VidaliaGreat OnionThis is as close to D.C. Fine Dining as possible with a varied Menu.
Try the Inverted Manhatten!6/14/2013 12:00:00 AMVidalia's cuisine is reliablyVidalia's cuisine is reliably good. The staff was very accommodating when our party of 3 grew to 4 and then 5. The fixed-price lunch could use a slightly wider set of choices for healthy eaters. Consider having a salad among the appetizers and fruit or sorbet among the desserts.6/12/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat Business DinnerALL of the above and more :) My very first time at this charming underground boutique restaurant. I highly recommend the Oysters appetizer and the Shrimp and Grits entree. Will be a new fave on my list. The entire group of 8 enjoyed every course!6/11/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent food and great service!Never thought I could like grits, but the "Shrimp and Grits" were truly remarkable. The shrimps were jumbo and cooked just right and the grits was amazingly tasty - I guess the secret is in the 'shellfish emulsion'! We also had the Berkshire Pork Rib Chop. It was huge, but it was so delicious and nicely prepared that we had no problem finishing the whole thing down to the skinny chunk of bone. The roasted heirloom cauliflower was also excellent even though we asked the chef to hold the "parmesan-rosemary butter" that sounds so yummy.
We had great service - attentive yet not over-bearing. My Jasmine Dragon-Pearl tea pot was refilled almost immediately when I was done with the first pot.6/9/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat Taste, But MoreOur group of 4 was immediately seated and cared for. The dining area is quiet and conversations were easily heard. The service and wait staff was excellent. The food was excellently prepared, but a bit more could have been placed on the plate.6/8/2013 12:00:00 AMOne of the most professionalOne of the most professional wait staffs we've encountered, very accomodating of special requests. Food was exceptional, many items are interesting (and successful!) twists on traditional fare. most notably the vichyssoise with trout and Yukon Gold potato. The vegetarian mixed plate entree is a must, even for the carnivore. Parking in the area is understandably a problem so use their valet. Add Vidalia to your to-go list!6/7/2013 12:00:00 AMFantastic!I love this place! I've been working a few blocks from it fro 14 years but never was convinced by the proposition of American food in a basement. Oh, what a mistake! I cannot judge authenticity of Southern classics, but it is delicious. My wife took our young son and me for her birthday (we usually went to Kinkead's) and we all loved it. We returned for lunch on our anniversary. Service was wonderful and the food blew my mind (fried duck sweetbreads and waffles, frogmore stew, lime custard pie). Their pecan pie would be part of my last meal ... and I generally do not care for dessert.6/5/2013 12:00:00 AMWe did the tasting menu andWe did the tasting menu and it was delightful, portions are small so you can savor everything and not feel you have overdone! the atmosphere, service and food were outstanding.The food is delicious, but save room for the lemon chess pie!6/1/2013 12:00:00 AMThe Vidalia SurpriseA very different menu- but all was great. This fine dining place was my first visit- but one of many I hope.
Everyone was so friendly.5/31/2013 12:00:00 AMSecond time around!This was my second time dining here and loved it just as much! I will be going back again.5/31/2013 12:00:00 AMWe had the lunch special whichWe had the lunch special which is an excellent bargain; three courses for $19.90. Appetizer was great; the entrée good and the desert a bit disappointing but still perfectly ok.
As always, their regular menu looks, and usually is, delicious.5/29/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat Food and ServicePrice point might be a tad bit exaggerated but isnt everything in DC?5/24/2013 12:00:00 AMAlways goodThis place has been doing a great job at serving great food for decades. Always a treat to visit them when in DC.5/23/2013 12:00:00 AMI chose Vidalia for a graduationI chose Vidalia for a graduation celebration dinner for our family. We were all delighted with the menu, food presentation, and flavors. The service was superb. We couldn't have asked for a nicer evening.5/18/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat foodI recommend the tasting menu. Surprised how good this place is5/17/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat Dining Experience All AroundI had an amazing experience dining at Vidalia. The food, service, and atmosphere were all great. Very nice for a romantic date. Included with our meal was anamuse bouche of asparagus soup, and a bread basket with a three little breads all in perfect portions and freshly made. The menu is familiar but unique. For the appetizer, we order the sweetbreads and waffles, which was a classy and delicious play on and ordinary dish. I ordered my entree off the chef specialty menu, and got a lovely seared ahi tuna and pork belly. Everything was cooked wonderfully, and the portions were very reasonable, unlike a lot of American restaurants that give you enormous portions. I even had room for pineapple upside down cake with ginger ice cream!5/16/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent food and serviceGreat place for lunch or dinner. Fine dining, small portions. Excellent quality. Suggest making a reservation via "Open Table."5/16/2013 12:00:00 AMI had a fantastic experienceI had a fantastic experience and would recommend to anyone. Our server Will was outstanding.5/14/2013 12:00:00 AMDelicious food and gracious serviceFood was fantastic. Service was attentive but relaxed.5/13/2013 12:00:00 AMVilicious!Fried chicken was very crisp & tender. The thick cut pork chop was amazing!
