Great place for happy hour with $5 drinks and appetizer specials. Lobster roll sliders - fresh and juicy Fried oysters - fun, crispy texture Mojito - delicious One of the happy hour guys was aloof and seemed extremely overwhelmed when I placed my order. I made eye contact with him several times when he was right in front of me, and he did not even ask for my order. I had wave my arms to flag him down. Beautiful interior. Would return for a meal or special occasion if it fit in my budget. :)
(4)
Ellie B.
EXTREMELY expensive, and WORTH IT!!! My husband took me out here for our anniversary, and I had Icelandic fish, with some imported crab from Maine. I can't even begin to describe to you how amazingly delicious, sweet, and buttery our food was!! In addition to our amazing food, they sent us dessert free of charge!! Our waiter was amazing, and so helpful, he gave us suggestions for our cravings, and was very quick!! For how packed the place was, it was so quiet and very relaxing!! Will definitely be back here!!
(5)
Lindsay S.
3.5 stars good apps, good drinks, good food. i am shellfish allergic, so a bit limited at these places. i've had the salmon several times and it never disappoints. they also have this thai-like sauce that is to die for. they do bread and crab spread and my party loved the crab spread. also nice, modern decor
(3)
Terry S.
Went there for Restaurant Week, on a Tuesday. The place was pretty full considering the day of the week. We were seated quickly, our waiter was quick. Warning, if asked you've been there before answer 'Yes' or else you'll get the whole speil on how there menu works. It shouldn't be that hard. The appetizers were good, the nigiri was fresh and served with lots of wasabi and ginger. Luckily I saved my wasabi for later. My wife had the gumbo which tasted good to her but to me it had a smoky taste that didn't suit me. The main course was the blackened ahi tune which needed to be a little more blackened. The wasabi came in handy. It added a little kick to the meal. The meal as a whole was good and would probably order it again if I ever return but then again I heard their crabcakes are dynamite. My wife had the whole flounder which was very good and fresh. Lucky for me, my wife couldn't finish it so I voluteered. I picked the chocolate item on the dessert list. It was dark chocolate and it looked like a hostess snowball. Again, my wife couldn't finish hers so I again volunteered. Service was good at the beginning but the restaurant started running behind in getting the food out. We were told several times that the main meal was on its way. But it wasn't. We didn't mind too much, the atmosphere is nice so the wait didn't bother us like it has for other people who posted reviews.
(3)
Jenny N.
One of my rare five star restaurants. My first night here, but it was an amazing experience that I would most definitely hope to have once more when I go again. My family celebrated a late mother's day combined with my father's birthday. Our waiter was extremely entertaining and accommodating, which helped the experience feel friendly and comfortable. We ordered the Big Daddy sampler and the blue crab - corn chowder bisque. The platter had a great assortment that felt very fresh, but I absolutely loved the bisque. It was a perfect burst of corn and wasn't too salty or bland. We enjoyed the halibut, scallops, and oysters as our main entrees. The first two were off of the chef's specialties and they were indeed great items. The halibut had that nice bit of Thai spice to it that really gave it a rich flavor. The scallops weren't chewy, very fresh. Then onto dessert, where we ordered the creme brulee and key lime tart. We were given a dish of donut holes from the waiter as a special for the birthday. They were delicious; not as heavy as I had originally thought but instead, just a perfect amount of fluff with coffee cream. It was a nice indulgence. The creme brulee with an almond biscotti was particularly good as well. The tart was a bit too lemony for my taste, but for those that would enjoy it, I definitely recommend it (there was some black pepper ice cream and mangoes with it too!). We were also given some fudge chocolates with marshmallows and macadamia nuts inside as a service from the restaurant. They were delicious and we were most definitely full at this point! Overall, the experience was great and I can't wait to go back. I left very satisfied and my parents were too, which was what I wanted when I took them there. We were all given a great service (again, our waiter is to thank for that). I hadn't taken his name, but when I go again, I would certainly want him to take care of my table. Many restaurants in Reston Town Center have not disappointed me yet, so I'm not surprised when I chose to go there for a special dinner. It's a great location that I suggest others try out as well.
Went here during restaurant week and was not super impressed. Could be because we were so looking forward to it and it was super busy due to restaurant week. Might give it another try some other day...maybe.
(2)
Gregg S.
Went here with the family during Restaurant week. The service was fantastic; Prompt, polite, and most importantly, knowledgable. Their food was excellent. I'll definitely be returning for crab cakes and sea bass soon. I think the Passion Food Hospitality group definitely has an idea on how to run great restaurants. Between this and Ceiba, I had a hard time choosing how to spend my restaurant week this year.
(4)
Willy L.
If you love seafood then you are in for a special treat!! The food here is amazing as well as the sushi. That in its self speaks highly as I am not a very big sushi fan. I have been here at least 1/2 dozen times and each time I leave even more impressed with the food. Another fun thing to do is belly up to the bar and enjoy a anchor steam and get a few appetizers. The crab meat app will blow your mind and a great deal. Little bit expensive but its to be expected and on par with other places at RTC. Oh and one last thing, great place to take a date!
(5)
Mike C.
I took a few business associates to Passion Fish last week. They happened to offer DC Restaurant Week menu, which included any entree on their menu. I ordered Lobster Bisque for a start and it had the right blend of flavor and lobster meat. For Entree, I ordered the Macadamia crushed Halibut. That was good but not outstanding. We finished the meal off with Huckleberry - Strawberry Crisp and that was delicious. The service was very attentive even though the restaurant was busy at the time. One of us ventured out of the seafood path and ordered a steak. It was a generous portion and he said it was very good.
(4)
Steven S.
There is no longer any reason to go to PassionFish in Reston (a member of DC Coast chain). It has become clear to me over the last few months that the restaurant doesn't value its workers, and with the recent firing of their biggest stength (bartender Aggie), I'd suggest just stopping short at one of the other two restaurants on the same block. Going to PassionFish for food was always a surprise -- not because they change the menu---ever---but because you never knew the quantity and/or quality of food preparation. Sometimes it was plenty and outstanding. Other times it was hard to detect on the plate and/or dismal. Always it was overpriced. The one consistency...and the one thing that kept me coming back, was Aggie. She was everything a bartender should be; upbeat, interesting, interested in me and my group, and always available and offering any food or drink she thought I might want. The official reason for the dismissal was 'service complaints'. I only wish I'd posted my service compliments earler. Anyway, the town center has a wide choice of restaurants, and each has its strengths. Now, for me, due to the recent personnel change, almost all the town center restaurants are stronger than PF. I'll be changing my pattern to 'go there seldom' from 'go there weekly'.
(2)
Ryan D.
I enjoyed the ambiance, and the lobster clay pot was delicious, as were the oysters (both fried and raw). The wine that the server recommended was a complete misfire, but it's always fun to try new brands that I wouldn't have chosen on my own. I can't fault the service -- it was reliable and friendly, and the restaurant is very conveniently located in Reston Town Center. Pricey, but worth a try.
(4)
Elle B.
Dined here more than once a few years ago with mixed experiences so we went back for dinner to give this place another shot. Again, we remembered why we skip Passion Fish as a dinner option. They ran out of not just one, but two of the entree options we wanted. When the food came it wasn't great - my side salad came with dinner and was clearly out of one of those lettuce mixes in the plastic you get at the grocery store with nothing else to make it more colorful. We both agreed the fish dishes we had at Bonefish the week before were better. Not to mention the service was not great to where a couple seated by us got up and left before ordering. For the price I would expect more.
(2)
Dennis M.
I dunno. Maybe I picked the wrong items. Crab and corn chowder had none of the billed "lump" crab meat and the soup was beyond too sweet to eat as a first course. Fried oysters had a good flavor but they were so small (with tons of breading to overcompensate for that) that I felt like I was just eating fried breading. (But the accompanying slaw was terrific -- with a nice bit of 'zing') Anyway, main course was the highly recommended scallops. Bartender told me (always trust the recommendations of bartenders) it was the best the restaurant had to offer. Sure enough, the scallops themselves were perfectly prepared ... Really high quality and big and juicy and tasty. But again ... hello ... the accompanying pasta type thing with it was soooooooooo sweet .... C'mon PassionFish ... People don't want dessert for dinner, ok?
(2)
Layla L.
Above average food and def. one of the better places in the town center. Nice atmosphere too. Give it a try and then head to pitango for dessert
(4)
Jennifer S.
A nice addition to the Reston Town Center! The staff was very nice and made my simple grilled fish off the menu and I really appreciated it. The simple grilled tilapia with a side salad was healthy and delicious. The champagne vinaigrette on the salad was amazing too! The decor is very fresh and chic and the service was great!
(4)
Marco B.
Good sushi food special tonight. Melting fish and with crispy tempura shrimp inside. Average wine
(4)
Caroline G.
I really enjoyed all the food here! I ordered takeout - the lobster and butternut squash bisque, which had huge chunks of lobster, and some roasted..pinenuts? THANK YOU THOSE ARE MY FAVORITE THINGS COMBINED IN ONE SOUP!! woohooo. I ordered two of their sushi rolls..their california rolls, for $9, better have the equivalent of sushi gold in it...which it did...real crab meat! And then their Passionfish roll, which I didn't realize but is basically their california roll topped with pieces of raw fish. The kicker is that they use some honeymustardgreypoupon dipping sauce that I never thought could mesh well with sushi rolls. But it worked out fantastically.
(4)
Brenda D.
One of the best crab cakes in the DMV area and really good sweet potato fries. They are crispy and so sweet! Strangely, the lobster bisque tastes really good at the beginning but has a bitter aftertaste. The decor is beautiful; modern and elegant at the same time. This is a really good place to try for restaurant week; usually it is quite expensive.
(4)
Tiger M.
I was highly disappointed after reading all the great reviews.... *** ONE REVIEW THAT WAS ACCURATE MAKE RESERVATIONS!!! ESPECIALLY ON SATURDAY NIGHT!!! we arrived about 45 minutes prior to our reserved time which was 9 but we were seated about 830 so the wait wasn't bad.... :-) I ordered the LOBSTER CLAY POT.... highly disappointed :-( & the crab shrimp spring rolls as my appetizer...both dishes I was disappointed........... My hunnie ordered shrimp cocktail & crab cakes which he enjoyed........our waiter was patient with me & tried to get me to order something else but it was late, I didn't want to wait & really wanted to get home..... Over all decor GREAT!! Great service !!! Guess I just ordered the wrong things ???? It's too far for me to travel back so.... Probably won't be traveling back here... :-(
(2)
Celia G.
Passionfish is absolutely my favourite restaurant in Northern VA. The fish is always outstanding; it is the only non-sushi house in which I'll order the sushi. And there are always so many specials that I order sushi every time I'm there! BTW, at other restaurants, "specials" usually mean something the chef needs to move quickly, but not here. The specials are unique and fresh - truly special! For a real treat, try to get seats at one of their wine dinners. The Cime brothers outdo themselves time after time with food and wine pairings that aren't on the regular menu and will make you a fan for life, if you're not already. RSVP fast, though, they sell out every time! If you love your fish like I do, and haven't been to Passionfish yet, don't deprive yourself! The entire menu utterly rocks!
(5)
Ilisa S.
Wowzers... I had the good fortunate to be able to attend a corporate lunch here yesterday. It was a fixed 3 course menu with two choices per course. For an appetizer I chose the crab cake, which was divine. It had a light lemon bearnaise sauce (if I am remembering correctly). I only ate about 3/4 of it because I didn't want to fill up before the main course and dessert! For my main dish I chose the Filet Mignon. It was positively mouthwatering. The quality of the beef was top-notch, cut like butter, and cooked perfectly. I fancy myself a steak connoisseur and the taste was like music to my pallet. Truly perfect! For dessert I chose the creme brulee. Holy cannoli, batman. It was the perfect temperature, consistency, and just melted in my mouth. I had zero to complain about in the food department. The only negative was that the staff kept getting my order wrong and bringing me the 'other' option instead of the one I selected. By itself, this was not enough to lose a full star. If there was the option of giving 4.5 stars I would have.
(4)
Lyndsey C.
Always delicious but the portions can be quite small sometimes. The price is high but worth it when you want to spend. The place is decorated great and the service is usually quite good. The food is hit or miss depending on what you order.
(3)
Ryan O.
In the words of Randy Jackson, "it's just alright for me dawg." Tried this place a second time since my first experience was awful - think seafood medley drowned in bbq sauce. Unfortunately , second time around it wasn't much better. The Stone Crabs were not very fresh and the meat stuck to the shell. Sushi was good, but not good enough to warrant the exorbitant price. For the money, you could do much better at Reston Town Center...Jackson's sushi is much less expensive and just as tasty, plus they have an excellent salmon dish too. McCormick's also has comparable seafood options without breaking the bank. I gave it two stars for the service and the ambiance.
(2)
Victoria S.
Upscale dining in the burbs! PassionFish from the same restaurant group as DC Coast and brings the same class and sophistication to Reston Town Center. I am currently working with them planning for a corporate event and we have eaten there twice and I will say the service is above and beyond the expected. The server is very informative and he asked if there were any shellfish allergies he should know about. The food is amazing, great presentation and never heavy. The seafood is all fresh and sushi is made to order. We had a sampling of the salads, apps and entrees with dessert and every course was great. They offered us complimentary course with our meal. The manager came over and greeted us. They are doing a seated dinner and we're doing a buyout of the entire restaurant so I guess we deserve a freebie. ;) The event manager is very knowledgeable and accommodating. The space is modern and beautiful with high ceilings. We are excited about our event in February.
(5)
Lina T.
I've been here about 3 times and I'm quite a fan. I've had their Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes and Pan-Seared Jumbo Sea Scallops...both are super good. I was there last night with my friend and we both ordered a dozen oysters (east coast vs. west coast). They were alright. It was just a bit too salty for me. As for the entrees, we both got the blackened Char-Grilled Swordfish. My friend ordered this before and I remember how good it was when I tried it so I had to get it this time around and of course he ordered it again. It's just that damn amazing! The swordfish was tasteful and tender. We got the lobster mac and cheese and mashed potatoes for our sides. Both are also delicious and great for sharing. You can pick 1 out of the 4 dipping sauces for the swordfish. My friend got the Lemon Beurre Blanc sauce and I had the Salsa Verde sauce. Both were the top 2 compared to the others. No complaints about this place!
(4)
FunnyGirl Z.
I wanted to love this place b/c the decor and some of the appetizers were good, but the fish I had was, in taste, without passion. I honestly don't remember which dish I had, but I tried my friends' dishes at the time also, and they didn't whet my appetite either. I would have to try this out again, but my impression was so without an impression that I am not inclined to give it another shot without someone else really begging for me to go. Sorry, PassionFish, the romance was over before it began. :( If I go on a 2nd date and sparks fly, I will be sure to kiss and tell.
(3)
Lulu T.
Great atmosphere and service. In some cases the front hostesses may seem snotty or unattentive. Please don't let this sway you from trying the restaurant. The sushi and entrees are delicious. I typically get the Caifornia roll made with real crabmeat and the Kamikaze roll made with tiger shrimp tempura and spicy tuna. The crab cake sandwich with sweet potato fries is also great. The claypot lobster that everyone is raving about is highly overrated! The curry broth is overbearing and takes away from the the flavor of the lobster. I wouldn't order this entree again.
(4)
Brett M.
The idea of a chain seafood restaurant conjures up disturbing food images. A visit to PassionFish will dispel them. I have been to this lovely restaurant two times. Every dish I had was well made, and was of high quality. Their service is excellent. PassionFish has a good deal of variety from Sushi to well cooked fish entrees. It's not my first choice for dinner, but I think it's a great choice for lunch in the Reston Town Center.
(4)
Natasha M.
Simply said...OH My you know what!! From service to food to ambiance...a gem! Well a pricy gem, but still! Hands down one of the top 5 sushi, Thai infusion and just FAB seafood in town!
(5)
Karen P.
We were impressed. I had read a lot about PassionFish and not all of it was positive - prices too high, atmosphere loud and sterile. That said, I had heard the food was good so decided to take my husband to dinner to celebrate his birthday, hoping that the restaurant choice would be a good one. Wow - it's everything seafood! We skipped the sushi as it all seemed "Americanized" (how many things can you add avocado to??). I chose the ceviche for an appetizer and my husband had the tuna tartare. The ceviche was delicious - just the right amount of tart with good-sized bites of fish. They garnished with popcorn which was interesting but didn't add to the flavor - it seems like everybody is adding popcorn to various dishes these days. Our waiter Henry (more about him later) suggested I ask for it without the popcorn next time and I'll probably do that. I can't comment on the tuna tartare because my husband wouldn't even share a bite with me - maybe a good indicator that he liked it! For the main course, I had the lobster claypot, which the menu said was their recognized dish in the Washingtonian. They brought a bowl with rice and then poured the ingredients from the clay pot on top. The red curry sauce was very good, the lobster just the right amount of firmness but the dish would have benefited from more rice. Maybe if they gave you a regular dish of rice that could be added, so the dish was a bit more substantial and you could eat all of the sauce (the sauce was a bit rich to eat alone). My husband had the arctic char with the red curry sauce and the sauted spinach - both good. We skipped dessert but they brought some chocolates with the bill - yum! A couple of other items of note: Henry - great waiter! He was a little hard to understand (maybe Carribean accent?) but his knowledge of the dishes was deep and service was impeccable. Wine - we felt that the wine list was both interesting and reasonable. We chose a Gigondas that was very good. The extra person that cleared all of our plates - It seemed that one person was assigned to clean everything up and to serve the dishes. She was not so good. My husband and I were sitting next to each other and she kept interrupting our conversation to ask us to hand her our plates, utensils, etc.. Was it really that important?! Price - we felt that the price was reasonable for the food and service.
(4)
L K.
I've been here several times with my company but this place never disappoints! The raw oysters are always so fresh and good. I ALWAYS order them :) The soups are delicious as well! I usually get a fish dish and my favorite by far has been the rock fish they have sometimes on their special menu! and dont forget to order Donut holes for dessert! they are to die for!!! I always enjoy coming here with my company!
(4)
Tony P.
Saturday night dinner. Appetizer: A dozen oysters on half-shell were delicious. Dinner: The lobster and jumbo crab cakes with the lemon butter were very good. Dessert: A perfect Caramel Crème Brulee with Almond Biscotti. We also had the Warm Donut Holes with Coffee Bavarian Cream, excellent. Service: Kenny K. was wonderful.
(4)
Katie L.
After reading about the place every other month or so in the Washingtonian, my husband and I decided it was time to brave traffic to Reston on a recent Friday night and check out PassionFish. Lucky for us, we were also able to convince a few friends to join us for a refreshing night in suburbia. The food ranged from decent to absolutely delicious. To start, we ordered the Kamikaze sushi roll (tempura prawns, ahi tuna and avocado) and the fried oysters, which were served over an Old Bay-seasoned slaw. The Kamikaze roll was OK, but the fried oysters were awesome. The fried oysters were perfectly crispy, spicy and gigundo. We briefly entertained the thought of ordering another round. For my entree I ordered the macadamia nut encrusted halibut. It was prepared nicely and served atop of a papaya salad. I quite enjoyed it. My husband ordered the dayboat scallops, which were large and beautifully carmelized. I tried them and they were outrageously delicious. Only problem: they only gave him four scallops. On a recent visit to DC Coast, PassionFish's sister restaurant in McPherson Square, I had tried their dayboat scallops, which only came with three, albeit much smaller scallops. Those were also delicious, but way too skimpy on the star ingredient. I wish I had recalled this before he ordered, but alas. I also had the opportunity to try a few other items at the table. One friend ordered the Blue Hill Bay Mussels, Red Thai Curry style. They were quite good. Not a coconut milk fan myself, I perhaps would have opted for their other style, Veracruz, which sounds like it focused on some spicy butter. Regardless, I was happy to give them a taste and would certainly consider them on a future visit. The unsung hero at the entire table however was the side of lobster mac n' jack (mac and cheese) my one friend ordered. My goodness, what a star, and for a mere six bucks! This dish is overrated at many establishments, but not here. PassionFish's version is positively outstanding. While we stuffed our faces, I definitely want to come back and try a few more items on the menu. I'm a little bummed I didn't get to try the Rock n' Roll (sushi) or ceviche, but should I acquire enough quarters to venture out on the Dulles Toll Road in the near future, I'll get to them. I also want to see what the dessert menu is all about. I should also mention that the service at PassionFish was top-notch. Unfortunately, I don't recall the name of our waiter, but he was incredibly knowledgable, gave wonderful recommendations, and always kept our area bussed and beverages full. He even had the uncanny ability to sense we were going to ask a question and always had the answer at ready. Wonderful experience all around. Kamikaze roll: 3.5 Fried oysters: 4.5 Macadamia nut encrusted halibut: 4 Dayboat scallops: taste 4.5, quantity 2 Mussels, Red Thai Curry style: 4 Lobster mac n' jack: 5 Service: 5
(4)
Kelly C.
I have been here for many happy hours and it's one of the best- delicious food for $5! One thing I will say is that it is usually pretty full at happy hour but there aren't too many seats available at the bar so there have been times where I've had to wait a bit to get a seat there. In terms of the food I've gotten, the crab cake sliders and the normal sliders are definitely my favorite. I've also tried the tuna tacos, nachos, and cocktail shrimp, all of which were just as delicious as the others. Definitely would recommend for happy hour and I also definitely plan on coming to try their food for an actual meal.
(4)
Ann T.
Definitely impressed. I was sold the minute the waiter told us that the fish was caught and cooked day of, every day. Although i can't exactly verify this, I can attest to the fact the seafood was definitely fresh. Everything we ordered was delicious. Highlights were the spring rolls and Branzino, which was this stew of prawns, clams, mussels, topped with a piece of garlic bread. Absolutely genius. CPIK took the break we were offered at the table and put it in as well, which I thought was a better bread because the crispiness of the bread stuck despite being soaked in the delicious sauce. I ordered a fish - the cioppino which was a buttery fish. You can get it deboned, just the fillets, or the whole fish. I opted for the whole fish, because I'm very familiar with the deboning process. Steamed fish was a regular guest at my house. All in all the food was very good and the service excellent. I'd definitely be back if I were craving something fresh and personal.
(4)
Foodie C.
The service and ambience of this place are great The food is a Good NOT Great For the prices it better knock me off my chair. It doesn't ... I have been to Seafood places with these prices and most of them can because of the high quality. The food here is slightly above average. I will be back but only for the atmosphere and service. Food 3.25 Service 5 Cleanliness 5
(3)
Adrienne S.
We had a great experience! We booked through Open Table, and I put in a note that my husband had a gluten allergy. The server, Golnara, came to the table already prepared to show him which menu items were safe. She was extremely well informed, including information about where the food came from and how it's prepared.That was huge for us. The only thing they could have done better was to have a gluten free alternative to their bread and cheese spread that they place on table before ordering.
(5)
Krissi H.
So. Full. Holy. Crap. I made a Restaurant Week reservation (gasp! The horror, I know) for PassionFish for a Monday night. Yelpers Katie G. and Matt H. joined me on the looooong trek to Reston. Luckily traffic wasn't bad, but I was a little annoyed that I had to pay $1.75 in tolls each way. First impression: Wow. HUGE space. Tastefully decorated. Cool bauble light things hanging from the ceiling. It was just pretty, I thought. And, I loved the stairway to the second floor. And the fact that there was a mostly open loft-style second floor. We arrived early (I was afraid we'd hit bad traffic) but it wasn't an issue. The host got us seated right away. Now, I never order three courses by myself. NEVER. My stomach just ain't that big. But, it's a fixed menu and I'm paying for three courses, so why not, right? I ordered the Lobster and Heirloom tomato gazpacho to start. YUM! It was slightly spicy and super flavorful - but I feel like the lobster got a bit lost. I would totally order it again, though, because of the soup base. Also, it was served all pretty, sitting atop a serving platter with tons of ice. The great thing about PassionFish's RW menu is that all their entrees are fair game. How cool is that?! In hindsight, I should have ordered one of their fish dishes. I went with the scallops - which were cooked quite nicely and served with peas, pasta and smoky bacon. It was yummy - and the smoky bacon was a nice touch - but it didn't blow me away. By this point, I'm already feeling like my stomach is going to burst. I couldn't even finish my entree (don't worry; no scallops were left on the plate). But, like I said, I'm paying for dessert. My fellow diners both went for the chocolate mousse, so I chose the creme brulee. Both desserts were delicious. The chocolate mousse was incredibly rich, which made me appreciate the creme brulee a bit more, I think. The creme brulee was thick and had a nice sugary crust. Some of the sugar was a tad too burnt, I think, but otherwise it was yummy. I should say, if you go to PassionFish, bring your appetite. They do not skimp on portions. The creme brulee was the biggest portion I've seen anywhere. Probably too much. Also, the gazpacho, as nummy as it was, was a very large appetizer. Even though it was Restaurant Week, the place wasn't overly crowded. I'd say about 90 percent of the tables were filled, but it didn't feel crowded. Probably because the place is so huge and open. Also, I thought the service was mostly excellent. Our waiter was friendly and informative, giving us lots of suggestions and treating us great - even though we weren't paying full price. He did disappear for a bit before we ordered dessert - but overall I thought he was pretty great. Also - they have toothpicks in a little matches-like package with their logo (which I really like, except the lips of the fish look a little bit like pointy, scary teeth). I haven't tried them, but they look like really nice toothpicks. If PassionFish wasn't in Reston, I'd likely go back. But, I'm not sure I'd make the trek again. Or, at least not often.
