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Name: Coastal Flats
Address: 11901 Grand Commons Ave, Fairfax, VA, 22030
Telephone: (571) 522-6300
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 4.07

Coastal Flats

11901 Grand Commons Ave, Fairfax, VA, 22030

(571) 522-6300
Store is closed

Coastal Flats Menu

Starters

Baby Cake Sliders

Deviled Eggs

Yucatan Shrimp Cocktail

Blue Crab & Rock Shrimp Fritters

Hot Spinach Parmesan & Artichoke Dip

Crispy Sweet & Spicy Calamari

Corn & Crab Chowder

Lobster Bisque
Salads

Mixed Field Greens

Chop House Salad

Warm Goat Cheese & Spiced Pecan Salad

Mango Chicken & Spiced Pecans

Coastal Roast Chicken Salad

Crispy Two Noodle Shrimp Salad

Short Smoked Grilled Salmon Salad

Sesame Crusted Grilled Tuna Salad
Sandwiches

Coastal Lobster Roll

Cheddar Cheeseburgers

Grilled Chicken & Havarti Cheese

Coastal Shrimp Roll
Fresh Seafood

Hickory Grilled Absolutely Fresh Fish

Jumbo Lump Crab Cake

Grouper Fingers

Pecan Crusted Trout

Sauteed Shrimp & Creamy Grit Cakes

Short Smoked Salmon Filet

Hickory Grilled Jumbo Shrimp

Hong Kong Style Sea Bass

Crab Cake & Filet Mignon
Beef Ribs & Chicken

Simply Grilled Chicken

Hickory Grilled Chicken Breast

Wood Grilled Filet Mignon

Drunken Ribeye

Low Country Beef Back Ribs
Sides

Cucumber Tomato & Corn Salad

Basil Redskin Mashed Potatoes

Cauliflower Mash

Couscous With Almonds

Mediterranean Orzo Salad

Seasonal Vegetable

Sauteed Or Simply Steamed Spinach

Great American Fries

Sweet Potato Fries

Roasted Mushrooms
Desserts

Key Lime Pie

Warm White Chocolate Bread Pudding

Old Fashioned Banana Pudding

Warm Flourless Chocolate Waffle

Healthy Meal suggestions for Coastal Flats

Starters

Baby Cake Sliders [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Deviled Eggs [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Yucatan Shrimp Cocktail [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Blue Crab & Rock Shrimp Fritters [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Hot Spinach Parmesan & Artichoke Dip [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Crispy Sweet & Spicy Calamari [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Corn & Crab Chowder [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Lobster Bisque [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Salads

Mixed Field Greens [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chop House Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Warm Goat Cheese & Spiced Pecan Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mango Chicken & Spiced Pecans [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Coastal Roast Chicken Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Crispy Two Noodle Shrimp Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Short Smoked Grilled Salmon Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sesame Crusted Grilled Tuna Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Sandwiches

Coastal Lobster Roll [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cheddar Cheeseburgers [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Grilled Chicken & Havarti Cheese [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Coastal Shrimp Roll [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Fresh Seafood

Hickory Grilled Absolutely Fresh Fish [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Jumbo Lump Crab Cake [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Grouper Fingers [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pecan Crusted Trout [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sauteed Shrimp & Creamy Grit Cakes [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Short Smoked Salmon Filet [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Hickory Grilled Jumbo Shrimp [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Hong Kong Style Sea Bass [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Crab Cake & Filet Mignon [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Beef Ribs & Chicken

Simply Grilled Chicken [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Hickory Grilled Chicken Breast [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Wood Grilled Filet Mignon [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Drunken Ribeye [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Low Country Beef Back Ribs [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Sides

Cucumber Tomato & Corn Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Basil Redskin Mashed Potatoes [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cauliflower Mash [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Couscous With Almonds [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mediterranean Orzo Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Seasonal Vegetable [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sauteed Or Simply Steamed Spinach [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Great American Fries [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sweet Potato Fries [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Roasted Mushrooms [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Desserts

Key Lime Pie [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Warm White Chocolate Bread Pudding [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Old Fashioned Banana Pudding [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Warm Flourless Chocolate Waffle [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Visit below restaurant in Fairfax for healthy meals suggestion.

Einstein Bros Bagels ( 9490 Main St )

Visit below restaurant in Fairfax for healthy meals suggestion.

Einstein Bros Bagels ( 9490 Main St )

Write An Anonymous Review

Paul G.

4 Stars for food, service bumped it to 5. Ambiance: Lots good natural light, line of sight to the kitchen, separate bar area whose sound doesn't intrude on your meal, outdoor patio which was a great social gathering place. Service: Superb. Ordered the wrong appetizer (my mistake), which was comped. Knowledgeable waitress' imputs for drinks and food did not disappoint. Chef came to our table to apologize and explain the delay in our order, even though we didn't even realize the delay. Food: Drinks: Mango mojitos were epic. Complementary bread was like a donut...yum! Appetizer: Spinach artichoke dip with tortilla chips was a wrong order but still awesome. Entre: Wife got the lobster roll with sweet potato fries and mushrooms. All were the best I've had anywhere. Here's where it gets good: I got the filet and crab cake, and the filet was better than most steakhouses'. It gave me food euphoria with each bite. Crab cake taste was 8/10, not too swampy taste like other bay crabs, but the cake fell apart too easy. I cannot wait for our next visit!
(5)
Kate R.

I went with a friend. I'm told his salmon was most excellent. I had the lobster roll. It was really good, except they add celery to it, which it could really do without. Grilled corn was also good. Everything was either hot/cold as it should have been. Waiter was attentive and friendly.
(4)
Kareem T.

Honestly, service is very good, food quality is excellent! The shrimp sandwich is amazing and special! I wish to know how they marinated it! But the reason for the low rating is the limited and short menu and food options! So if you do like what you see on the menu, go for it and consider it's 5 stars. Atmosphere, decorations are amazing!
(3)
John E.

I have eaten in FFX Corner Coastal Flats 58 times since it opened--so my Quicken software tells me. I have eaten in the other great American restaurants probably equally. While the service of all the Great American restaurants is a hallmark of their success, the food quality in this Coastal Flats has gone down progressively over the years. Last night, two of our party of four became ill before we left the table. What we ate: Baby cake sliders-2 orders Jumbo Shrimp cocktail Filet mignon + Crab cake Fish Tacos (a new item) We did not want to finish our entrees of filet steak or fish tacos. I can only guess that it was the Baby cake sliders. I can also only guess that the demands on the kitchen are so great, that food preparation must be done so much in advance that crab is left out or treated. But that is not all: another of their fabulous entrÃ©es... Grouper fingers... Has been altered to something less. They are now fish fingers made from Cod, and much more heavily battered than they have ever been. What before was a chunk of fish with a light batter, now comes out looking like a hush puppy. Worse, it is the main ingredient in the fish tacos... Which in my mind should be grilled fish and not batter fried fish hush puppy wrapped in a flour taco. Perhaps this too is done to speed production in the kitchen, as is also evident by the buns a kilter and messy presentation when the food arrives---which the food always arrives amazingly quickly. If Yelp publishes this interview, perhaps restaurant management will recognize The fundamental disappointment in this review from a diehard fan of the restaurant chain. Food quality and cleanliness have apparently gone down in the rush to meet demands on the kitchen since you've opened. I, for one, will continue to enjoy the patio and the lively atmosphere around the bar, but in the last 15 years I've learned that the food quality standard has progressively slipped despite continuously amazing service.
(3)
Tiffany H.

Beautiful beach themed restaurant with great food! The staff was also very friendly and helpful in answering our questions. I ordered the Hickory Grilled Jumbo Shrimp and a side of sautÃ©ed spinach, all of which was deliciously satisfying. I hope to stop in again next time I'm back on the east coast.
(5)
Katie S.

Oh Coastal Flats, I love you. I have spent many a happy hours sipping mojitos on the back patio here over the years. CF is a solid choice of restaurant in Fairfax corner for sure, and although it may not my favorite of the GAR brand, it's a close second. I have to be in the mood for seafood, and since this GAR staple's focus, I really have to be in the mood to come to here. But when I am in the mood, it's a great place! They have a lobster roll and shrimp roll that are phenomenal, and then they have nicer dishes like the Hong Kong style sea bass or the shrimp and grit cakes that are also very good. I also love the nautical decor and you just can't beat GAR's customer service. Noteworthy: They take limited reservations for special holidays. Ex: Mother's and Father's day.
(4)
Sam W.

Met up with some friends here a couple weeks ago...like most of the Great American Restaurants, Coastal Flats is uncompromising in quality of food, spirits and most of all, service. They were extremely accommodating to our large party when we requested an out-door table to eat (we had been drinking on their awesome patio area and enjoying lighter fare for happy hour). Do not be surprised if you show up with out calling ahead or without getting a large party reservation, there WILL be a wait...this place is very popular and was crazy even for a Tuesday night past dinner rush. If you have a wait, don't hesitate to enjoy some of their awesome cocktails...one of the best martini's I've had, also a great old fashion. The food is a great play on coastal dishes with something for every pallet. I highly recommend the Calamari or Deviled Eggs for appetizer, Smoked Salmon Filet or Hong Kong Style Sea Bass for dinner...both are great but honestly none of their entrees look bad. They are efficient, courteous and have a really great ambiance...it is a worthwhile place to enjoy good food and good company.
(5)
Angelo R.

Let me start by saying..amazing! This restaurant is part of the Great American Restaurant group which I became a big fan. I was impressed by Sweetwater Tavern and this place was just the same. Nicely decorated huge dining hall, very busy bar and staff was very attentive to each guest that walks in. I strongly suggest to call ahead for a table cause when we got there at 8, it was about a 2 hour wait for a 2 top. Luckily, a couple of bar stools open and we just settled to eat at the bar. We ordered a couple of Margarita's to start and they were potent...and we are not complaining. On to the food: Pecan Crusted Trout (original citrus sauce served w/ couscous with almonds). I couldn't be more happier with my choice. Nice portion, perfectly cooked, nice crusty pecan bits and moist fish. Couscous were on point. I never had couscous this good...so flavorful w/ a nice touch of crunchy almonds. Almost had a mash type of consistency. My friend ordered the Wood Grilled Filet medium rare which I got to try as well. Again, moist reddish texture, nice grilled aftertaste. The side of brussel sprouts were delicious as well. Tender, buttery w/ touch of garlic cheese. Had an excellent experience at this restaurant. It is busy, long wait times but the food and service will compensate, its worth the wait. Can't wait to try another Great American Restaurant during my next visit to DC / VA.
(5)
Nathaniel C.

Mango chicken salad with candied pecans was delicious. Generous portion of chicken with light and delicious couscous and fresh greens. Exceeded my expectations for a Monday night at a suburban restaurant. Wait staff was efficient and friendly. No discernible angst. I'd go again.
(4)
Stefan S.

Love this place. Love the food; the atmosphere; the service, once you are seated. This is a very popular restaurant and don't go without a reservation. If you try at a peak hour to be seated without a reservation, you'll wait more than an hour and closer to two. Been to this location and also the one at Tyson's. I believe this location is more crowded pound for pound. Never had a bad meal here, love their desserts and for food especially their Lobster Rolls, as that is the dish I eat most often. This is a solid choice for dinner and we keep coming back because of the constantly good food, restaurant and place to dine. Highly recommend trying Coastal Flats if you've never been there before.
(5)
Lelee R.

This place is always good, but this time my ribeye was a little too salty. Their lobster bisque is always delicious. And so is their key lime pie (different than other key lime pies!). Employees are always friendly + the atmosphere is great. Location is very nice, too. Lots of shopping + fun at Fairfax Corner.
(4)
Jeff C.

Did someone say mashed cauliflower? Yes, you know you did, and this is the place where you should be scarfing those bad boys down. I know what you're thinking, foodie, "But I want my mashed potatoes." Trust me on this one, for the mashed cauliflower is so creamy, so buttery that you turn your back on Idaho's finest fare forever. And while you are experiencing Cauliflower Nirvana, you can convince yourself that you are eating healthy, for these beauties are often mentioned as a healthy option potato cousin...however, I'm certain that they bathe that pureed cauliflower in enough butter to counteract any health benefits but who cares...yum! As for the rest of the menu, Coastal Flats serves up some very tasty treats. However, I would consider opting for a sampling of appetizers and side, for you really do want to explore as much of the menu as you can. I had an order of couscous that was simply the best that I have had anywhere in the world..Sorry, Morocco, but you need to check out what they're serving up at Coastal Flats. The bar staff was friendly and efficient, and I immediately sensed that this was a place where the customer was treated like family. If I lived closer, I am certain that I would be here several times a week, but alas, we will have to save Coastal Flats for movie night. Even though it is a part of a chain, I am going 5 stars with this place, for it feels like anything but a TGI Fridays monstrosity!! No, this spot is serving up good food and fun all day long.
(5)
Mark S.

Fairly priced items. Went here with a group of people. I was actually going to an all you can eat korean BBQ place after this so I didn't order much at Coastal Flats. I ended up getting just a soup (Lobster Bisque). It was like $8 or $9.. a bit overpriced for a small bowl of salty soup. I probably won't be back as I am not a fan of chain restaurants.
(3)
Brooke B.

Good food. Very similar menu to Mike's American. We got the crab fritter appetizer that was soooo yummy. Husband got steak and I got pecan crusted trout. Yum.
(4)
Blair G.

The food here was as spectacular as the service. Came here with two others for dinner on a busy night. Parking options were pretty slim as there are many other restaurants nearby and I had to park on the other side of the lot, which was much further than I expected--at least it was a nice night! I was surprised to learn that there were no happy hour drink specials--just something to note. We did not wait too long, and while we were waiting there was plenty of space and a few seats to be had, something I always can appreciate. I had a kale caesar salad and boy was it spicy! The menu states that it is spicy, so don't underestimate the kick. Someone I was with had the shrimp cocktail, which looked amazing. It was full of shrimp and mango, served with about 8 saltines, and came in a martini glass. Very cool. I also had a steak with the potatoes. Everything was perfectly cooked and portioned. Our service was excellent and I don't think my water glass was ever empty. I would definitely visit again!
(5)
Sid R.

Its a great american that offers a different mix of cusine. Honestly, the place and the ambience get it 3 stars and then the choice of food and cocktails give it another additional. Overall a great fallback option when you want to stick to the safe culinary highways of American cooking. Sometimes we just go straight to the back, grab a drink and hang out on the porch.. nice!
(4)
Paul V.

The staff is great & friendly from the beginning & through the dining experience. But, outside staff wasn't great, not rude, but does Not match any of the inside staff. I enjoyed the wood grilled filet mignon. Grilled to perfection! A good steak is grilled just that way & never needs anything added to "enhance" the flavor. I enjoyed a few pints of the lager & truly pleased with it, too. Will return for some more great food & beer! Thanks for the great experience.
(4)
Wendy Z.

First time here and I love it!! We came here on a Sunday and it was not busy at all! I mentioned to my waitress that it was our first time and she was very helpful in recommending popular dishes! We got the shrimp and crab fritters as appetizers-super delicious!!! Ozzy bread is really good too!! My bf and I both had the lobster roll with an extra side of asparagus, omgosh, everything was very flavorful and tasty! I will definitely be back. Both service and food were great!!
(5)
Melanie G.

Not my thing. Or I just had a bad day there. My shrimps were over cooked and on my dessert I found a not so pleasant hair. My friends love the place. I still give them 3 stars for the afford for trying to apologize and trying to make things right.
(3)
Alice A.

4 stars for the food and service. While we had to wait over an hour to get a table, the servers were super nice and the food came out quickly. Everything is super fresh and comes in good quantities. We both (2people) had steaks and a salad with a shared desert and a quick sweet and spicy calamari plate as an appetizer. The wine list is pretty good with all types of wines. Definitely go for the trapiche malbec with the steaks, it was great. 1 downside : the noise level is bad. You can barely hear each other. They definitely need to fix the ceilings and add some noise cancelling material. I Recommend this place to anyone who wants a simple yet very tasty dinner. Just remember to make a reservation !
(4)
Amy R.

Coastal Flats is always a favorite of ours. Out running errands on a Saturday afternoon and thought we would treat ourselves to a nice lunch. Great American/Coastal Flats didn't let us down. Service was great as usual. Ozzie roles, and assortment of other breads were great as usual. Two Lobster Cobb Salads, Chicken Mango Salad and a chicken/pasta dish later - the four of us were very satisfied and had empty plates! We never tried the Lobster Cobb Salad before and were very pleased. A lot of variety in the salad, from the fresh, large chunks of lobster, a deviled egg, candied bacon, avocado, fresh greens.....it was really delicious. Will definitely consider that again!
(4)
Vincent V.

Was totally drawn here by the powers of Yelp, but was good, but good but not 5 stars good. The people were not all that friendly with seating me or waiting on me and overall the food was good, but lacking in overall flavor. Very nice donning area with comfortable booths. To eat I went with the kale caesar which was the highlight of my meal. Great combo of kale and caesar dressing that was paired with a mixture of bread assortment that was just okay. For my main course I went with the lobster roll and thought it was not the best presentation and was a little heavy on the mayo. Not bad, but not great. For all the mayo they added I kind of expected it to be flavorful, but that was not the case.
(3)
Melissa D.

If I could eat Coastal's salmon salad every day..I would. Yet again, one of the best meals my friend and I have had here. I love the food standards GAR portrays, never a let down. My salmon salad was on point (as always) and the drunken ribeye...fantastic. Thanks for another wonderful meal!
(5)
Hannah B.

Love going to Fairfax Corner Coastal Flats. We always go to Fairfax Corner Coastal or Ozzies and we love their food, service, waiters and bartenders are great. Know the bartenders and always good to chat with them as we sit by the bar side. We never had a bad drink or meals at any American Restaurants and will continue to go. Few of our favorite dish is Ahi tuna salad, Hong Kong style sea bass, filet of course and love their tangy calamari and always save a room for the best flourless waffle cake!! :). Jackson's is also a terrific place but just a bit far out of the way but hope to go there with friends real soon.
(5)
Kimberly S.

Great food! We had the deviled eggs, salmon salad. My husband had a chicken dish that he loved! He really enjoyed the cole slaw. Loved it all :-)
(5)
Ali R.

We had the best server. I believe her name was Ania. I'm not sure, but she was very sweet, everything came out on time, engaged in conversation. Made us feel welcomed. We will ask for her again when we come back to visit ;-)
(5)
Andrea R.

The reason I had to knock down my review was because of our last visit. Since moving to South Carolina we were very much looking forward to dining at our old favorite. We ordered the salmon plate as usual with regular mashed potatoes, however we were disappointed to find out that they no longer serve the salmon with the sweet grain mustard sauce; they switched it to a heavily mayo based, overly sweet sauce that neither my husband or I enjoyed. If it ain't broke, don't fix it!! We asked our waiter about it and he said they did taste testings and decided to change the sauce, honestly it tasted like a big blob of sweet mayo..yuck! Because of this I can no longer say the salmon plate is the perfect meal...it hurt to type that.
(4)
Olivia K.

Excellent atmosphere for a get-together with a group of friends or a casual date. Their mojitos are to die for! Try their salads for a healthy meal. Their back patio is a lovely place to relax in the early afternoon.
(5)
Lai S.

Good food, good price, and good service. I had the lobster roll my husband had the pecan crusted trout.. Was soo good!!! The corn that came with my lobster roll was to die for!!!! AMAZING the shoe string fries were also delish fried to perfection my husband even liked it and he isn't a shoe string fries type of guy! Pecan crusted trout is a party in your mouth cooked perfectly! Corn crab chowder creamy goodness! Will be back if we are in the area again! This place is love. We were seated immediately went on Sunday afternoon. Server was really nice even though our 2 yr old spilled a cup of water, he did not seemed the least bit bothered.
(5)
Tosha B.

I just came here with a friend for lunch and we sat outside on the patio. It was shaded and the wind was blowing and it was such a perfect day to eat outside. We started with their Ozzie rolls.....AMAZING and their firecracker shrimp. The shrimp was pretty good but not that much for the $10 price tag. It took me a while to decide what I wanted because EVERYTHING looked so good on their menu, but I went with the salmon and mashed cauliflower. It was sooooooo good! I ate everything on my plate and could have had more. Our servers were great, super friendly and attentive. I hadn't been here in a while, but I was reminded of how awesome this restaurant is and definitely need to come back more often!
(5)
Anna Laura B.

I don't even eat seafood and I love this place. The atmosphere is great, especially on warm days when you can sit outside on the back deck. The food is great and on par with many other GARs. Not being a seafood eater I really appreciate their variety of options. The only downside is the waits are typically long. Definitely call ahead if you are able, or try to stop by earlier on in the night to limit the wait times.
(4)
May B.

I recently came to Coastal Flats for dinner with my friends, I didn't realized how long the wait is just to get ourself seated. It took us over an hour! So if you plan to come during the weekend, make sure to book your reservation to avoid the wait! Staffs were very friendly and professional! My water were always being refilled on time and plates were taking away when promted. Now for the food, we started off with their bread, "ozzie rolls," amazing! We finish so fast that we had to ask for second. My friend ordered the salad for his entree and I ordered the Sauteed Shrimp & Creamy Grit Cakes, it was amazingly delicious. Their lobster looked very delicious as well, as I am a shrimp/lobster lover. So that will be a must eat for my next time visit. I'd give this restaurant more than a 5 stars if could.
(5)
Gregory B.

"5 Star Moustache" Intro: Coastal Flats is ran very well and is high quality. This establishment has made me a fan and definitely has 5 star potential Ambiance: Costal Flats is well themed. It's has great lighting and paintings. It's decorated nicely with this coastal, almost 1950s, theme. I noticed that all of the staff have a similar 1950s look. All of the guys have slick, short, trendy haircuts, and all of the females have pony tails. This one guy, who I assumed to be a floor manager, had an epic twirl moustache. As someone who appreciates a good 'stache, I wanted to give the restaurant 5 stars off of the awesomeness of his moustache. Food: I got the appetizer special, which was the fried oysters. They were golden fried with a very light texture. The dish was impressive. We were given fresh baked bread and this one bread, in particular was really good. It had the texture of a doughnut, but in the shape of a roll. We dubbed it the "doughnut bread " and it left both of us wanting more. As for the entrÃ©e, I got the pecan crusted trout and my gf got the crab cake sandwich. My pecan crusted trout was tasty, but it did not impress me. This is the reason why I'm giving the review 4 stars instead of 5. It had a unique flavor. It was sweet in some parts, yet tangy in others... like a lemon flavor, which made me feel as though the dish had an identity crisis. It came over couscous which was alright, but had a grits like texture. Also, I found the dish to be a smidge too greasy. My gf's crabcake sandwich was really good. it had a unique seasoning and came on the "doughnut bread." Lucky her. We split the flourless chocolate waffle as a dessert and we were both pleased with that dish. Customer Service: The staff here is really good. As soon as my drink finished, they would come over immediately with another. I can tell they work as a unit. The staff is pleasant, well mannered, and efficient. Conclusion: Coastal Flats is a definite winner! The entrÃ©e didn't put me over the 5 star edge, but it was good. I love a venue that can adopt a theme and execute it properly. I'm almost never in the Fairfax area, but now I know I have a go-to spot.
(4)
Scott H.

I mentioned in my review of the nearby Ozzie's Good Eats that the GAR restaurants share many similarities across their different brands. When you compare two locations of the same brand .... yep, you got it ... this is pretty much the same as the Coastal Flats in the Tysons I Mall, except you can park a lot closer and you don't have to run into mallrats when you head back to your car. Otherwise, expect the same great service, fantastic bread including the crack-like addicting Ozzie rolls, and good food that you get from the other GAR restaurants. And then there's the Lobster Roll ... one of the best I've ever had, and it's always seems to be fresher and tastier at Coastal Flats than at other GAR restaurants. (I'm looking at you Carlyle!) Quick story: In my review of Coastal Flats Tysons, I mention meeting an old friend for a business lunch there. We decided to meet again a few months later and he sent me an invite for Coastal Flats. I look at the address and see "Corner" and immediately assume it was Tysons, since we met there last time. You can see where this story is headed ... a few traded calls and texts later and I realize I'm at the wrong Coastal Flats.
(4)
Yishin S.

Love love their crab cakes and lobster rolls! The fritters is a must-have for appetizers. The lobster roll is stuffed to the top with lobster meat and the sauce is super delicious. The crab cake is the best I've had and I have tried a lot of crab cakes in Baltimore. The service is also very good.
(5)
Jefferson L.

Good east coast seafood. Nothing too fancy...or too far out there, but solid good food. Nice warm ambience too.
(4)
Kate H.

The Fairfax Corner Coastal Flats is one of our favorite spots for dinner. The service is always great, the food is always delicious, and the call-ahead seating makes the wait manageable. My favorite dishes ... * Hong Kong Sea Bass, served with sticky rice and spinach in a light broth ($24) * Grouper fingers, served with fries and cole slaw, plus yummy tartar sauce ($16) * Shrimp and Grit cakes, with ham, asparagus and a cream sauce ($17) * Mango chicken salad with grapes, couscous and spicy pecans ($15) The restaurant is generally pretty loud at both lunch and dinner, and most tables don't sit more than 4-6, so larger groups are tricky.
(4)
Adrienne L.

My boyfriend and I love Coastals! It has a super friendly atmosphere and it's very convenient to where we live. The food is pretty good and we have always had good service. It's great for large groups and families.
(4)
Cassy G.

we ordered the calamari which was awesome... but was dissapointed with the trout.. it was too rich. Cooked in butter all the way through. couscous was alright. I as famished before I got here but yet couldn't finish my entre. I have had the trout before but i don't remember it being this way.
(3)
Mrs CS K.

Food was delicious and the atmosphere is even better. The service is what makes this restaurant. Sandwiches and seafood are amazing. Definitely recommend this restaurant in Fairfax Corner.
(5)
Maggie F.

Awesome food and atmosphere!
(4)
G M.

I'm pitching in with the other hundred reviews just to say that atmosphere/food/service is outstanding, the only thing I'd like to see is a variation in the menu from time to time because it gets old after a while, I love the menu I'm just saying if they can run some specials from time to time it'd be great. For the other folks leaving bad reviews because there is a long line... can't you figure out why there is a line? This is a great restaurant and it gets packed!@
(5)
Jacqueline H.

Always have a pleasant time coming into this coastal flats location. Warm welcomes from the hostesses. I am most impressed with Kathy the hostess. Kathy always has a smile on her face no matter how busy or late the night gets. My go to dish is the hickory chicken on the angel hair pasta. Tastes just as good as the first time!
(5)
Critico G.

Great Yukon cocktail & shrimp & grit cakes. None better & I am from the South!!!
(5)
Steve T.

Great restaurant. All the hostesses always greet you and smile. Food is great, customer service is top notch. Happy hour is great , good spot to go to.
(5)
Jason K.

Coastal flats was an interesting seafood restaurant that was very kid friendly and short of breathtaking on the inside. Very nice waiters that are team oriented and understand the importance of helping out each other. Lobster bisque: was pretty creamy and sweet. Presentation and portion was nice for the price. I wish it was scalding hot for me, instead of hot. Jumbo lump Crab cake portion was Amazing and very good. I am obsessed with the crab cakes that my restaurant Babins serves, but this one was portioned well, seared nicely, moist, and most of all very delicious. I'm getting closer and closer to the source of great seafood. When I visit Virginia again, I will definitely visit.
(5)
Elina Y.

The food is too salty for my taste but I come to this specific location because of their outdoor bar. It is too delightful on sunny days. Their bartenders are sweet but the bar itself is so small, it gets cramped way too easily. =( Avoid coming here on holidays or late weekend nights unless you plan on scouting for an empty seat for half the night. But definitely ensures a good time if you can grab a seat at the bar.
(3)
Gurpal K.

I normally do not each seafood as much but this place changed my mind. Great food and it is very packed on the weekends but the bar takes care of the waiting!
(5)
Tiffany W.

Love this place. Great food, great service and great atmosphere. It is run by the same people who manage Sweetwater.
(5)
chris d.

Great service, great food, and great drinks. Appetizers are fantastic! The only drawback is that there will be a wait as this place is popular!
(5)
Gigi M.

Consistently always good. Good service. Great food. Friendly staff, great crowd. Only thing I could say is off... The silverware is always dirty. I guess they don't polish it, if they did the severs would notice when they roll it. But, try it out. You will without a doubt enjoy
(5)
F U.

Cons - a bit loud. Only con I can speak of. Pros - waiter was awesome. Courteous, efficient, and his recommendation was spot on. The rock fish was fantastic. Perfectly cooked and tasteful. Great place.
(5)
Meera A.

The restaurant is mediocre. It is definitely hyped up as a great restaurant when it's not worth the price they pay. Its a 50/50 chance you get a waiter/waitress there that you will enjoy and deserves even a 15% tip. The food is completely overpriced for what they give you. Their bar service is the slowest bar service I've ever experienced (the outdoor bar). Last time I went and told them my drink was too strong it took him 6 minutes to remake it, remake it as in dump half out and add pineapple juice to it. I got it back and told him it was still a little too strong, he replied, "you want your moneys worth." I don't want a strong drink, I'm not worried about a $7 drink, I want to enjoy it and I can't with it being this strong. It was rude, and so were most of our encounters with the services there. The hostess upfront told us we had a 45 minute wait once for a party of four, 10 minutes later someone they knew came in and they chit chatted for a minute and sat that party of 4 before us. They hire young, not very professional adults to do the job, and the job usually doesn't get done right. It's a great atmosphere don't get me wrong, but customer service to me is everything.
(3)
Ana H.

