Coastal Flats — Restaurant in Tysons

Coastal Flats has, for years, been my wife and I's date night spot. We love it and truly felt as though we found the restaurant that we could go to consistently for the rest of our mortal lives. Unfortunately, that's beginning to change; more on that to come.

When I was in high school basically all my friends worked at some Great American Restaurant or another so I made my way around to the different locations pretty frequently. Once, when I was feeling particularly wealthy, I suppose, I decided to order the Drunken Ribeye. It changed my life. It was so expensive but was so unbelievably good that it became the standard by which I judged all other steaks. It was like a first kiss, I simply couldn't forget it. I could never find one better than the one I had at Coastal Flats (Coastal's as the locals call it).

This remained true for many years. I've been to many steak restaurants including the likes of Ruth's Chris and still didn't feel like anything else could fill the void that Coastal's had created in my heart and soul.

When I got married, I decided to take out a second mortgage and cash out on my 401K and bring my wife to a fancy dinner at Coastal's. She ordered the market fish with arugula because she has some weird craving for arugula and I once again ordered the famed Drunken Ribeye. I thought that perhaps the years that had passed since the last time I had tried the dish had put rose-colored glasses over the meal. But I was wrong. Much like the first time, the Drunken Ribeye failed to disappoint. It was so delicious I could hardly speak to my wife, I was so consumed in experiencing the rush of bourbon flavor and tender meat.

My wife enjoyed her meal too and Coastal's became our date haunt.

As the years passed, our hair grew gray and our stomachs grew wide, but Coastal's remained our home away from home. The fish on the ceiling like friends, the rock music in the background, a lullaby, the waiters, like family. But then a strange thing began to happen; things began to change.

The first thing we noticed is that the market catch with the arugula disappeared from the menu, never to be found again. How could this be? We thought. How could the head chef remove one of our favorite dishes? We thought.

We persevered. We tried to find new dishes, but nothing really seemed to compare. But at least we still had the Drunken Ribeye.

Then, a few weeks ago, after years of patronage, we had our first bad experience. Per usual, we started our meal with a boatload of appetizers. The firecracker calamari and a bread basket; simple and delicious. Our bread came out and there was literally a used ketchup container inside our basket. Disgusting but, no worries. We all make mistakes from time to time.

We perused the menu looking for our favorite dishes. No arugula and market catch, but the Drunken Ribeye was still holding strong. We ordered and waited in pregnant anticipation for our meals. And we waited. And we waited. And we waited some more. Our waiter, essentially a member of our family, was estranged to us, it would seem. Like a child at college, we hardly saw him and, when we did, it was for just a brief moment. Our drinks quickly dissipated as we waited and, not being able to ask for refills, we moved from comfortably hydrated to parched as the firecracker calamari began to take its toll.

Finally, the Drunken Ribeye came out in all its glory. This would redeem everything, I thought. But it didn't. The meat was good, but the beloved "drunken sauce" might as well have been straight Jack Daniels. It was so harsh it overcame the entire meal and left me feeling a little bloated, if I may be so crass.

Dare I say, the Drunken Ribeye wasn't that good? Perhaps I do. Even a god can bleed, I suppose.

We were disappointed by this meal and experience. Will we come back? I believe so, but it will be as men and women who are older, wiser and perhaps a little more jaded than they were before. And, I do believe, the hunt for the best steak in Northern Virginia must begin again for the mighty hath fallen. The mighty...

My lunch experience at Coastal Flats at Tysons Corner was simply outstanding. From the moment we stepped into the restaurant, we were greeted with a friendly and welcoming atmosphere that set the tone for a fantastic meal.

Let's start with the bread. I must say, the bread at Coastal Flats is unlike anything I've ever had. Freshly baked and served warm, it was simply divine. The crust was perfectly crispy, while the interior was soft and fluffy. It was the ideal accompaniment to our meal, and we couldn't resist indulging in multiple pieces.

Moving on to the main course, the fish and chips were a true highlight. The fish was expertly battered and fried to a golden perfection. Each bite was a delightful combination of flaky, moist fish and crispy fries. The portion size was generous, leaving us feeling fully satisfied and content.

The tacos and shrimp po' boy were equally impressive. The flavors were bold and vibrant, and the ingredients were clearly fresh and of high quality. Whether it was the traditional fish tacos or the tantalizing shrimp po' boy, every bite was a burst of deliciousness. The combination of textures and spices was on point, and we couldn't get enough.

As first-time visitors, we were also extremely pleased with the attentive and knowledgeable staff. The service was prompt, and the waitstaff took the time to explain the menu options and make recommendations based on our preferences. Their friendly demeanor and professionalism added to the overall positive dining experience.

Coastal Flats at Tysons Corner has won us over completely, and we will definitely be returning. The exceptional bread, mouthwatering fish and chips, and incredible tacos and shrimp po' boy have left a lasting impression on us. Whether you're in the mood for a lunchtime treat or an evening meal, I highly recommend Coastal Flats for a fantastic...

Found this after a quick search of restaurants at Tyson's Mall. We wanted a nice sit-down area to visit with family whom we hadn't seen in a while. I made the reservation for a special occasion, asked for a booster seat, and further for a high chair for the table. We arrived about 45 minutes prior to our reservation time, and despite having plenty of open tables at 1 pm, told me we would be texted closer to our arrival time and we were free to shop the mall. My cousin went to go get the stroller, and not 3 minutes after that, my phone buzzed letting us know our table was ready, so that was a bit inconvenient as we had already set our plan in action to kill 30 minutes. Our server came by and took our order, read it back 100% correctly, but did not hear the part about needing split checks at the beginning.

The food was "okay," though the crab cake was actually pretty tasty. Not sure I would have put ketchup with sweet potato fries, but oh well. The Caesar salad was made with baby kale instead of romaine, so that went back to the kitchen. Otherwise, the meal was "okay" except for the ungodly slow service. The server came back once right after the food had been dropped and never really stopped by again to refill drinks at all. I ate most of my meal with an empty water glass. We had to flag him down to get the checks, which also took several minutes. Honestly, with as slow as it was, and with as many workers as I saw standing idly by, there was no need for this slow service here. If I find myself in Tyson's in the future, I will not...