An institution in Shirlington, my neighbor in D.C. treated me to a birthday dinner at the Carlyle. Arriving on a Tuesday in April around 5:45 p.m., we walked right in. Sitting in a booth on their second floor, here's our experience. 1) Food: The menu is large and has a wide range of American food from salads to burgers to pastas to fish. We ordered the Tex Mex egg rolls (delicious when dipped in the cilantro sauce), the BBQ Cheeseburger, and the flourless chocolate waffle for dessert. Each item was full of flavor and worth every penny. 2) Drink: They have a large drink menu of wine, beer, iced tea, etc. My 9 ounce glass of New Zealand white wine was great (and affordable!). 3) Service: It was on point! Professional, friendly, and efficient. A server-in-training was shadowing ours and both were excellent. 4) Space: It's huge with a bar on the bottom floor and dining room tables on both floors. 5) Neighborhood: It's in Shirlington surrounded by many other restaurants, bars, a library, etc. For a great salad, go to nearby Best Buns. We found street parking right in front of the Carlyle.

This was our first time trying there food out. Even though they are part of the Great American restaurant chain, the food was AMAZING. Seriously, the devil eggs with bacon was scrumptious. I have never try anything like that, but I was a happy camper. We had the crab cakes, which were very moist, the beef ribs with fries and the spinach artichokes appetizer. All of it was so delicious. The atmosphere was amazing, and the restaurant as huge. Please make a reservation before going. There is paid street parking, and then it free after 8:00pm. Please check them out, you won't be disappointed.

I loved the food. Calamari was nice and seasoned. The sauce for the shrimp and grits cake was delicious! Burger was nice and juicy. Love the soft bun. Crab fritters were very unique and delicious. Loved the sauce and corn it was garnished with. I would definitely go again. The restaurant is huge and they had plenty of servers. A little pricey but worth the money. Free parking deck was a plus!

We waited 20-minutes for seating. The hostesses were not friendly at all, but the waiter was very amicable and attentive. The lobster bisque & bread were "ok". The Angus burger was delicious. The pasta dish was very good, pasta was perfectly cooked but literally included only 5 shrimps.

The atmosphere was amazing here. Beautifully done. Whether you're going for a date or just to get together with friends, you'll enjoy this restaurant. Everything we got was serve to perfection to our table and our waiter was super attentive even though the restaurant was almost full. Excellent excellent food and drinks!!!! MUST TRY!!!!

This is hands down one of the best restaurants I’ve been to this year. It’s beautifully designed and has an Art Deco vibe. Aside from the exceptional service from every staff member we encountered, our waiter did his absolute best to ensure we enjoyed our visit and we did! This was my first time visiting this restaurant; we dined in the main level dining room. Everything we ate and drank was good. I’m definitely looking forward to returning and trying more of their menu options. They had a wide selection and all the dishes we saw come out looked and smelled amazing! Give this place a try, you won’t be disappointed!

This place is AMAZING. We made a reservation on Resy. It’s so cute inside with tons of seating. There is a parking garage to park in nearby that is free after 5. The soups were amazing. Lobster bisque so creamy. The Caesar salad is one of the best I’ve ever had. It had a little spice to it which I loved. The hickory BBQ burger was so good and my husband enjoyed the beef French dip. Kids loved the bread basket and penne! Service was fantastic, atmosphere was great, food came out fast. Excellent all around.

Although this is a highly rated place and alot of ppl recommended it but we find it a little lackluster. We ordered the lobster roll and grilled salmon, the lobster roll was very average and the sauce wasnt great

I was invited to this restaurant based on positive recommendations. Upon entering, the friendly staff greeted our group. Our waitress was well-informed about the menu and specials when we placed our order. We began with calamari as an appetizer. My main course was the shrimp and lobster pasta, and we also ordered a children's pasta. For dessert, we chose bread pudding. The calamari was flavorful with tomato sauce and corn. It was cooked perfectly, tender rather than crunchy. The shrimp and lobster pasta was delicious and offered a good portion for its price. Everything was tender and full of flavor. The children's pasta was appropriately sized for a kid's meal. The bread pudding was a delightful treat with a soft texture. The warm pudding and ice cream on top created a satisfying contrast. This restaurant truly lives up to its reputation. I've already recommended it to others, and I'm eager to return and try more dishes. By the way, the experience was so good that I visited their adjoining bakery, Baked Buns, to bring home more treats!