Went to Coastal Flats with good friends for dinner. Food was good. We had a reservation, but had to wait 10 min to be seated. We felt a little rushed to leave, by the servers stalking our table. Otherwise would have rated them higher.
(4)
John D.

OMG worst bar pour in the world! Ordered a martini and got. 1 oz pour! Lame explanation, wi never go back again, even though asked for management.
(1)
Dwight P.

A little pricey but the food is excellent. Very busy on a Friday night, they don't do reservations so we called ahead and still had to wait almost 45 minutes beyond what they told us. I had the Hong Kong Style Sea Bass and my wife had the Grouper Fingers, both were top notch. Key Lime pie was great too. The three stars are more about the long wait which I had hoped to avoid by calling ahead on the recommendation of the person who answered the phone but still had to stand around when we got there. I called an hour ahead and had to wait nearly another hour once we got there.
(3)
Nikki C.

I love coastal flats and they have never ever disappointed. Always fast, good, clean service. And foods always what it should be. Good portions, never lacking. Staff is very knowledgeable if you need help deciding. Great bread! Good atmosphere. Fun times!
(5)
Samantha S.

I love this place. You can't go wrong ordering anything on their menu. The service is always fantastic. You can customize every food order. They have the best calamari one can eat. Great lobster bisque, great crabcakes. Their filet mignon is wonderful. The Ozzie rolls are the best! For dessert the flourless chocolate waffle is terrific. The bad things are, it gets very noisy at night, there are long wait times (unless you do call ahead), you can't make reservations, and it is hard to have a group over 6.
(5)
Mark B.

Brought to you by the same group that owns Sweetwater and Carlisle Grill, the same clever menu, great food, fantastic staff, and long waits -- popularity has a price. I've been here four times, and always had a great experience. I particularly like the crab and rockfish fritters as an appetizer. Hell, next time I might order two and have them as my entree.
(4)
Locke Lamora L.

The HONG KONG STYLE SEA BASS Steamed with fresh leaf spinach in a soy sherry broth with sesame ginger, scallions & sticky rice was amazing tasting and presented very professionally. Very fair price.
(5)
Greg W.

Sweet water has a better menu, but Coastal is really good. Ozzy rolls are always awesome! The Hong Kong Sea Bass is very tasty; BBQ beef short ribs aren't so hot...they don't have much taste & weren't as moist & 'fall off the bone-ish' as advertised. Caesar salads are always really good. Hamburgers are consistently great. The lobster roll is top notch, but I'd prefer it with out all the mayo. The waiters always crack me up when they over sell the special of the day, which are always fish! Kind of annoying. Their beer choices are terrible. The house Pale Ale is decent, but they have cheep domestic beer like Budweiser, Bud Light, Miller....Imports: Amstel Light, Corona
(4)
Demetry P.

Awesome food, service and atmosphere. It doesn't get better than that in Fairfax. The food is always fresh and the restaurant itself is immaculate.
(5)
Kenneth C.

Just joy always incredible food great smiles and the shrimp and grits are to die for love coming back each day
(5)
Ben R.

A very solid addition to the great American restaurant chain. I am not a big fan of sea food but I still enjoy the other options on their menu. Their burgers are good and their chicken sandwich is enjoyable, but I wouldn't go out of my way for it. Definitely better than Ozzies but that's not hard.
(3)
Mary Ed T.

I enjoyed lunch last week with an old friend and we had a wonderful meal. The wait staff was attentive without hovering. The food was excellent. We had the hot artichoke dip appetizer--excellent!--and I had a pecan encrusted fish with couscous. Absolutely wonderful. I would recommend this place highly.
(5)
Gabriela F.

We visited Coastal Flats twice during the holidays. Once for our employee holiday party, and another time for a low key family outing. Never disappoints. We are constantly amazed by the quality of service and attention to detail every single employee shows. They truly show that they love what they do. The past couple of times we trieed: -filet mignon; first time trying it - delicious, juicy, mashed potatoes were amazing too. -salmon; so good we order it repeatedly -shrimp; on point! , and the waffle for dessert... will be ordering this every time! Everything else was delicious as always!
(5)
Jessica F.

Fantastic place! The crab & shrimp fritters are to die for. We both got the lobster roll which was also good, but we can't wait to go back and try all the other things on the menu that made our mouths water. My Lucky Lounge Lemonade was sweet, refreshing, and not too strong. The corn on the cob was amazing but messy and even the fries were tasty. The place is not too fancy for jeans, but you can dress up and not feel out of place. Going back soon.... :)
(5)
Jeff S.

Salmon is always cooked perfect. Actually now that I think of it, never not had a good meal here. Bar staff always demonstrates excellent customer service. Scenery is always good , if you know what I mean.. A+ rating
(5)
Patrick M.

Went there for my wife's B-day last sat. as always the food and service was top notch. I have never had the consistency of food quality over so long a period of time that Coastal Flats offers, my glass was always full and the service was outstanding. The steaks were cooked to perfection and the calamari was tender and tasty. The Lobster bisque is to die for, great place to unwind or take the family.
(5)
Kevin H.

Simply excellent. While visiting family (who were new to the area), I found this restaurant via Yelp. Reviews were excellent for both food and service, and we were not disappointed. Prices were also fair. We started with the Calamari, which was liked by all at the table, and finished with the Key Lime Pie, which was also fantastic. My wife had the Almond Crusted Trout with Couscous, which she loved. Sister had a burger with the Veggie Burger toppings, which included a guacamole she said was excellent. I tried the Sesame Crusted Grilled Tuna Salad, and ordered the tuna seared (very rare). We have been eating out a lot this summer as we have travelled from coast to coast, and this was EASILY the best dish I've had! Mixes greens, green beans, potatoes, excellent olives, etc., and the tuna was super tasty and seared perfectly. Wish I lived nearby, because I would be a regular! My only criticism would be that they need larger tables and/or booths for bigger parties. Booths hold 4 (maybe 5) comfortably, so larger parties get a booth with 1-2 seats pulled up to the outside edge. This could work, but the walkway is a bit narrow, so you feel like you are hanging out into the common space.
(5)
Elaine G.

This place was very nice, lots of seating and nice, fast servers. I had the crab cake sandwich and to be honest, first glance at it and didn't look that great, looked plain but once I bit into it, it was so juicy and flavorful! 5 stars for the crab cake sandwich but the reason I gave this place 4 stars was because the rest of the food my family ordered was only ok. My husband had the $20 lobster roll - not that great, not much flavor and all 3 of my kids had the salmon kids plate and same thing, not much flavor. However overall 4 stars for the service and my crab cake sandwich.
(4)
Lindsay W.

I go to Coastal Flats every time I'm in Fairfax. I love the salad with goat cheese. The donut rolls are irresistible. I haven't had a bad meal. The chocolate waffle is the best!
(4)
Mary B.

The food was perfectly prepared. I ordered the crab cake and filet mignon. It was cooked to order. The atmosphere was relaxing and our waiter was attentive and did not rush us. Great experience!
(5)
Oscar D.

I'd give a 5th star, but they only have one vegetarian item on the menu--a veggie burger. The veggie burger looked to be made on premises and was very, very good. Service was very good. But it is 2015, there should be more than one vegetarian item on the menu. The restaurant is in a very congested area, parking is a pain in the but. It is like an artificial downtown kind of area. Pretty odd layout.
(4)
Taleen K.

Never disappointed with this place. The crab cakes which I like to call "Crack Cakes" are seriously the best you will ever have and I have eaten all over the world. The food is always consistent and the service is great and always friendly. You really can never go wrong because ALL the food here is fantastic. On a summer day at the outdoor bar try the mojito it's to DIE for!
(5)
Ann S.

Love Coastal Flats! My new favorite is the two noodle salad with salt & pepper shrimp (I think that's what they're called). Love the chopped salad with a great buttermilk dressing (wish they bottled & sold it). Their lobster roll is better than any lobster roll I've had in Maine (sorry Mainiacs)...as good as what I used to get back in the day in Boston. My husband says it's too noisy so I have to go with friends (we try to get there before the rush or after). Great service, comfortable booths and really good food.
(5)
Rob B.

Great quality food for the price! The bread served by this family of restaurants is unbeatable. Restaurant is clean and service was great. The menu is primarily seafood dishes, but I got the "Simply Grilled Chicken". I loved it. One of the best chicken dishes I've had at a restaurant in long time. The chicken was perfectly cooked and moist and practically melted in my mouth with flavor. The whole dish was very light, and I didn't feel bogged down and fat after I had it. My only critique of the dish would be to have a slightly spicier option to give the chicken a kick, but it did taste excellent and was one of those times when it tasted just as it was described in the menu. Portion sizes are reasonable, and for three people (three entrees and an appetizer) it cost $54.00. This place does not disappoint! There will definitely be a return visit if I'm in the mood for this style of food. The Great American Restaurant family of establishments wins again.
(4)
Christa F.

I really haven't done this review justice.... As far as dining options in the Fairfax go, this is a winner in my book. I eat lunch here about once a month and I am never disappointed. The booths are comfy, the patio seating is comfortable, the bar area is comfortable.... I am always comfy, content and relatively happy here. The menu is varied enough to give you a nice selection, but not be overwhelming. I tend to stick to a few menu items that I know and love here. Salmon cooked exactly as I like it and the two noodle crispy shrimp salad are my favorites. I am also a huge fan of the decadent deviled eggs with maple glazed bacon strips. I can, and have eaten only this appetizer as a main course quite happily. During the Spring and Summer, this whole area gets mobbed, including Coastal Flats. Go early, go for lunch, or go at off peak. Otherwise you'll get PO'd at the parking situation, waiting situation, and generally irritating situation.
(4)
Sara L.

Womp womp womp..... While in Fairfax for business my colleagues chose Coastal Flats as our dinner. We all wanted seafood and was told this place is known for their seafood. Don't get me wrong I don't hate chain restaurants, but this place reminded me a lot of the O.G (Olive Garden) but with a seafood theme. All tables were booths...seriously nobody likes scooting over and making everybody move when you need to get out of the table. The menu was meh...pretty bland,nothing creative..mediocre was the best way to describe it. We had some Asian shrimp appetizer. Save your money and just get the shrimp from Panda Express. As for my entree, I ordered the jumbo lump crab cake with mashed potatoes and cole slaw. Well the market price "jumbo" lump crab cake was as disappointing as Selena Gomez's acting...sad. The crab cake wasn't even a cake it looked like a small lump of crab and mayo dollop on my plate. The mashed potatoes were dry and way too salty. Luckily, the cole slaw was pretty damn good and creamy. Kinda sad if the side dish is better than the main entree....
(2)
Brian G.

The food here was okay. I brought my extended family to this restaurant and everyone said "bleh" after our meal.
(3)
Carly C.

***3.50 stars*** Being that Coastal Flats is a branch of the Great American Restaurant chain, you know before even looking at the menu that it's going to be loaded with meat, fried things, and overly dressed salads. After my recent visit with a friend, I can say that it fit the GAR criteria perfectly. Not that this is too much of a bad thing. When I don't feel like crossing the border into the DC, I normally end up at one of the restaurants which hold the name. This being said... I really need to stop making the mistake of ordering their salads. Normally at chain restaurants I opt for something green (it's often a safe, not too disappointing option), but for some reason the restaurants in this chain can't control the dressing bottle. I swear each salad I've at these restaurants is more like lettuce soup than salad. Yuck! My favorite part of the meal I had here was the deviled egg appetizer. I'd been craving those things since Thanksgiving, so it was a very pleasant surprise to see them on the menu. Not only that, but they were great too! Nicely tart with mustard, and the maple bacon and caramelized pecans were a perfect compliment. It's a little embarrassing, but I ate four out of the six by myself. At least my craving was satisfied! :) As usual, the bread basket was great. If the GAR restaurants do one thing right it is their bread. Those little fried nuggets of dough just do it for me. Sooo yummy! They probably deserve the majority of the credit for why I keep going back to this chain. If you haven't had them, you absolutely are missing out. So, Coastal Flats is summed up in my book as a good place to go if nothing else looks good. The beer is served cold, the table bread is good enough to be a meal in and of itself, and the entrees aren't terrible (although not great either). Come to drink, relax, and eat lots of bread!
(3)
Stephanie J.

Coastal Flats is a steady player. While not typically creative on the menu the food and service are consistently good. I have been here numerous times without a bad experience. I've sampled most of the menu items and they are all winners. You can't go wrong with the lobster bisque, ozzie rolls and the shrimp appetizer. The crab cakes are good without a lot of filler. Coastal is a safe bet for a good meal.
(4)
Shannon R.

Love this place! I haven't had anything that wasn't great. The salmon is soo good, the spinach and artichoke dip is great, the lobster rolls are great too. Staff is also very attentive and friendly and the Ozzie rolls are my favorite.
(4)
Caroline A.

This is like eating at the Cheesecake Factory, but no brown bread. I asked them to please make sure my salmon wasn't overcooked, and it was. Good cauliflower mash though! Overall, not impressed.
(3)
Spencer H.

This is the first time I tried this location and it did not disappoint. Mike's pound for pound is in my top 3 restaurants and Costal is just an extention of Mike's American Grill. The food and service would make you think you were in a much more expensive chain such as Ruth Chris. Their Drunken Ribeye is mouthwatering. You simply cannot go wrong with Costal Flats!
(5)
Rebecca C.

Best service and you can't go wrong with the shrimp roll.
(5)
Alfreda D.

This is a go-to spot for me when I'm in town. I like to go to the bar area to grab a drink and appetizers. My brother is obsessed with the grouper fingers... they are plentiful, large and come with fries. The bar area is cool because it's low key, there are tvs all around, and you don't have to wait to be seated. The downside is that depending on the time and/or day it gets crazy packed. I was there on Christmas eve and it was open... just the right amount of people. I went back again on that Friday and it was a madhouse. We were still able to grab a drink at the bar and lean up against the side (definitley no room for seats). That's all we needed at that point because we just wanted to kill time before our movie started. That's another plus about this location. It's good to come in and out or kill time before or after a movie at the theater across the street. As for the regular menu... my brother in law put me on to this delightful combo... I ordered the grilled salmon salad and substituted the actual salad part for the chopped house salad. Yummmmm! It was really good and filling for a salad. The salmon has a healthy portion for sure. I recommend it!
(4)
Toulaphone C.

Great food and service. Pomegranate Margarita - YES! Tasty and not too sweet. Rolls - Addicting with the butter. Contain yourself from eating too many! Short Smoked Grilled Salmon Salad - This salad was very filling, with prefect champagne vinaigrette dressing, and the salmon is great when it's cooked medium. Also got the special that was on a Sunday, which was an appetizer that had seared tuna, wasabi, soy sauce and wontons, Tuna was nice and tender. Also got an entree that had Mahi Mahi with risotto and cream sauce on top, along with asparagus. YUM!
(5)
Victoria L.

I have been here a kagillion times and enjoy it each time. My best friend and I use to come here once, sometimes twice a week (before she was busy with a baby) because it was just a go-to spot that was convenient and had great food. Located in Fairfax Corners, everyone should know parking can suck. Weekends are a pain in the butt so I always avoid coming on weekends unless it was like before 3 pm because the wait is loooong. Customer service is excellent here which is definitely expected for a Great American restaurant. Love the hospitality employees show and how attentive they are. Obsessed, by obsessed I mean addict and by addict I mean it's like a crack addiction....the calamari!! The calamari is tossed in this sweet and spicy sauce that gives it a bit of a tang with a hint of sweetness, throw in some green beans and you get some BOMB.COM calamari. By far, my favorite is the calamari and it hits the spot each and every single time. Cheddar cheeseburger is consistently juicy each time, and you gotta ask for their buttermilk herb to dip the fries in. You will thank me. Drunken rib eye is the ultimate dishes of all dishes. They never disappoint with this delicious plate of goodness. Soft mash potatoes on the side and some extra ale sauce on the side..oh weee! All delicious and satisfying dishes. Oh and the warm white chocolate bread pudding is worth the extra calories. Consistently amazingly delicious food every time with top quality ingredients. Service is pretty fast and comes out in a timely manner. I always leave a happy customer and still craving more calamari.
(5)
Matt H.

The food was very good. My only complaint about the food would be that the spinach and artichoke dip was a little greasy. The service was very good as well. My biggest complaint about the restaurant is the noise level. The restaurant acoustics are horrible and due to the size and openness of the layout, it is very loud, so it's hard to have a conversation at the table.
(3)
F. N.

I am simply giving 1 star because the last experience I had at the Fairfax Grand Commons location was HORRIBLE, and I am not even kidding. It was my birthday and a Tuesday (Jan 20th) , so myself and my boyfriend were expecting it to go pretty smoothly, little did we know... The server who's name I cannot recall needed to have never been hired- his over-friendly attitude and lack of ability to pay attention was sad. I had to stop other wait staff and ask for refills multiple times, our server had walked past us 3 times and never refilled our drinks once. The app plates still sat on our table to almost the end of the meal, I got the distinct feeling that the other servers were tired "of picking up his slack". Admittedly, I have high dining standards because I used to be a server for years and years and learned what it takes to give top notch service- but I am no where near a demanding patron. After the meal was done and plates still on our table, the server (an asian-ish dude w/ a scar on his chin) tried what can be considered nothing short of pushing us into having dessert- it was my birthday and I refused to deal anymore with this incompetence- instead we asked for the check. The check (to be printed) took around 15 mins to get after that we paid w/ cash- that took another few minutes to get change made. The sad part is when the server finally dropped off the change he said "Here you go boss" to my boyfriend, but the change was also wrong! The saddest part of this whole event is that my (now) fiance was so annoyed with this experience that he waited until we left to ask me to marry him! What could have been a great meal and a proposal inside out, of the cold that night was ruined by another job given to the wrong douche! I worked for Great American Restaurants in this area and I was held to a higher standard at that particular location- I ask, What has changed!?!
(1)
Colleen B.

I've never heard of this place before. I stopped in for dinner and had the smoked bacon cheeseburger with havarti cheese. I was pleasantly surprised. It was more than I expected. Cooked to perfection and full of flavor. The thin cut fries were a perfect side. Be sure to try the round Ozzie rolls. They taste like zeppoles without the powdered sugar. Great food for a reasonable price.
(5)
Nana K.

I visited this fine establishment on New Year's Day before some much needed time with Mr. Wahlberg. We ordered a regular lemonade, lucky lounge lemonade and another lemonade that escapes me. The lucky lounge was ok, just too sweet and tart. It's usually my "go to" but wasn't so great today. The regular one was also too tart for my friend. The third one was just right. I wanna say it was the bourbon but not sure. Just know that it's the other alcoholic lemonade. I also had the hairy crab balls or blue crab shrimp fritters. They're so good I could have them everyday. My grind had the bread pudding with ice cream. One of the best bread puddings I've ever had. It's very delish. The bar tender also took off my lemonade which was really nice of him.
(3)
Peter S.

Had the crab cake and 5oz filet. The steak was surprisingly good for a seafood chain, but Ruth Chris has nothing to worry about. Just the same, the service was disappointing. Dining alone at 5pm I was followed in by a party of three to a mostly empty restaurant with multiple servers standing around. The table of three was seated first. I was then seated aside a party of six and a party of five that was seated to my immediate right. Yes, with an average of five empty tables surrounding me on my left, I was seated next to two large tables. Dinner was then served. No one asked how it was. My server walked around yawning. My plate was cleared and I proceeded to wait for the check while multiple servers lavished attention upon the larger parties to my right. In fact, it took as long to get the check and then have them process my payment as it did to eat. Lowered expectations....
(2)
Tim H.

Some people avoid this place and its ilk because it's a chain and therefore has a sort of sterility to it. I agree that you're unlikely to find something remarkable or unique here, but it's also unlikely you're going to get anything bad, and there's a place in this world for restaurants that give you exactly what you would expect. And without a doubt that place is Fairfax, Virginia. Indeed, Coastal Flats is a reliable good meal. Everything I've had has been good, nothing great. The drinks are unremarkable and a bit too pricey (clearly a high margin product). The space is nice and there's a lot of room so getting in usually isn't hard. The bar out back is pleasant on warm afternoons, but the drinks aren't interesting--the only question appears to be which fruit flavor you want your mojito. It's neither rowdy nor empty. The service has always been right on the money, as this place is clearly well designed and well managed. I marginally prefer Ozzie's just down the street but the difference is not large. Don't come here often. Come here when you're in the area and need someplace that will appeal to everyone. This is for those days when you don't really want to branch out.
(3)
Anna K.

My in laws and parents are picky eaters but they love this place. The price is decent and they have great food and service. My mom loves the bread here. Awesome Salmon, Hong Kong Style Sea Bass, and the Lobster Roll is fantastic in the summer. The steak is great but it's a little salty at times. Their salad with champagne vinaigrette is awesome.
(5)
Kate P.

I've been to Arties as well and I think both restaurants are fabulous. I haven't even tried that many items on Coastal's menu but I tried the fish fingers and they were awesome. Great bread and chocolate waffle, although staples at other GARs. Service is always exceptional. Clean, fun decor. Outside seating available. Can get busy, and parking can be a challenge as it is in a busy, high traffic complex.
(5)
Gloria S.

A nice chain, good service, food okay for the price. A struggle to find Gluten Free, Vegan stuff, but to be expected. Nothing special, would only return if I had to, won't make a special stop. AND, yes, I had to.
(3)
Tim D.

This is one of the two great American restaurants in Fairfax corner (the other being Ozzie's). This restaurant has a concentration in seafood and the ambiance is typical of such a restaurant. The food is pretty good, especially some of the appetizers and soups such as the lobster bisque, the deviled eggs, and the coastal roast chicken salad. For the main course, I've tried the lobster roll but like most restaurants at this price point the lobster was completely overcooked and chewy. One of the best features of this restaurant is the outdoor part in the back (there is also an indoor bar for the cooler months). The patio is filled with rocking chairs and tables overlooking an over-sized chess board. When the weather is nice, there is nothing better than sitting on this patio with a nice cool mango mojito in you hand. I hope you have the opportunity to experience that!
(4)
Robert M.

Love it! My absolute favorite is the shrimp and grits cakes. I am not a grits person, but this dish is to die for! My wife likes the drunkenly ribeye; it's a bit strong on the marinade for my taste, but it is good. Check out the creamed cauliflower if you've never had it (here or anywhere else). A definite repeater for our family. The calamari is superb, too.
(5)
Ivanka V.

If there is one word for this place, it would be PERFECT. The atmosphere gives off the airy delightful feeling of a summer vacation on a cruise: warm lax feeling (tacky decor but still does the job), fresh food, fun cocktails, and the servers serve with a smile (Now that alone takes some serious effort people. When was the last time you were genuinely happy to see someone you just met? NO. Job interviews don't count). Dining in the patio is a MUST. The service never cease to amaze me. It's obvious the servers put in a ton of effort pampering their guests although it's depressing watching some people abuse it. Brenden (tall dark and veerry handsome) is phenomenal. Despite juggling 60 other tables he still managed to fulfill little requests and has a keen eye for microscopic details. Maintaining tables with rounds of full glasses is a chore, but a fresh glass of soda just because the current one "looks" flat? WOW. Hot foods are always delivered hot, and cold foods are always delivered cold. Whatever the temperature may be, you are guaranteed to get it fast and fresh (despite the crazy rush hour). ** (complimentary) Bread + rolls. Raisin bran, cheddar with jalapeno peppers, and rustic Italian are all fresh and tasty. The donut holes on the other hand, super addicting. Yes, these are complimentary and unlimited refills (Perfect for those of you feeble minded people with no shame of filling up on the free stuff!!) ** Lobster bisque is wonderful. It's just the way a lobster bisque should be: smooth, creamy, and a ton of lobster and crawfish bits. ** Blue crab fritters are delicious. Lump crab meat covered with a crunchy spiky exterior. Sitting on top of lobster ginger sauce. Don't let the exterior scare you. Although it looks like something that can paper-cut you, it won't. ** Drunken rib eye is to die for. ** Pomegranate and pineapple mojitos are fantastic. Made with fresh mint leaves and just enough sweetness to it. A bit pricey, same price and half the amount you get elsewhere. ** Flourless chocolate waffle. Sinfully chocolaty and flourless, so you can indulge without the guilt. For those of you who complain about the dreadful long wait, STOP YOUR BITCHING. Guess what you're actually waiting for- Other customers to get up and leave. It's not the restaurant's fault there are people out there who likes to camp at empty tables.
(5)
Miyuki L.

Another Great American Restaurant I love. The Deviled Eggs w. Spiced Pecans & Sugar Cured Bacon are sooo good! Who knew deviled eggs could be so good!? Coastal Lobster Roll, Short Smoked Salmon Filet were great and you cant go wrong with the Drunken Rib Eye. The mojitos are so good. Love the outdoor seating.
(4)
Jenn R.

My husband and I have been going to Coastal Flats for many many years and have always received the same prompt and attentive 'Great American Restaurant' customer service they strive for in all of their restaurants. Our recent visit to Coastal was quite disappointing. In all honesty, my husband and I selected Coastal because we knew they would serve us good food pretty quick. We were sure to call ahead and our wait at the restaurant was about 20 minutes - which is typical on a summer Saturday night. Where my disappointment began is when our pager went off. I went to the hostess stand to let them know it went off, and then was basically ignored for about 10 minutes. There were 3 employees at the back of the hostess stand (and 2 hostesses actually greeting customers at the front) who stared at computers and didn't even acknowledge me or any other customer who may have had a question. During our meal we were never checked on, had to request drink refills and my husband, who ordered steak, was not given a steak knife and I had to request it after his food arrived. I also noticed during our meal that there was a girl (hostess?) walking around giving an update on the status of tables via an earpiece/microphone. Her comments were loud and many customers noticed and commented about her - as she came by every couple of minutes and said things like "table 32 should be leaving soon". I understand that they need to communicate this to the hostesses seating people, but the girl walking around was quite loud and more subtlety should be observed. What was most appalling was the bathroom - the toilets were dirty, paper was all over the floor, and most stalls had no paper left at all. I actually had to grab a roll and pass it to a woman (complete stranger) who needed some for her young daughter. All in all I was quite disappointed in our experience. The food was still good, but because our experience was so lackluster, Coastal Flats will now be removed from our short-list; a shame since it was where my husband and I had our first date.
(2)
Trevor F.

Overall, the food and service were excellent here. Our server and the staff were attentive and pleasant. They smiled and made eye contact every interaction. The place was packed and crazy at 7pm, as I'm sure every restaurant was the day after Christmas (since no one wanted to cook). There were at least 20 people waiting. With that said, somehow my party of 2, with an infant, was sat almost within a few minutes of arriving. While waiting, we never received the bread that other reviewers have stated is sooo good. So, we asked for it, and our server promptly brought it out. I wondered if maybe it wasn't free, but it was. The bread did not disappoint. It was some of the best restaurant bread I've had, and even better was the sweet whipped butter - wow. I got the fish and chips because it was less expensive ($16), and all my expectations were exceeded. First off, the batter they use is amazing; never before have I tasted such delicious batter -- so flavorful and light. Second, the portion was huge and way more than I expected. Lastly, I asked if they had any unique sauces since all they brought out was a plain tartar sauce. The runner suggested the lobster sauce, and it added a nice zing to the fish. The fries were a little disappointing, too thin for my liking. But wow, I was pleasantly surprised. While this restaurant is not that unique, I feel like it would be a reliable place I could take my parents. I think they would really enjoy it over some of the more adventurous places I like to eat.
(4)
Amanda K.

My husband and I came here with some friends for my birthday dinner and drinks. We had done the call ahead seating and that worked out perfectly. Our server was very attentive and accommodating to one of my friends who showed up later. The rolls here are always yummy and we had order calamari as an appetizer. I thought it was just okay since I think Jackson's calamari taste better. Therefore, you may ask yourself...what you should order here. One word. Salmon. The salmon was so good and I like the fact you can order is the way you like it. I got my medium rare and I loved the smoked hickory flavor. My meal came with cauliflower mash which was good but I didn't care for the mustardy sauce. My husband had ordered the steak and crabcakes. I tried some of the steak and it was meh. But I always wonder why you would order anything but seafood at a seafood place. To each their own. Now since it was my birthday my husband had my friend ask the waiter when I went to the restroom for a birthday surprise dessert. The waiter had the chef make up a chocolate waffle with ice cream. The plate had chocolate sauce that spelled out Happy birthday. It was nice but they charged us for this. Now, if we were going to be charged for a birthday dessert that is fine, but let me at least pick out what I want. BTW, the chocolate waffle dessert was not worth the money. Forgot to mention that everyone's meal was given to us all at different times. I hate waiting on everyone to have their meals before starting to eat!!! Meal fail for sure! After dinner we headed outside for drinks. The patio bar is really nice and great for people watching. I love to watch all the men trying to score with the ladies. I did get mad at the bartender when she tried to cut me off. My husband and I had started a tab and I was getting drinks for him and I. Anyway, she tried to say that they have a 6 drink minimum and wasn't going to serve me. I had never heard of this and my sister in law I told her the tab name and said that I wasn't drinking all those drinks. Uggh stupid! FYI, the tab name was under my husband who has a man's name. Fail! Do not try to cut me off and worse it was my birthday celebration!
(3)
Kyle F.

