2941

i can’t write about 2941 restaurant in falls church, virginia and not mention the juxtaposition of this high-quality restaurant against its location in an office park off i495. the contrast is particularly evident as i mistakenly land in the employee parking lot, forced to wend my way on foot through an office building until i discover a side entrance to the restaurant. i completely miss out on the free valet parking and the front entrance to 2941, which is distinguished by impressive waterfalls and koi ponds.  this is not my first visit here, but it has been far too long.

review of sietsema's review of 2941. tom sietsema recently wrote a review on the newly-relaunched 2941 ("miscalculations mar the made-over 2941"). i sent the following email to him to discuss his review and he quickly responded:
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hi barry,
your thoughtful, detailed (and civil!) missive merits more of a response than i can respond to right now -- i'm about to board a plane in mumbai -- but i truly appreciate your feedback. readers like you remind me why i love my job so much.
best regards,
tom
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from that response i thought he would continue the dialogue later. i wrote a few times to follow up and did not hear back. this is my original review (march 25, 2012).
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tom, i know you have a tough job, but somebody has to do it!

but i think you missed the point. to turn a phrase attributed to james carville, "it's the economy, stupid." do not take umbrage at that, but rather help us better understand the bottom line of your review. should we go to 2941 or not? and of course, the answer in my humble opinion is a screaming "yes!"

the original 2941 of krinn and early chemel is no longer. that is a fact. had that 2941 tried to continue, this incredible culinary oasis would have been on its last legs and gasping. but instead chef chemel and the management team planned a bold move, took a huge risk, and succeeded in a dynamic re-invention. the bottom line is that the thousands of us who cherished this "little piece of new york in northern virginia" for a decade still have the restaurant we can enjoy for decades to come.

i think that deep down you agree with me and i truly understand "some" of your comments. i miss the old 2941 in many respects, but i accept and champion the change. the old menu, while presenting fabulous dishes, was limiting from a food enjoyment perspective. the "left side" of apps and entrees limited a diner to only trying a couple of chef chemel's incredible creations. our family favored the "right side" because the tasting menu let us enjoy as many of chef chemel's dishes as possible. and what better reason to eat at 2941! many folks looked at 2941 as a special occasion restaurant, which is certainly was and still is, but just that cannot sustain a viable business in our current tough economy.

i frankly think the re-formatted menu is brilliant. think about it this way. instead of planning dinner at 2941 as a big deal and putting on a coat and tie, we are now comfortable just stopping in after work with the menu flexibility that will fit our mood of the day. i do not know who came up with "nosh, next, noodles, need and naughty" but i am impressed with this approach. what it means is that this time you might want to have one of each, next time two noodles and a need, or maybe just a couple of nosh and next on another evening. but always you should save room for any of chef caitlin's naughty selections!

might there be moments of inconsistency - that was your observation - well, of course. but our experience, having tried nearly every dish at least once and many several times, is the cuisine is already being refined with even more sophisticated nuances and layering of flavors. chef chemel and his brigade have already elevated their cuisine through this initial winter menu, and we can't wait for the spring menu any day now - hint, hint!

am i happy with the new décor - no, not all of it. i prefer the simpler look of the wooden table tops and don't really miss the table cloths. but then again we dine there for the incredible cuisine and the warm hospitality of the service team, not the furnishings. does everyone have the same service experience as we do, perhaps not, but it is a two-way street. a professional service team will read your mood and work to respect that - and maybe that can lead to an impression of stiff formality or unease that is not actually intended. but now you can relax in the new 2941 and enjoy the same friendly and engaging service that we truly appreciate. back to the décor - i also do not understand what they were thinking - the blue wall, the sheet stainless, and the very un-2941 artwork. but as i said before, we come for the food!

and speaking of why we come to 2941, the bar is now truly a destination, not just a waypoint. chef chemel's cuisine (dining room and bar menus) paired with one of the finest wine lists in the entire dc metro region and the cocktail artistry of sommelier jonathan schuyler is one of the highlights of the new 2941. just do it - and you will understand and make it a regular experience.

tom, it is evident that you are a fan of chef chemel's cuisine from your very insightful descriptions of some of his dishes. here are a few other innovative highlights that none of us saw coming. the cocktail sauce served with the oysters at the bar - raised as a southerner in charleston i have had gallons of the standard fare - but this was so incredibly fresh and unexpected we were eating it with a spoon rather than let any waste. daffy burger - yes, duck and foie in a flavor blend that would encourage you to have lunch in the dining room followed immediately by dinner at the bar just so you could make sure you were not imagining this incredible taste. the pheasant & foie rillette comes at you from a totally different direction, every bite delicious, and you begin to grasp the culinary greatness of chef chemel. rather than hand wringing with the challenges of an old 2941, he reinvented an already incredible dining experience and produced a fresher, more inviting menu. this is still his soul on a plate.

