Shared breakfast (the breakfast sandwich) in order to save a little money during our weekend trip. They graciously split the order and brought it on two plates, well presented, as if we had ordered the most expensive thing on the menu. The meal was absolutely delicious and we wish we didn't live 5 hours away! The waitress was very pleasant and the ambiance very soothing. Even if you do not stay at the hotel, I recommend trying this restaurant.

I scheduled a business lunch at Boxwoods based on a good experience at a banquet dinner at the Mason Inn complex. The setting for lunch was nice, in the pleasantly lit, quiet dining room of Boxwoods. But the food is not anything more than adequate. The service is even less than adequate. Our waitress strongly pushed the lunch buffet, so we went to look at it and saw an assortment of steam table dishes that were not appealing in any way except their quantity. We opted to order off the menu. Our food was eventually served by a different person, then our waitress showed up immediately to ask how everything was. How would we know? We hadn't had a chance to taste it yet. Clearing the plates and serving the coffee were also challenging for the staff, apparently. This goes for the front desk, as well--having made a reservation through Open Table, I was surprised when after the lunch I got an email from Open Table saying the restaurant reported I had canceled. I can't say that I plan to return any time soon.

My husband & I stayed at the Mason Inn while in town for a couple of days & within this hotel was a wonderful surprise! Since we were hungry when we checked in, we decided to try Boxwoods. It started out as a pleasant experience as everyone in and around the restaurant was very accommodating & friendly. They were having a buffet lunch when we arrived which my husband was excited about, but I am not the "buffet type" at all; however, the price of $15.00 would have equalled to a regular lunch off the menu so I decided to try it. Wow! Everything was so fresh -- nothing like one might expect from your standard buffet lunch. The vegetables were crisp & deliciously seasoned -- all the choices were a cut above, including some of the best pesto I've ever tasted! The fruit was sweet and juicy -- the choice of breads were amazing. The desserts were out of this world. In a nutshell, you will really enjoy this restaurant if you're ever in the area. Look for "Amy" -- an exceptional waitress/hostess who works there. She remembered us when we returned for breakfast, was extremely caring to our every need & made us feel very welcome. We will stay at the Mason Inn everytime we're in town mainly because of Boxwoods -- can't wait to come back for the buffet!

The area around George Mason University, now Virginia's most populous campus, has long needed adequate lodging for friends and family visiting the university and certainly a good restaurant. Recently the new campus Mason Inn opened (just off Braddock Road and 123) and is a true home run! Besides a lovely hotel catering to now a major state university and houses two very fine dining opportunities. The Boxwoods provides surprisingly innovative and imaginative cuisine together with first class service. Adjacent is The Well, a casual spacious bar area with a very good menu of its own and a ambiance long missing in this end of upscale Fairfax. We were a party of four and have elected to revisit this delightful venue many times in the future. Food selection from either menu is sufficiently broad to cover most tastes, and prices are certainly competitive for the area and atmosphere. This jewels is as yet largely undiscovered and while we four hope it remains uncrowded and our little tasty secret, we know that as the word gets out and a clientele, the good days of obscurity may wane. This place is good!