Where was once a sit-down barbecue restaurant now stands a classic brunch, lunch and dinner joint in Falls Church called The Falls. Easily recognizable with its paper-white brick and dark-green logo, The Falls is the perfect place for a nice meal with friends and family for a reasonable price.
What intrigued us the most about The Falls, aside from their diverse and barbecue-inspired menu, was their unlimited small-plate brunch for $32. For the low price, we were able to enjoy as wide a variety and as much of each dish as we wanted. From the instant we sat down we were greeted by an enthusiastic waiter who was keen on ensuring that we got the most out of our unlimited brunch. With service that was both prompt and clean, we will certainly be returning here for a refreshing and elevated take on brunch that is perfect for a change of scenery from McLean.
Smoked salmon toast – 4.5 stars
Piled on top of a crunchy nine-grain toast, the whipped ricotta, smoked salmon, pickled red onion and capers created a crisp and tangy flavor mirroring that of a salmon and lox bagel. Despite the many components of this dish, it was simple and pleasant to eat, not to mention visually appealing, with an array of bright colors from top to bottom. Drizzled underneath the toast was a balsamic glaze, which offered a surprisingly sweet element to the dish that elevated its taste beyond the average New Jersey flavor palette.
House made donut – 2.5 stars
I love a good donut, but this one didn’t stick out to me much. The subtle lemon flavor was intriguing, but the donut was dry and lacked a pillowy texture. Topped with cake crumbs, the texture of this donut overall was more bread-like rather than soft, and the icing did little to save it besides ensuring that the lemon flavor came through clearly. Flavors for this donut rotate seasonally, so perhaps this is a dish worth trying at a different point in the year.
Chicken tender – 5 stars
Some might argue that a single chicken tender seems an odd order for an 11 a.m. brunch, but I would have to disagree. This piece of chicken came out hearty, with several crisp layers surrounding it, accompanied by creamy ranch dressing as well as a saucy and tangy barbecue. Even though it claimed to be a small plate, this tender by itself was about the size of my hand. Rather than tasting overly fried and greasy, however, it had the warmth and crispiness of a baked tender plated fresh out of the oven and garnished with chives. This chicken tender offered the coziness of fast food, minus the nauseating fullness that often comes with it. I would definitely recommend this dish to anyone looking for a familiar American favorite done fresh.
Avocado toast – 4 stars
Spread onto crisp multigrain toast, this dish layered fresh avocado, tomato, red onion, radish and everything bagel seasoning to create a salty and fresh combination of flavor. Because this dish is a fan favorite and didn’t incorporate any creative ingredients, it didn’t blow us away. However, its use of fresh ingredients as well as its perfect ratio of avocado to toppings made it a lovely start to our meal. We would say that this is definitely a safe dish to order, but for those looking to try something new that is more unique to the restaurant, we would recommend trying other dishes on the menu.
Deviled eggs – 5 stars
Deviled eggs are a brunch classic, but we’ve never had such exquisite deviled eggs as we did here. Topped with candied black pepper bacon and paprika aioli, these eggs included a refreshing kick that elevated them above your typical egg dish. Oftentimes, deviled eggs are criticized for their unsettling texture, but these eggs were filled so well that the dominant texture and flavor was of the spiced cream rather than cold egg. In addition to the creamy filling, the bacon on top of each egg was crisp and thick, offering a pleasant contrast in texture to the softness of the egg and its filling. This dish was so good that we got three orders—even reminiscing on it makes our mouths water. It wouldn’t be a proper visit to The Falls without this order, and we would highly recommend it be one of the first things you try.
Burnt ends hash – 4.5 stars
We knew we’d made a good choice with this dish before the food even arrived at our table. After ordering, our waiter told us it was one of his personal favorites and one of the best plates to try. When we took a bite, it did not disappoint. Potatoes are the perfect breakfast side, and these were diced and smothered in melted cheese, caramelized onions, bell peppers, scallions and, of course, fatty chunks of brisket. With smoky flavors that melted in our mouths, our only issue was that it was so rich and filling that we couldn’t finish the whole thing. Still, we have to agree with our waiter that this burnt ends hash is definitely worth a try.
