Houlihan’s
2200 Centreville Rd, Herndon, VA, 20170
Houlihan’s Menu
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Address :
2200 Centreville Rd
Herndon, VA, 20170 - Phone (703) 674-0454
- Website https://houlihans.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 12
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : Yes
Best Nights : Wed, Thu, Fri
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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Wai T.
Went there for breakfast for my daughter's birthday. It's actually pretty nice to see that the price are not through the root considering it's attached to a hotel. The food was quite unique, with thoughts put in. Not spectacular, but pretty good.
(3)Marie A.
We had dinner here on a wednesday evening. Not to crowded, got seated right away. The bar seemed a little crowded. Mostly a middle aged business crowd. There is outside seating. The food was really good. We had the Thai wings for an app, they were the best flavored wings I've had. I got the lime jumbo shrimp which were yummy, and the French onion soup, which was also good. My husband got the steak salad which he enjoyed. All entrees come w a soup or salad. They have a lot of different flavors of iced tea, which tasted good. I suggest the mango. Our waitress Tiem was wonderful. Very nice, helpful with suggestions, and overall pleasant to talk to. We will be going back!
(4)Cassie F.
Bottom Line: Wouldn't seek out a Houlihan's just because there are so many great independents out there now - BUT - for convenience - it's dependable and pretty good! It's attached to a hotel that I was staying at. There are some places across the street but I was hungry and tired and wanted something that I knew would be decent. I wasn't in the mood to experiment with the places across the street. I went in and was greeted by the hostess immediately. I asked if I should go to the bar to place a to go order and she told me I could do that or she would be happy to take my order. I gave her my order. I did wind up experimenting a little - I had a Salmon BLT. It came with a side and I was pleased to find out that Asparagus was a side option. Both the sandwich and the asparagus were very good. It hit the spot and I was very satisfied with the price, portion and taste. When staying at that hotel I will def take advantage of the convenience and predictability (in a good way) of Houlihan's.
(4)Jermoil A.
Haven't been here in awhile, the place has changed a lot and that old vibe is long gone. They still have a nice bartending staff and some cool regulars and you might meet some pretty cool people that's staying at the adjacent hotel. As for the food the appetizers OWN the menu as the rest of the food is just ok.
(3)Sampad D.
The ambiance is OK . We went there for a weekend lunch. It was pretty much empty. We had ordered Salomon . The salmon was just OK . I have had better salmons.
(2)Eli L.
Ready for really faint praise? Okay, here goes: "This is the best national sit-down-chain-restaurant bar/grill in this part of Herndon. The food is fresher than other chains (they apparently don't use a commissary) and the simple stuff--salads, steaks--are pretty good. If you're staying in the hotel or trying to decide between this and the Friday's across the street...pick this. But there's nothing really good and service can be indifferent.
(2)Rachel B.
A good hotel restaurant with a delicious Asian chop salad. I'm a flight attendant and we stay at the hotel attached. I enjoy this restaurant. Always a nice server and the food and drinks are decently priced. I think the next time I'm here I'll try something different, but I've been stuck on their salads for a while now.
(4)Erin K.
Great lunch! Awesome food relaxing atmosphere and our amazing server Martha was the best!!!! Therapeutic, inspiring, encouraging server...Martha is the best!
(5)Lauren M.
The weekend brunch at Houlihan's reminded me of eating the free continental breakfast at the Herndon Residence Inn. While it wasn't terrible, it was definitely a hotel breakfast buffet and nothing worth paying for unless it's included in your hotel stay. If you're not staying at the Crowne Plaza, there's no point in eating at Houlihan's - there are way better brunch options in Herndon. I'm happy to provide recommendations next time you're in town! So we walked into the joint, and it took a solid 5 minutes of us loitering around the host station before someone came to seat us. There were 3 of us, and we requested a booth - he quickly cleaned it before we sat down. So quickly that he missed a large swipe of jam on the side of the table that ended up on my pants. The options were pretty boring. There wasn't an omelette station, Belgian waffle maker, or a meat carving station like most buffets have. The spread included: scrambled eggs, potatoes, bacon, sad looking French toast, bagels, assorted breads, pastries, muffins, cereal, pineapple, honeydew, cantaloupe, etc. My favorite part of the meal was the mimosa, which was not included in the buffet. There were a lot of food choices, I suppose, but the experience certainly wasn't worth paying full price. I'm glad I had a groupon deal!
(2)Kimm P.
Christian, our server, was so accommodating and patient. We were a party of 12, separate checks. . A servers nightmare! He was such a great worker!
(5)Bilal S.
I ordered few apps 40 minutes ago & still waiting! Server said food coming in 2 minutes & that was 10 min ago
(1)Xuan-Lise C.
We've been twice now, the food is quite salty for me. I can see the potential but it misses the mark. It's twice now that the food comes out lukewarm. Tomato bisque- very acidic, the fried cheese was a neat touch, but very big to eat French Onion soup- we thought it was tasty Entree salads- nothing too crazy, sometimes the salad looks sad to me, not quite wilted but almost there Ribs- would have been tastier warm, the entire plate was barely warm Chicken parmesan- the pasta is drowned in a cheese sauce, it definitely is an artery clogging meal Pot roast mac and cheese- I don't like beer that much, and this was not the meal for me. I can't remember what other dish we got but it was fish, the only one that wasn't too bad. I wish this place wasn't so salty and the food was still warm. The service is always great and we like the atmosphere and it's so close to our house.
(2)Jane H.
Food merits about 2 stars: the seared ahi tuna seemed like it been done hours earlier and been either frozen or placed in the fridge. The entire thing was cold. Yes, it's raw tuna and it should be cold, but the outside crust should not feel like it came straight from the fridge. Flavor was okay.. the cuts weren't the best and were a bit stringy for some reason. The salad that came with it was sad and wilted. Ultimately, the 1 star comes from my bathroom visit. I walked in to find an employee flushing the toilet and leaving her stall. Then she just walked out. Without washing her hands. EW?! I thought (hopefully) that maybe I had mistaken a customer for an employee. Then I saw her walking around with plates, talking to other staff, and hovering around the host table, plainly with her employee name tag. That completely threw me off of this restaurant. WHY would you not wash your hands after going to the bathroom? Especially if you work in the food industry and handle food for customers?!? Houllihan's definitely has potential with the nice bar staff and the warm atmosphere, and happy hour deals look pretty good. But that bathroom incident completely grossed me out. Eeeek.
(1)Grace A.
Do not ever! Order for delivery we got our food 40 mins later (one hour and a half total) and waaaaaaaay over priced! Never again!
(1)Faith C.
I ordered the TUSCAN WHITE BEAN SALAD...it has goat cheese, tomatoes, balsamic & tuscan toast at $4.95. It's under the side salads portion of the menu (in the middle), and the amount served is enough for two. Great crew working at the bar - enjoy!
(5)Chef Sean A.
Omg I Love Houlihan's in Herndon, Va! The Thai Wings are bomb.com , an absolute must have. The Scallops in Asparagus Lemon Risotto were spectacular! The whole place was a refreshing and cool. The manager Bvyron even came by to thank me for coming in. I call that great service. If you are in the Herndon Dulles Airport area do yourself a favor and check this restaurant out!! You will LOVE it!!
(5)Brandi K.