It was well cooked & very flavorful. Mac & cheese was amazing too.
Wait staff was friendly & knowledgable about the menu &
Wine. We will definitely return.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMMy birthday/mothers day brunchIt was a rare occasion since Vidalia doesn't do Sunday brunch and I was back in the restaurant I used to work as a pastry chef. The food was spectacular! Hamilton johnson, the exec chef, executed every dish deliciously. The sweetbreads and waffles were succulent on the inside and crisp on the outside. The Mac and cheese put the table to its knees. The duck eggs Benedict was rich but not overwhelming at all. And the cocktails, debutante and mint julip, were spot on and well balanced. I would recommend Vidalia to everyone. The prices are very reasonable and you will definitely leave with a smile and a full belly. Thanks Hambone!5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent business lunch placeWe went for their $19,90 lunch special which was excellent, truly high cuisine at bargain price. Two things that keep me from giving it a 5* rating: 1) the menu is meat-courses dominated and I personally prefer fish places 2) the atmosphere (location in a basement area of an office building), without window views or patio makes it primarily a business lunch/dinner place, I would not go there for a romantic family dinner.5/9/2013 12:00:00 AMA beautiful lunchI think of Vidalia for 'special' lunches; this was a farewell celebration for a work colleague who finished her masters degree and is headed back to California. It was her 1st meal at Vidalia during her two years in DC, and she was blown away by the wonderful food and great service. The broccoli side dish, which we shared, was absolutely delicious! How can they make vegetables dishes so beautiful and delectable? Her steak salad and my shrimp and grits were awesome, too. Vidalia never disappoints.5/9/2013 12:00:00 AMBusiness Lunch FavYou can't beat a 3-course lunch for $20. I would, though, like to see a salad choice among the appetizers more often.
Vidalia is one of my fav go-to places for a business lunch because it's quiet enough for actual conversation.5/8/2013 12:00:00 AMLove the blue plate specialLove the blue plate special fans the beet salad for a light lunch fare.
The lunch special is also welcome.5/8/2013 12:00:00 AMLove the new Executive Sous ChefI went to Vidalia on a Monday night and met the new Exec Sous Chef, Ben Hand, who offered to "cook" for our table (meaning just send out some yummy stuff that was the chef's choice rather than order ourselves). I had six of the most amazing courses ever! From beet salad, to seared scallops, to shrimp and grits, and duck two ways…and of course the pecan pie, everything was great. Thanks Ben for making our evening memorable!5/6/2013 12:00:00 AMsuperb service, excellentsuperb service, excellent and innovative food, atmosphere was dampened the night we came: a group that had booked a private room arrived with twice the number of guests as expected. The restaurant did all it could to apologize and minimize the impact of the group's microphoned speech.5/5/2013 12:00:00 AMPoor planningThere was a private party that did not fit into the "private" room. The restaurant allowed the group to use a microphone to address all of the group's members, disrupting the dining experience for the rest of us who just happened to be there.5/5/2013 12:00:00 AMDelicious Lunch, Great ServiceI was at Vidalia recently to celebrate a friend's birthday. She chose Vidalia and I am so happy she did. The food was wonderful, we were licking our lips from the first course straight through to dessert. We were seated in the party room even though it was just the two of us. We enjoyed the ambience, the service, and the food very much. I look forward to coming back again soon!5/3/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat experienceGreat time, with well-prepared food. The chicken fried veal sweetbreads over waffles, the spice-crusted duck breast, and the ahi tuna with pork belly were all delicious. Celebrated an anniversary and thank you for making it special.5/3/2013 12:00:00 AMMixed experienceAt Vidalia, wonderful food, as usual. We seemed to get a Monday-night waiter. The wine arrived after the first course was almost fully consumed.4/29/2013 12:00:00 AMThe restaurant had "nice touches"The restaurant had "nice touches" to personalize the dinner and to make the guests feel welcomed and at ease. We also had a great server.4/29/2013 12:00:00 AMThe place was goodand theThe place was goodand the service was very good. however, the prices were boarderline silly--$13 for a lettuce salad with a little blue cheese and a few hazelnuts? Also, side vegetableofferings were small portions and 8 bucls for what amounted to 4 florettes, and a greens portion of about half a cup cooked for 7 dollars. To top it off, the sides were not extraordinary. Main courses were also pricey, but tasty and of adequate size.4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMAnother great meal with veryAnother great meal with very well-prepared southern dishes. As usual, the shrimp and grits and crab cakes were very good.4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMExpectations MetI had high expectations for this meal and was not disappointed by the food. It started with a complimentary chilled asparagus soup with trout. Very tasty and I am not one for chilled soups. The bread was exceptional especially the roll I topped with the onion marmalade. Went with lamb and while the lamb was very good, the sides really made the dish. Excellent balance. Wine list by the glass is extensive making a good impression. For dessert I went with Orange & Blackberry Olive Oil Cake with panna cotta, candied hazelnuts, orange sherbet and a decadent lemon chantilly cream. The french press coffee was perfect compliment.4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMBest restaurant I've beenBest restaurant I've been to in my life. Did the $80 