Parallel Wine Bistro
ភោជនីយដ្ឋាន អង្គុយចុះ 43135 Broadlands Center Plz, អាសប៊ឺន, រដ្ឋ Virginia, 20148-3803, ស.រ.អ
21 Photos
Features
- កាតអំណោយមាន: Yes
- លមយយ: Yes
- សេវាកម្មតារាង: Yes
- តុរតសសន៍: Yes
Contact & Hours
43135 Broadlands Center Plz Suite 121, Ashburn, VA 20148-3803
http://www.parallelwinebistro.com/
Opening Hours
- Sunday: 10:00-22:00
- Monday: 11:00-23:00
- Tuesday: 11:00-23:00
- Wednesday: 11:00-23:00
- Thursday: 11:00-23:00
- Friday: 11:00-23:00
- Saturday: 10:00-00:00
Nearby Attractions
Reviews (119)
Very special place
We had dinner with wine pairings. Beverage selections were perfect to complement the incredible food. We got She-crab soup, to lobster risotto, beef Wellington, and finally the white chocolate mousse cheesecake. Simply amazing!
Happy Hour
A friend and I met at Parallel for Happy Hour after work. It was a pleasant afternoon for October and we opted to sitting outside. We were both brought water and each order a Sangria. My Honey Peach Rose Sangria was delicious and my friend really liked his Sangria as well. We also ordered three happy hour apps to try. The duck fat fries were more potato wedges than fries, but were crispy and flavorful (though I could have used more cheese). The stuffed portobello mushroom caps were gooey and extra yummy. But the best thing we tried was the bread pudding with a blueberry sauce (actually more mixed berry, but good all the same). The bread pudding was light and delicious and the sauce was tart and paired well with it. All of this cost less than $40 (before tip). Definitely recommend.
You lost a customer
So disappointed! We loved Parallel for the fabulous wait staff, quirky and cute, which they still were this trip, but what did they do to the pear and prosciutto flatbread? There wasn't any bread…it was all cheese. Barely saw a pear much less prosciutto. We made this a special day as we live about 40 minutes away, looking forward to our favorite flatbread and sadly they changed the recipe. Im sure the change was done to save money. Well you saved money, but you lost a customer. I'm sad.
I want to support you guys!
I actually planned my visit after hearing that the owners were threatened simply because of a funny t-shirt. No one should be silenced simply because of snowflakes who can't take jokes. I will now be a regular here, and will encourage to come as well. To the owners: take heart. These jerks who are disparaging you have only given you free publicity and made reasonable people happy to patronize your establishment. I am going to plan another trip right away.
You are family here
I go here often mostly for HH; 5 stars all around (ambience, food, service, owner etc.). I have done brunch, lunch and dinner a few times and same experience.
Chef's Reuben is tops
Delicious! I had the Chef's Reuben and let me tell you, this is no deli Reuben! Everything about this sandwich was amazing. Tender incredibly tasting meat, great fries. My favorite take on a Reuben ever! I did take out but look forward to trying more of their food and enjoying g some craft cocktails on the patio!
Re-opening on the patio
This was my second meal out since VA eased CV restrictions. Food was inventive and well executed. Very large wine, beer and whisky selection. I have been here before and my only complaint is that it gets busy. Hopefully their additional patio will help with this issue.
Great Place for Apps and Drinks
Went in over the weekend and the food was great. The service was friendly and attentive. I am not a whiskey or wine guy, but they also have an extensive beer list - both local and from afar. This is our new go to spot for outside casual dining.
Great local gathering place
Delicious food menu, with an exceptional wine list. We're fans of wine bars in DC, but were really, pleasantly surprised at the great selection of wines they offered. Fun and relaxing ambiance. Must try.
Great date night
Incredible selection of wine. Food selection very good. Great atmosphere. Owner and staff very helpful and knowledgeable.
Great Find
We were in the area and called a few places in search of live music on a Saturday night, Parallel said they had entertainment and they have good reviews so we decided to give it a go. We were not disappointed! It was absolutely packed when we arrived, there was a private party on one side of the bar and then barely standing room on the other. We were not standing there more than 2 minutes when a male manager approached to get us some drinks. He took great care of us and the guests standing around us while the bartender manned the bar. Eventually some folks got up from the bar and moved to a table so we had some seats. The bartender was nice enough but we were glad for both managers behind the bar with him. We ordered more drinks and some appetizers (pork belly and tacos) and just enjoyed our time there with the music. Such a fun team to watch work, we will make the hour drive again soon!
Busy at happy hour
The place has a vey nice atmosphere. We visited during happy hour on a Friday and it was a little crowded, however; we were seated rather promptly and once we ordered, the food was served rather quickly. They had a live band performing that evening. Did not stay for the performance. The food was really delicious. I had the lobster mac and cheese and it was to die for. My friend had the shrimp pesto flatbread and he enjoyed it. The parmesan duck fries was the least favorite. The reason being is that they were not hot when served. Overall, I would recommend this place and would visit again.
