IAD Dining / Hotels
 

My boss and I spend a lot of time in the vicinity of the south side of IAD (two days a week) in meetings with contractors.

In the past we've stayed at the Dulles Hilton or Dulles Hyatt (even once at the on-airport Marriott), but they're not very convenient for us--it takes too long to get where we need to be in the morning.

For a while now we've been staying at the Marriott Courtyard on 50 and walking across the street to Longhorn Steakhouse, but my boss and I are getting rather sick of both.

Does anyone have some suggestions for places to stay / eat that are convenient to the south side of IAD? (Food is a higher priority than lodging at this point.) Or even a way to get to Reston Town Center that doesn't require driving on 28 in evening traffic?

Nuyawkr

What programs are you interested in? One of the nicest hotels close to that area is the just refurbished Marriott at Fair Oaks Mall the Fair Lakes Hyatt is okay too, those would give you better food options, too. If you work over near 28/50, you'd be against traffic for the ride down Route 50 in the morning but would have to go out the back way. To go from the hotel to IAD, you have a few back road options rather just 50 to 28, as well.

The other hotels in the area are courtyard level and below like the ones by the Expo Center (on Route 28, a block or so further south from where I think you're staying now) with the exception of the Westfields Marriott which is a very nice hotel (but older now) 2 or 3 lights further south on 28, but you wouldn't need to get onto 28 to get to the route 50 area, if you didn't want to in the morning (but would hit a bit of traffic but not too much).

Feel free to PM me if you want more info, that's my area of town.

What kind of food are you looking for? There are a few good thai restaurants in the area. One on the west side of 28/50 off Route 50 (name escaped me, in the shopping center at the other end from 7-11 near an auto shop) another in Centreville (Thai Basil, fairly new and I'm really enjoying that one). I like the Indian restaurant at 28/29 in centreville - Preet Palace, as well. There are a LOT of chain restaurants in the area. Buffalo Billiards in MetroTech at 50 and Centreville Road (a block east of where I think you're staying) has decent food (surprisingly). Anita's is okay for generic tex-mex. If you drive east on 50 toward Fair Oaks Mall, there are a few decent option in the Greenbriar shopping center and of course at Fair Oaks Mall, itself.

I'm confused ... I went back to look at locations for the Longhorn restaurant to see if I had the right thought about what hotel you might be at and well, they had two listed for the DC area. One in centreville which would be near a Marriott SpringHill Suites and one over at the Dulles Town Center - North of IAD. Neither is on or near Route 50

So I'm leaving my previous post intact discussing options south of IAD, but where exactly are you located these days when you come to town? :confused:

Reston Town Center
 

Yes, you can get to Reston Town Center a number of ways other than 28. Take 50 east to West Ox Road. West Ox Road North turns into Lawyers Road and then becomes Reston Parkway - RTC is on Reston Parkway.

Also Old Centreville Road just one intersection east of 28 on 50 will take you to the Toll Road in Herndon, or continue on through Old Town Herndon where there are several good restaurants including Zefferelli's (white tablecloth Italian with a great veal chop) and Ice House Cafe for jazz and good food, too. Past Old Town Herndon, Elden Street (formerly Old Centreville Road) becomes Baron Cameron and intersects with Reston Parkway. Town Center is to your right.

Third option is Fairfax County Parkway. You pick that up a little further east on Route 50 from Old Centreville. You will see RTC from the road and can get off at several right exits.

Don't miss Bonefish in the Greenbriar Shopping Center and Coastal Flats near the Fair Oaks Marriott if you like seafood.

It's the Marriott Courtyard Chantilly at the intersection of 50 and Centerview Drive (1 light west of Centerville Road). The Longhorn Steakhouse is on the other side of Centerview Drive (also listed as the Chantilly location), along with a Damon's and Bob Evan's.

Nuyawkr

I don't think hotel programs are really an issue; we're just accumulating miles rather than points. We have noticed that it's frequently difficult to get a room on short notice, and that the rates have been jumping around like crazy.

Without getting too specific, we're involved with some of the on-airport construction. These two day trips involve flying the DL shuttle LGA-DCA, renting a car and driving to IAD. :mad: The drive to IAD in the morning isn't too bad, it's the evening traffic after finishing a grueling day with contractors which is the real issue.

We stayed at the Westfields once when we couldn't get a room anywhere else. I agree it's very nice, and very convenient for site access. The staff manning the check-in desk didn't bat an eye when we walked in wearing jeans and sweaters covered with construction dust. It seems a bit isolated from food options though.

