The Inn at Little Washington Tripadvisor Reviews - The Inn at Little Washington - Trade Reserverings
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The Inn at Little Washington Tripadvisor Reviews
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39 Reviews
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Very good food and pampering at restaurant and the inn, but with a few issues
We stayed one night at the Inn and enjoyed the afternoon tea, the dinner, and the breakfast. What stood out to me was how pampered I felt. There were more staff taking care of us than there were customers. The lodging was super cute and had everything one could wish for, and with small, nice gifts in several rounds. Of course, it wasn't cheap. The dinner was exquisite but with a few things that could have been better. I loved everything I ate, and the dishes were nicely (and sometimes innovatively) presented. But, while the menu left my wife full, I finished the meal feeling I had room for more. And I am not super huge or anything. We seem to have been unlucky with the bread service. We didn't get any bread (other tables did) and when I asked if we could also get some bread, the response was "Yes, I can get you some bread", as if I were asking for a side order, rather than a response like "Oh, sorry, we missed you, we will get you bread right away". And I had to do it again for a second piece of bread. This is very unusual for any good restaurant. Perhaps I was unlucky. I was also a little disappointed with the breakfast. We got a very nice parfait of sort and then a basket with different types of mostly sweet stuff. Anything else, like an omelet or such would cost an extra $25--rather outrageous in my view. I had expected a nice buffet with lots of different types of bread, cheeses, yogurts, etc., as I would get in any hight star hotel. All in all, we had a great stay here and enjoyed the pampering and the excellent food, but I few things did not live up to my expectations (for the price we paid)
Be the first to ReplyTreat yo Self
An absolutely incredible experience. Each course of the meal was an absolutely unexpected delight that tasted both unique and familiar. The Chartreuse of Cabbage and Lobster, Lamb pair with Châteauneuf-du-Pape, and caviar dishes were of particular note. The wait staff was also incredible. I had delightful conversations with the sommelier on duty that night, multiple servers, and enjoyed the milk-related puns of the cheese cart guy. Patrick O’Connell came out to meet me and we chatted about the wildfires back home. I was even given a tour of the kitchens.
Be the first to ReplyPure luxury
The service is beyond compare and the waitstaff makes you feel you are the only one there. The food is imaginative fresh and pure. The ambiance is like dinner with royalty. It is my favourite place for celebrating your anniversary.
Be the first to ReplyMemorable Dining Experience
We had amazing dinner here to celebrate our 40 th wedding anniversary and we thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Service was out of this world. Food was delicious and presented with great artistic flair. It seemed like we were eating for 2 hours; but food was very light and did not weigh us down. All in all, very memorable experience
Be the first to ReplyThe Ultimate Experience for a Foodie
I do not understand the negative reviews. If you are complaining about the cost, then this is not a culinary experience for you. If you are complaining about the portions, then I do not know what to say, but I was more than full and I did not consume everything they offered to me. My boyfriend and I booked the kitchen table for a birthday celebration. We were immediately greeted and ushered to the living room of the Inn where we enjoyed some cocktails before dinner. Then we were greeted by one of the hosts and ushered into the kitchen itself for dinner after being told that we had our table for the entire evening and should not feel rushed, but encourage to tarry and enjoy. When we entered the kitchen there was an enjoyable exhibition of pomp and circumstance as we were personally greeted by Chef Patrick O'Connell by name and his brilliant smile. Our table was spacious and the seating comfortable. Immediately the attentive staff began to serve and accommodate us. Everyone was gracious and enjoyable. We had water immediately and personalized menus in hand as we were guided through the selections and choices before us. With those made, we began an incredible experience for any passionate foodie. Everything from the house made bread and butter to the parmesan truffle popcorn was not only delicious, but available for unlimited refills. Restraint was necessary to avoid being overly full long before the end of the meal. We chose to get everything on the gastronaut's menu between the two of us, including the $62.00 upcharge for the caviar dish. We had ten courses, including a hand delivered first dessert course by Patrick in honor of the birthday. Every course and thus every dish was exceptional in taste and presentation. They then sent us home with a bespoke box of confections. We got more than I expected. We also chose to do the wine pairing, and with that additional charge, I can say that one should expect to spend several thousand dollars for an all in dining experience in the chef's kitchen. What you pay for is an experience and an encounter with not just the 3 Star Michelin Chef himself, but his staff and to witness first hand the amazing fluidity of the kitchen staff. While I have never eaten in the dining room, I can say that I would without hesitation come back and dine there. This was a once in a lifetime experience to mark a special occasion for us, so the expense was well worth it to us, but if you are concerned about the fiscal bottom line or portion size, then this might now be the culinary experience for you. For us, it was one to remember forever.
