Red’s Table

Our third visit to Reds. Each time not so good for the value. The leeks and carrots soup is a dud and $$. I am not sure this place is going to make it long term. The location and fixtures are great, but the food is expensive and a lot of misses on now a number of items we have tried. Red needs to:
Lower prices
Have more fresh fare
Take a hard look across the mall at Café’sanos and wonder why they are packed and Reds is not
we would love to make this our spot as we live on the lake and can boat over, but unless they step it up I predict trouble. It would be a shame but other friends are reporting the same experience.

Service was fast, no surprise as we were dining early and the restaurant was mostly empty. The setting on the lake is gorgeous. The menu is fairly expensive ($ 20 – 30 for entrees).
Our meals came far too soon for them to have been made fresh. Taste confirmed that suspicion. I ordered the crabcakes for $ 28. They were horrible, ok maybe if they’d been $ 12 they’d have been acceptable. But they were mushy, definitely not fresh cooked and I didn’t finish them. My husband’s fries were also not fresh and were limp and greasy. My daughter’s catfish had no taste of fish but tasted greasy (it was fried).
I expected far more for the cost. Definitely NOT a value equal to the prices. I’ve paid similar prices for far better meals at other restaurants. I will not be back.

Had dinner with a bunch of friends for a BD… we had a nice private back room. very nice and clean.
Staff was very polite and helpfull… always here to serve… The food was excellent.
We went at night, so we could not see the view. i imagine there must be a view since it is in the front water of an huge artificial lake…
Nice neighborhood and shopping area.
Too pricey for little stuff on the plate.
I LOVE their «sunchocke» wich are called «topinambour» in French. A veggie between artichocke, and potatoes that has a form of a ginger. excellent with the steak…
Great dessert… a must try…

Went to Red’s Table last night for a late dinner (around 8:15pm) and we were seated on the outdoor patio. The views of the lake are gorgeous and thankfully, because it was a chilly night, the patio was enclosed and the heaters were on– fantastic setting and ambiance!
We ordered the goat cheese fritters to start (they were to DIE for!) and I got the Lamb Bolognese for dinner. The Lamb Bolognese was delicious and I would definitely go back to try it again! We also got a side of mac n’ cheese for the table that was very good, but not your traditional mac n’ cheese– it had more of a creamy/​soupy sauce than cheese.
We also had a nice bottle of Merlot and enjoyed the views. Overall, great experience at Red’s Table and I am looking forward to returning.

We came here for a bridal shower. We were set up in a room off to the back on the side. Our server was amazing. So many mimosa options! And he kept our drinks coming. The appetizers were very good. We had wings and calamari. The wings were some kind of siracha mix. A little bit of spice with a sweet n tangy kick. The chicken sandwich was huge! It was ok in my option nothing to rave about. I would definitely come back for the appetizers and mimosas if I’m ever in the area. The restaurant itself was very nice. I even noticed an enclosed patio that overlooks a lake. Looks like a nice area to have brunch.

Even though it was a gloomy day, we sat on the enclosed patio for an early dinner. Just something about having the lake as the backdrop puts you in a good mood. We started with some fresh oysters. I had the Lamb Bolognese which was slightly greasy from the rendered fat but the pasta was cooked perfectly and the sauce was delicious. My first time having lamb bolognese and I’d go back for more. My friend had the dry aged steak, didn’t expect it to be served sliced but it was cooked perfectly, and my friend cleared his plate!
You must try the chocolate tart! It comes with dark chocolate tart, bailey’s infused whipped cream, and espresso gelato. Do I need to say more??? Delicious, decadent, chocolate/​coffee lover’s delight! Go pastry chef at Red’s Table!

Red’s Table is quite the hidden gem! It is tucked unassumingly at the end of the strip of establishments in Reston’s South Lakes Shopping Center, next to the ABC store, and has a back enclosed patio overlooking the lake behind the shopping center. Being that it is in a shopping center, note that the parking is limited/​tricky.
Back in November, my best friend and I decided to try «the new place in Reston», since she works close to the shopping center and also to avoid the crazy amounts of people and cars at the Town Center (always a drag– doesn’t matter the day of the week). She went with a glass of wine and I tried one of the seasonal cocktails (pictured). Most recently, we returned on a very stormy night for our version of Wednesday night Happy Hour and split the homemade potato chips, which were divine and served with some sort of French Onion dip. Probably not the healthiest option but that’s irrelevant. I am very much a fan of their drinks menu and the fact that it changes seasonally.
On both occasions, our waiters (both male) were friendly, attentive– but gave us space when needed, and brought out our drinks in a timely and efficient manner (I usually care more about that than how quickly the apps arrive, depending on my level of hunger, of course!)
Tip: both visits, we’ve made reservations ahead of time via their website; it hasn’t been overly crowded on a Wednesday night but I would recommend reservations all the same.
While their appetizer/​starter menu is rather limited at this point, I find Red’s Table to be a location that has much potential to become even better than they already are. I recommend Red’s!