(4)
Tim C.
This was our 2nd visit to Passion Fish, and was a great experience, yet again. A plate of oysters to start were excellent, followed by truly wonderful bay scallops. Service was friendly and most attentive; no sense of being "rushed," however. We look forward to our next visit !!! Tim C.
(4)
v b.
Simply... overpriced.. seafood joint... won't go back... Taste: a-ok
(2)
Jason F.
I ate here last night with a dining companion. We were from Pittsburgh and it was recommended to us by a mutual friend in the area. The decor of the restaurant is upscale with linen tablecloths and neutral colored walls. We were seated upstairs where they also had some nice canvases of fish with black backgrounds. I imagine that the view is normally a bit better but whenever we ate there we got to look out over some construction sites. I started off with the Kung Pao Calamari appetrizer. It came with a nice presentation of some leaf lettuce on the side and carrots on the top. It had nice bits of calamari and tasted good with the spicy kung pao sauce that we all know with peanuts. For dinner I had the Fresh Lemon Sole and chose the Lemon Beurre Blanc sauce with the Red Thai Curry Rice as my side. My fish was cooked perfectly and tasted very good when combined with the sauce. In addition to that my Red Curry rice has a nice curried flavor that I really enjoyed. My dining companion had the whole crispy flounder. When they say whole, they are not kidding as the whole fish was presented to him. The waitress was nice enough to teach him how to eat it and he enjoyed it even though the jalepenos on top made it extremely spicy. Once dinner was completed we looked at the dessert menu which had many interesitng items but we decided to pass. The bottom line for me is that I would definitely come back here if I was visiting DC in the future. The fish tasted great, the service was friendly and the menu had a nice selection.
(4)
Alison L.
After changing my birthday dinner reservation 4 times (all locations in DC), I decided I really wanted to try out this place. The reviews on yelp seemed ok, but I had heard some good things from friends and decided why not. We ordered two appetizers-- tuna roll- basic, but the freshest fish i have ever had (and i thought Ariake down the road had the freshest tuna ever). The tuna and avocado had the same consistency, buttery melt in your mouthness. mmmm. Yeah, the roll was a bit pricey, but it was so worth it. For a special occasion, splurging is ok. Also had the kung pao calamari. Super fresh squid-- not chewy and over cooked like a lot of other places. The batter was the perfect amount of sweet and spicy and not over battered. For dinner I had the salmon with the lemon sauce and the curry (wanted to try both). It was delicious. Not fishy, just hearty, boneless, tasty meaty salmon. At first I thought, hmm that's not a very big dish, but then I realized the thick cut of the salmon. I was definitely full after. The BF had the soft shell crabs (special that night). For desert, the waiter surprised us with the donut holes with a dipping cream. They were great, even though I left more full then I thought I would leave at a fish restaurant. Overall, a great restaurant for a special occasion or if you're feeling a little more upscale on the food range. Service was excellent-- we were also seated what I thought was the best seat in the house. Glasses were kept full. No complaints at all on service. Especially with the donut surprise. A great evening. I'm looking forward to going back and trying some of their other dishes...or even if I just felt like having perfect fish for an evening.
(5)
T N.
I came here during lunch for Restaurant Week with a good friend of mine. I had never heard of it before my friend introduced it to me but I am glad that she did. I don't often go out to the Reston area therefore my knowledge of the restaurants are very limited. What I do wish is that they would open a location in the Fairfax area! I would be able to try it more often and give a more broad review of the food items. What immediately impressed me was the crostini and warm smoked fish dip that they served instead of the cliche bread and butter. The crostini was toasted to a perfect crunch and the dip was not too fishy but had enough flavor for you to savor the ingredients. I would have asked for seconds if the rest of the meal was not ahead of me. For my appetizer, I chose the Smokehouse "Wedge" Salad with aged gouda, cured tomato and drizzled with a ranch and warm smoked bacon vinaigrette. This was the best wedge salad I had ever had! It is definitely not your typical wedge salad with blue cheese and bacon bits. I tend to like my salads with vinaigrettes rather than creamy dressings and this definitely transformed the traditional wedge salad to a more tangy/creamy and edgy salad. The main course was a Jumbo Lump Crabcake Sandwich served with Old Bay Tartar Sauce and Sweet Potato Fries. The crab cake itself was a good consistency which actual lumps of crab in it. It was seasoned with a little too much mayonnaise and breadcrumbs but it does surpass most restaurants when it comes to the amount of crabs in the cake. The bun was nothing impressive and was a little too thick and chewy, I ended up eating it on the half with just the crab cake, lettuce and the bottom piece of the bun. The sweet potato fries were good but I did not stand apart from any other sweet potato fries that I have had. I guess it is because you can't really go wrong with sweet potato fries... Dessert was Blueberry Crisp with Sweet Summer Corn Ice Cream. This was actually a very refreshing dessert. The blueberry crisp itself was not too sweet and overbearing. At first, I thought the idea of corn ice cream was weird but it gave a good kick to the blueberry crisp even though they were very different. The corn ice-cream tasted like vanilla ice-cream at first but than it had a sweet corn aftertaste that was amazing and ended my lunch in a perfect way. Overall, I enjoyed the restaurant. Service was decent and could use some improvement but the hostesses were very friendly. I am planning on coming back here for my bf's birthday and try their dinner entrees.
(3)
R R.
Hands down, my favorite seafood place in the Reston area. The best part of the whole dinner (all of it was amazing), was my entree - the scallops. They had some sort of lemon / cajun spice sauce. When I asked the waiter about what was on it, he said he had already written it down because so many people had asked and raved. My second favorite was the lobster mac and cheese ... although, if I had just had it on its own for dinner, it would have been a delight.
(5)
Mike B.
I have been here a few times since it opened up in Reston Town Center. A few times we have stopped in just for drinks before heading to somewhere else in the town center. My biggest complaint with this place is the manager who seems to be working whenever I go. We sat outside for drinks after being told we could sit anywhere and he then came out and told us this table was for food and to move somewhere else if we just wanted drinks. The next time I was there for food, we sat inside and of course got to see him again. The food was good and the service was decent. We did order some food that never came out. I left bad cause we all got our food and the my friend had to wait about another 15 min for hers. The waiter was apologetic but then the manager came over and share his hate for the world. The waiter asked him to take the entree off the bill and he came to ask if that would make us happy. He was very condescending to us though. After he left the waiter apologized for him and said everyone there hates the guy. We had a few laughs over it. So if you go to this place, stay on your toes or you will get yelled at! But the food is pretty good.
(3)
Vivian L.
Great Happy Hour on food and drinks. Crab cake minis are to die for and the bartenders are great!!! My visiting mom was impressed and she is a BITTTTTTT... picky. Sooo you know it's good.
(4)
Donald B.
Great food, great atmosphere, and one of the best happy hours in Reston Town Center.
(4)
Grace L.
When walking into this corner restaurant I was floored by the elegant decor of 3D fish paintings & the set up of tables. The Passion sushi was amazing, with 6 rolls placed on a thin plate. I know why this place has so many diners! It's a warm cozy atmosphere yet unpretentious. Great for dinners than lunch!
(4)
Laura T.
My husband and I had dinner here last night. It was our first night out in two months (we have a small child and limited babysitters). We dressed up and were looking forward to a leisurely dinner and had heard Passion Fish was very good. We told our server that we were in no hurry. In fact, the opposite...we wanted to take our time and that we weren't even interested in giving him our main course order until after the appetizers were finished. He said he would time the dinner properly for us, so we gave him the full order. Our appetizers came out within about five minutes of ordering them. We hadn't even finished our first cocktail or ordered our wine. My husband had the wedge salad, which was pretty good. I had the baked clams casino. I had been told by the server that they were not served "on the shell" as is traditional, but rather baked in a small dish and served with some baguette. It was tasty, but I missed the individual "shell" aspect. I don't think I would order that again. By the time we ordered our bottle of wine, our entrees were served. We hadn't been in the restaurant for 20 minutes. I was frankly annoyed that they came out so fast, given that we had specifically said we wanted to take our time. My husband's filet of trout was very good, although the lemon beurre blanc sauce was a little "thick." I had been looking forward to the lobster clay pot with jasmine rice, which I had seen on their website. It was underwhelming. For $35.00 I think I expected an ambrosial experience. I've had many red curry coconut sauces at Thai restaurants that were more intricate than this sauce (seemed to be missing subtle flavors that would have helped like lemongrass or coriander). Overall the promised "tableside service" for this dish was disappointing. They put a shallow wide bowl with a small scoop of rice in front of you then open the clay pot and ladle the lobster pineapple curry around the rice. There is no garnish...a little green (cilantro? lime leaves? chives?) would have made it more visually appealing. It tasted good, but I think has been way overrated by other reviewers (I see some of you agree with me). And the price should probably be closer to $20.00--there really isn't all that much lobster in it. Finally, the ambiance of the restaurant: It was quite nice and we had an upstairs window table as the sun was setting. Once the sun went down and they raised the screen shades, someone turned up the lights and they seemed shockingly bright. We complained to the server and asked them to dim them slightly (twice) and he indicated he was powerless to influence the person who insisted we be under interrogation lamps at the end of our swift service. We told him we would have ordered dessert had the setting been more accommodating, but instead got our check and left, a mere 55 minutes after sitting down at our table. Not a leisurely dinner. Bottom line, it was OK, but don't have high expectations if you go here or you will be disappointed.
(3)
Katie G.
Oh god, I can't move. I'm so full. Fellow Yelper Krissi H. and I made the long trek out to Reston for a taste of what PassionFish, a seafood restaurant in a suburban town center/mall complex, had to offer as part of D.C. Restaurant Week. Typically, I've had bad experiences with pricey places during this particular week of the year; oftentimes it seems as though the servers aren't trying as hard because they know the fixed-price menus are going to culminate in less tip money. However, I can genuinely say that that wasn't the case here, something for which I am thankful. What I liked about PassionFish's take on Restaurant Week more than anything was that they offered their entire entree menu as an option -- other places will narrow it down to as few as three offerings and let that be that, but I liked that this place let the sky (or I guess the depths of the sea, as it were) be the limit. For me, the meal just kept getting better with each course they brought me: A savory corn and crab chowder melted into Caribbean jerk salmon, which then crescendoed into a decadent chocolate mousse. I took one bite of the amazing dessert and became so overwhelmingly happy that I nearly shed tears of joy. My only complaints are that the joint itself, being in the strip-mall-esque area in Reston, felt,,, I dunno, pedestrian? Overdone like Disneyworld? Devoid of character? I tend to seek out ambiance just as much as I do quality of food, and beyond the jelly-fish-like light fixtures, which were pretty cool, I felt PassionFish was lacking. Additionally, the wait in between dinner and dessert felt inordinately long. Not sure what was going on with that, but I wasn't about to raise a stink. Bottom line, I ate every single bite of every single thing served to me. I never expected I'd go into a seafood restaurant and leave a beached whale, but that's precisely what happened.
(4)
Heath S.
I go for fun and for work at both lunch and dinner and I'm never disappointed. The service at the bar and tables are great and the sushi is awesome. PassionFish is always my first choice in Reston.
(4)
Jack S.
Went on a Monday after work. I got there early so I didn't have to wait, lucky...cause it was packed by the time I left. And now for the review...The place is fancy. Pretty nice decor. Not too noisy and not too quite. Our server was very knowledgeable. He told us a bunch about the items on the menu and have some suggestions. The food was served very promptly! We were surprised actually. The portions were decent, the food was great (red snapper filet for me) Server was attentive and friendly. Price was a little steep, expect to pay $100 plus for two people and a cheap bottle of wine. Our was like 80 bucks and we didn't do wine....so figure it out yourself. I shall be back soon.
(4)
Patrice L.
My husband and I had lunch at PassionFish in the Reston Town Center recently on a Friday afternoon. I had low expectations from things we had heard from friends, but even the low expectations were not met. The atmosphere is nice and bright and airy. When we sat down the table was quite whimsical with flatware that looked like dolphins. There was a small bread plate in front of each of us with a butter knife and napkin, but we never received any bread. I looked around and nobody else had any bread either. Appetizers: I had the shrimp cocktail and it was fine...nothing special. It was 4 shrimp for $7. The shrimp were large however the shrimp cocktail from Wegman's is just as good with smaller shrimp. My husband had the Kamikaze Roll that was recommended by the waiter. The portion was very large, but as for taste, he said it was overpowered by the sauce and couldn't taste anything but the sauce. Entree: I had the miso glazed salmon which was supposed to come with Szechuan eggplant, but since I don't like eggplant I asked if I could get some other vegetables instead so it came with the spring vegetables. The salmon was completely over powered by the miso that I couldn't taste the salmon. The spring vegetables came in a shallow bowl and overall just looked grey. It was mostly peas, but also included lima beans, carrots, asparagus and something grey and stringy that I could not identify...I think it was some kind of mushroom. The vegetables were drowned in butter and completely over cooked so everything was mushy and grey. My husband had the catch of the day, which was mahi mahi, and came with a green salad. He said it was bland and over cooked. We didn't have dessert because I really just wanted the experience to be over. I couldn't get the strong miso taste out of my mouth. The other thing that bothered me was that there was no carbohydrate served at all. The fish came only with vegetables and no bread was ever served. The total with tax and tip was $70. Unfortunately, I cannot recommend this restaurant and we will not return.
(2)
Amanda P.
Pricy but a delicious and fresh menu. We went here for a Sunday birthday brunch and racked up quite a bill with wonderful Bloody Mary's. The eggs benedict were also fantastic. I would definitely go here again when my wallet allows.
(4)
Michelle B.
Visited Passion Fish while on business at the suggestion of a client. I was there early...around 5ish...and they were not yet serving from the full dinner menu. Happy hour menu was pretty good though...had the clams casino dish, which came with a crusty warm chunk of bread good good for dipping in the buttery dish, and also had their version of fish and chips. The fish was a tilapia...just okay in my book. Some good wines for happy hour as well. Just $5 for each app and drink. The full dinner menu was on the pricey side...
(3)
Rebecca S.
This place is a bit pricey, but it's my favorite place in Reston Town Center (aside from the frozen yogurt place near the Thai restaurant). The food is quite good, the menu extensive, the servers are excellent, the space is large with high ceilings, the location is "downtown" Reston Town Center (if there was a downtown), and parking is free (several garages in RTC). A tip would be to come here during Restaurant Week if you want to try it for a deal. Their appetizer-entree-dessert option allows you to order any of their entree (as opposed to a pre-selected list of 3 or 4 entrees like at many restaurants participating in RW).
(5)
Leslie F.
I went this past Saturday for my birthday with my husband along with my parents. The food was amazing all around. Started with fried and dirty oysters completed with a meal of fried flounder for me with satued spinach, grouper with s.p. fries for hubby, dad got blackened red fish he got the spinach as well, mom got scallops with asaparagus. The portions were right on but the prices did seem to be a little high. I noticed they had sushi on their menu which prices just right, however trying a new seafood restaurant I wanted something more than sushi. Overall I would mosdef go back, the wine was excellent according to my parents and I sure enjoyed my vodka tonics. The service by Oscar as well as the rest of the staff that waited on us they were all fantastic! Oops - I almost forgot I got a free dessert of my choosing for my birthday and they had creme brule which is always at the top of my list.
(4)
Valarie G.
Overall a very nice place. Good atmosphere, great fish, and lovely drinks. Just a hike from DC when there are just as good seafood places within the district. If I am going to drive this far - I want to be blown away. That being said, if you live all the way out in Reston, this is easier than driving to Georgetown for Hook!
(3)
Cat P.
This is an impassioned and angry review of a restaurant that initially won my tastebuds. On my latest visit, I was treated to horrible service. Our server took one look at my tiny Vietnamese mother and equally diminutive me and figured we wouldn't be filling up on the drinks so he treated us like crap. We waited forever for glasses of water. Then we continued to wait for him to take our orders. And when our food came out, our waiter did not communicate to other staff well what we ordered so there was confusion and general awkwardness. I was absolutely incensed. There was no apology for our wait or the uncertainty surrounding our orders. The waiter only decided to check up on us when I was visibly fuming. To top it off, our food was too salty and not deserving of the accolades it received from professional reviewers. I was impressed with the quality of the food on my first visit, but with this horrible experience I am never returning until they clean up their act. The owners of Passionfish, who also run DC Coast, should read my review and get it together! I am calmer now that I've had the chance to vent and to tell others what they're in for. Thank you for listening.
(1)
Anne B.
Great looking place, but the overall service is sketchy, not fluid and perfect as you would expect at this price point, and the food really not worth $$$. We had arrived at 9PM for a late supper. I ordered two appetizers to avoid overeating so late. My lobster cocktail was huge plate of chipped ice with a small HALF lobster tail and a tiny claw with the the little pincer missing. The cocktail part consisted of a couple of tablespoons of good sour cream sauce in a little bowl on the side. My other appetizer was the much-lauded (in other Yelp reviews) Hamachi. This was three small slices of grapefruit, each topped with a sliver of yellowtail and thin slice of jalapeno. If it had stopped there it would have been fine. But it was over-drizzled in a too-sweet, too-salty soy/sugar sauce that overpowered the other ingredients, including the jalapeno! My husband had the Norwegian Salmon and found it tasty, but a smallish portion. He also liked the doughnut holes for dessert - BIG portion!. The wine list has almost noting under 50 bucks. That's just unfair. There are a tremendous number of delicious whites that work with seafood that can be had, even in restaurants, for 40 bucks or even less. If you are looking for a place to see and be seen go here. Great people-watching. If you want great seafood value for money and impeccable service go somewhere else.
(2)
Jenny R.
I work in the Town Center, and been here 3 times. Never disappointed. Today was great because we went there on a business lunch and ordered "the big daddy" as an appetizer. It is a combination of raw mussles, oysters, shrimp, lobster tail, crab claws that is delicious! There was something on this platter for everyone, and it was a pretty good icebreaker as well played around with cracking lobster tails, fishing out oysters and enjoying the dish. Would def recommend ordering this for a large group again, or as a dinner item for two people.
(4)
Princess J.
The drinks were great (Gin Ricky and Mojito)! We were a little disapointed when we had to ask the server to point out the different types of oysters on our plate. She seemed annoyed that we could not tell the difference. We ordered a grapefruit/jalapeno halibet crudette that was not as great as it sounded on the menu. But the diver scallops on a bed of squid ink delivered a delicious flavor experience. Over all this is a nice place to take the folks or a fancy date.
(3)
Lance H.
The seafood at Passion Fish is among the very best in the area. The lobster curry is a very original dish, and it is one of my favorite meals ever. The seafood appetizer is awesome, and the tower is plenty for 3 or 4 people to share. The deserts at Passion Fish are also wonderful, and I can't wait to go back!
(5)
Ryan W.
Good entrees and apps but portion size is lacking, and I'm not a big guy but I like to feel full when leaving here, or even have some leftovers after a few apps and some of the entree. I find that hard to do here the two times I've been. A little pricey too.
I took my husband to PassionFish for lunch yesterday to celebrate his birthday. And we absolutely fell in love with the place. Ambiance - I like the two-level dining options. We were seated upstairs with a nice view of the city! It must be nicer for dinners. The place was aesthetically done. I love the fish-themed cutlery! Service was fast. No complaints! Food- Scrumptious! Lots of flavor. We split the seafood gumbo and although it was the first time I had it, I though it was tasty. (But then I have nothing to compare it to...) For the entrees, we ordered the Louisiana crawfish etouffee and blackened tilapia. Awesome! I never had food that had so many flavors. Yes, the server did give us the Tabasco sauce to "spice things up", but it wasn't needed. Delicious! My husband loved the blackened tilapia. The sauce was awesome and he liked the added touch of collard greens. Being huge seafood buffs, the food experience at PassionFish was completely different than what we ever had. Dessert was warm donut holes served with Bavarian cream... Made in house, the donut holes were soft and melted right in the mouth. I thought that the price was ok for the service and the food. And it was a special occassion, so I didn't really mind.
(4)
Brittany H.
I wanted to like passion fish.... i really did. The ample space is tremendous with an entire floor upstairs. The decor is very generic albeit a pretty sight, where one would imagine an upscale beach meets vast ocean. Perhaps the dinner would be a better setting for me....but generally speaking, wasn't really feeling the food during lunch service. The wine here was actually pretty good though..... To start, I had the tuna nicoise salad.... it had too much extra crap going on. Though the fish was fresh & excellent.... I could have done without the peppers, sun dried tomatoes..... just excess and unknown "stuff". The sushi wasn't too bad, but definitely nothing extraordinary. Dessert was most disappointing. Key Lime pie... too soft and too tart. Chocolate mousse.... well, I don't like mousse to begin with...consistency was not smooth enough for me, but if you like ur dessert bittersweet, this one is not so empowering and won't implode sweetness in your mouth. Nice ending touch on the passion fruit candy ... soft, chewy bite candy, but it was way too sweet for me. yeah, yeah, I'm a fussy eater. I KNOW already.
(3)
Candace C.
3.5 stars Looks like Passionfish has worked out a few of its kinks and I'm upgrading them to 3.5 stars. I had the Peruvian ceviche, miso glazed salmon with sichuan eggplant, and a supposedly molten chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream. I loved the first two, but was so disappointed with dessert--not the greatest way to end an otherwise great meal. My ceviche was light and refreshing--the portion was quite generous too. My salmon had a nice sweet brown crust from the miso glaze and was tender and juicy. I loved the eggplant that it came with. Last time I think I said you could get dessert just as good from Wegmans--I take it back, dessert is better at Wegmans. Dessert was pretty sad--no molten gooeyness to my chocolate cake (it was cold), bland, and not all that pretty. The ice cream was flaked with ice crystals. Iceberry across the street would probably be a better way to end the meal--for the same price. Our server was very nice--but the boy who delivered our food could do more to not drop our plates on the table. They seriously made huge plop sounds while landing and I'm lucky I don't have salmon oil all over me! Bottom line--food was great, portions have improved--still working out a few kinks on service, get a new dessert chef!
(3)
Laura M.
Dazzling... We went there on our anniversary, on a Saturday night, and had reservations. The ambiance was gorgeous, with small, delicate touches (fintail spiral twists with napkins, silverware with fish tails) and impeccable service. We shared the grilled octopus appetizer, which came with incredible accompaniments and was charred just-so. Entrees were a steak and crab cakes. The server said that the crab cakes were 95% crab and they were--maybe even 97% crab. They were large enough that I only ate one and another to bring home with me. The tartar sauce was beyond compare--I have never had fresh tartar sauce before but it did amazing things to the already-succulent crab cake. The frissee of spring vegetables was just okay, but my boyfriend was pleased with his bucket o' fries. He declared his steak "very, very good;" it was cooked medium-well and was huge. We tried the sorbet sampler for dessert, and it was a light, fun way to end an elegant night without feeling overstuffed. The servers also gave us plenty of time to enjoy our meal and coffee without feeling rushed, though there were others waiting for a table. Definitely a must-try for a special occasion!
(4)
Lisey W.
My mother and I came here for lunch recently and the food and service were excellent. For starters we ordered the blue crab and corn chowder soup. It was delicious and not too salty as I've often found at other places. My only complaint is there was hardly any crab in the soup - just a few very small pieces of crab and a lot of corn (this is the only complaint I have on this review). My mother ordered a lobster roll and I had the crawfish etoufee. My mother enjoyed her lobster roll and the crawfish etoufee was well seasoned, not too salty and contained a lot of crawfish. Even the rice that accompanied the dish was good - just the right consistency and not too soft. But I have to say the highlight of the meal was their Mac n Jack! It was probably one of the best mac n cheese I've ever tasted. Real creamy, cheesy and simply wonderful. This dish is the epitome of comfort food (I never would have thought of finding something like this at a seafood restaurant)! We will definitely return!
(4)
Marcus L.
A surprising gem in Reston Town Center, just expect to pay DC prices for your meal... I had the pleasure of eating here for the first time last weekend. Being St Patty's Day, the area around RTC was mobbed and we were fortunate to be able to walk in and get seats at the bar. Our bartender was helpful, albeit busy as he was also servicing some of the tables in the bar area. Our meal included the Kung Pao Calamari, Angry Chef Roll, and Catch of the Day Chesapeake Bay Rockfish. All 3 were delicious with the Angry Chef Roll my favorite. The roll includes the perfect combination of a large cooked bbq eel paired with raw spicy tuna. The Rockfish was done perfectly and flaked at the touch of my fork. The Calamari, was your traditional asian sweet sauce paired with fried calamari, a nice departure from the standard marinara and lemon. All in all, I had a great meal and would recommend it again.
(4)
Dan K.
Wait staff was great, place was busy but had no problem making a reservation the day before. The "Big Daddy" appetizer was delicious and for a few bucks extra we had the clams replaced with more oysters. Main dish was the halibut and it was perfect. Wine selection is pretty good and the saki was fantastic! I will definitely return!
(4)
Jon K.