Amazing!
Went for the first time for Mother's Day brunch. Restaurant is small in a strip mall. Food was amazing. Brunch was a buffet plus made to order omelets. Buffet consisted of cheeses and meats, crackers, fruit, shrimp, crab cakes, incredible smoked salmon, mini chicken and waffles, cinnamon crusted French toast w berries, bacon, potatoes, salads and more! Extensive does not even begin to describe their wine and drink menu. They also have these super cool wine vending machines! Can't wait to go back! Service was fantastic!
Meh
Went for lunch on a Friday at 12:30 with some girlfriends. Love the atmsophere, including the all-glass garage-style doors that can open up in nice weather. Our server was friendly. That's where the " pros " of Parallel end for me. I ordered a bloody mary and was told they only serve them on weekends. What?! That's right. No bloody marys Mon-Fri. I was offered a mimosa as a substitute, which of course is not remotely similar to a bloody mary. I passed. The menu is great if you love greasy bar food that pretends to be upscale. " Duck fat " fries and " bacon lollipops " don't appeal to me. I ordered a garden salad, expecting greens, tomatoes, bell peppers, etc. I received a bowl of greens drenched in oil and covered with cheese. One friend got the brushetta, which she said was good. The other ordered the cheesy bacon dip with toast and crackers, which was exactly what you'd expect. We had a good time, and the place filled up as happy hour started, but we left hungry and thirsty and went home for martinis and snacks that were better suited to our tastes.
Great Food with lots energy in the place
Had dinner here with friends and I absolutley love this place. The enerygy level, the live music and people just having a great time. I saw kids, couples and friends just enjoying life. The meal was superb, I had the best burger i've had in a long time. Then I had dessert, which was a little piece of heaven on earth. My personal thanks to the chef and the staff of this restuarant. We will be returning real soon.
Late night visit
We have been here a couple other times but really had a good time tonight. Jordan provided very good service, he checked on us several times. Also explained the process of using the wine machine- will definitely be back. Great food!
Butter chicken & Bloody Mary Heaven!
I had a girls lunch with 3 of my friends. We tried many things on the " shareables " menu and everything we ordered was delicious!!!.. (with the exception of the mushroom caps) We had the bacon lollipops and deviled eggs, pork belly on a potato patty, charcuterie Board, tacos w / chips and salsa & beef sliders w / duck fat fries. The service was spot on and we stayed there for 4 hours as the atmosphere is very comfortable and welcoming! I absolutely LOVED the butter chicken and it's the best I've EVER had! I will drive an hour + to definitely eat there again! The drinks were good and the Bloody Mary was amazing! This is a great place with a vast and delicious menu! Definitely recommended! <3
No Heart and Soul in the Kitchen
My Wife and I had a couple of choices for dinner in celebration of our 9th wedding anniversary. My Wife heard about Parallel Wine Bistro as a recommendation from friends so we decided since we'd never been there let's check it out. The place looks like a great happy hour go to with specials from 3-4pm and 4-6pm which our server was eager to point out. Unfortunately we missed the happy hour specials since our reservation was at 7pm. Our server was selling us on the full Sunday Brunch and Happy Hour which I thought was kind of odd. They offer self serve wine dispensers which have been a trend for a while buying a preloaded card. They certainly have a vast variety of wine and I understood Whiskey and Bourbon. We wanted to try a number of food items as they seem to be original in their offering on their menu. We started out with Bacon Lollipops and Deviled Egg which the bacon had a Sriracha Maple Glaze. Very good flavor on the bacon and fresh deviled eggs. Being from Buffalo, NY, I try the Chicken Wings that are served in and around the NoVa area so I ordered the Maple Bourbon Wings. What surprised me that the Bacon Lollipops and Wings came out very fast around 10-12 minutes after we ordered them. The Bourbon Maple glaze was good the chicken wings were cooked earlier (possibly the day before) and not to order. Big disappointment as the sauce was very good. Note to the kitchen; hey I'm okay on waiting the 18-20 minutes for cook to order. We ordered the Grilled Romaine Wedge which included Tomato, Bacon, Chives, Parmesan Ranch - this too was a big disappointment as I have had grilled Romaine at a number of places - the lettuce was wilted and uneatable. Who is keeping an eye on what is being served out of the kitchen? My Wife ordered the Crab Cake Sliders which are made with Pineapple Pico, Mixed Greens, Roasted Jalepeno Aioli and Duck Fat Fries - The crab meat tasted bad and my Wife did not eat her meal. I ordered what I thought was a Chicken Breast Sandwich which was a special on the menu but I was served was the " Slap your Momma Chicken Cheese " which is Pulled Chicken, Havarti Cheese, Queso Sauce, Tomato Medley, Pickled Onions on