4. Restaurants

The Inn at Little Washington

309 Middle St, Washington, VA, 22747
  • (540) 675-3800
  • Store is closed

The Inn at Little Washington Menu

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  • Peter V.

    TL;DR Fantastic service, superb food and great atmosphere. 4.5 stars Came here with my wife to celebrate our anniversary. The Inn is a combination of a hotel and a restaurant and this review is only for the restaurant part. Valet parking is complimentary. You drive right up to the entrance and a member of the staff will take care of the rest. We came here earlier to have a drink before our meal. We were led to the living room area, which we learned later during our kitchen tour it was originally the kitchen before the expansion. Cameron "the Cheese Wiz" was our server in this area (who is also responsible of Faira the Cow at the end of your meal). The drinks were a bit on the strong side but not too overwhelming and the drinks came with some yummy cajun flavored nuts. When it was our reservation time, the maître d came by to guide us to our table. We sat at the corridor facing their lovely garden. The weather was finally turning warmer and the doors were opened for the night breeze. Our server was Michael for the evening and he was very attentive throughout the meal. We each got a different set menu just so we could try everything. Each of our dishes was explained in details and the staff would patiently explained anything you have a questions about. Please see our pictures for details of each dish. Food was delicious from the beginning to the end. The only half star i'm taking off from the rating is the slightly longer wait time between each course. Since the restaurant was already doing set menus, I believed the timing between each dish could be a little tighter. But this an easy to resolve issue between the staff and the kitchen. At the end of the meal, we were invited to visit Patrick O'Connell's kitchen! Patrick knows each person within the party and is more than happy to discuss anything (ask about his Dalmatian apron!) My wife loves cooking and was ecstatic to meet the chef himself where the magic happens. We also received a small box of cookies and chocolates to take home. A very nice touch to remember the restaurant the next day and on our drive home. Overall, the restaurant staff is very communicative, and very fluid. We moved from one room to another with very little wait times; we went from our dining table to the living room to wait for our kitchen tour, and by the time our tour was over, our car already showed up at the front of the restaurant. Very memorable experience and definitely worth the drive at least once!

    (5)

  • Laura F.

    The Inn at Little Washington is an amazing experience from start to finish. My husband and I spent the night after our wedding there in November 2014, and we were lucky enough to stay in the Mayor's House Suite. It was the perfect end to a wonderful wedding weekend. We also had dinner there, and the food and service were amazing. If you get the opportunity to stay and/or eat here, make sure you do!

    (5)

  • Dave S.

    So if you had only one meal on earth, this would be it. A review can't do it justice. It's such perfection from location, ambiance, service and of course the food. Trust me you have to eat here. It's been 19 yrs but I still think about my dinner here. Some day....I'll be back. Till then I dream

    (5)

  • Ritzie C.

    Due to our unexpected pregnancy (try 7 months pregnant, 7 months from our honeymoon), we didn't have enough time to plan a babymoon. That's what made a stay at the Inn at Little Washington perfect for our situation. The Captain and I decided to celebrate my birthday with a dinner and stay at the Inn. I had an inkling of what to expect. He, on the other hand, scoffed at the idea of staying in an "old-grandma-home-of-a-bed-and-breakfast." Driving through complete emptiness didn't help his expectations either - nor did the loss of cell phone signal. Remember that, non-Sprint users. However, as soon as we walked into the Inn, he was shocked and awed. Service is absolutely impressive without being pretentious. We were warmly greeted and escorted to a small lounge for a welcome cocktail. After that, we were led to a parlor where complimentary afternoon tea is served (all while our car was being valeted and luggage brought to our room). After we settled in, we sat for tea with dainty savory and sweet nibbles. We followed that with a quick 20-30 minute tour of the property and then did some light shopping at the Inn's gift shop across the street. About 15 minutes before our dinner reservation, the Captain and I thought it would be a great idea and experience if we could sit at a kitchen table. I called the front desk and spoke to a maitre'd and surprisingly enough, a table was available! The surcharge for a kitchen table on a Saturday night is ... not cheap. But the experience was unparalleled and, dare I say, absolutely worth it. One thing of note is that there are 2 kitchen tables that each seat 6. The surcharge to sit at one remains the same if you're a party of 2 up to 6, so if you elect this option, invite some couples (or dine as a family) and make the extra expense worth it. The maitre'd led us through the mirrored french doors where the staff lined the doorways and stood at attention, with Chef Patrick O'Connell standing at the end of the line. He greeted us by name, wished me a Happy Birthday, and congratulated us on our pregnancy. We were then led to a table by a fireplace and seated. I won't go into detail over each course; I'll post pictures to represent. But we agreed that this was, by far, the best meal we have ever eaten in our lives. Also, the breakfast served the next day was also incredible. We decided that we will return every year to celebrate. This place exceeds whatever expectations you have. Try it, you won't regret it.

    (5)

  • Jen B.

    Who knew you could have cauliflower steak that tastes better than beef steak?! I had what they called the Harvest Moon or vegetarian selection. I was so impressed with the use of both local and "best of" ingredients from around the world. The presentation was amazing and didn't end at plating as upon delivery to the table several of our wait staff had pun-filled rhymes to describe the entrée. These puns not only helped describe the dishes in an approachable manner but made the meal memorable. I will never forget that "pappardelle pasta" was likened to a Dell computer thrown out the window for a Mac! Too witty. Although on arrival the atmosphere can seem uptight, remember to take a deep breath so you don't miss the subtleties and humor. There is no question it is 5-Star dining, but what makes an experience is all of the factors, to include staff humor and humility.

    (5)

  • Bryce C.

    My boyfriend and I recently stayed at the Inn for a night and it was by far one of the best experiences of our lives. I am not going to take the time to talk about each dish, because they were all absolutely incredible from the welcome cocktail to afternoon tea to dinner to breakfast and even the cookies left in our foyer. Every dish was well thought out and perfectly cooked. The service is truly exceptional at the Inn and is what should be discussed. Every employee makes you feel special and appreciated, always referring to you by your name and catering to any whim you have. Shannon and Flora in the main dining room were shining stars, both were so sweet and went above and beyond. The man at the checkout desk even researched the type of nut that was served in our foyer, as we had no idea what type it was. Bravo to all of them! Our room in the Parsonage was spectacular. It was a much more toned down version of the rooms in the Inn, but felt very homey and spacious. We never went without. Cookies, teas, coffee, sodas and nuts were all accessible during our stay! We purchased one of their packages online for our stay and it was absolutely worth the cost. Though the Inn is by no means inexpensive, the package is a great value. We would absolutely return to the Inn.

    (5)

  • Mina P.

    I know I'm in the minority but I can only give 2 stars. At this level I expect the food to be good. But that's it. It was good. It was OK. I was really hoping they would blow me away. But no it didn't happen. Everything was tasty but it's not like he was trying to reconstruct or make it different or tickle my tastebuds in a way I can't get anywhere else. Similar experience when I went to Komi. My vote is still with minibar. I've been multiple times and every time I walk out I want to go back. I wish I felt that way at the Inn.

    (2)

  • Michael V.

    Absolutely the best experience ever! The service is a six star rating. What I like most is that the food was enjoyable, unique, fantastic and filling. You don't typically get all of that when dining at such a place. It was definitely worth $200 per person (wine not included). For two people, be ready to spend $800 with a nice bottle of wine and tip. Enjoy!

    (5)

  • Rick O.

    I'm not going to say much because not much needs to be said. I've been there several times and each visit was a wonderful dining experience. Their credentials speak for themselves as well as Patrick O'Connell's reputation as one of the world's top chefs. The food that he puts out is art for your mouth and the care and service that you'll receive from his staff is incredible. I've never been to a restaurant like The Inn and don't know that I'll ever visit another that matches it.

    (5)

  • Leslie J.

    The Inn is so remote, I couldn't even add it to my "check-in" count. I guess that's one of the many reasons why this B&B is considered to be a five-star retreat. Nonetheless, The Inn at Little Washington deserves a fine review. The significant other booked this place way in advance as a surprise birthday dinner. When I found out he landed a dinner reservation, I was both elated and psyched since it had been on our eat-list for awhile. I really enjoyed the scenic drive through the countryside to get to The Inn. We were seated in the sunroom/greenroom area at a table facing the garden (not sure what they actually call this area but it's right across from the sitting room where people can socialize, sit down, and have drinks). The garden included a pretty pond, a ravine adorned with lights, white patio furniture, and lit candles which added to the overall ambience. As soon as we sat down, I noticed my very own personalized menu with my name and the occasion which I thought was a nice touch. We decided to go with the a la carte menu vs. the gastronaut menu because although there were more courses on the gastronaut menu they are served as small bites vs. getting entrees. The a la carte menu features 4 courses plus 2 bonus introduction courses which include a soup course and a snack/app course. We opted out of the drink pairings and ordered a 1/2 bottle of wine instead. Holy bread! Pace yourself because there is a designated server with a bread basket that goes around each table in between courses. The house-made bread is spectacular and too good to pass up. I felt bad for our server because the space by our table was a little tight and she kept having to reach across from where I was sitting in order to load me up on bread. It's a shame the poppyseeds get all over the immaculate white table linen. I tried to keep the table as neat as possible, but it was inevitable. Haha. Overall, the entire dining experience was nothing short of impressive. Your designated server will ask you if you were given or need a detailed description of each dish you are presented with. They also hold in-depth knowledge about the wines down to their steak knives. My favorite course was definitely the foie gras - two ways served hot and cold. In addition to the Seven Deadly Sins dessert, I also enjoyed the house-made chocolate and candies served in a to-go box shaped like The Inn. They were incredible and the perfect ending to my birthday celebration. Expect the service to be impeccable and top-notch. You will not go unnoticed. The staff is super courteous and amiable. On our way out, the valet was also nice enough to take our picture in front of The Inn. Tips: 1) Try and get there before your dinner reservation so you can enjoy a drink or two prior to being seated. 2) If you can, book a mini weekend getaway or stay-cation. I highly suggest doing so especially if you live far away. I would've loved to tour The Inn including the garden, the kitchen, etc. on the estate. 3) Lastly, don't forget to check out the cow cheese cart that "moo's" when pushed. 'Til my next adventure at The Inn...

    (5)

  • Wilma D.

    I would advise that instead of spending the money on a meal at The Inn at Little Washington, you buy a small island nation instead. Perhaps Tuvalu. Or I've heard Saint Kitts and Nevis is lovely. Or buy your own private submarine, with a gold plated abode and a four poster bed inside. Seriously folks, believe me when I say I've dropped some coin on some meals, but this place's price tag had me choking on my cereal. So, was it worth it? No. Absolutely not. Now, to be fair, basically no food, no matter how many truffles and foie you throw at it, is worth that price. But the servers at this place should say when they deposit the check to bite the pillow because they're going in dry. So, on to the list of fancy stuff this exorbitant price will buy you: Location: Middle of absolute nowhere. Bucolic and peaceful surroundings, but getting here will be an hour and a half (at least!) pilgrimage for people in the DC area. This pilgrimage, if you're planning on being insufferably pretentious (which would be good practice for the rest of the night), should be filled with banal remarks about how beautiful the countryside is and how much better it would be to live out here (don't kid yourself, the country gets as humdrum as the city after a while). The surroundings are indeed lovely, and Virginia is a great state, but CAUTION! do not speed on this two hour road trip, no matter how late you are for the reservation you waited months for, because speeding fines in VA are the harshest in the US. Also, the fact that it's so far away means you must factor in a hotel cost for one night into the expenses. And Washington, VA is chock-full of only incredibly pricey BnBs, it seems. We stayed forty five minutes away and it still cost an arm and a leg. Once you arrive, the building is charming, and very much pulls off the country-chic vibe. When I arrived it was a bit cold and there was a happily crackling fire in what I will call the foyer. There's many dark wood paneled rooms overflowing with china knickknacks, lacy accents and plush seating. I felt like I was in a waspy hunting cabin. The food overview: The meal here is seven or eight courses, depending on how you count courses. That's a lot of food, and frankly the courses here blend together. A problem I've always encountered with many course meals is that with so much rich food stacked back to back, one gets palate fatigue. Even a perfectly prepared halibut can seems a bit one note when you just had risotto and rabbit and foie and truffles before it. (I just read that back and that's one darn snobby sounding sentence right there.) Also, when you sign up to such a long tasting menu, it's one heck of a trust fall in the chef. Because if you don't like his cooking, instead of being freed after a few nibbles, you're his culinary prisoner for the next three hours. Overall, I would say I got the sense of some talent, but a lack of creativity or fire to put out truly new tastes. It was well prepared classic French food. Food standouts (Ranked from best to worst): -A Quartet of Rappahannock River "Barcat" Oyster Slurpees I found this dish delightful. Not only was it playfully plated, but it was wholly unique and delicious. The four oysters each had a different theme. The little savory sorbet quenelles on each oyster added a zingy chill. Each oyster was completely unique tasting, so each new bite felt like a mini adventure. -Truffle-Stuffed Breast of Pheasant on savoy cabbage braised in Champagne Beautifully plated and perfectly prepared. -A Fricassee of Maine Lobster with potato gnocchi and curried walnuts Pretty and very luxe. -Blistered Baby Brussel Sprouts with honeycrisp apple, spiced pecans and Madeira soaked raisins Very forgettable, I could have cooked this at home, with ingredients I bought at Safeway. And that's one heck of a statement if you knew how pathetic a cook I am. -Cassoulet of Autumn Vegetables with a sunnyside up Bantam Egg Very disappointing. The egg, which ended up being 85% of the dish, was overcooked and rubbery on the bottom, with a practically hard yolk. The "cassoulet" part was basically just some boiled beige beans draped across. -Risotto with the season's first white truffles from Alba, Italy A terrible, terrible dish from start to finish. Firstly, plating wise the dish looked like pale mush and nothing else. At the table they grated thick slices of truffle, which added some color but not much. Taste wise, the risotto was very off. Too watery, with the rice simultaneously too broken down and yet with some crunchy bits. Also, it tasted slightly sour and acrid, like perhaps it picked up a bit of taste from a copper pot. The insult to injury about this though was this plate alone cost a WHOPPING 75 DOLLAR supplement, on top of the rest of the charges for the tasting menu. This supplement is frankly, not especially obvious on the menu, so read that fine print! For the worst dish of the night, that's one heck of a sucker punch.

    (2)

  • Aaron D.

    This country estate hotel is one of the most stunning examples of period architecture that I've ever seen, and the dining experiences matches this architecture with its unapologetic attention to detail, blending of new and old world foods, and dinner theater. Of particular note were the grilled pigeon and veal sweet breads. I imagine coming just for dinner would be a tremendous experience, but if you can, come for a stay, too.

    (5)

  • Craig D.

    (4.25) ~ Very good overall food & service. With the HIGH price tag, recommend coming here for Anniversaries or Milestone Birthdays. And Jackets are recommended for Gentleman. OUR MENU: DRINKS: * Water(tap) = (4) very good...must be filtered;) * "Not so Old Fashion" Cocktail = (3.5) good * French Press Coffee = (3.5) good...although being a coffee snob, I would like to have a choice of Whole Beans to choose from;) APPETIZERS: * Chiiled Asparagus Soup w. popover crouton = (4.5) Very Good! * Hors d'oeuvres = (4) very good * Bread & Butter = (4) very good ENTREES: * Veal Tongue & Horseradish Ice Cream = (4.5) Very Good! * Morels & Asparagus Tips = (4.5) Very Good! * Rockfish = (4.25) Very good * Hot & Cold Foie Gras = (4) very good * Lamb Loin = (4) very good DESSERT: * Southern Pecan Ice Cream Sandwich = (4) very good

    (4)

  • Jenn M.

    An epicurean dream. We dined for our anniversary and the food, along with the ambiance, were pure perfection. Each of the several courses were delicious and beautiful. Be prepared for a long evening as the full dining experience can take hours. I'll never forget that tiny loaded baked potato!

    (5)

  • Stephanie C.

    The Inn at Little Washington is such a fantastic experience. Located in the picturesque and tranquil Virginia countryside, it was the perfect getaway for my mom and I for her birthday weekend. It was the first time in years that I've gone somewhere where you can walk outside and to different shops without hearing the din of cars and traffic. The service was impeccable - a valet service was there at all times to park our car near our room and we were greeted with a flute of delicious champagne. We stayed at the Parsonage house, the newer construction, and the room was cozy and immaculate. The bathroom was beautiful with amazing tiling, and we loved the gas fireplace as well. Afternoon tea service was a major plus - every day, we sat at our favorite table near the garden and enjoyed a tray of tea sandwiches and pastries, and a great selection of all kinds of teas. The dinner blew us away - we could mix and match from different parts of the menu and each dish was delicious and artfully plated. The "painter's" sorbet dessert literally came out on a palette in mini jars highlighting the array of sorbet colors along with a long pastry that looked like a paintbrush. We also loved the personal touches where they included birthday wishes to my mom in our personalized menus and took us on a tour of the kitchen at the end of the meal. A two-night stay at the inn is perfect. There isn't that much to do in the area without driving 30+ minutes, but the few art and decor shops around the inn were enough to keep us busy for that period of time. Sure, the price tag on the rooms is hefty, but it's a once-in-a-lifetime experience and worth the splurge. Treat yourself, folks :)

    (5)

  • Jesse V.

    Review Update: We went here on the Monday night after Mother's Day. Party of five. We decided to go with the tasting menu for the everyone. I've never had the tasting menu before so I was pretty amped for the experience. My girlfriend is a vegetarian so she got their new veggie tasting menu. Which was stellar! I often found myself jealous of her course (especially the morels), but thats not to say I wasn't more than completely satisfied with my own dishes. Side note: The reason they ask the entire table to select the tasting menu is not for the convince of the kitchen, but for the timing of the service and the enjoyment of the guests at each table. It would be awkward to be getting course after course while your other guest(s) are still sitting around waiting for you to finish a couple things before they receive their next course. The service was exceptional. If fine dining had an Olympics, then Landry, Neil and Chris would be like three Michael Phelps. They made sure we were comfortable at a garden table while waiting to be seated. Kir Royals all around. Smiles and heart felt chats with all three waiters made us feel like we were family that had just returned home after a long absence. Plates appeared and disappeared like leaves in a gentle breeze as our eyes widened from one course to the next. Everyone had an exceptional evening and left for the drive back home floating on cloud nine. If I had a choice for my last meal on earth, it would be their truffle dusted popcorn. Or Patrick's morel pizza. Or his Veal Medallions with Country Ham Ravioli and Brussel Sprouts. Or those little rabbit turnovers they used to make back in the day (which I make from his cookbook every Christmas). Or the Mac & Cheese with Country Ham and Black Truffle. Or Tuna Pretending to be a Filet Mignon. Or his Ahi Tuna Tartare with Cucumber Sorbet. It would be a big meal... Surperb dining experience again (my fourteenth time I believe), it just keeps getting better! Okay, I'm out of superlatives.

    (5)

  • Jeffrey F.

    Everything. Is. Perfect. Perfect staff Perfect place Perfect food One can always nit pick but to do so would be to overlook the 100 ways that Inn guarantees a perfect experience. This was my 8th trip in 17 years and I can't wait to get back. My 8 meals at the Inn are 8 of the best 15 meals I've ever had.

    (5)

  • Jay Rand B.

    I am tempted to give this establishment a three star rating but that just wouldn't be fair. We went here for a special occasion and I knew it would be expensive. The food didn't disappoint. The servings were masterfully prepared and presented. But....for dropping over $500 you would expect perfect service. Not even close. After we introduced ourselves, we were promptly greeted by the wrong party name. After our drink orders were placed, a server brought someone else's order. During service, one of the entrees slid off of the plate. Lastly, I ordered a decaf coffee at the end of the meal and never got it. This is a disgrace! I don't know how they can get away with the astronomical price tag for such comical service.

    (4)

  • Kerry F.

    This is the ultimate special occasion. It is worth every penny (Well, my fiance's pennies! This was my birthday present). From the food quality to the ambiance to the service, we absolutely loved it. We arrived early and had time for a cocktail in the salon first, which was absolutely luxurious. The hospitality is truly world-class, and every staff member made me feel like an honored guest. The food lives up to its reputation. It was the best meal of my life, hands-down. We still dream of the asparagus soup (Course #1) and the foie gras (Course #2). The caesar ice cream was unusual, but divine. If you can upgrade any of the courses, you won't regret it. However, you will regret eating too much bread! At the end of the night, they will send you home with an adorable box of cookies. We were lucky enough to get a kitchen tour. The chefs wear dalmatian-print pants! It was a lovely treat to end the night.

    (5)

  • Angel W.

    This was a really, really great food experience and I loved every delicious moment. We arrived to dinner late, but were greeted like family and were quickly seated. The waitstaff was so attentive and so gracious! We decided on a la carte because the Gastraunaut's menu had SO. MUCH. FOOD. I ordered a tin of sin (caviar), pigeon (that blueberry sauce...!), and lobster. Everything was incredible and no words can describe the harmony you feel when you take a bite of high-quality ingredients, with carefully executed flavors, in the intimate settings of an historic-set room. By the time the main course was done, we were pretty full, but it would have been wrong to not get dessert! I ordered a warm apple tart topped with buttermilk ice cream-- it was so perfect and even though incredibly decadent, I could feel slightly less guilty because it was stacked with lots of thinly sliced apple ;) Throughout the night, faira the cow made the rounds to various tables, and the "resident cheese whiz" was hilarious-- he has quite a few cow jokes up his sleeve. the staff also knew that it was our anniversary, and our menus were even printed with happy wishes! so lovely. Our wine was perfect and paired well with our dinner. I'll definitely come back for future special occasions. I highly recommend ordering some special dishes that are not in your day-to-day diet, being grateful for the lack of cell phone service, knocking back some incredible wine and cocktails, and soaking in the perfect night.

    (5)

  • Samantha L.

    The Inn at Little Washington offer complimentary valet parking to all guests. However, don't expect cellphone service here so enjoy the atmosphere, presentation of food, and fine dining and wine experience! Since we were more than an hour early for our dinner reservation, they seated us in their lounge ('old kitchen'), which was furnished with colonial chairs/couches and small tables with fused sea glass candle holders, nicely decorated with three lit Christmas trees with glass blown ornaments of various sizes in the corner, ceramic dishes, low hanging dish lights, vintage rectangular mirrors, and bar with liquor bottles. The lounge is the perfect room to enjoy drinks and spiced nuts. There was instrumental music playing in the background. The dimmed setting gave the restaurant an intimate and romantic feel. The lounge and restaurant service was outstanding. It was overall a memorable experience for my parents' 35th Anniversary.They sat us at a table in a semi private dining room with a view of the courtyard. It was more quiet and perfect for conversation. The table had a white floral linen and a small vintage pot with english roses and greens and a candle in the center of the table. The napkins had their logo printed in cream. The menus were customized to our special occasion. The food was delicious and phenomenal.The breaks and exchanging of silverware in between courses were done in a timely manner. For non-alcoholic beverages, I'd recommend the Dreamsicle, which consisted of freshly squeezed orange juice, pineapple juice, and cream soda. The drink was garnished with an orange peel. I liked how the drink had a foamy top. For wine, I'd recommend the Sauvignon Blanc from Quivira Vineyards and Winery. After ordering, the servers brought us compliments from the chef, which were quite savory. Two of the guests ordered from the Our Enduring Classics and the other two ordered from the Appalachian Winter. For bread, each guest got two slices of pecan bread and a mini poppy seed baguette. Each guests got a shot of White Bean Soup Scented with Truffle. It was served hot in a double walled shot glass. The soup had a milky-grainy texture and a strong Virginia County Ham flavor. It was served with a bite size, deep-fried, cheesy risotto ball. The Quartet of Rappahannock River Barcat Oyster Slurpees were four raw oysters, each served with different sauce. The Tin of Sin: American Osetra Caviar with Peekytoe Crab and Cucumber Rillette came with two toasted mini brioche, a blue tin of caviar layered with crab and cucumber, and a cute mother of pearl spoon on a black stone on top of a gray stone slab. The Sashimi of Yellowtail Dusted with Espelette consisted of sliced yellowtail, garnished with cucumber, sesame seeds, espelette, and jalapeno. This dish is made for those who love spicy raw fish. The Carpaccio of Herb Crusted Baby Lamb Loin with Caesar Salad Ice Cream consisted of basil pesto sauce across the top of the dish, herb crusted thinly sliced baby lamb loin, topped with croutons, raw red onion rings, chives, capers, and two scoops of Caesar ice cream. In the upper right hand corner of the plate, there was a crispy romaine lettuce loaded with shredded parmesan cheese and dried anchovies. The Thinly Shaved Australian Wagyu Beef Shabu Shabu consisted of beef, mushroom, and daikon in a Vietnamese beef broth and garnished in sesame seeds. The Sweet New England Bay Scallops with Candied Yams and Young Coconut consisted of pan seared baby scallops, coconut segments, red onion rings, diced melon, diced yams, and macadamia nuts in coconut creme. It was sweet and tart. The Fricaasee of Maine Lobster with Potato Gnocchi and Curried Walnuts consisted of pan roasted lobster, mushrooms, pearl white onions, gnocchi, sliced green grapes, and walnuts. It was nutty and buttery. The Crispy Bourbon Glazed Veal Sweetbreads on Pappardelle Pasta with Blenheim Apricots and Golden Chanterelle Mushrooms consisted of sweetbreads, pasta, apricots, spinach, and golden chanterelle mushrooms in a brown sauce. The Truffle Stuffed Breast of Pheasant on Savoy Cabbage Braised in Champagne consisted of two tender sliced pieces of chicken, one on top of each other, between creamy cabbage and topped with fatty pancetta bits. The Pepper Crusted Tuna Capped with Seared Duck Foie Gras on Charred Onions and Burgundy Butter Sauce consisted of a medium well tuna surrounded by a grilled white onion ring, topped with a pan seared duck foie gras, and topped with two crispy thin onion rings. The dish was decorated with pearl white onions, coined carrots, and coined zucchini and soaked in a burgundy butter sauce.The Chop of Organic Milk Fed Pork with Sauerkraut Braised in Virginia Riesling Local Apples and La Ratte Potato Purée consisted of a fatty pork loin, pork belly, peppered sauerkraut, fried apples, and creamy potato puree. Between dinner and dessert, they gave us a cranberry-orange sorbet popsicle dusted with shortbread crumbs to cleanse our palates.

    (5)

  • Nicole S.

    I have eaten at the Inn 6 times - 7 coming up in July! Excellent service; excellent food... every time! I love how Chef Patrick and his team incorporate local and seasonal ingredients into their dishes. My favorites have been anything with beets... Once we had a beet sorbet. 6 of my visits have been / will be with the international gourmet society La Chaine des Rotisseurs. About 50 of us head by motor coach from DC for an annual "summer sojourn". Worth taking the day off from work! The other time I was at the Inn was for my Dad's birthday. We sat in the kitchen and had an out-of-this-world experience. Highly recommend.

    (5)

  • Tatsu O.

    Was it expensive? Yes, it was ridiculously expensive. But, this was arguably the best meal I have ever had. And sometimes you just have to throw down that kind of money to get this kind of experience. There are two options when it comes to ordering the food. Option1: An a la carte menu where you choose a 1st course, 2nd course, main course, and a dessert. Option 2: a 10 course tasting menu (called the Gastronaut's Menu). We got the 10 course tasting menu and every course was awesome. Let's not forget the service. I didn't keep track of how many different people were serving us, but the coreography between all the servers was quite impressive and kind of entertaining to watch. I don't care what the Washingtonian says. I've had both Komi and Inn at Little Washington now, and Komi's got nothing on the Inn.

    (5)

  • Kate O.

    Perfect in every way. Patrick is simply gifted. Beautiful setting, sumptuous food, exquisite service. Do NOT skip Faira the cow.

    (5)

  • Aaron A.

    Absolutely the best dining experience I've had in the District and I've been here for years. We even got an impromptu invite to tour the kitchen and meet Chef Patrick O'Connel! Absolutely Amazing! The Lamb carpaccio was awesome, the warm squab salad, amazing; the pan roasted lobster, mouth watering and the wine selections by Jennifer were spot on! Our Server was attentive and kind, best service I've had in a very long time. My dessert of butter pecan ice-cream sandwhich with warm caramel sauce was insanely good as well as the best Irish coffee I've ever had! Best Valentines Day Ever...I'm just sayin.

    (5)

  • Gregory S.

    Absolutely phenomenal. Our favorite restaurant yet. My wife and I came here for our five year wedding anniversary (we were living in DC at the time). From the minute we walked in, the atomosphere felt different than many of your other top rated restaurants - it felt like "fun." Everyone was chipper and happy, not stuff and super polite. We did the tasting menu, and each course was accompanied with a story told by one of the servers. They even produced a special mini-cake for our anniversary, which was awesome. After dinner was over, my wife asked if we could meet Patrick O'Connell and they had no problem taking us back to the kitchen to see where all the action was, but also to meet and take a few pics with Patrick himself. Such a nice guy! I would also recommend staying at the Gay Street Inn, which is just down the block from the Inn (which can get pricey to stay at depending on time of year) and very quaint and lovely B&B.

    (5)

  • Jay C.

    A wonderful experience. We have stayed twice for our anniversary and had a great time. Staff is very attentive and pays attention to details. The food is exquisite. We would definitely go again.

    (5)

  • Chris B.

    Worth every penny. Um, make that 50k pennies. Still worth it. From the time you walk up to the liveried doormen to getting your coats back, the service is impeccable. Food is amazing: from seared foie gras to lamb carpaccio, everything is perfect. The prix fix menus run at $180, which I would have considered outrageous before. But considering we spent four hours of excellent dining there and then got to see the kitchen on top of it ( Gregorian chants as background music) it was a truly unique experience.

    (5)

  • ben f.

    I had eaten here once before in the kitchen and it was one of the best dining experiences I have ever had. This time we were in the main dining room and although the food was just as good as I had experienced the first time, the service left much to be desired. Plates were left finished for several minutes. The pacing of the courses was timed poorly. Glasses were left empty. The captain was cold and not attentive. I have had warmer and better service in a diner. My first experience could compare to Daniel or Per Se or any of the finest restaurants in New York. Although the food was still wonderful, the service ruined the experience.

    (3)

  • Kelly R.

    Best meal of my life! We came to celebrate a promotion for my husband, and I can't imagine a better place to have gone. We had such a fun and special night. The service was outstanding, and the food was absolute perfection. We didn't want the meal to end! When I booked the reservation, I looked at it like a "once in a lifetime" event (given the cost), but I have to say that we will certainly be back for another special occasion. It was worth every penny.

    (5)

  • Mandana Y.

    Be our guest! Be our guest! Put our service to the test Tie your napkin 'round your neck, cherie And we provide the rest Soup du jour Hot hors d'oeuvres Why, we only live to serve Try the grey stuff It's delicious! You don't believe me? Ask the dishes ^ That's actually exactly what you can expect here. Youtube the song, and you'll have a nice video of what you'll experience at The Inn At Little Washington. You will be treated like Belle, and your servers will all be Lumiere. No Cogsworth in sight! You may however feel like you're going to run into a pack of wolves on your way home. Because yes, this place is in the middle of nowhere. Luckily, once you leave The Inn, the Disney fantasy ends and you're back in the real world. You'll safely make it home. Unless food coma strikes, in which case I recommend you book a room at The Inn for the night.

    (5)

  • Robin P.

    May 10, 2012 Quite simply, the finest restaurant we have ever had the pleasure of dining in! After making a trip to visit relatives in the DC area, we planned an outing to see old friends who live in Flint Hill, VA. After discussing restaurants in the area for lunch, she mentioned the Inn at Little Washington in an email to me, as being one of the finest in the country. So after researching it, I decided it would be fitting for us to celebrate our 10th anniversary by staying there and reserving the chef's table for dinner. The experience is one we will talk of for the rest of our lives. The service and food are the best you will ever have. We had high tea in the afternoon in the garden, then was taken on a tour of the grounds at 5 (by Chris Castle, Ring Master) and dined later that evening in the kitchen. Robert Mondavi described Chef Patrick O'Connell as the Pope of American Cuisine and rightfully so. Chef O'Connell is a self-taught chef with a flair for drama and who has created an atmosphere of beauty and perfection, that I wish everyone could experience just once! We had breakfast in the morning, again perfection. If you have a special occasion, this is the place to do it.

    (5)

  • June K.

    I had always wanted to eat here and my 60th birthday was the perfect excuse. Be sure to let them know if you have a special occasion. My menu was printed with a birthday greeting and my dessert plate had a marzipan banner saying 'Happy Birthday." The staff treats you like royalty. You will get a few surprises in addition to your dinner. Prepare to take time to savor the experience. Our dinner lasted for two and a half hours and I get the feeling that this is not unusual. The menu changes with the seasons so your experience will differ by when you visit. We are already planning to return. It is definitely expensive but worth it.

    (5)

  • Sang K.

