Parallel Wine Bistro
43135 Broadlands Center Plz,Ste 121, Ashburn, VA, 20148
Parallel Wine Bistro Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Ashburn for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Ashburn for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Ashburn for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
43135 Broadlands Center Plz,Ste 121
Ashburn, VA, 20148 - Phone (703) 858-0077
- Website https://www.parallelwinebistro.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :4:00 pm - 11:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : No
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Music : Live
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : Yes
Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sat
Coat Check : No
Smoking : Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Melissa D.
I am going to start with the very end of the service and say that an automatic 20% tip added to my bill takes away any chance of a reasonable rating. Sorry but when there are only two of us eating I believe that I can be trusted to judge the service myself. However starting from the beginning - I have wanted to give Parallel a try for awhile. It sounded fun, sample wines that I pick myself and enjoy a good dinner. Arriving we were asked where we wanted to sit - nice. Not so nice - we were placed right next to three other already filled tables, rather than at any of the empty tables that were not near the already filled tables. Not only did I then feel on top of the table next to me but we were right by the walk way for all the servers so it was a constant stream of people walking by our table and our distance from the self-serve wine made the thought of getting another glass the last thing I wanted to do. The hostess left us with the menus and there we sat, watched waitresses chat at the bar, check on other tables all that fun stuff. In fact we sat for a while. No water, no sort of acknowledgement and nothing to do but look at the menu. This was the next problem; I was very baffled by the menu. Nowhere was there any information as to how the machines worked and there were not entrees. Okay, so I missed the concept of the food - no stars taken away for that and I will adjust my idea of the experience. Someone finally came to our table - that is a good thing, seeing as walking out was starting to cross our minds. Apparently no one told her she had a table, okay so now you have to wow me to make up for the oversight and tell me all about how the wine machines work and your specials. Nope, just start off with taking the drink order. I will give you that it is annoying on the second or third visit to a restaurant to be asked if I "have eaten here before" however when your restaurant has something unique to their service - I expect that you are going to check. Okay then I will ask, "How does this work." Blank look followed by "what do you mean?" Yup, you are not gaining that star back. You put your card in the machine and press the button for a sample, half or full glass of whatever wine we would like. Okay, "how do we get a card?" "Oh, I give it to you. You just tell me how much money you want put on the card." Now, having a preset limit is a great thing for me, I have a drinking budget set firmly in place. As a business owner would it not make more sense for you to give me a blank card and let me use it as much as I want, and then charge me? The business plan is not my issue - I am sure they have a good reason for doing it that way. We get a card; our server illustrates how to use it - selecting my first wine and where my money is going for me - and we order a few things. If I were basing my stars on the food and the wine alone, I may have given it three stars. I have never seen smoked salmon as part of a charcuterie before, I would possibly order the duck flat bread dish again and two of the wines I sampled were okay. In the end however, when I just could not wait to get out of the restaurant I cannot give it more than one star.
(1)Dani B.
Only have visited once for Mother's Day brunch. Had awesome mimosas to start and they had a great spread on the buffet. We loved the service and all the staff members were so friendly! I don't dable in Bloody Mary's, but their bar for it was so tempting! Haven't been back since, but would recommend this place to anyone!
(5)Kristin L.
Took my boyfriend here for dinner on his 30th birthday. This was the start to the surprise night that I had in store for him. Decided to try out Parallel for a few glasses of wine and tapas before heading to the location that I was throwing a surprise party for him at. Made a reservation for 530pm on a Saturday. We were pleasantly greeted outside by the hostess and I believe manager, whose name I do not remember. Everyone was super nice and so inviting. The hostess led us to our table that was in a cozy location near the self pour bar in the back and was reserved just for us. Our server was Christine and she was awesome. Was not overwhelming, gave us our space and time to enjoy a slow paced dinner. She was very knowledgeable on the menu and wine :) We ordered the grilled romaine salad, duck flatbread and the sliders. Everything was awesome and we will be heading back soon. Also got to meet the owner Jason who came over to thank us for coming, wished my boyfriend a happy 30th and chatted with us for a bit. Nice guy and great restaurant. Next time we go back we are going to try dessert which all looked delicious.
(4)A B.
Ambiance: nice Food: extensive wine selection and the burger was excellent Service: We were there for over 3 hours, and half of that time was due to slow service. One person's appetizer came out WAY after the entrees were all done. How long does it take to melt some bleu cheese and throw some chips on a plate? My water glass was empty for a while before it was refilled. Two people in our party left early and they were able to get single checks with no problem. One of our friends was in a rush and the waitress accidentally gave him too much change back and he didn't notice. The waitress realized the mistake after our friend left and brought the mistake to our table's attention with no real solution. First of all, it was not our fault or our problem. No one knew what we were supposed to do, so eventually someone in our party offered to cover the missing $20. Yes, it's too bad the waitress lost $20 but she shouldn't have lumped the change with the original bill in the first place, make it sound like our friend stole the money, or make the rest of us have to deal with the issue. The manager was not helpful either, until after some going back and forth - she finally dropped the issue and said not to worry about it. A few of us were never even asked if we were ready for our checks and it took forever to finally get it. After that, our waitress made a huge deal about splitting the bill, reminding us several times they "don't normally split checks for parties of 8" even though 2 of the 8 got theirs earlier with no mention of the trouble. This was my first time visiting Parallel so I have very mixed feelings. It's a shame our service was so poor when the food and ambiance were so good.
(2)Jeffrey V.
Parallel has grown into our favorite Ashburn restaurant and hangout. My wife and I stumbled upon this place in the summer of 2011 and went there off an on. The past year we have made it our main restaurant for our nights out. The food is always wonderful even though they change the items after I get used to them. The wine and beer selection is continuously changing and always has a decent selection for all price ranges. The weeknight specials are an added bonus such as 1/2 price bottle night. The wait staff for the most part has always been very helpful and the owner Jason is usually around to chat and check on how things are going. We will definetely be going back time and time again.
(5)Silvia C.
I had no idea Ashburn offered such a nice wine bar. I love the decor, live music, and I liked the overall shape of the restaurant. Right when you walk in, you'll see tons of high rise tables and stool, off to the side is the bar, and towards the back you'll see the wine machines. I sat close to the back near the wine machines and I loved looking at restaurant from this angle since its like a rectangle, I had a great view of people and the live performer. The menu is a small menu, fair for a wine bar... I think we ordered a bread and cheese plate and as for wine we order a waiter recommended a glass of white and a glass of red. Love this place! I'd definitely recommend it to those going on a first date or even just to hang out with friends. Great atmosphere and great waiters!
(5)Hillary S.
The only reason I am giving this place 2 stars is because I was there with my friends. We showed up there around 9:15 on a Monday night to meet some friends, the bartender who was working, her name was Liz, came over to get the new people (me and my 2 friends) drink orders, and then asked everyone else if they wanted another beer as well because it was last call. Thinking that was strange at 9:22 pm I looked up the hours of operation and it said they were open until 11 pm. I was very peeved that we were told it was last call and given our checks an hour and half before they were supposed to close. Then on top of that, another table came in that had about 8 people at it, and the bartender gave them all wine and food, even though they came in well after us. This was my first time there, and I don't know if I will be returning, I would rather go to the steakhouse that is right next door, even if it's busy I know they won't rush us out that early.
(2)Cheryl T.
First off, this place had the perfect atmosphere for a wine bar - and a gorgeous (big!) patio! There was a guy and a guitar playing some great music too! The menu is small, but everything we ordered was DELISH!!! I am looking forward to trying the other dishes and specials. 4 stars due to slow service, but I'll definitely be back and can't wait to share this place with friends!!
(4)Nova E.
Large selection of wine and a decent appetizer menu. Their menu changes with the seasons so I will have to go back and try the new menu soon. Great for a relaxing date with the wife or evening out with friends. Staff is friendly and knoweledgable of the different wines they have to offer.
(4)Kellie G.
