Burlington Coat Factory

I didn't use to shop at Burlington Coat Factory because I thought their prices were "too high". The problem is that I didn't know how to shop there, so I had the wrong expectations.

Burlington Coat Factory doesn't sell low priced brands like you would find in discount retailers. What it sells are name brand items at a discounted price. So, for example, if you only want to buy a cheap and basic t-shirt, this is not the store you go. But if you want to get designer brands (like a treat for yourself or a gift or something), then you might find gems here. One example is a beautiful Max Mara top, originally $115, marked down at $29.99. Another example is an Anne Klein coat, originally $180, marked down at $79.99. So you still end up spending quite a bit money there, just that it's cheaper than department stores.

The merchandise there is always changing. If you see something you really like but not all that sure, the best strategy is to buy it first, and then (if you must) return it later. Because if you put it back to the rack and think about it for a couple of days, they might just be gone when you come back. You might also find nothing you like (or something you like but not in your size) during a particular trip. As a result, I call it treasure hunt. You just never know what you'll get.

This Burlington Coat Factory also has a Baby Depot on the second floor. The baby stuff is usually never on sale when you need them, so this is a good place to get them for their everyday low prices. But if you can find a sale somewhere else, then elsewhere would be better.

There are two things I dislike the most about them. The first is dirty merchandise. I often find cumulated dust on the shelves or items (especially children's books and toys). It is annoying but not that big a deal, because you always wash new things anyway.

The second issue sometimes drives me nuts, which is poor customer service. You cannot find an associate on the sales floor until you walk up and down and up and down for 15 minutes. Then even if you find one, he or she usually cannot answer your questions. I stopped asking for help because it's just a waste of my time. The line at the checkout is usually 15 to 20 minutes (or longer). Be sure to check the merchandise before you leave, because the cashier sometimes forgets to take off the security device (and the security alarm at the exit doesn't work), so you end up having to drive back to have the tags removed. These are just examples. I guess that's the price you pay for saving money.

Overall I would still recommend them. Despite the hassle at the checkout counter, you can really score with this store.

The Capital Grille

I can't afford to go there as often as I would like, because the dinner bill (for 2) is usually around $100+. But it is a great place to celebrate those really special occasions, because the servers treat you like king/queen, and they offer a complimentary birthday dessert. They even take a picture of you and the guest, and make it into a little greeting card for you, all while you enjoy the food and environment.

The theme is "business dining", and most guests are in suits and/or business attires. I would definitely not take children there just because it would seem so "out of place".

Their fillet is always done with just the right temperature. That's also one of the most expensive items on the menu. But if you are already going to a fine dining steakhouse, you might as well get the best of the best. The seafood is always fresh, and I have had consistently good experience with the shrimp and the oysters.

If you don't know exactly where you are going, you might have a little trouble getting there. They are basically right outside of the Tysons II mall, but in a separate business building. They have self-parking underground but it's really awkward because the elevator and/or building entrance is always locked after business hours. It almost forces you to use their valet parking. That's the only thing I dislike about this place.

Always One Appliance Repair

My dishwasher was leaking, so I hired a contractor to get it fixed. The first company dragged it out for almost 3 weeks and still couldn't get it fixed, so I dropped them and hired this company instead. When I called to make the initial appointment, it was a bit hectic because they were pretty busy and couldn't come up with a schedule. They said they were going to call me back shortly, but they didn't. I called back the next day and finally made an appointment for the following Monday, as they did not have evening or weekend hours (which was a minor downside).

Two contractors showed up promptly at the scheduled appointment time. They were courteous, neat, clean, and pleasant. They listened attentively when I described the issue, and started the repair immediately. They had the correct parts handy, and fixed my dishwasher right on the spot. They spent a total of merely 1.5 hours in my house. Overall, I was happy with the result and their professionalism. I would recommend them.

