BRABO by Robert Wiedmaier - Lorien Hotel & Spa Restaurant - Alexandria, VA

BRABO by Robert Wiedmaier - Lorien Hotel & Spa

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Address:
1600 King Street
Alexandria, VA 22314

Neighborhood:
Alexandria

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Cuisine:
European

Price: $31 to $50

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BRABO by Robert Wiedmaier - Lorien Hotel & Spa Details

Dining Style: Casual Elegant
Website: http://www.braborestaurant.com
Email: matty.fanning@braborestaurant.com
Phone: (703) 894-3440
Hours of Operation: Dinner: Monday -Thursday: 5:30pm - 10:00pm,
Dinner: Friday - Saturday 5:30 pm - 11:00 pm,
Sunday Brunch: 11:00am - 2:30pm
Payment Options: AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Cuisine: European, French, Belgian
Executive Chef: Robert Wiedmaier
Dress Code: Business Casual
Accepts Walk-Ins: Yes
Additional Details: Banquet/Private Rooms, Bar Dining, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Counter Seating, Farm to Table, Full Bar, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking Restaurant, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Personal wines welcome, Personal wines welcome (corkage fee applies), Private Room, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine, Wine Bar
Catering: The Lorien Hotel features several private rooms that can accomodate up to 65 guests for a sit down event, or up to 100 for a standing, cocktail style reception. Please contact Kristin Alley for more information! Her email address is kristin.alley@lorienhotelandspa.com.
Special Events & Promotions: Host your own special event with us. For personalized reservations please call 703.894.3440.

Getting there

Cross Street: Harvard St
Public Transit: King Street Metro is two blocks away. There is also a free trolley that runs from the Metro every 15 minutes.
Parking: Valet
Parking Details: Complimentary Valet and street parking available.

The valet area is located in front of the restaurant and the Lorien Hotel. If a valet is parking other cars, inquire in the restaurant and we will see to it that you will be accommodated.

A word from BRABO by Robert Wiedmaier - Lorien Hotel & Spa

We offer our guests a relaxed, yet formal dining experience, with a focus on Belgian cuisine with American inspiration. Choose from our Seven Course Tasting menu to fully realize Chef's vision, or enjoy selections from our a la carte menu. You’ll know you’re in a chef’s restaurant as the servers… speak confidently about the menu. Many ingredients are sourced from local farmers, highlighting the bounty of the region. We feature an extensive list of small production, approachable wines from around the world, curated by Sommelier Matthew Carroll.

We accept Opentable reservations for up to 10 guests, Sunday through Thursday, and up to 7 guests on Friday and Saturday. If you would like to book a larger group than we offer on Opentable, please call Matty Fanning at 703.894.3440 to discuss options for up to 14 guests. We'll be happy to work with you to provide a special menu and experience for your larger gathering!Continued

Foodspotting photos

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Awards voted by OpenTable diners

Diners' Choice WinnerFit for Foodies
Diners' Choice WinnerMost Booked 1000-Point Tables

