Mad Fox Brewing Company

tlazaroff

Virginia

4.08/5  rDev -0.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4.5 | $$$

I have visited this place quite a few times now but I am only getting to review it right now. This has become my favorite "local" beer bar, and by local, I mean it's 45 minutes away.

The atmosphere is that of an English Pub, you walk in there, and you are greeted by 3 fermentation tanks as a backdrop for the host podium. To the left is seating, and to the right is a 60 foot bar which stretches about half the length of the restaurant. It's decor is beautiful, especially around Christmas, they have a simple, yet gorgeous tree they put up, and it just lights up the neighborhood. I must also give them props for their utilization of the air blade in the restrooms, what a fun device!

Quality is quite high, they take pride in their food and beer, and it defiantly shows. Presentation of their food is done with the utmost respect - all the plates come out looking like they are being judged on Chopped or Top Chef. Ingredients are always fresh tasting. The beer is always fresh too. I haven't had a bad pour, and from what I can tell based on their beer, their tap lines are cleaned regularly. Overall cleanliness of the restaurant is high.

Service overall has been exemplary. There was one foul up when I met a buddy and his girlfriend for dinner, and the waiter put in everyone's order except the lady's order. They made the wrong right though, and the last round of drinks was on the house. An example of the high service levels was my first time at Mad Fox. I had ordered two samplers (4, 5oz beers of your choice) and there was a point where I wanted a dessert, but I didn't want to order one - but I wanted another beer. I ordered their Stout, and asked the bartender if I could get a shot of whipped cream on top to make it a dessert beer. After he shot me a strange look, he went off to the kitchen looking for the whipped cream. It took him five minutes, searching high and low - behind the bar, in the kitchen - everywhere. Finally, he found some whipped cream, he poured the beer and topped it with the cream, then asked jokingly, "Want some chocolate sauce on top of that?" Playing along, I told him that I would like chocolate on top, and he obliged. To date, I am still the only person who has ordered that delicious concoction.

Selection comes two fold, they always have a good selection of beer on tap and cask, but I find that they don't necessarily update their beer menu online (and in-house) with their current line-up. I had made the trek out there because the website said they had Tupper's India Ink (an American Black Ale) on tap, only to find when I got there that it had been out for a day or two. Beside this slight disappointment, I still had a great time and great beer.

The food, oh boy the food. Mad Fox is as much a food destination as it is a beer destination. Do yourself a favor, and get the specials - which I'll get into in a minute. The regular fare is excellent. The pizzas are phenomenal, the sandwiches are artisnally delicious, and the desserts (Beer-imissiou - Tirimissiou made with Stout instead of coffee) are just phenomenal. The specials, they are out of this world, mind-blowing. I ate my first rabbit at Mad Fox, gotta love their sense of humor, serving it with a side of carrots. I had a braised lamb grilled cheese, and the best, was steak tartar. It was my first experience eating raw steak, and it was served with a raw quail egg on top. The chef does excellent work, and the food really should be winning multitudes of awards.

The pricing isn't too bad, I was struggling giving it a 2 for 3 $ vote, but ended up giving it a 3 because if you really want the good (unique) stuff, it's going to be a bit pricier. It's well worth it, though, as I understand it, everything they sell is hand-made from the bread to the ketchup - and the ketchup is EXCELLENT (I hate ketchup).

I highly recommend giving Mad Fox a whirl if you are in the vicinity. It is a moderately priced, high-class, casual dining experience that I have yet to find anywhere else.

12-29-2011 11:47:49 | More by tlazaroff

fields336

North Carolina

4.44/5  rDev +8.3%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.75 | food: 4.75 | $$$

I came around 7. There was a caps game on which lended itself to a great atmosphere. I sat at the bar where I received pretty good service. about 3-4 different people waited on me throughout my visit.

I ordered the special on thrusdays, the mussels, along with 2 samplers of 4 different beers a piece. Each beer was great and the mussels were outstanding. Portions were really good I loved the food. it was standard NOVA/DC prices, $12 for mussels and frites and ~6 a pint

I would certainly visit again, I had a great time

01-25-2013 01:02:19 | More by fields336

cmmcdonn

Virginia

4.05/5  rDev -1.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5 | $$$

The atmosphere offers something for most types of situations. To the left upon walking in offers a white tablecloth fancy restaurant feel. To the right is the beautiful bar with first-come seating and booths.

Everything about Mad Fox shows a high regard for quality. All of which are covered below.

For the 5 or 6 times I've been to Mad Fox, the service has been spot on. Whether packed on a Friday night or dead on a Tuesday afternoon, all staff I've encountered has been professional, friendly, and knowledgeable about the products they are selling.

The selection is pretty good. Some of their offerings are a little "safe" for their respective styles, which follows the model for most brew pubs. The bigger seasonal beers are where the greatness comes in. Their Orange Whip ipa and citra-hopped barleywine are out-freaking-standing.

This is not a brew pub. This place is a fine American restaurant that just so happens to make their own beer and I would put their food up against any other place in the area. Everything is made from scratch and absolutely delicious. Prosciutto and provolone stuffed meatloaf... wrapped in bacon... I rest my case.

For a place on the outskirts of DC, I can't complain about price. The food is a touch pricey, but it's every bit worth it.

01-04-2013 19:07:27 | More by cmmcdonn

TubaManJack

Illinois

4.05/5  rDev -1.2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4 | $$

This is one of the best brewpubs in NOVA.

The place is very open and separated between reserved tables and the general bar/ seating area. The general seating and tables near the bar can turn over quickly. The place is slightly loud but always upbeat. There are only two medium sized muted TVs in the bar showing a game. The servers and bar tenders are quick to greet you and pretty knowledgable about the beer and food.