The atmosphere and food is decent, don't expect a 5-star quality meal--you know what you expect to pay and get before you walk through the doors. The layout of the place and the boots is wonderful. The reason why I gave the place a 3 vs. 4-star rating is the lack of waiters/waitresses. I thought the attentiveness of the waiter/waitress staff was mediocre at best. Don't come in with high expectations and expect for long waits in between "visits" from your waiter. I went on a weekday and it wasn't exceptionally busy, I find no excuse for this poor customer service. Parking is a mess in this area, I recommend you show up early to get a good spot or park on the outskirts and just walk to the restaurant. There's a lot of impatient drivers in the area.
(3)
Brendan B.

I'm a huge fan of the Great America Restaurant's, I've been to most of their places. And just like the rest of them, this place has about 80% the same menu as the other one's, with about 20% unique items. It also has the same great service as the other one's. The menu that's unique to Coastal is mostly the fish dishes. The Salmon's the same, but they have a pecan trusted trout that is incredible and the Hong Kong Style Sea bass is good too. Pretty much all the fish dishes here are great. My favorite appetizer they have is deviled eggs with candy bacon - it's incredible! The downsides here really are just reflective of the area they put the restaurant in. The parking can be awful, the restaurant is always loud and crowded. The wait is a killer also, we tried going last Friday at 6pm and called ahead at 515, we still ended up waiting almost an hour and a half from the time we called - and that's pretty typical for this location. In addition, this particular restaurant is very, very loud - too many people in a tight space and poor acoustics. The food is good, service is great, location not so much. I still prefer Artie's...but if you're in for a seafood kick, this is a good place to try.
(4)
Kaitlin E.

This place is supposedly a seafood place but the best ribs that I have EVER had were here. The meat just melted off the bone! mmmMMMmmm
(4)
Deborah C.

Two female acquaintances sat at the bar & asked for separate checks, bartender put both peoples orders on one check. He then tried to tell each of us we could pay half with credit cards. 2 people, 2 separate checks at the bar Please!. This caused a problem since I paid with my card and the other female got theirs free and didn't pay me back. This could have been avoided if bartender had done what he was asked and given us each separate bills for what we ordered. Then we each would have paid our own bill. I wasn't happy. We came in after 6:40pm May 12, the bar wasn't busy and not many people sitting at it. The food was good. Service is not what it should be and I wasn't happy leaving a 20% tip, on top of paying for the other persons drink and food on my card. We are two female acquaintances, so it was appropriate we got separate checks like we requested. Food was good, service Needs to be better. Service not being up to par is a constant problem going here at the bar or sitting at a table. Your not asked if you want desert, coffee or tea at end of your meal, it takes forever for them to let you pay and leave. No one is wants to go out to eat and need to talk to management because service wasn't good it ruins your dining experience. People need the tip they are not paid enough doing the job with out it, so they really need to pay attention to what the customers asks them to do and what their job is. No one wants to be not nice and not leave 20% tip but I just felt like I pay a tip for what I didn't get going here always. That makes me go here less and less. Love the food at Great American Restaurants, decorating, really need to get wait staff doing their job correctly.
(3)
Cat D.

This tends to be really popular, and for good reason. It's usually crowded for the lunch and dinner crowds, so try calling ahead if you don't want to wait! The atmosphere is really casual, and all the servers/workers are really friendly and helpful. I personally prefer this spot for lunch, but that's only because the entrees don't really "do it" for me - though don't get me wrong, they're delicious. All the selections are great, and if you have an appetite, order off the appetizer and entree menu. Some of my favorites are the blue crab fritters (a specialty with a sauce to die for) and the calamari (it's sweeter and tangier here than most places), and then on the entrees, all the steaks are good, but I'd also venture out and try the seafood. However, my favorite course is dessert. Definitely try the flourless chocolate waffle with vanilla ice cream and almonds (I order it every time), or try the creme brulee.
(4)
AL K.

great hacienda type of ambiance.place is usually packed so make reservations. menu is simple and would be great if they add something new. since this place is one of my local favs I must have ordered and tasted pretty much everything on the menu. great service!
(4)
Shadow M.

Coastal Flats is one of our go to restaurants on date night or with friends/family. We especially like their chop house salad, drunken ribeye, shrimp (or lobster) roll, sweet potato fries and crispy two noodle shrimp salad. Of course, the ozzie rolls! All tables are in booths. The food and service have never disappointed us.
(4)
Kelly P.

Review for gluten free options: Overall: Very accommodating with a gluten free menu that offers a wide range of dishes. Veggie Burger - some combination of black beans, beets, and some other ingredients topped with a slice of cheese and large scoop of guacamole. It was one of the better veggie burgers I've eaten and had great flavor. It also came with a side of shoestring fries. Steak Tips w/ Gluten Free Pasta - Kind of heavy but very satisfying. I couldn't tell the pasta was gluten free (which is a good thing). We paired this with a side of mushrooms and it was delicious together! My only wish is that they eventually offer gluten free Ozzie rolls. It is so hard to watch the other people at my table stuff their faces with them because the rolls are so good.
(4)
David H.

I was here for lunch a few weeks ago and realized I forgot to write a review until now. This has the feel of a chain restaurant with a large and somewhat varied menu which is a little pricey for lunch but is still tasty. The bread served before your meals is quite tasty, with fried bread balls that are similar to beignets or donut holes without the sugar. As for the entree, I had the sauteed shrimp & creamy grit cake. This is a good amount of shrimp with ham, roasted corn, asparahas, peppers, and sweet onions in a cajun cream sauce with a grit cake in the middle as opposed to being served on a bed of grits. This was enjoyable but a little heavy for lunch so be warned you might nod off in a boring afternoon meeting. The parking can be tough due to location in the mall and service is freindly but this lunch takes a little longer than most. i enjoyed my meal and might return if I was in the area and had some time for an enjoyable but little bit pricey lunch.
(3)
Pablo Q.

I can't say enough good things about Great American Restaurants. I have never had a bad experience at any GAR, but Costal Flats is by far my favorite! Their grilled salmon is amazing and the accompanying cauliflower is made to perfection every single time. I used to dislike cauliflower, however Coastal Flats makes me look forward to that as much as the salmon! Chefs recommendation is order medium. The drunken ribeye is what I have been ordering here lately though. Quality meat cooked to order with lots of flavor. It's a large portion (14 oz. of meat) so most may not have enough room for dessert afterwards. The best dessert in my opinion is the white chocolate bread pudding! The warm flourless chocolate waffle is my second favorite dessert here. The servers are amazing! Always smiling, pleasant, and attentive to ensure you are taken care of. Thanks so much, Coastal!
(5)
Magic Mark L.

The food was okay for a chain. Its in the Fairfax corner complex, so we wanted to grab some food before catching a movie. I had the chopped salad, add blue cheese, which was just okay, and also the crab cake, which was good - it just wasn't very much food on the plate. I'd go ahead for a drink but probably that's it.
(2)
Sapna B.

I love The Great American Restaurants. Aside from the wait time, I never have any complaints. Coastal Flats I think is one of my favorites. I've been here SEVERAL times but never wrote a review so here it is! My fiancÃ© knows this is my favorite restaurant so he surprised me on Valentine's Day yesterday by taking me here! First of all, those bread rolls are amazing. I am not a big bread or rice person, but I could eat those rolls all day long. For appetizers we opted for an Oyster Special they had going on. I'm not a big fan of Oysters or Bleu Cheese which were both in in the dish (but my fiancÃ© is a fan of both) but I still thought it was pretty good. For dinner I got the Crispy Two Noodle Shrimp Salad, omg so good. I am NOT a salad girl but this is one salad I will eat! My fiancÃ© got the Hong Kong Style Sea Bass which he polished off. I love that sherry asian style broth. And for dessert we got none other than their Flourless Chocolate Waffle which never disappoints! I could do without the whipped cream and almonds, but I can always skip around that :) I will definitely be back several more times!
(4)
Dave E.

Our dinner here was terrific, so much so we came back the next night with family friends . Everything was just as good the second time But I have to mention our server-- Andrew ! He went above and beyond to accommodate and provide the best service possible to our group of 8 ! Can't say enough about his efforts to make our evening so pleasant. Great food as usual but his service was the icing on the cake!! Dave E.
(5)
Susan H.

Before dining here tonight, our one and only experience with Coastal Flats was a few years ago at the Tysons location. We were underwhelmed with both the menu and the service. The menu was very limited back then and the service was indifferent. Tonight we noticed that the place is seemingly losing its identity. At one time the menu had been all about the seafood---not anymore. Now there are several menu items that can be found at other Great American Restaurants. For example, the meal we had tonight, we could have had the exact same thing at Jackson's! IMO, with a name like Coastal Flats, why not make it all about the seafood with perhaps a beef or chicken entree or two for the non seafood eaters? That said, the food was good. My husband had the salmon dish and enjoyed it. I had the Hong Kong Style sea bass---it, too, was good. We started off with the deviled eggs---again very well done. The service was excellent---very friendly, prompt and attentive---no complaints. It's just that I would have liked to see a menu that was more unique to Coastal Flats. Lately, it seems that the Great American Restaurants menus are beginning to blur to the point where there is very little to distinguish one place from another. Maybe this was done in the hopes of widening their customer base---I don't know. However, I do wish that they would allow each restaurant brand to be unique. In other words, if I go to Jackson's I want to see a different menu from Coastal Flats, etc.
(3)
Andrea G.

I love going to this location. The food is always delicious and every single waiter/waitress is well trained and provides excellent service. The food prices are in my opinion, almost too affordable for the wonderful food you will receive. We go here whenever we can.
(5)
Kathleen C.

Fine place to enjoy some deliciously prepared salads and other dishes while experiencing outstanding service! Try the 2 noodle shrimp salad- it is always tops on my menu with crispy salt n pepper shrimp and some mango chunks over tossed salad greens and some cooked, soft noodles. I always get the dressing on the side. Another fab salad is the chicken with candied pecans and dried cranberries. Service here used to be sketchy 4 years ago, but over my last 6 visits that has not been an issue! Before you finish half of the most delicious freshly brewed Luzianne unsweetened iced tea another glass is set down and you don't have to ask for lemon!! The other wonderful treat is in the bread basket which usually includes some sour dough bread, several hot donut holes, and a pecan studded bread that has everyone grabbing for their favorite. My family has tried other entrees - mostly fish with rave reviews. I don't think you will be disappointed with the well prepared food. This is one of the better choices around the busy restaurant area in Tyson's Corner Mall.
(4)
Charity W.

Food has never disappointed however the ambiance is boring. You come into the restaurant and it's an endless sea of booths. Nothing special about the decor. The food, however, has always been good. The service is good too- the last time we were there, the server got down to eye level with my 6 month old son and talked to him almost each time he came back to the table. At first this was sweet, but after awhile we weren't sure if he was trying to get a good tip or genuinely enjoyed children and neglecting his other tables. I think they are fine because they seem to be adequately if not over-staffed. And other servers took over when needed.
(3)
Neal E.

Coastal Flats is a restaurant owned by Great American Restaurants - the same folks that brought you Mike's American Bar & Grill, Artie's, Sweetwater Tavern, and Carlyle Grand Cafe. Coastal Flats is located in the Fairfax Corner retail shopping complex in Fairfax. It's a stand-alone building with a nice outdoor patio area in the rear. The place is almost always crowded, so be patient and prepared to wait a bit for a table. I've eaten here 4-5 times and the food has always been very good. The Calamari is the best I've ever had. It's lightly fried with a crisp coating that is a meld of spicy and sweet flavors. Some crisp string beans are also tossed into the mix and give a nice variation in texture to the dish. The Lobster Bisque is another favorite. It's creamy, rich, and full of lobster flavor. The Warm Goat Cheese & Spiced Pecan Salad is a must try. I can't keep away from this salad! It's a mixture of mixed field greens, sun dried cranberries, tomatoes and champagne vinaigrette. The seafood dinner entrees are outstanding! I've tried several and never have I been disappointed. The Short Smoked Salmon Filet is a favorite - I had it cooked rare and it was wonderful! I've also had the catch of the day a couple of times - Rockfish once and Mahi mahi another time. I've also had the opportunity to taste the pecan crusted trout which was also very good. The wine and beer selection is very good - a variety of beers are available from domestics, imports, and locally craft brewed selections. The wait staff has always been attentive, fun, and friendly. The place can get a bit noisy at times. but it has an airy, wide-open beach like ambiance, and when you look around, everyone appears to be laughing, talking, and smiling as they enjoy their food and company. I highly recommend Coastal Flats for dinner for any occasion!
(5)
Marie B.

Consistently good foods and service!
(4)
Ann K.

I've been here plenty of times before but have only ordered appetizers, so today, since I came for a company lunch (yay, free lunch!), I decided to try an entree. Being not a huge fan of seafood, and this being an all-seafood place, it was a little difficult finding something that didn't seem so seafood-y. I wound up ordering the shrimp and grits (I can't remember the fancier name they used for it, but that's essentially what it was) and the crab and corn chowder, both of which were really good. Despite the restaurant being extremely crowded, the waiters did a terrific job of staying on top of refilling our drinks and clearing our empty plates. I've never had a problem with one of the Great American Restaurant chains so having a good experience here was nothing unexpected.
(4)
Jenn K.

Not a fan of Coastal Flats by any means. However.... If you decide to go here anyways- here are two good things (the only good things) I have to say about it: The Bread! (see my Jackson's Mighty Fine Restaurant review) mm mm good Key Lime martini- a few sips of paradise engulfed in a graham cracker rimmed glass
(2)
David S.

We decided to try this place after watching a movie at the Rave Motion Pictures on Palace Way. As many Yelpers have pointed out, parking is an issue. There is not enough parking slots in the shopping center. We parked close to the movie theater and walked over to Coastal Flats after the movies. It's a huge restaurant with lots of seating and a good size bar area for a drink while waiting for a table. Bartender was quick with the drinks. Our server was friendly and fast with our order. This place has a beach theme, but the menu offers more salads, sandwiches and meats than seafood dishes. Also considering the price, we thought the food was okay. The crab and shrimp fritters were okay. The deviled eggs were good but we don't think we will be paying $7 for them next time. We weren't impressed with the $16 fish fingers. The fries, tartar sauce, and coleslaw that came with the fish fingers were average. The sea bass was pretty good, but we thought PF Chang's has a better version. Overall, we thought it was okay.
(3)
Kelsie K.

What incredible customer service!!! Got seated quickly with my party of 5, great drink and dinner menu options that my whole party enjoyed- I personally didn't enjoy the Sea Bass, but I got to sample everything else and was completely satisfied!
(5)
C R.

This is a great place. CF is in a great area. The environment inside is great. The staff is extremely nice and everyone is helpful, even those that are not your main server. The ozzie rolls are a great way to fill up. Also had calamari and the night's special, firecracker shrimp or something. I wasn't a big fan of the shrimp b/c they gave you so little, but the calamari was good. I had salmon with mashed potatoes, which was flavorful without being overwhelming. Would probably go again..on very special ocassions, when I'm willing to be generous with my money.
(4)
Kun K.

Its only good for the first two or three times that you go here especially after you've eaten at other Great American restaurant establishments such as sweet water. Although they have a nice little patio bar for those that wish to drink outside on warm summer days, there is NO Happy Hour drink specials and most of the crowd is nothing but a bunch of 40-50 year people, so its not for the young and fun...
(3)
Elliot M.

Incredible food! I wish there were more drink 'specials' but it doesn't stop me from coming back.
(5)
Steve M.

Another Great American Restaurant. Quote of the day from my wife about her Grits and Shrimp, "This has got to be the best tasting thing I've ever eaten." Highly recommend this place. Not inexpensive but excellent service and food.
(5)
Christopher G.

I just relocated from Philly (not the burbs) and I've been here over five times in four months and have always had a great experience. The customer service at Coastal Flats competes with that of Wegmans on their best day. Everyone is happy, engaging and genuine. Oh, I forgot they have food too....not one bad dish so far. The place is clean...the kitchen is open so you can see the hustle....and the drinks are creative. I just hope this isn't the best Fairfax has to offer. Until I find out great places Coastal will continue to see my smiling face.
(4)
Victoria S.

I am not so fanatical about Coastal Flats as most. It just seems like a slightly better Friday's and very pedestrian. Every Great American restaurant has the same food. They don't even try to offer a single vegetarian item on the menu. I have actually ordered 3 sides as a meal. It wasn't bad but they didn't even put them all on one plate after I told them I was a veggie. Not a one except a small salad with goat cheese which is clearly not vegan-friendly. The service is the one redeeming quality. They always have a legion of servers swarming around with extra bread or refills of a drink. I tolerate it because a lot of people I know love it. Not impressed.
(3)
Richard D.

The family went to Coastal Flats for Easter dinner and had a great time. The staff is always very friendly with every greater or server we passed saying hi or "have a good evening" as we left. We had an issue with my daughters steak coming out more well done than she liked but it was replaced promptly. The manager came by to deliver the meal personally and was extremely nice. Their prices have increased a bit over the last couple years, so we only go there on special occasions. We would visit much more often if prices came down a bit.
(4)
Shannon A.

I got sick here. Overpriced crap. But hey, the place is very nice and the rolls are excellent. Great environment, with the standard 2 hour wait...why?!?!
(1)
Steve N.

This a fun seafood themed restaurant with great service. The wait for a table can get long on busy nights. If you prefer, hostesses can take your cell phone number and give you a call when your table is ready. There are two bars, a large bar inside and a bar and several tables outside on their patio which is typically open May to November. This is a restaurant not a bar so they don't serve alcohol with energy drinks or jÃ¤ger. Hong kong sea bass is delicious.
(5)
Faith C.

I tried the Hickory Grilled Chicken Breast for the first time last night and it was very tasty. Scott and Alexa are the two bartenders I've seen more now than ever before and they're good people. I'll miss being able to walk to Coastals in Fairfax Corner!
(5)
Wesley K.

Went there on Sunday afternoon around 2 and got seated right away. Ordered our food enjoyed the bread and calamari, however my wifes dish came out as something different from what we ordered. Manager came immediately and apologized and said she'd handle it. She gave us a salad while we waited for the food and then came the receipt. To our surprise, we weren't charged for my wifes dish. Food was good and service excellent.
(5)
Hung T.

Quick review cuz all i had was a mojito. But things i noticed: - Expensive ass mojito (but it was good)!! - Slow service. We waited for our waitress to come back and it took forever!! She was too busy cleaning to notice us trying to get her attention. - Looks like a pretty pricey place (kinda like a more expensive Cheesecake factory)
(3)
Andrew H.

Meh, a mediocre experience to a seafood restaurant. Maybe I've eaten here too often, I did like this place years ago. Whenever I come here though I feel the menu is rather bland, and so is the food. The last time I came, I left rather unsatisfied for a $30 meal. The Halibut dish I got was pretty bland and all it had was pesto sauce, something anyone can make. I left feeling underwhelmed and probably won't come back for food here.
(2)
Dynne S.

Lobster roll is the best for VA, and generous in portion
(4)
Scott S.

great food and atmosphere!!!! Servers are always friendly and fast which is nice! The only thing that is disappointing is the portion sizes, for the price you pay I feel like the portions should be larger, so you can take some home. The wait is sometimes long on Friday and Saturday nights however the bar menu is great!
(4)
Hee L.

If I want a good lobster roll I will come to Coastal flats. I mean this is Virginia. Where the heck do you get good lobster in Virginia? I've had a friend stay the weekend who is born and raised from Boston. (thick accent and all). He was afraid to try the lobster roll because, well, "You can only get good lob-stuh and Chow-dah where I'm from." I told him to give Coastal a chance since I love this place and their food (including the lobster roll has always been good). I've had good "chow-dah and lob-stu" rolls in Boston, so I can compare. We started off with the crab and corn chowder which he loved. He bit the bullet and got the lobster roll. "Well, it int a lob-stuh roll from Boston, but it's still pretty damn good." Bravo! My favorite is the ahi tuna and I always get that, but the new featured item on the menu peaked interest. The shrimp tacos. Oh.Em.Gee!!!!!! Put it this way, they were so good, I came back the next day. But I made a request. I wanted fish tacos (which they don't have on the menu). So I asked if I can get the fish of the day (which I think was grouper) and have it on the shrimp taco set up. Even the server thought that was a great idea. They accommodated to my request and gave me fresh grilled grouper tacos! Oh and yeah, my friend who loved the lobster roll came back with me, lol. He opted for the grouper fingers and the crab/shrimp fritters. He LOVED them! Now every time he comes to Virginia for a visit, he will always request we go to Coastal flats. After our meal we took the party to the bar where Melissa is the bomb! Yummy mojitos served with REAL sugar cane. We stayed at the bar probably a good three hours before we finally left. More food was ordered and more people joined our group. What started out as a party of two turned into a party of like 12. Always a good time at Coastal Flats!
(5)
James P.

Best seafood I've had in a long time. I had the crab cake which was mostly crab and little filler. My friend had the smoked salmon which I had a bite of and was also amazing. The chocolate waffle was delicious
(5)
Karisa D.

I've been to both Coastal's, this one and the one at Tysons. They're both great. But the Coastal in Fairfax Corner has a special place in my heart. I don't know what it is about this place, but everyone who works there is fantastic. The service is great, the wait staff is friendly and attentive. The food is delicious, they have great seafood and non-seafood options. I really like their crab cake sandwich and their calamari. The sauce they put over it is delicious. The drinks are great too; strong and smooth (can I say that?) The bar tenders definitely know what the're doing. Great dining experience, every time I've gone.
(4)
Emily S.

I came here with a group of people (around 9 or 10). The sat us in two tables... actually two booths instead of one table. This made it seem like we were there in 2 separate groups because we could barely see the other group in the next booth over. What was cool about the booths is that there were pegs to hang your coat on. Anyway, I ordered the Pecan Crusted Trout (4 stars) which came with citrus sauce on top of couscous with almonds. The trout was good and they gave a lot. The fish tasted fresh. I would definitely order it again. The couscous was okay. It was good, but there was something funny that they added to it. I couldn't figure out what it was. The restaurant is pretty big. And there were a lot of people in there. It was pretty busy, and our group was big.. but the good thing was that we got our food pretty quick We had someone celebrate a birthday there, so I got to sample their Warm Flourless Chocolate Waffle with vanilla ice cream & toasted almonds (4 stars). It was VERY good. I could have eaten the whole thing myself. (I don't really like chocolate chocolate either!) I also got to sample some of their Old Fashioned Banana Pudding with candied vanilla wafers, caramel & chocolate sauces (2 stars). I didn't like it that much. It was too banana-y for me. I would rather get the Warm Flourless Chocolate Waffles!!!
(4)
Andy M.

Very nice atmosphere and great food! Portion size is just perfect. Service was great, we were constantly attended by multiple waiters and waitresses. Only con was menu didnt have much variety, and the temp was a bit on the artic side and paying bill took a bit long. Overall a good visit
(4)
Theo J.

The food is great and the service is even better. Makes you feel like your at a five star restaurant. They really should train some other places.
(5)
Joshua F.

If you are going to go to any of the Mike's American restaurants go here to Coastal flats. The bar is great and we really enjoyed our food. I never have a bad experience here and even though the place is packed the bar is like RIGHT THERE so you never actually feel like you are waiting. Never had a bad experience with the food either. Everything I've tried has always been great.
(5)
Brad C.

For the money there aren't many better places in the entire country. Food, drinks service all rock. Nothing bad to say about this place! Everything on the menu is delicious. Was there a few nights ago - best deviled eggs I have ever had! Lobster roll is amazing - everything is amazing.
(5)
Gracie H.

One of my favorite places to eat...obviously other people's too because it is always crowded. Tip: Do the call ahead seating to get faster service. Favorite entre is the pecan crusted trout which is amazing and favorite drink is the mango martini, very tasty.
(5)
Ilisa S.

Having just moved to the area, I am lucky enough that I can walk to Fairfax Corner. But it's over a mile away and it was a HOT walk over. I wasn't sure if this was going to be an upscale-attire-required restaurant or not, so I was a little concerned with my sweaty-shorts-wearing self. Still, after reading the reviews, I simply HAD to have some lobster bisque and didn't feel like fighting for a parking spot on a Saturday evening so I took the chance. I am so glad I did... Dining alone, they sat me right away. The host staff was pleasant and the wait staff efficient. My waitress even brought me an extra glass of water because I "looked hot". Must have been her way of letting me know that I am a bit drenched from my walk over. I started out with the lobster bisque which was served at the perfect temperature and had just the right amount of lobster within. At just $6 it was very reasonably priced for such a high-quality bisque! For my main course I had the Hong Kong style sesame crusted Tuna with a sherry soy ginger sauce. I ordered it rare and it was fantastic. Sashimi quality all the way. It was very light, had a wonderful flavor and was more than plenty of food. It was a bit noisy, but I imagine if I had been dining with someone else or a group of folks I wouldn't have even noticed. Without a doubt I will be returning!
(4)
H L.

One word that pops up in my head as I think of Coastal Flats is "comfort." The seats are probably the most comfortable seats available in any restaurant, the ceiling is high enough to muffle excess noise even when crowds are chatting loudly, and the even the warm, modest lighting is easy on the eyes. The food is a lot nicer than Bonefish Grill. Especially, Hong Kong Style Tuna and Pecan Crusted Trout show that they know how to cook fish without withering its tenderness while throwing a bunch of other ingredients altogether. I am looking forward to trying out Coastal Lobster Roll as it seemed really good from a distance. However, Coastal Flats is not without faults. Firstly, for the price, the portion is lacking. This is the kind of restaurant that makes me want to beg Yelp to change the price range criteria from petty dollar signs to more specific guidelines. Secondly, the servers are noticeably nicer only when you are wearing nice clothes: I was surprised, in many occasions, by how servers don't even greet properly and forget to list the day's specials when I am wearing a T-shirt and a pair of jeans, while they voluntarily tell me everything even without asking when I am wearing a suit. Overall, Coastal Flats is a good restaurant with great food and adequate atmosphere, but it could see some improvements in service and price.
(4)
Gloria S.

Try the Sauteed Shrimp & Creamy Grit Cakes from Coastal Flats, part of the Great American Restaurants family - a classic suburban restaurant group here in Northern Virginia. This yummy and flavorful dish comes served with Smithfield ham, roasted corn, asparagus, peppers, sweet onion & Cajun cream. We love everything this restaurant group has to offer, which is a standard for suburban dining. Each and every venue under their umbrella consistently delivers quality food, service, and ambiance. Mike's American Grill, Sweet Water Tavern, and Carlyle Grand are just a few of the names that have been around this area since before its burgeoning food scene. I can't say enough about this Rat Pack of tasty restaurants, and we salute them for their continued tenure and tireless effort in ensuring their patrons a quality dining experience throughout the years.
(5)
Heather A.

The food is great, and the service as well, the kids like it to. Although it's busy most of the times, but still we don't wait long, and the service still quick.
(4)
Juicy G.

I'm not a big fan of seafood, but had an amazing meal at Coastal Flats over the weekend. We started our meal with some firecracker shrimp which was apparently a special appetizer for the week. This went incredibly well with the amazing fresh made breads that come to your table complimentary. My friend had the grilled salmon over mashed cauliflower, and I got the grouper fingers with fries and slaw. Both were amazing. Very tender, flaky, and cooked to perfection. Probably the only complaint I had was with the slaw. The cole slaw that came with the firecracker shrimp was nicely shredded, and really tasty. The one served with the grouper fingers wasn't even close to that good. It was massive chunks of cabbage and onions, and the dressing was slightly different. I much preferred the one with the appetizer over the one with the meal. Price wise it wasn't too bad - Came out to about $45.00 for the app, two meals and drinks. I would have liked to have tried their bread pudding, but since I was there for lunch there was no reason to go home overly stuffed. I will definitely save room for it on my next visit.
(4)
Ash C.

Either this is a FANTASTIC location of Coastal Flats or Coastal Flats just rocks! I was hesitant to try it because their menu seemed generally sea-food based and im not a big sea-food person BUT BUT BUT i did, and im glad i did! Faves: ofcoarse the aaaah-mazing bread they serve at every Great American Restaurant. I think its the butter which makes all the difference but heck, idc! The first time i came here i was'nt that hungry so i begged the waiter to let me order from the kid's menu but to no avail, so i ended up ordering the cheddar cheeseburger which was pretty good but noooo comparison to my friend's hickory grilled chicken, OHHH MAMA!!! It was just perfection! Next time i came, i made sure i ordered it so i can enjoy every lasting bite of it and not drool on my friend's order hehe but he ended up ordering the havarati cheese sandwich and WTH i loved it! I think i should just let him order for me nxt time hehe Butttttttt, the main reason i love the Great American chain is cuz of their dessert, THE CHOCOLATE WAFFLE!!!!!! ITS OUR FAVE DESSERT (thus the capslock) = P
(4)
Amie S.

Service is fab. Not only did they bend over backwards to meet my dietary requirements, but when I suggested that my chicken seemed a little fatty, they could not be more happy to bring me a whole new meal. My server said "I'd happily send back 10 meals if it will get you the one you want"! ! :)
(5)
Mo N.

food was delicious and service was good! oh and the ozzy bread rolls...amazing as always
(5)
Helen C.

