Vermilion - AlexandriaBRAVO to the CHEF and WAIT staff!!Great dining experience from beginning to end.....period!!6/8/2013 12:00:00 AMAwesome Dining ExperienceOur meal at Vermillion was terrific from start to finish. Cocktails at the bar were fun, and the grilled octopus was the highlight. We will return!6/7/2013 12:00:00 AMSuperbQuality ingredients, expertly and imaginatively prepared. The chef is new, but the restaurant has maintained its quality. Note: Most dining is up a flight of stairs.6/5/2013 12:00:00 AMTreated very wellI made a reservation here through Open Table, and noted it was my mother's 85th birthday. They clearly read the note and treated her like the birthday star she was! Had a wonderful table, and the service was impeccable. The food was also delicious. I would definitely recommend this as a special occasion restaurant.6/4/2013 12:00:00 AMDelicious and great serviceWhen we go out with friends from out of town and spend a good chunk of our hard-earned money, too often it just feels like we should have stayed home and cooked. But Vermilion was worth the trek for all of us. Interesting dishes and excellent service. We had a grilled octopus and chorizo starter that was really good - 2 different sauces on the plate with it were great (I can't remember what they were). The hot olive appetizer was a plate of olives; the heat didn't add much except to make the plate harder to pass. Two of us had saffron risotto that was yummy, and we also had lamb and cobia at the table. Perfect service. Everyone left happy.6/1/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat Birthday EveningWhen we got to the door, they greeted our daughter with Happy Birthday. We selected the tasting menu with the wines. The service was really good this time and all of the dishes were delicious. Nice birthday dessert provided by the staff . it was really a great night. We all felt the value was good.6/1/2013 12:00:00 AMConsistently wonderful!Vermilion is my go-to restaurant to show my out-of-town the best our city has to offer at a reasonable price, and where I want to be to treat myself to terrific, locally produced food. The chef never disappoints. Seasonings and sauces often surprise, always tasty. The beet salad, any scallop dish, lamb and pork are my favorites. My fish-eating guests rave about the fish entrees. Refreshing signature cocktails and a large wine list, with a staff sufficiently educated to make pairing suggestions. Be sure to save room for the incredible desserts! Comfortable atmosphere and relaxed-pace dining encourage you to linger. Most important, I can't say enough about the quality of the food preparation and presentation.5/31/2013 12:00:00 AMFantastic Food!I have been to Vermillion three times in the last year or so, and try to get over there whenever I am in Washington. Each time it has proven to be an outstanding meal. This time we chose the tasting menu and accompanying wines. Each course and wine were perfected presented, prepared and tasted fabulous. Service felt a little rushed as were a late arrival on a Thursday night, but one word to our waiter and things slowed down appropriately. I will definitely return again!5/30/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent as AlwaysGreat Hush Puppies and excellent Oyster Poor Boys plus a mean Bloody Mary what more could a New Orleans boy ask for !!!5/30/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent experience.Excellent, creative food...very good service, comfortably paced and caringly served.5/27/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat Place in Old TownI've been eating here on and off for several years. I'm always impressed every time that I go. They have a small menu. Most items are sourced from local farms and they change their menu with the seasons. Their grilled octopus is amazing. I always order it every time that I see it on the menu. Brunch is also very good. They do a pretty standard menu so you've seen it before but it is executed well.5/27/2013 12:00:00 AMFood here is pristine. TheFood here is pristine. The pea soup is a great example. It is simple but nothing like any pea soup you have had before.5/26/2013 12:00:00 AMExpensive but More than Worth ItMy husband and I hosted another couple on the occasion of their retirement from the Army. So we splurged with the Tasting Menu--$88 each including a companion wine with each of the 4 courses.
The food was excellent! The Grouper, the Sirloin, even the salad and dessert were just great. Each wine added to the taste of each course.
Conversation was easy as tables were well spaced and the construct of the room seemed to keep loud noises at bay. Thank the gods for that!
Service was by a young but enthusiastic staff, describing each dish and wine as it was served. My husband loves that kind of attention.