Our problem with the Marriott Courtyard Chantilly is that it's a bit of a dump. Walking halfway down the length of the building to get to a circa-1970s elevator, or not having a sidewalk from the parking lot to the main entrance is just off-putting.

I think we're more looking for a decent variety of options than anything too upscale. If we have business at the north side of IAD (rare, these days) we'll make a point of going to Reston Town Center just to break the monotony.

I know the shopping center you're talking about with the 7-11; I'll look for the Thai place more closely the next time we swing through. We've played at Buffalo Billiards with some of the contractors, but haven't tried the food. Anita's is where we usually eat lunch if we manage an early finish as we're pointing in the right direction on 50 to get back to DCA. I'll have to see if I can convince the others to drive to Fair Oaks.

Nuyawkr

You could always stay in Tysons Corner. Since your business is on the airport you'd be able to use the free airport access road which is never crowded.

I also think the Fair Lakes/Fair Oaks idea is a good one. They've been bringing that mall upscale lately and there are now many good eateries right in the vicinity.

although a bit more westerly than southerly, there is the Inn at Little Washington.

They do have both decent food and rooms.

You're joking of course. Unless they have an unlimited expense account...

Tysons Corner doesn't really work for us as all of our work is at the south side of IAD.

We're really most interested in things along the US 50-corridor. And no, we don't have an unlimited expense account.

Nuyawkr

In that case I would look strongly at the Fair Oaks area and, perhaps, something like the Fairview Park Marriott. A dinner at 2941 will make the entire trip worthwhile!

If you want to stay in Reston, there's also the Sheraton on Sunrise Valley in addition to the other options, which is near some chain stuff and Town Center as well as all of the restaurants at Lake Anne. You can also head down Sunrise Valley to the Clocktower shopping center for Thai, Japanese, kebabs, Indian, or Chuck E. Cheese (everyone loves the ball room, right?).

I think the great options in Herndon have already been pointed out.

I'm at the Marriott Washington Dulles Suites right now which isn't very far from the airport and may be convenient for the OP. As far as 2941, I will be at the Fairview Park Marriott this weekend so if you could please elaborate dj_iceman I would really appreciate it :D

I would second the suggestion of the Washington Dulles Marriott Suites. I am a regular at this property, and it is only 6 miles away from IAD. The hotel is located in Worldgate Center. Inside this strip mall, you can find several restaurants serving Japanese, Chinese, Indian, Vietnamese, Turkish, and a place serving pizza. There is also a mom and pop place serving subs, along with Quiznos, TGI Friday, and Qdoba. American Cafe, a local chain, Coldstone, and Starbucks are also here. One benefit of this hotel is that you can get free gym passes to the large gym in the shopping center. You will need it after sampling all the restaurants. I especially like the Japanese, Vietnamese, and Turkish restaurants.

A few blocks south on Centreville Road from Worldgate is the Clocktower shopping center as mentioned. The Thai restaurant here is pretty good.

Fairview Park Marriott is a good option for staying since you can get on the interstate near the hotel and be only about five miles from the Dulles Toll Road. I have not been to 2941, but every room at Fairview Park has a coupon for 2941, near the hotel binder.

Sweetwater Tavern is a few miles away from Fairview Park Marriott. There are 3 locations for this brand, and the company that runs this restaurant also runs Coastal Flats. The meat is the draw. I have not ate here yet, but it is usually crowded for dinner. There is more info here.

You should also try Five Guys. They have some amazing burgers, and one order of fries will be enough for three people.

Personally, I am not a big fan of the Fair Oaks Marriott. Their concierge lounge does not offer as much as the Fairview Park Marriott or Tysons Corner Marriott. The Washington Dulles Marriott Suites does not have a lounge, but gold and platinum members can get a free continental buffet or room service breakfast each day.

For the OP: If you stay frequently at Marriott hotels, you should earn points because you will (1) earn elite bonuses, (2) be able to participate in Marriott promotions (like the current MegaBonus promo), and (3) use the points to either trade for more miles or buy a travel package which will let you buy up to 120,000 miles at one mile per point, in addition to 7 nights at a Marriott hotel.

http://www.2941.com/

This is either my favorite or second-favorite restaurant in the entire area (my wife and I keep waffling between 2941 and Equinox in downtown DC). The Fairview Park Marriott will even give you a free ride there if you want to partake of the full multi-course experience with wine pairings and don't want to drive the mile or so back to the hotel. Definitely bring your appetite, as well as an expectation of spectacular service and an equally impressive view.