50 Best American Restaurants near Potomac

“We had a fantastic date night at The Grove. The oxtail should not be missed and is hardy enough to be a meal. I also wouldn’t skip the crystal bread. We will be back!“

“Fantastic food and fellowship with some amazing scientists and staff from NIH/NCI this Holiday season. 🎄🍭😊“

“Found this gem on my search for a first date location and Old Anglers Inn knocked it wayy out of the park. From the moment we pulled into the parking space it was apparent this was going to be a magical evening. The lights, the building and large firepit center piece made me think I was in a story book. Service - outstanding, highly professional and attentive. Food - lobster bisque, crab cake and salmon all top tier. Drinks - my date loved her side car, my old fashioned was good, could have been a bit stronger but that's personal preference. We met the owner Mark who directed us to explore the inside, cute spiral staircase to an upstairs dinning area (we picked our table by the window for our next visit). Outside, are additional event spaces (probably perfect for engagement parties) and a beer garden with live music for the more casual date nights. We will definitely return for the live music next month and get to experience our first time at this amazing venue.“

“You won’t go wrong with anything 🦚❤️👍🏻“

“It was chill, cool vibe. Me and my husband enjoyed the food and service.“

“A friend recommended this restaurant and the waiter was very helpful in choosing our appetizers and meals, and also provided excellent wine pairings. We even had a little chat with the other guests“

“We've dined at Patsy's American on several occasions and consistently appreciate the quality, service and atmosphere.“

“The Tacos and clam chowder was really good. The frozen Rose’ was good as well. Great service“

“My friend and I had the most delightful dining experience last night at Opal, all thanks to the exceptional service provided by Neariah. We are regular patrons of this restaurant, and Neariah truly stands out as one of a kind.

Her warm and welcoming demeanor, coupled with a genuine smile, immediately set the tone for a fantastic evening. Neariah's attentiveness was remarkable - she anticipated our needs before we even had to voice them, making us feel truly valued and cared for throughout our meal.

We have made a mental note to request to be seated in Neariah's section on our future visits, as her exceptional service truly enhances our dining experience. Her professionalism, friendliness, and attention to detail are commendable, and we cannot wait to be served by her again.

Neariah is a gem in the hospitality industry, and her dedication to providing top-notch service is truly appreciated. Thank you, Neariah, for making our evening memorable and enjoyable. We look forward to returning and experiencing your exceptional service once more.

Highly recommended - ask to be seated in Neariah's section for a dining experience that exceeds expectations!“

“Food excellent in quality, preparation, textures, flavors and presentation. The jarring and omnipresent noise (which also bounces) renders the fore-described qualities frustratingly moot - almost. I would dearly love to recommend as well as return and bring friends along but will have to forewarn them as well as brace myself.“

“they had a really hot guy working there with a little bracelet on what is his name but overall good food.“

“Solid place, we enjoyed the food quite a bit overall, and great service as well.

Cocktail could have been a bit better balanced and the pricing of the entrees was a bit steep for the quality. I would say the food is comparable to Clyde's or Glenwood's (fka Stanford Grill) in terms of MoCo spots.

We enjoyed the following:

Crispy Empanadas & Chipotle Dipping Sauce - delicious seasoned ground beef paired perfectly with the creamy aioli.

Tuna & Avocado Tartar, Crispy Wontons & Seaweed Salad - it was fine but have had better versions of this dish, just wasn't as fresh tasting as hoped

Sautéed Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes - With bacon mashed potatoes, roasted corn hash, and sweet corn sauce. My friend enjoyed his crab cakes, they're always good in MD, the crab quality does most of the work here.

Black & White Sesame Crusted Seared Tuna -
With roasted red pepper, snow pea, bean sprout, red onion, couscous, and sweet chili sauce - this was also good but not epic.