    Such a charming place. *A great beginning* My girlfriend and I dined here on our anniversary. I called the day of and somehow grabbed a 8:30 reservation and we were good to go. When I pulled up to the restaurant parking lot (across the street gravel) I was almost immediately greeted by one of the bell hops asking to take my bags. I explained that we were dining and not staying at the inn and he curteously trotted away. This is the level of attention and service that is present the momment you step onto the grounds. If you are driving this far to dine here I suggest you go an hour early and tour the cute town and enjoy the excellent views across the street from the inn. *The meal* The food here was sophisticated, creative, tasty, while having a homey-ness to it. The dishes reminded me of things I could and would make at home but elevated. Case in point the popcorn with truffles that comes at the beginning of every gastronauts tasting course that is meant to be enjoyed throughout the meal. One of my favorite bites of the meal was a amuse bouche that came before anything else where they served a fried potato wrapped in sour cream and topped with caviar. So familar...yet elevated. There were some technical flaws on some of the dishes. Most glaring was the severely underseasoned BBQ lamb that came as the last entree of the tasting menu. What should have ended in culinary triumph feel dissapointingly flat because of this. I was also not a big fan of the harissa hollandaise that came with it. Again, lack of seasoning was the culprit. Our waiter happily accomidated our request to switch one of our set desserts to their famous ice cream sandwich dessert. I found the ice cream to have a strange, chalky texture. My girlfriend couldn't get enough. Push? Another thing of note is that we waited about 20-30 minutes in between the dishes. While this might not seem too long, if you're eating 8-10 courses this makes for a very long experience. You need endurance to dine here. It's a marathon, not a sprint. The overall experience of dining at the inn at little washington is 5 stars. However, elements of the tasting menu waivered from outstanding to mediocre. I would definitely make the drive again to dine here, and it is very close to a perfect dining experience if not for its lack of consistency.

    (4)

  • Vivian B.

    Whatever you do, do not show up early. Official check in time is 3:00pm. I called at noon to advise them we would be arriving at 2:00PM and requested an earlier check in if possible. One would think that when you are paying $1000.00+ a night! every effort would be made to accommodate you. Well that was not the case. It is three o clock and we are still waiting yo check in. So, service is not a high point. However, the food and wine experience is always outstanding.

    (2)

  • Steve C.

    My wife surprised me for my birthday, had a great meal, we decided to do the chefs tasting menu and it was fabulous, worth every penny. We also asked to do the tour of the kitchen and got to meet the head chef Patrick, would definitely come back for another special occasion.

    (5)

  • A. S.

    Way over rated and very poorly treated. You make a reservation and you'd think they would expect you but not here... we made a reservation for 8 people but when we got there they said we had to be split up 4 and 4 because they were too busy. What?!? Who does that? Very bush league move. We should have just walked out but we thought we made the long trek, we might as well eat there even if we couldn't enjoy each other's company. Never going back. Waste of a trip out there. Totally ruined the evening.

    (1)

  • Elesai K.

    Debated giving it a 3, but rounded up and gave it a 4, simply because it is a destination worth going to at least once, especially since there aren't many of its caliber for miles and miles and milessss away. I advise going at least an hour before your reservation, that way you have plenty of time to roam around the shops and soak in the scenic view. It is quite charming. The service is spotty. Yes, your assigned server may be attentive and accomodating, but they can also be extremely slow in responding, and provide inaccurate information about the dishes. Forgiveable at other venues, but shouldn't have happened at this establishment. The food... is exceptionably tolerable. Everything is beautifully plated. I ordered the tasting menu, and there were just a few fantastic dishes, while the rest were simply interesting, a rather polite way of saying it tasted like a culinary experiment not yet perfected. It must take a lot to manage a venue of such scale, and it shows. There were fruit flies all around the dining area. But I guess if it is good enough for Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds, it is nice enough for me too.

    (4)

  • Keith B.

    Not a meal, but a sublime experience. Anyone who claims any kind of foodie credibility, needs to have a meal here once. The ambiance is spectacular, service impeccable, and food amazing. Very expensive, but everyone who appreciates food as a culinary skill has to save up some money and go and don't forget to bring your sweetheart, because this is as romantic of a venue as it gets. Plan ahead as reservations can be hard to get.

    (5)

  • Richard J.

    The Inn at Little Washington is justifiably ranked as one of the top restaurants in the world. We made reservations a month in advance and dined here recently with friends. Upon arrival, we were immediately seated at a lovely corner table and presented with menus personalized with our name. The restaurant is both elegant and romantic. Staff members were knowledgeable, professional, and extremely attentive, precisely as one might expect. Our dinner was a choice among three different prix fixe menus, each including six regular courses. The meal began with a wonderful "shot" of pheasant consommé served in a small thermal glass and then continued at an unhurried pace. Several amuse-bouche interludes and a magnificent dessert menu completed this extraordinary gastronomical experience. Each member of our party had a favorite course or two: My favorites were "Red Currant Marinated Squab Breast with a Crispy Potato Galette" and the "Painter's Palette of Sorbets" dessert. Each course was an artistic creation, plated on china that seemed to be created for this particular dish. One small suggestion on wines: The Inn has a massive wine list; however, most wines are expensive, especially reds. If you read the website, they permit you to bring your own wines, charging a "corkage" fee. Our strategy - which I recommend - was to bring one excellent bottle of red that is NOT on their wine list (for us this was a Klinker Brick Old Vine Zinfandel which beautifully complemented several courses) and then to order a bottle of white from the Inn wine list. This gave us a zero corkage fee and we enjoyed two excellent bottles of wine that complemented our meal at a very reasonable overall cost. Of course they also have a wine-pairing option. If you have never dined at a restaurant of this caliber, the natural question is: Was it worth the expense? Unequivocally, yes. This is one of those "bucket list" experiences that you will be raving about for years to come. Many thanks to Chef Patrick O'Connell and his staff! We are looking forward to our next visit!

    (5)

  • Paul D.

    So for the last 15 years I have been paying for my parents to eat here once a year as a gift. I came back to Virginia for a visit and decided to finally see what all the hype is about. And not trying to sound like a jerk that was the most overrated restaurant I have ever been to. The staff was nice and the food was ok, but I was expecting some mind blowing experience after all the reviews I have read. WAY OVERRATED.

    (2)

  • B M.

    A fun evening at the Inn to celebrate my husband's birthday. The service is divine, and each morsel of food is better than the one we just ate. From the truffle popcorn to the lobster to the scallops to the lamb .... and the dessert just scrumptious!

    (5)

  • Andréa M.

    Perfect in every way. Fine dining with a whimsical vibe keeps the experience from being too stuffy. From the over-the-top friendly host, to the Dalmatian chef pants, to the mooing cheese cow-- what fun! Not to mention the food is locally sourced and absolutely fantastic. Never ever had a bad experience at ILW. It remains our #1 special occasion restaurant choice. And we live over an hour away in Bethesda! xoxo, ILW!!

    (5)

  • Robert W.

    4.5 stars. Went here on a chilly and snowy Friday night. Service is friendly, warm and appropriate. We both tried the 10 course tasting menu and it was very good. My only complaint is that some of it is too heavy. You can taste the butter and about 3/4 of the way through, coupled with the wine I was starting to feel a bit queasy. But the overall preparation, quality of the products were spectacular. We had the opportunity to tour the kitchen and met the head chef. The story behind this establishment is truly the American dream and I'm glad we had a chance to try it out. If possible, get an earlier reservation as the tasting adventure is long and as others have said, the courses are really spaced out. Also, there is NO Verizon cell service, and most B&Bs don't have TV.... but have wireless... thank goodness!

    (4)

  • Beth H.

    This past week on Thanksgiving I opted not to cook so my sweetheart took me out for a surprise dinner at the Inn At Little Washington. I really had no clue what too expect. I really was fearful that we would leave the place hungry but to my great surprise.....we were both stuffed with heavenly creations that 4 days later we're still daydreaming about! The restaurant is absolutely beautiful from the moment you approach the area & once inside the staff is so warm & hospitable. The kindness bestowed upon us was overwhelming & greatly appreciated. Impeccable service yet not pretentious. We had a great waiter, Landry (yes, named after Tom Landry of the Dallas Cowboys). He knew the menu inside & out + the wine list. The food is everything you've ever heard & more. The quality of the food & ambiance is worth every dollar. We plan on returning in the near future & treating ourselves too this magical place. Bravo Chef & entire staff! Sincerely, Beth & Tadd

    (5)

  • Christiane V.

    my favorite restaurant so far (i still have per se, the french laundry, and a few others on my list though). it is hands down the best restaurant in virginia though. i came here for my birthday this year with my bf and parents. everything was perfection. the decor was tasteful (christmas time), food was delicious, and service was impeccable. i honestly think you get what you pay for. i didn't even mind the drive out there. it is definitely an experience. since it was our first time here, we all had the gastronaut's tasting menu with wine pairings. seems like a lot but it is just the right amount of food. i heard the gastronaut's menu doesn't change too much so on my next visit, i would just order a la carte. my favorite thing was the truffle popcorn. i wish i could somehow recreate it at home! it was sooooo good. to top off the meal, they gave us a tour of the kitchen and sent us home with a little goodie bag shaped like the inn. so awesome.

    (5)

  • Sean M.

    This was an outstanding meal on par with the best restaurants in the country. The thing that got me was the attention to detail and the fact that the level of quality never flagged on any dish. People that have come on here and called this place mediocre must be crazy. I was skeptical. I was prepared to be underwhelmed. I was awed by this place. What's more, they treat you like royalty. Our waiter, Chris, was such a sweet guy too and made great wine recommendations. It ain't cheap but jeez, it was good. The best meals I'd had in my life previously were at The French Laundry and Cyrus in Napa Valley. I think this was better. I will never forget this meal.

    (5)

  • Monique M.

    If there's one place that I REALLY want to check-in at, it's this place. And you can't. Because there's no cell service here. That's how far out it is. I have to say, reading the few negative reviews here, I was surprised. This was bar none the best service I've ever had. Here was our experience: Personal greeting by valet, doorman and maitre' d. A walk around the restaurant so we could pick the table of our choice. Personalized menus, packaged lateras keepsakes. Wonderfully presented amuse bouche. Offers of champagne, and a delicious hand picked red. Each course better than the last (an impossible feat there) Incredibly unpretentious, anticipatory (near-psychic) service. Another yelper called it ninja-like water service...AGREE. Order the frommage for dessert...and you'll have dinner and a show. Personal tour of the kitchen and chit-chat with Chef O'Conner. I'm a firm believer that you get what you pay for. The culinary experience here is exquisite, but it's the service that commands that high price tag. It was a treat simply to observe other tables and their service experience as well. Neil and Francois made this a singular experience. Highly, highly recommended.

    (5)

  • Angela C.

    This is an amazing restaurant that everyone should enjoy at least once in their life. Dining here had been on my bucket list for 10 years and last September I was finally able to enjoy a meal here. Given it was a bit of an adventure involving a flat tire to arrive at the restaurant. We pulled into the parking lot and were having trouble figuring out where the place was and a nice woman was walking by and we asked for directions. She pointed us across the street and we casually mentioned that we had a flat tire en route and were worried we were going to be late for our reservation. She must have known someone at the establishment because we walked across the street and walked inside we were immediately greeted and asked about the tire incident. They offered to call our rental car company to see if a replacement car could be delivered while we dined. WOW! I was floored that less than 2 minutes the mystery woman had somehow notified the restaurant and that they bent over backward to help us out. So, that gives you an idea of the service at this place. It also sets the tone for the most romantic and beautiful dining experience, complete with customized menus, a box of cookies to go (in the shape of the Inn!) and all sorts of little touches. From removing the wine label and giving it to us in a card to a complementary glass of champagne to help us relax after the tire incident. Not to mention the food was incredible! This place is pricey, very pricey, but incredibly memorable and an amazing dining experience.

    (5)

  • Jim P.

    Patrick never ceases to amaze one's taste buds with the delicacies that are concocted in his kitchen. Every dish is a crafted blend of ambrosia that cannot be found elsewhere. If you've never eaten here before, you must celebrate this experience at least once in your lifetime. And if you've experienced this restaurant 's food and its unique atmosphere once, you'll long to return with others to enjoy it again and again. Having eaten in fine restaurants in 152 countries of this world, the Inn at Little Washington remains at the top of my list for its cuisine and general ambience.

    (5)

  • Kimberly M.

    Buyer's remorse. I have mad respect for chef O'Connor's skills and culinary conceptions, but honestly, I cannot say this is the best meal I have ever experienced. While some dishes were prepared well and were quite delicious; not all! And when you part with two car payments for a meal, you anticipate exceptional. As mentioned by others, our service was really outstanding. To put this all in perspective, I went to Peru about two years ago for about $375 r/t, we had some of the most exceptional meals, service and presentation at near welfare prices at some of their premier restaurants. So personally, for my money, I'll take the trip to Peru for $800 Bob.. Lol.

    (3)

  • A J.

    The Inn at Little Washington blew me away. Imaginative dishes, perfectly paired wine... every single detail was perfect, right down to the amuse-bouche. Presentation, service, texture, flavor... all of it, impeccable. It would take me a week to write a complete review about how the blackened truffles flawlessly complimented the roasted pheasant, or how the mint-chocolate ice cream was so fresh with real mint that I felt as though I were in the garden. The accommodations are beautiful. The staff is incredibly polite and helpful, but not intrusive. If you get the opportunity, have tea in the tea room or breakfast on the veranda. Tasty house-made granola with creme fraiche, lemon curd, raspberry sauce... melt-in-your-mouth tea savories... absolutely spot-on. Take a tour of the kitchen, or dine at the chef's table. Patrick O'Connell is a genius. Few places compare.

    (5)

  • Joye P.

    Totally deserving of its consistent ranking as Washingtonian's #1 very best restaurant in the DC area. Reservations are needed - and early reservations allow for plenty of time to get home if driving back to DC. Plan for a 1.7h trip from DC, plus a 3h dinner. Expect to pay no less than $500 for dinner for two (although I did see a couple in there just for desserts - an option I didn't know existed). Website is good. Patrick O'Connell, the chef, designs innovative French/ New American food sourced locally. The menu is customized and food prepared with meticulous detail. Cocktails are inventive and custom; simply tell the server what spirit, flavor, and texture you prefer, and a delectable cocktail will appear. Service is impeccable; when we asked why the server wiped crumbs from the table with a cloth napkin instead of the rigid tool typically used, the server responded, "Chef doesn't like the sound those things make. Using a napkin is more pleasant." Little food surprises come occasionally throughout the meal. The food portions are perfect: you feel like you've had enough, yet you're not stuffed when you leave the restaurant. I compare this restaurant with Komi (I've eaten there also in 2012). At The Inn, I felt like I am having a delightful meal. At Komi, I felt like I'm getting bites - and it's more about what the chef will do next than actually enjoying a meal that doesn't compete with engagement with my dining partner. Two very different experiences, and I greatly prefer the Inn. I've been twice now to the Inn, and both times, the meal (and entire experience) was among the best of my life. Yes, it is very expensive, but if you are prepared for the price-tag, it is worth every penny.

    (5)

  • Austin B.

    Let's be clear - this is a world class restaurant. I have only had a handful of meals to this caliber in my life, so I am definitely not jaded on truly exceptional food. So, why "only" 4 stars, which compared to the sterling reputation the Inn@LW has amassed is a bit of a knock. Well, if you are going to pay this much, you expect a great experience top to bottom. And we didn't really receive that. We arrived a little early and so asked if we could have a drink in the garden first (do at least walk through, it's very nice.) They put us at a great little table, but then didn't seem to know what to do with us, bringing us spiced nuts (delicious but unwanted right before dinner) but not bringing a cocktail menu until we flagged someone down. Right when we finally got someone to take our order, they were standing us up again to bring us to the table. Not really a problem - but with such a large and well-trained staff, it felt strange. Our table was amazing - sitting side-by-side and facing the garden, watching the sun set. In terms of food, we didn't do the gastronaut on the advice that it would be a lot of food to handle. We selected different courses so we could try each other's for a little more variety, and with the amuse-bouches etc. this was plenty. Most courses were great, though a few didn't have that sense of perfect balance and stood out as disappointing. For example, the lobster in flavors of New England was no more exciting than a quality lobster bisque. For me, the highlight may have been the dessert option that is a tiny portion of a wide variety of their classics. I am not usually a dessert person, but getting to sample so many different options was perfect. Overall on the food, I would say it met our (very high) expectations in general, but didn't blow us away. The service was where we were surprised to be let down. You know when you are getting great service when you almost don't even notice there is service - people simply seem to appear when there is something needed. For the first few minutes, things seemed to happen that way but after that, we felt overlooked. Part of this may be that the table next to us was some sort of restaurant mucky-muck (I got the sense he ordered wine for a large hotel chain) and the whole staff seemed to want to help them, leaving us to fend for ourselves. At one time, there were two sommaliers talking to them and we were trying to order a bottle for dinner. We had to ask for service on other items several times, and were left along for pretty long stretches given how much staff there was. Reading what I've written above, I worry I probably sound whiny (as a former server, I find that most people who complain about service are themselves unpleasant...). So I will add that this is only a strike relative to what the Inn@LW sets out to be - a world-class dining experience. I've only had a handful of those in my life, but part of it is a service staff that makes every guest (even those ordering from the cheap end of the wine list) feel welcome. Overall, I think it was worth it, and I'm glad to have gone. But, it wasn't quite the polished, amazing meal we had hoped for.

    (4)

  • Kevin K.

    That's gotta be the best truffle popcorn I have ever eaten! My wife's birthday always brings great planning opportunities for me. This year it was our turn at The Inn at Little Washington. We had the gastronauts menu and enjoyed everything except the venison. The last time I had been to the Inn was about 22 years ago....man saying that I sound really old. Every dish was perfectly prepared the only gripe I had was that you could see the cleanup on the plate (wipe-down from a kitchen towel after plating before service) on every plate it was a little bothersome but we ignored to enjoy our dishes. The apple and rutabaga soup was wonderful I also really enjoyed the dashi that came with our fish it was fragrant and had an umami punch that was so comforting to me and also my wife. This really is a special event restaurant and should be frequented on milestone. the food was at the same caliber as Thomas Keller, Eric Ripert, but just on a more mellow level. The decorations and details are so distinct and whimsical that you can't help but pay attention to them. Enjoy and savor this meal. Cheers and happy eats!

    (5)

  • Andy S.

    Fantastic spot. My wife and I have done two stays at the inn. One time from a gift from my boss and another for my 30th birthday. Aside from the ridiculously nice rooms, tour, and spots to hang out and drink wine/smoke cigars, the meals are to die for. Not just the dinner (chefs selection is killer!) or wine tasting, but even the pre dinner cocktails and the amazing breakfast! I could keep going with how great it was. The best meal and experience of a lifetime!!!

    (5)

  • Jackie Q.

    I've been dreaming about coming to the Inn at Little Washington for as long as I can remember. I was apprehensive that it wouldn't live up to the hype, or that it would be self-important. I finally got to go and it was amazing. I ordered off the a la carte menu. Everything I ate was a work of art. The entire time I was there the service was impeccable. Everyone was warm and inviting in every possible way. Everything we desired was provided and we were treated as if we were the most important people there. The food was innovative and beautifully presented. I ordered the macaroni and cheese for one of my courses. It didn't sound interesting, but my friend had sworn by it so I wanted to try it. When they brought it, I didn't even think it was what I'd ordered, it was that beautiful and unlike what I expected. It was also delicious. I liked the ambiance because it is quite different than what you typically experience in DC. It's more like a country house with different rooms. Someday I'll go back and take more time in the different parts of the Inn, like having a drink in the courtyard or at the bar. We also walked to the vegetable garden and even the gardner was very friendly.

    (5)

  • Sarah G.

    After reading Washington Post food critic Tom Sietsema gush about this place for years and years, my mother and I decided finally cross this off our bucket list of divine places to dine. And what a treat it was! This is hands down the best meal I've ever had in my life. From start to finish, everything about the evening was exceptional. Everyone, including the valet, hostess, "cheese wiz," and bread boy, was so incredibly nice and conversational. Our server, Tom, guided us through the menu and was very excited for us to try the Gastronaut menu, which is the best of Patrick's menu. We sat overlooking the garden all decorated for Christmas, and it was such a beautiful spot. I felt like I was in a cozy castle! Our food journey began with a lovely amuse bouche (the pig and fig was my favorite) followed by no less than 10 small courses throughout the three-hour meal. Everything was incredible, from the soup to the scallops, sea bass and lobster knuckles. While everything was simply amazing, my top picks were the tin of sin, scallops, white bean soup and sea bass. It was my birthday, so not only did The Inn personalize my name on the menu, they spelled out good wishes on my dessert plate. Such a nice touch! And the lovely box of treats to go made it a truly spectacular finish. A few tips: -If you're going to go with the wine pairing, you might want to share one glass with your dining companion. After the first 5 courses I was practically giggling throughout the rest of dinner. It's certainly plenty enough for two! -Sit in the garden room -- it's so nice to observe the action of the staff and dine with a nice view. -Eat the Gastronaut menu. Really, it's worth the extra cash to try some of the best food of your life. Dinner for two (one with wine, one without) ran a little less than $700 -- so keep that in mind when planning your trip. Thank you, Inn at Little Washington, for a lovely experience. I hope one day to return!

    (5)

  • Arin S.

    I just got back from an incredible meal here, and even though I'm exhausted and full and just want to pass out, I feel compelled to review this NOW! I came with my parents who frankly aren't used to fine dining-- either the type/quality of food or the price-- so I was a little nervous they wouldn't be happy. But they loved it too! The food was INCREDIBLE. I (with difficulty) refrained from taking pictures, but every single one of the many dishes was incredibly elegant and delicious. Each one was better than the last. Honestly I've never had meat or fish cooked to such perfection. And the wine was delicious and actually well-priced (there's an $8 house chardonnay.) Everyone working there was full of personality and fun to speak with, and the service was impeccable. The building itself is also gorgeous inside and out, with great attention to detail (don't miss the painted ceilings or the texture of the wallpaper!) TIPS: Be prepared to be there for at least two hours and definitely dress for the occasion. And DO choose the sampler for dessert. Just do. In sum: best meal I've had, great experience, worth every penny.

    (5)

  • Joseph T.

    The Inn continues to offer one of the finest dining experiences in the country, after being in business 30 years. My wife and I last dined there nearly 20 years ago (memorable not just for the great food and company, but for the historic snow storm that started that night and kept us in for a couple of days. 1996?). This time we brought our four children, now old enough to really enjoy the meal and service. The Inn's decor is as I remembered it: very ornate, extravagant wall paper, fabrics and tapestry, rich colors and antiques. The menu is organized around themes, like Appalachian Winter, which the chef composes around what's best locally and seasonally available, and designed to offer a complete dining experience. With some optional upgrade choices, like foie gras, the meal proceeds at a luxurious pace with many smaller plates. The amuse-bouche was a delightful beginning, and included a tiny (thumb-sized) loaded baked potato. Highlights included warm and cold foie gras, bay scallops, sweetbreads and tuna with more foie gras. Every dish was beautifully composed - really works of culinary art. If I had to name one quibble, I thought two of the dishes were slightly over-seasoned with salt. Dessert was epic, as expected, with the one offering I recalled from long ago, Seven Deadly Sins, which is a collection of most of the desserts in miniature, still one of the highlights. Throughout, service was well choreographed and thoughtful. My youngest daughter really enjoyed the caviar (her first try), so at the end of the meal the head waiter presented her with the tin (cleaned and full of mints). The wine list was broad and deep, including choices from around the world. Many are well priced and affordable. The wine I ordered was out, and the sommelier offered a much more expensive selection at the same price. The Inn is an extraordinary experience. I hope it's here for another 30 years.

    (5)

  • Sarah C.

    We have been here for 3 dinners, 2 breakfasts, and a 2 night stay. In Oct 2011, we stayed at another B&B, but ate dinner at the Inn. It was magnificent. We were tempted by the ten course "Gastronaut's Menu", but found that the most exciting dishes were only on the three course menu so we opted for that. 1st - carpaccio of lamb with Caesar salad ice cream - just fantastic and incredibly innovative. "tin of sin" - a tin of crab and cucumber salad topped with caviar - absolutely divine! 2nd - macaroni and cheese with Virginia country ham and black truffle - decadent and rich. Better than the seared foie gras with frisee, house made bacon, lamb confit, poached egg, and truffle (which was still good). 3rd - veal sweetbreads and Virginia country ham on pappardelle with a grilled local plum sauce - perfection. pepper crusted tuna "pretending to be filet mignon" with foie gras and burgundy butter sauce - amazing Dessert was such a hard decision! Eventually I settled on a triple cream cheesecake with roasted local figs and champagne-berry sorbet. I was sad that it was so little because it was so divine. DH ordered the chocolate menage a trois - black forest mousse bombe, chocolate creme brulee, and bittersweet chocolate souffle. Then we were gifted with cookies and chocolates to take with us. Our second visit was in Oct 2012 and we stayed in the Inn itself. The staff there are super friendly and on top of everything. When you arrive, you are presented with cocktails and given a tour. We stayed in the Norman House Garden Room with a living room, wet bar, huge bathroom, and private garden - just wonderful! We also upped the ante this year by having 2 dinners at the restaurant - one of which was at the chef's table in the kitchen! Chef's table - a staff member told us a story about Robert Mondavi naming Chef O'Connell the "Pope of American Cuisine" and escorted us to the kitchen doors. He threw them open with a flourish and inside was a man dressed as a Priest and swinging an incense burner. The whole staff was lined up to greet us and they were playing Gregorian music. They sure do know how to make an impression! After that, we were seated and everyone went to work. We got a front row seat to the theatrics of a restaurant kitchen. We opted for the "Gastronaut's" tasting menu this time so that we could get the full experience of the chef's table, knowing that on our second night we could just order our favorites. We were presented with truffle dusted popcorn to start (fitting for a dinner theater!) - so simple, and so addictive. Next up was the amuse bouche - a shot of chilled tomato soup (from their garden) and a Gruyere gougere. Best tomato soup I have ever had! Next was the "tin of sin" (see above). Then a quartet of Rappahannock oysters topped with papaya granita, cucumber sorbet, cocktail sauce sorbet, and wasabi sorbet if I remember correctly - all excellent. Even better - the (stellar, female - which is rare) Sommalier paired it with a Dassai Nigori Sake! Then Chicken Fried Frog Legs with Garlic-Parsley Purée and Gremolata- tasty little fried nuggets. Next up - Miniature Filet of Cod Sauté with Lemon Vodka Sauce and Lilliputian Pork Dumplings - loved the tiny mushrooms and the pork ravioli; the fish was a little bland on its own, but with the lemon sauce was very good. Pappardelle Pasta with a Medley of Virginia Mushrooms, Peaches and Ribbons of Country Ham - savory, salty, good texture. Pan Seared Duck Breast with Roasted Cipollini Onions, Baby Bok Choy and Duck Jus Perfumed with Thyme - excellent, perfectly cooked. Dessert - Spiced Plum Sorbet with Poppyseed Granita - tons of flavor, very good. A Miniature Blueberry Crisp with Limoncello Pudding Cake and Summer Berry Rapture Frozen Yogurt - Excellent, very refreshing and summery. For our second dinner (in the regular dining room) we ordered a la carte. I had the carpaccio lamb that I remembered from our last trip (see above). So good. DH ordered the Tin of Sin. (see above) We got 2 different amuse bouches - mini baked potatoes and bloody mary gelees. Then we got previous favorites - mac and cheese, sweetbreads, and tuna with foie gras (see above). For dessert - the painter's palatte of sorbets and an apple tart. Breakfast at the Inn includes a complementary cold breakfast and pay to order hot foods (see photos for descriptions). The cold part of the breakfast starts off with a selection of juices - watermelon mint, cucumber honeydew, vanilla orange, and rosemary grapefruit. It also includes house made Greek style yogurt, fresh berries, house made granola, pastries, and a selection of jams/toppings (honey, lemon curd, berry jam, vanilla gooseberry jelly, etc...). The Inn is definitely a lovely place to vacation and while it is basically in the middle of nowhere, there are wineries and scenic drives nearby. I can't wait until we can go back again!

    (5)

  • Jan D.

    My wife and I were celebrating our 25th anniversary and it was a fabulous experience. The decor is beautiful and romantic. The menus had printed a congratulatory note with our name. The service was wonderful. They are very helpful but non-intrusive. The food was delicious! To mention some of our favorites: the foie gras, the sea bass with lemon vodka sauce, pan seared Rockfish with Braised Bok Choy and Softshell Crab Tempura, the Artic Char, the Local Prosciutto Wrapped Loin of Veal with Country Ham and Fontina Cheese Ravioli. We will be back.

    (5)

  • Ronald I.

    Where do we even begin! Everything I expected and well beyond. We had the tasting menu with wine pairing. Phenomenal! Well worth the wait for reservations and drive from DC. And the marriage of cold and hot Foie Gras was insanely good! What a dining pleasure. Great food, good ambiance, and even better company. We will be back soon. Thank you.

    (5)

  • Alan K.

    yes its expensive - if I considered cost the rating might be lower, but this is generally a place you goto for special occasions, not for a bite to eat. Its been nearly a year since I was here, but just everything was a surprise, from the custom menu's, to the many courses, the top notch service, and even the cheese cart. Simply put, its an excellent experience.

    (5)

  • N H.

    Don't get me wrong - the Inn at Little Washington is very good. But for the price, and for all the hype, our experience left us feeling underwhelmed. Food: All of the food was indeed delicious, well executed and interesting. Portion sizes were ideal, you could still enjoy the dessert by the time it came around. However, all of the items seemed surprisingly sweet, as if a bit too much sugar was added to everything (seared fish, ravioli, etc.). While it was all delicious, there wasn't anything that I would explicitly hope for to be on the menu again on a return visit. Wine: We did the wine pairing (two of us got the classics menu, one got spring). Among both sets, there was only one wine that I would consider seeking out again - and only then if it's retail price was something ~$20/bottle. Some of this may have been my expectations - my next closest comparison restaurant is Iron Gate (in Dupont Circle), who also does a 6 course fixed menu with wine pairings that blew me away not only with the wine quality but also with how perfect the pairings were. At over $100 for the course, I'd expect more. Waiters also seemed to be instructed to air on the side of under-pours, which felt cheap. Service: Waiters were very attentive, impeccably hospitable with just enough of a fun air that kept it from feeling stuffy. However, three times a member of our table was served the wrong dish or wine - and only one member had made any special request, which was just a dish substitution. It was good to do it once - but next time I want a fancy multi-course meal, I'll stay in town and go to Iron Gate.

    (3)

  • Karen P.

    Another amazing meal at Inn at Little Washington! My husband and I celebrated our anniversary there. It is a hoke from DC so we decided to kake a weekend of it, staying at a nearby b&b. The awesome food, elegant decor and attention to detail make this one of my all time favorite places to dine. I could make a complete meal of the amuse bouche that we were offered. These little bites were merely hint at what was to come during the rest of the meal. Ours included a small bit of pork belly in a granny smith apple sauce, a small Mexican style cheese wrapped in a crust and the chef's version of a ham sandwich, a small piece of ham between 2 wafers with a bit of sauce. They were all small bites of sublime deliciousness. We both opted for the 9 course meal although I substituted a couple of the vegetarian selections for the regular menu choices (they offer a standard gastronauts menu and one for vegetarians). The high points of my meals were: Cold asparagus soup "shot" with an accompanying gouda cheese puff Lobster "roller coaster" (as described by our server) - big chunks of lobster layered with hearts of palm and a lime/coconut sorbet Morel Mushroom and asparagus fricassee I thought the lamb loin was a little dry but overall, all courses were good to outstanding. We brought a bottle of wine from our cellar which was opened and served after an offer to decant. We subsequently purchased a second bottle and the sommelier was helpful without being intrusive. Some annoyances: - we were asked if we would like to have a drink in the salon prior to dinner. After being seated in the salon, we waited almost 10 minutes before we were recognized by the waitstaff although there appeared to be plenty of them around, shuffling here and there on other missions. - really...what's with the cow sounds that accompany the cheese cart?! None of these would cause me to remove Inn from my list of best dining experiences!

    (5)

  • Laurie W.

    This was my third time at the Inn (I know, I'm lucky!) and again, was just blown away. What a wonderful evening. There's a reason why this is my #1 dining experience and I've been to a LOT of fabulous restaurants. It looks fairly nondescript from the outside, but once you step inside, it's like you're in another world. When we arrived, they greeted us and took our coats and led us to the roaring fireplace to wait for a moment before leading us to our table. We had a 7:30 reservation so opted to go straight to our table instead of starting with a drink in the lounge (done that before, and loved it. If you go to the Inn, it's a must do). We were led to a table overlooking the garden, which was nice because even though it was really cold that night they had a roaring bonfire in the garden that we could see through the glass windows. We were at a table where we were sitting side-by-side which was nice. This is the second time we've eaten in this room, the other time we've eaten in the 'main' room. This room is smaller and more intimate, which I like, and who doesn't love looking at the charming garden? We opened our menus, which were printed with "Happy Birthday Laurie!" (just love the touches like this) I'd done both the prix-fixe and Gastronaut menus during previous visits, so tonight my husband and I were open to anything, depending on what was being offered on the menus. One thing I knew I wanted to do was Faira the Cheese Cow - I'd never done it before and wasn't about to leave the Inn for a third time without doing it, so I figured that might also dictate which menu I ordered from. Our server arrived and proceeded to tell us a bit about the menus for the evening. I asked about Faira and what my options were - he said "we'll fit Faira in wherever you want." So my husband and I decided to do the Gastronaut's menu with wine pairings and swap out dessert for Faira (I'm not a big dessert person so this was the best option I could have hoped for)! I was especially impressed that they said they'd do that because it clearly states "no substitutions" on the menu. Our only hiccup of the evening came at the beginning - where we were essentially ignored (after we ordered) for about 15 minutes. What we think happened is that our first course actually went to the table next to us who sat down about 10 minutes after us (because our first two courses ended up coming fairly close together). They kept bringing us bread - I had to tell them to stop around round 3 (the rye/pumpernickel breads were so deadly, and my husband loved the braided bread. Our first course - 'snacks' arrived. There were three snacks for each of us - "chips and dip", a foie gras tortilla chip with orange marmalade, and pork belly on a spoon. I just love the creativity of the Inn! After that, one of my favorite courses arrived - freshly baked popcorn and our server literally shaved the black truffle onto the popcorn right in front of us. Heavenly. Next came the apple-rutabaga soup and Gruyere pastry - the apple soup was piping hot and delicious, especially on a cold night! It reminded me of fall in a bowl. Then the 'real' courses started with the wine pairings. First, we had champagne paired with the caviar inside the panna cotta. Delicious! Next came the chilled lobster salad with blood orange. The blood orange enhanced, not overpowered, the flavor of the lobster, which was great. Next came the seared scallops. Wow! I don't even like vegetables, but I gobbled up every bit of the cauliflower puree and the cauliflower. After that came the halibut in ginger broth with a pork and shrimp wonton (my husband got a bok choy wonton to accommodate his shrimp allergy). The next two courses blew me away and even as I write this review a week later I'm still not sure which one I liked more. The truffle-stuffed pheasant was absolutely phenomenal - perfectly prepared and the truffle just really highlighted the flavors of the dish. Then came crusted lamb, cooked to a beautiful medium rare. The crust was actually much spicier than I expected, and it was fabulous! Next came the palette cleanser - a pear sorbet with a poached pear and toasted marshmallow. Then it was time for Faira! It just cracks me up when Faira approaches your table, mooing! This huge plastic cow that moos is enough to put a smile on anyone's face, but then once you see the assortment of 25 cheeses or so, your smile just gets bigger! I forget which ones I chose, but it was a combination of a brie, blue, and three others from cow, sheep, & goat milk. They gave us honey and two types of preserves and nuts with our cheese, along with an assortment of breads. It was the perfect ending to the meal. I asked for a tour of the kitchen (another must) and Patrick O'Connell was actually in there that night, which was awesome! Great ending to a food-filled evening. Go, go, go. For a special occasion, it's tops.

