Clare & Don's Beach Shack

I recently stopped by Clare and Don's for a couple of drinks and some bites to eat. It's been years since my last visit, and I was pleasantly surprised to see how much their outdoor seating area has expanded. The outdoor space is perfect for gathering with friends, especially during one of their fun events like live music or trivia nights. There's plenty of room to bring your dogs, and it's a relaxed spot where kids can run around and play. On a cooler day, it's an ideal place to hang out, unwind, and enjoy the atmosphere. As for the food, the shrimp wasn't *too* easy to peel, but it was still tasty. The fish fingers were a bit bland on their own, but the dipping sauce more than made up for it--it was delicious. The staffer who waited on us was friendly, attentive, and professional throughout the visit.

We sat outside, drank orange crushes, listened to great live music, and enjoyed delicious food! This place was packed but service was so friendly and prompt. Crab cake was my favorite: so much lump crab and a great price! We will definitely be back soon!

Nice selection of seafood dishes with fried, grilled, blackened option. Nice choices in fish of the day (we had grouper). Fun beach atmosphere. Had deconstructed fish tacos which were very good. Indoor and outdoor seating.

This place is absolutely amazing! The food was great and the service was excellent. I tried the ceviche, carnitas quesadillas and a main dish. Will definitely coming back!

Clare and Don’s is excellent—whether you are ordering out or eating in. Most recently we went on an extremely busy Saturday. There was a wait, but the wait service made sure everyone was seated in a reasonable time and food was still fast. Prices also are reasonable for the quantity and quality of food. We will keep coming back!

This place is so chill, if I lived nearby I would definitely come down more often. The atmosphere is just perfect, with fun decorations. Servers were great. I got the ‘phish’ n chips. The beer batter and slaw were delicious. I wish the tofu inside had some more flavor to it though. The portion size was large so I was able to take some home, and it reheated well. I’ll definitely be back, I’m excited to try more of their menu!

Not sure how this place has 4.5 stars. The atmosphere is pretty cool, but that’s really about it. I ordered the Cadillac margarita which did not taste great and also a crab cake which I could only eat half of. I didn’t even order dinner as I had intended because of the overwhelming fish smell. Yes I know it’s a seafood restaurant but when it smells a little too fishy….

We ate on the patio under a large tent top. The atmosphere is very beachy and great for a vacationing family. There was a play area for our kids. The staff was wonderful and service was quick and efficient.

Met a friend here for a quick dinner on a Sunday night, so it wasn't very crowded. Luckily parking isn't too bad since there is a large garage nearby. The interior is like a dive bar meets tiki hut, which is fun and casual! The menu has a good amount of options on it, and even my friend who's a vegetarian could find something to choose from. I got a burger and tater tots as a side. Both were good, nothing to write home about but perfect for a quick bite. Service was fine, nothing to complain about. I ordered did get swapped with our sides, but no biggie. Pricing was overalll reasonable too.

Idk who Clare and Don are , but you guys figured it out! The restaurant / live music vibe here is great. This is more so a summer spot, but the interior boasts what could complement as a staycation. Great staff and comfortably spaced out seating arrangements. The crab cakes were absolutely gorgeous, were ordered them 3 times in one go as they were so flavorful. 5*!

We return to Clare & Don's repeatedly - mostly because of all the vegetarian options, but also because there are meat, fish, and gluten-free options, making it a great place to meet friends of all eating preferences. The atmosphere is beachy, they add more items on the walls over the years, and they play beachy music too. They have live bands both on their outdoor stage and indoors, usually in the evening. They are also good for sports fans - they have a few screens showing whatever sports are in season. Service is very good for a casual place. I have seen some of the same staff there for years, which I think is a good sign. It does have some grit to it, it's not highly polished, and the bathrooms could use an upgrade. But it is a reliable eating and drinking establishment, we have never had a bad time.

First time trying out Claire and Don's. Had lunch with my daughter while in town visiting. The service was very good waitress was very helpful. Cute atmosphere very beachy themed looks like it would be a fun place in the warmer months. Also appears to be a good late night spot. The food was fantastic. I'd have to say it was the best jambalaya I've ever had.

