Having recently moved to the suburbs of Philadelphia, I have a heightened sensitivity to the pros and cons of city life verses the suburbs. Though I see many perks to the ‘burbs (after a decade of fighting for street parking), dining is not one of them. I marvel at how uninspired many of our local restaurant options are, with the vibrant Philadelphia food scene only a few miles away.

With this in mind, I traveled yesterday for a business lunch at the Hilton McLean Tysons Corner in McLean, Va. Fifteen miles outside of D.C., we marveled at how quickly the city turned to country and at the lush green landscape that quickly surrounded us. Though it was a bit of a dreary day, I couldn’t help but feel energized by the fresh air and open space. As we pulled into the Hilton parking lot, I immediately sensed something was different. The grand entrance and ultra modern décor was unlike any Hilton property I have ever seen (save for the Beverly Hilton, which has a style unto itself).

As we entered the hotel’s härth restaurant, I realized that my initial impression was spot on. There was nothing typical about this hotel or suburban hotel restaurant. As part of a hotel-wide redesign towards a fresh, contemporary feel, härth is the icing on the cake. The restaurant décor contrasts stone, wood and glass, with elevated gas fires as separations. härth executive chef Thomas Elder’s concept of farm-to-table cuisine is not only delectable but also directly supports sustainability of local farmers. My only disappointment was that the weather was not nice enough to enjoy the outdoor patio seating.

This visit inspired me to continue my quest to find restaurants in my neighborhood that are raising the bar like härth. If in the D.C. area, I highly recommend you check out this spot.

— Danielle Hudena, director of sales and marketing