a Warm Ciabatta - This is an awful sandwich that I do not understand who thought it was a good idea to shred chicken mix it with cheese and more cheese add tomatoes and pickled onions. Now you are wondering why didn't we tell our server with the problem with the pre-cooked wings, the wilted salad, the spoiled crab meat and the wrong sandwich? Because our server thought it was cooler to hang out and talk to his friends on the other side of the restaurant. The food was delivered to our table by the kitchen staff and we never saw our server after he took our order. Not until I went to the bathroom and ready to leave did he come by our table. My Wife who grew up eating crab most of her life living on the Eastern Shore told our server that the Crab Meat was bad he attempted to school my Wife on how Crab should taste like. He was so oblivious that he had not checked in on us to see how we are doing he would have noticed there was a problem. So seeing a full plate of wilted Romaine Salad, barely eaten Crab Cake sliders and half eaten Chicken Sandwich that he would try to do something to make a better situation. We went on a Wednesday night so it was not busy. Why would you pre-cook your menu and reheat it? There is very little heart and soul in the kitchen. The Chef or short order cook that runs the kitchen that night should reflect on what goes out to customer. What a huge disappointment. I get it that finding good server staff in the NoVA area is difficult. I see more and more wait staff expecting 20% tips where most of them don't deserve it. The poor experience my Wife and I had on our special anniversary night out was on the back of the owner of Parallel Wine Kitchen and his / her Managers. As I mentioned earlier, Parallel may be a good Happy Hour place but I would not recommend eating there.
Great nite out with friends
Meet longtime friends there and everything was great from the food to the wine and our server. Loved the " early bird / happy hour " specials! Definitely want to go back again soon!
Service anyone?
One reviewer wrote " service will destroy this place " and I agree. The staff seemed confused about what to do, taking the order, and what it needed to look like when served. We ordered the Bacon Lollipops & House Deviled Eggs - and they were average. We also ordered the shrimp and pesto flatbread and was served the pear flatbread. It was corrected. The flatbread was good. I was in the mood for sangria but that is only served pitcher style. They told me I could order a wine slushy by the glass - and so I did. Sadly they were all out of slushy.... then why offer it up??? Lo and behold they decided to make a sangria by the glass for me due to the " slushy incident " - out came a wine glass with a pale grainy looking substance. In swoops the bartender and apologizes that it is not ready and takes it back. The glass comes back 5 min later with ice and a straw. The last time I looked that does not make it a sangria. Where are the fruit bits???? I will check the box on this one and not go back.
Great happy hour, service not as great
The weekday happy hour is a great value for the money. Especially between 3 and 4pm when apps and certain beverages are only 3.00. This being said the service is lacking. Each food item came individually and at different times one item took over an hour to get. Crazy when we only ordered appetizers. Server was not attentive took a long time for him to return with food / drinks. Nice atmosphere though.
Service will destroy this place
Was here last month for a group dinner. We were provided with 2 menus for a table of 15... after waiting for an extended period of time with no one stopping by I went to the hostess stand to grab them myself. The 2 hostesses and server chatting amongst themselves didn't seem to care. Very poor start to a dinner and left a lasting impression for the remainder of the evening. As the evening continued, Server was absent for long periods of time. I did enjoy my food and wine. Food came out quickly and was hot. No complaints there. Wine and whiskey list is extensive. Unfortunately service continued to be lacking reminder of the evening up thru the time we received our checks.
One of my fav restaurants in NoVa
I travel pretty frequently but whenever I come to the Northern Va / DC area, I stop by at Parallel. The food, drinks, service, and atmosphere are perfect. The whiskey selection is top notch. I normally get the maple wings and an old fashioned. When the weather is nice and the outdoor patio is open, it is my favorite restaurant to be at in NoVa. Highly recommend stopping by this place if you're in the area.
Brunch
Last minute, we tried it and was very happy with our Sunday brunch, we found out they have one on Saturday also
Quick last minute dinner
Very very good, what we had, and anything that passed us smelled goood, and looked great. Some of the best shrimp and grits I've ever had
Wow! We love this place
Fairly new to the Ashburn, VA this national chain restaurant and winery is a favorite and VERY popular with the Ashburn, VA crowd. It offers wine tasting, a large fine selections and some of the best food in the area for pretty reasonable prices, A must if you live in or are visiting the area.