I'm not a huge fan of chain restaurants, but this place was definitely cute and tasty. I went with three friends to catch up and dine here on a Saturday night. I was craving some serious food, so I ordered the crab cake and filet combo. Can I just say yuuuummmm?! So delicious, and the mashed taters and sauce hit the spot. My other dining partners got the salmon (was so good she finished her plate in 1/2 the time it took the rest of us to eat!) and the other two got the pecan crusted trout. I think everyone enjoyed their food, and we ended up having a great time! Our server was also incredibly friendly and attentive, although we had an awkward moment at the end. She snatched up our bills moments after we signed them, and seemed eager to get away. But overall, a wonderful, delicious experience.
(4)
Michelle N.

I don't know what it is about Great American Restaurants but I love to be at any of their restaurants. Coastal Flats is by far my favorite. I don't know what it is about the atmosphere that brings so many people out for happy hour because they don't have any happy hour specials. I guess they don't need the specials to bring people in the door. The bartenders are super nice and helpful although on a busy night it might be hard to get their attention. As for food, I will chow down here. I love seafood so it's no wonder this is my favorite out of the GAR chain. The crab cakes are awesome but my favorite dish that I will get 99% of the time I'm here is the two noodle shrimp salad (or something like that). It's a bowl of fresh greens with peanut noodles at the bottom (YUM!) and crunchy noodles on the top (love crunch!). Then you have a lot of crispy salt and pepper shrimp and a yummy peanut dressing. It also comes with a side of sweet chili sauce for your shrimp. You also can't beat the fact that there are mangoes in here as well, it's such a fresh tasting salad. Anyone I have recommended this to has loved it although they're probably not as hooked as me! If I'm feeling extra fancy, I"ll get the calamari. It's perfectly crispy and comes with a fantastic sweet pepper sauce (maybe like the salad?). But I think the best part of this dish are the roasted string beans that come with the dish. Delectable! I won't even talk about the bread, I think everyone knows how awesome the rolls and sweet butter are!
(5)
Aelisa D.

I'm a fan of Great American Restaurants, usually the food is pretty good and the prices are moderate. I've been here a few times for dinner, but more often for HH. Here is my breakdown: -2 They don't offer any HH specials (but don't really need to since it's always so crowded, which leads me to..) -1 It is always crowded, be prepared to wait for a table if you're dining in the evenings +3 The Mojitos, made with fresh mint +2 The key lime martinis with graham cracker around the rim +1 The bread basket with ozzie rolls and raisin bread I'm no math major but I'm pretty sure that equals 3 Stars!
(3)
Christina M.

I enjoy the atmosphere. Really great for summer time since they have outdoor seatings. I enjoy coming there for the their ginger vinaigrette dressing since I'm picky when it comes to dressings. Their staffs are nice but can be lost in the mix with other waiters or waitresses when they get busy but overall, good.
(4)
Malik S.

One of the best restaurants in the area!
(5)
Chunnu B.

4.5 - Probably my most favorite out of all the GAR - especially the Fairfax location. Like all if not most of the other Great American Restaurants, you want to call ahead if you plan on coming during peak brunch/lunch/dinner hour. If you don't, hope you enjoy waiting! Actually, sitting around here is actually not bad at all. Costal has seats outside the restaurant just for waiting and it's in such a lively location, time passes quicker. Or, go to their bar. The bartenders here are always busy but have always been attentive to everyone and are on top of everything. Love the cocktails here! Their mango martini, lemonade, and mojitos are all favorites of mine. Since I never shut up about it when I get there, I highly suggest getting a mojito (really, really good in my book!) Another note about the bar: It's not really a young crowd here, I'd say about late 30's, maybe 40's here. This place has a back deck area which looks pretty awesome (have yet to experience it) and is always packed. So there's your outdoor seating right there. Service is always always great. I went once with some friends and I guess one of the managers felt bad that we were waiting so long, so he brought us out a complimentary appetizer! Everything is delicious, love the atmosphere, love the service. Will always be coming back.
(4)
Craig D.

(4) ~ Overall Food & Service OUR MENU: * water(tap) = (3.5) good * Ozzie Rolls(free) = (4.5) Very Good * Pomegranate Margarita = (4) very good * Capriahina = (3.5) good * Lobster Roll = (4) very good * Banana Pudding = (3.5) good
(4)
Irene C.

I used to frequent Coastal Flats a lot before I became a Yelps Fan. One: the food & sandwiches are definitely passable for the price. Two: Location is very convenient. Three: the rolls are very delish! Nowadays, I like to venture out & try and review new restaurants!!! :) Favorites: Roast Young Chicken (although I have been disappointed by the saltiness of the chicken lately), Chicken & Havarti Cheese Sandwich, Sesame Crusted Tuna Salad (Tuna rare) & Grilled Salmon Salad. Their fries are amazing: Skinny fries with the extra crunch unlike the ones I had at Jacksons (too fat & potato-ey) Yesterday night, I was at the bar for drinks: Average to expensive prices for a cocktail, Bartender was very nice, great service. First drink I ordered: Raspberry Lemon Drop Martini-- It was tasty but I wouldn't order this drink again b/c it was slightly sweet & sour with just a HINT of alcohol. To be honest, it tasted like raspberry lemonade but for the price, I would like a littleeeeee more alcohol! :) Second Drink: Classic Dirty Martini with Olives-- Belvedere alcohol was slightly more expensive than the other cheap alcohol. To my surprise, I actually liked this drink! The olives were too sour in my opinion though but would order this drink again! Calamari was tasty but I thought it was slightly too sweet but the crab/lobster fritters (I forget what the dish was called) was very delicious. it was slightly fried with crab/lobster meat inside and creamy sauce with corn on top! Like all the other Great American Foods Chain Restaurants, I give only 3 stars b/c in my opinion, the food is average but not the best.
(3)
Jennifer M.

I came on Christmas Eve with a group of friends, so needless to say it took me half an hour alone to find parking. Luckily, we had a reservation beforehand because the place was packed. The Fairfax Coastal Flats is enormous, clean, and very nicely decorated. Service is amazing and the heavenly rolls with butter are to die for. The calamari is passable, but could've been a lot better. I had ordered the Hickory Grilled Jumbo Shrimp. And those were some JUMBO shrimp indeed. I love seafood, but these shrimp weren't my favorite unfortunately. I did like the goat cheese that came with the shrimp though, it served to tone down the saltiness of my shrimp. They gave us a dish of mushrooms on the house when my friend forgot to ask for mushrooms instead of mashed cauliflower (which didn't sit well with her stomach... indeed it actually came back up afterwards). She also found a hair in her salmon. One of my other friends had ordered a medium well cooked filet mignon. What he got was medium rare. They took it back to heat up and the manager was very quick to offer him lobster bisque on the house (because of those handy headsets?). The chef hand-delivered the filet as well, though he kind of scared us in the process with his seriousness or sarcasm in the statement "So who's food did I mess up?"... we couldn't tell. In the end, I'm not sure CF was worth the money. It was neither cheap nor really really expensive though. Service is great but food is average. I just don't see what the reputational hype is.
(3)
Cortney K.

this was some of the best food my husband and I have ever had. it was recommended by the front desk at our hotel when we asked for a nice place to have dinner on the last night of our honeymoon. after a short wait we were seated and I got a pineapple mojito and my husband got the house lager. we both enjoyed them a lot. for dinner I had the crab cake and substituted cucumber salad for cole slaw and my husband had the drunken ribeye with the chopped salad. I tried his and it was wonderful and cooked perfectly and mine was delicious! our dessert was banana pudding for him and white chocolate bread pudding for me. they were heavenly. it was not an inexpensive meal but it was certainly worth every penny.
(5)
Josh F.

Coastal flats is a pretty cool chain restaurant in a well developed peice of Fairfax, VA, near the East Market and other shopping plazas. Coastal Flats is ENORMOUS and features a large outdoor bar area with waiting service. The food is pretty standard; burgers, pasta, etc. I'd give it more credit, but what i've eaten there has been good but unmemorable. The wait staff and servers are INCREDIBLY friendly and open. They managed to remember our names 45 minutes after introducing themselves, and are always pleasant. I love coming here for happy hour drinks out on the back patio. Definitely a great pit stop for cocktails, but it closes at 11; come early!
(3)
John R.

The service and food are always spot on here! The fritters are amazing, the drunken ribeye is phenomenal! And the shrimp with grit cakes is out of this world greatness! The crab and corn chowdah is a much better choice than the Lobstah bisque IMO, and for the first time in my life I had a salad that once tasted I said " that's a damn good salad!" This place as well as all the other Great American Restaurants are the shining gem of the NoVa area.
(5)
Jason G.

I've been going to this CF since it opened and the service and quality of food have never wavered in those 5-7(?) years. Even though it's a seafood place, the non-seafood dishes are just as good, so don't feel obligated to get something from underwater if you really want a hamburger or chicken over pasta or steak. My personal favorite dessert is the flourless chocolate waffle, and i'll show my age by saying that I remember when they used to put cranberries in the waffle which was years ago. They made the switch way back when and thankfully haven't flip-flopped on that decision, because it's a great dessert. Service is prompt and friendly. It's a booth-only bonanza, so kids can be corralled by parents if need be, and you may have family who prefer the comfy booths over hard-backed/seated chairs. The place can get a little loud, but no more so than any other busy restaurant. I would not advocate this place for an intimate dinner for two, but the good food and good service make it a prime place for a nice meal in the area.
(4)
Adam Y.

Great for a group of friends to go out and eat. The seafood is quite good and the drinks are fun but a bit expensive. They have the great American restaurant Rolls which are to die for :D I suggest coming here if you like seafood. My S.O hates seafood but did still like the place. They do have hamburgers and other such food. The only major issue with this place is the place is always really loud and the staff at this place tends to be less professional and a lot slower than the other ones I've been to. Its definitely not a place for a date or intimate conversation. But, if you want to graba few drinks with friends this is the place to go in Fairfax corner :D
(4)
Tony P.

Stopped by on a lazy Monday afternoon to grab some grub before catching a movie at the cinema de lux nearby. I sat at the bar and was served by Lizzy. Apparently they were in the middle of changing shifts because when I asked Lizzy to cash me out, she ignored me and left so the next shift got her tips. In any case, the food was pretty good. I got the crab and shrimp fritters that had a nice cheese sauce and the goat cheese and pecan salad was tasty. The pale ale was ok. A bit of residual taste that was more bitter than hoppy.
(3)
Daniel Y.

There are three items on the menu that you won't go wrong with: 1) Filet mignon tips pasta (only available for lunch) 2) Grilled chicken breast with angel hair pasta 3) Chocolate waffle with vanilla ice cream I am telling you -- you won't be disappointed.
(4)
Chris W.

Great place for drinks!
(3)
Beth B.

I love the Great American Restaurants. Consistently good food and service. One of the reasons I prefer Coastal is that they are more seafood-oriented and have the amazing Lobster Bisque every day! Everything I get at this restaurant has been delicious. I often order the Roast Chicken Salad and it has a wonderful combination of interesting tastes and textures and a lovely champagne vinaigrette dressing. I also love the Pale Ale!
(5)
M T.

This restaurant is amazing. I have never had a bad service, or problems with the food. The bread and butter are a great starter. We always get the calamari. I have had calamari at many restaurants, and none even come close to its taste and freshness. I usually get the crabcake, and substitute the sides for whatever I am feeling that night. Its a little pricey, but to have great food, its worth it! The only negative I can even think of is that you cannot make reservations. You have to call ahead, but they generally are on time with that.
(5)
Mel M.

Big fan of the Great American Restaurants. I think we've been to most of them. What I appreciate about them and Sweetwater, is that in both establishments the manager personally came to my table, when they heard that my daughter had a peanut allergy, to assure us, there were no peanuts or cross contamination with peanuts. This is HUGE for anyone with a child with a life threatening allergy. The fact that they went above and beyond what I expected will keep them on our list of go-to restaurants. The food there was great as well. The Salmon is a staple for my kids and according to them, cooked the same in both places.
(4)
Daniel N.

Awesome service. Awesome food. Service is very quick and great for the most part. Service lacks during busy time. Food is a bit pricey. I would give them a 4.5 if possible.
(4)
Ben P.

When you walk in, you find a fairly large restaurant with a nice, but casual ambiance. To the immediate right is an indoor bar area where you can go and chill with friends over drinks. If you walk straight through to the back, you can go outside for a lovely balcony area with another bar. Unfortunately, I did not get to try any of the food, which i've heard is fantastic. We spent the evening chatting and drinking on the balcony and discussing everything from using ears to guess anatomical symmetry to figuring out who in the group could woo another group member the best in a whopping 60 seconds. What I did try was a pair of rum and diet cokes. If there was any rum in them, it was so heavily diluted that you couldn't taste it. They were charging $6 and change for each beverage. I generally have preferred my alcoholic drinks with alcohol in them! Considering that, I found the drinks over priced. The other thing that is worth mentioning is that as the bar is in VA, there is a lot of smoking outside. If you are very sensitive to smoke, I would avoid the outdoor bar section. There did not seem to be any smoking indoors. I would be curious to try the food on another visit as I liked the energy the ambiance had folks in my group were speaking highly of it. However, based on my experience tonight, overall, it wasn't anything special.
(2)
Stephan K.

We loves to eat here when we loved in Fairfax, and still venture out once in a while. I always get a martini and their grouper fingers, while my wife enjoys the filet mignon.
(4)
Gordon P.

While in Virgina for work seminar and association meeting, found this place, looks like it is a chain. Food is a little fusion of Cuban, Carribean and Asian, lots of seafood and other things that have a carribean vibe. Decorated with murals of what looks like cuba or argentina. We had a couple of appetizers, glasses of wine, dinner. Do not remember the exact things we had pff the menu but do remember the sauces, flavors were fresh, spicy, different than the usual. I had some swordfish that was fresh, prepared well, flaky, moist, great sauce to go with it. Service was OK, a little slow, it was late (9:30pm) when we walked in but they still had about 60% of the restaurant seated. Sometimes when we eat late we notice the servers are not as spot on in some places, this place included. Open-airy, murals and some funky decorations detract a small amount, they have not been to the Paul Fleming school of restaurant ambiance and decoration yet. They get the decor right and it goes up another notch for a lot of people. Overall a neat menu, price per quality was reasonable, food portions were decent, they have a good concept! a little more polish with the serving staff and it geats even better!
(4)
Alexa C.

A fun place in the suburbs, does it really exist?!? It does at Coastal Flats! Loved their fun atmosphere. Great beers on tap, good prices, etc. Their "low gluten" menu is a buzz kill for gluten free people like me though. Although I love drinking there, I'll never be able to eat there. One downfall, is that they closed at 1:00 a.m. on Friday night.
(4)
Kevin W.

The only thing better than the food here is the service. Unless of course you show up between 6 and 8 on a weekend. My girlfriend and I always stop here first when catching a movie at Fairfax Corner. We have never been disappointed. We always start with the Blue Crab & Rock Shrimp Fritters. YUMMY!! Or you could always go with their Calamari. Then follow it up with any of the main courses. In my opinion, you just can't go wrong here. The staff is, by far the best I've ever experienced. Attentive, without being annoying. Every restaurant who cares about it's service should send their staff here (or any of the other Great American Restaurants) for training. We will be back often.
(5)
David K.

Great American Restaurants is perhaps the best local chain when it comes to restaurants. I have been to Sweetwater in Centreville many times for work functions and always enjoyed it. As a result, I was very excited to try Coastal Flats in Fairfax for lunch. It's unfortunate that Coastal Flats opened mere months after I moved away from the Government Center area as it is a great restaurant. For lunch, I ordered the shrimp po'boy and found it to be excellent. The shrimp was perfectly fried, the bread was authentic, and the sauce was like it was delivered straight from Bourbon Street. I sampled my coworkers meals as well and found them all to be quite tasty. I heard good things about the burger, although I doubt I'll end up moving away from seafood as that is their specialty. The cedar plank grilled salmon is also supposed to be quite tasty. This restaurant is very busy on weekend evenings, both for the bar, and because it is the best option for dining before a movie at the Fairfax Cinema De Lux, so plan accordingly.
(4)
Erika O.

Love, love, love this place!! It's a bit pricey if you are planning on getting appetizers and drinks with your meal, but so worth it for a night out. I am addicted to the smoked salmon salad with champagne vinaigrette! It is soooo yummy, and I suggest getting the fried goat cheese with it. The staff is always friendly and attentive, the decor is really fun and the food is excellent!
(5)
Ray C.

The services are SUPERIOR! I was SO satisified with their food. If you love Selmon, I would RECOMMEND you try their delicious Short Smoked Salmon Filet. The price was a little pricey but worth it! I live in Florida, every time I go to Fairfax, the first thing I would attend to the Coastal Flats for their selmon!!
(5)
Latasha A.

Went to Coastal Flats for lunch with my husband The day we moved to Fairfax. Everyone from the hostess to the wait staff were cordial and attentive even with the busy lunch crowd. Our orders were served quickly and for a chain quite delicious. We live within a mile so I'm sure we'll go back when we're in the mood for a casual lunch or dinner.
(4)
Lianne F.

LOVE this place! If you like seafood, come here. It is part of a chain but like the others have said it really doesn't feel like one. Fab Mojitos, fresh grilled fish....my favorites are the Shrimp & Grits and the Lobster Roll. Quality and service are phenomenal. They also have a GREAT kids menu taht serves REAL FOOD instead of the requisite chicken nuggets and fries. This location also has a HUGE patio which is fun in the summertime
(4)
Jason B.

Great food, service and atmosphere. I enjoy hanging out in this strip - nice places.
(4)
Virginia B.

I'm a fan of this local chain although CF is my least favorite of the brand in terms of menu choices and locations, but I have my favorite dishes on the menu and this place never disappoints. Today's visit was like every other visit, very busy on a Friday at noon, but only a 5 minute wait. My food was great and on time and service was excellent.
(5)
Larry C.

My wife and I eat at Coastal Flats Tyson's Corner with some frequency, and the food and service is always excellent. Today my wife and I celebrate our 41st anniversary, and Coastal Flats went out of their way and took the time to acknowledge this special event. We continue coming back to Coastal Flats for the food and service, and we'll also continue coming back for the extra effort they give to their customers. Thanks for a great day!
(4)
E D.

$13 for a shrimp po boy?!? Oh excuse me, "coastal shrimp roll". Gimme a fuckin' break. The shimp were good, but there were maybe 6? over $2 per shrimp is way too much. Have to agree with Joseph G. about the clientele as well.
(2)
Precious J.

First time here. My friend and I had the fritter appetizer and the lobster sandwich.... Delicious!! The service was great, great location and nice atmosphere. Sweet tea was sweet too. The lobster salad was cold which was a surprise but the bread is warm and lightly toasted. I will definitely eat here again!
(4)
Sambo R.

Really good food with a wide menu selection that will accommodate non-seafood fans. Make sure you call ahead on weekends as the place fills up fast and the wait list can be long. They also serve food at the bar on a first come first serve basis. Casual atmosphere.
(4)
Charles C.

Food was good. Service was a little slow. Was there a while ago so I don't remember much.
(4)
Jessica G.

To be honest, restaurants in Virginia are usually not up to my (Houston) Texan standards. However, Coastal Flats and it's sister restaurants are amazing! This is probably my favorite restaurant in NOVA. I've tried different dishes, but the smoked salmon with cauliflower mash is my favorite. It's the best salmon I've had anywhere! If you're somebody who claims to not like salmon, it's because you haven't had Coastal Flats salmon. The waiter explained the process of how it's made tonight while my family and I dined. It takes a lot of work to make it so delicious! Also, the cauliflower mash is amazing. I used to be a mashed potato girl, but like to eat healthy. The cauliflower mash is the perfect alternative! I also try to avoid sugar and sweets. However, I will occasionally get dessert here. I highly recommend the flourless chocolate waffle. SO GOOD. The only reason I'm not giving them 5 stars is because parking can be a pain and they usually have long wait times. Just goes to show you how good they are.
(4)
Dooly M.

I love this place from the first visit. our order was as following: Blue Crab & Rock Shrimp Fritters Lobster rolls with corn on the cob Shrimp Roll with fries Hong Kong sea bass We enjoyed our food here and every dish was so yummy. the service was very good too. It could be crowded during the weekends and can expect to wait for more an hour to get a seat, so plane a head.
(4)
Megan B.

I am a huge great american restaurants fan and Coastal Flats is easily one of my favorite locations. My absolute favorite appetizer is the blue crab and rock shrimp fritters. They are AMAZING. We get these every single time we ever venture into coastal flats. They are topped with a delicious sauce. The pecan crusted trout, steaks, and jumbo crab cakes are all exceptional. The service is excellent. The grilled tuna salad is an excellent lunch choice. I highly recommend coastal flats to any and all seafood lovers.
(5)
Donald F.

So I've been to this Coastal Flats several times now, however this is the first time coming here since becoming a Yelper and let me just say that once again I left quite satisfied. First I'll start off with our server/service. Aside from him not introducing himself, everything else about him was pretty good. Everything we asked him to bring he did, and he did it in a very timely manner. I really don't have any complaints about the server/service. Now on to the food. I ordered the Hickory Grilled Chicken, my wife ordered the Pecan Crusted Trout, and my wife's brother ordered the Hong Kong Style Sea Bass. My wife and her brother absolutely enjoyed there dishes. Now I don't know about anyone else but, I absolutely love the Hickory Grilled Chicken dish here. It seems as though the chefs here are pretty consistent with the amount of ingredients in this dish. And I say that because all the ingredients just blend so well together, that it makes me want this entree every time I come here. For example the brown butter sauce that they use, seems to be distributed evenly across the entire dish because it isn't an over saturating amount that diminishes the other ingredients and flavors of the dish. The same can be said for the other ingredients used as well. As of now I an absolutely a fan of Coastal Flsts and I will most definitely be coming back. Some takeaways for my fellow Yelpers are: 1. Their menu seems a bit limited 2. Like my friend Susan H. said, having a name like "Coastal Flats", should have more seafood dishes on the menu 3. Be prepared to wait for while, if you're coming during peek hours That's right I'm a fan!
(4)
Lyn L.

Fairfax Corner can be overwhelming and parking can be quite the challenge! Coastal Flats has 'call ahead' seating and on a busy Thursday night, calling ahead worked perfectly. Once we arrived, they sat us right away. We started with their fried calamari apps, so tasty and crunchy drizzled in their thai chili sauce. A couple of us started with the chopped salad($6), but seriously the size was a meal in itself. In my quest to find the best shrimp rolls, I ordered theirs and substituted the fries for couscous. Although it was a good size roll, with a tasty tarter sauce and some lettuce, the shrimp itself lacked in crunchiness and taste. My friends ordered the salmon with cauliflower mash, they enjoyed it and some took part of their dinner home. We ended our ladies celebration with their famous Flourless Chocolate Waffle, this dessert never fails me and it did well tonight. Service was good, not stellar, because we didn't see our server for part of the evening...thank goodness for the food runners!
(4)
Brandis B.

Aesthetically pleasing. The coat racks at the table are a nice touch. Ample staff. Everyone says "hello" as you walk in and everyone says "good bye" as you walk out. Did the call ahead seating and was quoted to be sat in one hour and twenty minutes. We got there in one hour ten and was sat by one hour twenty! Very pleased. The waitress didn't seem to have much patience with me as it was a busy night and I'm not sure if she knew what non-alcoholic beverages they served. The blue crab and rock shrimp fritters are a must as an appetizer! The perfect blend of flavor a on one plate. You won't regret it. I had the mahi mahi with grits. It was cooked and seasoned to perfection. I wished I would have ordered something else because I just forgot how much mahi mahi has a similar taste and consistency of chicken! Lol
(4)
Tatiana W.

I absolutely love this place. The good us absolutely amazing. Calamari is delicious, deviled eggs are so yummy, crab and shrimp fritters will make you slap your momma. Everyone I want to try a different entree but I can't. The shrimp and grits don't make any sense. No sense at all to be that good. And this is coming from a person that can't stand grits. I get this every time!!!#
(5)
Florence N.

Just like their sister restaurant Mike's in Springfield, Coastal Flats is consistent in providing good food and good service. I just wish they can add different dishes, unlike the ones already served at Mike's.
(5)
JP G.

Been here numerous times and never disappoints! Great wait staff, very attentive and professional just like all of the Great American Restaurants. I'm not a big fish-eater, but this place makes me want to eat more seafood dishes just because they prepare them very well. The doughnut rolls they give you are always a nice bonus before the main course, although I'm not sure if they should be counted as appetizers or almost a mini dessert, regardless they taste great. Great outdoor bar in the back perfect for happy hour. I go here on occasion with some friends during the summer and it's just a great atmosphere with the restaurant being located in the heart of Fairfax Corner. I just wish there were more GARs located here besides this and Ozzie's because they are what I define as great restaurant experiences.
(4)
Ruth C.

Two and a half stars. I seriously stared at the menu for twice as long as I normally do, all for a lack of wanting any of the items. Bob and I were racing to make a movie in 45 minutes. Unfortunately he had bought the movie tickets in advance online before getting stuck in Rockville traffic, but fortunately he also called ahead to Coastal Flats to ensure that they would have a table ready for us. Service was indeed marginally faster than food service I've had at other GAR locations. We ordered right away since we were marathoning to hoof it across the parking lot in time. Iced tea wasn't too artificial or oversteeped, and balanced the ozzie rolls and sunflower seed table bread. Shoestring fries were the highlight of both our plates, with almost enough ketchup provided. The bun for my lobster roll was less toasted but also less buttery. Slaw wasn't too watery, but they missed a piece of lobster shell, which I didn't make a fuss about despite it being a major no-no. Less butter on the corn, but the grill marks definitely left me wanting some floss for the char once I was done demolishing the cob. Cheeseburger was big in diameter, with a surprisingly skinny patty and overall boring appearance. Cooked medium-well as ordered. Bob ended up cutting it into pieces and dipping it in ketchup to down it. Good service, but I'd be more keen to come back for bar service instead of food.
(2)
Anh N.

Absolutely love this restaurant! Everything on the menu is pretty much good...the bread, salads, entrees and dessert, all very good. I've tried almost everything on the menu. lol. My favorite appetizer is the blue crab & rock shrimp fritters, however I do wish it came with more than 3 fritters. Lobster roll is absolutely delish! They also make great drinks, especially the pineapple mojito!
(5)
Erin T.

Only went in late night to the bar area for a drink. The bartenders were cool and the drinks were great. Their menu looked interesting, so I'll definitely be back to try the food.
(4)
Larry T.

Lounging at the patio bar out back with a mojito under the summer sun. Noshing on a cheeseburger and fries and washing it down with the house pale ale while catching the game at the inside bar. Nibbling on the complimentary beignet-like rolls before ordering crab cakes or a lobster roll with a side of cauliflower mash for lunch or dinner with a glass of chardonnay. These are the things I come for at my neighborhood joint. Inspired by the casual beach resorts dining of yesteryear, Coastal Flats consistently draws a crowd at Fairfax Corner despite plenty of choices in the same shopping center. I give the nod to the Fairfax location over its sister at Tysons Corner because of its outdoor exposure. It's equally good for meeting up with friends or entertaining out-of-town guests. The only complaint: it's almost too popular, but c'mon, is that really such a bad thing?
(4)
Miriam S.

Food was excellent and our waitress knew how to up sale us very nicely lol. We went on a busy night and the noise level was high but it was understandable. There was a 30-45min wait so we sat at the bar and ordered 2 beers. The bartenders were busy but they were very attentive to everyone. We got the Short Smoked Salmon, Drunken Ribeye, and a side of Brussels Sprouts. The Kale Caesar salad that came with the Ribeye was delicious. Despite being a busy night, the food came out in a timely manner.
(5)
Jodi C.

Costal Flats is one of those places that you know is going to be packed, and you know it's going to be loud. I stopped in for dinner with a friend before going out one night, I am a sucker for the Costal Flats appetizers. We decided on small salads and a few appitizers for the table. The warm goat cheese salad is like Heaven on a plate. I highly recommend it, and the crab fritters, uh, YUM! Our waiter was on the ball! He kept our drinks coming from the bar and delivered our food at the perfect time, even though he was slammed. Overall, if you are looking for a fun atmosphere, a trendy menu, and a lot of conversation, then Costal Flats is for you... if you're looking for a romantic quiet evening, you might want to skip this one.
(4)
Jen L.

Crab & Rockfish Fritters are amazing! I probably could have inhaled another order of those. But I had to save some room for the Fish of the Day. Mango Martini and Coastal Cosmopolitans were also excellent drinks. A bit pricey, but most martinis are. I had a couple of these because they don't take reservations and the line to get a table was a bit ridiculous. But it didn't matter, we knew it was going to be worth it. Especially when you sit down at the table and they bring you those rolls... Great location! Especially for the residents of Camden at Fairfax Corners. Convenient stumbling distance home if you live in any of those apartments. As with any of these restaurants, service here is exceptional. You can't beat the customer service at the GAR's. I can't say enough good things about this place.
(4)
Stephanie C.

The food was good, but the best part was the bread. Its similar to all the other GAR places with lots of fried foods and meat on the menu. Not nearly as much seafood as I would have thought would be on a "coastal flats" menu. This place was CROWDED and took forever to get a seat. I think I would have enjoyed it more on the outside patio, but took first available seating. The place was so loud I couldn't hear my husband talk. I definitely get reservations for outside next time if we go back.The drinks were good, limited selection of beers though.
(3)
Lisa N.