    (5)

  • Valentina D.

    The reviews are all true - the staff are there just for you. They will help you decide on a drink and laugh at your jokes. At the end of the night, they even had our car pulled up with the doors open before we got there. The food was delicious. The decor was traditional, but the food was novel (compared to Chez Francois in Great Falls which is also a great restaurant but not as cutting edge with the menu). I cannot say enough about the sea scallops, which were seared to perfection. Although I was less impressed with popcorn as one of the tasting menu items, I gaped at the very healthy quantity of black truffles that were grated on top. For me, what really makes the Inn different is its quaint location. If you're willing to walk a few blocks, you'll stumble on a wood chip path leading to tastefully spaced Adirondack chairs, sheep grazing in a pasture, a beautiful view of the mountains, and an organic vegetable garden. As I walked to the veggie garden, I actually met one of the restaurant's chefs who was picking herbs for that evening's desserts. Talk about fresh! I can't place fault with the Inn for a single thing. But a nagging thought kept lingering at the back of my mind... Did anyone else feel like a terrible person for indulging when so many people are in need?

    (5)

  • Jina K.

    Super far--2 hours from DC area Interior--really dark and OLD--the LAMP that hangs from the ceiling is annoying and in the way. Food--it's OK Service can be better--I'm not sure if it's b/c they were busy, but service was super slow...even the food. If I'm driving for 2+ hours for a meal and spending a lot of money, then I expect it to be 5 *****. If you live close to the restaurant, go try it. If not, I wouldn't recommend. Why would you? There are plenty of delicious restaurants in DC (like CityZen).

    (3)

  • Emily H.

    I married my husband Saturday night and we were unable to take a honey moon so my inlaws arranged a limo and dinner at the Inn. I can't believe how amazing our meal was - everything from selecting the wine with the help of the sommelier to actually meeting Chef Patrick O'Connell. We chose to select the three courses and dessert. I had lamb carpaccio with caesar ice cream, blackened new england diver scallop, beef two ways, and finally chocolate mint fantasy. All in all, this was a great way to spend the night after my wedding. I will always remember my "one day honeymoon".

    (5)

  • Mai han V.

    Out of the several Relaix & Chateau restaurants we've been to (French Laundry, Per Se, Enoteca Pinchiorri, Meadowood, Patina, Daniel, Le Gaiac, Gary Danko, etc) I would have to say I enjoyed The Inn at Little Washington most. The Michelin guys need to come out here and give this place 3 stars! Definitely fine dining at its finest. And the inn is such an elegant yet charming place to stay in. We will be back!!

    (5)

  • Halley M.

    Single Women Dining Alone - Beware of the MadMan Era Experience -- Probably one of the more disappointing meals I've had in awhile, particularly since it was one of the most expensive. The food was fine, actually, excellent except for the one substitution I made on the tasting menu that was warmed over, and not prepared fresh. What seriously detracted from the food? The MadMen era experience. First datapoint: the musty smell as you walk in the front door, only partially camouflaged by the fresh flowers. The second datapoint? The formal, stodgy, rooms, overly air-conditioned to accommodate men in jackets, and not smaller, slighter women not prone to wearing suit jackets in July. Honestly, it is FREEZING in there, and very uncomfortable for women. The third: As a single woman, I dined with 2 other couples and I was treated so differently from the couples: I was the only one not offered bread; when I asked for bread, I was the only one who had to ask for butter; I was the only one not asked if I wanted wine; when I finally received wine, I was the only one not offered the opportunity to taste it before the full glass was poured; my dessert plate was cleared first, then the others were cleared all at once. If all of us had had the same experience, honestly I wouldn't have cared. If it were just one of the servers I also wouldn't have cared. But the pervasiveness of it was troubling. Everyone at the table began to notice, and we all had a good laugh out of it. The plus side of MadMen era dining....only the women take home the cookies in a cute little box shaped like a house. In short, I won't be back. I prefer Mad-Man on tv, not in high end dining.

    (2)

  • Alex H.

    Heaven on Earth! The most impressive restaurant I've ever been to. 5 stars on every level possible: service, food, atmosphere, presentation. My husband took me here for my birthday and the Inn bent over backward to make me feel special. The staff must have wished me happy birthday 30 times. We did the gastro tasting menu, which I HIGHLY recommend, and every miniature meal was TO DIE FOR. For example, we started the evening off with truffle popcorn. The Inn somehow turned normal boring popcorn into a party for your mouth. I loved it so much that I'm trying to re-create it at home. Other highlights included the sorbet topped oysters (no, that's not a joke), the hand-picked diver scallops (the scallop was so big it could have passed for a hamburger), the hot and cold foie gras, and the bread pudding dessert. I'm not a big dessert person, but it was topped with truffle croutons and I couldn't get enough of it. You'd think by my description that the Inn is super pretentious and stuffy, but not so. Yes, it's elegant; yes, it's classy; but there's definitely a giant cow statute with a huge cheese plate on its back prominently displayed in the lounge. And if it's a special occasion the manager will take you on a tour of the kitchen and explain a little bit about how the restaurant works. The kitchen never closes. True story. I cannot recommend the inn at Little Washington enough. Home run all the way. If you're looking for a special occasion restaurant, this is the place.

    (5)

  • Ryan H.

    Not much comes close to the experience you get when visiting the inn. I myself grew up not too far from here so I knew of this so-called hidden gem before Patrick really blew up in the culinary world. Bring your check book! It won't be cheap.. But it will have you longing for the next opportunity to come back.

    (5)

  • Mel M.

    First, I think I liked Komi Better. I dont want to be to wordy in this review so I will get strait to my point of pro's and cons: PROS: - it's a nice drive form DC, must stop in warrrenton for a stroll and pics - the Inn is pretty inside- bathrooms are 5 stars - plenty of waitors and service people to attend to your needs - very personal attention and greeted at the door - favorite dishes: the caviar with toast bread; the fish and miso soup; the pumpkin- squash soup; -waitors dont mind taking photos and they know how to use fancy cameras CON's - was seated next to a waitor station - they OVER-use truffles in many dishes- even the dessert; chef has a truffle fetish - Gastonom menu not worth the price. - portions are smaller than KOMI - somelier is too talkative. hoever she is knowledgeble. but just too talky I probably would not recommend this place to anyone.

    (4)

  • Dave A.

    ZOMG WOW! Wife and I went there for our fifth anniversary, {mumble} years ago. Impressive! Fantastic food... and just to show they're not too stuffy and full of themselves, along comes Frieda the Cheese Cart, painted like a cow, complete with "moo can" going. Tour the kitchen. Tell them you're there for a special occasion and they'll do a marzipan ribbon about it on the dessert plates. Keep the menus that they'll print Just For You -- with your names on them. But you will pay dearly for the privilege. Luckily, I only mean monetarily.

    (5)

  • Amine A.

    Fantastic food, fantastic service, and fantastic room! All-in-all, a wonderful experience albeit pricey. It's what you'd expect when paying $$$$; perfection. Many establishments claim what this quaint B&B delivers; perfection and absolute customer satisfaction. I experienced a night stay with dinner and next morning brunch package. I can't believe the attention to details the staff has. It's as if they all knew who we were and what occasion we were celebrating. The staff did not miss a beat. Dinner was of course phenomenal. Every dish we were served was better than the one before it, all however five stars in their own right. The room was well equipped, comfortable, tastefully decorated, and a pleasure to spend the night in. It was made-up every time we left it and came back to it, no matter how long for. How they do that?! The grounds and property are attractive and scenic, especially the garden. I didn't know dinner can be topped, but brunch did that; delicious local food and ingredients. I highly recommend The Inn at Little Washington if you have the budget for it. Will visit again for special occasion and when budget allows.

    (5)

  • Mimi F.

    It is a Michelin 2 stars restaurant located in the middle of nowhere. But worth the drive and worth every penny. Everything is impeccable: food, service, decor, atmosphere. Been there twice and each time is memorable. We didn't stay at the inn, but wish we did so we could pair the wine. It's like a once a lifetime experience. Dine here, and you can say 'been there, done that'.

    (5)

  • Kelley A.

    I have been wavering about writing this review since my first experience with the Inn at Little Washington was wonderful. But our recent visit was so strange I am still trying to understand what went wrong. We went with a large birthday party (11 of us) and one of the party had explained that we would need separate checks when she made the reservations. We were assured that was fine. Before the whole party assembled that night several of us waited in the Monkey Bar and had drinks. When everyone had finally arrived we were told that our table was ready and when we tried to pay for the drinks were told they would be transferred to our dinner bill. Ok. Everyone in the party chose to have the Al la carte dinner - one price - the same price for everyone. Great. It meant that the only thing the waiter had to keep track of was our drinks. Let me say here that the food - as before - was spectacular. Truly a unique and delicious experience. And the service to the table was good - if a little chaotic - it was a Friday night and they were booked solid. Now we get to paying the bill. This was a birthday dinner and we were "treating" the birthday girl and we were trying to make paying the bill a "low-key" experience so money wasn't discussed in front of her. The first set of checks that were given out were wrong - drinks attributed to the wrong checks, the wrong people paired with each other - one person never even got a check. Lots of discussion and another round of checks comes out - wrong again. But this time the waiter is making very rude comments about us not paying for our drinks at the bar (we tried!) and how he would have to "foot the bill for the drinks" - very embarrassing. I quietly said to him that I would happily pay if he would just get it on my check - or anyone's check for that matter. Instead he mutters something about how they have a policy for no separate checks over a party of four. Great - but not helpful right then. When I got my second check and it was still for the wrong amount I decided to just pay it and tip the waiter for the cost of the drinks. When he brought back the bill with my credit run he had changed the amount again. By this time the whole thing had become so uncomfortable for everyone that I just signed it. I would not have expected this from a restaurant of this calibre. Would I go again? Yes, as a party of two or four I think it is a truly stunning experience. For larger parties I think there are restaurants better suited. Lesson learned.

    (4)

  • Andrew S.

    The total package. Great food perfectly prepared. Amazing service that greets you by name and knows the occasion. Very warm and welcoming. Enchanting decor. Truly five stars ++++++. highly recommend the trip.

    (5)

  • Sean D.

    I've been to a lot of wonderful restaurants and have had many great meals in my life, but there is something special about the Inn at Little Washington. I could rave about the food (which was fantastic), but it's the service that really makes this place special. From the moment you walk in the front door, until the tour of the kitchen/meeting the chef at the conclusion of your meal, the service is AMAZING. It's pricey, but worth every penny.

    (5)

  • Liz J.

    One word: Amazing! Every single detail about our evening was perfect, from the delicious food and wonderful staff, to the comfy table and large napkins. The Inn at Little Washington is a bit of a hike from DC but well worth the trip. In fact, I would drive 100s of miles for a meal as divine as the one I had last night. We went for an early Valentine's Day dinner it was the perfect meal (as I already stated, in the perfect setting, with the most perfect food and staff. Words cannot express how wonderful the meal was but what made the food even better was the outstanding service. John, Aaron and Tim truly made it a spectacular evening for us. My boyfriend and I both ordered the Gastronaut's Menu. I am a pescetarian so our meals were slightly different, but we both agreed, the best we have ever had. I knew when the bread arrived it was going to be a great evening. The mini baguette was good but the thinly sliced rye bread was among the best things I have ever had. The salty, crispy crust and moist wonderful inside was unlike any bread I've ever had.

    (5)

  • H T.

    i attended a wedding here over the weekend, and everything was lovely. the wedding was small (only about 30 people), so we had a private room which overlooked a beautiful lawn and the mountains. the ceremony was held outside on the lawn and then cocktail hour was immediately after. the passed apps were all delicious, so i was just imagining how the dinner would be. the dinner was AWESOME. it was 5 courses w/ wine pairing, and it was fab. we started w/ an heirloom tomato soup w/ popover and then moved to ahi tuna tartare, gnocchi w/ lobster, and then steak w/ caramelized fennel. we finished off w/ cake w/ caramel ice cream. the wine pairing w/ each course was amazing. i'm so lucky to have attended a wedding here. we didn't stay at the inn, b/c the rooms are ridiculously expensive, but i later heard blake lively and ryan reynolds were also there over the weekend!

    (5)

  • Jabba T.

    Maybe the best fine dining experience we've had...and we've had a few. Just simply genius, in every way. Service is absolutely flawless. These servers and hosts/hostesses are real pros. We felt like royalty or celebrities from the moment we arrived (they somehow knew us by name when we pulled up in our car and they opened our car doors- I still don't know how they knew!) Our multi-course, three hour meal, was beyond critique. It is a bit out of DC so we made an overnight of it so we could enjoy their world-class wine list. Our room was perfect (no TV)- antiques, fine linens, the works. The next morning, we were being lazy and lounging and din't notice the time. They called our room to see if we were coming to breakfast. After the dinner we'd had, missing breakfast would be sacrilegious. "Can you please hold a table for us?" we asked. "Don't worry, we'll bring it to the room". A few minutes later there was a knock on the door and then a team of staff set a beautiful table for two on our outdoor balcony and served us a world-class breakfast with everything and crisp copies of the Times and the Post while we sat in amazement in our scrumptious robes. It set us back a few dollars, but it was an experience we will never forget. If you have the means...Highly Recommended!!!!!

    (5)

  • Anthony I.

    Heaven, on a plate, in a glass. This review is for the restaurant, the wonderful restaurant. After a brutal week, actually a brutal 2 days, I called my girlfriend and said what are you doing Friday night, she she said nothing, so I booked us a table and found us a room. I reserved our table online and within 30 minutes had my confirmation. Friday night at 8:30 could not come soon enough. When Friday finally did arrive we left at 6:30Pm and made it out, miraculously, in just over an hour. We checked in to our b & b down the road and walked to the Inn for dinner. Immediately we were greeted an escorted into a cocktail lounge. After a glass of perseco and a few minutes we were whisked to a charming table in the garden room, bonus I was able to sit next to my lovely girlfriend, and it began. I didn't even look at the menu, chef's tasting and wine pairing, I knew what I wanted. What followed can only be called on of the best meals of my life, the wines were wonderful, often each glass was something completely new to me, something I would not have normally ordered. Each course was more intriguing than the last and the flavors were amazing. Such fresh ingredients, delicately and masterfully prepared, a procession of plates arrived at the table delivered by an amazing staff of passionate professionals. Simply amazing, for us the occasion was a Friday at the end of a long week, but this venue makes any night a special occasion. If you have ever wanted to try The Inn, do it, don't wait another day.

    (5)

  • Windi L.

    **Dinner Review** Note: If you are poor, this is not the place for you. If you are cheap, this place is not the place for you. If you don't appreciate unique delicacies such as Foie Gras or black caviar, this is not the place for you. If you are a completely pretentious diva who loves good food then HELL YEAH - you will *LOVE* this place. We ordered the 7 course tasting meal, which with add-ons is about 11 courses. Don't be fooled by the small portions, you will get full, quickly. (Again, this all goes back to if you are a foodie enough to appreciate this type of thing). Anyway, we did the 7 course tasting meal with the wine pairings. The cost? I cool $318 per person but I must say it was completely worth it. The food here is flavorful, unique, and simply decadent. Ingredients used here are fresh and in season. Even the butter served with the bread is imported daily from France. You can't get much better than that. Because I had so many courses, it would be too time consuming to go over each one. I'll just add that I've dined at some pretty high end places before (2941, 1789, Restaurant Eve & Marcel's) and this place has been the best. It's worth every penny and the wine pairing could not have been better. So save your pennies and head out here. The most memorable meal of my life!

    (5)

  • Trae S.

    The Inn at Little Washington is really an incredible experience...and for more than just an amazing dinner meal. My wife and I went to IALW for our Anniversary getaway...hoping to check a local experience off our bucket list instead of adventuring to the Caribbean or something. Roughly the same price point. The Inn itself is located in an incredible setting, just over an hour outside of Washington DC. You feel completely removed from the hustle and bustle of the city. Absolutely beautiful place on the edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains. We arrived early in the morning to check in (obviously the room wasn't ready), but they gave us great directions for a long bike ride, offered a catered picnic basket and sent us on our way with bottles of water. Upon return, the gracious staff set us up in the garden with an afternoon tea and house made pastries. I don't want to overstate this, since we picked a weekend with perfect weather...but I will say that the tea was a pretty incredible addition to the experience. It was really nice to be able to just get ready for dinner in the room and just walk down the stairs to the main dining room, where we were greeted by name and taken to our table with personalized menus. Since basically every other review on this site gives a full run down of the dining experience, I won't belabor the point much. Suffice it to say that course after course, we were continually blown away by the complexity of flavors and the obvious care that was put into every element by the staff. After our meal, the Manager swooped by our table, dropped off a miniature replica of the Inn filled with cookies and offered to take us back to meet the Chef, Patrick O'Connell. Incredibly awesome ending touch to a four and a half hour dinner. Impeccable service. Amazing dinner. Overall, it was a great "bucket list" experience. One last note: Ask to meet the local cheese guy, Cameron. He's a hoot and is an awesome change of pace to the formality of the dining occasion.

    (5)

  • Peter M.

    I had the pleasure of eating in the Kitchen with Chef O'Connell, on my 50th birthday, on my second visit to the Inn. All I can say is "Thank you for a wonderful evening, and a wonderful show!" - Worth every dime, and then some. They will be moments that I will cherish for the rest of my life. The presentation of the Chocolate Bombe for my birthday - "FABULOUS!" *raises a glass of Pinot Nior* Encore, Encore!!! Author, Author!!!

    (5)

  • Amy B.

    Wonderful food and a memorable evening. The taste of the food and the foods' presentation was amazing, plus the attentive service by the staff made for a special night. I highly recommend a dinner experience at the Inn At Little Washington.

    (4)

  • Cassie W.

    What a wonderful, wonderful place. If you have the opportunity to spend the night at the Inn, I highly sugggest it. The rooms are very well decorated and quite comfortable. As for the food, well, it's fantastic! The service is impeccable and you'll not find a higher quality. We enjoyed fresh tuna, fois gras, and pecan crusted soft shell crab tempura. If you've never had it, you must try the black truffle dusted popcorn -- a favorite of all. Chef Patrick does an amazing job to make certain guests feel special and have an incredible experience. This was our second trip and we will be back again.

    (5)

  • Tim D.

    As Ferris Bueller said: "If you have the means,- I highly recommend it !!" Hopefully you will have made a fortune at something because here they will relieve you of as much as you care to part with. (It was reported in the Washingtonian that one customer dropped $10,000 on a bottle of '45 Cheval Blanc). Money aside, the attention to detail, the quality of food and the service are all extraordinary and certainly merit the 5 stars. Be prepared for a loooooong drive (allow 2 hr. from DC if there's any traffic) and dinners here are known to take hours so be advised. The garden setting is wonderful so try to schedule in Spring or Summer to take advantage. Closest thing I've seen to European fine dining this side of the "pond"!

    (5)

  • James C.

    I do not know why I only return to "The Inn" every five years or so...I have come six or seven times over some thirty years for the week-end and each visit leaves me with an indelible, warm, imprint. Always and in all ways my visit is a sensual experience beginning with the drive, the splendid views along the way, the accommodations, the effortless charm afforded by the proprietors and staff..."The Inn" is an occasional sumptuous luxury I afford myself and family while autumn leaf peeping among other diversions (explorations) by car; to Warrenton or Sperryville, or by wandering the gardens and out buildings of "The Inn"...Just sitting on the balcony viewing the mountains morning and afternoon is a zen experience....And then there is the food; again, a sensual unforgettable indulgence...I am increasing my frequency...I owe it to myself!!!

    (5)

  • sarah beth S.

    How did you spend your economic stimulus rebate? I will never forget how I spent mine. It's not easy being a twenty-something aspiring gourmand, drooling over borrowed paperbacks detailing the work of the nation's preeminent chefs, fantasizing about unattainable gourmet tasting menus and guessing how black truffle must taste, like a 13 year-old boy pouring over photos of a naked woman, forcing his imagination to surmise the satiny feel of her naked skin. I never thought I'd say this, but thank you, Dubya! Thanks to that check, this pimple-faced tween got laid! Washington Zagat's #1 fourteen years straight. 5 James Beard Awards. Once made the International Herald Tribune's list of top 10 restaurants in the world. This young foodie is off to a good start. It began with the most beautiful amuse bouche which resulted in the best food photo I've ever taken (see photos)- four spoons filled with: beet mousse, parmesan mousse, rock shrimp with avocado & pear with ginger. The beet mouse made me want to be a better person. Minted pea soup in a teacup. Green velvet. 1st course: For me, the Chilled Seafood Sampler: Lobster Maki, Tuna Tartare and Ceviche of Diver's Scallop. Now my palate's revved up. Date had poached salmon on a raviolo of fresh herb 2nd course: Date had insanely enormous and gorgeous Seared Maine Diver's Scallop in an Aromatic Minestrone Perfumed with Pernod For me? Sweet Jesus. A Marriage of Hot and Cold Foie Gras with Armagnac Soaked Prune. That's TWO servings of the best foie gras I have ever tasted, one was a pate that was a thousand times better than fresh foie I'd ever had anywhere else before. The other a fat, juicy, brimming piece of hot foie that tasted exactly like what it is- sin. Something that tastes so good you may just volunteer yourself for Hell. Maybe I will never eat foie again because how could it ever compare? And it was all washed down with a bottle of fine french wine, a wonderful burgundy selected by the wine steward to accompany our food. The bottle was a generous gift by a family member who knew I was going that night. Thank you! Main: We both had the signature- Pepper Crusted Tuna Pretending to be a Filet Mignon, Capped with Seared Duck Foie Gras on Charred Onions with a Burgundy Butter Sauce. Um. Yeah. So. Words? Where are you? I need you. Give this tuna an Academy Award for his performance as a filet mignon. Seriously. Take Julia Robert's away, this was far more deserving. Buttery and savory and rich but somehow still, well, light because it is, in fact, fish not steak. And the foie topping this masterpiece? Far from a garnish. A sizeable piece of sin, in case I hadn't had enough. I ate more foie that night than I'd consumed my entire life before that night. Of a quality superior to that which is fathomable. So, Patrick O'Connell and company, you earned your $150 a head on the merit of the foie alone. Everything else I ate was icing on the foie cake. Dessert: I had a sampler platter of seven items! To me, more is more! (See photo for details.) Date had a rubarb cheesecake which was fantastical. I don't have any of my word count limit left to go into service, wine, décor, or the other marvels of this place. Blame it on Yelp. I will say that we overheard a tour offered to the table next to us, but not us. You needn't worry, though, I asked for a tour and so we met Patrick O'Connell. I highly recommend asking to see that sexy kitchen. I have to admit I debated between coming here, the old-school epicurean choice, and Citronelle, the current IT restaurant. I made the right decision. Your $400-700 dinner buys you not only delectable, exquisitely composed gourmet food, but an entire experience of enchantment that starts when you set foot in the lusciously decorated parlor and end hours later when they send you into the night with souvenirs--a cute woven trinket filled with homemade confections as well as a copy of your personalized menu. Sarah Beth, welcome to the world of haute cuisine. Take your coat off and stay a while.

    (5)

  • Ruth S.

    To be fair, we are foodies, we are from CA, we eat out often, we have friends in the biz, we are investors in some well known food & wine ventures; we are no strangers to traveling distances or paying high prices for special meals. So for our weekend in DC.. we wanted local food and wine because this is that's our idea of a vacation. After an afternoon of regretful winery visits, we were nervous about keeping our eat/drink local commitment. Our meal at IALW rectified the situation completely. We did the Easter Menu, and added some extra courses. And when we hit a few rough spots of flavor preferences - they were totally gracious about it! Big, big thumbs to our sommelier - she rocked all our wine picks. (I will have to refer to notes to say more) Menu highligts - Fresh pea soup shooter - both flavor intense and light. Perfect seasonal starter. Morels/Aspargus/Ham/pasta - gorgeous marriage of flavors/textures. Sauce was sublime. Hubby wants me to figure out how to make this. Foie Gras - 2 ways Cooking at it's finest. I cook at home, but this is more steps/effort than I am up for. The condiment combo for the cold foie gras of crushed black pepper, wine jelly, lemon marmalade was truly inspired. The contrast of hot/cold preparations will expand your understanding of this unique ingredient. Lamb loin with ratatouille... Perfectly cooked. Desserts - at the end of a big meal - I want the flavor of caramelized sugar and dark chocolate - our meal came instead with something I didn't prefer.. After picking at it.. it was removed - and a trio of chocolates followed in their stead (all without asking) I wish I was a fan of truffles because my hubby got both portions of the most amazing truffle pop corn. For those who find the Inn out of date - I think it's important to put this dining experience in context of our modern food evolution. IALW was sourcing fresh local ingredients (even growing their own) long before it was common for chefs to do this. If you want to learn about VA wine - this is the best place to do it.l And IALW is a rural fine dining experience - and comes with some deep Southern kitsch - I've chased multistar meals in Europe - and there's always a difference between city and country. Revel in the fun of it!

    (5)

  • Bob C.

    Went here a short while back, the last time was about 12 years ago. It's still as good as I remembered. A truly wonderful dining experience, and well worth a 60+ mile trip from D.C. Beautiful countryside once you get there, and like I said, well worth the time and effort.

    (5)

  • Steve S.

    The overall experience was excellent. The food and presentation is as good as it gets. There's a reason this place is rated one of the finest restaurants in the world. The one issue: I felt the service was not as attentive as it should be for the cost of the meal and reputation of the Inn. There were times we were waiting too long for water to be refilled, to order more wine or even just to give our order for the meal (although the young girl whose only job was serving the bread stopped by every 10 minutes - and the bread was the best ever!!). I'm not suggesting that they constantly be watching you like a hawk (like Le Bec-Fin for example) - but the staff seemed a little too relaxed. Maybe that's why the meal took 2.5 hours. I know that places like this generally require you to expect a 2 hour meal - but during the extra half hour we all started getting fidgety and needed to get up and stretch and walk. With that said, the staff was exceptionally pleasant and accommodating. Make sure you request a tour of the kitchen after the meal. If you're a foodie and get off on nice kitchens - well this has to be one of the finest and most expensive kitchens on the planet. I'm not going to review all the food we ate because the menu is always changing, and I can't remember it all anyway. But whatever you order, you can be assured that it will be superior. We actually ate here 2 nights in a row, so we got to try a good portion of the menu. There are also 5 or 6 complimentary small courses included, in addition to the menu items. One last thing - Breakfast!! If you decide to splurge and spend a night at the Inn, make sure you have breakfast. Truly one of the best breakfasts you'll ever have...it's overflowing with croissants and muffins, amazing fresh squeezed juices, homemade jams and an assortment of amazing entrees to choose from. I think my delicious memories of the food are more about the incredible breakfast than the dinner...go figure.

    (5)

  • Conrad K.

    Thanksgiving dinner was a fabulous dining experience here. Everything including the truffle popcorn while waiting to the meal were excellent. I recommend the tuna medley and my guest slurped the oysters which she thought were to die for. We both had the turkey entree, which I suppose is a once a year offering. Wine pairings and suggestions by sommelier John from the list were outstanding. This is a must dining experience.

    (5)

  • Ara C.

    My husband brought me here for my birthday. It was my first time dining at the Inn. Having experienced the French Laundry's VIP menu, I had a few expectations, or notes of comparison. First impression- gorgeous and intimate. The lighting is lovely and the setting ultra romantic. We were seated in the area overlooking the garden (feels like a porch). It felt somewhat more private than the other dining rooms, and thus detached from the candlelit and much more formal-looking rooms inside. It was nice, though perhaps more interesting in the summer. Next time, I will request a table "inside". We had the tasting menu and everything was beautiful and delicious. The highlight was probably the fish course and desserts. We spent about 3 hours there, never felt rushed or pressured to order more wine. Only once did I have a plate removed before I was finished. It was also not too busy on a Tuesday night. Other patrons were middle-aged and up. There was Spanish guitar music playing during the night. Overall, a lovely evening, though not the French Laundry.

    (5)

  • Jennifer S.

    I'm about to become very unpopular. Yes, the food is good, very good in fact. The best in the area? No. Afraid not. The Inn itself is very charming and our table by the patio (very nice with the doors open) was a good size and very private. The service was very good, but certainly not the best I've ever experienced. The food, as I stated above, was very good -- well prepared, interesting flavor combinations, nice presentation, unique textures...all in all enjoyable, truly, minus a course or two. And the alcoholic beverages were crafted with care - this was evident in the amaretto sour (they did a stupendous job). This is my beef: it was not worth the price. Four of us dined there one Friday evening and left $1000 poorer. And while that may not seem like anything to complain about for an "experience" of this sort, I feel you can get a very comparable experience at other restaurants much closer to home that won't punish your wallet as much: 2941 and Palena are two very good examples. I don't regret going...I thoroughly enjoyed the kitchen tour in particular and my main lobster dish (cooked PERFECTLY)...but I can honestly tell you I will never return. I was not as wow'd as others were, and maybe that's because I know better, had better, or maybe The Inn at Little Washington needs to look at their value proposition. Is it really worth the trip out there? Not in my opinion. Do you really get what you pay for? Yes you do----if you intend on paying for pretentiousness.

    (2)

  • Molly L.

    I wanted to dine here for years! In my head I pictured the experience to be something similar to Iron Chef America and I would be the random C list actor who now stared in an off Broadway production in an effort to stay true to the roots of my art (read no one else would hire me, but apparently I'm good enough for the food network). Continuing on with my fantasy job as an actress, I imagine I was struggling to make it to C list status for several years. Point being there were periods of time when I hungered and due to that I know a good meal when finally served one. Sadly TIALW was not that. The breakdown..... 1. Atmosphere: decent A-. We were seated in one of the closed in patio sections which would have been nice but the chairs sank too much so I felt like a little kid the entire meal since the table came up to my shoulders. 2. Service: Not bad/not 5 stars, B. As many others have said, TIALW has a large attentive staff, but at no point did any server feel truly attentive to our table until we retired to the parlor for dessert. A dish was spilled on us at one point, cleaned up quickly but no mention of it again or even a comp glass of bubbly. 3. Food: Sub par, C. My mouth had been watering with anticipation of The Inn after having read the other reviews and dining at other local 5 star establishments. The Inn fell short of any 5 star meal to my taste. My biggest complaint, every dish was ho hum. As in bland and boring. Where was the magical taste bud ride I'd been promised? Not here. The seared tuna dish was over cooked. The 1st courses were more like boring deconstructed salads. The 2nd course highlight was the Mac N Cheese, but even that had room for improvement. Short version of the food: At no point did I do my food happy dance!!! Sad face!! 4. Overall experience: C+, The weekend trip was not a disappointment since my dream to dine there had been met but I'd be hard pressed to ever make the trip out again. 5. Final thoughts (as channeled from Jack Handy): Save yourself some time and money, dine at CityZen or The Jockey Club! Off to eating hot pockets for the next month............I kid I kid.

    (3)

  • TX in D.

