4. Restaurants

Water & Wall

3811 N Fairfax Dr,Ste 105, Arlington, VA, 22203
  • (703) 294-4949
  • Store is closed

Water & Wall Menu

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  • Food Love R.

    Oh my god! What happened from the beginning? I used to love this place to eat and drink. Now things are different. Not only food and drinks are not as good as they used to, the service is bad... If you loved the maple avenue restaurant in Vienna. Don't expect them to be the same way...

    (2)

  • Michael P.

    This place is a mixed bag - but four stars for being a consistent mixed bag. Look - the service here is weird, and aloof, and unfriendly - but the fish stinks from the head, eh? So whatever...currently here in Arlington the food options are minimal if you just want to walk to dinner... The food and cocktails here are consistently on point - and super affordable. This place is a good deal - so you get good food at a good price: just ignore the service, let's be honest it is hard to find good service in the DC metro area, eh? So eat your food and be happy. Good gosh the cocktails are usually on trend and cheaper then the district. The wine list here is short like the menu but interesting and appropriate. I do appreciate when they have local Virginia wines on the list. The crowd is usually made up of locals, so mixed but not cute. The space is odd, but somehow it works once the sun has set. Just go eat.

    (4)

  • Meredith V.

    We arrived on Monday evening during restaurant week around 5:30pm to make sure we got a table. When we showed up, there was literally only 1 other table occupied and the restaurant was completely dead. Despite this, the hostess said she couldn't spare a table due to incoming reservations. Fine. We sat at the bar. It should be noted that for the entire hour we ate at the bar, only 3 other parties came in and sat at tables, with the rest of the 50-something tables being UNOCCUPIED. Poor planning, organization and communication. We knew we would be ordering off the restaurant week menu and we also intended to order off the happy hour drink menu (house wines and cocktails for $6). What proceeded to take place, however, was nothing short of inattentive, unfriendly, and indifferent service from the 2 female bartenders. We had to ask several times for the restaurant week menu, for the happy hour menu, for drinks, what the house wines were, and continue to try and get the attention of these distracted bartenders all night. There were MAYBE 4 people at the bar. I'd hate to see the level of service they put out when they have a full house. Completely unacceptable and rude service from these bartenders. For apps, I ordered the arugula salad and my boyfriend ordered the wings. Salad was uninspiring and my bf said the wings were too tough and crunchy, although the sauce was good. For entrees, I ordered the duck confit, which was okay...Brussels were overcooked and the duck tenderness was decent. My bf ordered the fried chicken, which he said was dry and terrible. For dessert, we both ordered the peanut butter tart, which was actually delightful and tasted like peanut butter cookie dough. Aside from the excellent dessert (which is also the only thing we enjoyed about our brunch here on our first visit), the overall quality of the food and the abysmal service makes this place not worth returning. It's been decided that Water & Wall has a shiny candy shell full of empty fluff. Save your money.

    (2)

  • Jessica H.

    I had the best Restaurant Week lunch here. I wish this had existed when I lived a block away two years ago. I unthinkingly ordered gazpacho and ramen... soup + soup. But both were AMAZING and I would get them again in a heartbeat. Probably my favorite example of both soups, in an stylish setting and very friendly and attentive waitstaff.

    (5)

  • Kristina V.

    Hello restaurant week! We came here on Sunday, the last day of restaurant week and so glad we did! I absolutely adore the decor, so calming, so quaint. The bathroom (I forgot to take a picture) has the most beautiful mirror and a station for ladies needs such as bobby pins, deodorant, hair spray, static spray, etc. I like that touch, even if you don't need it. Now on to the food. We started with the arugula salad which had the freshest most interesting cheese I have ever tasted, everything meshed well together and was a party in your mouth. We also started with the PEI mussels with coconut milk, tomato, lemongrass, cheese sausage and toast points. Fresh as can be and the sauce was out of this world - it reminded me of vodka sauce with the pink creamy texture. If I had more bread I would have dipped my little heart out. For dinner, I ordered the farro with roasted summer vegetables with a creamy carrot tahini sauce - a taste I had never experienced before and still not sure I can make it into words. The dish tasted flowery but with herbs that brought you right to those roasted vegetables. I am glad I ordered because now I want farro in all of my dishes. My bf got the fried chicken with fingerling potato salad. The chicken and every single part of that chicken was seasoned and cooked perfectly - there was not a burnt piece or a dry piece in sight and the pairing of the cold potato salad was such a pleasant way to present the dish. Cheers to the chef! I could honestly taste the love in the food. For dessert, we ordered the bittersweet bread pudding with vanilla gelato placed on top. That bread pudding stayed warm the whole time and had the most amazing texture, true love. I'm so excited this place is close by, we will be back for more! Enjoy!

    (5)

  • Lucas B.

    Water & Wall - absolutely no idea how I had never come a across this place after living in Arlington for almost 2 years! Better late than never I will definitely say that. I think I can safely say this is the best meal I've had in Arlington since I moved up here (Sorry Kapnos Taverna, Rustico, and Liberty Tavern) My girlfriend and I started off with the Muscadet (half off bottle on Sunday night) and the Creme Fraiche Wings. I had never had the Muscadet before and we both really enjoyed it. It was on the sweet side but pretty far from a moscato or Riesling. The wings as a first course were really great. They were a little on the spicy side which was good for me and they were slathered with the sauce and had an awesome crisp on the outside of the chicken. For my entree I got the duck leg confit with roasted Brussels sprouts. This was crazy, crazy good. There was a maple gastrique that went with both the duck and Brussels perfectly. I'm not a huge fan of duck but this was perfectly done. The skin was crisped on the outside and the meat on the inside was super tender and juicy and had a ton of flavor. The Brussels were roasted extremely well and were probably the best I've had in a few months, especially mixed with the aioli they cover it with. We ended the meal with the bittersweet chocolate bread pudding. It has a scoop of vanilla gelato on top and it was da bombbb. I love pretty much all things bread pudding and I'd put this near the top of the list. It came out piping hot and was exactly the texture i want in a bp. This meal hit on all cylinders for me and everything was great. I cannot wait to go back to try some different dishes!

    (5)

  • Jessica K.

    Another great restaurant by Tim Ma and his wife, Joey. Great spot in Virginia Square--super easy to get to. Lots of parking and close to the metro. I came here for lunch and took advantage of the restaurant week menu. I had the creme fraiche wings and the trout salad. Both were amazing! Totally worth trying this place out!

    (5)

  • Kirk S.

    Water & Wall is a cute little place with food that simply fails to impress. While there's some skill on display here, I genuinely had an issue finishing my dish (the duck confit), which is very very rare for me. Water & Wall is a cute little place located in Arlington, making it readily convenient for most people staying in the area. It's not huge or terribly intimate (it isn't much bigger than a Chipotle, floor-space wise), but it's nicely decorated. Service is quite nice and speedy. Prices are a hair high, but not extremely so. The food here simply failed to impress. I had the duck confit, which is allegedly one of their better dishes. It honestly wasn't good. While the duck itself was plentiful and well cooked, the apple cider gastrique/truffle aioli absolutely overwhelmed the dish with sweetness and - despite the pleasantly crispy brussels sprouts - I actually had trouble finishing the dish. The coconut cake I had for dessert was better, but didn't make up for the duck. I honestly left feeling unsatisfied. Don't get me wrong, there are some major plusses to be had at Wonder & Wall. Like I said, the decor is cute, and the service is good. You can also tell that the food was prepared well - this is (perhaps) a recipe issue, not really a preparation issue. Here's hoping they can fix this!

    (2)

  • Emily H.

    Working my way though the Washingtonian's "100 best" list (and planning to see "Chappie" nearby at one of the only odd ball theaters playing it), brought me to this place on a recent Friday night. Always a plus, the restaurant offered reservations via opentable, and promptly seated us upon arrival. We started with the grilled calamari, an incredibly light and crisp twist to deep-fried deliciousness! The thick, somewhat creamy sauce was quite tasty too - the perfect accompaniment to this scrumptious starter. Having heard great things, I selected the duck confit for my meal, while he got the rabbit ragu. The portion itself was small, but fantastic - the meat was tender and cooked perfectly with just a little pink left. I don't usually order duck, but I DEVOURED every bite. The rainbow carrots it came with were also delicious as was the sauce -- my only complaint was that there wasn't more of everything on that plate! Stuart really enjoyed his meal too. We ate absolutely every bite presented to us. Honestly, the only thing that kept it from being 5 stars was the price to portion ratio... it simply wasn't enough actual food on the plate. I'd recommend giving it a go though - the flavors will floor you! Just make sure to order an appetizer as well as a meal if you want to leave full.

    (4)

  • Annie K.

    A girlfriend took me here for a belated birthday dinner and I'm so glad she picked this place! We had a great dining experience from start to finish. We started off with drinks at the bar while we waited for our table to be ready. Our server was bubbly and all of the food came out in a timely manner. After mentioning it was a belated birthday dinner, our server treated us with complimentary glasses of champagne. We started off with the roasted cauliflower and the calamari. I'm a big fan of cauliflower and I liked how it was mixed with apple, which also added a nice kick to it. The calamari was lightly battered and appetizing. For our entrees, I had the steak and potatoes (the butter on top was amazing) and my girlfriend had the Thai style catfish. The steak was tender and perfectly cooked and the catfish was a balanced mix of sweet and tangy. As for dessert, we ordered the orange sponge cake and the peanut butter chocolate tart. Both were delicious, but the peanut butter tart was hard to cut through (it might've been in the freezer for too long) and I ended up breaking the whole thing... oops! The restaurant itself is located near the Virginia Square metro stop and the ambiance was casual yet classy. I would love to come back again, especially since it seems like they change their menu every season or so.

    (4)

  • Tina T.

    4.5 stars! Service - nice and welcoming staff. Good service, food and drinks came out in a timely manner. Ambiance - small and casual restaurant. From pictures, I thought it had a nicer decor but it's just a casual place; which is totally fine. All the small tables that seat two people have wiggly chairs! I mean... I don't think it's broken but the screws need to be tightened. Not so pleasant dining in wiggly chairs. *Country Pate - great appetizer to start off with! Small and light dish. I don't really know what else to say but pate tastes like pate. But I like their thin crisp bread because it doesn't fill you up. *Fried Calamari - decent! Light on the breading. *Duck Confit - so flavorful! This is a must-try! Crispness of the skin and the flavors sit in so well throughout the entire duck and brussel sprouts. Nothing bland at all! *Half Chicken - this is fried chicken on a bed of dirty rice; sweet and spicy entree from the mixed tabasco and honey. Fried chicken tends to get dry once you get to the white meat BUT this was a moist and flavorful chicken! *Bread Pudding - nothing out of the ordinary. Would love to come back and try other items on their dinner menu. It's a limited menu but because of that, I think all their dishes are well-executed.

    (4)

  • Chrissy V.

    We had brunch at Water and Wall with some friends. I can only say we were rather disappointed. Small portions and clueless service. Sorry but there is no other word for a situation where we had to wave down our waiter repeatedly. At some point it seemed comical that four of us where waiving at the waiters and they still didn't see ... All requests were ignored. Is it really so hard to bring a nibble or some bread for hungry kids? Two stars for the make your own mimosas.

    (2)

  • Phoenix Simone W.

    I was going to give this place 3 stars, but it gets the extra one because the calamari was one of the best (if not the best) I've ever had. I came here for restaurant week on a Tuesday. The place was pretty crowded, but the waitstaff was very helpful and accommodating. We were seated right away even though we were a bit late for our reservation. Definitely recommend trying: Calamari - It's covered in pickled fresno chiles, sudachi aioli, cilantro, and seasoned with a lime. I normally am not a cilantro fan, but the flavors all blended so well together. And it wasn't overly fried, but had enough of the crunch you need. Fried cauliflower - Covered in apple mostarda and chile breadcrumbs. Unexpected flavor combination, but the end result was so good! Duck leg - Comes with caramelized Brussels sprouts. The duck was super tasty but I'm not a big fan of having to cut around the bone. The brussels sprouts, however, were amazing, and I could eat a million of them. Probably won't be back right away (mainly due to the prices) but the food definitely left a good impression.

    (4)

  • Nadine F.

    I went to Water & Wall for brunch, and I couldn't have been happier. I was about 15 minutes late, because of Metro issues, and they weren't jerks about seating my friend without a full party. I was thrilled with their reasonably priced mimosas and bloody marys and had a couple of the cranberry mimosas. For brunch, I had the hangover hash, which was really rich, but in a small portion. My only disappointment was with dessert. The peanut butter chocolate tart had a great flavor, but I feel like they didn't put much thought into the logistics of eating it. The hard chocolate was on top, while the soft, powdery graham cracker was on the bottom, making it impossible to eat without making a mess. In the end, we had to break it up and eat it with our hands to keep graham cracker from flying everywhere. It would make sense to reverse the layers or make a few bite-sized tarts. But overall, I was really happy with the food and service, and I'll definitely be back. As an added bonus, it's right by the Metro, and street parking is also amply in this area.

    (5)

  • Tracy H.

    The foods are amazing!!! We ordered the duck leg and the pork shoulder. They were crispy at the outside and moist at the inside, so flavorful, seasoned perfectly!!! Next time, make a reservation before you come. This restaurant is very popular here.

    (5)

  • Greg S.

    Water and Wall is fantastic. What they lack in cosy decor is well (well) compensated by the excellent quality of their food and their attentive service. Their duck confit is as good if not better than in most Paris bistros I ate in. Their service is attentive and not annoying. They are there just when you need them to be. Food is excellent. Deserts are fantastic. Do go.

    (5)

  • Prairie S.

    This is an elegant dining spot with a creative, innovative kitchen. I praise a kitchen when portions are not oversized, when the menu is limited, and when the plating is focused. This place is on point. The chef is obviously a master of creativity and flair so that each plate feels exquisitely prepared. Huge bonus: the wait staff is attentive and doesn't have a bad attitude (contrasted with the crap shoot one is subjected to in both pompous and humble restaurants in the District). Tried the three course prix fixe menu as part of restaurant week. Indulged in the fried cauliflower and fried calamari for course #1 (they are numbered on the menu). Both were scantily battered and fried and served with hints of delicate sauce and garnish to bring out the unique flavor of each food. You should try them both. For course #2, we tried the duck with brussel sprouts, which appeared to have endless meat on the duck (it was brined so was rather salty and rich, but the tenderness and flavor was excellent). The brussel sprouts had some terrific caramelization which meant they frankly melted in the mouth. You could not try to create these sprouts at home if you wanted to. Leave it to the wizardry of the chef here. Also for course #2, we tried the steelhead trout with potatoes and white bean puree. The fish skin and the fish texture roasted was amazing, bringing out fullness and balanced with a mint/pea green sauce. Try a lovely artisan cocktail. I tried La Palamba which was a tequila based drink with a hint of spice (but superbly balanced). I could drink one every night if I could figure out how to afford it, or make it myself. They also have a neat selection of local beers which are not hoppy to crazy degrees, but well balanced, highly quaffable beers (yes they used the word quaffable in their menu, big points to them!). Deserts were exquisite. Their bread pudding with coffee ice cream and dark chocolate was tantalizing and decadent... At the end of the meal, I felt I had been treated like a queen. This is such a cool kitchen I would highly recommend it to anyone. My only criticism is of the space. Why does every edifice on the orange line corridor have to look like a boring modernist glass and steel office building? Please fix the interior architecture to transport us to some other place other than boring, sterile Fairfax Drive with its soul less buildings. Add more texture to the walls. Screen out the thankless concrete environment outside with dark curtains, add more interior decoration, for goodness sakes. Then, I think the magic of the food would really shine even more! Cheers.

    (4)

  • Kat F.

    We dined at water and wall during restaurant week and had a wonderful experience. The service was fantastic and the servers understood the menu very well. I think the deep fried soft shell crab was the best appetizer but the mussels came in a close second. While each of the main courses was really good, the catfish was by far the best. The leg of duck came with the best brussels sprouts and I only wish those brussels sprouts were with the catfish. For dessert we had the peanut butter mousse cups and the chocolate bread pudding. Individually they're great but we were a bit weird and decided to combine the two. It was fantastic!

    (4)

  • Christina Y.

    I came here this time for dessert. I called in ahead of time to make sure there were seats. The hostess said she'd save us two seats at the bar, and when we walked in fifteen minutes later, sure enough there were two seats for us. Although the dessert took a bit longer to come out than we had hoped for, the bread pudding was to die for. With a layer of warm bittersweet chocolate on the bottom, it's really a treat for your tastebuds. The apple crumble was pretty good as well, but nothing too different from an apple pie a la mode. The bartender was busy, so she wasn't the friendliest, but there aren't any other restaurants with this ambiance close by, so this place is your best bet. Be sure to make reservations for dinner if you're going on a weekend.

    (4)

  • Alexis K.

    Success! Will C.'s birthday dinner was a success! :) I wasn't really sure what to expect with Water & Wall as the boyfriend and I have been a little unlucky in terms of the places that we've been dining at this past month. Upon entering the restaurant, I was pretty impressed by the chic, sophisticated decor; it's a great restaurant to get a little dressed up for. We did make reservations since we were anticipating a large Friday night crowd, but we were pleasantly surprised to find the restaurant filled, but not packed. Water & Wall has a pretty limited menu, about 5-6 appetizer choices and 5-6 entree choices...but of course, quality over quantity. Water & Wall places a large emphasis on fresh, local ingredients, which was much appreciated. We started with the Divers Scallop - you get three perfectly cooked scallops placed on a bed of sauteed greens with little bits of smoked applewood bacon. I'm definitely giving this appetizer a big thumbs-up. It was delicious!!! Will C. and I both decided to get the Duck Breast (tender, juicy sliced duck breast on top of a fennel & garlic puree, pickled carrots). This dish was very French/Asian-inspired, and I was a fan. All the flavors complimented each other very, very well and the quality of dat duck meat was exceptional. No birthday dinner is complete without a decadent dessert. There were a number of enticing dessert choices, but my attention went straight to the Bittersweet Chocolate Bread Pudding (served w/ a scoop of vanilla ice cream). Holy sh*t, this was SO good. The best bread pudding I have ever had. Warm, gooey, and very chocolate-y (oh, and I should mention that it wasn't too sweet either). I was in heaven. Water & Wall, get ready to be a regular date night spot for me & Will C. After our very pleasant experieince, we will be back for more.

    (4)

  • Agata S.

    Delicious and friendly. We had their duck, pork belly, and wings--all beautifully presented and offering complex flavors. We loved the wing sauce so much that the waitress brought us a spoon and bread to sop up the bowl. I loved the combination of the saltiness of pork with the coconut rice, though initially, when I saw it on the menu, I thought the pairing was odd. The restaurant handled our child's food allergies in a professional and friendly manner. They offered a simple dish of chicken sautéed in olive oil.

    (5)

  • Pegah Y.

    I visited Water and Wall for dinner with a friend about a month ago. My friend lives in the Courthouse neighborhood and I figured this restaurant would be convenient for both me and her. The restaurant is located about halfway between the Virginia Square metro and the Ballston metro (it's slightly closer to Virginia Square). We visited at 6:30pm on a Wednesday evening without a reservation and were still able to be seated quickly, despite how crowded it already was at that time. We both decided to go for seafood entrees - I personally went with the Thai style catfish, as I love Thai and Thai - inspired foods and hadn't had catfish in a while. The entree came with garlic scapes, sugar snaps, shiitake mushrooms, and savory caramel. It was truly a delicious blend of flavors and quite filling! We also tried the fried calamari as an entree and loved it - very decent portion size for two hungry girls! Service was excellent throughout too. I love the atmosphere - very hip and sleek / classy ambiance without trying too hard. I would certainly love to visit Water and Wall again and I highly recommend it!

    (5)

  • Will C.

    Honestly I was a bit skeptical to eat at Water & Wall. Yelp depicts Water & Wall as a French restaurant but upon looking at the menu I couldn't help seeing many items with an Asian spin. I went in with an open mind and I am glad I did. We made a reservation for 6:30 on a Friday evening. At our dining time the restaurant had plenty of seats available so a reservation wasn't truly required. Looking at the menu I realized this restaurant strived to get items from local sources. Alexis K and I split the divers scallop appetizer and we each had the duck breast. The appetizer was delicious. The scallop was accompanied with a couple pieces of vegetables which paired well. The scallop was high quality and it was cooked very well. The vegetables were a tad bit too salty for my taste, however I think it was intentionally salty to match with the less seasoned scallop. As far as the duck breast goes it certainly was not bad but I probably would skip this dish next time. The ingredients were high quality however the portion was a bit too small. There was approximately 5-6 pieces of duck. The best way for me to describe the taste of this duck is something I eat pretty regularly. If you have ever had Hong Kong style duck (the ducks hung up at Chinese restaurants) it tastes pretty similar. Now up till this point I was going to give this restaurant a 3 star but this dessert completely changed my mind. We ordered the bittersweet chocolate bread pudding and it was the best bread pudding I have had! You will be doing yourself a favor by saving some room in your stomach for this dessert! Customer service here was excellent. Our waters were promptly filled upon sitting down at our table and they were constantly refilled when it reached half a glass. The manager came up to check up on the table when we got our food. So I wouldn't necessarily say that Water & Wall is a french restaurant. It is more Asian fusion food then French. With that being said I look forward to returning.

    (4)

  • Judy A.

    I visited Water & Wall for restaurant week and I left feeling so disappointed. The strawberry and walnut salad was delicious. I sampled a friend's chicken wings and immediately felt good envy! They were so tasty!! For the main course I had the chicken salad sandwich. Gross. The chicken had the consistency of chicken cooked in a microwave. Slimy and gooey. Yuck! For dessert I had the cookies: 1 chocolate chip cookie which was alright and 1 corn something-or-the-other cookie. Basically, it was a cornbread cookie. It changed my life. It was so gosh, darn delicious I asked the waitress if I could purchase a couple extra cookies to take home to my boyfriend. I was told no! A big, fat, stinking no!! *confused look* Why was I not allowed to purchase an additional serving of cookies?! That was just so bizarre to me. When I asked her why, the waitress said they only served 1 serving per customer. *confused look* Okay, food police... weird. Not a good way to treat your paying customers. And by the way, I had no idea your establishment was even a restaurant. It looks like a law office from the outside!

    (2)

  • Jess Y.

    Came back for another visit and I was disappointed in the drop in quality. I was not impressed with the food this time around and they also took off my favorite part of the menu: creative handmade mochi! Also telling was that this time on a Saturday night, there were still plenty of open tables at 7:30 PM. Last time I visited Water & Wall, it was so busy I could barely hear my date. I ordered the trout which was well cooked but so small. So so incredibly small and the sauce was only okay to me. It was served with an english pea puree and mint but the flavors just didn't strike a chord...they just didn't add on to one another like some of Ma's previous dishes had. My husband ordered the fried chicken and he was equally miffed with his meal. To end the meal, we ordered the chocolate bread pudding. It was good: warm and hit the spot. Yummy chocolatey goodness. But, even with the bread pudding, we were starving. We were not thrilled when the bill came too and we realized that we were spending over $80 for only an "appetizer" for the night. Immediately after leaving, we drove straight to another restaurant to actually fill up on a meal...at a restaurant that cost 15% of what we paid at Water & Wall. It seems that since my last visit, Water & Wall has just lost its touch. I hope that this is just a rough patch and that they'll figure things out soon. But, I was just not impressed this time around.