My husband and I have been to Parallel so many times now that Jason and his staff have become our friends. The food, wine, staff and entertainment are always spot on. We recently planned an event for my high school reunion. Jason accommodated every request and put on an amazing spread of food and wine. Everyone loved it! The staff did an incredible job - super friendly and attentive. We love Parallel!!
(5)Fernando S.
Parallel is a great place to dine and wine. Great owner and great atmosphere.
(5)Jordan G.
This review is in regards to the experience I had with Parallel after my company hosted a party there. I only took off a star because the food was tasty and of high quality, but it just didn't blow me away. The wine machines were pricey, going up to $75 per glass for a Cabernet, but you are also paying for the convenience of being able to taste as many wines as you'd like, which is a great experience. My company had its holiday party here and it went smoother than I could possibly imagine. I worked with Jason, the owner of Parallel, and he is a fantastic host. He was professional, flexible, offered ideas and was great with communicating back and forth by email. He even stuck around the evening of the party to give us a personalized wine flight presentation (he explained the flavors and history of each wine, and told us the best meat and cheese pairings), and then continued to occasionally pop into the party, long after he got off work, to see how things were going, describe different wines for us, and see if we needed anything else. He was charming, easy going, easy to talk to, and was very personable to each and every one of our employees at the party. He also completely re-arranged the table set-up just to appease my OCD tendencies when I got there early and realized I didn't like it. He was also flexible with us bringing in our own cake for dessert. Our server, Chris, was great too, very attentive and friendly - he even help set up the decorations before everyone got there. The service was the best part about the whole evening and motivated several members of our party to return to Parallel for a full dinner even though we don't live near the restaurant. The food was definitely good; I especially recommend the Ahi tuna sliders and the cheese and charcuterie boards that had lots of variety. The best way to describe the food is "fresh." Jason mentioned that they don't even have a freezer on premises, so everything is as fresh as possible. I love their tasting menu because there are so many amazing dishes and it was nice to nibble on a little bit of everything. All of the wines I tried were great too. I tried so many that I cannot even remember which ones were the best, but the tasting machines were great entertainment and I loved that I could have a sip of a wine before committing to a whole glass. I would HIGHLY recommend having any type of function or celebration here. They will make you feel taken care of and you will have a wonderful experience, whether as an employee party like us, or an intimate dinner with your spouse. I, and everyone else from our corporate party, highly recommend Parallel.
(4)Kristen M.
Came here this past Sunday, June 10th around 2:30 pm and sat outside on their nice patio as they were packing up their Sunday Brunch (I've heard it's great so I'm sad I missed it). I came alone at first to read my book and sip on wine, knowing my friends would be joining me shortly. Their live jazz band played for a good hour while I was there, which was SOO nice.. I just love live music, and it just created a great ambiance! Like I said, I originally wanted wine, but noticed their unique cocktail list and ordered one of their specialty martinis, the ginger-lime one, to be specific... Ohhh it was so good! Not too strong, just the perfect outdoor summer drink, I definitely recommend it! When it came time to order food I opted for the Ahi Tuna sliders but was told by the server that they were out of Ahi Tuna :( Just then, a man who overheard our conversation turned around and came toward me, introducing himself as the head chef, he then asked me what exactly I was in the mood for. I told him I wanted something relatively light, and I wanted seafood. He apologized for being out of Ahi Tuna, but then suggested making me a bruschetta with shrimp on top. Let me tell you, that was the best bruschetta I've ever had, and even without the shrimp it would have been divine, again - I highly recommend it! Plus, the attention to my personal wants and needs was so extraordinary, I was caught off guard... I've never encountered that kind of hospitality in this area! When my friends arrived, we enjoyed the rest of the afternoon sipping on wine and my friends ordered the Blue Crab Dip ( I think that's what it's called?) with homemade potato chips... we all LOVED this appetizer as well! It was a great relaxing day, and me and my friends were definitely taken care of! The ONLY complaint about the entire experience I had was the following: *The Peach Sangria my friend and I ordered was garnished well and looked fabulous, but the taste was just a little watered down, I expected something a little more. I should have gotten a second ginger-lime martini ;-) Besides that, this place was great. Great for a group of friends or a couple on a date. In my opinion it had a very casual yet romantic feel... and the servers/chefs obviously pay great attention to their patrons, what more could you want? I will be back! :-)
(5)Stacy B.
I went with a friend last weekend, on a Friday night. I was anxious to check this new place out. I love the fact that there is a nice and elegant wine bar in my part of town. We both loved the tasting menu, the atmosphere, and the appetizers - I mean, you can't go wrong with cheese and bread :-). The prices I thought were pretty good as well. And, the servers were excellent!!! Chris was our server and he was the sweetest thing ever and very knowledgeable about the wines. I really did love this place and will go back, but I had to give it a 3 for a few reasons, 1 - The bar is TINY and out of the way. I wish they would have put more planning into the size and location of their bar. The bar should actually be over by the wine machines, rather than on the complete opposite side of the restaurant, as it made for a long walk, through a tight space full of people trying to dine. 2 - A little too intimate...I went with a girlfriend, but yet the way the restaurant is set up, the dim lighting, etc. makes it seem like a very intimate place for couples,and not so much a place to go hang out with your friends for a fun evening of wine tasting. I just suggest they brighten the lights a little bit as that would help a whole lot. I think it would be really nice to sit outside with the fireplace going, but they had it closed off that evening. I look forward to doing that once we get back to warmer weather. I definitely suggest Parallel and I will be back for sure.
(4)Daniel G.
I've only had brunch here, but it was very good. Portions are not huge, but are just right. Scones are amazing and cooked in house.
(4)T M.
Bad service, bad food, and definitely not worth the trip.
(1)Joshua L.
Visited awhile back...the food was okay but pricey. The staff was not attentive nor did they seem to understand they were working at a wine bar, i.e. they were not knowledgeable of the wine....Parallel has a pricey menu but not the service to match. Not impressed with the wine bar overall. As far as wine themed restaurants go, there are better choices in Leesburg.
(2)Diane Y.
Very disappointing. We got there around 9:30pm, only to find that the kitchen is closed. No where on the website does it say that the kitchen closes at 9pm, as we were informed. So we ordered 4 cold appetizers ($50). The portions were small and way overpriced. And I have to agree with everyone else about the poor service. I will not be returning, even for the wine.
(1)Antonia Y.
Been here twice so far and both times have been great! The menu seems to change often. I had pork belly the first time and loved it but it wasn't there the second time around. :( Also don't remember the name but the bottle of wine that tastes like cherries is awesome. Owner was there both nights, seemed to really care and be really involved with everything... cute too. I hope this wine bar is here to stay!
(4)Natalie D.
Really enjoyed my visit last week. It was a little loud when I first arrived and two of the wines I wanted to try had sold out but the waiter recommended good alternatives. Really nice food, though not overly large portions for the price. Still really enjoyed and highly recommend. Wine machines are fun, but I still like the personal service.
(4)Tina B.
Went here on a Friday night around 8:00pm, not crowded at all. Our server came over and upon finding out it was our first time there, he proceeded to explain how everything worked. He was very nice and informative. He told us how to use the wine dispensing machines. They were very convenient! You can get a taste, half glass or full glass of a nice variety of different wines. You don't have to wait for your server or go up to the bar, you are able to get your drink whenever you want without waiting. At one point, I was pouring myself a full glass from the dispenser, and it ran out of wine. I told my server, and he promptly changed the bottles and brought a full glass right to my table, without asking for my wine card. So I got that glass for free, which was nice! My sister's card also stopped working later on, so our server used his own card to pour her glass, which he also did not charge us for. We ordered the olives and hummus platter which came with a variety of crackers and bread. Not a lot of food, but it was great! They also have a nice variety of beer and our server was great about recommending different beers. It's not a very big space, but it's very cute and I will definitely come back.
(4)Brooke R.