I'm native Floridian so I'm probably biased but this place is a little piece of Florida in Falls Church. I always enjoy coming here and having a tasty beverage or two on the patio and listening to some live music while enjoying some grilled shrimp tacos. Food and drinks are just as good in the winter but it's not quite Florida weather so I'm eating inside when it's too cold for flip flops. The margaritas are always enjoyable as is everything else I've ever had to drink. The grilled shrimp appetizer features properly de-veined freshly cooked shrimp. The grilled shrimp tacos are also always just right and they bring the shells and tortillas separately so you can fill the shells yourself make them just how you want them. Service is always fast and friendly here, even when they're crowded on a weekend. This place is a must try if you're a Floridian in exile or just want to enjoy the beach bar experience in Falls Church.

We were wanting to do takeout for dinner but after seeing the menu online, I'm glad we went there and ate. It was hot out on a Wednesday evening. We sat inside along with other customers. We were greeted while we were outside. The tables were but sticky. Service was good although it took a while toward the end to find and flag our waitress. I ordered a crab cake appetizer and a bowl of shrimp gambolaya. The gambolaya was spicy but just enough spiciness for me to tolerate and the flavor was good. (Do not order this if you don't like spicy foods.) The side of crab cake was just right for me. It was flavorful but I came across a few shell pieces. I would order both again. My husband had the crab cake dinner with the side salad entree which he enjoyed since he is a huge crab cake fan. My MIL had the blackened fish tacos which she found it to be a little spicy for her but she did like it. She only ate one of her two tacos since there was a lot of rice and beans to fill you up. Great themed place to check out when you're in Falls Church.

Burger night on Mondays! The burger was great. There are many options for creative burgers. I got the salad upgrade rather than fries. The service from Connor was exceptional. Fun way to start the week.

Just...gross! Was it the filthy walls, the sticky tables, the worn out floors, or the black mold growing on the ventilation pipe over my head? Some of our friends love this place, and they were certainly busy. Good for them. FOOD It wasn't great. Fish tacos is their big thing, and our friends all say they're good. I got two 6oz. fillets, which was more than expected, but awkward with the three tortillas provided. No seasoning, nothing to add into the tacos provided, except some bright pink slaw. It was okay. Add some dry uncle Ben's rice and some beans for the complete meal. There was a lemon wedge, but it was full of seeds -- not worth the trouble. SERVICE All the servers seemed cheerful and helpful. Ours was upbeat, if dilettante. We saw him about every 20 minutes or more, and he was off again in a flash. Thankfully, my wife shared her drink with me, so I didn't choke. After an hour long ordeal, we gave up on dessert , drink refills and boxes for leftovers and asked simply, "can we go?" AMBIANCE Noisy, dirty, packed tight. Restroom is unisex. Clearly appeals to a certain kind of customer. Just not me or my family. BOTTOM LINE It was painful. Not going back until they make some big changes, if ever.

Got takeout it was awesome highly recommend I will return when in area for my work trip

Started Falls Church Restaurant Week 2025 at Clare & Don's. Ceviche was as fresh as it always is. And the fried oysters were perfectly prepared!

Like being at the beach. Fresh tasting seafood and great hush puppies. I had the cracked crumb fried shrimp and it was hot and delicious. Special call out to the tasty coleslaw. Will eat there again

My family and I have been coming here for years. Tonight my son and I enjoyed grouper sandwiches, my wife had the shrimp and youngest some chicken tenders. Everything came out perfect, staff was fantastic, while prices were reasonable for a great time.

I've been here many times and always had a great time. That being said currently there's construction so parking might be tighter than usual. The ambiance at this place is like going to a tiki bar at the beach without the sand. Definitely a nice place for day drinking. I ordered a burger and seafood chowder. The chowder was great, however I thought the burger could be better. Service was wonderful and fast. There was only one guy in our section but he was attentive and always came around at the right time. I definitely will be back when it gets warmer.

This place is a gem of a FL beach bar in falls church! Grab a ginger beer cocktail from Mike and enjoy the vibes!

Fun atmosphere with live music. There were plenty of indoor and outdoor seating available on a weekday. The food was hot and fresh and paired great with a nice cold beverage. The music can a little loud if you are trying to hold a conversation and are seated in close vicinity to the band. A great time overall with friendly service! Enjoy!

