| Address | 6184-A Arlington Blvd., Falls Church, VA 22044 |
|---|---|
| Hours | 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Mon-Thu; 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Fri & Sat |
| Phone | (703) 532-2125 |
| Fax | (703) 532-5095 |
| Website | www.marksduckhouse.com/ |
My boyfriend and I went here, hoping to find some good peking duck. After ordering, I got up to wash my hands. I go to the women's bathroom and find NO SOAP! Feeling entirely disgusted, I inform one of the waitresses about it, and asked if they had more. Apparently there was NO SOAP on the premises. Not even the men's room. (Believe me I checked!) It did not seem like the waitresses cared about it at all. I couldn't believe it. After informing the hostess/cashier, she hands me her personal squirt bottle of Purel!
I know I know if I travel to other countries to expect sanitary conditions is ridiculous, but we're in AMERICA.
Since we had ordered we decided to stay but of course the no soap thing put a damper on the evening.
The waitress got our dumpling order mixed with another table. But it tasted fine. The duck was decent. The skin was not as crisp as we would have liked, and they don't carve the duck in front of your like Peking Gourmet, making me wonder if they ever skimp. Never coming back, I'd pay for more expensive duck at Peking Gourmet, for better duck (and homemade pancakes), better service, and bathrooms with soap.
I will never go to this restaurant ever again! I know the wait for dim sum could take long, but the service is not that great. The waiters are nice, but the hostesses are always rude! Dim sum here is not worth it anymore. You’re better off going to China Garden in Roslyn… they’ve improved their customer , the atmosphere is nice and clean, and the dim sum is great!
The best of the northern Virginia dim sum/Hong Kong palace restaurants. This seems pretty authentic, at least to someone who's never been to China, with exotic dishes including from duck tongues (good but bony), chicken feet (real good, but fatty),and bitter melon dishes (stunningly bitter, despite the advance warning from the name). The dim sum is excellent, but hardly health food. Some things can be very expensive (ask for the prices before ordering any of the fresh -- still alive, actually -- seafood from the tanks), but overall this is a great deal for meals that can be fantastic and broadening (educationally and "girth-ally"). The servers are adequate but the lady who seats you (and handles take-out orders) is bracingly blunt (which I assume is probably also authentic).
Mark's Peking Duck is a must. Very good Chinese is served here, but be careful not to gorge yourself like a king from the Ming. Mark's is definitely worth the trip out to Falls Church from DC. The staff was nice, and everything very good overall, including a very nice job on the pork lomein. Ambience is lacking in the place, and that's about it...but you're not eating the wallpaper right.
Finally a real Chinese restaurant! Everything at Mark's Duck House is excellent and for a reasonable price. If you're going for dim sum, I suggest reservations. Try the oysters with ginger and scallions and the beef with broccoli chow fun anytime during the day.
This is the typical "all food no atmosphere" place to go for terrific Chinese food, including dim sum at lunchtimes and on the weekends. Even with the new chairs, it's basically a dive. But....terrific food! Good prices! Go!
Dim sum is king, but if you are not in the mood (like dinner), I love their Hong Kong noodle style soups. They are very cheap, 4.50 a large bowl--and you can even get appetizers and tea for not much more. All you can drink tea and it is very fragrant. Atmosphere is not the best, but people come here for the food.