Creative small plates and interesting wine tastings
We went on a Tuesday evening to sample some of the small plates offerings, and especially because our son in law knew it was 1 / 2 price bottles of wine on Tuesdays. What better time to go to try some great wines? We ordered some merlot that would normally have been $68 a bottle, so we felt we were indulging and getting a great price at $34. We tried a small cheese / meat board which came with our choice of 3 cheeses, 3 meats, baguettes, crackers and apple butter. There was not a crumb left. Then we began to order assorted small plates to share, and enjoyed everything except the pork belly which looked like a seared 3 inch tall layer of pure fat. I suppose it was, but since it was of a jelly-like consistency, it was unappealing to try to eat. The Slap You Mama chicken sandwich was very tasty. Ahi tuna also was a hit. The duck fat fries were okay--they really needed salt! Our teen aged grandson enjoyed a grilled cheese. This place is great for those who really enjoy higher end wines and creative food combinations. The menu was extensive and interesting. You can also try assorted wine tastings at their wall of wine--using a credit card type system you can choose various pours of quite an assortment of wine to see what you might like. Staff was very knowledgeable and pleasant!
Fantastic place for wine and / or whiskey lovers!
Great atmosphere - love the outdoor seating. Music is ambient, not too loud to hinder conversation. Staff (especially Nick!) is fabulous and attentive! Amazing selection of wine & whiskey, as well as beers, etc. Wonderful bites to eat from small starters to shareable appetizers and meals. Heard the weekend brunch is great, so looking forward to trying that soon! They offer lots of specials during the week - like half-off bottles of wine on Tuesdays, Whiskey Wednesdays, etc. - and Monday-Friday offers Happy Hour pricing from 4-6pm and Crazy Hour from 3-4pm! This is a great place to hang out with friends or family, take a date or celebrate a special occasion!
Wine tasting
Great selection of wines to try. The food was amazing. From the bacon popsicles to the salmon to the mac and cheese. We had a wonderful evening.
Love
Best brunch place in the area. Consistent food, service and great atmosphere. Where else can you get a great bottle of sparkling Rose for $22??
Whiskey heaven!
Fun place for drinks with friends and for whiskey connoisseurs. It is lively and open barn type building. Live music adds to the atmosphere. I have never seen such a variety if whiskey. The bartenders are friendly and knowledgeable.
Nice Evening!!!
Thursday night and they have a band playing. Very relaxing. We had the chicken flatbread which was served a little warm. Could have been hotter. The white wine from South Africa was ery good, according to my wife. I had an IPA with habanero peppers. It has a bite, so be warned. Very good though. Coming back.
A nice surprise
Had a great meal and discovered some new wines at Parallel. We happened upon this place while driving through and decided to try it. We were definitely Wow'd by the eclectic menu choices - everything we had was excellent
Let's Talk About the " Pour "
The wine selection here is outstanding (many US states, many foreign countries, all sorts of reds, whites, and roses represented), but the size of the " pour " is disappointing for the price. Big glass, with what probably is a four-ounce pour in the bottom of it. Standard fare for the US, but irritating to anyone who has spent much time in other countries. Does a restaurant really have to make all its profit from the wine? Isn't wine meant to be an accompaniment to the food -- not an extra meal? Philosophical questions aside, the food here is excellent. It's the kind of food that actually makes you feel better the next day. And the food is not overpriced. Kudos for all that. Just need to increase the size of the " wine pour, " without increasing the price.
Parallel Wine Bistro is Unparalleled!
This is the 3rd time my team has scheduled a dinner here. Parallel Wine Bistro is an excellent choice and one that I would highly recommend. Be advised, this review will be useful if you ask for one person, specifically, Leanne. Leanne was our host and also the bartender. She made me one of the best Sidecars ever and brought them to me with a friendly attitude. Once you catch your breath from looking at Leanne's lovely smile, you will remember to order food. Try the small, " sharing " plates. I suggest the chicken and waffles - they are exquisite. Also good are the sliders --with Gouda cheese are the best. Also great was the flatbread. The wine choices are exquisite - try the Oregon labels, nice balance and excellent taste. Overall, Leanne, and her manager, Ally, treated us like royalty, making sure we were well taken care of and eating. This kind of personal care rarely exists these days in retail eateries, but it is alive and well in Ashburn. Parallel Wine Bistro is, simply put, unparalleled.
Great Ambience & Sophistication In the Neighborhood
Parallel is one of favorite local places to go. I love the small plate menu items that have a great high end flare like French fries in duck fat and truffle. Parallel offers a wide menu of items and many alcoholic beverages to choose from. I love the offering of wines they have to choose from and now they offer craft brew and now have added numerous selections of bourbons and Scotch. Every time I go I am ready to go back
Date night destination... at least once per month
I have been going to this establishment since it first opened and it has grown and improved consistently. The selection of wines is top notch and now they have added a selection of whiskey that is very agreeable. The prices are reasonable too! My only criticism used to be the menu... however, the new chef is amazing! I definitely recommend this place.
Remodeled and such a treat!