It’s hard to find options for breakfast and dinner in the area. Red’s is perfect for both. Family owned and operated. Everyone here is invested in making you happy.
Food was fun and very tasty. Drinks were well prepared and little off the beaten path. Service was above standard. View was very nice from the patio overlooking the water. Love the option of outdoor seating that is heated.

Service here can be painfully slow and one time it was so slow that we considered leaving. We waited about 30 minutes before anyone would acknowledge us after we were seated.
The complimentary cornbread and butter is a nice way to start the meal. However, the cornbread is a little bit too crumbly and will crumble into smithereens when trying to spread butter on it. The gem salad is a fairly large appetizer salad with fresh greens. The clam chowder was tasty and had good texture, but the pita crackers didn’t quite match up. The chicken wings were good, but we didn’t get that smokiness that was promised in its namesake. The steak was cooked perfectly to order, tender and juicy, but a bit bland. The sweet potato hash was very flavorful and a surprise.
It’s very nice to have a restaurant in the Reston area that is not part of a big box chain. The décor is nice. Would recommend reservations.

Between 3 and 4 stars. First, the spot is beautiful. Interested in sitting outside once warmer, but the décor inside is lovely and inviting. Great place for a work lunch. $ 20 business lunch menu was varied with something for everyone. Absolutely loved the salted beet salad with feta, pinenuts. Would definitely get again. Squash soup with apple and pepitas was delicious. But the chicken sandwich was underwhelming, too bland. Service was friendly, but nearly invisible ¹⁄₃ into lunch (used app dishes left on table, water never refilled). For the menu, would definitely come again, hoping service level improves.

Great new place. Good beer selection. Quality ingredients and well prepared. Recommend the oysters and meat & cheese platter. Everyone enjoyed their entrees. Good new spot in Reston.

Ok… never been here before. Been here with the previous restaurant, Lakeside.
Décor: like it. It is stone and earth tones. Lights are nice
Food: nice menu. Bit on the pricey side. $ 29 for a dozen oysters? Common… other items were ok. Did not order any food – kitchen closed at 10:00, yet they are open until 12:00am. Hmmmmm???
Service: with only5 people at the bar, my bartender never greeted me. Nor asked me my name. It was a pain to order beers. He did not check on me and seemed more interested in what was on the TV. Sucked.
Beer: great. Nice menu. Good selection.
Wine: good too.
Bottom line: brush up on the details and this would be a killer place.

Thanks to Unilocal,I secured a nice Unilocal Table reservation for our party of 8. We were celebrating a birthday and needed a place in the Reston area. The restaurant is hidden in a large strip mall. Parking was challenging during a very busy Saturday evening dinner hour. There is ample parking if you park away from the restaurants and fast food joints.
They seated us in a nice alcove just past the host area. It was almost semi-​private and we didn’t have to hear the loud noise that many reviewers mentioned. The staffing was just right. The main server had many helpers to dish out bread, fill water glasses and serve and bus our dishes.
We were excited to try out the variety of dishes offered. They serve up cute little batches of complimentary cornbread and butter. They were very generous with refilling those batches of bread. For starters we ordered Deviled French Egg Onion Dip served with potato chips. There was really no taste to the dip and they only provided a small amount of chips. We had so much left over dip that we had to request another large batch of chips. We also ordered the Point Judith Calamari. That was lightly fried and included a few pieces of fried peppers. It was a good sized portion. A few of us ordered Clam Chowder and Butternut Squash soup. There was nothing earth-​shattering about the soups and one of the soups had to be reheated because it was lukewarm.
For our main dishes, a couple of us ordered the Cornmeal crusted Catfish. Although it was a very large portion, again, it lacked in taste. We were definitely passing around the salt and pepper shakers. The remainder of the table ordered the Cut Dry Aged Steak. I was surprised that the price point was quite low ($ 24) and then when the steak arrived, I realized why… it was a very small portion (comparable for the price). We also shared a variety of sides: brussels sprouts, onion rings, and fries.
For the most part, the food was good. The service was outstanding. Our server was very responsive and he had lots of help. The manager came over once and asked about the service. It’s a nice addition to this little strip mall.

