BRABO by Robert Wiedmaier - Lorien Hotel & SpaEngagement dinner with newEngagement dinner with new fiancée. In the open table reservation I asked if they could sit us at a nice table or "something". They surprised us with champagne for the group when we arrived and every person saying congratulations as we passed them, both in and as we left the restaurant. They really did a great job. And the food was very good too.6/13/2013 12:00:00 AMTruly fantasticI give Brabo the highest ratings for our dinner the other night. There were 6 of us and they gave us a nice separate table in the back. Our server was flawless and the food, atmosphere and beverages were just fantastic. I just couldn't believe the restaurant was practically empty! I highly recommend it! Be sure to order one of the fancy cocktails - they are lots of fun - and the lemon poppy seed waffle for dessert - yum!!6/13/2013 12:00:00 AMDelicious and classyI liked everything about this restaurant. The service was spot on, thank you Greg. The seating was brilliant with higher comfortable stylish chairs for women. The tables were perfectly spaced for privacy. The decor was very soothing. And the food was FABULOUS!!! I would recommend this restaurant in a heartbeat!!!!6/12/2013 12:00:00 AMBusiness MealGreat food. Moderate noise level. Easy to converse. Great service. Knowledgable staff.6/11/2013 12:00:00 AMTerrific food, impeccableTerrific food, impeccable service. Truly went out of their way to make our anniversary personal and special.6/11/2013 12:00:00 AMThree of us went for a birthdayThree of us went for a birthday dinner. Food and service were excellent. Tasting menu is really nice but might want one less fish course.6/9/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent value; varied menuExcellent value; varied menu and attentive dining room service!6/8/2013 12:00:00 AMThe presentation of the foodThe presentation of the food was fabulous. Some of it looked like artwork.6/8/2013 12:00:00 AMVery goodNot great, perhaps, but very good. We went for dinner on a Friday night and did the tasting menu; all the dishes were solid and very tasty. I think my only complaint was that they seemed to be a bit on the boring side. I'm all for good, simple food and this was that, but it just seemed to be lacking a little excitement for a tasting menu. Perhaps I've been skewed by other chefs in the area who really take risks on their tasting menus. The waiter was a bit standoffish, though definitely professional; they provided minimal explanations of each course (which I expect them to do on a tasting menu) and no justification for the wine pairing for each course, which would also have been appreciated. Definitely worth another visit.6/7/2013 12:00:00 AMA very special dining experienceWe had dinner here with friends, and it was wonderful. I would rate it as one of the best places to dine in the area.6/7/2013 12:00:00 AMA lovely restaurant on King Street!This was a beautiful night out for a special occasion, our 44th wedding anniversary. The decor is masculine with dark browns and few decorative frills but it was welcoming. Tables were spaced far enough apart that everyone had privacy. My husband had the risotto as an appetizer and Gordan Ramsey would have been proud. : ) I had the pea soup...just a little bland. For our main course my husband had the New York Strip and thought it was delicious. I had the pork shank and also found it tasty and tender. For dessert I had a rhubarb tart (okay) and my husband ordered the lemon poppy seed waffle and enjoyed it. The bar seemed to be a busy place with people seated and standing, able to converse without yelling. All in all, lovely.6/7/2013 12:00:00 AMTasting RoomThis review is actually for the Brabo Tasting room! Excellent late night fine. The roasted turkey sandwich and arugula salad was out of this world. Paired with a glass of wine was a great meal. I don't rave over salad but this was seasoned perfectly. The service was exceptional as well.6/4/2013 12:00:00 AMFavorite restaurant in Old Towne!I have to eat at Brabo every time I visit Alexandria! Everything about this place is excellent, the food, service and atmosphere!6/2/2013 12:00:00 AMTasting menu etc.Spectacular evening all the way around. Tasting menu was extraordinary. Amount of food and variety with each dish was spot on. Service was excellent. Very relaxing atmosphere, with very comfortable chairs. Overall, an outstanding experience and one that I would recommend for sure!6/1/2013 12:00:00 AMVery SatisfiedThe atmosphere is modern contemporary. Elegant but not stuffy. All of the food was well-prepared, beautifully