okay, enough said - i think i have been clear that to me the new 2941 is a very special restaurant, and we are generally delighted with the transformation - still the superb food of chef chemel and a great service team that is doing a very good job of adapting to a totally new and inviting dining experience. that seems to also be obvious to the nearly full dining room and bar that we have seen even in mid-week. folks can take their chances, but we still recommend calling ahead for the dining room and coming early for a seat at the bar. from our impression, this re-launch is delighting lots of folks throughout the area, and the future looks spectacular for the new 2941.

barry

the kind of restaurant that should be more popular than it is... admittedly i was here on a tuesday evening. but the place was pretty empty. and the food was incredible. what stood out, more than the ingredients and the preparation, was that the dishes were prepared very pleasantly under-seasoned. it is the rare american restaurant today that doesn't lay on the salt. and this place hit the perfect mark, letting the ingredients shine.

a great christmas eve. grade: a-/b+

chef chemel put together a wonderful christmas eve prix fixe dinner. one of the appetizers, the lobster vol-au-vent managed to incorporate scallops and lobster-clam sauce and keep the flavors of all three distinct within a puff pastry shell. another, the foie gras terrine, was exquisite, especially paired with the accompanying maraschino cherry.

the intermediate course was robiola cheese raviolini accompanied by brussels sprout chips (which made me love brussels sprouts) and parmesan cheese. we opted for the white truffles which added elegance to an already excellent dish.

not an everyday choice, the pheasant breast was very good (a hint dry) along with natural jus and a rich puree of celery root and caramelized cipollini onion.

the dessert of bûche de noël was memorable. this delicate log of hazelnut dacquoise cake covered in dark milk chocolate was complimented by meringue mushrooms and chocolate twigs alongside an exceptional palate cleanser, roasted pear sorbet.

one pet peeve about 2941 for the last couple of years has been the appearance of the wait staff. now in light gray slacks and vests with lavender shirts, most looked as if they hadn't pressed their uniforms. one rolled up his sleeves past the elbows, another had two buttons open revealing a crew neck t-shirt, a third was almost untucked in the back between the vest and trousers. in short, they didn't look as sharp as they should have for the prices being charged. one staff member who wore a two-button blazer had both buttoned - something that most of the patrons would've noted as being uninformed.


-----10 nov, 2010-----

one of dc's finest. grade: a-

my wife and i have been going here since the week it opened in 2002. chef chemel came in several years ago and knows his craft. the dishes here are exquisite. the chef's table is worth the price!

corporate lunch. i had a fantastic corporate lunch at the wine room last tuesday, august 26th. we had a pre-arranged menu, with a choice of 2 app, 2 main courses, and 2 dessert. food was perfectly cooked and very flavorful. the service was outstanding, and our waiter knew exactly what we needed at all time. strongly recommend this restaurant.

[ 0 ] april 3, 2014 | johnna 2941 restaurant is one of those places i visit when i need an escape.  an escape it is with scenic views highlighting the things we love about every season i.e. bright sunlight from the spring sun, snow blankets on the grass surrounding the lake.  besides allowing me to take a deep breath away from the hustle and bustle of dc, the food has stayed consistent through the years. 

i've visited this restaurant several times and thought the food was good. however, recently i visited the restaurant in my military uniform and had a not so pleasurable experience. after being ignored by the host for a couple who came after me and seated before me, the hosts tells me that there was no seating in the restaurant. there was plenty of seating. the host suggested i sit in the bar. since i was in uniform, i did not want the perception that i was drinking in the middle of the day and since i don't drink, i did not feel comfortable sitting at the bar. i decided to leave. i sent the management and email, not wanting nothing in returned; however, i have yet to hear anything from them.

meal's a homerun, when at 2941!. as occasional regulars at 2941 we’re consistently happy with their offerings. this time around, our appetizer consisted of: the warm crispy crab with ginger beurre blac, petite salad which was fantastic. the summer bouquet of bibb lettuce, cherry tomato, asparagus, avocado, white balsamic vinaigrette – fresh and mouthwatering! our main courses were the: pan seared chilean bass with tomato compote, asparagus, shaved baby zucchini for my wife, and i had the lobster: lobster sauce, baby turnips, sugar snap peas, heirloom potato, croustillant of which i could not have words to describe how delicious it was; friends had the 10 oz beef filet with smoked pearl onion, herb pomme puree, oyster mushroom, fricassee of peas... and for dessert we shared: the blueberry cheesecake with lavender whipped cream, shredded phyllo, lemon cream; the coconut mousse with raspberry jam, coconut macaroon, rosemary; and last but not least, the peach & strawberry-lemonade sorbet with fresh fruit, madeleine. where the ideas come from for executive chef bertrand chemel and his team is impossible to fathom, but his culinary artistry is incredible and thoroughly enjoyable. there are few restaurants in our area that can boast the elegance, taste and utmost eye for detail to wow the palate – not to mention the atmosphere that makes all your senses enjoy the complete experience! and, one cannot forget caitlin dysart, 2941’s incredible pastry chef. i, for one, don’t fancy myself one with a sweet tooth, but i can never pass up her incredible offerings – simply put... delish! with various visits including my recent birthday and friend’s 40th anniversary, the 2941 team has our kudos and continued patronage. we’re proud to have such an incredible culinary experience and masters of the art in our backyard.