*2.5 stars* I have very mixed feelings about this place due to polar opposite experiences during my last two visits. The first time I was introduced to Houlihan's was for an Unofficial Yelp Event. There were a lot of fun people, the bartenders were accommodating and extremely funny, the food was good and drinks (1 LITER Long Islands!!) were awesome. My favorite was definitely the spinach dip. The nachos were OK and the thai chili glazed wings were pretty good too. I was impressed overall and looked forward to another visit. After such a great time, I was stoked when LivingSocial had a voucher for an appetizer, two entrees, and two non-alcoholic drinks at Houlihan's. I raved about the place and forced a friend to come out with me one night to utilize the deal. We sat at the bar since I had such a great experience there previously. However, for the first 10 minutes, we were ignored by the bar staff. When we were acknowledged, I mentioned the LivingSocial deal and the guy pretty much rolled his eyes and shrugged us off. He did, thankfully, bring back the drinks that we requested and provide us with menus. Afterwards he went back to ignoring us for an obscene amount of time. So much so, that the other bartender, who was mostly working the other end of the bar, came over to make sure we were OK (the pissy looks probably helped). We ordered top-shelf liter long islands and joked around with the new guy a bit. I guess the laughter and sight of our top-shelf drinks made the other guy realize we weren't there to be cheapos. Not long after, our original bartender was all smiles with us and wanted to take our dinner orders. We obliged and the food quickly came out. It was horrible!! The French Dip tasted just plain FOUL. After only two bites, I wanted no more. Having worked in the service industry, I'm not one that likes to complain. However, my sidekick for the night does not have the same feelings. When she pointed it out, his response was "Do you want more fries?". Uh, Ok. French fries and long islands would be my dinner for the evening. Not a great idea. Needless to say, I'm very hesitant to go back. If I do decide to make the hike out again, it would just be for drinks and an appetizer. And that's not a big selling point for me - I can do that just about anywhere, much closer to home.
(2)Vikram M.
Nothing special about them. Server was attentive and courteous . Food was below average. Grilled salmon was over cooked, dry and lacked flavor. The sides did not have much flavor either .
(2)Yuliya E.
We went there yesterday and had a great time! Our server Catherine did a great job. She was very friendly and attentive and checked on us often to make sure that we had everything we needed. Food was delicious. I had a Tuscan salad and salmon . We would definitely come back .
(5)Michael S.
Nice atmosphere and bar. Great happy hour specials M - F from 4-8pm. Discounted Draft beers and $6 appetizers. Nice place to finish your day and unwind. It's attached to the Crowne Plaza which is very convenient for us staying at the hotel. Make sure you give it a shot. You will not be disappointed.
(4)Susan H.
My husband and I are split when it comes to how to rate Houlihan's. I say 4 stars, he says, 3 1/2. So, let's split the difference and call it 3 3/4 stars. We came here on a Saturday around 5:30 p.m. At that time, there were a few people sitting at the bar and one occupied table in the dining area. The host who greeted us pointed to a section of tables and told us to pick the one we wanted. Our server showed up promptly. He was friendly and had a good sense of humor. We started with drinks. My husband had a glass of Yuengling while I had a mixed drink called "toasted almond". My drink consisted of amaretto, kahlua and cream. It was tasty and I was able to clearly taste each ingredient. For our appetizer, we chose chicken wings. These are available with either "Thai chile glazed with sesame-ginger sauce" or as Buffalo wings. We chose the Thai sauce. These turned out to be tasty wings with crisp skin and mild but flavorful sauce. One thing could have made them better---they could have used meatier wings. For my main course, I chose the grilled salmon BLT. This consisted of "grilled honey-ancho glazed salmon, toasted sourdough, bacon, lettuce and tomato with lemon pepper mayo". I was impressed with this sandwich. Our server told us that the salmon would be cooked medium---and that's exactly how it was prepared! That mainly is the reason I opted for 4 stars. So many restaurants will tell you that they will prepare the salmon medium but it comes out well done. It was nice to have some salmon that wasn't dried out. The bacon was cooked very crisp (I would have preferred it to be less so). The iceberg lettuce and the tomato were fresh and the mayo gave subtle but good flavor to the sandwich. I also had fries which were well prepared. My husband had a "build your own black Angus burger". He chose Swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato and onion. At first, he wasn't going to have a side but the waiter mentioned that he could have chips and salsa which caused my husband to change his mind and have them. He really liked his burger, which was cooked medium, and even commented that it was better than the burger at Gordon Biersch. I tasted his chips and salsa and we both agreed that the salsa rivaled what you good get at a good Mexican restaurant. Plus, the chips tasted like they could have been house-made. If not, then they were better than the average bagged ones. The server, of course, brought over the dessert menu. However, we were both too full to even consider dessert. If we had room, we might have indulged as some of them did sound tasty. Before the tip, dinner cost $47 + change. Our server shook our hands and thanked us for coming. Yes, we would come back here for dinner sometime.
(4)Malena F.
I just gave a star because the decor was nice, the food not good at all, specially the microwave pizza my son got for 5.99 I think from the kids menu!! Mine was a stake and wedge salad with other stuff, poorly and badly done all of the ingredients. I just regret paying so much I should have stayed home and cooked!!!
(1)Gail B.
Decent casual food. It isn't the Hilton, but you won't have to use a lint brush either. Great for a group gathering.
(3)Claudettw P.
The food was superb. I had the Tuscany bean salad and the scallops with asparagus risotto...OMG!! Love it and the service was very hospitable and awesome
(5)Bekah M.
This had to be one of the worst experiences ever. We went in the first week of May around 4pm. Waited forever to be seated. Then took forever for our server to take our drink order, another 10 minutes to get our drinks. We put in our order and an hour later still hadn't received our food. There were only a few people in the restaurant. I don't know what their issue was, but won't be going back. Very bad experience. My first and last time there. After an hour, we told them we had to leave, absolutely crazy. I told the manager, I have no idea how they can stay in business when they have such awful service. I can't comment on the actual food, because I left without even a piece of bread being offered.
(1)Amanda B.
Friend me! ((Just noticed all my review syas is Friend me! LMAO!)) I will update soon, as you can tell from photos I have tried a lot of thigs here and I do enjoy this place very much!
(4)Jodi C.
Shame on you Jodi, shame on you! I make it a personal goal to stay away from restaurants attached to hotels. 9 times out of 10 they are two-stars at best, however, I will go on record that I stand corrected with Houlihans. Bobby K. so graciously hosted a Happy Hour last night where Brandi K, Illysa S. and I finally got a chance to spend some time with our newly acquired friends, some of which were Yelpers and other Eaters. Houlihans is decorated beautifully. I stayed in the bar area the majority of the night but glancing around the restaurant you can clearly see that they have put a lot of effort into the ambiance of not only the dining area, but the bar and restrooms also. The bar tenders are very attentive, can pour an amazing drink and were an overall joy to chat with. I ordered a Long Island Ice Tea, something of which I have not ordered in about 13 years. After nursing the first one, I ventured out for a peach version and then ended my night with a liter of the raspberry. Yes, you read that correctly, I said a LITER of Long Island. We opted for munchie food instead of a sit down meal. We ordered the Stuffed Mushrooms, Spinach Dip, and the Nachos. The mushrooms were unlike anything I have ever had before. I am not a huge shroom fan to begin with, but these were extremely unique, (see the picture). The looked identical to the Italian appetizer Arancini - huge mushrooms and a garlic cream sauce, breaded and fried. The nachos were okay. We ordered the chipotle chicken nachos, chips, sour cream, jalapenos and the driest chicken ever. They could have been outstanding with juicer chicken. I feel like with something called "chipotle nachos" they could have played more with the flavor profile. Throw some black beans and roasted corn on those puppies. That'd knock our socks off! The spinach dip was by far my favorite snack. The dip itself was full of cheese and spinach and was really thick, none of that watery flavorless stuff here. The crackers they served with the dip were amazing. Thin and crisp, baked to perfection and somehow topped with a layer of cheese and a few tomatoes without getting soggy. I hate tomatoes, and I didn't even pick them off! Overall, I can't really complain a bit other than the dry dry chicken in the nachos. The Happy Hour atmosphere was great, casual yet still had a refined quality to it. The bartenders were right on, the drinks were fantastic. I'm excited to go back and order an entrée and of course another Long Island!
