The Simon says…elite dining has checked in

by Phantom Foodie

House bread rolls, Tilefish, Hanger Steak Frites, Baby Gem Caesar Photos by Phantom Foodie

When a restaurant carries the name of Reston’s founder, expectations come built in. The Simon, tucked inside the gleaming new JW Marriott at Reston Station, has generated buzz since opening in September. Just off the main dining room, its adjoining Schar Bar draws cocktail enthusiasts with an amaro-driven program and rare bourbon list, heightening anticipation before dinner even begins.

We arrived early to experience the bar first, settling in as the room began to fill and a jazz trio set an easy rhythm. Schar Bar is named for Dwight Schar, a driving force behind the development of Reston Station, while the restaurant honors founder Robert E. Simon. Aside from cocktails such as The Simon Old Fashioned, The Lake Anne Smoke and the Simon Martini, however, the space feels largely disconnected from Reston’s heritage—a missed opportunity to introduce visiting hotel guests to the town’s character.

The expansive circular bar anchors the room, ringed with high-top seating, while intimate tables line the perimeter. The wine list leans upscale, with selections such as Veuve, Schramsberg and Jordan offered by the glass at $16 to $28. We chose the Jordan chardonnay ($22) and a mocktail. Service at the bar was prompt and engaging, and watching the mixologists craft their theatrical creations added to the experience.

After cocktails, we moved from the energy of the bar into the main dining room, where the mood softened and we were seated in a cozy semicircular booth. Our server asked whether we had dined there before but offered little additional guidance. A traditional menu and tasting insert arrived printed in tiny type on black cards under dim lighting—difficult to read and quickly set aside.

An amuse-bouche from the pastry chef—a blueberry compote tart topped with shredded cheese—provided a sweet and creative start.

Starters included the Burrata Salad with baby beets, charred kale and hazelnuts, and the Baby Gem Caesar with anchovy dressing, butter-toasted breadcrumbs and Parmigiano-Reggiano. The burrata was excellent, but the balsamic-heavy kale overpowered its creaminess. The dish skewed salty and would have benefited from crusty bread for balance.

The house bread, arriving mid-course, proved worth the wait: warm rolls glazed with lavender honey that melted in the mouth. Sticky fingers are inevitable.

Entrées followed: Pan-Seared Local Tilefish and Hanger Steak Frites, along with a side of Oven-Roasted Cauliflower. The tilefish, served skin-on with a crisp sear, paired beautifully with celeriac, baby leeks, mussels and sauce vin jaune. The cauliflower, advertised with clothbound cheddar, butter-toasted panko and chives, arrived without the promised cheese. The hanger steak met expectations, served with bordelaise, watercress salad and hand-cut fries rather than classic thin frites. A few bites were intentionally reserved for steak and eggs the next morning.

Dessert was the highlight of the evening. The Schar Arrowhead, layered with crème fraîche cream, almond caramel crumble and a delicate caramel arrowhead, disappeared quickly. Chocolate lovers should not miss the Chocolate Cake, whose cocoa sponge and double-steeped cocoa cream espresso delivered a deeply satisfying finish.

A candid note: prices are steep, and a few service-timing missteps suggest the team is still finding its footing. Although the posted dress code is smart casual, guests wearing baseball caps appeared at nearby tables. At this price point, details matter. Cheese selections should be shared proactively, plates cleared more efficiently and crumb sweeping handled with a proper tool rather than a napkin.

The Simon is a welcome addition to Reston’s growing dining scene, and we hope it thrives. For a restaurant carrying the name of Reston’s visionary founder, the bar is set high. With refinement and attention to detail, The Simon has the potential to become a destination worthy of its name.

The Simon

JW Marriott Hotel

11340 Reston Station Blvd.

571-720-1085

Private events available up to 40 guests

Dinner 5PM - 10PM Daily

The Reston Letter and its staff do not receive solicitation, compensation, or special endorsement from any restaurant or culinary establishment. Our reviewer dines unannounced to make the experience genuine. Our mission is to provide our readers with an accurate representation of our reviewer's experience so they may make their own informed decisions. Taste, service, and culinary preferences vary.