    (3)

  • Liz C.

    My husband and I tried this restaurant for date night on Saturday. We made reservations and were seated next to a large loud table. Otherwise the restaurant was mostly quiet couples. The large windows were open to the street which left a nice breeze. Cocktails were good; service was good. We ordered scallops and chicken for dinner. They were excellent except one of my scallops had some sand in it. The dessert was excellent - the bread pudding was to-die-for. The servings aren't huge, so if you enjoy being in a food coma after dinner, this is not the place for you. We will be coming back to this place as we overall enjoyed our experience.

    (4)

  • Delmar S.

    Great food and service! We had the duck confit, pork shoulder, tomato bisque, fried green tomatoes and the peanut butter tart. Ambiance is upscale bistro (not warm and cozy), but a perfect place to celebrate most anything. If I lived in this neighborhood I'd visit weekly.

    (5)

  • Travis S.

    This place is criminally underrated and easily the best meal I've had in Arlington, and I'd also put it up against some of the more well-known spots that habitually occupy those "Best of DC" lists. Out of the three of us for apps, one had mussels, one had the beet salad, and I had the shrimp and grits. The mussels were excellent with a smooth and deliciously subtle broth, the beets were great and the orange chevre that came with it was really good, and the shrimp and grits were very tasty with an appropriate level of pepperiness (it made this native Gulf Coaster pleased to see someone know how to work with the spice well). For entrees two of us ordered the duck confit and one had the fried chicken. The fried chicken was spot on, moist and flavorful, and the potato salad had that excellent creamy taste but was surprisingly light - a fantastic combination and a welcome change from the places that make potato salad with a ham-fisted boatload of mayo. The duck confit was absolutely superlatively good, maybe the best I've ever had. There's a good amount of fat on it but it was rendered and crisped up perfectly with the most flawless technique I've ever seen and the brussel sprouts that came with it were phenomenal. Desserts were also excellent, though we agreed among those we had that the bread pudding was the best - they keep the crusts on, so you get an awesome crumbly texture and it isn't overly sweet. I see some comments on here about portion size or service or prices, and I really don't get it. Maybe the service is bad if you have a butler at home, maybe the portions are small if you're a lion, and this quality food easily runs you $40 an entree in DC while it's half that here. Go and enjoy it.

    (5)

  • Philip Y.

    Gazpacho and wings: 4*, Service 2*, Panko chicken sandwich 0*, soft shell crab sandwich 3.5* Went with a coworker for lunch. The decor is good enough but you can tell they're trying hard without understanding what makes for good tasteful decor. The same goes for service. They have very friendly service but highly incompetent. Just because you are friendly doesn't mean you have good service, you actually have to perform your job well. More on that later. First they were confused about the lunch special: one person told me that only the first 2 apps were included in the special. Then another person told my coworker that all apps were included in the lunch special. Gazpacho was excellent, I'll give it 4.5* Nothing wrong with it. Wings were crispy and well-spiced but a bit too sweet. 3* It took about 20 mins for these to come out. The restaurant was about 30% full and most were finishing eating. Then we waited another 20 mins for our main course. Finally, I flagged down the waitress to check on our order. Literally 10 seconds later, she brings our food, no apologies. My panko chicken sandwich is dripping in oil. Inside, there's a lot of breading and some non-chicken looking material. It's way too grease and has tons and tons of mayo on it. I eat around all the nasty stuff, ate about 30% of it, and since we've wasted so much time here, we get our bill and leave. Then we get our bills. We have the identical orders of 21.95 each. We ask our waitress to split our bill. My bill is $6 higher than my coworker's. It made absolutely no sense. Instead of trying to reason with these clowns, my coworker just covers the tip and we hightailed out.

    (2)

  • Matt L.

    Delicious and unique food. If you enjoy talking about your plate throughout the meal, Wall and Water is a great date night venue. I had the duck confit, which is everything people say it is. My wife had the whole quail. We had mussels as an appetizer and the bread pudding for dessert. Overall, the portions are on the small side. The flavors are on point, so I'm willing to overlook portion size, but don't expect to walk out of here full without getting an appetizer and dessert. The noise level is the main reason I'm taking off a star. It is a very very loud restaurant at this price point. The noise made me rush through the meal so I could get back to normal decibels. If they can get that under control this will be a very special spot.

    (4)

  • David H.

    Water & Wall is Chef Tim Ma's second restaurant. I've been a few times already and each time the food never disappoints. The location is more open and parking is a lot easier compared to Maple Ave. From time to time they have bone marrow on the menu as a small plate. This was my first experience with bone marrow and I fell in love after eating it here. Would have been nice to get one or two more crostinis with it, not a big deal. Their duck confit is amazing. The skin is perfectly crisp, don't think I have had such crispy skin anywhere else, not even on a Peking duck. If you love Maple Ave, book a reservation at W&W and prepare to be delighted!

    (5)

  • Win S.

    Gorgeous design + atmosphere, but I wasn't dazzled by the food. There are a lot raves for this place, but I thought it was a bit hyped up. I went in the restaurant's early days, so perhaps they've worked out all the kinks by now. I tried the duck confit with blackened brussel sprouts, which were a bit *too* blackened (cough cough; so burnt that I'm sure the nutrients were torched. oh well!). The meat itself was too salty and very one-note. We also tried rabbit ragu with broccoli rabe, but the dish came with bok choy instead of the advertised vegetable. It would've been fine if they told us about the swap-a-roo -- but they made no mention of the much cheaper substitute. When we were leaving, I saw one of the waiters wipe all the tables with the same towel that he used to rigorously wipe the floors. Yeck. Is that a regular restaurant practice? Not so appetizing.

    (2)

  • J T.

    I will definitely come back here. I loved the food and service was outstanding. The only thing why I am giving 4 starts is the long wait, or maybe it just happened at the time. But overall very pleasant place

    (4)

  • Peter W.

    The good - Excellent, locally sourced organic dining with a professional wait staff who know their menu and wine list. This is a destination restaurant (and saves us a drive to the equally good - though tiny - Maple Ave. Restaurant in Vienna.) The less good - noisy. They've done what they could with he design and architecture, but patrons just like to yell. Unfortunate and not a reflection on W&W The bad - The regular hostess is pregnant and they are training a person who seemed clueless last night. Let's hope she shapes-up.

    (5)

  • Valerie V.

    The service was great, very friendly staff. However, the food was pricey and honestly, nothing special and rather bland. I enjoyed their house made drinks, but not much else.

    (3)

  • Cat P.

    I've been a fan of Chef Tim Ma since I tried his first restaurant, Maple Ave. My friend and I shared a skillfully prepared whole branzino and a scrumptious, chocolaty dessert, and we both became fans of his tiny Vienna business. Water and Wall supposedly had some growing pains in its first year (according to Washingtonian Magazine), but it seems like whatever hiccups it went through have since been resolved. Ma's menu is small but artful. I'd rather he do a few things and do them well than be overly ambitious and put out mediocre stuff. For my starter, I got the mushroom soup. Typically, when I see mushroom soup on a menu I think creamy. Ma's soup is a more a nod to the satisfying, clear broths prepared in Japanese cuisine. The mushroomy flavor was delightful and the Asian influence was a welcome change. I also got to try my husband's fried cauliflower, which was wonderful. Ma tossed the fried cruciferous veggie with apples, the mix of sweet and salty, as well as the sweetness from the roasted vegetable, was very pleasing to the palate. Happy with our appetizers, we were enthused about the things to come and our main dishes and desserts did not disappoint. My Thai-style catfish was very similar to Vietnamese caramel fish; however, Ma added his own twist by also smearing the pretty caramel sauce on the bottom of the plate and serving the fish with a medley of veggies, which included sunchokes, snap peas, and red bell peppers. My husband got the pork shoulder, which was prepared very much like another Vietnamese dish, thit kho nuoc dua. The pork was fork-tender and tasty, he said. Unlike the Vietnamese dish, the pork was served with collard greens and black-eyed peas. Giving a Vietnamish dish a Southern take and still making it quite delicious is a great feat. He had the chocolate peanut butter cake while I got the orange sponge cake and both were awesome. The orange sponge cake was just what I wanted--moist, not overly sweet, and bright with that citrus hit. The accompanying marshmallow cream and pistachio ice cream were lovely. Ma's Arlington restaurant puts out really wonderful food. I'd come here again for sure. Service was nice, though a tad casual and more what I would expect from a taproom, not an upscale dining spot. Our server was nice, but he also seemed a bit distracted. It was a rather welcome relief, though, to not have such a formal person helping us. He didn't pressure us into buying a bottle of wine or mechanically rattle off the specials or the most expensive menu items. Like I said, he was pretty chill... I like the industrial look of the space, but I'm not sure I'm as much a fan of the rock wall or the subtle Asian accents. I much prefer the cheerier colors of Maple Ave. Still, the environment was relaxing and sophisticated. All in all, Water and Wall is a great dining destination, and it should be a go-to spot for those who love Asian flavors, gorgeous plating, fresh ingredients, and more refined settings.

    (5)

  • A. K.

    Delicious. Had the crab and corn soup, pork shoulder, pate, duck confit and the chocolate and peanut butter tort. Everything was great. We polished off our plates. Service was attentive and wonderful. Can't wait to go back for more!

    (5)

  • Jane A.

    Very trendy, very noisy. Short, simple menu with reasonable prices. I had pate small plate which was excellent, another small plate shrimp grits for my entree. Just ok, peppers etc in the grits which wasn't expected. Waitstaff a little sloppy, surprised that the hot tea water didn't wet my friend. I'd go again but wish it wasn't so noisy.

    (4)

  • Kimberly S.

    Uncle Paul's Pop-Up Lunch Kitchen Review: As I mentioned in my past dinner at Water & Wall, my experience was so pleasant that it re-ignited my love for eating out again. Everything from the service, presentation, ambiance, and of course, food was perfect in my book. When I had heard that Chef Tim was doing a Chinese Pop-Up during their normal lunch hours I was instantly intrigued. I love Chinese food and I love Water & Wall so it seemed like a winning combination. :::Insert a big sarcastic, teenage NOT here:::: Gone was the amazingly friendly, effortless service of before. My friend arrived about ten minutes before me (an hour before dining service ended) and she said the whole time the waitress kept pestering her to order. When I finally sat down, we asked her about recommendations on the menu and how much to order for the two of us and she pretty much gave us a blank stare. We ended up getting the lobster rangoon, crab fried rice and kung pao pork belly. The crab fried rice came out first and I had a hard time finding any pieces of crab due to the large amounts of chili paste that was drizzled around the bowl. I am always the first one to say turn up the heat at my table but this was just too much. So much chili...so little rice...and crab. I would have definitely liked to see more of a balance of flavors here. The lobster rangoon was okay. Fried food is awesome but I did not see fireworks go off but I happily ate it. The Kung Pao Pork Belly was also okay, it would have been a lot better if it was served with rice. Again, flavor balance. There was so much boom boom pow and greasiness in the pork that you needed rice to tone everything down. By the time it arrived our server basically had abandoned us so I had to chase down another server to give us white rice. He brought one small cup for two people. What is this a center for ants? Don't you see my tiger blood? I feel like a better server would have anticipated the need for a cup of rice per person. Our server finally came back at our end of the meal and refilled our empty water glasses (as I said, that crab fried rice was full of chili!). I couldn't place it but the service was just so awkward and it made me feel uncomfortable for dining there. That being said, I still stand 100% behind my five star dinner rating but I think they still have a few things to improve upon for their lunch time shift.

    (3)

  • Dan M.

    Absolutely fantastic. My girlfriend and I made the trek out here during restaurant week after I'd heard good things about this place from friends, and we were not disappointed at all. I had the mushroom soup, which was a great light soup with many different kinds of wild mushrooms, and the duck confit. Oh, the duck. Perfectly cooked with a crispy skin, atop even crispier brussel sprouts, with a delicious maple gastrique. The duck was excellent, but I would order this all over again just for the brussel sprouts. As noted in some other reviews, the staff was very nice and attentive. The waiter brought us some extra wine when the drinks we ordered took a while to get to the table, even though it was in the middle of the dinner rush and the restaurant was very busy. I was impressed.

    (5)

  • Helen Z.

    In case this is tldr, main takeaway: order the duck. That alone merits the 5 stars. ----------- Looking for a nice place in Arlington? This is the place to go. Water and Wall offers a limited menu (only 6-7 choices each for appetizer and entree) but in the limited menu lives up to the saying that restaurants with small menus have better execution. I ordered the wild mushroom soup as a starter and the duck confit, their most popular dish, as my main course. The soup was lighter than I expected - I had imagined a cream of mushroom type soup but was instead presented with a clear broth reminiscent of asian-inspired cuisine. It was okay - nothing outstanding. Unless you're really attached to an appetizer, I'd recommend skipping this course... ...and instead leave room for the amazing main course - the duck confit. I've had duck before but this may have been the best executed duck I've ever had! The skin was crispy and complemented the fattiness perfectly. I don't normally eat really fatty meat but I couldn't resist to waste any part of this dish. The lamb was served atop crispy Brussel sprouts, which were well cooked but hard to mess up when cooked with butter. Dessert was a chocolate bread pudding. Not too sweet, which was appreciated, and I loved the cold ice cream served over the warm bread. I personally would have liked more chocolate - though generally good. Summary - this is a classy establishment. The lighting is nice, the menu has good options, and the duck is phenomenal. If searching for a slightly pricier, more upscale place, try Water and Wall!

    (5)

  • Maria-Elena T.

    Ate here twice so far. Went with a friend midweek for dinner both times. First time we started with fried cauliflower (incredible like old school Italian) and pumpkin soup (seasonal special). Then for entrees we had the chicken breast and the duck (house specialty) and finished with peanut butter tart. Everything was outstanding. Place was packed. The second time we went, my friend got the fried califlower again because it was so good. It was done to perfection. It's crunchy on the inside and the breading is light and compliments the nutty flavor. Not greasy at all. I tried the beet raviolini (a new menu item). I loved the beautiful magenta color of the raviolini. You could tell by the chewy noodle texture they were homemade. The creamy goat cheese filling was intoxicating. It was garnished with quarters of golden beets, pea shoots and walnuts. This time my friend for the fried whole chicken and I got the trout. I loved my fish and would get it again unless I was in the mood for the duck. The wine glasses were stemless. I don't prefer them. I love this place and will be back.

    (4)

  • John T.

    Came for lunch, small dishes. Food and service fantastic. Calamari to die for. Has not been discovered for lunch so not crowded yet

    (5)

  • Jennifer D.

    from the owners of Maple Ave, they've brought out part 2 and Arlington is lucky to have them! building on the "best of the best' from Maple Ave, Water and Wall is simple and stunning with an attention to local ingredients with an added flair. a family run business with immpecable customer service. My favorite menu items include some "tried and true" items like shrimp and grits and new debuts like the Burmese Chicken Salad which was outstanding

    (5)

  • Lena P.

    So I've been wanting to go here forever and finally I dropped by with a friend for dinner. It was everything I expected food-wise, and the service was good too. We decided to go splitsies on our dishes; the menu is pretty short but there was a decent variety of options for vegetarians (as my friend is one). We went with the fried califlower with apple mostarda and chili breadcrumbs; the beet raviolini with goat cheese, beets, and walnuts; and the farro risotto with winter squash, hazelnuts, leeks, and ricotta. Everything I had was delicious. We particularly enjoyed the beet raviolini, that also came with a sweet fruit (pineapple?) drizzle. I wasn't quite sure what to expect with the risotto, but I was pleasantly surprised. I wouldn't necessarily get the dish again, but I did enjoy the interesting flavors. The califlower was also excellent (and had some pineapple in there too?). I did wish I could taste the chili flavor in the breadcrumbs- it was very subtle and not spicy at all. The portions were decent sized and between the 2 first courses and 1 second course my friend and I were perfectly satiated with no leftovers to spare. I have a feeling the menu rotates quite often, so I definitely want to go back, for brunch. It is more of a fine dining establishment and the prices represent that. But the food is well worth it for the right occasion.

    (4)

  • Hanna H.

    An absolutely wonderful brunch menu! If you're looking for sweet or savory, this places has it all. The service was friendly and accommodating. I would recommend Water & Wall to anyone, but just know the bill does add up quickly. I ended up ordering the eggs and kimchi and though I was slightly hesitate about the spam included in the menu I was pleasantly surprised to find it was a great addition! The pancakes were equally delicious.

    (4)

  • Chris C.

    Absolutely Fantastic Restaurant Experience. We celebrated an anniversiary and they presented us with customized menus and complimentary glasses of champagne to start the meal. We ordered the Flash Seared Octopus, and Pork bellow to start. Both were delicious and I would definitely not hesitate to order the Octopus again. For entrees, we order the Duck Confit (Caramelized Brussels Sprouts,Truffle Aioli, Cider Gastrique) and Braised Short Rib (Celeraic Mousse, Rapini, Oyster Mushrooms, Horseradish Gremolata) For dessert, we got the Mochi flight which was excellent. Overall, definitely a great experience and I will be back!

    (5)

  • Dia D.

    We were here for brunch on a Saturday and we were one of two parties. We had the crab cake Benedict which was tasty but tiny, the biscuits and gravy which was filling but bland, and the scrambled eggs with kimchi and spam which was the best of the bunch. Coffee comes in a French press which serves about 3 cups. It isn't as good as many other brunch places around but it was cheaper and faster.

    (3)

  • Andrew H.

    This review is for their lunch pop-up "Uncle Paul's Kitchen." I heard about their concept of Asian food cooked at a really high heat, and the story about Uncle Paul, it was a pretty compelling story. I won't talk about it here though, I'll just cut straight to the chase about their food. The lunch menu is similar to dinner, in that it's small plates style, but I did feel that one plate would be enough to get me full. The waiter will recommend getting at least two plates. If going with someone else, three dishes should be enough. So they take traditional Chinese dishes, but use a different kind of protein to go with a glaze/sauce. I got the Kung Pao Pork Belly and the General Tso's Calamari. I'll start with the General Tso's Calamari first, calamari is best crunchy, and not doused in sauce. It's best when you dip it in sauce instead, since it retains the crunchiness. The General Tso's sauce here is tangy, and it leaves the calamari soggy. I don't think it quite matches well, and the general tso's sauce goes better with chicken anyways. So I'll chalk this dish up as a "meh." The Kung Pao Pork Belly is cooked at a high heat, and you see the charring on the outside. To me, Kung Pao Pork Belly isn't meant to be cooked at a high heat, it's a fatty piece of meat, and cooking it at a high heat just hardens it. Pork Belly is best when it's soft, fatty, greasy, and is best braised. Whereas cooking it at a high heat, it leaves it sort of tougher and slightly crunchy. It could still be good seared, but this pork was cooked and charred all the way through. The sauce itself was just ok, wasn't anything to write home about. The bottom of the dish, expectedly, had a thick layer of grease. Both dishes did not stand out to me, to my disappointment. They do have some other interesting lunch items, so I'm willing to give the other dishes a shot, but like their dinner offerings, I felt this place is overrated and I haven't found anything I thought was great yet. One thing that also really annoys me is when restaurants brings things out of order. Like Japanese places when they bring the sushi after the entree, or American places when you get the salad last. So I got my calamari and pork belly before my rice, I had to ask where the rice was. They said that the rice would take a few minutes to prepare. For all you Asian food lovers, you all know it's a cardinal sin to not have rice go with your Asian food! Call me a food diva but I ate really slowly and just couldn't eat my Chinese food without my rice. They did try to amend things, and brought out fried rice "on the house" since the white rice was still steaming. Then they did bring out white rice when it was ready. The waitress did seem genuinely sorry, so kudos for them for trying to correct it. Three stars just because I wouldn't order these dishes again, but I think the menu has potential, I'll give it another chance and hopefully the other ones are more interesting and tasty.

    (3)

  • Chip S.

    Took a friend out to dinner here and we couldn't have been more impressed. The food was excellent and the service was perfect. Great drinks and atmosphere. Pricier than I had anticipated but it was Well worth it.

    (5)

  • Shirley S.

    Visited this place during restaurant week. Loved the décor and ambiance. Waitress was quite helpful and service was prompt. The chicken wings were delicious and so was the desert - corn and chocolate chip cookies. My friends and I were bummed we could not order more cookies even as an additional item. Overall, an ok place to try out.

    (3)

  • Kristie S.

    While in Ballston for work I had dinner at the bar at Water & Wall. The first thing I noticed is the size of the dining room, it's pretty small as is the bar area, so probably best to have a reservation. The host was friendly, welcoming and offered to take my coat which was a plus. I chose the Duck Leg Confit for dinner, and it was very very good. It's hard to find duck prepared properly and Water & Wall did a bang up job. My dish was served with brussels, which were perfectly roasted, mushrooms and a maple gastrique. The mix of flavors was fantastic without being overly contrived. Like a good comfort food should be on a cold night. The bar staff were both quite new, so they were not familiar with the food and wine as I would have expected at a spot with such great reviews. Otherwise I may have given 5 stars, I'd recommend they hold a few wine and food tastings so their staff can adequately describe the offerings to guests. Otherwise it was an amazing experience.

    (4)

  • Greg B.

    Last night was my turn to plan date nite, so I surprised my wife by taking her here, (she'd never heard of it) and we both loved everything about this place! The atmosphere, cocktail menu, food, wine and beer list and desserts all aim to please. I like places that focus on a few great options, meaning there were just eight appetizers and eight to ten entrees to choose from. Having read other yelp reviews I tried the creme fraiche wings and Duck confit. My wife got the saffron fettuccine and the quail. We tried two cocktails, which were fantastic (I got a golden negroni and she got some rye and bitters cocktail - both were great.) All the food was amazing, but I need to talk about the wings for a sec...I'm from Buffalo-(ish) and so I am pretty particular about wings. At some points in my life I've probably had significant amounts of Franks Red Hot sauce flowing through my veins. THESE WINGS ARE MY FAVORITE WINGS OF ALL TIME! I can't stop talking about them. I mean, another reviewer had mentioned using a spoon for the leftover sauce...I raised my skeptical eyebrow at that, and then found myself doing the same thing last night. And yes, the duck confit was one of the best I've ever had. But I will be dreaming about returning for those wings. A little noisy but we could still have good conversation. Will be back with friends soon! Looks like we needed more babysitters!

    (4)

  • Kevin K.

    So I wasn't sure about this place before for a few reasons, but now I have to say that I am a convert. I had a few more meals since my last review and feel that there have been so many incredible improvements. I had lunch here between appointments and decided to have shrimp and foie grits, and a bowl of Taiwanese noodles. Man that's a good bowl of ramen. Has enough Szechwan peppercorns to give a nice numbing of the tongue. Also the seasonal ramps were a nice touch. The shrimp and grits gravy had enough foie taste in them to make a silky gravy and the portion was just big enough for a delicious add on for a hungry patron, again the ramps add a little bit more spring to this dish. I will definitely be back for the Soba noodles. Cheers and happy eats!