(4)Pedro A.
First time here, but the service was amazing! Big shout to Christian our server.. Highly recommended and the appitizers were delicious
(4)Alexis Y.
Stick a fork in me, I'm done. I have been going here for years - I've visited this location several times, gotten take-out dozens of times, and visited a few other locations. Our favorites are the Heartland Grilled Chicken Salad and Buffalo Bleu Salad. They're basically the same but one has buffalo sauce on the chicken and some gorgonzola cheese. We have also enjoyed the calamari and the spinach dip. I don't know if there has been a change in management, but sadly the place has gone downhill over the last 6-12 months. The last 10+ meals we have had have been quite stingy with the portions and ingredients. Once, they split one chicken breast between the two salads, and it wasn't very large. My husband commented on this, and they said we each got a whole breast but they were just small. We could plainly see that I had a half cut in slices with only one end, and he had the other half and end. They have also messed up the orders royally. A few times, we didn't get chicken for one or both salads. They didn't give us the right dressing, or we didn't get any. Often, one or more of the ingredients was missing, and of course they're the best ones. I kept returning hoping they hit a rough patch and would shake it off eventually. This week, I got a salad with a tiny amount of chicken, no dressing, no pecans, no bacon, and no croutons. I can see overlooking an ingredient here and there, but that's half the ingredients on the salad, and what are you supposed to do without dressing? I won't be going back.
(2)Heather G.
Kids eat free on Sundays between 4-8pm so that is the only time I try to avoid Houlihans. Even though I frequent the bar area, kids always seem to find their way there. I just feel some type of way of about drinking in front of the impressionable. After all, I am a lady. Houlihans is a good spot for a dinner date but most recently I have found the bar to be a great hangout. No doubt, people have made Houlihan's bar to be their "Cheers" and it's no wonder, as the bartenders are personable and very accommodating. The staff has a very low turnover rate so this is a testament to how satisfied they are with their work environment. I am sure the patrons take care of the staff just as they take care of us. Even though Houlihans has a set menu, I have found that each location also makes their own variations. For instance, the Cajun jambalaya and Cajun rub chicken wings are specialized to Herndon Houlihans and must be sampled!!
(4)Carlo L.
The wife and I sat at the bar area for some drinks and a few bites on a week night. The calamari and the wings were flavorful which came with a variety of dipping sauces. Because we chose to sit at one of the smaller booths near the bar area, we could not easily put in our drink and food orders. But the gentleman tending that evening didn't mind it all and rendered exceptional service. I wanted the wine flights and he explained it well and even offered some recommendations. I even observed a couple asking if he could change the channel so they can catch the college hoops game to which the bartender happily obliged. Great food/drinks, top quality service!
(5)Jorina N.
always a good time during happy hour!! Service: Thanh and the bar crew are always friendly and attentive Food: we always get their wings...both the dry and thai version; lettuce wraps, and chicken salad!; they have both food and drink specials til 8 pm! Ambiance: plenty of space for groups; nice patio and indoor bar area; never sat in their dining section so don't know. can't wait to come back!
(5)Jeremy C.
Used a Groupon this go 'round. $25 for an appetizer and two entrees can't beat that deal. So I got Houlihan's redention of Bonefish Grills Bang Bang Shrimp, the panko breaded shrimp meal and the chicken parm. The panko breaded shrimp were good but the chicken parm...this is definitely one of my favorite experiences with chicken parm they really did a good job on it which I was not expecting it to be so good. Before leaving with my to go bags I knocked down a couple of 1800 Tequila Margaritas and went on my way. The bartenders could be a little more attentive (just a little more) because I certainly could have gone for three maybe four margaritas so had they been more attentive that would have been more money for the restaurant and more of a tip for the bartenders but this experience with the food was much better than the one I had before.
(4)Gary C.
Attached to the Crown Plaza Dulles Hotel, Houlihan's is a convenient spot for Breakfast, Lunch, and Great Happy Hour Deals. Service throughout is Excellent! Great. Friendly Bar service! I suggest The Happy Hour Food Specials: The Stuffed Mushrooms are enough for two, and Get the Mini Martini Flight. You wont be disappointed. The Jack Daniels Long Island Ice Tea is another suggestion, as well as the Turkey Club was good as a lunch special. Breakfast was So So. I would go back especially for the GREAT, FRIENDLY, SERVICE! My Pick: Fried Stuffed Mushrooms, Mini Martini Flight, Jack Daniels Long Island Tea. Enjoy, Chef Gary!
(4)Megan C.
Leave it to Yelp (and an UYE hosted by the legendary Bobby K.) to lure me to a place I would otherwise never check out. It's probably not Houlihan's fault that they're attached to a Crowne Plaza hotel, but they sure do a great job of separating themselves from the hotel. In fact, the whole bar and dining room atmosphere are on a different level (in a good way). At least the whole hotel location means plenty of free and ample parking, plus the accessibility to the toll road and my home/work make Houlihan's pretty darn attractive! I like the bar here - it's definitely the type of bar that I enjoy. Open, un-pretentious, friendly bar keeps who genuinely seem to be enjoying themselves, and the presence of frequent customers conversing with the bartenders and contributing to a more lively and fun atmosphere. I tried several items from the generous appetizers menu, including the stuffed mushrooms, wings, and nachos. OMG - I am nacho fan big-time, so I have to chalk up Houlihan's nachos to be some of the better plates of chips and cheesy goodness I've ever had. Cheese to chip to topping ratios are exemplary. Beer choices are varied and the prices are awesome! I received the bill for my beer and had to do a double-take. Their happy hour is no joke - it's seriously happy. Part of what also contributed to my positive experience (which merits a repeat visit soon, Bobby et al!) was the great group of Yelp folks who - and this is the magic of Yelp - came together for a fun, casual happy hour - united by our affinity for good food, good service, and good times.
(4)Michelle W.
I've been to Houlihan's countless times, but visited yesterday for the first time in a little over a year. My mom used to get Restaurant.com deals to the place, and if you join their mailing list, they always send out free entrees or appetizers, so we'd end up here quite often. It was our go-to, too-lazy-to-make-dinner-tonight kind of restaurant. The food at Houlihan's isn't bad but I'm mostly bored by its menu. I'm the kind of person who will rarely order the same dish twice at a restaurant, but I don't find the items on the menu particularly appealing and will usually go for the same things. The best part of Houlihan's menu is probably its appetizers, which makes sense because it doubles as a bar as well. Yesterday I went with my parents (my mom had a free entrée coupon from an email) and we ordered the Thai grilled chicken and the full rack of ribs. The Thai grilled chicken was what you expected it to be--grilled chicken with Asian inspired flavors and pineapple fried rice--nothing particularly exciting but the soy glaze that came on the side was actually pretty tasty. The ribs were slathered in a sweet and sticky barbeque sauce, but also pretty much what you'd expect barbeque ribs to be like too. Both meats were cooked well, though--very tender, juicy, and flavorful. The entrées came with a soup or salad so we ordered the house salad and the Tuscan white bean salad. I definitely don't recommend the house salad. With its slightly wilted shredded romaine, frozen corn, generic shredded cheese, and crumbled bacon, it's definitely something you can throw together yourself at home. The Tuscan white bean salad, on the other hand, is amazing and I haven't seen anything like it before. It's a layered tower with dressed greens, perfectly seasoned sweet and savory tomatoes, topped with creamy white beans, surrounded by sweet and perfectly acidic balsamic vinegar, and served with two crunchy, garlicky croutons. The burger is usually my go to order here (you can never really go wrong with a burger in general). Other things that are good are the spinach dip, calamari, power greens salad, and meat loaf. Service is fine--the restaurant is usually pretty empty, since it's attached to a hotel. It feels like a kind of restaurant that should serve bread to start, but they don't, which is disappointing. Overall, Houlihan's is a very OK experience. I don't think I would ever come here if I didn't have some kind of coupon, however.