I'll give this place a rounded up 4 stars.... My wife won a $100 gift certificate to this restaurant so we were pretty excited about going here. I'll tell you what, the Sushi was pretty damn good. After we ordered a bottle of wine, we started out with the jumbo lump rounded crab meat cocktail which was very good. We then ordered the Captain Crunch Roll, Sea Spider Roll, Rock N Roll, and Spicy Tuna Roll which were all very good. For dessert, we had some sort of donut hole thingees that weren't bad at all. My main gripe about this place is that it's overpriced. I can even understand it being a little overpriced being in Reston Town Center. However, I can go into Old Town Alexandria and get the same kind of meal for about 75% of the price. Having said that, the staff bent over backwards for us and our waiter was very nice which should be recognized. It was very nicely decorated inside as well. I would come back to this place if my wife wanted to and it's a place to try out for those that live close by.
(4)
A L.
Some friends and I went last night for restaurant week. One of the best offerings for RW so far. They let you choose anything from the main dinner menu, appetizer and dessert for the $35. Service was good.ambiance great...food was very good although I didnt love my chocolate dessert....I obviously more concerned with my main dish ( mahi mahi than the dessert. Mahi was great!
(4)
Morgan V.
Delicious food and wine pairings. Some dishes were definitely overpriced though.
(4)
Lisa B.
Excellent meal...Although I am always bothered by beady fish eyes I went head and ordered the evening special, a whole red snapper...and devoured the whole thing. Amazing...and the red thai curry sauce was a welcome addition. Wine list also featured a decent selection of half bottles - always a plus. Anyhow... the fun part of this review is the relay of our arrival. So there I am strolling down the street, nice little sundress and coach flip flops, clutch in hand. My siblings and I are having a laugh at some girls on the opposite side of the street, as we do. Then, out of no where, suddenly I am horizontal on the ground with them both speechless, jaws dropped. Seems on a drizzly eve one can't assume that flip flops and sobriety will overcome a slippery metal grate....and one foot forward will result in slow motion splits, or an attempt thereof. But, wait for it, the BEST part? Yeah that would be the floor-to-ceiling windows of PassionFish and an audience of my future fellow diners :) That said, the point to this is to Yelp about the amazing busboy that came to my immediate attention, coming out from the restaurant to seek how he could be of assistance, then fetching band-aids as needed. Again as I went to the restroom during dinner I ran into him and he asked again of my well being. His genuine concern helped, just a tad, to overcome perhaps some of the sheer shame of it all! Great food is always welcome and I do love a place with the right atmosphere...but it'll always be the people that bring me back. Perhaps that's the Irish in me. Fine by me.
(4)
David R.
I am not in the habit of going to places like Passion Fish on my own. There is something sterile to me about big, open, places that afford no privacy, and try to do everything under the sun (eCITI, I'm also talking about you....) The prices at Passion Fish are enough to keep me away, but I was tasked to bring a group of scientists to this restaurant for my job (my company paid for it - I guess the experience at Clyde's in Reston last year didn't quite cut it). Problem number one: It took the server what seemed like 20 minutes to explain the dinner specials and menu suggestions. Some may love the process of hearing the wait staff drone on about their specials and menu, but hand me a menu, dammit. I don't have the brain power to digest all of that data, especially after a day of work. The group ordered just about every appetizer on the menu, including this $65 item called "Big Buddy" (or something like that), consisting of lobster claws, oysters, clams and the like. I hate oysters, so already this place gets a shaky start. But it was just too loud in the restaurant and was like a seafood version of the Palm, another inexplicably pricey spot for fat checking accounts. I will give Passion Fish this - the presentation of the food was good. After the appetizers and the butternut lobster bisque (best thing I had that night), I didn't have much room for an entree, so the ahi tuna did the trick. It was presented in a shrimp cocktail goblet, with plentiful ice. And dessert - I don't do desserts, but was pressured by the group I was with - a sorbet sampler. Fasting for a day or two before coming to Passion Fish is recommended. Three solid stars.
(3)
Nicole H.
I've wanted to try this place for awhile, and finally decided to when I found out that they were participating in DC's Restaurant Week. My mom and I went for lunch. Our server was very friendly and attentive, although I didn't look at his name on the receipt... he was a young Asian guy. I love the design of the restaurant. Although other reviewers have mentioned that they hate the large, spacious room, I think it's absolutely beautiful. We sat on the lower level next to a window. My mom started with a corn and crab chowder, which she said was delicious. I had gumbo, which was also very good. My entree was a crabcake sandwich. Although the crabcake was good, I didn't think it was anything extraordinary. It came with sweet potato fries, which my mom loved. She had the shrimp and grits, after debating between that and fish tacos, and thought it was great. For dessert, she had the apple crisp, which was really, really good, and i had the caramel creme brulee. Even though I was stuffed by then, I couldn't resist finishing it. Overall, a good introduction to Passionfish at a reasonable price.
(4)
Kathy M.
Have had lunch there several times and the fish of the day and salad is a great deal. Went to dinner and there were 4 of us. I tried Arctic Char which I felt could of been cooked a little longer but was reassured by our waiter that's how it should be. Scallops were great. Rainbow Trout was great. Mahi Mahi with curry could of been cooked better. Warm doughnut holes for dessert were a great hit with my husband. Good service. All I all a great evening.
(4)
Robert B.
Went here for a birthday lunch around 1:30pm with some co-workers. I'm usually only inclined to write reviews after particularly good or bad experiences with a restaurant, but I really can't praise PassionFish enough so I figured the least I could do was write a review. FOOD: The eight of us came prepared and wanting to try the Monday special off of their World Class Lunch Special menu which runs all summer: lobster roll with kennebec fries, clam chowder, and key lime tart all for $17. The lobster roll was very good (I've never had a bad lobster roll though), the fries were well seasoned albeit slightly too salty for my tastes, the clam chowder had a fantastic smoky taste likely imparted by the bacon in it, and the key lime tart with meringue was a complementary juxtaposition of of very sour and slightly sweet. All in all, certainly a value. SERVICE: This is where PassionFish really excelled and went above and beyond. I had called earlier in the day to make reservations, and informed the restaurant that it was my birthday after they asked if it was a special occasion. Lo and behold, the menus at our table were all customized with a "Happy Birthday Robert!" note at the top. Our waitress was also incredibly attentive throughout our lunch. One of my coworkers was hard to accommodate for, asking for shredded cheese for his soup, but the waitress came back with sliced gouda after explaining that they didn't have any shredded cheese (I don't blame them either). Later, he complained that he couldn't eat the clam chowder because of the bacon, and asked if they had a bacon-free version. The waitress came out minutes later with corn chowder - all of this keeping in mind that the lunch special menu explicitly states "no substitutions." In between our food and waiting for their exquisite plating and presentation of a cake we had bought ourselves, they brought out free samples of in-house fudge. Their service was nothing short of impressive, and I wouldn't hesitate for a second to recommend PassionFish for a special occasion. As we left, I was even given a rolled up copy of the customized menu, tied up with ribbon, to remember the occasion! ATMOSPHERE: You'll feel underdressed if you come in wearing anything less than business casual. The restaurant has a very casual yet elegant and classy feel, with a beautiful glass staircase leading up to the second floor seating. The fish-themed salt and pepper shakers are a nice touch as well. OVERALL: I realize my review isn't so much about the food here as it is the service I experienced, but I'd recommend PassionFish without hesitation for anybody seeking to celebrate a special occasion.
(5)
Aaron K.
The food is incredible, from a fully stocked raw bar to desserts that are as delicious as they are simple. Definitely save time to grab a drink in the bar, as the bartenders are top notch and quite personable. Once you are seated, there are almost too many choices! Sushi is solid, though not unique by itself. Appetizer standouts include the grilled octopus and grilled pear salad. For the main course, the Red Thai Curry Lobster "Claypot" is phenomenal, as is the Whole Crispy Flounder. The daily fresh fish selection, however, with the variety of preparations, is a simple, elegant, and always satisfying choice. When it's time for dessert, even the simplest choice of warm donut holes is never a bad choice. Ambiance and atmosphere are incredible - nautical without being kitschy. Subtle fish themes in the silverware and chandeliers are complemented by a fantastic layout that is at once intimate and expansive.
(5)
Coleen C.
Our anniversary dinner Saturday night a Passion Fish was enjoyable. I had been worried that the ambience wouldn't be right for a romantic dinner because in my past visits there I had been seated downstairs in the open area and outside. What I didn't realize was how cozy the upstairs loft is. We had a little table tucked away on the back wall with low lighting and it was perfect. Our waiter was prompt and friendly. He did a great job answering our questions and explaining the specials. Although we should have discussed the wine with him more before we chose. We had a bottle of mid-ranged Pinot that was underwhelming. We were in the mood to share a mussels appetizer which they don't have, so we order the Thai Chili muscle entree to start with. I was very good. I was surprised that it dind't come with bread to soak up the yummy sauce, but our waiter hooked us up. I'm not usually a bread person, but with a dish like that it's really the way to go. For the main course we shared the Arctic Char with the bourblanc sauce and a smoke house salad. I'm not sure with we were thinking not only did we not need the salad because we had a side of mushrooms and asparagus (both awesome), but the strong smokey flavor of the bacon and smoked guda was so mismatched the the delicate flavor of the fish. We didn't eat it, but that was our fault. The fish was done well with a crispy skin and that sauce is a favorite. To full for dessert. Looking forward to going back and trying some other great dishes I spied on the menu.
(4)
Kristy F.
I took my Mom there on Saturday night and had a fantastic dinner!!! The Red thai Lobster curry and a World Class Martini for me!!!! UMMMMMMM :) Our server Anna is what made the night! She walked my mom through the menu with such patience, as my mom can be a bit indecisive, finally narrowing it down to the fresh Mahi with sweet potato fries. She loved it! I couldnt believe the large cut of the Mahi, def not a bad thing !!! The servers was helpful and super knowledgeable when it came to the menu! I dont get to nice dinners enough with my mom so I am very grateful that when I had the chance on Saturday we had such a great time. From the moment I walked in the door to when I left, everyone I came in contact with was friendly and the atmosphere was warm and welcoming. I look forward to my next visit! Thanks PFH.
(5)
Ashley A.
I've been wanting to try Passion Fish for years after hearing countless raving reviews. We started with the tempura tuna roll, which was great. My date had never had sushi before and never wanted to try it, but is now a fan after trying this. I had the porchini halibut, which was delicious. If you love mushrooms, this is a great choice, although it was a small portion. My date had the crispy flounder, which was substantial and surprisingly good. Dessert was a bit of a let down, however. I had the chocolate mouse; I love chocolate and sweets, but this was too rich for me, which says a lot! The service was suburb and our waiter was very personable. I would absolutely come back, although with prices like these it probably wont be too frequent.
(4)
Paul W.
Strong 3.5 stars from me. This place is relatively new, but I'm sure they'll do well in the towncenter. The interior is beautiful with a huge open space. The service is goodand the menu is interesting. Tried a couple fish dishes and I was impressed with how the fish was prepared and tasted. Prices aren't bad either.
(3)
Amy E.
I returned from Passionfish tonight for New Years Eve dinner. I quite enjoyed it, but my husband thought it was mostly good. That might have been due to him not feeling great. The service was really good. Greeted nicely and seated right away. Wait staff was verry attentive and folded your napkin properly if you left the table. Could service have been faster? Yes, but it was packed and I think it's better not to rush food. I should have bought my server a shot for how frantic she was rushing around. My server was really nice and helped me with any questions about the menu. I wasn't sure about the different types of fish and she was able to describe to me each one. I ended up having the spicy ahi tuna tartar for an app. and red snapper with the lemon beurre blanc sauce for my entree with jasmin rice and red curry sauce on the side. yum... yum... yum! For having no idea what I really wanted, I think I nailed it on the head (or my server helped me anyway). Having recently been to a resort with the most awesome ahi tuna tartar, this was a close second. The red snapper (never having it before) was soooo goood! No bones or chewy. It was like butter. No fishy taste. The rice with curry sauce was an unexpected surprise. One of my favorite Thai dishes is panang and this curry was very similar and it went well with the fish. My husband had the bucket of clams. He liked them, but said they were a little too salty. He had the scallops for his entree. BIG scallops. I am not a scallop fan, but tried a bite and thought the texture was much more pleasing than past tries at other places. I liked it, but not a fan personally. That's saying something I guess. We got our desert just before midnight. Warm apple crisp and chocolate mousse. Beautifully done. Of course being New Years, they gave us a free champagne toast and gave us hats and noise makers. At midnight everyone gathered to watch the ball drop in Times Square on the T.V. along with the staff. It was a good time! My only gripe was we were initially overlooked for giving the new year hats. Simply fixed by asking our server for a couple. I gave this place 4 stars because I would not eat here often. A bit pricey, but would love to go back sometime. p.s. I have to say that the music they played was pretty much everything that I enjoy. I can't stand going into restaurants listening to something you can't stand. That's from my point of view though.
(4)
Gretchen P.
Yet another stop in my epic culinary birthday tour, my family and I all headed to PassionFish to celebrate belatedly, as my parents were out of town on my actual cakeday. I'll tell you right off the bat that I absolutely chose the right restaurant to celebrate -- the food was fantastic, the service was unexpectedly awesome, and it was just a really great evening! So, Friday night our party of 6 headed out to Reston Town Center in the pouring rain, and my dad (bless his heart) dropped us off right in front while he went to search for parking. We walked in and were immediately seated at a round table in the middle of the main dining floor. I really dug the decor and ambiance of the restaurant -- it's not exactly what I would call romantic, but it's trendy and modern and very open, and I loveloveloved the bubble chandelier things. They reminded me of jellyfish! Anyway, as I said, I was here for my birthday, which is something I made a note of when making my Open Table reservation. After we sat down and were handed our menus, my brother told me to look inside. Imagine my surprise (and pleasure!) at seeing that they had specially printed out the menu pages for my party to say "Happy Birthday Gretchen!!!" at the top! It was a really special and totally unexpected touch. Speaking of unexpected touches, the service at PassionFish was full of them! I've read some iffy reviews about the uneven service that other Yelpers have received here, but I definitely didn't have the same experience. From my water glass that never dipped below the half-empty line without being refilled to the swift replacement of all our silverware and plates after each course, I thought the service was top-notch. When my boyfriend dropped his napkin on the floor, our waiter picked it up and folded it back into a table tent for him! There was a tiny hiccup in the beginning where a long amount of time elapsed before we could put in our wine/drink order, but the rest of the service more than made up for it. Oh, right, the food! You guys probably want to hear about that. Well, if you check out the pictures I posted, that should be more than enough to convince you of its amazingness, but since this review isn't already long enough or anything, I guess I can tell you about it too. To start, PassionFish offers complimentary crostini with a fish & cream cheese (or something) spread that is very tasty. We also got the crab & shrimp spring rolls and the kung pao calimari as appetizers. They were both quite good, but both quite overpriced, IMO. For future trips I'd probably skip the appetizers as, again, the free crostini starter was awesome, as was the salad I got (beet salad), and the soups I sampled from my boyfriend (gumbo - SPICY!) and my dad (lobster + butternut squash bisque -- DIVINE). My entree was the seared sea scallops, which were cooked to PERFECTION, and came with a spaetzel-like pasta, corn, and super crispy ham/prosciutto. The ham was more like bacon, and all the flavors in combination with each other were just... oh man, it was SO good. My favorite dish on the table, and I tried everybody else's food, too (duh). My boyfriend and brother's fiancee both got the macademia nut-crusted halibut, which was moist and had great texture, but the papaya salad it was served with was a little weird. My mom got the crab cakes which were literally ALL crab. Not a speck of breading -- I was impressed! My brother got the mussels, which came in a Thai curry-style that was surprising and delicious. My dad got the whole flounder--seriously, an entire fish was on his plate--and it was very tasty. But, again, my scallops were definitely the winner. Hands-down I would order that same dish again. They also offered me a free dessert for my birthday, and though I was already stuffed, I chose the donut holes which were hot, fresh, and oh-so-delicious. Okay, longest review ever, I know. TL;DR is that the service was great and the food was well-worth the pricetag, but that pricetag is VERY high, so it's definitely a special night out kinda place.
(5)
Kate H.
I should start off by letting you know I am NOT a fan of seafood. My department had their Christmas lunch at Passionfish and I figured okay, I'll be able to find some non-fish dish on the menu, no problem. Problem. The only things on the ENTIRE menu that aren't seafood are the salads. I told the waiter I didn't eat fish and asked if they could do the shrimp & grits with chicken (not a stretch - there was chicken on the kids menu). He said he'd have to ask the chef, and then came back two minutes later telling me the chef is picky and said NO. WHA???? I was pregnant at the time and even tried to play that card, with no luck. Soooo, I had a salad for my appetizer and a salad as my main course. Both were okay, but nothing to rave about or go back for. Chef Tunks, and all the other chefs in Reston, listen up and repeat after me: RESTON IS NOT DC. A CHEF IS NOT GOD. I don't know where this guy gets off telling me that they can't swap out the four little shrimp they plop on top of the grits with 4 little pieces of chicken, but I do know that I would never return back here on my own accord due to his egotistical, rude attitude. The only reason these restaurants stay in business is because they make their customers happy. This one was NOT.
(1)
Joceyln Y.
We went during restaurant week. It was easy to get a reservation and at 630pm the place wasnt too busy. The food itself was great. We didnt care for the whitefish spread they gave us. I didnt taste the fish enough. The seafood was very fresh to my surprise. My family and I are seafood people, we have business in seafood distribution, and was very happy to see fresh seafood.
(4)
Troy K.
Delicious! Their sushi is excellent and they have one of the best Kamikazi rolls ive ever had. The servers are very attentive and the food is always great. I had the kung pao ahi tuna and it was cooked perfectly. After we had finished our deserts the manager sent over a complimentary desert tray with assorted small candies (including my favorite; mango paste drops). I always take friends here for special dinners and the only reason I did not give it 5 stars is because the price.
(4)
Lesley K.
I've been back twice since my review and have to say this is one of the best restaurants in the area. Service is excellent as is the food. Loved the flounder, sushi and the soft shell crab. I do wish they had a better selection of oysters, but maybe next year.
(4)
Jillian T.
A resounding "meh" for Passionfish. I really, really wanted to love this place - we decided to go there for a company dinner, and I was drooling over the menu. But when we got there, the food just wasn't as good as the menu made it out to be. Actually my favorite part of the whole meal was the whitefish spread. Service was adequate, although slow - there was probably a solid 15-20 minute pause in between our appetizers and entrees. I had the "buffalo style" fried oysters for my appetizer, which were ok but soggy, and the presentation was seriously lacking. For my entree I had the Cioppino, which is typically one of my favorite meals. Again, nothing terribly wrong with the dish, but it was bland and uninspired. The best part was the garlic bread. No-one else at the table made a single comment about their appetizers or entrees being outstanding, so I think everyone had the same general opinion: Nothing was wrong with the food, but for the higher prices that they are charging, we all expected it to be a lot better. The portion sizes on the appetizers were good, but the portions of most of the entrees were very small - I can imagine if you skipped the appetizer you would leave hungry.
(2)
J L.
Higher-end restaurant's in Reston TC can sometimes be pretentious and overpriced (maybe like the clientele) while forgetting the basics of good food and good service. I assumed Passion Fish would fall in that category but, happily, that was not the case on our first visit. We dropped in on a Saturday evening without reservations. There was a crowd and a 45 minute wait, but the host staff went out of their way to promptly seat us outdoors. The ambiance is both casual and elegant (white tablecloths indoors) but also bustling - a bit like Zaytina. The winelist is extensive and reasonably priced and my martini met my high standards. Our server,Gulnara was friendly, intelligent, and efficient, as was the rest of the wait staff. Efficient but never hovering or in your face. The music was straight out of Buddha Bar and set a nice mood. The menu was an eclectic mix of fusion and comfort food, and our maindishes (sea scallops and tilefish) were excellently prepared. Sushi was excellent. No room for desert. Overall prices were very reasonable. Keep it up Passion Fish. I'll be back.
(4)
Rachal L.
I surprised my husband for his birthday by making reservations here. He really wanted sushi/seafood so I thought this looked like a great place to take him. I would say its average. The decor/atmosphere is very nice. Very cool bubble chandeliers and excellent lighting. The ceilings are high so it is a little hard to hear each other, it was crowded, but it was a Friday night so it was to be expected. So the first let down was that we had a reservation at 730pm Got there right on time and we got seated right away (great!) but they take us to the smallest table in the place. It was a 2 top...ok we only had 2 people so fine. But it was in a line with 4 other 2 top tables, I literally sat 2 feet away from other couples on either side of us. You feel like you have to talk quietly so you don't disturb other peoples date nights. Ugh. We ordered wine. Excellent, the wine list is great. Then we ordered soup, sushi and an entree. The soups were excellent. I had the blue crab corn chowder. Mmmmm very tasty! My hubs had the lobster bisque which he seemed to really like. They also brought the table a white fish spread with toasted bread slices. Eh. Nothing to write home about. My hubs nailed it....he said it tasted like cream cheese with a hint of fish....interesting. So we moved onto our sushi. I got a California roll and he got a spicy tuna roll. We both thought they were just 'alright'. I have to say we are spoiled because we lived in San Diego. But I would say they were just average, nothing to write home about really. Finally we had our entrees. I got crab cakes and he got the Lobster tail which was in a curry/lemon balm sauce. The flavors in rice dish under the lobster were quite good there were many subtle layers of taste. BUT the lobster was definitely chewy. The same can be said of my crab cakes. I didn't think lobster was supposed to be chewy. Boo. So all in all it wasn't bad and it wasn't excellent either. Right in the middle. But for the price I would say it was a bit too much to pay. I could go to a less trendy restaurant and get the same kind of sushi for a more reasonable price. Not sure if I would go back or not.....will have to wait and see but it's definitely not on my top 10 list.
(3)
Frank F.
My wife and I made our first visit last night to PassionFish. The level of service was outstanding. The wine list has something for everyone, at every price point. The sushi was amazing, simple. My wife had the steak, it was well prepared, although the side dishes were extra $. I had the Mahi, a fun, wonderful dish, I highly recomend it. For dessert, we shared the Doughnut Holes, they were fantastic. The bill for the 2 of us was just over $100. That's wine, sushi, dinners and dessert with coffee. A little high on the prices, but the quality of the food and the service made it worth the money for us.
(5)
Maryanne G.
Business lunch yesterday - SPECTACULAR food! We were a party of five, got treated beautifully by the entire staff - and we all enjoyed thoroughly everything we had. I got the seafood Cobb salad - it had a great Louie dressing, and a lovely selection of chilled fish and shellfish. I started with the superb squash/lobster bisque with basil oil - yum! I also sampled some of my colleagues' dishes... The fried oysters were to die for (love the chipotle slaw!) and the iceberg wedge with the warm bacon dressing was outta sight! Can't wait to go back again!
(4)
Jonathan M.
This place had great sushi, which is all i can vouch for. The pieces of sushi were stacked with fish so you definitely got your moneys worth ,even though at first glance the prices for the rolls seem over the top. The atmosphere was nice and would be great for a date setting. Everyone in my party had sushi so I can't vouch for the seafood but it looked like a very popular place to eat and lots of people were dining there. I may have given this four stars if I had tried some of the other dishes but I felt while the sushi was fufilling it could be found at other sushi locations for a cheaper price. The ambience was nice, but not sure it warrants the extra cost to have sushi there. I plan to go again and i believe after the second time I may raise my star rating.
(3)
Tiffany C.
Went here for my mother's birthday today. Our server, Shane, was attentive and excellent! The seafood was fresh, and the service was prompt. Our glasses were never empty and our silverware was always replaced courteously. My mother had the best crab cake that she's ever had before, and the Long Island Iced Tea was well done. Sushi wasn't that special, unfortunately, but not bad. A bit pricey, but our family had a great experience there and I would recommend it to my friends.
(5)
S C.
Very good restaurant, and I try to make it a habit to visit when we have visitors in town for some great seafood. I have yet to have a bad meal here and the service is excellent. I would definitely recommend you try the Passion Fish the next time your around RTC. I have dined at another seafood restaurant in Sterling, VA but was left disappointed.
Wow. I had the salade nicoise and it was the best I have ever had. The tuna had a delicious spicy rub on the outside and the raw inside melted in my mouth. The dressing was also delicious and the deviled egg, fingerling potatoes, and everything else in the salad was brilliant. My husband loved his seafood Cobb salad and my MIL, a New Orleans native, goes to the restaurant especially for their authentic po'boy. The decor is beautiful and I could not find fault with the service if I tried. Our waiter was courteous, attentive, informative, and generally an ideal server.
(5)
Kim P.
The decor is pleasant and modern, but the high ceilings could result in a very loud dining room on a full night (it was not crowded while I was there). The food was fresh and nicely prepared, my waitress had good suggestions and was attentive without being intrusive. Nice wine list, the El Primavera tempranillo available by the glass is very enjoyable. The maitre'd even dug through a bin full of wet umbrellas to fish mine out. I had been to DC Coast the night before and can say the food is comparable but the service was actually a little better at Passion Fish. I'll be going back soon to try the lunch.
(4)
Annie C.
