just went to the bar and had a drink. The food was outstanding. We started with the mac and cheese small plate, which was cheesy but not over the top and had a nice crispy topic. For dinner, I had the quinoa arugula salad which was fresh, not too heavy and really hit the spot. I tried my friend's crab cakes, which he recommended because of the large portion of crab meat in comparison to filler. Overall, it was good culinary experience and I appreciated the ambiance. The noise level and the service (our serer disappeared for a bit) were the two negatives of the evening.
(4)Ev K.
Nice place for a drink and some conversation on a Sunday afternoon when Bracket Room is packed and noisy. Bellinis (and other brunch-type cocktails) are $3 if I remember, great for when you want something refreshing and only moderately alcoholic as you're still getting back to 100% after your Saturday night. And we got fries to snack on. I wouldn't say Circa has a whole lot of 'character' if you compare it to other spots in Clarendon like Lyon Hall, Liberty, ex-Eventide, or Whitlow's... go figure, it's a chain. This would never be high on my list of spots for a drink but it's not too shabby a choice by any means.
(3)Trish R.
Lovvvvve the brunch here and the outside seating is fab! When friends or fam is in town this is the place to be:)
(5)Courtney L.
Love this place! The pineapple mojito is amazing. I've ordered it on three separate occasions and it was awesome. I am a huge fan of the wings. This is an awesome happy hour spot!
(5)Ani J.
As we were walking around Arlington looking for a place to eat, we walked past Circa and decided to try it out for brunch. We were welcomed in and instantly given a nice corner table. We ordered the following: - Belgian waffle: AMAZING!!! Even though its listed under Small Plates, its big enough for a person. Even though I was full, my heart wanted to keep eating. - Hummus plate: Delicious. Its big enough for two people. - Egg white omelet: My friend ordered this and absolutely loved it. - Cappuccino: Well made, perfectly heated. I would love to go back here and try the dinner menu. Thumbs up from me!!!
(4)Anthony T.
I came to Circa for brunch with a friend this past weekend. Overall, the food was tasty, though expensive for the amount compared to some other brunch locations in the area. My friend ordered an Egg White Omelet and I ordered the Omelet Lorraine. Both options were pretty sizeable, but I wish I had some more ham in mine. Service was fairly attentive for a busy Sunday later morning/early afternoon. No complaints here. However, for some reason, the area in which we were sitting in (next to the windows and at the opposite end from the bar) had no air con...it got unbearably warm halfway through our meal and we were drinking water like crazy. In all, a good brunch option, but I'd probably try another place for cheaper food.
(3)Jammy S.
Great location. It's in an active neighborhood and close to the metro. Limited food menu but my dish was good. The hostess and waiters were friendly and attentive. The seating is comfortable. It is great for a group or for a special date. It's an upscale, casual, sports lounge in a restaurant.
(3)Natalie M.
Food poisoning tonight - anyone else? Had chicken and quinoa salad. Was served around 815.
(1)Alina M.
Amazing turkey burger! Probably the best I ever had.. It was so moist and juicy, it was delicious.. I ate every bit of it and even wanted more. The sweet potato fries were a perfect touch to my burger and were not hard and just enough crispness. The only thing was I wish they had a bigger selection of food on their menu.. But the food that we chose was spot on!
(4)Anjali K.
Happenin' hotspot for happy hour! I've been to Circa of Clarendon a few times for Happy Hour and a few times for dinner. Most recently, Hubby and I ended up at Circa for an impromptu Happy Hour on a random Saturday night. Upon entering around 8 PM, we (a group of 4 at the time) walked into a PACKED bar area. Okay, they must be doing something right? Yes, yes they are. We were treated to great bar service, despite the number of people crowding around. Notably, Billy provided great service to us - definitely see him when you go in! Our party of 4 quickly grew to 5 to 7 to 9 to 11. Whew, despite all the people, we were still treated incredibly well. Some friends of ours ordered a regular cheese pizza and were happy with it! Previously, I've been for lunch and dinner and had the calamari, buffalo wings, and the turkey burger (with sweet potato fries). All of which were VERY tasty - a girflriend and I particularly liked the calamari - I suggest you get it next time you're there! Also, any place that serves sweet potato fries has a softspot in my heart, so I'll be back for them again, and again, and again, and again... You'll find me (and Hubby) back there circa 8 or 9 PM on a weekend :).
