A small cozy European restaurant tucked away in a sleepy
shopping center in Reston, VA. A mixture of French, Spanish, and Italian
cuisines, it is an undiscovered gem to many in the area.
I went there for a
romantic supper with the hubby, and my 1st thought was how open and
inviting the layout was, especially the kitchen. I wanted to just go in, roll
my sleeves up, and get to work. Naturally, I quelled this desire.
The walls were painted with scenic Mediterranean landscapes
(which I believe were hand painted), the lights were dimmed for the evening’s
amorous crowd. From the menu, I was very torn between three seafood items. In
my experience, I only find exceptional fish at fine dining establishments, and
will only order it there. Fish is a delicate medium. You cannot be heavy handed
or inexperienced. It is one of the easiest ingredients to completely destroy.
My perplexing decision tonight was between the Dover sole (Pan
fried whole Dover sole, served boneless, served w/ lemon butter & white
wine sauce), the barramundi (Australian
mild white fish, semi boneless & stuffed w/ crabmeat), and the seafood
paella (steamed rice in saffron w/ shrimp, mussels, clams, squid and monkfish).
When I am in this sort of conundrum, I rely on the experts to
steer me in the best direction. In this case the expert, our server, was Raoul.
Raoul is one of the shining beacons that make fine dining worth the cost. He
listened carefully to what I was interested in and provided well thought out
and planned advice. “Will you be having the soup?” He asked. “Tonight it is
lobster bisque.” That is a vigorous affirmative. With that combination, he
recommended the barramundi. Off we go.
Lobster bisque, a creamy flavorful liquid concoction only
made better by the crusty French bread endlessly supplied. It was one of those
soothing moments like sitting next to a roaring fire on a snowy evening.
Shortly after, the main event arrived. The barramundi was
regally displayed and dressed to the nines. As beautiful as it was, it could
not compare to the luscious and vibrant flavor. A celebration of light citrus
notes with garlic. The flesh of the fish perfectly done, light and delicious.
It was accompanied by simple steamed broccoli and some carrots. The fish was
the rock star of this dinner, the vegetables were not to distract from that
fact.
In conclusion, wonderful food, wonderful staff, enough said.
Contact Information
12050-A North Shore Dr.
Reston, VA 20190
Phone: (703) 742-6466
Reston, VA 20190
Phone: (703) 742-6466
Website: http://elmanantialrestaurant.com/
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