Be the first to ReplyGreat experience,
My meal was included with the stay at the hotel. Dinner, service and location were excellent, well deserved 3 Michelin Stars. The only issue we had was that during our arrival the person at the front desk ask for prove of the reservation. I did not have cell signal and could not show her. She made me and my wife very uncomfortable. I would expect that an hotel that is so highly regarded would have better service at their reception. After I gave her my Id and told her to check she found my reservation. She should have asked for an ID before she asked for proof of reservation. If you are white they probably won't have any issues finding your reservation. Overall, after this small incident, everything was perfect and the stay was memorable. Breakfast at the hotel was also excellent and service during breakfast was great.
Be the first to ReplyThe 3-stars stood for: *Average *Overpriced *Underwhelming
I’m giving this restaurant a 2-stars — I’ve dined at over 15 Michelin star restaurants all over the world and 3 of the 15 were 3-stars so I’d like to think that I’m pretty experienced. I really wanted to walk into this experience loving it but it was average, over priced, and underwhelming (just like I stated in my title). Staff: Very friendly and super nice, they greeted us at the door and walked us to our table (as expected). The service at the table was a miss for me, they left crumbs on our table from the bread and it was never cleaned up, usually you’ll have people who come around and clean your crumbs. There wasn’t a stool or a basket where you can put your purse or belongings in, usually they have that at the the table. The sommelier wasn’t certified but he was the sweetest kid! I could tell he was still in training due to his lack of knowledge of pairing the wine with the food, and I also learned that he tried deconstructed dishes that are usually left overs to help him pair the wine which I find very interesting because if you want consistency throughout the experience, every sommelier should be treated the same. I understand that he’s in training but why wouldn’t you have a certified sommelier around to assist him. The condensation from the wine dripped over my fiancé bread as it was being poured, I’m used a clean bottle. Overall the staff was nice and knowledgeable. Food: The food was so good but it wasn’t great. We picked the Gastronomy menu with the wine pairing. I found it odd that with the menu you still had to pick this or that, I’m used to enjoying everything on the menu as is but if we still need to pick between appetizers, main course, and dessert let’s not call it a tasting menu. The food was cooked and well prepared but the plating was boring and subpar, there was no theme to the menu it was just food on a white plate. None of the dishes wowed me it was just good. The wine paired well with the food but we didn’t get the background of what notes to taste for or look forward to, I didn’t enjoy the 4 empty glasses placed on the table for future wine to come, it over crowded our table and it made it a little complicating for our server to serve us food as things had to be moved around — not the type of service you would expect from a 3-star. Parking: Plenty of parking and valet available. Ambiance: Beautiful seating area and nice colonial feel. Vegetarian and’s vegan options available. Overall Summary: In short, you don’t get what you pay for. I suggest you save up the $2K you’re about to spend on this experience and purchase a plane ticket overseas and pay for a 3-star in Spain or France.
Be the first to ReplyMichelin, what’s the grading criteria? How is this rated your highest grade?