(4)Bethany H.
Food is so so. Go for the mid 30's to 40's singles crowd. Desserts are good. Wine selection is ok.
(3)Kristie L.
Came here for lunch on a Saturday and was completely satisfied. The cream of broccoli soup and beef sliders were very tasty. The meat in the sliders was cooked perfectly. Service was good too. There was nothing exceptional or unexceptional here.
(3)Pat M.
Just in for drinks on a weeknight. Bar not crowded but the bartender disappeared for about 10 minutes after leaving our check. When he finally showed up we reminded him that we had been waiting to pay the tab, to which he responded, "I was busy". I asked if that was an apology and he said, "No, just a fact". The guy was a prick, which seems to correlate with a few other comments here.
(2)David C.
Best place in the Ballston/Clarendon/Courthouse/Rosslyn area (and for that fact in the Arlington area in general) to meet cool professionals and the food is awesome!
(5)Jamie G.
I've been to this Circa location for drinks before, but never for dinner. Came for my boyfriend's parents anniversary dinner and the food was excellent. I ordered the crab cakes. Good atmosphere and place to take your family in town!
(5)David S.
Went for breakfast/brunch and wasn't disappointed in the food, however the sullen service could have used a friend and a cup of coffee. Went with a few friends and were able to snag a table outside under a nice shady umbrella. The patio isn't the largest however I did see a "reserved" sign so if you are going with a large group I would suggest calling ahead. Mimosas were 3 dollars and they were large and strong. Stick to those as the Bellini was less then impressive, twice the price, and significantly smaller. They have a varying menu that includes some breakfast and some lunch. I opted for breakfast, because honestly who does lunch at brunch? Egg whites were cooked well and the veggies in the omelette were fresh and crisp. The fruit salad was nice but just full of things I don't like but others said it was fine. Crab cake Benedict and some fancy salad I don't remember were enjoyed by all. Woulda been a 4 had it not been for our mopey, judgy waiter. I get it man no one wants to work on a Sunday but you're fellow employees at least acted like they wanted to be there. Keep the eye rolling and condescending tone to yourself and refill my water once in a while. We coulda been friends.
(3)Mary Kate M.
I am married! Yay! So, we came to Circa to celebrate our eloping occasion. We came here with a couple of friends that were in the wedding. Everything was nice at the time. Food was great. Service was great. The free champagne they gave us to toast the occasion was great.... then... 5:30AM rolls around and lo and behold I am vomiting out my guts. I had not ate anything that was out of the usual, and the only drink I had that night besides the glass of champagne was the pineapple mojito which were both delicious. I know food poisoning, and I know the effects that come with it.... Bottom line I am out of my misery today. Next visit to Circa -- drinks only sans food.
(3)Anh N.
Went to Circa and overall had a good experience. Very trendy and great date spot! I ordered the turkey burger with a side of asparagus and it was delicious! Drinks were good as well.. flavorful and strong. I would definitely come back.
(4)Mojdeh S.
