True Food Kitchen

I went to True Food Kitchen with a girlfriend for Happy Hour last Thursday. We sat at the bar. The bartender, Judy, was by the far the best bartender I have had in Northern Virginia for as long as I can remember. She was spot on with her recommendations for food and whipped up some amazing drinks. The place was a bit pricey, but I would go back for Judy’s service and drinks any day!

WOW! This place is the «new» of dining experiences. REAL food and GREAT service. The décor is modern chic with a open and natural feel. Everything is house-​made and the servers are excited to tell you about the ingredients!
I had the chicken sausage and fontina pizza and it was AMAZING! I was so so thankful to find chicken sausage that is NOT in a pork casing. I have such a hard time finding this in grocery stores let alone a restaurant!
I crave this pizza now.
I also had the ginger drink and it was pretty darn tasty. Like a non-​alcoholic moscow mule.
This place is on my repeat list for sure!

Service very responsive always passing by at the appropriate times to see if needed.
Food was as expected! Great place for catch ups or dates.
Very healthy and food fresh as if it were cut straight from the garden.
Truly is food.

****Closer to 3 ½ Stars****
Our party of 13 was here on a Sunday night around 7 p.m. We were seated on time. The staff here is very friendly, patient and prompt. I liked that the tables were wide enough to accommodate all the plates of food plus none of us felt cramped. The décor is very nice and the place doesn’t get extremely loud as we were all able to easily have conversations.
Why I can’t go full on 4 stars is because the food was inconsistent. Some things were excellent such as the vegetable crudite — the veggies were fresh and flavorful and there was a large selection of different ones. This dish was a hit with everybody. Another standout was the roasted seasonal vegetable board. Everything I tasted from that was very well executed – I particularly enjoyed the roasted squash. Those of us who got the miso soup were also impressed as it was very full bodied. My husband got the turkey lasagna which he liked but wished it had a bit more turkey. One of my cousins got the spaghetti squash casserole which was prepared as if it were an Italian pasta dish. She encouraged me to taste it and it was quite good — very well flavored. My husband and I shared a dessert — spiced apple & goji berry crisp that is served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream — this was a very tasty dessert with all the flavors clearly coming through. I liked the mixed drink that I ordered — fig and pomegranate mule which consists of: «fig infused vodka, pomegranate, ginger, honey, lime” — very well made with great flavors!
Some items were mediocre. My husband got the soup of the day which was chicken noodle which was devoid of any salt. He ended up using the salt shaker to try to improve it. I was really disappointed when I tried to order the seared spicy wild caught tuna wrap as they were out of it. Instead, I ordered the sustainable steelhead. The trout was overcooked and dried out. The sides that came with it were decent (tabbouleh and arugula) but not outstanding. One of the cousins ordered the bison burger and asked for it to be cooked medium. It came to the table very well done. He sent it back and it was replaced and properly prepared. Another cousin got one of their pizzas and thought it was okay.
Some things were downright terrible. Someone got kale-​aid to drink. Those who sampled it agreed with the cousin who said very plainly «it’s putrid». Another cousin got the honey bee ginger beer. I noticed that she was coughing quite a bit and she told me that the ginger in it was way too overpowering which was causing her to cough. She barely drank half of it.
Since we had such a large party, I don’t know what some of the others had as I wasn’t sitting near them.
All that said, if they could work on being more consistent and making a note on their menus when they are out of an item, they would be full 4-​star worthy. My husband and I agree that we would be willing to try them again — maybe we could even bring the grandkids as a kids’ menu is available. This time we will know what to avoid and what to order.

I came with a group.
The place was busy.
Service was surprisingly bad. A tad impatient and slightly sarcastic … maybe that was supposed to be cute? If so, wasn’t working.
While I do appreciate the concept and what they’re trying to do … it just wasn’t working the evening we all went.
I had a pizza. It was… smallish and spare. The chicken sausage was awful. Worst poultry-​based sausage I think I’ve ever had.
I am a slooooooow eater because I never shut up.
Server reached in and grabbed a half-​eaten slice and a whole uneaten slice, wordlessly, and rushed off.
I’d asked several times for another drink.
Nada.
But you can reach in and swipe my pizza?
I asked if it had been removed to be boxed … nope. Just thought you were done.
Yeah … that borders on silly.

A good option for upscale, healthy-​ish food if you’re in the Mosaic area to catch a movie. We came for a late lunch/​early dinner on a Friday, and service was fast and polite.
I liked my beet juice and the mushroom pizza just fine, but nothing really wowed me. I’d be willing to give it another try when I’m in the area again.

