We had a lovely meal on Thanksgiving. Sara, our server, had been working all day and was still incredibly friendly and attentive. Definitely a nice experience on a very tough day for an restaurant.
Craig
I grew up near Mt. Vernon, yet I never went to Cedar Knoll until just the past couple of years. I have been pleasantly surprised, and this Thanksgiving, my 96-year old mother, nice, and I had a thoroughly enjoyable feast. The menu was ambitious, the service and care were highly personalized, and the atmosphere enhanced the Thanksgiving spirit. I'd recommend this to anyone. The only thing missing (since we had a late Thanksgiving) was the view of the Potomac!
Shanna
(Thanksgiving Review) We visited Cedar Knoll for Thanksgiving and had mixed feelings about the experience. The food itself was very good — flavorful, well-prepared, and clearly made with care. Unfortunately, the overall atmosphere took away from what could have been a really special holiday meal. Check-in felt unstructured and confusing, with no clear direction on where to stand or who was being helped next. When we were seated, our table was placed directly in what felt like the main path of entry and exit. It was loud, chaotic, and made it difficult to relax. On top of that, the staff brought out the food but didn't provide plates — we actually had to request them. At $90 per person, that's not something we should have had to ask for, especially on a holiday meal service. While we appreciated the quality of the food, the overall disorganization and seating experience made it less enjoyable than we hoped. With better structure and more attentive service, this could have been a fantastic Thanksgiving dinner.
Susan
The food and ambience were great. We were seated in the room furthest from the entrance and the noise level made conversation almost impossible. Maybe some carpeting might help? We couldn't be the only ones with that experience. Otherwise it was a lovely meal.
Michael
This was our second Thanksgiving at Cedar Knoll and I anticipate we will be back many times for this and possibly other holiday meals.
Gary
Great locally sourced seasonal dishes. Went there for a wedding anniversary. A nice card and gratis Presseco greeted us at the table. I highly recommend Cedar Knoll for an amazing dining experience.
Ethan Kue
Food was good. Despite having a reservation that was made 6 weeks in advance and asking to sit inside, we were seated outside and they didn’t provide access to their outdoor heaters as it was being held in case the indoor event guests happened to come outside. Disappointing experience that could’ve easily been avoided.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 3
Jacque
This place really missed the mark for us. 3 stars overall because the location is neat and had a lot of potential. When we walked in, it took over 5 minutes for the host to come out and seat us which was weird. We started out on the patio which has a great view. They had heaters which was nice for the chilly autumn evening. We went on a Thursday where we heard there would be live music. The music ended up not being our taste and was very loud so we moved inside. The inside has cozy vibes but the booth we were sat in was oddly tall making it uncomfortable for the shorter table we had. It was kind of a hodgepodge of furniture that gave the place character but, comfortability wise, wasn't great. We ordered a glass of wine and a cocktail. The cocktail was great and probably the highlight of the evening. Our appetizers, bacon wrapped scallops and the grilled octopus, were not good. We asked for sauce on the side for the octopus and they still drizzled it on top. The scallops were very small and looked undercooked. The octopus was chewy and overcooked. It said it would have potatoes with the dish and I think it had 2 small potatoes. It had a presentation like it wanted to be a really fancy experience but the taste just missed the mark. As we looked at other patron's plates, we felt we would also be underwhelmed by an entree so we cut our losses early and left. We still managed to spend over $80 on 2 drinks and appetizers and didn't want to make it a $200 meal for something we didn't like. Overall, just not our favorite. I think for a summer evening, sitting outside would be nice. It does have a nice yard by the patio making it family friendly for little ones to get wiggles out so we might try it again for a pizza night in the spring/summer, but we didn't care for the "fancy" food.
Gretchen
We attended a wine dinner with 7 courses paired with Italian wines. It was the only room in the restaurant that totally lacked ambiance. It was too bright, too loud and cold because a door to an open pation was held ajar so an electrical cord could reach the band playing (too loudly) there. While the foods were interesting, the wines were pedestrian. Most of all the pacing was unpleasant. It started at 6:30 and we didn't get to the last course until 9:45. The tables were all placed to face forward where the wine expert was but that didn't encourage conversation between guests. We've had several very nice experiences at Cedar Knoll but this very expensive outing was not one of them.
