Dinner at the Inn at Little Washington

[Anonymous]

Is it worth it?

FYI, Its $168pp on a Saturday night excluding tax, gratuity, and beverage. DH wants a one night getaway sans kids, and I was thinking of dinner here + a night at a local B&B (but not the Inn). He's going to be a tough sell for a $350++ dinner....

[Anonymous]

It is undoubtedly expensive, but we just loved it, had a great time and were glad we did it (despite the price tag). A lot of times, we spend a lot of money on a meal and are not satisfied afterwards. At the Inn, we spent a lot of money and loved the dinner and the whole experience. If you are looking for a place to say near the inn, check out Foster Harris House - one of our favorite bed & breakfasts, and it is walking distance to the Inn.

[Anonymous]

Been to some of the best restaurants in the country and the food was good at I@LW, but we had a bad table, so the experience was not worth the $$. I think it's a bit overrated.
I asked to move from our bad table and got an equally bad table (but it was the only one left in the restaurant).

[Anonymous]

For those who might visit there, is there a particular table that could be requested that is nice??

[Anonymous]

I've been there several times and once was offered a table in the "garden room." It's about five feet deep and forty feet long. Barely enough room for four tables in a row. You stare out at the dark garden, which was covered in snow when I was there.

I'm not doing justice to how horrible the table was. We asked to move and got a little attitude, but we were very specific about which table we wanted - a banquet table in the main room.

IMO, the best tables are the corner tables for four in the corners of the main room, under the red hanging lamps. But you need a table of four.

Anyhow, I think the food is amazing. The decor is very Virginia (think chintz) but designed by a British text designer. Service...well, it's okay but fussy and I didn't like the attitude that one time I asked for a new table.

[Anonymous]

yes- worth the experience

[Anonymous]

Yes, the dinner is worth it. I have eaten twice in the Garden Room, and I didn't mind it at all. It was a little more private, which I liked, and the dining room is so small that it's hard to take it personally. But I went there for the food and the eating experience, not so much for the atmosphere.

I also second staying at the Foster Harris House. It is a wonderful B&B -- I've actually stayed there and at the Inn at Little Washington, and the Foster Harris House was much better (extremely nice, a much better value, young couple with a child as the proprieters, and an amazing gourmet breakfast that beats the Inn's rip-off breakfast hands down!!). I've seen all the rooms at the Foster Harris House, and they are all very nice. The Compton Room is my personal favorite for the money, but the others are all decorated differently and nicely. There is one smaller room for less money. The Fall is one of the busiest times for both places, though, so be sure to book ahead if you plan to go!

[Anonymous]

We just ate there recently. We did the tasting menu with wine pairings, so it was pretty pricey, but definitely worth it. The meal was amazing and we loved the experience. For an overnight, I recommend the Middleton Inn. Lovely.

[Anonymous]

I've been there once for a business dinner and twice for personal dinners and they are very accomodating if you specifically request eating in the main dining area when you make your reservation. The garden room wasn't that bad, but it definitely wasn't as nice as the main room. For a real foodie experience, you can ask to eat at one of the tables in the kitchen, but that's not too romantic. The first time I went, I was shocked at how BIG the dining rooms are. They try to make it an intimate experience, but it's a big restaurant.

Totally worth it for the food though. Everything was absolutely amazing every single time I've been there.

[Anonymous]

It's a LOT of money for an essentially ephemeral and unpredictable experience. Remeber that tax-tip-beverage will add substantially to the cost (tip alone gets you closer to $200 pp). If the staff (cooks and waiters) are really on their game, it is absolutely worth it. But if something is off, you'll end up questioning the splurge.

[Anonymous]

We went last month for an anniversary celebration.
Save room for a cheese selection from Farrah the Cheese Cow---it is definitely worth it.

Another budget option---if you want to save money and you're more into being a foodie than the romantic getaway aspect--is to drive out on sunday and do their 4 PM seating---you then have ample time to walk around the town and then drive home. Spring and fall are definitely best times of year out there.

[Anonymous]

I didn't think it was worth it. I mean, the total bill came to nearly $500 with wine and tip and tax included. I nearly choked paying the bill.

The food was fabulous but I've had just as good meals for $200-$300 locally -- Citronelle and the Four Seasons are just as good for food, ambiance and luxury experience. I think Vidalia, Georgia Brown's, Oceanaire, Bistro Bis, the Prime Rib all had comparable food and service.

Funny note: when we went, I dressed up and took a little bag without my wallet. When we arrived, my husband discovered that he forgot his wallet too!! Fortunately they let us pay just by giving our credit card number (which I have memorized). They even were willing to let us eat there and send us a bill. Very classy!

[Anonymous]

My husband took me there when I graduated from law school. Although a sweet gesture, totally over-rated, IMHO. I'd much rather spend the same $ on a table at Citronelle or Cityzen or my favorite the tasting room at Restaurant Eve in Alexandria.

[Anonymous]

Love it! However, we paid $700 total for 2 people. It was VERY decadent and of course this was pre-children.....ahhhh the DINK days.

[Anonymous]

We think it is way overrated. I think the Inn has lived off its reputation for a while. The ambience is great, but I think there are several places here in town where you can get a better meal. To name a few, as a PP said Citronelle, Cityzen and Eve. And if you think DH will be a tough sell for $350, you should know that the wine list is on par with the food price-wise. I don't see how you'd get out of there for less than $500 if you have any wine (and I'm not sure that would even buy you a bottle). That being said, if you're a foodie, you've got to try the Inn at least once.

Another option if you're looking for a one-night getaway, is L'Auberge Provencale, http://www.laubergeprovencale.com. It's not as chi-chi as the Inn, but DH and I both think the food is better. It's one of our favorite one night getaways. The rooms are nice and it's in a beautiful area, near many of the Virginia wineries.