Hidden Delight
This delightful restaurant, hidden in its strip mall home for years and ignored by restaurant critics, has thrived due to word of mouth.

I have been to at least 10-15 different French restaurants in the area, and this still ranks the best in my book. The food is amazing, the service is wonderful, the staff is friendly, and the atmosphere is formal, yet cozy.

Although everything I have had on their menu is wonderful, where they really shine is with anything seafood. Some favorites to try are the lobster with Champaign sauce (when in season), trout (any of the ways the prepare it), or the Maryland crab cakes. For appetizers, the mussels are delightful to share, the sea scallops are wonderful (but only enough for one person) and the escargot (ok, not seafood) is also tasty to share. The soups will vary from week to week, but are always fantastic. I once had a pea soup that was so amazing it may have permanently changed my opinion of this least-favorite vegetable. And although seafood dominates their best dishes, their veal is also prepared well with a great sauce.

Their desserts are good, but not their specialty. Their top two are their profiteroles which have a wonderfully rich chocolate sauce, and the tiramisu which has an unusual and yet very moist and sweet flavor. But the REAL dessert is the Café Renaissance coffee. This is Irish coffee prepared right in front of you, where the brandy and Kailua are ignited and the sugar is caramelized on the glass. This dessert drink can be found at other French restaurants in the area (La Bergerie comes to mind) but the staff at Café Renaissance has perfected the performance art element of the dessert. And for those who prefer their after dinner cocktails unadorned, they also have a nice selection of port wine.

Despite the unassuming exterior appearance, this place has a delightful atmosphere inside. Like most French restaurants, the linens are crisp white, the waiters wear black suits, and the servers are endlessly attentive. All tables are candlelit and have a bouquet of fresh flowers. It is what you expect out of a formal French restaurant. However, unlike some of the other more formal restaurants in the area, the staff is friendly and relaxed, and you can feel quite comfortable leaning across the table with your elbows up to have a more cozy tête-à-tête with your date. They do not serve the full seven-course meal (who really misses the Consommé and the sherbet?) and the waiters will not mind if you use the wrong fork. The one downside to the atmosphere is that the restaurant is only two rooms, so the day of the week and the crowd affects the noise and atmosphere. Go on a Saturday, and you can expect a louder buzz (still at conversation level). On a Tuesday night you may be one of only three or four patrons, and it may be a little too quiet. If you plan on a quiet night out on one of the weekend nights, it might be worth asking for a corner table when you call for reservations.

Overall Café Renaissance is wonderful hidden treasure, great for special occasions and delighting out of to    [28 Apr 2003 13:44:28]

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Recommended Dishes: Mussles, CrabCakes, Veal, lobster w/ Champaign sauce

     ­Paula   

Excellent Service, Delicious Food
Our family has been coming to Cafe Renaissance for years. Saeed, the owner, is almost always on hand to make sure things are done right.    [24 Sep 2003 10:37:39]

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Recommended Dishes: Veal, seafood; pasta appetizer

     ­Karen, Vienna, VA   

Here's our ultimate recommendation...
The Cafe Renaissance is our favorite place to dine outside of Walt Disney World.

Jackie, Vienna, VA
(But we made special trips to go there when we were living in Sterling)    [22 Jul 2004 18:08:42]

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Recommended Dishes: fish in tomato sauce wrapped in parchment

     ­Jackie, Vienna VA   

Delightful cafe
Their maryland style crab cakes were superb. I was raised in Crisfield, MD, heart of the crabbing industry and I was impressed. The decor and ambience was very nice, and they had a very talented and beautiful violinist who entertained my wife and I. Definite recommendation.    [04 Dec 2004 02:39:32]

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Recommended Dishes: Crab Cakes

     ­Jim   

Highly Recomend
We ate here for New Years Day. Service was wonderful. Thomas, our tuxedo dressed waiter, was quick with the "bravos" and "very good choice sir." I love that its such a jem tucked away in a corner you'd never expect. Our meals were wonderful. We all ordered from the nights specials. Appitizers were great too. The owner shared an after dinner port wine with us. We'll keep going back for years to come.    [04 Oct 2005 15:48:34]

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     ­Anonymous   

Delightful
I wasn't sure what to expect at first. The restaurant had come highly recommended through friends. I had a wonderful experience, the food was above excellent and the service was prompt and enjoyable. My husband and I are definitely planning on returning. I must say, I did enjoy the violinist whom set the mood for the evening. Overall things were superb and I am glad there is a place closer to our home, rather than having to drive into DC. I should advise you that it was hard for us to get a reservation for the weekend, and I do recommend calling a couple days in advance    [22 Oct 2005 01:29:59]

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Recommended Dishes: rack of lamb or veal chop with red wine sauce

     ­Karly S.   

Wonderful Place
My husband and I dined last night.
The food was wonderful and the ambiance is super. The owner and waiter was very professional and paid very close attention to the details.    [08 May 2006 15:18:22]

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Recommended Dishes: Fish Dish and Pasta

     ­Misa   

Renaissance Cafe IS romance!
Renaissance Cafe brings back the romance and the art of service without the nuisance of traveling to the many overrated DC restaurants. The food never dissappoints and the service is impeccable. The warmth of the restaurant AND staff is refreshing. We look forward to many more romantic evenings at this superb local restaurant.    [16 Jun 2006 18:00:06]

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Recommended Dishes: Rack of Lamb, soft shell crab, and Renaissance Coffee

     ­Jeffrey and Colleen   

A Surprise
We wandered into the Cafe Renaissance unexpectedly. We had just heard my grandaughter perform at Jammin Java. She was wonderful, but the noise and food and dirt at JJ was terrible for an older couple.
We peeked into the Cafe Renaissance and immediately were invited in by the charming owner. Although we said we had just dropped in for a dessert and coffee we were made to feel as welcome as one does in a good Italian or French restaurant in Europe. We then decided on a pate and a rather elaborate ritual dessert of Ice cream and banana with rum flambe. This was more interesting in its execution than it was when eating it, but it was the enthusiasm, impeccable customer service and friendliness of the waiter and the owner that won our hearts. We will return to the Cafe Renaissance over and over again in the future, I am sure.
Gloria    [16 Jun 2007 23:17:27]

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Recommended Dishes: Chicken Pate Appetizer with saffron potato.

     ­Anonymous, Alexandria, VA   

Excellent first experience here
We picked Cafe Renaissance from the internet because of its favorable reviews, interesting menu, ease of getting there, and convenience to Wolf Trap -- where we heading after dinner on Saturday, August 11, 2007. The experience was very positive, from the moment the owner took my reservation over the phone the week before. In addition to a very appealing regular menu, the daily specials (written down for those of us with limited short term memories) were even more appealing, and became the source for our selections. The food was excellent, as was the house wine by the glass. The owner and wait staff attended to our needs with great professionalism and ease. And in an era where restaurants seem to think louder is better, this is a place where you can enjoy conversations without having to shout or strain to hear -- even when the dining room is full. We can recommend this place with no hesitation.    [13 Aug 2007 02:00:34]

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     ­Tom & Betty