I went to Parallel for date night this past Friday. The weather was nice and the patio was open. We sat inside so we could be closer to the wine machines. It was my first time with the wine machines. Our waiter Chris was great! He was super helpful and even got on his hands and knees to fix our un-even table. He was very patient with us and explained how the machines worked and made great suggestions on which ones to try. The food was pretty and everything on the menu sounded delicious. We had a great time and will definitely be back!
(4)Tammy S.
Selection of beer and wine is awesome, but a tad high in price. The food was OK, and I'd like more choices, although it is a wine bar and not a restaurant. Atmosphere - I sat outside on a Saturday evening and it was fabulous. Last, our service ROCKED. I'll be back.
(4)Robert S.
Excellent restaurant, great food, great service, great atmosphere. Outstanding experience overall! FIVE STARS
(5)Brian Y.
Food was excellent .. entertainment was even better! The owner, Jason, is friendly and helpful when it comes to aiding in choosing a wine (for those that don't regularly drink wine). I love this place!
(5)Ian W.
....And now for something completely different! This place is one of a kind. Great location. Live music during the summer. A wide selection of wine and beer and some liquor. Whether you're in the mood to pop in for a drink or have some unique plates and just hang out all night....you can do it here. Excellent food and great selection of wine and beer. If Parallel has a downside, it is that it gets busy and can be a little cramped at times. However, everyone is courteous and quite frankly, it's one of the ONLY places in Ashburn to meet new people regularly. One other thing I've noticed, they tend to hire very well and just about all off the people there are very friendly and make you feel welcome.
(4)John H.
I can't say enough good things about Parallel. When you pass thru the doors it is immediately pleasing to the eye. The decor and ambiance is truly amazing.... great for any occasion. It has a warmness and upscale vibe that is very hard to find. The food is wonderful. The menu has something for everyone and is prepared perfectly. My fiance' and myself order the cheese plate and usaully a differnt entree each visit and have never been disappointed. Absolutely delicious! The service is great. From the hostess to the servers, bartenders, etc... they are hands on and always make sure you have everything you need and are happy. Great staff. The live music is surprisingly exceptional everytime we go and that is definitely not the norm with most places. It's usaully hit or miss, but so far so good w/ Parallel. The wine menu is more than acceptable and changes so if you frequent the restaurant you will find new and exciting wines from time to time. They have wine machines on the back wall which is great because you can try a variety of different wines, plus more expensive by either a taste, half glass, or full glass. It's a lot of fun. And last, but not least the owner Jason. Jason is always there on the floor making sure everyones experience meets his and their expectations. Very professional, yet friendly and enjoyable person. Jason and his staff helped me pull off a last minute engagement which couldn't have gone better. At last minute he set up a beautful table (not overdone to make her suspicious, but very elegant) and provided the best service, food, wine, music, etc... You get the gist, but honestly he and his staff went far and beyond my expectations. An unbelievable night! Perfect evening. So thank you very very much Jason. Love Parallel and again can't say or recommend it enough!
(5)David L.
The food was amazing. Great atmosphere. Jason, the chef, was very personable. Music performed by Heather Lloyd. Wonderful night. Loved the strudle!
(5)M F.
Been here at least 8 times and have seen Jason make the necessary small changes to make this place one of the best in NVA. Valentines fixed price menu was awesome. Fried Oysters were over the top! Definitely a wine bistro but don't be fooled, this place has an excellent bottled beer menu as well. Won't be a local secret for long.
(5)Tom W.
The food was very good and well prepared; better than your average restaurant. The atmosphere was nice. The service was mediocre and our waiter was not as knowledgeable of the menu as one would expect. The only real disappointment was when I asked the waiter to suggest a red wine for my steak and he brought a $22 glass without quoting me a price; the glass of wine was more than my steak. Although I accept responsibility for not asking the price, I believe that the owner/manager should address this issue with his staff.
(4)Maya A.
I went here with my husband recently on a Friday evening. It was super busy. A little confusing when we walked in as no one was at the host station and after we eventually put our name on the wait list and wandered around I realized no one explained how the whole' self serve wine bar' thing actually worked, so I went back and asked. That said, we eventually nabbed a table at the bar and the owner was nice enough to bring over our drinks when he realized our appetizer had arrived but still no drinks. Also, my husband doesn't drink wine or beer and they have no other liquor options so it's not for everyone. They have a nice little patio outside with seating, if you are lucky enough to get a table out there.
(3)Laura R.
Love this place! Always have a great time. The staff is fun, attentive and truly care about their clients. I feel Jason, the owner, wants his staff to want to come to work because he makes it fun.
(5)Brad G.
Chill atmosphere, good drinks, and great food. Love the variety of wine as well. I'll come back many times.
(5)Brittney M.
Love this place! After my horrible experience at johnnys pizza across the street I went here! Love the beer and wine menu! All I have to say about the food... DAMN ITS GOOD! I love this place and 100% will return!
(5)Amanda G.
Had a very pleasant evening last night watching our friend's band play outside on the patio! I liked the atmosphere and the layout of the place. I didn't get to go inside but from what I saw from the patio it looked very well decorated! I liked the beer list, surprisingly! Our waitress wasn't 21 yet and didn't know much about the drinks but she was good about asking staff members for their opinions and helped me figure out some good beers to try...I tried the Purple Haze Raspberry, and really liked it! It was crisp, very light with a noticeable hint of raspberry but not strong enough where you can only sip it- I drank mine very fast! The second one I tried was the Bluepoint Blueberry, almost exactly like the raspberry in terms of crisp lightness. They also printed out an alcohol list, and I thought they should create cocktails using those spirits and have a menu of them for people like me who aren't big wine or beer drinkers. The food wasn't anywhere close to as bland as some of the reviews described! We tried the parmesan duck fat fries, they were quite tasty but needed a bigger dipping bowl with more dip! It was gone in seconds! One of us got a blackened chicken and everyone was shocked by how good it was. Someone else got the ahi tuna sliders, SO TINY and pretty expensive (4 for $16 or something, my husband was not all about that) but they smelled fantastic and the pile of veggies in the middle were tasty. We tried the lobster flatbread, oh my goodness it was so good!! We even ate the small salad it came with, even though it had goat cheese on it...the dressing was very light but full of flavor and didn't need a lot on the lettuce, and it was still good despite some arugula leaves being in there! Yumm! The tables and chairs, I gotta say, were all very wobbly...at least the ones we were all at. No sugar packets around, so we had to improvise on trying to balance it out. I don't know if it was the furniture or the patio that was so uneven but I couldn't even put my hand on one of them without all the wine glasses teetering, got annoying after awhile.
(4)Neal E.
I've been to Parallel Wine Bistro a couple of times now... First off, I love the beer menu. It's very long - so unlike some restaurants and bars where you get to choose from just a few brews - here you may find it's hard to choose - because there are so many great options! For now, the beer is bottle or can - they currently have one beer tap. Both times I visited - they had the Mango IPA on tap (Adroit Theory Brewing Co., Purcellville, VA). I tasted the Mango IPA - not one of my favorites. Over the course of the last two visits - I've tried the following Ales: Soul Style IPA - 6.5% ABV (Green Flash Brewing Co., San Diego, CA) Alpha Ale - 5.1% ABV (Wild Wolf Brewing Co., Nellysford, VA) HI-5 IPA - 5.9% ABV (Terrapin Beer Co., Athens, GA) American IPA - 7.2% ABV (Schlafly Beer, St. Louis, MO) All were good, solid Ales - I particularly enjoyed the Soul Style IPA and the American IPA. I've also sampled a few things from the menu, including the baked oysters - baked with smoked Gouda cheese and bacon - very tasty! I also tried the fries cooked in Duck Fat (because duck fat makes everything better!) and the Cajun Fried Pickles - both were damn tasty! The wait staff was on point and kept us well lubricated drink-wise. Last Saturday when we visited, we noted that the restaurant is undergoing some renovations, so you may notice some things don't look finished. They are redoing some of the flooring and changing up some of walls - so don't hold that against them. Will be interested to see how the place looks when it is completed. The restaurant owner - Jason, and the General Manager - Rick - were very nice and very much care about the customer experience! Can't wait to come back!