Martin
The location is terrific, the ambiance is great - the service is excellent. The problem is the food. It is not a good value for the dollar and while they are trying to serve high-end meals - certainly with high-end prices, the quality is just not there...
Great service. We ate early on Sunday evening and felt like we had the place to ourselves. Views of the Potomac from our table as we relaxed after a visit to George Washington‘s Mt Vernon estate. Server was attentive and was aware of dietary restrictions and advised which menu items met our needs. Fresh oysters, venison, oyster stew, blackened rockfish and jumbo shrimp were all very enjoyable. No room for desserts, but the birthday treat was appreciated!
Timothy
Absolutely wonderful evening on the patio! Amazing location, view, food, and service. Topped off with some great live Flamenco music. Great event!
Donna
We had a lovely evening as most diners ate outside so the dining room was quiet! Three of the four of us really enjoyed our dinners however on chose the Oyster stew which proven to be lacking in oysters but very rich and he was up all night with - well shall we say never again. We will return as we love the setting and Old Virginia charm however the menu has gotten very full of fish/seafood which limits what I can eat due to allergies. Service was non-aggressive so we had a very casual evening.
LM D
My boyfriend has been wanting to try this restaurant and I took him for his birthday. I was a little hesitant, but everything we ordered was spot on, reasonably priced and delicious. We had bacon wrapped scallops, veal, crab cakes and drinks. The have a great drink menu, to include local beer choices. Service was wonderful and they have beautiful views of the river.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Terri
I haven't been to Cedar Knoll in years and was very curious to see how it was doing. I was not disappointed! Very nice menu and the cocktail menu was so inventive I wanted to try every one of them! Very nice presentation on the dishes. Even the house salad was a treat! We had an outdoor table for lunch and it was lovely sitting along the Potomac. Parking was very convenient. It's a bit pricey, dinner for two will easily run $100, but locals won't be shocked. One of the better restaurants south of Old Town. Highly recommend.
We had a lovely meal on Thanksgiving. Sara, our server, had been working all day and was still incredibly friendly and attentive. Definitely a nice experience on a very tough day for an restaurant.
I grew up near Mt. Vernon, yet I never went to Cedar Knoll until just the past couple of years. I have been pleasantly surprised, and this Thanksgiving, my 96-year old mother, nice, and I had a thoroughly enjoyable feast. The menu was ambitious, the service and care were highly personalized, and the atmosphere enhanced the Thanksgiving spirit. I'd recommend this to anyone. The only thing missing (since we had a late Thanksgiving) was the view of the Potomac!
(Thanksgiving Review) We visited Cedar Knoll for Thanksgiving and had mixed feelings about the experience. The food itself was very good — flavorful, well-prepared, and clearly made with care. Unfortunately, the overall atmosphere took away from what could have been a really special holiday meal. Check-in felt unstructured and confusing, with no clear direction on where to stand or who was being helped next. When we were seated, our table was placed directly in what felt like the main path of entry and exit. It was loud, chaotic, and made it difficult to relax. On top of that, the staff brought out the food but didn't provide plates — we actually had to request them. At $90 per person, that's not something we should have had to ask for, especially on a holiday meal service. While we appreciated the quality of the food, the overall disorganization and seating experience made it less enjoyable than we hoped. With better structure and more attentive service, this could have been a fantastic Thanksgiving dinner.
The food and ambience were great. We were seated in the room furthest from the entrance and the noise level made conversation almost impossible. Maybe some carpeting might help? We couldn't be the only ones with that experience. Otherwise it was a lovely meal.
This was our second Thanksgiving at Cedar Knoll and I anticipate we will be back many times for this and possibly other holiday meals.
Great locally sourced seasonal dishes. Went there for a wedding anniversary. A nice card and gratis Presseco greeted us at the table. I highly recommend Cedar Knoll for an amazing dining experience.
Food was good.