(3)Sultan M.
Located in the Crown Plaza. Creekstone sliders and Angus Burger was very good. Wait staff very friendly. A nice place for dinner in Herndon.
(5)Rick B.
Four of us on a rainy Saturday night enjoyed Salmon and Meatloaf dishes with mashed potatoes and side salads of Tuscan and Caesar. Great food and friendly staff. A wonderful experience. Definitely Recommend.
(4)Michael V.
Nice outdoor seating. Great apps for happy hour and the martini flights are an awesome option to help try multiple flavors. Check it out. Nice spot.
(4)Samantha S.
Today was my first time here at this restaurant. My boyfriend and I came here today, my first time here. We decided to sit at the bar. By far the best bar experience i have ever had. The bartender was Maria, very nice and friendly. She was very concerned with how we wanted our drinks specifically and knew her stuff when it came to drinks and making them! Definitely coming back just because of her!
(5)Usagi T.
I've always loved Houlihan's. I have been to many locations and this one is no different than the rest. The bar staff is terrific. Great personalities and amazing service. Both times I've been to this location I had trouble deciding what I wanted to eat. The first time it was recommended to try to Ahi Tuna Salad which features....(drum roll please) BANANAS! Who had ever hear of bananas on a salad? That's bananas! OK, I'll stop. But really... The lovely girl behind they bar recommended I have the bananas on the side and test it out but assured me I would love the combo. She was 100% correct. The salad was delicious and I not only plan to enjoy this again at a Houlihan's but have began adding bananas to some salads I prepare at home. Just amazing. The second time I was here was for the UYE recently hosted. We were attended to by 2 really cool male bartenders, both of which handled our party quite well. The drinks were fantastic and this time I tried the Thai Wings which were so yummy (and a bargain at $6.00 for happy hour price). Even as some people in our party began to get incredibly out of control drunk and dumb (much to my chagrin)...the bartenders acted with grace and ease in making sure things continued to run smooth. This is definitely a casual but upscale family restaurant with a bar attached, so it's not the place to party. However is great for professional gatherings, or a classy while informal bar/pit stop. I certainly enjoyed myself here and wouldn't mind stopping back by should I be in the neighborhood again.
(4)L H.
I work about a mile from Houlihan's in Herndon. I love eating here when I decide to go out to lunch. The food is always hot, fresh and tasty. The wait staff is always on top of their game. The management is extremely attentive and will always make sure that your dining experience is A-OK. I highly recommend Houlihan's for a bite to eat if you are in the Herndon area. Trie the pretzel sticks, the beer cheese sauce is awesome!!!!!!!!
(4)Ami S.
I came here during the holidays with my family (5 adults, 5 kids under 7). We were so worried it was a bad idea to go out but we needed to get out of the house. The host staff was friendly. Our server was hilarious and great at his job. We ordered 4 appetizers and they were all delicious. Every body thoroughly enjoyed their entrees. We had a great time. The food is quality.
(5)Tamara S.
Always GREAT service! Victor the bartender is Awesome and Craig is also the best. Love the Happy Hour and servers are always friendly. Nice atmosphere for small parties or a dinner date
(5)Jerica D.
Houlihans is a cool and classy happy hour spot in Herndon. I come here often with coworkers. They have excellent lemonade and so many choices for mixed drinks. The chicken quesadilla is very good but I always take the onions out. And the Thai wings are also very good!
(3)Angie D.
This visit was spent at the bar. The food we ordered was good and they even made something for us that wasn't on the menu any longer, however, the bartender was borderline rude. He was short with us and really more focused on the football game on the screen. Very disappointed because in all the trips here, this one had to be the worst based on his service and interaction with us.
(3)Victoria L.
Who would have thunk a connecting hotel and restaurant would be one of the best dining experiences I've ever had? No way in a million years did I ever think I would say that. So I found a livingsocial deal for $33 for an appetizer, 2 entree and 2 non-alcoholic drinks and figured this would be a perfect time to try it. Tonight my boyfriend and I entered this restaurant and was greeted graciously by the host, after he opened the door for both of us. Loved his attitude and how he made us feel welcomed, definitely a great start to our dinner. Our waiter Francisc came to our table a couple minutes later and got our drinks. He was very friendly. We decided to order the Chipotle Chicken Nachos as our appetizer. It was a generous portion of nachos, melted cheese and chicken. I enjoyed the chipotle sauce it give the nachos a nice tang. For our entrees, I ordered the ny strip with loaded baked potatoes and green beans. It also came with a side of soup or salad and I got the caesar salad. Boy, that salad had a creamy caesar dressing that didn't leave any lettuce un-dressed with big crunchy, garlicky croutons. Soo good!! The strip was cooked perfectly medium (how I asked for it), juicy and flavorful. The baked potato was my favorite part. The potato was huge and it was actually loaded (surprise!!) and overfilled with sour cream, bacon and cheese. I was surprised to see two different managers/supervisors stop by every table at different times just to make sure everyone was happy. I definitely appreciated that they took time to do that and knew that customer service was very important to the restaurant. Francisc was a very good server. We never had to ask for refills, he came to our table frequently asking if we were ok and needed anything and showed great hospitality. The only problem I'd say was at the end, we wanted boxes and our check but Francisc was nowhere to be found for about 10 minutes. We were getting annoyed because he dissappeared and we were ready to leave. We waited about 10 minutes but I got over it quickly. Besides that, this was a memorable dining experience. You have to come here for the delicious food, amazing hospitality and customer service and the quick service. I cannot wait to come back and try everything on their menu!! I guess I shouldn't judge restaurants connected to hotels anymore!
(5)Zenzoid T.
I like the food here. But of recent its feeling expensive with portions getting smaller. It IMO is not worth the price.
(3)Mischita H.
Awesome time at the UYE Western Burbs Hangin @ Houlihan's with Yelpers & Yelp friends. The management and staff at Houlihan's treated us to a VIP experience during Happy Hour - kudos to them and their great customer service. This visit I had a chance to try the chicken wings with thai chilli sauce, jumbo stuffed shrooms and spinach dip - all pretty good. The rail drinks weren't bad either but I do regret that I wasn't able to try the infamous long islands - maybe next time!
(4)Jeromy F.
My company had its Christmas party here during the lunch hour. I enjoyed the generous portion of nachos, and the waitstaff was very attentive to our group. The menu was about what you would expect from an Applebee's or Friday's. The parking lot was full when we arrived (again, lunch hour), but had emptied out considerably by the time we left.
(3)Bill P.
Houlihans has updated their menu again, so I am back to sing their praises. First I had the Pot Roast Mac and Cheese. It was very good and decadent. I am not a big mac and cheese guy, but their pot roast is one of my favorites so I had to try it. I was not dissappointed. Next I had the Fish and Chips. Three BIG pieces of fish cooked perfectly. It is served with a special dill sauce which was a pleasent change from the tarter sauce usually associated with Fish and Chips. There is as nice cole slaw added for good measure. YUM. I am looking forward to the Chicken Enchiladas tomorrow. I have said it before, Houlihans is NOT your normal hotel restaurant. If you want some excellent food served by friendly, knowledgeable staff, this is the place to go.