Diner Reviews

"Food was very good. Service outstanding. The menu had various selections that should provide enough choices. Wee recently had dinner and enjoyed ourselves."
Dined on 4/13/2014
"BRABO never disappoints and is our "go-to" Old Town restaurant for consistently good food and service."
Dined on 4/13/2014
"Considering the expense the food was not special and long wait between couses."
Dined on 4/12/2014
"The website for the restaurant specifically states that their chef will prepare a vegan meal for patrons that request special accommodations. My waiter had no idea that this was available. Please let the restaurant know that if they advertise a special accommodation on the website, they really need to alert their staff."
Dined on 4/12/2014
"I took my wife here while I was on a break from the Middle East - our first nice meal together in 9 months. It was outstanding!! Great service and even better food!"
Dined on 4/11/2014
"Great food, but disappointed with the service this time. We had an 8:45pm reservation, arrived early, and were seated at 8:30. Our entree's arrived at 9:43. When we mentioned it to the waiter, he said there was a large party in the back part of the restaurant. I guess they were more important than me and my dinner companion. This was the 6th time I had been there. Will I dine there again? Maybe."
Dined on 4/9/2014
"My wife and I dined at Brabo to celebrate our 15th wedding anniversary. We have previously visited the tasting room several times and enjoyed those experiences. However, the main Brabo is on another level. The service is outstanding and exactly what you hope for from a fine establishment. We enjoyed the a la carte menu instead of the tasting menu, which we will try next time. Everything from the cocktails to the wine to the main courses and dessert was fabulous. We could not have picked a better venue for celebrating together."
Dined on 4/5/2014
"Excellent restaurant on King Street and just a few blocks away from the King Street Metro station. Food and wine selection was very good. All of the restaurant's staff were very friendly and courteous. The quality of the items on the tasting menu was excellent and the paired wines contributed much to this."
Dined on 4/2/2014
"The service was wonderful, the quality of the food was delicious. Overall, I highly recommend this wonderful restaurant."
Dined on 4/5/2014
"New summer menu has wonderful options both fish and meat."
Dined on 4/3/2014
"I think part of our bad experience was due to the service. It started when I asked the hostess what other restaurants Brabo was affiliated with and she had no idea. At a nice place like Brabo you would think that the hostess would know about the restaurant. When it was time to order our entree the waiter came to our table and literally said "are you going to order?".This seemed very blunt and rude. We ordered two Pennsylvania salads and asked that they be split into 3 dishes. They did not split the salad for us. We ended up splitting the salad ourselves and it seemed like it was all lettuce. We waited a considerable amount of time for our entrees and they were average tasting at best. Would not return and definately not worth the $150."
Dined on 4/4/2014
"My wife and I celebrated our anniversary with a early dinner (5:30-6:30) of mussels and scallops. Bother were excellent. The mussel appetizer could have easily been a main course. The broth had a great flavor and the mussels were cooked perfectly. The scallop dinner was 4 large scallops sitting with small cubes of bacon on the side. Again, the scallops were cooked just right. We paired this dinner with a Pinot Grigio from a very extensive wine list., that was also delicious. The service was attentive without being obtrusive. Highly recommend BRABO!"
Dined on 4/1/2014
"the team at Brabo did a good job, despite some 'challenges' during the evening (e.g. one of the veteran waiters dropped some glasses, which required some fast cleanup). The staff was attentive and engaged. the sommelier did a superb job of recommending a wonderful bottle of wine for our dinner"
Dined on 4/1/2014
"I have eaten here twice for dinner. My son and his wife have eaten here at other times as well. It is probably their favorite restaurant in the greater Washington DC area. Both meals that we have eaten at Brabo were fantastic. It is a really good restaurant, and a relatively good value for a high end urban restaurant. It is highly recommended!"
Dined on 3/29/2014
"My birthday dinner was wonderful. Everything about our evening was excellent. The food was delicious. The rosemary cocktail was a satisfying sipper. I had the grilled octopus as an appetizer and it was beautifully presented and just as delicious. The bison was wonderful and the dessert, chocolate and praline torte with caramel ice cream combined all of my favorite dessert flavors. And the coffee in a French press just added to my enjoyment. I can't wait for my next birthday!"
Dined on 3/29/2014
"Food is well prepared and adequate thou small proportioned. Loved the spinach which I cannot eat under most preparations. Wine list is a bit pricey but is extensive. Some of the seating is in the walkway, but overall is worth a try remembering that the bill will be in the high but not excessive range."
Dined on 3/28/2014
"This place has delicious and different food. Service is slow but kind and generous."
Dined on 3/28/2014
"Brabo is exceptional. There is nothing else in OT that compares, especially as far as the food is concerned. It is consistent, although the menu seems to change on a regular basis depending upon what is fresh and available. I've been there many times, and have never been disappointed. They also provide a nice happy hour and bar menu in the evening which is a very good value."
Dined on 6/10/2013
"Brabo serves an excellent variety of menu items packed with flavor at prices that are reasonable for the city. I ordered two appetizers for dinner, the pork cheek and mussels. The pork cheek is tender and flavorful. The Mussels are outstanding! They are clearly fresh, well cooked, and the sauce is excellent. Finding good mussels is a rare treat for anyone who lives far away from the coast. Our server was very polite and attentive. Overall a fabulous evening."
Dined on 3/26/2014
"Fine dining, but not uber high end. Impeccable service. Waitstaff, bartender, and hostess were all amazingly nice, helpful, and attentive. Food was good. My silly complaint would be the tables are large. I sat at a two top with a friend and we felt so far away from each other!"
Dined on 3/26/2014
"This restaurant will never spoil your dining out. Enough said"
Dined on 3/26/2014
"Brabo is definitely a great restaurant for a romantic dinner or just to catch up with a friend and share some brilliant food and wine. If you are after a classy night out this sis the place to go."
Dined on 2/3/2014