Just tried the Parallel bistro again after a few years and discovered it has been totally redone. What a delight it was! Such a welcoming, appealing and cozy atmosphere to enjoy wine and an appetizer. And of course a huge selection of wines and an extensive food menu! With great prices for both the early bird " crazy hour " and then the immediately following " happy hour " -- you just cant beat this place! This restaurant is another wonderful (improved) addition to Ashburn!!
Simply Average
I've visited the restaurant three times and I've been disappointed each time. During my first visit the wine machines were broken and we couldn't sample and enjoy their wines. The second trip was a similar experience and the first three beers I ordered where not available or out of stock. The food is average and the service is below average. Parallel is a popular bar / restaurant and our friends our regular visitors, but they agreed the service and food was average during our last visits. We're going to give Parallel another try, but this could be our last trip.
Great Food, reasonable prices, so so entertainment
The food and drinks were excellent especially the lobster mac and cheese. Also great burgers. Staff was excellent and very attentive. Manager stopped by our table. Only negative was the musician. He was not very good but he was loud.
Awesome
Second visit. Yup, just excellent. Apps pear and prosciutto and almond crusted salmon over risotto very good with half price bottle of great wine. Atmosphere 5 star. Young man server pleasant and friendly. Thanks again!
Good Way to Compare Wines
Although a bit expensive per pour, Parallel does give you an opportunity to compare similar varietals. This is good fun with a larger group as economies of scale allow a greater range of tastings. The food platters, while also expensive, are very well prepared.
Great, easy place
Yes, they got it right. This wine bar has a casual, refined atmosphere, good food and friendly smiling servers. The cheese board app was delicious as was our lunch. Outside dining space, parking aplenty, decor inviting, and check out the restroom. Nice time.
Great atmosphere
Went to Virginia over the weekend and had dinner with my friends at Parallel, food was amazing, atmosphere was awesome too... Had a pickle martini, I have been dying to try one & they made a great one! We had the baked 5 cheese dip, pear & prosciutto flatbread, & fried pickles, all which were EXCELLENT! I can't wait to go back & try items on their menu!
Ms
Great service and Happy Hour. Will go again. Thanks Hanna! Tried the HH Opera Prima and was very impressed with this inexpensive wine.
Food and Booze!
I have lived near Parallel for many years and for some reason never tried it out until now.... I am sorry I waited so long! Parallel has great wine, whiskey, and food selections! Great atmosphere and service also. Fantastic place to go and have a few drinks on a summer night as the restaurant recently redesigned itself to be entirely open (with cover) to the outside on nice nights! Menu has a variety of plates to share or not. Tuesday is half price wine night! I highly recommend trying Parallel!
Beautiful Bar area and great wine!
My hubby and I have been here a few times for appetizers and a glass of wine. The wine is VERY good and the ambience is wonderful (beautiful bar). Very friendly bartender as well. At some point soon, I think we will have dinner in the Restaurant. I've heard from friends that it's good food as well.
My happy place
Went here in mid-May. Cannot say enough positive about this place. Great ambience, no detail too small to pay attention to. Food was killer. Lobster Mac-n-cheese. Duck fat fries. Friend chicken on a waffle Benedict. A burger ON my Bloody Mary. Holy cow. Then there are the drinks. The automated wine system that allowed me and my sister to try 16 wines without getting totally sloshed. And the wines and drinks were so good. The service was wonderful. Friendly, knowledgeable, helpful, and Jason, the owner, stopped at the table to make sure that we were good. We live 4 hours away. We will be back.
Great if you are into wine
Small space. great for people into wine, since you can do wine tasting and its very low key. Limited menu they need to expand the menu.
GREAT FOOD! GREAT ATMOSPHERE, INCREDIBLE SERVICE + A LIVE BAND
I had such a great time this past weekend at Parallel Wine Bistro. We visited this location based on tips from friends who were joining us for a coupled double date. Parallel has a extensive wine and whiskey menu and the food is top notch! The food is reasonably priced and is to die for. We sat inside, but they have their patio open so we got to experience the nice weather. We started w / the small cheese board (excellent St Angels brie, and aged cheddar, with Prosciutto, Palacio Mild Dry Chorizo, and House Smoked Atlantic Salmon. I had the sliders, the Kale chips (off-the-hook) and the Duck fat fries.
Great wine selection and incredible service!
I was very surprised at the speed and attentiveness of service on a very busy Saturday night. Our server, Nick, knew the menu and wine selection very well and was able to make some suggestions that made for a very memorable evening. I had the chop and everything on my plate including the sides was outstanding and paired very well with the suggested wine. I can't wait to go back again!
Ostentatious
Went for dinner with my daughter and her friend. They thought there would be entertainment but we choose the wrong night. I could the decor did not match the price point for the wine and food. The food selection was Ok, the wine was extensive and could be bought by the glass, but over priced. The staff needed more training and was more than a little pretentious but lacking in knowledge depth about wine.