Residential Appliances

My dishwasher was leaking, so I made a call to get it fixed. The company promptly scheduled the initial appointment, and I was glad that they had evening hours. The company gave me a 3-hour window, but no one showed up. The contractor finally called after the scheduled time and showed up 30 minutes later. He told us the parts needed to be ordered, and he would call me back the next day. He didn't call. I called several times during the next 2 weeks, and all I was told was that they were waiting on the parts to arrive. They kept telling me they would call me back and give me a status, but they never did. During my last phone call to the company, they finally realized that the parts were not even ordered yet. So I waited 2.5 weeks for nothing. There was no communication at all. I dropped them and hired another company, who arrived on time, had the parts handy, and fixed my dishwasher in 1.5 hours total time. What a difference!

Henry & Son's Handyman Service

I needed a drywall repair service and found this contractor through a referral. He responded to my service request promptly. We set up an evening time (at my convenience) for a free in-home estimate. I added another project I didn't think of when I submitted the original service request. He provided a fair and favorable quote. He was courteous and friendly. He started the repair work 2 days later. He used proper precautions to reduce the amount of debris. He tackled both projects simultaneously to speed up the repair time. He left the work area in good shape (although I still had to do a deep cleaning myself). The repaired drywalls looked like new. I would highly recommend this contractor. The only things I didn't like are that he did not arrive at my house at the agreed time, and he was chatting on his cell phone for a long time during the repair.

Popes Auto Body & Paint Shop

My experience there was so bad that I actually filed a complaint to the Better Business Bureau. It was a very long complaint, but I will try to give you the synopsis.

When my car was damaged, I contacted my dealership, and they suggested Pope's Auto Body. So I went there to obtain an estimate. I pointed out all the spots that needed fixing, and I got a written estimate immediately. I expressed the concern that this was my only working vehicle and I wanted to minimize the time it was in the body shop. I was told this was a 2-day job, and they had the parts in stock.

I dropped off the car Monday morning as soon as they opened. I did not hear back on Tue evening or Wednesday morning. So I called, but the only person who could tell me the status of my car was not available. I called multiple times because no one called me back, and I was told I could pick it up Thursday afternoon. I asked what happened to the "2-day job" promise. She said she had no idea why they told me that.

Thursday afternoon, I got a call from them. They didn't call me to pick up the car, but told me they had the wrong parts and had to order new parts. On Friday, they called me to pick up the car. I drove home and found out it was not completely fixed. Saturday, I brought my car back in, and they said no one was there to work on it, and I had to bring it back the following Tuesday. Finally, they completed the remaining work by Tuesday evening, although the quality of the work was barely acceptable.

I am upset with them for many reasons. First, if the job was not a 2-day job, then they should not have lied and repeatedly promised me. Second, the parts needed were clearly listed in the written estimate, but they had the wrong parts and delayed the repair work even further. Third, there was lack of communication everywhere. I was not informed of the vehicle's progress on Tuesday (the originally promised date) or Wednesday until I had to call them repeatedly. I was not told about the incorrect parts until Thursday when my car was supposed to be repaired. The technician blamed the person who wrote the estimate for not pointing out all the places that needed work, so my car was not completely fixed. Fourth, the written estimate included all the repairs, but not all of them were done the first time. However, I was charged the full amount on Friday when I picked up the car. How could the body shop charge me the exact amount listed on the written estimate when less work was performed? I suspect that they over-charge the customers on a regular basis. Fifth, the technician simply did not pay attention. The places needing repairs were visually obvious. Even if the person who did the estimate did not tell the technician where the damages were, he could have seen them with his own eyes if he had just looked. I find it hard to believe that he would fix the damages that were merely a couple of inches away and not fix these ones that he missed. Finally, the attitude of the clerk was not pleasant at all. I felt that she was treating me like I was a trouble-maker. When in fact, the faults were at their body shop.

So, a "two-day job" turned out to be a nightmare. I was grounded inside my house for a full working week. My schedule was completely limited. I had to arrange several rides to the body shop and other necessary places. I am 5 months pregnant and it caused me a lot of stress. I had false contractions one morning. I am not accusing them to be solely responsible for that, but I am sure the stress they have caused me was part of it. So, I urge everyone to stay away from them. I also told my dealership and hope they would think again before they recommend this place to other customers.