    (4)

  • Jen F.

    These 5 stars are for the Duck Leg Confit entree. *Drool* It is by FAR the best duck I have ever had in the USA (the best duck I had in France). It comes with Brussels sprouts, hen-of-the-woods mushrooms and maple gastrique. Unreal. In the mood for duck? Come here now.

    (5)

  • Saara Z.

    Brunch: We shared two small plates - the Shrimp and Grits and Chicken Wings. The Shrimp and Grits was one of the best I've had in a while, with two large shrimps cooked just right, sitting on rich, creamy grits. I had the short rib hash as my main course and as other reviewers have mentioned, it was quite good; while some parts of the short rib were a bit overcooked - the dish was still enjoyable. Dinner: My dinner experience definitely surpassed my experience at brunch. I had the sous vide lamb as my main entree and it was one of the best lamb steaks I've ever had! The meat was tender and cooked to perfection. A few pieces of asparagus and a light couscous preparation were wonderful on the side. My friend ordered the duck confit and I was able to try a hefty portion of her meal. The duck confit was also delectable and next time I return, I'll gladly order it for myself. Dessert: The bittersweet chocolate bread pudding was heavenly! I'm partial to bread puddings in general but this one really takes the cake. I haven't had a bread pudding this good anywhere else in DC or VA.

    (5)

  • Lisa N.

    I loved the ambiance here, but the experience was just average. The food was not bad, but everything was way over salted. Our server was great and really friendly but the bartender was listless. I probably won't go back, but I have a feeling the experience could be great on one occasion and not so good on another. It has potential but it wasn't quite there.

    (3)

  • Jam C.

    We came here for dinner and had no issues finding street parking on 10th St. (parralel to Wilson Blvd), the street behind the building. It looked like a busy night but we were seated promptly with our reservations. For appetizers we had calamari and mushroom soup. For a soup with "savory" in its name it was pretty bland. The calamari was pretty disappointing too. I was really starting to regret our restaurant choice after our appetizers. Luckily, the entrees were a lot better. The pork shoulder was huge and was very tender and flavorful. I didn't care much for the beans that came with it though.The duck confit w/ brussel sprouts was the clear winner of the night. The duck was cooked well and very flavorful. We ended the meal with delicious warm bread pudding topped with Dolcezza gelato. My BF ordered black coffee too to go along with dessert but that took longer and we were already done with dessert by the time it came. Bonus points since they had half off wine bottles that night.

    (3)

  • Matthew B.

    The best restaurant in Ballston. Service is top notch, food isn't far behind. I had the hamachi appetizer and instead of a boring plate of raw fish it was several different tastes with each bite. The row and pineapple gelatin that accompanied it made ever bite savory, salty, and sweet all at once. I had the quail for my main, which was a small portion but still delicious. Loved this place and will be back.

    (5)

  • Iris S.

    While in DC for work, I caught up with friends over dinner at Water & Wall. Upon walking in, it seems like a date night sort of place. The ambience was nice and the menu pricier than the typical casual dinner fare, with most entrees $20+. The food for the most part was beautifully presented and delicious. We ordered the wings, pork belly, and skirt steak. The wings were crispy, slightly spicy, and overall delicious and satisfying. The pork belly sat atop a bed of what was listed as "cold ramen" noodles, and while the pork belly was fatty and delicious, the noodles themselves were a bit salty and lacked great flavor. My friend raved about the skirt steak, and it definitely appeared to be well cooked and had generous portions. For those in the Ballston area, Water & Wall does seem like a solid choice for a slight splurge of a meal.

    (3)

  • AL K.

    This is a bigger and modern version of maple ave restaurant in vienna. So you know to only expect good food . The place doesn't disappoint. Pricey but totally worth it. Metred street parking or you can go behind the building where there is a paid parking lot.

    (4)

  • Nina P.

    Friend and I tried W&W for brunch on a rainy Saturday. Having worked in the building for many years previously, it was interesting to see how the former Pines of Florence space was renovated. The space is modern and inviting. The service was very friendly and not pushy. My friend and I ordered the charcuterie plate to start with and the "make your own mimosa" which is a bottle of cava that comes with your choice of 2 juices. The cava was really nice and I prefer this concept of letting you make your own (adjust the levels of juice to your liking). The charcuterie plate was AMAZING, exceeded my expectations and also had great presentation. The liver mousse in it was to die for and I also enjoyed the jowl and duck prosciuitto. Even the pickled vegetable (maybe shallots?) that was served with it was delicious. I do think they could serve 4-5 little toasts instead of 3 b/c the liver mousse is sooo rich that we preferred smaller amounts on the toast which was also richly buttered but no big deal. I loved the mussels, they were much more substantial than mussels appetizers I've had at other restaurants in the area - the corn/tomatoes/bacon were a perfect combo. My friend had the Green Tomato Chow-Chow Hash which was also a great combo of flavors. Will definitely be returning to try their dinner menu next!

    (4)

  • Alex M.

    We went for dinner last night. I had the cauliflower and the steak, and my husband had the liver pate and the duck. The cauliflower, as many of the reviews have said, was delicious and unique! The steak was also surprisingly flavorful and cooked perfectly to medium which is what I requested. I can't eat dairy or soy, and the waitress and the chef took it very seriously. The waitress spoke to the chef and went down the entire menu and told me what I could have, what they could alter for me, and what I need to avoid. She didn't make me feel like I was a complete pain in the neck, and was just so nice and patient about it. Great service!

    (4)

  • Ruth C.

    Four and a quarter stars. I should preface this by saying I have not yet experienced Maple Ave. I found free metered street parking after 6 pm, while looking for the free garage after 7 pm mentioned on their site. Decor is cute, lighting just practical enough, bar seating fairly limited. Service from Derek was phenomenal, friendly and attentive. Cocktail menu has room to grow... I hope they continue carrying Auchentoshan 12. Portioning is conservative for the DC-esque prices, so for moderate appetites I would recommend an entree and app each, plus dessert(s) to share. The structure of their menu is thoughtful: seasonal ingredients designed experimentally and plated with aesthetic. The sweet potato pasta app had already morphed from cavatelli to gnocchi, and was also executed in risotto entree form. It made the top 5 gnocchi I've had in the DMV area: each pillow had the perfect amount of chew, mingled with cubed pancetta and sweet potato, diced apple, and enough thyme sprinkled creme fraiche to generously coat. Already wooed, it was their braised short ribs that ultimately won me over. Incredibly fork-tender and delicious. Oyster mushrooms harmonized well with the meat drippings. Although the horseradish gremolata was very light, I enjoyed the almost creamy celeriac mousse as a faux starch alternative. The bouillabaisse fell flat after the stellar start, and made one aspect very clear: the green veggie inclusions were an afterthought. While grateful for the bunch per entree, I'm not sure how easy consumption was considered when served in a deep bowl. The goodies swimming in it included Manila clams, moderately sized shrimp, squid rings, and a stray scallop or two. These actually dominated the lemongrass, leaving me unimpressed by the scarce spice and flavor of the broth. Some decently toasted baguette slices garnished the bowl. The mochi flight was unavailable on a Tuesday night while they were waiting for the new flavors to arrive, but the warm apple tart came highly recommended. I considered the pecan short bread bar since I've had some nice bourbon butterscotch in my day, but I was vibing a moist dessert. Extra square of bread pudding was a nice acknowledgement that we intended to share the dessert (or perhaps that I'd been mowing through our meal with the enthusiasm of a third-world orphan). Horchata ice cream was a bit watery, but I'd still happily eat a tub of it on a binge whim. Just enough chocolate sauce to drizzle, and the bittersweet element kept my anti-sweet palate appeased. I'll be back. It's hard to shape a hit list for dynamic menus, but I regret not trying the following yummies: pork belly, octopus with black garlic puree, shrimp & grits, veal sweetbreads, duck confit, lambchetta.

    (4)

  • Ni C.

    Whoa! Finally a good restaurant that's worth its salt in the area. With disappointments like Leek and Rustico, this place makes up for the lack of quality sit down restaurants in the Ballston area. (Willow aside!) Duck confit was excellent - crispy skin, well seasoned and the fried okra appetizer was great. Service was genuine and attentive. Recommend!

    (4)

  • Sylvie S.

    After hearing about the $35 three course dinner at the bar, I had to go. The deal runs Monday to Thursday and allows a selection of any appetizer, entree, or dessert.... a real steal!! The menu was a little different this time but my friend and I shared all our selections. I came for some pork belly but was super SADFACE when they said they were out that evening. Instead, we did the clams and the gnocchi. I'm not a huge clam person but these were excellent. Gnocchi is something that is either executed well or a huge fail. At W&W, the gnocchi was just awesomeness. For dinner, we did the drum and the short ribs. The drum wasn't bad, perhaps a little extra salt would have been nice but next to the short ribs, it seemed to fall flat a bit next to the short ribs. The short ribs were superb and the portion size was very generous. The flavor was big, bold, and full; the meat was just falling apart. If you go now, make sure you get this plate! Dessert was the same as my last visit. We did the bread pudding and the apple tart. Just as wonderful as the first time. As a side note, their happy hour runs until 8 now, so if you do this deal and sit at the bar, they have a pretty decent glass of red wine for $6. Do it.

    (4)

  • S K.

    Just left the place. Couldn't be seated, despite plenty of open seats at the bar and at tables. Was told it was because there was only one cook. I live in the neighborhood, but will not be giving this place a second chance. Very disappointing experience, yet avoidable. The manager could have offered me a discount on a return visit.

    (1)

  • Claire J.

    Each time my boyfriend and I come here, we expect that the food, service and ambience can't be as good as the last time - and we are always wrong. We've never had a mediocre meal here - everything is above average for the Arlington area, and that's saying a lot given there are so many options in Arlington. It's a bit pricey, but it's absolutely worth it. The portions are a great size for an average person. Personally I don't like the typically huge entree plates that you get at restaurants, so Water and Wall is a welcome change of pace on that front. If they have fried chicken on the menu, ignore every other entree and get that. You will not be disappointed.

    (5)

  • Nima B.

    The atmosphere is great without long waits. Busy but crowded where you can't hear anyone talk. The drinks and service was wonderful. I wish the menu had more options. The steak was a bit tough. 2 drinks and 2 meals came to like $90 with tip. I would recommend Bourbon steak if you want your mind blown.

    (4)

  • Scott T.

    Had one of the most amazing meals I've EVER had! Ever! Seriously! Started off with the pate', calamari, and fried cauliflower. All that was followed by the pièce de résistance, duck leg confit with charred brussel sprouts. A chocolate bread pudding with coffee ice cream finished the meal! The duck was cooked to absolute perfection and paired with sprouts that I could eat every day for every meal.

    (5)

  • Kristin S.

    Came here for weekday dinner and had an absolutely delicious meal. First, the server recommended appetizer of beet raviolini tasted great. At first I was a bit skeptical about a ravioli made with beets in the dough, but it didn't have a strong beet flavor at all, and was a nice combination with the goat cheese filling and sprinkled walnuts. But the showstopper was the duck confit, it was cooked perfectly and was sooo tasty. The flavors of the duck itself and the drizzled sauce complemented each other so well. The caramelized Brussels sprouts, which were served with the duck, were also nicely cooked and seasoned. Also, the service was very friendly, attentive and helpful with recommendations. Based on my experience, I would love to return and try something else on the menu, there seemed to be other interesting options with intriguing ingredients.

    (5)

  • Sara F.

    Tim Ma's Duck Confit is the sole reason I will never go vegetarian. Although, I'm pretty sure I could live off the accompanying Brussels sprouts. If needed.

    (5)

  • Gwen B.

    My husband and I came here for our date night dinner before heading to the Courthouse theater for a flick. My best friend and her boyfriend had recommended Water and Wall after trying it earlier this year. I believe the menu changes fairly often, they were out of the pork shoulder on this particular night. Here's what we ordered: Scallops app to share- well done at a fair price. My hubs loves scallops and enjoyed them immensely Duck confit- The skin was very crispy and flavorful so the dish was delicious overall. Not much as far as sides but that's not surprising for this style of food Lamb- the lamb had fantastic flavor and was cooked The portions were on the smallish side (typical of French restuarants) so it was nice to have an appetizer to start. I would recommend ordering at least one app if you're hungry. The food was high quality and the service was great. However as good as it all was, nothing particularly stood out for us. It wasn't an overly pricy meal but not cheap either ($75 for our meal plus one glass of wine). Sadly it wasn't memorable enough for us to return. Still in search for an Arlington restaurant with some DC caliber!

    (3)

  • Dan C.

    Came for Valentine's day special, and the Foie Gras for two appetizer was incredible. Also highly recommend the duck confit and pork shoulder. Great addition to Arlington!

    (5)

  • art f.

    Nice to see an expansion of the Maple Avenue Restaurant. Like the place in Vienna, it is dominated by windows but has (surprise) a wall with dripping water and is much larger. Still on the austere side. The receptionist did not know the cross streets on Wilson. How hard is that? Chicken liver pate was KO, the shrimp and grits appetizer was tastier. The entrees stood out: a delicious duck confit with charred Brussels sprouts and Mediterranean drum over vegetable puree. Both dishes came together well.

    (4)

  • Albert L.

    Excellent food, service, and ambiance. We had a friend visiting from out of town, so we decided to make a reservation at Water & Wall for a nice dinner for everyone to catch up. Several of us arrived early, so we grabbed some drinks at the bar (cool semi-circle by the way). Their take on Moscow Mule and Akita 75 are very refreshing. When we did take our seats, our waitress was prompt and friendly. She wasn't pushy and answered any questions we had about the menu, even entertaining our inquiries about things we saw on Yelp but weren't available on the menu. Additionally, we found out that some items can be ordered on the side, such as the garlic mashed potatoes. Another surprise was that the hostess had found out that we were having someone from out of town, so they brought out some complimentary champagne. It's a really nice gesture and definitely kicked up the celebratory atmosphere. We all ordered different dishes, and I went with 2 firsts and a main. The mixed salad was simple with a light dressing and crumbled goat cheese and candied walnuts. The scallops were perfectly medium-rare with a great sear on the outside. The accompanying clear broth was just the right saltiness and richness to counter-balance the natural sweetness of the scallops. The main of lamb loin was cooked, again, pretty much perfectly medium-rare - seasoned perfectly with the harissa. The asparagus was firm and not mushy. Other dishes were great as well. The chicken liver mousse was mineral-y but not overly salty. The fried green tomatoes had a crunchy-but-not-thick batter and were freshly tangy. The duck confit is their biggest hit, and it's justified with its deep flavor and tenderness. The catfish had a good bite and wasn't overpowered by the sauce it came with. The five-spice chicken wasn't overdone and went well with the purple rice. The beef brisket was tender and had a sweet-salty Cheerwine sauce. After all that, we were looking forward to dessert. Sadly, no mochi flight available the day we were there, so we opted for all the other desserts. One slightly disappointing dish was the carrot-cake ginger-ice-cream sandwich because the carrot-cake cookies were a bit tough. They would be better served if they were softer or fluffier. The bread pudding was luscious and thick. The strawberry shortcake was delightful with the vanilla panna cotta. The berry cobbler was tart and completely summer-y. Overall, W&W is raising the Arlington dining scene to a different level while keeping that neighborhood familiarity. The personal, professional service is what separates it from the rest. The inspired dishes and techniques also make for a refreshing dining experience.

    (5)

  • Ss G.

    We've dined here for dinner several times and once for brunch. Consistently good food. Several appetizing and interesting vegetarian options are available. Everything tastes fresh. Unsure why it's always empty, and wish the atmosphere was a bit more lively. Would love to meet our thirty-something friends here for drinks but it feels too fancy or formal to relax. Overall a good experience.

    (4)

  • Janet M.

    I read the reviews & decided I had to try this place. But was unfortunately disappointed. First, the positives are that almost all of the food I had was amazing - with just a couple of exceptions. If the service and staff was half as incredible as the food this place would be a home run, and make the high prices worth the experience. I have been here twice, thinking the 1st time I dined here may have just been an off night. But I experienced similar issues both nights I came in. The 1st was an anniversary dinner for me and my husband - first time we celebrated since the birth of our first child, too - so that meant arranging a babysitter. I called days in advance to speak with someone to make the reservation and confirm it, then when calling the night of, luckily they weren't too busy because they had no record of our reservation and were able to "fit us in". I have a friend who had the EXACT same thing happen to her & her husband, babysitter arranged, reservation made in advance, and the restaurant lost it but couldn't fit them in so they had to go elsewhere - after THE RESTAURANT lost their reservation! ?! Just ridiculous. Then we had a waiter who didn't check on us, we had to call over if we wanted anything, and served us with a frown plastered on his face all night. I thought maybe it was just a bad night for him, until tonight when my girlfriends asked me to meet them there for dinner. I arrived early with another girlfriend of mine and sat at the bar. There was literally just the two of us at the bar and the bartender walked straight past us multiple times without even looking at us - I mean I thought we were being punked that's how long this went on, no joke. My friend had to get up out of her chair to wave the bartender over - who had zero personality to boot - I mean, is an effing smile too difficult to manage while concentrating on NOT serving drinks, which is, by the way, your only job? Then we were seated when our whole party arrived, and they brought 4 pieces of bread for 6 of us... minor, sure, but we had to flag down 2 different wait staff just to get another bread basket, which didn't arrive until after the first course was served. And so the trend continued, flagging down waitstaff for everything - the opposite of most fine dining establishments in my experience. The food was really good, but all night the server was not very attentive, and all of the staff seemed depressed about their job or their lives or who knows what.... but it was annoying. For the price, I expect a significantly better level of service. I'll never eat here again... which is SO unfortunate, because they do make some tasty over-priced food. Good luck Water & Wall!

    (2)

  • Paul H.

    I have had a few good meals at this neighborhood restaurant, and have enjoyed them. Tonight, however, was a very unpleasant experience. We arrived 5 minutes ahead of our 7PM reservation and were seated promptly. 18 minutes later, without drink orders, or any contact with the wait staff.... we left. The place was NOT busy, and the hostess had spent some time chatting with diners at the next table. It was a humiliating experience I choose not to repeat.

    (2)

  • Sungmin S.

    Such a lovely space, excellent service and creative menu, but slightly disappointed by how my dish turned out. The restaurant was (not surprisingly) extremely empty on the night of fourth of July. The format of the menu seemed very familiar... didn't realize until today that the owner of Maple View owns W&W as well! My date ordered the fettucini and the gazpacho, and I ordered the pork belly with cold toki ramen noodles. I didn't get to try the small plates (he finished both), and the combination of pork belly with ramen was executed in a lovely way (tasted a lot like korean barbecue samgyupsal and cold bibim naengmyun noodles), but overall it was just so incredibly salty. I don't think I'm the only one either, as another friend of mine who dined earlier at the restaurant let me know that everything he ate was incredibly salty as well. I'll have to come back sometime to try the duck confit, but I might end up heading to Maple Avenue more frequently where I have had nothing but incredible experiences!

    (3)

  • Eddie H.

    My wife and I went there for Brunch on Sunday, the hostess was friendly and helped us immediately, that's always a plus, so good Start. The restaurant was easy to find and the decor was good, maybe it needs some shades for sunny days, as the sun was blinding me a little bit since I was sitting facing the window. The food was good, I love breakfast/brunch food, I hate IHOP, but I like First Watch (call me w/e you want, but that's what I like). I opted for the "Hangover Hash" and my wife got the french toast. We both were happy with the food and surprised by the quality of the food for the price. The only "hiccup" of the experience is the server, he was not bad or terrible, but seemed lifeless. He told me that the water for the french press coffee was not optimal (not his fault, but why serve it when they know it is not ready???), but he did tell me to let him know if it is not good enough. Anyways, we will definitely return to try their dinner services.

    (4)

  • Chuck N.

    Saturday, 7:30PM. Staff: Riley. Quickie: +Delicious food +Good service +Clean ++Responsible sourcing (local farms when possible) +Layout +Interesting menu And then...? W&W stands out in the DMV. Suitable for 1:1 meal or grubbing with a group of friends. ********** Stuffed my face in: 1. Deep Fried Tofu +Marinated eggplant had miso flavor that paired well with tofu 2. 5-Spice Chicken +Tonkatsu sauce is an interesting complement 3. Chocolate Peanut Butter Tart -A little too concentrated (sweet) Constructive comments: *Slightly higher quantity of orders *De-clutter table spacing

    (4)

  • Julie P.

    Food was good though the portions are pretty small. Don't eat a lot but was almost still hungry after the meal. Had the duck breast which was good but not extraordinary. My boyfriend had the steak - same review. The hanging paper lamps create of a cute atmosphere. I think I set my expectations a little too high because it's a Tim Ma establishment and I had high expectations for him.

    (4)

  • Stephanie F.

    This restaurant was great! Came for a friend's birthday dinner during restaurant week. The food was delicious, well presented, and not skimmed on the portion size. I had the chilled corn soup, the duck with brussel sprouts, and the vanilla and banana gelato. Each was a favorite! And the staff was also very friendly. We'll be back! (Especially to try out their brunch!)

    (5)

  • Michael B.

    I may have hit this restaurant when the planets were in alignment, but this was one of the best dinning experiences I've had in a long time. I tried to go in with no expectations (other than solid reviews on yelp). I went with my Dad on a restaurant week night and was very impressed. I had the wild mushroom soup, the duck confit, and crème brûlée for desert (and I'm not a terribly big fan). There really was nothing I could find any fault with. The food was cooked perfectly, portioned perfectly, and presented beautifully -- I didn't really think the lemon cookies served with the crème brûlée were the best choice but of course that's not a big deal. The service was extremely friendly and knowledgeable. I'm very excited to go back and see if Water & Wall is really this good. If it is I may have just found my new favorite restaurant!

    (5)

  • Ashley N.

    My husband and I visited Water and Wall for brunch on Sunday afternoon. Overall, we had a good experience. I enjoyed the eggs and kimchi & my husband's french toast was good too. Our waitress was fairly attentive and we got our food quickly. The same cannot be said for the 2 people seated closely to my left, a woman and her son, who was in a wheelchair. I watched and listened as the pair waited for 15 minutes before being greeted by a server to take their drink orders. Then, they waited another 35 minutes for their food to arrive. During this time, not one person stopped to acknowledge them or apologize for the long wait. Both of their eyes were darting the room to catch someone's attention, and they were remarking on how long they'd been waiting, "We've been here for almost an hour with nothing." They were seated very closely to us, and because I could hear everything they were saying I felt invested in their dining experience. I felt so bad for these diners that I wanted to buy their meal but my husband asked me not to, as he didn't feel it was appropriate. But I have worked in the service industry for many years & take hospitality quite seriously, and my heart was breaking at the apparent discomfort experienced by people who just wanted to enjoy a nice meal on a Sunday afternoon. Hospitality is about thanking everyone who makes the decision to support your establishment over the others (in a very saturated market). I understand it may have been backed up in the kitchen or servers may have been shorthanded, but it just takes a second for an acknowledgment to let your patrons know they haven't been forgotten, and they are just as important as everyone else.