This place has been here for a very long time and we were able to finally make our way to it. We got the mango iced tea which isn't sweet at all so if you're looking for plain tea with a hint of mango and no sugar then you might enjoy it. We also tried their seafood chowder, coconut shrimp, tots, and the oceans three (shrimp, crab cake and scallops). The chowder was okay and didn't seem to have seafood in it and I felt like it was more filled with potatoes. The coconut shrimp were pretty small and I wasn't a fan of the sauce it came with as it was too sweet. My favorite thing was the scallops, I would come back just for those and the mashed potatoes. The crab cake was not best but I don't think they were horrible. Tots were fried perfectly. We sat outdoors and there was plenty of space. Parking is a bit tough here and we opted to park in the Kaiser building and walked.

What a great and fun place The food is good, the service is great and the the ambiance is fun! The mashed potatoes and. Crab-cakes and even the burgers !! Love it, usually get pick up but have been there several times Good food, drinks and service try it out as well!

We love Claire and Don's. I've never eaten inside, we go when the weather is nice enough to sit outside. There is often live music, and I love the atmosphere with kids dancing and dogs trying to say hi and get food. Staff is friendly, sometimes the kitchen is a little off sync, but we chalk it up to the casual, family atmosphere - especially when it's super busy. So I wouldn't call the food gourmet, but everyone in my family has their "favorite." My son likes the grilled chicken, my daughter the tacos, my husband the burger, and I'm a crabcake. Although a guy friend we went with last time had an amazing looking seafood platter (the big 3 or something?) which I will look for and try next time. He said it's his "favorite." It's that kind of place. :) Highly recommend for an evening out. Oh, and as it's next door to the state theater, it's great to start there for dinner/cocktail before you head to the show.

Went with friends to see DEMZ on May 11 Three elderly patrons. I was struck by how kind all of the employees were. From the young man at the street entrance to the server and all employees in between that we encountered. These kids really enjoy working at C&D, and it is infectious!! Management must be a very good judge of character to select such a great staff. Well you might say that is what is expected from employees, but this was truly genuine. Oh, and the fish and chips were really good!!! And thanks for supporting local talent!!

What a wonderful and enjoyable location. The cuisine is superb, the service is excellent, and the atmosphere is enjoyable. Their burgers are especially tasty. I enjoy it; I typically get picked up, but I've been there multiple times. Excellent meal, drinks, and service Try it out yourself!

We showed up last night to watch the band performing as advertised on C&D's website. But we were denied entry by the C&D staff to the outside area due to a "private party". This confused us because there were LOTS of other people - who were not part of this private party - watching the band, eating and drinking. Which was exactly what we wanted to do. We then proceeded inside, tried to buy a drink at the bar but that proved impossible. We were refused service and rudely ordered by the bartender to go to the outside bar which was packed with people - all of whom were like us - not part of the private party. Was C&D closed for a private party, open for customers or only open for certain customers? Who knows. Severely disappointed in the poor service and confusing communication. We will not be back.

I went to Clare and Don's before a concert last weekend (at the recommendation of a friend), and it was great! It's a cool space with lots of room outside if you're not able to find a table inside the restaurant. They have heaters, so you can definitely sit out there when it's cooler weather. My date and I shared the hushpuppies, and they were delicious. I had the Baja fish tacos and they came with guacamole, cabbage, and black beans. I had the corn tortillas...yum! My date had the shrimp basket, and it was really good, too. It was a busy night, but our server did a good job of taking our orders, checking on us for additional drinks, water, etc. The place has a wonderful beach vibe, which I really like. Highly recommend!

Really good option for seafood and at a good price. We got the scallops, shrimp, crab cake, and red snapper. All pretty good. The Brussels sprouts were nicely crisped as well.

Decent spot to hang out, but don't come here expecting any sort of remarkable gastronomic experience. Margarita was weak. Nachos were fine -- the chips were the best part. Shrimp fried to a golden brown but texture was mushy. PLEASE DEVEIN YOUR SHRIMP. I shouldn't even have to say this. Fries were ok -- I prefer them more golden and crispy. Service was great though. This place is solidly average.