PROS: Willing to resolve my issue
CONS: Poor communication, overcharging customers, unpleasant clerk, mediocre work

China Hut

I can't say I have tried a significant number of Chinese restaurants in this area, but I was hooked on China Hut very early on. My favorite dish there is the Shrimp in Lobster Sauce, and it is Sesame Chicken for my husband. Another reason I keep going back is because of their frequent diner program - buy 6 Combos or Specials and get the 7th free. This store is very small and is mainly for take-out. However, it does have one dining table and 2 chairs. I think that is meant for their employees, but I have seen one customer ever eating there. They cook the food to order, and they are not a fast-serving place. So I highly recommend that you call ahead for the orders. The parking lot is very small, but I think most of the stores there are take-out or delivery type, so I have never had any parking issue. The downside to this place is that I don't really like too many dishes on their menu. I have tried a few different dishes, but now I pretty much stick with ordering just our favorite dishes.

PROS: Frequent diner program (buy 6 get 1 free). A few really good dishes.
CONS: Not all dishes are good.

Logan Road House

This location is surrounded by a lake, and you can walk on the deck around the building or sit in the patio to enjoy the quiet view. How nice is that! Inside, it is a different world. The dining room and the bar are noisy and full of excitement, in a good way. The atmosphere here is that you can relax and just have some fun. The signature scene is to throw your peanut shells on the floor as you enjoy your ice cold beer. In terms of food, my favorite appetizer is the fried mushrooms. For entree, I like the steaks and the pork chops. If you go during peak dining hours, the parking lot may be full (even though it is huge). But it just takes a little bit of short walk to the next parking lot.

PROS: Beautiful lake view. Good food. Relaxed environment.
CONS: Busy. Slightly Noisy.

Ruth's Chris Steak House

This is a high-scale dining, for sure. We are talking about $100+ for a dinner for two with all courses. However, if it is a really special occasion, I think it is worth it. They treat you like royalty the moment you step in. According to their website, the dress code is "Business casual to dressy. Jacket and tie optional." I definitely recommend making a reservation. I am not sure if a reservation is required, but if you tell them about your special occasion, they may throw in a little (nice) surprise for you, which is what happened to us. Their website also allows online reservation. For appetizer, I loved the Shrimp Cocktail and Lobster Bisque. For entree, the Filet is the obvious choice, but the seafood or the lamb chop is very good too. The side dishes (such as vegetables) are ordered separately. All portions are generous. The steamed broccoli I ordered was huge like a mini tree by itself. If you are a chocolate lover, you have got to try the Chocolate Sin Cake. The name says it all. This restaurant is located in the Fairfax Corner Shopping Center, so the parking is unfortunately very difficult in general. They offer complimentary valet parking, but I personally don't like other people driving my car. If you go during peak hours, you might spend quite some time in parking.

PROS: Royalty treatment. Just wonderful food.
CONS: Not affordable on a regular basis.

Logan's Roadhouse

If you like a casual dining place with a really casual attitude, this is it. I think the signature for Logan is that you can throw peanut shells on the floor all you want. The restaurant is a little bit on the noisy side, but that is just their style. After a long day of work, you just want to unwind and have some fun. There is a huge bar, and the bartenders are usually very friendly and enthusiastic. The menu has a good variety. I definitely recommend the fried mushrooms, and the pork chops. They are nearby (but not inside) the Fairlakes Shopping Center, and not really visible from the main road. If it is your first time visit, you'll have to look hard for them because they are behind a few other restaurants. The parking lot is a moderate size, and sometimes it maybe hard to find parking during peak hours. Usually it is not a problem, though.

PROS: Relaxed environment. Peanuts on the floor (if you like it).
CONS: Slightly noisy. Peanuts on the floor (if you hate it).