(5)Kris F.
I waffled back and forth whether I felt this was a 4 or 5 star place. When doing so, I'm not comparing the food, atmosphere, etc to the top places in the DC area... but rather to places similar or in the same ballpark. First thing I wanted to say is that I've been here three times so far and have enjoyed myself on each visit. The most recent time we had a waitress who was working there as a waitress for the first time. She couldn't have been more pleasant and fun. Her name was Madison. The wine wall is always fun and a great way to try some nice wines that you might not have normally selected. The selection this recent trip was consistent in quality with respect to my other trips. I went with a Red Zin, Malbec, and something Spanish that I can't remember at the moment. The Malbec was my favorite... but that normally is the case. The food was tasty as always. Had the Oysters, Portabella, Pork Belly, and Burger between the two of us. Although the pork belly had fantastic flavor, I felt the meat wasn't as tender as I prefer for the cut. When prepared corretly, it falls apart. The other dishes were all very good. Won't blow you away... but still very good. My reason for 4 versus 5 stars is that 1) I feel it's slightly overpriced for what you get. My bill was around $110 I think for two of us. We didn't have more than a couple glasses of wine each and some small plates. I think $90-ish would have been more appropriate. Additionally... Pork Belly is one of my favorite things in the world. I really wish it was more tender. I'll be back again in the future, but not as often as I would be if the price point was a little better. For the same price, I can think of a few places I'd rather go.
(4)Ramona B.
Every time I've been there for drinks we end up ordering a smorgasbord of cheeses and meat. It's always good quality stuff and the service is even better
(5)Katie S.
***review for dessert and wine only*** After dinner down the road my friends and I decided we wanted dessert/an after dinner drink and headed over to Parallel. Now, I debated whether or not to even write this review since I have only been there once and we ONLY had dessert, but since the place bills itself as a dessert/wine bar I'm hoping maybe I can save someone the experience. Let me start off by saying, I love wine machines. I was happy to see the huge wine list and whole room of machines. I thoroughly enjoyed that part of the experience. Although be aware sampling their wines can run you $3-4 a taste, so it's not exactly economic. I ended up sampling the Cherry Tart and then going with a full glass of a local favorite: Pearmund's Ameritage. We ordered a dessert sampler and bread pudding to split between 4 people. Sadly, I was not impressed with any of it. The bread pudding was super dense (think fruitcake consistency) and the sampler didn't really have anything on it of interest. Even the chocolate covered bacon was meh. How is that even possible????!!! We opted to sit outside, and although I enjoyed the patio, it might be time to deep clean the seating. Stained upholstery and sticky surfaces are a huge turn off for me. I also noticed that the women's bathroom towel dispenser is almost completely ripped off the wall. Lastly, I thought it was really weird that our server said the kitchen was closing shortly after we got there. Their website says they are open until 12 and this was around 730, so I'm not sure what was happening there... Pretty unimpressive visit all around.
(2)Pat B.
Fun place, great wine and beer selection. Good service and the singer/guitar player was really good. Food was disappointing and overpriced though. Should be a 2.5, btw, their HH prices are only til 6 not 7 as website advertises!!
(3)Kate K.
We visited yesterday and, with the exception of one other couple and their young son, were the only ones there. We decided to order a couple appetizers; the kale chips and baguette board. The chips were drowning in olive oil and the baguette board looked even sorrier. There were 3 small pieces of 3 types of bread that looked, and tasted, like they'd been sitting out for a week. The cranberry bread was so hard you couldn't even tear it apart. It was a major disappointment. We sat outside and the cushions on the chairs and couches are very tired. They are faded and have lost their cushiness. They also have some odd driftwood strewn along the railing that seems out of place. Completely agree with other reviewers, we'd been here a couple times before (year + ago) and its definitely gone downhill. Will not be returning.
(2)Chris S.
I like the atmosphere of Parallel more than I like the food. Went on a Saturday night and my group was able to get a table on the outdoor patio, they had a one man show with a singer playing an acoustic guitar, while he wasn't great he was good enough to provide nice background while you enjoy your meal. They also allow smoking on their outdoor patio which sucks because I hate smokers but such is life. Service was good, the bartender was friendly, she was always there to ask if you need a refill on your drink but wasn't constantly in your face, at the end of the night she recognized there were two couples and had all the orders on the right bill and even split the shared dishes evenly. I was able to try the maple walnut crusted salmon with blue cheese risotto. The salmon was good, cooked nicely, the sweetness of the syrup really brought of a nice flavor in the salmon. It was an excellent kicker without dominating the salmon itself. Blue cheese is not a good risotto mix however, while the risotto was cooked well, the flavor was off putting to me as blue cheese is good for dipping chicken wings but should not be in risotto. I do like their flight options because it is create your own for 12 bucks you can try three different wines of your choice in your flight, as they have a rather extensive wine list, this could make for some excellent combinations, I unfortunately missed on my combination but that was user error and nothing to do with the restaurant. Decent spot for Ashburn and I would recommend if you want to sit out on a patio on a nice day with a glass of wine and just relax.
(3)Mike A.
Another great night at Parallel. Wife and I ordered a bunch of small and large plates and they were all great. Beer and wine were great, too.
(4)Michele L.
We've been here many times, but I have to say our last visit over the weekend was very disappointing. First - we had to walk through a cloud of cigar smokers on the patio to get through the front door. And they were still standing there puffing away when we left an hour later. Ugh... Second - on a Friday night they had the entire bar closed for a private event. WTF? So, we had no choice but to sit in the dining room. Of course, when the hostess sat us, she said we would have to clear out by 9:30 for another private event. Our server was very sweet and terrific - she was the lone highlight of the evening. Ordered wine - and it was happy hour, so the prices were good. But for some reason they have happy hour pricing on the glasses, but not on bottles (which makes no sense) so we ordered two glasses. When they came out, we understood why - pours were very small - smaller than we had experienced in previous visits. Now to the food: The whole reason we came was to use a gift card, and because I was craving their flatbread pizza. Well - they changed the pizza. It used to be a terrific, thin-crispy crust pizza as large as the cutting board they brought it out on. Now - no so much. I think they took a grocery story pita and threw some cheese and sauce on it. The sauce made the dough soggy - and the pizza itself was about half the size it used to be. The bruschetta was meh... and the duck fat fries were good - but they would be better if they were smaller fries so they would be crispier. It is always disappointing when you have a place you love, and then it changes, and you don't love it anymore. I'm not sure we'll be back - which really stinks because there aren't that many great places in Ashburn.
(1)Rachel M.
Decided to try Parallel out because of a friend's voucher. Parallel is located in the Broadlands shopping center left of Curiosity Zone. You will see a door that has Parallel and an arrow pointing left, just follow left and trust me there is a front door =) Walked in and was pleasantly greeted and i mentioned i was going to sit at the bar. Bar area is small and cozy but has enough chairs and has couple of tables as well. Sat down and was greeted by Audrey. She helped me decide which Red wines to get. She was very knowledgable of the wine, beer and food selection which made our decisions easy. We chose from the "Sharing Plates" - Hot Blue Cheese Dip, Brie in Croute, Lobster BLT flatbread, peppered tuna tataki, manchego, brie, and prociutto. All of our selections were on point. Audrey said it was real good and she was right! Thank you. We'll definitely be back. I still cant believe Parallel has been there for 4 years!
(5)BD T.
The food was good but not great I had the duck hash it was unique. My wife had the shrimp and grits with gluten free toast. We sent the toast back because it was not GF. We were told it was but they were going to make new toast. The second Bach was GF and you can tell the difference. This can be a life threading issue for some. If you have a gluten allergy be carful. Our friends had missing side items and bacon we ordered crispy was not crispy at all. And to top it off we got here at 11am it is now 1 we finished 45min ago and just got our check. And to top it off the ladies restroom was disgusting. We will not return
(1)Anna L.