All-in-all, well worth the high cost and we will definitely return!5/26/2013 12:00:00 AMOur Go-To Impress visitors spotOnce again Vermilion was our goto spot to impress visiting foodie friends, they were great about accomdating requests (downstairs table since one guest uses a cane, though it is louder downstairs). We had a great time with everyone trying something different and taking tastes of each others dishes, and the cockails are some of the best in the area "One of the best Manhattans I have ever had" and somewhere I am comfortable saying 'bring me a glass of red that goes with my dish'. One f us had the tasting menu which was wonderful as always but I was awarded the 'best' appatiser (Chilled English Pea Soup) and main (Pennsylvania Lamb) at the table, my other half got the 'best' dessert (Key lime pie).5/24/2013 12:00:00 AMI dine here whenever I haveI dine here whenever I have an opportunity to be in Alexandria, several times a year. The meals have always been delicious, the ingredients intriguing, fresh and beautifully combined, and the service cordial, helpful, patient and prompt. Moreover, while the meals are elegant, and regally presented, one is able to feel at home at Vermilion, whether one is in jeans or tuxedo, alone, a couple or part of a group. This is a very special place. Thank you for creating and maintaining it. Or to adapt a line favored there, with compliments to the chef.5/19/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat experienceI chose to take my cousin from Chicago to Vermillion because it was in the neighborhood. The restaurant accommodated a change in our reservation. The food was extraordinary, beet salad, risotto with wild mushrooms, fresh pea pasta. It was quiet and low key. Service was excellent. Highly recommend it.
We loved the local fresh vegetables, from farm to table really made a difference.5/14/2013 12:00:00 AMVegetarian FriendlyWent to Vermilion on a Friday night with two friends. I had forgotten they were vegetarian. There was only one veggie main dish on the menu, but several apps, and a pasta dish that could be turned into a main. The waiter came back after my friend had ordered an appetizer salad for her main and said the chef could make something vegetarian for her. What came out was a beautiful presetnation of quinoa nad mixed vegetables on sweet potato puree. Brussels sprouts, mushrooms, lots of variety. She was VERY pleased with the dish.5/3/2013 12:00:00 AMNew Chef...Much Better ResultsGone is Chef Tony Chittum and in with Chef Will Morris. Vermilion is still taking the locally-sourced, seasonal ingredients approach to heart, but I like what the new guy is doing much better. Skip the cocktails, though, they're overpriced for what you get.5/1/2013 12:00:00 AMConsistentI've been to Vermillion quite a few times and love everything. Food (last visit 'checked out' the new chef and found him fabulous.) The service is perfect: gracious yet professional. Vermillion is a First Choice for me!4/30/2013 12:00:00 AMA restaurant worth going back to...Tasting menu very well thought out. Speaks volume about the chef's knowledge of contemplatary cuisine. The Chef definitely has a good grasp of the subtleties involved in preparing tasty food that is not rich; an element that is sometimes overlooked in many of the restaurants I have frequented. The wine pairing was more than adequate.4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMMeeting High ExpectationsThe food was very well prepared, beautiful presentation and flavorful. The wait staff was very informative about wine selections and pairing with the meals.4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMWe went to Vermillion forWe went to Vermillion for our first anniversary. The staff gave us a great table upstairs by the window. They treated us so well. We loved it. Will definitely be back.4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMWe loved our dinner. ButWe loved our dinner. But why didn't we get Open Table points. It seems like the high end restaurants that we are fond of never permit Open Table points. Is this the restaurant's fault, or Open Table's?4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMOverall a good experience.Overall a good experience. My wife, who is more discerning, felt her choices were not as good. Also the desserts were all on the heavy side, with no lighter ones available. This was disappointing to our dining companions and no dessert was ordered.4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMNot to be missedMy husband and I first ate here two years ago when we were in the DC area, and liked it so well we came back a second time on the same trip. We especially enjoyed the bar -sociable, knowledgeable bartenders, great gin selection (found a new favorite - Bluecoat), and well mixed drinks. The restaurant was busy, and seemed to host a lot of locals. We had difficulty getting reservations both nights, but ran into others who were also back for a second helping.
