Two Vienna Restaurants on Washingtonian's 'Top 100' for 2016

PHOTO: Employees at Clarity restaurant in Vienna. Photo courtesy of restaurant via Facebook

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VIENNA, VA -- Two restaurants in Vienna are among Washingtonian’s 2016 “100 Very Best Restaurants” out this month.

Clarity, which opened last summer at 422 Maple Ave. East in Vienna, not only is on the prestigious list, but is the second top-ranked Northern Virginia restaurant on the list, after Jaleo in Crystal City, which came in at #26.

The Inn at Little Washington, located in Washington, Va. and winner of dozens of awards, was the only Virginia restaurant ranked higher than Jaleo and Clarity, coming in at #8.

Here’s what Washingtonian had to say about Clarity:

“The debut of this Vienna restaurant was among the most feel-good stories of the year. It marked the return of local boy Jonathan Krinn, once the wunderkind chef at 2941. When Krinn left to open the glitzy Inox, in Tysons, he failed—and failed big: a victim of the times (Inox opened in 2008, when the market crashed) and his own bloated dreams. Clarity is a more modest venture, a neighborhood restaurant first and foremost. Ambition has shrunk, to be sure, but the classical chops are still there, and it’s not hard to see that Krinn, working with ex–Central chef Jason Maddens, is relaxed and cooking with passion. Actually, you can taste it in dish after dish, from seared foie gras with blackberries to a rich two-patty burger that ought to come with four napkins. But among the most appealing aspects of the place are small flourishes—the freshly baked breads and happy-making desserts.

Don’t miss: mussels and Thai-style sausage; gnudi with fava beans; pork chop; fried quail; tarte Tatin; chocolate cake.”

Also on the Top 100 was another Vienna area restaurant, Nostos, at 8100 Boone Blvd., serving up Greek cuisine. The restaurant comes in at #94. Washingtonian says to be sure to check out their Horiatiki salad, with tomatoes, cucumbers, and feta; stuffed grape leaves; taramasalata; sesame-crusted feta with honey; beef meatballs with tzatziki; crumbled baklava with ice cream. See Washingtonian’s complete review of the eatery here.