presented, and delicious. The scallops appetizer was particularly delicious. My wife loved the veal. I had the pork shank and the meat fell off the bone. We had the asparagus as a side dish. Perfectly prepared, and the bacon vinegarette was delectable surprise. Oh, be careful about the fresh, hot bread they bring to the table. It's too delicious and you'll be tempted to eat it all. Our server was knowledgeable, pleasant and attentive. We went for our anniversary and were very pleased. Although we weren't impressed by the dessert selection. All in all, we certainly do recommend it.6/1/2013 12:00:00 AMWe enjoyed the tasting menuEverything on the tasting menu was wonderful and a value compared to a recent experience at another nearby neighborhood establishment. They also have a great drink menu, with lots of 'bitters' specialities. Anyway, we are big fans of Marcel's , so how could we not like Brabo? Can't wait to try the tasting room next!5/25/2013 12:00:00 AMBest in Old Town Right NowBrabo is a top tier restaurant and the food and drinks are exceptional. Service was commendable and not pretentious in any way. You get treated very well and the staff makes sure that you feel like you get your money's worth.5/25/2013 12:00:00 AMFood truly in the DC Top 100Food was fabulous. Grilled octopus appetizer was amazing, slightly smoky and fork tender garnished with piquillo peppers, red onion, and paprika; veal chop perfectly cooked on a bed of creamy potatoes with a light garnish of mushrooms greens and au jus. Dining room management needs work. We arrived early for an 830 reservation but could not be seated, although there were empty tables that remained empty until well after we were seated. Service was uneven...sometimes rushed, sometimes ridiculously slow, perhaps caused by block seatings. Waiter's wine recommendations did not work all that well, we should have gone with our instincts. Folks eating at the bar got great food, service, and wine recommendations. Will consider that for next time.5/18/2013 12:00:00 AMMoroccan MagicThe location not far from King Street Metro was convenient. The food was excellent . Wine list impressive. BUT IT WAS THE SERVICE THAT WAS AMONG THE VERY BEST WE'VE SEEN. Too unusual in Washington area. The young Moroccan waiter made out day. . . Ask for him! JWD5/17/2013 12:00:00 AMBRABOA bit procey, but Brabo offers the best food in DC area.5/16/2013 12:00:00 AMEverything was awesome asEverything was awesome as usual. Our favorites were the foie gras with strawberry rhubarb compote, and the lamb cannelloni.5/15/2013 12:00:00 AMPairingI did this as a gift for my husband we did the pairing however the 1st dish did not bring the pairing and that was a little unsettling they did catch up but not the same especially when you are paying over $250.00 for your dinner...5/15/2013 12:00:00 AMBrabo is consistently good!That says it all...the food is really good, as well as the service. And what makes all if that even better is that it is consistent!5/14/2013 12:00:00 AMMy daughter took me for Mother'sMy daughter took me for Mother's Day dinner, I was we'll treated and enjoyed. I will recommend my friend. Thx!5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMOutstanding!!We have frequented Brabo's a few times and as always the food, service and ambience was outstanding. We look forward to our next visit.5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent choice!BRABO is a beautiful and elegant restaurant, but not stuffy at all. It's a formal yet comfortable. All four of us decided on the tasting menu (must be ordered by everyone at the table), which was a superb tasting of all Robert Wiedmaier's best dishes. However the service was not commensurate with the meal ... timing is key for a tasting menu with the wine pairings. Our server and his assistants seem to be one step behind the pace. The server's course and wine announcements for what was being served lacked some energy and information. Overall, we had a wonderful time and would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a special occasion or a quiet dinner restaurant.5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMWe had the rockfish over ratatouillWe had the rockfish over ratatouille and NY strip with spinach. Both were excellent but it was a bit pricey (especially the wine by the glass) for what the meal was.5/10/2013 12:00:00 AMAnniversary DinnerWife and I went here for our Anniversary, glad I chose the tasting menu, it was pricey at $65, but well worth it. Service very good overall an excellent experience. My only suggestion would be in the dining room get better (more upright) chairs