There is a reason why I keep coming here. It’s the service !!!! And the food. I have been coming here for 23yrs. I have had everything on menu. I’m here a lot. The food is always perfect. For the off chance something is missed. They fix it right away apologize and send the manager over every time. Some of My faves : crab cake, crab fritters, mango chicken salad, all the deserts but the pecan apple holy cow… Today I was help by few people waitresses Kat, Rosario and manager Adele were great! Today I tried the new Crab imperial dip. Sooo good lots of crab and good balance of flavors. Carlyle or Carlyle Grands as I call it keep introducing new dishes.

The food never disappoints at The Carlyle! The smoked salmon is smoked daily and makes for an amazing salad. If you like goat cheese, then you must try their Warm Goat Cheese & Spiced Pecans. I can't stop ordering this along with the Lobster Bisque long enough to try anything else. Speaking of their Lobster Bisque...OMG!! Creamy goodness with tons of huge chunks of lobster in almost every bite. THEN, after eating all that healthy stuff, I screw up my diet with a mouthwatering Warm White Chocolate Bread Pudding that is 100% "Diet Free" and worth every bite. Tell them "Ed" sent you! You won't get anything for it, but I'll get a kick out of it. 🤣

Carlyle is my go-to for cozy ambiance, delectable food and great (as in prompt and attentive) service. Their fried calamari is arguably the best; crisp, lender and light. This time we tried the (melt-in-your-mouth) hanger steak and the crab cakes and were not disappointed (see photos). I don't mind that they skipped the inedible garnishes one would come to expect at upscale restaurants; everything from the warm goat cheese salad to the key lime pie was on point.

Reserved a table for a family lunch and were seated immediately. The atmosphere was very nice although the noise level was slightly elevated. At times it was difficult to hear conversations across the table. The waitress was nice and service was ok. We had another tables order delivered to our table. Fortunately we did not order anything that was delivered. I ordered a Carlyle Lager was was delivered the Pale Ale instead. The food was very good. Started out with Tex Mex egg rolls and the Shrimp and Crab Fritters. The fritter was so good we ordered a 2nd round. The marinated rib eye was delicious as was the Cajun Pasta and Fish Tacos. Great selection of menu items.

Love all the Great American Restaurants. And Carlyle is no exception. Excellent food every time. Some times the service could use some work, but good most of the times. Would differently recommend to anyone visiting the area. Not recommended for large groups tho, they keep their seatings small for that reason. Their calamari is always my go to appetizer, always perfect, never over cooked.

The calamari was crispy and delicious. I loved the Louisiana style pasta. The specialty cocktails were refreshing. The sausage had a kick. Others enjoyed the burger and pecan crusted fish. The service and atmosphere was nice as well. I will be back.

I dined here a few evenings ago and had an excellent experience. I was very hesitant because it was late in the evening and that is not the most ideal time to try a restaurant. However, Carlyle did not disappoint. Our server was very attentive, pleasant to interact with, had a great sense of humor, and steered us in the direction of all of the right choices. The mango martinis were amazing, and I had a Grouper special that was very tasty! My friend got the New Orleans Shrimp and Creamy Grit Cakes and she really enjoyed her dish as well. I will definitely visit again next time I’m in Arlington!

Why did i wait this long to eat here? This was a date night. Place had good energy on a Saturday night. We got lucky and got second floor window seat. Main waiter and the rest of the crew were super nice. Started with the Blue Crab Fritters. Full of flavor. Crispy outside and warm & soft inside. Plus, the sauce was amazing. This is a must have!!! Moved onto main course. I had the Snapper. Grilled perfectly and pesto sauce on the side really complemented the fish nicely. My wife had the Goat Cheese salad. Wow! Lots of flavor and different textures in this dish. And, it was surprisingly filling.

The food and experience was awesome. Our waitress Lauren and her colleagues were very knowledgeable about the menu, drinks and just made it an all around great time for my cousin and I. We had a blast!