This restaurant is good but overhyped. I think Michelin gives this one a “pass” due to the uniqueness of its location, the history and frankly it needs to be re-rated because it does not meet the standard of a Michelin 3 star like Aponiente in Spain. I had high expectations due to how everyone in the town speaks so highly of this place. It honestly feels a little weird because it’s as if everyone is afraid to speak truthfully on the restaurant out of fear they’ll disappear like in a horror movie, kind of cultish vibes. If this is your first Michelin I get why you’d love this place but they have some work to do. Anyway, out of all of the Michelin restaurants I’ve been to, the service, the presentation and the food all was top notch and was like a dance. The Inn at Little Washington seemed like they were resting on the fact that they were a top rated restaurant and didn’t need to work as hard. For a restaurant that I spent nearly $1,600 for I expected a lot. I didn’t like that I had to pick between menus. Since I paid for a tasting menu with a wine pairing I expected the restaurant to provide several courses that would fill me up and I was not anywhere near full at the conclusion of dinner. The plating and presentation of the food was boring, there was no style or awe factor in how the food was presented. Most places will try to match the cuisine to a creative plate. It was pretty underwhelming. The Michelin company rated The Inn to have a gastronomy star yet the restaurant didn’t explain what specifically about their menu was gastronomy like others that I’ve been too. The sommelier we had wasn’t certified and didn’t have his grape pin. Typically Michelin restaurants who have a sommelier in training will have an actual sommelier with them throughout the dining experience. With our wine pairing they placed several empty glasses on the table which I had never seen before and didn’t fill them, typically your wine glasses aren’t just sitting on the table taking up space from your plates. Generally each glass is brought to you for each course. They didn’t take the time to wipe off the bottles after they pulled it from the wine cooler, as the sommelier in training poured, there was lots of ice water from the bottle dripping on our table and food. The waiters didn’t remove bread crumbs from our table, didn’t fold our napkins when we went to the restroom, didn’t have a stool or basket for us to put our belongings in at our table. Nothing during the fine dining screamed three star restaurant, I think Michelin needs to re-evaluate this, I believe this place is a ONE star at best. Overseas Michelin’s seem to have to go through a higher grading criteria because I’ve seen way better places that are underrated that could be two or three stars and the Inn is somehow rated higher with not nearly as good of service. Typically if the chef is not on travel they will come out and greet their guest and Mr. O’Connell didn’t seem to have the time I presume to stop by tables to simply say hello. I truly expected more but you know what they say about high expectations leading to high disappointment. It’s just not worth the money spent.
Be the first to ReplyEven 3 Star Michelin Restaurants have bad nights.
Not our first visit, but certainly our least enjoyable. Our only expectation was that the experience would justify the $2800 we paid for a party of 4. I feel strongly that objectively it missed the mark. I will repeat what others reviewers have already stated. My very first cocktail was incorrect. The food service timing was oddly off. A table close to us was seated after we were and was on their 3rd course before our appetizers arrived. The bread service was inconsistent and as many have pointed out the breadcrumbs on our table were only removed prior to our desert. Quarters were cramped, forcing servers to reach over the table. Multiple times during the meal objects were dropped close by startling all of us. Overall the service was good but not delivered with ease and the engagements felt rehearsed. The star of the evening was our sommelier. Her knowledge and explanations of our wine pairings were both insightful and entertaining. At the end of our meal we were not offered after dinner drinks or coffee/tea service. We end up retiring to the bar area for drinks, where the disappointment continued and we waited 15 minutes for someone to recognize we were done so we could pay our check. I ended up paying cash for the drinks so we could leave without any further hurdles. It’s unfortunate and I don’t think we’ll be back.
Be the first to ReplyWhat an experience!
This dinner lived up to every expectation. What a great night! The food was out of this world. I don’t think I can pick a favorite. My husband and I celebrated our 35th anniversary here. Cameron the cheese whiz entertained us but also put together a terrific cheese selection for us. The inn sent us home with some very tasty treats as well. Will do this again for sure. Also, seeing the kitchen in action from the window was spectacular.
Be the first to ReplyGood, but not 3 stars and too expensive
To begin with, the service was hit or miss. The waiter could not answer any questions about the menu or the wine. There was no consistent presence, a large group was working together and thus it felt rather impersonal. And given how many people were involved, it was surprisingly not attentive enough, missing opportunities to check on us. Later in the meal our waiter changed and the new one was better. Still, not something you expect from a 3-star Michelin. The food was generally excellently prepared, but lacked the inventiveness one would expect from a 3-star Michelin. OK, I got a perfectly prepared medium-rare piece of lamb with some herby crust, but it's just a piece of lamb. If you are a traditionalist and really enjoy old classics with a bit of a twist, then this place is for you. When I pay 1K for dinner, I expect something to tickle my senses. From the whole dinner I can only remember wasabi sorbet served with carpaccio that was unusual and inventive. To me this was a very good dinner, but it should have cost about half as much as we paid. So, we enjoyed it, but will not come back. DC these days has a lot of Michelin restaurants that give more for less money.
Be the first to ReplyRomantic getaway complete with pampering!