tasting. Every single thing was amazing. I am not a foodie and quite frankly every time I've been to a fancy restaurant I walk away mildly disappointed. Usually the food is over my head. Not this time! It's well recognized comfort foods but done in such a way as to delight you. I still had to ask what a couple of the things on my plate were. Not because I didn't like them only because I'd never seen them before. Our server was wonderful. She made honest and thoughtful recommendations about the menu as well as the area. We were celebrating an anniversary. It was printed on the menu and also recognised on my dessert plate. It was a unique and thoughtful touch.4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent, been going thereExcellent, been going there for years and never, never disappointed.4/25/2013 12:00:00 AM3 course ore-fixed lunch for3 course ore-fixed lunch for UNDER $20? yes, please.4/25/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent!Vidalia did not disappoint. I was in Washington, D.C. recently on business and had my adult daughter with me. We were looking for a nice dining experience that would make the trip special. Our evening at Vidalia was terrific. The food was fabulous. One dish was the Berkshire pork loin chop and the other was the seafood combination stew. The cornbread before main dish was terrific but the best part of the experience was the pecan pie, which we shared. It is something special. The service was very good and our waiter made a nice recommendation for wine that we both enjoyed. We definitely would go back the next time we are in DC.4/24/2013 12:00:00 AMA must try when in DCThe whole experience was lovely. The food was spectacular! As advertised, American food with a southern twist. We had a shared main, the roasted pork shank along with 3 sides, collard greens, roasted cauliflower, and a huge portion of the best Mac and cheese we've ever had. New York food snobs, bowled over.4/21/2013 12:00:00 AMDELICIOUS! And excellent service.DELICIOUS! And excellent service. I have been looking for a perfect cocktail and found it here. All the food was excellent--best meal we've had in a long time. Service was perfect, attentive but not intrusive. I also love that they have a carpet so the restaurant is not noisy at all. Bravo, Vidalia, BRAVO!4/21/2013 12:00:00 AMA true fine dining experience.A true fine dining experience. Service was excellent and the Frogmore Stew was a very pleasant surprise. We will definitely return.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMSouthern Sophistcation..We're New Yorkers, and hard to please but it's clear that DC has arrived on the culinary scene with Vidalia! The southern themed menu was executed to perfection! The room was sophisticated and quiet enough for intimate conversation. Highly recommended!4/19/2013 12:00:00 AMSometimes fish are not verySometimes fish are not very fresh. I had to ask them to rebake them.4/18/2013 12:00:00 AMkcindcThis was my 4th time at Vidalia and they never let me down. I brought my best friend visiting from California and she loved everything about the evening. We were seated promptly, the service was attentive but not hovering and the food divine. This is one restaurant where you shouldn't skip the carbs--those rolls that come out after ordering start things off on the highest of notes. Butter is redundant. I had 2 appetizers and my friend had the tuna. Everything was cooked and presented to perfections. My only complaint was that the peppers included in my pasta appetizer were so hot to me they conflicted with the delicacy of the dish. So I just worked around them and the rest was perfect. In short--this won't be my last visit!4/17/2013 12:00:00 AMSpectacular as usual. FoodSpectacular as usual. Food is perfect and really innovative, the only mild complaint is there is no reprieve from richness. Hardly a complaint, but you can't eat here too often, nor is that their intent. Delicious. Nicely priced wine list. Bartender is fab. Service is top notch. Ambiance is a bit dated, but still warm and romantic. Highly recommended.4/16/2013 12:00:00 AMTry the tasting menu, andTry the tasting menu, and ask for Donald the waiter from Texas!4/16/2013 12:00:00 AMFirst time there and whenFirst time there and when back in DC, will want to go again. Food, service, ambiance all very good.4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMWe miss the old crab cakesWe love Vidalia's! It's an amazing restaurant with a chef that can genuinely cook delicious food. The service is impeccable as is the food. We ordered the soft shell crab and crab cake as appetizer. The menu items change regularly. The crab cake is generally our favorite thing to order, it's a staple appetizer for us when we go. We were slightly disappointed by the change in the crab cake, it didn't seem as creamy and the amazing (and when I say amazing I mean a dish you would likely remember your whole life) creamy mustard dill sauce that is usually on the plate was replaced with something else. We really missed how it was made before. The soft shell crab was delicious. The rest of our meal was great too. We will be returning to Vidalia's.4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMWe miss the old crab cakesWe love Vidalia's! It's an amazing restaurant with a chef that can genuinely cook delicious food. The service is impeccable as is the food. We ordered the soft shell crab and crab cake as appetizer. The menu items change regularly. The crab cake is generally our favorite thing to order, it's a staple appetizer for us when we go. We were slightly disappointed by the change in the crab cake, it didn't seem as creamy and the amazing (and when I say amazing I mean a dish you would likely remember your whole life) creamy mustard dill sauce that is usually on the plate was replaced with something else. We really missed how it was made before. The soft shell crab was delicious. The rest of our meal was great too. We will be returning to Vidalia's.4/13/2013 12:00:00 AM