(5)Anna L.
Houlihan's is an unassuming spot attached to the Crowne Plaza hotel in Herndon. Normally, I wouldn't have thought twice about passing this by, but that would have been a mistake in this case. The interior is open and welcoming with lots of wood accents. This is the perfect spot to meet friends for happy hour or a casual night out. The menu is diverse with plenty of selections to suit just about anyone. We stuck with appetizers in this visit and were definitely not disappointed with the offerings. Chicken Chipotle Nachos would have normally been my first choice as I am huge nacho fan. These were tasty, but I have to agree with others that the chicken was a bit sparse. My husband and I ordered the fried mushrooms - these things were delicious; filled with a herb cream cheese, breaded and fried. The horseradish cream sauce was the perfect complement. Not the least bit healthy, but we were at happy hour after all. Spinach Dip would not normally be one of my first picks and the dip itself was pretty much what I expected - nothing out of the ordinary. What made this dish unique was the lovely flatbread crackers topped with cheese and chunks of tomato. Everything that I didn't get a chance to try looked very tasty - really nice presentation on all counts by Houlihan's. On to drinks - I ordered a red wine to start which I did not like. My fault for not actually looking over the menu. The bartender was kind enough to dump it and I decided to go with the martini sampler. Three larger than expected glasses were delivered quickly. My favorite was the key lime pie with a graham cracker rim. Not too sweet and tasted just like key lime pie. Delicious. The wine list is small, but all are offered by the glass although I thought the prices were marked up more here than other restaurants I've frequented. Bartenders were friendly, attentive and provided great service. Overall, this was a great experience and what made it even better was meeting Yelp friends in person and making some new friends. A huge thank you to Bobby K for hosting this UYE happy hour! What a great time!
(4)Natalie W.
I have now been to this place twice and can officially say I am a huge fan. The service both times was fantastic, really had a nice conversations with waiters both times which was nice. The food is so well cooked and delicious. And I know a lot of people say they are expensive, but the portion sizes have been huge both times we have gone. In fact next time I am considering just getting a starter and a main to share! So overall I would definitely recommend this place. One of my favourites for good all round food.
(5)Chris W.
Great appetizers and happy hour!
(4)Mrs. T.
I love this place, I always get great service when I go. Whether it's lunch, dinner or Happy Hour the food is delicious. The bartendars are very attentive.
(5)David W.
This joint is in the hotel that I stay at. I have not been there in months and the barman remembered me, what I drank, and reached across the bar and said "welcome back". What can I say? I like that. Food is about as good as you can expect from a pub. It's fast, fresh, and served by professionals. They always have sports on their great quality TV's and they hunt for my hometown Bruins for me.
(4)Dana M.
I've been here several times. Every time has been excellent but last night it was perfect toon. Not only was the food amazing but I have never had such amazing service even blew capital grill out of the water. The food was hot, crispy and savory. My waiter made suggestions without pushing anything down out throats. Great experience!
(5)Angel M.
Attended a business function 5/6 we all went for lunch. Great service, happy employees , I had the sliders , awesome! French onion soup, just ok, but everyone at our table, 7 ppl, all loved their lunch. Portions were HUGE !! The GM was super nice too ! I think his name was Byron ?? Told you I would Yelp about your restaurant ! Love this place :)
(4)Greg M.
What a fantastic joint for after-work get-togethers. See Bobby K's review for a more in depth analysis. It's always lively, the service is usually great, the food is good, and there's plenty of space to hang out in. It's easy to get to from any direction and there is plenty of parking. Though I've witnessed plenty of shennanigans here, the best times I've had here are with my wife and good friends enjoying each others' company. Though it's a haul from DC, when the boss is in town we often find ourselves here swapping stories which is perfect at Houlihans. The Thai chicken wings are fantastic - very large, lots of soy sauce and sweet pepper, makes for a great taste. Presentation is always good here. The buffalo chicken salad is also decent, though be prepared, the blue cheese they serve is actual blue cheese in it's brie-like form, which I love but some may not be used to. The servers, like most places, vary - so we've found that althought generally good, there's been a few times when it's really fallen off - some are great, some not so good. The food can be very slow coming out of the kitchen - they want you to stay obviously. The friendly, warm atmosphere and many good points overcomes the occasionally bad service - I like it here and will continue after-work socials there.
(3)Cindy L.
Overpriced, bland food with pushy service. The menu tries to be like Jackson's Mighty Fine Food, but misses the mark for a dollar or two more per entree. However, on the good side, it's an ok place for a business lunch.
(2)Anna B.
Ok, so I've been here I think 3 times so I figured I would jump on a review and do it while at the end of my 6 hr spa day in India. My Yelp BFF I think is the Duke of the joint and I am pretty sure he has everyone on a first name basis maybe a few nicknames and a bar stool named after him. I've mainly only had Long Islands here and they are quite notably the best around if your into that sort of thing. I am not a connoisseur of LIIT's but I do know they are tasty and pack a serious punch. The bartenders Chuck and this other fellow( I are on top of it all.... food and drinks... busy evening or not... first class service). I've had the spinach dip with the Naan looking thin crisps... the plating is pretty to look at but lacks any depth of flavor for what it is. I think I could just eat the crisps alone and be happy with that to accompany my salty tooth. One other day we had ordered the Chicken sandwich with Gouda/bacon and what tasted like a basil aioli but most likely wasn't... I believe it was a Dijon aioli. The bun was like a giant challah roll... the bread ratio was way off and you're better off eating the whole thing with just one half. The charbroiled chicken was on point ,perfectly juicy and charred. Being that I never order chicken sandwiches because of a typically poor execution everywhere else.... it was a pleasant surprise. The bacon was thick and crispy... always a welcome addition to anything edible. This I can see to be my go-to spot for goodt drinks, better happy hour, and the best service.
(4)Steve M.
Service sucked tonight on the patio. Had to beg for my check and the drinks were flowing like mud...pretty sad.
(2)Shannon C.
I was there with my family on wednesday night and we have a great dinner we love the food and the great service Lidia was so so friendly she was so professional she is great and also ken was excellent we love the team work they are the best servers ever we enjoy everything i love the scollops and the tuscan salad my husband order marsala penne and tomato soup... Everything is fantastic we have so much fun. Thank you.
(5)Angel W.
This review is for takeout. I ordered a blackbean and chickpea veggie burger and mashed potatoes. The veggie burger was extremely odd. Normally a blackbean type burger is made with smashed up blackbeans to create a patty. This version had whole blackbeans held together by rice and squishy chickpeas and some kind of pastey binding. It was very soft and fell apart instantly. It also had an disctinct asian flavor to it that was not indicated on the menu description. I suggest skipping this dish. The side of mashed potatoes was the size of two helpings. They were delicious... and obviously very fattening.
(2)J V.
Food was good but the service was terrible, only one bartender and level personality is near zero. I thought this was supposed to be a polished atmosphere, ohh well I'll hit stones cove next time.
(2)Anand N.
Tried the houlihan famous shooms appetizer.. Mind blowing... Ordered a fajita and salad entree for 2 of us.. It was a lot of good tasting food.. Surprised to see a lot of ppl on a weeknight but guess most were hotel crown plaza guests..
(5)Albert L.