What's a girl to do when craving grilled meat and an outdoor dining experience when her deck has just been demolished - head out to eat of course! It was a beautiful night - great temperatures and not a cloud in the sky. Parallel Wine Bistro was not our first choice this evening, but the other restaurant we stopped at first would not accommodate outdoor dining due to inclement weather. Hmmmm....looked outside - blue skies, no clouds AND a group of people devouring food at an outdoor table. Hostess' response - "Oh they aren't supposed to be out there". Ok - no seats in the bar area, lackluster service from hostess so off we go to Parallel Wine Bistro. We arrive at Parallel and no one is seated outside. I start to think we are doomed to an indoor dining experience after all, but when we ask the friendly hostess if we can sit outside. her response is "Sure, but the cushions may be damp, let's check". Cushions are dry so we grab a high top and settle in. Meagan comes out to greet us and take our drink order. We start with a sparkling margarita made with Patron silver. It was refreshing and didn't taste overly strong. My husband ordered the Bistro Burger with duck fat fries. The burger was cooked medium, smothered in cheese and topped with grilled portabella and onion. The duck fat fries were some of the best fries I have ever tasted - crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside and seasoned just right. The dish came with three dipping sauces; house made ketchup, chipotle aioli and bistro sauce. My favorite with the fries was the chipotle aioli. I ordered a hangar steak medium rare with crispy smoked cheddar grits. The steak was cooked perfectly and extremely flavorful. It also came with three dipping sauces; chipotle aioli which I found too salty with the steak, bistro sauce and blue cheese sauce. I am not a fan of blue cheese, but the flavor of this sauce was not overwhelming and perfectly complemented the steak. Surprisingly, the blue cheese sauce was my favorite. The crispy smoked cheese grits were just ok. I thought they lacked flavor compared to the steak and lost a bit of crispiness because they were served under the steak. Meagan was a doll, friendly and personable. Service was great and she checked on us numerous times although we were the only patrons seated outside. Kudos to Parallel for not only providing great food and service, but accommodating our request to dine outside. Next time I am ordering the burger....or anything else that is served with those delicious duck fat fries!
(4)Tuanh P.
So its been 5 months since I have been here and they have finally changed their menu. As a regular, especially on Tuesday for their half of wine bottles, I was definitely looking forward to their new menu. So far I have tried their lobster flatbread, grilled romaine and fried green tomatoes. I was disappointed in all of these small plates. The lobster was plain and missing something and accompanied with a some arrugula salad. The grilled romaine was not what I remembered. It was burnt missing that charcoal smell and flavor. The fried green tomatoes, I wasnt impressed. Kind of boring. I wonder if there is a new cook. The service was great.
(3)Shannon C.
I visited Parallel last weekend with my father, his girlfriend, and my husband. We all enjoyed shared plates of sumptuous mussels, mushroom risotto, kale chips, and bistro chicken. And we paired our plates with delicious red and white wine flights. I enjoyed my dining experience at Parallel and I would return to try a few more wines! Definitely a great place for a girls night out or an intimate dinner date.
(4)Panzer F.
So, it was my first visit and we had a nice time since I was with family and we know and love wine. Now, my observations, on the way in the patio looked like an unmade bed, with chair cushions stacked up on top of each other, the tables and chairs in disarray, an unattended fire smoldering outside for unknown reasons. Very uninviting. We were met at the door and asked if we had reservations, what? the place was empty and when we asked they weren't necessary!? Then the poorly placed solo singer/guitar man started barking something at us as if were were in a Key West saloon during Mardi gra. Odd! OK, now the food, we had several samplers and they are just overpriced for the portions and the smoked tuna looked like cat food, yuck! We ordered four samplers and it wasn't enough food to accompany three wine samples, so we had to order more food! and the bill was $126.00! - not worth it. Oh, and one more item, pickles and wine? Generally speaking vinegar based food and wine are not good pairings. My suggestion to the owner is to pay more attention to details. The place has natural charm and a good location and very nice outdoor seating. But you must look at this place with a critical eye, make sure it's very tidy, clean and everything in it's place, inside and out. A wine bar has to be as free as possible of bad odors that may take away from experiencing the beauty of wine. Have a hard look at everything you put on the menu, everything should be a tasty treat in itself. Make sure everything is a good pairing with wine, everything. Increase the portions sizes by 1/3 and move the music away from the front doorway and tell your paid musicians not to use profanity, even in their songs. (lyrics about ball sacs are not appropriate at public eateries of this type). Also, clean the carpet often and offer several more items without cheese. Offer more Virginia wine and cheese. They are wonderful and the local wine-public now wants to buy local.
(2)TK M.
Went for dinner last night and sat outside. Really enjoyed our dinner; had the small charcuterie board which was really good and filling, and the wagyu beef sliders with a bottle of wine. It was all tasty and perfect amount for two. Added bonus was the great live music! Loved the guitarist and sax player and would go again just to enjoy that!
(4)Sean M.
Great place for wine lovers to have Happy hour. Good food and better wine. I have only had appetizers (never dinner) and they have all been very tasty.
(4)Renee V.
Been a patron here since it opened and as a previous reviewer pointed out, there have definitely been inconsistencies over the years. But one thing that never changes is their commitment to customer service and passion for amazing food and wine. They've hit a solid groove over the past few years of having excellent seasonal menus with original dishes and familiar deliciousness that pleases a variety of palates! The wine, I LOVE that I can try wines I've never heard of and find new faves, we also enjoy beer so their craft beer menu is excellent on their patio. Date night, meeting with friends- it's an adult oasis in the burbs even though some people still bring children now and then. It's a new and wonderful experience every time we go and I'm SO glad they are here in Ashburn!
(4)Joel P.
We miss the old Parallel. Used to be fairly constant patrons after finding this place which we considered a NOVA gem and visited often despite the ridiculous Toll Road fees. Hadn't been back in a few months and oh has it changed and not for the better. We should have known walking in the door for brunch -- whereas every time we'd been here before it was packed, now it was a ghost town. Despite a first come, first served, no reservations notice on their website for brunch, we were told the bar area was reserved (by who I have no idea since no groups came to that area so far as we could see -- there did seem to be a few people already sitting there). In discussions with our waiter, it appears there have been multiple changes -- the cook, the menu, the brunch, the happy hours. We can believe that! Several of our old favorites were down to half the size for roughly the same price; others have disappeared. The food was decent, but the atmosphere is gone. Reading these reviews I do not appear to be alone in this. I'm not sure what happened over the past few months but Parallel drops off our go-to list. I'll occasionally check the reviews to see if it makes a comeback.
(2)Mel A.
We loved this place when it first opened, but the past 3 times we have been here the food has really gone down hill. Dry sliders, super greasy fries, no real flavor in small plates. Even the dessert is just okay now. Pours are much lighter during happy hour.
(2)Kimberly H.
Food wonderful very professional and nice. The service yet new was really nice an cheerful. She seemed a bit absent minded and loopy at times but over all wonder. We end here for brunch on sunday morning. We are from South Florida and this was a vary nice find.
(5)Laura S.
This place has so much potential, but unfortunately has gotten progressively worse the past few times we have been there. We have had some horrible experiences with customer service, however we continued to come here because the food and wine was so good. But now even that has changed...the menu has changed at least twice in the past two months, and not in a good way. Sadly this last visit may be the last time we go here, unless some major changes occur. The charm that we first loved about this place a year ago is gone now and it seems the crowds have to.
(2)Shira S.