that one does not sink back into.5/7/2013 12:00:00 AMTop Notch"The food at Brabo is top quality, well prepared and well presented. My wife loved the Asparagus and Spring Onion Risotto and her ribeye was perfectly seasoned and cooked. I had the Steak Frites and that was also exceptional. The cocktail menu was new with catchy names and the two drinks I had (one bourbon and one vodka) were great. We both had the Foie Gras special as a second course and it was buttery and deep in flavor. The service was excellent and the hostess was friendly and very attentive.5/7/2013 12:00:00 AMRobert Widemaier's Old TownRobert Widemaier's Old Town outpost is always reliable for a wonderful evening. Dined with friends who had never been to Brabo and eveyone enjoyed the experience. All of the dishes from fish to steaks were perfectly cooked. Duck was a little fatty, but I'll give them a pass on that one! Wine steward is most helpful.5/5/2013 12:00:00 AMSunday brunch was excellent.Sunday brunch was excellent. Corn beef hash was a treat. Our server, Ivan, made the meal most enjoyable.5/5/2013 12:00:00 AMTasty but priceyThe food was good. I had the tasting menu and my girlfriend ordered off of the dinner menu (salad and Artic Char). The portions on the tasting menu were small but all tasted wonderful. The wine pairing was only "ok". I also would have liked to have received more information about each wine. The char was a healthy portion and tasted great. The ambiance is not great but it is "okay" as we were seated in close proximity to others, even though the restaurant was only about 1/2 full. So, two cocktails before dinner ($32!! plus $8 tip), dinner ($182.00) plus tip ($45.00) for two. I would do it again, but maybe only once or twice per year. The staff (including all staff) was very attentive and always helpful. They would get six stars if I could!5/5/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat place!We had a great time at Brabo for our anniversary. They have a very extensive wine list and an interesting selection of food. I had the arctic char and my husband had the duck special, and both dishes were delicious. Our waiter was very friendly and attentive, as was all of the staff. We were pleasantly surprised when we received our dessert and one of the staff had written "Happy Anniversary" in chocolate sauce on the plate. A very special ending to a nice evening. We would definitely go back! Our only gripe is that you have to walk through the bar (and through the people congregating at the bar) to get into the restaurant and find the hostess table. And the bar gets a little noisy and there is no seperation between it and the restaurant.5/3/2013 12:00:00 AMAn outstanding dining experience.An outstanding dining experience. Restaurant has been through a lot of change over last year or so but all seems to have settled down and it was as good as we remember it being a couple of years ago. Every thing was as close to perfection as we would want and appreciate it being.4/30/2013 12:00:00 AMThe duck breast with kaleThe duck breast with kale and lentils and wine reduction was fabulous. Service very attentive. Staff called prior to our visit to ask about food allergies. We sat at a table near the bar on a Friday and the bar area was vibrant. It is expensive, but probably in keeping with the neighborhood. The food quality was on par with restaurants in Europe. Cheerful, friendly staff. Great experience.4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMMy server was absolutely topMy server was absolutely top notch. Very expensive dinner for 2 people ($200), but gave my server 25% because he was so very good.4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat eveningThis was a birthday event and usually I'm not great in picking restaurants. Something always goes wrong or falls flat. This time I was spot on! Everyone in our party was so pleased ... and the birthday girl couldn't stop raving about the experience. The next day she said we should go back soon to try the tasting menu. The food was amazing and the service was among the best we've ever had. We are foodies and have been to some nice restaurants. This was among our favorite places, We will be back.4/22/2013 12:00:00 AMThis was one of the best restaurantThis was one of the best restaurants we all have eaten at in a very long time. The food was absolutely superb, along with the personal attention to every detail, including giving us the table we wanted. Everyone was very nice and attentive. We will return whenever we are in town.4/22/2013 12:00:00 AMThis was a lovely, upscaleThis was a lovely, upscale dining experience and the food was absolutely amazing. From the asparagus and spring onion risotto which was so light and just melted In one's mouth to the ever so tender veal chop with its perfect au jus blend of flavors along with a dish of silky tender pepperdale pasta, the food was perfect. This is not our first visit and it surely will not be our last.