Great experience!
Our friends introduced us to this restaurant and we loved it! The food was great! We loved all the wine we tasted. What a great idea to let customers taste many wines some of which are super expensive without making them buy the entire bottle. We enjoyed the atmosphere as well - not too loud. Our waiter was also very knowledgeable - everything he recommended was delicious!
Great Place to Meet Friends & Family
Have visited on several occassions with both friends and family. The wine selection is huge - now they've added whiskey! And the menu is always unique and tasty. Never disappointed!
Good wine selection
The wine by the glass selection is good, but, at least on the evening I visited, food was well below average and the service was very slow
Wonderful gem hidden in the suburbs
We visited recently with friends. The food quality was outstanding and exceptional. We were in awe that such quality food preparation was available in the suburbs. Kudos to the Chef. Super nice atmosphere with a guitarist entertainer playing live beautiful songs. Wine lists are superbe. Every single wine we tasted was incredibly good and perfect. Cheese selections perfect. They opened the inside to the outside with giant slidding doors so the whole place is transformed into a very nice gem hidden in the heart of the suburbs. The owner of the place really knows what they are doing. Excellent suburban neighborhood wine bar with top notch quality food, wine and ambiance.
Great place for Haopy Hour!
Went and enjoyed happy hour on the patio with live music. So nice and relaxing and not loud so we could actually visit. Huge selection of wines which is awesome and a nice selection of unique appetizers. Definitely recommend especially if weather permits to sit outside.
Persons with food allergies beware
With more and more adults and children having and being diagnosed with food allergies it is a challenge each time you venture out to a restaurant. The following are facts and statements with emotions removed. We went to Parallel Wine Bistro in Ashburn for a special occasion dinner. A member in our party has a severe allergy to one particular nut. All other nuts are fine; it's just this one devilish nut that imposes havoc. Upon arrival at Parallel after work, we disclosed to our server about the nut allergy. The server went to the kitchen to discuss what items had the nut and we ordered accordingly. The soup and salad came out without the nut (even though the salad was supposed to have it on it) and no issues. The next course had a nut crusted (not the devilish nut) item and we both ordered that. Again, confirming with the server that the item does not have that nut. Again the server replied that no, it did not. One bite into the appetizer and immediately a reaction began. I looked for the server who was with another customer, and found another server and told them we had to leave to a nearby hospital and an allergic reaction was occurring. They did not ask us to pay (thank goodness), and said don't worry…just to leave. 4 hours later the devilish nut had been expelled, anti-nausea medicine and epinephrine was give, then hives that were throughout the entire body had dissipated enough to leave. The owner / manager did reach out to inquire how the patient was doing and that he would cook personally for next time. The story did not end there. We believed our insurance would cover all the charges, but it did not cover the deductible. I reached out to the owner / manager for help in covering the charges, and was disappointed by the reply. His statement " I can't accept financial responsibility for every person who walks through my doors with an allergy ". We were not looking for any pain & suffering or other compensation. Only the outstanding insurance costs that we incurred, at no fault of our own. This review and message is provided as a cautionary note to be careful and maybe think twice about going to Parallel Wine Bistro. BTW…Did I mention that we had been there several times before and had no issue? Unfortunately, we won't be going there again. If you or a member of your dining party has a food allergy, please be careful. Remember what I mentioned above, per Parallel owner / manager who told us, " I can't accept financial responsibility for every person who walks through my doors with an allergy ". We don't want what happened to us to happen to you or for you. You should not have to incur a financial burden in additional to an allergic food reaction and that causes time spent in the hospital…at no fault of you or the affected member of your dining party. Best of Luck.
Great new addition to Ashburn with plenty of outdoor seating!
Parallel Wine Bistro will have its grand opening on May 21 - they have a limited food menu until that time - however all of the food that we have tried has been excellent! You can choose from $5 / $10 / $15 tapas and they had 4 different cheese tray options. This is a great place to go - whether you want a glass of wine, or a full meal. There is plenty of comfortable outdoor seating. The wine options are great - you can order directly from your server or you can also 'self-serve' with choices of a taste, 1 / 2-glass, or full glass. We are looking forward to going back soon!
Very poor service
Server refused to fill up a glass when we had purchased a full glass and the machine went empty half-way through. At those prices, that is just plain wrong. I'd gladly lose the unreliable machines (very gimmicky and more trouble than they're worth) and just go back to regular servers pouring out my wine by hand. I had the potato soup. It was not very good, and the bowl was shallow The inside is also very cramped. The tables are so close together, it's impossible to weave through them to get to the machines without disrupting patrons, their coats / purses, or both. I will not be returning.
Could be so great
Great wines, small pours, average / poor food, WAY overpriced. The concept and area is awesome but been there five times and said same thing, wish food was better (or cheaper) and wine pur a bit more...