From our welcome cocktail to the tea to the perfectly prepared cocktails to the divine dinner with attentive staff tending to your every request you feel pampered. The experience is all that o e could request and more. The spaces are perfectly appointed. The food was outrageously delicious and presented. No details overlooked.
Be the first to ReplySTELLAR. EVERY SINGLE DETAIL!
We honestly didn't know what to expect and we arrived just after dark to a charming "town" that consists of only a couple blocks. The quaint little Inn was lit up with string lights and we were greeted by the valet who greeted us by name. They swept our bags out of our car and when the concierge brought us to our room, our bags were already there. Every single detail of this place was clearly thought out and the staff was fully aware that the magic IS in the details. As we were awe-struck by our beautiful room, Katie came knocking with 2 glasses of champagne. Our room has surround sound, really really cute cozy decor and a porch we wanted to enjoy but it was 12 degrees outside! We dressed up a little to go downstairs for our dinner reservation and the attention to service was really touching. They have their staff trained to treat each guest as if they ARE the guest of honor. Each of our servers brought amazing service but also their own unique personalities and stories and humor. Dinner was extravagant. The restaurant is a masterpiece of chef Patrick O'Connell. He has put his entire life's work into this, immaculate conception to delivery. His story and the experience can teach a person a lot about life, hard work, dreaming big, serving others and focus. The experience will stick with us for a long time to come.
Be the first to ReplyWho awarded this place 3 Stars??
As local Virginians, Inn has been on our hit list for years. What a disappointing night it turned out to be. First off, leaving a 3 Michelin-star restaurant not full is a sin. Thank goodness for the unlimited bread service or I would have left and had to stop somewhere for a follow-up meal. First up is the food. Nothing is bad, but also nothing is over the top amazing in taste, visuals, or quantity provided. Half the dishes were gastronomic experience size..except there aren't enough courses for that. The rabbit dish was VERY dry. What was most disappointing was the service. At 3 Michelin stars, you expect the best of the best. Our server, Katelyn, lacked sophistication. As did several other of the younger servers. Was this their first day? Katelyn asked us what we wanted to drink as soon as she approached the table. How about giving us a drink menu first? After she took our food orders, she forgot to ask again what we wanted to drink - we had to tell her. I had to ask for more bread - 3x. When I mentioned the duck being dry to Katelyn, her response was "oh I'm sorry about that, I hope the sauce makes up for it." Unbelievable. Also heard her forget to ask the table next to us what dessert they wanted and had to go back. One of the servers who delivered two of our courses reached OVER the table to set mine down, and his arms shook wildly both times. So much so, that the content of my plate moved both times - he never fixed it. The service was beyond elementary for a fine dining establishment that has no stars, let alone one with "3". For the hour+ drive, cost, and overall extremely disappointing experience, we will not be back, and will not recommend it to anyone who asks.
Be the first to ReplyExcellent evening at the Inn
This is my 2nd 3-Michelin star restaurant and untold numbers of 1-Michelin starred restaurants. Overall, I found the service, atmosphere, food to be excellent. First, the atmosphere: very warm and southern. It gave me a comfortable feel which I liked. It's funny because usually I go for a more modern aesthetic, but I actually really loved the atmosphere here. Walking in the door, the fresh flower gave a beautiful scent. The crackling fireplace made it warm and cozy. Lots to look at with a busy, yet still cozy dinner setting. There are several rooms from what I could tell, but we were not far from the fireplace so that was lovely for us. The service was great. They kept the pace based on our clues. When I had to use the restroom, the pacing slowed to accommodate my return. The tables were a tad close together, but nothing bad. The food was great. I'm getting tired of going to fancy restaurants where they give us multiple amuse bouche(s) and they're large and it ends up we are full before the first course arrives. The Inn did the amuse bouche correctly - just a proper starter and a single one at that. On top of that, we loved real bread. One restaurant I went to brought us a puffy bread that was just air inside (like a balloon with a bread crust). Ugh. So I loved the Inn's bread offering. Outside of that, the dinner and wine pairings were delicious. We'd love to return.
Be the first to ReplyAvoid!
