October 20th, 2006, by Mary Winston Nicklin
Maestro at Ritz-Carlton Tysons Corner: Best Hotel Restaurants
Yep, it’s in a mall. But Maestro restaurant, housed in the Ritz-Carlton at Tysons Corner in Northern Virginia, is worth it. (Besides, Tysons is pretty swanky as far as malls are concerned.) This is contemporary Italian cuisine at its tasty and artistic best. A winner of the exclusive AAA five-diamond award, Maestro is a celebrated and highly-acclaimed venue which features an elegant open kitchen where guests are witness to food preparation that’s more like an exquisite culinary performance. Zagat hails Chef Fabio Trabocchi as a “star,” his talents matched by the fantastic sommelier Vincent Feraud. The restaurant’s accolades are numerous and it’s really no wonder: the menu is divided into Trabocchi’s four culinary inspirations– La Creazione, La Tradizione, L’Evoluzione and I Colori dell’Orto—showcasing the freshest of ingredients in the chef’s creative interpretation of the regional Italian dishes that he grew up with. Plus there’s an impressive wine cellar brimming with 800 wines from Italy, France, and the US.
Your site is an amazing resource, could spend hours looking. Especially like the post on the Hyatt Shanghai - 87 floors up wow!
9:30pm reservation at the Ritz Carlton Maestro in McLean, VA, le Maitre d’Hôtel Emanuele welcomes us, nicely suggests we go have a drink at the bar while our table was set. “Someone will come get you” sounded imminent. Surprise, the Maestro’s bar was packed, smoke and a giant TV screen. The Maestro’s bar is a sports’ bar, reminded me of a few chains. Chased the bartender for a few minutes trying to order a couple glasses of wine and are given a plate of recycled peanuts folks touched with their fingers going to there mouths all day. 45 minute later, getting hungry, we walk back to the restaurant’s reception. A lady very directly unwelcomes us with shocking arrogance, no apologies for the delay. While looking up our table in a weird kind of way questioning our reservation, I am told “no Jeans”. I was wearing $250 Diesel Jeans bought in Paris last month. This is the Ritz Carlton’s restaurant, in, stylish, hospitality, entertainment, right? Embarrassed; I wish they had told me when I first called for reservations. I wish they had told me 24 hours before when calling me to confirm their no show are charged cancellation policy. I wish they had told me about the dress code 45 minutes earlier, we wouldn’t have stopped by the Vallet nor the Maestro’s sports bar. Le Maitre shows up another few minutes later explaining not to bother with the dress code, we’re fine; maybe that was the Burberry jacket I was wearing or most probably my fashion stylist date looking awesomely “elegante” that night. Without a reasonable explanation, le Maitre d’Hotel mumbles we were not going to have a table after all, not really sorry for the wait, the reception, the cancellation policy, …..I did not want a table either at this point. I felt sorry for taking my date to the Ritz Carlton Maestro. Bad idea! I was surprised, stunned and I wish the reservations had been for 6:00pm to actually have time to turn around some plan B.
Wow… that is beyond disappointing. Thanks so much for sharing the deets of your experience with us.
I couldn’t disagree any more with Mr. Fischer’s experience compared with my own. Fortunately, my girlfriend and I did not have to wait and go to the sports bar. I wouldn’t expect anything but a smoky, noisy environment from a sports bar; THAT IS A SPORTS BAR FOR YOU. The only thing one could fault The Maestro restaurant for is if that was the only place to wait for one’s table. As for proper attire, whether it be $250 jeans or $2 jeans, jeans are jeans are jeans. I don’t care what anyone says; Nobody is reading anyone’s jean’s label saying, “Oh wow, they have a $250 pair of Diesels”. Firstly, although I could be wrong in my thinking, I personally think it is quite obvious that a man should be wearing at least a suit & tie/slacks, tie, sports coat to this place given that: the reputation of this restaurant in the local area, its affiliation with the Ritz-Carlton hotel, and its type of clientele. Secondly, the restaurant’s website clearly states on their “General Information” link, “DRESS CODE: Business Casual (no denim or athletic wear).” Additionally, it clearly states cancellation policy on the “Reservation” link. You don’t tell the officer when you get pulled over for a ticket, “Sorry officer, I didn’t know the speed limit”. Well, as they say, ignorance is no excuse for breaking the law. In this case, not making yourself aware of the environment you’ll be dining in, is a mistake as well.
Am I a stooge for the Ritz or Maestro Restaurant? No. I just thouroughly enjoyed my experience there and couldn’t have been more pleased by the service and atmosphere. I have family that has visited this wonderful restaurant numerous times and they have enjoyed it as well.
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I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS PLACE TO ANYONE!
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I very much appreciate fine food and dining and I have been blessed enough to dine at other fine places such as the Inn at Little Washington or L’Auberge Chez Francois in the D.C. area. So I am not some pretentious dilettante who does not have a clue as to what they experienced or saw.
I still had a better time at L’Auberge Chez Francois, but they’ve been around forever and have gotten it down. Maestro is close, and will only get better.
The Maestro staff got us to go back this past Saturday night. thank you for a memorable experience this past Saturday at Maestro. The service was excellent, the dinner exceptional, and the culinary creativity out of this world. Fabio and the troup gave a fantastic show awakening senses, orchestrated with art. The 5 courses suggested by the chef were a succession of very refine to a whole lot more with each course. The wine suggestions coronated each. The experience came closer to being at the opera, part of the act, than even an excellent traditional dinner. Thank you! we will be back and recommend along the way to others.
Arnaud, That is wonderful news! Glad the experience worked out this time. Thanks for sharing with our readers.
Mary