Chloez Cafe — Restaurant in Virginia

I really wanted to like (or love) Chloez Cafe. It's just a few miles from my home, and it's in a strip shopping center that needs more than just a pizza place. (Well, there are a few others, but none with the type of food or promised ambience of Chloez Cafe.)

First, the good news: The food I had--the shrimp basket with fries--was very good. Both had just been fried, so they were hot and fresh. The shrimp was nicely (not too heavily) breaded, and the fries were nicely seasoned. I had a cup of coffee, and that was very good. If I were rating just the food, I'd probably give it five stars.

Moving on: Ambiance. I'd give it a three. I didn't get the beach vibe mentioned by some reviewers. The tables were nice wooden ones, but not beach-y. There were quite a few knickknacks which added some charm to an otherwise large, open room. It was well-lit. Not much you can do with the picture window looking out at the parking lot. Because of all the hard surfaces (hard floor, hard walls), sound bounces around and it's a bit noisy. But not too bad.

But now we get to Service. That was unacceptably poor. I arrived about 4:15 pm Sunday afternoon. Chloez's wasn't crowded, and I was immediately greeted and asked whether I wanted to sit at a table or the bar. I chose a table. The server approached and asked what I'd have. I ordered a cup of coffee and the shrimp basket. All good so far. But that's about where it ends. She returned a minute later and said the shrimp wouldn't be available (because it's on the dinner menu, though it was listed as a special) for another 10 minutes. Would I like to wait? I decided to order something else, an omelet. I ordered and a few minutes later she returned with the good news that I could have the shrimp basket quickly, after all. Okay, great. Switched back to the shrimp.

Another table near me had also ordered the shrimp and got the same message. The other table got their shrimp very promptly. That table was finishing up its meal and had asked for the check before I even got my shrimp basket. As I said, the coffee was good, but no one offered to refill my cup. Finally, I asked for a refill, which was promptly provided. Once I received my shrimp--no ketchup for the fries, nothing for the shrimp either, I asked if Chloez's had either tartar sauce or cocktail sauce. The server had heard of tartar sauce (and after a search of the kitchen found some), but not cocktail sauce. I described cocktail sauce as red. The server guess ketchup? No. Marinara? No. He made a few other guesses, and then shrugged. I did get some tartar sauce, but not cocktail sauce. The coleslaw meant to accompany the shrimp and fries came in a thimble-sized cup.

The final service-related comment: Chloez's had at least six servers for about 22 customers. Not that the servers were serving. A clump of them would stand by the cash register. Then a few would separate and travel in teams to different tables to take orders, deliver checks, etc. Then they'd regroup at the kitchen window, even though there weren't any orders up to be delivered. Now, I recognize that most of the servers were either high school or college students. But servers who'd never heard of cocktail sauce when they're serving shrimp? Or a request for tartar sauce for shrimp that evokes multiple chuckles? Or don't even provide ketchup with fries unless asked? I'll give them credit for trying, but I think a bit more training...

Of all the restaurants I have been to in my 22 years of living in the greater DC area, Chloez Cafe continues to be the place I visit ten fold over any other. They offer extraordinarily high quality food and drink with all sorts of artistically charming flares, a lustrous and homey atmosphere, and most of all, incredible staff. I have never once had a bad experience with their servers or hosts. Grace, one of the servers there almost every day I have been, always greets me with a smile and warm conversation throughout my meal. She sets the bar extremely high for the restaurant. She is always attentive to me during my whole stay, and her warming personality can thaw even the coldest of hearts! Grace is a huge reason why I keep going back to Chloez time and time again. The fact that she continues working at a small, mom and pop restaurant rather than going to one of the 5-star restaurants in DC as a server (which from what I can tell is more than doable for her) is testament to the fact that there is so much more to Chloez than what meets the eye... so much so that even the staff clearly loves working there! Every other server I have had there shows no lesser a standard of quality than Grace. I do not exaggerate when I say this is the best service across the board.

I could write all day long about the food and the atmosphere and how much I love walking into Chloez on the coldest winter day and feeling like I just stepped off the sand into the nearest beach restaurant! It is a place unlike any other. Finally, the 'mom and pop' themselves, Joe and Carolyn, are more often than not seen socializing with the very patrons who dine there, myself included! From day one of my going there, they both since have recognized me and greeted me with big smiles and our usual small talk... These are the OWNERS of the darn place! With all they have to do, they still find a way to make me feel like an old friend of the restaurant. I see them doing the same with all the other people there, be it their first time or 50th time going.

I go to Chloez because I feel like I am truly valued as a customer, I can tell that the staff are highly valued by the owners, and the atmosphere is enough to wash away all your worries. Also, I have never, ever had a bad meal... The kitchen staff is phenomenal, and their food shows it time and time again. I was not paid to write this review, I honestly never leave a review in the first place... but more people need to know about what an amazing and charming place Chloez Cafe is! Thank you to Grace for your incredible service time after time, and thank you to Joe and Carolyn for upholding such an incredible establishment with so much life. Chloez is where the daring...

So overall mixed experience, we decided to stop in for lunch after church. Hostess said it would be 20-30min wait, so we waited in the car, then went and got our son a haircut, then finally went back to the hostess after an hour waiting. Hostess said we would be seated next, but we were not. Multiple people would be sat before us from what the hostess said is that they had reservations so would be seated first. Finally after an hour, and from what it looked like the owner having a conversation with the hostess we were seated. I think it was the owner who brought out my 5 yr old a little bowl of chips which was appreciated because he was really hungry. Wife and I got latte and cappuccino which were both delicious, son got chocolate milk. There is no kids menu or cups with lids so my son ended up spilling his water all over the floor which was frustrating but the staff helped quickly to clean it up. I got the western omelette which was ok, but nothing brilliant and wife got the eggs Benedict which was over cooked. Waiter quickly replaced the over done the eggs. The beignets we very good and so was the dipping sauce. The owner stopped by tables multiple times and was very personable, making sure everyone had what they needed. Overall mixed experience, wife has been here before and said the avocado toast is amazing. Other food coming out of the kitchen looked amazing, just not mine. Definitely going to give it another go in the future and maybe order something different. Definitely make a reservation, cause holy smokes!!! Update Gave it another go after my son’s hair cut. Went in for lunch, was significantly less crowded and got right in. Waiter was ok, but the sweet lady that came from behind the bar was exceptional. After dropping off the silverware she heard me talking to my son about the waiter not being able to make a chocolate shake which is all my son wanted after his haircut. She said she absolutely could and made one using the smooth machine. Rueben was very good and my son enjoyed the chicken strips and the chocolate cup cake the owner dropped off after our meal. Was a much better/exceptional experience the second...