We have been here four more times since they opened. Food is always great and service is excellent. Super location and unique food choices. Leave the hustle and bustle of RTC and come here for happy hour, lunch and/​or dinner.
Interesting cocktail menu, variety of beers and seasonal menu options and specials.
We have tried everything from buffalo wings, maple siracha wings, salads, calamity, fritters to fried chicken, catfish, pork chops, and pasta. Everything has been delicious.
Dishes we havent enjoyed as much… aren’t on the menu anymore. That tells me they heatd what was working and what wasn’t. They also adapt their menu and specials to the fresh ingredients they can get.
Give Red’s a try! You won’t be disappointed.

A work colleague remembered a Washington Post review of this newish restaurant in Reston when we were looking for dinner on a bitterly cold Wednesday night. Four of us decided to give it a shot especially since it is located outside of the tired Town Center scene. Red’s Table is located south of the Toll Road on a lovely lake but tucked in the corner of a strip shopping center with a terrible parking lot. There was limited parking with cars circling to find spots when I arrived around 6pm. Luckily one of the banks was closed and I was able to find a nice spot in their lot.
Once inside things were looking up. I was immediately recognized and welcomed by one of the hostesses. My Unilocal reservation was all in order and we were promptly shown to our table. Our table though we quickly discovered was next to the doorway out to the plastic wrapped patio and we would feel a blast of cold every time the door was opened. I was initially bothered by this but forgot about it after a little while probably because I had started drinking a nice locally brewed IPA from Fair Winds. They have a fabulous selection of beers both on tap and bottled.
We started with a few appetizers suggested by our server. Their menu is seasonal and changes every month or two but the calamari we picked is a regular on it. It came in a casserole like dish with a smoked red tomato sauce and a I don’t know white seafood (?) sauce. Super yummy and gone in a flash. We also ordered some oysters and cocktail shrimp. I skipped the oysters but the others loved them while the cocktail shrimp was your typical fare. I’m not sure there is much one can do to jazz up cold shrimp although the accompanying red sauce had a little kick to it. Next time, I would just get two orders of the calamari.
For my main dish, I chose Papa Weaver’s Pork Chop and apple sauce. Everyone else selected the Shellfish Cioppino also recommended by our server. I wasn’t asked what temperature I would like for the chop but it came out probably medium with a little bit of pink in the center. Very well prepared and tasty. The apple sauce was lovely and a little more savory than traditional sweet. I thought the portion though could have been more generous as I ran out of sauce before I was done eating the chop. My dish was also served with a nice winter vegetable ragout all chopped up into little cubes. I enjoyed but I think that portion may have been too large and I tired of eating it towards the end. My friends seafood dishes looked tasty and very messy. One of them commented that a spoon would have been nice to slurp up the remaining sauce.
Service throughout the evening was good and not so good. The hostess was pleasant and helpful. I liked that our server talked about the restaurant and the menu with us and shared his favorites. The not so good are the little things that make or break a great meal. The bread brought to the table only had three pieces in it for the four of us. When the apps arrived, we didn’t have plates and had to wait a few minutes to get them. My water glass was always empty and I constantly had to ask for a refill.
Would we return again? Most definitely. There are some other items on their menu that I would like a crack at. It wouldn’t take much to notch up the table service but I am not sure what to do about the parking headache. Perhaps it was an anomaly that evening but next time I’ll bum a ride with someone.

Locally-​sourced ingredients… I’m all for it. We’re starting to see the transition from farm to table much more in this area, and I’m happy to see the forward movement. The interior design of the restaurant has an industrial feel.
Since there were 4 of us, we thought it’d be best to share everything in order to experience as many dishes as possible. We ordered the following:
1. Prosciutto, Chicken Liver Mousse, and Grayson Cheese: I could eat this by itself as meal. I actually had intended to order just this and the Gem Salad if I were to not share with the table. The Chicken Liver Mousse was to die for. It was simply delectable. So good, that even towards the end of the meal, I had taken another piece of bread for another spoonful of the mousse. And THEN… we had a little unforeseen situation with the mousse. Rob the manager was very pleasant, and he helped resolved the issue.
2. Smokey Chicken Wings (maple-​sriracha): These were finger-​lickin’ good! There was the right balance of sweet and spiciness.
3. Salt Roasted Beet Root: I definitely did not eat beets like this growing up. Everyone should give this beet app a try. The feta complements the beets so well.