    (3)

  • Rich F.

    The Good: Low-key, unpretentious environment that's far enough outside Ballston to make street parking relatively easy. A decent, if somewhat predictable, cocktail list, followed by a couple of outstanding appetizers kicked off the night. The oyster stew and the chicken liver mousse were both amazing, especially for the price. The main courses were reasonably-priced, but less impressive (more on that below), but the peanut butter pie (can't remember what it was actually called) ended the meal on a high note. The Bad: I ordered a sirloin steak that came out perfectly medium rare and perfectly well-seasoned, but was so tough and full of tendons that I couldn't get through more than half of it. I alerted the waiter who didn't comment at all, but sent over the manager who was extremely apologetic, agreed that that steak should have never left the kitchen, and took it off the bill. I didn't even mention the fact that my salad had seemingly heart-attack-inducing quantities of salt on it because it seemed irrelevant next to the steak situation! Bottom Line: For the upper end of mid-range New American in Arlington, this is about as good as it gets. Sure, it's got uninspiring atmosphere and service, and they made a pretty big mistake with the steak, but for those who live in Arlington, it's a decent neighborhood spot with surprisingly good food. But, if the restaurant were in the district or if they hadn't been so embarrassed by the steak situation, this would be a 3-star review.

    (4)

  • Maricar V.

    its been a while since ive actually written a review.... my visit to water and wall definitely compelled me to jump back on the saddle! i was really looking forward to our impromtu dinner -- ever since maple ave in vienna, i wanted to try this place. maybe my expectations were set really high because i was disappointed :( at our table: fried cauliflower fried calamari duck leg confit pan roasted chicken pork shoulder so - we went during the week and so we didnt have a hard time with our reservations. the place was fairly busy with a couple if big parties. we sat towards the back in a booth.... we hardly got any attention, the candle on our table was unlit for most of dinner, our drinks took forever to come out, our food even longer... and our server wasnt really engaged and couldnt offer any insight about the dishes, except for the chicken that shes never tried! anyway, about the food... i would say that the best part of the meal was the fried cauliflower... never would have guessed that frying cauliflower would be so yummy, but it was. of the three dishes we had for dinner, the best would be the duck -- it had the most flavor... i do wish they served it with something else in addition to the brussel sprouts to add more diversity to the flavor. skip the chicken... too small a serving and too plain! and the pork, although really tender was just ok. the food overall looked really good -- but didnt do anything for me...maybe it was a full moon?! sad to say that my experience was just lacking any umph...

    (2)

  • Bro H.

    Dinner was excellent. Everything we tried, we liked. Portion sizes weren't huge, but you expect to spend money at a nice restaurant and it was a fair price for how good the food was. The ability to get high ABV beers for a reasonable price really is a nice bonus that made the value of our drunken dinner quite excellent. Personally, I thought it was a bit too expensive for lunch for me to come back. The options were less imaginative/exciting, and the sandwich I got wasn't worth 15 bucks in my opinion.

    (4)

  • Catharine B.

    I'm giving W&W five stars because in terms of the price (maybe $$ or $$$ instead of $$$$), this is as good as it gets. The food was perfect - I got the lamb, and my guest got the duck. We both started with the scallops. The brussels sprouts that accompanied the duck were absolutely delicious -- I could have eaten an entire plate of them happily! Our waiter seemed a bit busy, but no matter as the manager was lovely and stopped by our table a few times to take new drink orders and check in on the food. I can tell that the management of Water & Wall has high standards and aims to give all diners excellent service. Our cocktails were delicious - we had an Old Fashioned and a creative take on a jalapeño margarita - and after I switched to club soda our waiter whisked away my glass for refills whenever I finished. My only regret was that we didn't get dessert!

    (5)

  • Danny R.

    I called a month and a half ahead of Valentine's Day to get a reservation and still ended up on the waiting list. It's a popular place! The atmosphere was nice and the staff were responsive. The food was good but not great. My fried cauliflower was quite tasty, but then my rabbit ragu was a little subpar. Similarly, my wife's beet and cheese ravioli appetizer was excellent, but her pork shoulder was not very good. Maybe we need to try again?

    (3)

  • Stuart R.

    I brought my wife here for her birthday with two friends. She said she wanted a nice lingering meal at a new restaurant with white table cloths, an interesting menu, and nice ambience. With all the places in Arlington it was still hard to find a restaurant that fit the bill. Water & Wall did a great job and we had a lovely dinner. I was concerned about some of the Yelp reviews so I talked to a manager when I made the reservation. It may actually have been one of the co-owners who we met later at dinner. She assured me that they take the Yelp reviews seriously and that she would ensure our dinner was terrific. It was, if not perfect: - Calamari app was very good - Cold coconut crab soup was awesome as were the heirloom tomatoes. Ordered some bread to sop up the remains of both. - Duck confit was yummy and crunchy but not overlooked. - Saffron Fettuccine was different and tasty - The scallop special was the only disappointment - too salty! We also had two bottles of Alto Limay Pinot Noir from Argentina. Great with our variety of dishes. The desserts were tasty and the staff didn't mind that we lingered past 11:30. The owner came and spoke with us and shared some great stories about the place. We'll go back.

    (4)

  • Michael M.

    Limited menu but "oh" so good! The owners of Water & Wall know their food and know how that food should be cooked. My wife and I ate at the bar which allowed us to get great menu insight from the bartenders. We ordered and shared two appetizers: the Fried Calamari and the Beet Raviolini. Both were fabulous. The calamari was the best we have ever eaten. The raviolini was a unique dish blended with goat cheese and walnuts. The flavors and taste here were just unblievable and so delicious. We also shared a main entre: Farro Risotto. Again, this presentation was just brilliant and a wonderful eating experience. Lastly, we shared their Bittersweet Chocolate Bread Pudding. Wow! It was just great and a wonderful finishing point for a superb eating experience. Again, if you are looking for great food presented in a very special way, Water & Wall is where to go in Arlington, VA.

    (5)

  • Yujin M.

    We may have finally found our neighborhood joint!! We first heard of Water & Wall when we went to dine at its older sister restaurant, Maple Avenue restaurant. We enjoyed the food there, but found it a bit pricy, and while I understood they were going for a cozy vibe, it was a little too cozy for me. Water & Wall is similar to Maple Avenue in that the food is simple, straight forward, fresh, and nicely presented. Oh, and delicious, too. We went for a weekend brunch, and had the chocolate pancakes with blood orange syrup, and the short rib hash. The short-rib hash was hearty and plentiful. There were generous portions of short rib, which had a surprisingly tender texture. The accompanying potato hash was a cleaner and fresher homage to the greasy-spoon version, and had a wonderfully crispy outside texture. Now, the chocolate pancakes were unexpectedly greasy, for a place with such clean-cut tastes. These weren't the fluffy, light pancakes that we expected, but rather a slightly heavier version. Also, the chocolate wasn't in the form of chips embedded in the pancakes, but were spread throughout the bottom of each cake. Still yummy, but a little unusual. I liked the sharp taste of the blood orange syrup, but apparently it's not for everyone, as my husband opted for the regular syrup (which, by the way is very good and not overly sweet). The bacon accompanying the meal is thick, and just the right blend of crispy and juicy. Brunch prices were reasonable (about $14-16). The dinner menu looks more interesting, but of course, a bit pricier. This may not be an everyday stop-by on the way home from work type of place, but I'm eager to try out the dinner menu on our next night out!

    (4)

  • David H.

    This place definitely surprised me. The dishes looked great, and the flavors were spot on. Everything was cooked perfectly, and the service was good too. 4.5 stars, only because it's pretty pricey for the portion sizes. But I can't wait to go back and try more

    (5)

  • Diane M.

    What happened to this place? Lots of buzz when it opened and our first meal here was delicious (and creative). Reservations were hard to come by. Fast forward to Friday 9/5/14. We got same day reservations and arrived at 7PM to a half-full restaurant. Service was pleasant and prompt. We were surprised there was no bread service, but we don't need the carbs so didn't care. I was also surprised that there were no off-menu specials. On a Friday night? But now for the food, ugh. We started with mixed green salad. Lots of mesclun, but the promised blueberries, goat cheese and candied walnuts were almost non-existent. The dressing was bland, sparse and we weren't even offered fresh black pepper. We had the pork shoulder with mashed taters and greens, and the halibut. Tender pork, sides good but the BBQ sauce tasted as if it came straight out of a bottle. The Halibut was fresh, well-portioned but very over-cooked. The accompanying veggies were good, but sparse. I should have sent the fish back, but didn't feel like waiting. Interesting wine list though and we had a nice bottle of French white for $40. Reasonable for a restaurant. Doubt we will be back.

    (2)

  • Phi N.

    The food here is catered towards reserved white people, lol. A little fancy, fresh ingredients from local places, small portions, low sodium, and decent tasting. It's not what you look for as a foreigner though... or a fat person... lol. I want lots of flavor! Strong taste! More sodium! hahah. Those kinds of dishes won't be for everyone, but people who do like it, will love it. Anyway, moving on to my dishes... the 3 of us split the chicken liver pate, burmese chicken salad, veal sweetbread, and saffron mussels. The pate was by far my favorite. The burmese salad was okay but would be much better if it was spicier and had more vinegar. I enjoyed the veal sweetbread, but to be honest, it tastes just like a boneless chicken wing. Boneless chicken wings are much cheaper... The muscles were good-- I recommend asking for extra bread to dip in the sauce. For the main course, we ordered 2 beef cheeks, the steelhead, bouillabaisse, and the duck confit. Everything was cooked to perfection, but the flavor was lacking. The beef cheek was very tender, but it was pretty boring in taste. The salmon was kind of the same way. The skin was crispy and salty, but the sauce was weak. If you do come here, I recommend the duck confit. That was definitely the best entree. The bouillabaisse was the next best dish-- my friends seemed to like it much more than me. For dessert, my friend ordered some kind of bread pudding w/ chocolate? I don't know. I didn't look at the menu. It was alright. Service was excellent here, and the manager was very lively and pleasant. Our waitress was also outstanding. Portion size was small but that is to be expected when you go to restaurants such as this. If you come during the winter time, try not to get the table right behind the coat rack. Every time the door opens, you feel a freezing gust of wind.

    (3)

  • Reid M.

    We went here for brunch and felt like we overpaid. The food is good, and the restaurant is beautiful. The portions, though, are tiny. The prices, less so. We probably won't go back. The one thing that I thought they did particularly well is the coffee and tonic. I've never had anything like that, and it was fantastic!

    (3)

  • Will N.

    Sadly disappointed by almost every aspect of the experience. The place does look nice and has good ambiance, But that's about it. The Sunday brunch was remarkably bland. There were pieces of eggshells in my crab Benedict. Service between courses was noticeably slow and the restaurant was completely empty aside from us and one other table. I was looking forward to leaving, but then my bill came out wrong and I had to stay to get it fixed (they had added two items we did not order). All in all, very surprised to see so many good reviews.

    (2)

  • Jesse F.

    Just had lunch here and this place is fantastic. The service is super friendly, the arugula salad was refreshing, pork belly sandwich was off the charts, are the wings are covered in awesome sauce. Looking forward to coming back.

    (4)

  • Eating Eating P.

    I'd prefer to give 4.5 stars but I'll do 5 since I can't figure out how to do a half star. I rarely write restaurant reviews but I really enjoyed our dinner here last night. The prices were quite reasonable for the quality. We got the duck confit and softshell crab, I'm glad we were able to order two dishes and share b/c the duck is so (deliciously) rich that eating the entire plate would probably be a bit much. But the combination of the two was perfect--flavors, preparation, mmmm. You can read other folks' reviews on the duck, and yes it lives up the hype. We also split the wings for an appetizer, and they too were delicious--kind of bonchon-esque but with the creamy sauce...we'd eat the outside and then re-dip the wing into the sauce b/c we're ridiculous like that, but it was that tasty. I'm not sure what all of the complaints about small portions are about, I feel like with the appetizer I ate a little too much, but without it, splitting the two entrees would have been perfect. Probably the softshell crab entree alone wouldn't have filled me up without an appetizer since it was on the lighter side, but the duck and most of the other entrees would. Anyway, I felt that entree size was fine. We didn't even get dessert b/c we were so full. They have some good lunch combos (2 courses for $21) and good happy hour specials (2 appetizers for $15...you could get the wings + a salad and make it a meal), plus early dining specials. My boyfriend can attest that I spent 2/3 of our meal talking about what I want to order on my next visit. The restaurant was pretty empty until around 7:30 but by the time we left around 8, it was full. A really delicious and special dining experience that I appreciated. Servers were very nice and attentive. Also appreciate the wet wipes they brought us with the wings.

    (5)

  • Matt A.

    I ate dinner at the bar and it was the bartenders first week so I'll cut him some slack. These things take time. The food was great, and very rich. Chicken liver mouse was delicious. The toasts might be a little too buttery for the mouse but overall delicious. The duck confit was fantastic but the Brussels sprouts were a little heavy on the sauce/dressing. I still really enjoyed this dish. Atmosphere was fine but a little empty. It was a Monday night so I'm guessing it gets a little more filled out later in the week and weekend. I'm glad I chose this place near my hotel rather than the few burger joints and sandwich shops around the area.

    (4)

  • Lynsey J.

    This was an all-around great experience! The food was phenomenal. I highly recommend the fried cauliflower as your first course and the duck dish for the second course, which came with a side of brussel sprouts. To top it all off, our waitress was awesome. Super friendly and checked on us several times. We were never waiting around. It's a little pricey so be prepared to spend probably $40 or more per person but it's well worth it!

    (5)

  • Steve H.

    This was our second time at Water & Wall, and we will definitely be back. Brunch was delicious, with several vegetarian-friendly items. I had the French toast, which I recommend. Coffee is served in small French presses, so plan on one per diner. The restaurant had been full when we ate dinner there a month ago; brunch at 1130 was much less crowded. Outstanding service continues to be a hallmark of W&W. The maître d' was friendly, and Ian, our waiter, was great.

    (4)

  • Jen C.

    As I'm writing this I'm biting my nails with shifty eyes wondering if I should bother telling anyone about Water & Wall because I want it all. to. my. SELF. What a wonderful new addition to Arlington! Why? This chef is onto something. To dine at this restaurant in the next few months, I feel, you'll be eating the food of someone who is up and coming and going to rock the restaurant world. To boot, if you come here on a weekday (at least this week I'm aware), you are offered a $35 prix fixe of a starter, entree and dessert at the bar -- and no limitations on the menu. I hope this price stays, because this is an absolute steal that compels me to come here often...especially since the ambiance is something you could totally step into in DC and pay for double that these days. It was not crowded at the bar at all, and in fact there are some bar tables you can sit down at if you want to be face to face with your beau. Or non-beau. Friend. Crush. Enemy. Whoever. The menu is straightforward with selection of various proteins, with no complicated menu side add-ons and trendy food lingo that you nowadays need to study like a last-minute exam. We selected the sweet potato gnocchi and the shrimp & grits as our starters. Both were delicious...the only minor gripe was that both of these items could be salted a touch more. I would have preferred a bit less of the broth, as it made my grits thin very quickly that I couldn't get much of that nice, gritty consistency. The octopus was very plump and crispy. Most of the octopus I have in the DC metro area has been dry, small and overly crisped and I was so happy that they did right on the ingredients here. Again, could be salted a bit more to balance the acid/sweet. As for our entrees, the short ribs were really well flavored and very tender. The pan seared drum was SO delicious. It is a rare treat to receive a juicy, tender piece of fish nowadays so I'm glad they really did good pickings on their seafood. I loved the pairing of leeks, cabbage and beets. In fact, two more cubes of the beets would really make it more awesome than it already was. I nitpick on these things, but I think these are those minor details that when a new restaurant fixes it will really just take off. Finally, the dessert made me giggle. Why? I got a plate with generous helpings of mochi ice cream. But not just your typical suspect of vanilla...they had a PEANUT BUTTER mochi. And one that tasted like tiramisu. That wrapped up my meal stupendously well, almost where I was about to drop down to my knees and bow down to the creativity and labor of banging out these tasty mochis in house. But, I was slightly disappointed to learn that they were actually flown in from Hawaii (which I'm going to personally hunt down and order truckloads of mochi). The other dessert we tasted was the chocolate bread pudding, which we adored. It was not dense but rather a fluffy, warm delight. Overall, some really well-executed plates for a pretty unbelievable 3-course price point. I think it's a new restaurant that is going to be getting a lot of buzz based on the near-perfect food. The service by the way was perfect and we thank Water & Wall for welcoming us for a delightful dinner.

    (4)

  • Jenna L.

    I had no idea that this place existed, and I'm so sad that I missed out for so long! After seeing a review for this place on "bitches who brunch" a friend and I gave it a shot on a Saturday morning. Step 1: order brunch cocktails. I got a Bloody Mary, and I have to say, it's one of the best bloody mary's I've ever had. It was incredibly spicy, and for only $6, I'd say a bargain. A friend got the cucumber Bellini, and it was probably the only aspect of this dining experience that wasn't 5 stars. It was made with St. Germain, so I expected it to be a lot sweeter, but, it mostly just tasted like bits of cucumber in champagne. Step two: order food. The waitress was friendly and attentive. As was, what may have been a second waiter assigned to our table? We had one waitress most of the time, but, another guy came out to take our plates, offer us a dessert menu and and ask if we needed a drink refill. Anyway, the food is amazing. Seriously. Everything on the menu looked good, but I wound up getting the short rib hash. It was topped with an egg and some sort of asian chimmichurri sauce. Every item on my plate was incredibly flavorful, and I didn't leave a bite over. Overall, it was a lovely experience. The restaurant looks pretty, the service is good, the food is great, and it's nearby. I'm super excited to return here for brunch, or maybe dinner. I agree with another reviewer who said that they think they found their neighborhood joint. This will be my new go-to when I want to stay local.

    (5)

  • Tatsu O.

    The thing that stuck out from our experience is that the staff here seem to really be on a lookout on ways to keep improving this already very good restaurant - one example of this is the bartender was specifically asking the servers for feedback on the cocktails that were being served. I found this to be rather impressive. Both food and service were very good. The duck confit was one of the best I have ever had, and the duck breast that was on special was also excellent (cooked to a perfect medium rare). The appetizers were a bit of a hit or miss. The shrimp and grits were awesome, and the pork belly and gnocchi were good. The octopus, however, was underwhelming, and the green curry with the shrimp, while very fragrant, was undersalted. Overall, a great experience, and I think this place will only get better. Definitely recommended.

    (4)

  • Aimee B.

    Great addition to dining options in the Ballston/VA square area which have been on the decline. This place is huge compared to their restaurant in vienna but minimally elegant, intimate and polished. Service was great (the very knowledgeable bartender doubled as our waitress) and the food was wonderful, upscale and sophisticated but not pretentious. We started with corn/crab chowder and heirloom tomato & mozzarella salad, yum on both. For the entree, I had the duck confit which had a perfectly salty and crisp skin served with a nice salsa to balance the flavor. My friend had the lamb which was excellent and cooked perfectly (he prefers lamb cooked a little more, but was perfectly pink and tender for my taste). We both enjoyed our meals and will be back again soon!

    (5)

  • Sherri D.

    We were seated promptly for an early dinner at 5:00 PM and the server was completely attentive and very nice. Started off with Rogue Oatmeal Stouts (DEElicious!) and we ordered the green curry for a starter. It definitely had a spicy kick to it which was great, but I think maybe a few more shrimp would have been better, as well as maybe a thicker consistency. It was pretty watery and lacked shrimp, but it wasn't horrible. They had a sign outside advertising their happy hour that went from 5-7PM too. Not too sure what the specials were, but I can see myself coming back to sit at the bar one of these days. The decor was also very simple and minimalistic, yet modern and posh without being too over-the-top. I think it'd be perfect for a dinner date or dinner and drinks with close friends. On to the food... The presentation was beautiful. I got the duck confit and my boyfriend got the braised short ribs. Both were absolutely delicious. I sing my praises to the chef for cooking both meals to perfection. The ribs were juicy, tender, and melt in your mouth. The sauce had a gravy-like taste to it with mushrooms and it paired well with the ribs. My duck confit, however, was absolutely divine. I mean, every piece of that duck -- every single morsel of it... I savored. It was cooked perfectly. The truffle aioli and caramelized brussel sprouts was ridiculously good. I'm not a huge fan of brussel sprouts, but I certainly was last night! While the portions were smaller than what you'd expect, especially for the price -- the service, ambiance, and the deliciousness of everything made up for it. I would definitely come back again! We passed on the dessert menu, but I can only imagine how great they must be and I'm actually excited. Anyways, we WILL be back!

    (5)

  • Sheau Chin W.

    My husband and I came here for dinner this past Friday. The ambiance was nice, dim lighting (which for some odd reason changed settings multiple times while we were there, not a big deal) and modern decor. Service was attentive but unobtrusive. We started off with fried calamari. Calamari was lightly fried, the aioli was good - decent appetizer for two. I had the duck confit and my husband ordered the lamb shank. The duck confit was the highlight of the night! Perfect crispy skin and the tender meat had great flavor. It came with nicely done Brussels sprouts too, though I would have gone without the maple glaze but that is just me not liking to mix sweet and savory. The lamb shank tasted good too, but unfortunately pales after we had a bite of the duck confit. We chose the bread pudding for dessert. It came with cocoa nibs ice cream and rich chocolate sauce. The mix of bitter vs sweet, hot vs cold was excellent. Logistics: 1. Street parking was easy to find, and was free after 6 pm Mon-Sat. 2. The restaurant was pretty empty at 6 pm on a Friday, though it did get busier by the time we left.

    (3)

  • Meredith M.

    What a little gem. Creative, interesting menu without being pretentious or inaccessible. Tasty cocktails, friendly staff. Soothing decor. Nice grown ups night out without being too pricey. My catfish was perfect and loved the bright veggies underneath. My boyfriends soft shell crab was amazing. Desserts were very good too. Slightly odd/awkward location in Arlington but they are putting the space to good use.

    (4)

  • Claire P.