On a Friday night, MrJ had a sudden URGE. I didn't have the same urge, but when looked over at me with his longing eyes, I couldn't resist. I obliged...and we set off on our quest to find MrJ a nice, big, fat, whole FISH. Not the nicely cut and portioned ones, but an ENTIRE fish. Our quest landed us at Passion Fish restaurant in Reston. I felt a little out of place at such a nice place in my flip flops and shorts, so we sat in the bar area. Plus we sat right away, as opposed to waiting 30 min for dining area table. Our waiter was very friendly and helpful. MrJ ended up ordering a branzino and I got the monkfish. The grilled branzino was hearty portion, enough to fill MrJ's appetite. The monkfish sat on a some type of cheese sauce which, when hot, was soft but got lumpy when hardened. The fish was cooked perfectly, but I just could've done without the cheese sauce. I kept steaing MrJ's rice with thai curry and I don't even really like curry. YUM. The oysters we ordered were to die for...so fresh! Double YUM. We went again this weekend and ate the flounder (the entire fish), soft shell crab, and crab cakes. I have to say, their whole fish items are really good. The flouder was excellent! But for those of you who do not like to pick at the fish, bone and all...you're SOO mising out, but there's plenty of other things to try. Gotta warn you though, this place is pretty pricey. For 5 beers and 2 appetizers (oysters and jumbo shrimp), our bill came out $75. Imagine what our meals came out to be. Yes, it was enough to feed a hungry child in Africa/Asia for months. Now I feel a bit guilty for endulging.
(4)
Alix H.
We visited PassionFish for the second time last weekend and were impressed again. The food, which is truly wonderful, is complimented by a very efficient waitstaff that knows and understands the menu. We especially enjoyed the spring rolls (although the saucy was a bit spicy)!
(4)
Chris M.
I went to Passionfish for the soon-to-be-wifey and my anniversary. We called ahead for reservation and walked right in. We were seated at a table on the second floor overlooking the whole lower area, which was really nice. Our waiter was prompt and extremely friendly, not the sort of fake enthusiasm you find in most restaurants. (with check sizes like this place, I'd be a happy waiter too) I got the day's special which was tilapia with lobster scampi. The fish was prepared perfectly and the lobster scampi.. oh I would have eaten a bowl full of that stuff. My +1 had grilled salmon and asparagus which was delicious and we shared a shrimp cocktail appetizer. This wasn't a normal shrimp cocktail; it had sort of a spicy Latin flare to it. Pieces of shrimp in a spicy tomato salsa with homemade tortilla chips, it was fantastic. Upon recommendation, we couldn't leave without dessert so we got house made donut holes with coffee Bavarian crème for dipping. These little fried dough nuggets were worth the entire trip. We had a few cocktails, which were decent but not really worth the almost 10 bucks per drink. All in all, I'd definitely come here again. There were a ton of things I saw on other diner's plates which looked great.
(4)
Jason S.
We really wanted to like Passion Fish. From looks alone, it had great potential. We love the decor. But our love for the restaurant stops there unfortunately. Overpriced for what you get. Food isn't good. Wait staff not attentive. Restaurant empty (7:30pm Saturday). Everything that was served to us was brown and uninviting. Feels like they are still trying to find their groove. Major dissappointment for us.
(2)
M T.
We hosted a large dinner party here over the weekend. Food was good... but their service was outrageous! Our server was rude, unprofessional, and completely incompetent. She rarely came over to see if we needed anything, unless one of us waved her down. The long table was so dark with just 2 candles... we asked for a couple more so we can at least see what we're eating. She brings just one more candle... and practically throws it in front of us. Even before the meal is finished, she starts going around and clearing out plates (where's the fire??? since when was there a time limit? We weren't even 2 hours into our reservation! And literally, no one else was dining upstairs where we were! plenty of open tables so why was she rushing us out? It wasn't even 8pm!) And to really ruin it for us... she popped her head out of the kitchen about a dozen times while we're still working on our dessert to see if we were leaving any time soon. Then... what does she do for a grand finale??? She brings out the broom and dustpan as if we didn't get the hint about 30 minutes ago! She literally starts sweeping all around us! omg! Are you kidding me? I was mortified... and completely in disbelief! I would never go back to this place again. Even after I put in a complaint the next morning with the manager... he gave me a flippant apology and that was that. It's so very sad how they dont' seem to have any concern for their business, let alone, their high paying customers.
(1)
Irving H.
I took my wife, parents, cousin, sister and her boyfriend out to Passionfish for my sister's birthday, which also happens to be New Year's Eve. That evening they had a 3 course prix fixe menu which was their regular menu - appetizer, main entree, dessert. The ambiance was good - high ceilings, modern decor, open kitchen that displayed fresh shellfish on ice. The wait staff was just ok. The waitress did not explain the menu nor did she ask if she had any questions. The food was good and the presentation was very good. I ordered the fried clams which also had fried pickles. My main course was the whole fried flounder that was succulent and tasty. My dessert was fresh berries with whipped cream. There was a mishap when one of the wait staff dropped a large pot of cream. The backsplash hit most of the table. The staff saw this and reacted quickly to get us napkins and new glasses. The manager came over and offered to pay for our dry cleaning and took off the gratuity and the extra appetizers I ordered. It was very fair and I appreciate his acceptance of responsibility. I might try it again but I have other restaurants I want to hit before eating here again.
(3)
Leslie F.
Terrible service. Snarky waitress. Didn't take drinks order for both people in the party. Gave sarcastic response when asked for drinks. Same rude manner when asked for a napkin. Left dirty glass on table from previous diners. A call to Kate the manager resulted in a lukewarm, "I'm sorry." End of conversation. Last meal at Passion Fish. Eat at McCormick and Schmick instead.
(1)
Joni H.
Highly recommended! The crab cake sliders in particular are excellent. The service and decor are excellent as well.
(5)
A K.
We've been here twice and the food is excellent. The ceviche is especially good. Seafood is quite fresh and tasty. Downstairs smells a bit of seafood, so we prefer a table upstairs.
(4)
glori b.
This an pretty expensive restaraunt.Very expensive for the portions but overall good food.Dinnerw all stops for 6 with 20 percent gratuity was 720.oo .Rainy Weekday very few patrons.Very elegant place with Reston towne center parking garage as only parking , no valet.Ok ; you love fish its your passion right so please remove the head and dazzle me with presentation baby!Yick does the fish in picture even look appetizing? .We sat upstairs at a table of six with a attentive wait team almost too attentive as my plate was constantly asking to be removed even though it was half full not sure what thats about for my aps,soup,dinner and dessert!But the waitress was good and they had little helpers pressuring us to remove our plates which is annoying for 28 bucks not including a side I think I want to eat it slow savor it please even if everyone else scarfed theres already !I just let them take it and noone asked did i want anything wrapped up .Ever.Seriously engrossed in our meeting or I ask for to go bag.Annoying but maybe people throw out food all the time but not me if I like my dish there usually isnt anything left on it ,but talking shop while eating dinner slows down how fast you can actually eat politely. .The view was nice I liked the jellyfish decor and lighting,blue and brown colors.The ambience was nice . We had six bottles of wine with excellent wine pouring , also had mojitos,bellenies,beers and a rum drink.Ordered lobster tortilla soup cup 5.oo which was good and different which I like could taste actual chunks of lobster.Fried oysters with spicy sauce 11 yum o.This was second best thing I had the oysters ap.They didnt have any oysters as entree which disappoints, or whole lobster. They brought a tasty crostini bread and whitefish complimentary cream cheese concotion right out.Well recepted. I was disappointed they had no steamed lobster on the menu and I asked for it and noone offered to make it for me said it only came chilled, which was a bummer,cant they cook one?For the amount of money for a lobster like 77 I reckon someone could pop him in a pot spank him with butter no? The highlight of the meal was our appetizer big daddy 69.oo tower of like poached lobster 1/3 of a lobster,b6 oysters 3-4rock crab claws ,3-4 clams,6-7 large [prawns and a few sauces.Very tasty but very tiny portions for the priceI was pretty amazed how little food was on the tower for 70 bucks.Thats a serious pricetag for a appetizer.The oysters good.We ordered 2 poached thai lobster which came in a clay pot covered over jasmine rice with A Red pineapple curry theme and kaffir lime, 24 each,2,three fish dinners 22 each and one crabcakes,28, bucket of fries with old bay sides asparagus5, ,fries ,and more5,yukon gold mashed potatoes,5.Then we had cappuchinos and expressos 3,4 each and desserts ,creme bulee,creme bulee,choc mousse I think desserts were 7 a piece.The meal was not extraordinary tasting but good and climbing the tall stairs could be a pain ..I also slipped on the very waxy floor to go to the bathroom which I dont know why its so slippery but a fashionista in heels might go down!.There is sushi downstairs which seems kind of out of place almost somehow ,and elegant booths and a nice bar.The bartender, host and wait staff were professional and on the ball.I would hate carrying all that food up the stairs as I saw servers up and down the steep stairs often/really.But the tips dont suck Im sure!Overall great dinner for company or business.They have a good bar menu and maybe hh patrons want sushi .Ill save my sushi for my Japanese steakhouse.I think they need clean up menu with out so much sauces, marinara?and on some of the seafood items overwhelm them,and discouraged me from ordering with so many ingredients not really explained on the menu scaring you from ordering them as well.Exotic things are good but if your scared to approach by looking silly asking whats in it it might not sell well.They brought little plastic mermaids on the drinks ,cute, .Also like Gordon Ramsey says keep it simple ,local,fresh and do it well.Very good concept perhaps the very empty restaraunt tonight with will inspire the passionate owners to revamp menu as things are done just confusing .
(2)
Christine N.
My husband and I went to Passion Fish for dinner tonight. I made reservation on open table same day for 8:30pm; we were half hour early but got seated right away. We 've been to Ten Penh and Ceiba, and had good experience with our food there. The reasons I'm giving Passion Fish 3 stars are because the service was inefficient, the restaurant is really loud, and the food is good, but not extraordinary. It took our waiter a while to come to our table for anything; first he asked what kind water we want, then came back took our drink order (he didn't even know all the beer on draft, since he stuttered and looked blank a few times), then he came back (still with no drinks) to give us the specials, then left, then came back (still no drinks) to take our food order. Each time he apologized for no drinks, but still no drink. When the food finally came , it came very fast. I don't care for their bread (little round hard baguette); I 'd rather have regular bread or crispy, chewy baguette. We ordered the fried oyster and the hamachi as appetizers. They were so so, not too tasty. I ordered the whole flounder fried with tamarind sauce and it came with some cucumber salad. This dish is not bad at all considering this is american restaurant trying to cook a thai dish; and for $28 , it is a very good deal; usually I pay 30 something for the same dish in a thai restaurant and the cucumber salad is equally tasty. My husband ordered the crabcakes with a side order of french fries. The crab cakes were ok, but not extraordinary, and the fries were kinda stale. I would rather eat the crab cakes and fries at coastal flats . I 'd like to make some comments about the atmosphere and ambiance of this restaurant. I'm not sure what style it is.There are some confused elements on this regard. The restaurant decor is nice and modern, but not too hip like ceiba or zaytinia; the white table cloths, the nice silverware and glassware , the decent wine list all suggest upscale fine dining. The customers there that night all dressed up very nice as though they had expected that they were going to an upscale fine dining establishment. The service really ruined everything for me. Also, we sat near some very loud customers. I could hear their whole conversations. So it was pretty annoying , and was very difficult for us to enjoy our meal.
(3)
Timothy L.
(This review is for my wedding reception a few weeks ago). PassionFish really is as good as it gets. We did a restaurant buyout for our 232 guest reception and the whole experience was fantastic. Kathryn helped us with the months of planning and preparation and made the whole experience worry-free. The food was top notch and the staff was always available and hardly noticed. We are still receiving compliments from our guests about the quality of the food and how it was "the best wedding food I've ever had". Executive Chef Chris Clime ran his kitchen perfectly that evening as I'm sure he does every night. Our dish selections included an amazing surf and turf new york strip and king crab, a succulent grouper, and their award winning lobster curry pot. Each dish was to-order and they never even asked us to provide numbers ahead of time. At one point in the evening, one of my guests asked how we were able to pull it off and if I was friends with the owner. I don't know the owner, but Passion Fish sure made it feel like we did.
(5)
Elaine K.
Headed in here on a late Friday night for a continuation of a friend's birthday happy hour. I ordered 3 mojitos. It cost over $30, and they were terrible. Not like poured poorly or mixed poorly, just bad. Something was wrong with it. All 3 were left unfinished :(
(1)
Joy M.
The food wasn't as special as I expected, but the fine dining experience and ambience was a treat. We received a bread service of crostini with an albacore spread that was good. I had the Spider Roll to start, which was much larger than one I've had before, but not better. They all fell apart because the seaweed wouldn't break when I bit into it. I couldn't eat the last bite an the waiter offered to keep it cold in the kitchen and bring it back to-go at the end of the meal. Now THAT'S special. Something happened where our entrees took forever, so they brought me a free second glass of wine and, when they brought the meal, said that I would get a whole Spider Roll to-go when I was done. I had the Fisherman's Wharf Cioppino as my entree. Very good mussels and sauce. The shrimp didn't get enough of the flavor. A couple clams were sandy. The bread was delicious. We split the Chocolate Mousse Praline for dessert and it was rich and the praline crunch at the bottom made it special. I'd go back because the fine dining service is fun, but the food just wasn't spectacular. I expected more from one of Washingtonian's Top 100 Restaurants.
(4)
Jason B.
I always visit this place when I am in town. Try their spring rolls and lobster claypot..You can't go wrong!
(5)
Jennifer E.
This is my favorite seafood restaurant in NoVa! The sushi is delicious and I almost wish I would just order that for my main course - wish they had a more extensive sushi menu. Service is decent (have had two great waiters and one so-so waiter). Upstairs seems more intimate than down and the ambiance throughout is similar to their sister restaurant DC Coast.
(4)
Howie H.
This was our fourth time to Passion Fish and I must say it has stayed consistently good since their opening. Finally a seafood restaurant in Reston that you would find some place in DC (food wise). We decided last minute to meet up with some friends Saturday evening for a late dinner in the Town Center. We decided on PF because our friends wanted Raw Oysters. They had never been there before as they are from Maryland. We were worried since our guy friend was in a T Shirt and Shorts b/c it was Saturday evening and most people were dressed nice. PF is a nicer restaurant and seemed like a place that would prefer a certain dress code. PF was very welcoming and offered us a table outside on the patio which we preferred anyway since the evening was beautiful. The decor of PF inside is clean, neat, and simple. Huge bubble chandeliers hang down and projectors spewing out blue lights that change thru the bubble chandeliers show off a nice effect on the opposite white walls. It is two levels and has an open kitchen type of feel when you walk in. The bar is very small and there is not sitting area to wait for your table. The spacing is the downside of PF as this restaurant could have spatially been designed much better. The menu has a lot to offer from scallops, any type of fish you want (prepared different ways), sushi, mussels, a raw bar, and crab cakes just to name a few items. We opted to start the evening out with a Pinot Noir which was priced at 52 for the bottle. It was a perfect match with our meals. We ordered to start the Tuna Tartare and a dozen Raspberry Point raw oysters. I said last week in my review of Proof that they have "the best Tuna Tartare" around. Well, PF has definitely created a Tuna Tartare that really stands out as well. Warning - it has a nice kick to it which we loved. It had some soy sauce and some sort of oil and what tasted like a wasabi mix or chili pepper mix in it. We were definitely amazed at how much we enjoyed it and all four of us agreed that it was excellent. The Oysters were very nice as well. Smooth, not too slimy, FRESH FRESH FRESH! Our friend mentioned that we should order more but the prices were probably too much. I did not check, but he also pointed out getting Raspberry Point Oysters for cheap at Clyde's Happy Hour in Rockville. For our main dishes we enjoyed two plates of Halibut prepared different ways with different sauces. The Day Boat Scallops which came out on a bed of green sauce and the Whole Crispy Flounder. The Halibut was excellent and just right. Both of our friends enjoyed them. The Scallops were HUGE! I wish I had taken a photo of these Scallops...the size made the dish look like you couldn't finish it without being full. We were right, not only was it filling but it was delicious. The whole crispy flounder is phenomenal. Crispy, but moist inside. Spicy, but not over powering. Big, and definitely filling. As we finished our wine and drank coffee, we closed down the restaurant and we were very thankful that we came to Passion Fish. We all agreed it was worth sharing on Yelp! I have read that some people have not enjoyed the dessert. I cannot comment on that as we were absolutely full from our meal and opted not to have anything sweet. Dinner for four with a bottle of wine ended up being just shy of $300. Not cheap but it's worth a one time experience. I recommend trying PF if you are going to be in and around Reston.
(4)
Randy M.
For my Mother's birthday she wanted to go to Passion Fish. I was excited because I've been wanting to go for a while after a friend had gushed about it. So Wednesday evening we had open table reservations for 7:30. We arrived and were promptly shown to our table. The place was really busy with only 1 or 2 tables unoccupied. They have an open kitchen with a iced displayed in the front showing the oysters, lobsters, and stone crab claws being served that evening. Our waiter was excellent, had full knowledge of the menu and the wine list. We had several questions that he fielded without hesitation. After ordering some drinks we moved on to some starters, something cold, something hot, and something green. Tuna tar tare, steamed mussels, and grilled asparagus salad. The tuna was delicious, I'm used to it being chopped a bit finer than it was but very tasty, definitely Asian in flavor as the ginger really comes through. The Mussels were cooked exactly how I like them, tender and meaty. They come in an almost stew concoction with a piece of crusty bread for dipping (love to dip). The salad was a bundle of asparagus wrapped in prosciutto, grilled, and served on a bed of greens with a red pepper dressing, possibly romesco. It was fair but lost in the shuffle, would have stood up better if we had it served on its own as a salad (after all it was a salad). Our mains were the following; monkfish with pearl pasta risotto, crispy whole flounder, trout, and the cioppino. We all gave a sample to each other; the cioppino was swimming with seafood, the broth was smooth and not as spicy as I've had at other places, the fish/shellfish the clear focus of the dish. The trout was good, not my preference though. Mine was the monkfish which I thoroughly enjoyed; a massive hunk of fish osso bucco style on a bed of risotto. The big winner was the flounder. It's served head and tail on, but it was awesome. Its no small fish either. I was jealous when it came out and jealous after having a bite (Will post a picture later). And even with all that food we split two desserts, the sorbet sample, all of which are made on site, and the key lime pie. The mango sorbet was the big winner here, everyone agreed. To close out the meal you are presented with a final palate cleanser, a passion fruit jelly. Melt in your mouth good. Five stars and nothing more to say except I can not wait for a return trip. Was worth every penny.
(5)
Jay K.
I came here for Restaurant Week and had a great experience. The service is top-notch and the place is beautiful. The sushi is also really fresh here and very good quality. The appetizer I got and would recommend is the Classic Peruvian Style Ceviche, which was delicious and presented nicely. The entree I had here was the Pan Seared Day Boat Scallops, which was pretty good, but came with only four measly scallops, although I really wasn't expecting much more. I also tried the creme brulee and chocolate cake for dessert and they were bother mouth-watering good, especially the creme brulee. Overall, I highly recommend this place and am looking forward to coming here again.
(4)
T S.
Very good seafood place. I had the crab cake sandwich and it was delicious. Service was excellent and the restaurant itself is very nice. I want to go back in the evening. Im sure it is very nice during the summer on the patio.
(4)
Michael M.
Great seafood and the wine if half priced on Mondays. The crispy flounder is a great dish to share...
(5)
Stacy G.
I recently chose this place to celebrate my birthday with my husband! It was FABULOUS. We had read reviews on yelp and decided this was a great place to go. First of all, the decor was tasteful and elegant. I loved the way the kitchen was open to the dining area. Upon being seated, I was handed my menu-----LITERALLY-- MY MENU! They had personalized the top of my menu with "Happy Birthday Stacy!" It was very charming and set a great example of the attentiveness to come. Michelle was our server and she was amazing. They immediately brought out some toasty baguette rounds with this spread that was too die for. My husband and I started out with drinks--I got a glass of champagne and he a mint julep. Mine came with a little mermaid hanging from the glass-very cute. My husbands drink was quite good as well. We started out with a dozen oysters on the half shell. They were delicious and very fresh. It came with 2 sauces, a cocktail and a mignonette sauce. both great. Then we each had a cup of soup. I had the crab/corn chowder and my hubby had the gumbo--both were fantastic. Mine had huge pieces of lump crap in it. Btw, everything came out at just the right time--nice breaks between courses. I then ordered a "pear o'politan" with my meal and that was very tasty as well. For our entrees, I had the Crabcakes with lemon beurre blanc sauce, with a side of "mac n jack," and my husband had the Red Thai Curry Lobster "Claypot". Those crabcakes were so good! No filler at all--just pure lump crap. It all went so well together. The mac n jack was creamy and had a nice crunchy, buttery topping. I will say that the portion of rice that came with my husbands claypot was too small as he was left with a lot of sauce leftover, so he just asked for a little more rice and they brought some--my husband practically licked the plate clean! So after that, we ordered dessert and coffee. I had the Key-Lime Meringue Tart and my husband had the warm donut holes with coffee bavarian cream. They put a candle on mine and comped it. They were both delicious and we were so stuffed! I read reviews talking about the location being "strip-mally" but you honestly don't feel that when you are inside. Michelle was attentive and patient. I will definitely come here again! Btw, they gave me the menu to take home!
(5)
Nancy C.
Great ambiance, inconsistent food quality, and mediocre service, For New Year Eve, we took seven people to PassionFish for a nice dinner. The night started off with the patron sitting behind me having beer spilled on his back. Our waitress hardly explained the menu- needless to say, not the level of service expected at a restaurant of this caliber. I was most impressed by the restaurant's aesthetics. This is a D.C restaurant transplanted to the heart of Reston. I think this restaurant can definitely improve with time.
(3)
Lisa d.
I really liked this restaurant! the bar area is very nice- the bartenders are cool. the dining is very good- the whole crusted fish was our group's highlight (we all shared)- I love the mix of seafoods- not just broiled, seared fried "mixes"- but innovative food. Our waiter wasn't anything to write home about but then- one waiter does not make the entire service experience bad given the bartenders were great.. we tried about 12 different dishes- only 2 were so so but maybe since we had 2-3 very high favorites.
(4)
gretchen b.
so if i'd had a traditional high school experience, something tells me the feeling i got upon walking into passionfish would about sum it up. we should have turned around right then and left. the 5 hostesses all gave me the "mean girls" up and down. guess i won't be asked to join their click anytime soon. oh and why the hell do you need 5 hostesses anyway?! so the one asks us (while making a face as if she smells the horrible dip they're about to serve us) if we have a reservation. we didn't. we wanted to hang at the bar to see if the place sucked (which, obviously it did) so that we could just grab a drink and not be obligated to stay. well the bar was full of chach so they seat us outside at the shittiest table they could find. after about a year, they brought us out this disgusting dip that reminded me of old socks. the waiter was rude and condescending. he came to check on us once and all the other tables around got 5 star treatment. so yeah, would not go here again. oh and as we were leaving, my husband and i made a pact that we'd NEVER go to reston EVER again.
(1)
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Address :Reston Town Center,11960 Democracy Dr
Reston, VA, 20190
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Garage Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Dressy Ambience : Upscale Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Sunny C.
Great place for happy hour with $5 drinks and appetizer specials. Lobster roll sliders - fresh and juicy Fried oysters - fun, crispy texture Mojito - delicious One of the happy hour guys was aloof and seemed extremely overwhelmed when I placed my order. I made eye contact with him several times when he was right in front of me, and he did not even ask for my order. I had wave my arms to flag him down. Beautiful interior. Would return for a meal or special occasion if it fit in my budget. :)
(4)Ellie B.
EXTREMELY expensive, and WORTH IT!!! My husband took me out here for our anniversary, and I had Icelandic fish, with some imported crab from Maine. I can't even begin to describe to you how amazingly delicious, sweet, and buttery our food was!! In addition to our amazing food, they sent us dessert free of charge!! Our waiter was amazing, and so helpful, he gave us suggestions for our cravings, and was very quick!! For how packed the place was, it was so quiet and very relaxing!! Will definitely be back here!!
(5)Lindsay S.
3.5 stars good apps, good drinks, good food. i am shellfish allergic, so a bit limited at these places. i've had the salmon several times and it never disappoints. they also have this thai-like sauce that is to die for. they do bread and crab spread and my party loved the crab spread. also nice, modern decor
(3)Terry S.
Went there for Restaurant Week, on a Tuesday. The place was pretty full considering the day of the week. We were seated quickly, our waiter was quick. Warning, if asked you've been there before answer 'Yes' or else you'll get the whole speil on how there menu works. It shouldn't be that hard. The appetizers were good, the nigiri was fresh and served with lots of wasabi and ginger. Luckily I saved my wasabi for later. My wife had the gumbo which tasted good to her but to me it had a smoky taste that didn't suit me. The main course was the blackened ahi tune which needed to be a little more blackened. The wasabi came in handy. It added a little kick to the meal. The meal as a whole was good and would probably order it again if I ever return but then again I heard their crabcakes are dynamite. My wife had the whole flounder which was very good and fresh. Lucky for me, my wife couldn't finish it so I voluteered. I picked the chocolate item on the dessert list. It was dark chocolate and it looked like a hostess snowball. Again, my wife couldn't finish hers so I again volunteered. Service was good at the beginning but the restaurant started running behind in getting the food out. We were told several times that the main meal was on its way. But it wasn't. We didn't mind too much, the atmosphere is nice so the wait didn't bother us like it has for other people who posted reviews.
(3)Jenny N.