This Houlihan's is connected to the hotel next door, but it doesn't feel chintzy or downgraded because of that. The layout is nice, and I like the wooden furniture. The service is typically pretty good and attentive, though some waitstaff can get a little insistent on selling you menu items. This is a good place to for a lunch during the workweek, since service is fast and usually on point. The food quality is actually good, and it looks like the cooks in the back actually care a bit about how their food looks and tastes. I'm basing this off of the lower-priced items, since I wouldn't go to Houlihan's to order steaks or seafood per se (though their calamari is not bad). If you're looking for modern American fare, this place is not too bad. Granted, it's a chain, so its menu options will be slightly generic, but it's a general crowd-pleaser.
(3)Douglas T.
I personally think this is the best happy hour around. The staff is awesome and the prices are half of what you pat at the nearby Reston Town Center. This is also the only weekend happy hour I know of that lasts from 1-9 Saturday and Sunday!
(5)Juicy G.
What is with this trend of restaurants that make amazing appetizers, but then fail miserably on the main courses? That seems to be the only type of places I'm finding these days. Houlihan's is no exception. We started our meal with an amazing spinach dip that was served on what looked like freshly made pizza wedges of crackers. It was spectacular, and had my evening started and stopped with this I would have gladly given them five stars. The main course section of the menu isn't all that appealing. While they have several options available, the restaurant unfortunately suffers from lack of theme or specialization. They have a subpar offering of a little bit of everything as opposed to simply focus on staking a claim for themselves as the place to go to for (insert specialized food here - fish, steak, burgers, pasta, etc.) To keep things simple, my friend and I ordered burgers. For starters, they were out of American cheese. How any restaurant can be out of the most standardize form of cheese on the market was beyond me. That's like going to a restaurant and being told, "We're out of ketchup." It just shouldn't happen. The burgers were very unappetizing due to the excessive amount of grease, and the fries were just awful. I ate about 1/2 my burger because I was simply hungry, while my friend only ate about three bites of hers. When I caught site of the manager clearing a table next to me, I said, "Can you take this away from me? I just don't want this." He did show concern for our dislike of the meals, and in addition to giving us a five dollar gift card (which we obviously won't be back to use) also comped us one burger. He said he checked with the kitchen staff, asking them, "What are we doing different?" I felt like saying, "Maybe you're not doing anything different. Maybe your burgers have always just been greasy and nasty." Instead I thanked him for comping the meal, the gift card, and for being proactive. I also informed him that the appetizer was very delicious. Houlihan's will definitely be crossed off my list of repeat places to go. For the price paid (approximately twenty to twenty-five dollars per person) I just expected a little more. Unfortunately this place is just an expensive Applebees.
(2)Koji K.
I like the food, but recently I've been there twice and both times the service was slow and orders were forgotten; at least the lady that helped us last time was friendly and nice. I still tipped we'll be caused it liked her, but I wish this hiccup clears up.
(3)Nick A.
Hanging off the side of a hotel is usually a dead give away that a restaurant is going to be total garbage - they basically have a captive audience or rotating chuds that are going to stop in when they roll through town, and since they are just visiting, they don't have time to tell anyone that a restaurant was awful - and they don't know anyone in the area to warn them, people keep shuffling through the doors. Usually, these parasitic growths just subsist like this, without even bothering to make anything good. Usually. Houlihans shirks the rule a bit. The food is good, it's very clean and has some nice furniture inside, and the menu is pretty inventive....all of the dishes I tried weren't terrible. Happy Hour was excellent - reasonable prices for large drinks. I may or may not be back here - depending on how I travel - but if you are staying nearby, you don't have to worry about getting horribly shafted at another shitty hotel restaurant if you eat here.
(3)Jason G.
The decor is very nice and the staff was very friendly. That being stated, the food was terrible. Ordered a steak that had no seasoning whatsoever. The sides tasted like they went straight from the freezer to the microwave to the table. I will not be returning.
(2)Gina K.
It's strangely conservative compared to this sister store in Chicago. Maybe it's a Virginia thing? The food was just ok. It's reliable. Do the Martini flight. 3 different mini martinis for the price of 1. Me likes! Grateful that they could accommodate a part of 11 that turned to 13. Arigato!
(3)Jerry M.
Really enjoyed my spinach salad and cup of tomato soup for lunch. Excellent! Friend had a very good burger. Service was excellent.
(4)Brandon H.
The seared Ahi Tuna salad with bananas and banana vinaigrette was astounding and very unique
(5)Lauren R.
Had another great meal at Houlihans this past week! The food is great! I typilcally just double (or triple) up appitizers for dinner. LOVE the spicy shrimp, Tuscan bean salad and chicken tortilla soup! The thai wings are to die for as well! Service is fast and most of the staff is awesome! What makes this place a 5 star is the fabulous service! Eddie (one of the managers) and Victor (a bartender) are amazing! They know my name, what I eat and drink and make sure everything is to order. They are both friendly, courteous and seem to know what I want before I do :-). This makes a difference and will keep me as a long time customer (as long as those two are there)!
(5)Adrienne D.
While traveling for a conference my friend & I had dinner here. We were seated & waited on immediately. It was a very diverse menu with lots of variety. My Caesar salad was about average but my ny strip steak & mash potatoes were delicious. My friend had the bean salad as a side & said it was fresh & unique. Overall a great experience.
(4)Chris B.
Good food overall. Most of the sandwiches are really good. The appetizers are also good, although they don't seem to have as many anymore. Entrees are ok, but I've only eaten here for dinner once or twice. Service is usually polite and prompt, although they really push the appetizers and seem disappointed if you don't order one. The bar is not good for happy hours groups - it has a weird set-up.
(3)Angela S.
4.5 stars. Why was it empty on a Saturday night? I usually don't review this type of restaurant, but it was surprisingly good . I was expecting mediocre "American Tap Room" fare, but I guess being in business a few years has its advantages. Shared appetizers were fried asparagus and stuffed mushroooms. Even the non-veggie lovers went wild for the fried asparagus. Its nothing I would have ever considered ordering, but the table ordered it and I was glad. I don't live near a Houlihans, so I'm going to have to try to replicate it at home. The stuffed mushrooms were also a hit. Juicy and flavorful...but not really stuffed mushrooms. More like breaded & fried mushrooms, but I would definitely order them again. I wasn't hungry enough for an entree (possibly a good thing too, as the only vegetarian options were grilled cheese or a veggie burger...they definitely could use a pasta or other choice on there; grilled cheese and veggie burgers are diner fare to me). The tuscan bean salad was too heavy on the balsamic vinegar. It was drowning in it. There was what tasted like vanilla or date balsamic along the edge of the plate...more of that please, and less of the acidic stuff. The tomato soup = wow. And just when I thought it couldn't get any better, I found 2 fried cheese balls in the soup. My mouth is watering now just thinking about them. The Key Lime Pie martini was just a tad disappointing, as it pretty much just tasted like lime, not so much like the pie. Dessert menu needs some sprucing up, pretty much just carrot cake and ice cream. Food was a tad slow coming out, but server was gracious and efficient. I'm just trying to figure out why it was less than 50% full on a Saturday night. Even the bar only had about 4 patrons. I'm not familiar with this area, maybe nobody lives there and its more for travelers (since it is attached to a hotel)? I've been to the Houlihans in Columbia MD once (on a Sat nite) and it was jammed packed. Weird. I would tolerate a short wait to eat here, if I'm ever in the area again.
(4)Michael K.
Let them get to know you and they'll treat you like family. I've been going there since I turned 21. Craig and Vic will always take care of you, great atmosphere, great food, large drinks.
(5)Jason C.
Prompt service, though not the most personable. Food is okay - the burger is a poor decision. Their Yelp coupon is a joke considering most of the clientele is mostly a bunch of individuals on business.
(3)Amanda K.
If you want a place that service overpriced just okay tasting food that is hardly every busy this is your place to go. I don't think I will be back here again.
(2)Vinny T.
