Market Table Bistro

Some people find it odd that Tom and I choose to spend one or two of our weekend days each month working at a winery. It is sometimes difficult to squeeze those days into our already packed schedules, but so worth it. We get to escape the bustle of the city, get out into nature, talk wine with a bunch of friendly folks and explore Virginia. What’s not to love? For example, this past Saturday after wrapping up our shift we had a date night at Market Table Bistro in Lovettsville.
We’ve been to this adorable restaurant before, selecting it mainly because they allow dogs on their patio. (We always take Ashton with us to the winery, yet another perk of the “job”.) I was instantly charmed by the laid-back small town atmosphere, and equally impressed by the delicious food coming out of the kitchen. I knew I’d be back again. Our second visit was just as good as the first, starting strong with an order of Korean barbecue deviled eggs with kimchi.
I order deviled eggs pretty much any time they’re on a menu, and usually rave about their awesomeness because it’s hard to screw up a deviled egg. But these were extra awesome, packed with flavor and texture and a manageable level of spice. I appreciated that you could order them individually at $1 each. We had to talk ourselves out of ordering a dozen more, but pressed on with more of the snack offerings instead.
We couldn’t resist the confit orange chicken wings, also a dollar a pop, and were pleased to discover that the kitchen threw in two lobster arancine on the house. They were both wonderful. The wings were crispy on the outside and juicy inside with bright citrus flavors throughout, punched up by the house pickled vegetables served underneath. The arancine were delicate, with a subtle smokiness that complimented the tender lobster filling perfectly.
We also split the salad of bibb lettuce with red onion, bacon, bleu cheese, radish and creamy herb dressing.
This is where I stop to rave about the exceptional service. Our server, Colt, was nothing short of extraordinary. He was attentive, personable and saw to our every need without hovering. We opted to share our salad and entrée courses, which the kitchen split for us without our prompting at no additional cost. This is a rare thing to find at DC restaurants, but the little extra touch really confirmed the quality and attention that goes into a dining experience at Market Table Bistro. The salad was tasty, especially the dressing, and a lovely way to get our veggies in for the night.
For our main course, we chose a special for the night – tender lamb served over torn homemade pasta with local vegetables. It turned out to be the perfect size for sharing, and such a special dish. The lamb turned to butter on the tongue and the pasta was cooked perfectly, both swimming in a rich and savory sauce made from the lamb drippings.
As the sun set, we concluded the meal with French press coffee and a slice of toffee bread pudding with a coffee creme anglaise while Ashton ate his homemade peanut butter and carrot dog treat, made fresh in the kitchen for all canine guests. We chatted with a few fellow diners as we wrapped up our meal, comparing notes on dog ownership and local wineries. It was a perfect night away from the city, soaking in a slower pace of life.
If you have any plans to visit wineries in Loudoun County this summer, I highly recommend stopping by Market Table Bistro.

Need help planning your wine country visit?

I’ve got you! Check out these posts for suggestions for wineries to visit and other activities to do in the area.