On this trip, I brought a group of friends, and was reassured that everything I liked the first time was still in place. My friends agreed it totally lived up to my recommendation. The food was lovely.4/25/2013 12:00:00 AMCan't wait to returnThis is one of our favorite spots in Alexandria. The food is fresh and prepared in innovative ways. The service is always top notch. The grilled octopus appitizer was tasty and tender. The pork roast was delicious and done to medium rare as asked. The salmon was also wonderful.4/22/2013 12:00:00 AMJust a couple of weeks afterJust a couple of weeks after a long-delayed first visit to Vermilion, we were back again because we were so impressed by it.
The menu nearly always has at least a few new seasonal offerings .. on this occasion for example one of our guests was bowled over by the pasta involving three forms of fresh green peas, which he pronounced "the best pasta dish he'd ever had." But everything we had was quite good.
Another highlight is desserts - Vermilion's offerings are original and well thought out, not at all the "same ol', same ol' stuff that too many restaurants - even some quite "fancy" ones - settle for. Here, even folks who aren't "dessert people" will be tempted.
The wine list, knowledgeable service, and quiet room complete the pic4/22/2013 12:00:00 AMOne of my favoritesLove the tasting menu and wine pairings! The combination of flavors is amazing. Both the food and service are consistently outstanding4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMThis is a lovely place. WeThis is a lovely place. We were seated upstairs and it felt quite close. Downstairs looked more inviting and comfortable. Conversation was difficult. In spite of that, the service was outstanding. Each course was carefully prepared and explained. The wine list has a lot to offer for every budget. Our server (and all of the staff) was outstanding. Try the scallop appetizer. It was delicious.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMMagnificent RestaurantMagnificent Restaurant with Outstanding Service
The service is great even during peak hours. The wait staff appears to work well together. If you arrive early I would recommend sitting in the lounge/bar for a snack or some interesting drinks. Try the frickles! The fried sour pickles are delicious.
The tasting menu is a great option for exploring a wide variety of items on the menu. A wine pairing is offered with the tasting menu as is a beer pairing (if you ask for it).
Recently had dinner and had the tasting menu consisting of the following:
Salmon Tartar on baguette. Fresh but nothing unique. A good starter
Baby beet salad with goat cheese, arugula, fennel and walnut vinaigrette. The sweet yellow beets were a great contrast to4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMThis restaurant has not lostThis restaurant has not lost a beat with their new chef. The squid and sweetbread appetizers were delicious as were the beef and lamb entrees. We sat upstairs where the noise was moderate. There is quite a bar scene downstairs and I would recommend that anyone who wants an evening out with friends to avoid that downstairs.4/18/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat Food, Accomodating ServiceHad a catching-up dinner with girlfriends here. Vermilion has excellent food, though it's a bit on the pricey side. I opted for the beet sald, which was just divine. Both friends had steak and raved about the plate. Dessert - Nutella Cheesecake - was good, though I regret not ordering the S'more Brownie Sundae. Next time, perhaps. The waiter was very nice, took great care of us, even letting me order a glass of the wine from the tasting menu (and yes, it did pair beautifully with the beet salad).4/16/2013 12:00:00 AMDelicious. We went for brunch.Delicious. We went for brunch. My salmon was petfect. My husbands omlet was very good.4/14/2013 12:00:00 AMsplurge that's worth itTerrific food and conversation with old friends...pricey but worth it for celebrating a beautiful warm night on the town. Lovely presentation of all plates, good wine, nice servers. Need more vegetarian/vegan options.4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMAmazing dinner. KnowledgeableAmazing dinner. Knowledgeable waitstaff and sexy atmosphere. Definitely recommend for anniversaries and other special events!4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMMy party of 4 included twoMy party of 4 included two friends from NYC who consider themselves demanding restaurant critics and a vegetarian who is herself a fabulous cook; they were all very pleased. A thoughtful menu, which is seasonally adjusted and locally sourced. Organics emphasized. The service was knowledgable and engaged well with the group. A very nice evening.4/12/2013 12:00:00 AMAbsolutely delicious meal,Absolutely delicious meal, and the staff went out of their way to make us feel