How I heard of this place: Chris and I were taking a walk through Arlington and into Georgetown the day prior and walked right by. We stopped to take a closer look at the menu, posted outside of the establishment, thinking "This is a great place to bring our parents when they visit!" Little did we know that the opportunity to take ourselves out for a sampling would come so soon! Having opened earlier this year, it was a timely culinary experiment. Type of cuisine: Circa in Clarendon offers a typical American style brunch, with eggs, served in a variety of ways, including poached for an Eggs Benedict (classic, with Canadian bacon, or Chesapeake style, with crab), Belgian waffles, banana-stuffed French toast, an omelet Lorraine, steak & eggs, or a breakfast burrito. Also on the weekend brunch menu were a mushroom ravioli, grilled Atlantic salmon, pizzas, a burger, Jamaican jerk tuna, a grilled cheese and chicken salad club sandwhiches. Take your pick, everyone in your party will be pleased by the "American style cuisine with International flair, complimented by the extensive wine list, including over 20 wine offerings by the glass, and an original cocktail list for every season." Ambiance: We spent our entire meal outdoors, seated on the patio in relatively close proximity to twenty others celebrating Mother's Day over brunch. The space was cozy, lined with a decorative black, iron fence and small tables, covered in white linen. The floor-to-ceiling windows along the front of the establishment, allowed us to glimpse inside, under the black and orange awning, where we could see dark wooden hightop tables at the marblized counter at the bar, with backed barstools boasting yellow, leather cushioned seats. Large-tiled floors, hold brown, wooden tables, adjacent to patent-leather red-accented, cushioned chairs, and other wooden-backed chairs. Being such a beautiful day, patrons opted to be seated outdoors, making for a quiet indoor meal for the handful of diners that selected such seating. Plenty of waitstaff and bus-boys served and cleaned the tables with seamless ease, to ensure ample space for the next course, hand-holding, or cards and gifts for mom. What I ordered: To start, we ordered a non-fat vanilla latte ($3.50) for me and a refillable mug of black coffee ($2.50), featuring Greenberry's Coffee House Blend: A light-bodied cof ee with a lively, well-balanced flavor. It's a blend of Guatemalan, Costa Rican and Colombian for him. My dining companion and I were both craving the same dish! I had pointed it out to him becuase he had expressed a desire for scrambled eggs, that seem to be limited in the breakfast and brunch options at every establishment where we perused the menu. After contemplating trying something new and different so we get a better sense of the varied menu, I, too, continued to come back to the Circa American Bistro Breakfast ($12), three eggs, served any style with our choice of bacon, ham or chicken sausage, home fries and toast (either white or wheat) with a ball of butter and berry jam on the side. I selected three eggs, served over medium and white toast. Chris opted for the healthier wheat toast, and requested three eggs, scrambled. Bacon fans, we both selected three slices of the paper thin bacon to accompany our roasted potatoes served with a dollop of caramelized, diced onions. To wash down the meal, my dining companion ordered a tall glass of cranberry juice ($3), diluted by the cupful of large ice cubes surrounding the lone, black straw. What I loved: My dining companion loved the bacon most, as it was the last thing remaining on his plate, with which to complete the meal. He had commented, at one point during our meal, that the caramelized onions, slightly sweet, paired well with the salty, halved new potatoes. While the food was warm when it arrived at our tables, the gooey eggs allowed for perfect bread and potato dipping, while the bacon, thin and crispy made for a light touch of salty, greasy goodness without being overpowering. I enjoyed the meal, the outdoor, patio seating on a gorgeous Arlington morning and the insightful conversation and laughs shared with my dining companion. Why I loved it: The outdoor, patio seating on the brick sidewalk in the shade of a beautiful, warm and sunny day made for the perfect spot from which to dine! Foodwise, I love that only one piece of toast, sliced on the bias, was offered to each of us, and everything else done in more edible portions. Nothing remained our plates, yet both of us were fully satisfied with our meals, and lasted until we made it to our dinner party invitation at seven in the evening, seven hours later. Cost: Low to average ($7 - $19 per brunch entree)
(2)Kelly C.
I don't dislike this place, but I don't like it either. My friends like to come here. It's definitely more of an easy night out type of place and beautifully done. I love the wine bottle wall behind the bar. Other than that, the food I've had here is just okay. The calamari is crunchy and tastes fresh. Their custom cocktails are also reliably tasty, yet nothing I haven't seen done at other bars. The crowd is stereotypical business casual Clarendon/Arlington types. It's usually very crowded at the bar and there's not much seating-- so like I said, Circa is more of a "start here" kind of place and end somewhere else. Unless you're on a date. :-)
(3)Emily M.
Solid place to eat out. Ambiance is great if you're looking for a place to unwind. One strange thing is that they ask you how you want your salmon cooked. I was never asked that before.
(3)Banu T.
Food was good. Mimosas for brunch is $3 but the service sucks! Servers are just standing around while our glasses are empty
(3)Beth Q.
My husband and I came here one night after hearing good things. I was not impressed. Wait staff was slow and not very attentive. My food was just ok. I asked for several modifications and they were not taken into account. Likely will not be a staple for us.
(2)Candace C.
Service was very nice, our waitress was engaging and had intense eye contact so I felt like she cared. Solid brunch options, it was hard to choose but I had the Chesapeake benedict and it did not disappoint. Typical Clarendon crowd...the TVs showed golf and music videos, something for everyone in that room.
(5)