One of my rare five star restaurants. My first night here, but it was an amazing experience that I would most definitely hope to have once more when I go again. My family celebrated a late mother's day combined with my father's birthday. Our waiter was extremely entertaining and accommodating, which helped the experience feel friendly and comfortable. We ordered the Big Daddy sampler and the blue crab - corn chowder bisque. The platter had a great assortment that felt very fresh, but I absolutely loved the bisque. It was a perfect burst of corn and wasn't too salty or bland. We enjoyed the halibut, scallops, and oysters as our main entrees. The first two were off of the chef's specialties and they were indeed great items. The halibut had that nice bit of Thai spice to it that really gave it a rich flavor. The scallops weren't chewy, very fresh. Then onto dessert, where we ordered the creme brulee and key lime tart. We were given a dish of donut holes from the waiter as a special for the birthday. They were delicious; not as heavy as I had originally thought but instead, just a perfect amount of fluff with coffee cream. It was a nice indulgence. The creme brulee with an almond biscotti was particularly good as well. The tart was a bit too lemony for my taste, but for those that would enjoy it, I definitely recommend it (there was some black pepper ice cream and mangoes with it too!). We were also given some fudge chocolates with marshmallows and macadamia nuts inside as a service from the restaurant. They were delicious and we were most definitely full at this point! Overall, the experience was great and I can't wait to go back. I left very satisfied and my parents were too, which was what I wanted when I took them there. We were all given a great service (again, our waiter is to thank for that). I hadn't taken his name, but when I go again, I would certainly want him to take care of my table. Many restaurants in Reston Town Center have not disappointed me yet, so I'm not surprised when I chose to go there for a special dinner. It's a great location that I suggest others try out as well.
(5)L K.
Dining here can be hit or miss. I came here for Restaurant Week with my usual foodie-partner-in-crime. We always try to have different dishes so we can sample a variety. It started off well with the complimentary dried toast and pâté-like spread made from fish. A different foray then the usual bread and butter. For appetizers, we both opted for soups, the lobster bisque & butternut squash and the blue crab with corn chowder. Both were delicious with very differing tastes (sweet and salty). For the entrée, we were to pick from their regular menu (rather then the usual slim options they provide at other restaurants). We both had fish, the monkfish and the flounder. This is where the "miss" is at with the monkfish. It was lathered by marina; the two didn't go to well together. It actually overpowered the taste of the fish. The flounder on the other hand, is highly recommended. It was seasoned with spices that reminds you of "Thai." I don't remember the desert to well... some kind of chocolate cake. Simple yet good, which is how choc. cake should be.
(4)Bonnie T.
Went here during restaurant week and was not super impressed. Could be because we were so looking forward to it and it was super busy due to restaurant week. Might give it another try some other day...maybe.
(2)Gregg S.
Went here with the family during Restaurant week. The service was fantastic; Prompt, polite, and most importantly, knowledgable. Their food was excellent. I'll definitely be returning for crab cakes and sea bass soon. I think the Passion Food Hospitality group definitely has an idea on how to run great restaurants. Between this and Ceiba, I had a hard time choosing how to spend my restaurant week this year.
(4)Willy L.
If you love seafood then you are in for a special treat!! The food here is amazing as well as the sushi. That in its self speaks highly as I am not a very big sushi fan. I have been here at least 1/2 dozen times and each time I leave even more impressed with the food. Another fun thing to do is belly up to the bar and enjoy a anchor steam and get a few appetizers. The crab meat app will blow your mind and a great deal. Little bit expensive but its to be expected and on par with other places at RTC. Oh and one last thing, great place to take a date!
(5)Mike C.
I took a few business associates to Passion Fish last week. They happened to offer DC Restaurant Week menu, which included any entree on their menu. I ordered Lobster Bisque for a start and it had the right blend of flavor and lobster meat. For Entree, I ordered the Macadamia crushed Halibut. That was good but not outstanding. We finished the meal off with Huckleberry - Strawberry Crisp and that was delicious. The service was very attentive even though the restaurant was busy at the time. One of us ventured out of the seafood path and ordered a steak. It was a generous portion and he said it was very good.
(4)Steven S.
There is no longer any reason to go to PassionFish in Reston (a member of DC Coast chain). It has become clear to me over the last few months that the restaurant doesn't value its workers, and with the recent firing of their biggest stength (bartender Aggie), I'd suggest just stopping short at one of the other two restaurants on the same block. Going to PassionFish for food was always a surprise -- not because they change the menu---ever---but because you never knew the quantity and/or quality of food preparation. Sometimes it was plenty and outstanding. Other times it was hard to detect on the plate and/or dismal. Always it was overpriced. The one consistency...and the one thing that kept me coming back, was Aggie. She was everything a bartender should be; upbeat, interesting, interested in me and my group, and always available and offering any food or drink she thought I might want. The official reason for the dismissal was 'service complaints'. I only wish I'd posted my service compliments earler. Anyway, the town center has a wide choice of restaurants, and each has its strengths. Now, for me, due to the recent personnel change, almost all the town center restaurants are stronger than PF. I'll be changing my pattern to 'go there seldom' from 'go there weekly'.
(2)Ryan D.
I enjoyed the ambiance, and the lobster clay pot was delicious, as were the oysters (both fried and raw). The wine that the server recommended was a complete misfire, but it's always fun to try new brands that I wouldn't have chosen on my own. I can't fault the service -- it was reliable and friendly, and the restaurant is very conveniently located in Reston Town Center. Pricey, but worth a try.
(4)Elle B.
Dined here more than once a few years ago with mixed experiences so we went back for dinner to give this place another shot. Again, we remembered why we skip Passion Fish as a dinner option. They ran out of not just one, but two of the entree options we wanted. When the food came it wasn't great - my side salad came with dinner and was clearly out of one of those lettuce mixes in the plastic you get at the grocery store with nothing else to make it more colorful. We both agreed the fish dishes we had at Bonefish the week before were better. Not to mention the service was not great to where a couple seated by us got up and left before ordering. For the price I would expect more.
(2)Dennis M.
I dunno. Maybe I picked the wrong items. Crab and corn chowder had none of the billed "lump" crab meat and the soup was beyond too sweet to eat as a first course. Fried oysters had a good flavor but they were so small (with tons of breading to overcompensate for that) that I felt like I was just eating fried breading. (But the accompanying slaw was terrific -- with a nice bit of 'zing') Anyway, main course was the highly recommended scallops. Bartender told me (always trust the recommendations of bartenders) it was the best the restaurant had to offer. Sure enough, the scallops themselves were perfectly prepared ... Really high quality and big and juicy and tasty. But again ... hello ... the accompanying pasta type thing with it was soooooooooo sweet .... C'mon PassionFish ... People don't want dessert for dinner, ok?
(2)Layla L.
Above average food and def. one of the better places in the town center. Nice atmosphere too. Give it a try and then head to pitango for dessert
(4)Jennifer S.
A nice addition to the Reston Town Center! The staff was very nice and made my simple grilled fish off the menu and I really appreciated it. The simple grilled tilapia with a side salad was healthy and delicious. The champagne vinaigrette on the salad was amazing too! The decor is very fresh and chic and the service was great!
(4)Marco B.
Good sushi food special tonight. Melting fish and with crispy tempura shrimp inside. Average wine
(4)Caroline G.
I really enjoyed all the food here! I ordered takeout - the lobster and butternut squash bisque, which had huge chunks of lobster, and some roasted..pinenuts? THANK YOU THOSE ARE MY FAVORITE THINGS COMBINED IN ONE SOUP!! woohooo. I ordered two of their sushi rolls..their california rolls, for $9, better have the equivalent of sushi gold in it...which it did...real crab meat! And then their Passionfish roll, which I didn't realize but is basically their california roll topped with pieces of raw fish. The kicker is that they use some honeymustardgreypoupon dipping sauce that I never thought could mesh well with sushi rolls. But it worked out fantastically.
(4)Brenda D.
One of the best crab cakes in the DMV area and really good sweet potato fries. They are crispy and so sweet! Strangely, the lobster bisque tastes really good at the beginning but has a bitter aftertaste. The decor is beautiful; modern and elegant at the same time. This is a really good place to try for restaurant week; usually it is quite expensive.
(4)Tiger M.
I was highly disappointed after reading all the great reviews.... *** ONE REVIEW THAT WAS ACCURATE MAKE RESERVATIONS!!! ESPECIALLY ON SATURDAY NIGHT!!! we arrived about 45 minutes prior to our reserved time which was 9 but we were seated about 830 so the wait wasn't bad.... :-) I ordered the LOBSTER CLAY POT.... highly disappointed :-( & the crab shrimp spring rolls as my appetizer...both dishes I was disappointed........... My hunnie ordered shrimp cocktail & crab cakes which he enjoyed........our waiter was patient with me & tried to get me to order something else but it was late, I didn't want to wait & really wanted to get home..... Over all decor GREAT!! Great service !!! Guess I just ordered the wrong things ???? It's too far for me to travel back so.... Probably won't be traveling back here... :-(
(2)Celia G.
Passionfish is absolutely my favourite restaurant in Northern VA. The fish is always outstanding; it is the only non-sushi house in which I'll order the sushi. And there are always so many specials that I order sushi every time I'm there! BTW, at other restaurants, "specials" usually mean something the chef needs to move quickly, but not here. The specials are unique and fresh - truly special! For a real treat, try to get seats at one of their wine dinners. The Cime brothers outdo themselves time after time with food and wine pairings that aren't on the regular menu and will make you a fan for life, if you're not already. RSVP fast, though, they sell out every time! If you love your fish like I do, and haven't been to Passionfish yet, don't deprive yourself! The entire menu utterly rocks!
(5)Ilisa S.
Wowzers... I had the good fortunate to be able to attend a corporate lunch here yesterday. It was a fixed 3 course menu with two choices per course. For an appetizer I chose the crab cake, which was divine. It had a light lemon bearnaise sauce (if I am remembering correctly). I only ate about 3/4 of it because I didn't want to fill up before the main course and dessert! For my main dish I chose the Filet Mignon. It was positively mouthwatering. The quality of the beef was top-notch, cut like butter, and cooked perfectly. I fancy myself a steak connoisseur and the taste was like music to my pallet. Truly perfect! For dessert I chose the creme brulee. Holy cannoli, batman. It was the perfect temperature, consistency, and just melted in my mouth. I had zero to complain about in the food department. The only negative was that the staff kept getting my order wrong and bringing me the 'other' option instead of the one I selected. By itself, this was not enough to lose a full star. If there was the option of giving 4.5 stars I would have.
(4)Lyndsey C.
Always delicious but the portions can be quite small sometimes. The price is high but worth it when you want to spend. The place is decorated great and the service is usually quite good. The food is hit or miss depending on what you order.
(3)Ryan O.
In the words of Randy Jackson, "it's just alright for me dawg." Tried this place a second time since my first experience was awful - think seafood medley drowned in bbq sauce. Unfortunately , second time around it wasn't much better. The Stone Crabs were not very fresh and the meat stuck to the shell. Sushi was good, but not good enough to warrant the exorbitant price. For the money, you could do much better at Reston Town Center...Jackson's sushi is much less expensive and just as tasty, plus they have an excellent salmon dish too. McCormick's also has comparable seafood options without breaking the bank. I gave it two stars for the service and the ambiance.
(2)Victoria S.
Upscale dining in the burbs! PassionFish from the same restaurant group as DC Coast and brings the same class and sophistication to Reston Town Center. I am currently working with them planning for a corporate event and we have eaten there twice and I will say the service is above and beyond the expected. The server is very informative and he asked if there were any shellfish allergies he should know about. The food is amazing, great presentation and never heavy. The seafood is all fresh and sushi is made to order. We had a sampling of the salads, apps and entrees with dessert and every course was great. They offered us complimentary course with our meal. The manager came over and greeted us. They are doing a seated dinner and we're doing a buyout of the entire restaurant so I guess we deserve a freebie. ;) The event manager is very knowledgeable and accommodating. The space is modern and beautiful with high ceilings. We are excited about our event in February.
(5)Lina T.
I've been here about 3 times and I'm quite a fan. I've had their Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes and Pan-Seared Jumbo Sea Scallops...both are super good. I was there last night with my friend and we both ordered a dozen oysters (east coast vs. west coast). They were alright. It was just a bit too salty for me. As for the entrees, we both got the blackened Char-Grilled Swordfish. My friend ordered this before and I remember how good it was when I tried it so I had to get it this time around and of course he ordered it again. It's just that damn amazing! The swordfish was tasteful and tender. We got the lobster mac and cheese and mashed potatoes for our sides. Both are also delicious and great for sharing. You can pick 1 out of the 4 dipping sauces for the swordfish. My friend got the Lemon Beurre Blanc sauce and I had the Salsa Verde sauce. Both were the top 2 compared to the others. No complaints about this place!
(4)FunnyGirl Z.
I wanted to love this place b/c the decor and some of the appetizers were good, but the fish I had was, in taste, without passion. I honestly don't remember which dish I had, but I tried my friends' dishes at the time also, and they didn't whet my appetite either. I would have to try this out again, but my impression was so without an impression that I am not inclined to give it another shot without someone else really begging for me to go. Sorry, PassionFish, the romance was over before it began. :( If I go on a 2nd date and sparks fly, I will be sure to kiss and tell.
(3)Lulu T.
Great atmosphere and service. In some cases the front hostesses may seem snotty or unattentive. Please don't let this sway you from trying the restaurant. The sushi and entrees are delicious. I typically get the Caifornia roll made with real crabmeat and the Kamikaze roll made with tiger shrimp tempura and spicy tuna. The crab cake sandwich with sweet potato fries is also great. The claypot lobster that everyone is raving about is highly overrated! The curry broth is overbearing and takes away from the the flavor of the lobster. I wouldn't order this entree again.
(4)Brett M.
The idea of a chain seafood restaurant conjures up disturbing food images. A visit to PassionFish will dispel them. I have been to this lovely restaurant two times. Every dish I had was well made, and was of high quality. Their service is excellent. PassionFish has a good deal of variety from Sushi to well cooked fish entrees. It's not my first choice for dinner, but I think it's a great choice for lunch in the Reston Town Center.
(4)Natasha M.
Simply said...OH My you know what!! From service to food to ambiance...a gem! Well a pricy gem, but still! Hands down one of the top 5 sushi, Thai infusion and just FAB seafood in town!
(5)Karen P.
We were impressed. I had read a lot about PassionFish and not all of it was positive - prices too high, atmosphere loud and sterile. That said, I had heard the food was good so decided to take my husband to dinner to celebrate his birthday, hoping that the restaurant choice would be a good one. Wow - it's everything seafood! We skipped the sushi as it all seemed "Americanized" (how many things can you add avocado to??). I chose the ceviche for an appetizer and my husband had the tuna tartare. The ceviche was delicious - just the right amount of tart with good-sized bites of fish. They garnished with popcorn which was interesting but didn't add to the flavor - it seems like everybody is adding popcorn to various dishes these days. Our waiter Henry (more about him later) suggested I ask for it without the popcorn next time and I'll probably do that. I can't comment on the tuna tartare because my husband wouldn't even share a bite with me - maybe a good indicator that he liked it! For the main course, I had the lobster claypot, which the menu said was their recognized dish in the Washingtonian. They brought a bowl with rice and then poured the ingredients from the clay pot on top. The red curry sauce was very good, the lobster just the right amount of firmness but the dish would have benefited from more rice. Maybe if they gave you a regular dish of rice that could be added, so the dish was a bit more substantial and you could eat all of the sauce (the sauce was a bit rich to eat alone). My husband had the arctic char with the red curry sauce and the sauted spinach - both good. We skipped dessert but they brought some chocolates with the bill - yum! A couple of other items of note: Henry - great waiter! He was a little hard to understand (maybe Carribean accent?) but his knowledge of the dishes was deep and service was impeccable. Wine - we felt that the wine list was both interesting and reasonable. We chose a Gigondas that was very good. The extra person that cleared all of our plates - It seemed that one person was assigned to clean everything up and to serve the dishes. She was not so good. My husband and I were sitting next to each other and she kept interrupting our conversation to ask us to hand her our plates, utensils, etc.. Was it really that important?! Price - we felt that the price was reasonable for the food and service.
(4)L K.
I've been here several times with my company but this place never disappoints! The raw oysters are always so fresh and good. I ALWAYS order them :) The soups are delicious as well! I usually get a fish dish and my favorite by far has been the rock fish they have sometimes on their special menu! and dont forget to order Donut holes for dessert! they are to die for!!! I always enjoy coming here with my company!
(4)Tony P.
Saturday night dinner. Appetizer: A dozen oysters on half-shell were delicious. Dinner: The lobster and jumbo crab cakes with the lemon butter were very good. Dessert: A perfect Caramel Crème Brulee with Almond Biscotti. We also had the Warm Donut Holes with Coffee Bavarian Cream, excellent. Service: Kenny K. was wonderful.
(4)Katie L.
After reading about the place every other month or so in the Washingtonian, my husband and I decided it was time to brave traffic to Reston on a recent Friday night and check out PassionFish. Lucky for us, we were also able to convince a few friends to join us for a refreshing night in suburbia. The food ranged from decent to absolutely delicious. To start, we ordered the Kamikaze sushi roll (tempura prawns, ahi tuna and avocado) and the fried oysters, which were served over an Old Bay-seasoned slaw. The Kamikaze roll was OK, but the fried oysters were awesome. The fried oysters were perfectly crispy, spicy and gigundo. We briefly entertained the thought of ordering another round. For my entree I ordered the macadamia nut encrusted halibut. It was prepared nicely and served atop of a papaya salad. I quite enjoyed it. My husband ordered the dayboat scallops, which were large and beautifully carmelized. I tried them and they were outrageously delicious. Only problem: they only gave him four scallops. On a recent visit to DC Coast, PassionFish's sister restaurant in McPherson Square, I had tried their dayboat scallops, which only came with three, albeit much smaller scallops. Those were also delicious, but way too skimpy on the star ingredient. I wish I had recalled this before he ordered, but alas. I also had the opportunity to try a few other items at the table. One friend ordered the Blue Hill Bay Mussels, Red Thai Curry style. They were quite good. Not a coconut milk fan myself, I perhaps would have opted for their other style, Veracruz, which sounds like it focused on some spicy butter. Regardless, I was happy to give them a taste and would certainly consider them on a future visit. The unsung hero at the entire table however was the side of lobster mac n' jack (mac and cheese) my one friend ordered. My goodness, what a star, and for a mere six bucks! This dish is overrated at many establishments, but not here. PassionFish's version is positively outstanding. While we stuffed our faces, I definitely want to come back and try a few more items on the menu. I'm a little bummed I didn't get to try the Rock n' Roll (sushi) or ceviche, but should I acquire enough quarters to venture out on the Dulles Toll Road in the near future, I'll get to them. I also want to see what the dessert menu is all about. I should also mention that the service at PassionFish was top-notch. Unfortunately, I don't recall the name of our waiter, but he was incredibly knowledgable, gave wonderful recommendations, and always kept our area bussed and beverages full. He even had the uncanny ability to sense we were going to ask a question and always had the answer at ready. Wonderful experience all around. Kamikaze roll: 3.5 Fried oysters: 4.5 Macadamia nut encrusted halibut: 4 Dayboat scallops: taste 4.5, quantity 2 Mussels, Red Thai Curry style: 4 Lobster mac n' jack: 5 Service: 5
(4)Kelly C.
I have been here for many happy hours and it's one of the best- delicious food for $5! One thing I will say is that it is usually pretty full at happy hour but there aren't too many seats available at the bar so there have been times where I've had to wait a bit to get a seat there. In terms of the food I've gotten, the crab cake sliders and the normal sliders are definitely my favorite. I've also tried the tuna tacos, nachos, and cocktail shrimp, all of which were just as delicious as the others. Definitely would recommend for happy hour and I also definitely plan on coming to try their food for an actual meal.
(4)Ann T.
Definitely impressed. I was sold the minute the waiter told us that the fish was caught and cooked day of, every day. Although i can't exactly verify this, I can attest to the fact the seafood was definitely fresh. Everything we ordered was delicious. Highlights were the spring rolls and Branzino, which was this stew of prawns, clams, mussels, topped with a piece of garlic bread. Absolutely genius. CPIK took the break we were offered at the table and put it in as well, which I thought was a better bread because the crispiness of the bread stuck despite being soaked in the delicious sauce. I ordered a fish - the cioppino which was a buttery fish. You can get it deboned, just the fillets, or the whole fish. I opted for the whole fish, because I'm very familiar with the deboning process. Steamed fish was a regular guest at my house. All in all the food was very good and the service excellent. I'd definitely be back if I were craving something fresh and personal.
(4)Foodie C.
The service and ambience of this place are great The food is a Good NOT Great For the prices it better knock me off my chair. It doesn't ... I have been to Seafood places with these prices and most of them can because of the high quality. The food here is slightly above average. I will be back but only for the atmosphere and service. Food 3.25 Service 5 Cleanliness 5
(3)Adrienne S.
We had a great experience! We booked through Open Table, and I put in a note that my husband had a gluten allergy. The server, Golnara, came to the table already prepared to show him which menu items were safe. She was extremely well informed, including information about where the food came from and how it's prepared.That was huge for us. The only thing they could have done better was to have a gluten free alternative to their bread and cheese spread that they place on table before ordering.
(5)Krissi H.
So. Full. Holy. Crap. I made a Restaurant Week reservation (gasp! The horror, I know) for PassionFish for a Monday night. Yelpers Katie G. and Matt H. joined me on the looooong trek to Reston. Luckily traffic wasn't bad, but I was a little annoyed that I had to pay $1.75 in tolls each way. First impression: Wow. HUGE space. Tastefully decorated. Cool bauble light things hanging from the ceiling. It was just pretty, I thought. And, I loved the stairway to the second floor. And the fact that there was a mostly open loft-style second floor. We arrived early (I was afraid we'd hit bad traffic) but it wasn't an issue. The host got us seated right away. Now, I never order three courses by myself. NEVER. My stomach just ain't that big. But, it's a fixed menu and I'm paying for three courses, so why not, right? I ordered the Lobster and Heirloom tomato gazpacho to start. YUM! It was slightly spicy and super flavorful - but I feel like the lobster got a bit lost. I would totally order it again, though, because of the soup base. Also, it was served all pretty, sitting atop a serving platter with tons of ice. The great thing about PassionFish's RW menu is that all their entrees are fair game. How cool is that?! In hindsight, I should have ordered one of their fish dishes. I went with the scallops - which were cooked quite nicely and served with peas, pasta and smoky bacon. It was yummy - and the smoky bacon was a nice touch - but it didn't blow me away. By this point, I'm already feeling like my stomach is going to burst. I couldn't even finish my entree (don't worry; no scallops were left on the plate). But, like I said, I'm paying for dessert. My fellow diners both went for the chocolate mousse, so I chose the creme brulee. Both desserts were delicious. The chocolate mousse was incredibly rich, which made me appreciate the creme brulee a bit more, I think. The creme brulee was thick and had a nice sugary crust. Some of the sugar was a tad too burnt, I think, but otherwise it was yummy. I should say, if you go to PassionFish, bring your appetite. They do not skimp on portions. The creme brulee was the biggest portion I've seen anywhere. Probably too much. Also, the gazpacho, as nummy as it was, was a very large appetizer. Even though it was Restaurant Week, the place wasn't overly crowded. I'd say about 90 percent of the tables were filled, but it didn't feel crowded. Probably because the place is so huge and open. Also, I thought the service was mostly excellent. Our waiter was friendly and informative, giving us lots of suggestions and treating us great - even though we weren't paying full price. He did disappear for a bit before we ordered dessert - but overall I thought he was pretty great. Also - they have toothpicks in a little matches-like package with their logo (which I really like, except the lips of the fish look a little bit like pointy, scary teeth). I haven't tried them, but they look like really nice toothpicks. If PassionFish wasn't in Reston, I'd likely go back. But, I'm not sure I'd make the trek again. Or, at least not often.
(4)Tim C.
This was our 2nd visit to Passion Fish, and was a great experience, yet again. A plate of oysters to start were excellent, followed by truly wonderful bay scallops. Service was friendly and most attentive; no sense of being "rushed," however. We look forward to our next visit !!! Tim C.
(4)v b.
Simply... overpriced.. seafood joint... won't go back... Taste: a-ok
(2)Jason F.
I ate here last night with a dining companion. We were from Pittsburgh and it was recommended to us by a mutual friend in the area. The decor of the restaurant is upscale with linen tablecloths and neutral colored walls. We were seated upstairs where they also had some nice canvases of fish with black backgrounds. I imagine that the view is normally a bit better but whenever we ate there we got to look out over some construction sites. I started off with the Kung Pao Calamari appetrizer. It came with a nice presentation of some leaf lettuce on the side and carrots on the top. It had nice bits of calamari and tasted good with the spicy kung pao sauce that we all know with peanuts. For dinner I had the Fresh Lemon Sole and chose the Lemon Beurre Blanc sauce with the Red Thai Curry Rice as my side. My fish was cooked perfectly and tasted very good when combined with the sauce. In addition to that my Red Curry rice has a nice curried flavor that I really enjoyed. My dining companion had the whole crispy flounder. When they say whole, they are not kidding as the whole fish was presented to him. The waitress was nice enough to teach him how to eat it and he enjoyed it even though the jalepenos on top made it extremely spicy. Once dinner was completed we looked at the dessert menu which had many interesitng items but we decided to pass. The bottom line for me is that I would definitely come back here if I was visiting DC in the future. The fish tasted great, the service was friendly and the menu had a nice selection.
