Red’s Table is a modern American restaurant in the South Lakes Village Center area of Reston, Virginia. Started by three brothers who grew up in the area and spent a lot of their time at South Lakes, Red’s Table aims to be a spot that is good for any occasion.

Overlooking the water (Photo Credit Red's Table)

Red’s Table is located in a slightly non-descript strip mall, but I realized once I walked to it that its corner spot overlooks a lake, which I came to learn later is called Lake Thoreau. The restaurant is a welcoming spot with a relaxed ambiance and cozy vibe. The patio overlooking the lake is definitely the spot to be - the beautiful views around will make you feel miles away from the city, forget the fact that you are in a strip mall just a few miles from DC!

Red’s Table is open for lunch and dinner on weekdays, and brunch and dinner over the weekends. We stopped in for brunch on a Saturday and sat on the patio overlooking the water. The big wooden bar in the center of the indoor space is eye catching, and the modern but simple décor makes it comfortable. The space is also divided into many sections, so would be great for small and large groups alike.

Drinks wise, the menus include a number of local craft beers and spirits, plus cider and wine. Their happy hour list includes a $5 cocktail that differs every day, plus beer, wine and food - it looked pretty good! For brunch, I had a fresh squeezed blood orange mimosa and Kris got a Dutch Mule (vodka based). Their brunch Bloody Mary and Mimosa bar looked super legit - tons of fresh juices, toppings and more to make your own drink!

We started with an order of the orange crullers with bourbon caramel sauce, which was absolutely delicious. Fresh and warm off the fryer, they were just the right amount of sweet and quite light and airy. We would learn later during the meal that all of the pastries and breads are made in house by Pastry Chef – so you can always expect fresh and tasty baked goods!

Delicious, light, not too sweet crullers

For our main courses, I got the fried chicken sandwich and Kris got the steak and eggs. Steak and eggs can be a tricky plate of food to get right, but in this case, it was on point. The steak was cooked to medium rare (as requested) perfectly, and the poached eggs were done right with a runny yolk. Served with roasted potatoes, this was a comforting and tasty plate of food. Our friendly server also told us that the steak is grilled “a la plancha” which gave it a nice sear but maintained the juiciness.

My chicken sandwich was massive with a giant piece of crispy fried chicken that came with lettuce, pickles, and bacon. The house made hot and sweet sauce (ask for it!) was just the perfect addition and completed the sandwich nicely. It was at this point when we inquired about the delicious bread that the sandwich came with that we found out all the breads are also made in house. I’m not too picky about my bread, but bread can make or break a sandwich, and this was definitely a situation where the house made bread really made the sandwich stand out.

We were too full for dessert, but when we heard that the gelatos are made in house too, we had to try it. We got a scoop of the coffee gelato, which proved to be an excellent choice. The flavors vary regularly, so ask for the selection, but this would be a light and simple sweet end to the meal.

Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed the food at Red’s Table. The use of quality ingredients, and the effort and care that went into the preparation resonated throughout the meal. The food is simple but elevated comfort cooking that anyone can enjoy. The venue is also unpretentious and comfortable, the kind that would make it a favorite among locals. Prices are reasonable, service is friendly, and I would happily go back to Red’s Table again.

For more info, check out their website HERE.