Whatever
I had been meaning to pay a visit to this place after some time and was able to do so after getting bumped from a flight that I had been waiting around for at the airport all day. Needless to say, myself and my wife were ready to relax and have a few glasses of wine and some food. I'm your typical NoVa guy transplanted from Atlanta. I've had every dining experience under the sun between the 2 locations and all my other travels. In college, I also worked in a few restaurants and know the hard work that it is. Bottom line at Parallel based on one Friday night visit: you will overpay for middling food and mostly overpriced wine (though, to be sure, some may not be, but most of what I saw in the self serve, I can get at Harris Teeter), and lousy service. We ordered shrimp and grits and it was as if they dropped the entire box of Zatarains in it and covered it with mystery glop. It was laughingly hilarious. Our server really was bad. We had to flag him down EVERY time and he never bothered to really do anything. Typical experience we have all had somewhere along the line but frustrating. I even only tipped 15% (versus the standard 20%), which I never do because I know how hard that job is. The clientele is typical for Ashburn... some normal people, some people sniffing their glasses, some 55+. I don't know. I just walked away feeling like it was sterile and overpriced because it's in Ashburn (right around the corner from my house) and has the word 'bistro' in it. We are too easy to please here in Ashburn and places like this do us a disservice, I think, because the sheeple (of which I am unfortunately a part of) will just frequent them and not really think about the fact that it really isn't that good or unique or filled with any atmosphere. I can't believe I have devoted all this time to this review but my visit left me frustrated; however, I remedied this by a visit next door to the Safeway and picked up a nice bottle of Cabernet and drank it in the comfort of my own home eating Triscuits and cheese in front of the TV and fireplace.... a much better experience.
Great pork dishes but stale desserts and uneven service
Good wine selection and good wine, pretty good cheese & charcuterie, fantastic pork dishes (I recommend the pork belly with fava beans and creamed corn; the pork chop is good, too), but subpar desserts (not fresh; chewy & gummy instead of moist). The service was a little off. We were served our entrees when we were just halfway through our appetizers, yet our dessert arrived about 5-10 minutes later than it should have and had clearly been sitting out for a while. I would go back, but skip dessert and hope for even expediting on the dishes.
No longer one of our favorites
We have been going to this location since before it was Parallel. We were always happy with the food, even if the service wasn't always great. Tonight they were consistently awful with both service and food. Our server is probably a wonderful girl, but serving food clearly makes her angry, especially if she has to serve wine, apps, and dinner. it took 20 minutes to take our drink order and another 15 minutes before we saw our drinks. They weren't even really busy. Salad was served with the meal. My meal was clearly sitting under a warmer for an extended period of time. Dessert was served with no utensils (thanks to the sweet busboy who hooked us up!). We used to love this place. But we'll opt for other places in NOVA that actually like their customers.
Disrespectful and bad service
We went to Parallel Wine a couple weeks ago - the service and the food were not worth the trip. The music was so loud the waitress brought us food that we didn't order and then charged us for it. The owner was also very argumentative. Won't be returning. I just received this message from them...... I'm very sorry the evening went the way it did! We all know there was one person at that table that ruined it for everyone and I " m guessing it's not the first time. You can clearly read a lot of reviews here and elsewhere that describe me as extremely hospitable and accommodating. Thank you for your review. Cheers, " No, sir, you ruined the night for us, not her. I don't really appreciate you calling out my friend like that and as an owner that is uncalled for. I still won't be returning.
Just okay dinner / excellent brunch
I had gone to Parallel prior for Sunday Brunch and had a absolutely great experience. I was a little disappointed with my last visit and foods we selected. The server was great. The wine, excellent. Food not too impressed, here's why. To start we ordered Mac and cheese and Arancini (risotto ball). The mac & cheese was great, the Arancini was just okay. Not sure if it was the drizzle on it, but something did not marry well. Same for the special they had which was Seafood Ravioli, the seafood inside was wonderful, but something didnt work with the sauce. We also shared the pork belly, which i thought would be more tender, but was just okay in comparison to others. May give the another try just try other options, but not impressed
Great place service not good
Last Saturday night dinner and wine was great. Music excellent the service was under par the waiter must have been new brought the check before we finished dinner than gave me attitude with an 18 percent tip. My opinion was better service at the bar waiters service was slim to none
I want to love this place but I have issues
This was not our first visit to Parallel - we have been many times; and tonight was not much different than our last experience. We sat outside on a Tuesday night - service was not good. Food was served - no plates - no utensils or napkins. Asked for those. Wine empty. Asked for another. New person at table..... No plate - no wine - asked for those. Ready to leave... Asked for check..... the list goes on. The food - was 'ok'. The blue cheese dip - described as 'incredible' was soupy / wattery - when it's DIP - you should be able to dip and not worry about it running onto yourself. The Flatbreads were OK - blackened shrimp was so doused by pesto we couldn't tell if it was blackened or not. The Duck flatbread - very good. The hummus - not memorable - no flavor in the hummus at all - olives were good. Wines in the machines - served at right temp. Red Wines by the glass = warm - not good. Happy hour wines - great value. Some new great wines. Recommendation - concentrate on some really great wine pairings instead of things like pork belly and runny blue cheese dip. Flat breads could be great - but look at them before serving and see if they really look likie what you wrote on the menu. TAPAS plus WINE = great. More choices of small plates - you could be on a great path - lose the cheese dip. We'll be back to support the local business - but want to see a change in the menu and service and wine storage.