Trio of Profiteroles -Cream puffs with vanilla ice cream, caramel & chocolate sauces. Simple but excellent.“

“This lakeside spot in Reston is everything you want in a local favorite, stunning views, warm ambiance, and a team that genuinely cares. The staff goes out of their way to make families and kids feel welcome, which is rare and deeply appreciated. The food? Always fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. Whether you're catching up with friends or having a low-key meal with little ones, Red’s Table makes it feel easy and elevated. Consistently excellent.“

“We decided to do lunch at Ted’s Bulletin. The ambience of the restaurant was very nice and modern. The portion sizes are large, prices are reasonable and the food taste delicious.“

“Review of Punch Bowl Social ⭐️⭐️ (2 out of 5 stars) I really wanted to like this place. I chose Punch Bowl Social to celebrate my son's 20th birthday because I wanted something fun, lively, and more “adultish” than the usual Main Event or Launch experience. Unfortunately, the service left a lot to be desired and made what should have been a special night feel rather disappointing. Our waitress was apparently covering both the bar and several tables, which meant service was scattered from the start. The greeter even had to step in to take our food orders. After that, no one came back to check on us—not once. I found myself repeatedly walking to the bar just to ask about our food, drinks, or to ask for additional items. The table beside us was also celebrating a birthday, and it took them over 40 minutes to get a salad, so clearly the lack of attentiveness wasn't isolated. The most frustrating moment came when we got up to check in for our bowling session and returned to find our half-eaten food cleared away—despite my drink still sitting on the table. It was obvious we hadn't left, and it felt careless and inconsiderate. I did share my concerns with the manager because I genuinely wanted them to know. The atmosphere and concept are great—games, music, karaoke, bowling, and the overall vibe have real potential—but poor service can ruin even the most fun environment. Sadly, this experience just didn't live up to the expectations I had for celebrating my son's milestone.“

“The entire experience was awesome! We didn’t have reservations, as we just came from a show. They worked us in and the tapas style dining was just what we needed for an upscale, late-night meal. Flavor was out of this world and presentation was art! I’ll definitely be back & highly recommend the ninniku noodles with duck confit. 🤤“

“The food and seasoning is first rate. The crab cakes are perfection; almost no filler and scrumptious. French fries and roasted potatoes couldn't be better. Fried chicken eggs Benedict is great. Eggs were cooked perfectly but wished for a little more gravy so the next time we ordered it, we asked for extra gravy. The wait staff brought out extra gravy in a small ketchup container and without forewarning we were charged $3.00 for that little bit of extra gravy. Left a bad taste in our mouth.“

“We are going to Ted’s Montana Grill (Gaithersburg, Maryland Location) with my soccer team members for dinner every Thursday for past 2 years. Great atmosphere, Fabulous menu & Fantastic service by Dan, (Thank you Dan). Highly Recommend 👌“

“This is my hometown watering hole! I live on Maui now but OTWC is always my first meal when I come home. Maryland Crab Soup and the Swing Wings is what I always get!“

“Mother’s Day celebration with family was especially great because of the amazing atmosphere and awesome service at Barrel and Crow. It was our first time visiting this establishment and certainly will not be our last. Shout out to the owner and her staff.“

“Food was awesome! Atmosphere was warm! Wait staff extremely attentive. We LOVE that it is farm to table, they have their own bee hives and grow their own herbs! Menu was unique and the octopus appetizer was SO crazy good!“

“Our team enjoyed a business dinner at this seafood restaurant. Fresh dishes, excellent service, and a refined atmosphere.“

“Clyde's Tower Oaks Lodge is always a solid choice with many excellent menu choices, refreshed every season, very good service, and a beautiful space. Everything was very good from our arrival experience to ambiance, service, and food quality. 🎉🎉🎉“

“Wonderful food and service. We all had different dinners off the menu. The French onion soup was some of the best I had. We walked in and were met with smiles and seated fast with no reservations.“

“What a great place to eat! Per the owner I needed to order the Certa-Pro. It was FANTASTIC 👋👋👋👋👋. The day before I enjoyed an egg ham omelet. The owner has a wicked awesome sense of humor. I ordered my Certa with. I veggies and got the look!…. Get over there and eat!!!“

“the hickory burger is absolutely outstanding!!thick and juicy always cooked to perfection and the fries are outstanding their fried pickles are good if you like spears I prefer fried pickles chips but when I had their fried pickle spears I was astonished seasoned well and very crispy“

“start with the good: the calamari and shrimp appetizers were absolutely delicious. Perfectly seasoned, full of flavor, and super crispy — truly a highlight. It was a slower Sunday, so I'm not sure why the service moved so slowly. Our drinks and appetizers took quite a while, and there was a shift change that caused our appetizers to be missed altogether (they did end up comping them, which we appreciated). For lunch, I had the steak salad, my daughter ordered the steak and fries (medium rare), and my son-in-law had the margherita pizza. All three dishes were really yummy. I'll definitely come back for the steak salad — it was that good. The only downside was the pacing. With only about two other tables seated, it was surprising that service was still that slow. But overall, the food was delicious, and that's a big plus.“