    The food was absolutely exceptional- but I've had better service at Chik-Fil-A. While the meal was one of the best I've had, the service totally ruined the experience. Went here for an anniversary dinner on a Saturday night, which meant that we also had to spend the night nearby, but hey, this was a splurge, so what the heck. We were really excited when we arrived, but then were kept waiting for almost 45 minutes AFTER our reservation time in the very small waiting area near the host stand at the front. I'm sure that these things happen, even in very high end restaurants, but the way that they handled it was inexcusable for a place of this alleged caliber. The staff failed to offer any reasons for the delay, and basically just ignored us for the first 20 minutes or so. Then, once we asked, they just said they'd get back to us- didn't apologize or offer the option of a cocktail, etc. (not that I was expecting something complimentary - just somewhere we could get one without being squashed on the uncomfortable benches!) At one point, we got up and kind of poked around the first floor, but didn't see any bar or other waiting area - unbeknownst to us, there is one - I can't imagine why they didn't offer us the chance to sit there. We would have been psyched to just chill with a glass of champagne As we observed the staff at the host stand, they bickered like teenage girls- pretty shocking since we were basically sitting on top of them. I know that the it can be stressful to work at a high end restaurant but there is no reason that we should have seen that. Since we were getting pretty restless at the 30 minute mark, we got a little more forceful, and they told us they were waiting to give us a very "special" table. After 15 MORE minutes, they finally sat us. As we entered the dining area, I noticed there were plenty of free tables - we would've rather been sat on time than have had to wait, but I was admittedly curious about the special table- and, oh, was it special. The "special" table turned out to be one where we were sitting side by side instead of across from each other, which isn't our fave, but would have been fine - but for the fact that we were squeezed in so tightly in order to give the waitstaff room to walk by that we couldn't even turn to speak to each other! It was also next to an open patio door, and this was in April so it was cool at night AND it was next to a pretty loud table of six people. Simply asking whether we would be okay with side by side seating or being next to the open door could have solved this - but that didn't come up during the long wait for this very "special" table. Once we got reseated at a regular old table not next to a 50 degree breeze and actually ate, the food was amazing, and our waiter was solid, but by then, we were famished and irritated, and it really ruined the experience. The front of the house staff was utterly incompetent and unapologetic. I also note that they printed a special "anniversary menu" that was personalized with our names, which was very thoughtful - but they spelled "anniversary" incorrectly. Pretty symbolic of this experience.

    (3)

  • Melonie F.

    I was treated to Thanksgiving at the Inn...wow! Imagine a box of popcorn with parm cheese....wait now shave black truffles all over. Yum! The oyster slurpees and Tuna Appetizer are not to be missed.. Since it was Thanksgiving I opted for the tasting menu and it did not dissapoint Fresh baked cookies were made upon request...who does that! The Inn that's who! Sommelier John is a gem. Wine pairings were spot on and unique. We were given a tour of the wine cellar and that magnificiant kitchen. Kitchen seating was not available but would love to return and sit near the fireplace.

    (5)

  • Danny M.

    Timeless, and intimate. The service was the best I ever had. Knowledgeable, gracious and attentive, but never over familiar. I joked with the sommelier that I'd never found a Pinot Noir that lived up to it's 'Sideways" monologue - that if he couldn't bring me on board I was going to give up on them forever. 'Help me wino one, you're my only hope'. Not only was the wine a delicate and floral home run, but served at perfect cellar temperature, a first for me. The meal was a while back but as I remember. It started with a lovely ceviche, and sweetbreads for the main course. Both done perfectly. Patrick O 'Connell is indeed the Keller of this coast. His perfectionist flair is evident in every attended detail of the Inn's decor, service, interior design, and aesthetics. It's about as classic as it gets for contemporary american cuisine. He makes it look easy. Price is prohibitive, and it's equal could be found. But only at the French Laundry or overseas in Spain or France perhaps. The Inn has proved to be a destination restaurant for day trippers with the coin to make it. Should that special occasion arise there are few equals in the states for such a thing. Special Tip: Smokers or Non. Should you have a moment during the dinner seating, take a second and step out into the garden after dusk and take in the glow and action from the giant kitchen windows. It makes for quite an impression. And if you do, take a pic and post please!

    (5)

  • Jason T.

    This was simply a wonderful meal. The food from start to finish was really tasty. Between the two of us, we ate the amazing deconstructed lobster salad, the truffled macaroni and cheese (best dish of the night!), the fois gras two ways, and for our main courses, we had the duck on little pillows of corn pudding with cherry compote, and then veal sweetbreads served up asian style. Only less than stellar dish of the night was the mussel appetizer. It was tasty and good, but no different than clams casino. Additionally, the desserts were tasty but not anything out of the ordinary at a really good restaurant. The only negative I really have is the dining room decor. It's incredibly dated and really drab and dark. I guess that's part of the charm. But it certainly didn't impact the food at all. The best highlight of the night had to be the wine list. Given the economy, they have obviously responded by including more bottles of amazing wine in the under $50 price point. We ended up doing a bottle of white, followed by an amazing red. Drank half of each and corked them to take the rest home. All-in-all, a great meal.

    (5)

  • Candace K.

    For our anniversary we went to the Inn. Yes it is delicious, yes it is expensive, yes everything is perfect. So why the 4 stars? Well honestly we were comparing the experience to last year at Table 21 at Volt and honestly we both would rather the experience at Volt than the one at the Inn. The food was great, we decided against the tasting menu and each chose our own 4 courses. Favorites were the Tuna appetizer, the macaroni and cheese and the veal loin. A good experience and one we are happy to have had but for the money there are better options out there.

    (4)

  • K G.

    French Laundry, Cyrus, Fleur de Lys, Equinox, Spago, Bouchon, Mustard's Grill, Napa Rose... my mouth waters when I think of the fantastic food and great experiences I've had at these fine restaurants. And then I think of the night I took my girl to Inn at Little Washington, and a whole different area of my brain lights up. Transcendent food, unparalleled service, a romantic dining room... words don't begin to describe the experience. Nice dinners can be expensive. Dinners at the Inn are very expensive. The difference is that - at least for us - the Inn transported us to a different dimension. For starters, the valet greeted me by name when I pulled up my car. How many valets have done that litte trick for you lately? As for the amazing food, each course was simply the best food I'd ever eaten. I don't know what else to say about that. The wine pairings were superb. The wait staff was polite, friendly, comfortable, timely, professional, educated, etc. We didn't want the meal to end. After the meal, we were invited to tour the kitchen, a palace to the culinary arts. And then, staff members obliged as many pictures as we wanted to remember the experience. As we fidgeted with a French door to the garden, one of the kitchen staff jumped up out of dark corner where he'd interrupted his own meal to help us outside. He followed us and offered to take endless pictures of us in the beautiful, romantic courtyard. Then I looked at the guy's name tag.... O'Connell, as in the world-famous chef/owner. (By comparison, we were told at French Laundry that equally famous Chef Keller prefers not to mingle with his guests...) I'll end on a brief negative or two: The wine pairing for our main course was several minutes late, so we were well into the dish before we could enjoy the pairing. More important, although we'd asked to have the foie gras removed from one plate (we're pescetarian), it was delivered sitting on top of our tuna steak. When we brought this to the wait staff's attention, they simply removed the foie gras, without replacing the tuna. When we brought *that* to their attention, they graciously acknowledged their poor form. When the (very large) bill was later delivered, they had already credited me for the problem course. I raise the negatives for this simple reason: Despite what are pretty serious errors in what should be perfect service at these sky-high prices, I'm *still* giving them five stars. The experience was just that great overall. Restaurant owners who consider themselves strong on service and/or food should eat here and re-evaluate. Someday we will return and see if a second visit can be as magical as the first. For now, I almost prefer the dream-like memory of that first near-perfect introduction to Inn at Little Washington.

    (5)

  • Betty N.

    Holy gawd. The best dining experience I have ever had in my life (Yes, all 32 years of it and still counting). I had some business travel in D.C., rented a car and drove here in the middle of the night (winding roads and all) so I can eat here. Solo, mind you. So I was dedicated. Dining as a lone female has its perks. After experiencing the best meal of my life (everything was smooth, delicate, and perfectly blended together) , Patrick (the master chef) and his partner were so accommodating and nice. They gave me free drinks and an autographed cook book for my troubles. I spent an hour talking to them. They offered me a room for the night but I politely declined since I had to work the next day. What a perfect restaurant. I am going to compare this meal to my next culinary extravaganza at the French Laundry next weekend. Patrick, no need to worry, Thomas has nothing on you. Love love love love Inn at Little Washington! xoxoxoxoxo! ADDITIONAL COMMENT: I ate at TFL on Jan. 19, 2008 (see review) and Inn at Little Washington is BETTER. You're right, Patrick. You can kick Thomas K.'s ass. Way to go!

    (5)

  • E Y.

    I dined here with family from the gastronaut's tasting menu during a graduation celebration. The majority of the dishes were absolutely amazing! My favorites were the truffle dusted popcorn, boat scallop with spring vegetables, and black truffle stuffed breast of pheasant. I only have two small complaints, that being the lobster was overcooked in one of the dishes and the morel mushrooms in the gnocchi dish was completely over salted. We probably should have mentioned it to the waiter at the time but we didn't so that is our own fault. If we had, I am sure they would have corrected it immediately. The wait staff could be slightly awkward but they were all very nice and accommodating. The kitchen even stayed open late to specially prepare an entree for someone in our party who arrived very late at the tail end of our meal. We were also invited to visit the kitchen and meet Patrick O'Connell himself which was very cool! I am definitely glad I had the chance to experience this once in a life culinary experience. That being said, it really will be once in my lifetime because I do not foresee myself ever spending that much money again on my dinner!

    (4)

  • J P.

    This is almost a no-brainer for number one meal in DC. You should spend the extra money and to dine in the kitchen and take on the lengthy all-nighter that is the Gastronomer's Menu. Let the staff know if its a special event (I hope it is if you are throwing this kind of coin around). To date it is the best meal I have ever experienced.

    (5)

  • Trevor S.

    PREFACE: Any rating is relative to expectations, so I tend to review businesses based on the expectations they set--often with their prices--relative to other businesses in the area. The Inn at Little Washington sets very high expectations with VERY high prices. Also, this is a review of the restaurant ONLY; we did not stay at the inn. OVERALL: The Inn at Little Washington is egregiously over-priced for what it offers compared to other restaurants. At $600 for dinner for two, the meal should be down right transcendental. It's not. The food and service are good, but you pay for pretense. Given that there are so many other great restaurants that have better food for far less, I don't know why people go here. To each his own. For us, the next time we want to spend $600 on a great dinner, we'll spend $100 for an awesome meal at Zaytinya and give $500 to charity. FOOD: Most of the food was well prepared and well presented, but was unimaginative. At $208 per person (before drinks, wine, tax, & tip) for a tasting menu, you aren't just paying for ingredients (even locally sourced, organic, seasonal ingredients); you're buying food art that should lead to some sort of memorable food epiphany. The braised veal cheek, salted rye bread, seared scallop, etc. were all very well prepared and very tasty, but you can pay 1/3 of that at a Jose Andres or Jose Garces restaurant for food that will change the way you perceive ingredients (e.g., smoked yogurt at Zaytinya or anything at MiniBar). Not all of the food was well executed. The black truffle popcorn did not seem fresh--closer to stale--and throwing black truffle on something seems like a punt (like the snooty person's bacon). They also put black truffle on one of the desserts, and the flavor combination was off-putting. It made no sense. The truffle flavor drowned out the subtle flavor of the (just-OK) chocolate mousse thing. It seemed like they thought they got points just for putting an expensive ingredient on something--flavor profile be damned. The courses were also spaced very far apart--sometimes nearly 20 minutes apart. That's absurd. I've had long meals before, but this meal did not need to last 3 hours (especially with a pre-set menu). STAFF: The staff is knowledgeable and attentive. Some were very nice and comfortable, but others acted unnaturally (stilted, stodgy, oddly prim, etc.) and seemed a bit too pretentious or snooty. We were served by about 5 different people who took turns bringing courses to the tables near us as well, so the service didn't seem very personal. The sommelier seemed knowledgeable, but his recommendations seemed to be based on a pairing of what "should" go well together or an interesting historical linkage. Instead, I tend to prefer wine pairings based on taste. I don't care if the pairing makes sense when I read it or hear the story; it should make sense when I taste it. The food should speak for itself. (Also, consider that at these prices, a 20% tip for 2 people is about $100! $100 for dinner service?!?! Have we lost our minds?) AMBIANCE: The Inn is a very cozy setting with decent sound absorption, so you can actually have a conversation over dinner. If you're a history or architecture buff, you'll likely notice a bit of a mish-mash of periods and styles (which made the pretense seem all the more inauthentic to me). Ostensibly, it all looks expensive, for whatever that's worth. It has the feel of old-money elegance. PRICE/VALUE: All in, our total was about $600 for dinner for 2. We had the 10-course Gastronaut's menu ($208 each), 1 bottle of wine, and 1 glass of sherry. For the quality of food we had and the competition in DC, I think the maximum reasonable price would have been about $200 (total, not per person). Even at that price, we wouldn't go back. You don't pay that kind of money just to fill your belly; you pay it for the art... and the food just isn't sufficiently inventive. (E.g., the braised veal cheek was like a really great pot roast, which isn't worth that much money to me.) If the owners feel they need to charge $200 per person in order to keep the doors open, I think they're mismanaging the business.

    (2)

  • Michael U.

    There is a profoundly long review in my blog - the highlights are below. Residing nearly 60 miles outside of Washington DC in a city known almost entirely for its restaurant and Inn, the trip to The Inn at Little Washington was quick and colorful...and when we finally stopped driving none of our cell phones had service - to call the restaurant remote would be an understatement. Parking the car and wandering about the small town, shops, and related properties while snapping some pictures the entire scene felt very quaint - small town Victorian America - like another place and another time. Browsing the contemporary menu - long titles with plenty of whimsy - I was delighted to see many of O'Connell's signature dishes being offered that night and I was additionally impressed by his strong commitment to local businesses...everything from meats to cheeses to vegetables and fruits appeared to be locally sourced - much like the servers and staff, everything felt like it belonged in Little Washington. A quick taste of the two breads, a cornmeal crusted French baguette and pecan-raisin rye with sea salt, indicated the bread girl and I would become friends during the evening...the bread was heavenly and we all ate too much of it. For my started I'd planned on the Tin of Sin - until I tasted the lamb carpaccio amuse. Arriving as a beautiful palate Carpaccio of Herb Crusted Baby Lamb with Caesar Salad Ice cream was marvelous - a single option charcuterie board flanked with potato wedges, onions, a leaf of crisp romaine dusted with parmesan, a smear of basil, and ice cream that tasted the very essence of Caesar dressing. Delicate, melting in the mouth - every bit as delicious as beautiful. For my second dish - a no brainer - A Marriage of Hot and Cold Foie Gras with Sauternes Jelly and Pickled Cherries plus Brioche. A marriage in that they remained separate identities but worked well together both preparations were stunning examples - the char and mildly smoky flavor of the seared version well tamed by the use of a red-wine and fig reduction and the terrine a smooth and subtle slice with only touch of sugar from the sauternes jelly and some sourness from the picked cherries. Spoiled as I am I rather wished someone would have brought more warm brioche as I ran out rather quickly, but a simple request produced more within a few minutes. For our "shared" main I opted for the Duet of Peking Duck: Seared Breast and Braised Leg with Turnip Puree and Dried Plum Sauce. Delectably fatty and ample in portion this dish was a stunner with the confit leg served over an applesauce accented turnip puree and the large slices of breast perfectly seared crisp and interspersed with whole figs and a vinegar accented plum sauce. My second main course was potentially O'Connell's most famous dish - a playful reinterpretation entitled Pepper Crusted Tuna Pretending to be a Filet Mignon Capped with Seared Duck Foie Gras on Charred Onions with Burgundy Butter Sauce. First of all, yes, I know I ate three slices of Foie Gras in this meal and I don't feel bad about it - this dish was a masterpiece. Peppery without being overly spicy the large slice of tuna was seared brown on the exterior yet ruby red inside - "rare" if you will, and topped with a slice of smooth and buttery liver that was literally melting like butter over the fish. Serving as a base to the proteins were three large onion rings and two types of squash - a pungent meets vegetal accompaniment to the hearty flavors above. Arriving to check in on us Landry offered the dessert menu and coffee or tea (included in the dinner price) - with two coffees and two herbal teas ordered we perused the menu and made our selections, again adding one additional dish at the cost of $20. Moments later we heard the ringing of a bell and the "moo" coming our way. Perhaps one of the most iconic images of The Inn, Faira the Cow, arrived after a long trot across the restaurant and with her a fromagier from the kitchen who helped guide each of us to a selection of 6 (out of easily 25) beautiful cheeses along with Walnuts, Apricots, Honey and a basket of water crackers and thinly sliced bread. Whimsical to say the least each of the cheeses was excellent, particularly the Barely Buzzed and Albarene Ash. Steaming hot and somewhat different from a traditional bread pudding The Inn's Warm Custard Bread Pudding accented with Solera Vinegar and Pickled Cranberries was my favorite dish of the night in a night that contained nothing but fantastic food. Highly accented with vanilla and sugar the custard pudding itself was remarkable - almost soufflé light yet moist and delicate with hints of acidity peaking though in the lower layers. Paired with spun sugar, minced quince, and the pickled cranberries the dish was sweet without being overly so - a truly remarkable choice and amongst the most complex desserts I've had in some time.

    (5)

  • James G.

    Best B&B experience too date. If you are in B&B business, you should check this place out, but, you might be upset to realize you likely couldn't achieve this. When I get the best, I don't mind paying for service and product that is unique. This place is run with military precision. We stayed 2 nights. Not sure you can appreciate what this place is about without watching the ever present staff attend to thousands of details throughout the day. From the greeting at the door, the staff addressing you by name, the bags carried to your room, the car parked, flowers and snacks waiting in the room. We stayed in the junior suite...really nice, comfortable and well decorated room, fireplace, large bathroom with Jacuzzi tub. The highlight for me was the breakfast. Breads and jams, fresh fruit and build your own parfait and flight of juice come with the package...then you can order off the menu. I had just an awesome eggs Benedict. The egg whites were perfectly formed and then the yolks were bright and oozed all over the plate...sopped up with the toast. Locally sourced in-house sausage was light and full of flavor, the bacon...hmmmm bacon. Omelettes perfectly folded, light and the lobster and dill just fantastic. After this hearty breakfast, the mistake I made was eating lunch in Sperryville. It was nice but, I was too full before dinner. We had the $168 per person, 3 course plus dessert. $168 per person might be expensive on a normal night out for dinner; but, not out of line at all for top quality restaurants. The only thing I thought overpriced were the wines. Just a commentary on most restaurants that double or triple the face value. I understand restaurants and especially, this place have a lot of labor to cover. I appreciate high quality restaurants that don't overcharge for wine...but, that is rare indeed. Highly suggest do your homework on the wine list, it is extensive, I narrowed it down to a dozen or so that I wanted depending upon what they had on the menu that night. Most of the wines were above 90pts and a few up to 98pts...sorry, but, if I'm drinking an expensive bottle, I'm not eating dinner with it. I brought a nice Pomerol for the room...for those of you who don't mind paying exorbitant prices you could have a bottle brought to your room. They had some pretty decent cheese offerings or picnic baskets available. I think it better to hit the local wineries and Sperryville general store for some local cheese. They'll set you up with ice and bucket in the room and plates and place setting for your own stuff too.

    (5)

  • Kelly W.

    I'm one of the few reviewers not to give this place a top rating, but I firmly stand by my rating! It's not that the food was bad, it was very good, it was just the whole experience was, well, a bit off-putting. Read on.... First of all, you will need to take out a second mortgage to eat here; even a dinner for two will cost you a few hundred. The only reason I agreed to eat here was because it was my birthday, and a big one (okay, I was turning 40, but a youthful 40!). It's a long drive to get to this very out-of-the-way place, but I figured this would be a night to remember. It was, just not in such a good way.... When we arrived, my wife, my mother and I were escorted to a waiting room and seated on some couches by a tiny little table. Why? They offered no explanation. After a short wait, someone came to us and asked if we would like anything. What do I want, I asked myself, a game of tennis, a new pair of pants, a winning lottery ticket, peace on earth? I assumed he was asking for something more mundane, like drinks, although we were given no wine menu or drink menu or any clue what he might be asking. In a fit of pique, I asked for water. Hold on, make that Perrier water, after all, this is a classy joint, right? From what I am led to believe, waiters at "The Inn" are trained for a full year or two before they become part of the wait staff there. What exactly did they learn, obsequiousness, how to be a snob? Our waiter certainly had the air of someone who could just barely condescend to serve us, even though we were all well dressed for the occasion. Indeed, one got the distinct feeling that he felt he was the superior one, and we were lowly inferiors that were being tolerated. Not exactly the celebration that I had hoped for. When it came time to order, I had to order delicately -- my mother is a vegetarian, and can be outspoken about it at times, although she tolerates my carnivorous appetite to a point. However, if I was going to pay the outrageous prices that were the norm there, I was going to get what I thought would taste the best, which happened to be the tenderloins of veal. There being no other menu item that said "tenderloins" and to mask my choice from my mother, I tactfully asked the waiter for the tenderloins as my main course. "You mean the veal??" he practically shouted at me while my mother shot me a stern, disapproving look. Oh great, I was caught ordering baby cows. Can this get any worse? I stuck with my meal choice, although my guilt prevented me from fully enjoying it. It was now time for dessert. I had heard of a much-heralded dessert choice called "The Seven Deadly Sins" which piqued my interest. I told him that I had heard The Seven Deadly Sins was quite good, although I didn't know what it was. He replied stiffly "very good" and wrote it down, without any recognition of my broad hint that I desired a description. His arrogance so annoyed me, that I was unable to enjoy what was probably a very good dessert (by the way, the seven deadly sins is so named because there are seven small versions of other items on the dessert menu, such as cake and tarts). Finally, after our dessert, he gave two baskets of candies to my wife and mother, who were a little confused over what to do -- do they eat the candies here, are they supposed to take the baskets home with them? Of course, no explanation was given. And meanwhile, despite that the waiter had been told it was my 40th birthday, and the menus were printed with "Happy 40th Birthday Kelly," I got nothing and had to sit and watch them eat their additional sweets. I couldn't even save the menus as a memento, they were whisked away earlier with a mention of me keeping one. The final bill came to nearly $800, for just three people. A lesson learned. Next time I want to celebrate my birthday, I'll blow $40 for appetizers, meal and dessert at Red Robins and will have a LOT more fun!!!

    (2)

  • Alexander K.

    4.5 stars I came here back in December of 2009, and had the tasting menu. The courses were expertly plated along with great, attentive service. Notable dishes included a quartet of island creek oyster slurpees and seared Maine diver's scallop. Dishes that I didn't particularly care for were the pan seared duck breast and the potato wrapped tuna wellington (very salty crust). But again, expertly crafted food with world-class service.

    (4)

  • Lowell P.

    I'm going to ruffle some feathers here, but that's what Yelp is for - to ruffle feathers and give an honest, forward review. Here we go... My wife and I decided to go for an anniversary dinner, we booked a 5:30 dinner reservation as everything later on a Friday or Saturday evening was booked solid - not a big deal, it must be worth doing a "grandma-time" dinner I said. We got to Washington, VA about 4:30 and wandered around, there are a handful of small galleries and stores, but the town is based around The Inn. The stores are quaint and interesting, upon leaving each store, the employees say "enjoy your dinner" - it's clear that The Inn is this town's driver and everyone else is along for the ride. We walked to The Inn and we were quickly greeted, our coats (my wife had a coat, I just had a blazer) and umbrella were taken. We were told to step into the next room where there was a fire going and make ourselves comfortable, our table would be ready momentarily. Before we even had a moment to settle into our chairs, we were told our table was ready. My wife and I were escorted to our table which was in a breezeway that faced the courtyard. The seating is essentially one long padded bench with pillows separating diners; it's almost as if you're sitting with the party next to you if you're unfortunate enough to have someone next to you, which I was. My wife's side was free, so she was fine, but it felt as if the couple next to me was part of our group and could hear our conversations. Hardly intimate, which is why a lot of couples come to The Inn. Now that we've been escorted to our bench and we've walked through the dining room, I realize that all the other gentleman still have their blazers on, meanwhile, I do not as the front desk emphatically suggested I hand them my jacket. Not a huge deal, but with this exclusivity, it's the little details that count and this was one of them. Since we had a 5:30 (grandma-time) dinner, neither my wife nor I were as hungry as we would have been on a normal evening, so we went with the a La Carte menu as opposed to the Gastronaut (10 course?) tasting package which is a premium. Ttalking about grandma, can we discuss the décor? I realize everyone has their own style and I can respect that, but the dining room looks as if it was touched by a floral happy designer in the '80's and hasn't been touched since. The main entrance and waiting room with the fireplace is very nicely decorated in a colonial décor which fits nicely with the style of the building. I digress; we're here for the food, right? To start, I had the Sesame-Crusted Ahi Tuna Tartare and my wife had the Carpaccio of Herb Crusted Baby Lamb Loin. I can't say that my Tartare was incredible; it was fine, nothing to rave about, but nothing to complain about either. For our second course, I had the Aged Gouda Macaroni and Cheese and my wife had the Olive-Crusted Chesapeake Bay Rockfish with Artichoke Tortellini in an Orange-Pernod Essence. We both agreed that the Mac & Cheese was extraordinary; the same could not be said for the Rockfish. The Orange-Pernod was so strong; my wife had to wipe the sauce off the Tortellini - almost inedible. For our main courses I had the Pan Roasted Maine Lobster while my wife had the Juniper Crusted Venison Loin (recommended by the server over the Seared Rare Tuna). The Lobster was good but nothing to rave about and my wife's Venison was tasteless and was all around a disappointment. The two couples to my left both had the Gastronaut package and it was evident. The manager stopped by both of their tables and chatted with them multiple times, asking how the meal was, if they were celebrating a special event and offering to take pictures. In addition, they were both offered a tour of the kitchen if they wanted - which they obliged. Now, when the manager came to our "peasant" table (I'll elaborate later), he merely asked if everything was good. We both replied yes and he quickly moved on. I realize we weren't having the more expensive, exclusive, Gastronaut package, but still, any meal that costs $580+ is cause for a special occasion (actually, a $580+ meal IS the special occasion, right?). The manager should realize that dinner at the Inn is a treat for anyone and something someone looks forward to weeks in advance - to be looked over merely because of our order was disappointing. Hence my naming of our table as the "peasant" table. I think this is possibly more telling of where the true motives lie at The Inn, it's not with ensuring a five-star experience, it's with the person's wallet. At this price point, anyone who comes to the Inn to dine should be treated the same. Conclusion: For much better food, atmosphere and décor, without the exclusivity, I'll dine at Blue Duck Tavern for a quarter of the cost. I wish I could really applaud Patrick O'Connell, but I think he's resting on his laurels and those have been gathering dust on the shelf for far too long.

    (3)

  • Patsy H.

    My husband and I couldn't leave Northern Virginia after 33 years without visiting this celebrated, 5 Star restaurant. So, as a birthday surprise, he invited me to join him for a picture-perfect dinner at this very elegant jewel in the darling little town of Washington, VA. We were greeted by an efficient valet, who escorted us into the splendid environment that Chef/owner Patrick O'Connell created to make me (and several others) birthday princess-for-a-day! Soft lighting, abundant flowers, deep, rich colors, fabrics and finishes drew us into the dining room where we were led to our table at a wine colored velvet banquette complete with tapestry cushions and creamy table linen, lit by a silk sweetheart rose-colored hanging lamp with six inch fringe. Following distinctive cocktails, we pondered the menu, personalized with my birthday greeting and were served the chef's welcome via a variety of amuse bouche, cold plum soup with pear brandy and crusted caviar appetizers. Landry, our polished, attentive waiter brought our indescribable dinner in four courses, each exquisitely fresh and flavorful, creatively arranged on white china, chosen to accentuate the selection. Don't miss the "Lunar Eclipse" dessert, a salty chocolate-caramel tart with olive oil ice cream- luxury as I have never known... The final compliment was our invitation to view the Inn's kitchen, a high end, busy and very chic version of a "Heaven's Kitchen" with a huge fireplace at one end. The glass and stainless U-shaped work area is central around cook surfaces based on ceramic tiles and overseen by a huge portrait of Chef O'Connell and two dalmation companions. The chef, himself, graciously thanked us for visiting and wished us safe travel. As we prepared to leave, we were presented with a lovely little "cottage" replica of the Inn, filled with tiny cookies and sweets to be enjoyed later as we reminisced about our rare, gentle retreat to a place where Chef O'Connell and his gracious staff move closer toward cordial perfection than most have ever experienced~

    (5)

  • Paul S.

    I've been here on several occasions and have never had a bad experience. The food and ambiance is truly fantastic. However, it has been several years since I last visited and I've often found that 5 establishments can become a bit dated or suffer a quality decline. I hope to spend our fifth wedding anniversary here with my wife later this year and will update this review with our findings. I hope it lives up to the memories!

    (5)

  • Karen D.

    The Inn is all encompassing. Just when you think you've had beets every way possible, they come up with "ribbons" of beets in their summer tasting menu that will make you sit up and take notice. Much thought and lots of work go into their summer menu and it's one that no one should miss! Thank you Neil, James, Francois, and of course, Patrick for once again exceeding all expectations!

    (5)

  • E C.

    My husband and I had dinner and stayed at the inn at Little Washington in August 2013 for our 25th anniversary. All in all, I think the Inn rests very heavily on its name and past reputation and was not at all the 5 star experience we hoped for (and expected for the incredible amount of money it cost us!). The room was fine - pretty and nice but nothing spectacular. We had paid in advance for the experience of dining in the kitchen (a $375 surcharge just for that experience). Before dinner we were seated in the lounge area to wait for our table. When the table was ready, we were escorted in and welcomed by name by the chef. There were aspects of the dinner experience that were certainly fun and special. The waiter was awesome and attentive and the food was very good and very creative. The meal was a 4 hour experience and definitely a "show". The next morning we went to breakfast - which was nothing more than mediocre. Certain things are included in the outrageous price of staying at the Inn - stale bread, yogurt and some berries. If you want anything more for breakfast you will pay dearly for it - $20 omelettes for example. The final frustration came weeks - months - later when we were contacted by the accounting office saying that we still owed $785 and that our credit card had been declined. We were confused because when we looked at our bill we saw that two charges had successfully been put through on two different cards. The person who called said she was new and couldn't explain why the accounting had been so sloppy or why they hadn't charged the most recent card we gave them. My correspondence with the accounting person was riddled with typos (including typos in the amount of money she said we had been charged!). Very unprofessional. Our meal was over $1000 and the room was $550 plus. We can now say we have been there but I wouldn't necessarily recommend the experience to anyone else. For that kind of money, every single aspect of the experience should be top notch and it wasn't.

    (2)

  • Wilson L.

    Is the Inn at Little Washington worth driving 1.5 hours from DC and paying a small fortune? Absolutely yes! My wife took me to Minibar for my last birthday, so I had to up my game for her 30th to match that memorable experience. However, the Inn at Little Washington wins that competition hands down. We had the Gastronaut's tasting menu and the food ranged from great to transcendental. It is the best food we ever had and we have eaten at many of the top restaurants in the DC area. The service is perfect - unrushed, gracious, and the staff are so friendly and engaging. The decor is a bit over-the-top in terms of ornateness, but definitely conveys the sense you are going to a one-of-a-kind dining destination. It is a perfect special occasion restaurant. My wife vowed to take me here for my next birthday. Maybe we will stay at the Inn as well next time.

    (5)

  • Bob W.

    We had the pleasure of celebrating my 60th birthday with the staff. My darling wife had been before but this was my first experience and what an experience it was. When you come to the Inn, you are the center of attention from the initial greeting to the bon voyage. We didn't stay but one felt as comfortable as one might if they had. I'd like to bring special attention to our superb opening cocktails. I had a Johnny Moore (Jameson's whiskey and vermouth) and my wife had a #10 (which was a fresh fruit (grapefruit) one. The drinks were full bodied and delicious. Being part Irish I was particularly taken that someone had taken the trouble to identify someone from the 1798 rebellion - brilliant! From there we took the gastronaut journey (mine with the wine pairing) and each course increased our culinary enjoyment as promised. I could go into great detail but I'd observe that if you have the funds, it's well worth it. In interest of honesty I have to confess that my darling has both cookbooks and has made many "Inn" recipes with delightful results (if she wasn't a medical/psychiatric professional perhaps she'd have given Mr. O'Connell some competition but then I digress). Suffice to say that if you can set aside an appropriate point for celebration this is the place that you'll want to share it. Thanks to all at the Inn, Bob

    (5)

  • Molly U.

    This place was.......FABULOUS. From the reservation process it was so professional and easy that I really had a good feeling going into this. You see, I had a party of 12. It was for a very special occasion. Their biggest table seats only 10, but the reservations staff gave me alternatives and we found the best one. They emailed us to confirm when we asked them to, they called us to confirm and make sure of the special occasion, if they had questions for us, they'd call us before the date so we weren't scrambling.....they really knew what they were doing. The interior is quite ornate and I wish we had toured the place more! We were running a little late for our reservation because of unexpected circumstances (the car service didn't show up) and traffic - they were gracious about it when we called to let them know. The individual we were celebrating was mentioned on the top front of the menu and I'm not sure how many staff members were serving us but they ALL knew what they were doing. This isn't the runner that doesn't speak english know what to do if you ask for water type thing.....this was everyone working as a team. And then when there were toasts, they left us alone without interrupting. One member of our party thought his beer was supposed to be 22 oz instead of 16 oz, so they just brought it anyway without having to ask for it. Then the food. Outside of the main course, there was of course, delicious bread, but also a canape - "chips and dip" which was delicious and then a pork belly. Both worked wonderfully as that first bite. Then came a chilled pea soup and a herbed puff (I was at the restroom and exploring the restaurant when they brought it by) - both delicious. I haven't even received my first course yet and I have a big smile on my face (and a sigh of relief after one failure of an experience at another "fancy" restaurant in DC). The dishes were all AMAZING. I could go on and on and on about my ahi tuna tartare or the lamb carpaccio or the foie gras (hot/cold) or the caviar or the sweetbreads. Nothing overpowered another ingredient or enhanced it (sauternes jelly for the foie gras? Oh My GOD.) Then the desserts. I ordered the "7 deadly sins" because I'm indecisive - there was mint ice cream with chocolate ribbons. The mint was SO fresh I expected the mint leaves to be sprouting out of the ice cream. It was all so very very very good. Then they had someone come by to give us a short tour of the kitchen. THE KITCHEN! We got to meet the chef and they all graciously allowed us to take photos and watch. The guy even took a group photo for us. I really want to come back to The Inn to explore the grounds, eat here and try their tasting menu, and experience it all over again. The drive is so worth it. Well....just don't get stuck on 495 when they've closed the roads down to one lane....that was painful.