Great food and the best service you can get. My family came in 15 minutes before closing and the servers were really accommodating. They did not rush us at all. SEABASS- At Coastal, I usually order the seabass (buttery white fish) which comes in a soy sauce (that can be salty at times), spinach, and rice Filet Mignon and Crabcake- perfectly cooked filet and tasty lump crabcakes; best value for hearty eaters Key Lime Pie- delicious! The perfect balance of sweet and tart =) Good luck finding parking!
(4)
Amy D.

Nothing but good things to say. Sat at the bar and Tony took excellent care of us. The wine was great, the crab dip was awesome and the Lobster salad was AMAZING! Always been a fan of Coastal Flats and it just seems to get better every time I go. Definitely recommend getting the Deviled Eggs as an appetizer, too! The bacon that comes with it is crazy good. Mmm...bacon...
(5)
Rebecca M.

With Great American Restaurants like Coast Flats, you are paying for consistency, and this place delivers. Every time we go here or the Tyson's location, we have solid, friendly, and timely service and solid, hot, and tasty food. I have yet to try anything sub par, but generally stick with my go-to item: Shrimp with Gritcakes. I expanded my horizons the other night and opted instead for the Fried Cod and Chips (fish and chips), which was equally delicious with it's crispy and perfectly-salted shoestring fries. You may call ahead to be added to the list for seating. This is strongly recommended at peak times like weekends unless you don't mind a particularly lengthy wait or killing some time in the sometimes-crowded front or rear bars.
(4)
Lorine M.

I love coming here every time I visit the VA/DC area. They have the best grilled ahi tuna salad. Get it with warm goat cheese. It is sooo good. The bread basket is really yummy too. I tend to over eat on the bread, but luckily I make it up with salad. Their seasonal pumpkin cheesecake is really creamy delicious!
(5)
Amira N.

The wait staff is excellent. I got their fish and chip combo for entree and it was delicious. The fish is not greasy, crispy and the flesh is tender and juicy. Fries are great, crispy and salty. For dessert, I got the warm white chocolate bread pudding. Very decadent! Will denitely come back! Its a good place for groups or couple.
(5)
Judson W.

What other restaurant can you have a beer while you kick back in a rocking chair outside on the patio? Not many come to mind, and this is just one of the things that makes Coastal Flats a great place to visit, either for drinks or for some of their amazing food. I came around 5:15pm on a Thursday and had to wait for about 90 minutes for my friend to join me. While this would normally equal 90 minutes of boredom, I actually enjoyed my time alone out on the beautiful patio of Coastal Flats (definitely took advantage of the rocking chair!). They only serve bottled beer at the outside bar, which is unfortunate since their signature brews are all great. My friend and I eventually got a table out on the patio (there was no wait around 630pm). The bartender and our eventual waiter were both very friendly and courteous, offering multiple servings of their delicious bread. I decided to keep it light and ordered the chopped salad with the lobster bisque. The waiter asked if I wanted warm goat cheese on the salad and I just couldn't decline his offer. Best decision of the night! Warm fried goat cheese atop the chopped salad made for a perfect combination. The lobster bisque was also amazing. Coastal Flats is a great place to grab a bite to eat, get a few drinks with friends (at the indoor & outdoor bar area), or just kick back and relax on the patio with a drink. The fact that there are no happy hour deals is a slight negative, but it's not like this place is dying for customers.
(4)
Samantha T.

In college in New England we used to get excited about heading out to dinner at Cheesecake - Coastal Flats has a similar vibe, but instead of brown bread, you get these little fried savory donuts in your bread basket. This is a place I'd head out with friends for a night out to catch up, but you are just as likely to see gaggles of teen girls, large families, and college students with their visiting parents. This isn't fine dining, but I'd call it upscale casual, and it usually hits the spot. If you like adult beverages, the mojito is good, and in the past it's come with a sugarcane stick. The menu is American/Regional/Seafood based. Their lobster roll is usually very good (and I'm a New Englander, so I often judge harshly), and comes with a buttered and grilled ear of corn - who wouldn't enjoy that? Other favorites include Grouper Fingers (you're eating fingers off a fish??!) and tied for my favorite with the lobster roll: the sautÃ©ed shrimp and creamy grit cakes. For some reason I never order it, and always end up grabbing forkfuls of whoever in my party I've recommended it to... Parking in this area is a pain, but for $5 valet on a busy night, it's worth springing for.
(4)
Megan G.

Went in on a Wednesday night by myself. Snagged a seat at the bar after a few minutes of waiting. I've eaten at the Carlyle in Shirlington many times, so I expected something similar. Coastal Flats didn't disappoint. I had a great glass of wine, a fantastic salad with grilled chicken, and some good conversation with the bartender. There seemed to be a lot of regulars that he knew. My only gripe is that the bread was cold. Overall, a great meal. I would definitely go back again.
(5)
Kimberly K.

Good Service. Good Food. Long Lines. This place never disappoints.
(4)
Kayla H.

While visiting from San Francisco I decided I wanted crab cakes. I am from VA and truly believe MD crab is so much better than Dungeness. It was very noisy inside so I sat outside on the patio. The restaurant is designed like a 1950's Florida - style seafood restaurant. The patio was very relaxing, you couldn't hear any traffic or noise from inside, it wasn't too hot and had a nice view. I ordered the jumbo crab cake with fries and cucumber, tomato & corn salad. The crab cake was spectacular - lots of crab meat, very little filler and not greasy. The salad was also very very good - I could have done without the olives and avacado. The fries were meh. Excellent service, very friendly. I would definitely come back again. I'm interested in one of their sister restaurants - Ozzie.
(4)
Katisha F.

This was my first time here and my friend and I enjoyed it! We shared the Blue Crab & Rock Shrimp Critters, which were very good! We both got the Lobster Roll with roasted corn on the cob - absolutely delicious!!! Great atmosphere and wonderful sweet tea!!!
(4)
Frank F.

OVER RATED. This place is in a great location but nothing really special about the food. I'd rather go to Ozzie's or Sweetwater Tavern as they have better menus. It's not a bad spot for drinks and the outdoor bar is fun
(3)
Lilly R.

My all time favorite restaurant. I always get excellent food and service. Can't go wrong with the calamary for appetizer and the salmon with mashed potatoes as an entree, it's perfect everytime. Friendly staff and the food comes out quickly. The banana pudding for dessert is to die for.
(5)
Andrew S.

Really nice restaurant. Went on a week night, very crowded. Had to wait 30 min for a table of four. Bar area is good but a little small to accommodate all the people waiting. The food was really delicious between the fish, steak and salads the people in my party ordered. Would def go back.
(4)
Jon L.

OK, sombody stop me, I keep going to these Great American restaurants, they are what NoVa dining is all about. They are a regional franchise but all the restaurants have a different feel. They all have their unique spin but share the same consistent food quality, excellent service and great value. This is the place to go for an after work beverage with friends or patio dining al fresco. You can catch a movie at Cinema De Lux or hit Ben & Jerry's for some Chunky Monkey aftewards. I like this location because they have a huge patio and bar undercover. The menu selections are similar to other Great American locations and always consistently good. Their salad selection is great and their dressings are superb. Good for any occasion
(4)
Luann G.

Making a decision when I go to Coastal Flats is difficult because everything is so good - I have never been disapponted with anything I have ordered....the appetizers (crab fritters), the salads (warm goat cheese w/pecan salad), and the entrees (everythang!). My go-to is the shrimp & grits, and smoked salmon. I have tried to recreate the shrimp & grits at home without much success, and would love love to know how the smoked salmon is prepared. It is always perfectly cooked. Last night I recommended that my husband try the pasta and beef tips (usually only available at lunch,but doesn't hurt to ask after lunch service if over) and he wiped the bowl clean with the wonderful bread they give you. When there is a wait I head to the bar and try to snag a seat at the window for some people watching. The bartenders and waiters are always exceptionally friendly and attentive. I guess my only complaint would be their limited wine offerings, which forces me to enjoy one of their fantastic signature drinks like their mojitos.
(4)
Brandon A.

I came here last week with my wife and 2 year old on a Wednesday or Tuesday afternoon. We had just gotten in before the lunch rush, so we were seated immediately. Shortly after we arrived we noticed the restaurant filled up fairly quickly. Our server was very attentive and knowledgeable, we started with the Crab and Shrimp Fritters, which were amazing. We put our daughter's order in as soon as we sat because she was getting cranky and it came out extremely fast. I had the shrimp and grits which was excellent. Overall I'd definitely go back!
(4)
T B.

Very good place for a meal with friends or a happy hour. The service is friendly and the food and drinks are creative and delicious,
(5)
George S.

I have eaten here several times over the past year but our last visit deserves special attention. The food is always great and the service at a minimum is good but our last visit was extra good. Our server was the best I've ever had -- maybe anywhere. He took extra care of us, answered our questions and made our meal even better. I watched and he was doing this for everyone. I wish we could get that server every time. We will certainly be back to look for him.
(5)
Greg O.

First, parking is a nightmare. This area really needs a parking garage. And you have to drive- there is no public transit anywhere close. Also, the no reservation thing is just plain annoying. That said, the service was pretty good and attentive. The bread basket is five stars without question. I could make a meal out of that alone. But the menu itself is actually pretty small- and if you can't eat seafood like myself, it gets downright tiny, but that's wasn't unexpected. I decided to try the cheeseburger, since I saw one at a neighboring table that looked good. But it was disappointing- juicy but bland. I'd go back for the bread basket, but the parking would probably keep me away.
(3)
jack c.

Great food- we visit often. Be careful though if you have food allergies. When I had a soy/dairy restricted diet I had asked if some of the options were safe and told yes. When I came back for a separate visit and mentioned the restriction- I was told those items were not safe. For example- the corn cucumber and tomato salad have dairy- apparently buttermilk.
(4)
Janelle D.

We have frequented Coastal Flats MANY times and the food is consistently good. We have always had consistently good service, even when it was crowded we never felt like we were not getting enough attention from our server. The quality of the food is far above most other chain places (many of which I refuse to frequent). I also love the call ahead waiting feature. Highly recommend!
(5)
Eric F.

The place is a solid 4 every time. It is great for a casual dinner or just drinks and apps. You can never go wrong with the Yucatan Shrimp cocktail or the deviled eggs!
(4)
Reviewer R.

Very clean. Nice, fresh atmosphere. Great service from the moment you walk in the door. Very, very good food prepared with integrity. The GAR group got it right here at the Fairfax Coastal Flats, too. Our one complaint is the music was too "loud and wild" for the early-dinner time (4:30pm on a Sunday).
(5)
David L.

I love this place wood grilled fillet mignon is on the money, this is our go-to dish also they sometimes have firecracker shrimp as a special. their specialty cocktails are excellent too
(5)
Marie C.

Love this place !! Came here when I visited a college friend that lives in the area and had really enjoyed it. They have a balcony where people usually drink at night during the summer months and it was packed! The drinks were really good and reasonably priced. Bartenders were super friendly and the rest of the staff was too. Had the best raspberry martini there and ended up getting a few :P Can't wait to go to Fairfax so I can visit this place again!!
(5)
K M.

Always a winner! Like the other Great American restaurants the food here is consistently good, and the service too. Great seafood based options to choose from with a fun atmosphere.
(4)
Christian B.

"Another Great American Restaurant(GAR)location that still lives up to its untarnished reputation" Food: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Atmosphere: 5/5 Parking: 5/5 Cleanliness: 5/5 Rarely do I give out five stars in all aspects of a restaurant but Coastal Flats, just like all its sister restaurants in the locally-popular Great American Restaurants (GAR) chain never fail to disappoint in any way. Food at Coastal flats is always fresh, well cooked, perfectly seasoned, and served piping hot. Unlike most restaurants in which fish/meat arrive at the restaurant frozen or side items come in pre-made at their corporate factories, coastal flats has fish come in whole (yes, head on) and their sides are prepared from scratch every morning and from base ingredients. Even the free bread they serve is dropped off daily from their own bakery! How's that for a wow factor? I have never eaten a single item, down to their salads, which, by the way, they make their own from-scratch house dressings, that wasn't spectacular at Coastal Flats or any GAR location for that matter. Service at Coastal Flats is friendly, fast, and completely flawless every time. The company employs a new industry concept called "team service" in which servers all share the tables and therefore act as a team to ensure every guest gets greeted, given their drinks, and served their food at a quick pace and in a friendly fashion without servers becoming busied or over-worked by their particular tables. There is always another server to pick up the slack when one becomes busy and the result is flawless service every time. Then small things - the DÃ©cor in here is tasteful and actually fits its theme (South Florida Beach house) as opposed to restaurants who don't stick with their themes throughout. The floors remain clean as well as the counters, tables, and most importantly bathrooms. The parking is free and abundant as this is a mall location as well. In conclusion, I cannot recommend this restaurant enough and recommend it to any hungry yelper.
(5)
Stacie B.

Great happy hour place! I LOVE all of the Great American restaurants. Coastal Flats is obviously geared towards seafood, but everything I tried thus far (seafood and non) has been excellent. Staff is always super friendly at the Fairfax location too.
(5)
Darling N.

My favorite Restaurant in Fairfax. Why? The food - everything of the menu is delicious - seriously... anything! Every time we have family or friends come visit, we take them there and they always love it. And the location and the restaurant is great - First of all, it's at Fairfax Corner and then they also have an outdoor patio with a bar and shade. There is probably nothing better than having a delicious dinner outdoors during a warm summer night. Love the atmosphere, the staff, the drinks, and the food!!!
(5)
Joseph H.

Coastal Flats is hands down one of the best restaurants I have been to in the past three decades. It all starts when you walk in. The hostesses are very friendly and make you feel right at home. Once seated, the waiter/waitress arrives at your table to take your drink order, no waiting around for your waiter here. We got Caleb as our waiter and it was a wonderful experience. He helped us select some excellent food options and our drinks were never empty. He really made the good food great! I got the filet and crab cake and I have to say it was one of the best crab cakes I have had and the steak was perfectly cooked to order as well. I will definitely be returning to Coastal Flats when I am in town again.
(5)
Terita S.

Doughnuts Rasin bread Lobster Mac n cheese Swordfish,mashed potatoes & asparagus Deviled eggs & bacon Lobster roll,fries & grill corn Grouper fingers & fries the little fried doughnuts were my fave part i believe this is their take on beignets. delicious, sub par service and food other wise
(3)
Aylin S.

You will never be disappointed at a Great American Restaurant. The service and food is always excellent and the prices are very reasonable if you ask me. If you like seafood the crab cakes and salmon are amazing. My favorite appetizer is the blue crab and rock shrimp fritters. Not a seafood person? THE MANGO CHICKEN & SPICED PECANS SALAD IS AMAZINGG and if you're in a pasta type of mood the hickory grilled chicken breast is delicious and comes with roasted mushrooms & brown butter sauce on angel hair pasta..MMM! if you have a major sweet tooth like me the warm white chocolate bread pudding is seriously one of the best desserts ever. and last but certainly not least you have to order the lucky lounge lemonade.
(5)
Sarah A.

Im a regular costumer and every time i visit i get the Cheese burger it is to die for soft buttery bun grilled to perfection patty and warm goat cheese salad with pecans never fail to make my tummy happy . Also try their warm calamari salad yummmmmmz
(5)
Joshua D.

The servings for the price are somewhat small, but the ingredients are high-quality and tasty. There are a few good dishes, but the menu is just too small to warrant visiting often unless you are a fan of high-priced fish specials. The service and the atmosphere are great, but there just isn't enough menu choice or food on the plate to make me ever care to go back. That's pretty much how all of these "Great American Restaurant" joints go. Too much money spent on the whole production and making everything look fancy, so you end up paying a lot for not much food, and there's no effort put into making the menu options stand out or inspire.
(1)
Mary P.

What's the point of "Call Ahead Seating" if you still make a party of five sit and wait over an hour?
(1)
John T.

Went here for my birthday. I had visited this location a couple of years back and was a little underwhelmed, but this time around I had a better experience. As we had three young kids with us we were expecting to be merely tolerated, but we were treated as though we were welcome to be there, so thanks for that. Our server was excellent, patient, and made it a very nice time. That said, there are a couple of minuses, though they are largely out of the restaurant's control. First, parking - biggest downside to coming to this shopping area. Arrive early just so you can find a parking spot, any parking spot. There is a fair amount near the movie theaters, but that's a bit of a walk to the restaurant. Second, the seating. There were five of us and we were kind of crammed into a corner-style booth. I noticed the significant majority of seating here, if not all of it, was in booths. This is a matter of preference, but in booths I always feel cramped. But then there are the pluses - food is quite good, assuming you're into seafood. Non-seafood options are sparse but available though. Service is fast and friendly, always a good thing. Not much to say that hasn't already been said here. It's a good place to eat, though it appears it gets crowded by 6-6:30 or so. No reservations, but you can call ahead to get on the waiting list. All in all, I'm glad I gave this restaurant another chance.
(4)
Dominique F.

Came here with some friends on a Sunday night, and got seated within 15 mins. Our server was really nice, but sometimes it took him a while to bring the food ot our table. Food was good, some things (artichoke and spinach dip, corn) better than others (lobster roll). Overall, an ok experience for me. Wouldn't mind coming here again, but then again I wouldn't jump right to it.
(3)
John G.

I have eaten here many, many times and every visit deserves 5 stars. The hosts are always very welcoming upon arrival. If you have to wait to be seated the bar is a great atmosphere to be waiting in. The bartenders are always very friendly, they work quickly, and make great drinks. The service of the waiters/waitresses is usually exceptional. Of course, like any place, if you go enough you will experience a mediocre server at some point. The food is delicious. Some of my favorites are the drunken ribeye, filet mignon & crab cake, shrimp roll, and fish & chips. I highly recommend this restaurant to everyone.
(5)
Nina R.

Coastal Flats is part of the Great American food chain so expect excellent service. I have zero complaints for this place, except I am not really into seafood. I ordered their bbq ribs once and a chicken salad another time. Both were great. I like this place because its so alive and bustling with energy. You can seen the kitchen in a big open area. When the weather is nice sit out on the patio for happy hour or just if you like outdoor seating. Fun place! Highly recommend for any occasion.
(3)
Elly S.

As much as I can, I try to avoid chain restaurants, especially when we have such great mom & pop owned seafood restaurants in the DMV. But sometimes, even a chain restaurant can leave you hankering for more, and that's precisely what Coastal Flats does with its damn ozzie/ozzy/aussie rolls they bring when you sit down, with their honey butter. Let me tell you, forget your diet, forget low carb, forget paleo, forget whatever it is you are doing to lose weight/stay in shape/be healthy. You simply cannot go through life without experiencing these rolls! They have just the right hint of sweetness that is accentuated with the whipped honey butter, and when they combine in your mouth, it's this reaction so good between roll/butter/taste buds that it can only be described as heaven sent. I can avoid every temptation in life, except for these rolls, and let me tell you, I waited 2 hours for a table this past weekend, just for these glorious globs of goodness! If you insist on being a "normal" person and eating "real food" you can't go wrong with the Lobster Bisque. Not every location serves it regularly, but this Coastal Flats does. So take advantage of that! Although the portion is not very big, so you should definitely order it with another appetizer or a salad. My favorite is to pair it with their Baby Cake Sliders, which are legit! Sometimes, if my waitress is nice enough, I will have them ask the kitchen to switch out the brioche rolls they come on for my glorious globs of goodness, and believe me, it's worth it. One thing that I will say kinda-sorta alarmed me a little was how sweet their calamari was. It's tossed with a pepper jelly sauce, so I expected a hint of sweetness, but if you order a beer and think you're going to enjoy it with the calamari here as an app, you are totes wrong! It's sugary. But, still good in its own way. Since you're going to start your meal at Coastal Flats on a carb high, it's only right that you end your meal the same way, with their bread pudding. This is one of those bread puddings that is moist and custard-like, with a custard sauce that will leave you licking the plate, as my uncle proceeded to do! You might want to start your next gym session with a "forgive me, trainer, for I have sinned" though, because you won't be able to wipe the smile off of your face after you're done here!
(3)
Josh C.

Awesome bar/waiting area with a warm, high energy environment. You can't go wrong with this place, great food and wonderful service.
(4)
Elizabeth B.

Awesome seafood! I am originally from a beach area, so I take a lot of consideration when choosing a place for seafood, and I am generally wary of places too far inland from a source of fresh seafood but this place is great. Definitely a little pricy, but it isn't meant to go to every night. Great place for a date, but it is a bit loud because it is such a large restaurant.
(4)
Amber M.

You cant go wrong here... All of the food choices are excellent and the service gets 10 stars. The bread pudding has to be the best thing my mouth has ever tasted. Oh and the Ozzie rolls are sweet melt in your mouth pieces of dough that taste like donuts.
(5)
Sheila M.

...
(4)
Chieu L.

Definitely as good as it gets. The Great American Food chain never seems to disappoint me. We came in and got seated immediately which is always a plus! We ordered a variety of dishes but the one that stood out the most were the Grouper Fingers, Grits, and the Drunken Ribeye. It was all delicious and I definitely recommend it! OH AND YOU MUST TRY THE WAFFLE CHOCOLATE dessert...sooo good! YUM! *drool*
(5)
Tucker H.

Like all of the GAR restaurants, Coastal Flats has a nice (if loud) interior, pretty well packed with tables and booths. We have always found the service to be decent enough, but since the place is always packed the servers do tend to have a lot of tables to take care of. Also like all the the GAR restaurants, the fried dough balls in the bread basket are phenomenal. Unfortunately, Coastal Flats has my least favorite menu of any in the chain, I much prefer Sweetwater or Ozzies. We do come by occasionally, but it's really not my favorite.
(3)
Jon D.

Hickory Grilled Chicken is a pretty underrated dish. Solid Ozzie rolls throughout. Service is usually quick with their high volume of servers, but not very personable.
(4)
Faride S.

Coastal Flats has never dissapointed me. I am not going to talk about parking like other yelpers on their reviews because I want to rate the restaurant itself, not the parking (that is a Fairfax Corner issue). Service is great every time I've gone. The rolls they give to start are delicious although their calories may not be delightful to many of us. Appetizers you must have are the spinash dip and this other app that has shrimp in a ball of deepfried something (its amazing!! I wish i remembered the name, they also have crab deepfried in this dish). The best salad is the Coastal Salad with chicken. YUM! Dessert and Drink: CHOCOLATE WAFFLE & MANGO MARTINI. If your a chocolate lover and if you love yummy fruity drinks try these two. you will not regret it! I always recomend everyone to come here if they want a delicious meal and a nice atmosphere.
(5)
Steven H.

From the outside it looks like your average seafood chain... But it's not. The food is out of this world (especially their lobster roll and sweet potato fries) and the service is even better. Your water glass won't go empty and there's always a smile on their faces. I probably go every other week. HIGHLY recommended!
(5)
Jackie B.

Oh my god Coastal Flats I love you so much! When I was in college at Mason I lived next to Fairfax Town Centre and Coastal Flats was one of my routine weekly go-to places. Everything there is amazing except for the wait, which of course is a testament to how freaking awesome the food here is. Bar Review: I didn't go to the bar here quite as much as I ate here but I did frequent the patio happy hours at least once a week and they're awesome. Drinks are fairly pricey and the strength of the drink is hit or miss depending on who is making it. What is consistent however is how delicious the drink are and if you get a good bartender they will pretty solidly knock you on your ass if you have enough of them. I love the mojitos here! Food: I have never had any thing at Coastal Flats that I did not love! The complimentary bread is out of this world and the little bun things with butter are to die for. I've literally eaten about 20 of them in one sitting (my waist did not appreciate this as much as my stomach did.) As far as appetizers go the calamari is my favorite: every time I've had it they have given a very fair portion size and it is seasoned to perfection, never over or undercooked, and simply delicious! The shrimp cocktail is pretty standard as far as shrimp cocktails go but still great--always fresh and a fairly large portion size for an appetizer. Now for the entrees, I have to say that if you like seafood Coastal has to be in the top three restaurants for quality of food, especially since it is a chain-ish restaurant. My go to is usually the short smoked salmon filet with the cauliflower mash. Really healthy and DELICIOUS go-to! It is probably the best salmon I have ever had at a restaurant and the cauliflower mash is always awesome, I wish they ran a delivery service so that I could eat this dish everyday. The salmon salad is also great and not boring or bland like a lot of salads. I have also had the sea bass which is really interesting, not as good as the salmon in my opinion, but I think that is more of a personal thing. Really high quality fresh fish. If you're a meat eater I can't personally attest to the quality of the food but I can say that every meat eater I have taken to Coastal has never left less than extremely satisfied. I've heard the grilled chicken and hickory smoked chicken breast are great--chicken is never overcooked and the paired sides go great with the dishes. Additionally, I've heard great things about both the filet mignon and ribs. A+ restaurant, just would recommend eating at off hours or you will likely find yourself looking at an hour plus wait.
(5)
Mary M.

Excellent food and drinks and a fun place to hang out at the bar, any night of the week! Try the pecan and warm goat cheese salad! Yuummmm!
(5)
Paul O.

First showed up with my colleagues for a drink, but stayed for a while and ended up having dinner there at the bar. Sat down towards the end of one of the bartenders shift, and speaking from personal experience in restaurants shift change can be bumpy, but here it was smooth when the night crew came on. Little things like that normal people wouldn't even recognize, but I do. The beer was great, the atmosphere was great, and the service was great...so great in fact I had to write down the names of those involved so I could remember: Amanda, Sasha, Darcy, and Jameson were pumping it out during the rush and didn't miss a beat. Good conversationalists and nice people made this "one night only patron" (I live in Florida) a follower of this chain, just wish they would open up one down here in South Florida. So if you are looking to be taken care of wholly Coastal Flats in Fairfax, VA is your place.
(5)
Renee H.

Do yourself a favor & try their mango mojitos because they are amazing! They also make a pretty tasty long island iced tea. I've been coming here on Saturdays so I always experience their crazy long waits, but I don't mind because they make up for it in delicious drinks. The food is really good. I tried their salmon & it was cooked perfect. It is however part of a huge chain with restaurants similar to it around the area so the menus are a little of the same. BUT the husband & I always come back because we can just hangout at the outside bar with a drink in hand & enjoy the atmosphere.
(5)
Yvonne O.

My husband and I went to Coastal Flat for our wedding Anniversary, this was out first time here. The service, the food and the staff were all amazing. We will definitely come back here.
(5)
Dennis S.

Food here as usual is excellent. We have been here many times and not been disappointed once. I tried the Rib this time as I always had seafood before. I cannot say I loved the rib but I know I will be back. The service is great. I did find that they do not honor a Canadian Drivers license when my 23 year old niece presented it for drinks - that was a bummer and the Manager did not make an exception even though her parents and several adults were sitting at the table...!!! He insisted on a passport which meant that we had to drive home to get it - was not worth that trip so she decided to skip the cocktail. I reduced one star for that. I would have expected the Manager to make a more rational decision considering that there were several adults around.
(3)
Brian W.

Okay, the foods good, the service okay. I'm sorry it's big, it's crowded and (yawn) boring. Not cheap either. I'm torn. It's a sound choice, but I'd rather try someplace more interesting.
(4)
Erin B.

Love, love, love Coastal Flats! All the restaurants in The Great American restaurant chain deliver consistently great food and service, and Coastal Flats is no exception. I usually get the salmon salad with sautÃ©ed goat cheese and it is amazing. They use sushi grade salmon and I've never had salmon anyplace else that even comes close. Everything else I've tried is also good. Also, the Key Lime pie is out of this world! I lived in Key West, so I should know. :)
(5)
Greg M.

Always a fan of the Great American Restaurants, for some reason I had not made it to Coastal Flats until recently. I'm going to dispense with the administrative stuff and concentrate on two main items. The parking is abysmal - no public transportation nearby of course so the best course of action is to drop your date off and have comfortable shoes. You either have to be very lucky, be here at an off-hours time, or be ready to walk from the furthest corner of the parking lot. I like this shopping center except for this one item - it is so densely packed and parking bad. I'm a fan of whole artichokes and Costal Flats has the very best I've ever had - they had to be marinated, steamed then grilled. So delectable. The seasoning tasted fantastic, the grilling perfect, they were the best possible way to eat artichokes. Had I known how much I was going to like them, I would not have ordered an entrÃ©e but simply ordered several of these bad boys. A meal like that easily makes me an occasional vegetarian. Absolutely the best. To call it an appetizer is almost insulting. My mouth is watering writing about them right now. As always, the service is great at this chain, the prices high but commensurate with quality. We'll be back for sure, those 'chokes made fans out of us.
(4)
Marc L.

This place is well reviewed, and I'll add one more. I love this place. As part of the Great American Restaurants chain, it has a great reputation to live up to, and it excels. Every GAR location I've dined at has been simply great: great food, great service, great beer/wine/drink selection, innovative menu. This place is no exception. I've been here twice for dinner and once for lunch. Each time: great food, great service, simple, no hassle, great beer selection, interesting innovative menu and specials. GAR has their act together. Why aren't there any of these GAR restaurants in the Maryland suburbs?
(5)
Pin C.

Can't go wrong with these Great American restaurants. Food is always on point and also the customer service. Would even come here just for drinks & appetizers.
(5)
Eugene F.

