Best Restaurants for People Watching in Waterfront

We usually go to the Willard’s Peacock Alley afternoon tea around the holidays but this year, when I went to book a reservation, there was no availability. So, I hunted around for an alternative, saw this, and decided we would give it a try. And we LOVED IT! The food was plentiful and delicious. The pastries were so beautifully and creatively made to reflect the Christmas season that I almost didn’t wast to eat them. It is also just a gorgeous place to have tea. The lobby where the tea is served is both grand and intimate. We were seated right by a big picture window. (Let’s be honest, there is a reason they call it Peacock Alley—you are basically sitting in a hallway making the experience at the Willard a bit claustrophobic.) And the service was OUTSTANDING! Everyone was so nice and attentive. (Although the service at the Willard is also generally good, it does feel a bit like a factory assembly line.) I almost don’t want to tell you how much we loved the whole experience because I don’t want it to get overrun like the Willard. The tea service at the Willard is still nice but I think we have found our new favorite place. Thank you to all the staff at the St. Regis for making it such a memorable experience!

Food was excellent. I had the pork chop and it was amongst the best I’ve tasted. We had a party of 7 and they all had a variety of things and they were all happy. Bread basket is not to be missed.

One of the best restaurants in Arlington. Blackened mahi and the Ahi salad were both great. The only small complaint was we were in a small alcove that was pretty crowded and a little noisy. I was surprised Bistro Mele has no reservations for lunch but Circa was wide open. Probably the parking issue because both are comparable with quality and prices

Some of the nicest restaurant staff I’ve met in DC and all of the food literally melted in my mouth it was so good! Definitely recommend trying the butter biscuits with homemade peach jam as an appetizer.

Food was very good with an interesting array of flavors. Service was okay, but live music was too loud for pleasant conversation at the table.