(4)Alison L.
After changing my birthday dinner reservation 4 times (all locations in DC), I decided I really wanted to try out this place. The reviews on yelp seemed ok, but I had heard some good things from friends and decided why not. We ordered two appetizers-- tuna roll- basic, but the freshest fish i have ever had (and i thought Ariake down the road had the freshest tuna ever). The tuna and avocado had the same consistency, buttery melt in your mouthness. mmmm. Yeah, the roll was a bit pricey, but it was so worth it. For a special occasion, splurging is ok. Also had the kung pao calamari. Super fresh squid-- not chewy and over cooked like a lot of other places. The batter was the perfect amount of sweet and spicy and not over battered. For dinner I had the salmon with the lemon sauce and the curry (wanted to try both). It was delicious. Not fishy, just hearty, boneless, tasty meaty salmon. At first I thought, hmm that's not a very big dish, but then I realized the thick cut of the salmon. I was definitely full after. The BF had the soft shell crabs (special that night). For desert, the waiter surprised us with the donut holes with a dipping cream. They were great, even though I left more full then I thought I would leave at a fish restaurant. Overall, a great restaurant for a special occasion or if you're feeling a little more upscale on the food range. Service was excellent-- we were also seated what I thought was the best seat in the house. Glasses were kept full. No complaints at all on service. Especially with the donut surprise. A great evening. I'm looking forward to going back and trying some of their other dishes...or even if I just felt like having perfect fish for an evening.
(5)T N.
I came here during lunch for Restaurant Week with a good friend of mine. I had never heard of it before my friend introduced it to me but I am glad that she did. I don't often go out to the Reston area therefore my knowledge of the restaurants are very limited. What I do wish is that they would open a location in the Fairfax area! I would be able to try it more often and give a more broad review of the food items. What immediately impressed me was the crostini and warm smoked fish dip that they served instead of the cliche bread and butter. The crostini was toasted to a perfect crunch and the dip was not too fishy but had enough flavor for you to savor the ingredients. I would have asked for seconds if the rest of the meal was not ahead of me. For my appetizer, I chose the Smokehouse "Wedge" Salad with aged gouda, cured tomato and drizzled with a ranch and warm smoked bacon vinaigrette. This was the best wedge salad I had ever had! It is definitely not your typical wedge salad with blue cheese and bacon bits. I tend to like my salads with vinaigrettes rather than creamy dressings and this definitely transformed the traditional wedge salad to a more tangy/creamy and edgy salad. The main course was a Jumbo Lump Crabcake Sandwich served with Old Bay Tartar Sauce and Sweet Potato Fries. The crab cake itself was a good consistency which actual lumps of crab in it. It was seasoned with a little too much mayonnaise and breadcrumbs but it does surpass most restaurants when it comes to the amount of crabs in the cake. The bun was nothing impressive and was a little too thick and chewy, I ended up eating it on the half with just the crab cake, lettuce and the bottom piece of the bun. The sweet potato fries were good but I did not stand apart from any other sweet potato fries that I have had. I guess it is because you can't really go wrong with sweet potato fries... Dessert was Blueberry Crisp with Sweet Summer Corn Ice Cream. This was actually a very refreshing dessert. The blueberry crisp itself was not too sweet and overbearing. At first, I thought the idea of corn ice cream was weird but it gave a good kick to the blueberry crisp even though they were very different. The corn ice-cream tasted like vanilla ice-cream at first but than it had a sweet corn aftertaste that was amazing and ended my lunch in a perfect way. Overall, I enjoyed the restaurant. Service was decent and could use some improvement but the hostesses were very friendly. I am planning on coming back here for my bf's birthday and try their dinner entrees.
(3)R R.
Hands down, my favorite seafood place in the Reston area. The best part of the whole dinner (all of it was amazing), was my entree - the scallops. They had some sort of lemon / cajun spice sauce. When I asked the waiter about what was on it, he said he had already written it down because so many people had asked and raved. My second favorite was the lobster mac and cheese ... although, if I had just had it on its own for dinner, it would have been a delight.
(5)Mike B.
I have been here a few times since it opened up in Reston Town Center. A few times we have stopped in just for drinks before heading to somewhere else in the town center. My biggest complaint with this place is the manager who seems to be working whenever I go. We sat outside for drinks after being told we could sit anywhere and he then came out and told us this table was for food and to move somewhere else if we just wanted drinks. The next time I was there for food, we sat inside and of course got to see him again. The food was good and the service was decent. We did order some food that never came out. I left bad cause we all got our food and the my friend had to wait about another 15 min for hers. The waiter was apologetic but then the manager came over and share his hate for the world. The waiter asked him to take the entree off the bill and he came to ask if that would make us happy. He was very condescending to us though. After he left the waiter apologized for him and said everyone there hates the guy. We had a few laughs over it. So if you go to this place, stay on your toes or you will get yelled at! But the food is pretty good.
(3)Vivian L.
Great Happy Hour on food and drinks. Crab cake minis are to die for and the bartenders are great!!! My visiting mom was impressed and she is a BITTTTTTT... picky. Sooo you know it's good.
(4)Donald B.
Great food, great atmosphere, and one of the best happy hours in Reston Town Center.
(4)Grace L.
When walking into this corner restaurant I was floored by the elegant decor of 3D fish paintings & the set up of tables. The Passion sushi was amazing, with 6 rolls placed on a thin plate. I know why this place has so many diners! It's a warm cozy atmosphere yet unpretentious. Great for dinners than lunch!
(4)Laura T.
My husband and I had dinner here last night. It was our first night out in two months (we have a small child and limited babysitters). We dressed up and were looking forward to a leisurely dinner and had heard Passion Fish was very good. We told our server that we were in no hurry. In fact, the opposite...we wanted to take our time and that we weren't even interested in giving him our main course order until after the appetizers were finished. He said he would time the dinner properly for us, so we gave him the full order. Our appetizers came out within about five minutes of ordering them. We hadn't even finished our first cocktail or ordered our wine. My husband had the wedge salad, which was pretty good. I had the baked clams casino. I had been told by the server that they were not served "on the shell" as is traditional, but rather baked in a small dish and served with some baguette. It was tasty, but I missed the individual "shell" aspect. I don't think I would order that again. By the time we ordered our bottle of wine, our entrees were served. We hadn't been in the restaurant for 20 minutes. I was frankly annoyed that they came out so fast, given that we had specifically said we wanted to take our time. My husband's filet of trout was very good, although the lemon beurre blanc sauce was a little "thick." I had been looking forward to the lobster clay pot with jasmine rice, which I had seen on their website. It was underwhelming. For $35.00 I think I expected an ambrosial experience. I've had many red curry coconut sauces at Thai restaurants that were more intricate than this sauce (seemed to be missing subtle flavors that would have helped like lemongrass or coriander). Overall the promised "tableside service" for this dish was disappointing. They put a shallow wide bowl with a small scoop of rice in front of you then open the clay pot and ladle the lobster pineapple curry around the rice. There is no garnish...a little green (cilantro? lime leaves? chives?) would have made it more visually appealing. It tasted good, but I think has been way overrated by other reviewers (I see some of you agree with me). And the price should probably be closer to $20.00--there really isn't all that much lobster in it. Finally, the ambiance of the restaurant: It was quite nice and we had an upstairs window table as the sun was setting. Once the sun went down and they raised the screen shades, someone turned up the lights and they seemed shockingly bright. We complained to the server and asked them to dim them slightly (twice) and he indicated he was powerless to influence the person who insisted we be under interrogation lamps at the end of our swift service. We told him we would have ordered dessert had the setting been more accommodating, but instead got our check and left, a mere 55 minutes after sitting down at our table. Not a leisurely dinner. Bottom line, it was OK, but don't have high expectations if you go here or you will be disappointed.
(3)Katie G.
Oh god, I can't move. I'm so full. Fellow Yelper Krissi H. and I made the long trek out to Reston for a taste of what PassionFish, a seafood restaurant in a suburban town center/mall complex, had to offer as part of D.C. Restaurant Week. Typically, I've had bad experiences with pricey places during this particular week of the year; oftentimes it seems as though the servers aren't trying as hard because they know the fixed-price menus are going to culminate in less tip money. However, I can genuinely say that that wasn't the case here, something for which I am thankful. What I liked about PassionFish's take on Restaurant Week more than anything was that they offered their entire entree menu as an option -- other places will narrow it down to as few as three offerings and let that be that, but I liked that this place let the sky (or I guess the depths of the sea, as it were) be the limit. For me, the meal just kept getting better with each course they brought me: A savory corn and crab chowder melted into Caribbean jerk salmon, which then crescendoed into a decadent chocolate mousse. I took one bite of the amazing dessert and became so overwhelmingly happy that I nearly shed tears of joy. My only complaints are that the joint itself, being in the strip-mall-esque area in Reston, felt,,, I dunno, pedestrian? Overdone like Disneyworld? Devoid of character? I tend to seek out ambiance just as much as I do quality of food, and beyond the jelly-fish-like light fixtures, which were pretty cool, I felt PassionFish was lacking. Additionally, the wait in between dinner and dessert felt inordinately long. Not sure what was going on with that, but I wasn't about to raise a stink. Bottom line, I ate every single bite of every single thing served to me. I never expected I'd go into a seafood restaurant and leave a beached whale, but that's precisely what happened.
(4)Heath S.
I go for fun and for work at both lunch and dinner and I'm never disappointed. The service at the bar and tables are great and the sushi is awesome. PassionFish is always my first choice in Reston.
(4)Jack S.
Went on a Monday after work. I got there early so I didn't have to wait, lucky...cause it was packed by the time I left. And now for the review...The place is fancy. Pretty nice decor. Not too noisy and not too quite. Our server was very knowledgeable. He told us a bunch about the items on the menu and have some suggestions. The food was served very promptly! We were surprised actually. The portions were decent, the food was great (red snapper filet for me) Server was attentive and friendly. Price was a little steep, expect to pay $100 plus for two people and a cheap bottle of wine. Our was like 80 bucks and we didn't do wine....so figure it out yourself. I shall be back soon.
(4)Patrice L.
My husband and I had lunch at PassionFish in the Reston Town Center recently on a Friday afternoon. I had low expectations from things we had heard from friends, but even the low expectations were not met. The atmosphere is nice and bright and airy. When we sat down the table was quite whimsical with flatware that looked like dolphins. There was a small bread plate in front of each of us with a butter knife and napkin, but we never received any bread. I looked around and nobody else had any bread either. Appetizers: I had the shrimp cocktail and it was fine...nothing special. It was 4 shrimp for $7. The shrimp were large however the shrimp cocktail from Wegman's is just as good with smaller shrimp. My husband had the Kamikaze Roll that was recommended by the waiter. The portion was very large, but as for taste, he said it was overpowered by the sauce and couldn't taste anything but the sauce. Entree: I had the miso glazed salmon which was supposed to come with Szechuan eggplant, but since I don't like eggplant I asked if I could get some other vegetables instead so it came with the spring vegetables. The salmon was completely over powered by the miso that I couldn't taste the salmon. The spring vegetables came in a shallow bowl and overall just looked grey. It was mostly peas, but also included lima beans, carrots, asparagus and something grey and stringy that I could not identify...I think it was some kind of mushroom. The vegetables were drowned in butter and completely over cooked so everything was mushy and grey. My husband had the catch of the day, which was mahi mahi, and came with a green salad. He said it was bland and over cooked. We didn't have dessert because I really just wanted the experience to be over. I couldn't get the strong miso taste out of my mouth. The other thing that bothered me was that there was no carbohydrate served at all. The fish came only with vegetables and no bread was ever served. The total with tax and tip was $70. Unfortunately, I cannot recommend this restaurant and we will not return.
(2)Amanda P.
Pricy but a delicious and fresh menu. We went here for a Sunday birthday brunch and racked up quite a bill with wonderful Bloody Mary's. The eggs benedict were also fantastic. I would definitely go here again when my wallet allows.
(4)Michelle B.
Visited Passion Fish while on business at the suggestion of a client. I was there early...around 5ish...and they were not yet serving from the full dinner menu. Happy hour menu was pretty good though...had the clams casino dish, which came with a crusty warm chunk of bread good good for dipping in the buttery dish, and also had their version of fish and chips. The fish was a tilapia...just okay in my book. Some good wines for happy hour as well. Just $5 for each app and drink. The full dinner menu was on the pricey side...
(3)Rebecca S.
This place is a bit pricey, but it's my favorite place in Reston Town Center (aside from the frozen yogurt place near the Thai restaurant). The food is quite good, the menu extensive, the servers are excellent, the space is large with high ceilings, the location is "downtown" Reston Town Center (if there was a downtown), and parking is free (several garages in RTC). A tip would be to come here during Restaurant Week if you want to try it for a deal. Their appetizer-entree-dessert option allows you to order any of their entree (as opposed to a pre-selected list of 3 or 4 entrees like at many restaurants participating in RW).
(5)Leslie F.
I went this past Saturday for my birthday with my husband along with my parents. The food was amazing all around. Started with fried and dirty oysters completed with a meal of fried flounder for me with satued spinach, grouper with s.p. fries for hubby, dad got blackened red fish he got the spinach as well, mom got scallops with asaparagus. The portions were right on but the prices did seem to be a little high. I noticed they had sushi on their menu which prices just right, however trying a new seafood restaurant I wanted something more than sushi. Overall I would mosdef go back, the wine was excellent according to my parents and I sure enjoyed my vodka tonics. The service by Oscar as well as the rest of the staff that waited on us they were all fantastic! Oops - I almost forgot I got a free dessert of my choosing for my birthday and they had creme brule which is always at the top of my list.
(4)Valarie G.
Overall a very nice place. Good atmosphere, great fish, and lovely drinks. Just a hike from DC when there are just as good seafood places within the district. If I am going to drive this far - I want to be blown away. That being said, if you live all the way out in Reston, this is easier than driving to Georgetown for Hook!
(3)Cat P.
This is an impassioned and angry review of a restaurant that initially won my tastebuds. On my latest visit, I was treated to horrible service. Our server took one look at my tiny Vietnamese mother and equally diminutive me and figured we wouldn't be filling up on the drinks so he treated us like crap. We waited forever for glasses of water. Then we continued to wait for him to take our orders. And when our food came out, our waiter did not communicate to other staff well what we ordered so there was confusion and general awkwardness. I was absolutely incensed. There was no apology for our wait or the uncertainty surrounding our orders. The waiter only decided to check up on us when I was visibly fuming. To top it off, our food was too salty and not deserving of the accolades it received from professional reviewers. I was impressed with the quality of the food on my first visit, but with this horrible experience I am never returning until they clean up their act. The owners of Passionfish, who also run DC Coast, should read my review and get it together! I am calmer now that I've had the chance to vent and to tell others what they're in for. Thank you for listening.
(1)Anne B.
Great looking place, but the overall service is sketchy, not fluid and perfect as you would expect at this price point, and the food really not worth $$$. We had arrived at 9PM for a late supper. I ordered two appetizers to avoid overeating so late. My lobster cocktail was huge plate of chipped ice with a small HALF lobster tail and a tiny claw with the the little pincer missing. The cocktail part consisted of a couple of tablespoons of good sour cream sauce in a little bowl on the side. My other appetizer was the much-lauded (in other Yelp reviews) Hamachi. This was three small slices of grapefruit, each topped with a sliver of yellowtail and thin slice of jalapeno. If it had stopped there it would have been fine. But it was over-drizzled in a too-sweet, too-salty soy/sugar sauce that overpowered the other ingredients, including the jalapeno! My husband had the Norwegian Salmon and found it tasty, but a smallish portion. He also liked the doughnut holes for dessert - BIG portion!. The wine list has almost noting under 50 bucks. That's just unfair. There are a tremendous number of delicious whites that work with seafood that can be had, even in restaurants, for 40 bucks or even less. If you are looking for a place to see and be seen go here. Great people-watching. If you want great seafood value for money and impeccable service go somewhere else.
(2)Jenny R.
I work in the Town Center, and been here 3 times. Never disappointed. Today was great because we went there on a business lunch and ordered "the big daddy" as an appetizer. It is a combination of raw mussles, oysters, shrimp, lobster tail, crab claws that is delicious! There was something on this platter for everyone, and it was a pretty good icebreaker as well played around with cracking lobster tails, fishing out oysters and enjoying the dish. Would def recommend ordering this for a large group again, or as a dinner item for two people.
(4)Princess J.
The drinks were great (Gin Ricky and Mojito)! We were a little disapointed when we had to ask the server to point out the different types of oysters on our plate. She seemed annoyed that we could not tell the difference. We ordered a grapefruit/jalapeno halibet crudette that was not as great as it sounded on the menu. But the diver scallops on a bed of squid ink delivered a delicious flavor experience. Over all this is a nice place to take the folks or a fancy date.
(3)Lance H.
The seafood at Passion Fish is among the very best in the area. The lobster curry is a very original dish, and it is one of my favorite meals ever. The seafood appetizer is awesome, and the tower is plenty for 3 or 4 people to share. The deserts at Passion Fish are also wonderful, and I can't wait to go back!
(5)Ryan W.
Good entrees and apps but portion size is lacking, and I'm not a big guy but I like to feel full when leaving here, or even have some leftovers after a few apps and some of the entree. I find that hard to do here the two times I've been. A little pricey too.
(3)Ra C.
For this latest round of Family Food Adventure (FFA) we decided to venture out west to Reston over the weekend and give PassionFish a try. I do want to thank some fellow foodies who recommended this place to me on Twitter. PassionFish is owned by the same trio who own DC Coast; as the name suggest, the specialty here is seafood. Walking in, you can't help but notice the seafood station in the middle of the main dining room. There's also a pretty spectacular glass staircase; the décor is definitely contemporary and makes you feel like you've been whisked out to sea. Settling in, we decided to start off with the big daddy - a seafood tower complete with lobster tails, crab claws, clams, oysters, and shrimp. The seafood was definitely very fresh, and for a group of 6, is was the perfect starter to share. We also ordered 2 specialty sushi rolls based on the waitress' recommendations. Both did not disappoint and the dipping sauces gave the sushi a unique twist. For my entrée, I got the red curry lobster, spicy of course. The waitress even stated that their curry was pretty mild, and being a lover of hot peppers, I had to get it spicy. It would be wrong of me to order a mild curry. It was kind of neat when my dish was brought out. It was a shallow bowl with a cup of rice. Then the waitress brought out a small clay pot that contained the curry and scooped generous helpings over my rice. I liked being served that way. The curry wasn't completely authentic, it was a definite fusion, but the kaffir lime leaves and coconut milk - the 2 most essential curry ingredients in my book - were definitely there. I also liked the pieces of pineapple, which added a nice break from the overall spiciness and added sweetness to the broth. My husband got the whole crispy flounder. The size was enormous; it looked like it was enough to feed a family of 4. As soon as the platter hit the table, all we could smell was the pungent aroma of the fish sauce. One of the best Asian combinations to me is fried fish and fish sauce. The flounder was cooked perfectly and served alongside a cucumber salad. I think I would have traded in the cucumber salad for a big bowl of rice though; that seemed more fitting. I also managed to get a bite of the scallops, pan seared with snow peas, mushrooms and trofie pasta. The scallop was seared perfectly, and along with the bite I had, I was pleasantly surprised to find crunchy bacon pieces. That was a great addition to the creamy milky texture of the scallop. We had ordered a few side items, but the one that stood out to me was the lobster mac n cheese. Who doesn't want a little lobster on a good ole classic comfort food? The butter and cheesiness of the mac n cheese went so well with the sweet and plump chunks of lobster meat. The food here was really good, seafood was very fresh and the entrees had incredible flavors; the price point, however, was a little bit on the steep side. I don't think I'd put this in my regular dining rotation, but it was worth the trip to Reston. As we all polished off the last of the donut holes for dessert, we seemed to be pretty satisfied with dinner and happy with another successful FFA.
(4)Reena D.
I took my husband to PassionFish for lunch yesterday to celebrate his birthday. And we absolutely fell in love with the place. Ambiance - I like the two-level dining options. We were seated upstairs with a nice view of the city! It must be nicer for dinners. The place was aesthetically done. I love the fish-themed cutlery! Service was fast. No complaints! Food- Scrumptious! Lots of flavor. We split the seafood gumbo and although it was the first time I had it, I though it was tasty. (But then I have nothing to compare it to...) For the entrees, we ordered the Louisiana crawfish etouffee and blackened tilapia. Awesome! I never had food that had so many flavors. Yes, the server did give us the Tabasco sauce to "spice things up", but it wasn't needed. Delicious! My husband loved the blackened tilapia. The sauce was awesome and he liked the added touch of collard greens. Being huge seafood buffs, the food experience at PassionFish was completely different than what we ever had. Dessert was warm donut holes served with Bavarian cream... Made in house, the donut holes were soft and melted right in the mouth. I thought that the price was ok for the service and the food. And it was a special occassion, so I didn't really mind.
(4)Brittany H.
I wanted to like passion fish.... i really did. The ample space is tremendous with an entire floor upstairs. The decor is very generic albeit a pretty sight, where one would imagine an upscale beach meets vast ocean. Perhaps the dinner would be a better setting for me....but generally speaking, wasn't really feeling the food during lunch service. The wine here was actually pretty good though..... To start, I had the tuna nicoise salad.... it had too much extra crap going on. Though the fish was fresh & excellent.... I could have done without the peppers, sun dried tomatoes..... just excess and unknown "stuff". The sushi wasn't too bad, but definitely nothing extraordinary. Dessert was most disappointing. Key Lime pie... too soft and too tart. Chocolate mousse.... well, I don't like mousse to begin with...consistency was not smooth enough for me, but if you like ur dessert bittersweet, this one is not so empowering and won't implode sweetness in your mouth. Nice ending touch on the passion fruit candy ... soft, chewy bite candy, but it was way too sweet for me. yeah, yeah, I'm a fussy eater. I KNOW already.
(3)Candace C.
3.5 stars Looks like Passionfish has worked out a few of its kinks and I'm upgrading them to 3.5 stars. I had the Peruvian ceviche, miso glazed salmon with sichuan eggplant, and a supposedly molten chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream. I loved the first two, but was so disappointed with dessert--not the greatest way to end an otherwise great meal. My ceviche was light and refreshing--the portion was quite generous too. My salmon had a nice sweet brown crust from the miso glaze and was tender and juicy. I loved the eggplant that it came with. Last time I think I said you could get dessert just as good from Wegmans--I take it back, dessert is better at Wegmans. Dessert was pretty sad--no molten gooeyness to my chocolate cake (it was cold), bland, and not all that pretty. The ice cream was flaked with ice crystals. Iceberry across the street would probably be a better way to end the meal--for the same price. Our server was very nice--but the boy who delivered our food could do more to not drop our plates on the table. They seriously made huge plop sounds while landing and I'm lucky I don't have salmon oil all over me! Bottom line--food was great, portions have improved--still working out a few kinks on service, get a new dessert chef!
(3)Laura M.
Dazzling... We went there on our anniversary, on a Saturday night, and had reservations. The ambiance was gorgeous, with small, delicate touches (fintail spiral twists with napkins, silverware with fish tails) and impeccable service. We shared the grilled octopus appetizer, which came with incredible accompaniments and was charred just-so. Entrees were a steak and crab cakes. The server said that the crab cakes were 95% crab and they were--maybe even 97% crab. They were large enough that I only ate one and another to bring home with me. The tartar sauce was beyond compare--I have never had fresh tartar sauce before but it did amazing things to the already-succulent crab cake. The frissee of spring vegetables was just okay, but my boyfriend was pleased with his bucket o' fries. He declared his steak "very, very good;" it was cooked medium-well and was huge. We tried the sorbet sampler for dessert, and it was a light, fun way to end an elegant night without feeling overstuffed. The servers also gave us plenty of time to enjoy our meal and coffee without feeling rushed, though there were others waiting for a table. Definitely a must-try for a special occasion!
(4)Lisey W.
My mother and I came here for lunch recently and the food and service were excellent. For starters we ordered the blue crab and corn chowder soup. It was delicious and not too salty as I've often found at other places. My only complaint is there was hardly any crab in the soup - just a few very small pieces of crab and a lot of corn (this is the only complaint I have on this review). My mother ordered a lobster roll and I had the crawfish etoufee. My mother enjoyed her lobster roll and the crawfish etoufee was well seasoned, not too salty and contained a lot of crawfish. Even the rice that accompanied the dish was good - just the right consistency and not too soft. But I have to say the highlight of the meal was their Mac n Jack! It was probably one of the best mac n cheese I've ever tasted. Real creamy, cheesy and simply wonderful. This dish is the epitome of comfort food (I never would have thought of finding something like this at a seafood restaurant)! We will definitely return!
(4)Marcus L.
A surprising gem in Reston Town Center, just expect to pay DC prices for your meal... I had the pleasure of eating here for the first time last weekend. Being St Patty's Day, the area around RTC was mobbed and we were fortunate to be able to walk in and get seats at the bar. Our bartender was helpful, albeit busy as he was also servicing some of the tables in the bar area. Our meal included the Kung Pao Calamari, Angry Chef Roll, and Catch of the Day Chesapeake Bay Rockfish. All 3 were delicious with the Angry Chef Roll my favorite. The roll includes the perfect combination of a large cooked bbq eel paired with raw spicy tuna. The Rockfish was done perfectly and flaked at the touch of my fork. The Calamari, was your traditional asian sweet sauce paired with fried calamari, a nice departure from the standard marinara and lemon. All in all, I had a great meal and would recommend it again.