    I visited Water and Wall for the first and LAST time last night. A group of 15 of us were there to celebrate a friend's birthday. She called a week in advance to book the table and confirmed a few days later with the manager that we needed seating for 15. From the beginning the manager seemed very unwilling to accommodate a group that size (WHY? Isn't that a great way to make money? You know we'd be spending a lot!). The restaurant certainly has the space but they told her they wouldn't be able to have us all at one table (ridiculous) so we'd be a two tables but side by side. OK, fine, we're understanding people and we're willing to be reasonable. But no, when we got there they told us that unfortunately the tables would not be next to each other, they were on opposite sides of the restaurant!!! Classic bait and switch. We couldn't even see the other table from ours. So the birthday girl is supposed to choose which friends to sit with? She had to switch halfway through the meal, who wants to deal with that on their birthday? Especially during a meal that was planned far enough in advance. When we first sat down we realized we had two extra seats at our table and there were only 5 people in our party at the other table. And, we noticed many empty tables directly around us. So, we spoke to the hostess and asked if we could just pull an empty two top table over to ours and then everyone would be able to sit together, we were willing to squish to fit everyone in. Simple solution, reasonable request, or so we thought. There were at least 3 empty two tops around us. She refused saying it was "too complicated" and "the computer" won't let her do it. And that there were reservations for those tables for the rest of the night and it would be too hard to shuffle everything around. Well, we were there until the restaurant closed and no one else ever came and sat at those empty tables. They remained empty through the remainder of our meal. Her excuses were pathetic and untrue. And her attitude and demeanor was was rude. The food was ok but overpriced (they're trying to be fancy and classy but are missing the mark) and they refuse to split the check more than 4 ways or use more than 4 credit cards. The food took so long to come out that two people in our group had to leave to relieve a babysitter and when they asked for their portion of the check the waiter said "Just so you know, you're using up one of your transactions" What? Really? That doesn't even make sense AND they were paying with cash. Also, the excuse for not being able to split a check is pure laziness. Checks are easy to split, especially when you have "the computer" to help you, restaurants just don't want to go through the effort to hit a few extra buttons. And this restaurant didn't want to lift a finger for ANYTHING. There was rude service all around. From the hostess who was unwilling to budge even a bit to accommodate, to the waiter who never introduced himself, didn't check that we had everything we needed, seemed impatient with us throughout the entire meal and was extremely slow bringing our check after a 3 and a half hour meal. For the price we paid for the food, there was NO excuse for service that rude. I've had better, more polite service at McDonald's.

    (1)

  • Huy H.

    What a hidden gem! I was taken here for dinner by some mutual friends or otherwise, I would have never found this place! The atmosphere is cool and very metro -- it is modeled after its flagship storefront in NYC at the corner of Water & Wall Street (hence the name). The menu looks to be printed on a weekly basis which is always a good sign for fresh food and deliciousness. I got their quick grilled octopus which came out a bit on the tough side but not egregiously so. For my main course, I got their hangar steak with house tater tots and an Asian churri which did not disappoint. I was skeptical about the tater tots but they came out extra large (two large patties per serving) and wonderfully salty. They could have been paired with a homemade ketchup or something similar if the restaurant wants to go the extra mile. The rest of the table got dishes ranging from gnocchi to duck to fish and everyone walked away quite full and happy. The dessert menu looked great with bread pudding to mochi but unfortunately, I did not get to try any this time.

    (4)

  • Alan C.

    I went here a couple weeks ago for brunch and wasn't terribly impressed. The ambiance was great and the location can't be beat. I'm not really sure what they're going for with their eclectic mix of foods from different regions. Experimental is all well and good, but mastery of the foods before experimenting is essential. The Eggs and Kimchi were not too bad. The Kimchi was relatively fresh. I would describe it as "suitable for american tastes." The Hangover Hash was relatively bland and the steak was over cooked. I even asked for it to be medium rare. They do not ask you how you would like the steak cooked, first warning sign that the steak on the thing wouldn't be that great. The Bloody Mary is very flavourful, but needs a significant amount of salt added. I'd be willing to go and try it for a non brunch, but I was underwhelmed by my first experience. Not bad, but not good enough for me to go there over the other restaurants in the area.

    (3)

  • Liza A.

    I came here and was very surprised with the dinner menu pricing, given its location. They had a limited dinner menu and I tried the duck, which apparently they were getting rid of on the menu. It was good,but nothing that I could really rave about. A bit on the salty side. The bar is very small. Nice place perhaps to just chill with a friend or a date. Not sure yet that I'll go back. Not for a while since I'd rather try other new places first. I'll update review of this place if I decide to try other things on their menu.

    (3)

  • John D.

    I was a little worried when I read the reviews that portion sizes were on the small side. I can say that I disagree with those reviews on that assertion, at least. We shared two apps among three people, which were the chicken wings and the fried okra. Both were perfectly flavored and cooked to perfection. I had the beef cheeks, and it was splendid. The portion size was just right, too. I was full with my share of the apps and my one entree. Their beer menu is great, with a mix of micros and imports, so there should be no problem pairing with whatever you order. The Old Chub Scotch Ale (Strong Scottish Ale with flavors of sweet malts, dark stone fruits, caramel, and coffee) paired perfectly with my braised beef cheeks (heh). Check came to around $125 for three people, including two apps, three entrees, and three drinks.

    (5)

  • Ben S.

    Visited W&W back in May for my birthday. I had been meaning to try it since it opened and my girlfriend surprised me with dinner. When she called for the reservation she informed them that it was my birthday. As a result we were provide with a complementary champagne and desert, additionally they printed a happy birthday menu for me. These small touches were really thought out and made the dinner that much more memorable. Food and drink were also both excellent, I had the brisket and we shared a couple of appetizers (my mouth is now starting to water again as I type this). Get a moscow mule if thats your thing, it was great. Their beer menu, although not huge, is very well thought out, and offers plenty of variety for pairing (if anyone at W&W reads this, kudos to whoever selects your beers). The decor provides a great ambiance for dinner, and is a nice break from a lot of the places in the VA Square/Ballston corridor. Our waitress was also quite good, she didnt crowd us, but was attentive when we needed her. Haven't been back since May, but may have to make a reservation after writing this review.

    (5)

  • Andrew M.

    Was here over the weekend for brunch because a friend insisted - he said it had great reviews. The brunch I ordered was a great disappointment. We ordered the cheesy pimiento to start, the bread was toasted but dripping with butter. The Bloody Mary was basic and had a lemon on the rim, shouldn't it be celery? Then I had the eggs, spam and kimchi. I love eggs. I love spam. I love kimchi. But, the restaurant failed terribly at all 3. The eggs were overcooked, the spam was sliced super thin and it was oily, and the kimchi was both oily and salty. It was a disaster! We had to go somewhere else to have a better brunch. Needless to say, I'm not coming back.

    (1)

  • Tee D.

    I called to make reservations in advance for my party of 8. The restaurant required a credit card to hold the reservation and I was asked to narrow down the first and second course options to 4 each so the restaurant is equipped to handle the order/quality. The restaurant isn't big, so it makes sense that customers have to go through the aforementioned preparations. The space is nice and cozy. One of my friends wanted to order something from the menu, but not the narrowed down menu I specified and they wouldn't let him, which was odd since it was just one order and they would've made it for other patrons. For the first course, I ordered the Fried Green Tomatoes which came with light basil, goat cheese and lemon gastrique sauce. It was good though I wish they put more sauce on it (I'm a sauce person). So for comparison, I prefer the ones at Founding Farmers more as they have two small bowls of sauces for dipping, as opposed to a swipe on the plate. My friends liked the Seared Divers Scallop, though one complained that he only got two when the waitress said there's usually three. The Calamari was as expected. For the main, I ordered the Duck Confit that many on Yelp raved about. I liked it- nice and crispy- probably one of the better duck confits I've had in terms of texture. Wish it came with some sauce or something! Another friend had the lamb, another dish that was often reviewed by other Yelpers. He did not like it and said it was very dry. I was in time for HH and ordered a Spicy Pineapple Margarita which didn't feel like a margarita at all and was rather weak. Overall, it was a good dining experience, though my party and I expected a little more considering the other reviews and the more upscale vibe of the restaurant.

    (3)

  • Michael R.

    For our first visit, we decided to give the pop-up lunch a try. Overall, the food was extremely delicious. The level of service was very average, but our server was helpful at times, and let us know that the portion sizes varied. That came in helpful when determining how many dishes to order. We were informed the dishes would come out as they were ready. On the other hand, describing all of the dishes as "pretty good" comes across as less than inviting. Two of us started with three dishes, and we added a fourth simply because we didn't know when we would be able to return. For our appetites, three dishes would have been about right. We settled on cucumber chicken salad, General Tso calamari, Kung Pao pork belly, and added MA pan fried pot-stickers. I don't share Andrew H's opinions about the pork belly or the calamari, and thought both were successful dishes. The pork belly was certainly tender--my guess is that it had been braised, then stir fried with the rest of the ingredients in the dish. Nice and tangy, and a bit of heat. The calamari was lightly breaded, and not a bit soggy. I did find the sauce to be a touch sweet. The chicken salad was terrific--I likened it to a cross between a vinegary cucumber salad, with the addition of celery and bits of curried chicken. The potstickers, unfortunately, were a bit flat in comparison, despite the black vinegar dipping sauce. I'd certainly recommend the pop-up lunch if you enjoy refined versions of Americanized Chinese food. One suggestion: the manager appeared to be preoccupied with someone taking pictures of several dishes. Might have been for a magazine, food blog, etc. Regardless, the manager might have noticed that tables needed clearing, and could have been more interactive with the customers. The manager's absence wasn't off-putting, but it was noticeable.

    (4)

  • Molly M.

    Really unimpressed. Also read about this place on Washingtonian's 100 Best list and was expecting much more. The service was slow and inattentive. Also really the menu was not all that interesting. Started with the salad and it was really under-dressed, but nothing special either way. My friend had the half-chicken and enjoyed it, but she did not that it was quite spicy. I had the diver scallops and they were fine. Prices were higher than I think the food warranted. Not interested in going back.

    (2)

  • Mai P.

    I love Maple Avenue and after reading such glowing reviews I had high expectations for this place. I came here for a birthday dinner, and my date and I ordered the Bone Marrow, Chicken Liver Pate, Duck Confit, and the Grilled Hanger Steak. The dishes were each unique and flavorful. The Bone Marrow was nicely compiled, but I was a bit underwhelmed by the pairing choices. Additionally, the Duck Confit was lovely at the beginning but the salty aspect of the brussels sprouts brought it down a bit. The duck was cooked perfectly. I would highly recommend the Hanger Steak, as my date enjoyed this dish very much! Overall I enjoyed the dishes we ordered, but would have preferred if the portions had been a tad bit larger. I understand the beauty of minimalism, but also appreciate the worth of a dollar, so, if there could be a nice compromise between adding some extra potato wedges to that steak, I'd give the extra star. ;) Aside from that? I would encourage you to try it for yourself - bring a date. You'll have a good night. If you were wondering about the logistics of this place - the decor was chic, intimate, and romantic with an L-shaped layout. This would be great for a date, small birthday dinner, etc. - not sure how they'd fit a large group though, so consider that beforehand. Hope this helps!

    (4)

  • Duy N.

    Mind blown. This place was unexpectedly amazing! What we got: 1) Braised beef cheek 5/5 this was in my opinion one of the best entrees I've had dining out. First I tasted the rapini , which was savory, had slight bitterness, and blew my pupils. It soaked up the juices from the beef cheek very well. Next the pureed sweet potato was great, not to sweet and delicate texture. The caramelized onions were nicely done. The braised beef cheek was so tender and juicy! It was braised in a sauce that included star anise. The flavor reminded me of Vietnamese oxtail soup my mom makes. This alone made the dinner. Overall the most well thought out dish I've had 2) Duck confit 4.75/5 many people at our table thought this was best. The duck skin was very crisp and slightly thicker than Peking gourmet inns duck. Very juicy meat and overall a stellar dish but not as amazing as the beef cheek 3) Chicken pate 4.5/5 very good, but you only get two pieces of bread with the pate already spread on top. I've been to places where you get more bread and pate is on the side. Quality was good. Victoria's gastro pub in Columbia does this well and Cucina Urbana in San Diego does this best. 4) Bone marrow 4/5 also goods taste, but the size of the bone wasn't as good as blue duck tavern. Halving the radius reduces the volume of bone marrow to a fourth. So accordingly you only get two pieces of bread. As with the chicken pate, just know coming in how much to expect. Brussel sprouts were pretty good, but Cava Mezze does them better 5) Chicken wings with creme fraiche 4/5 solid wings. The creme fraiche brought it to a new level from being 3 stars. Otherwise well cooked. 6) Veal sweet breads 4/5 I'm a fan of sweet breads. Came out tasting a little like buffalo chicken sauce on the outside. Interesting flavor. Delicate texture brings it all home 7) Mussels 4.75/5 the sauce was ok but I was reapply impress by the quality of the mussels. Plump, juicy, and filling. I don't know where they got these but they are better quality missals than ally of places around here 8) Sweet potato risotto 3.5/5 risotto was cooked well, but compared to everything else, not that special Unfortunately the pork belly was sold out... Drinks: Cocktails are generic here. Good wine selection here. Try the Meritage, that was my favorite. Bold, full bodied. Oh yeah, the tea is amazing here! Try the hot cinnamon spice! Cinnamon orange peel and sweet clove. No need to add sugar Service: We had a reservation for 4 at 815pm, but had a small mix up with out table being given away. The manager was very good in taking care of us so I won't hold that against them. Our server was friendly and good, I'd give her 4/5 Ambience: Casual, friendly. Check out the light fixtures. Pretty fancy light fixtures... Well done!

    (5)

  • Frank B.

    Went in for brunch with three friends today. We were immediately seated and provided waters. We waited for well over 10 minutes for a server to even acknowledge us. We got up and left, no one said a word to us on the way out. The place wasn't even busy..... Weak

    (1)

  • Courtney R.

    I haven't Yelped in a while, but I've been eating, trust me. And this place is overrated. I've been here for dinner twice, lured mostly by the excitement that something promising was opening up in the culinary wasteland that is Virginia Square. However, I have to give this place the gasface. On my first visit, I split a few small bites with my boss. They were: Octopus: actually the highlight of the night. Decent. Pea soup: in dire need of salt. Saffron mussels: how this had no flavor is beyond me. Crispy pork belly: rubbery and treacle-y. The second visit was just as forgettable, but I was exercising serious scrutiny looking for this place to redeem itself. Water & Wall is just another testament proving that when you open a farm-to-table-ish eatery in a white hood (see Cottonwood in Shirlington), people will come and pay too much for the privilege. Maybe this half-assed Asian fusion flies out in Vienna but come on--you know we're a stone's throw from Annandale, right?

    (2)

  • Mike B.

    Boom. This place is fantastic. Great great great service, creative menu and (personal pet peeve of mine) no TV at the bar. Had the octopus as a starter - the adjective my mouth sent my brain was "righteous." My best girl had the duck confit... It was Incredibly good. I had the lamb, and it was amazing as well. Here's the best part: she originally ordered the lamb and her cut came out fatty. They were so embarrassed they brought her a menu and a free glass of wine to pair with her new entree, the duck. From the bar: Order Mary's sazerac. She did a great job. Just a great experience start to finish.

    (5)

  • Vivian T.

    It was luckily quiet that night - we didn't have reservations and I saw that it can be quite busy from the reviews. Great service! The food was really good overall. What did we order? The fried cauliflower, calamari, steak, and duck. How would I rank them from most delicious downwards? Duck, fried cauliflower, calamari, and steak. The duck was so delicious and hands down the winner on a bed of also really delicious brussel sprouts with some other veggie blended in. Full of flavor and kind of sweet. I'd go again just for that. The fried cauliflower is seasoned almost like your typical calamari and I enjoyed it especially with the surprise pineapple bits. Calamari was definitely different from your usual type (not super heavy fried) but pretty good - I thought the taste was pretty light. Tastes like a healthy version. I enjoyed it more after dipping it in the sauce drizzle and a slice of the pepper. I wouldn't order the steak again. It was cooked mostly medium rare like ordered but just felt kind of tough though the exterior was promising with this nice char crisp. I'd definitely recommend checking it out and ordering the duck for sure! I'm curious to try the beet raviolini and a couple of the other dishes so I'll be back if not for the duck.

    (4)

  • Ihita K.

    A trendy and delicious addition to the Arlington area! Food is delicious (be adventurous and try the roasted bone marrow - trust me), prepared to your specifications, and a balance between the classic (steak, pork shoulder, wings) and the unique (braised beef cheek, duck confit, pate). Management is welcoming and attentive, and the decor is hip and inviting. Rush over for your next date night, celebratory dinner or drinks - you'll be glad you did!

    (5)

  • Rick S.

    Delish! Great experience from beginning to end. We will return.

    (4)

  • Andrew M.

    Phenomenal. I wish we had known about this place sooner. We are big fans of Green Pig in Clarendon, and this place is on a similar level when it comes to quality of ingredients, level of skill, and deliciousness of the food - though I would add that Water & Wall is slightly more traditional than Green Pig, but in a very, very good way. When I go to a French restaurant for the first time, I always go for the traditional choices. For this visit I had the Liver Pate and the Duck Confit. The Liver Pate is one of the best things I have ever tasted. The Duck Confit wasn't far behind that. We also tried the Shrimp and Grits starter and the wife had the Pan Seared Red Snapper. The sear on the snapper was absolutely perfect. I have no idea how anyone could get a sear that crunchy without overcooking any part of the interior of the fish. The Shrimp and Grits was a good starter on the level with any decent restaurant, but it couldn't hold a candle to the Pate. The Duck Confit is unlike anything I have ever had. Definitely something I will come back for often, and I'm pretty sure the wife will be craving the Snapper again in no more than a week or two. :)

    (5)

  • Alexandra B.

    Best restaurant in Arlington, hands down. I have never had a meal there I didn't like and I'm a bit of a food snob. At this point my husband and I have tried the duck, the short ribs, lamb, chicken, the amazing arugula salad, brunch including amazing kimchi and hash (not a fan of the truffle eggs), and the bread pudding with horchata ice cream. Clearly we have been there a lot... Maybe too much since the waiters and waitress' recognize us now. Let's just be honest, who doesn't love being a regular? Perhaps my favorite thing is that they change up the menu regularly so this place never gets old. The drinks are incredible. I'm being too effusive. It's kind of creepy. The only thing that they could improve upon is the draft beer selection which is a bit weak.

    (5)

  • Tai S.

    This place is fantastic. My mom was visiting and likes to eat well when we go out. Water and Wall did not disappoint. Our waitress was quick and kind and knowledgeable. I asked about menu changes and she asked the chef before confirming what she thought to be true. We had a bottle of wine, which they let me take home in a sealable bag. I had the lamb which was cooked perfectly and my mom had the short rib which was equally delicious. The portions were perfect because we don't enjoy overeating. We had a dark chocolate peanut butter tart for dessert which was very rich and tasty. If you're looking for a place with excellent food that isn't unreasonable, give Water and Wall a try. As long as a limited menu doesn't bother you, you'll likely become a repeat customer!

    (5)

  • Jeff S.

    great meal

    (5)

  • Daniel K.

    Nice place, really good service. Menu is what you would expect from a trendy American-style restaurant. I didn't believe the value was there based on how high the prices are

    (2)

  • Yasmine B.

    You'd never think that this charming, upscale and responsibly sourced, restaurant would appear in a fairly quiet Arlington neighborhood. The food is fantastic, I highly recommend the pan seared snapper with sorrel sauce. Sleek decor, with overhead lights in the shape of flying saucers, Water and Wall is a curious mixture of eclectic and enticing. Oh wait, did I say enticing? Or was that the thought going through my partner's head when he kept staring at (and even commented on) our server's tattoos which generously covered her chest, and could be glimpsed over her v-cut blouse as she recommended wines. The restaurant gets booked up fast, so make sure to reserve ahead of time... But I do think it is the food that makes people want to go back.

    (4)

  • Theresa W.

    I don't really get the decor with the lounge like purple lighting, but eh, we're here for the food right? Service was attentive and friendly. They allow you to bring in your own wine for a $19 or $20 corkage. On a Sunday night, there was plenty of metered street parking outside. We split the shrimp and grits to start - perfectly creamy grits, super tender shrimp (and I don't even love shrimp), deliciously spiced venison sausage that wasn't as gamy as I'd expected, and lovely slices of okra that made the dish perfect. Really excellent and would absolutely get it again unless the pork belly makes an appearance. Sadly they were out this time around. My dad's red snapper had a gorgeous seared crust on it, but the flesh was too dry. The pickled cabbage and winter squash puree underneath were great though. I really liked my duck confit even though it wasn't quite like what I'm used to when I get duck confit. The fat hadn't been rendered that much so there was still quite a bit of fattiness that I avoided. The lacquered skin was slightly sweet and wonderfully savory and the meat tender. I loved the Brussels sprouts, which were practically creamy with rich oils. I wish the cider gastrique had been way more pronounced. All the heaviness of the dish made me crave some bright acidity that I wasn't really getting on the plate. A quibble - I wish they put on the menu that they have crostini if you want to order bread. The crostini were thin pieces of bread fried in butter, so be prepared for a very rich bread basket if you get it - $3 for 4 pieces. There was a board outside advertising a 3 course prix fixe, which is available at the bar only. The desserts, especially the mochi ice cream flight looked amazing, but because of the richness of the duck, I couldn't even finish it, let alone find room for dessert. I'd come back to try their happy hour and their pork belly.

    (4)

  • Kristine B.

    WOW - what a pleasant surprise!! We went here on a whim and were very impressed. The chicken liver mousse with berry compote was incredible! Some of the best I have had! The pork shoulder AND lamb were so good! The meats were cooked perfectly! The strawberry shortcake was a perfect ending to the meal, although the biscuit was just ok. I would DEFINITELY go back. Great food, service and parking!! What more could you ask for?

    (4)

  • Nicole K.

    My husband, sister, and I went here for my birthday in October. It was everything the reviews said. We had a reservation and were promptly seated. I thought it was strange that the menus were on card stock. I came to realize that it was because the menu changes so frequently. We ordered 3 apps to share. The fried cauliflower, calamari, and the sage noodle dish (I forget the name). The cauliflower was our favorite! So delicious with the pears! The calamari was good, the usual. The noodle dish was eh. If I went again I would've ordered 3 cauliflower dishes. The portions were fine. Enough for one person, that's why we ordered 3. The main course I ordered the duck. It was by far the best thing! It was prepared perfect! And the Brussels sprouts were delicious. My hubby ordered the lamb shank. He said it was good, but after tasting mine he wish he would've got the duck as well. My sister ordered the one fish dish. She loved it, but still was sneaking sprouts off my dish. I tried hers and it was a little salty for my taste. Then again it is fish! This was the perfect choice for my birthday. We didn't get dessert because we were so full, so they sent over some champagne. Perfect!

    (5)

  • Kelly G.

    The new chicken dish is to die for-so good! You can't go wrong with any of the apps, as well as the desserts. Highly recommend to everyone!!

    (5)

  • Amber H.

    love the food but it was a little pricey for me. the friend i dined with thought the food was well worth the price and was one of the most excellent meals he'd ever had. we came during restaurant week and highly recommend the pork shoulder, it was very delicious and we finished it all. i remember we tried to get a flight of wine but they didn't have it available at the time, which was kind of a bummer. the wait staff was very friendly and the interior was really trendy. i would come back again for a fancy-ish dinner.

    (4)

  • Annalena W.

    I came here for the first for ladies night. Everything was great. I had the lamb and completely cleaned my plate. I wish the serving was bigger. 2 folks in my group had the duck and loved it. Our waiter was great. He helped with wine and drink choices and did not lead us wrong. We had the bread pudding dessert. I was talking too much and my friends finished it. It was yummy. I am looking forward to heading back with my husband.