4. Baby Gem Salad: very simple salad with white anchovies. Light but packs a punch with the right amount of saltiness.
All of the appetizers were awesome. Kind of went a bit downhill with the entrees unfortunately.
5. Clam and Castelvetrano Bucatini: The EVOO with the garlic and anchovy combo is what I usually do at home too. The bucatini itself was a bit disappointing. The texture of the bucatini showed signs of being over-​cooked. All I could think of was spaghettios from childhood. I guess I’m comparing the bucatini to the likes of the plates from Fiola Mare or Osteria Morini. With that being said, I can see this dish being a popular one because of the flavor profile.
6. Buttermilk Fried Chicken-​: just a tad bit soggy IMO; i wonder if the chicken is being fried in a cast-​iron skillet or thrown into a fryer. A bit more seasoning, and I can see this dish being as popular as the one from Founding Farmers.
7. Bison Flank Steak (special of the evening): I was actually looking forward to this. Although I knew the steak was going to be lean, I was not expecting it to be so darn chewy. My dinner party couldn’t finish it, but they all loved the sweet potato chips that came with it. The bison was quite bland and so was the potato purée.
All in all, I think this place will do well in Reston. As a new establishment, they will work out the kinks and become a staple in the area. I will probably go back to try to their seafood tower (Plateau Thoreau).

This is Reston’s answer to the businesses produced by the Farmers Restaurant Group (Founding Farmers being its most famous chain). Come to Red’s Table for comforting American dishes, prepared using local ingredients (very local, Reston Farmer’s Market-​sourced) in a sorta scenic setting. It’s only sorta and not wholly scenic because the restaurant is, after all, located in a strip mall. However, the restaurant offers a few things many others can’t brag about – lake views, over 150 seats, year-​round outdoor dining (with the help of heat lamps), and fantastic food. The strip mall location isn’t too bad; it does make for easy parking. It beats commuting into DC for a nice dinner any day… in my book…
Red’s Table gets five stars for excellent service and overall delicious interpretations of classic and new American dishes. Portions are also huge, which is great if you’re the type of person who hates leaving a moderate to pricey restaurant hungry. You definitely won’t here. Heck, you could fill up on appetizers alone. But don’t do that. The entrees, from what I can see, are pretty stellar.
I sampled my aunt’s bucatini with clams in a red sauce, and it was everything I would want in a seafood pasta – briny, peppery, umami, and filling. We also shared a charcuterie platter, which came with a meat mousse of sorts (only tried the cheeses and pickles). Very good. The clam hush puppies look a little scary, almost burnt, but they tastes great and come with a fantastic smoked paprika butter spread (gimme!). Calamari is also good, though not as unique as some other menu offerings. Hubby got the chuck roast, which came on top of a roasted vegetable medley. Gorgeous! Again, no meat, but I did sample the carrots and onions, and they were exemplary.
Our server was very fast and friendly. She also knew the menu and the restaurant really well. Sad to say, but not all servers get this one down. She gave us some awesome recommendations.
Some tips:
1. Make a reservation, but be flexible if you’re getting hangry – seating opens up sporadically, not necessarily where you may have asked, but it’s okay.
2. Understand that there’s no such thing as a bad seat.
3. Come with a group so you can share lots of dishes.
4. Don’t come without an appetite – again, they have huge portions, and flavors are also really rich.
Truthfully, I had never heard of Chef Adam Stein until now. With his spin on American food and incorporation of fresh, fresh products, he’ll soon achieve the recognition he so deserves. While others may be heading over to Reston Town Center for twinkly lights and grand eats, I’d much rather be here.

My third time here; high time to write this review. The bartenders and Garden-​to-​Glass Cocktails are brilliant – fresh ingredients, well — conceived, delicious! Cure for the Common Cold and Beet Martini are amazing!
Food is so good, I’m going to keep coming back until I’ve tried everything. so far the Clam Chowder and Beef Tartare are favorites! The burger, sweet potato gnocchi to die for…
The new owners opened the place up so you can enjoy beautiful Lake Thoreau from every seat in the house!
Come in to try this restaurant, but make a reservation because it’s been discovered!

