Clyde's Willow Creek Farm — Restaurant in Ashburn

Clyde's Willow Creek Farm is a renowned establishment known for its inviting atmosphere and upscale dining experience. On a recent visit, I had the pleasure of sampling a range of dishes and drinks that left me with mixed impressions.

Let's start with the highlights. The drinks at Clyde's were nothing short of exceptional. Whether you opt for a classic cocktail or a specialty creation, the skilled bartenders craft each drink with precision and flair. The balanced flavors and perfect proportions make these drinks a standout feature of the dining experience.

Moving on to the entrees, the ribeye steak was a true showstopper. Cooked to perfection, the steak was juicy, tender, and full of flavor. Each bite was a testament to the quality of the meat and the skill of the kitchen staff. The scallops were equally impressive, with a delicate sweetness and a perfectly seared exterior. These dishes showcased the restaurant's ability to excel in both meat and seafood preparations.

However, the appetizers left something to be desired. The calamari and oysters Rockefeller, while promising in concept, arrived at the table cold. Temperature is crucial when it comes to seafood dishes, and the coldness detracted from the overall enjoyment of these appetizers. The flavors were there, but the lack of heat diminished the impact of these dishes.

The Caesar salad, a classic starter, also fell short of expectations. The salad was barely dressed, leaving the lettuce leaves rather dry and lacking the tangy, creamy flavor that makes a Caesar salad so satisfying. A more generous application of dressing would have greatly improved this dish and brought it up to par with the rest of the menu.

Despite these shortcomings in the appetizers and salad, Clyde's Willow Creek Farm still manages to impress with its exceptional drinks and entrees. The ribeye steak and scallops alone are worth a visit, showcasing the restaurant's ability to deliver high-quality, flavorful dishes.

In conclusion, Clyde's Willow Creek Farm offers a mixed dining experience. While the drinks and entrees are outstanding, the appetizers and salad leave room for improvement. With a bit more attention to detail and temperature control, these dishes could easily match the high standards set by the rest of the menu. Overall, Clyde's remains a popular choice for those seeking a upscale dining experience with a focus on quality meats and seafood, and of course, expertly...

This is a beautiful restaurant. The food is consistently good. The entire dining experience can be anywhere from great to poor depending on your server. It seems like every time I go, there is something that takes away from how great the experience could be. Today I took my husband there for his birthday. What started out as a good experience quickly went down hill. While waiting for our server, another server brought us water. We waited, and finally our server arrived to take our order. We noticed our server was taking care of a large party and several other tables around the area where we were seated. I had asked for a drink prepared a certain way. Upon receiving drink, it was soon obvious directions were not followed so I held off drinking the drink until server returned. However that never happened. Meal was brought out by someone else. Shared request with that person who said he’d get our server. Server never came, so we ate meal and I drank the drink I’d been given. During this time the large party next to us left. Afterwards another server went to the table, where the large party had been seated and which had yet to be cleared, and put his foot up on one of the chairs to clean his shoes. Not being pleased with how his shoes looked he went to get another towel and returned to the chair to continue cleaning off his shoes. Being pleased with his clean shoes he went back to refill a customers drink (not sure if he washed his hands after cleaning his shoes). My drink was gone, our water was gone and I really wish I had a little extra dressing for the salad I had ordered. Alas, our server finally arrived. I asked for a refill of my drink, reminding her of how I liked it, and some extra dressing. Drink, once again was brought without directions being followed and I never did see the extra dressing I had requested. The next time we saw our server was to ask if we wanted dessert. We said no and to please just bring the check. The check included a surcharge. When I questioned the surcharge I was told it’s a fee to help fight inflation and that it would go away in 2024 (I think she meant the surcharge would go away, not inflation). We paid our bill and left. If you want a server with clean shoes, this is your...

Had the opportunity to dine in the Sanctuary Room as part of a group/board dinner recently. Several individuals had talked this restaurant up, however many of us were left disappointed.

The restaurant itself and its grounds are immaculate and a very neat setting. We walked upstairs into one of two private dining rooms that were rustic and easily able to accommodate 14+ individuals. The Air Conditioning in the Sanctuary Room had 2 speeds (Category 4 & Off) thus causing those sitting proximate to the ceiling vents to see their hair blow and freeze them out. Staff was either unable to or unwilling to turn this down or off so we frequently pushed away from the table at various times of the meal while the AC was on.

The drink selection was great and everyone seemed to enjoy them. We started out with Calamari and Crab Dip for the table which were fantastic.

A few of us split a dozen Pemaquid Oysters which were recommended by our server. They were decent and enjoyable.

A single server in this environment with 14+ people was simply unable to keep up with drink orders, the dinner order and dinner service. When dinner arrived, it came in waves so those waiting for everyone to be served were greeted with cold plates due to the AC.

My pork chop delivered warm on a “hot” plate and was pretty charred on the bone. As I cut into it I quickly saw that the “medium” that I ordered was closer to Well Well Done and dry as sand paper. Not edible, I pushed aside and began to work through the garlic mashed potatoes which were tasty, but somewhat watery. The server didn’t reappear until 15-20 minutes later and by that time reordering didn’t seem logical since most were nearing completion of their meal. He did offer to then comp me another glass of the House Cab, which I didn’t want, but graciously accepted when it arrived.

The group finished with a variety of desserts, which were decent.

As a side note, on a Thursday evening around 8:30 PM it took approximately 30+ minutes to find an Uber back to hotels near IAD so keep that in mind if you dine here.

14 people, private room, one server, slow service, mediocre dining experience voiced and no manager seen to address. Overall a mediocre experience and I would not dine again...