True Food Kitchen — Restaurant in Arlington

If I could give them 0 stars I would. I met some friends for lunch. We all wanted to try this place, but I had also wanted to try a Korean place from downstairs. I figured I'd get a little something from the Korean place and meet them in True Food and get something there as well. I don't live very close so both seemed like a good option. My friends went and got the table. I ordered from the Korean spot and got a to-go bag to put my food in. I walked straight over to True Food so they didn't have to wait on me to order. By the time I had ordered from the Korean place and walked over they didn't even have water served. I sat down and began looking at the menu and was about to put my Korean food in the bag. But a waiter came over, not to bring waters or greet us, but to kick me out. They didn't like that I brought something from one of the many restaurants they are attached to. I told him I planned to order something from them as well and I was putting it away, but they said it's their policy that outside food isn't allowed and I had to go. I told him i just wanted to eat lunch with my friends, and he said "I understand but you need to go. It's our policy.” I went back to the food court solo, feeling really embarrassed and fighting back tears. People were looking at me as I was leaving. I thought about going to my car and dropping the food off, but I felt so horrible I didn't want to show face in there and have people staring at me again. I also didn't want to give this restaurant my money after that experience. So I just sat in the food court by myself. I didn't finish any of my food cuz I felt so bad. My friends stayed, but after waiting for some time to be waited on, still not even being offered water on this very hot day, they left too. They said the wait staff was all huddled at the bar talking and joking, but nobody was paying attention to tables. We all went elsewhere. I will not be back to try their food. It was a very unwelcoming experience. As a side note, if you have kids who won't eat what's on the menu, you may want to go somewhere a little friendlier. Because they won't let your kid eat with you in their restaurant if you bring them...

We had an exceptional dining experience at True Food Kitchen in Arlington, VA. A large group of us (19 people) from Grace Community Church met there for brunch on Sunday June 4, 2023. From the moment we called to make the reservation, we were greeted with warm hospitality from the staff. The welcoming atmosphere set the tone for the rest of our meal. When we arrived, the table for 15 was all set and ready. The staff greeted our guests and directed them to the Grace table. They were gracious to add 4 more seats and even took an order for a late comer, well after some had already finished their meal.

The menu is full of creative and delicious dishes that are sure to satisfy even the most discerning palate. Each dish is prepared with care, using only the freshest and highest quality ingredients, and beautifully presented. The food was delicious, and it was clear that the chefs had put a lot of care and attention into each dish. Despite the large size of our group, every dish was served promptly and with attention to detail. The flavors and presentation were exceptional, and everyone in our group was raving about the food.

We received top-notch service. The staff were attentive and knowledgeable, and they went out of their way to make sure that we had everything we needed to enjoy our meal to the fullest. Automatically and with no question or hesitation, the staff created individual tickets whenever we requested them, which allowed some people to leave earlier than others. Even though we had a large party of guests, the staff did not add a “required tip for large groups” to the bills. This allowed us to choose the best amount of tip to add for the excellent service.

Overall, we highly recommend True Foods Kitchen to anyone looking for a fantastic dining experience, whether in a large group or dining solo. From the food to the service to the ambiance, everything is truly exceptional. It's a dining experience you...

I absolutely love True Food Kitchen and have been going to them since the San Diego location opened in 2012. I have been to numerous locations throughout the U.S. and have had a wonderful experience overall. I have been to this Arlington location 5 times since it opened in May and I can honestly say, I have been disappointed in the service more than anything on most occasions. One afternoon I went in for lunch by myself, was only the second table there/seated when they opened and literally sat there for 23 minutes until someone approached my table. There was a full staff in the restaurant just hanging around (and this was after their opening shift meeting, so it wasn't like they were busy listening to the manager). I was ready to get up and leave right as a server finally came to my table. I figured since they may have been working out the kinks since opening a month earlier, I overlooked it. But it happened again two more times I went there after that, which was a huge turn off. Hardly anyone in the restaurant, tons of staff just standing around, and horrible service. The food is always great, although the last time I went, I ordered a gluten-free pizza and notified the server it was due to a legitimate allergy (which is one of the reasons why I eat here often - they cater to healthy eating and gluten-free options). A regular pizza was delivered to me and the food runner said it was gluten-free when I knew it wasn't and I didn't eat it and let the food runner know. It took the server 10 minutes to check on the food and said, "That's not your gluten-free pizza" and I said I knew and asked for the correct one to be brought out. I get it - mistakes happen, but I am also familiar with the restaurant industry from a prior job and routine mistakes like this with service need to be taken care of better. With that said, again, great food...