Awful service. I needed to place a large order and I was transferred to 4 different people on the phone because no one spoke English and knew what flatbread was. I ended up hanging up.
(1)Marty G.
Pretty darn good jumbulia.
(4)Chris M.
Why would anyone give a chain 5 stars...........Well!!! I was trapped in what was called a state of emergency snow storm in Washington DC (Dulles area) this weekend. Coming from Michigan I didn't think it was a big deal and was a bit bummed my flight got cancelled until Monday. What I was really confused about was that every! EVERY! place around hotel and the city in general shut down on Saturday and Sunday. Are you kidding me? I guess I understand that if you aren't prepared for a big storm (I saw that 5 people died-yikes). Anway-it is what it is-right? Houlihans however was open!~ The food seems to be a hybrid of chain/home cooking and they have a good beer selection. The rosemary grilled chicken breasts and Tuscan salad are great! The burger was pretty good, and the calamari appetizer with sriracha sauce is a darn good starter. Staff is great and I eat here often out of convenience but I would eat here if it wasn't for that reason. Nice place to go!
(5)MARIA G.
Happy hour rum and coke are 3.50. House cab is the same. Draft $3!
(3)Bridget P.
You would think a chain like Houlihan's would be just fine. But - I LOVE this place! The service at the bar is incredible, they are friendly, attentive servers who always are looking out for all of the customers, no matter how busy it gets. These guys are awesome! The food is very delicious as well. Whenever we go, for lunch or happy hour, there is plenty of tasty options to choose from, the food always comes out hot, and always tastes great. The servers in the restaurant are always great as well - timely, efficient and happy. This place is definitely a regular for me now.
(5)Jesse C.
Today a coworker and I came here for lunch. She claims this places is good, so off we went. I didn't check out the yelp reviews first because I'd like to try out a place first before I see what others think. We arrived right at 11:30 and there were only a few tables that had customers. We were seated right away and our drink orders were taken. We both had water so it was a pretty easy order. We placed our orders, I ordered the Asian Chop Chop salad and my coworker ordered the calamari salad. They both arrived pretty fast, and I do have to say my salad was pretty tasty. My coworker like her dish as well. The décor is nothing fancy, just looks like your basic chain type or restaurant and bar. I guess they are trying to get a little trendy because they are using these funny shaped plates. I did like how they plated my salad. It came out on a triangle shaped plate. The chopped salad was in the middle of the triangle, then they placed the Asian chicken on the sides, then the crunchy wonton crackers were on the top. Pretty good a different. The only complaint would be the portion size of the chicken. While there were tons of Asian crackers and tons of salad, not much chicken, and I guess $11 just seems a tad high for the size. The service was good, our server was always checking up on us. I guess since it restaurant was pretty bare, she had nothing better to do =) Overall I enjoyed this trip. I'd go again Based on everybody elses reviews, I must be missing something =)
(4)Franz K.
Great choice to have as an Onsite restaurant IMO. Not everybody wants to enter an overpriced hotel joint where you stay and end up having to spend $100 for you and your wife to eat dinner. That gets old quick. I'll give you Houlihans in a nutshell . . . it's better than the Fridays, Chilli's and AppleBees they compete with. Better food, better drinks . . . I wish South Florida had one. They serve their long islands in pitchers and offer different versions of the drink . . . Reasonable at $12.99 a pitcher and we got nearly 4 drinks out of it. The Burgers are good, the wings are good . . . I really can't complain, knowing the type of restaurant this is. I had their Buffalo chicken salad . . . man was that thing good and HUGE portions. On top of all that, they allow you to use a restaurant.com gift certificate. So when you find them on sale for $2 . . . as long as you spend $35 at the restaurant, you will get $25 off (of course they add the 18% tip and tax . . . but good deal none the less). They also specialize in mini flights of martini's and desserts . . . which gives you the opportunity to try different flavors and desserts, mini versions if you are unsure of what you want. They have Happy Hour as well. You pretty much can get an appetizer, a pitcher of long islands, 2 burgers and a dessert . . . and spend 20 bucks with the gift certificate (with tax and tip included) . . . can u really beat that? To top it off, we were given free breakfast at the hotel in the morning at Houlihans and it was a pleasant surprise. The bacon was cooked perfectly. Good selection of eggs, sausage, pancakes, fruit, bagels, OJ . . . all tasty and fresh, unlike many hotel breakfastes. I didn't envision giving this place 4 stars, but if you put into perspective the type of restaurant this is, they do a good job of being that type of place and it never hurts to be reasonable on your pockets, especially when you are considered a "hotel" restaurant and you could easily overcharge. Gotta give props to them for that. Probably the only complaint is that they are a little limited from non hotel Houlihans . . . no Margarita ptichers . . . but good none the less.
(4)Andy W.
It's fairly standard american fare. Nothing really stands out. it seems to me to be overpriced for the quality of the dishes.
(2)Shashi B.
When i was looking for a table for a group of 15 for lunch on a Friday, Houlihan's was the first to come to my mind. They are well staffed and capable of handling that. Lunch was a success, the appetizer platter was yummy. its a slalad, its a ppetizer, its an entree --- well its called Asian Chop Chop and its my favorite.
(4)Brian K.
Bar is nice and pleasant - i hit happy hr there - Bar staff is best in NOVA! - cheap and tasty apps - thai wings and lettuce wraps and sliders are my favorite - nice place to go get drink with coworkers
(4)Kurt C.
After traveling all day, I was glad to have a restaurant at the hotel. We do not have Houlihan's where I live, so I didn't know what to expect. I ordered the Chile lime shrimp, with a loaded baked potato, salad with balsamic vinegarette, and a margarita. I was surprised that the margarita was so large. It is twice as large as many restaurants we go to at home. The balsamic was very good with the salad. I was very happy with the shrimp and baked potato. They were cooked perfectly, and would highly recommend and order again. I am in town for 5 days and plan to eat there again. The service was ok. When traveling, and dining alone I don't like to be bothered anyways. The issue I had, was when I was finished, I waited almost 10 minutes to get my bill.
(4)Shaggy L.
My review counts only for the items I tried. Starter: Calamari - very bland and I have eaten better tasting calamari at other cheaper restaurant. Entrees: Fish tacos - It tasted as if they have served the deep fried fish sold at Costco in the frozen section, added some tasteless salad toppings and wrapped in a taco. Worst fish taco I had so far. Reuben Sandwich - When it arrived at our table I was very excited, it was too appealing. But with the very first bite I was disappointed, it's way too sweet for me and I love reuben, sorry not here though. Dessert: Chocolate Cappucino Cake - The cake was not fresh and I took only one bite and left the remaining. Presentation was deceiving. Creme brulee - This is my favorite dessert and again not here though. There is a lot of burn smell on the layer. Service: The only saving factor was the service. Our waiter was very attentive and soft spoken. She came to our table atleast 5 times to find out if we liked our food. She noticed that we have pretty much left everything in our plate, so charged us only half price. Bottom line: If you want great service and avg. food this is the place to be.
(3)stacy W.
I can only speak for a few items on the menu. I refuse to venture into other things because I'm downright obsessed with the Tuna Salad. If you're feeling fat, go for the stuffed mushrooms - they're absolutely delightful. They're different, but a very good different. I've tried making them myself at home, but nothing can compare! OK back to the tuna salad. I could write a book about them, but I'll spare you. Basically, just order it. But get the dressing that comes with thai wings. it's a lot yummier with a spicy bite to it. but get the banana dressing if you want, might cool it down a bit.
(4)Jennifer B.