(4)Dan K.
Wait staff was great, place was busy but had no problem making a reservation the day before. The "Big Daddy" appetizer was delicious and for a few bucks extra we had the clams replaced with more oysters. Main dish was the halibut and it was perfect. Wine selection is pretty good and the saki was fantastic! I will definitely return!
(4)Jon K.
I'll give this place a rounded up 4 stars.... My wife won a $100 gift certificate to this restaurant so we were pretty excited about going here. I'll tell you what, the Sushi was pretty damn good. After we ordered a bottle of wine, we started out with the jumbo lump rounded crab meat cocktail which was very good. We then ordered the Captain Crunch Roll, Sea Spider Roll, Rock N Roll, and Spicy Tuna Roll which were all very good. For dessert, we had some sort of donut hole thingees that weren't bad at all. My main gripe about this place is that it's overpriced. I can even understand it being a little overpriced being in Reston Town Center. However, I can go into Old Town Alexandria and get the same kind of meal for about 75% of the price. Having said that, the staff bent over backwards for us and our waiter was very nice which should be recognized. It was very nicely decorated inside as well. I would come back to this place if my wife wanted to and it's a place to try out for those that live close by.
(4)A L.
Some friends and I went last night for restaurant week. One of the best offerings for RW so far. They let you choose anything from the main dinner menu, appetizer and dessert for the $35. Service was good.ambiance great...food was very good although I didnt love my chocolate dessert....I obviously more concerned with my main dish ( mahi mahi than the dessert. Mahi was great!
(4)Morgan V.
Delicious food and wine pairings. Some dishes were definitely overpriced though.
(4)Lisa B.
Excellent meal...Although I am always bothered by beady fish eyes I went head and ordered the evening special, a whole red snapper...and devoured the whole thing. Amazing...and the red thai curry sauce was a welcome addition. Wine list also featured a decent selection of half bottles - always a plus. Anyhow... the fun part of this review is the relay of our arrival. So there I am strolling down the street, nice little sundress and coach flip flops, clutch in hand. My siblings and I are having a laugh at some girls on the opposite side of the street, as we do. Then, out of no where, suddenly I am horizontal on the ground with them both speechless, jaws dropped. Seems on a drizzly eve one can't assume that flip flops and sobriety will overcome a slippery metal grate....and one foot forward will result in slow motion splits, or an attempt thereof. But, wait for it, the BEST part? Yeah that would be the floor-to-ceiling windows of PassionFish and an audience of my future fellow diners :) That said, the point to this is to Yelp about the amazing busboy that came to my immediate attention, coming out from the restaurant to seek how he could be of assistance, then fetching band-aids as needed. Again as I went to the restroom during dinner I ran into him and he asked again of my well being. His genuine concern helped, just a tad, to overcome perhaps some of the sheer shame of it all! Great food is always welcome and I do love a place with the right atmosphere...but it'll always be the people that bring me back. Perhaps that's the Irish in me. Fine by me.
(4)David R.
I am not in the habit of going to places like Passion Fish on my own. There is something sterile to me about big, open, places that afford no privacy, and try to do everything under the sun (eCITI, I'm also talking about you....) The prices at Passion Fish are enough to keep me away, but I was tasked to bring a group of scientists to this restaurant for my job (my company paid for it - I guess the experience at Clyde's in Reston last year didn't quite cut it). Problem number one: It took the server what seemed like 20 minutes to explain the dinner specials and menu suggestions. Some may love the process of hearing the wait staff drone on about their specials and menu, but hand me a menu, dammit. I don't have the brain power to digest all of that data, especially after a day of work. The group ordered just about every appetizer on the menu, including this $65 item called "Big Buddy" (or something like that), consisting of lobster claws, oysters, clams and the like. I hate oysters, so already this place gets a shaky start. But it was just too loud in the restaurant and was like a seafood version of the Palm, another inexplicably pricey spot for fat checking accounts. I will give Passion Fish this - the presentation of the food was good. After the appetizers and the butternut lobster bisque (best thing I had that night), I didn't have much room for an entree, so the ahi tuna did the trick. It was presented in a shrimp cocktail goblet, with plentiful ice. And dessert - I don't do desserts, but was pressured by the group I was with - a sorbet sampler. Fasting for a day or two before coming to Passion Fish is recommended. Three solid stars.
(3)Nicole H.
I've wanted to try this place for awhile, and finally decided to when I found out that they were participating in DC's Restaurant Week. My mom and I went for lunch. Our server was very friendly and attentive, although I didn't look at his name on the receipt... he was a young Asian guy. I love the design of the restaurant. Although other reviewers have mentioned that they hate the large, spacious room, I think it's absolutely beautiful. We sat on the lower level next to a window. My mom started with a corn and crab chowder, which she said was delicious. I had gumbo, which was also very good. My entree was a crabcake sandwich. Although the crabcake was good, I didn't think it was anything extraordinary. It came with sweet potato fries, which my mom loved. She had the shrimp and grits, after debating between that and fish tacos, and thought it was great. For dessert, she had the apple crisp, which was really, really good, and i had the caramel creme brulee. Even though I was stuffed by then, I couldn't resist finishing it. Overall, a good introduction to Passionfish at a reasonable price.
(4)Kathy M.
Have had lunch there several times and the fish of the day and salad is a great deal. Went to dinner and there were 4 of us. I tried Arctic Char which I felt could of been cooked a little longer but was reassured by our waiter that's how it should be. Scallops were great. Rainbow Trout was great. Mahi Mahi with curry could of been cooked better. Warm doughnut holes for dessert were a great hit with my husband. Good service. All I all a great evening.
(4)Robert B.
Went here for a birthday lunch around 1:30pm with some co-workers. I'm usually only inclined to write reviews after particularly good or bad experiences with a restaurant, but I really can't praise PassionFish enough so I figured the least I could do was write a review. FOOD: The eight of us came prepared and wanting to try the Monday special off of their World Class Lunch Special menu which runs all summer: lobster roll with kennebec fries, clam chowder, and key lime tart all for $17. The lobster roll was very good (I've never had a bad lobster roll though), the fries were well seasoned albeit slightly too salty for my tastes, the clam chowder had a fantastic smoky taste likely imparted by the bacon in it, and the key lime tart with meringue was a complementary juxtaposition of of very sour and slightly sweet. All in all, certainly a value. SERVICE: This is where PassionFish really excelled and went above and beyond. I had called earlier in the day to make reservations, and informed the restaurant that it was my birthday after they asked if it was a special occasion. Lo and behold, the menus at our table were all customized with a "Happy Birthday Robert!" note at the top. Our waitress was also incredibly attentive throughout our lunch. One of my coworkers was hard to accommodate for, asking for shredded cheese for his soup, but the waitress came back with sliced gouda after explaining that they didn't have any shredded cheese (I don't blame them either). Later, he complained that he couldn't eat the clam chowder because of the bacon, and asked if they had a bacon-free version. The waitress came out minutes later with corn chowder - all of this keeping in mind that the lunch special menu explicitly states "no substitutions." In between our food and waiting for their exquisite plating and presentation of a cake we had bought ourselves, they brought out free samples of in-house fudge. Their service was nothing short of impressive, and I wouldn't hesitate for a second to recommend PassionFish for a special occasion. As we left, I was even given a rolled up copy of the customized menu, tied up with ribbon, to remember the occasion! ATMOSPHERE: You'll feel underdressed if you come in wearing anything less than business casual. The restaurant has a very casual yet elegant and classy feel, with a beautiful glass staircase leading up to the second floor seating. The fish-themed salt and pepper shakers are a nice touch as well. OVERALL: I realize my review isn't so much about the food here as it is the service I experienced, but I'd recommend PassionFish without hesitation for anybody seeking to celebrate a special occasion.
(5)Aaron K.
The food is incredible, from a fully stocked raw bar to desserts that are as delicious as they are simple. Definitely save time to grab a drink in the bar, as the bartenders are top notch and quite personable. Once you are seated, there are almost too many choices! Sushi is solid, though not unique by itself. Appetizer standouts include the grilled octopus and grilled pear salad. For the main course, the Red Thai Curry Lobster "Claypot" is phenomenal, as is the Whole Crispy Flounder. The daily fresh fish selection, however, with the variety of preparations, is a simple, elegant, and always satisfying choice. When it's time for dessert, even the simplest choice of warm donut holes is never a bad choice. Ambiance and atmosphere are incredible - nautical without being kitschy. Subtle fish themes in the silverware and chandeliers are complemented by a fantastic layout that is at once intimate and expansive.
(5)Coleen C.
Our anniversary dinner Saturday night a Passion Fish was enjoyable. I had been worried that the ambience wouldn't be right for a romantic dinner because in my past visits there I had been seated downstairs in the open area and outside. What I didn't realize was how cozy the upstairs loft is. We had a little table tucked away on the back wall with low lighting and it was perfect. Our waiter was prompt and friendly. He did a great job answering our questions and explaining the specials. Although we should have discussed the wine with him more before we chose. We had a bottle of mid-ranged Pinot that was underwhelming. We were in the mood to share a mussels appetizer which they don't have, so we order the Thai Chili muscle entree to start with. I was very good. I was surprised that it dind't come with bread to soak up the yummy sauce, but our waiter hooked us up. I'm not usually a bread person, but with a dish like that it's really the way to go. For the main course we shared the Arctic Char with the bourblanc sauce and a smoke house salad. I'm not sure with we were thinking not only did we not need the salad because we had a side of mushrooms and asparagus (both awesome), but the strong smokey flavor of the bacon and smoked guda was so mismatched the the delicate flavor of the fish. We didn't eat it, but that was our fault. The fish was done well with a crispy skin and that sauce is a favorite. To full for dessert. Looking forward to going back and trying some other great dishes I spied on the menu.
(4)Kristy F.
I took my Mom there on Saturday night and had a fantastic dinner!!! The Red thai Lobster curry and a World Class Martini for me!!!! UMMMMMMM :) Our server Anna is what made the night! She walked my mom through the menu with such patience, as my mom can be a bit indecisive, finally narrowing it down to the fresh Mahi with sweet potato fries. She loved it! I couldnt believe the large cut of the Mahi, def not a bad thing !!! The servers was helpful and super knowledgeable when it came to the menu! I dont get to nice dinners enough with my mom so I am very grateful that when I had the chance on Saturday we had such a great time. From the moment I walked in the door to when I left, everyone I came in contact with was friendly and the atmosphere was warm and welcoming. I look forward to my next visit! Thanks PFH.
(5)Ashley A.
I've been wanting to try Passion Fish for years after hearing countless raving reviews. We started with the tempura tuna roll, which was great. My date had never had sushi before and never wanted to try it, but is now a fan after trying this. I had the porchini halibut, which was delicious. If you love mushrooms, this is a great choice, although it was a small portion. My date had the crispy flounder, which was substantial and surprisingly good. Dessert was a bit of a let down, however. I had the chocolate mouse; I love chocolate and sweets, but this was too rich for me, which says a lot! The service was suburb and our waiter was very personable. I would absolutely come back, although with prices like these it probably wont be too frequent.
(4)Paul W.
Strong 3.5 stars from me. This place is relatively new, but I'm sure they'll do well in the towncenter. The interior is beautiful with a huge open space. The service is goodand the menu is interesting. Tried a couple fish dishes and I was impressed with how the fish was prepared and tasted. Prices aren't bad either.
(3)Amy E.
I returned from Passionfish tonight for New Years Eve dinner. I quite enjoyed it, but my husband thought it was mostly good. That might have been due to him not feeling great. The service was really good. Greeted nicely and seated right away. Wait staff was verry attentive and folded your napkin properly if you left the table. Could service have been faster? Yes, but it was packed and I think it's better not to rush food. I should have bought my server a shot for how frantic she was rushing around. My server was really nice and helped me with any questions about the menu. I wasn't sure about the different types of fish and she was able to describe to me each one. I ended up having the spicy ahi tuna tartar for an app. and red snapper with the lemon beurre blanc sauce for my entree with jasmin rice and red curry sauce on the side. yum... yum... yum! For having no idea what I really wanted, I think I nailed it on the head (or my server helped me anyway). Having recently been to a resort with the most awesome ahi tuna tartar, this was a close second. The red snapper (never having it before) was soooo goood! No bones or chewy. It was like butter. No fishy taste. The rice with curry sauce was an unexpected surprise. One of my favorite Thai dishes is panang and this curry was very similar and it went well with the fish. My husband had the bucket of clams. He liked them, but said they were a little too salty. He had the scallops for his entree. BIG scallops. I am not a scallop fan, but tried a bite and thought the texture was much more pleasing than past tries at other places. I liked it, but not a fan personally. That's saying something I guess. We got our desert just before midnight. Warm apple crisp and chocolate mousse. Beautifully done. Of course being New Years, they gave us a free champagne toast and gave us hats and noise makers. At midnight everyone gathered to watch the ball drop in Times Square on the T.V. along with the staff. It was a good time! My only gripe was we were initially overlooked for giving the new year hats. Simply fixed by asking our server for a couple. I gave this place 4 stars because I would not eat here often. A bit pricey, but would love to go back sometime. p.s. I have to say that the music they played was pretty much everything that I enjoy. I can't stand going into restaurants listening to something you can't stand. That's from my point of view though.
(4)Gretchen P.
Yet another stop in my epic culinary birthday tour, my family and I all headed to PassionFish to celebrate belatedly, as my parents were out of town on my actual cakeday. I'll tell you right off the bat that I absolutely chose the right restaurant to celebrate -- the food was fantastic, the service was unexpectedly awesome, and it was just a really great evening! So, Friday night our party of 6 headed out to Reston Town Center in the pouring rain, and my dad (bless his heart) dropped us off right in front while he went to search for parking. We walked in and were immediately seated at a round table in the middle of the main dining floor. I really dug the decor and ambiance of the restaurant -- it's not exactly what I would call romantic, but it's trendy and modern and very open, and I loveloveloved the bubble chandelier things. They reminded me of jellyfish! Anyway, as I said, I was here for my birthday, which is something I made a note of when making my Open Table reservation. After we sat down and were handed our menus, my brother told me to look inside. Imagine my surprise (and pleasure!) at seeing that they had specially printed out the menu pages for my party to say "Happy Birthday Gretchen!!!" at the top! It was a really special and totally unexpected touch. Speaking of unexpected touches, the service at PassionFish was full of them! I've read some iffy reviews about the uneven service that other Yelpers have received here, but I definitely didn't have the same experience. From my water glass that never dipped below the half-empty line without being refilled to the swift replacement of all our silverware and plates after each course, I thought the service was top-notch. When my boyfriend dropped his napkin on the floor, our waiter picked it up and folded it back into a table tent for him! There was a tiny hiccup in the beginning where a long amount of time elapsed before we could put in our wine/drink order, but the rest of the service more than made up for it. Oh, right, the food! You guys probably want to hear about that. Well, if you check out the pictures I posted, that should be more than enough to convince you of its amazingness, but since this review isn't already long enough or anything, I guess I can tell you about it too. To start, PassionFish offers complimentary crostini with a fish & cream cheese (or something) spread that is very tasty. We also got the crab & shrimp spring rolls and the kung pao calimari as appetizers. They were both quite good, but both quite overpriced, IMO. For future trips I'd probably skip the appetizers as, again, the free crostini starter was awesome, as was the salad I got (beet salad), and the soups I sampled from my boyfriend (gumbo - SPICY!) and my dad (lobster + butternut squash bisque -- DIVINE). My entree was the seared sea scallops, which were cooked to PERFECTION, and came with a spaetzel-like pasta, corn, and super crispy ham/prosciutto. The ham was more like bacon, and all the flavors in combination with each other were just... oh man, it was SO good. My favorite dish on the table, and I tried everybody else's food, too (duh). My boyfriend and brother's fiancee both got the macademia nut-crusted halibut, which was moist and had great texture, but the papaya salad it was served with was a little weird. My mom got the crab cakes which were literally ALL crab. Not a speck of breading -- I was impressed! My brother got the mussels, which came in a Thai curry-style that was surprising and delicious. My dad got the whole flounder--seriously, an entire fish was on his plate--and it was very tasty. But, again, my scallops were definitely the winner. Hands-down I would order that same dish again. They also offered me a free dessert for my birthday, and though I was already stuffed, I chose the donut holes which were hot, fresh, and oh-so-delicious. Okay, longest review ever, I know. TL;DR is that the service was great and the food was well-worth the pricetag, but that pricetag is VERY high, so it's definitely a special night out kinda place.
(5)Kate H.
I should start off by letting you know I am NOT a fan of seafood. My department had their Christmas lunch at Passionfish and I figured okay, I'll be able to find some non-fish dish on the menu, no problem. Problem. The only things on the ENTIRE menu that aren't seafood are the salads. I told the waiter I didn't eat fish and asked if they could do the shrimp & grits with chicken (not a stretch - there was chicken on the kids menu). He said he'd have to ask the chef, and then came back two minutes later telling me the chef is picky and said NO. WHA???? I was pregnant at the time and even tried to play that card, with no luck. Soooo, I had a salad for my appetizer and a salad as my main course. Both were okay, but nothing to rave about or go back for. Chef Tunks, and all the other chefs in Reston, listen up and repeat after me: RESTON IS NOT DC. A CHEF IS NOT GOD. I don't know where this guy gets off telling me that they can't swap out the four little shrimp they plop on top of the grits with 4 little pieces of chicken, but I do know that I would never return back here on my own accord due to his egotistical, rude attitude. The only reason these restaurants stay in business is because they make their customers happy. This one was NOT.
(1)Joceyln Y.
We went during restaurant week. It was easy to get a reservation and at 630pm the place wasnt too busy. The food itself was great. We didnt care for the whitefish spread they gave us. I didnt taste the fish enough. The seafood was very fresh to my surprise. My family and I are seafood people, we have business in seafood distribution, and was very happy to see fresh seafood.
(4)Troy K.
Delicious! Their sushi is excellent and they have one of the best Kamikazi rolls ive ever had. The servers are very attentive and the food is always great. I had the kung pao ahi tuna and it was cooked perfectly. After we had finished our deserts the manager sent over a complimentary desert tray with assorted small candies (including my favorite; mango paste drops). I always take friends here for special dinners and the only reason I did not give it 5 stars is because the price.
(4)Lesley K.
I've been back twice since my review and have to say this is one of the best restaurants in the area. Service is excellent as is the food. Loved the flounder, sushi and the soft shell crab. I do wish they had a better selection of oysters, but maybe next year.
(4)Jillian T.
A resounding "meh" for Passionfish. I really, really wanted to love this place - we decided to go there for a company dinner, and I was drooling over the menu. But when we got there, the food just wasn't as good as the menu made it out to be. Actually my favorite part of the whole meal was the whitefish spread. Service was adequate, although slow - there was probably a solid 15-20 minute pause in between our appetizers and entrees. I had the "buffalo style" fried oysters for my appetizer, which were ok but soggy, and the presentation was seriously lacking. For my entree I had the Cioppino, which is typically one of my favorite meals. Again, nothing terribly wrong with the dish, but it was bland and uninspired. The best part was the garlic bread. No-one else at the table made a single comment about their appetizers or entrees being outstanding, so I think everyone had the same general opinion: Nothing was wrong with the food, but for the higher prices that they are charging, we all expected it to be a lot better. The portion sizes on the appetizers were good, but the portions of most of the entrees were very small - I can imagine if you skipped the appetizer you would leave hungry.
(2)J L.
Higher-end restaurant's in Reston TC can sometimes be pretentious and overpriced (maybe like the clientele) while forgetting the basics of good food and good service. I assumed Passion Fish would fall in that category but, happily, that was not the case on our first visit. We dropped in on a Saturday evening without reservations. There was a crowd and a 45 minute wait, but the host staff went out of their way to promptly seat us outdoors. The ambiance is both casual and elegant (white tablecloths indoors) but also bustling - a bit like Zaytina. The winelist is extensive and reasonably priced and my martini met my high standards. Our server,Gulnara was friendly, intelligent, and efficient, as was the rest of the wait staff. Efficient but never hovering or in your face. The music was straight out of Buddha Bar and set a nice mood. The menu was an eclectic mix of fusion and comfort food, and our maindishes (sea scallops and tilefish) were excellently prepared. Sushi was excellent. No room for desert. Overall prices were very reasonable. Keep it up Passion Fish. I'll be back.
(4)Rachal L.
I surprised my husband for his birthday by making reservations here. He really wanted sushi/seafood so I thought this looked like a great place to take him. I would say its average. The decor/atmosphere is very nice. Very cool bubble chandeliers and excellent lighting. The ceilings are high so it is a little hard to hear each other, it was crowded, but it was a Friday night so it was to be expected. So the first let down was that we had a reservation at 730pm Got there right on time and we got seated right away (great!) but they take us to the smallest table in the place. It was a 2 top...ok we only had 2 people so fine. But it was in a line with 4 other 2 top tables, I literally sat 2 feet away from other couples on either side of us. You feel like you have to talk quietly so you don't disturb other peoples date nights. Ugh. We ordered wine. Excellent, the wine list is great. Then we ordered soup, sushi and an entree. The soups were excellent. I had the blue crab corn chowder. Mmmmm very tasty! My hubs had the lobster bisque which he seemed to really like. They also brought the table a white fish spread with toasted bread slices. Eh. Nothing to write home about. My hubs nailed it....he said it tasted like cream cheese with a hint of fish....interesting. So we moved onto our sushi. I got a California roll and he got a spicy tuna roll. We both thought they were just 'alright'. I have to say we are spoiled because we lived in San Diego. But I would say they were just average, nothing to write home about really. Finally we had our entrees. I got crab cakes and he got the Lobster tail which was in a curry/lemon balm sauce. The flavors in rice dish under the lobster were quite good there were many subtle layers of taste. BUT the lobster was definitely chewy. The same can be said of my crab cakes. I didn't think lobster was supposed to be chewy. Boo. So all in all it wasn't bad and it wasn't excellent either. Right in the middle. But for the price I would say it was a bit too much to pay. I could go to a less trendy restaurant and get the same kind of sushi for a more reasonable price. Not sure if I would go back or not.....will have to wait and see but it's definitely not on my top 10 list.
(3)Frank F.
My wife and I made our first visit last night to PassionFish. The level of service was outstanding. The wine list has something for everyone, at every price point. The sushi was amazing, simple. My wife had the steak, it was well prepared, although the side dishes were extra $. I had the Mahi, a fun, wonderful dish, I highly recomend it. For dessert, we shared the Doughnut Holes, they were fantastic. The bill for the 2 of us was just over $100. That's wine, sushi, dinners and dessert with coffee. A little high on the prices, but the quality of the food and the service made it worth the money for us.
(5)Maryanne G.
Business lunch yesterday - SPECTACULAR food! We were a party of five, got treated beautifully by the entire staff - and we all enjoyed thoroughly everything we had. I got the seafood Cobb salad - it had a great Louie dressing, and a lovely selection of chilled fish and shellfish. I started with the superb squash/lobster bisque with basil oil - yum! I also sampled some of my colleagues' dishes... The fried oysters were to die for (love the chipotle slaw!) and the iceberg wedge with the warm bacon dressing was outta sight! Can't wait to go back again!
(4)Jonathan M.
This place had great sushi, which is all i can vouch for. The pieces of sushi were stacked with fish so you definitely got your moneys worth ,even though at first glance the prices for the rolls seem over the top. The atmosphere was nice and would be great for a date setting. Everyone in my party had sushi so I can't vouch for the seafood but it looked like a very popular place to eat and lots of people were dining there. I may have given this four stars if I had tried some of the other dishes but I felt while the sushi was fufilling it could be found at other sushi locations for a cheaper price. The ambience was nice, but not sure it warrants the extra cost to have sushi there. I plan to go again and i believe after the second time I may raise my star rating.
(3)Tiffany C.
Went here for my mother's birthday today. Our server, Shane, was attentive and excellent! The seafood was fresh, and the service was prompt. Our glasses were never empty and our silverware was always replaced courteously. My mother had the best crab cake that she's ever had before, and the Long Island Iced Tea was well done. Sushi wasn't that special, unfortunately, but not bad. A bit pricey, but our family had a great experience there and I would recommend it to my friends.
(5)S C.
Very good restaurant, and I try to make it a habit to visit when we have visitors in town for some great seafood. I have yet to have a bad meal here and the service is excellent. I would definitely recommend you try the Passion Fish the next time your around RTC. I have dined at another seafood restaurant in Sterling, VA but was left disappointed.
(5)nikol m.