“Great food & service. Chill atmosphere that’s great for date night or night with kids. We go to Harveys almost every week!“

“Great experience. The hostesses were friendly. Our server was exceptional, attentive to detail, and provided a healthy balance in seeing what we needed. The food was great and the dessert was delicious. The overall welcoming atmosphere.“

“Reliable! Always delicious!“

“Thanks again for a wonderful dinner shared with my family. Though it’s been many, many years, it’s still the same, with a few changes, its a great place. I know I can always count on you all every single time and I’m proud to know you’ve been my neighbor all these years as well. Whenever you’re around, it always feels more like home. And I love that for all these years you’ve had the Lost Dog and Cat Rescue. So many friends have been given a forever home, including a very special friend of mine. Thanks for all you continue to do. I hope you never leave us.“

“Was in the mood for a good cheesesteak so we decided to try out a recommendation from the Vienna Foodies group! Our experience was great, great service and the food was good. My husband got the double double on a pretzel burger and I had the original cheesesteak! We were VERY impressed how the fries at the bottom of the basket were still crispy! We’ll definitely be back! 🔥💯👏🏽“

“Just had the chicken sampler with 4 sides. It was delicious and more than enough to feed 4 hungry people. Will definitely order from them again. Joann Levine“

“We had lunch here with our family and small kids. Everyone was so friendly and caring and the food was great and amazing service. Highly recommend.“

“Excellent food Original recipes High quality ingredients Prices... À bit high but still acceptable Good and friendly staff Very nice and friendly place“

“I had the local strawberry and watermelon salad and it was the most original and delicious thing I've eaten all summer. Combines sweet and juicy with crunchy and savory, with a great house-made dressing. I wish I'd tried this place sooner.“

“I "cried" when my fave VEGAN or VEGETARIAN "GO-to" eat-in place closed all their locations around Boston. That was sadly & formerly GrainMaker .. (gone now) However DiG has grown on me as their deFACTO replacement for all FRESH VEGGIES and otherwise ALL FRESH MEAL VEGAN or VEGETERIAN eats and eat-in place! This is becoming my greatly reccomended "hidden vegan and veggie gem" in Boston with LOTS of locations. They have 3 locations thus far in Boston and 2 in Cambridge. I hav ONLY visited their downtown location thus far! Just as formerly with GrainMaker, DiG is as close to authentic home cooked! & genuinely HEALTHY! AND fresh meals that you can get to. Always fresh veggies, steamed & otherwise. --(they also serve a variety of proteins, as in variety of meats and fish, but i stay vegan. I have NEVER tried any of their meats or fish here.. ONLY their veggies and seasoned TOFU on occasion.. more oft than not, i do not even get their TOFU as a protein and opt to feast on JUST their steamed or boiled or baked veggies, bases. like rice and excellent mixed veggie salads sides!) Have been frequenting it for about 2 years since 2023 now, but held off on reviewing it until i was SURE of my experiences here. Decided to review it today bcs "it's time". I spoke to the very customer service oriented and responsibve supervisor here at this location, his name is DiJuan and was served by Adonis today and he was also very accommodating (after i explained i eat vegan) and on showing me my MANY fresh veggie choices, bases, proteins (including delish prepared Tofu) and PLENTY of heavenly veggie sides, all preped like you'd expect to find in a Thanksgiving grand day family meal. (AND they do this EVERY DAY!! ) This is HEALTHY eats and quite tasty and delish! See my posted pic w this review of my choice of eats today. In short, just today, i started with very little brown rice as my base and added 2 types of their fresh salad, Cannellini Beans w dill & greens along with their steamed or boiled Kale greens and added also a sweet potato that had been steamed & also steamed brocolli. I LUV eating fresh, healthy, TASTY and "homemade style" (as in NOT processed!!). I added their Garlic dressing to top it off. It came to something like 10+ bucks (B4 tax)! Unheard of !! for a BIG & FULLY portioned full veggie plate like this! BIG PORTION of a FULL PLATE! -- i declined, as usual to get any protein with my meal today, is why, STiLL i got a HUGE portioned plate! ( I normally HAVE2 order 2 - 3 separate orders and combine them, at HoneyGrow, anuther fave local "vegan" franchise in Boston, in order to get filled up if i'm only eating OMAD, as in One-meal-a-Day, in order to get full elsewhere usually!). They have a FAMILY (feeds4) option after 3pm every day that feeds 4-5 people (adults not kids) for like $43. QUITE A BARGAIN for something like this. AND it look like a Thankgiving day meal to top it off! --(formerly anuther non-vegan place "had this", now gone, called Boston Market. However they LOADED their side protions and even base meal with SO MUCH SALT, yuck! so that was ALL you could taste. THEY supposedly made home made, but found out NOT SO!!, theirs was loaded with processed sh*t, like their supposedly home-made mashed potatoes were the powder kind, loaded with pseudo milk and SALT, YUCK!!) NOT SO ! with this place.. DiG is 180 degrees fr tht.. This is truly GREAT tasting REAL and "home-prepped" veggies. They are winning me over from my other 2 "go-to's" "vegan-ish" franchises in Boston whcih have steadily been declining for various reasons, those being Bon-Me (their employees, over at Bon-Me for last 2-3 years it seems at ALL locations i have tried, simply do not undertsand nor speak english for the most part, their food WEN i can get it ordered the way i want it, is generally good, oft times its taken over 2 returned plates in order to get it prepared the way i orderd it.. v“

