2941

2941 Fairview Park Drive
Falls Church, VA 22042
(703) 270-1500
http://www.2941.com/

Map and Directions

Cuisine: French

Price: $$$$

Service: 10

Atmosphere: 10

Sunday, November 9, 2008.

We went for dinner at 8pm. We were both very impressed by the atmosphere and setting of the restaurant. It’s interesting how it is so hidden by trees. You wouldn’t know it’s there unless someone told you. Complimentary valet is offered. The codfish ponds by the front door are very pretty. Our greeting at the door was very nice. A hostess opened the door for us. The maitre d’ was very pleasant. He confirmed the reservation and offered to take my coat. We sat in the main dining room with a nice view of the lake and fountain nearby. The tall ceilings and full-length windows were impressive. The tables do not have a candle or centerpiece.

There were 2 options on the menu—the 3-course prix fixe menu ($70) or the 7-course tasting menu available with wine pairings ($95; add about $50 for the wine pairings). We decided on the 3-course menu. After a beet and crème amuse bouche, I had foie gras for my appetizer and my girlfriend had the “earth and ocean”, which came with lamb meatballs and shrimp. It had Indian spices. This came with a nice selection of breads. For our entrees, I ordered the scallops, which the chef allowed me to select from the tasting menu. My girlfriend had the duck breast. I had a Riesling with my appetizer and my girlfriend had champagne. The sommelier came by to ask if we had any questions. She was not particularly helpful or friendly. We did notice Chef Chemel come out and greet a table. He seemed very nice.

After our main entrees, we ordered dessert. I had the goat cheese cheesecake and my girlfriend had the chocolate truffle. They were both amazing. The coffee service was also impressive. Each serving comes with a personal French press and silver dishes for sugar and cream. Light and dark roast are offered. There were many little unexpected treats from the kitchen. There was a nice custard before dessert and some petit-fours after dessert. Our server wrapped my girlfriend’s food and brought it out with a complimentary baguette to take home.

All in all, it was a fabulous experience. I would recommend 2941 to anyone who likes superior food in a gorgeous setting. The only criticism I have is that the food runners were often unsure as to which plates went where, probably due to lack of communication between them and our server.

A very nice treat at the end was when our server, Alex, offered to take us on a tour of the kitchen. It was great to be able to see behind the scenes. The kitchen was divided into pastry, seafood, and meat stations. Another nice surprise was the chef’s table, which is sat regularly.
Juan