Ridiculously Overpriced but Nice Ambiance
Nicely decorated, good service, but a squirt of wine in the glass runs around $8! Went through a $75 wine card within an hour with a friend and didn't have more than one glass of wine!
Disappointed
Our party of 4 came on a quiet Saturday night. We were eager to try the wines with the autopour but were disappointed at the elevated prices, especially for just a taste. Our waitress was not busy that evening (handling only 2 other tables during our meal) but she never came by to check on us or bring more water, and when we asked for more water, it took her 10 minutes to return with it. We tried 3 different appetizers and 4 different main dishes and found the food to be just fair. They had live music the night we were there but they were set up very close to the dining tables and heavily miked so we had to basically shout while they were performing. It might have been better to have them play acoustically, in the bar area or wait until later in the evening when folks would be just milling around and sipping rather than sitting down for a mieal. The manager / owner (?) made his way over to every table but ours during the course of the evening. Oh well... that has no bearing on whether we'd return or not. We were really hoping for a place we would want to return to again and again but unfortunately, we won't be back.
mediocre service, overpriced and dissappointing
Its a nice concept they have but at $3 for most tastings on bottles that are typically less than $30, its kind of a ripoff. The service was so slllooowww, our entrees were tiny for the price and it took forever to get our drinks and food. The real kicker? Our desserts... all 7 of them.. came out with a garnish of MOLDED blueberries. And, the kitchen obviously knew they were bad because they were mold side down on top of the whipped cream garnish. After more than 3 complaints about the drinks and food, not once did a manager come over to apologize. What a waste. Next time we will just go to a local winery and have dinner and drinks.
Way overpriced for what you get
Was disappointed as tasting fees were silly. Cool concept, but I would rather by a good bottle of wine for $50.00 than taste the wines at this place. Food was decent but our tab was ridiculous and I'd rather splurge at a nice restaurant or better just go a few blocks over to Clydes. The wine dispensers are neat, but you really should offer more value for patrons. This is not " Napa " and you'll find better values elsewhere. I doubt I would go back.
Wine, tapas and great beer selection too
After two unsuccessful restaurants in this location, Parallel has come up with a winning formula that should do well here. Plenty of wines by the glass (maybe 50 or so?) at all price points. Tapas selection including charcuterie, cheese flights and small number of excellent hot dishes. Every thing was delicious and beautifully presented. Great selection of beers also. Nicely decorated inside area and outside seating also.
Pleasant atmosphere, good wines, over zealous staff, and sub-par food
The Parallel Wine Bar is the third restaurant in this location in less than 4 years. We were excited with the new approach and looked forward to a great evening. The waitstaff were eager to please - a bit too eager. They have these gimmicky vending machines for many of their wines and you buy a pre-paid card to access them. During our lesson on the use of the wine machines, our waiter suggested we start by putting $1, 000 on our card; we decided on $100.00. There were numerous issues: the 2 wines we wanted to try were out-of-stock. We discovered this after committing to the charge. Two other wines had to be reloaded. We ordered a chesse flight and three tapas. The cheeses were tasty and accompanied by a delightful mixture of fruits; but our plate had only 2 small pieces of stale bread. The menu promised heirloom tomatoes with the BLT sliders. The tomatoes we were served were of the rather bland supermarket variety and not heirloom tomatoes from a local farm. The bacon was served cold and greasy. The scallops we ordered were small and overcooked. We went back a second time to enjoy some wine on the patio. We used our wine card to get two glasses from the machines and took our seats outside. No fewer thatn three waitpersons came over carrying water, silverware, dishes, and bread sticks, this despite the fact that we told each of them we had come to enjoy some wine and had not decided on dinner. In summary: nice people with a poor business model (we did not appreciate being held hostage to a prepaid wine card), and over-priced food of mixed quality.
Great food, atmosphere is off
After changing the chef a while back, Parallel has gotten back into the groove. The duck fat fries and bruschetta were delicious. I am a little disappointed the portion sizes are smaller, but the food and wine selection are great. The ambiance is pretty good except for the window. The window isn't as warm or sexy as the rest of the bistro. I like to face away from it.