“First visit today for my birthday lunch and loved the vibe and the food!“

“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - I have always had great experiences at Bear Branch Tavern, but today I had Ash and Maria as my server and bartender. They were fantastic. I could not recommend them enough. Every time I go back I am going to try and get Ash as my server. 10/10 experience, 10/10 food. Will definitely be back.“

“Dining at Open Road - Rosslyn was an absolute pleasure! Here’s a breakdown of our experience: Food: Popcorn Starter: A fun and tasty surprise! The complimentary popcorn was a great way to kick off the meal. The Shrimp and Grits: Simply outstanding—easily among the best I’ve ever had. Every bite was packed with flavor! The Philly Cheesesteak with Fries were served piping hot, with the cheesesteak perfectly seasoned and the fries golden and crispy. Service: The staff were fantastic—attentive, friendly, and genuinely welcoming. Their excellent service made the experience even more enjoyable. Price: The prices were reasonable, especially considering the quality of both the food and service and the location. Great value overall!“

“This is our new special occasion dining spot. Food was amazing and service was great!“

“Great place! We had a large birthday party for my husband this past weekend. The food, wine, and set up indoors and outdoors made it such a special celebration. Many people said it was the best food that they have had at a party. It was amazing!“

“Absolutely spectacular! The food, the atmosphere, the event coordinator, the staff, absolutely everything was top notch. We absolutely loved it.“

“This is a good-bar that's reasonably priced. Food and service are great. Real people go here

Vegetarian options: You can leave meat off some items. The Westover Melt is veggie and delish.

Wheelchair accessibility: Roll right in“

“I visited Isaac’s last week and it instantly became one of my new favorite spots. This isn’t just any sandwich shop—Isaac’s is home to the award-winning chicken sandwich that was named Best Chicken Sandwich in Maryland by the Restaurant Association of Maryland and ranked in the Top 10 at the World Food Championships. It’s even been featured on Good Morning Washington for its outstanding flavor. I tried it myself, and it was absolutely amazing—full of flavor, perfectly prepared, and paired with fries that were truly to die for. Those two are now my go-to items here.

The place itself is spotless, with a modern, youthful atmosphere that feels both welcoming and stylish. The drink menu is well-curated, with a great variety of wines and drinks that pair beautifully with the food. I also love their soda selection—it’s not your typical fountain drinks, but unique, high-quality choices that elevate the experience. Prices are very reasonable for the quality, making it an excellent value.

This is the perfect place for a quick stop for lunch or dinner, or just to hang out with friends. Highly recommend for anyone who wants to enjoy food that’s not only delicious but also nationally recognized.“

“Great cuisine, my risotto was just loaded with black truffle. The menu evolves with the season, and the staff is super friendly. Few places around Olney that I'm impressed by, and I can't wait to go back.“

“I have been to this place about 10 years ago by one of my golf members who was an army veteran. My back ground is culinary/hospitality industry and was so impressed by service and also food quality.. His family and my family celebrated our special occasions every year. Now, we are coming back here again on August 27th to celebrate his 68th wedding anniversary and their 90years birthday also. This is his wife's pick and I and he are excited for next week event.“

“Great local great food , gotta go early, sadly don't take reservations“

“Great place with great food and a good atmosphere“