Saté: A New American Experience — Restaurant in Virginia

My fiancé and I love coming to Sate'. It has become one of those must hit spots that we frequent when we want to get amazing food and have a quality experience. I will say this past Sunday was not a great experience. We arrived before they opened at 10 am (had a reservation), there was no one else around, and asked for a booth. We were told no, other people had reservations and requested them. Normally I would be okay with that, but we also had reservations and as stated before, there was no one else in the restaurant. If it was busy and people were lined up, I could understand not granting our request. I would like to mention that the entire time we were there, from start to finish, no one came in to be seated, so the entire place was open for 2 people requesting the half booth option. Next, when asked if we minded sitting at the window seat, there were two dead flies on the window sills. Again, not a huge deal, but the area should have been wiped down prior to the start of the shift. Especially since people were on their phones prior to the shift opening. Our waiter came over and greeted us and upon reviewing the menu, I notice that it is not the one that is posted online. This in my opinion was the most disappointing part of the meal. My fiancé and I are foodies. We love reviewing menus and going to try new things. We purposefully waited to come in so we could try the new menu. We reviewed the menu prior to coming (since the new menu came out on Tuesday) and knew exactly what we wanted to get- the corned beef hash skillet and the double trouble. We were even planning on getting 2 desserts, the apple pie bread pudding and the gimme some mo' and I personally wanted to try the Newport Fog drink. All those options except for the burger were not on this menu. We decided to go with the caramel drizzle French toast (which was not the new churro French toast) and the burger. The burger in our opinions was not up to the normal Sate' standards. (My fiancé loves burgers, it is the thing he will get at every place we go out to eat so for both of us to be disappointed said something.) It was good but there wasn't anything special about it (and it was missing the pickled onions). The homefries were great, as they usually are. Now the french toast was superb and was the only thing that saved the meal. It was fluffy and custardy, sweet but not overwhelming. The vanilla infused whipped cream was incredible, one could eat that by itself. The bacon was also very good, sweet but savory and perfectly cooked.. All in all, this was not our best experience at Sate'. We frequent this establishment and have recommended it to many people (local and out of state), sharing our experiences and pictures of the food. We love local non chain options that offer quality food. Hopefully this was just an off day. Unfortunately, due to these issues/disappointments we didn't spend any extra money besides getting our two entrees. We were planning on coming on for our anniversary on the 31st, and now I am not sure. If I am spending that much money (over $100 on a meal) I want the food to be great and to have a...

I went to sate with my husband for the first time and it was a great experience overall. As soon as we walked in we were greeted by the hostess and asked to sit in the lounge area while they set up our table. The little lounge area was very inviting & chic with beautiful velvet couches and bright hints of color for flair. We enjoyed some tic tac toe with laughs and were getting ready to shift to checkers and by the 5th move our table was ready.

Our waitress was Raye who was extremely charming and helpful. She welcomed us and right away let us know her recommendations as well as chefs favorites. When attending a new place, I usually always ask the wait staff to know their thoughts and it was a nice touch that she opened up with this and I didn’t have to ask. We decided to try the pork belly for our appetizer. It was a nice cut, crunchy and tasty all alike. The additions of cilantro and pickled onions were a refreshing compliment to the savory meat and the whipped sweet potato definitely rounded the dish.

For our entrees, we were interested to know more about the cauliflower steak, and luckily as I was searching for a photo, Raye had one readily available for us to see while she explained its components. It was a great choice as it was grilled perfectly to keep the cauliflower in tact but not too firm. The seasoning, chimicurri & arugula atop were a festive party for all tastebuds. The other selected entree was the pork tenderloin, grilled medium. The texture was a little firm on the outside but still soft to taste. I normally like a medium rare steak, and medium was fine for this dish. It included the whipped sweet potato, and a mixture sauce that seemed to include a sweet and spicy sauce, very familiar to a sauce you would pair with traditional spring rolls or lumpia, which played on your senses while finishing with an topped arugula mixture, which clears your palate as you enjoy every bite.

For dessert, was in my opinion, the dessert of all desserts. The chocolate indulgence cake is every chocolate connoisseurs dream. The bottom layer is a dark chocolate cookie crumble crust, topped with a creamy chocolate cheesecake, topped with a dense brownie layer, topped with a dark chocolate mousse, topped with what appeared to be a solid ganache with creamy ganache and cookie crumbles, accented with a full layer of white chocolate curls. If that doesn’t seduce you to want to try it, you are definitely missing out! The serving was plenty as its richness makes you not want to waste the tasty experience. Myself, it was an extended experience to last 3 days which I love.

Overall, we enjoyed the ambiance, great service, tasty dishes and anticipate going again. Their menu changes seasonally which makes never a dull moment on the carefully selected menu. 10/10 would definitely recommend for date night, girls night out, first dates, business meetings and more. Give it a try and you will not be...

I rarely write reviews—not even for awful service or disappointing products. However, every once in a while, an experience is so exceptional, so heartfelt, that it deserves to be shared. That’s exactly what happened during our recent visit to "Satè A New American Experience."

I was curious about the name Satè. I looked up the meaning... "supply (someone) with as much as or more of something than is desired." This was truly our experience.

My husband and I went to Satè to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary, and it turned out to be an evening we’ll never forget.

We started with the Asian Sticky Ribs, which were incredibly flavorful and fall-off-the-bone tender. My only suggestion? Offer moist towelettes or finger bowls—these ribs are amazing and a lil sticky.

For our main courses, my husband enjoyed the Short Rib Khao Soi, a rich and savory dish with coconut curry broth, bok choy, noodles and other deliciousness that he's still raving about. I had the Pan Seared Sea-Scallops, which were seared to golden perfection—tender, buttery, and paired beautifully with bacon marmalade, carrott ginger puree and corn mèlange. The portions were generous, and we both left with doggie bags.

We ordered dessert to go—Apple & White Chocolate Bread Pudding and Strawberry Shortcake—both of which were divine even the next day!

To our surprise and delight, we discovered that Satè hosts live jazz every Wednesday. That night’s entertainment was none other than Clarrissa, “The Sassy British Soul Singer.” Her voice was everything: powerful, velvety, passionate, and utterly mesmerizing. She added an unforgettable soundtrack to our already special evening.

Then came the icing on the cake—literally. The staff somehow found out we were celebrating our anniversary and surprised us with a taste of champagne, a slice of cake, and the sweetest handwritten card. It was thoughtful, personal, and so deeply appreciated.

Beyond the outstanding food and entertainment, the service was attentive and professional from start to finish. And for those wondering—yes, there’s plenty of free parking (both on the street and in the nearby garage).

If you’re looking for a place with exceptional food, soulful music, and true heart, make a reservation at Satè A New American Experience. And while you’re at it, follow Clarrissa—she’s a voice you won’t soon forget.

We can’t wait to go back. And, the next time, we're taking...