3 Best Restaurants in Northern Virginia, Virginia

A 90-minute drive from the District takes you past hills and farms to the English-style country manor that is the site of this well-regarded hotel restaurant. The service matches the setting, and diners can choose items from two menus: Gastronauts (contemporary endeavors) or Good Earth (vegetarian), both of which have dishes that rotate daily. Wine pairings are offered for an additional price. Desserts are fanciful, and the smart cheese selections are overseen by a maître de fromage. There’s also a new, more casual restaurant, Patty O’s Café and Bakery, across the street.

The inn also offers 23 sumptuous guest rooms created by Joyce Evans, a London stage and set designer.

Set in the Virginia countryside, this sprawling restaurant serves the German-influenced cuisine of Alsace. The decor is romantic—a fireplace dominates the main dining room, and red-jacketed waiters courteously guide you through the all-inclusive six-course meal. Choucroute (sausage, duck, smoked pork, and foie gras served atop sauerkraut), and Le Chateaubriand de L'Auberge (beef served with fresh vegetables, béarnaise, and truffle sauce) are just two of the generously portioned entrées. You are asked in advance whether you'd like a soufflé. Say yes, unless the Alsatian plum tart is calling you instead. Make dinner reservations up to a month in advance.

At this local favorite, run by Jean François Chaufour and his wife, Françoise, for more than 40 years, lovingly prepared French country fare is served with beaucoup flavor. Popular selections include trout, bouillabaisse, garlicky rack of lamb, frogs' legs, and beef Wellington. Polish it all off with an order of profiteroles or crème brûlée.