I have been here a few times with friends the last few years. I am thinking they were simply off their game today. We ordered the large cheese plate which had a nice variety of cheeses and meats. It was beautifully presented and yummy to boot. I enjoyed the tomato and olive bruschetta which was very good and nicely priced at $6. Two of my friends enjoyed the breakfast bruschetta which has eggs on it as well ($9). One of the kids ordered macaroni and cheese which was really cheesy and definitely freshly made. So why the 3 stars? The server was simply put, not very good. Food came out at different times including the kids' food coming out after the adults' food, which is never good as kids have less patience than adults. We would also ask for one item and before we had a chance to order or request something else, she was off getting the one item. This created more work for her and became frustrating for us. Additionally, she would forget items if we asked for more than one thing at a time.
(3)Lydia B.
Been to Parallel multiple times for various reasons. The food is always great (Pork Belly is my favorite dish on the menu, but the homemade chips with Blue Cheese sauce and the burger are really good too. Oh and don't get me started on the duck fat fries). Wine selection is really good and they have a pretty lengthy craft beer list for a wine bar. They do have a limited amount of liquor too. Parallel supports a lot of local artists so you can usually hear a good musical act in there especially on a Saturday night. When the weather is warm on Sunday afternoons you can find a group of people hanging on the patio with their pups for Yappy Hours. Service has always been great and Jason the owner is always floating around to greet guests.
(5)Howard F.
Terrific selection of wines and beers.. The appetizers were average, lacking in flavor. I ordered the lobster mac and cheese- it was average, very light on lobster. The waiter was not knowledgeable about the wines and when asked where a particular wine was from he replied, "somewhere." The service was average.. The coffee was not hot. If you are going for the wine or beer it is a good choice. If you are going for the food, better places are nearby,
(3)Decaf I.
Good wine selection and good wine, pretty good cheese & charcuterie, fantastic pork dishes (I recommend the pork belly with fava beans and creamed corn; the pork chop is good, too), but subpar desserts (not fresh; chewy & gummy instead of moist). The service was a little off. We were served our entrees when we were just halfway through our appetizers, yet our dessert arrived about 5-10 minutes later than it should have and had clearly been sitting out for a while. I would go back, but skip dessert and hope for even expediting on the dishes.
(3)Joann B.
We tried the brunch and I apologize for not taking any photos. What really caught my eye about this place was the bloody mary bar AND that they have free wine tastings on Wednesdays (not sure if I'll ever make that). We had the mimosas (refreshing), western omelette, andouille sausage dish and the chicken and waffles. All dishes came with their version of home fries, a small 'cup' of fruit and frisee salad. There wasn't anything that really stood out for us - it was all good enough to finish off our plates, but nothing to make us want to eat here again and again. The one thing I found interesting was that the coffee was self serve, but yet they only had a couple of options to choose from. We have no problems with serving ourselves, but at least provide us with more of a selection.
(3)Judi M.
Not too impressed with menu. It is very limited. The "wine bank" in the back is novel, but expensive. It is fun to try. Music is pretty good though. It is definitely not a kid place. It might be best for the young hip crowd (20s-30s). Pricey.
(2)Tim F.
It's a random summer Tuesday night. Came here for apps and wine. Wine flight was generous portions. Cheese plate was excellent. Fried green tomatoes and lobster flat bread was fantastic. Service good outside. Only 4 stars because they were sold out of a few items I wanted. High end craft beers on the menu too!
(4)Alile P.
I want the old Parallel Wine Bistro back!!! We found this (former) gem about a year and a half ago and were fairly regular customers going about once every 5-6 weeks or so. Then we noticed since September 2014 the place has slowly changed... and not for the better. We loved this place because of not only the obvious wine selection and prices, but the food was just aaaah-mazing. Our past favorites were the blue cheese and apple mussels, hot blue cheese dip and parallel chips, bbq pork stuffed burger, and OMG the chicken and waffles. Everything simply went beautifully with the wine.... then something happened. The food has been just "meh" ever since around September 2014. Their three cheese dip is just bland, the mussels are just your traditional mussels and the portion sizes change every time, and the most disappointing of all is that the menu hasn't changed at all in probably 6 months. We've gone back to Parallel probably three more times after September 2014, but the menu hasn't changed at all. We'd like to go again but there just isn't anything on the menu of interest to us anymore - especially when its just the same stuff. Parallel used to change their menu almost every couple of months and it was exciting to go every time to try something new. Whoever created this menu needs to be fired because it is definitely far from its best menu. Parellel.... bring back your old menus and old chefs. What happened to your establishment? You used to be our go-to and favorite because the food was just incredible, and the service was always great. Now, the menu hasn't changed in probably over 6 months, and the menu selection isn't anything to brag about. And P.S.... please optimize your website to be compatible to smartphones and tablets. It's impossible to view your menu on the phone or iPad. Who logs into computers anymore?
(3)Lindsey B.
I have been to this restaurant on a few occasions. Two of these experiences were positive, however the latest visit on a Friday during happy hour was a real disappointment. First off, I know this is a wine bar but when I ordered one of their specialty cocktails I was informed they were out of simple syrup. Well, okay - vodka soda it is then! Secondly, my mother ordered Sangria - opp, no Sangria tonight! We proceeded to order the sliders and onion rings and they were luke warm at best. But hey if you like soggy onion rings party on then. The ambiance is great at first glance but after sitting down and realizing the tables are sticky and you are are sticking to the table you start to think one of the other 100 hole in the wall ethnic cuisines in Ashburn isn't such a bad idea after all. Ps- nice paint chips all over the walls. One positive note the outdoor seating area is nice? Gordon Ramsey would have a field day with this.
(2)Barefootwoman S.
Food was tasty and service was good and pleasant. Prices were a bit high for the portions and quality offered. We went there more specifically for wine tasting and we were disappointed to learn that they were out of several wines we had hoped to try.
(4)Nicole R.
I bought a coupon for Parallel, since it's close to where a friend of mine lives. We went on a weeknight, sat on the patio, and ate (and drank) our faces off. Everything was fantastic. The bruschetta is top-notch, the blue cheese dip is killer, hummus was awesome, wine selection was obviously extensive and I loved the Riesling I got. We had the chocolate/fruit plate for dessert and even that was great. Can't wait to go back!
(5)Stephanie S.
I am surprised by all the bad reviews. My friends and I went tonight and the service was excellent. The smaller plates were not that small (especially the flatbread and bruschetta, they were personal meal-sized). Loved the wine machines; great way to try many different wines. Our server was extremely efficient and accommodating, showing us how to use the machine properly and also let us know that several of the dishes could be made with gluten-free bread and crackers. We had the shrimp and tomato flatbread, the tomato and mozzarella bruschetta, the tuna ceviche, and the cheese and fruit platter. Everything was excellent and we ordered everything gluten-free style (the bread they used was very good). The ceviche had a nice kick to it, as well. The happy hour specials are great and the Live music that starts at 8 was also excellent. We are going to make this a new favorite.
(5)Anya F.
Love the food! Love the wine. The vibe is just great! Go here to relax and lounge! I love it!
(5)Zach J.
A quality upscale establishment in Ashburn all around. First, it's too small, which just hurts the ability to really relax since you're right on top of your neighbors. But, that is the only draw back. The wines are terrific, rotated quite often, and the wine dispensing unit is A+! Food is superior to your average restaurant and while it may be tapas plates, they are pretty sizable. Everyone ordering one dish will easily feed you all. Little tip: the lamp shank is HUGE and hard to share. It's literally a hock of lamb, so most might be put off by pulling off hunks of meat in front of others. I loved all the staff members, who are quite plentiful. Always talking to you with a smile, knowledgeable, and give you lots of ideas for food pairings. If you're wondering, you get a card and just go up to the wall and buy your small, medium, or full glass. You pay your balance at the end of the meal and it's not prepay like it used to be. I love the new way! Fantastic restaurant I'll frequent often.
(4)Linda C.