    (5)

  • Czarina A.

    Words will not be able to explain the experience, but even more so, the food at the Inn at Little Washington... Patrick O'Connell is a true culinary artist... I don't know how he does it, but it is PERFECTION... Truly, a foodies' heaven. If it's your first time, my recommendation is to do The Gastronaut's Menu, but make sure you go there hungry because it is filling! Just a note, if you order that menu, your entire party will need to order it, but no biggie. The staff was kind enough to make certain substitutions based on some of my likes from the ala carte menu... so on top of the gastronauts, I was able to sample the soft shell crab tempura (absolutely amazing!) and the bone marrow custard (so good, you could feel the build-up in your arteries!). Overall, everything, and I mean EVERYTHING was delicious and titillating to the palate... the blends of flavors was one that only a true culinary artist is able to achieve... each plate had it's own character and it made me want more.... They have a sommelier on staff that does wonderful pairings with the menu... Well worth it for your wine-o's! For dessert, though the meal came with an absolutely delightful miniature strawberry-rhubarb cobbler, limoncello pudding cake & rhubarb frozen yogurt (best cobbler I've ever tasted), I substituted one of the desserts with their Seven Deadly Sins, and I tell you, it was absolutely gluttonous! I would love, love, love to come here again... It is not for the faint-hearted nor for the shallow-pockets ($$$-$$$$ pp)... and it is a prerequisite to have an appreciation of good food (I'm not much of a reviewer and have abstained from writing reviews , but I have had my share of excellent restaurants around the country and the world). Last thing... I recommend staying at one of B&B's after because you will NOT want to drive it back home (in my case about 1 1/2 half) after such a wonderful meal.

    (5)

  • John E.

    The most absurdly lavish dinner I've ever had was in the kitchen at the Inn at Little Washington. When you eat in the kitchen, you go through a special door that is comprised mostly of mirrors. You walk in, and Gregorian chants are playing. There is a guy - I am not making this up - wearing robes, swinging a censer. This man will not look you in the eye. The chef and staff are assembled to welcome you. First they bring you popcorn with shaved black truffles. Subsequent to this, you will stop eating popcorn. They also bring a few amuse-bouche, the flavors of which linger and change in your mouth. You can choose four courses from the menu, or you can do a chef's menu. Each time I have been (I feel like a Rockefeller saying this), we have ordered courses instead of doing the set chef's menu. If you go, set aside any ethical, nutritional, or gastronomical rules you have. Now is the time to eat lamb, order the foie gras, taste raw beef, or try organ meat. None of these are things that I typically do, but on my last trip I did them all. The menus change, but most exceptional dish I had was the very rare tuna topped with foie gras. The juxtaposition was unreal. Normally I don't care at all about service, unless it is at one extremity. The Inn is at one extreme. It is as if they are born to prepare and serve food. Eating here is more like a pilgrimage than a dinner, but if you find yourself in the company of a few hundred dollars (per person) that needs spending, you could do much, much, much worse than coming here.

    (5)

  • Zee S.

    It's been awhile......but finally I will write my take about the Inn. It's bunch of woo haaa in reality nothing special. My lady friend and I walked in - no one asked about our name just took us to the table. My lady friend had a nice view but I was facing the wall. I requested to move.....they took us to another table ended up in the middle of room. I truly liked their wine selection but not sure why it ends up 1,000 times expensive. Small example: $37 bottle of wine was listed for $350. Food was good but there was NO "wow factor". I ordered Tuna dish---exact same dish can be found in their cook book but the presentation wasn't as nice as the picture. The best part for us was when we were moved outside for dessert. Truly loved it. After spending $4,000 we agreed that it wasn't worth even $500. Washington DC is filled with GREAT restaurants and a trip to New York is worth every penny. GREAT Chef's, food, wine and the location is worth every penny. I am talking about New York not The Inn. LoL With respect, most people who visit The Inn are blown away long before their visits because of the hype---not because what they are getting for their $$$$$$$

    (2)

  • Elle B.

    This is one of my top five favorite restaurants in the DC area. Every single bite of food was perfection, and I blame them for my current addiction to truffled popcorn. I took my friend here for her birthday during a particularly difficult time in her life, and they went above and beyond to make the event as special for her as possible. I also really appreciated getting to tour the kitchen--one of the cleanest I've ever seen--and getting to meet the chef. It's just such a special experience.

    (5)

  • Greg F.

    Took my girlfriend to her birthday dinner here. We both ordered the Gastronaut's Menu with the wine pairing. I can't put into words how remarkable the food, service, presentation, wine, and overall experience is. So I won't even try. It is very expensive -- probably the most expensive in the DC area -- but it's the best in the DC area and it's worth every penny if you can afford it.

    (5)

  • Dan d.

    Wow! I consider myself a tough customer, but wow! Prepare yourself (and your wallet) for a world-class experience. This has redefined my understanding of 5 stars. We had the wine tasting dinner. From beginning to end, the service was over-the-top and the food quickly exhausted my supply of superlatives. But beware - this place is not for the feint of heart ! Dinner will set you back $400-500 per couple. If you stay the night, the economy rooms are about the same. Still, the experience is so beyond what I've had before, I would do it again, and highly recommend it to anyone who can swing it.

    (5)

  • Erik F.

    I stopped by last year and meant to update this...the Chef changed I think since I last visited and I went with a vegan this time...not the same experience. When you take away cheese and butter they do not know what to do. Many nice restaurants see this as a fun challenge but not so much here...we did call ahead about it but they disappointingly didn't make any special plans. I should also mention that the decor can be a bit smothering if you are not into this kind of country, old lady, floral thing. None the less, good service and a generally good meal in the its genre.

    (3)

  • Fred B.

    The place for my last non-hot dog or non-BBQ meal. You do not just eat a meal here, you have a memory book, culinary experience, filled with impeccable service, exquisite tastes, and mind blowing presentations. The only dining experience that has even come close to our visits here over the last 20 years was at Per Se in Manhattan, but I rate the Inn as the best of breed. They went through some problems here 4 or 5 years age, when the partners severed their relationships, both personal and business. Not that it the experience was bad here in that stretch, but it had slipped in almost all areas. But several years age, things were put back in place, and our latest visit in August for our anniversary confirmed that it remains a great restaurant. Make no mistake, this is an expensive undertaking, especially if you stay at the Inn, and you really should experience everything these folks have to offer, and nearby accommodations are limited or a good drive away - not a good idea after after a drink or two. Depending on you drink and wine choices, a meal for a couple can easily exceed $600, and a one night stay as much again or more - but it does include an arrival tea, and breakfast, and free parking. But if cost bothers you, don't go. The tasting menu is the thing to do here. The menu changes with the season and availability of ingredients, but it is always creative, even daring, and the presentations are amazing. All the little things are there that make it a special memory. Like with any restaurant, the people who choose to eat here need to understand what this restaurant is, and maybe more importantly what it is not. This is an expensive, world class restaurant with impeccable service that serves food loaded with freshness and taste. There is richness and fat aplenty here - it is not vegetarian, nor a steak house, nor a pasta place, or seafood shack. It is some of all of those and much more, but at an entirely different level. One more note, there is a nice garden area adjacent to the restaurant which is ideal for an after dinner drink and a fine cigar. Life can not get much better.

    (5)

  • Eugene T.

    A superb treat on a special occasion. Our room was lovingly decorated, with small whimsies awaiting discovery, and very comfortable. Dinner was a three+ hour event, delightful from first to last, accompanied by excellent wine and constant but unobtrusive service. Throughout the planning and reservation process, the Inn's staff was attentive to every detail and fielded all of my requests (flowers, in-room wine, birthday dessert) with aplomb. Our stay was one of those rare occasions when everything exceeded hopes and hype. My thanks to Mr. O'Connell and his entire staff for the Inn's unparalleled service and quality.

    (5)

  • Tiffany Y.

    I ate dinner at The Inn at Little Washington for my birthday. The door was opened for my husband and me as we entered and exited the restaurant. The waiters and other staff were friendly to us. My husband and I both enjoyed our appetizers, entrees, and desserts. I didn't like the first glass of wine that was selected for me, but I liked the second recommendation, and it was very reasonably priced. The drive is a little far from DC but not too bad, the building could look more impressive from the inside and outside, and the dinners are more expensive than at many other restaurants, but the food and service were very good. I would certainly recommend that other people give this restaurant a visit.

    (4)

  • Shaun C.

    Perfect! Easily ranking among the best dining experiences I've ever had. I would highly recommend going for a special occasion or a romantic dinner. My wife made reservations mid-week for us to celebrate my birthday. If your driving up from DC, get off 66 at Haymarket and take the extra time to drive along Lee Highway through the beautiful countryside. I spoke with the sommelier before the meal to discuss our likes / dislikes, and she recommended an excellent wine that was new to us (and reasonable $). We had the tasting menu and enjoyed every course. When the meal was over, we were greeted by name, given our menus to take with us, and our car was outside waiting. We were truly made to feel like special guests from the moment we arrived until we left. If only every fine dining experience could be this way!

    (5)

  • r. h.

    The Inn at Little Washington makes me wish that I was a part of the 1%. Amazing food -- not a single misstep throughout our ten course meal. The concepts of the dishes are imaginative and sophisticated; the texture, the flavors, the balance are all perfect. They are also visually beautiful and, sometimes, even a bit playful. Wine pairings are carefully chosen. For at least seven of the courses, I couldn't stop saying: this is the best [insert food] I've ever tasted! Sumptuous yet intimate atmosphere -- the inn is very tastefully decorated. The dining room is layered with elaborate wall papers and tapestries; the tables are covered with luxurious damask fabrics, sparkling silverware, and gorgeous china. In a lesser hand, it might have become over-the-top, a ridiculous caricature; but not so here. Everything works together to add, but not over-shine, the dining experience. Thoughtful service from the entire staff. They are never in your way, but they show up and anticipate your needs just before you realize it. It is not a bargain, no. Some say it's overpriced, and I don't think they're wrong. Nonetheless, The Inn's unique blend of world class cuisine, luxurious accommodation, and faultless service in a quaint, charming rustic setting is a rare find -- possibly the definition of "as good as it gets."

    (5)

  • Donald P.

    For a wedding gift, we received a gift certificate for the IALW. Upon looking at the prices on their website we couldn't get ourselves to go. Although the gift certificate amount was quite generous, it paled in comparison to the prices this establishment commands. With over a year to use this gift certificate, we waited to the last minute to use it but only because it was going to expire (we actually let it expire before using it but only because we called ahead of time and they told us they would still honor the gift certificate even if it was expired). If you are having dinner here, my recommendation is to try and avoid driving here after dark. With hardly any street lights, and very narrow tortuous roads, it was a nerve racking experience, not to mention you totally miss the scenic beauty of the landscape. My 3-star rating in context to all the 5-star ratings is not to say this place was bad in any way, but only that in our opinion, we too left with mixed feelings regarding the service and overall value of this experience. I liken this experience to going to watch the ball drop in Time Square on New Years Eve. I'm glad I did it but I don't think I want to do it again. This venue was certainly not meant for people like me...an average Joe living a plain-as-vanilla middle-class life...but for the upper echelons of society. I think a major reason we left with mixed feelings is because of the vibe we got from our waitress. We just didn't feel that warm and inviting smile and bubbly personality that we got from everyone else. The food was good, and surprisingly filling. Dinner was at a snail's pace, taking 3 hours to complete 2 complimentary appetizers, 3 course meal, and dessert. We chuckled each time we saw the cow cart go by with its selection of cheese, and even departed with another complimentary snack bag. It was a good experience, but I just can't get myself to say "Yay! I'm a fan." For the amount of money we spent, we just felt like we were missing something...aside for all the money we just spent :) If you are budget-minded like us, stay at the Foster Harris House down the street. There are like 4 or 5 other bed and breakfasts in the area that are also an option but we can't speak to.

    (3)

  • Murlo R.

    The short story - The Inn at Little Washington did not miss a beat. Great attention to each ingredient was evident in flavor, texture, and presentation. Efficient, professional, and attentive service was unobtrusive and friendly. Innovative without the absurdities that can come from excessive molecular gastronomy, the Inn is quite possibly the best restaurant experience you'll ever have. The Inn offers three tasting menus: Classic (with signature dishes covering 33 years), Seasonal, and a Vegetarian menu that is as unique and amazing as the other two. Tip: At least one person should order the cheese selection. You'll know why if you do. Nestled in the hills of central Virginia, the Inn is close to a 2-hour drive from Washington DC. It's worth the trip. More specifically ... Food: 3 Amuse bouche included a tuna tar-tar, compressed watermelon, and a "chip and dip' that was a stuffed potato chip served like a tiny cannoli. All executed extremely well, the juxtaposition of them at once said we can perform at the molecular level, but we also don't have to take ourselves that seriously (see Cameron the head cheese later in this review). The tasting menu was intricate (see photo) and spanned from hot and cold foie gras with Sauternes gelee to local soft shell crab with fried green tomato to baby lamb loin with Caesar salad ice cream. An intermezzo arrived with the dessert choices, one of which was the expansive artisanal cheese cart rolled tableside by dead-pan "punster" and head cheese (ahem) affineur Cameron. With a repartee that included descriptions of a veined bleu with Cranberries as a taste that you "have to let it linger" and the Limburger as the zombie favorite, pretension was thrown to the wind. Cameron danced into a description about a sheep cheese. "What I like about ewe is the creaminess" only to lose his step momentarily when he received the response: "I don't believe I've ever had one like ewe." An unexpected good humored and "curdeous" finish to the evening. Decor: Decorated in demure early 20th century Americana frill, the warm and elegant atmosphere surprisingly compliments the lively, innovative dishes. Drink: We enjoyed a pre-dinner Compari based Americano with a splash if ginger beer successfully updated an old favorite. Champagne cocktails infused with citrusy Yuzo were similarly modernized. The wine list is expansive and included a Sauterne by glass as a pairing - a unique treat. Atmosphere: At risk of being staid and tired by the early century decor, the atmosphere was relaxed, spirited, and communal. A pre-dinner cocktail in the Monkey room recalled restaurant moments in early seasons of Mad Men - an adventure in time that feels natural, not contrived. Staff and Service: Plentiful, friendly, attentive, responsive, unobtrusive, and unpretentious. One more tip: Get there early to roam the small village's antiques, chocolates, and wine tasting.

    (5)

  • Howie O.

    Do yourself a favor and also book a room here. Why? So you can drink wine and be happy all night. The only thing I didn't like about this place is the fact I didn't stay longer. Attention, to detail and you will find that nothing is missed when it comes to creating an awesome experience for the guest of the Inn. I have dined here about 4 or 5 times and can't think of anything that I didn't enjoy completely. There is kind of a magic to the food. I was even able to dine at the chefs table once in the kitchen and that is probably the highlight of my dining experiences.

    (5)

  • Doug M.

    I had an amazing birthday dinner here last night - my first time at the Inn. Having made the reservations four months in advance, it was worth even the two hour drive through a blizzard there and back from DC! Above and beyond the food, which is memorably good, the service and attention were really charming without being overbearing. What I thought was great was the way that they project elegance and refinement in the decor and in their service without taking themselves at all seriously: there's a lot of humor from the servers and when the moo'ing cow cheese cart comes by, it just deflates any pretentiousness anyone might have brought with them through the door. There are three set menus to choose from; I had the vegetarian and my husband had the "classics" menu. We were served some complimentary amuses-bouche, most of which included either caviar or meat, but when my server realized I was vegetarian they brought me a /second/ plate of specially made vegetarian starters! Very thoughtful. We each only had one glass of mid-priced wine but never felt even a hint of the upsell pressure you sometimes get in other upscale restaurants - our waiter was really helpful in deciding which wines to go with, and both of us loved our selections. Actually, we were transported back in our memories to one incredible night on a terrace overlooking the sea in Italy by the flavors - some of the best wine I've ever had. I had a sauvignon blanc which was clear, bright, refreshing, and just complex enough to be interesting without overwhelming. We both loved the soup shot starters - actually, what we kept both saying to each other was "This was so good, I wish we had more!" but by the end of the evening we were both perfectly sated without being overstuffed. The apple rutabaga soup was so delicious, I wish I had the recipe. I was skeptical about the endive salad, because I'm not a big fan of bitter foods, but there was no bitterness to it at all! The citrus sauce that came along with it lightened it enormously. The next course, roasted leeks, were to die for - it was almost like a Willy Wonky moment where the flavors change so dramatically in your mouth every few seconds. The next three dishes were all very good, though inspired by such different parts of the world (Japan, Italy, India) and different flavor profiles that I'm not sure they meshed well together, but the Indian cauliflower steak was so enchanting that this really didn't matter at the end of the day. For his part, my husband said the chilled lobster napoleon was the standout dish of the evening, though he also went wild for the aged gouda macaronia and cheese as well as the squab, which he said was the lightest meat he'd ever eaten in his life. Last, we would highly recommend the Seven Sins dessert plate, where you get to try two bites of each of their lovely desserts. I went with the butter pecan ice cream sandwich, which was very good - but you really need to be a toffee lover, as in place of any sort of biscuit or cookies, they use a hard toffee to create the layers. Last but not least, we were invited on a tour of the kitchen as well as to meet (and take photos with!) the incredibly charming Chef O'Connell, who made sure that we left with an adorable Inn-shaped box full of treats. Definitely a birthday to remember!

    (5)

  • Spanish P.

    Beautiful place.. The Owner was very friendly and the service was exceptional. The "Afternoon Tea" was delicious!

    (5)

  • Lorand M.

    Simply elegant and gorgeous ! However, when you spend more than $2000 for an overnight and a meal....it better be damn good ! Dinner was exceptional, if not too much food. Wine pairings were interesting and very well presented and describe. I think we would probably try a few appetizers, and share the Gastronaut menu, assuming they would agree to this. While the courses were quite small...when you are given 394 of them (exaggeration)....just too much food ! Dinner for two was around $900...which is pretty damn steep....at these price points "value" is a relative term and not really applicable....however one of the best meals I have ever had....along with many excellent meals at Charlie Trotters. The room was small but charming. Of course, high quality linens and other consumables. Small touches of service and other things that made the stay quite special. Service was way over the top...however friendly and not pretentious. Literally, if you left the room for more than 5 minutes, it would be made up by the time you returned. The grounds, the INN, the town are delightful, elegant, and relaxing. Breakfast was very good...healthy, fairly lite, local, served at a nice pace by lovely servers. Service was above and beyond, yet the staff was fun, personable, friendly. As president of the Snarky Smart Ass Club.....the staff was just damn fun ! Well worth going, worth the money ? I don't know....for us it was...and we will go back.

    (5)

  • Ran C.

    It is all about you, the diner. The Inn at Little Washington understands that better than anyone. You're greeted at the front entrance by the host with a warm welcome and ushered into the lounge. A series of snacks are brought to you as you enjoy cocktails and bubbles. Your table is ready at your convenience. There won't be anyone here rushing you to make your reservation time. The menu gives you a choice of the pre-fix 4-courses or tasting. More delicious and playful dishes are brought to you as you're looking over the menu. Having trouble deciding between two dishes? They'll be happy to send out both for you. Like I said, it's all about you. At no point will you feel rushed. This is your experience, they're here for you. I will save myself the embarrassment of trying to put into words how each perfectly-executed course tastes. Check out the pictures I that I posted, and trust that they are as amazing as they look. Modern service in America stresses the importance of being personable, charming and playful. The staff at The Inn delivers it with a level of class that I haven't seen anywhere else in DC. This is the ultimate pampering experience. Pro Tip: I didn't have any cellphone reception inside The Inn, which no distractions from the outside world. But it also means I can't check-in on Yelp! Lastly, I'd like to thank Chef O'Connell and the entire staff at The Inn at Little Washington for a truly unforgettable experience.

    (5)

  • Callie B.

    Food: five stars for taste, presentation, portions, timing, creativity, and wine list. The personalized menus and little after-dinner cookies are a nice added touch. Service: I wish I could add extra stars here. The service is impeccable. Every employee somehow manages to know who you are before you even get there or introduce yourself. They must have some kind of intel system in place to alert the staff when you are entering an empty room, because they seem to come from the walls as soon as you want them! Our bags and coats were already in our room after we took the short tour (complimentary mimosas in hand), and the room was dressed to the nines. It's well worth the cost for a special occasion.

    (5)

  • Michael C.

    Given the hype surrounding this restaurant, I was hoping for a world-class experience on par with some of the best restaurants in New York, London, Tokyo, etc. But it was not to be; I should have known that I wasn't going to find such an experience in the middle of nowhere Virginia. One word I used to describe the meal was "very". Unfortunately, "very" never proceeded something positive. Before we decided between the a la carte menu and the Gastronaut's menu, we were given three amuse bouches. One was foie gras sandwiched between two crackers with blood orange jam. The jam was overpowering and I could barely tell that there was foie gras in the middle (and probably wouldn't have been able to tell had they not told me). Another was a potato chip tube filled with french onion sour cream and garnished with Ossetra caviar. The french onion flavor and the crunch of the potato chip dominated; the Ossetra caviar got wasted in the mix. The third amuse of a small piece of cider-glazed pork belly was done well but nothing I hadn't had before. These three bites should have given my pause, and they did, but I just hoped that the rest of the meal would get more exciting, more flavorful, and more complex. Oh, how I was wrong. I ended up choosing the Gastronaut's menu because I figured I might as well pay 30% more for twice (100%) the number of courses. While generally presented well, most of the courses suffered from the flaw of "very"--very salty, very dry, very spicy, very sweet, etc. For example, the lamb (served too well done at a medium) came with spicy green olive paste, spicy olive and eggplant tapenade, and spicy peppers--terribly unbalanced. The broth of the sea bass in Asian broth was incredibly salty and unidimensional (very strong ginger flavor). And the ice cream in the dessert was already halfway on its way to becoming a puddle when it reached my table. Basically, if you're one of the many gastronomically-deprived people in the DC area who is not familiar with prix fixe fine dining, you'll probably enjoy yourself. The staff, while generally great, holds your hand through the meal by explaining each dish for about twice as long as necessary with occasionally absurd flourishes. The chefs keep the flavors simple and strong such that you don't have to worry about pleasurable complexity or unfamiliar flavors. For real "gastronauts", prepare to be disappointed. Don't get me wrong, it's not a bad meal. But it's a meal that, given the execution and relative lack of creativity, should be half the price.

    (2)

  • Mike F.

    We went back in January 2012, right when it was the quiet season. We were able to get a package deal on the room, plus dinner and breakfast. As soon as we got there, everybody was really friendly and made sure we were comfortable. I did get the feeling that we were younger than the usual clientele (I' was 33 at the time, my wife was 30) Walking around the garden was tranquil and nice. Dinner was almost overwhelming. Even though the courses weren't huge or hearty, at the end, I felt totally full, and just blitzed with a wide array of flavors and tastes. From the truffle popcorn, to the caviar, to the rest of the dishes (which have since become an awesome blur), I could barely process how rich everything was. I definitely recommend staying for breakfast. Their bacon is arguably some of the best I've ever had. My wife asked for 3rds, and she's a petite girl. A few years later, we still think fondly and talk about going back.

    (5)

  • Megan Q.

    This is a special place. If that doesn't hit you the moment you arrive, you're asleep. Upon arriving we were immediately greeted by valet who eagerly waved us in with a smile as if they were waiting for us! We checked in with the hostess and were asked to wait by the fireplace. The flowers were beautiful and the ceiling details incredible. I wish there was some more direction in this "holding pattern" perhaps a glass of champagne but shortly thereafter we were guided to our table. The service is what lands this restaurant a 5 star rating. From the valet to the sommelier the service was top notch and it's the service that makes this a special place to visit for your memorable occasions. We ordered a la carte as we were unsure we could make it through the tasting menu. Our dinner lasted about 2.5 hours. As another yelper said, this is a marathon. Go prepared to sit for a while and enjoy yourself. I wish we went a little earlier because we did get sleepy in between courses and if I had more energy I would've liked to sit in the lounge after dinner. Every single dish was excellent. The foie gras is a healthy portion so if you order that make sure you're a foie gras enthusiast! The tuna tartare and the ice cream sandwich were favorites. :) As we left our car was already waiting for us out front. Nice touch. A take home box of treats is provided with the check. We enjoyed it the next day with a glass of wine and remembered our amazing meal the night before! :)

    (5)

  • Vincent B.

    This is the absolute best restaurant I've ever been to: every dish is like a microcosm. The atmosphere, service, and execution were as expected. If you ate here every day, you'd reach enlightenment.

    (5)

  • Sanaa M.

    Honestly, i don't know what to say. I'm SPEECHLESS!!!! The food, the service, the room, the athmosphere, the way how they pay attention to every single detail... it's beyond perfection It is an expessive place but it's worth every penny!!!

    (5)

  • Sherwin S.

    When I initially found out exactly how far this little haven was from Washington DC, I blew off my reservation and opted for Komi in the city instead. Not a bad choice...however, once I returned home to Houston I truly began to realize what I had missed out on. Luckily for me, I would be returning to DC in less than 3 months and I had to make another reservation. Lucky for me again, the night I made my reservation for was also their 35 year celebration. And so began my night... I rented a car and make the almost 2 hour drive from DC into Little Washington. Scared I would get lost or run into a deer, I eventually found my way (thanks to the amazing directions on the website) before losing cell phone service (the website warns of that as well, unless you are Verizon). I was early for my reservation, so was treated to a few small bites. I purchased a half bottle of wine and began to relax before taking a tour of the facility. Once the meal began, I opted for the larger 35th anniversary menu (which replaced the typical Gastronauts menu), which recreated some of the chefs classic dishes. However, since I also wanted to try a few of chefs modern selections, I asked if I could pay a little extra for a sampling of some of those items. The answer I received back from the kitchen was "Not tonight! Because it is a special evening...chef will bring anything you want compliments of the chef." Every dish I tasted was stunning...and simplistic. There are simply no words to describe 90% of what came out of the kitchen that evening...only to groan a few sounds of enjoyment. There just isn't a chef anywhere in America doing what O'Connell is doing, including Achatz in Chicago (their cuisines are just too different). To be a part of an amazing evening like this is beyond words...but to get treated to it by the Chef himself is simply unimaginable. I was very honored to be a part of this evening...and I hope to be a part of the 40th as well!!!

    (5)

  • Brad B.

    Spectacular . It's the second time I've stayed there and just as remarkable as the first from the luxurious rooms to the staff and of course the food and wine. If one goes bankrupt in life it's not because you spent 1,000 on a dinner so please people if there was ever a reason to treat yourself or celebrate an occasion there's no better experience in the world.The only other tip would be not do the wine pairing but to taste different wines yourself and you and your captain pick what's best for your palette .

    (5)

  • Jaime R.

    This is our second time staying at the Inn and dining at the restaurant. All I can say is everything is perfection-from speedy check in and welcome drink-no fussing with signing, etc., to the garden suite, all staff members, food and food presentation. This will remain on our top list and can't wait to return!

    (5)

  • Mark B.

    There is a reason that we always return to The Inn at Little Washington, which has remained at the top of every major food and lodging list in the United States for over a quarter of a century-it's just that wonderful. Perfection is commonplace here, from the innovative and classic cuisine, to its presentation by the impeccable staff and servers. We spent another wonderful night in the Thomas Keller Suite, and the accommodations echo the ambiance and vibe of the entire quintessential establishment: class and romance, while amazingly fun and unpretentious at the same time.

    (5)

  • Robert C.

    So this is one of the best restaurant I've ever been to. One of the best service I have ever received. The food is so amazing. I have made bets with my friends and the bet is if they can look me in the eye and said that it was not one of the best places they ever been to, let me see the bill and I will pay for it. Now here's the thing. I would say that this is a place where you go for a very special occasion. It's not cheap. Food cost alone can be a few hundred dollars. That's not even having a drink yet. If you like wine, then you could look at close to four to five bills. Now, the only down side to this place. It's a B&B place. Don't go there for that. Not worth the price. Not saying that it's not good but I don't believe that it's worth it. For dinner it's very well worth it. They pay attention to every detail. I would give it a sixth star if yelp would offer it.

    (5)

  • Prashanth N.

    Ok.. This place is just pure hype. In a retrospect, I wish I haven't driven an hour and spend $700 for two. Me and My wife went out there for our 5 year anniversary dinner. The place is in a very small town, the restaurant sticks out because this is the only place that's open at night. Service is impeccable from the valet to the servers. Food is --um. just ok... definitely not worth $250 for their tasting menu. The bread they serve is hard and cold... I would expect that we get warm breads and better butter.. you get better breads at cheesecake factory. We both opted for the THE GASTRONAUT'S MENU. we got started with Truffle Dusted Popcorn --- popcorn tasted very good, but truffle were so out of place, A Tin of Sin: American Osetra Caviar with Peekytoe Crab and Cucumber Rillette -- Probably the best item on this menu.. very unique and pleasant taste.. especially with the cucumber rillette.. Chilled Maine Lobster with Heart of Palm, Blood Oranges and Pistachios -- um.. just ok.. for Desserts.. the ice cream was just ok.. Wine selection is great.. So.. if you are a person who get blown away by the service and fancy presentation, you will love this place.. but if you are going there for some good tasting/unique dishes. this is not the place. There are far more better places in DC for much less.. So bottom line.. save yourself a trip and money.

    (2)

  • Robert G.

    Without many words, this place is incredible. If you are a foodie, this place must be on your list. Patrick O'Connell has created a unique dining experience that is unmatched. From the service, to the food preparation, to the knowledge of the staff, to the hotel stay - this place is very close to perfection. Washington, Virginia and the surrounding area is also stunning. Don't miss an opportunity to visit this special restaurant and see the Shenandoah Valley. If you are in the area early for high tea, you can also stop for a wonderful cheese plate at Stonyman Farmer.

    (5)

  • Minna B.

    Delicious, interesting, top service in a charming and traditionally luxurious setting . Worth the drive!

    (5)

  • Iris B.

    stunning decor. each room is unique and beautifully designed. the service is impeccable and the food!! just wow. perfect getaway in a historical artsy little town. not hard to see why they are a 5-star Relais & Châteaux Inn & restaurant.

    (5)

  • Hannah H.

    My husband and I came here for our first wedding anniversary (awww, I know). I've heard many great reviews on this place, and because I love trying new restaurants out, I thought, why not and take a chance. While the city (or the 3-block radius) of Washington, VA was a total bore (with only 3-4 restaurants in that historic town), this inn with its lovely restaurant earned its 5 stars. It was a combination of the ambiance, the attentive waitstaff, as well as the solid food with great presentation. We were able to get seated an hour earlier, so it was nice for the restaurant to do so. The place also managed to 'customize' our menu and give us a copy at the end of the meal as an 'anniversary souvenir,' wishing us a happy anniversary. We were seated by the garden, which was nice. There were several amuse bouches sent out by the chef - first, was a quartet of spoonfuls tidbits: a bbq beef jerky (good), the world's smallest baked potato (with sour cream, chives, and bacon bits - quite bland without salt and butter, but pleasantly and ridiculously CUTE), some green plum/grape in a yuzu sauce (quite alcoholic, not my style), and a beet(?) risotto ball (nice and mooshy with a crunch exterior). Next was also another amuse bouche with a Gruyere cheese puff (airy, but could have used more of the cheese) with a great combination with a pea/mint shooter - tasted great together, not separately. For my first course, I had the Quartet of Virginia Oyster Slurpees, eaten from left to right - it was fresh and each had a unique taste. My husband had the Melange of Spicy Big Eye Tuna with Avocado, Mango, Crispy Shallots and Sake-Yuzu Sorbet, which was just 'okay' - Todai is better. For the second course, I had the Warm Salad of Pomegranate Molasses Glazed Squab with Roasted Pearl Onions, which was a little tart and decent; the hubsters had Seared Sea Scallop with Leek Puree and Caramelized Endive - a buttery goodness. For the Main, I had the Pepper Crusted Tuna Pretending to be a Filet Mignon Capped with Duck Foie Gras on Charred Onions with a Burgundy Butter Sauce, which really tasted like a filet mignon - loved the burgundy sauce (could have done without the thin slices of vegetables). The hubsters had a Duet of Duck: Seared Breast and Braised Leg with Turnip Puree and Plum Sauce - nothing impressive, but the tiny cast-iron skillet is so cute! For dessert, I had the pleasure of meeting Faira the Cow for the cheese plates - Cameron, the 'Cheese Whiz' is AWESOME - loved all the suggestions he made for me (comes with honey, strawberry rhubarb, bread/nuts/dried fruit); my husband had the Spring Fling: a Miniature Strawberry-Rhubarb Cobbler, Limoncello Pudding Cake and Rhubarb Frozen Yogurt - tart cobbler, great crust, and the pudding cake was a bit too sweet. We were sent home with an Inn paper model full of desserts. Our waiter, Chris, was funny. Beautiful place (check out their cute garden), service, and solid food - I would definitely come back again. First anniversary dinner was a success! Making a reservation for either a dinner or a room at one of their beautiful cottages is a breeze. The customer service is excellent, and in no way are you ever felt uncomfortable or awkward. +Fair the Cow! +friendly service

    (4)

  • Janice L.