Great place with fantastic atmosphere. The food was excellent. But most importantly the bar tender, Sergio, was so cool, attentive, kind and fun. Give that man a pay rise - he deserves it x 10! Thank you Sergiy

A beach themed bar-restaurant with huge outdoor space and live music in the middle of Falls Church. Who would have thought? It's a fun place on a warm Saturday night, but the food is mediocre at best. We just ordered appetizers. All pretty bad. Here's the real issue people should know about. Our waiter came by with the check on his phone and ticked off a 22 percent tip for himself and then told us "You don't have to do anything except sign right here." I'm glad I noticed the tip in a tiny box at the top of his screen and downgraded it to 20 percent. What he did was completely dishonest and I hope readers here keep an eye out if they decide to eat here. Or maybe just skip the place altogether.

Beach bar vibes in a parking lot in Falls Church. Why not? Clare and Don's transport you to a shanty on the beach. the service is friendly and fast food was fast and fresh and never disappoints. I never expected this humble place to have great fish tacos, but they do. it's nothing fancy however, they do provide a fun environment for a different atmosphere for dinner Great for groups. there's outdoor seating year-round and parts are even covered if it's too sunny or too wet outside

Why do I not come here far more often than I do? It's not clear. It's unusual to find a place that's popular with the whole family what with dietary restrictions, allergies, and preferences. And yet, here we are ... Clare and Don's seems to fit the bill. We visited just the other day - wondering how we'd find a place to park. Turned out to be a legit concern what with all the construction going on. There was a small side parking lot that was for general parking and it was completely full. ... Except for that one car pulling out. SCORE. Fate was on our side. We arrived a bit early at 6pm and it was a pretty sweltering day - nevertheless, the outdoor seating was both hopping and had plenty of available tables/space. I suppose as the evening wore on the breeze made the humidity a bit more tolerable. The atmosphere is surprisingly hard to beat. You could almost close your eyes and imagine you're at a beach shack listening to seagulls and watching the palm trees. Ok, well, almost. Perhaps after a few drinks. We decided to eat indoors to take advantage of the air conditioning. Lo and behold there was plenty of available seating there as well. The restaurant holds a surprising number of people. We ordered salads, hush puppies (served with hot drawn butter), grilled shrimp, blackened mahi-mahi with roasted brussels sprouts, chili dogs, and the special: deep fried lobster tail with pan fried scallops and BBQ'd shrimp. Oh my goodness. The scallops. I ... I'm not entirely sure I've had a better cooked scallop. Nicely caramelized on the outside and shockingly tender on the inside. Unreal. I cut them up into lots of little pieces so I'd have more than just two. It kinda worked. They were pretty big. Everyone was happy with their meals ... except maaaaaybe the brussels. They could have been roasted a bit more ... still pretty soft. Still that's a small thing (and maybe more of a preference) compared to the meal overall. The service was pretty quick, staff was attentive and we really enjoyed our time there. Going to have to figure out how to get out here more often.

Finally ended up trying this local restaurant and I'm so glad we did!! I got the oceans three and some spicy mango chicken wings. The oceans three dish was delicious. I wouldn't get the chicken wings again.. they were pretty bland and didn't have much flavor. The service was wonderful and the staff were very friendly. Highly recommend if you have kids. We didn't sit outside but next time will sit outside because they had live music. This restaurant will be on our rotation for dine in and take out!

We had heard good things about Clare and Don's and have now been a few times already. It is a great place to take your kids and do a happy hour when the weather is nice! The live music is fun and the service is generally pretty quick. We really LOVE the jumbo lump crabcakes here and my kids like their burgers/chicken tenders. There's a lot going on to make the atmosphere entertaining for the kids but also you don't have to worry about them disturbing others. Overall, we really like and highly recommend Clare and Don's! It'll be a staple for us as family nights continue.

My BF and I came here for a weekday lunch with our daughter. We sat outside due to her being a newborn and the fact it was a gorgeous day. Of note, there is a retractable awning for when it's super sunny. I love the laidback vibe and eclectic beach themed decor. Our server was nice and efficient....except when it came to getting the check. I had the crab cake sandwich. It had lots of lump crab meat and was flavorful. The fries were really delicious-they seemed beer battered or double fried. My BF had fried crawfish and fried oysters. He commented how both items were tasty and he'd order them again. There were lots of kids there on this day, so I'd like to return with my toddler in tow to check out more of the menu.