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMWould have to give it a second try!We were not able to get a reservation until 9 and put in a request that if earlier seating opened to call. We were called in the late afternoon advising that there was not an earlier reservation. However when we arrived there were several empty tables, don't know if several parties had "just" left. The service was very good and at the recommendation of the waiter between 2 selections I ordered the beef. It was cooked to my request, but had no flavor. Disappointing. The salad selections were excellent & other diner thought the Atlantic Char excellent. The restaurant was also very loud due to the bar & a larger party seated across from us. I would recommend, but with caveats.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMTook a friend out for dinnerTook a friend out for dinner - only last minute res we could secure was at 6pm. Was totally worth it! I eat gluten free and many excellent recommendations were made. We shared the mussels appetizer - the mussels were large, firm but tender and the broth delectable. Cocktails were very good, as was the wine recommendation to go with her Haddock and my veal. Not an easy combo to pair. The free-range veal is provided from humane ranchers and takes the guilt out of ordering this exquisite rosey beef. Dessert was a happy revelation with gooseberries and dark chocolate. Yum!!4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMThe service was impeccable,The service was impeccable, the food was outstanding and beautifully presented, and the ambiance was just right, not too loud, not too quiet.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMWe enjoyed our meal very much.We enjoyed our meal very much. The only complaints we could possibly have would be that our sparkling and still water got mixed at some point in the evening, and the fingerling potatoes with truffle oil did not actually have truflle oil. Beyond that, we were delighted.4/19/2013 12:00:00 AM90th Birthday CelebrationWe went to Brabo's for a special occasion--to celebrate a 90th birthday. We were given a prime table and special attention the entire evening. We ordered the tasting menu, of which every course was superb, surprisingly not too much food so that no one felt overly stuffed, very fresh and original without being "weird." Cocktails are fantastic. Brabo's understands the customer, and made it a very special celebration for us.4/19/2013 12:00:00 AMOUTSTANDINGCant say enough about this place. It was our second time there (one of our favorite places when visiting Alexandria). The waiter was excellent. The food was outstanding. Great evening4/19/2013 12:00:00 AMOur meal was very good. TheOur meal was very good. The service was attentive but a bit cool. The restaurant was almost empty on this Sunday night - so the atmosphere was very quiet. Not sure I would go back.4/14/2013 12:00:00 AMImpractical hostessWe arrived early for a 7:30 reservation on Sat. night and asked the hostess if it might be possible to be seated early; she said she would see what she could do, so we stood in the hostess area next to the tables as the bar area packed. She returned about 15 minutes later to say they were going to get a table ready for us. All this time we were standing next to a set 5 top table EMPTY (several tables in the dining area were empty). At 7:30 the hostess put menues on the table and seated us at the table we had been standing next to for the previous 45 minutes. The hostess showed no common sense and had a 'attitude'. The service at the table was good and the meals excellent. The UN-accommodating hostess assure that none of us will return4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMI had an excellent diningI had an excellent dining experience and I highly recommend Brabo.4/12/2013 12:00:00 AMWe went there for my birthdayWe went there for my birthday to celebrate. Our waiter was so sweet and had helped us with his recommendations. There was a plethora of choices, but he helped up narrow them down to a delicious meal! We especially enjoyed the steamed mussels and rockfish.4/9/2013 12:00:00 AMOrdered the tasting menu withOrdered the tasting menu with wine pairings and had a lovely birthday celebration.4/8/2013 12:00:00 AM