Sat at the bar and was greeted immediately. Their house IPA was tasty and their bartenders were cute and friendly! As for the food, I settled for the lobster roll. It was delicious but beware, there was a couple shells in there, but it was no biggie to me. The fries were thin, but damn were they good. Also came with corn that was the best I've ever had. I don't know how they grilled it, BUT I'M DETERMINED TO FIND OUT. Will definitely be back again because the town center area itself is gorgeous and there's a movie theater right across the street!
(4)
Mo A.

Came on a weeknight after the Lupe Fiasco concert on the GMU campus. Coastal Flats is part of a chain group called the Great American Restaurants. This particular location is in the Fairfax Corner, a beautiful and swanky outdoor shopping mall. The exterior of the restaurant is bright and well light with a huge sign making it impossible you'll miss this spot. The decor is intimate and somewhat eclectic with the murals on the back walls that kind of make you think you're in Cuba (I think they were gonna with a coastal seaside type of theme). The wait staff is very personable, helpful and professional. The hostess was bubbly and talkative as she led us to our table. Our waiter was very attentive and knowledgeable about the menu. The menu offers a variety of mouthwatering options. We came pretty late so unfortunately I didn't get to try their lobster bisque, which is one of their popular items. Dang it! Luckily they had lobster rolls, which I had been craving for a week or two. We ended up ordering blue crab and rock shrimp fritters, shrimp roll and lobster rolls. We also had this complementary bread ball type of appetizer. The bread appetizer was really good. They were the size of mini doughnuts and soooo soft. When you add the honey butter with that, it rivals red lobster, carrabbas and any other restaurant that has really good bread. The fritters were soooo delicious. Soft fritters generously stuffed with succulent seafood, drizzled with crispy shredded filo dough on top and surrounded by grilled corn salsa & lobster ginger butter sauce. A lot going on flavor and texture wise that all comes together perfectly. The crab and shrimp offered clean and fresh flavors. The filo dough adds a nice crunch to complement the creaminess of the seafood and sauce. The lobster and shrimp rolls were both really really good. The shrimp were breaded and fried, which is interesting because typically with shrimp rolls at most other places they're chilled. The shrimp were nice sized and came in a generous amount that overstuffed the roll. The lettuce added a different flavor/texture element and then combined with the seasoning and cocktail sauce (served on the side) made for a great roll. The lobster roll was the star of the show for me. They were SUPER generous with the lobster meat, which was fresh and came in big chunks. I was ambitious and ordered two lobster rolls (this was also a belated birthday dinner so not my bill....not my problem). The lobster rolls were definitely hearty, which is very different from the lobster rolls found at other restaurants in the DC area (Luke's Lobster and their Weight Watcher's lobster roll). I was in gluttonous heaven! The sides were shoestring fries and corn on the cob, both of which were perfectly prepared and seasoned. If there was a complaint it would be courtesy of my dining companion who funded this yelp review. She was not too pleased to see that two lobster rolls, fries and corn on the cob cost $48. The lobster roll meal is listed as "market price" on the menu and the second lobster roll (roll only) came at an extra cost. In comparison, her shrimp roll and fries only cost $13. I told her that I empathized with her irritation but also mentioned that the yelp community thanked her for her contribution. Funny thing.....that didn't go over the way that it played out in my mind. Oh well!
(4)
Sher S.

I like this place they got some good crab cakes and lobster rools. Pretty nice and good service and nice and cozy but you gotta pay 40 bucks out your Pickett I can't afford a gf let alone 40 dollar meal
(4)
Erin M.

No matter the location, Coastal Flats never disappoints! I love the crab cakes and the salmon!!
(5)
David S.

Okay, so I am referring to about 2 years ago, but hands down this might be the best seafood restaurant we have ever been in. I was on a business trip and I was fortunate enough to have my lady join me on this trip. We were looking for a good steak, and found this restaurant. This is probably the nicest looking seafood restaurant we have ever been to. The place looked very clean, you could see the chefs at work from where ever you were sitting, and the service was excellent! From top to bottom, the servers provided great service, and the food was even better! We had the lobster bisque and it was spiked with Sambooka! We share tales of this legendary lobster Sambooka bisque whenever we get the chance! My lady had the wood-grilled filet mignon, and she absolutely loved it! The garlic potatoes were perhaps the best potatoes she ever had. And the side salad was good too - I believe she had the chop house salad. I had the hickory grilled chicken breast over angel hair pasta. I loved it - the butter I remember it tasted pretty sweet for butter, and the pasta and chicken were delicious. Overall, easily a 5-star restaurant...btw, the chef came over to us and asked us about our meal, where we came from and overall was really nice! That was the first time the chef came up to us at a restaurant. Only thing I will say about this restaurant - if you go to the restroom, and you see some of the restaurant staff getting ready for their shift - that includes putting on their uniform and shaving at the mirror - do not be alarmed. hahahhahahaha! Still a 5-star restaurant regardless of that.
(5)
Brian M.

Normally, I am not a fan of chain restaurants... but, I make an exception for Coastal Flats. We went on a Friday night around 6pm... party of 4 (2 parents, 2 kids). When I saw the full parking lot, I figured we were out of luck... but to my surprise, we had a table within 5 minutes. Now, this was possible because the place is big. So, if you are looking for that intimate boutique experience, this is not your type of place. But, for us, it was perfect. If you are a family with kids who are still learning what "inside voice" is, then this place will work for you. It's not super loud, but you won't feel guilty that your loud children are ruining someone else's dinner. Wait staff was prompt, very nice, and clearly knew their drinks and food menu and specials. The kids had typical kid food - burgers & fries... and by all accounts, they were good (clean plates). My wife & I went with specials. The lobster roll was excellent... just the right amount of mayo & celery, and heaping claw meat. My wife had the crab cakes, which were good enough to rival those in our neighboring state. I browsed the wine list (pretty good), but went with a New Belgium Fat Tire Ale. My wife had a cocktail which she said was just right. I felt a little guilty when we left - I liked a chain restaurant, and I'll go back. In fact, I may even try some of the other Great American restaurants.
(4)
Cal S.

I was full before I came here. But I tried their starter bread and dip. The bread was moist and warm. I ordered crab and corn chowder. It was a bit salty but it was definitely flavorful. I tried their salmon from my friend's plate. It was nothing special, something I could fix at home in 15 minutes. The service was good. Didn't feel rushed at all at this busy restaurant.
(3)
Michael M.

Everything was great from top to bottom. The staff was professional and our server actually knew the menu. My food came out as ordered and I enjoyed every bit of it. I also like the location of this place because it is near the splash pad. After walking around the area I took the kid to play in the water. My experience was so good I bought a gift card to give as a birthday gift.
(5)
Shannon C.

OMG this food was good. The staff was very helpful and attentive. I had one of the burgers with cheese and bacon and it was juicy and delicious. Only negative was the prices. Very expensive everything. One could easily drop $80 on a single dinner for 2.
(5)
Gina J.

Food quality has seriously gone to hell at these chains. Being served raw chicken and lettuce that has moldy gunk. I'm addition when you salad has 4 ingredients and you miss one of them .., that's pretty sad. I'd stick to the drinks if you go. $15 salads seriously a rip off. Service is consistent ... Food not so much!!!
(1)
Tanny D.

I have not gone to too many seafood places in my lifetime, but i'll admit this is some of the best I've had. The menu is short and concise, which I can appreciate. I got the crab cake sandwich, it came with fries (best fries ever, since they're cut really thin!), cole slaw and a dipping sauce for the crab cake which went really well with it! The crab meat tasted very fresh too. I must say, the atmosphere itself is awesome. When I went it was packed, and everyone seemed to really enjoy themselves. It's a must-try!
(5)
Rachel G.

I highly recommend Coastal Flats for any business lunch in VA. I have taken clients there time and time again, and they always deliver solid food in a timely fashion. They respect the time constraints that come with business lunches and are always punctual. I recommend making a reservation for lunch to facilitate fastest seating. On the other hand, even when I haven't done so I've been seated within 10 minutes at peak busy time. They have a well-oiled machine when it comes to accommodating hungry, rushed lunchers like me. :) We always end up with salads at Coastal Flats for some reason, though I'm sure their hot entrees are delicious. All the ingredients taste freshly prepared - whether grilled chicken served hot on your salad or a gorgeous piece of grilled salmon with beautiful grill marks and all. I would just say ask for the dressing on the side because they tend to be heavy-handed with it. Some of my favorite salads are: Short Smoked Grilled Salmon Salad......new potatoes, bright red tomatoes, thin beans, balsamic onions & mixed field greens in champagne vinaigrette...goat cheese add $1 (worth it, because goat cheese is the bomb) Coastal Roast Chicken Salad......mixed field greens, avocado, grape tomatoes, sesame almonds & champagne vinaigrette Upsides - food, fun atmosphere, great service One downside - it tends to be noisy. If it's a warm day, sit outside in their shaded back porch area, order an Arnold Palmer - ahh! Perfection.
(4)
Trinh T.

3 1/2 stars..We had the devil eggs for the app, it was yummy! Loved the Aussie rolls ( little dough balls of yumm-i-ness) you will love it if your a sucker in bread, like me. We had the Simple grilled chicken which was ok, my bf had the ribeye - it was a little overcooked ( he requested medium, came out well done) it had a nice flavor though.
(3)
Nari L.

Excellent! I had a burger here which was really good. I'm a burger fanatic so it's good that I liked it. This place is huge! We sat near the bar area because I had my dog who laid outside while we dined at the bar where the sliding doors were wide open. All in all, I enjoyed this place and I would definitely be back to try other things here!
(4)
Diane C.

Love this restaurant go there often with friends and business clients as I have never relieved bad service . Only one time I had a complaint with a meal and the management took care if it right away Will continue to be a regular visitor here
(5)
Jillian W.

This is my favorite restaurant. Every time we come we order a different entree and I love them all. I think my favorite would be the pecan crusted trout with couscous. We also order the Deviled egg with candied bacon as an appetizer. Make sure you get here early because the place is always busy! But that's because the food is amazing.
(5)
William T.

Never got to taste the food. My family and I left after acc extended wait and watching 3 other parties of identical size get seated before us.When the first party was sat down we spoke w the hostess. She stated we were next. The next part was sat about 5 minutes later and we asked to speak with a manager. While we waited for a manager, the third party was taken to their seat. The manager Josh, spoke to my mother who made the initial complaint, stating that he had a special table that would be ready for us shortly. As a family we decided to leave however. While my family walked out, I went to speak to Josh directly and asked for the number to the corporate office. Josh gave me the information readily and asked that I please stay since he was having the table ready and offered to buy us a drink. I stated that it was unnecessary and walked to join my family. Josh followed us out of the restaurant to the sidewalk finally offering to book us gift cards or to get us a seat at another table. My primary issues were that as a son I watched the hosting staff and manager dismiss a legitimate complaint from my mother. Secondly the manager's final response should have been his first. The time to offer me a free meal, gift cards etc..is not when I'm walking away on the sidewalk outside, but when I bring the issue to your attention.
(1)
Matt D.

I could sit on the patio, drink cold beers, eat ozzie rolls and grilled salmon all day every day.
(5)
Layan K.

My absolute favorite restaurant! The food is amazing and their service is WOW! They are just perfect.
(5)
Liton K.

Always ! ALWAYS a great time and 5star service. Managed very well and staffs are attentive. Good quality of food choices. Keep it up !
(5)
jenny m.

"Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name And they're always glad you came You wanna be where you can see our troubles are all the same You wanna be where everybody knows your name." Quote from cheers. That's what you get here. All the servers/bartenders (shout out to Kevin) are all so friendly and very personable. Great service. My go to place every week after a long work week.
(5)
Rebekah R.

This is almost enough of a reason to make me want to move back to Fairfax! We were up in Northern Virginia to attend a funeral and decided to return to our old stomping grounds, including Fairfax Town Centre. The only requirement: that we eat at a restaurant where we could still maintain our new healthy eating regimen. Coastal Flats did not disappoint. Wow. What a gem of a restaurant! The service was spot on, with our servers being very attentive but not smothering. The building/decor features an open kitchen and wide open spaces with a high ceiling, which really helps improve one's dining experience. The food was amazing. My husband had smoked salmon with pureed cauliflower. I had ribs with coleslaw and sauteed mushrooms. The salmon and ribs were perfectly cooked. The cauliflower was so well done that it could easily be mistaken for mashed potatoes. In addition, we splurged on a spinach artichoke dip that was out of this world. It was--hands down--the best spinach artichoke dip we've ever had. Finally, the presentation of our dishes was immaculate. We're new to Coastal Flats. I can only hope that one day a location will open up in Winston-Salem, NC. Until then, I will continue dreaming of that amazing food!
(5)
Colin C.

GAR restaurants (Sweetwater Tavern, Carlyle, Arties, Mike's, etc.) are my favorites so I am very biased. However, this is one of the better spots, as long as you can get in. I highly recommend calling ahead on your way over and the wait will be dramatically decreased. Lots of the same delicious options as other GAR restaurants, with a bit more of a seafood twist. Even the salads are delicious with options like the salmon (get it blackened), seared tuna, and two noodle shrimp salad (my personal favorite). The shrimp and grits are amazing as well as all of the desserts. The bread they bring you in the beginning from the bakery is addicting and delicious. Overall, you feel a bit crappy after eating here, but well worth it.
(5)
Maria H.

We went tonight after reading all the positive reviews. But an 1 hr and 15 minutes later I was not so glad we went. The hostess who took our name told us it would be 30 to 20 min. But 45 min later I walked up to ask how much longer and she said 10 more min. Sure enough multiple people that arrived after us kept getting seated. So I went back up and she told me did you call in i said "no we have been waiting for almost an hr." And told the hostess she told me 30 to 20 min when we checked in. She gave me attitude and straight out said no it is 60 min wait. We were final seated an 1hr and 20 min. At least our waitress was awesome and the food was ok for a chain restaurant. So if you don't want to wait for ever I would call before you go.
(2)
Ashley F.

Before moving to Virginia, I had never heard of Coastal Flats or the other Great American restaurants. Since the first time I had been here, I have been in love. Their food is amazing and I've never been disappointed with it or this establishments service. If i could eat there every night I would. It has beautiful decor and is great for bringing guests or family. Would definitely recommend their cheddar cheeseburger and a flourless chocolate waffle to finish. The management is great too, the rare times where there has been a mixup with an order, they came to speak with us and even offered free desert cards! THATS what I call great service! Just thinking about how good the food is makes me want to head there now!
(5)
Lydia R.

I've been to Coastal Flats a dozen times for lunch, brunch, dinner, and after dinner for drinks. This is a solid Fairfax restaurant. With several people serving you, your needs are addressed before you have to bug the wait staff. The food arrives pretty quickly once you are seated, which may be take a while - the one downside. I've eaten at the bar for dinner before though, and it was a lot of fun!
(4)
Chiyon Y.

I like that Coastal Flats always has great service. Their bread and butter are mouth watering & I love their Lobster Roll with corn on the cob. It is absolutely delicious! Drinks never disappoint, which is a big plus.
(4)
William N.

Crab cake sliders and great service, awesome food and service. Always as good as it gets. The Crab Cake Minis are to die for.
(5)
Linda C.

Coastal Flats has an awesome outdoor patio! Pretend you are in Hilton Head, SC, paces from the sand and sea, hanging out with the glitterati. Join the crowd at the large bar, or find a quiet table for two with a view. Of course, the view is a parking lot, but hey, we're pretending we're at the coast, remember? Seriously, the patio is huge and has a real down-south feel to it, complete with a few rocking chairs. It's lovely on a breezy evening. Another Great American Restaurant concept, the menu here is similar to that found at Sweetwater Tavern, Artie's in Fairfax, and Jackson's in Reston. Additional seafood items are incorporated to keep up the "coastal" feel. I particularly like the shrimp with grits. The lobster bisque made with sambuca cream is to die for. I get it every chance I have. The other night I had the warm goat cheese and spiced pecan salad, with dried cranberries and champagne vinaigrette. I asked the server if the salad was smaller than the others since it cost $8.00 versus the main course salads at $14. She said it was, but I didn't think so when I got it. A few less ingredients, maybe, but not smaller by any means. That with the bisque was plenty filling for me. Other yummy items on the menu: the coastal roast chicken salad (which can be found at just about all of the GAR restaurants), and the hickory grilled chicken breast. They do chicken right! For dessert, please try the flourless chocolate waffle if you have room. You won't regret it!
(4)
Le L.

This restaurant is right in front of fairfax corner theater therefore no need to drive around, it is walkable distance to the restaurant. We came here on a wednesday night and I was surprised how busy they were. We got seated 2 minutes after we walk in, which made me extremely satisfied because I hate waiting on table. I like their booth tables, there were booths for two, four and six people. Our servers were extremely polite and explained what was special for the night but wasn't on the menu. Since I am a vegetarian, she was nicely explained what has meats and what's not. She was very nice to run in to the kitchen to ask the chef if they can make me veggie dishes only or I can special order it. This is what a good service suppose to be. The only downside about this restaurant is that the AC wasn't on high enough. Outside was very humid and hot, and inside had like a lot of people since that night was very busy for some reasons. I was kind of sweaty while I was eating which I didn't like it. But overall it is a good restaurant and I will definitely come back next time.
(4)
Jen M.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS PLACE! I don't think I've ever had anything I didn't like here. Prices are good for the quality of food they serve. Service at the bar (for dinner) was great...a friendly and attentive lady named Lizzie. What I Love here...everything!...Starting with the bread / little doughy ball thingies. LOVE the spinach and artichoke appetizer here! Entrees...LOVE the shrimp roll...the roll is buttered and toasted Just Right, and comes with the correct balance of lettuce and tartar sauce. This sandwich includes a good number of shrimp. Crab cakes are my next favorite, very delicious here, sauteed and not fried / greasy. I love the cauliflower mash here, this is something you can't find everywhere...and at the places you can find it (Ruby Tuesdays), it's not as good. They were very accommodating to switch the fries for the cauliflower mash. I could list the whole menu, because I can't think of an entree / item I've tried on this menu that was bad. New additions to the menu have been good, such as the deviled eggs with the glazed pecan pieces on top.
(5)
Pann L.

This is one of my favorites. I really like their drunken ribeye and shrimp & crab appetizer. Lobster roll is also my favorite. Their drinks are awesome. Staff are wonderful. I'm not a big fan of their Chilean sea bass Hong Kong style.
(5)
Pragna H.

Not bad for a local chain, decent service and decent food for the price. We tried the crab dip. I was actually quite pleasantly surprised at the quality of the dip and the proportion of crab to the rest of the stuff in the dish. My salmon entree was plain. However, it was salmon and cauliflower mash in a chain, what else was I expecting? The portions are on the big side and the quality of the ingredients seemed good. Overall, not a bad place to stop by if you are in the area. However, I wouldn't travel far for Coastal Flats. It's just okay.
(3)
Rachel B.

I love all of the Great American Restaurants, so Coastal Flats is no exception. I have always had great service at this location (most locations too). Food is awesome, and things feel as clean as they can be for a restaurant at least. If I moved out of the N. VA area, the Great American Restaurant chain would be one of the things I would miss most. At Coastal Flats I like: Everything (I was going to list, but then realized I like everything except for one thing) except the Lobster Roll. Never have cared for the Lobster Roll, and my mom didn't either. It seems other people like it though. For having only one thing on the menu that I wouldn't look forward to eating, that's not so bad is it? Oh, and I would love it if they used wild salmon instead of farmed. Unfortunately, who does, so I can't deduct a star. Restaurants that put a trash can next to the door leading out of the bathroom always earn a star in my book :)
(5)
Zane F.

Worth every penny....excellent food, great combinations, love the shrimp cocktail, the calamari, and their fish of the day. Been a long time customer, recommend it without any hesitation. Especially like the warm goat cheese salad, followed by the fish of the day which are usually the mahi or the grouper. Be sure to enjoy the choc waffle for dessert....and if they have it the creme brulee.
(5)
Marcus M.

This is one of my favorite restaurants. They must use corporal punishment as a primary tactic to get this level of service out of their workers, it's just unbelievable how nice and attentive they are. Such a stark difference the abysmal service I have received at other so called restaurants lately. The food is also amazing if your into southern low country cuisine. I had the lobster roll today, and it was full of lobster yummy goodness. Much larger and meatier than other lobster rolls I have had lately. I wish they had Connecticut style (hot). They really have the formula down on an excellent dining experience.
(5)
Kevin E.

My date had a great experience with the trout, however, my shrimp salad came with only a few bites of shrimp and way too much sauce. The appetizers were also good. Drinks are a tad pricey.
(3)
Amanda E.

Coastal certainly is "Great" as the parent company name implies. I tell ya, Great American Restaurants knows what they're doing. Always busy, consistent attentive service and dependable quality of food (with few exceptions) Sometimes the prep folks get a little mayo-happy and you end up sloughing off creamy goodness from the shrimp roll or other sauced-up dish. Regular order is the Shrimp and two noodle salad (whatever it's called). I usually ask for extra crispy noodles (a la fried won ton strips for hot and sour soup), because they tend to go light on these. Salad plus the Sinfully Delicious [insert hand/finger gesture here] bread assortment is plenty for a meal. Otherwise fish and chips are decent - don't expect authentic British/Irish pub calibre. My fav plate is the soy/miso sea bass on spinach. The sauce is perfectly balanced (for me). Not too sweet, not too salty. Juuuuuust right. And healthy, too! I see a lot of people note the slim menu selection - but I embrace it. You go to Coastal (or any other GAR establishment) to get what you want, not to be adventurous and try something new. On this point I do have to agree that their wine menu leaves a little to be desired. But that's what Mojito's are for. And speaking of which...whenever I come here for lunch I always see Moms with kids in tow (what looks like play dates?!) knocking back mojitos - in the corner at the bar. C'mon Fairfax! Keep it Classy! General note - This place is always busy. In warmer months the porch is the place to be, apparently, in Fairfax Corner. I'm not one for crowds so I always observe the alcohol induced din from across the parking lot at Uncle Julio's.
(4)
Mitch R.

Great food and a great bar scene. It has the great food that you have come to expect for the GAR restaurants, with some familiar favorites but obviously this one has more seafood. Everything I have ever ordered has been fantastic and I espeically like their version of fish and chips which I think uses grouper. the fish is always fresh and portion sizes are good. The service, like any other GAR restaurant, is fantastic and the bartenders will remember your name. Coastal Flats is a great place to satisfy your seafood craving!
(4)
Bryant A.

Went to Coastal Flats last night for a date with my girlfriend. It was our first time going here. We have been wanting to go for a while because it was always busy and wanted to see what the hype was about. We called ahead for seating, worked pretty well, considering it was crowded. (7pm on a Friday) The menu is VERY limited. I expected a larger selection of seafood, considering the name 'Coastal Flats' and the whole beach theme. Minus one star. I decided on the Filet Mignon. I ordered it Medium, it came out as what I understand to be as Medium Rare. Minus another star. Despite the meat temperature, it was tasty. The sauce and potatoes were also tasty. The little warm rolls and the butter are the BEST. I ordered a Coastal Flats Lager, VERY similar to a Yuengling, however enjoyed it. The service was attentive. Overall it was good. Nothing to write home about though. It seems like a good place to gather with a group of friends for drinks. Most likely will return at some point, but wouldn't go out of my way for.
(3)
Imdabossapplesauce S.

My mouth waters just thinking about this place! My favorites are the chop house salad and the filet mignon with crabcake! For dessert I would always have the key lime pie. It is absolutely delicious here! That meal is by far in the top five of my favorite meals of all time. The only thing I could possibly complain about would be the wait time, which can be a bit lengthy sometimes and they don't take reservations.
(5)
Eric S.

I don't come here for the average food. I don't drink alcohol so the bar does not appeal. What brings me in are the teak rocking chairs in Coastal Flats' outdoor dining area/bar, which happen to fit me just right. So, when I am strolling my neighborhood and pass through Fairfax corner and notice a rocker is unoccupied I may come in, sit back with a snack and do some people watching - which lately has consisted of making connections between online stereotypes about this place, and the actuality of what I see. "Cougar Town." That is perhaps the most frequently tossed phrase when this location of Coastal Flats is mentioned. Yes, there are some older women patrons, with dazzling diamonds on their wedding bands, but their interest is focused on each other and the male bartenders. "Frat Boys." Probably not actual frat boys but the mannerisms fit the stereotype: Polo-wearing, standing in a circle of 4 or 5, beer in one hand, other hand in pocket, talking needlessly loud about stuff that does not matter, one member of the group gesticulating wildly to emphasize stuff they are talking about that does not matter. Drinking, looking around; drinking, looking around. "Disgruntled Female Pairs." These are the two women talking about how much "this place sucks." They tend to use a lot of curse words. I stood near a couple earlier this week who were commenting on how Reston Town Center was better than Fairfax Corner. They were upset that this place did not meet their lofty expectations. When I arrived near them they were preparing to leave - but then didn't. That then made me upset because I wanted the table they were sitting at. For a place they did not like they sure lingered a long time. "Looking, But Picky, Female Pairs." These women are on the prowl but are particular about who they will hook up with. There was a pair perched on stools at the porch rail quietly conversing with each other and giving off appropriate "I'm available" signals. A group of four "Mini Frat Boys," who were at the bar when I arrived, spontaneously went over to chat up these two women. Sadly, the women were not having it and, with faux-sincere smiles honed to perfection on countless unwanted men, sent them on their way, one by one. It was like watching a parade that got rained out. Apparently this is not an uncommon occurrence because there is a small sign behind the bar, next to the register, that reads, "If you AND YOUR ENTIRE CREW are sequentially shot down by the same woman(en), immediately leave our establishment and do not return. Ever." "Ignored Female Pairs." These are women open to meeting someone but obviously very shy. They are not noticeable at first glance but look again and you may see understated beauty that you will never tire of. There was a pair (curious: women mostly travel here in pairs) at the far end of the bar, almost as if hiding and apparently unaware of their charms. "Single Female Attention Whores." "Look at me! I'm the only girl among all these guys! Look at how they look at me. I must be hot." 'Nuff said. "Girls Night Out." About 8 or so happy, well-dressed young women enjoying each other's company after work or before/after some social event. "Committed Couples." Generally sit alone or with other couples at tables. You really don't notice them much. I suppose marriage has that effect. "Occasional Rich Guy(s)." Drives an Aston Martin DB9 with chrome rims or a red Ferrari F430 and parks in the same spot(s) out front. Have seen the cars but never the drivers and therefore cannot comment further. That, in a nutshell, is the bar scene at Coastal Flats on any given day.
(3)
Charlie C.

I've been here multiple times but it was my first time eating at the bar. The service was mediocre. The wait staff is usually more attentive. The female bartender did a great job but the younger gentleman wasn't so great. I had the cheeseburger and I had forgotten about the fries not being so great. Horrible for dipping and too thin. Next time I'm going to stick to sitting at a table and sticking to the seafood.
(3)
Rico Z.

the steak and crab cakes ..................... it's the way to go.
(4)
Roxanne E.

Always a dependable place to have a meal or a drink, Coastal Flats, as one of the stable of restaurants in the Great American group, is a favorite of mine. The welcome hostesses are efficient and the servers are mostly friendly and well trained to keep your meal on track without too much overhandling. Be aware that peak times may require a long wait. The bar can get very crowded. The outside seats on the porch at the rear of the restaurant are nice for casual drink and food. If only it looke out over water! At the front of the house, the main bar also has seats on windows that open during nice weather. The dining room can be loud with an open kitchen, but is so interesting with its murals and flying fish sculptures and skylights, it is a pleasant environment for either a quick bite or a leisurely meal. Parking is the only potential problem with this venue. It is so popular (along with the other destination restaurants and the movie theater surrounding it), be aware you may have to walk some distance from your car. The menu is relatively short and stays the same, but each item is well prepared and usually satisfies my craving at the moment. Specials are a nice addition, but I rarely feel the need to go beyond the basics. For a salad, try the warm goat cheese and pecan, which adds a tart and sweet touch to the selection. The crab fritters are a very nice starter, one order is not a lot to share however. The grilled chicken sandwich is a tasty and moist (and quite filling )choice, and with the shoestring fries, a good option for a reasonable price. Crab cakes are a good version, and catch of the day is fresh and nicely prepared. Bar drinks are fairly consistent in their concoctions, including a pretty nice mojito and a smooth and delicious cosmo. For a movie date or an afternoon shopping stop for a meal, this is a great place to go.
(4)
Kyra S.

So overpriced. If you enjoy overpriced, tasteless American seafood cuisine, please eat here with your loud friends, so I can continue eating in my quieter, reasonably-priced, hipster/Korean joints. If you want real seafood, I recommend going to Annandale. The neighborhood is kind of interesting for the suburbs, though, and might be worth a night out on the town or a look around.
(2)
Alison C.

Never been disappointed! A great bar as well.
(4)
Phil B.

I've been here probably 4 or 5 times by now and really enjoy it. Food is creative with a seafood theme, but they have a pretty diverse selection of alternatives as well. I've gotten the hickory grilled jumbo shrimp the last two times and its delicious. The rolls they serve are delicious and the crab fritters are my girlfriends favorite appetizer ever. Mojitos from the bar are also decent while you're waiting..which you will be. I think last time we waited 40 minutes JUST TO GET A BUZZER. So if you're thinking of stopping by here for a quick bite to eat Friday night before a movie forget it. To be fair it was a nice Friday night and every restaurant in Fairfax Corner gets packed. Having said all that its fun, good food without having to spend a fortune.
(4)
Joseph G.

i hate this place with a passion. i dont get the big deal its always crowded. and the food is meh. it's always white yuppie people trying to be all fucking cool cause they live in the apartments next to it. guh this place is lame as balls. i will say the service from the staff is really great always super nice
(2)
Michael H.

