Circa 1918 Kitchen and Bar — Restaurant in Virginia

This was our 3rd time here. I had the duck and my guest the steak. The appetizers and desserts were wonderful but were out shown by the duck and steak. It was the best duck I'd had since the 60's at a star eatery in a storied Chicago restaurant, Berghoff. Yes. That amazing. Crisp on the outside and bursting with flavor on the inside. The steak (I was given a few bites) was the best steak I've ever had in a long time, maybe since the New Braundels TX steakhouses I used to travel to just for their cuts. The staff are tip top notch and had everything needed for my obscure Lumière – a Chartreuse cocktail (which was expertly prepared). Alas my friend prefers a soft drink they don't have on hand: root beer and had not liked their other soft drinks which they had tried before. It is tiny. Very very crowded. Claustrophobic, even. Parking is on the street and down the street a bit is a small parking lot used by several businesses. Pricy. Make sure there is plenty on your credit card. My cocktail was ½ the size at 1 ½ the price (but perfectly done so I had to have several). Extremely loud and unruly table of 6 senior citizens just inches away from our table. They broke at least 2 glasses in rapid succession. We donated our napkins for their cleaning. Someone leaned over, and I mean over as in on top of, our table - it was a small table for 2 - over our appetizers, to take a group photo of the obnoxiously rude party-table next to us. We spent a little over $200 for dinner for 2 with drinks and appetizers, dessert plus wine to be next to an out of control "frat-party" of senior citizens so loud we couldn't have a conversation. It is a popular place that caters to an entitled crowd. We have friends that like Circa and frequent it regular. The quality of food is some of the best in the neighborhood and if you can get a table the service is excellent. If you don't like to be squished into a can like a sardine along with noisy entitled senior citizens having their own drunkin frat party while paying top dollar you won't like it here. We live within walking distance so keep hoping and trying; our hobby is fine dining. So 5 stars for the food, wine, drinks and service but about 2 stars for the cramped seating and out of control frat party next to us. Our experience reminded me of Mille Fleurs in Rancho Santa Fe, CA with excellently prepared food but the piano bar on acid for noise...

Circa 1918 is pure perfection and I can't believe I was honored enough to get a reservation there on a Saturday night! This restaurant is located on a little cute strip, filled with vintage looking shops. It's cozy on the outside and in the inside. The ambiance at night is giving romantic date night. It's a pretty tight space but it gives an intimate feel. I personally love that. I went here because one of my friends said that it is his favorite restaurant. He explained how their menu frequently changes and is chef-curated. He really hyped it up. And the experience I had here with friends really lived up to the hype!! Immediately waking up, the hostess greeted us with upbeat and high energy and she quickly seated us as well. The hostess also ended up being our waitress. She was very well-informed and knew the food and drinks like the back of her hand. I'm always impressed when waitstaff know what they're talking about because I've been in their shoes before. So I know the work it takes to get like that. We started with a house appetizer. I don't remember what it was exactly but it was all beautifully topped on a slice of naan. It really started off the night on a great note. Our appetizers were the charred octopus, beef gyoza, and the fried oysters. Our drinks were excellent craft cocktails that I don't remember the names of. But each one was gorgeous and delicious! Next up, we had the grilled asiago bread, bison meatloaf, pan seared duck breast, and the seared jumbo sea scallops. Goodness. Not a single disappointment in any of these dishes that I listed. Maybe one disappointment is that I couldn't have unlimited charred octopus and duck breast... LOL. I often get lost in thinking about the charred octopus here. It was crispy on the outside with the perfect amount of char, but yet it was soft and tender in the inside. I got my duck cooked at medium rare. The duck breast melted in my mouth. I didn't want the experience to end. Overall, this place is absolutely worth the hype and is all the rage. I'm 1000000% coming back here when I'm back...

My husband and I had eaten here in the summer of 2012 and were so impressed we decided to come here for our Valentines Day dinner.

The first course was great (Oysters Rockefeller), but the second...Hm. It was a small steak, lobstertail and risotto. The steak was perfect, delicious. I cut into the lobster tail and took a bite: Almost raw. That can't be, I said to myself. I took another bite. Still raw. Maybe it's how they cook it here? I asked for a bit of my husbands' lobster: Perfect, tender and crisp. He takes a bite of mine. Raw. Husband flags down the waiter and tells him about the tainted tail. Waiter apologizes and takes away entire plate. Waiter returns with plate, still with nibbled steak, untouched risotto and the still half-eaten lobster tail...that has now been cooked. Ugh.....but ok. Take a bite of Risotto...completely undercooked. As in, borderline crunchy. I look up at husband and he's making the same suprised face I am. The waiter returns at that point and tells us he's comped my glass of wine ($9) for the lobster experience. Ok, thanks. Rest of evening went nicely. We received the bill (expecting it to be somewhat hefty, but this was a special occasion)

$186 for two people...2 meals, a beer and minus a glass of wine.

For $186 I expect my food to be properly cooked. Especially shellfish. I would also expect that you replace my raw food with a new, untouched completly cooked version, delivered to my table and NOT handle the plate i'm still eating off of. On top of THAT, crunchy risotto. How much of a rushjob was my food? I could happily take the price if the lobster was handled correctly. I could take it if the lobster was fine and risotto was still crunchy. But all three?

Sorry, paid it, but not impressed, won't be back. I'll spend my special occasions and the money involved at a place I can trust to give me a 5-star experience for a 5-star bill. It's a shame, bc out first visit was so amazing. Maybe they have a hard time...