welcome and special for our anniversary dinner. They gave us our choice of tables, provided us each with a comped glass of champagne, and brought out an amuse bouche for us, as well. The wine we selected was phenomenal, and reasonably priced ($40). We thought it was a great value for the generous portions of high-end food and overall experience. We definitely hope to celebrate another special occasion at Vermilion, and also hope to check out the bar/lounge next time. The bar area looked so charming and the drinks sounded very interesting.4/9/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food and ambiance wereThe food and ambiance were amazing. Our bartender acted like we were imposing on her even though we were the first to sit down. She was not totally underwhelming.4/7/2013 12:00:00 AMWe went for our 34th anniversaryWe went for our 34th anniversary and it was awesome! We'd never been there before but had always wanted to try it. It surpassed our expectation. They found out it was our anniversary and made a big deal about it. The tasting menu was superb. Wine list was short but very well thought out with good quality choices. Atmosphere was great and it ended up being the perfect choice for our special occasion! Would love to go again soon.4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMTruly appreciated the careTruly appreciated the care and attention by the wait staff as we celebrated a special occasion. Each cour4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMThere is nothing bad to sayThere is nothing bad to say about this restaurant and its staff. We were treated to a spectacular meal served courteously and professionally. The staff went out of their way to ensure our anniversary was memorable. The food was spectacular and presented beautifully. I would go back anytime and recommend it to anyone I know.4/5/2013 12:00:00 AMCozy candlelight dining, great foodI went to Vermilion with a friend on a week night. She had the vegetarian tasting menu with the wines, and I had the regular tasting menu with the wines. It was absolutely delicious. The presentation was elegant. The wines were excellent accompaniments to the dishes. The service was excellent and unobtrusive, which I particularly appreciate -- I was there to talk with my friend, and the wait staff did their job without interrupting the flow of our conversation, which is hard to find these days. One note - the lighting is firelight and candlelight, not bright and cheerful, so if your preference is for bright rather than cozy, this is not your place. I loved it.4/4/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat experience at VermilionWe're out-of-towners and had been unable to get a reservation at Vermilion on a previous trip. Friends in Alexandria highly recommended it. This time, a reservation was made, though only a time a bit later than preferred was available. Our party of four arrived 20 minutes early, as parking posed no problem, and despite the early arrival we were promptly seated upstairs. It's a lovely, intimate restaurant.
The food, all of it, was fabulous. My Maryland fluke was excellent, our scallop appetizer just right. Our friends ate every bite of their choices, and we were all happy. Excellent service, too.
We had just eaten at Frank Stitt's Highlands Bar and Grill in Birmingham three nights previously, and Vermilion came close to equaling it.4/2/2013 12:00:00 AMElegant food preparations.The meal was superb. The wait staff were polished and helpful in recommendations. the atmosphere was great.with the busy bar downstairs the upstairs restaurant was quiet and pleasant.3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMWe had a great time, lovedWe had a great time, loved the appetizers entrees and desserts. I got to try two other appetizers and two entrees since we were in a group and I'd have any of them. The waiter knew his stuff.3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMAnniversary DinnerMy husband & I spent our 38th year wedding anniversary at Vermilion. We had the perfect table, perfect wine, dinner, waiter and ambiance! I won't wait a whole year before going back!3/29/2013 12:00:00 AMAs good as the reviewsFantastic food, elegant and charming place, excellent service ... and POTUS took FLOTUS here for Valentine's Day - how cool is that? Definitely coming back here.3/24/2013 12:00:00 AMThe best casual elequant restaurantThe best casual elequant restaurant in Alexandria. You can't beat the blend of excellent and inventive food, service and ambiance.3/22/2013 12:00:00 AMThe best and most unpretentiousThe best and most unpretentious place to go for lunch or dinner. Consider it casual eloquent.3/21/2013 12:00:00 AMWonderful meal! WonderfulWonderful meal! Wonderful service! Having recently moved from Monterey, CA to northern VA, this is the best dining out experience we have had here. We will return!3/20/2013 12:00:00 AM