Always a great place to eat. Never disappoints.
(4)
Nina P.

ALL AROUND GOOD FOOD & WELL ORGANIZED OPERATION I'm on a greater DC tour this weekend with the gang aka My Posse of Food Snobs! A member of said posse is having a birthday and I tried to pick a dinner spot that a 2 year old could also be a part of without eating a porter house or kiddie garbage for a million dollars! ANYWAY...did call ahead seating & that was nice considering 2 year olds are on limited "sane" time in public places! Got seated in less than five minutes & waited on right away...totally forgot about their bread basket with sweet doughnut/bread = delicious carb loving surprise! Lobster Bisque was only so so -I've had way better. I had the seared tuna salad which was great little bit of a strange combo with green beans and olives and red potatoes and seared tuna but it was wonderful! More importantly with a kid - food came out quickly and server was attentive! I was very happy. Management has got it right here and everything about this place functioned like a well oil machine! I would go back when in Fairfax!
(3)
Shannon M.

Our whole family loves this restaurant. Kids love the Ozzie rolls. Seafood is always delicious. I would give them five stars, except for the call ahead policies. The call ahead seating can be frustrating. If you are trying to meet friends or just eat at a particular time and call too early, they want you to call back until the perfect moment, which is annoying. If you take an earlier window than you would prefer and arrive 5 minutes after your window, you seem to lose some of your priority. They do not take large groups.
(4)
Krissy D.

Food is superb. Service is exceptional! Ambience is fun! We will definitely be back!
(5)
John B.

Great Food! Same as you would get any other Great American Restaurant and friendly staff, and good location and atmosphere. Drinks on back porch are fun in the summer.
(5)
Hilary B.

The sesame crusted Tuna was excellent. the medium rare was just right. We used the call ahead service and kept having to call back since the wait was too short!! The parking was really bad, but not their fault. It took 10-15 minutes to find parking. We have handicap as an option and there were non even close to the restaurant. It was a nice Saturday night though. Maybe valet parking as an option for Saturdays?
(4)
Nicole J.

This is one of the best places to go eat !!! Wait staff is great and food is out of this world !!!!!! Lobster roll is AWESOME!!! I cant say enough about this place. I have been going since they have open and have always had great service and great food.
(5)
Justin G.

The interior is really nice. I didn't venture onto the patio but I probably should have considering the weather (70 degrees in October -- to think it was in the 40s earlier in the week). Service was really good. Very attentive and helpful. Went with the calamari for a starter. Cooked well (i.e. not rubbery) but the sauce was the generic sweet chili sauce that wing chains and any Asian restaurant uses. So, that was a bit disappointing. I'm allergic to most seafood (wasn't my choice to come here) so I got the beef ribs. Meat was lacking on the 4 ribs that were portioned. I'm pretty sure one of them had little bits of meat on them, if that. The beef that was present, however, was nice. I'm sure the seafood dishes are better but this left something to be desired. Fries that accompanied it were McDonalds-esque. Cole slaw was refreshing though and I'm not normally a fan of slaw. Overall, they got a nice score thanks to the decor and service. Food ... a bit overpriced for what I got on the plate. Family seemed to enjoy theirs though so maybe they just aren't great with meat.
(3)
Cene S.

This is a great place to hang out before your movie date or afterwards. Very busy bar section indoors and out. I recommend the calamari for starters or if available the firecracker shrimp. Love the Crispy Two Noodle Shrimp Salad as well as the Coastal Shrimp Roll (shimp po'boy). The mojitos are also good but I prefer the mango version.
(4)
Olivia A.

Two really big things to point out: great service AND great food! My friend and I didn't order any appetizers or dessert, we just got the entrees. I got the ribs and she got the lobster rolls. For my dish, it was very good. It was a little on the dry side, but it wasn't anything I had to go "You need to redo this." The lobster roll my friend got was awesome! She finished the entire thing, along with all the sides. The only complaint she had was how to eat it since it was bigger than her mouth. The service was great too! Our waiter came by just enough to check on us, but not more to the point where I wanted to say "Go away!" And the best part: he knew we were obsessed with the bread rolls they had, along with the butter, so he gave us some to go! Best. Waiter. Ever. In all, a great place to go for dinner and lunch! I've been there more times than I can count. The only down side: it's always crowded (which is never bad for business) and it's usually very loud so I have to scream to talk.
(4)
Jen M.

I can see why this place is always packed, despite it being very big. If you can deal with the wait (or come at an off-peak time to avoid it) then definitely give Coastal Flats a try. I ordered their grilled mahi-mahi special which was delicious. My friend, who does not eat seafood, got the sauteed filet tips. The waiter somehow messed up her order and she was given a salmon dish (which did look delicious...). We explained that she was given the wrong entree and the manager and waiter came by to apologize and got us the right entrees immediately. They also offered us a free dessert for the trouble - and the creme brulee we had was delicious! The manager, waiter and hostesses were all very friendly and helpful. Helpful tip that we found out when chatting with one of the hostesses: Coastal Flats does not do carry out, and you can always call ahead when you're on your way to the restaurant to get your name on the waiting list. I can't wait to come back and try more of the dishes everyone raves about.
(4)
Cecilia K.

wait is long but service and food are consistantly good here. We enjoyed last 3 times we've gone there. We will return for more salmon and ribeye.
(4)
Emily A.

I always have a good meal at Coastal Flats and this weekend was no exception. I almost always order the shrimp and grits, which is absolutely amazing, but this weekend, it was a little warm out so I tried the Chicken and Pecan Salad. It was really tasty. It was slightly over-dressed so I would ask for the dressing on the side next time. As far as drinks, their mojitos are amazing! You should not go there without ordering one! My husband is a big fan of the Sea Bass. And as with all of the Great American Restaurants, the Best Buns Bread they serve is great! Consistently a good meal at Coastal Flats.
(4)
Stephanie W.

My first night in town visiting an old friend and we didn't feel like making more than a 2 minute walk to go get dinner. We went to Coastal Flats, which he described as "hit or miss...but usually quite good." To start, their drinks are quite good. I had their pomegranate margarita, which was not as sweet as most of their specialty drink menu. They offered two types of bread, a spiced cheese sort of bread and one that was similar to a hawaiian roll with honey butter. For main dishes he had the halibut special, which was quite good with an excellent flavor. I had the hong kong style sea bass, which was fabulously dull. I know sea bass is typically a dull fish, but the preparation seemed like it was poached and the sauce was even boring. The service was pretty good and the decorations were extremely tacky and nautical themed, but that's basically what I expected. Overall, it was pretty hit or miss. I probably would not come back, but it's tempting when you live in the same parking lot.
(2)
steve g.

Fantastic service and food, but it was extremely loud in the back section. At our table people on one side could not hear the people on the other side. I think the problem was that they had the piped in music was turned up very loud.
(2)
A. S.

This place is fine, but it could be better. I think the menu would really benefit from some additional items. The appetizer selection is limited and the deviled eggs (sorry, not a fan) seem out of place. I'd also really love to see some fish tacos. And considering that they offer soups, salads, and sandwiches, it makes no sense to me that they don't offer some sort of combo of half a sandwich with soup or salad, especially for lunch. The food they do have, though, is prepared well. I've gotten the crab cake and the battered fish and both were delicious. Atmosphere is nice as well, aside from the near-constant mob of people.
(3)
Thu L.

Simple. Pros: - Booths & tables provided - Foods were exceptionally tasty - Presentations of food was delightful - Large tables for a good family dinner - Large amount of food in each platter - Dimmed, warm Californian, and cozy atmosphere - Friendly waiters/ waitresses - Delicious various desserts (Change within seasons) Cons: - Seating time can be a hassle (On weekends) - A large restaurant, so sometimes getting someone's attention can be difficult on a busy day - Drinks can be on the weak side - Can be on the pricey side, but it IS a seafood restaurant - Small Menu Others: - I am going to actually LIST my favorites: - HUSH PUPPIES! - APPS: Shrimp Fritters.. hands down. And Lobster bisque. - MAIN COURSE: Hong Kong Style Sea Bass, Wooden Grilled Filet Mignon, Low Country Beef Back Ribs, Grouper Fingers. - SIDES: Fries (Skinny Slices sprinkled with herbs and salt, very addictive) - DESSERT: Waffle Chocolate cake
(3)
Elaine N.

Love GAR restaurants.... Spinach and artichoke dip, Rock shrimp and crab fritters, Big delicous salads, Cauliflower mash, yummy ribs, Hong Kong Seabass.... Key Lime Martini.... Consistently good.... Hopping inside and outside bar....
(4)
Sean K.

This is a tough one I had a good meal and one of the best parts was our server, he was great a lot of fun and was willing to laugh with us as we were there for a co-workers goodbye party I had the salmon and I was good, for someone who doesn't like fish it was tender but the problem was (and hence this is a tough one) when I was eating it I was like this taste like a hot-dog. It had this wood smoked thing goin on (which was fine) and they had a mustard sauce of sorts to go with it (which was also fine) but the tenderness and the smokey flavor with the mustard sauce I'm like this reminds me of a hot dog We had a bunch of apps and they were all pretty good and we really had a good time there. I'll definatly be up for going back just probably won't get the salmon I'll try something else It was a fri night and the place was absolutly packed, very very busy (which for them is a good thing) fun place to go...I don't agree with the "Good for groups" vote we had 8 people and were cramed in a booth that would probably sit 5-6 people more comfy and they don't have seperate tables that they would be able to combine for groups of 8+ if we had more people like we planned they would've sat at a completley different table so I don' think this place is good for groups larger than say 5 Definatly check it out though
(3)
S S.

Used to go here frenquently when Coastals opened and it was great! Now I feel it lost its appeal..I normally venture to the bar for drinks with my boyfriend since it can be a nice place to grab a drink at in the summer time(love it when they open all the windows by the bar) but my last visit there has made me want to venture somewhere else. The drinks are just OK...I used to go for Mojiotos but the past few times I've had one they have not been made that great! The food is awful in my opinion! My BF and I ordered the Yucatan Shrimp Cocktail (which was nothing special) and Drunken Ribeye which was awful! I've never had such a bad piece of meat! We both took a bite and really could not finish the rest! It was way too SALTY and not cooked correctly. So that was the last time I ever order anything from here...I would have been better off going to Ruth's Chris down the street and gotten a REAL steak. All in all, its more family-like place to go. The place may be nice to go and enjoy the patio on a cool sumer night.
(3)
Mai T.

Coastals is one of the bars I frequent regularly and for good reason. You can always count on a good crowd even on a Tuesday, and the bartenders are generous and quick with your order. When the weather is warm, the back patio is open and is a great place for Happy Hour. I have met lots of fun people at this bar, so coming to the bar here alone is a not a bad idea. The food is good. It is a chain, so you can't expect more than chain-worthy food. Take it for what it is. Things I like are the Shrimp and Crab Fritter appetizer, Two Noodle Shrimp Salad, and the Crabcakes. The ozzy rolls are comforting served with whipped sweet butter.
(3)
Philip S.

Such an amazing food place. The prices are on the higher end of things but it is definitely worth it in service and taste. Whether we bring the whole family of 5 or just my wife and myself for a date night we have yet to experience any form of bad service or quality. We will be back again and again!
(5)
Alli B.

I really want to like this place more than I do. I've tried Coastal Flats a handful of times for dinner, and my last visit is definitely going to be my last meal here. First the positives, and then I'll get into my last nightmare visit. The drinks here are really good, and the bar is always packed. So if you're looking to go for drinks with your friends and hang out, this place is a good option. I really like their Key Lime Martinis (which is definitely why I kept going back) -- tastes just like Key lime pie in a glass, complete with a crushed graham cracker rim. However, if you want to sit and have a meal, don't bother. I've never waited less than an hour for a table (even if it's just 2 of us), regardless of the day of the week or time of day I've gone. This last visit takes the cake though. Admittedly, I was part of a larger group, so I understand there are seating limitations, but this was outrageous. We did call-ahead seating and were told that the wait was an hour and a half. Half of our party arrived around the one-hour mark, and the rest of us showed up shortly after. Once we were all there, we proceeded to wait an additional hour and a half to be seated! It was nearly 10 p.m. by the time we were seated for dinner. The hostess seemed unconcerned that we'd been waiting for 3 hours for a table, all but rolling her eyes when we asked to speak to the manager. And the manager did next to nothing to remedy the situation. He gave us the lame excuse that they only had a handful of larger tables and that the groups had been sitting there for several hours ordering an occasional drink and not eating. If that's the case, then he should have politely asked them to move to the bar if they were just going to be having cocktails and allow the other large parties who were waiting to eat to be seated. He then promised that he'd send out an appetizer to "make up for the situation" so we could at least eat something while we continued to wait for our table, as we were so hungry we were about to faint. The promised appetizer took 40 minutes to arrive, and we had to ask after its whereabouts 3 different times. The real clincher came when we got the bill and the appetizer was on there (not exactly what I call "making up for the situation"), and we weren't even offered a discount off our meal for our troubles! The staff's attitude seemed to suggest that it was perfectly fine to wait so long for a table, because they're clearly worth it. I'm sorry, but 3 hours to wait for an average meal is really unacceptable! The menu is rather limited, and the food is overpriced and uninspiring -- the dishes have either been pretty bland or way oversauced. They need to find a happy medium between the two. Go for drinks if that's your thing, but avoid the giant black hole that is their dining room.
(2)
Lauren B.

Today is the second time I've been here and it was so delicious. Today is the first day of spring and its perfect weather. We got a great table on the patio and ordered away! The crab and shrimp fritter and calamari appetizers were very yummy. Their crab cakes have no filler and are nice and light. I opted for the hickory smoked shrimp with orzo and veggies. For dessert we all split the vanilla bean creme brulee and the bread pudding. The wait staff and manager were attentive and knowledgeable, it was a fun experience. I will go again and I highly recommend.
(4)
Patrick B.

This place has got something going on that I like, which I can only describe as a good personality. The staff are very friendly. The layout is welcoming. Take for instance the outdoor veranda bar in the rear of the restaurant. When you are out there, the space evokes a feeling of being on the beach. It just feels good out there, especially on a warm summer night. The indoor bar is modern and offers an open ambiance that also feels good. The food is very good and the drinks are very, very good. So, try a drink on the veranda if you end up waiting a while for a table.
(4)
U.S. A.

I'm going to be brief, GREAT service and GREAT food. They are always friendly to our kids when we visit. I made a point of writing a letter to Great American Restaurants to applaud their service. Call ahead works like a charm to get a quick table!
(5)
Maree W.

We go to this Coastal Flats often because it's very close to our apartment. The menu is not vast and I agree that many dishes are oversalted, but even so it has some standout selections. The crabcakes are great, the burger is juicy and always cooked just right, and the babyback ribs fall off the bone. Our favorite apps are the calamari with red pepper jelly and thin beans and the jambalaya eggrolls. I'd recommend any of the mojitos too - my favorite is the pineapple. They all come with a stick of real sugar cane in them. One thing that keeps us coming back here is the great service. The hostesses manage the very busy waiting list gracefully, the waitstaff is well trained and attentive (but not annoying) and every time there's been any sort of disappointment with our meal, the manager stops by and makes it right. Once I wanted to order a couple gift cards at Christmas time - it took a while to get them, so the manager comped our dessert. There's almost always a staff member freshening up the ladies' room too, especially on a busy weekend night. It's just a well-run place with above average food, like most of the Great American brand. We'll be back soon!
(4)
Paul M.

I'm going to try something different here - I was waiting here at the bar for 30 minutes waiting for my lame fairfax mates to show up - I took noteso n my Blackberry for the review - ( Yes - I am a Johnny Sad Sack) rather than write the review - I will just share the raw notes: Village feel 50 year olds snogging God bless them-maybe married for 30 years-maybe they just got kids off to college-but they looked like they are tearing into one another for the first time.... Super friendly staff Families kids hipsters oldsters In house brew beer White shirts at uncle julios Buzzing and its weds Ladies drinking mojitos Decor-so nice for suburban box like dale culily and freida kuhlo had a face off in a mermaid store
(4)
Brian E.

Coastal Flats, as well as the other Great American Restaurants, are amazing to say the least. From the microbrews to the wood grill, these restaurants know what's up. At Coastal flats, make sure you try basically anything on the menu. The service is great and the food is better. If you haven't tried Coastal Flats by now, you probably don't like food, or you don't actually live in Northern Virginia.
(5)
Eboni P.

I had never been here and I had a group of friends in town and I wanted to eat somewhere I hadn't gone and something they don't have back home. I called and made a reservation and it was a 2 hour wait. When we got to the restaurant we were sat straight away. The sever was ok. No problems with her at all. Our food came in a timely fashion. The drinks were sub par. The food was amazing! Crabcake was all lump crab meat. The salmon was moist and full of flavor. The mashed cauliflower looked and tasted just like mashed potatoes. I generally hate cauliflower. The drunken ribeye was perfectly cooked at medium. The chopped salad was to die for. I would order that anytime. The chicken pasta was good. My friend loved her shrimp cocktail that was served with fresh mango salsa. We all tasted and shared food which is why I tasted most of the dishes. I recommend this restaurant anytime!!!
(4)
Traci C.

I am a big fan of the Great American restaurants and had high expectations going in to Coastal Flats. We decided to make it my birthday dinner and called ahead at 5pm on a Saturday night. We were seated immediately upon arrival in a comfy booth. The atmosphere was classy and relaxed at the same time. Our server was quick and offered suggestions but lacked personality. The bread as always was fabulous and refilled when asked. I started with the mixed greens salad with sauteed goat cheese and it was very tasty. For dinner I had the creamy shrimp and grit cakes, which was delicious. My husband had the shrimp roll and fries, which he says was just ok. Lastly, for dessert-- the key lime pie. It was tasty but not anything to write home about. As a previous poster had mentioned, the menu was limited and I think that's what surprised us most. Mike's is our favorite Great American and I feel that Coastal Flats lacked the variety we're used to. Total bill for dinner, with water being our drinks + tip was about $52. Bottom line: If it's inspirational seafood you're looking for, your options are limited. Take a trip to the city for something more!
(3)
Mos D.

Corporate restaurants are rarely any good and this is no exception to the rule. This larger-than-comfortable seafood joint was disaster from the beginning. The first and worst problem I have with this place was the service. Everything about the service from the clothes they wore to the forgetfulness was awful. Some of the staff donned extremely tacky dishwasher style short sleeve white shirts while others wore an attempt at classier long sleeve white shirts but the 8 ballpoint pins attached and the cheap aprons brought them back down a notch. The actual service was just as bad since it took us over 10 minutes to get an iced tea and draft beer and then our appetizer was completely forgotten and unspoken of. The food quality was probably 3 star worthy but lost because I'm a firm believer in a well rounded plate. I love meat, starch, and vegetable... simply put. The Smoked Salmon was cooked well and tasted fresh but the "Mashed" Cauliflower was forgettable and the Mustard sauce was boring. I'd love to tell you how our Calimari was but unfortunately that was our forgotten appetizer. Prices are reasonable for the area but don't expect to leave full without dropping a few extra dollars. Also, keep an eye out for the yuppy "Ed Hardy" t-shirt wearing wanna-be's that think tattoo t-shirts are just as rad as actual ink.
(2)
Kimi G.

First of all, I love the Great American Restaurants!! Coastal Flats never fails to deliver! The steak and salmon is always cooked to my specification, the drinks are delicious (pricey, but delicious), and the Ozzie rolls! Omigawd, get the Ozzie rolls!!!
(5)
Dara R.

The place was pretty nice. Even though the sides over powered the main dish... I ordered crab cakes and the amount of fries that came on the sides filled 2/3s of the plate. My boyfriend ordered the lobster roll which was very delicious. I love the mood even though it was kind of pricey.
(4)
Tom P.

Coastal Flats is a great place. I've been to the Tyson's location a few times, but I can see the Fairfax Corner CF from my front door, so it's a go-to spot for my wife and I on nights (or afternoons) when cooking just isn't going to happen. For dinner, especially during and approaching the weekend, the wait is very long. Their call ahead service is good, though, and the longest we've waited after showing up at our quoted time is about 10 minutes (and that was on a night with a 75 minute wait). The staff is top notch. The food is pretty good, though it tends to be a bit salty in my opinion. Seafood is good, burgers and sandwiches are good, but the steak is hit or miss; and the miss is a big one. The filet is reliable, but, unless you like beef cooked like leather, be very cautious of the drunken ribeye. I've orded it rare twice, and they served me a football both times. I don't know if its the chef, the wait staff or what, but watch out. Why did I order it twice? Their menu is incredibly limited. And that's not necessarily a bad thing, but they should get the few things on there right. And to be fair, they tend to, other than the ribeye. So if you're dead set on the ribeye, which I regrettably have been, you've been warned. And if you do get it and it's edible, please let me know.
(4)
Wendy M.

The more I come here the less I like it. I always leave here feeling as if the meal I ate was worth half the price, especially the grouper fingers. Good, but not THAT good. The staff is friendly, borderline creepy, but service is quick. About ten people will probably wait on you which is efficient but impersonal. I also find it weird that the people who seat you tell you to 'please stand to the side' after you want seating for x amount of people. It happens everytime I go in there even when there is no one else around. Yeah, I know not to block your little podium thing. A simple 'it will be just one moment' is sufficient enough to have most people stand back and wait for server 1/13 to help them to their table. Always an underwhelming experience.
(2)
Kevin J.

This Coastal Flats has a very lovely patio with a bar in addition to their tastefully appointed dinning area/bar. Ive been here many time and last time I felt the quality of the food was not quite up to the high standard I have come to expect from this place. A little disappointing considering the menu does not have seemed to change at all for years. We had a firecracker shrimp appetizer which our server told us would not be greasy and it was extremely greasy....we couldn't even eat it. We ordered two salads for our lunch/main entree and they were good as usual. Service was good. They make up one of the best mojitos I have had around here.
(3)
Terry T.

Good food and pricing. Great service. Less than 5 stars due to seating issues. Booth style seating was a little uncomfortable.
(4)
Shannon R.

We visited on a Thursday evening. We called ahead and were seated immediately upon arrival. I have celiac disease and the manager, Dave, spoke to my husband over the phone about my diet and was extremely helpful. There was a GF menu waiting at our table, the waitress was already aware of my diet and Dave personally came to the table to ensure I was safe. We ordered mojitos and the waitress checked with the bartender to keep it safe. Throughout the entire experience the staff was extremely helpful, informative, and welcoming. We will be returning regularly.
(5)
First J.

I went to lunch and I order the crabcake entrÃ©e. I must say that the crabcake was pretty good even though it had some breading on it it was different but it was definitely lump crab meat. I substituted the french fries for the orzo salad due to the fact that I was going to eat the bread they have it sso delicious. The reason for the three stars is because the service could be a little better I feel like they give you great service but they're fake. Bartender smiles since you transfer around the smile goes away. I don't know I just felt it was fake. Other than that the food was great and delicious. I'll definitely be back
(3)
Roy P.

Large restaurant with 30's-50's clientele, lots of apparent singles and patio bar area. Open visible kitchen with employees who appear enthusiastic. Outstanding food quality and innovation plus some tasty and inebriating cocktails. Went for seafood and was very pleased with crab-, shrimp-, salmon and grouper-based appetizer and entrees. Very highly recommended!
(5)
Beth L.

I would normally be hesitant to give CF 5 stars because I've had such a mix of experiences here, but food at lunch today was actually the best I've ever had here. I think all six ladies in my party were super-pleased with their meals. The majority of us ordered the shrimp and grits (wasn't in the mood for a salad today since it's cold as a witch's teet!) but totally didn't regret this choice because it was awesome...soo flavorful and creamy...a very generous serving of perfectly cooked shrimp in creamy cayenne-tomato sauce and the grits was like a little grit cake, different and delicious). I shared the shrimp and grits with a coworker and we also had the hickory grilled fish special (today was grilled mahi-mahi served on top of a black bean tostada, with also had greens and herbs - it was a nice setup for the fish) since we couldn't decide between the two dishes. Bingo. Both were seriously awesome. It seems that, with this place, some dishes are hits and some are misses...but the hickory grilled mahimahi (daily special and it was sooo perfectly cooked) and the shrimp and grits (on the regular menu, if you're in the mood for a pretty heavy/cream-based meal) are definitely delightful. *Update: I just had a pee break and was keenly reminded of a nice component in today's shrimp and grits... ASPARAGUS!
(5)
Alexandra E.

I just went here yesterday at 2pm and it was not busy at all. Go here at an off-time because it gets really busy and noisy if you don't. The donut-like rolls from the bread basket are as good as ever with the sweet butter. I ordered the chopped house salad and french fries since I'm not a seafood fan. My group ordered the salmon and said it was cooked to perfection. The Great American Restaurants are never a disappointment, but this one in particular isn't my favorite. I prefer Artie's, Mike's, and Sweet Water Tavern because of the tex mex theme. The service was good and the prices were fair.
(4)
Clarence J.

This is still a Coastal Flats, which I thoroughly enjoy, but I found the atmosphere at this one less interesting than that of the one in Tyson's. This is a wide open restaurant with lots of natural light . . . which I normally like, but in this case I felt like it was simply a large room with rows and wors of booths instead of a comfortable restaurant. (I admit that I'm biased by my many, many visits to the Tyson's Corner Coastal Flats though.) The food here is good as usual, but I thought the quality was better at most other restaurants in the Great American chain. The staff was warm and friendly and a pleasure to talk to.
(3)
Cecil S.

I've always been a fan of the Great American restaurants, been to Sweetwater, Artie's, Ozzie's, and Jackson's. Too bad one waitress at Coastal Flats can ruin it for me. My husband and I came in for an early dinner. His birthday was the previous day. His driver's license happen to have expired on his birthday, but we did renew it but forgot the temporary license (receipt) in the car. I didn't think too much of this because all they should really care about is that anyone who buys a drink should be of legal age, not whether the license is valid or not. It's not like he's going to be driving inside the restaurant. Anyway, the waitress said "Sorry, I can't serve you any drinks." Just the way she said it really set us off, so we ordered two diet cokes, and then after a few minutes we decided we are better off spending our money somewhere else. On our way out, the hostess or manager stopped us and asked why we were leaving. I don't blame the waitress if she was just doing her job. What bothered me was the way she said what she said, and the restaurant's policy for checking ID. I can understand if we were at the airport about to travel and I show up with an expired passport - in that case I can understand being denied service. But for drinks, they should be checking the date of birth instead and that the picture on the ID matches the person who owns the ID. BUT I could be wrong, perhaps this is a Fairfax county law? Oh well... We have been back to other Great American restaurants since this incident. I just don't see myself going back to this particular restaurant.
(1)
Pat O.

I've been on a seafood kick since a weekend trip down to the Outer Banks a couple weeks ago and decided to try the lobster roll for lunch. Considering I've never had a lobster roll before, this may be what a delicious lobster roll should taste like but I hope not. Simply put I could not taste the lobster. The lobster dip Costco has been giving out to sample is far better than what I got at Coastal Flats. The grilled corn-on-the-cob & fries were good, and service was good as well but boy was the lobster tasteless.
(2)
Corie D.

First, while I prefer non-chain dining establishments, I am absolutely, 100% a fan of this local chain of restaurants. My husband and I have never, ever been disappointed by Artie's, Sweetwater Tavern, or Coastal Flats. And while I don't usually go out of my way to review a chain establishment (they're all so big that service and food can be hit or miss; it doesn't seem fair to judge them based on one or two nights), I had to write something about our April 1st dinner. One word: Perfect. (Did I just say that? I know, I know - but I didn't give them 5 stars; I never give 5 stars, sorry!). My husband ordered the wood-grilled halibut, which he described as the perfect fish taco de-constructed. For me, the jumbo lump crabcake, which I loved for it's semi-breaded/not-fried preparation. And we *always* order the house chopped salad when we dine at one of this chain's establishments, in addition to the straightforward beer and wine (the Selini Sauvignon Blanc for me; I wish I could've carried a cool, crisp glass of it out of there with me). All the while, we were accompanied by our one-year old daughter (who was a huge fan of the bread, salad, and halibut). Our waiter was so, so accommodating of our third little wheel (offering non-stop bread, etc. - anything we might possibly need for her). The other staff members were equally kind and attention-giving to our Miss A., who absolutely loved dining by the opening kitchen (not our favorite location, but as parents, it's, like, THE best location - non-stop action to keep your child occupied while you enjoy your meal!). Maybe it was the warm, balmy, breezy weather. Maybe it was the freshness of the meal. Maybe it was our friendly waiter. Maybe it was the drinks. Whatever. Combined, we had a fantastic experience (I'm almost afraid to go back, fearing that our next experience will pale in comparison!).
(4)
james b.

This is a regular for us, and we are never disappointed. The salads are great, the fish and chips good, the lobster rolls excellent. Great appetizers. Good service. We like most of the Great American restaurants (Silverado excepted); Coastal and Carlyl are our favorites. This kind of consistency is rare. My only caveat: it's loud.
(5)
jac j.

The food is great, consistenly great and the service has been perfect! love this place!
(5)
Bro H.