"My only regret is that there were not a greater variety of mussel preparations and none listed as entrees. There was one appetizer on the menu and one more as an appetizer special. The special had only a half dozen mussels, so I chose the one on the menu. My meal consisted of three appetizer dishes, using the mussels as my main course. It was a large portion and an ample main dish. The broth was rich,wonderful with just a touch of spiciness,. The mussels were perfect, fresh, plump and moist. Loved my sautéed fois gras and the duck carpaccio. Properly prepared fois gras should be and was crisp on the outside and melting on the inside. Heavenly. Everyone else loved their meals and thanked me for selecting such an excellent restaurant."
Dined on 3/19/2014
"Did their wine pairing menu. Can't say enough good things!"
Dined on 3/21/2014
"Came her with my family for my birthday dinner. EXCELLENT food, impeccable service. Very friendly staff. We had my 8 yr old nephew with us. While I don't think this is the place for several children to be running around, having one 8-yr old there was not a problem. There was a kids menu. Will definitely be back."
Dined on 3/21/2014
"My wife and I had the 7-course tasting menu paired with wine. All of the food and wine was excellent."
Dined on 3/15/2014
"Great food and service again. Only thing to improve is a few more dessert choices."
Dined on 3/13/2014
"Very attentive yet discerning staff made the evening just what we were looking for. They put us in a quiet cover where the 8 of us could easily chat. Delicious food and good wine as well."
Dined on 3/11/2014
"This was our first visit to Brabo and we both were enthralled. The food, ambiance, and service were top rate. The rockfish and risotto were truly amazing, along with a very nice wine list. We would both come back in a heartbeat and plan on doing so."
Dined on 3/7/2014
"This was a fantastic dining experience. The wine was extraordinary,the food fantastic ,the service impeccable and I will be returning soon."
Dined on 3/8/2014
"My girlfriend and I are foodies and this is definitely one of our favorite restaurants. Every time we come here we feel like royalty. The food and the service are simply phenomenal. We decided to try the tasting menu and I have to say we will probably go this route from now on. My girlfriend did the tasting menu with the wine pairings. The matches were like made in heaven! Every single wine matched PERFECTLY with every single dish; and YES, every single dish was fantastic. If you are in an adventurous culinary mood this is the place for you. The food is not traditional or classical, every course will have a nouveau twist that will hit your taste buds where they need it! Trust me on this one; this is definitely a place to try at least once!"
Dined on 3/9/2014
"Very good food. Excellent seafood.Excellent service."
Dined on 3/5/2014
"Seared raw hamachi on a vanilla cream-filled brioche with a dab of spiced grapefruit was amazing; then came an equally amazing buttery oyster veloute. The rockfish came on a delicious bed of slightly overcooked shrimp risotto. The sweet-and-sour duck breast, while not tender, was very tasty. The beef strip loin came in a bed of marrow-infused potato puree. We were glad for the sorbet, and enjoyed the dessert of bits of chocolate cake with candied walnuts. The wine pairings were unfamiliar; a few of them worked well. Ryan, our magnificent waiter, discussed the food and the restaurant knowledgeably and enthusiastically, adding to the enjoyment of the evening. The dark, hard-walled room did not measure up to the rest of the experience."
Dined on 3/6/2014
"After some convincing, my husband finally got me to agree to the Chef's Tasting Menu and I am glad that he did! It was a really fantastic meal. The salted butter with the bread to start was so good and it set the tone. The highlights for me were the Oyster Veloute, the Shrimp Risotto served under the Rockfish (I also loved the crispy skin on the Rockfish) and the duck! My husband would also add the Steak to this list. For me it was okay, but only because I am not a steak person- I would've preferred a second plate of duck or even just a big bowl of the shrimp risotto-yum! Dessert was really good as well and did not disappoint. Overall, what I was very pleased with was that everything was cooked perfectly and was the proper temperature!"
Dined on 3/1/2014
"We tried the chef's tasting menu and wine pairing. It was excellent and the service was wonderful. Both the food and wines were adventurous and neither disappointed. We can't wait to get back to Alexandria to try it again."
Dined on 2/28/2014
"A comfortable setting with great service and refined and well thought out plates. The tasting menu and wine pairings was top notch."
Dined on 3/1/2014
"A very nice evening-attentive service, some excellent entrees and interesting choices, in a very pleasant setting. My duck was sliced thinly, a little rarer than I'd have preferred, but very flavorful. My wife's short ribs were delish, and my daughter raved about her swordfish. The chocolate ice desert was one of the most unique I've had, and we all enjoyed it. Pacing was good-we were never rushed nor did we have to wait for anything. A bit pricey, but the quality is high on all areas."
Dined on 2/28/2014
"Don't get me wrong - I like quieter restaurants, so when I said boring, I meant the food. Went for brunch last Sunday...and ordered the fish and chips. I am fan of Robert W. but this rockfish left something to be desired. Eammons makes far better fish and chips. The fries were good...I think I prefer his Mussel Bar in Ballston by far. The restaurant itself is very pretty, service was prompt and polite...."
Dined on 2/23/2014
"It's hard to beat the comfy banquettes, flattering lighting and delicious food at Brabo. We love its great happy hour, elegant dining room and terrific little bar. I recently hosted a group for Sunday brunch and we were delighted with the tasty brunch drink specials and interesting brunch menu. Our table was perfect for 6 and all went fairly well only 5 of the 6 entrees were delivered and we waited more than 20 minutes for the 6th item. From then on the service was sporadic, odd for a half full restaurant and more odd that there was a manager/ maitre in the dining room who never once glanced at our table. Coordination between the kitchen and dining room needs work and the manager on duty needs to be more attentive to the dining room pulse."
Dined on 2/23/2014
"We had an exceptional meal at Brabo. The food was delicious and the service delightful. Be sure to try the truffled polenta as a side dish. It is incredibly decadent and not to be missed!"
Dined on 2/21/2014

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Reserve at BRABO by Robert Wiedmaier - Lorien Hotel & Spa

BRABO by Robert Wiedmaier - Lorien Hotel & Spa Details

Getting there