Restaurant Spotlight of the Week

In China, the Harvest Moon Festival is one of the most highly regarded holidays of the year. Celebrated under the harvest moon, often believed to be the brightest and roundest of the year, this joyous event is feted by Chinese families as the end of harvest season and, much like Thanksgiving in the U.S., is accompanied by a huge feast.

While it may be hard to find a Moon Festival in Falls Church, it’s not hard to find a place where you can eat, rejoice and be merry under what may be the brightest and roundest “celestial body” in the area.

Featuring a tremendous orange moon on its façade, the Harvest Moon Restaurant & Lounge is one of those restaurants that you’ve most likely passed countless times on your commute up and down Route 50, and, if you haven’t already stopped in for a visit, you should schedule one very soon.

Once inside the doors, you’re greeted by a bubbling fountain complimented nicely by the tasteful and elegant décor and the hosts and waiters sport tuxedos. All this might leave you feeling a little underdressed. It’s ok. You’re clothes are fine. Harvest Moon presents a casual dining experience but also has full banquet facilities used to host birthdays, fundraisers, business meetings and more. Able to accommodate up to 700 guests, it’s a favorite among wedding parties for their receptions where ice sculptures, wedding videos and DVDs are provided to the newlyweds. Hence, the elegant employee attire.

Many Chinese restaurants that offer a buffet tend to treat the regular menu as an after thought, not so with Harvest Moon. The menu is extensive and after a quick glance through, it’s tough to pass it up and choose the buffet. Tea Smoked Duck, Crispy Prawns with Walnuts, Hunan Crispy Whole Fish, Lamb of Two Seasons, and the Lobster- Cantonese Style? So far, the menu is looking pretty good.

Harvest Moon shows off its imagination and its full bar capabilities on a two page menu spread of their Polynesian Drinks. With names like the Flaming Volcano, the Zombie, and Navy Grog, you’ll find yourself ordering these concoctions just to say you had one. I mean, where else are you going to find a Woodoo?

Before diving into your main course, there are a handful of tasty soups including shrimp sizzling rice soup, crabmeat and asparagus soup, and szechuan vegetable pork. If those are too much for your taste buds, there’s always the hot and sour, wonton and egg drop options. What you won’t find on the buffet line is the Pu Pu Platter, an appetizer for two including spring rolls, fried wontons, spareribs, shrimp tempura (battered shrimp), and beef skewers. This highly recommended fun starter is served with a mini grill allowing eaters to keep their food piping hot.

Pork, poultry, seafood, beef and lamb are all represented well on the menu with 50 plus items. Not to be outdone by the meats, the vegetables make their presences known too in the form of several vegetarian dishes like the Buddha’s Delight (assorted veggies sautéed in a light sauce), the Eggplant in Garlic Sauce, and the Double Winter Delights (Chinese mushrooms, bamboo shoots, and snow peas in a brown sauce).

All-you-can-eat lovers who manage to turn the menu down and opt for the fully stocked buffet tables won’t be disappointed in the least. Tai-Chien chicken, General Tao’s chicken, beef and broccoli, sweet and sour shrimp, chicken in garlic sauce, and Imperial pork were just some of the selections available on the seemingly endless daily buffet.

Lunch buffet is $6.25 while dinner is $8.25. A Sunday brunch is offered from 11:30 am – 2:00 pm for $7.25. The buffet is also available for carryout. Free delivery with a $10.00 order to a 3 mile radius.

In China you can feast under the Harvest Moon only once a year, in Falls Church you can do it all year long.