    We loved celebrating my husbands 25th bday, anniversary here on 03/11. Our main waiter was Landry. The food was amazing and lived up to its expectations! Service was very accommodating from reservations, to adding little touches and complimentary champagne toast for our anniversary too! We had the 4 course meal. Don't remember the order! But we tried a lot! Our favorites were the foie gras hot and cold! Tuna tartare w/ cucumber sorbet! And the tuna w/ foie gras main course. So yummy! One to go down in the books! Pros: honored military discount of 30%! Wow never heard of a fine dining place doing this! Must know the reason why they're so gracious about this!! :) Best meal ever! Nice hostess and waiters. They look professional in their suits too. Con: just one thing, I know don't hate me. I did lots if research prior to dining here. I was so excited to meet chef Patrick O'Connell and to see that kitchen and possibly get his cookbook signed. We weren't even offered a tour.... :( the table next to us with 4 ladies was invited to go back though.... :/ the sommelier made his way around almost every table but us to say something...oh well. One day hopefully ill meet Chef!!!

    (5)

  • Lindsey N.

    Absolutely phenomenal. If you can afford it, it will be one of the most indulgent experiences of your life. I appreciate how accommodating the entire staff was of my seafood aversion. You are able to swap out a course from one tasting menu for a course on a different tasting menu. A few notes - the seasonal shot of soup was a black and white bean soup, which came with a crostini that featured a wedge ("slice" would be an understatement) of black truffle. That may have been the best bites of my life. From the enduring selections tasting menu, the lamb carpaccio was a stand out, as was the gouda macaroni and cheese with virginia ham. From the Appalachian seasonal menu, the veal tounge and wagyu were outstanding. For dessert, the 7 deadly sins truly was sublime, make sure you get the hot caramel for your mini ice cream sandwich, there's plenty to eat by the spoonful. You really can't go wrong here. Everything was perfect.

    (5)

  • Elizabeth N.

    Unbelievable. This is a magical place where aside from the incredible food, the delightful staff sees to your needs and desires before you even realize that you had any! My mother in law commented, "It's like an opera, like a symphony!" And I feel that this is the best way to describe the Inn at Little Washington experience. Each dish takes you away to a different level of heaven with every bite. The imagination with which the menu is prepared cannot be taught - this is truly a creative master in action. I'm not sure what I can add to the other reviewers' reviews aside from my emotional blathering. Simply go and experience this gift of sensory paradise for yourself!

    (5)

  • Michael B.

    We went to celebrate both of our birthdays two weeks ago. It had been on our restaurant "bucket list" for many years. Admittedly, after reading some reviews that were not all that complementary (too expensive; there are other places just as nice), I wondered if maybe there was a bit of hype associated with the Inn. All I can say is that it surpassed all expectations. I feel like we didn't just have a spectacular dinner, we had the dining experience of a lifetime. I've been to very nice restaurants before. I've been willing to spend a lot of money for great dinners. But we were totally unprepared for this; it was simply superb from the minute we arrived. Let me give some examples of what made it such a wonderful experience. When we arrived, the parking valet made a discreet inquiry about our reservations. As we walked through the door, we were greeted by name, the staff clearly having been informed by the valet. And from that moment forward, everyone who interacted with us - the waiter, servers, bartender, everyone, called us by name. Many high end restaurants treat you like someone if you are someone. The Inn treats you like someone no matter who you are. Another example. After being seated, the waiter asked if we would like a cocktail. I said I would but left it up to him what to bring something. A few minutes later, out comes the bartender, a completely enjoyable young man, with an Old Fashioned; only he calls it the "Not So Old, Old Fashioned". Because it is my birthday. And it is a marvelous custom cocktail. When I told the waiter how great it was, he asked if I would like the recipe. Of course. Later during the meal, out comes the bartender again, with the recipe inside a card inside an envelope. Who does that? And the service during dinner? We wanted to know all about the food as it was served and the waiter obliged. He was a trained sommelier, so that helped us understand the wine pairings. He was patient and indulged us as we asked all kinds of questions. It didn't come across as insincere, nor was it cloyingly chummy. It was a great time with a very, very good waiter. So the food. The food. We are not foodies. But we know enough to understand when we are eating good food. I've eaten at fine restaurants in Europe, India, and around the country. I've never had food like this. From first bite to last, we understood that we were tasting special food. I won't cover all the dishes as other Yelp reviews do that. But let me say that every course was great and some were sublime. I can still imagine the first bit off the appetizer plate, a bite of beef carpaccio, that somehow tasted like whipped butter, only it was beef. And the black and white bean soup, with a small sandwich with sliced truffle that really did elevate the taste of the black bean soup. Would I have changed some of the wine pairings? Yes, two for sure. But I have to travel back to Virginia (we live in Maryland) to find that pinot noir. And I don't even like pinot noir. By the time dessert was served, i was too full so I just had coffee. And I didn't even mind. My wife, on the other hand, devoured her 7 bites with relish (sic). At the end of the dinner, we were invited back to meet Chef O'Connell. What a privilege. And what a gracious man. He is finishing up dinner service but he kindly spent several minutes with us as if he had all the time in the world. There are other great restaurants that serve wonderful food. And I think some people evaluate a restaurant only in terms of the food. But I have never been someplace that was such a combination of amazing food, amazing service and a setting that was so beautiful without being ostentatious. Was it costly? Yes, for us anyway. But it was worth every penny. Apparently, there is an ongoing "conversation" about the quality and menu of the Inn. All, I can say is that we thought it was going to be a one time event. But frankly, we need to go again. And next time bring family and friends. Because we want that total experience again.

    (5)

  • John H.

    This is the best culinary experience I have had. This place is very romantic and perfect for special occasion. The food was just divine. An interesting experience is that we also got to visit their kitchen after the dinner.

    (5)

  • Richard T.

    I don't usually write reviews for businesses with unblemished and well-established reputations for excellence. They don't need me and potential readers of any review I might write don't need me. Anything I might say would just be piling on. So be it. But I'm going to pile on. I've been a regular, if infrequent, guest of TIALW since the mid-eighties. I've dined there countless times, had two overnight stays, and this June had a two-night stay for my wedding. All of these experiences have left me marveling at the consistent excellence --near perfection -- of the place. The challenges are obvious. TIALW is not only a world-class restaurant, but also a world-class hotel. It's in the very epicenter of nowhere. Yet you are surrounded with, bathe in, perfection at every turn. The food, the accommodations, the service -- perhaps particularly the service --can be matched but never, in my experience, surpassed anywhere. I cannot think of a more challenging business in which to aspire to excellence. It's labor intensive and invites the most critical clientele with the highest expectations, yet TIALW leaves even the most urbane globe-trotting gastronome grasping for superlatives. TIALW is an extravagance, but I never leave without feeling I've gotten a very special bargain. The place is literally miraculous. I cannot imagine how they do it. A bucket-list must for any and all with the even slightest taste for refined elegance.

    (5)

  • Ken V.

    I've taken a long time to think about this review. First, I can say it was an experience worth having. I'm a serious foodie, home chef, and I have run high end services organizations for a couple of decades, so I had high expectations of both the service and the cooking. First, the service. We were immediately greeted and escorted to the parlor. After a few moments, we were asked if we'd like drinks while waiting for our table (we were a party of six celebrating my mother-in-law's 70th in one of the kitchen tables). I purposely ordered a Hendrick's gin. Yes, it was a little bit of a test, but I'd have expected that to be a very low hurdle. My Hendrick's gin was delivered to me with a lime wedge, as is traditional for gin - only problem is that Hendrick's is served with a cucumber slice, not lime. Disappointment, not awful, but disappointing. Once we were seated, the quality of service and attentiveness was wonderful, with each course being served by a team of staff, so everyone was served at once (felt like a controlled "swarm" for a lack of a better term). The dishes in the course were described to us and we were on our way. Again, wonderful, but... We'd ordered wine with our meal and after I tasted the wine and OK'd it, it was poured for the rest of the table. Fine, but upon refilling glasses, I'd asked that the ladies at our table be served first, they were not. Of the 3ish times we had glasses topped off (we ordered more than one bottle of wine), only once were the ladies served first before the men. Also, in two of the three bottles, they were drained to the point of leaving a significant amount of sediment in the last glass. Disappointing, not awful, but disappointing. The flip side here is that the Sommelier was wonderful. She quickly picked up that I knew a bit about wine, why I liked what I liked, but that I was looking for new experiences. She was able to suggest three truly wonderful bottles that fit well with our meals (and they were diverse) and met everyone's palate. Very nice job there. Both my wife and mother-in-law expressed a dislike of goat cheese and lamb. While modifying the selection options was easy and comfortable ""Of course, is there a course from another menu selection you'd prefer?"), not all the dishes with goat cheese as a part of the recipe were identified, leading me to swap one dish with my wife, as her's had goat cheese in the sauce. She has a strong aversion and, even though it was subtle, it was readily apparent to her. I thought it was delicious, but that's not the point. The other dish had goat cheese as a garnish. Both complete turn-offs to her. During one meat course, her pigeon was errantly put down in front of me and my lamb in front of her. Again, not awful, but not what I was hoping for. Finally (and I don't know if I'd call this "service," but...), the prix fix menu options had uplift priced items (ex - if you want the caviar, it's $X more). Really? We're at the highest of high end restaurants and I'm greeted with something that feels very cheap to me, especially having come off a recent cruise where all the non-generic items had cost uplifts. Maybe I'm being overly sensitive here, but it seems to me the restaurant could charge an additional $1 to each customer on an already VERY pricey tab and remove that feeling of being nickeled and dimed. Disappointing. One very positive note - we sat in the kitchen and were a table with more than one serious home cook. We asked questions of the staff that were not normal table banter and they very comfortably and easily answered everything. Now for the food. We had what I believed to be excellent food that was well prepared and well presented. I was impressed with the consistency, taste and beauty of everything that came out. I had lamb that was as tender and mild as anything I'd ever had before. Just spectacular and the sweetbreads were a delicious treat. Very special. The lobster Napolean with lobster gazpacho was fabulous. Courtesy of the above-mentioned goat cheese situation, I had my wife's beet salad and it was also wonderful. There was nothing I ate that I did not think tasted and looked spectacular. I only had one minor issue with the food. We were there for a birthday. They brought out a cake for the table - chocolate cake with chocolate orange frosting. The cake was honestly what anyone would want in a cake - rich, moist, delicious, except that I'm not a huge fan of a chocolate-orange combination (classic, though it is). Would have been nice to have been asked if anyone wanted anything else. Overall, this was a memorable meal and I'm truly glad I was able to experience it. The food was wonderful, the service was very good, and the environment was special. For me, though, I see it as a once-in-a-lifetime event. I'm a huge foodie and love a good meal, but am not motivated to return, although I will definitely return to Washington, VA in the future.

    (4)

  • Emily L.

    We enjoyed dinner with friends here recently, and while we had a lovely time, we felt the price was not commensurate with the overall experience. Our food was excellent, without question. The ingredients were top-quality and prepared with artistry and care. Every dish was a work of art, perfectly seasoned and innovative without resorting to too many gimmicks. However, I felt the tasting-menu format just didn't work here: we had what amounted to half a dozen appetizer portions, with no one dish at the center of the meal. I would have loved, for instance, an entree of the pan-roasted chicken in morel cream sauce; it was transporting. The sea bass filet with lemon vodka sauce was also exceptional. Spending several hundred dollars per person, however, I expected the meal to unfold like the plot of a well-crafted novel, and instead I had to make do with several interesting but brief short stories. Even the dessert was fragmented -- a quenelle of silky ice cream here, an artful cluster of crispy crumbs there -- with nothing substantial enough to sink your teeth into. The $200 price tag only includes food, of course; we paid twice that in the end. Although I don't think I'd ever had a $24 cocktail before, I did enjoy their springy take on an Old-Fashioned, with herbs and strawberries muddled in place of the familiar spicy orange, and my husband raved about their Sazerac, which met his exacting Crescent City standards. He and our friends all ordered the wine pairings that came with the classic menu, but since I had already diverged with the seasonal menu, I ordered a bottle of rose that I thought would compliment it well. It turned out to be a good choice, even though they brought the wrong bottle, as the others were not wowed by the pairings: they were fine, but didn't transform the dishes the way they do for the best tasting menus. Two out of five were Rieslings, for instance, which seemed a little repetitive. The dining rooms were charming, but surprisingly dated: our table was in a cozy little nook that felt just a tad stuffy, with layers and layers of fabric everywhere and chairs that weren't the most comfortable. The garden achieved the perfect balance between rustic and refined, however, and we were thrilled to move there for our dessert course, on a flagstone terrace overlooking a colorful water garden. The service about which many reviewers have raved was indeed impressive, but again, lacked the jaw-dropping quality I would expect at this price point. Our server was young and had a great sense of humor, but remained professional. He didn't write anything down but made several mistakes, including ordering the wrong wine for me, as I mentioned above. I know I should have mentioned it, but as I'm not a wine connoisseur I felt uncomfortable bringing it up when I knew I would enjoy just about any rose. Ironically enough, when our bill arrived they had charged me for wine pairings in addition to the bottle, though they quickly fixed that error when we pointed it out. When I ordered, I asked if the chef could substitute another dish for the veal (I don't eat it for ethical reasons) and the server immediately suggested the parallel course on another menu, a lamb carpaccio. It was delicious, but as there was already a lamb course on my menu, I would have preferred a little more effort at finding a suitable substitute. Finally, what we thought was a gracious invitation to enjoy their garden on a cool summer evening turned out to be a gentle nudge out of the way so that a high-profile military guest could have our table. We understood, but it seemed a poor way to treat people who had made reservations months in advance. If those small hiccups left a bad taste in our mouths, it was certainly dispatched by the shower of parting gifts: personalized menus suitable for framing and a tiny paper replica of the Inn, filled with bite-sized sweets. Truly, despite these minor quibbles, our night was full of fun and laughter and I'm grateful to have had the experience.

    (4)

  • John D.

    I don't get it. Why are there so few reviews for this place? There should be thousands, at least by west coast standards. My wife & I dined here with four friends in June and paid a bit of a surcharge to eat at a table in the kitchen. It was worth it, but certainly not necessary to fully enjoy this fine restaurant. I must say that I had perhaps the best meal I've ever has in the US, the only possible exceptions being The French Laundry and Chez Penisse. The ambiance and decor was exquisite and the service impeccable. And the food, of course, to die for! Although I'm a carnivore, I went for the vegetarian tasting menu paired with wines, and I was not disappointed. After the Amuse-bouche and Chilled Asparagus Soup, my salad of Tokyo Turnips was fabulous. Thereafter, every course was a special treat: Honey Poached Eggplant with Baba Ghanoush, Local Duck Egg "Tea Cup", Custard, Fusilli Pasta with Morel Mushrooms, and Cauliflower Steak with Yellow Indian Curry. It really does not get any better than this...

    (5)

  • Andrea J.

    I don't know where to begin this review! From the time we drove up to the front of the Inn and valet parked the car until we got back into our car to leave this morning, the service was impeccable! The room was gorgeous and I think they upgraded us because we reserved the standard room but ended up in a room with a balcony overlooking the front of the Inn. The afternoon tea was delightful outdoors, overlooking the koi and beautiful plants that ran along the pond. We took a tour of the property and the guide (forgot his name) was knowledgable about the property and history. We took a nice little walk around the property and said hello to the chickens as well as the llamas and sheep. The dinner was truly amazing and the best meal I think I've ever had. The service was top-notch. My husband and I chose two different menus so we could sample all of the selections available. I can't tell you what my favorite was...it was truly memorable. The best part of the meal was Cameron, the cheese monger who brought Faira (?name) to our table and unloaded every cow joke ever told. After dinner, we took a tour of the kitchen and even got to learn how to clean soft shell crabs. Such a great experience for someone who loves to cook. We got the best sleep in the most comfortable bed. We actually slept until 9 which was late for us. The continental breakfast was plenty after the wonderful meal we had the night before. The croissants were the best! The Greek yogurt parfait was tasty with house made yogurt and granola. The berries that accompanied the parfait were fresh and sweet. I can't wait to go back and celebrate another special occasion at the Inn. Truly memorable.

    (5)

  • Pete V.

    You might ask how can one not give one of the top restaurants in the country 5 stars? Well...if they keep delivering amazing dining experiences like they did for my b-day dinner, then why the heck not! We celebrated my birthday with an over the top dinner 7-course dinner at Inn at Little Washington and they did not disappoint. From our first drink cocktail to dessert, every course was imaginative, unique in style and preparation, cooked perfectly, presented exceptionally well, and delicious of course! We started off with a round of cocktails. I love bourbon and asked our server if he recommended the Old Fashioned, or the Bourbon Burlesque. As a bourbon lover, the recommended the latter, and I was delighted by it. Prepared with Basil Hayden bourbon, it was very well balanced and made with plenty of fresh blueberry with Art in the Age "Snap" Liqueur, meyer lemon, rhubarb bitters, and Jamaican ginger beer. The drink enhanced the whiskey while adding plenty of complexity and balance. A cocktail perfect for sipping and enjoying on a warm Virginia spring day. Without going into crazy detail on the many courses...I'll skip to the highlights: - The amuse bouche was excellent. It was actually three bite sized tastings. One was a fresh salted radish. I usually don't like radish, but this was scrumptious! The second was a Virginia ham egg roll. Again, I'm not an egg roll guy, but this was very tasty. Loved the crunchy texture and savory ham flavors. - The asparagus vichysoisse was superb (and this was another free course!) I feel like this is a theme of dishes or ingredients I usually do not prefer, but reinvented as a dish that I absolutely loved. I do like asparagus, but cold soup is not my thing. Here the vichysoisse was creamy and flavorful. It was also not served too cold, but slightly below room temperature, which I thought was the ideal serving temp. - Wow, I can't believe I had just had 2 free course and have not even started my regular meal. For my first course I opted for the hamachi crusted with peppers, and served with radish and jalapeno. The hamachi was of extremely fresh and I loved how the fattiness in the hamachi was contrasted by the spiciness in the radish and jalapeno. - My next course, the veal tongue with horseradish ice cream was very inventive (I mean who has had horseradish ice cream before?). The veal tongue was super tender and sliced very thinly so it melted in your mouth. The ice cream was actually not very "hot" but had a nice creamy, slightly sweet flavor that complimented the savory tongue. They paired this dish with a white wine from Portland, which had some excellent acids and fruit, which added a whole new dimension to this dish. Yum! - The sea bass and duck dumpling was another hit. The sea bass was cooked perfectly and had a very night light, sightly buttery flavor. The duck dumpling was delicious but too small. I'd like at least two next time please! - My entree was a veal loaf, which doesn't sound enticing, but was excellent. The dish captured the tenderness of the veal, and still introduced some complex flavors that made it the capstone of the meal. Well done. For dessert I liked the fact that you could choose either a sweet dish, cheese plate, or after dinner drink. As a Scotch fan, I elected to finish my meal with a glass of Laphroaig 18-year, which of course was uber peaty, smokey, and just what I like in a glass of Scotch. My wife ordered the cheese and they brought in a plastic cow cheese cart with cheese on top...not to mention they had the cow "moo" sound as the cart approached. She selected about 6 cheeses, and they even offered to give her more if she wanted! Overall, we had a fantastic meal at Inn at Little Washington. The staff did a superb job describing the dishes, delivering great service, and of course delivering a simply outstanding meal. Can't wait for my next visit, and hopefully it's sooner than my next b-day :)

    (5)

  • Matt D.

    Everything about The Inn exceeded our expectations, which were quite high. The staff was outstanding. Our accommodations wonderful. Our dinner delicious, inventive and exciting. The Inn at Little Washington deserves its outstanding reputation without question. I highly recommend staying at the Inn when dining there to complete the experience.

    (5)

  • Joie W.

    TIMELESS & PERFECT ! This place has it all ! The ambiance is incredible ! If you have the opportunity to stay at the Inn ... You should !

    (5)

  • Laurie W.

    My husband and I were engaged and married at the Inn. Tomorrow is our three year anniversary and we called to see if we could stop in for a glass of champagne. We were told NO THE INN IS NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. What a slap in the face. Thank you for the memories.

    (1)

  • J W.

    Granted I went here about 10 years and I'm sure a lot could have changed since that post graduation visit, this just seems like a place that relies more on its reputation as a destination for special events rather than quality of the food it serves. I probably don't need to state that it's obviously very expensive to dine here, but the food just isn't worth the sky high prices they are charging. Even if you do find yourself in the DC area, i'm not sure this place would justify the 90 min drive from the city when you can probably find many suitable places inside the beltway. Maybe just another case demonstrating that when you set your expectations high, it is much easier to be let down.

    (3)

  • In D S.

    The service was amazing and the presentation/ambiance was absolutely incredible. The food was good. Maybe I set the bar to high, but for all the hoopla about this place I was expecting more.

    (4)

  • Sarah M.

    Excellent service. The menu had a nice mix of eclectic (caesar salad ice-cream) and traditional (venison with root vegetable purée) options for each course. The sommelier made a great suggestion that wasn't on the menu - and it was in the same price range as the bottles we were debating. Anything else I could write would be repetitive of other reviews. I was surprised other reviews did not mention the Maitre d'Fromage and Faira the cow. If you normally enjoy wine and a cheese plate, order a selection of cheeses as your dessert. The maitre d'Fromage, Cameron, is amazing! He has a story about each cheese available and even the cow shaped serving cart that is brought table side for you to select from. His passion for cheese is contagious and the portions are generous. As we were settling the bill, Cameron brought a card with the names of cheeses we had selected. It's the extra touches like that put this restaurant on the "best of" lists.

    (5)

  • D K.

    My review is regarding the restaurant only. The first thing you notice when you come in is the decor. It's a bit over the top in that I felt I was surrounded by luxury with a bit of tacky stuffiness. It's hard to call this place romantic unless you're about 60 years old it seems. Rather, it feels rather formal and hush hush. That said, the staff was very welcoming and friendly. The food was relatively standard fare compared to other more "hip and modern" restaurants in DC proper. But it was outstandingly delicious! It's expensive, more so than Citronelle or Komi. Tack in the expense for travel and lodging, and a dinner turns into an excursion. But it's a very pleasant experience if you are with someone special to share it.

    (5)

  • Jason A.

    We choose to visit the Inn at Little Washington for our 10th anniversary. We choose 4 stars but walked away with mixed feelings. This is probably less to do with the restaurant itself, than in consideration of what an "experience" like this is worth. We took our honeymoon in Napa Valley and had some amazing dining experiences. Everything from The French Laundry to Domaine Chandon to a little place called Restaurant Charcuterie in Healdsburg. It really opened our eyes to fine dining -- and the fact that it doesn't have to cost a fortune to eat a memorable meal. For example, the night be ILW, we had dinner at the Thornton River Grill. A little hole in the wall. The meal was fantastic. You could tell the beef was fresh simply by how it smelled -- don't think I can recall that kind of experience. We'd go there again in a second! So back to the ILW. From the moment you drive up and are greeted by the valets, the service is simply impeccable. When we checked in, they greeted us by saying Happy Anniversary. The waitress and support staff were attentive and responsive without being overbearing. Our names were printed on the menu and our car was waiting for us when we were done (with umbrellas since it was raining). The food, as expected was excellent, though it had its ups and downs. Unfortunately, writing this review too late to remember specific dishes, but there were clearly some dishes that were beyond compare while others were good, but not "spectacular". There were a couple of standout points for us including the Sommelier who helped direct us to some excellent Virginia Wines since we were trying to keep all our food, wine local for the weekend. She really knew here stuff across the board which is good since the wine list is massive. The cheese course was also a highlight. You have to really see it to experience it, but it was simply a fun moment in the middle of all the "seriousness." There was a great selection of cheeses beyond anything you can get at most places, and again the server really knew his stuff. At the end of the day, it's not that the Inn at Little Washington isn't great. I think it's just that the culinary world has caught up. We only ordered the basic multi-course dinner, and two half bottles of wine. That, plus tip, brought our bill to around $500 (could have been $600). That is what gives us pause. We're not sure that a dinner - any dinner - is really worth that kind of money for 2 people considering that other options out there. I agree that everyone should experience a meal and service like this once, but go knowing that the bill is going to be pretty large. I think there is a place like the ILW in the culinary scene, but some thought should be given to its future. They probably need to adapt a bit to the times in terms of menu and price to remain relevant. We, for one, hope they do because we love the history, tradition and romance of the place!

    (4)

  • V N.

    We liked it more than French Laundry, Per Se, etc. It's out if the way, by beautiful place and worth the trip. Mayors House which was cool, but next we're going to try the gamekeeper's lodge.

    (5)

  • Mickey L.

    I confess, I wrote about my experience in my journal years ago when I was less experienced as a epicurean, but "The Inn" was truly that once-in-a-lifetime experience I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to enjoy--and still do when I think about it =D While the food was not perfect, there were truly unforgettable moments of taste euphoria (Passion Fruit Panna Cotta), beyond flawless service led by Susan Wilson-Maragos (now at Foti's in Culpeper) and William, and the best-seat-in-the-house for festive and romantic ambiance to top off "The Experience." A warm day, a bit cloudy but a calm, temperate reprieve from the previous night's thunderous storm set the perfect tone for a heavenly gastronomic experience with my dining companion. Rushing through Friday afternoon traffic, alas, we made it on time to The Inn. A bit hectic, we had the car valet-ed and waited to be seated. When we entered into our cozy and private alcove overlooking the beautiful courtyard, we felt immediately pampered in The Inn's aura of greatness. Surprisingly, I seemed a bit over-dressed (jacket and tie) compared to the other patrons who were a bit less formally attired. Sitting down in our comfy love seat, we immediately noticed the careful attention given to the flower arrangements on the table, behind the table, end of the room, and in the courtyard accompanying the koi pond. Then, began the gourmet equivalent of love. 1. Superb champagne (sweet, bubbly, and playful like us =D) less expensive than others in DC and Hors' de oeuvres: a) Superb smoked salmon with dill b) Vidalia onion "mini quiche" the equivalent of perfect French onion soup c) Turnover of barbecued rabbit, our first ever bunny, very savory and super d) Rustic Smithfield ham biscuit 2. A pink plum soup--a smoothy-like fruity and playful refreshment. 3. First course: a) Pepper and Herb-Crusted Baby Lamb Carpaccio with Tabouli--very tender, unique and exquisitely prepared with an intriguing taste and refreshing tabouli. b) Sautéed Rouget (red mullet) over tomato gazpacho--a mini-version of red snapper crisp-on-the-outside and tender-on-the-inside delicately paired with a fresh and cool gazpacho. 4. Second course: a) Pecan-Crusted Soft Shell Crab Tempura with Italian mustard fruit--crisp and perfectly cooked to enhance the crab's dreamy texture b) Fricassee of Maine Lobster with potato gnocchi and curried walnut--the way lobster should be handled, tender and lightly seasoned and accompanied with delicate gnocchi, sweet pearl onions, and flavorful walnuts. 5. Main Course: a) Sesame-Crusted Chilean Sea Bass with baby shrimp, clams and artichokes--perfectly cooked to enhance the sweet and soft texture of the prized fish. The broth was very salty, but the texture of the fish is still the standard by which we measure fish texture perfection. b) Pepper Crushed Tuna "Filet Mignon-style" with Seared Foie Gras and caramelized ribbons of Country Vegetables--another flawlessly prepared fish paired with tender carrots, onions, zucchini and decadent foie gras. 6. Coffee and Dessert: a) Panna Cotta with Passion Fruit Sauce and Wine Berries--only way to describe the texture: smooth with a body like silk, paired with floral-tang sauce and unique wine berries (literally home-grown) that make all others obsolete. An all-time favorite dessert. b) Seven Deadly Sins (i. chocolate cake filled with molten chocolate ganache; ii. lemon meringue over mini lemon tart; iii. coconut ice cream with coconut bits in hazelnut chocolate "cup"; iv. panna cotta with passion fruit sauce; v. butter pecan ice cream; vi. apple crisp; vii. chocolate roulade with white chocolate center)--a fun-filled adventure of chocolate and fruit sampling. The food exemplifies the essence of New American cuisine, combining tasty elements from around the world and locally with their own produce. Although not flawless (a bit salty side with sauces), it is as a whole the Platonic ideal of a special occasion experience. The service was wonderful, attentive, and always willing to help us choose from a menu filled with can't-miss choices, as well as take our photograph. Not missing a beat, they did the little things--service with a smile, little take-home dessert box, and personalized menu to take home--to make this an experience of a lifetime. After finishing our gastronomic journey, we quietly strolled through the peaceful garden and got The Inn's signature plate at the nearby gift shop, then stopped by to see the magic in the kitchen. The staff welcomed us into a busy beehive of a kitchen (like Sous Chef Rafael) who worked very attentively and at the same time seemed to enjoy their art with dedication and passion to bring joy into every plate. As we left, we slowly came home having experienced a slice of heaven on earth at The Inn.

    (5)

  • James A. S.

    Our experience was wonderful and expensive. Initial host, Jess, who showed us around and also our waiter, along with Neil were an asset to the Inn. Couple of problems which should not have occurred will be listed below. 1. If you have a cell phone, forget it, unless you have Sprint. All others do not work at this location. 2. One main switch for all the lights and ELECTRICAL OUTLETS in the room. Therefore, if you have a CPap, as I do, it WILL NOT WORK, unless you unscrew all the lights in the room, and leave the switch on. 3. The door going into the bathroom does not close due to expansion of the wood, and the drain in the sink had to be lifted out, so the water would drain out. The food is delicious, rooms extremely nice, but a little overdone. One of the nice features is they do things for you when you least expect it, like leaving two bottled waters in our car upon our departure. For first timers, like us, one needs to know something about dinner. You have your choice of menu's, left side is basically a four course meal, with a couple of nice treats added to that for $168. Right side of menu is the tasting one with about 12-15 courses for $218 You have to have some cheese served by Cameron before you leave. That guy is fantastic in his presentation and knowledge of each of the cheeses he serves. Overall, our experience was a once in a lifetime (Bucket list0, and we enjoyed it very much.

    (4)

  • Julie M.

    I should have written this review 2 weeks ago when we actually visited for my boyfriends 30th birthday. Then I could tell everyone about the handful of delicious little morsels that are not on the menu that we had to start. Luckily, they will give you the menus at the end so now I can yelp about the rest. For the ratings, I did not love the seasoning of all of my dishes, so I was fairly unhappy. Boyfriend on the other hand, loved everything about the meal and since it was his birthday, I am letting him select the rating. We stayed at the Foster Harris House down the street (which I highly recommend). At the b&b, they suggest that you arrive early to have a drink in the library before dinner. So we did - arrived just around 7:30 before our 8:15 reservation. They offered to seat us right away, but we decided to enjoy the full experience. And we enjoyed 2 glasses of champers to toast the evening ahead of us. The decor for this place is definitely over-the-top, ornate, but is all part of the experience. The only slightly off-putting part of the decor was this cow that they roll around to serve the cheese course. I want to say that not only did it moo, but it also had bells around it's neck. I might have re-created the moo part, but anyway, I could have done without the cow. When we finally sat, we were kind of tucked away into this alcove overlooking the garden in the back. There were 4 tables. Which were much too close. Luckily, everyone was from the earlier seating and they were finishing their dessert courses when we arrived. Otherwise, I do think it would have made for an uncomfortable dining experience. I think we must have had the worst seats in the place since we had not one, but 2 servers come by to ask if we wanted to move once the first seating fully cleared out. I guess people want to be part of the action and the scene. We were happy where we were. Our menu approach - we spoke with a friend beforehand who suggested that we should go with the popular items on the menu - eg, the things that had been yelped about. This was generally good advice. My selections: 1. Chilled Maine Lobster in Sherry Vinaigrette with Avocado, Grapefruit, and Crispy Lotus Root. 2. Pan Seared Maine Diver Scallops with Carmelized Endive, Leek Puree and Shaved Black Truffles 3. Beef 2 Ways: A pecan crusted barbequed short rib paired with a miniature filet mignon wrapped in swiss chard I seriously loved all of these dishes, but I believe that there were crushed peppercorns on each of the first 2 and every time I would taste the crunch of the peppercorn, the dishes died a little for me. I just don't like the flavor. My date's selections: 1. Carpaccio of Herb crusted Baby Lamb with Caesar Salad Ice Cream 2. Macaroni and Cheese with Virginia Country Ham and Shaved Black Truffle 3. Pepper Crusted Tuna pretending to be a Filet Mignon Capped with Seared Duck Foie Gras on Charred Onions with a Burgundy Butter Sauce. Sean loved his first course. I couldn't warm up to the caesar ice cream. The Mac and Cheese is to die for. If you go, you must order or you are seriously missing out on what seems to be a signature dish for the Inn. Unfortunately, Sean didn't like his tuna/foie gras. For dessert, he chose the 7 deadly sins. This is the only place where we veered off course. I think we would have been happier had we selected the Butter Pecan Ice Cream Sandwich with Hot Caramel Sauce - the only true regret of the night :-( I went with a glass of the Tokaji. Yum! Oh, and I almost forgot - the wine! We love wine, but we don't love paying a lot for wine. We went with 2 half bottles - a white and a red to keep our costs relatively down. We were pleased with the experience. We were at the restaurant for over 3 hours. The service was attentive. Overall, an amazing birthday celebration. Wondering how I will top this for 40?!

    (4)

  • Dave O.

