Aisha Robbins
Google
On June 6, 2025, my friend planned a birthday party for twenty people at V NO in National Harbor. Her experience was extremely disappointing.
Initial Planning
She met with the owner, Shaina Taylor, to arrange the event. They discussed a $500 package that was to include a tasting of three wines, and she confirmed that non-alcoholic options would be available for guests who don't drink alcohol. My friend also explicitly asked if she could bring in outside food, such as a cake and small bites, and Ms. Taylor gave her permission.
The Day of the Event
Upon arrival, Ms. Taylor stopped my friend and told her that no outside food was allowed, contradicting our prior agreement. She claimed it was due to a "county mandate" and that the establishment had food for sale. She only permitted my friend to bring in the cake.
The problems continued during the party. Despite the venue not being busy, there were only one or two other small groups present, the staff seemed more interested in their cell phones than in doing their jobs. This was evident in their incredibly poor service. The only food available for purchase were four meatballs for $18, which was overpriced and insufficient. When her guests asked for menus or non-alcoholic beverages, the wait staff was rude and simply never returned. The “wine tasting” was also a letdown: for the $500 paid, guests only received three pours from the wait staff with no explanation of the wines. My friend tried to find Ms. Taylor to address these issues, but she was nowhere to be found.
Final Thoughts
My friend and her party guest, to include myself, were very disappointed with the entire experience. My friend felt that the $500 essentially paid for nothing more than the patio seating. She could have hosted a better event in her own backyard with food and drinks. Neither my friend nor any of the guest will ever go back to this establishment and strongly advise anyone planning an event to choose another location.