Reviews

First Bite Review: Heirloom Is Perfect for Your Next Date Night

The stylish restaurant and cocktail bar is tucked inside Reston’s Open Road Distilling Company.

By Dawn Klavon September 11, 2023 at 5:26 pm

The newest hot spot in Reston offers a sexy twist: a secret restaurant within a restaurant. Open Road Distilling Company in Reston Town Center is a hot-off-the-press addition to Metropolitan Hospitality Group’s local empire. Here, casual diners enjoy live music, craft cocktails, beer, pizza, wings, burgers, and the like. It’s roomy, friendly, and a perfect place to watch the game and devour meatball sliders.

But those in the know stroll through the bustling dining room and seek out a nondescript set of double doors. It looks like a closet or storage, but walk in to discover a hallway adorned with family photos. Open the next door and alas, you’ve arrived at Heirloom, a speakeasy-style destination for discerning diners.

Tortellini at Heirloom — *Smoked Crab Tortelloni (Photo by Dawn Klavon)*

Heirloom’s stunning bar, a focal point in the dimly lit oasis, offers magnificent cocktail creations, complete with embossed ice cubes. Grab an intimate, velvet-clad booth in the back and let your sophisticated evening begin. As one staff member explained, eat wings with your kids in the Open Road restaurant, but bring your wife for date night to Heirloom.

Burrata at Heirloom — *Burrata (Photo by Dawn Klavon)*

The cuisine at Heirloom matches up to its lovely surroundings. Nibble on excellent shared plates and wines by the glass, or choose from divinely curated entrées. Our party inhaled the burrata, drizzled with garlic, almond arugula pesto, and peach salsa —perfectly balanced on a gently grilled slab of French bread. Delicious smoked crab tortelloni delivered chili oil heat with carrot ginger sweetness. Even a classic prime filet mignon was perfectly seasoned and came with crunchy herb parmesan potatoes. Heirloom won’t be a secret for much longer with this quality of food, ambiance, and service — slip in with the in-crowd and be wowed. 1871 Fountain Dr., Ste. 300, Reston, heirloomreston.com

See This: Real staff family photos on entrance walls

Eat This: Burrata, smoked crab tortelloni, coconut cream pie trifle

Entrées: $18–$75

Feature image of Hand Cut 8 oz. Prime Filet by Dawn Klavon

For more stories like this, subscribe to Northern Virginia Magazine’s Food Newsletter

Dawn Klavon

Contributing Writer

Dawn Klavon is a seasoned writer and reporter with more than 20 years of experience in print and broadcast journalism. She contributes to a wide range of publications, including Northern Virginia Magazine, PEOPLE, Virginia Living, Bethesda Magazine, Arlington Magazine, and several military-focused outlets. Earlier in her career, she reported for multiple San Francisco Bay Area television stations, including KLXV, KKPX, and KFCB. She holds an MLA from Harvard University and a BS from Boston University.