Fun place to take everyone. They had live music and I'm going back for drag bingo soon! Our server was great. Super friendly even though she was pretty busy. Lots of outdoor seating available. Great for the whole family or a fun date night. Crab cake was good but not sure if it is in my top crab cakes for the area... The bathroom was pretty gross... only bad thing about the night.

Food - 5 stars. Served with a huge side of attitude? 0 stars. I went in the evening of 8/7/24 to pick up an Uber Eats order. Bar manager outside was perfectly cordial and professional and we even shared a laugh before going inside. He made the "mistake" of apparently daring to ask the hostess (owner?) if she knew about my order. Cut to her being aggressively antisocial and caustic. "Do you see an order in my hands? The answer is no." Rolls her eyes directly at me, who had on a pleasant face and btw, hadn't yet interacted with her at all! We go inside, I idle next to the bar for all of 20 seconds. Bar manager comes out and hands me my food, perfect handoff. Yet the hostess felt the need yet again to be aggressively flat out toxic and says to me "See, problem solved - food 's arrived." In not a nice way at all. Remotely. Never mind that I had not once asked her or been inpatient. And there was no wait whatsoever to complain about! I said thank you to her and started walking out when she again - dear god - just had to comment and finished her volley of negativity with "Yep, it sure did." Wow! Again, food was great but the nasty attitude left a lingering bad taste.

Overall a very solid experience here. If you missed it somehow, this restaurant/bar is basically a beach bar in the middle of downtown falls church. Tiki-ish, lots of outdoor seating, casual environment. When we went there was live music which really added to it. I think they do live music fairly often and might have some other events there too. The food was definitely good, some things better than others. We got a platter where you picked 3 items and really enjoyed the fried shrimp. Don't sleep on the hush puppies. Also had some Orange crushes and they made them with soda water instead of sprite (per request) to tone down the sweetness a little. Delish! They had crayons and a kids menu, that was nice too.

My friends and I came to Clare & Don's for some drinks and appetizers on a Saturday. Everything we ordered was so yummy and the atmosphere was the perfect summer vibe. It didn't even feel like you were in Falls Church! We ordered fried shrimp, fried oysters, tacos, nachos and a crap cake! They were all beyond delish. The prices were also a pleasant surprise! The service was also extremely kind and helpful. They added to the cute summer vibe, with their matching t-shirts. Overall, it was the perfect place for drinks and apps, and I would love to go again, and taste more!

Nice little dog friendly spot right next to the state theater with a decent sized parking lot. Clare and Dons has delicious cocktails and atonof crushes which are all refreshing and dangerously good. The food is decent however on the small size (which isn't always a bad thing). I would avoid getting anything fried, the batter seems like it's not properly mixed /fried (as others have stated) and the dipping sides are in Teeny tiny cups. The ambience is really pleasant and the staff is delightful. I would come again for happy hour outdoors with my pup.

Amazing food, amazing service, and the atmosphere is made to turn a grey day- to an absolute colorful and live day! Great food to make matters even better! Cannot wait to comeback!

My last Sunday visit at Clare and Don's, Falls Church, Virginia. It was most atrocious restaurant odors. They serve wine only in the plastic cups no glass. Non professional bartenders or cooks and on top arogante owner. I do like the burgers and carne but service is bad. Wine is love cost served in plastic.

One of my favorite places in the area. It is such a fun atmosphere and they have done well in managing availability during the pandemic. They have rented a large tent (which reduces some parking) but is worthwhile on nice evenings to utilize the outside space. When I went the other day they even had live music which was a big plus. We started with hush puppies which are always a great option. They offer a great flavor and perfect crispness. It is also a great shareable item. For my main dish, I got the Whole Ocean. This pasta based dish was perfection. The scallops melted in your mouth and the shrimp was fresh. The fish was subtle but was a great inclusion. The white sauce was flavorful and noodles were well cooked. In fact, it was a little on the heavy side so I could not finish the dish. This wasn't an issue. It was simply too good to finish. I highly recommend the Shower Beer but there were a variety of options. Clare and Don's is a great place for all groups. For a weekend lunch or night out with friends, it is a must go.