    (4)

  • Dan G.

    Everything was tasty! I got the korean chicken wings and short rib. She got the shrimp and grits and bouillabaisse. So why four stars instead of five? With that and two drinks, it came to about $130 with tax and tip. I completely understand that the main purpose of running a restaurant is to live your dream, and hopefully make a profit. For the price though, the portions were just too darn small.

    (4)

  • Dave L.

    This is my go-to spot for a quality meal in a relaxing atmosphere. Their beer selection is consistently good (and local), and the new fall menu is an improvement (the pork shoulder is phenomenal in particular).

    (4)

  • Hannah H.

    I recently dined here with my boyfriend, & we do not plan on returning anytime soon. The hostess was perfectly lovely when arranging our reservation over the phone & seating us promptly on a busy night. However, when we finally were seated we were left for around 10 minutes to just people watch & adjust our ears to the extreme noise caused by the acoustics. We had to call for someone's attention to get drinks & menus sorted out, & when our waiter arrived with some water & the menus both glasses were dirty. I'm not talking some dried water stains dirty, but full on lipstick residue & dried wine dirty. Not good. As appetizers, we ordered the scallops, cold pea soup & fried green tomatoes. The scallops were absolutely tiny & flavorless - hardly justifying their expensive price tag - & left soggy in a weird, thin liquid that we really couldn't taste. If you're going to serve 3 scallops the size of a dime as an app, include a delicious sauce & some vegetation. The tomatoes were cooked just fine, so no complaints there. The one thing that was really unusual was how large they were. They were the size of small plates, & an inch thick! Absolutely huge. We must have gotten a good crop of tomatoes. The pea soup wasn't stellar, but there's only so much you can do with chilled pea soup. It was at this point we had both agreed that we weren't likely coming back. For our main course we ordered the Cheerwine brisket over mustard greens & the seared fish over vegetables. The brisket was sub-par, cold upon arrival, & the "mustard greens" were burnt beyond recognition & went completely to waste. The issue with the brisket lay in the fact that not only was the meat dry & difficult to chew, it was served cold & was absolutely drenched in the Cheerwine sauce that was really just sugared up ketchup. The fish was excellently cooked & served steaming hot, the only redeeming point of the evening, coming with a delectable cream sauce & all of 3 perfectly cooked baby carrots as the "vegetable" side offerings. If you're serving a fillet of fish as an entrée & advertise a bed of cooked vegetables, there should be something more substantial than 3 baby carrots supporting your meal. Just saying. They were so delicious, I wanted more. This was a really disappointing dinner. We had heard such great things about this place, & were excited to finally try it out! Dirty glasses aside I wanted to get excited about the food, & I did upon initially reading the menu, but after the apps arrived we had pegged the fundamental issue at W&W. The portions are not where they should be depending on the food item in question, & there is a serious discrepancy with quality among the dishes. The fish was great, brisket awful. The restaurant itself was clean, but the cutlery brought to us was seriously gross. Service was great, once it was brought to the attention of the hostess that we needed some. It's as though there are 2 separate kitchens working on orders at W&W. Needless to say, we won't be back.

    (2)

  • Mike M.

    I've been a couple times now & never disappointed. Really good food with an interesting menu, great ambiance & service. Would definitely go back again!

    (5)

  • Lisa N.

    **4.5 stars** We tried brunch here on a Sunday and it was a great dining experience. The interior is modern and comfortable (I like the cushioned seats along the wall). The brunch menu is limited, but we were happy with our Short Rib Hash and Shrimp & Grits. The Kim Chi Eggs were just OK. The French Press Coffee is flavorful. Service is friendly and fast. I'm glad NoVA has another brunch option!

    (5)

  • Joanne B.

    I came to Water and Wall with a couple of my gals and we definitely came with our appetites! Since it was all of our first time eating at this place, we decided to try a bunch of their appetizers. One of the apps we ordered was the shrimp and grits. They were so tasty and the grits made the perfect complement to the spicy shrimp broth. We also ordered the bone marrow, which goes without saying. Rich and buttery! Another appetizer we ordered was the steamed mussels. They were tasty and I enjoyed the Chinese sausage in the broth. However, between the bone marrow and the mussels the three of us didn't have enough bread to enjoy all the bone marrow-y and brothy goodness. Each appetizer only came with two pieces of bread. When I asked for extra bread, the server said it would cost extra (I can't remember how much). That was kind of annoying since you figure how cheap bread is and how much we were spending. We sucked it up and ordered the extra bread. Now to the entrees! I got the duck confit which was divine! Perfectly crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, with the delicious layer of fat in between. Served atop Brussels sprouts it made for a filling and tasty meal (which I couldn't finish since I had stocked up on the appetizers!). My friend got the beef cheek which looked really good! We shared a bit of entrees with one another, and her dish was good too! My other friend went with the meatless option, the sweet potato risotto which was good, but definitely not as good as the other two. What can I say? I love meat! Although we had ordered a ton of appetizers and entrees we still made room for dessert. We ordered the mochi (which is a standard at Maple Ave). And what I think were apple fritters with vanilla ice cream. I can't remember. Either way, both desserts were wonderful and the perfect was to end a meal.

    (4)

  • Amber G.

    I live walking distance to Water & Wall, and just recently learned of its existence. I'd heard good things, so I went for brunch with a group of friends, and was sadly unimpressed. The decor and ambiance inside is nice. That's about where the compliments end... Two of my friends weren't very hungry and ordered just irish coffees (which ended up costing $12 each!! WHAT.) and fruit bowls (which consisted just of stale-looking cantaloupe, honeydew, and grapes). Two of us ordered the brunch tasting menu, which was $32 for 4 courses, and was supposed to serve 2 people. Long story short, we left the place still hungry. Tasting Menu: The first "course" of the tasting menu was charcuterie and was tasty, but small (four small slices of baguette, toasted, with various meat slices). The second course was the crab cake benedict (ONE very small crab cake with two small poached eggs on it, no english muffin). This tasted good, but was just too small and insubstantial. The third course took ~15 minutes to come out - which is ridiculous, when you consider that it was SALAD and that the restaurant was nearly empty. The salad was simply dressed with some grilled chicken on top. Again, the quality and taste were not bad, but it was very small and also should not have taken that long to prepare. The final course was carrot cake cookies with vanilla ice cream, meh. In the end, our bill came out with additional charges on it, and we had to have the waiter correct it. The total still came out to about $100. It was just too expensive for what it was, and the portions were too small. The pace of service was also lacking considering how empty the place was. I'm frankly surprised at all the great reviews.

    (2)

  • Liz H.

    They are open for brunch on Sunday, even though their website says they don't open until 5:00. That probably explains why we were the only ones in there. I showed up for brunch with the boyfriend and our friend George. We got the shrimp and grits, venison omelet, and veggie omelet. I didn't try the veggie one (which looks the same as the venison btw), but I liked the potato cakes that came with them. Some people probably would have said they were a bit too greasy, but I'm from the South so I didn't mind at all. Everything on the plate was well-seasoned and well-dressed. I saw salt on the salad, which I love, so I was happy to see they paid attention to that small detail. I loved the shrimp and grits. Usually, I don't like my grits runny, but these came in a wonderful broth. I'm a convert; broth is the way to go! The shrimp were slightly underdone, but I still enjoyed the dish a lot (especially with the piquillo peppers--which aren't spicy, in case that scares you). The boys had bloody mary's. I'm not a fan of the drink, but the house mix was good and had a nice kick. I had the apple cider mimosa and it was fantastic. I HIGHLY recommend ordering that. They have a lot of interesting mimosas on the menu. I remember seeing pineapple. For dessert, George had the apple tart, which looked good. I had the trio of ice creams and the boyfriend had mochi. His was good, though I think mochi is too sweet for me. I had the espresso ice cream with cardamom, which was a bit sweet on my pallet. The grapefruit sorbet was good and I really liked the homemade mint chocolate chip; it had real mint in it. This is a fantastic new brunch place and I highly recommend it. Our server (Megan?) was awesome and the decor is fun. I'll definitely be back and look forward to trying out dinner! The area was lacking for a place like this, so welcome!

    (4)

  • Michael K.

    My wife and I went here for the first time today. It was amazing (see my breakfast description below). We're going back for bunch again tomorrow. Kimchi and Eggs: Mmmmmmmm. . . . fluffy eggs mixed with chinese sausage, spicy, caramelized kimchi, and seared spam - all with a side of rice. Can't get a better breakfast than that.

    (5)

  • Elle B.

    Came here for lunch. Small menu, slow service despite small crowd. I tried the $15 chicken sandwich with side salad. Sandwich had no condiments, just bun, fried chicken and handful of pickles. Salad was just greens, no dressing. Less than impressed.

    (2)

  • CC C.

    Went there with a special person from the past. Waiter was very friendly and service was exceptional. Food was quite delicious. I've had the best duck ever have here, beef was also incredibly delicious. Drinks are good, we had a bottle of something I cannot recall. I dined here before living in the area and I happened to move right across from this establishment. I can definitely say this is the best restaurant I've been to in Virginia Square. I will be back! Like Arnold says lol.

    (5)

  • Jason C.

    good pork shoulder

    (4)

  • Tammy W.

    Hip, trendy, romantic, and hidden in a neighborhood and on a street that is neither hip, trendy, romantic, or particularly hidden, Water & Wall is a clearly a datespot (if a bit unexpected). Water & Wall is exactly what its name suggests: new American fusion, slightly hipster, a little pricey in a respectable, un-frou-frou way. Meaning that everything on the menu is vaguely influenced by some other culture or cuisine with a slight American twist (duck confit with apple cider vinegar and brussels sprouts, for example, isn't exactly French, but it's ridiculously delicious in a way that makes me want to order it again or attempt to recreate at home). Meaning that everything on the menu is aggressively seasoned, sometimes overly salted (though I admit to having a sensitive palate), but the flavors are interesting enough that you finish every bite regardless. Meaning, also, that the limited (unfortunately, very limited) cocktail menu tries to be innovative and succeeds in being delicious (see, the basil lemonade cocktail-- very refreshing and 2 ounces of alcohol masked successfully). And meaning, finally, that the decor is at once both romantic and minimalist, a seeming contradiction that can only be described by the words "hipster trendy." (See, also, fabulous fire-engine red pants worn by one of the hosts.) Water & Wall, I have no idea what you were going for with that name (where does it come from? What does it mean? So many questions), but I dig you. I hope we meet again (even though it's probably hopelessly uncool for me to tell you that).

    (4)

  • Gigi U.

    Nice atmosphere. We were not sure where to park. There is no valet. There is street parking if you can find it. There is parking behind the building and at the library be you just were not sure if it was legal. It would be nice if the could let patrons know where to park The food was excellent. The menu is not big. They only had one appetizer special, sautéed octopus which was very good.they should add to menu. We also had the fried okra which we shared among 3 people. It was satisfying and not all all slimy - in fact it was dry. Sauce was nice nice compliment. I had the duck confit and I think it is the best item on the menu. Crispy skin and succulent. Nice size. The roasted Brussel sprouts were delicious. My friend had the drum fish which was like sea bass. It was good but needed more seasoning. A chimichurri sauce would have been a nice addition. My sis had the boullaisbase which she enjoyed but the portion was small. She said they should have provided a bowl for the shells. For dessert, we had chocolate bread pudding and apple tart. Both were adequate and enough to share for three. I think they should offer side dishes. There isn't enough vegetables on the entree plates and some appetizers could be sides like the fried okra. Would love to see mashed potato, Mac n cheese or seasonal veg. Overall, the food was solid, the service was attentive and atmosphere was pleasant for a Saturday night. I would recommend and return.

    (4)

  • Natalie R.

    Really great restaurant with only a couple of issues. My husband and I dined at the restaurant on my birthday which happened to fall on a Monday. We called the restaurant and they informed us that Mondays are half price wine nights for bottles up to $75.00....awesome! We arrived for our reservation and were promptly seated. We started with two fantastic drinks, the Golden Negroni and Theodore's Elixir. We then ordered two appetizers, my husband had the scallops which were cooked perfectly and I had the fried green tomatoes in a spicy red sauce. These were two of the best appetizers I have ever had at a restaurant. For my entree I ordered Fried Chicken and my husband had the Duck Confit. Again both winners and we would order both again. So what is the downside? Well we ordered a bottle of wine that we knew the vintage to be pretty good particularly at 1/2 off. The wine was the Pinot Noir, Provocateur J.K. Carriere, Willamette Valley Oregon '12 for $70.00 ($35.00 with the half off deal) When the bottle was brought to us it was a 2013 which isn't as great as the 12. We were offered no explanation why the 12 was on the menu as opposed to the 13. We were just told they hadn't changed the menu. We unfortunately weren't offered any money off the bottle since in essence it was somewhat of a bait and switch. The only other small issue is you aren't offered a free dessert for your birthday. We ended up ordering a dessert which was delicious, but they really should consider a free dessert if someone is celebrating a birthday/anniversary/special occasion. Especially since our total bill was $170.00 without tip. We will certainly go back as the food and service were outstanding!

    (4)

  • Alexis Z.

    Service was really great. Attentive without being overbearing. Food and wine selections hit the mark.

    (5)

  • Zane U.

    Outstanding from start to finish. My girlfriend and I grabbed a reservation for the day after Valentine's day. The place was slammed but service was attentive and knowledgeable. I always feel good when I place my order and the server double checks to see if we have any food allergies - seems that food is fresh and cooked to order. We split the sweet potato gnocchi appetizer to start. This was an outstanding, well seasoned gnocchi dish that we devoured in minutes. Would highly recommend this one. For the mains, I had the duck confit and my girlfriend had the hanger steak. Both dishes were phenomenal...although I preferred my duck over the hanger steak. The hanger steak arrived with "homemade tater tots" which were silver dollar sized potato cakes - I thought they compared to McDonalds hash browns (which are great, just not what I'm looking for). Other than this, both of the dishes were well cooked and very flavorful. The duck in particular was really special. The restaurant was packed and the food arrived hot and in a timely fashion. For dessert we split the mochi flight which was four different mochi wrapped ice creams. Flavors were coffee, peanut butter, lychee and guava. I thought that all four were great and that the texture of the mochi was perfectly chewy. Would go again for sure.

    (5)

  • Treshia T.

    A solid 3.5 but not close enough to get a 4. Went to Water & Wall about a month ago for brunch and forgot to review! Here goes... I went with a couple of friends (let's call them D & A) on a rainy Sunday morning around 11 a.m. We were seated quickly as there was no wait at all. The decor was lovely - modern & sleek yet comforting & welcoming. Two of us ordered drinks - clearly the alcoholics of the group drinking before noon - I had the Good Morning sunshine (gin, St. Germain, & fresh lemonade) and my friend had the Brunch Punch (rum, pineapple juice, & cranberry syrup.) My drink was the better of the two - it was smooth, the gin wasn't overwhelming, and it had the perfect mellow feel. It also gave me a slight buzz by the end of brunch :) Her drink was good but a bit too strong for a before noon drink. I had the Short Rib Hash, along with A, while D had the french toast. The Short Rib Hash was great. The flavor was there - the Asian churri was a great flavor component of the dish. The french toast - which I didn't taste - looked yummy. My only complaint is that the portions were so very small. The Short Rib Hash tasted yummy but it was gone so quickly. D ate his french toast within 7 mins and continued to look longingly at our food for the duration of the brunch. The pricing was fine - "fancy" brunches in Arlington tend to run around this price range. My only complaint - other than the small portion - was that Steak & Eggs was advertised as a brunch option online. Once we got to the restaurant, it wasn't offered - disappointing because that's what I originally wanted to get. All and all, a pretty solid brunch choice. Would I bring out of town friends here? Probably not. We can just drive a few more mins and find a brunch in DC with more food and bottomless drinks. Otherwise, it's cool for what it is.

    (3)

  • Drew F.

    I was bit concerned that Water & Wall might just end up as Maple Ave. East, but I needn't have worried. The extra touches allowed by the roomier kitchen has served both to improve familiar dishes and allow for some new, more complex platings to make the menu. The full bar's a nice touch, too, with a broader range of beers (Lagunitas IPA on draft!) and cocktails than you can find at Maple Ave. To start, we had the fried okra, a Maple Ave standby. In a stroke of genius, the W&W rendition is served with the nuoc cham in a little vessel on the side, to better preserve the okra's perfect, delicate crispiness. Definite improvement. Applause. My wife's duck confit (i.e. The Dish That Made Her Like Duck) was very similar to, and every bit as good as, the version at Maple Ave. Here, as there, the crispy roasted brussels sprouts serve as a nice counterpoint to the tender and richly flavored duck. My bouillabaisse was lovely: balanced, tangy, savory and scrumptious. It was devoured con mucho gusto. Our companions had the hanger steak and the drum, which we were fortunate enough to taste and were also very good. For dessert, I had the apple tart, which was delicate and flaky and perfect, while my wife had the pecan shortbread, which she found very good and blessedly moderate in richness. Prices are a couple bucks more than Maple Ave across the board, I suppose as a concession to location and decor, but the place looks great and the staff was friendly and pleasantly unpretentious. Really good experience. I look forward to going again.

    (5)

  • Landon C.

    This place has great food but the portions could use adjusting. It's quite small. It's a great atmosphere for a nice night out for a couples

    (3)

  • Brandy H.

    As a huge fan of Maple Ave Restaurant in Vienna, I had very high expectations for Water and Wall, and luckily they were met! A reservation was easy to obtain (even a week ahead of time), and the space is lovely and open. The lamps/light fixtures sometimes stole the spotlight away from the food. I came a bit too hungry, so I left rather hungry (because I did not want to spend a boat load of money). Here is what I ordered (and the other 4 people at my table): truffled eggs (2), saffron mussels, dessert= the nut bread cake thing, and the apple tart, the pumpkin pancake for the little one, and I had the Venison sausage omlette. I desperately wanted the veggie omlette with the sausage added to it, but they would not do that, eventhough I would have been more than happy to pay for the added food. Which I don't quite understand why. Perhaps I should have tried reverse psychology and ordered the sausage omlette with added veggies... ? They also would not sell a side of the sausage to me to supplement my veggie omlette. Super sad about that. I have eaten at least 6 times at Maple Ave and have always been able to get the lovely blueberry venison sausage, and was disappointed that I had to choose sausage over veggies..instead of being able to have both. :( Everything was good otherwise, just not as much as we all would have liked to consume. On the plates with the main dish (omlette) was a side salad and a little ramekin of potatoes. They were so delicious. I usually do not eat my potatoes or fries, etc. (my philosophy is to save my carbs for alcohol or chocolate), but I found myself yearning for more food after I devoured my omlette and the tiniest salad in the world. My husband was a little sad too, because he knows he will ALWAYS get my potatoes, so after devouring his food, he tried to reach for my potatoes. I quickly swatted him away and he understood the level of my hunger. If you go, do not go hungry, unless you have a lot of money to spend. I then did something else I usually do not do, which is order dessert. But my stomach was still rumbling, so I ordered the nut bread cake (which was absolutely fantastic) and instead of sharing dessert like we usually do, my husband ordered his own dessert (and he never orders dessert either!) which was the apple tart. Both desserts were fantastic, and eaten ravenously. The friends came with us and after they finished their food, they started eating the pumpkin pancake that they ordered for the little 3 year old with us. Haha. Poor thing. I am not someone who wants to get a ridiculously sized portion of food, in fact I do NOT like that practice at some restaurants, but I would have liked to get more food for the price. Especially for breakfast! The most important meal of the day! At least put some more salad on there, or something...or offer the sausage as a side? I will support the amazing Tim Ma, and will continue to love Maple. This place was a great place to visit, I just need to eat before I go next time. Oh yeah, and where are the bottomless mimosas like at Maple? ;(

    (4)

  • RaMel V.

    This is an Arlington gem. My wife and I have eaten here for both dinner and brunch. We enjoyed the perfectly seasoned and sophisticated dishes. Duck confit and caramelized kimchi breakfast are two must try items. We met the owner and she described herself as perfectionist, this quality really shines through in the food. We are glad to have W&W in the neighborhood.

    (5)

  • Rae S.

    Enjoyed tasty food and very good service. My husband says the Brussel sprouts with the duck was excellent and lived up to other rave reviews.

    (5)

  • Janet C.

    fried veggies - it's the only way to eat veggies. well, not really, but i wish it was. had the fried cauliflower - it came with a topping of sweet apple, which was really nice. we also had the pate, which was good, but nothing out of this world. for mains, we had the duck confit and the pork shoulder. both were good, but of the two, the duck was in-your-face flavor while the pork was more subtle. and the fried brussels sprouts won over the black eyed peas and greens that came with the pork. both were SOLID, just depended on what you felt like. last but not least - we got the bread pudding and peanut butter chocolate tart for dessert. uhhhhh..... delicious. great level of sweetness, i.e. not crazy sweet but sweet enough to be awesome with a cup of coffee. the tart was like a fancy reese's peanut butter cup, and how can you not like that? the crust on the tart was magnificent. the bread pudding was a surprise, because usually bread pudding is swimming in some super sweet caramel sauce or something, but this one was perfect with the ice cream on top. all in all, awesome. maybe we just made good choices in terms of food. but our server was also nice. and the environment is nice enough for a date but not too fancy or stuffy. do it.

    (5)

  • Andy H.

    As a frequent visitor of Maple Ave, could not be happier for the team to bring Water & Wall to Arlington. The space is nicely designed with clearly a lot of thought into the decor. It made for a very comfortable, enjoyable setting. The front of house staff is still rounding out, but they were attentive and very friendly. Of course the main attraction was the food! Our table went all in on appetizers, ordering the shrimp and grits, chicken wings, pork belly, mussels, and bone marrow. They were all done with great precisions - not a bad bite in the bunch. I will say the chicken wings and pork belly seemed to go the fastest. For the mains it was hanger steak and beef cheek. The hanger steak was fantastic, perfectly cooked, and a bit of heat in the churri really added a great element. The beef cheek was a well-constructed dish; the beef cheek was so tender and flavorful, pairing perfectly with the sweet potato - elevated comfort food. For desert it was straight from the fryer beignets dusted with cinnamon and sugar. Such a delightful way to finish wonderful meal.

    (5)

  • Chelo S.

    Great food, love the location and warm ambiance.

    (5)

  • Andy T.

    Like Maple Avenue (their original), Water & Wall does not disappoint either and good to see that they are expanding. As 1st course we had the Herbed PEI Mussels (recommend as the bacon are nice chucks...you can never go wrong with anything bacon). Both Pan Seared Halibut and Duck Confit was prepared perfect and wanted to eat more of the menu overall but had to get somewhere afterwards. Will need to come out there for brunch sometime soon.

    (5)

  • Luis C.

    My wife and I have been here twice. Both times were great experiences all-around. The food and service were both excellent. We recently went on a Sunday evening (half-price bottles of wine!) and when I had a question about a wine that the staff their couldn't answer they got the sommelier on the phone to figure it out. While I felt a bit bashful about causing so much trouble, it was really a nice touch.