I am not quite sure what this lady below is referring to when she said she loves their «NEW fall menu». This restaurant opened in September, like LAST month. I hope they didn’t change their menu from regular to fall just after a few days of grand opening?!
we tried the tonight’s special which was hanger steak with green beans and corn on the cop. Steak was good, cooked well as requested and seasoning was good.
We also tried the «buttermilk fried chicken»… What a BIG disappointment., I’ve had many fried chicken dishes (including waffles &chickens).and they are usually good or at worst, just okay. It’s never that «bad», i mean it’s fried chicken. I’m sorry to disappoint you and don’t let my photo of the entrée fool you, it was the worst fried chicken dish I’ve had. Batter was too thick, too plain and had this weird taste. I took all the batters off from the chicken, still wasn’t good, chicken was overly cook, so dried and I just couldn’t eat it. Same with the onion rings, I just did not care for anything and didn’t finish the food. Just like the other Unilocalers have mentioned in their reviews, maybe their entrees are just not as delicious as their appetizers I don’t know but I wish I had tried something else for $ 17.
Service was terrific. The only reason I am giving this place a three is because of the service I received and cleanliness of the restaurant. Waiter was polite, and very pleasant. Given how I didn’t touch my entire entrée, and leaving the restaurant hungry upset me a bit but he was very nice And 20% tip was necessary.

Not sure why my first review didn’t post… so system wants me to edit instead of update… okay…
Did lunch today. First off front staff and wait staff (Matt’s fabulous) are all 5 star worthy… its the Reuben that missed the mark bringing the score to a 4. Loved the house corned beef… the sauerkraut needed to be more sour. All together almost too salty… edges of the corned beef a bit crusty on one side which we assumed came from the broiler to melt the cheese… it has promise. The fries were terrific that cane with.
I had the steak salad which was yummy. It was a filet which made it a bargain as well. Surprised the description said dried fruit and all i got were dried cranberries. Disappointing but okay… would have loved apricot or something else to cut the sweetness. But overall thumbs up.
We sat outside which was lovely… not to many outside days left. They do have heaters and side panels for when it gets cold so should be a nice option going forward. .
— original review–
New place soft opening… I so wanted to award a 5. If just on food and service a clear 5 but a couple of things put a damper on a otherwise stellar first try.
Let’s chat about service. Our server was Corey (see pic of him holding my peach pie). He was truly a delight. Loved that he was open to my questions. I really liked that when he didn’t know he either got me the answers (like what is the chef’s cut… Coulette is the answer which is from the sirloin) to will there be a ribbon cutting (that caused a Tracey which means one of the owners by that name responded… No on ribbon cutting official opening is ⁹⁄₇ with bar at 4 and dining room at 5:30). He is a gem so feel lucky if you get him or ask if he is working.
The food… Interesting menu with some intriguing taste profiles. While I didn’t order it the lamb tartare looked interesting.
We started with a pick 3 on the cheese/​meet board. There is also a pick 5. I truly loved the thinly sliced house smoked pork belly (speck). That for me was a true highlight. There is a pork belly entrée that I have earmarked for a future visit.
I had read about the maple siracha wings so opted to have that as my entrée. Hubby elected to have the NY strip.
The strip was perfectly cooked… Nicely seared on the outside and a true medium rare inside. This was paired with a German style potato salad which surprised and then delighted the hubby. Surprised as he expected a warm or hot salad. Instead it was cold and a bit heavier on the mustard than vinegar. That said he really liked it and thought it paired well with the steak. It also a had a house steak sauce but honestly hubby doesn’t tend to do steak sauces… He tasted and said a bit too sweet for him with hints of clove.
The wings were amazing and messy which is a good thing… The glaze was perfect with a sweet smokey not very hot tastes. Surprising as I was expecting a bit more heat. Now I would have liked spicier… But in a let’s share setting these probably work better. I loved that they brought me real warm wet towels as they are messy. I hate the prepackaged hand wipes and this is a nice touch. There are other favors as well as plain so lots of options with me. Would love a half order option maybe paired with a salad for lunch (hint hint). Lunch by the way opens on 9÷28÷15 with brunch starting in October
While were stuffed we decided we needed to get dessert anyways. We opted for peach pie as I adore peach. The black pepper was a nice touch if spice and while the menu indicated thyme as well I didn’t taste that. But sometimes one should taste separate notes…, but if I was supposed to taste thyme it failed. I also prefer a stiffer whipped cream as well.
Now why only 4 and not 5. Two issues both architectural.
The first is sound. It’s a open space so that those in the bar also can see out to the water. That said the sound from the bar just bounces right into the dining room. Making the dining room area unpleasant for those seeking a culinary evening overlooking the water.
The second choice are the chairs. Not a fan of metal chairs with arms. I just found them to be uncomfortable. I also have some fluffy friends and to be honest these chairs just wouldn’t work.
Side notes… The outside area looked lovely plus it will be heated as well. There is a cute alcove just as you come in with a table that seats 8. Fun spot for a small gathering. There is also a side room perfect for small parties.
Looking forward to seeing the lunch and brunch offerings and to watch how the menu evolves. Very excited to have this as a local option.