First Look: Villa Mozart

Reviewed by Todd Kliman , Ann Limpert , Cynthia Hacinli

In Fairfax, charm to spare.

Villa Mozart

4009 Chain Bridge Rd.
Fairfax, VA 22030
Phone: 703-691-4747

Cuisines:
Italian

Opening Hours:

Wheelchair Accessible:
Yes

Nearby Metro Stops:
None nearby

Price Range:
Very Expensive

Dress:
Upscale Casual

Noise Level:
Intimate

Reservations:
Recommended

Website:
Click here to open in new window.

Best Dishes
Chestnut soup with caramelized chestnuts; arugula salad; lacquered breast of pheasant with sauerkraut and Asian pear; saddle and leg of rabbit.


 

Reader's Rating:
5 out of 5

Outside the quaint cottage, trees twinkle with Christmas lights, even in summer. Inside, each table is set with a single red rose, and Italian opera plays in the background. A silver heart dangles from the hostess’s bracelet.

The trappings of storybook romance aren’t all Fairfax’s Villa Mozart has going for it. The chef, Andrea Pace, worked in the kitchens at Cafe Milano in Georgetown and Fiore di Luna in Great Falls, and his Northern Italian cooking is elegant and often full of surprise.

An arugula salad with shavings of salty Grana Padano cheese would be perfectly pleasant on its own. But on the side Pace adds a little ramekin of rich, eggy custard flecked with mushrooms. His seafood carpaccio is inventive—translucent rounds of raw scallop dotted with bits of mango alongside octopus tendrils pressed together and sliced crosswise like a terrine.

Pastas, many made in-house, are more satisfying than innovative. Linguine in a rich but simple tomato sauce tastes like something you might make at home save for the curl of langoustine on top. A plate of penne drizzled with butter and balsamic vinegar is made special by nubs of fresh lobster so sweet you’d think it was Valentine’s Day.

This review appeared in the October, 2008 issue of The Washingtonian. 

Reader ReviewsWrite your own review
 
Excellent Setting the benchmark for Fairfax fine dining!
ScottL — August 3, 2009 5:29 PM
Our appetizers, entrees, and desserts were excellent. From the service, the presentation, the wonderful food, Villa Mozart stands out above the rest to a degree others should strive.
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Excellent What Value!!!!
jkeanejr — April 2, 2009 12:59 PM
I stopped by with my wife to try the fixed price menu for lunch. The food was excellent, the service superb and the atmosphere quite pleasant. You can not find a better meal for $18. I have paid twice as much in other restaurants for a meal that More ...
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