Have been here many times since the place opened and can see that changes have been made over the years. It's a family run business and I prefer to help out the small business man vs. the big cookie cutter chains. They do have private events from time to time and I don't see a problem with that. The food is very good and the wine machines are awesome, gives the opportunity to try different wines. For ones who are not familiar - a full glass of wine is 5 oz. not filled to the top! And if there's a wine that is $75 a glass, it's because that is a pretty expensive bottle of wine and you have the opportunity to taste it without splurging for the entire bottle.
(5)Emily P.
Loved this place! My boyfriend and I went last night because we've never been and wanted to try something new. We told the hostess it was our first time, and when our server came over she understood it was a first time as well. She explained the menu and the wine machines carefully and made sure all of our questions were answered. It can get a bit pricey, but everything was delicious and complemented our wines perfectly. Very pleased!
(4)Renato C.
Great atmosphere...they have a great beer selection and well as wine.
(5)Ricky P.
We decided to try this based on the reviews of 3-4 stars. We wanted to get a new restaurant on the radar for us to enjoy. Came on a Sunday evening and the outside patio had a few guests so it looked promising. Going inside told a different story. We had a fairly large party of 7 adults so unfortunately we weren't able to get some tables together for the outside seating (which seemed a lot more relaxing). Their inside décor is nice but they really need to update their table and chairs. At least get table cloths to cover up the stickiness and marks. Our waiter was new and pretty friendly. We ordered drinks and a few appetizers and that's when everything started to crumble. We quickly found out they weren't stocked with a draft beer that was ordered. Disappointing but we worked around it. Once we made our appetizer orders and dinner orders, it was shocking to find out how much they actually didn't carry that is clearly written on their menus as being offered dishes. At least 4 items that were ordered throughout the night came back with "I'm sorry but we are out of that" response. The food was average with pretty small portions even after knowing it was a la carte. The service was OK but they were definitely not on top of clearing our table of finished dishes in glasses. There were still multiple dirty dishes waiting to be cleared when our desserts (which I am sorry to say that we stayed to have) finally arrived. The inside of the restaurant was empty aside from our table so I was baffled by the delay of service. I've been to multiple busy restaurants that get food out and checks to the table quicker than they did. Needless to say, this place really needs to work on their service and appeal. Many of the reviews raved about the food and service. Unfortunately, we will not be returning.
(2)Chris D.
Grab an energy bar and some water ladies and gents, this is gonna be a long one. Living and working in Loco, we were well aware of Parallel and had been meaning to try it for months. It wasn't until a Specialicious coupon (Groupon clone) popped up that we finally managed to get around to doing so. We opted for a recent Tuesday, hoping the lack of crowds seen on weekend nights would afford the best experience possible. Well, if what we got was the best experience possible, then most everyone else who's written a review here are doing some pretty fantastic drugs. The problems started when we were seated. After spending enough time with the menu to notice they spelled "wine machine" (you know, their whole schtick) wrong (see pic), we waited. Then we waited. Then we waited more. We spent at least 10 minutes, if not more, sitting at our tables watching two waitress spend their time talking at the bar and walking right by our table to service the other three tables that were occupied. No greeting, no water and not so much as an acknowledgement of our existence. I'm no math guru (hey wait, I kinda am), but I'd think two servers for four tables leads to some pretty good odds of getting noticed. When our waitress finally showed up, with her sunglasses on her head, she apologized for the wait and told us she hadn't been informed by the hostess. I can let that slide, being an honest mistake, but the next thing she said was "What can I get you?" We'd never been there and there was no explanation of how their self-serve wine bar worked, so we asked for an explanation. Her response? "What do you mean?" Umm, those wine machines over there? Yeah, how do we use them? "You tell me and I give you a card." Uhh, are there various sizes? Do they work on debit or credit? Maybe try and actually sell me on the whole thing so I give your restaurant a whole heap of cash? I swear we earned our D.D.S. 'cause we had to pull a buttload of teeth to get the information necessary to make an informed decision. Perhaps the most ironic part of it was because it was a Tuesday and they were having a half-priced bottle special, she suggested we each order one. That's a first. We opted for the experience and when we finally got our cards, the flaws in the system were readily available. First and foremost, the awkward positioning of tables around the machines made it fairly difficult to move freely. We often had to step aside to let other customers pass and it wasn't uncommon to bump an occupied table that nearly sat on the bar itself. Second, and perhaps most importantly, a quarter of the bottles were either empty or the machine reported a "Check Bottle" message and would not dispense. Which brings me to my third complaint - the prices. Most of the bottles with issues were the cheap ones. Yes, I know I'm going to pay a premium for the ability to play with my wine, but I don't want to pay $12-15 for a glass of something I've never had. It's not uncommon to pay that at a nice place in DC, but this is a faux sheik bistro in Ashburn. Not. Cool. They do have a fairly large and pretty awesome outdoor space. It's probably a great place to hang out with friends on a cool evening and get a little lit. Don't expect to use the wine machines that easily if you do, though. Since they are behind all the tables inside, you're gonna have a helluva time getting to them... especially if you've been drinking... or are one of those sloppy girls that make a fool of themselves after a halfa glass of wine. I have yet to write a letter home to my mom about the food and I seriously doubt I will be doing so. It wasn't bad, it wasn't good and would probably merit three stars should it magically be served at a place that didn't make me want to hurt myself. The best part of the experience? A 20% service charge added to our bill of dinner for two. Yes, two. I don't know if they were trying to defend against the Groupon tipping effect or realized someone wearing sunglasses on their head wasn't getting 20%, but there it was. No mention of it in the coupon and certainly no mention of it on the menu, so we were a bit surprised. Actually, at that point we couldn't do anything but laugh. ROFL. OMG. LULZ. I love when the joke's on me.
(1)Devin B.
This place rocks... The wine selection is excellent, as is the beer. We went here with our neighbors, and one of them is a huge beer aficionado and he raved about their beer menu. They also have a unique set up to where you can taste a variety of different wines. It's very cool. The pork belly cassoulet, the pork loin, the risotto, and scallops are all great dishes. We'll definitely come back soon..
(4)RenVenAshburn V.
I am thrilled that there is an adult place to go so close to home- love the tasting machines and small plates concept. I've enjoyed theit Spanish influenced tapas, the ahi tuna sliders, and several other small plates- but the highlight for me is trying so many new and delicious wines, and the fun away from home atmosphere! Adults letting go of work and home pressures and just enjoying the live music and atmosphere- it's a suburban oasis! i can definitely see room to earnt he 5th star as they improve the layout, menu items and brunch. Salute to Parallel- UN-Paralleled in Ashburn!
(4)David I.
This is a great place to nibble on appetizer sized servings and enjoy some wine or beer. No attitude, attentive service. The even made a valiant effort to cater to kids, although the grilled cheese (asiago maybe?) was a little advanced for a 5 year-old. I look forward to going there sans kids. Worthy food choices for any palate.
(4)Ting M.
Parallel is a wonderful place for either dinner, appetizers, or just drinks. Appetizers are called "Sharing Plates" here and the portions, wait for it..., are large enough to be shared with one other person! The dinners are called "Large Sharing Plates", and..., well you get it. The beer selection consists of many micro-brews and crafts (both local and not) and several lighter lagers and ales. Don't know if they have either Bud, Coors, or Miller products though. The wine selection is also eclectic; however, my wife and I are novel to wine (we basically drink what we believe tastes good). With that said, the wine machine is awesome for wine tasting and ensures that one is self-sufficient! They also serve booze, i.e., liquor, and I saw several selections of bourbon, vodka, single malt, and gin. The food is very tasty and Jason, whom I believe is the proprietor of this establishment, is a very, very gracious host. I added two "very(s)" since my wife has an allium allergy (e.g., onions, chives, leeks, shallots, green onions, but not garlic) and Jason accommodated both her and the many dishes we've tried (which both he and his Chef painstakingly developed the menu with). This allergy is a pain since many foods, to include marinades, ketchup, and mayo contain either onion salt or onion powder. He ensures that none of his ingredients, either prepped or developed on-the-fly, doesn't contain allium and presents/describes all the ingredients wherever we may be sitting that evening. One of the best ingredients he uses is celery. Celery is an aromatic, just as onions are, and is a great substitute, but also a staple in some of Parallel's dishes (Asian cuisines also utilize celery as an ingredient in many dishes). On the weekend there's also live music. From what I've experienced, the music is comprised of cover songs from all decades, not too loud, and basically great entertainment throughout the evening. Go try the place out! Then go again...there's too many dishes (e.g., pork belly, bone-in pork chop, salmon, tuna, and shrimp&grits) to afford not to!