    (5)

  • Jenny R.

    Finally an upscale intimate place in Virginia Square! It's easy to walk by this place and not even notice it's open but i peaked inside on my walk home from work and it's a completely new feel from the old Pines of Florence. Decor is elegant, modern, clean, classic. Would recommend this for a romantic dinner, or dinner with a small group of friends. Not sure how large groups would do because it is a cozier bistro style place but enough about the space..the food is what shines here. Tried the shrimp and grits which was warm, creamy and perfect for this chilly weather. Duck confit--Good dish, but what made it wonderful were the sweet glazed bits of brussel sprouts they were simply a perfect contrast to the salt and gamey duck meat. Steak--I'm not a beef eater but sampled this and it was on soft, moist and cooked to the right temperature. Nice job guys. Chocolate empanadas--oh my sweet, sweet heaven. I LOVED this dish. The breading was crisp flaky and when with each bite you get a taste of warm delicious chocolate..yumm..chocolate...yumm (wipes drool away) Cocktails were also very complimentary to their dishes. I love that their martinis are true martinis with the classic vermouth and gin but you can get them substituted with vodka or whatever your heart's delight. Overall, it gets right up there with Eventide and the best of em' as a great neighborhood spot for a quiet, delicious dinner out. Definitely made a regular out of me.

    (4)

  • Valencia W.

    I was really looking forward to trying this place out due to the all of the reviews. I went out for a nice dinner with my sister and father on a Sunday evening at 6:30PM. The restaurant was really empty and I was wondering if this was natural especially on a weekend and they mentioned it fluctuates. We were seated and I liked the feel of the restaurant. It was a great vibe and the atmosphere fit well. I started off with an appetizer which was the Gnocchi. That dish was delicious. I tried my best to savor it for a long while and could certainly order 2 just for appetizers and have them for dinner. It was so good that I gave them the advice that they should make that into a dinner entree. Apparently it was something that happened frequently as well. For dinner I got the lamb. I have had some really bad lamb and I was told this lamb was delicious. They weren't lying as the lamb was cooked perfectly. They even did a medium plus for me and the lamb was so tender and juicy it tasted like steak. I even told my family that if I want some good lamb I'm definitely coming back here for it. I had such a great time I decided I was going to have desert. I forgot what I got but it wasn't bad. All in all, it was a fantastic experience and I'm so happy I can go to a place just for the lamb! That's never happened before. Amazing 4 stars.

    (4)

  • Christine J.

    Among the first to be seated opening night. I'm so excited for this place! Food was great, service was great, I love the ambiance. I will definitely be back. Ordered the Korean-spicey chicken wings and bone marrow for apps....yum! Hanger steak medium rare for dinner...also yum! The steak had a spicey kick, which I loved. The bar area was cute and hip. Will try out for hh at some point too.

    (5)

  • Dan I.

    So here's the thing. Water and Wall was excellent. Really good food. Well above average, even for Arlington. I wouldn't quite put it on par with Tallula and Eventide. But it can compete with places like Liberty Tavern and Rustico on cuisine. We had the fried okra app, steelhead (think: Salmon) and pumpkin risotto, all of which were prepared about as well as I could have hoped. While the dishes weren't the most innovative you'll ever find, they weren't boring either. For example, the fried okra came with a twist on the usual southern favorite: not battered but lightly fried and comes with a light Thai chili sauce. The prices were reasonable, considering the area and what you get. Entrees are all mid-$20s or so. Apps half that. I have a few gripes though. For starters, the beer/wine menu was adequate, but not impressive. A couple of interesting beers and wines, but this is not Rustico, Green Pig or even Lyon Hall in this regard. Food is the main event here, and drink is clearly seen as necessary but not a focus. Next, the dessert menu was lacking, literally: there isn't one. They had two items that night, which the waiter told us about. A pumpkin panna cotta and mochi. Neither really interested us, so we passed. It's weird to see a restaurant that provides fine dining with so little emphasis on dessert. And that leads into the biggest issue I have with W&W: we left hungry. Granted, other than our entrees, we only shared an appetizer and didn't get dessert. But we ended up going to Eat Bar afterwards to get some fries, dessert and a few drinks, because it just wasn't enough food. It's pretty rare that we don't bring home leftovers from a meal, much the less leave hungry. The portions were small-ish and the food was light. W&W could easily solve this problem by serving bread, which costs very little. I can never understand why restaurants that have small portions don't employ this easy fix. The place still gets 4 starts, because its food is good enough in this market to shine. But I'd love to see better dessert options, a little more focus on beer/wine and a bit of a heartier meal. We'll go back - we'll just make sure it's a night when we had a very big lunch.

    (4)

  • Finley A.

    Him: Pleased to find a swanky restaurant close to home with good service to match. Enjoyed the taste of the pork belly appetizer, but it could have been crispier. Loved the duck confit and the brussels sprouts. But what, no bread? Her (paid the bill): Nice staff, good service, but the food qualifies as generic but expensive "contemporary american cuisine." The pork belly wasn't cooked properly; it was served mushy. The hanger steak was very flavorful, but could have been more tender (ordered rare). The collard greens offended my Southern roots. Food that could have shined if cooked more simply tanked when doused in soy sauce.

    (3)

  • Sadia R.

    Great ambiance-very modern and chic. We had the appetizer special, chicken wings, they were amazing- the spice the crispness just perfect! My husband got the Harissa lamb chops, it was good but mine was definitely better. I got the bouillabaisse it was amazing, just thinking about it makes me hungry!! To top it off we had the bread pudding with horchata ice cream, delicious and the perfect end to a perfect meal! Loved it and can't wait to come back for round 2!

    (5)

  • Suzanne W.

    Hands down amazing! Kudos to Water and Wall for being brave& smart enough to be the first upscale restaurant to open up I'm VA Square area. I live in Ballston as walking home from a HH in Clarendon couldn't resist stopping by. I sat at the bar and instantly greeted. Limited wine selections but good wine- not crap wine. The bar tender was Super friendly and she helped order food. I am a die hard shrimp and grits fan so I had to start with that. Not that I needed an entire Enter after that but she recommended the beef cheek and it was delicious! Limited but unique menu- I'm coming back with girlfriends so we can try more and split. I recommend they open for lunch as well. I was thrilled to see it packed on a Thursday night- it's clean, new, swanky and unique - just what we need here- I highly recommend!

    (5)

  • Caveman E.

    Caveman and Cavelady eat brunch. Caveman say: Fluffy crunchy pancakes. Yum. Pricey for caveman budget. Cavelady say: Short rib hash special yum. Greasy still yum.

    (4)

  • Chris G.

    Fond of Maple Ave. Came here for the food, which didn't disappoint. Great cauliflower, and fantastic duck and chicken. Barkeeps not as friendly as I'd hoped, maybe it was part of the hipster vibe, but a great fun atmosphere. Didn't see anyone with problems or complaints throughout the restaurant. Wish the servers were just a little friendlier and attentive, they didn't seem to be smiling much.

    (4)

  • Liz S.

    Very yummy, as was expected from experience at their other spot Maple Ave.. The only issue is the portions. We left hungry and wanting more, but it was too pricey! We each had drinks, 2 small plates and 2 "entrees" and that still wasn't enough for 2 people.

    (3)

  • Karina M.

    This place was really busy, and booked up, on the Friday night I went. Reservations are recommended and can be done via their web site or "CityEats" (or by calling them). However, because it was still early (6:30 ish), we found seating on the bar area, which filled to standing room only by 8. The decor is very nice and service was great. The food was a little pricey yet very flavorful, with what seems to be strange combinations of things. The idea is that you combine the items on your plate into one bite, because of this, substitutions are not allowed. For example, I got the Grilled Hangar Steak, which came with a few potato wedges, braised collard greens and asian churri. Separately, the items tasted ok (though my friend said he hates collard greens but theirs is the best he'd ever tasted). Put it all together it was a flavor explosion in your mouth. :) My friend had the pan seared chicken, served with parsnip puree, heirloom carrots and sugar snap peas. His dish was delicious! I ended up having the fritters filled with apricot and served with basil ice cream and was very pleased with that as well. So if you want to trick your mouth with flavorful combinations, this is the place to go. A great date night or special occasion place, too. I didn't give it 5 stars because I think it's pricey and the menu a little limited. Definitely not suitable for picky palettes.

    (4)

  • Mo B.

    My husband and I ate at W&W last night and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. It was election night, early in the evening, and almost no one in the restaurant. Because of that we chose to sit in the bar and nibble our dinner. We split the fried calamari, which was perfectly cooked and had a nice aoli; the saffron pasta appetizer, also quite nice; the lamb shank, which was good, but not outstanding; finally topping it off with the bread pudding, which was wonderful. We enjoy wine, but are not wine snobs. The happy hour wine offerings were good too. Most of all, the charming and attentive (but not too attentive) hostess/waitress Megan made the evening just perfect. Nice place. We'll go back.

    (4)

  • Arthur M.

    Really disappointing because I'm a huge fan of Maple Ave Restaurant which I have been to many times. Had bunch here and saw some of our favorites from Maple Ave. Decided on the southern fried chicken sandwich and it was very underwhelming. Crust on the chicken was not crispy and the chicken barely had any flavor. For $15, I expect something at least on par or better than Chick-Fil-A. At least the match stick fries were good. My advice to them is to have better QC of what comes out of the kitchen or expand/improve the bunch menu.

    (1)

  • Beck M.

    This was our second time here and the food has improved since the last time. The duck confit has an Asian flair -- flavorful and tender -- and the Brussels sprouts were delicious. Our only complaint was the service at the bar. The restaurant could really benefit from a friendly, attentive and knowledgable bartender and the woman who served us was none of the above. Next time, we'll sit at a table and hope for better service.

    (4)

  • Coleen C.

    Again this chef proves that he doesn't need the perfect space or decor to wow patrons with his dishes. His talent and creativity along with a well run restaurant will keep people happy. Fans of Maple Ave, it was our first visit to W&W and we were impressed. We always order the muscle appetizer when it's on a menu. This one ranked up there with some of the best. Tender in a fabulous sauce with rye toast points. We wouldn't have normally ordered duck, but the reviews of the dunk confit were so good that we had to try it ourselves. It was perfectly cooked with an exceptional balance of flavors. My husband said he would come back to the restaurant just to order that again. The lemon risotto was creamy with loads of flavor and buttery scallops. I would recommend some adjustments to the peanut butter tart- the crust was a little too thick, somewhat hard and broke apart. Our signature cocktails were OK; I'll stick with wine next time. Waiter was knowledgeable and helpful. Complimentary glasses of champagne for our anniversary with wishes that we spend other anniversaries with them... and I think we just might.

    (5)

  • Kelly J.

    Enjoyed celebrating a friend's birthday dinner here a few weeks ago (we only had drinks and apps, all was delish) and was looking forward to returning with my parents and husband this past weekend. We had a reservation for 6:30, and were seated promptly upon arrival. Our server, Jeremy, was friendly, knowledgeable, and unintrusive. We shared fried okra and mussels for an appetizer. The fried okra is served with a sweet chili sauce on the side, and is crunchy and delicious. The mussels...by God the mussels. They are plump, juicy, and the sauce is...well, I wish they would bottle it up and sell it because it is amazing. Spicy with an ever so slight warm kick at the end, and chunks of chorizo throughout. Yum. I enjoyed the beef cheek for my entree, my husband and dad loved the hangar steak, and my mom had the drum. The beef cheek was scrumptious - you can cut it with a fork and it literally melts in your mouth. I also tried the steak and fish - both were divine. We also shared bread pudding and mochi for dessert - the perfect ending(s) to a perfect meal. I cannot wait to return to W&W and try all of the other tempting items. To those of you who live in Virginia Square...you are LUCKY. This place is a gem.

    (5)

  • Emily C.

    Excellent food. The duck confit was particularly tender and well-flavored; the accompanying brussel sprouts were some of the best I've ever had. The brussel sprouts can be ordered as a side which is what my friends did after tasting mine. The happy hour menu had delicious options at fantastic prices, including great mussels.

    (5)

  • Anne T.

    Very disappointed. Was looking forward to a great new neighborhood restaurant. Went for dinner on a Saturday, and for the moderate price was fairly underwhelmed. Started with the shrimp green curry appetizer, which would have been better described as 'soup' as the consistency was water thin. No bread was served with the meal, so there was nothing to soak up the bowl of watery green. Accolades to the sweet potato risotto, which was quite tasty, not too salty. My bf had the chicken which was fine but unmemorable. Due to the smaller portion, he left feeling hungry. My drink order was lost, it was very loud, the tables were very close together, and the waitstaff spoke in a whisper, so it was even more difficult to hear them. I suppose I would give it one more try, but I'm in no rush to return.

    (1)

  • Lisa H.

    I agree with the overall 4 star rating. I went on a recent Monday evening. They have great specials on Mondays, both at the bar and in the dining room. The fried green tomatoes were good and the scallop appetizer was fair. Scallops were served in a broth and I think that took away from their seared flavor. Afterwards, we wished we had tried the calamari appetizer. The BBQ beef brisket was good as was the lamb sirloin. The berry cobbler dessert was yummy and they make good drinks! Although not completely blown away, we would definitely go back and try other dishes. Service was great!

    (4)

  • Jon A.

    Great little restaurant. Came here on our anniversary, they greeted us warmly, congratulated us, and offered us a free glass of champagne. The duck was delicious, as was the lamb. Service slowed a bit as the place became more crowded, but was still friendly and helpful.

    (4)

  • Laura I.

    This is my go-to date night place / I need a quiet drink with the girls, when I don't want to go into DC or even to Clarendon and deal with parking. Mary the bartender is divine -- I just tell her what mood I'm in and she crafts me something special and I'm an artisanal cocktail kind of gal -- so my standards are high. The food is solid and I benchmark it against New Heights in Woodley Park. Again, I know the owners there so again, my standards are pretty high. What I really love is the pop-up Chinese restaurant they have in there for lunch. I am half-Chinese and I'm pretty picky about my Chinese food. It's New-American meets Chinese food -- super yummy and fun vs authentic. That pretty much describes the menu in general. They do have a kid's menu for brunch -- even though it doesn't look kid-friendly inside. We haven't tested the waters (sorry about the pun) with our toddler yet, but now that Eat Bar is closing, we might have to consider it.

    (4)

  • Thomas P.

    My wife and I had dinner here and absolutely loved it. Every dish tasted better than expected. Knowledgeable and courteous staff. Great for date night or whenever you are in the mood to have your taste buds educated!

    (5)

  • Michelle H.

    My husband and I had dinner here. We ordered drinks, which were yummy, appetizers, which were equally as yummy, and dinner... Dinner is where it went down hill for us - I ordered the Lamb and my husband ordered the duck. My lamb was TOUGH! So tough I couldn't cut it or chew it. Our sweet bartender asked if I wanted a new order of lamb but I wasn't in the mood to try again. The dish was flavorless and unsatisfying. My husband ordered the duck. His duck was a fatty and he had very little meat to work with - the Farro that came with the duck was delicious and refreshing.

    (3)

  • SN D.

    This place has nice decor and very tasty food. I've been here twice. Service is good, friendly staff. Happy hour is simple and great value I think. Nice bar area and some seating to the side. Two IPA's on tap, pretty good on my books. For brunch I enjoyed French pressed coffee and the short rib hash. I've tried the shrimp and grits, was pretty really good too. I recommend all of it. My friends ordered other brunch dishes and they all said the food was really good. I recommend!

    (4)

  • Bryan A.

    Good food and good service. Ambiance could be improved but definitely one of the best adult dining spots in the corridor. And no tvs

    (4)

  • Vincent D.

    Surprisingly, Water & Wall refunded our entire meal the next day although I posted my review after the fact.

    (5)

  • S B.

    One of my favorite restaurants! My husband and I visited recently and had a fantastic experience! We loved the Duck Confit and even asked for a second order of brussels sprouts. Amazing!

    (5)

  • Jeffrey S.

    This 5 star rating is for their incredible pork shoulder. Atmosphere, service, appetizers were all good, but the pork shoulder was truly excellent.

    (5)

  • Arnie M.

    My wife received a gift card to this restaurant and we anticipated great things from reviews. We took my daughter with us for a post Valentine's brunch and were sadly disappointed. The brunch menu has 3 alcoholic drinks on it and we all ordered the featured Bloody Mary which my wife was looking forward to. Our inept and ill trained server, informed us that they had no Bloody Mary mix and we could not get one. I asked if they had any tomato juice to make one out of and was told that they did not, so we ordered coffee and mimosas. Before they were delivered, I spotted a waiter bringing a Bloody Mary to another table. When we asked our server about that, she was at a loss to explain her prior statements. We then cancelled the other drinks and asked her to bring us 3 Bloody Marys without the spices and just bring some hot sauce and salt and pepper. She brought them to us garnished with a lime wedge. When I tasted mine it appeared to have no Vodka. When I asked her about that she said that she didn't know that we wanted Vodka in it and would take them away and add it. As she was picking the glasses up from the table she knocked one over on her tray and when she tried to stop it she knocked over another spilling the glass of tomato juice on the table, the floor and all over my wife's sweater and pants. After apologizing and bringing out some clean rags to attempt wipe off the sweater and mopping the floor with them and her foot, she got one of the other servers to remake the drinks with Vodka in them. Now we come to the food: My daughter ordered a bowl of mushroom soup and a salad. She said that the soup was a bowl of broth with a few mushrooms and some orzo in it. My wife ordered the Mixed Wild Mushroom omelette with arugala/side salad/mozzarella. The omelette which was tasty, was unattractively served in a bowl with the salad alongside it in the bowl. I ordered the Hangover Hash described as steak/potatoes/bell pepper and onions/roasted tomato salsa and 2 sunny side up eggs. The eggs were also served in a bowl over the potatoes, probably 2 oz. of sauteed thinly sliced beef and corn, with a stripe of salsa over the eggs, which I requested over easy rather than sunny side up and they still came sunny side up. We both ordered toast at $4.00 per order. For the both of us, we got a total of 3 slices of white bread, toasted on one side only and cut in half so that we each got 3 1/2 slices of bread, for $8.00. When I asked for the check, we were charged $30 for 3 Bloody Mary's, which were on the menu at $6 each. When brought to the server's attention she changed the price to the correct one of $18 total. The entire check for this fiasco came to $65 plus tax. I then proceeded to give the server the $60 value Water and Wall gift card and my credit card for the remainder of the cost. She brought them both back and asked if I wanted the check split in half and and put equally on each card!!!!!!!! No, we did not ask to have our bill adjusted for the dry cleaning of my wife's sweater and the ridiculous charge for toast, because in the 1 1/2 hours we we were there, we never saw a manger on the floor, only the hostess and three servers. As we left the restaurant my wife asked the hostess, if there was a manger in the house. She said that the "floor manager" was in the kitchen and did we want to speak to her. We politely declined and left.

    (2)

  • Molly M.

    This place was good, but has a lot of work to do. Went here Friday night with my boyfriend as a treat after a rough week. Decor is nice, although the building is a little strange. Nice lighting, fixtures, etc. We ordered two cocktails- their version of the Moscow Mule, and a Dark and Cloudy, which is like a dark and stormy, only with coconut milk. Both really delicious, although my Moscow Mule was 13 bucks and not very strong. We got the shrimp and grits and the sweet potato gnocchi for appetizers. Again, both were good but needed work, especially for the price. My sweet potato gnocchi was a little cold and underseasoned- it came with a poached egg on top that was a little too poached but I think with a little more salt/egg yolk it would have been really nice. I had the bouillabaisse and my boyfriend had the hanger steak. I don't know how to describe it but both were just a little lacking, despite what you pay. Water and Wall has only been open for a few months so I'm hoping they get some practice and do better; I'd be willing to give it another chance if I continue to hear good things. Maybe it was just an off night.

    (3)

  • Sadia S.

    Husband and I wanted to go out for dinner and considering that it's just across the street, we decided to give this a try. Big mistake! This place is overpriced to say the least. The food is not good and neither are the mixed drinks. We will not be going back!

    (1)

  • Nick J.

    Went here the other night and was pleasantly surprised with the food. Highly recommend it and the duck is amazing. The $28 happy hour menu gives you a hh cocktail drink, an appetizer and an entrée is worth it...it's great to see a new restaurant near va square metro got it right...

    (4)

  • Geoff G.

    Went here for brunch today. Although really small, the menu was good. The kimchi eggs with spam and Chinese sausage was a creative dish that was well executed, though on the salty side. The Bloody Mary was very good and lots of mimosa options. Others who got the Benedict and the frittata were underwhelmed though as the portion wasn't very big. Suggest adding a side to the main dishes or advertise them more as small plates. Will probably be back to try dinner some time.

    (3)

  • jenn w.

    Had such a great experience at Water and Wall last week. We were celebrating our anniversary, and from the moment we walked in we got the VIP treatment. They started us off with some complimentary bubbly, which always makes things feel special and festive. And practically all the staff stopped by to wish us a happy anniversary. I've never felt so welcome at a restaurant my whole life, so definitely 5 stars for service. Everything we ate was delicious and well-balanced, from the calamari and pork belly (melt in your mouth) appetizers to the duck confit and short ribs (unbeknownst to us, we probably ordered all of the most popular dishes, judging from other reviews). I really liked the restaurants's vibe, putting out above average food in a neighborhoody non-pretentious setting. I definitely am looking forward to going back to check out brunch or the $35 3 course deal at the bar.

    (4)

  • Carrie M.

    My boyfriend and I tried Water & Wall Friday night. Overall it was a great meal and our server (horrible but I can't remember her name) was terrific! The meal was delicious, pricy and small portions but tasty nonetheless. We started with the mussels - good sauce, spicy sausage pieces and good bread. We both ended up getting the hanger steak. because of some of the reviews we read. Again it was awesome but wish there was just a little more (especially for the price), we left a little hungry and ended up going to a movie at Cinema Draft house where we had two popcorns. The food was so good so I do hope it stays in business but unfortunately, I think for the demographics of the Va Square area the prices may be too high and the menu requires a more adventurous eater.

    (4)

  • Anthony I.

    For the past 8 years I have lived in this area, this is the first time I've been excited for a local restaurant. My wife and I went here on Friday with our friends and we were super impressed with he decor. It has really transformed. We started at the bar where I had a wonderful Manhattan and my wife had some perseco. Our friends arrived, and we were promptly seated at a great table. Our server knew his wines and food and he was very attentive. Our group tried an array of starters, my favorite being the pork belly and bone marrow. Sadly, they were out of sweet breads. The most popular entree at our table were the beef cheeks, and my god were they amazing. Super tender, flavorful and just awesome. A nice wine selection, limited but very reasonable. We cannot wait to go back!

    (5)

  • H. Y.

    Lots of fish on the menu and dessert was delicious too. Good service and clean place.. A little fancier than maple ave.

    (5)

  • Ross M.