Despite having a reservation that was made 6 weeks in advance and asking to sit inside, we were seated outside and they didn’t provide access to their outdoor heaters as it was being held in case the indoor event guests happened to come outside. Disappointing experience that could’ve easily been avoided.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 3
This place really missed the mark for us. 3 stars overall because the location is neat and had a lot of potential. When we walked in, it took over 5 minutes for the host to come out and seat us which was weird. We started out on the patio which has a great view. They had heaters which was nice for the chilly autumn evening. We went on a Thursday where we heard there would be live music. The music ended up not being our taste and was very loud so we moved inside. The inside has cozy vibes but the booth we were sat in was oddly tall making it uncomfortable for the shorter table we had. It was kind of a hodgepodge of furniture that gave the place character but, comfortability wise, wasn't great. We ordered a glass of wine and a cocktail. The cocktail was great and probably the highlight of the evening. Our appetizers, bacon wrapped scallops and the grilled octopus, were not good. We asked for sauce on the side for the octopus and they still drizzled it on top. The scallops were very small and looked undercooked. The octopus was chewy and overcooked. It said it would have potatoes with the dish and I think it had 2 small potatoes. It had a presentation like it wanted to be a really fancy experience but the taste just missed the mark. As we looked at other patron's plates, we felt we would also be underwhelmed by an entree so we cut our losses early and left. We still managed to spend over $80 on 2 drinks and appetizers and didn't want to make it a $200 meal for something we didn't like. Overall, just not our favorite. I think for a summer evening, sitting outside would be nice. It does have a nice yard by the patio making it family friendly for little ones to get wiggles out so we might try it again for a pizza night in the spring/summer, but we didn't care for the "fancy" food.
We attended a wine dinner with 7 courses paired with Italian wines. It was the only room in the restaurant that totally lacked ambiance. It was too bright, too loud and cold because a door to an open pation was held ajar so an electrical cord could reach the band playing (too loudly) there. While the foods were interesting, the wines were pedestrian. Most of all the pacing was unpleasant. It started at 6:30 and we didn't get to the last course until 9:45. The tables were all placed to face forward where the wine expert was but that didn't encourage conversation between guests. We've had several very nice experiences at Cedar Knoll but this very expensive outing was not one of them.
The location is terrific, the ambiance is great - the service is excellent. The problem is the food. It is not a good value for the dollar and while they are trying to serve high-end meals - certainly with high-end prices, the quality is just not there...
Restaurantji Recommends
Great service. We ate early on Sunday evening and felt like we had the place to ourselves. Views of the Potomac from our table as we relaxed after a visit to George Washington‘s Mt Vernon estate. Server was attentive and was aware of dietary restrictions and advised which menu items met our needs. Fresh oysters, venison, oyster stew, blackened rockfish and jumbo shrimp were all very enjoyable. No room for desserts, but the birthday treat was appreciated!
Absolutely wonderful evening on the patio! Amazing location, view, food, and service. Topped off with some great live Flamenco music. Great event!
We had a lovely evening as most diners ate outside so the dining room was quiet! Three of the four of us really enjoyed our dinners however on chose the Oyster stew which proven to be lacking in oysters but very rich and he was up all night with - well shall we say never again. We will return as we love the setting and Old Virginia charm however the menu has gotten very full of fish/seafood which limits what I can eat due to allergies. Service was non-aggressive so we had a very casual evening.
My boyfriend has been wanting to try this restaurant and I took him for his birthday. I was a little hesitant, but everything we ordered was spot on, reasonably priced and delicious. We had bacon wrapped scallops, veal, crab cakes and drinks. The have a great drink menu, to include local beer choices. Service was wonderful and they have beautiful views of the river.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I haven't been to Cedar Knoll in years and was very curious to see how it was doing. I was not disappointed! Very nice menu and the cocktail menu was so inventive I wanted to try every one of them! Very nice presentation on the dishes. Even the house salad was a treat! We had an outdoor table for lunch and it was lovely sitting along the Potomac. Parking was very convenient. It's a bit pricey, dinner for two will easily run $100, but locals won't be shocked. One of the better restaurants south of Old Town. Highly recommend.
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