On one hand, most everything here is overpriced. Small portion sizes for the quality of the food. I've tried bites of various peoples' fishes, lobster dishes, etc, and none of it was good enough to justify the price/portion size/ridiculously long wait. On the other hand, the calamari is bangin', with some kind of pepper relish on it that's really tasty, and it's more than reasonably priced. For 4 bucks less than their entirely unimpressive and tiny lobster roll, you can get two huge appetizer orders of calamari - almost more than I can eat. Anyway, calamari = 4 stars, everything else = 2 stars.
(3)
Paul G.

4 Stars for food, service bumped it to 5. Ambiance: Lots good natural light, line of sight to the kitchen, separate bar area whose sound doesn't intrude on your meal, outdoor patio which was a great social gathering place. Service: Superb. Ordered the wrong appetizer (my mistake), which was comped. Knowledgeable waitress' imputs for drinks and food did not disappoint. Chef came to our table to apologize and explain the delay in our order, even though we didn't even realize the delay. Food: Drinks: Mango mojitos were epic. Complementary bread was like a donut...yum! Appetizer: Spinach artichoke dip with tortilla chips was a wrong order but still awesome. Entre: Wife got the lobster roll with sweet potato fries and mushrooms. All were the best I've had anywhere. Here's where it gets good: I got the filet and crab cake, and the filet was better than most steakhouses'. It gave me food euphoria with each bite. Crab cake taste was 8/10, not too swampy taste like other bay crabs, but the cake fell apart too easy. I cannot wait for our next visit!
(5)
Kate R.

I went with a friend. I'm told his salmon was most excellent. I had the lobster roll. It was really good, except they add celery to it, which it could really do without. Grilled corn was also good. Everything was either hot/cold as it should have been. Waiter was attentive and friendly.
(4)
Kareem T.

Honestly, service is very good, food quality is excellent! The shrimp sandwich is amazing and special! I wish to know how they marinated it! But the reason for the low rating is the limited and short menu and food options! So if you do like what you see on the menu, go for it and consider it's 5 stars. Atmosphere, decorations are amazing!
(3)
Lelee R.

This place is always good, but this time my ribeye was a little too salty. Their lobster bisque is always delicious. And so is their key lime pie (different than other key lime pies!). Employees are always friendly + the atmosphere is great. Location is very nice, too. Lots of shopping + fun at Fairfax Corner.
(4)
John E.

I have eaten in FFX Corner Coastal Flats 58 times since it opened--so my Quicken software tells me. I have eaten in the other great American restaurants probably equally. While the service of all the Great American restaurants is a hallmark of their success, the food quality in this Coastal Flats has gone down progressively over the years. Last night, two of our party of four became ill before we left the table. What we ate: Baby cake sliders-2 orders Jumbo Shrimp cocktail Filet mignon + Crab cake Fish Tacos (a new item) We did not want to finish our entrees of filet steak or fish tacos. I can only guess that it was the Baby cake sliders. I can also only guess that the demands on the kitchen are so great, that food preparation must be done so much in advance that crab is left out or treated. But that is not all: another of their fabulous entrÃ©es... Grouper fingers... Has been altered to something less. They are now fish fingers made from Cod, and much more heavily battered than they have ever been. What before was a chunk of fish with a light batter, now comes out looking like a hush puppy. Worse, it is the main ingredient in the fish tacos... Which in my mind should be grilled fish and not batter fried fish hush puppy wrapped in a flour taco. Perhaps this too is done to speed production in the kitchen, as is also evident by the buns a kilter and messy presentation when the food arrives---which the food always arrives amazingly quickly. If Yelp publishes this interview, perhaps restaurant management will recognize The fundamental disappointment in this review from a diehard fan of the restaurant chain. Food quality and cleanliness have apparently gone down in the rush to meet demands on the kitchen since you've opened. I, for one, will continue to enjoy the patio and the lively atmosphere around the bar, but in the last 15 years I've learned that the food quality standard has progressively slipped despite continuously amazing service.
(3)
Tiffany H.

Beautiful beach themed restaurant with great food! The staff was also very friendly and helpful in answering our questions. I ordered the Hickory Grilled Jumbo Shrimp and a side of sautÃ©ed spinach, all of which was deliciously satisfying. I hope to stop in again next time I'm back on the east coast.
(5)
Katie S.

Oh Coastal Flats, I love you. I have spent many a happy hours sipping mojitos on the back patio here over the years. CF is a solid choice of restaurant in Fairfax corner for sure, and although it may not my favorite of the GAR brand, it's a close second. I have to be in the mood for seafood, and since this GAR staple's focus, I really have to be in the mood to come to here. But when I am in the mood, it's a great place! They have a lobster roll and shrimp roll that are phenomenal, and then they have nicer dishes like the Hong Kong style sea bass or the shrimp and grit cakes that are also very good. I also love the nautical decor and you just can't beat GAR's customer service. Noteworthy: They take limited reservations for special holidays. Ex: Mother's and Father's day.
(4)
Sam W.

Met up with some friends here a couple weeks ago...like most of the Great American Restaurants, Coastal Flats is uncompromising in quality of food, spirits and most of all, service. They were extremely accommodating to our large party when we requested an out-door table to eat (we had been drinking on their awesome patio area and enjoying lighter fare for happy hour). Do not be surprised if you show up with out calling ahead or without getting a large party reservation, there WILL be a wait...this place is very popular and was crazy even for a Tuesday night past dinner rush. If you have a wait, don't hesitate to enjoy some of their awesome cocktails...one of the best martini's I've had, also a great old fashion. The food is a great play on coastal dishes with something for every pallet. I highly recommend the Calamari or Deviled Eggs for appetizer, Smoked Salmon Filet or Hong Kong Style Sea Bass for dinner...both are great but honestly none of their entrees look bad. They are efficient, courteous and have a really great ambiance...it is a worthwhile place to enjoy good food and good company.
(5)
Angelo R.

Let me start by saying..amazing! This restaurant is part of the Great American Restaurant group which I became a big fan. I was impressed by Sweetwater Tavern and this place was just the same. Nicely decorated huge dining hall, very busy bar and staff was very attentive to each guest that walks in. I strongly suggest to call ahead for a table cause when we got there at 8, it was about a 2 hour wait for a 2 top. Luckily, a couple of bar stools open and we just settled to eat at the bar. We ordered a couple of Margarita's to start and they were potent...and we are not complaining. On to the food: Pecan Crusted Trout (original citrus sauce served w/ couscous with almonds). I couldn't be more happier with my choice. Nice portion, perfectly cooked, nice crusty pecan bits and moist fish. Couscous were on point. I never had couscous this good...so flavorful w/ a nice touch of crunchy almonds. Almost had a mash type of consistency. My friend ordered the Wood Grilled Filet medium rare which I got to try as well. Again, moist reddish texture, nice grilled aftertaste. The side of brussel sprouts were delicious as well. Tender, buttery w/ touch of garlic cheese. Had an excellent experience at this restaurant. It is busy, long wait times but the food and service will compensate, its worth the wait. Can't wait to try another Great American Restaurant during my next visit to DC / VA.
(5)
Nathaniel C.

Mango chicken salad with candied pecans was delicious. Generous portion of chicken with light and delicious couscous and fresh greens. Exceeded my expectations for a Monday night at a suburban restaurant. Wait staff was efficient and friendly. No discernible angst. I'd go again.
(4)
Stefan S.

Love this place. Love the food; the atmosphere; the service, once you are seated. This is a very popular restaurant and don't go without a reservation. If you try at a peak hour to be seated without a reservation, you'll wait more than an hour and closer to two. Been to this location and also the one at Tyson's. I believe this location is more crowded pound for pound. Never had a bad meal here, love their desserts and for food especially their Lobster Rolls, as that is the dish I eat most often. This is a solid choice for dinner and we keep coming back because of the constantly good food, restaurant and place to dine. Highly recommend trying Coastal Flats if you've never been there before.
(5)
Jeff C.

Did someone say mashed cauliflower? Yes, you know you did, and this is the place where you should be scarfing those bad boys down. I know what you're thinking, foodie, "But I want my mashed potatoes." Trust me on this one, for the mashed cauliflower is so creamy, so buttery that you turn your back on Idaho's finest fare forever. And while you are experiencing Cauliflower Nirvana, you can convince yourself that you are eating healthy, for these beauties are often mentioned as a healthy option potato cousin...however, I'm certain that they bathe that pureed cauliflower in enough butter to counteract any health benefits but who cares...yum! As for the rest of the menu, Coastal Flats serves up some very tasty treats. However, I would consider opting for a sampling of appetizers and side, for you really do want to explore as much of the menu as you can. I had an order of couscous that was simply the best that I have had anywhere in the world..Sorry, Morocco, but you need to check out what they're serving up at Coastal Flats. The bar staff was friendly and efficient, and I immediately sensed that this was a place where the customer was treated like family. If I lived closer, I am certain that I would be here several times a week, but alas, we will have to save Coastal Flats for movie night. Even though it is a part of a chain, I am going 5 stars with this place, for it feels like anything but a TGI Fridays monstrosity!! No, this spot is serving up good food and fun all day long.
(5)
Mark S.

Fairly priced items. Went here with a group of people. I was actually going to an all you can eat korean BBQ place after this so I didn't order much at Coastal Flats. I ended up getting just a soup (Lobster Bisque). It was like $8 or $9.. a bit overpriced for a small bowl of salty soup. I probably won't be back as I am not a fan of chain restaurants.
(3)
Brooke B.

Good food. Very similar menu to Mike's American. We got the crab fritter appetizer that was soooo yummy. Husband got steak and I got pecan crusted trout. Yum.
(4)
Blair G.

The food here was as spectacular as the service. Came here with two others for dinner on a busy night. Parking options were pretty slim as there are many other restaurants nearby and I had to park on the other side of the lot, which was much further than I expected--at least it was a nice night! I was surprised to learn that there were no happy hour drink specials--just something to note. We did not wait too long, and while we were waiting there was plenty of space and a few seats to be had, something I always can appreciate. I had a kale caesar salad and boy was it spicy! The menu states that it is spicy, so don't underestimate the kick. Someone I was with had the shrimp cocktail, which looked amazing. It was full of shrimp and mango, served with about 8 saltines, and came in a martini glass. Very cool. I also had a steak with the potatoes. Everything was perfectly cooked and portioned. Our service was excellent and I don't think my water glass was ever empty. I would definitely visit again!
(5)
Sid R.

Its a great american that offers a different mix of cusine. Honestly, the place and the ambience get it 3 stars and then the choice of food and cocktails give it another additional. Overall a great fallback option when you want to stick to the safe culinary highways of American cooking. Sometimes we just go straight to the back, grab a drink and hang out on the porch.. nice!
(4)
Paul V.

The staff is great & friendly from the beginning & through the dining experience. But, outside staff wasn't great, not rude, but does Not match any of the inside staff. I enjoyed the wood grilled filet mignon. Grilled to perfection! A good steak is grilled just that way & never needs anything added to "enhance" the flavor. I enjoyed a few pints of the lager & truly pleased with it, too. Will return for some more great food & beer! Thanks for the great experience.
(4)
Wendy Z.

First time here and I love it!! We came here on a Sunday and it was not busy at all! I mentioned to my waitress that it was our first time and she was very helpful in recommending popular dishes! We got the shrimp and crab fritters as appetizers-super delicious!!! Ozzy bread is really good too!! My bf and I both had the lobster roll with an extra side of asparagus, omgosh, everything was very flavorful and tasty! I will definitely be back. Both service and food were great!!
(5)
Melanie G.

Not my thing. Or I just had a bad day there. My shrimps were over cooked and on my dessert I found a not so pleasant hair. My friends love the place. I still give them 3 stars for the afford for trying to apologize and trying to make things right.
(3)
Alice A.

4 stars for the food and service. While we had to wait over an hour to get a table, the servers were super nice and the food came out quickly. Everything is super fresh and comes in good quantities. We both (2people) had steaks and a salad with a shared desert and a quick sweet and spicy calamari plate as an appetizer. The wine list is pretty good with all types of wines. Definitely go for the trapiche malbec with the steaks, it was great. 1 downside : the noise level is bad. You can barely hear each other. They definitely need to fix the ceilings and add some noise cancelling material. I Recommend this place to anyone who wants a simple yet very tasty dinner. Just remember to make a reservation !
(4)
Amy R.

Coastal Flats is always a favorite of ours. Out running errands on a Saturday afternoon and thought we would treat ourselves to a nice lunch. Great American/Coastal Flats didn't let us down. Service was great as usual. Ozzie roles, and assortment of other breads were great as usual. Two Lobster Cobb Salads, Chicken Mango Salad and a chicken/pasta dish later - the four of us were very satisfied and had empty plates! We never tried the Lobster Cobb Salad before and were very pleased. A lot of variety in the salad, from the fresh, large chunks of lobster, a deviled egg, candied bacon, avocado, fresh greens.....it was really delicious. Will definitely consider that again!
(4)
Vincent V.

Was totally drawn here by the powers of Yelp, but was good, but good but not 5 stars good. The people were not all that friendly with seating me or waiting on me and overall the food was good, but lacking in overall flavor. Very nice donning area with comfortable booths. To eat I went with the kale caesar which was the highlight of my meal. Great combo of kale and caesar dressing that was paired with a mixture of bread assortment that was just okay. For my main course I went with the lobster roll and thought it was not the best presentation and was a little heavy on the mayo. Not bad, but not great. For all the mayo they added I kind of expected it to be flavorful, but that was not the case.
(3)
Melissa D.

If I could eat Coastal's salmon salad every day..I would. Yet again, one of the best meals my friend and I have had here. I love the food standards GAR portrays, never a let down. My salmon salad was on point (as always) and the drunken ribeye...fantastic. Thanks for another wonderful meal!
(5)
Hannah B.

Love going to Fairfax Corner Coastal Flats. We always go to Fairfax Corner Coastal or Ozzies and we love their food, service, waiters and bartenders are great. Know the bartenders and always good to chat with them as we sit by the bar side. We never had a bad drink or meals at any American Restaurants and will continue to go. Few of our favorite dish is Ahi tuna salad, Hong Kong style sea bass, filet of course and love their tangy calamari and always save a room for the best flourless waffle cake!! :). Jackson's is also a terrific place but just a bit far out of the way but hope to go there with friends real soon.
(5)
Kimberly S.

Great food! We had the deviled eggs, salmon salad. My husband had a chicken dish that he loved! He really enjoyed the cole slaw. Loved it all :-)
(5)
Ali R.

We had the best server. I believe her name was Ania. I'm not sure, but she was very sweet, everything came out on time, engaged in conversation. Made us feel welcomed. We will ask for her again when we come back to visit ;-)
(5)
Andrea R.

The reason I had to knock down my review was because of our last visit. Since moving to South Carolina we were very much looking forward to dining at our old favorite. We ordered the salmon plate as usual with regular mashed potatoes, however we were disappointed to find out that they no longer serve the salmon with the sweet grain mustard sauce; they switched it to a heavily mayo based, overly sweet sauce that neither my husband or I enjoyed. If it ain't broke, don't fix it!! We asked our waiter about it and he said they did taste testings and decided to change the sauce, honestly it tasted like a big blob of sweet mayo..yuck! Because of this I can no longer say the salmon plate is the perfect meal...it hurt to type that.
(4)
Olivia K.

Excellent atmosphere for a get-together with a group of friends or a casual date. Their mojitos are to die for! Try their salads for a healthy meal. Their back patio is a lovely place to relax in the early afternoon.
(5)
Lai S.

Good food, good price, and good service. I had the lobster roll my husband had the pecan crusted trout.. Was soo good!!! The corn that came with my lobster roll was to die for!!!! AMAZING the shoe string fries were also delish fried to perfection my husband even liked it and he isn't a shoe string fries type of guy! Pecan crusted trout is a party in your mouth cooked perfectly! Corn crab chowder creamy goodness! Will be back if we are in the area again! This place is love. We were seated immediately went on Sunday afternoon. Server was really nice even though our 2 yr old spilled a cup of water, he did not seemed the least bit bothered.
(5)
Tosha B.

I just came here with a friend for lunch and we sat outside on the patio. It was shaded and the wind was blowing and it was such a perfect day to eat outside. We started with their Ozzie rolls.....AMAZING and their firecracker shrimp. The shrimp was pretty good but not that much for the $10 price tag. It took me a while to decide what I wanted because EVERYTHING looked so good on their menu, but I went with the salmon and mashed cauliflower. It was sooooooo good! I ate everything on my plate and could have had more. Our servers were great, super friendly and attentive. I hadn't been here in a while, but I was reminded of how awesome this restaurant is and definitely need to come back more often!
(5)
Anna Laura B.

I don't even eat seafood and I love this place. The atmosphere is great, especially on warm days when you can sit outside on the back deck. The food is great and on par with many other GARs. Not being a seafood eater I really appreciate their variety of options. The only downside is the waits are typically long. Definitely call ahead if you are able, or try to stop by earlier on in the night to limit the wait times.
(4)
May B.

I recently came to Coastal Flats for dinner with my friends, I didn't realized how long the wait is just to get ourself seated. It took us over an hour! So if you plan to come during the weekend, make sure to book your reservation to avoid the wait! Staffs were very friendly and professional! My water were always being refilled on time and plates were taking away when promted. Now for the food, we started off with their bread, "ozzie rolls," amazing! We finish so fast that we had to ask for second. My friend ordered the salad for his entree and I ordered the Sauteed Shrimp & Creamy Grit Cakes, it was amazingly delicious. Their lobster looked very delicious as well, as I am a shrimp/lobster lover. So that will be a must eat for my next time visit. I'd give this restaurant more than a 5 stars if could.
(5)
Jefferson L.

Good east coast seafood. Nothing too fancy...or too far out there, but solid good food. Nice warm ambience too.
(4)
Kate H.

The Fairfax Corner Coastal Flats is one of our favorite spots for dinner. The service is always great, the food is always delicious, and the call-ahead seating makes the wait manageable. My favorite dishes ... * Hong Kong Sea Bass, served with sticky rice and spinach in a light broth ($24) * Grouper fingers, served with fries and cole slaw, plus yummy tartar sauce ($16) * Shrimp and Grit cakes, with ham, asparagus and a cream sauce ($17) * Mango chicken salad with grapes, couscous and spicy pecans ($15) The restaurant is generally pretty loud at both lunch and dinner, and most tables don't sit more than 4-6, so larger groups are tricky.
(4)
Adrienne L.

My boyfriend and I love Coastals! It has a super friendly atmosphere and it's very convenient to where we live. The food is pretty good and we have always had good service. It's great for large groups and families.
(4)
Cassy G.

we ordered the calamari which was awesome... but was dissapointed with the trout.. it was too rich. Cooked in butter all the way through. couscous was alright. I as famished before I got here but yet couldn't finish my entre. I have had the trout before but i don't remember it being this way.
(3)
Gregory B.

"5 Star Moustache" Intro: Coastal Flats is ran very well and is high quality. This establishment has made me a fan and definitely has 5 star potential Ambiance: Costal Flats is well themed. It's has great lighting and paintings. It's decorated nicely with this coastal, almost 1950s, theme. I noticed that all of the staff have a similar 1950s look. All of the guys have slick, short, trendy haircuts, and all of the females have pony tails. This one guy, who I assumed to be a floor manager, had an epic twirl moustache. As someone who appreciates a good 'stache, I wanted to give the restaurant 5 stars off of the awesomeness of his moustache. Food: I got the appetizer special, which was the fried oysters. They were golden fried with a very light texture. The dish was impressive. We were given fresh baked bread and this one bread, in particular was really good. It had the texture of a doughnut, but in the shape of a roll. We dubbed it the "doughnut bread " and it left both of us wanting more. As for the entrÃ©e, I got the pecan crusted trout and my gf got the crab cake sandwich. My pecan crusted trout was tasty, but it did not impress me. This is the reason why I'm giving the review 4 stars instead of 5. It had a unique flavor. It was sweet in some parts, yet tangy in others... like a lemon flavor, which made me feel as though the dish had an identity crisis. It came over couscous which was alright, but had a grits like texture. Also, I found the dish to be a smidge too greasy. My gf's crabcake sandwich was really good. it had a unique seasoning and came on the "doughnut bread." Lucky her. We split the flourless chocolate waffle as a dessert and we were both pleased with that dish. Customer Service: The staff here is really good. As soon as my drink finished, they would come over immediately with another. I can tell they work as a unit. The staff is pleasant, well mannered, and efficient. Conclusion: Coastal Flats is a definite winner! The entrÃ©e didn't put me over the 5 star edge, but it was good. I love a venue that can adopt a theme and execute it properly. I'm almost never in the Fairfax area, but now I know I have a go-to spot.
(4)
Scott H.

I mentioned in my review of the nearby Ozzie's Good Eats that the GAR restaurants share many similarities across their different brands. When you compare two locations of the same brand .... yep, you got it ... this is pretty much the same as the Coastal Flats in the Tysons I Mall, except you can park a lot closer and you don't have to run into mallrats when you head back to your car. Otherwise, expect the same great service, fantastic bread including the crack-like addicting Ozzie rolls, and good food that you get from the other GAR restaurants. And then there's the Lobster Roll ... one of the best I've ever had, and it's always seems to be fresher and tastier at Coastal Flats than at other GAR restaurants. (I'm looking at you Carlyle!) Quick story: In my review of Coastal Flats Tysons, I mention meeting an old friend for a business lunch there. We decided to meet again a few months later and he sent me an invite for Coastal Flats. I look at the address and see "Corner" and immediately assume it was Tysons, since we met there last time. You can see where this story is headed ... a few traded calls and texts later and I realize I'm at the wrong Coastal Flats.
(4)
Yishin S.

Love love their crab cakes and lobster rolls! The fritters is a must-have for appetizers. The lobster roll is stuffed to the top with lobster meat and the sauce is super delicious. The crab cake is the best I've had and I have tried a lot of crab cakes in Baltimore. The service is also very good.
(5)
Mrs CS K.

Food was delicious and the atmosphere is even better. The service is what makes this restaurant. Sandwiches and seafood are amazing. Definitely recommend this restaurant in Fairfax Corner.
(5)
Casey A.

Ordered a child's OJ and they sent out a vodka screwdriver to my toddler son last Sunday. He has one sip before my wife discovers and thankfully no ER visit necessary. They knew what happened but wouldn't own up to it. Managing partner Dwight gives me a few gift certificates to try and ameliorate.... Food and service otherwise great. The floor manager who had just come over from Sweetwater Tavern was a lying d-bag.
(3)
Karen W.

Hi Yelpers, I wanted to share a great experience that I had at Coastal Flats this past weekend. My fiance and I had our Valentine's Dinner on Saturday February 18th (as he works nights during the week). I called the day of to make reservations and the hostess went above and beyond in making a 9:45 reservation for us. We arrive about 5 minutes late but was seated as soon as we walked in. As soon as we were seated our server (Brenden, I think) greeted us and asked if it was our first time there. He took our drink orders right away (I started with a water and my fiance had a coke) He gave us a few minutes and we ordered the deviled eggs (fiance allergic to shellfish) with maple bacon. I also ordered the pineapple mojito which was very good (I ordered a 2nd one with dinner). The deviled eggs and bacon were deliscious and I believe they brought out 6 halves. For dinner, I ordered the crab cake and filet mignon with mashed potatoes and mushrooms. My fiance ordered the ribs, fries, and slaw. Our meals came within 10 minutes and were piping hot and made to our specifications. We were stuffed!!! My fiance joked that whatever they put in the bbq sauce was making him sleepy. LOL! I was too full to order a dessert but my fiance did order the bread pudding with white chocolate sauce and it was heaven . . . yes heaven. Luckily Brenden brought over a 2nd spoon for me (yay!!!). When were done and got the check I even asked for the manager to tell him how delighted I was to have dined at Coastal Flats that night. We joked that Brenden thought he was in trouble since I asked for a manager but to make sure he knew that the service was excellent. For the two of us, one appetizer, 3 drinks, 2 entrees and one dessert, we spent $92.00. We tipped over the 20% and were happy with prices, atmosphere, staff, location, everything! I would definitely go to this Coastal Flats again.
(5)
Janeen P.

First of all I am a Great American Restaurant fan. My inner fat girl comes alive when I get there. I went there for lunch last Friday. When we got there they said that they wait would be 20 - 30 min. I still decided to wait it out. As soon as we get outside and sit down our buzzer went off. It was more like a 2 minute wait. I ordered the grilled chicken that came with pasta and mushrooms with a brown butter sauce. I am trying to watch my caloric intake so I asked if they could replace the pasta portion with the mushrooms and brown butter sauce with vegetables. When my order came my chicken had some type of oil on it. The manager came around and explained that it was an olive oil with seasonings. I didn't want that and they were fine with replacing it with no problem. The food was awesome and the service was phenomenal.
(5)
K D.

Where do I start? The staff made me feel like royalty! My sister in law has Seliac (sp?) disease and everyone was SO accomodating, bringing the huge container of mustard to show ingredients, the manager coming over to double check certain things. It was amazing! My glass was always full, the drinks were delicious, the food was INCREDIBLE as was the dessert! We sat on the heated patio and the atmosphere was just wonderful! I cannot say enough good things about this restaurant! THANK YOU!
(5)
Mae S.

Nice fish with lots of vegetable garnishes and sides -- really to my taste. I like the mural of what I assume is the New Orleans levy -- is that a Chevy parked nearby? No matter. We saw "The Princess and the Frog" at the nearby movie theater so it was a unified experience; it's really nice to have a good restaurant so close to a theater so one can park only once, eat, and see the movie. The service at Coastal Flats is fabulous. Though it's huge they really pay attention to bringing food promptly, watching if you need something, and bringing the check when wanted.
(5)
Kevin C.

Went to CF the day after Christmas. My Hong Kong-style Sea Bass was delish! The calamari was yummy. Someone raved about the BBQ spare ribs. Always excellent food and a good time at Coastal Flats!
(5)
Erik H.

If you need anything specially prepared (vegetarian or other dietary restriction), do not go here. For a place with quality food and atmosphere, the chefs must be trained to 'color by number" and just chug out corporate recipes. I asked for a vegetarian entree--something with pasta and vegetables, and asparagus. The waiter said no problem. I got a small side dish bowl of orzo with chopped olives and two side order of asparagus (without the tough ends trimmed) flopped on top like a bamboo cover to a pathetic pasta dish. The managers were feeble in responding as were the othr staff. Our waiter abandoned us and never returned to the table to apologize. Eventually they served a kiddie sized bowl of orzo with minced asparagus. Perfect if I had dental problems and was 6 years old. Chipotle is better as special orders than this "quality" place.
(2)
Adele C.

Great American Restaurants are all about those little donuts in the bread baskets. Trying to trick us into believing that donuts are bread! Whatever, they sure are good and I guess they are savory enough to pass as an accompaniment to a meal. I was sort of surprised there wasn't more of a choice of seafood here, the selection was pretty small considering it is supposed to be a beachy place. Instead, I went with a salad, which is what I always get at Great American Restaurants. Like Beth L. said, salads are always a good choice. I tried the salmon salad with new potatoes, cherry tomatoes and green beans in champagne vinaigrette - really fresh and summery. Also want to recommend the banana pudding here, a nice ending to the meal. The service is aggressively helpful and friendly as always...they would step over their own grandmothers to refill your water glass, dang it.
(4)
CYNTHIA C.

Food is really salty. Not exactly sure why the food seems to get saltier and saltier with each visit but that seems to be the case. The service has never been a problem. The manager came over to apologize for the salty food and said he'd advise the chef. Oh yay.... The likelihood of me having another meal at the Fairfax Corner location is quite unlikely.
(3)
Claire C.

This is my favorite restaurant in FFX. The atmosphere is great and the food is even better! It's a little pricey, but worth every penny
(5)

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Address : 11901 Grand Commons Ave
Fairfax, VA, 22030
Phone (571) 522-6300
Website https://www.greatamericanrestaurants.com/coastalflats/fairfax/Info/Directions
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :11:00 am - 10

Specialities

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

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Coastal Flats

11901 Grand Commons Ave, Fairfax, VA, 22030

Coastal Flats Menu

Starters

Salads

Sandwiches

Fresh Seafood

Beef Ribs & Chicken

Sides

Desserts

Healthy Meal suggestions for Coastal Flats

Starters

Salads

Sandwiches

Fresh Seafood

Beef Ribs & Chicken

Sides

Desserts

Paul G.

Kate R.

Kareem T.

John E.

Tiffany H.

Katie S.

Sam W.

Angelo R.

Nathaniel C.

Stefan S.

Lelee R.

Jeff C.

Mark S.

Brooke B.

Blair G.

Sid R.

Paul V.

Wendy Z.

Melanie G.

Alice A.

Amy R.

Vincent V.

Melissa D.

Hannah B.

Kimberly S.

Ali R.

Andrea R.

Olivia K.

Lai S.

Tosha B.

Anna Laura B.

May B.

Gregory B.

Scott H.

Yishin S.

Jefferson L.

Kate H.

Adrienne L.

Cassy G.

Mrs CS K.

Maggie F.

G M.

Jacqueline H.

Critico G.

Steve T.

Jason K.

Elina Y.

Gurpal K.

Tiffany W.

chris d.

Gigi M.

F U.

Meera A.

Ana H.

John D.

Dwight P.

Nikki C.

Samantha S.

Mark B.

Locke Lamora L.

Greg W.