Nothing extraordinary about this place except for their decoration. The hostess didn’t seem like their like their jobs that much. The food was overpriced and wasn’t even that good. We ordered steak frites, crab cake sandwich, and New Orleans Shrimp. They need to step up their game to increase the portion size or lower their prices because I don’t think our lunch was worth $92

Every dish I have tasted at the Carlyle is delectable! The food is cooked to perfection, the presentation is beautiful, and every bite is a little bit of heaven. When you add the friendly attentive staff, you have an experience worth sharing.

We celebrated a birthday!!! Lovely atmosphere a lil tough to find parking close by. The food was very tasty. Our waitress was prompt, attentive, and on top of her game. This place has been around for many many decades one of my late mother’s favorites establishments. Thanks Christina for the great service.

Social distancing is good, eating outside is accommodated. Food is fantastic. Highly recommended!

The food and service was great!

They wouldn't let my family's dog in.

Loved the food, ambiance so much we had second dinner there in 3 nights!

The bread pudding dessert is delicious. I strongly recommend to EVERYONE.

We always enjoy our experiences at Carlyle!! Never disappointed.

The place reminds me of a 1950's or 60's restaurant with strong drinks and good food.

My friend found this spot and the photos on the reviews looked delicious so we thought to try out…best decision ever! I ordered the salmon smoked filet with mash potatoes and asparagus/ Riesling wine because I like sweet wine. Very luxurious restaurant with amazing prices too. Everything was 11/10.

Fantastic lunch service and food. I had the rock fish special. Keep in mind that when they ask if you want the bread basket, that is an extra and not complimentary although it is from the adjacent bakery and very good! Very interesting, almost Art Deco American decor with two floors.

Great date spot in shirlington. Saw some other pictures of the deviled eggs and was not disappointed, they’re unique and delicious. The steak was cooked perfectly and the prime rib sandwich had lots of meat and was great too

This was my first time trying Carlyle. The salads were delicious! The greens were very fresh, the steak and chicken were grilled perfectly and the fries were fresh and hot! Our waitress was not very friendly but was receptive. The hostesses were very friendly, greeting us upon arrival and departure. The entire restaurant was tastefully decorated for Christmas. It was wonderful to see so many poinsettias displayed as well as trees and wreaths. Absolutely lovely!

My lord this was an amazing experience Byron was our waiter he made us feel welcome. I like my steak well done but there’s a joke in the menu to try it medium well. THE STEAK IS 5 STARS - Medium or Well. My wife raves about the jambalaya. The lobster bisque was amazing, only better if it had more lobster, great if you enjoy with a bread basket. The environment was excellent intimate and you can see a clean and well lit kitchen.

Had an awesome time with our 3 person party. Nice brunch and beautiful dining atmosphere. Each dish was beautifully prepared and presented. Reasonable prices.

Everything was top notch from the moment we stepped in till we left. The food was, believe it or not, better than expected. The waiters were friendly and professional. This is my new favorite restaurant in America 😁

The service was great. And the food was delicious even the pricy steak was delicious. Only came with mash potatoes but the steak was great. Pretty classy great place for date night and family.

Perfect service. Best cheeseburger in town.

Espectacular, very nice place, good attention and the food also. I will recommend to my friends.

Pre Valentine's Day lunch was delicious. Staff was very attentive.

Nice place and food excellent.

Great service and food. I enjoyed the Penne Primavera with chicken and shrimp.

Went here for date night with my girlfriend. The drinks were good. The food was atrocious. Started with crab cake sliders. The buns were soggy and microwaved. The main course. I ordered jumboliya. It was ok, the seasoning was good but the food quality was average. My gf ordered the "special" a mahi mahi. The mahi came out and was clearly frozen. Rubbery and difficult to cut. (It's fish it should just break apart) you could def tell it was frozen. We sent it back for the fillet mignon and crab cakes. The crab cakes were good but the filet mignon came out raw. Asked for medium rare. Overall the meal and 2 drinks ran us over $100. It really wasn't worth it. I'd recommend ambar One important thing to note is that is that they try to flip the tables quick! The app came out within 5 min of ordered( see microwave comment above). The food came out within 10 min. We were in and out within 45 minutes and that's with sending an entree back. If you wanted to enjoy the company of your companion then this not the place. This place may even be faster than chi fil a..... Ymmv