Interesting beach-themed restaurant with very nice and interesting decor. The food was okay (had the alligator tail), but was a bit pricey for what it was. The beer selection was okay, too, but could be better. Fairly decent place overall.

Clare and Don's was an amazing experience. I call it an "experience" because there's so much more than just dinner. The vibe is really laid-back with a Florida theme. Clare and Don's has live music some evenings, and I loved the outdoor Tiki Bar area. Another reason I like them is all of the seating options. Depending on my mood, I could dance, while listening to live music and drinking a number of fun concoctions from their drink menu. I could get a drink and some food, then grab an outdoor table with an umbrella. If I'm looking for more of a sit-down restaurant, they have indoor tables and booths. I went with a group and we sat in "The Swamp". It was a room on the side, and the perfect size for eating and chatting with my fellow group members. Our waitress was very competent with our orders. Even though it was a big group, she made each of us feel important while ordering. I have a food allergy and the chef was able to tweak my order to accommodate me. I couldn't have enjoyed our meeting more. We plan on going back to Clare and Don's for future meetings. I strongly recommend.

I was really excited about this place because of the rave food and drink reviews, but it was overall disappointing to say the least. We ordered two margaritas and grilled fish tacos, and none were good. Ordered the margs without ice, but they still tasted watered down and not sweet- hard to explain the taste but they were just bad. The fish tacos were also not good- lacking any flavor, period. I'm not sure any of it was salted, and was expecting some lime or a citrus flavor that wasn't there. The slaw was wilted and old, and none of it was fresh or even warm. The rice isn't even normal rice that comes with fish tacos, it's like sprouted wheat you'd find in a health food store. Very disappointed because I was looking forward to checking this place out. I would say the portions are large, but I'll probably end up throwing all of this away. The only saving grace are the sides of guac, sour cream, and salsa that may help. EDITED my review because the owners response was rude and unprofessional. The temperature was not even the main problem (the food wasn't even warm, it was cold and I live right down the road)- your food should taste good regardless of temperature, which neither the food nor drinks did. Your food should taste the same whether it's sit down or to go, basically restaurant rule of thumb lol. Seems you're salty your business doesn't make good food. Another edit to the business owner's unprofessional comment- I am not trying to ruin anyone's life. If you aren't professional and produce bad food, that's on you.

Ate lunch here and loved all the outdoor seating they provided. Really unique atmosphere! Came in a group of 3 and they must've forgotten about 2 of us and we had to ask where our entree was. An hour and 10 mins later, I finally got my grouper sandwich which was underwhelming. Bread was cold and the grouper portion was small and it looked like it stuck to the grill (hence the small pieces put into the sandwich bread). They also dropped my entree, forgot my friend's salad, etc. Took forever to try to get water, the check, really anything. The fried pickles had a weird coating- more of what seemed to be cornmeal instead of what is typically used for a nice crunch. Accompanying dipping sauce was a tiny little container. Staff was friendly. I've recommended this place to a few friends but I think this will be my last visit. Still giving 3 stars because the times aren't easy for restaurants right now.

Great live music most nights of the week, big food portions, lots of vegan/vegetarian friendly options (amazing tofu), and overall awesome casual vibe. Sergey and Ana are my favorite servers

I love Claire and Don's because it makes great seafood. Fresh fish is a great value. Any way you want it prepared. And I love their fried shrimp because they do it Florida style with a cracker crumb coating.

Simply the best!!! Summer or winter, you feel like you are at the beach with the freshest of seafood in a casual setting!

This place is always on my must visit list when I'm on the East Coast. (I live in CA now) The staff is always friendly and the food is fantastic!

Clare and Don's is great. It's vegetarian and vegan friendly. The food is very delicious but they don't have many healthy options. They have a very nice beach aesthetic that's very well executed. I've been here many times and ever waiter has always been very pleasant and matches the chill vibe of this place. A nice spot in NOVA for anyone missing the beach

Casual dining, great food, loads of outdoor seating & the live music in the summer is fantastic. Parking is tough these days, with the nearby construction- but there's a free parking garage a block away.