    Overrated. Too expensive for the portion sizes and lacking flavors. This isn't one of those DC restaurants that just wows you. I went in with an open mind and open palate, and I thought everything was really just okay. I thought the small Maple Ave in Vienna was a lot better. I put this place in the same category as a restaurant like Green Pig Bistro. There are people who are willing to spend more money for good food, but you gotta bring it. The appetizers were super small. The scallops had a very delicate sauce flavor, but just doesn't even compare to the scallops at a place like Zaytinya. The friend green tomatoes we had tasted like lamb for some reason. Something was off. For entres we had the duck and the pork shoulder. The duck wasn't the best duck I've ever had. In fact, it made me want to go to Peking Gourmet Inn and have better duck. The pork shoulder was a big disappointment. It was very fatty and not really edible. We picked at it and tried, but it just did work for us. I love a good piece of pork, bacon, pork belly, Korean style pork and shanks. But some on. Green Pig bistro is known for their pork! You can't offer pork on your menu and expect to not compete with people right down the street. You want pork? Go to Green Pig. Service was okay, but a bit on the amateur side. For the amount of money we spent, I expected a little more polished. Overall, I thought it was okay. Not recommended.

    (3)

  • Paul P.

    Menu selection and design: Outstanding. Excellent array of choices without being overwhelming. Ambiance / decor: Very nice, and bonus points for making a relatively small space feel open and welcoming. Service: Could not be better. Server Megan was knowledgeable about the item details and specials, didn't come across as anything but a consummate professional. Plates served hot and on time; no 'pushy' service at all. Appetizers: Went for the "Shrimp and Grits" (see picture). Tasty, well prepared. Glad to see it wasn't presented as a 'first entree', portion size was perfect. Venison Sausage was a nice twist to the standard tasso ham. Other appetizer was the Saffron Mussels. Had to stop myself from licking the plate, they were that good. Entrees: Duck Confit with Caramelized Brussels Sprouts. Duck skin was wonderfully crispy but the meat remained juicy and very flavorful. Second entree was the Pan Seared Steelhead with Sunchokes. Flaky, light and (again) skin was perfectly crispy. Desert: Pumpkin panna cotta . Now, I'm not a huge fan of this type of desert, but I would have gladly ordered another after taking the last bite. It was refreshing, light and made me want to try to make this at home. Would I go back? Absolutely.

    (5)

  • Elle C.

    This is one of my new favorite places, and fortunately just a few blocks from home. The food doesn't disappoint. The duck is extremely delicious, with crispy skin and moist meat. Yum! The apps are quite good, too, particularly the sweetbreads. I've also had their brunch. The Korean-style egg dish was too yummy for words and they have thick, sweet bacon. So delicious!

    (4)

  • Frank G.

    Inventive combinations of color, spice and texture. Radicchio seared salad and arugala salad to start. Sweetbreads done Asiian Buffalo spice style with relish is crazy good. Hangar steak with greens had superior flavoring, Warm apple tart is divine. Chic ambiance. Smart and service minded staff.

    (5)

  • Dustin R.

    Really enjoyed this spot! Shrimp and grits starter were SPOT ON. I enjoyed the hangar steak cooked to a perfect medium rare over braised greens, Asian churri, and homemade taters. Unique yet familiar taste that was quite delicious and well balanced. My wife had the duck confit and I can't remember what the sides were but it was amazing. Not a huge menu but seems like the dishes they do they do well. A bit on the pricey side but not too crazy for this area. Also had a nice take on the Dark n Stormy, called a Dark n Cloudy that included coconut milk.

    (4)

  • Ji K.

    We walked in on a week night without reservations (around 6:30). The food was delicious and was presently surprised. We had the sweet potato gnocchi (4 stars), clams (2 stars - a little too salty), chicken liver pate (4 stars - smooth, creamy with a great balance of sweet and salty), chicken wings (2 stars - just meh) and the duck confit (duck was 3 stars and the warm side salad with brussels sprouts was 4 stars). Would def go back! Esp for the brussels sprouts.

    (4)

  • Ben B.

    My wife and I celebrated our anniversary here. The fried green tomatoes were worth the trip all by themselves. The meal was good overall, bread pudding was excellent and can't complain about half priced bottle of wine (on Sunday and Monday). We also had a very nice waitress. All and all a very nice evening.

    (4)

  • Julie N.

    I went on a date to Water and Wall and was very disappointed with the food. The entrees are all in the $25-$30 range, and the food is less than mediocre. I got the bouillabaisse, which was less of a stew and more of a soup with a few things in it. Every single piece of seafood was overcooked and chewy. My date got the lamb and was not asked how he would like it cooked. It came out so rare that some pieces were barely warm. Both of our dishes were almost unbearably salty, which was disappointing because it drowned out any potential flavor. I'm only giving this restaurant two stars because the service was excellent and the ambiance was very warm, but look elsewhere if you're looking for good food. There are so many other restaurants close by that are in the same "contemporary American" genre that are a better choice.

    (2)

  • Guy B.

    Wow, the food here is amazing. Really amazing. I went here a couple of nights ago on President's Day, and initially I wasn't amazed by the place. It seemed nice enough, and the staff were friendly and attentive, but I thought it would be one of those fairly ho-hum restaurants that I probably wouldn't go back to. I could not have been more wrong. We split a sweet potato Gnocchi starter and a salad, which were both great. I had the Duck Confit as a main and it was, without a doubt, the best Duck Confit I have ever had. It came with caramelised brussel sprouts and truffle aioli and the combination was incredible (coming from a guy who hates brussel sprouts with a passion).

    (5)

  • R L.

    We have been to Maple Ave Restaurant several times, its predecessor, before this one opened up. The quality of food at the old place was better, though not outstanding. But at least you can tell the chef spent time contemplating and trying to maximize the flavor and parings. We are sorry to find this new place is not about good quality food anymore. Couple of times the sauces was so overpowering you could hardly taste the main ingredients on the plates. Usually restaurants use overly strong sauces to mask ingredients that are not fresh anumore. The ambiance and location, of course, is now better. But the common shortcoming of both places is that the decor and seating always makes you feel cold and fully exposed, never cozy or comfortable. Almost no curtains or window covering so anyone outside can see customers being fed, almost like beasts in a zoo. Chairs are uncomfortable. This place is very, very noisy even when it is less than half occupied -- must been the ceilings and walls -- acoustics awful so you'll almost have to yell to have a conversation.

    (2)

  • Karline M.

    We went to brunch here last Saturday and it was amazing! The pancakes were so flavorful and fluffy. The hashbrowns were my favorite - perfectly crisp and warm. I had the pineapple mimosa, which was good, but my companion had the cider mimosa, which was out of this world. My only complaint is that their hours are incorrect on their website, so we almost didn't go because it says it opens at 5:00. Anyway, I will be going back!!

    (5)

  • Erin P.

    We absolutely loved Water & Wall! The decor is modern and comfortable, yet very spacious. The service was friendly and very attentive. The timing of the dishes was perfect so, we didn't feel like we had to wait for our food. I had the seasonal salad and it was wonderfully balanced with subtle reminders of fall with cinnamon and a pear vinaigrette. I have never had a kale salad before, but it was tender and I definitely enjoyed it. My husband had the chicken liver pate which was amazing!! We wanted to order another one! The duck prosciutto was so great. We will certainly order that again when we return. For the main courses I had the hanger steak and it was the best steak I have had in a long time. The steak had a smokey flavor and the asian churri was really tasty with just a hint of spice. My husband had the duck confit and he loved it! The skin was crispy with some sweetness which is always great with duck. The caramelized brussels sprouts were beautifully crunchy and delicious. I am not usually a fan of brussels sprouts but those were so good that I stole a lot of them off his plate. We tried a couple different types of wine off the list by the glass and I don't remember the names of all of them, but we liked them, especially the super tuscan. I am always excited when super tuscans are on the wine list and it did not disappoint! We were really full but we ordered the beignets and we were glad that we did. I ordered a cup of coffee and it was beautifully delivered in a french press which was a nice touch. It smelled delicious as it was brewing and was tasty. We have been to their other restaurant Maple Ave and really enjoy the food Chef Ma puts out. We like to support local chefs who enjoy cooking and change their menu according to what is available seasonally. We also really appreciate that they pay attention to where they source their ingredients from and support local farmers who follow healthy and humane farming practices.

    (5)

  • Juli S.

    My husband & I went here looking for a new & exciting brunch last Sunday. Although the food was good, the menu was fairly limited, and not exceptionally enticing. The menu was indeed different from the usual, however the portions were a little small. The Kimchee was delicious! The service was good, and prices were about right, I wouldn't recommend w&w I'd you're looking for a traditional brunch. I'd go back, but only if everywhere else was closed. Fairly disappointed.

    (3)

  • K G.

    Another overrated restaurant. Overpriced ,mediocre food, uninformed server and extremely small portions. Who gives these five star reviews? I presume friends and familly since the place was almost empty. Make an effort and go to the new Boulud restaurant in DC for some real French Asian influenced food. Trust me,this place is way way overrated!

    (1)

  • Rack F.

    Just a quick shout out: the place is solid! Food is fresh and well-prepared, drinks at the bar beforehand were nice, staff is warm and accommodating, the space (not as big as pix might indicate) crackles with energy. The manager, Nick, did a great job on a busy Saturday night, particularly with l-i-n-g-e-r-i-n-g tables throwing reservations into delay mode. Will return!

    (4)

  • Becky H.

    Will definitely be returning! This restaurant is just a few blocks from my apartment but I have only gone a couple of times. My most recent visit will have me returning often. Went here for dinner with a few girlfriends on a Sunday evening. We made a reservation but the restaurant was not very crowded. We took advantage of their Sun/Mon specials: Half-price wine and a 2 for $22 deal (soup of the day or salad with a "second" (entree) of your choice). Everyone was very satisfied with their meals and the rose we started with (the only one on the menu) was perfect for summer. I started with the potato and leek soup and had the halibut for my entree. Everything had wonderful flavors and was cooked beautifully. We shared the berry cobbler and the carrot cake ice cream sandwiches for dessert. The cobbler was delicious! The carrot cake ice cream sandwiches were good but not great. For carrot cake lovers a note: the cookies tasted more like oatmeal than carrot cake. Overall, the service was fantastic and no one batted an eyelash when we stayed for over 2 1/2 hours at our table catching up. The menu is small but changes often. I will definitely be returning!

    (4)

  • Mary D.

    Came here for dinner on a Saturday night with a reservation, although I'm not sure if you really need one for a small party. We had fried calamari and gnocchi for appetizers. Both were amazing! I had the 5 spice chicken for dinner. It was delicious but a bit too salty. My husband had the lamb, which was nice but nothing to write home about. I think it needed a little more flavor. Overall, we would definitely go back again, as the menu gets changed often.

    (4)

  • Leah M.

    A welcome addition to Arlington! Even though it has only been open for 2 months, I heard good things about Water & Wall from several friends. Went for a Sunday evening dinner for a friend's birthday. Sat in a nice curved booth. We were impressed by our friendly, informed and upbeat server - Mary. Duck Confit was fantastic, also the tender beef cheek. Hanger steak was not as good, but that is not really my thing. For dessert we had an apple tart and chocolate bread pudding. I don't usually like bread pudding, but this was special and delicious and I liked it. One friend commented that the food did not taste like it came from a kitchen that has only been going for 2 months, really high quality for a new place. Great choice for a nice night out in Arlington.

    (5)

  • Glenn H.

    Really disappointing. Went for brunch and there was only one interesting thing on the menu, the beef short ribs hash. This was excellent and three of four of us ordered it, while one person who wanted to taste the venison sausage got the shrimp and grits. The portions were extremely small and we all left hungry. The rum punch and gin drink that we had were tasty but pricey. Service was sub par and the waitress didn't know the menu very well. If it was priced 1/3 lower, I would have been fine with the experience, but overall a bad value.

    (2)

  • Cara H.

    came here on friday a little before our reservation, and decided in real time to forego our table for a a seat at one of the mini tables in the bar area. that turned out to be the best decision of the night --we had four waiters servicing our table, because they could check in on us on their way to and from the kitchen, which was just around the corner. and they all were so warm and knowledgeable about the menu. impeccable service. had the lamb shanks, which were unbelievably tender, so SO good. and the bed of garlicy lentils that it sat on were arguably even better than the lamb shanks (who knew beans could be so good --especially from a diehard carnivore like me...its that good). The pork shoulder is so good that my boyfriend ordered it for the second time in a row. it was my first time trying it, but i agree that its awesome --really crispy on the outside, but so tender on the inside. fried cauliflower starter was delicious too, really liked the sweet savory combo of the apple mostarda mixed with the cauliflower. heard that desserts here are good, but not great, and just didnt want to spoil a phenomenal meal w/ a passable finish, so we skipped. cant wait to be back!

    (5)

  • Jocelyn H.

    Water & Wall is like Maple Ave's sophisticated city cousin. Bigger with a full bar area and lots more tables which were all full tonight! Chef Tim Ma has brought some of the best from Maple Ave to share with Arlington and added some new hits to the lineup. The pork belly is the star of the starters - do not miss it. The pickle plate is great on its own but compliments the pork belly nicely. The mussels are a tried and true favorite - we always fight over the little bits of Chinese sausage in the broth. Hangar steak and duck confit were both really great as main plates. We also enjoyed beers on tap - the Winter solstice goes nicely with the starters - as well as a nice selection of wine by the glass. Yummy pumpkin panna cotta finished the meal. We will certainly visit again!

    (5)

  • Riff And R.

    Wonderful experience! Hands down the hottest restaurant in arlington right now - just make sure you make a reservation bc this place fills up quick. Cheers!

    (5)

  • Jason C.

    Delicious and friendly staff. We ordered lamb and spiced chicken with a berry dessert. Recommended.

    (4)

  • Jenn B.

    I went here for a nice brunch and was not disappointed. Our waitress was attentive, but gave us time to talk as a table. I had the veggie omelette and my friend ordered the truffled eggs. I loved my plate, and my friend thought his was okay (I think he might just have high expectations in general). The bloody marys were delicious. There is nothing on the menu that would appeal to me for dinner, but I did like brunch and would go back.

    (4)

  • Stephanie K.

    Last weekend I had brunch at Water and Wall with a group of friends and it was super disappointing (to say the least). I understand that it is a new restaurant, but the service and food were so subpar, especially considering how much we paid. It took a long time to get our food and drinks, which was weird because the place was practically empty. When we finally got our food (mostly eggs), it was ice cold. Like, it tasted like it had just come out of the refrigerator. We sent it back and it tasted like they just tried to warm it up- it was still lukewarm. Plus, my omelette was super over-cooked, and it seemed no one else liked their food either. I guess we could have ordered something else, but we had already been there for 1 1/2 hours, it wouldn't have been worth it. Plus, the menu was super limited, so not many choices anyway. The manager offered to comp a round of drinks for us to apologize, but when we got the bill he had only comped drinks for half the table. We pointed it out to him and he took them off. Super awkward. Then he disappeared and it took forever to get our check. The only bright spot is that the drinks were very good, which is why I'm giving it two stars. In all- I'd avoid Water and Wall until they work out the kinks. It was a really bad experience.

    (2)

  • Danny M.

    Excellent restaurant, and amazing addition to the Ballston area. Everyone at the table got something different, and everything was terrific. In particular, I would highly recommend the Duck and Beef Cheek. Service was also excellent.

    (5)

  • Elizabeth M.

    Love this place! Best restaurant in Arlington. Small menu, but everything is excellent. Can't miss with the chicken wings (with creme freche), mussels, buillabaise, and bread pudding. A "destination" restaurant. Our new favorite for celebrations!

    (5)

  • Courtney K.

    What a great place!! Had an amazing dinner and experience at Water & Wall. Arlington is in such desperate need for a quality restaurant like this. The owner is very personable and the service was great. We sat in the bar for there $35 price fix special. Everything we ordered was delicious and I can't wait to go back to try more of the menu. And this is coming from an extremely picky foodie!!

    (5)

  • Sandy T.

    My husband and I went back to Water & Wall a week and a half ago. When my husband called to make the reservation for dinner, he mentioned it was our anniversary, and when we got to the table there was a sign in a frame that said, "Happy Anniversary, Mr & Mrs. Tevelin". The owner came over to our table to congratulate us, and after dinner they served a lovely dessert created especially by the chef. We wish continued success to Water & Wall.

    (5)

  • Bailey R.

    I haven't yelped in awhile, but my experience was so incongruent with all of these wildly positive reviews that I thought it was worth sharing. We started with the "spicy" wings which were well prepared but not particularly spicy or unique. The portion was on the smaller side (5 wings If I remember correctly) and pricey for what it was. I had the hanger steak which was accompanied by three potato wedges and a serving of collared greens. The steak was unevenly cooked, cold, and was served pre-sliced which I found odd. The greens were also barely warm and while they were flavorful, overpowered by the taste of garlic. The best (and warmest) thing on the plate were the fries but there were only three so I had to work to savor them. Overly pickey yelpers are a pet peeve of mine, and I hate being the one person with a dissenting opinion on this place, but we paid $100 for a meal that wasn't thoughtfully prepared, warm, or filling. There are lots of places in this area (and beyond) that know how to cook a steak, have more than 4 cocktails, and offer a full dessert menu.

    (2)

  • J Z.

    From the owners of the popular restaurant "Maple Ave" in Vienna, Water & Wall restaurant is a really lovely restaurant in the neighborhood of Ballston and Virginia Square. There is nothing like this in the neighborhood. My husband and I love the chic, modern yet cozy atmosphere of the restaurant... reminding us of restaurants in NYC's flat iron/union sq and soho areas. It is the perfect neighborhood restaurant for us to unwind from the week and share a meal together in a relaxed and upscale environment. We shared a starter (the pork belly was fantastic!) and each had an entree. We felt very satisfied and not overly full after the meal. The only recommendation I have is that the wine pour can be a little more generous. Overall, we loved our experience and are definitely going back.

    (4)

  • ND DC D.

    Marginal food, small portions, overpriced.

    (2)

  • Needs A.

    My new favorite restaurant. we had the duck confit (i normally hate duck), flash fried octopus (normally hate it), but love them boht. we also had prok belly which was so YUMMY!!!!! cripsy but tender. and i loved tha thte short ribs were subtley marinated and so flavorful without being overmarinated with a lot of sauces like red wine sauce most restaurants add to give it flavor.

    (5)

  • John Y.

    Came here with my wife to try out a restaurant we haven't been to yet. The service was great and the food was ok but for the price it was not worth it. Had wings for the appetizer and they were tiny with very little meat. Our entrees took a while to come out and my lamb was cold while her duck was right out of the oven. The other reviews that mentioned how small the portions were are mostly correct. It looked like small plate dishes but twice the price. To be fair the duck was an ok portion and tasted good, but my lamb looked and tasted pathetic in comparison. If I'm spending over $100 on dinner for two I want my money's worth... Unfortunately this was not the case.

    (2)

  • Amber B.

    Visited Water & Wall this past Sunday. The decor is nice but ... 1. Our server was awkward and flustered. She took our drink order and then forgot to come back to take our food order. We had to flag her down. 2. We ordered the octopus as an appetizer and it was very rubbery and tough. I've had octopus before and it has never been that rubbery. 3. For one entree, we ordered the hanger steak and it was tough as well. Once again, very disappointing in comparison to hanger steak I've had in the past. 4. We ordered the chicken as the second entree and, when the check came, it was more expensive than it was on the menu. We pointed it out to the host/manager (who was helping out because the server was overwhelmed) and he said that they had seen a few other receipts like that that night. A restaurant should fix this once it's brought to their attention. 5. They started playing loud lounge-y music around 8:30 pm. I know restaurants do this because guests will eat quicker and leave sooner, but there were plenty of open tables and it wasn't closing time yet. On the other hand, the chicken was good.

    (2)

  • Melissa B.

    We had our first meal here tonight, and it was very good. Our server was charming and helpful, and the food was great. I had duck confit, based on our server's recommendation, and it did not disappoint. Succulent, flavorful, and the accompanying Brussels sprouts were delicious. There were a couple newbie kinks, like weak coffee, but they were minor and forgivable. We will definitely be back!

    (5)

  • Michael G.

    I'd give this place six stars if Yelp would let me. We had dinner at Water and Wall tonight. We've eaten at Tim Ma's other restaurant in Vienna several times and knew what to expect, but we were nonetheless blown away. I started with the chicken liver pate, which was light and airy, served with a sliver of duck prosciutto and a wonderful aromatic glaze that perfectly complimented the dish without overwhelming it. My main course was a perfectly prepared steelhead, light, flaky, on a flavorful broth with kale (apparently the vegetable of the year this year) and potatoes that maintained their crunch. My wife had the bouillabaisse -- perfectly prepared fish and shellfish in a spicy, but not overwhelming broth. Our friend had a perfectly prepared hanger steak, which she loved as well. We had an excellent and reasonably priced wine from a wine list that offers plenty of options without being overwhelming. The restaurant is comfortable with well spaced tables and the noise level is civilized We've schlepped out to Vienna to Tim Ma's other superb restaurant for years, braving Tyson's Corner traffic on the way, but it was always worth it. Now we have what inevitably will become a destination restaurant in our own neighborhood. Life is good.

    (5)

  • James N.

    Delicious options for our first try tonight. Chicken salad light and spicy... Pleasantly. Shrimp and grits with a hint of venison (not overpowering). The hanger steak was perfectly prepared to my order, but I could gave done without the churri sauce (overly salty for me)... The collards were perfect along with the meat, once I scraped off the sauce... Unless you are a salty food lover, ask them to leave it off... All in all a beautiful setting... But not too quiet. But also not overwhelmingly loud... Just about right on every point. Will certainly go back.

    (4)

  • Christine R.

    Went here with my boyfriend a few weeks ago and overall experience was very good and would definitely return. We started with the veal sweetbreads which were delicious. It came with two sauces that both worked with the sweetbreads but did not work together, however. For dinner, I got the shrimp and grits and the gnocci; the shrimp and grits were flavorful but the gnocci needed some work. My boyfriend got the duck with brussel sprouts and it was AMAZING. I wanted to steal his plate so I highly recommend this dish. Everything about it was well executed and tasted incredible; they really nailed this dish down. For dessert we got the bittersweet chocolate bread pudding and wish we didn't. It was very generic and just not that great. Hopefully with some time the restuarant can develop its dessert menu more but as of now didn't leave anything to be desired for dessert. Also, I felt like the prices were a bit high for the location, however perhaps its because of a high lease cost, who knows. But regardless, I would go back in a heart beat for that duck. Overall, I would (and have) recommended this restuarant to friends and would go back myself.

    (4)

  • Tina G.

    Everyone in my party enjoyed their dishes. Try the shrimp and grits, kale salad, chicken, and duck. Don't forget dessert!! I would return just for dessert. Good service and dining experience. It's simple, romantic, and all about the food.

    (5)

  • D.K. L.

    Go for the beef cheeks, soo tender...

    (5)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :11:00 am - 2:00pm
  • Mon : 11:00 am - 2:00pm

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : No
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Dinner
    Parking : Garage, Street
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : No
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Classy
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : Full Bar
    Outdoor Seating : No
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : No
    Dogs Allowed : No
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : No

Water & Wall

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