    S.O. and I are in Washington, VA for some r&r. She grew up in the DC area and had heard of this place. She booked us for dinner. On the surface, the $160/person entry seemed a bit steep (not including alcohol). It was well worth it, one of the best meals I've had world wide. We spent the day cycling and hiking, 40 miles through the mountains on our bikes, and 5 miles hiking. Our appetites were raring to go. We arrived around 6pm a few minutes early for our 6:15 reservation. We were seated immediately. A very cozy place, immaculately decorated. All under the direction of the chef, Patrick O'Connell, we were told. We were cheerfully greeted by Christopher, our server. He did a fantastic job giving us not only the intimate details of our food, but also the history of the place. They got off to a rocky start, as I ordered my standard Hendrich's martini. Given their reputation, I asked if they had blue cheese stuffed olives. I was told they had them, what he really meant was he'd make some up. Unfortunately, they were forgotten when the martinis arrived. They scrambled to hand-stuff some olives, and ultimately, they were quite tasty, real blue cheese. They lost points for the olives however, the itty bitty emasculated variety. A real martini requires manly scrumptious olives. They offer a 9 course and a 4 course, we opted for the 4 course. Our server asked us a few questions, and then choose our four courses. He did an absolutely awesome job at it. Carpaccio lamb with pesto appetizer unlike anything I've ever had, scrumptious. Pecan crusted soft shell crab was out of this world. Mac and cheese with VA ham, using 5 years aged gouda - to die for. Short ribs and sous vide filet mignon outstanding. Sushi tuna with foie gras ,a combination I never would have thought of, mouthwateringly good. We did wines by the glass, a wonderful selection, mostly selected by their sommelier, all outstanding, and they don't skimp with the pours. The final bill with tip was $600, so not a budget place ,but worth it for those special life occasions.

    (5)

  • Sara J.

    I get giddy on the drive from DC to The Inn at Little Washington. It's a beautiful drive through the "country" and I feel my stress subside. From the staffperson greeting you by name as you arrive at the inn, to the top notch artistically presented food (try the pate petals with cucumber sorbet) and desserts like the artist palette of mousses, the experience is unique and memorable. Have a glass of champagne in the garden too. Very romantic. And if you can stay the night, do. Rooms are over the top and cozy. And in the morning, breakfast pasteries and other options are notable, as is service. When we were delivered a NYTimes, I called and asked for a Washington Post, and it was delivered in about 2 seconds. Unforgettable experience.

    (5)

  • Lydia H.

    I am scrolling over five stars, but my head is thinking 4.5 stars. Before I offend the IALW gods, let me explain. Whenever I write a review, I take two things into account: First, did I enjoy the experience? Second, does the establishment succeed in achieving what it sets out to achieve? Now, I realize that I may have made a mistake in visiting the Inn for the first time on Valentine's Day. I should have expected that the prices would automatically be double, that the mark-up on everything would be even more pronounced than usual, and that the need to turn tables quickly would be greater. I also think that having heard for so long people almost choke themselves talking about how amazing the restaurant is made me expect nothing less than ambrosia and nectar upon being seated. Speaking of the Immortals' foods, let me start with the Patrick O'Connell equivalents: 1) The Melange of Spicy Big Eye Tuna with Mango, Avocado, and Sake-Yuzu Sorbet: This was served as the fourth course in a small, shallow dish that I could only wish was larger and deeper. When touring the kitchen after dinner, we were told that the tuna was swimming off the coast of Maui just 18 hours before it was shipped via FedEx to the Inn; tasting it, you would expect no less. Any dish that involves any manifestation of sorbet could not upset me. God, this was good. 2) The Ginger Panna Cotta with Passion Fruit Granite: Wow. Wow. Wow. I believe this was supposed to be a palate cleanser to prepare diners for dessert, but I would have been happy if this perfect combination of sweet and tart were dessert. It may have tied for my favorite part of the meal. 3) The "Braida" di Giacomo Bologna, Brachetto d'Acqui sparkling Italian dessert wine: Possibly the best dessert wine I've ever tasted. Some years ago I "tasted" glass upon glass of Fragolino, a sparkling strawberry wine, in Rome. Reflecting upon this now, I am sure that I knew nothing of wine then other than that I loved that particular one. I have searched for years for something close. This Braida was it, only better. Another note about the Braida: it was the dessert wine listed on the pairing list for the Valentine's Day menu. I am delighted that we decided to go a la carte in this regard, as the wine pairings were an additional $150 per person. This is where my review sours a bit. My biggest complaint about my inaugural dinner here was that it felt rushed. I had been anticipating that this meal would be akin to an evening-long event; I believe it ended up being less than two hours. There were nine courses total, and the speed at which they were served seemed inconsistent. Multiple times dishes were brought to our table when we were not yet finished with the previous course. Because all diners had the same prix fixe meal, it was easy to notice the pace of those eating next to you. The couple at the next table did opt for the wine pairings, and it seemed like the dishes were never there at the same time as the wine (or vice versa). While I would have loved to have had all the wines on the pairing list, I was glad in the end that I had not chosen this option. All of this considered, the service was nearly impeccable. I lost count of how many people were serving and/or greeting us at the table. While it was not dizzying, it certainly made for a more exciting dinner than intimate one; this, however, is merely an observation, not a complaint. It was a wonderful addition to get to meet Mr. O'Connell after the meal; it is delightful to see how and where the magic happens. I also greatly enjoyed putzing around the gift shop across the street after dinner; it was a great substitute for the long walk I would have taken were the weather warmer. So, in the end, did I enjoy the experience? Absolutely. While I certainly will not be able to dine at the Inn on every special occasion, I would really love to head back there during another season; it would surely be lovely to sit on the terrace in the summer. Next time, however, I will be sure to go on a much slower night. Did the Inn achieve what it set out to? In my opinion, almost. For the money paid, I think I should be able to take a nap in between courses and then lie prostrate on the luxurious booth bench at the end of the meal. Not that I would have, mind you. I came seeking perfection, and the Inn gave it to me within a thousandth of a point. And that's nothing to snivel about.

    (5)

  • Jeffrey C.

    My wife and I dined here to celebrate her birthday. Other reviewers have gone into (tedious) detail about the food: suffice it to say that it's superb, sublime, almost astounding at every bite. At the price, it had damn well better be, so customers should expect a bill in the range of $600 for two. This is not a quick jaunt for suchi aafter work, this is an event. The critical metric for me was this: my wife was thrilled by it all, and so I can recommend it.

    (5)

  • Helen Y.

    First time having dinner and celebrating a one year anniverary. The service was top notch. Such great attention to detail (a personalized congratulatory message was printed on our menus!). The food was to die for. My advice: Splurge for the "Tin of Sin," if you can. If not, the foie gras, freshly shaved black truffle, and/or cheese will have the element of rich and savory flavors you will soon not forget. I bet The Inn at Little Washington will be one of your top three dining experiences of all time. PS Faira the Cow is my hero. Ask to see her before you order dessert, because her cheese selection is mind-blowing. No joke. If you would like details of my meal, I'd be happy to share (with pics).

    (5)

  • Rachel P.

    I haaaaad the time of my liiiiife and I never felt this way before. Yes i sweeear it's the truuuuth and I owwwwe it allll to youuuuuuuu.... If you can't tell the Inn makes me wanna sing, dance, and you know scream. This meal, as I expected, ranks to be one of the top six meals of my life as follows: 1. Per Se New York 2. The Inn at Little Washington Virginia 3. Joel Robuchon Vegas 4. Chez Panisse Berkeley...must mention this was also rad b/c we sat next to Gloria Steinem having dinner with Alice Walker. Two progressive and amazing women! 5. Fleur De Lys San Francisco 6. Coi San Francisco 7. Stella! New Orleans 8. Amada Philly So stealing the number two spot is you know pretty exciting. Also meaning I just had one of the best meals of my life. WOW. I want to hug and kiss Patrick O'Connell for creating such amazing and tantalizing works of art. I consumed each piece of his creation carefully, and with thought. How could you not? The service is impeccable, definitely the best. The ambiance is warm, soothing, and decadent. This place will make you feel like a queen/king...and considering that the queen has in fact dined here that would make sense. I can't wait to go back. Hopefully I will have room for the AMAZING cheese cart this time that makes a Mooing sound every time it passes by. Talk about a treat for all of your senses! I just need like a million dollars so I can take all of my friends...because the Inn is a place that all people who love food should have a chance to experience. I feel truly lucky to have had the opportunity.

    (5)

  • Jane S.

    The food and service are both good.

    (4)

  • C. U.

    Accomodations were supurb! Food was extraordinary! Ambience was unlike anything I had experienced at an INN. Service was impeccable in everything relating to your experience with them. The Staff were all amazing!!!!! The property was beautiful, relaxing and peaceful. We will definately be back! Cannot thank Samantha Brown's Great Hotels Series for turning us on to this diamond hidden away . This California Girl can't wait to go back- My Hubby was speechless! Thank you to all of the staff for a wonderful experience! ps. do not leave without trying the fleur de sel oatmeal cookies!

    (5)

  • Kay W.

    I am a little late on the review as I stayed here for one night two years ago but it has been nagging at me that I never wrote up a review sharing the utter pretentiousness of our experience with others. Arrived loaded down with stuff and were offered a walk around in the rain to see the fish in the ponds. Fair enough that it was not their fault it was raining but it was their fault for giving us a room with two twin beds shoved together when a King or Queen had been requested and paid for as well. The room was totally over the top in clutter and a certain style of charm and other than the twin bed and me sliding down between them in the middle of the night it was fine. Nothing to write home about but fine. The dinner commenced with what appeared to be one scallop in yogurt sauce accompanied by dazzling droplets which seemed to be sake and an array of tiny courses followed by lemon souffle. None were a wow at all. The next morning we were offered some breakfast included in our room fee - this consisted of what appeared to be dannon vanilla yogurt topped by some fruit in a tall cup. It was actually vile. In my opinion it does not come close to Per Se or French Laundry or any of the real show-stoppers. Seems to be coasting on past fame. Granted we had finished two bottles by the time we sat down to dinner so we were well lubricated and in all honesty did not finish as we were evicted by the staff since I fell down in the courtyard while having a smoke. However I will admit that a combined forty years of smoking and dipping have shot our taste buds but still the parfait looked like something from an airport tale out joint. And the female Bellhop was painful - poor girl with all our luggage, i was mortified and the valet gave us fishy looks as we did not arrive in Bentley. Granted fine dining is wasted on the male part of our duo we just wished we were not starving when evicted. The real problem was the bed. I wanted it to be a special occasion and it was but not in the way I ever intended. We felt dismissed and I was horribly nauseated by the parfait. The divorce seems to have led to a real decline in quality. Sorry I missed the heyday but the emperor has no clothes. The pretension and snobbery does not make for a very positive experience. Male half is a local. Scuttlebutt says that Lynch left at exactly the right time and now O'Connell is stuck with heavy loan payments of $30K per month. The bed was the kicker. Two twins rather than one big mattress, which led to us falling into an enormous crevice in the middle. Much fawning by staff which is to be expected but is vaguely annoying. If the price were a quarter of what it was it would be reasonable, and our understanding is that rates have fallen dramatically since we were there. Cannot really comment on food. O'Connell has a great reputation which must be well deserved but even so, we left the table hungrier than when we sat down. Definitely avoid unless you have a keen appreciation for fine dining. The yogurt parfait the next morning was singularly unimpressive although we both applaud O'Connell's focus on local ingredients.

    (2)

  • Karen G.

    Consistantly sublime service and food.

    (5)

  • Tom N.

    I went to the inn for our anniversary on Saturday. Overall the food was very good but the service was poor. they should be ashamed of themselves for having such bad service at their price point. We had an 830 reservation. We arrived about five minutes early and were given t he choice of sitting in the monkey room or another room which I am forgetting the name. Once we were seated we were offered drinks. My wife ordered a champagne and I asked for a recommendation for a drink and the server looked at me like I was crazy....So we sat and talked and were having a good time. So maybe 20 minutes had passed and many other couples were seated in the waiting room. Our waiter came back once and asked if I wanted another drink which I took. This drink went down a bit quicker and we were still waiting. It was now another 20 minutes later and our waiter no where to be seen and I started to get frustrated. It took another 10 minutes to be seated. We waited almost an hour on a 830 reservation. By this time we were the only couple left waiting...when we arrived before almost all of them. I do not like waiting an hour to be seated but I get that things happen but if I do wait that long I better have good attentive service. The server was poor, I get better service at my local sports bar. We were seated in a the tables that are side by side. I read a review to avoid these tables...I should have heeded the advice. The whole meal I just kept on trying to focus on my wife but I kept on hearing this foursome next to use. The layout just seemed like the inn was trying to shove tables in and not carrying about their customers experience. Dinner started with an amuse that was very nice. We ordered wine, and the server did not even offer to bring the sommelier over for our initial choice. He ended coming over for the second bottle we ordered. He was great, probably the highlight of the service. My wife and I did not order the tasting menu and we were both pretty happy with the food. I had scallops, cod, (I forgot by app), and my wife had scallops and lamb (I also forgot her app). The one exception was the fish dish I ordered which was overcooked but the rest of the dish was great. She had a pumpkin souffle and I had sorbet for desert. We got out with tip for about $600. As for comparison, we went to City Zen about a month ago. Service: The service at the inn does not even come close to to city zen. CZ managed our table perfectly, they anticipated all of our needs. The inn needs to take some lessons. Food: Both excellent. CZ has more amuse's than ILW. Wine: No discernible difference, but I am no expert. Experience: I preferred CZ, but I could see some people liking ILW better. Overall ILW was good but I am dinging them two stars for the service. I expect a lot when I spend $600 on dinner, and the inn did not meet my expectation.

    (3)

  • Paul M.

    Three questions for you: 1. Do you want to stay and eat at one of the finest establishments in the Western World? 2. Do you have $1500 to spare (for two)? 3. What are you waiting for? It is exquisite. Go there. The service, the decor, the rooms, the wine, the people. There is a wee bit of "the cult of Patrick" about the place- but when you are as good as he is you are allowed to be egocentric. We took a tour of the kitchen - they have a chef's table in there which must be great. We stayed on a Monday night, and easily got a reservation a week or two in advance. Friday and Saturday are sold out up to a year in advance - but Sundays are usually available. It is the sort of place that can replace therapy, anti-depressants, destructive addictions. Quite honestly it is life-affirming. If you choose not to stay there you can save about $700 or $800, but it also adds to the experience - and I very much enjoyed the delicious afternoon tea and the magnificent breakfast. Special occasions, birthdays, anniversaries, run-of-the-mill getaways - whatever it is - grab your life by the throat and go there.

    (5)

  • Stephanie T.

    I'm rating this based upon other restaurants I've been that are somewhat suppose to be A list establishments, like this one is suppose to be. And on that note, I am only giving it three stars. I went to the restaurant yesterday for my boyfriend's birthday dinner. $600 later, I was still thinking to myself, although stuffed, that something felt missing. Maybe it was a little bit of everything that made me leave thinking, I can't believe I have 1 1/2 hour drive back. It was simple - it just didn't feel worth it. Let's start. We went into the restaurant a little bit early. My boyfriend wanted a cigar that the other store ran out of and had directed us to go to the front desk to ask. We did and mentioned we had a reservation. She didn't really ask for our name or the time of reservation, just took us to their bar area while we waited for a staff to be there to ask us what we needed. They didn't have the cigar either. So there we are, in this dim lit room, trying to enjoy ourselves. The decor is very nice. We didn't really know whether we should go up there to check in or just stay sitting. About 25 minutes in, finally someone approaches and asks us to follow him and about our reservations. He sits us, but can't seem to find our reservation. It actually takes him 10 minutes to find it. He seems nice though, but I didn't really like the confusion. No one wants to have to worry about whether or not the freaking front desk can find their reservations on a special occasion such as this. I would've liked it to be more seamless; it is my boyfriend's birthday after all and we did drive for 1 1/2 hours. They gave us the wrong menu, and so exchanged that one for a menu that had his name on it. Which is a nice touch, except for the exchange. We decided to get the tasting menu, go full out. This is where its suppose to be amazing, but it falls short. We had these amuse bouche, a little salty but tasty. Except the beet one had a kick of bitterness. I am still not sure whether I liked that dish, and I think maybe I would've preferred to just forget about it. The next dish was a watermelon bubble tea, with a compressed watermelon with salt on top. I love watermelon, but I didn't think the dish was spectacular. It was just pink bubble tea, forgetful. So the start is a little slow, so was the service. Very very slow to bring dishes out, and we realized there wasn't a certain pace time because dishes came faster near the end, one after another, when the dishes were so heavy and large that it didn't feel like a good pace at all because we were just stuffed. I love their tomato salad with a basil sorbet. It was excellent. The right bit of citrus with the cooling element of basil. A very delightfully light dish. It made me look forward to the rest of the night despite very clumsy beginnings. There was a caviar with avocado and crab dish, which was delicious. I loved the way it was plated, very playful. We had a seafood sausage, which was very interesting. I would've preferred a little bit more citrus. The dish overall felt really heavy, even though while eating it, the sausage was moist and tender. We also had a tuna dish that was decent, but I was rather glad it was small because I don't think I would've liked to eat more than that. The last main dish was a duck and foie gras, cooked perfectly. The only problem was it was the largest dish of the night that came at the end, and so it was just a little bit overwhelming when we finished it. We didn't feel like we could eat anymore. But of course there was still dessert. There was a lemon cake with berry tart. I like Blue Duck's berry tart more. The lemon cake was excellent though, but we were just too stuffed to really fully enjoy it. I had white tea to finish up, and honestly I prefer Blue Duck's teas. They didn't have offer honey, just simple cubes of sugar. There were only 2 different kinds of white tea, and it was rather simple in taste. Tea you could get from a grocery store it felt like. My boyfriend decided he'd go with a different cigar since they didn't have the one he wanted. They offered to cut it, but they didn't give us anything to light it once they did cut it. It seemed a little bit absent minded. So my boyfriend had to get the lady and ask her for some matches, she gave him a lighter, but he prefers matches, in which she tells him they don't have matches. What? Are you serious? We went across the street to their gift store, and guess what they did have matches. The service was not memorable, the bread girl kept giving me bread instead of asking me if I would like any more, nor did she tell us the types of bread we'd be having. I thought one of the bread was a little bit too salty. The main waitress seemed a little stressed or just spastic and absent minded. And there was a dish they didn't even bother explaining to us what was one there. Overall, disappointing.

    (3)

  • Darren D.

    For my 50th birthday my wife surprised me with a reservation. I apologized and asked her to cancel - because (1)it's very expensive and (2) we've spent lavishly at some other reputable restaurants - and came away disheartened and disappointed. I quickly realized how ungracious I was and we went ahead with her plan. From the first morsel, I was choked up - i've never experienced food like this. i love cooking, but mother home cooked meals - barefoot contessa type meals. This was indescribably delicious. The crispy pork belly, onion mousse OMG was that spectacular! The autumn surprise was AMAZING. The pasta with chanterelle mushrooms was probably the most memorable - it was like christmas as a kid. when you got the race track you wanted and teared up cause you were so happy. It's that good = really, it's that good. The worst part is guilt. $500 for two is hard to justify where I'm from, but I want to go back. The owner references the local farmers who provide the ingredients on the menu as well as the waiters when they describe your dish. We even visited one of them (Roy's Orchard) and talked to Roy himself - it made me homesick. I can't wait to go back. The waiter wasn't kidding when after we told him how wonderful were the off-menu treats the chef provided, he said "it get's better" I hope to be back with friends.

    (5)

  • Adrienne A.

    It is impossible NOT to give The Inn at Little Washington 5 stars. Every minute, nay every individual second, of the experience is so decadent, so luxurious, so over-the-top, it practically defies description. Really, it is that good. Costs a fortune, but its truly a priceless experience. The atmosphere, the service, the food - - - all perfection. It's not just an incredible meal at an incredible place, it's a total experience like no other. Don't leave this earth without eating there at least once, and if you can, stay overnight. It's heaven.

    (5)

  • ike s.

    I've been to The Inn twice: once about 13 years ago and again just this past weekend. It goes without saying, as this is the only five star in the area, ranked second in restaurant service worldwide, and a near perfect score on Zagat, that each were fantastic visits, but the two were also distinct. When my parents first took the family down there 13 years ago to celebrate their 25 wedding anniversary, the food was French, the menu a bit rigid, and the whole affair a little stuffy. Apparently I wasn't the only one who thought this, as The Inn has changed a lot since then. Replacing stuffiness with a sense of whimsy, they've still kept the same level of service and, if it were at all possible, even improved the food. The service was flawless. From the moment we walked through the door to check out, it seemed like everyone knew our names. There weren't seams either: where the doormen's job ended, the host picked up, where the host left off, the waiters took over, and on and on. The menu still offered the traditional mix of French and American, but now with Asian fusion so popular these days. Rather than imitate however, The Inn exemplified what can be done with these styles. The sommelier's wine selection, a Rhone valley white, was absolutely amazing. We arrived back at our rooms from dinner to find that the maids had not only cleaned/turned down the beds, but had put our champagne into ice buckets. And extra whimsy points for the dog bone shaped cookies, raspberry liqueur, and card addressed from the owners' dalmations. What else can I say? It's worth every second of the drive and every penny for an overnight stay or just a really nice dinner.

    (5)

  • Andrew F.

    Bottom Line Up Front: Excellent atmosphere, service, and cuisine. The whole package. If the package need be dipped in gold and studded with diamonds. Pros: Best service I have ever had, anywhere, restaurant or not. Creative Surprisingly large portions. Cons: Expensive. Really out in the middle of nowhere Prose: (this is a little long winded) Went here for Christmas Eve dinner with the Family. Couldn't have asked for a better present. So I want to make it clear that every good thing about this place is amplified by the service. The service was helpful, pleasant, and very eager to please. Which you expect from a high caliber restaurant such as this, but the pleasant attitudes are something that is harder and harder to come by. Our reservations were for 5:30, we arrived at 5:00 and didn't leave till almost 10:00. It was great! Its so rare to enjoy a relaxing, unhurried meal. I ordered the "Lump of Coal" which is a chilled duck Foie Gras that has been rolled in black truffles layed atop a Sauternes Jelly. This was quite the starter, a huge chunk of duck innards so rich that I could barely finish it. But oh so delicious. This was followed by a little cup of amuse bouche in the form of apple rutabaga soup that was heavenly. Seriously, this little soup guy was awesome. Up next was a Seared Sea Scallop with Leek Puree and Caramelized Endive. This was one of the best scallops I have ever had. But wasn't the highlight of my meal. Finally I ordered the Border Springs Farm Lamb Loin with Garlic Custard, and Barley and Champagne Braised Cabbage. This was alright, I've certainly had better lamb dishes. The dessert. After all this I was bursting at the seems, but I am so glad I packed it in there and ordered the best dessert I have had in quite a long time. The Warm slice of Custard Bread Pudding. I don't know what to say about this, but yum. If I had access to the pan of this, I would hard pressed not to eat the whole thing. What topped off the whole night though was the opportunity to tour the kitchen and meet Mr. Patrick O'Connell, who was incredibly nice, and gracious enough to take the time to introduce himself to us. A wonderful evening, to say the least!

    (4)

  • Jeremy L.

    Food - Inventive, flavorful, and beautiful--from a jellied Bloody Mary amuse-bouche to a black truffled dark chocolate dessert. My husband's seafood was slightly overcooked in two separate courses. I enjoyed the presentation of the beet platter (truly a work of art) and the flavors of the "Seven Deadly Sins" dessert sampler most. Service - Though aiming to provide exceptional service from the confirmation call through your exit, the staff was somewhat unattentive, and its politeness and knowledge of the food were spotty. I had to ask for my water refilled twice (certainly not a problem, but noteworthy in a restaurant that prides itself on service). I was made to feel welcome by most, but two staff noted during my dinner that when I was asked about dietary restrictions when I made my reservation, I had committed a process foul by indicating I was a vegetarian--one remarking, "It's not like we're going to accidentally feed you meat." I asked about an ingredient in one particularly good sauce, only to receive bad information. When I explained that the response didn't make sense, the server checked with the kitchen and reported my intuition was correct. The cheese steward dealt with tough customers next to us, but his knowledge and tact were exceptional. Atmosphere - Upscale, beautiful, and romantic--without pretention. The front (not content) of the menu was personalized. We were provided the option of a table in the middle of a dining room or a more private spot overlooking the garden and chose the latter. I enjoyed the choice to couple faux paint finishes with traditional fabrics. The lighting accentuated the inns best features inside and out. A perfect setting in a remote resort town. Cost - The Achilles heel. Nearly $200 per person for the basic four-course meal after tax and tip on a Friday night--without alcohol. Will I return? Probably not. The price raised my expectations, but the service was mixed and I've enjoyed comparable food at much less expensive restaurants.

    (2)

  • Jimmy S.

    This kind of place shouldn't be on yelp. There is no reason to not give it 5 stars. Anyone not giving it 5 doesn't deserve to be there, is just too cool, or trying to be different. This is one of those places that transcends personal tastes. And how far someone travels to get there has nothing to do with the restaurant.

    (5)

  • chu p.

    I don't care how much I have to spend again, once a year treat! They pretty much hold your hand through the whole "experience"...which I love. You get there, they know what car you're driving...(they yelled my name as I scooted by the restaurant and I had to make an illegal uturn in the town square....ANYWAY! The Maître d' walks you to you your table and your adventure begins. My ex-wife and I had at least three courses of foie gras. Their wine list incredible! The whole dinner was perfect, you couldn't ask for a better experience. If you see money as something that can be replaced....go to the "INN" It will be a trip of a lifetime...I promise

    (5)

  • Cliff M.

    We have eaten at this restaurant at least a half dozen times in the last 18 months. Like all residents of the county, we count ourselves lucky to have such a cool operation and restaurant in the vicinity. So, I am loath to complain. The food is always excellent, the staff attentive and even sweet, the presentation first rate and the decor wonderful. In short terrific, but for the fact that the last three times we have dined, someplace between the courses we have found ourselves sitting for a half hour forgotten without food or drink until I go find a waiter and try to restart the service. The reaction is always immediate and of course makes the oversight forgivable, but it mars the dinner. It's like we don't quite count because we are placed at the end of one of the alleys and not in the main dining room. I don't think we are less glamorous or easy to forget...it's some consistent glitch in service. And, of course, service, not food, is always the differentiator. Being made to feel special is the stand alone difference between a good and a world class restaurant.

    (4)

  • Koizumi Y.

    Quite a memorable experience, and a level of service not easily surpassed. The host arranging our dinner outing took great care to work out menu details for vegetarians via a series of phone calls with the chef. A beautiful and peaceful setting, sinful wine list, and a bit of camp with the cow cart when bringing along the cheese. O'Connell ensured our evening was perfect, and came out to greet our party. This place manages to be superb without being pretentious: my favourite combination. More later as I further digest this experience.

    (5)

  • Krista J.

    Our anticipation had built for 5 years and we finally arrived on Sunday. I had called about a half a dozen times to confirm that they could accommodate vegetarians, however, when I mentioned this to our service director, Francois, he looked at me in annoyance and told me to basically order the three vegetarian items on the menu. When I pleasantly inquired if the chef might be able to put something together so that my husband and I didn't have to eat the same exact meal, we were served a bland plate of carrots and zucchini. Also, I will clarify that we have eaten at a good number of 4-star restaurants and have always been well taken care of as vegetarians. I also need to mention that I am currently pregnant and ending a dinner like this sober gave me even more perspective. For example, the Seven Deadly Sins dessert (a small Sample of seven different desserts) would all rank at about a 3 out of 5. If I had to rank the Inn on this night alone, I would give it a solid 3. However, we had made reservations for two nights in a row, because we were also spending the night, and it's not as if Washington is blowing up with dinner options, so we kept our reservation. Thank God. For night two we decided to eat fish (something we do occasionally) and that made a huge difference. Monday night wasn't nearly as busy and we were seated in a different area of the restaurant at a much more romantic table overlooking the garden. They put together an all-seafood tasting menu for us, and our new service director, Neil, made us feel like royalty. Also, the wine director, Jennifer, was, as one would expect, incredibly knowledgeable, yet down to earth. There was a point in the evening when we experienced a longer delay between courses, and the delay was acknowledged, explained, promptly made-up for, and corrected. Also, dessert was much better, a vanilla & passion fruit dreamsicle then a trio of pear desserts, all fantastic. At the end of the evening, Neil invited us to tour the kitchen, something I hoped for, but would never ask for. He spent a long time with us answering our questions, telling stories, telling us about the staff and chef, etc. The kitchen was absolutely beautiful! Because of Neil, we will never forget this evening. 5 out of 5. One last small note about staying the night: we were in room 8. It was lovely and the service was top notch. Everyone we met was perfect. We did read a few complaints that you can hear noise from the room above, and you can, but the house is probably over 100 years old, so that is to be expected, and it really was never distracting. Also, breakfast is lovely and complimentary. We fully intend to return someday.

    (4)

  • Raymond M.

    Great food, but only gets four stars because honestly I think this place is highly overpriced. Took my wife and mother-in-law there for my wife's birthday and while it was a very nice experience, the service was a bit over the top - interruptions frequently which is not conducive to conversation and not the kind of attention I want. The table and chairs weren't the most comfortable and I simply expect more basic comforts for the money. Will I go back??? Probably not, but I'm glad we tried it so we know first-hand.

    (3)

  • Randy B.

    Went for our fifteenth anniversary. Everything was perfect. The food was creative and delicious. Service was great. Cheese cart was out of this world and the guy knew everything!!! Worth the drive.

    (5)

  • Marina N.

    We were lucky to get a table for 2 on the same day we called because someone cancelled their reservation! We drove straight here from the airport, got a speeding ticket, and paid $$$$ for the meal ... but it was all worth it! First, it has a wonderful atmosphere. It's cozy with luxurious decorations. Second, the food is PERFECT. Hubby and I think it's in our top 5 of US Restaurants. The Tasting Menu's wine pairing was excellently paired by flavor but most of the wines were boring. Oh, and the cow is great. A cheese course is worth it just to see the silly cow and hear the mooing. I strongly agree with Lucy L. about the absence of "exotic" ingredients. Sometimes people rely on those to make the meal special but here, it is the extremely creative preparation of quality foods that will imbue you with a sense of awe. For example, who would have thought that pairing an oyster with passionfruit would be so delicious? And the flavor accents are PERFECT, never too much or too little. It's amazing. Service was really outstanding and not stuffy at all. At the end of the evening, we were allowed to go see the 24-hr kitchen. I bought both available cookbooks.

    (5)

  • Ann C.

    let's start with... wow! my boyfriend and i came here after a dinner at citronelle the night before. it took us two hours to get here from d.c. and (as metropolites) we were fairly worried that we were lost with directions like "middle and main street." however, that's when the amazing service started. we parked the rental in front of the post office and crossed our fingers, hoping that we were there. a gentleman in a well-pressed suit approached us. he said," excuse me. are you ### party of 2 at 7:30." in response and taken a little aback, i said, "umm... yes?" he then led us to the main entrance and offered to move our car. we were way off. (giggle) we sat in the foyer for a few minutes and were escorted to our table. the moment i sat down and opened the menu, a huge smile came over my face. my boyfriend asked me what i was smiling about and i pointed to the top of our menus. at the top, it read: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ###. the evening was one amazingly, personalized experience after another. at any point during your dinner, you can take a break and walk the grounds or sit outside. they offer lovely gardens outside and in the middle of the dining area. you may have the remainder of your meal (dessert and port or coffee) there or back at your seat. patrick o'connell is there most nights and every du monde chef we've met thinks very highly of him. ...wonderful, wonderful evening. hint: have the formage!! it will arrive on the back of a faux cow on wheels, complete with an onomatopoeia of moo sounds and cow bells.

    (5)

  • Mark D.

    My wife and I went here for our first anniversary and it was by far the best meal I have ever had. Everything about the meal was perfect from the moment we got there. The service throughout the night was always there but never in your face or bothersome. We stayed the night and breakfast was included and to be honest I almost enjoyed that meal more than dinner.

    (5)

  • Mike R.

    My wife and I were at an 'after party' (our first and only) in NYC and I struck up a conversation with a very nice, refined lady my age (50's). Divorced and good friends with the star of the show. Went to finishing school in Europe, grew up on the upper east side, etc etc. And I asked her... what's your favorite restaurant in NYC...she said, none.... my favorite is the Inn at Little Wash. OK...... I thought to myself. This I have to check out one of these years. Flash forward two years, and I am here with my wife in this charming town. And I mean CHARMING !!. If I could give it 10 stars, it would be too low. Just knocked Daniel's off the top. Service outstanding, greeting at the door, manager escorting us to our table, knockout decor..... and the food and pairing worth every penny. Personalized menu. This will now be a regular annual event. And the B&B's...check out the Thomas Foster House. 5 stars. 3 blocks away.

    (5)

  • Scott R.

    Open disclosure, it's been years since I went here. It's expensive enough where I figured I could probably justify it once. So my wife and I went for an anniversary several years back, and we spent the whole day hiking Old Rag (or was it White Oak Canyon, I can't remember) to build an appetite beforehand. Even so, many years later, I can tell you it was a benchmark experience worth every penny. A buddy of mine - a real foodie - went a few years before me. Before he went he showed me a review that said "food so good, you'll want to cry." We both chuckled - what kind of silly review is that??? He came back, and said " I get it, I understand what the guy meant, I literally wanted to cry". When I went, I understood too. The service was also unbelievable. Shortly after we arrived, my wife cast a glance at me, she had literally just finished saying "hmm, it's just a little chilly", in a soft voice that only I could have heard - when someone showed up with a shawl to drape around her shoulders. Current reviews indicate Mr. O'Connell has not lost his touch. So now I need to figure out how to justify a return trip!!!

    (5)

  • Amanda H.

    My husband & I recently celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary at the Inn. While the food was delicious, & the wine pairings spectacular, the overall experience did not meet my expectations. It felt like the staff were trying to act formal; it put me on edge. The decor was "aged grandeur" - it felt stale. My personalized menu had a big streak of ink on the cover - picky, sure, but when you spend that much on a meal, you expect attention to every detail. Also, the A/C was blasting & they had to bring me a blanket. I had a much better overall experience at Restaurant Eve's tasting room earlier in the year - I felt like royalty and enjoyed myself immensely. The food wasn't as amazing but it was very good, as were wines. I'm telling my friends the Inn isn't worth it - there are better ways to splurge!