My wife and I ate at Passion Fish on New Years Eve. Perhaps we should have known better than to try out a new restaurant on such a busy evening... The service was adequate and we left our server with a generous tip, as we always do when eating out. We chose items from the prix-fixe menu, and were greatly looking forward to our choices. However, we started to experience issues with both the service and food during the second course. After hearing such fantastic reviews, we expected to be blown away by the dishes. Unfortunately, the main course that I ordered (the scallops) was not delivered. I was served the lobster instead. I discussed the mistake with the server (who did not seem overly concerned by her error) and decided to keep the lobster instead of waiting for another dish to be prepared, as my wife's dish would obviously have turned cold while we waited. Also, quite frankly, I never feel comfortable sending food back to the kitchen, nor would I expect to have to at such a restaurant. My wife was also disappointed with her entrée, the monkfish. She did not feel that the dish she received matched either the glorious restaurant reviews or the menu prices. Another problem arose during the dessert course. When ordering dessert, my wife informed the server that she is allergic to hazelnuts, but was assured that the hazelnut sides would not be included with her crème brulee. Unfortunately, when the dish was served, Nutella surrounded the bowl of crème brulee. Our waiter stopped by the table to assure her that there were no nuts in the actual crème brulee, but we were disappointed by the lack of attention to details. In regards to the crème brulee, my wife was extremely dissatisfied. She noted that instead of being crisp, the top layer of hardened sugar was the exact opposite-mushy and gummy. It certainly was not the quality of dessert that we would expect to be served at such an esteemed restaurant. Recently I heard that Passion Fish was being heralded as one of the best restaurants in the Northern Virginia area, but sadly, I find this difficult to believe, after last night's experience. Overall, we were extremely disappointed by the value, attention to detail, and quality of the dishes. Based on our experience, it will be difficult to recommend this restaurant to others.
(1)Thaya K.
Wow. I had the salade nicoise and it was the best I have ever had. The tuna had a delicious spicy rub on the outside and the raw inside melted in my mouth. The dressing was also delicious and the deviled egg, fingerling potatoes, and everything else in the salad was brilliant. My husband loved his seafood Cobb salad and my MIL, a New Orleans native, goes to the restaurant especially for their authentic po'boy. The decor is beautiful and I could not find fault with the service if I tried. Our waiter was courteous, attentive, informative, and generally an ideal server.
(5)Kim P.
The decor is pleasant and modern, but the high ceilings could result in a very loud dining room on a full night (it was not crowded while I was there). The food was fresh and nicely prepared, my waitress had good suggestions and was attentive without being intrusive. Nice wine list, the El Primavera tempranillo available by the glass is very enjoyable. The maitre'd even dug through a bin full of wet umbrellas to fish mine out. I had been to DC Coast the night before and can say the food is comparable but the service was actually a little better at Passion Fish. I'll be going back soon to try the lunch.
(4)Annie C.
On a Friday night, MrJ had a sudden URGE. I didn't have the same urge, but when looked over at me with his longing eyes, I couldn't resist. I obliged...and we set off on our quest to find MrJ a nice, big, fat, whole FISH. Not the nicely cut and portioned ones, but an ENTIRE fish. Our quest landed us at Passion Fish restaurant in Reston. I felt a little out of place at such a nice place in my flip flops and shorts, so we sat in the bar area. Plus we sat right away, as opposed to waiting 30 min for dining area table. Our waiter was very friendly and helpful. MrJ ended up ordering a branzino and I got the monkfish. The grilled branzino was hearty portion, enough to fill MrJ's appetite. The monkfish sat on a some type of cheese sauce which, when hot, was soft but got lumpy when hardened. The fish was cooked perfectly, but I just could've done without the cheese sauce. I kept steaing MrJ's rice with thai curry and I don't even really like curry. YUM. The oysters we ordered were to die for...so fresh! Double YUM. We went again this weekend and ate the flounder (the entire fish), soft shell crab, and crab cakes. I have to say, their whole fish items are really good. The flouder was excellent! But for those of you who do not like to pick at the fish, bone and all...you're SOO mising out, but there's plenty of other things to try. Gotta warn you though, this place is pretty pricey. For 5 beers and 2 appetizers (oysters and jumbo shrimp), our bill came out $75. Imagine what our meals came out to be. Yes, it was enough to feed a hungry child in Africa/Asia for months. Now I feel a bit guilty for endulging.
(4)Alix H.
We visited PassionFish for the second time last weekend and were impressed again. The food, which is truly wonderful, is complimented by a very efficient waitstaff that knows and understands the menu. We especially enjoyed the spring rolls (although the saucy was a bit spicy)!
(4)Chris M.
I went to Passionfish for the soon-to-be-wifey and my anniversary. We called ahead for reservation and walked right in. We were seated at a table on the second floor overlooking the whole lower area, which was really nice. Our waiter was prompt and extremely friendly, not the sort of fake enthusiasm you find in most restaurants. (with check sizes like this place, I'd be a happy waiter too) I got the day's special which was tilapia with lobster scampi. The fish was prepared perfectly and the lobster scampi.. oh I would have eaten a bowl full of that stuff. My +1 had grilled salmon and asparagus which was delicious and we shared a shrimp cocktail appetizer. This wasn't a normal shrimp cocktail; it had sort of a spicy Latin flare to it. Pieces of shrimp in a spicy tomato salsa with homemade tortilla chips, it was fantastic. Upon recommendation, we couldn't leave without dessert so we got house made donut holes with coffee Bavarian crème for dipping. These little fried dough nuggets were worth the entire trip. We had a few cocktails, which were decent but not really worth the almost 10 bucks per drink. All in all, I'd definitely come here again. There were a ton of things I saw on other diner's plates which looked great.
(4)Jason S.
We really wanted to like Passion Fish. From looks alone, it had great potential. We love the decor. But our love for the restaurant stops there unfortunately. Overpriced for what you get. Food isn't good. Wait staff not attentive. Restaurant empty (7:30pm Saturday). Everything that was served to us was brown and uninviting. Feels like they are still trying to find their groove. Major dissappointment for us.
(2)M T.
We hosted a large dinner party here over the weekend. Food was good... but their service was outrageous! Our server was rude, unprofessional, and completely incompetent. She rarely came over to see if we needed anything, unless one of us waved her down. The long table was so dark with just 2 candles... we asked for a couple more so we can at least see what we're eating. She brings just one more candle... and practically throws it in front of us. Even before the meal is finished, she starts going around and clearing out plates (where's the fire??? since when was there a time limit? We weren't even 2 hours into our reservation! And literally, no one else was dining upstairs where we were! plenty of open tables so why was she rushing us out? It wasn't even 8pm!) And to really ruin it for us... she popped her head out of the kitchen about a dozen times while we're still working on our dessert to see if we were leaving any time soon. Then... what does she do for a grand finale??? She brings out the broom and dustpan as if we didn't get the hint about 30 minutes ago! She literally starts sweeping all around us! omg! Are you kidding me? I was mortified... and completely in disbelief! I would never go back to this place again. Even after I put in a complaint the next morning with the manager... he gave me a flippant apology and that was that. It's so very sad how they dont' seem to have any concern for their business, let alone, their high paying customers.
(1)Irving H.
I took my wife, parents, cousin, sister and her boyfriend out to Passionfish for my sister's birthday, which also happens to be New Year's Eve. That evening they had a 3 course prix fixe menu which was their regular menu - appetizer, main entree, dessert. The ambiance was good - high ceilings, modern decor, open kitchen that displayed fresh shellfish on ice. The wait staff was just ok. The waitress did not explain the menu nor did she ask if she had any questions. The food was good and the presentation was very good. I ordered the fried clams which also had fried pickles. My main course was the whole fried flounder that was succulent and tasty. My dessert was fresh berries with whipped cream. There was a mishap when one of the wait staff dropped a large pot of cream. The backsplash hit most of the table. The staff saw this and reacted quickly to get us napkins and new glasses. The manager came over and offered to pay for our dry cleaning and took off the gratuity and the extra appetizers I ordered. It was very fair and I appreciate his acceptance of responsibility. I might try it again but I have other restaurants I want to hit before eating here again.
(3)Leslie F.
Terrible service. Snarky waitress. Didn't take drinks order for both people in the party. Gave sarcastic response when asked for drinks. Same rude manner when asked for a napkin. Left dirty glass on table from previous diners. A call to Kate the manager resulted in a lukewarm, "I'm sorry." End of conversation. Last meal at Passion Fish. Eat at McCormick and Schmick instead.
(1)Joni H.
Highly recommended! The crab cake sliders in particular are excellent. The service and decor are excellent as well.
(5)A K.
We've been here twice and the food is excellent. The ceviche is especially good. Seafood is quite fresh and tasty. Downstairs smells a bit of seafood, so we prefer a table upstairs.
(4)glori b.
This an pretty expensive restaraunt.Very expensive for the portions but overall good food.Dinnerw all stops for 6 with 20 percent gratuity was 720.oo .Rainy Weekday very few patrons.Very elegant place with Reston towne center parking garage as only parking , no valet.Ok ; you love fish its your passion right so please remove the head and dazzle me with presentation baby!Yick does the fish in picture even look appetizing? .We sat upstairs at a table of six with a attentive wait team almost too attentive as my plate was constantly asking to be removed even though it was half full not sure what thats about for my aps,soup,dinner and dessert!But the waitress was good and they had little helpers pressuring us to remove our plates which is annoying for 28 bucks not including a side I think I want to eat it slow savor it please even if everyone else scarfed theres already !I just let them take it and noone asked did i want anything wrapped up .Ever.Seriously engrossed in our meeting or I ask for to go bag.Annoying but maybe people throw out food all the time but not me if I like my dish there usually isnt anything left on it ,but talking shop while eating dinner slows down how fast you can actually eat politely. .The view was nice I liked the jellyfish decor and lighting,blue and brown colors.The ambience was nice . We had six bottles of wine with excellent wine pouring , also had mojitos,bellenies,beers and a rum drink.Ordered lobster tortilla soup cup 5.oo which was good and different which I like could taste actual chunks of lobster.Fried oysters with spicy sauce 11 yum o.This was second best thing I had the oysters ap.They didnt have any oysters as entree which disappoints, or whole lobster. They brought a tasty crostini bread and whitefish complimentary cream cheese concotion right out.Well recepted. I was disappointed they had no steamed lobster on the menu and I asked for it and noone offered to make it for me said it only came chilled, which was a bummer,cant they cook one?For the amount of money for a lobster like 77 I reckon someone could pop him in a pot spank him with butter no? The highlight of the meal was our appetizer big daddy 69.oo tower of like poached lobster 1/3 of a lobster,b6 oysters 3-4rock crab claws ,3-4 clams,6-7 large [prawns and a few sauces.Very tasty but very tiny portions for the priceI was pretty amazed how little food was on the tower for 70 bucks.Thats a serious pricetag for a appetizer.The oysters good.We ordered 2 poached thai lobster which came in a clay pot covered over jasmine rice with A Red pineapple curry theme and kaffir lime, 24 each,2,three fish dinners 22 each and one crabcakes,28, bucket of fries with old bay sides asparagus5, ,fries ,and more5,yukon gold mashed potatoes,5.Then we had cappuchinos and expressos 3,4 each and desserts ,creme bulee,creme bulee,choc mousse I think desserts were 7 a piece.The meal was not extraordinary tasting but good and climbing the tall stairs could be a pain ..I also slipped on the very waxy floor to go to the bathroom which I dont know why its so slippery but a fashionista in heels might go down!.There is sushi downstairs which seems kind of out of place almost somehow ,and elegant booths and a nice bar.The bartender, host and wait staff were professional and on the ball.I would hate carrying all that food up the stairs as I saw servers up and down the steep stairs often/really.But the tips dont suck Im sure!Overall great dinner for company or business.They have a good bar menu and maybe hh patrons want sushi .Ill save my sushi for my Japanese steakhouse.I think they need clean up menu with out so much sauces, marinara?and on some of the seafood items overwhelm them,and discouraged me from ordering with so many ingredients not really explained on the menu scaring you from ordering them as well.Exotic things are good but if your scared to approach by looking silly asking whats in it it might not sell well.They brought little plastic mermaids on the drinks ,cute, .Also like Gordon Ramsey says keep it simple ,local,fresh and do it well.Very good concept perhaps the very empty restaraunt tonight with will inspire the passionate owners to revamp menu as things are done just confusing .
(2)Christine N.
My husband and I went to Passion Fish for dinner tonight. I made reservation on open table same day for 8:30pm; we were half hour early but got seated right away. We 've been to Ten Penh and Ceiba, and had good experience with our food there. The reasons I'm giving Passion Fish 3 stars are because the service was inefficient, the restaurant is really loud, and the food is good, but not extraordinary. It took our waiter a while to come to our table for anything; first he asked what kind water we want, then came back took our drink order (he didn't even know all the beer on draft, since he stuttered and looked blank a few times), then he came back (still with no drinks) to give us the specials, then left, then came back (still no drinks) to take our food order. Each time he apologized for no drinks, but still no drink. When the food finally came , it came very fast. I don't care for their bread (little round hard baguette); I 'd rather have regular bread or crispy, chewy baguette. We ordered the fried oyster and the hamachi as appetizers. They were so so, not too tasty. I ordered the whole flounder fried with tamarind sauce and it came with some cucumber salad. This dish is not bad at all considering this is american restaurant trying to cook a thai dish; and for $28 , it is a very good deal; usually I pay 30 something for the same dish in a thai restaurant and the cucumber salad is equally tasty. My husband ordered the crabcakes with a side order of french fries. The crab cakes were ok, but not extraordinary, and the fries were kinda stale. I would rather eat the crab cakes and fries at coastal flats . I 'd like to make some comments about the atmosphere and ambiance of this restaurant. I'm not sure what style it is.There are some confused elements on this regard. The restaurant decor is nice and modern, but not too hip like ceiba or zaytinia; the white table cloths, the nice silverware and glassware , the decent wine list all suggest upscale fine dining. The customers there that night all dressed up very nice as though they had expected that they were going to an upscale fine dining establishment. The service really ruined everything for me. Also, we sat near some very loud customers. I could hear their whole conversations. So it was pretty annoying , and was very difficult for us to enjoy our meal.
(3)Timothy L.
(This review is for my wedding reception a few weeks ago). PassionFish really is as good as it gets. We did a restaurant buyout for our 232 guest reception and the whole experience was fantastic. Kathryn helped us with the months of planning and preparation and made the whole experience worry-free. The food was top notch and the staff was always available and hardly noticed. We are still receiving compliments from our guests about the quality of the food and how it was "the best wedding food I've ever had". Executive Chef Chris Clime ran his kitchen perfectly that evening as I'm sure he does every night. Our dish selections included an amazing surf and turf new york strip and king crab, a succulent grouper, and their award winning lobster curry pot. Each dish was to-order and they never even asked us to provide numbers ahead of time. At one point in the evening, one of my guests asked how we were able to pull it off and if I was friends with the owner. I don't know the owner, but Passion Fish sure made it feel like we did.
(5)Elaine K.
Headed in here on a late Friday night for a continuation of a friend's birthday happy hour. I ordered 3 mojitos. It cost over $30, and they were terrible. Not like poured poorly or mixed poorly, just bad. Something was wrong with it. All 3 were left unfinished :(
(1)Joy M.
The food wasn't as special as I expected, but the fine dining experience and ambience was a treat. We received a bread service of crostini with an albacore spread that was good. I had the Spider Roll to start, which was much larger than one I've had before, but not better. They all fell apart because the seaweed wouldn't break when I bit into it. I couldn't eat the last bite an the waiter offered to keep it cold in the kitchen and bring it back to-go at the end of the meal. Now THAT'S special. Something happened where our entrees took forever, so they brought me a free second glass of wine and, when they brought the meal, said that I would get a whole Spider Roll to-go when I was done. I had the Fisherman's Wharf Cioppino as my entree. Very good mussels and sauce. The shrimp didn't get enough of the flavor. A couple clams were sandy. The bread was delicious. We split the Chocolate Mousse Praline for dessert and it was rich and the praline crunch at the bottom made it special. I'd go back because the fine dining service is fun, but the food just wasn't spectacular. I expected more from one of Washingtonian's Top 100 Restaurants.
(4)Jason B.
I always visit this place when I am in town. Try their spring rolls and lobster claypot..You can't go wrong!
(5)Jennifer E.
This is my favorite seafood restaurant in NoVa! The sushi is delicious and I almost wish I would just order that for my main course - wish they had a more extensive sushi menu. Service is decent (have had two great waiters and one so-so waiter). Upstairs seems more intimate than down and the ambiance throughout is similar to their sister restaurant DC Coast.
(4)Howie H.
This was our fourth time to Passion Fish and I must say it has stayed consistently good since their opening. Finally a seafood restaurant in Reston that you would find some place in DC (food wise). We decided last minute to meet up with some friends Saturday evening for a late dinner in the Town Center. We decided on PF because our friends wanted Raw Oysters. They had never been there before as they are from Maryland. We were worried since our guy friend was in a T Shirt and Shorts b/c it was Saturday evening and most people were dressed nice. PF is a nicer restaurant and seemed like a place that would prefer a certain dress code. PF was very welcoming and offered us a table outside on the patio which we preferred anyway since the evening was beautiful. The decor of PF inside is clean, neat, and simple. Huge bubble chandeliers hang down and projectors spewing out blue lights that change thru the bubble chandeliers show off a nice effect on the opposite white walls. It is two levels and has an open kitchen type of feel when you walk in. The bar is very small and there is not sitting area to wait for your table. The spacing is the downside of PF as this restaurant could have spatially been designed much better. The menu has a lot to offer from scallops, any type of fish you want (prepared different ways), sushi, mussels, a raw bar, and crab cakes just to name a few items. We opted to start the evening out with a Pinot Noir which was priced at 52 for the bottle. It was a perfect match with our meals. We ordered to start the Tuna Tartare and a dozen Raspberry Point raw oysters. I said last week in my review of Proof that they have "the best Tuna Tartare" around. Well, PF has definitely created a Tuna Tartare that really stands out as well. Warning - it has a nice kick to it which we loved. It had some soy sauce and some sort of oil and what tasted like a wasabi mix or chili pepper mix in it. We were definitely amazed at how much we enjoyed it and all four of us agreed that it was excellent. The Oysters were very nice as well. Smooth, not too slimy, FRESH FRESH FRESH! Our friend mentioned that we should order more but the prices were probably too much. I did not check, but he also pointed out getting Raspberry Point Oysters for cheap at Clyde's Happy Hour in Rockville. For our main dishes we enjoyed two plates of Halibut prepared different ways with different sauces. The Day Boat Scallops which came out on a bed of green sauce and the Whole Crispy Flounder. The Halibut was excellent and just right. Both of our friends enjoyed them. The Scallops were HUGE! I wish I had taken a photo of these Scallops...the size made the dish look like you couldn't finish it without being full. We were right, not only was it filling but it was delicious. The whole crispy flounder is phenomenal. Crispy, but moist inside. Spicy, but not over powering. Big, and definitely filling. As we finished our wine and drank coffee, we closed down the restaurant and we were very thankful that we came to Passion Fish. We all agreed it was worth sharing on Yelp! I have read that some people have not enjoyed the dessert. I cannot comment on that as we were absolutely full from our meal and opted not to have anything sweet. Dinner for four with a bottle of wine ended up being just shy of $300. Not cheap but it's worth a one time experience. I recommend trying PF if you are going to be in and around Reston.
(4)Randy M.
For my Mother's birthday she wanted to go to Passion Fish. I was excited because I've been wanting to go for a while after a friend had gushed about it. So Wednesday evening we had open table reservations for 7:30. We arrived and were promptly shown to our table. The place was really busy with only 1 or 2 tables unoccupied. They have an open kitchen with a iced displayed in the front showing the oysters, lobsters, and stone crab claws being served that evening. Our waiter was excellent, had full knowledge of the menu and the wine list. We had several questions that he fielded without hesitation. After ordering some drinks we moved on to some starters, something cold, something hot, and something green. Tuna tar tare, steamed mussels, and grilled asparagus salad. The tuna was delicious, I'm used to it being chopped a bit finer than it was but very tasty, definitely Asian in flavor as the ginger really comes through. The Mussels were cooked exactly how I like them, tender and meaty. They come in an almost stew concoction with a piece of crusty bread for dipping (love to dip). The salad was a bundle of asparagus wrapped in prosciutto, grilled, and served on a bed of greens with a red pepper dressing, possibly romesco. It was fair but lost in the shuffle, would have stood up better if we had it served on its own as a salad (after all it was a salad). Our mains were the following; monkfish with pearl pasta risotto, crispy whole flounder, trout, and the cioppino. We all gave a sample to each other; the cioppino was swimming with seafood, the broth was smooth and not as spicy as I've had at other places, the fish/shellfish the clear focus of the dish. The trout was good, not my preference though. Mine was the monkfish which I thoroughly enjoyed; a massive hunk of fish osso bucco style on a bed of risotto. The big winner was the flounder. It's served head and tail on, but it was awesome. Its no small fish either. I was jealous when it came out and jealous after having a bite (Will post a picture later). And even with all that food we split two desserts, the sorbet sample, all of which are made on site, and the key lime pie. The mango sorbet was the big winner here, everyone agreed. To close out the meal you are presented with a final palate cleanser, a passion fruit jelly. Melt in your mouth good. Five stars and nothing more to say except I can not wait for a return trip. Was worth every penny.
(5)Jay K.
I came here for Restaurant Week and had a great experience. The service is top-notch and the place is beautiful. The sushi is also really fresh here and very good quality. The appetizer I got and would recommend is the Classic Peruvian Style Ceviche, which was delicious and presented nicely. The entree I had here was the Pan Seared Day Boat Scallops, which was pretty good, but came with only four measly scallops, although I really wasn't expecting much more. I also tried the creme brulee and chocolate cake for dessert and they were bother mouth-watering good, especially the creme brulee. Overall, I highly recommend this place and am looking forward to coming here again.
(4)T S.
Very good seafood place. I had the crab cake sandwich and it was delicious. Service was excellent and the restaurant itself is very nice. I want to go back in the evening. Im sure it is very nice during the summer on the patio.
(4)Michael M.
Great seafood and the wine if half priced on Mondays. The crispy flounder is a great dish to share...
(5)Stacy G.
I recently chose this place to celebrate my birthday with my husband! It was FABULOUS. We had read reviews on yelp and decided this was a great place to go. First of all, the decor was tasteful and elegant. I loved the way the kitchen was open to the dining area. Upon being seated, I was handed my menu-----LITERALLY-- MY MENU! They had personalized the top of my menu with "Happy Birthday Stacy!" It was very charming and set a great example of the attentiveness to come. Michelle was our server and she was amazing. They immediately brought out some toasty baguette rounds with this spread that was too die for. My husband and I started out with drinks--I got a glass of champagne and he a mint julep. Mine came with a little mermaid hanging from the glass-very cute. My husbands drink was quite good as well. We started out with a dozen oysters on the half shell. They were delicious and very fresh. It came with 2 sauces, a cocktail and a mignonette sauce. both great. Then we each had a cup of soup. I had the crab/corn chowder and my hubby had the gumbo--both were fantastic. Mine had huge pieces of lump crap in it. Btw, everything came out at just the right time--nice breaks between courses. I then ordered a "pear o'politan" with my meal and that was very tasty as well. For our entrees, I had the Crabcakes with lemon beurre blanc sauce, with a side of "mac n jack," and my husband had the Red Thai Curry Lobster "Claypot". Those crabcakes were so good! No filler at all--just pure lump crap. It all went so well together. The mac n jack was creamy and had a nice crunchy, buttery topping. I will say that the portion of rice that came with my husbands claypot was too small as he was left with a lot of sauce leftover, so he just asked for a little more rice and they brought some--my husband practically licked the plate clean! So after that, we ordered dessert and coffee. I had the Key-Lime Meringue Tart and my husband had the warm donut holes with coffee bavarian cream. They put a candle on mine and comped it. They were both delicious and we were so stuffed! I read reviews talking about the location being "strip-mally" but you honestly don't feel that when you are inside. Michelle was attentive and patient. I will definitely come here again! Btw, they gave me the menu to take home!
(5)Nancy C.
Great ambiance, inconsistent food quality, and mediocre service, For New Year Eve, we took seven people to PassionFish for a nice dinner. The night started off with the patron sitting behind me having beer spilled on his back. Our waitress hardly explained the menu- needless to say, not the level of service expected at a restaurant of this caliber. I was most impressed by the restaurant's aesthetics. This is a D.C restaurant transplanted to the heart of Reston. I think this restaurant can definitely improve with time.
(3)Lisa d.
I really liked this restaurant! the bar area is very nice- the bartenders are cool. the dining is very good- the whole crusted fish was our group's highlight (we all shared)- I love the mix of seafoods- not just broiled, seared fried "mixes"- but innovative food. Our waiter wasn't anything to write home about but then- one waiter does not make the entire service experience bad given the bartenders were great.. we tried about 12 different dishes- only 2 were so so but maybe since we had 2-3 very high favorites.
(4)gretchen b.
so if i'd had a traditional high school experience, something tells me the feeling i got upon walking into passionfish would about sum it up. we should have turned around right then and left. the 5 hostesses all gave me the "mean girls" up and down. guess i won't be asked to join their click anytime soon. oh and why the hell do you need 5 hostesses anyway?! so the one asks us (while making a face as if she smells the horrible dip they're about to serve us) if we have a reservation. we didn't. we wanted to hang at the bar to see if the place sucked (which, obviously it did) so that we could just grab a drink and not be obligated to stay. well the bar was full of chach so they seat us outside at the shittiest table they could find. after about a year, they brought us out this disgusting dip that reminded me of old socks. the waiter was rude and condescending. he came to check on us once and all the other tables around got 5 star treatment. so yeah, would not go here again. oh and as we were leaving, my husband and i made a pact that we'd NEVER go to reston EVER again.
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