-----27 feb, 2012-----

premiere nova cuisine is an art form!. from the moment you arrive, the unique rock garden, fauna and pond with incredible fish gives you a taste of what awaits you inside. chef bertrand chemel's superb menu shows off his culinary artistic abilities as does the restaurant's architectural and esthetic design style. starting at the bar, they make the perfect martini, 'nuff said. at the table, with an incredible selection of wines and superb personal attention, without being overbearing, is terrific. whether you select the pheasant & foie rillette (which was fantastique) or grilled tuna loin (to die for), you're bound to be delighted. and there is no need to even discuss dessert... wow! all enjoyed in modernistic but romantic ambience and sophisticated flair. you almost do not want to leave. for a perfect evening for two or even a large group, i highly recommend 2941 - we will be back!

excellent. i go to 2941 about once a month. it's very close to where i work and i almost always go to the bar for happy hour. they have good drinks, perfectly lightly salted popcorn (yes popcorn) and the bartenders are very friendly. i almost always order the vesper martini... and if you don't know what that is, it kinda sums up the restaurant in one glass. look it up.
if you are going to have dinner here, let me suggest you order from the menu as opposed to ordering the wine pairing 5 course meal. i find that the portion sizes in the wine pairing meal are a bit small for my taste and although the food is always superb, you don't really have a choice as to what you're being served. the wines however are hand picked by the sommelier who always does an exceptional job. if you don't mind that though, and aren't crazy hungry, then you'll enjoy the wine pairing meal.
the service has always been outstanding and very attentive.
the duck is my favorite entree here. i've also had excellent halibut and salmon. the foie gras is very good as well.
oh, and i don't believe i've had better calamari anywhere else. a must have.
it's pricey, but worth it if you like quality food and service.

2941 restaurant is definitely my fave restaurant in va. pork belly picked this restaurant for our anniversary last year. the location of 2941 was hard to find. it took us a while to find and we had to call the restaurant for directions. they have complimentary valet parking. the scenery outside the restaurant was gorgeous. the beautiful waterfalls, gardens, ponds make me feel a getaway from the city. sorry about my low quality pictures. taken with iphone. the restaurant has tall windows and high ceilings. ambience is classy and elegant. service was professional as expected. the best part of this restaurant is the food. the meal was exquisite. they were also very generous by giving free pre-appetizers and sweets at the end of the meal. the free pre-appetizers were crab dumplings that the chef made for that night. til this day i still remember exactly how it tasted. i was definitely blown away by how delish they were. the crab meat inside was super juicy and delish. i could taste the oce

my husband and i just went there this evening for a belated valentines dinner. i have to say it was really good! the atmosphere was good.. waiter informative and the food very well presented and extremely tasty. i had the duck as a main and it was cooked to perfection. portions spot on too. we'll be back for sure.... complimentary valeting also - a welcome change.

2941 restaurant is a visual and culinary adventure. every dish is a work of art at this marvelous inside the beltway oasis.

fantastic. we came in early for our reservation had delicious drinks from chris the tall bartender from new york. him and anastasia took great care of us. we decided to eat at the bar instead of getting sat at a table. food was perfect and well worth the money. beautiful place as well. blew eve away !

hen a restaurant routinely appears among the top 20 of washingtonian’s best restaurant lists, it can hardly be called “under the radar.” even so, it seems like 2941 frequently fades into the background when dc diners are thinking about places to celebrate a special occasion with a high-end meal. but it’s precisely that remove that made 2941 a great choice for a recent birthday dinner.

the company website describes this restaurant as a "visual and culinary adventure" and i wholeheartedly agree. nestled behind landscaped woods, 2941 is not in a place that you will easily notice driving by. in fact, even with assistance from my gps, i missed the location on my first try. driving up on the narrow, winding road, you are greeted by a beautifully designed glass and metal office building. 2941 occupies the bottom floor directly facing the big man