    (3)

  • Lisa B.

    Wish I could eat this way everyday! My husband took me there for our engagement dinner. I had no idea what to expect, but they certainly exceeded my expectations. It was funny, though - looking around, I felt like the conversation at our table was probably going on at the other tables, too (can you believe we are eating at The Inn at Little Washington?!?!?). The meal was fabulous, but the service and "experience" was really what stays with you. The waitstaff is competent and professional, the chefs come out and see what occasion you are celebrating and usually dessert is personalized. Love the kitchy wheeled cow with the bell for the cheese course. I think our total bill came to $350-$400, for two full meals and wine. Crazy! I felt a bit guilty for spending that kind of money, when people are starving, but you only live once.

    (5)

  • Jillian T.

    It's not really necessary for me to review this place - if you're going to go here, you already know why, and you know what to expect. :) It's just as good as you've heard and worth every bit of expense. My incredibly wonderful boyfriend took me to the Inn two weekends ago to celebrate my birthday. From the moment we stepped in the door, everyone knew who we were, and all the wait staff made sure to wish me a happy birthday. Eating at the Inn is an event, and they make sure to treat it as such - smalls boxes of chocolates and cookies to take home as a souvenir, the menus from the night at the door to take home... Everything we had was wonderful. The absolute standout for me was "Beef Two Ways: A Pecan Crusted Barbequed Short Rib, paired with a miniature Filet Mignon Wrapped in Swiss Chard". I'm a huge beef fan, and I like it one of two ways - so tender it can be cut with a fork, and perfectly rare. That's exactly what this dish delivered, and that Filet Mignon was the best piece of meat I've had in my entire life. It was the exact same experience as eating a fantastic piece of sushi. I had a perfectly done hot and cold foie gras dish - foie gras being one of my favorite things in the entire world. My boyfriend had several of their signature dishes - the lamb carpaccio, macaroni and cheese and tuna pretending to be a filet mignon. Trust me, I sampled everything and it was all just as exquisite. Desserts were also great - if you manage to save room, get the Seven Deadly Sins. It's seven miniature versions of their desserts, and its a spectacular presentation when it arrives at the table. My dessert - a trio of chocolate items, was decadent and came complete with a edible Happy Birthday banner. The wine list is something to behold! It's at least 80 pages long and there are $9000 bottles of wine in there. I could have spent all night paging through it...If you want to drop $5k on a bottle, you will have multiple choices! The sommelier is great help - she was completely knowledgeable and helped without being overbearing or intimidating. As would be expected, perfection comes at a price. Our bill for the two of us was over $600, and we didn't get the tasting menu and only had one bottle of wine. Take an after dinner drink out to the courtyard and enjoy before settling up - trust me, the whole experience is definitely worth it.

    (5)

  • Tristan S.

    To set the record straight, anyone who gives this place fewer than 5 stars actually has no idea what they're talking about. The food is as close to perfect as we humans can get, the rooms are perfect and the location is ideal. If you want to go to the ritz on central park south in nyc and stay with hundreds of other guests -- please do so. The Inn at Little Washington is designed to cater to a small number of guests and do it to perfection. This place is designed around relaxation and subtle stimulation of the senses. I had a number of unusual requests when I arrived and the staff met each of them. When you come here you get the sense that all the staff knows exactly what they are doing. This results (in contrast to what other yelpers have said) in a laid back environment, but with the highest attention to detail. If I were to pinpoint a downside, I guess it would be price, as I was shocked to see my one glass of MaCallan 30 to ring in at $150. Thankfully I didn't love it enough to order a second! For dinner we did the wine pairing which was an excellent choice, and with 5 courses it made our sleep very sound. Every waiter here is training to be a true culinary expert so they actually know their stuff. Stay for a weekend or just come for dinner --- either way it will be worth the money and time.

    (5)

  • Loren D.

    The Inn at Little Washington has become our yearly wedding anniversary gift to ourselves. If you've read the other reviews you know that food is outstanding, but the whole experience is what makes the Inn so wonderful. From the champagne and passion fruit cocktail that is handed to you at the beginning of the meal to the tiny basket of chocolates at the very end. I note that some people compare it to Citronelle but to me this does the Inn a disservice - while the food may not be as "inventive" as Citronnelle's it's far better, the Inn has better service and is much more of a luxe, pampering experience. If you've got the $ do yourself a favor and go for the tasting menu with paired wines, the flavors go from fabulous to mind blowing when paired correctly.

    (5)

  • Charles O.

    Outstanding meal, great service, but very noisy rooms due to music from the dining room traveling up to room 9 and extremely noisy air-conditioning system turning on and off all night. Go for the meal, but make sure you have a quiet room!

    (3)

  • Stacko M.

    We went here Friday night as a combination of celebrations of sorts. Our reservations were for 8:45 but we got there at a quarter after, this posed no problem for the restaurant. We were immediately seated in the first room. The ambiance is nice, good lighting, tapestries on the walls and intimate setting with soft sofa-type benches with throw pillows. The lamps were a bit low (servers kept hitting the fringe from them) but not impeding your view of your party. Figuring what to order was quite a task. I was really torn between going a la carte or getting the set menu, tough choice! I really wanted the duck on the set menu, but I went a la carte being that there were a couple things I didn't want/like on the set menu. While contemplating, we were given some bread ( a tiny baguette and some rye/nut slices) and four tasting spoons with yummy little servings to start this great experience. We were then given this little cup of apple and rutabaga soup with a cheese puff on the side, soo good! I got the beet salad to start, because I love beets, it was refreshing and good; while my husband got the tin of sin which was a great combo of flavors. For our second course I got the hot and cold foie gras, the cold was good with the relish and the hot was amazing! My husband got the famous mac and cheese, which he really loved, I thought it was good, but then again I only had one bite. For our main dishes I got the lobster in the coconut sauce, which I figured is the best pseudo-curry dish I have ever had. My husband got the tuna pretending to be a filet, which he loved, claims it was the best tuna he has ever had, and he gets tuna a lot. We also got dessert, I got the chocolate menage a trois and he got the seven deadly sins, all great samplers, especially loved the black forest mousse bombe. The choc. mint fantasy comes with an array of chocolate ribbons fit to be a sculpture on top and the sorbet sampler is well presented as well (as noted from our neighboring table.) We also finished off with a cappuccino, which was just ok. But the dinner was amazing! We were very fat and happy upon leaving. The service was great, very professional and helpful and non-intrusive. With your check you are given a little cookie sampler to go in a quaint model of the inn, cute. They also give you the menu insert, which is personalized. So if you are coming for an occasion, make sure you tell them specifics! An overall amazing experience, one everyone should enjoy one time in their life (and likely just once for ours!) It is very expensive (it was more than our full dinner at MOMA in NYC) but the food is all amazing, not just some of it. If you have an occasion and can afford it, go!

    (5)

  • Miinno N.

    This is not just a "dinning" experience. My uncle took my grandma and I to this place one weekend. It was a nice trip. We drove from DC and the it took about an hour. But it was worth it. The town was very small, but cute. The Inn was nice and neat, upscale B& B. The restaurant was just amazing. The service was.... the best ever. The food was also really really good. The dinner as well as breakfast. This was a wonderful (expensive but nice) get-away, which I will always remember.

    (5)

  • Lucy L.

    Wish I could give it 7 stars... Finally, FINALLY I have the pleasure to write a review for the Inn at Little Washington. My husband and I celebrated our anniversary here not too long ago. I am pleased to say it surpassed my impossible expectations. How nice to be able to enjoy a world-class meal in an environment with style but not the least bit of pretention. Our waitress was perfect, personable and pleasant. I did honestly feel like a queen, even if only for a couple of hours. I felt as though my every wish would be answered, all I had to do was ask. I enjoyed the mussels, mushroom pizza, and veal parmesan "reincarnated" and the pear dessert. My husband had the prawns, butternut squash sorbet, Beef 2 Ways,and chocolate trio for dessert. The food was wonderful but what really struck me was the absence of "exotic " ingredients on the menu. Everything was distinguishable but prepared in the most creative of ways. We were rewarded at the end of our meal with several treats including the best of "treats", a tour of the kitchen. This place is extremely pricy, but perfect for those special occasions when you want to celebrate but don't have the time to get away for a weekend. Can't wait to go back....

    (5)

  • Marcia C.

    My family celebrated my daughter's graduation here last week. Our party of 5 had an amazing evening, beginning with menus that were personalized (my D's name and college logo were at the top) . The service was excellent. Our server was knowledgeable about the menu as was the wine steward. Both provided suggestions that helped us make choices. The staff waiting on us was attentive--water glasses and bread plates were always full. The timing of the courses was impressive--the servers set the plates before each of us at exactly the same time. The food itself was exceptional. Some of the great dishes--tin of sin (caviar), soft-shelled crab, seared ahi tuna--were prepared in exceptional ways. We've been to a number of the best places in the USA--Le Bernardin, Per Se, Daniel, French Laundry, Babbo (to name a few). Inn at Little Washington is right up there in terms of the quality of the food, ambience, and service.

    (5)

  • Elmo ..

    My wife and I have eaten at several top restaurants (French Laundry, Le Bernardin, Gordon Ramsays, etc.) in the world. The Little Inn was a MAJOR RIP-OFF and fell way below our expectations. At this price point ($168 per person - no alcohol), the food and service should have been out of this world! Instead, the food was fair and the service was sporadic. The food would have been good if the price was 50% cheaper. I don't see how they can get away with charging this outrageous amount when they are located in the middle of nowhere. Top-rated DC restaurants (Makoto, CityZen, Citronelle, etc.) taste much better and are much cheaper! Prior to the first course, our waitress brought out four soup spoons of tiny tastes (cantaloupe and prosciutto, cube of watermelon and two other items) that were rather ordinary. This was followed up with a small glass of duck soup that was nothing special. For the first course, I had five small morsels of chilled Maine lobster with avocado and grapefruit that was tasty and had a good contrast of salt and sweet. My wife had a few chunks of raw tuna with mango and avocado that was not much better than a Hawaiian sushi restaurant. For the second course, I had a single scallop (1.5" diameter) with minestrone that was overcooked and was stringy. For $168 per person, one would expect to get more than a single scallop unless it was the size of a hockey puck! My wife had hot and cold foie gras that was excellent and there was no supplemental charge. For the main entree, I had two small 1.5" squares of short ribs with carrots and pearl onions and a tiny side of au gratin potatoes. The ribs were moist and juicy and the potatoes were boring. This was better than a Bob Evans pot roast, but not by a landslide. My wife had pan roasted lobster with bok choy and grapefruit that only contained a quarter of the lobster and no tail! For dessert, I had a butter pecan ice cream sandwich that was full of ice crystals. Ben and Jerry's butter pecan tastes much smoother and better. My wife had an impressive dessert sampler. The Little Inn has no formal dress code, but we saw a couple wearing shorts get seated. This seemed very odd for a high end restaurant especially since the owner is so obsessed with every detail. In summary, this place does not make it into our top 25 all-time restaurants. You are better off eating somewhere in DC and saving your gas.

    (1)

  • Scott C.

    I've had the pleasure of dinning here twice. Both times i was fortunate enough to have a tour of the kitchen. The second time I met Patrick O'Connell. Joking with him I told him none of the recipes in his new cookbook worked. He then proceeded to tell me exactly how to cook a lobster. I tried it at home and it worked perfectly. His food is amazing. The atmosphere is second to none. If you live anywhere near the Inn, you really need to go at least once. Just know that it's like flying first class. You won't want to go coach again. Last tip: Be sure to order the cheese plate. You'll want to meet Farrah.

    (5)

  • S D.

    We've eaten at the Inn twice - definitely reserve the chef's kitchen table if you can - that's an interesting experience (you'll pay a few hundred more for the table, but in our opinion worth it.) Or ask for one of the tables that looks out onto the courtyard so you can sit side by side with your significant other. I lived in the Bay Area before moving to the DC area, so I was already spoiled by fabulous restaurants like Chez Panisse, Masa's, French Laundry, John Ash & Co, so wasn't quite as awe struck by the dishes although they were all excellent. Both times we ordered the tasting menu because we just couldn't decide what to order from the a la carte menu. Both times it was excellent. We have not stayed at the Inn, but we think that will do so on our next visit - instead of ending a lovely evening with a long drive home (or will hire a car service for the evening.)

    (4)

  • Keith L.

    My girlfriend and I spent the night in a quaint little room after enjoying the fabulous meal. Dinner was everything you'd expect, but I wouldn't spend the money on the room again. The food, atmosphere, staff, and experience were incredible. My girl is a bit of a picky eater but everything looked so good that she tried things I would never have expected. Wine pairings were spot-on. Cigar and brandy by the koi "pond" was a great finish. The room was a little small, very well appointed, and surprisingly quiet. The bed was very comfortable - I slept like a baby! Don't forget to visit the gift shop across the street - there's lots of cool stuff.

    (5)

  • Rachel O.

    Happy Hanukkah to me! The Inn takes fine dining to a whole new level. It honestly deserves six stars. It is not just dinner, but really an experience. We go to town early and walked around the galleries and boutiques then took the complimentary bicycles out for a little ride. We were definitely the youngest and probably the only non-married couple there, but I'm worth it right?! In addition to the amuse bouches (duck consomme, a quartet of liquidy treasures) I had the Chilled Seafood Sampler: Lobster Maki, Tuna Tartare and Ceviche of New Zealand Sea Bream for my first course. Had I stopped here, the meal would have been worth it. It was AMAZING. For my second course I had Roasted Eggplant Raviolis in a Tomato Basil Butter Sauce with Medallions of Maine Lobster. It was small, but still very tasty. For the main course I went with the waiter's recommendation of the Pepper Crusted Tuna Pretending to be a Filet Mignon Capped with Seared Duck Foie Gras on Charred Onions with a Burgundy Butter Sauce as it would "change my life." The tuna was absolutely perfect. The Foie Gras was WAY too fatty for me... I suppose that is the point though. For dessert I had Pineapple Ravioli. It was thinly sliced pineapple to look like a ravioli and filled with finely diced fruits. OF COURSE the staff was like Mary Poppins: practically perfect in every way. We got the private kitchen tour after dinner and met Patrick O'Connell, chatted a bit, and had him sign our menus. The menu is ever changing and I honestly can't wait to go back!

    (5)

  • giin l.

    if ever you wondered whether three attendants are necessary to escort you to and from the ladies room, here is your answer: absolutely! one to pull out your chair, one to lay down your napkin, and one on reserve. o, how you hit all my wish-i'd-been-born-a-princess spots! S surprised me with a lovely dinner at the inn. it's all true - the food is divine and inventive but not cloyingly so, the service attentive and impeccable but not intrusively so. the entire experience was so rich; like foie gras, it's best once a year only. anymore, and you'll be ruined for everyday life. btw, i wouldn't wait around for a BIG CELEBRATION - just go. life is short.

    (5)

  • Gemma V.

    The Inn At Little Washington is sublime. The inn itself is charming and luxurious. The meal was amazing with lovely, gracious touches such as the amuse bouche, two glasses of champagne served with dessert, sorbet palate cleansers and the cutest little dessert packed to bring home as a remembrance of our evening. If you get a chance, ask to peek into the kitchen. It's beautiful and amazing! Save your paychecks and stay at the Inn. After such a romantic meal you'll definitely want to get a room!

    (5)

  • Amanda S.

    this little place is about 1.5 hour drive from washington dc...practically in the middle of nowhere. eating here has to be the ultimate dining experience. from the moment you step in till the last bite...it's perfection. the staff makes you feel completely welcome. for dessert, we opted to enjoy it in their beautiful courtyard garden. that night it happened to be a bit chilly and they even offered me a shawl. after our dinner we took a private tour of the dalmation themed kitchen...the most beautiful and cleanest restaurant kitchen i've ever seen. the only regret i have is not staying at the inn...

    (5)

  • Theresa K.

    I live in California, and every year for my birthday we try to fly here to eat at the Inn at Little Washington. It's a little piece of heaven. The menu is exquisite, the food heavenly and the staff very, very pleasant. I think the middle-of-nowhere location definitely adds to the romantic nature of this hidden treasure. Definitely worth the drive from the DC area down - at least once!

    (5)

  • John S.

    Wow, this is worth every star of their five star rating. I made a reservation for my wife's birthday and indicated when I made the reservation that we were vegetarians. The person that took our reservation said that the chef would call me about the particulars. I talked with the chef four times to discuss possible menus. He was great. That evening he made us a very special dinner. My wife was treated like a queen. What a wonderful evening.

    (5)

  • Yujin L.

    My BF (now husband) took me here for our 2nd anniversary and they had the best food I have ever tasted like EVER and I'm writing this 3 years later and it's still the best food ever. Don't know what else to say that others haven't said already other than that everything was absolutely perfect. We also stayed overnight and that experience was wonderful. But perfection doesn't come cheap. I don't even know how much it costs, but I guarantee it's expensive!

    (5)

  • C.M B.

    I don't think I have just one adjective to describe this place. It's simply AMAZING and spectacular! My husband and I celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary here. We truly felt like Royalty, from the moment we stepped into the Inn to the moment we left. The dining experience was out of this world (the food) we did have some problems with our waitress, she seemed to be a little off, but was friendly and apologetic. I would give her service 2 stars for this type of establishment. She really wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed. But the evening was wonderful none the less with great seafood, great cheese and dessert. Our menu was very appropriate in wishing us a happy anniversary with our names and signed by Patrick. Overall the staff was very accommodating. Every time we left our room housekeeping would go freshen up things. Personally, I think to get the whole experience it's worth spending the night. I can't wait to go back, maybe for our 10th year anniversary. One other point, at this level of service and well renowned place such as this, it's not stuffy at all the staff is very polite and pleasant.

    (5)

  • Clarissa P.

    If you would like to feel like Royalty for one evening, then this is the place for you. I say one evening because most of us can only eat there once a year if we are lucky. It is both extremely expensive and a hike to get to as it is located at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains. It is of course worth every penny. You also have to get a reservation at least a month in advance. The food and the service are visual art. Each guest has their own waiter to serve the food simultaneously. It looks like a synchronized dance (and might as well be one since the staff takes ballet to learn more graceful serving techniques) and the food will take your tongue on an exciting waltz of flavor. Patrick O'Connell has a talent of making familiar food completely out of this world. Try the Crispy Sole Fingers with Green Herb Sauce for a twist on fish sticks. (Calling them fish sticks is really an insult.) If you make a reservation for a special occasion you can expect a few surprises (maybe an extra dessert or a personalized menu.) Speaking of art and dessert, the palette of homemade ice creams is delicious. The menu changes frequently depending on what is in season and what can be bought from the local farms, but there are a few items such as those named that are usually on the menu. The ambiance is luxurious and dreamy. The Inn is not overrated I have never been to anyplace like it in the world.

    (5)

  • Grace I.

    Ask for popcorn as soon as you get there. It is so good. The service is amazing and the food is delicious. First they bring you out a sampler that wakes up your taste buds and then it goes in to the courses... foie gras, lobster salad, caesar salad ice-cream with carpaccio, apple tart butter ice-cream dessert... the wine pairing was also delicious! The lamb was kind of gamey, the seven sins dessert, only couple of them were good, and the cookies in the box is not that good, but I love the box! Overall it was good and would recommend trying.

    (4)

  • Esther Y.

    LOVED, LOVED, LOVED EVERY SINGLE THING ABOUT THIS PLACE! From the cute little town to the food, everything was amazing. Excellent food (kudos to Chef Patrick O'Connell and the kitchen staff) and excellent service! My husband and I came here for our wedding anniversary. We arrived early and they sat us down in the sitting area with complimentary tea and snacks. I started with ahi tuna tartare (amazing), scallops (even more amazing), and then maine lobster dish (just mouth watering). Ended with the seven deadly sins for dessert. There is nothing negative I could say. Totally worth the $500+!

    (5)

  • Doug M.

    What can I say that hasn't been said before about the quality of food, service and décor at the Inn at Little Washington? The food? Off the charts, both in taste and creativity. Service? More on that in a moment. Décor? Joyce Evans has created a masterpiece, and that's not hyperbole. I mean that literally. So, service. From the moment you are greeted at the door you are in the hands of cadre of impeccably trained staff. Welcoming, coordinated and operating so, so smoothly. They are there for you before it even occurs to you that you need them. The timing of courses is spot on and their attention to detail is exemplary. When we were first seated I was asked what name our reservation was under. When I responded with my very difficult to pronounce last name she thanked me and wished us a wonderful evening. From that moment forward every person who addressed my wife or me pronounced our last name perfectly! That level of attention to detail made an already special evening that much more special. Thank you to the Inn at Little Washington for making our anniversary dinner a night to remember for the rest of our lives. Doug Madej

    (5)

  • Jeanette H.

    I've been a fan of Chef Patrick O'Connell for many years. Dined there several times over the years, including at the Chef's Table, which I recommend. But I think this place needs to re-invent its dishes every now and then, with the same creativity and originality that put this restaurant on the map in the first place. It feels a bit "tired". Menu needs to be refreshed. The oysters we had weren't as fresh as they should be. Some dishes were bit (over) salty and over-seasoned, and desserts were (like typical American desserts) way too sweet. I loved the presentation of the dishes, and the overall ambiance. Staff were as always, excellent.

    (3)

  • David G.

    Finest Inn and restaurant we have ever stayed in or had the pleasure of such wonderful food. From breakfast, tea and dinner to the accommodations all were five stars. The best ever for our 50 wedding anniversary. Highly recommend for any and all special occasions. Thank you to the wonderful staff as well. We will return!

    (5)

  • Mark S.

    5 star experience from the moment the valet parks your car to the moment you walk out of the place! We were graciously greeted by a hostess and offered to freshen up before dinner. Then we were seated in the buffer/ cocktail room that was elegantly decorated with fine colonial decorations and furniture with flooring that was 400 years old! From the start we enjoyed some dried and spiced pineapple, spiced nuts, and very tasty and chunky olives. For dinner we were moved into the main dining room that was also finely decorated in colonial drapes and furniture. My girlfriend and I each ordered a different tasting menu, both of which did not disappoint. Everything on our 8 course menus was so rich and flavor and the quality of ingredients was such high quality. The waiters and service from each staff member was top notch and treated everyone as a VIP. Some of my favorite dishes were the fois gras and the chilled roasted bell pepper soup shooter with cheese bread. I had a super delicious rhubarb pie for desert. To top off dinner we were given a very nice chocolate and truffle take home gift box in a very uniquely designed box. the highlight of the night though was when our excellent waiter organized a mini tour of the kitchen for us where we got to see the fabulous kitchen and take a picture with Chef Patrick O'connell. This restaurant was the best dining experience I have ever had and is definitely an experience everyone should have at least once!

    (5)

  • Steve V.

    So our family went here last Friday evening. We were welcomed in to the old kitchen section for drinks while our table was prepared. The Sazerac is a must; better than any place I've been (and I always order this drink everywhere). Once the rest of our party had arrived, we switched our drink table to out in the garden patio near the coy labyrinth courtyard. The manager Mr. O'heir met us out in the garden, where we were welcomed yet again. Always such a warm feeling from all the staff here. We were brought to our table and seated. Perfect ambiance here. You cannot make out other conversations and the music is a warm hum in your ears, which compliments everything. The food was great, as always. I tried different tasters and courses this time. As always, Patrick has outdone himself with innovative local tastes married with color, decor and fresh presentation by his staff of expertly trained serving ninjas. I'm Army.. and his staff would be basically like Delta Force. The plates disappear and BAM another course is in front of us! I think they should be required to wear a special forces pin on their lapel next to their coveted 5star pin. Jess- our waiter did an excellent job of keeping us entertained, glasses full, etc. Kate another waitress really stood out too. Everyone there is part of a well orchestrated team and they made us feel like family. We got our kitchen tour and a walk through the gardens after sunset! Always a blast here. So much fun!

    (5)

  • Megan T.

    I can't even put into words how amazing this whole experience was. That's just it, it's not a meal, it's an experience. From the second we arrived and were greeted by name, to the amazing service (special thanks to Scott, Cameron and Jake) to the kitchen tour, we were continually impressed. The food was nothing short of perfection. Bloody mary gumdrops, the best red pepper soup, sashimi, veal tongue, pork jowl, lamb- all of it great. We ate at French Laundry two years ago and while this was neck and neck on the food side, the service put it over the top. THANK YOU to the staff who accommodated my laundry list of allergies, and for making our birthday celebration so special!

    (5)

  • Sara W.

    Patrick O'Connell and his team are nothing short of genius! Although it was a year ago that I visit this charming and most beautifully appointed Inn, my taste buds still remember every bite and sensory experience as if it were yesterday. I was not as active on Yelp then as I am now, and knew the Inn had to be a write up I completed. To this day the 11 course or so meal is number one on my culinary experience fine dining list, and I have been fortunate enough to travel much of the country and world tasting fine cuisine. The experience is like no other. We were greeted by a pleasant valet who escorted us inside and showed us to the bar area. We had arrived early to enjoy a cocktail in what can be describe as Sherlock Holmes' decorated library. Thanks to the cocktail menu we were educated on where the origin of the cocktail, while having some witty banter with our cocktail server. As soon as our table was ready we were then escorted to the main dining room which was quaint and romantic. Even though there were several other tables in the room the layout gives you a very private dining feel. The servers were nothing spectacular in providing us a seemingly private dining experience. We elected to try The Gastronaut's Menu to include a wine paring which started with a most playful amuse bouche. My taste buds exploded with just one bite. Next came the freshly grated black truffle popcorn in their iconic branded, old fashion red and white striped popcorn bucket. I couldn't resist saving mine and bringing it home to utilize on my bar. (Smelling truffles in it all the way home didn't hurt either.) My favorite and most playful dish was the mini toast accompanied by a "A Savory Panna Cotta with a Caviar Surprise." Perfect layers of caviar, panna cotta and what appeared to look and taste like a cucumber gelee was simply decadent! Each course progressively got better and more intense in flavor as the proteins progressed from lobster to lamb and every ecstasy in between. Each course we were educated on what deliciousness was being enjoyed and a detail or two about how it was prepared. We indulged in the cheese course brought to us by Faira the moo-ing cheese cow. As serious as the food is, she brings a playful giggle by everyone as she gets pushed around the dining room. At the conclusion of our meal we were given a quick tour with a photo op of the kitchen where hopefully one of these days I will be able to enjoy a chef table dinner with four of our other closest friends. I didn't notice any lapel keys at the time but the entire service staff deserved nothing short of Les Clefs d'Or status. In all of my culinary adventures, this by far took the proverbial cake. I look forward to when we can go back and enjoy another magical evening and enjoy whatever new creations the chef has in store.

    (5)

  • Andreea L.

    Everything we imagined it would be. It's far from home and expensive but if you let those two factors affect your experience or review of this place, I can't take you seriously and you're really doing yourself a disservice. We went ready to eat and drink and enjoy our friends at a restaurant that's been on our "go to" list for a VERY long time. It lived up to our very high expectations; all ten courses on the Gastronauts menu were delicious/unique and the cocktails were made to perfection. We also had Farrah come by, be still my heart! Cameron the cheese expert is phenomenal along with every other server and manager who were so unbelievably attentive and charming. We had such a great time, can't wait to return!

    (5)

  • Brian S.

    Another excellent dinner at an excellent place. This is the 4th top notch restaurant I've been to (minibar, Volt, Makoto), and it definitely did not disappoint. I went here for my girlfriends birthday and she absolutely loved it. It was a little hard to find, and don't expect to get cell phone service. We started off with some cocktails. I ordered the four horsemen and it was a great drink. She got a cocktail and the wine pairing, which we split. I thought most of the wines paired well but I was a little disappointed that there was no desert wine. We both decided on the Gastronaut's menu. Everything was delicious. I thought the fish on the fish dish could have had a little crispier skin, but overall it was delicious. I'm not going to describe every meal, but I did upload pictures if you want to take a look at all the dishes. Overall this is a great place. The tasting menu, 3 cocktails, and a wine pairing came out to about 730 before tip. I'd put it just behind minibar in terms of my favorite/best meals.

    (5)

  • Chuck L.

    I brought my fiancé to The Inn at LIttle Washington for her &*th birthday on a recommendation from a co-worker. We fancy ourselves amateur gourmands or perhaps even the dreaded "foodies," but in reality we just like good food and are willing to pay, when we can, for it. And since I'm talking about price, yes, it was pricey. I knew it would be and saved up for it. Another review asked if it was worth it, and I answer like this. Why do people pay so much for Super Bowl tickets? Or to see your favorite band? Or take a mini-vaction to a B&B on the beach? What do you get out of those things that I didn't from this meal? It was the experience. Everything from the drive up through the foothills of the Blue Ridge mountains, to the quaint farm houses and little towns, to the impeccable service from the first phone call to the valet service. It didn't end after dinner but continued as we talked about the meal pondering the mysteries of how the Chef made a certain dish and the trouble the staff went to in order to make the dinner special for my fiancé. We spent over three hours in the restaurant and had we opted to stay overnight (which we should have!!) at the Inn, we would have lingered longer over drinks. So, was it worth the price it to have an unforgettable birthday celebration over the woman I love surrounded by incredible food, wine, service, beauty and extremely professional, but very nice, people? Yes. Absolutely, yes. It was an experience I'll never forget and it made her happy. There's no price too high for that. So, with price out of the way, here's the service. It was formal, but friendly. I've dined white-tie before and it's boring and tedious. This was not like that. The service from the phone call confirming my reservation, to the valet service, to the entry and into the meal at every dish, was professional, but in a way that felt ok to talk to the staff. I mentioned on the phone it was her birthday, and didn't have to remind them. I didn't know what to expect from the Inn, maybe a copy of the menu or a slice of cake, but what we got (I'll not write about it, in case you want the surprise for yourself) was elegant and understated and made her feel so very special. There are the obvious services that were always addressed like the water glass always being full, empty plates removed efficiently, and constant, but not overbearing attention. However, the service was more about providing the level of attention, personal attention, one would expect from dedicated professionals. Our names were used, we were greeted frequently as though we were regulars (I wish), and the complex dishes were expertly presented as though cooked by our servers. The service was, quite frankly, impeccable. The food. Oh. My. God. The FOOD! While, I have to caveat that I enjoyed some dishes better than others out of simple preference, I enjoyed everything, even the dishes I was uncertain I'd like. I knew I'd love the yellowtail and the Waygu beef and the pork belly. But the sweetbreads knocked it out of the park and I was apprehensive about the dish. Fortunately, there was no broccoli or cauliflower because after a lifetime of shunning such ingredients, it would have been difficult to explain to my mother that I enjoyed them without her input. My fiancé has a much better palate and can be very discerning, but she enjoyed several items she had not previously cared for. Such is the skill of the Chef here. I could probably go on and on about the level of mastery the kitchen staff must have and the imagination of Mr O'Connell, but really you simply need to eat here. Especially, if you have never had food prepared to this level. And doubly if you have. It was, perhaps, the best meal of my life. Sorry, mom. I have no criticism or critique (I am not skilled enough as a writer or educated enough as a foodie) for the Inn at Little Washington. If I could have changed but two things: first, we would have stayed the night and enjoyed the wine pairings. The nice couple at the table next to us stated several of the pairings were the best they'd ever experienced. And they were certainly better traveled than we. Second, I would have loved to have met Mr O'Connell and personally thanked him for devising so memorable an establishment. At the risk of gushing, this was an incredible meal and experience for us both. It was well worth the very large amount of money because it made my fiancé immensely happy. We left with full bellies and full hearts. If I could afford to eat here often, I absolutely would. Alas, this was probably a once in a lifetime experience and it was not wasted. Thank you to the Chef, the cooks, the staff, the waiters and all who very clearly worked so hard. Yelp does not allow for greater than five stars for places like the Inn at Little Washington. This was next level dining and should be mentioned in the same breath as The French Laundry or Le Bernadin or Noma.

    (5)

  • Catherine S.

    Five stars for amazingly customized dining experience - we came here for our first wedding anniversary and were given our pick of tables at the restaurant. And then told it was ours all night to enjoy! We chose a nice double booth corner, and settled in for the night! Our well-paced meal was filling but not to the point of making us ill - a hard feat when we're talking about eating fois gras and other rich foods. The one star ding was for lack of perfect execution on a food allergy - normally I wouldn't care, but for the price, I expected them to get it 100% right. If I could have just taken away portions of stars, I'd give this place a 4.75 star rating overall and just take away a little for this issue: I have a nut allergy and the bar considerately did not serve me any nuts, rather they created special cheesy crackers for me instead. Similarly, the main course with a pesto was customized for me using fresh basil pesto instead of pine nuts. They did great on accommodating my allergy until the very end: when we were delivered our cute take-away box of cookies which had nuts in it. It was disappointing since they had done everything else so well. Tips: The town is cute but limited in terms of things to see, so show up just 30 minutes early to walk the main street and peruse some cute shops. When considering pre-dinner drinks: get the bees knees! I had to keep myself from sipping on these all night. If the living room is crowded, sit in the main foyer by the rumford fireplace - a great spot to enjoy the warmth and watch people come and go.

    (4)

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Opening Hours

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Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : No
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Dinner
    Parking : Valet
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : No
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Dressy
    Ambience : Romantic, Upscale
    Noise Level : Quiet
    Alcohol : Full Bar
    Outdoor Seating : Yes
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : No
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : No

The Inn at Little Washington

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