The food is above average for what you will find in the area. I recommend the pizza and the standard menu. The fare is mainly traditional pub food with a sizable gastro pub selection. Think roasted pork belly with molasses glaze & chicken and waffles rencarnation exctra.

The beer is the best part of the place. The traditional tap list is pretty traditonal in style being split between British & American styles. Expect a few hopped selection, rotating taps, and casks. My experience is that everyone can find something.

Words to the Wise
I disagree with a few of the reviews that note the lack of parking. There is a free garage in the same building group that I haven't had an issue with and even during the peak Friday hours.

If you want a table, call ahead or get on open table to save yourself a spot - you will be glad you did.

05-16-2012 13:13:24 | More by TubaManJack

TheFunGuy

Virginia

4.38/5  rDev +6.8%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5 | $$

In the middle of a condo complex in Falls Church. Parking is iffy.

Very higher class beer pub looking, the tanks are out as much for looks as brewing. otherwise wood and classy furnishings.

Service was really good, the staff attentive and knowledgeable.

The beer selection was 8 on tap (11 if you count cask options).

The beer ranged from decent to really good. 4 beer samples are $6 for 4OZ.

The food we had, soup and sandwiches with fries, was pretty good.

I recommend the brewery highly, with the caution that parking may be tough. There is a residential neighborhood with free parking behind the complex, which will require 2-3 blocks of walking.

01-15-2012 00:48:31 | More by TheFunGuy

rhartogsq

Virginia

2.78/5  rDev -32.2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 1 | selection: 2.5 | food: 4 | $$$

Having been here a few times, and sampling all of their regular beers, I would say that the beer is extremely average. One exception is the double IPA I had recently that was damn good. I heard their Oktoberfest was good, but I didn't get a chance to try it.
The food is pretty good, and if the service was better, I would go to this place more.
The Service is, well, crap. I have never once had a seamless service experience there. Which blows my mind. They food is really well prepared and creative for Falls Church City, one would think after a year and a half, they would have figured it out.
I will go back every now and then if I hear of a special beer being offered though.

12-19-2011 20:03:01 | More by rhartogsq

Kmccabe33

Georgia

4.13/5  rDev +0.7%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5 | $$

A- Very cool resturaunt/bar to walk in to, the bar itself was very nice and the seating surrounding it was quite nice. Definitely could see myself sitting in there and having a few beers.

Q- The quality of the resturaunt and overall I would say was very good, I loved the food, the appetizer we got, the beers we had, and overall enjoyed it.

S- This is the only downside I found to this place. The server was very good at the beginning when I was inquiring into the beer selection, but when it came to the menu, he was less than helpful. I ordered the Beer and Cheese soup and asked for it to come out before the food, 45 minutes later it seemed the food came out, but no sign of the soup. Then the soup was on the check. It was all cleared up,but this was the only downside to this place.

S- The selection of food was very good, wide variety of good food, and also a wide variety of beers brewed in house, and I really enjoyed the cask option, which I took full advantage of.

F- The food was very good, I opted for the pot roast sandwich, and I am a huge fan of open faced sandwiches, and it was very well done. Everyone else in my party also had different dishes and all enjoyed theirs as well.

12-19-2011 03:10:22 | More by Kmccabe33

smakawhat

Maryland

4.08/5  rDev -0.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 3.5 | $$

Atmosphere in Mad Fox is kind of interesting. It is on Broad Street in Falls Church which is your typical NOVA suburb without too much character. The inside of the place though is extremely vast. It's filled with huge ceilings and extremely spacious, it looks like you could fit an army in the place.

Service is actually really good, the staff know the beers and are proud to talk about them. They are helpful with suggestions, and can answer just about anything, and easily make good conversation.

Selection also involves some very excellent cask offerings here as well, along with some great IPAs. The brewer(s) here really know(s) what they are doing.

I have not had a lot of the menu, the only thing I can really comment on was that my pork belly really wasn't all that great. Large flip top growlers are also available here as well. Prices are comparable and fair reflecting the surrounding area.

10-15-2011 00:39:59 | More by smakawhat

novajeepfreak

Virginia

4.45/5  rDev +8.5%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4 | $$

This place looks unreal!!!! I love the look of the bar...it's huge and they didnt pack it with tables that are so close to each other you get to know the folks sitting next to you intimately...the bartender knew her beer and explained that this is the first time they have had so few beers to pick from....the brewers are getting ready for the beer party out in Denver....understandable....anyways, the beers are good, nothing that just blows your mind away but good and very well priced. They run specials on growlers so that rocks by itself....certain nights a growler fill is only 1/2 price....how can you beat that?!?!?!

The food I got was good, the onion rings are AWESOME! Trust me, you cant go wrong on those bad boys....

Not sure how often I'll get there, they are in Falls Church and I'm in Lorton....

08-16-2011 00:39:10 | More by novajeepfreak

Eriktheipaman

Virginia

3.85/5  rDev -6.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4 | $$

Went for the first time around lunch time. They had a few lunch specials and I got a wrap with fries for $7 bucks.

They only serve their own beers and had about 6-7 on tap as well as a few casks. They offer up a 4 sampler for $6 and you can choose which beers you want to try which is awesome. All the beers we so-so and basic for the style. The smoked Porter was the best and I enjoyed it a lot.

They sell growlers which are $17 for the glass and out of my price range. BUT! The bartender told me if your on the email list you can get half off growler fills and they also accept other breweries growlers. So you can get growler fills for about $5 which is awesome.

08-15-2011 21:16:47 | More by Eriktheipaman