Came here on a Saturday afternoon for lunch with a friend. The place is huge, open, and airy. Perfect temperature. The place wasn’t completely full and we were seated immediately. There were a lot of families.
We started with the kale and avocado dip. It was delicious and tasted like guacamole. It had mexican cheese on top. It was a bit salty but still good. It came with chips. I would have preferred veggies.
I tried the hangover Rx juice which was tasty. My friend got a cucumber martini which was dangerously light and refreshing.
I ordered the bison burger and it was amazing. Juicy and cocked to medium rare perfection. The bun was tasty too. I would get this again. I chose only to have the kale salad on the side and it was ok; it tasted healthy. I was surprised how full I got so fast.
My friend had the street tacos and she let me taste them. I loved them and thought they were authentic. But they would be better with the kale avocado dip on top :) the side beans that come with that had so much flavor. I would order them as a side next time if possible.
In summary this place is a keeper. It’ll be hard to try other places in this area and not keep returning here.

Came here for lunch. The outdoor seating looked pretty cool. The interior, however, looked like it had been designed by a hipster who decided to build his fantasy tree house, complete with unnecessary picnic table benches for seats.
For a drink I ordered the «Spontaneous Happiness.» The person who named this cocktail must have been getting «happy» off of something else because the utter sweetness and seemingly lack of alcohol in the $ 12 mixed drink did not induce the feeling that the menu advertised.
For my entrée I ordered the Bison burger. It was great… if you like your burgers undersized and overpriced. $ 16 for the small, slightly overcooked, burger and a smidge of kale may have been better than a traditional beef burger for my body’s health, but definitely took a bit of a toll on my mind’s as it struggled to rationalize the price tag.
Getting the attention from one of the servers for the check at the end of the meal also helped me work on my spiritual health as I got to practice a virtue. Patience. The uniforms for the wait staff at True Food truly look like pajamas and their service followed suit as they moved around the restaurant like they were just awakened from a deep slumber.
Bottom line: I am not sure why the restaurant name «True Food» was chosen, but it’s good they did not name it «True Value», otherwise they might be sued for «True Fraud.»

Good food at a place making a solid effort to promote healthy eating. True Food is a large, bright, open hall, with an open kitchen at one end, the giant main dining area in the middle, and a long bar and ‘sun room’ dining area on the other end. Numerous tables fill the room in neat lines. High ceilings and bright wood are predominant in the restaurant, keeping it bright during the day in combination with floor-​to-​high-​ceiling windows on two sides of the restaurant. The staff is friendly and welcoming.
The menu is full of ‘unique’ items, at least to me – things I don’t normally see or twists on standards, like edamame dumplings. The prices are pretty good (around the $ 20 range for entrees), and the food comes out surprisingly quickly and is very good, with vibrant flavors. Among the all-​natural drinks are interesting housemade sodas; I tried the apple one, which was heavy on the cinnamon, but good.

Ridiculously over-​priced mediocre food. I thought the crowd of people from afar meant the food would be good… but it was «meh.» We had the Harvest Chopped salad and Chicken Sausage pizza. I added grilled chicken to the salad. It was an extra $ 5.50 for 4 small pieces of chicken (wtf?) so, overall, it came out to be $ 18 for the salad alone. Was it worth it? Hells no. The pizza was decent but also small.
The service was immensely slow and subpar. HE TOOK AWAY MY PLATE BEFORE I FINISHED MY LAST SLICE OF PIZZA… SERIOUSLY?! And the second drink that was requested didn’t come until the bill came out.
This is the shittiest service I’ve had in a while.

True Food Kitchen is the only place I’ve ever known to have spaghetti squash on the menu. As a reluctant lover of the noodly-​vegetable, I had been wanting to try True Food Kitchen just for that reason since it opened.
I finally decided to call in for pick-​up for lunch one day. They promised a 10 – 15 minute wait, and I showed up 25 minutes later and it was ready and still warm. They asked me if I wanted silverware and a bag (that’s the eco part of them,) and swiped my card and I walked back out through the side patio door and into one of the garages, impressed by the earthy décor.
The spaghetti squash casserole looked luxurious, topped with mounds of perfectly burnt cheese, and fresh herbs. My first few bites, however, are why I’m deducting a star. Rind. The shell/​rind/​skin of a spaghetti squash is inedible and hard and I don’t want it in my entrée.
And unfortunately, True Food Kitchen hasn’t found some way to make spaghetti squash feel like you’re not eating spaghetti squash. But what they did figure out is the perfect combination of spices and tomato sauce to make it taste reallll good.
I’d go back, for sure.