Best food in the DMV area, would highly recommend

My Daughter , Girlfriend , and Me ate a late Lunch. Impressed with the service. Grilled Fish of the day with Asparagus was So Tasty. Girlfriends Lump Crab cake is a crab cake that have spices that were out of this world. My daughter had an appetizer of Calamari that was the best Calamari I tasted since I been to Naples Italy.. Service A+..Price A+

The food is always good. I especially love the Blue Crab and Shrimp Fritters as well as the Crab Cakes.

It had been a while since I have moved. It is like an old friend. Love this place... the food is fab.... drinks are great and very warm and friendly staff. What's not to like. I felt comfortable with social distancing practices. I highly recommend!

This place is amazing ! Our server Jonathan did an excellent job. The spinach and artichoke dip is by far one of my favorites. I Also enjoyed the set up - which Jonathan was able to switch up the sides for me. My boyfriend has the Louisiana pasta which was very flavorful. Will be back to try more dishes !

Great experience. Anna our waitress was really nice. We took my mother for her 75th Birthday. Food was delicious.

Great food and service. I called the day before to inquire about their social distancing policy. It was explained in detail the practices being used. Unfortunately, I did NOT witness a lot of social distancing, the night I dined there. For that reason I dropped down a star.

I absolutely love Carlyle’s. I cannot visit without ordering the famous bread pudding. I have had the salads, chicken, steak, and almost everything in between without disappointed. I was also pleased with the safety accommodations during the pandemic. Staff were all masked, distance between the guest, and a QR scan menu. The fresh bread was unavailable as the restaurant smartly exercised caution and removed it as an option because too many hands are used in the process and delivery from a third party.

The food is always great here but I was so pleased with the awesome customer service tonight! I ordered online for pickup and noticed a mistake was made after submitting the order. Ashley and her team were incredibly warm and friendly. Even though the mistake was made on my end, they were more than accommodating to make the adjustment to the order without any hesitation. This was incredible customer service! Ashley knew my name, and used it during every interaction with me until I left. Thank you so much Ashley!

Carlyle is always excellent. The food, the service, the atmosphere, the desserts! It's just a great, reliable place for a delicious meal. My family and I needed a nice dinner out together. Pretty sure this is our first fancier dinner out as a family since the pandemic hit. Loved it!

Not crowded great atmosphere, very cozy.

I'm definitely impressed with this spot. Very attentive and nice comfortable setting. The Text Mex egg rolls is bomb. I could crush those all day with the perfect blue moon. The calamari is great not all the extra breading. The Louisiana pasta is perfect. Man I will definitely be back!!!!

Easily my favorite Arlington restaurant. The service is always above and beyond, and the food is amazing. Love the bread pudding and apple pie for dessert, and practically all of the entrees...but fish tacos, hanger steak, pecan crusted trout, brunch! Are some favorites !

Great food. Great service. Can't wait for the fresh baked bread to return.

My wife and I love this place. This is our favorite restaurant. Wonderful food, top-notch waiters and staff, a first-class operation, very convenient location.

Always great food and great service. Call for a reservation during COVID-19 restrictions are in place. Can also order food for pickup.

Love this place. Great food, great atmosphere great service.

Great food always. Never fails to please!

good food.

The Carlyle is our go-to date night or celebration spot! The food is excellent and the service is impeccable. Though a bit pricier, the food is incredible and always very fresh ,and the portion sizes are large, making it well worth it. Highly recommend the Carlyle!

Completely disappointed at the service tonite. We made a reservation for 9;30pm and now they are making us wait outside in the freezing cold bc they don’t have anything available. If you have our info, wouldn’t you at least email/call us?

Looooove this place. The crab and corn chowder is the bomb. The short smoked salmon filet is my fave too.

Excellent food. Excellent service.

OVER PRICE FOR WHAT IT WAS

Food and service was amazing

Always reliable.

Always top notch food and service.