WHINO — Restaurant in Arlington

I highly recommend trying out Whino in Ballston Quarter in Arlington, VA for an exceptional dining experience. A large group of us (34 people) from Grace Community Church met there for brunch on Sunday March 12, 2023. From the moment we walked in, we were greeted with warm hospitality by the managers, Patrick Young and Jenn Steadman. The welcoming atmosphere set the tone for the rest of our meal. The owner, Shane Pomajambo, also partnered with us to support the Arlington Food Assistance Center.

The menu is full of creative and delicious small-plate 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 absolutely 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.

The service we received from Lelna, Juan, Brandi, Daniela, Natalie, Scarlett, and Safia at Whino was top-notch. They 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.

The ambiance of Whino was also a highlight. The decor is tasteful and elegant, yet still comfortable and inviting. Whether you're looking for an energetic brunch, a romantic evening out, or a fun night with friends, the atmosphere is perfect.

Overall, we highly recommend Whino 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 will...

Whino had been on my radar since it opened a few months ago, I finally decided to give it a try and it definitely did not disappoint!

It's a great place for date night, celebratory dinners, or just a nice night out. I went with a group of 10 to celebrate my birthday and we all had a really great time and enjoyed the overall vibes of the place. We met up for drinks at the bar before our reservation and ordered the margarita pitcher, a few glasses of wine, and some snacks. One of the cool things about Whino is the layout. The space is very open and not crammed with dinner tables, so we were able to casually walk around and view the art (which was really cool!), without feeling like we were intruding on the dinner guests but also still connected to the main group at the bar.

When it was time for dinner, we transitioned from the bar to our table, and ordered more drinks and pretty much one of everything on the menu. The plates are mostly meant to share so we got to try a bit of everything, and it was all really good. Seriously, of the 10 people in my party, we all agreed the food was bomb. I can't quite remember everything that hit our table but some of the highlights were the tuna crudo, the scallop crudo, the gyro, the lamb ribs, the fried chicken with the hot honey, and the creme brulee. The only complaint from the table was that the octopus was a bit overcooked (#FirstWorldProblems).

The service was also great. Our server was attentive but not a babysitter (which I personally appreciate), and the hosts and manager were also friendly and accommodating. Overall, my experience at Whino was amazing and I would definitely recommend to anyone who is interested in a unique...

Located in the Ballston Mall, you can either opt to do street parking if you can find it or park in the garage. It's $1 if you're there for under 3 hours.

I love the ambiance, it has this modern, arty kind of upscale vibe. Our server was great but seemed overwhelmed. It wasn't too busy but both our food and drinks did take long periods of time to come out.

I ordered the Prosecco Rose which was very good. We were still in time for happy hour which was nice. They have an extended happy hour until 8 PM.

We started off with a charcuterie board with some Wild Boar Lonza and Waygu Beef Bresaolo. We paired it with the Truffle Tremor cheese. It came out with some Toasted cranberry bread and it was pretty good. They were unfortunately out of the Scallops so we didn't get to try that. We ordered the porchetta Sliders which was ok. Almost all of it was delicious but the "crispy pork skin" as a really really tough skin and not at all crispy. It was really hard to bite into. Almost an overcooked thin piece of jerky. We also had the Spicy broccoli Rabe which was decent and the Mango Habanero Wings. The wings were cooked well but unfortunately didn't really have any flavor. It wasn't really spicy and very limited Mango flavoring. Finally, we ordered the Seafood Socarrat which was interesting. I don't think the seafood was fresh and the rice was kind of crispy but I enjoyed the flavor.

For our dessert, we chose the olive oil doughnuts and the espresso gelato. Gelato was delicious. The doughnut balls were dense but ok with the gelato.

Overall, I think i would come to hang out at the bar but not sure if I would really return for the...