This is a 3-Star Michelin restaurant. We do not know why. They play outdated pop-country music. The entire time you are trying to enjoy world class food, you have to listen to Brad Paisley sing about getting mud on his tires and Brooks and Dunn sing their 90’s hit Neon Moonlight. Furthermore asking them to change the music prompted the response, “Perhaps you’d prefer to be served in your room.” The dinner alone, after tax, drinks, and service will run close to a $1000. It is absolutely insane to pay this for the type of experience here. Lastly, the room we stayed in was beautiful until we discovered what looks like human feces on the shower floor. Avoid!!
Be the first to ReplyContinues to surpass our expectations with each visit!
This was our 4th visit to the Inn at Little Washington. Each time, we think, it can't be better than the last...but it is! Somehow, they marry tradition and evolution beautifully. The things we love about the inn remain, yet lovely new touches surprise us each visit. This time, we enjoyed lunch at the new Patty O's which was cozy and relaxing on a cold fall day. Our dinner at the Inn was phenomenal every step of the way and the service impeccable. As others have said, don't miss the fun of Cameron and the cheese course. Chef Patrick was in on this visit, and he was a gracious and wonderful host, moving about the lounge talking to guests. We stopped at the bakery as we left and the team there is just as charming as the rest. We can't wait to return!
Be the first to ReplyTwo Great Meals!
Dined here twice during a two-night stay in July. Both meals were incredible (even though I miss some prior dishes, such as the popcorn amuse bouche and the seven deadly sins dessert). The Inn changed both menus for us (1 vegetarian + 3 regular menus) the second night to avoid a repeat of the first night and even sampled a couple of additional dishes. The service was impeccable, of course, and the entire experience remains well-worth the splurge. (Also, apart from dinner, the house breakfast is great, and the inclusion of breakfast and afternoon tea with the room rate is actually a remarkable deal considering the quality.)
Be the first to ReplyAMAZING! Thank you
Spent our 30th anniversary here and just a simple WOW! Over the top cuisine, service and warmly welcomed in our suite for the weekend. Definitely put on your bucket list and you will not regret it. Thank you DH for this wonderful surprise. I am not big on posting online, but this was worth it.
Be the first to ReplyFabulous Dinner
Celebrated a big birthday with dinner at the Inn and it was perfect in every way. Esp loved the lamb/Caesar salad dish and the duck breast with fig (OMG so good!), but Cameron and his cheeses stole the show! Highly recommend for anyone who loves a spectacular tasting menu!
Be the first to ReplyGreat presentation, average food
I had heard so much about the food at the Inn and was really looking forward to it. The presentation was great but the food lacked taste and creativity. Have eaten at better fine dining restaurants.
Be the first to ReplyOnce in a lifetime
It was an experience to remember! I was worried that there was no way I would walk away feeling like it was worth the money- but the combination of the amazing and interesting food, excellent (and not snobby) service, and creative and delightful wine pairings left me grateful that I came.
Be the first to ReplyPhenomenal experience
We dined there recently and was our second visit. The food, service and atmosphere was amazing. Our favorite was the lobster and really enjoyed ever bite. The food is artfully presented, service was excellent and dinner was very memorable. Highly recommend for a special occasion.
Be the first to ReplyOH MY GOD!
My wife and I have dined at the INN 4 times and on our last visit we met PATRICK!!!!!! The Inn is AMMAZING, the FOOD IS UNBELIEVABLY PHENOMENAL and meeting Patrick was a memory my wife and I will treasure for life!
Be the first to ReplyNot Worth the Special Journey
Food was good, as expected, but was very rich, intense, acidic, and generally salty. Instead of some delicate harmony of flavors, each dish was a battle of overpowering elements. The mushroom “meatloaf” was the exception, but not for good reasons as it was bland and dry. I appreciate that they have two menu choices, but the vegetarian option featured mushrooms in nearly every course, multiple rounds of berry sorbet, and basil everywhere. It was repetitive. Service was really a flop. What should be omnipresent, but not overbearing, was just absent and inexperienced. A rush of staff would come and whisk plates away or deliver a course and then disappear until the next round. Items were dropped on delivery - three times - including a steak knife landing on a friend’s shoulder. Crumbs were left on the table throughout the meal and swept in to our laps at the end. The staff were friendly, but hurried. All in all, the experience felt impersonal and mass produced. We were a cog in their master schedule for the evening. Three stars should mean an exceptional experience, but here is simply “above average” relative to the median restaurant in America.
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