I think this place is too healthy for me. I had heard mixed reviews and definitely wanted to give it a try but the appetizers were better than the entrees that we ordered for brunch. I stopped by with a group of 8 for drinks one night and their specialty drinks were just way too sweet for me and a bit weak.
Pros:
— Bison burger was good according to the boys
— juices were good but pricey
— edamame dumplings were delicious but small
— onion tart was full of flavor and a good size
Cons:
— breakfast eggs, sweet potato hash and sausage were just ok — meat was dry, eggs weren’t anything special
— interior was very loud — we could barely hear each other on both occasions
— took some time to flag our server down during the busy brunch rush so I wouldn’t come here if I was in a hurry
IMHO the food/​drinks did not live up to their price tags.

Popped in here the other day while out thrifting with one of my besties. She made me promise not to tell her Hubby that we tried this place without him (Shhhh) lol. I love the concept of this restaurant. Food should be simple and items paired well to compliment each other. The chefs work in an open space just feet away from some of the diners while they chop and prep away. The bar serves fresh pressed juices and the menu is complex yet simple — — no hidden chemicals added to your meal.
I am reserving a star for now until I have the opportunity to try a few more items. I consider myself fish taco obsessed and these were just… OK. I hate to say I have had better. I am looking forward to visiting them on my next run to Mosaic.

Adorable brunch place with healthy, delicious, and innovative menu items and a fun, decorative atmosphere! And it’s located conveniently in the Mosaic District in Merrifield, VA. It’s perfect for a Saturday morning brunch with a group of friends and we all had a good time.
I ordered the Autumn Ingredient Salad, which came with Brussels Sprouts, Squash, Mulberry, White Bean, Pomegranate & Horseradish Vinaigrette. It was delicious! I absolutely loved the bare ingredients all mixed in together. The salad was warm, healthy, and tasted so homey and festive.
Others in our group ordered bowls, burritos, etc. True Food Kitchen has quite a selection to choose from.
The ambiance of the restaurant is also homey and very decorative. I loved those bamboo walls!
I absolutely loved my experience at True Food Kitchen and would love to visit again soon! :)

This was my first time at True Kitchen. Actually, this was my first time at any place that could describe itself as «organic,» «vegetarian,» or «vegan.»
My girlfriend and I were originally pulled into the restaurant so we could sit and eat somewhere outside. True Kitchen has a very nice semi-​outside dining area that you can enjoy! It ends up being great people watching territory, too.
That might be where the fun stopped for me. I’m 100% a meat eater and the menu actually did have some accommodating dishes for me so I was pleased with that! We both ordered pomegranate lime-​ades, a margherita pizza, and the sea bass tacos.
The pomegranate lime-​ade was good, nice and refreshing for a warm day outside. The pizza and tacos came out shortly after we ordered.
All I can really say about them was Meh. The margherita pizza was decent, but really nothing I couldn’t do on my own at home. It did have a crunchy crust though which I like. It was just overall decent.
Unfortunately, I decided to be a tad bit adventurous and go with the sea bass tacos over the steak tacos and we paid for it. The fish had zero flavor to it. It was sad. It tasted like we were only eating the tortilla with mexican toppings. The fish could have done with a goooood bit of salt.
Overall, I did enjoy the outside seating and the drinks we had. The food needs a little bit of work I think.

I like the idea of true food kitchen! Offering healthy, organic and creative food!
I like the décor it just matches with the concept of the restaurant!
I’ve been here twice. I have enjoyed the food, drinks and the atmosphere. But I’m not crazy about it. It Is not a place I will be dying to come back to.
My favorite is the bison burger! I’m not a big fan of burgers but this burger met my expectations. Healthy and tasty. It comes with a side of kale salad and sweet potato hash both were delicious.
The black cod fish was bland!
The fig flat bread was good
The braised bison short rib with mashed cauliflower was okay.
The edamame dumpling was good.
I like The drinks selection. I enjoyed the freshly made drinks!
I’ve tried the pomegranate juice with chia seeds, pomegranate martini, cucumber martini, something gingery… Anyway I enjoyed my drinks! But waaaaay too pricy!
I have to agree with other Unilocalers this place it is overpriced!!! Yes, the food and drinks tasted good but not something that wowed me and willing to pay that much for it.
Service was decent!
I give ²⁄₅

Tonight I had the chance to make it to true food kitchen, which I had heard a lot about and I was not disappointed.
The menu was amazing and it was difficult to decide what to get, luckily they do half portions of things so I got to taste two things, both of which were amazing.
I felt great after eating there (if a bit hungry) and they had a lot of vegan and vegetarian options, that were amazing.