(5)Dena C.
Love this place. The wine and food is excellent. I love the uniqueness the menu offers. I have been going there since it first opened. Unfortunately it has gone down just a tad. The servers/service the past few times have not been up to the normal level. I hope Jason corrects it and Parallel will thrive.
(4)Susan F.
Great place for a date night or a girls night out! We stopped by here while we had our kids at the Little Gym for a parents night out for an after dinnter drink and to check it out. It was really neat. I ordered a flight of sparking wines and my husband got a glass of port. The waiter gave good recommendations and told us how the wine dispensing machines worked. We got a dessert which was pretty good too. There was also a guitarist playing that night as well. Overall, a great stop...wish we had gone when we had a sitter and not had to pick the kids up so we could have stayed longer...but it just means that we will be back soon!
(5)Critico G.
Great music, wine, and service! What are you waiting for?
(5)Brian W.
This review is based on my second trip to Parallel's which I decided to review officially after getting a groupon. To be fair, my first review was four star but this trip was not so good. Service was weak. It took forever to get a server to come over and you don't bring out all four dishes for two people all at once. Besides the obvious reasons, there wasn't even enough room on the table for everything. The waiter did take the Pork Belly off our check after noticing that it was 90% uneaten. The first time I had the Pork Belly, it was incredible. This time, it was inedible. Great patio scene, good-yet-pricey, wines. If they can get the food quality and service more consistent, this place has a lot of upside. For photos and the more detailed review, check out my food blog which is accessible through my profile.
(2)Louis D.
Just an overall bad experience. Wine choices were just ok and the food was disappointing. What kind of wine bistro offers a steak with only spicy ketchup as a sauce? It's a wine bistro for goodness sake, make a red wine sauce. This was certainly our first and last visit.
(2)Alexa M.
We'd been anticipating going here for a few months. When we got the chance, we came on a quiet Saturday afternoon around 5. We were the third and fourth customers present. The six employees were jaw-jacking around the bar, staring at us and each other intermittently, as we stood inside the "bistro" at the hostess stand for close to 10 minutes. Once seated, the twenty-something waitress starts with "Welcome to Parallel Wine Bistro, our entire focus is wine." I actually said, "really?" So we order a tasting menu of wines and some appetizers. The wine was fine, the variety of choices and ways to buy it, imbibe it and present it, etc. is excellent and inventive. The food was not excellent or inventive. I know that the 'avocado hummus' they are using is probably the same sold at Wegman's. I just bought some the other day. C'mon! So, we ordered two different appetizers. We had asked the waitress for tips on the appetizers and she had little to add. She had little to add about the wine too. So, we paid our check, and took our selves down to Bonefish and spent our money there on more wine and food. Oh, well. I think Parallel Wine Bistro has some growing to do here. Good concept, just keep working at it. We'll try it again in a few months.
(2)L L.
Love this place. Went there almost weekly this summer. Love the wine, people, live music and owners. Terrific people. The food is great too. Nice, hip spot for a sleepy Ashburn town. I would ask that they switch up the wines on the Cruvenet system more frequently. It seemed that most of the wines didn't change all Summer. I thought the intention of the Cruvenet was to allow guests to experience new wines often. That is my only critical statement. Love the spot- although a bit pricey at times. They have a less expensive by-the-glass selection on the printed menu. Took me a while to figure that out!!! You should go check this place out. A definite recommend.
(4)Kevin S.
My wife and I went to Parallel on Monday night for our anniversary dinner, and we weren't disappointed. The food, wine, atmosphere, and service were all excellent. Most of the food on the menu is smaller dishes - tapas style, but they do have a few full size entrees. Even the entrees you can order in a small tapas size for a lower price. I had a hard time deciding, so asked the waitress what was her favorite. She recommended the pork loin with apples in cream sauce, and oh my heavens it was to-die-for. My wife and I also shared the humus and guacamole small plates. There's good news and good news in the wine department. On the one hand, if you're a wine afficionado and want to spend ungodly amounts of money on wine, they have a VERY fine selection of wine. (One was $75 PER GLASS!!!). On the other hand, if you're NOT a wine connosieur and DON'T want to take out a home equity loan to try some of their fine selection, you're in luck! They have a couple of great options. They have a computerized / mechanical wine tasting bar that will dispense wine in one of three quantities - taste, half glass, or full glass, and it keeps track of each one you take on a card. If you aren't feeling that adventurous, you can do like my wife and I did. We each got a flight of wines. For $12, a flight of wine came with three half-glasses to try. All three of the wines in my red wine flight were excellent. If you aren't into wine, never fear. They actually had a remarkable selection of beer, too. I was strongly tempted to try one of the seasonal ales, but the place is known for the awesome wine - so we went for wine. The desserts were heavenly, too. I had a key lime sort of custard / brulee type of thing, and my wife had a chocolate cake, and both were delicious (although a little small). The atmosphere is very nice and the service was excellent. I would not recommend bringing children here. This is perfect for a nice night out as a couple. It's pretty pricey - we couldn't afford to go someplace like this more than for birthdays or anniversaries. Even so, you get what you pay for in terms of very high quality food, wine, and service.
(4)Barbara E.
Went to Parallel last night for the first time, as a surprise with 4 other couples for my hubby's 50th birthday. Our waiter was excellent, the food was really good and we liked the wine selection. Jason, the owner, even came over and said hello after I tagged them in a Facebook photo. They did not get 5 stars for a few reasons. 1. We thought all the wine cards were being set up individually as we were told, but most showed up on my tab which was awkward. 2. We were crammed into a little corner and couldn't move around the table to chat with eachother as it's quite loud in there (especially being right next to the wine tasting machines)...and when they brought out my hubby's bday cake they took it to the wrong end of the table because they couldn't even get to his side. 3. Several comments from my guests about the size of a "half glass" pour from the machines...even I paid $17 for a really nice 1/2 glass of wine and it was gone in 4 sips. Would expect more of an actual half-glass, not a teeny amount more like a normal tasting pour at a winery! 4. The waiter's helper kept taking away our half-eaten dishes, plates and napkins. We felt rushed by them so they could turn our table until I finally told our waiter for them to back off. He said it was so we could keep freshening up our plates, but after they were taken, new ones did not appear so that theory was mute. All that complaining aside (I just had to get it out!!) we know we'll go back, but not as a group of 10. It would be perfect with girlfriends or 1-2 other couples...it just wasn't the right venue (my fault) for a birthday party. As for the food, the fried risotto balls, ahi tuna sliders and homemade chips with blue cheese dipping sauce were the big hits and we kept the orders for them flowing. The pulled proscitto flatbread was extremely salty, and the olive/hummus tray would have been better for a smaller crowd as it was slightly awkward to pass around. A few people ordered plates for just themselves and really seemed to enjoy the burger with duck fat fries, the baked brie and the bruschetta, although I didn't have a chance to taste them. Like I said, we'll definitly go back and try all the other dishes!!
(4)Lisa L.
New to Ashburn - so thrilled to have it. The owners of Ashburn Wine Shop brought us this great wine bar/bistro to enjoy. Have been twice, always a pleasure - great wines, great food. Mother's Day brunch was heavenly! Small plates can be small but still delicious and definitely plan to spend more than the local pub with wine and food - but they make it worth it - the experience is a good one! The owners (and even one of their moms!) make a point to meet everyone and make everyone feel at home. Cheers!
(5)