I like Houlihan's. Even though it's attached to a hotel, the food was surprisingly good. My husband and I both ordered chicken with mashed potatoes and a yummy kiwi salad. The meal was flavorful and we both were pleased. It exceeded our expectations. Houlihans also has a pretty cool email club that will send you a free meal on your birthday, and that's why we decided to give this place a try in the first place. Be sure to sign up!
(4)Robert G.
Conservative decor with pleasant staff and quick service. The place gets packed at lunch, but you can often find a spot at the bar, but don't expect a lot of conversation with the bar staff since they are covering nearby tables. The lettuce wrap app is a great light lunch alternate; the onion soup could use more seasoning.
(4)Michelle B.
I had been to Houlihan's once before, to meet my husband for a quick lunch during the work week. The first time, I was not impressed. I got an invite to meet to of my girlfriends for Sunday lunch, and was not expecting much in the way of food. First when I arrived, I was surprised at how empty it was. We sat near the bar so the bartender was our server, and did an excellent job. He was prompt with our orders, drink refills, but left us alone to have our girl talk in between. My two friends ordered mixed drinks from the bar which they said were delicious---they ended up ordering seconds. I had a strawberry fruit fusion iced tea, which was just ok. Our appetizer was lettuce wraps, which were delicious! Much better than the thai restaurant that I usually order them from. The chicken was well seasoned and the wonton strips added a nice crispiness. My friends ordered the fajitas and chili lime shrimp, which they both enjoyed. I ordered the fish and chips with fries, and was a little disappointed. The fish was bland and needed seasoning, even with a generous helping of ketchup. My fries were nice and crispy, but for what I got (two fillets, fries, and a small cup of coleslaw) I felt the meal was overpriced at $15.95. Would I come here again? Probably, but only as a 2nd/3rd choice.
(3)Jake K.
Honestly, this place is not very high up on my list. As a matter of fact, we go here primarly because it's close, it's cheap, and it's the best thing we can do in a pinch if we need to take folks out to lunch. They do not accept reservations. Frequently you can find flies on the wall - that is if they're not already standing on your food. I don't understand the fly problem in here - it was particularly bad in the summer. However today, I should not have had a fly buzzing around my reuben sandwich. Food will do in a pinch as I said before. I typically get the reuben - it's about the only thing I can eat without wanting to pass out in a food induced coma in my office. I'm not a fan of their salads - something just doesn't taste quite right. The fries are also inconsistent - today it was as if in a rush, they pulled them out of the frier about 40 seconds too early (yes folks, after two stints at the golden arches, I can tell you about how long fries have been cooked!). Overall, I won't be clamoring to go back. But if work says to go, I'll go.
(2)Nicole C.
I have been to Houlihan's about 3 times. The first time I had chicken nachos that were so good I copied the basic recipe at home - everyone loves them. The second time I had the breakfast buffet. Pancakes a little dry,but otherwise pretty good selection and food was delicious. Now my third time at Houlihan's was not so good. Sitting in the bar area it took what seemed like forever for someone to come and take my order. I got bottle water and chicken quesadilla. Pretty good, but I have had better many times before. Here's the problem. About 3-4 hours later I was very sick and threw up. I am guessing it was the quesadilla. I didn't really eat at all the next day and am not sure if I will ever go to Houlihan's again.
(3)Ralph P.
This place is OK, but nothing to get excited about. Food is the standard bar/restaurant fare with burgers and steaks that are just OK the majority of the menu. Stay away from any seafood on their men as it is the cheapest farm raised quality and has been frozen for quite some time. It is difficult to recommend Houlihan's unless it is convenient for you, which is the only reason I have eaten here several times... The description of "competent but nothing special" keeps coming to mind. With that said, the bar is one of those annoying corporate managed taverns with measured pours and everything controlled to ensure you do not have too good a time! Again, competent but so tightly managed as to make you yearn for the local watering hole where the owner is present to ensure you have a good time. I also cannot help but notice that the people working at Houlihan's seem to be very unhappy with their jobs and are clock watchers eagerly anticipating closing time. I would have given Houlihan's a 2 star rating, except they ARE so darned corporate efficient and stepford wives-like in their execution of duties that a 3 star seems to be appropriate.
(3)S K.
I guess there is a reason most Houlihan's in the chain have shut down. The ambience decor is good but the food is subpar. Wait people are ok but it took eons to get a French Dip sandwich which came out tasting like fried balcony instead of roast beef. Frozen beef strips aren't roar beef.
(2)Lydia F.
Food was yummy! Loved the mussels. Ordered a pasta dish and a burger. French fries are yummy...burger was cooked perfectly...pasta was great! The bar can be a bit loud and spill into the restaurant.
(4)Jeremiah D.
Love this place! The baked potato soup is to die for and I have yet to find a main dish I don't like. The staff is great and we somehow always get the same table.
(5)Stacey M.
Appetizers were lettuce wraps and seared tuna. Lime shrimp for entree. Appetizers get 5 stars Dinners gets 3
(4)Blaire R.
The food is good. It's not incredible, it's not terrible. It's just good. It's way better than an Applebees or Fridays and sometimes you're just in the mood for casual dining. Mini Martini Trio is awesome, definitely recommend the Appletini or Key Lime Pie-tini. The service is the best part; everyone is super friendly and knowledgeable (our waitress made a great recommendation for dinner for my husband). And they do a thing now where you buy 9 entrees and get one free, as well as free stuff on your birthday.
(4)Brian M.
We used to come here occasionally for home style cooking... I liked the meatloaf and fajitas. Tonight I was very disappointed, to the point where I wonder if maybe they have a new chef (or no chef). I ordered the pot roast and it was virtually inedible. First it was topped with what were supposed to be onion straws, but were soggy, greasy onions. The meat in the pot roast was pretty much inedible. Some was excessively fatty (not unexpected in pot roast); other pieces were tough and difficult to cut. I simply could not eat the dish, and won't be going back anytime soon. I hate it when I have to cross a restaurant off my list of places to go.
(1)Fatima C.
my friend and i refer to this place as our favorite watering hole, even though it's anything but rundown. it's clean, modern, and almost always has ample seating. our favorite bartenders, vic and craig, have our drinks ready for us as soon as we walk in the door. best of all? craig's got a new little johnny joke each time we see him. no matter how many jokes he tells, we can never see the punchline coming! i've never had anything bad there, even though i'm not a huge fan of the calamari. the thai chicken wings are THE best wings i've had. i also love their bruschetta. it comes with some sort of goat cheese spread that is just fantastic. their happy hour specials are pretty decent too. maybe not the best out there, but for the quality of the food and the ambiance, it's worth it. i rated this a 4-star because i love the food, ambiance, and bartenders. i've spent many a night there getting happily buzzed (including my 28th birthday where the granite countertop in the ladies room was especially cozy) and kept on coming back! i also love that since its a hotel bar, we've also been able to chat it up with many fun and/or sleazy characters. however, the only reason i knocked it back from a 5 is because during lunch, the service is painfully slow. i don't go there for lunch often, but when i do, i have to count on it being about a 1.5 hour excursion, which is obviously not exactly kosher when your lunch break is technically only an hour. however, other than slow daytime service, i love this place.
(4)Jocelyn B.
I am a frequent patron of Houlihan's beecause I can always count on a great meal. The staff at this location is the friendliest wait staff that I think I've ever have. The atmosphere is clean and there has never been a wait for a table. Always great food and service!!
(5)Christine S.
Houlihan's is actually a pretty good restaurant, and probably the best thing about the Crowne Plaza hotel. The salmon caesar salad is delicious because teh salmon is grilled perfectly and is moist. The stuffed chicken breast is also good. Houlihan's is also one of the first restaurants I've seen that have mini martini flights! What a cool concept!
(4)