True Food Kitchen boasts of «honest food that tastes really good.» Their concept is healthy-​oriented, so you get vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-​free options. Essentially, there’s something for everyone with a dietary restriction. Emphasis is on organic produce and food is all based on Dr. Andrew Weil’s anti-​inflammatory diet.
This location has both interior and patio seating, as well as a full-​service bar. It’s got a very eco-​friendly décor that matches with their food concept and an open kitchen that spans the whole back of the restaurant.
We started off with natural refreshers. My boyfriend chose the sparkling watermelon soda ($ 4) made of watermelon, lime, cane sugar, and sparkling water. Pretty good! I decided on the Green Arnie ($ 5) made of matcha green tea and honey lemonade. Ehh, not so good. You can definitely taste the green tea and the honey lemonade and it’s undoubtedly natural, but I’m not just a huge fan of it. However, if I were to come back, I would try the other natural refreshers like Kale-​Aid (kale, apple, cucumber, celery, lemon, and ginger) or cucumber refresher (cucumber and honey lemonade). For the entrees, I chose the spaghetti squash casserole ($ 13) and my boyfriend selected the steelhead ($ 24).
My spaghetti squash casserole was pretty decent. It’s made with fresh mozzarella, organic tomato, and zucchini, and it’s both vegetarian and gluten-​free. It tasted good (especially for vegetarian food), and I didn’t feel like I overate or gross like you sometimes do after eating a lot of good (bad for you) food. My boyfriend’s steelhead was also pretty good. The fish was cooked nicely and it came with cauliflower tabbouleh, dates, pine nuts, watercress, and tahini dressing. Unfortunately, they overdressed with the tahini sauce which is not acceptable for restaurants.
If you want a healthy alternative, True Food Kitchen could be the restaurant for you. Popular food trends with a healthier twist. Prices range from $ 4 – 13 for appetizers, $ 8 – 14 for salads, $ 14 – 30 range for entrees, $ 12 – 16 for sandwiches, and $ 11 – 13 for pizza.

came for dinner, had heard it was good and was looking forward to eating here.
The interior is nicely decorated, though I feel with the neighborhood it’s in, as well as the rest of the décor. the yellow metal chairs turned me off when I saw them.
Was thinking of getting a cocktail, but opted for the Medicine Man refresher, chose it for its «antioxidant boost», so I’m hoping it does as it says. The drink was nice, not overly sweet.
Ordered the Spicy Chili Shrimp. Was a bit surprised by the portion, for $ 18 I thought I would get a bit more than 6 pieces of large shrimp and some noodles. The flavor however was nice, a good amount of heat and not a lot of oil/​grease.
My sister had ordered the seabass special. definitely not what I would expect for $ 26. the fish itself looked to be not even 3 oz. probably close to 1.5 oz.
The server hadn’t mentioned the price when she began her pitch, I’d suggest mentioning it at least after the name of the special.
might come back if I’m in the area and feel like eating healthy food.

I have come here several times with family and friends on different occasions and this place is a solid 4-​star!
Service is decent. Nothing spectacular, nothing bad either. They do not have a reservation or call-​ahead system so when crowded or there’s a wait, it’s not fun and usually we just opt for somewhere else in Mosaic. They use the app called NoWait but I personally do not find it useful.
The ambiance of the restaurant is clean, crisp, and they have an open kitchen towards the back to emphasize the integrity in their food. They serve dishes made with ingredients from Dr. Weil’s Anti-​Inflammatory Diet food pyramid (link:
) which is great because there are lots of long-​term health benefits in maintaining this diet. I personally would appreciate if they had nutrition information (calories, protein, fat, carbohydrates, etc.) somewhere. They claim that they do not have the nutrition information due to their seasonally changing menu but if Sweetgreen can provide nutrition information along with their frequently changing seasonal menu, why can’t True Food?
Drinks are great here. The Medicine Man (antioxidant boost) is great and so is the Cucumber Refresher. When it comes to alcoholic drinks, I have only tried one cocktail: the Thai Grapefruit Martini. It is delicious you should try it!
Must try when it comes to food: Edamame Dumplings, Wild Mushroom Pizza, Red Chili Shrimp, and the Spaghetti Squash Casserole. Those are the «favorites» among many frequent patrons and waiters at True Food. They have certain seasonal items (ex: Summer Tomato Pizza) so if you go in I would take advantage of those too.
For dessert get the Flourless Chocolate Cake or the Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp. Those are my personal favorites!
This place is healthy and the food fills you up without giving you a food coma afterwards! I definitely recommend giving it a try even if you are not a health nut (they have items like a Bison Burger for those who are not as health-​conscious)!