Restaurant Eve
110 S. Pitt St.Alexandria, VA 22314
703-706-0450
American
$$$$
$37.88
★★½
Average ValueMORE INFO
★★½
Average ValueLESS INFO
Irish-born chef Cathal Armstrong's flagship restaurant now offers all diners a choice between the regular a la carte menu and the $135, six course chef's tasting. Either way, expect dishes highlighting local and sustainable products that show modern American cooking at its best. There's also a nice lounge pouring excellent cocktails, beers, and wines created or selected by mix-master Todd Thrasher.
3.5 Stars (5/15/2014) — 2014 Spring Dining Guide
Che Cathal Armstrong "did away with the bistro in order to turn the establishment into a strictly fine-dining destination. What a difference some streamlining and more discipline make!" See Full Review…»
No. 50 (2/8/2016) — 100 Very Best Restaurants 2016
"Digging into Filipino 'street barbecue' seems odd at Cathal and Meshelle Armstrong’s Old Town restaurant, given its decade-old reputation as a fine-dining destination for Continental cooking with a locavore bent. Still, sisig and kinilaw are all part of the new Eve, which has melded its tasting room and bistro and now serves both à la carte and prix fixe menus—half Filipino and Asian, half Modern European—throughout the jewel-toned 17th-century rowhouse. …" See Full Review…»
Bold — Superlative
"A complete dining experience , world-class service, all restaurants have been merged." See 3/18/2011 Review…»
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Hank's Oyster Bar
1026 King St.Alexandria, VA 22314
703-739-4265
Seafood
Raw Bar
$$
$24.13
★★½
Average ValueMORE INFO
★★½
Average ValueLESS INFO
Although there are plenty of good restaurants in Old Town, Hank's is where we go when we want a great raw bar or simply prepared fish in a fun atmosphere.
2 Stars (12/2/2007)
Tom Sietsema notes that at "Hank's Oyster Bar Old Town, chef Jamie Leeds has a near-replica of her popular seafood joint of the same name in Dupont Circle." See Full Review…»
No. 65 (2/8/2016) — 100 Very Best Restaurants 2016
"When you tire of restaurant “concepts” and of servers who need to “explain” the menu to you, keep in mind Jamie Leeds’s convivial oyster houses—your antidote to trendy pretense. But why think only oppositionally? Hank’s is also pretty great for a light meal after a movie, or when you happen to have brought together a group of varying tastes and needs and find yourself desperate. The selection of oysters changes daily, the clam chowder rings true, the po’ boys overflow with beautifully fried shrimp and oysters, and the crabcakes (at a time, unfortunately, of diminishing returns on the scene) are reliably light and sweet. …" See Full Review…»
Don Rockwell does not recommend this restaurant.
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Brabo Tasting Room
(Lorien Hotel)1600 King St.
Alexandria, VA 22314
703-894-3440
American
Belgian
$$
$16.79
★★
Good ValueMORE INFO
★★
Good ValueLESS INFO
Brabo's casual alter ego in the Lorien Hotel features wood fired tarts (pizzas), sandwiches, salads, and charcuterie. The real star are the mussels, and every meal should include a pot. It's also open for breakfast 7 days a week.
Unrated (6/21/2009)
"One door over from the hotel, the Tasting Room looks hard to resist. Poke your head inside what is actually two small rooms, and you'll see all sorts of reasons to aim for a seat: flatbreads exiting a wood-fired oven, a little zinc bar that would look at home in a tony part of Amsterdam or Berlin, a chalkboard that sums up the small retreat's MO. ("Wine makes daily living easier, less hurried, with fewer tensions and more tolerance.") The kitchen mixes a satisfying salad and fixes a good sandwich. …" See Full Review…»
2 Stars (3/13/2012) — 100 Very Best Restaurants 2012
"The staff caters kindly to solo travelers and date-night couples alike at Robert Wiedmaier’s warm-toned dining room in Old Town’s Lorien Hotel, and it has a deft approach to helping guests pick bottles from an expansive list of globe-spanning wines. Served in a large pan, Penn Cove mussels—accompanied by Wiedmaier’s crisp frites—make a great group appetizer, and an entrée of braised lamb shoulder, twirled between fat ribbons of pappardelle, ushers in winter with elegance. …" See Full Review…»
Italic — Recommended
"A sterile, cold atmosphere, but wow, the mussels with chorizo are terrific." See 3/17/2011 Review…»
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Daniel O'Connell's
112 King St.Alexandria, VA 22314
703-739-1124
Irish
$$
$18.67
★★
Good ValueMORE INFO
★★
Good ValueLESS INFO
John Brennan and Billy O’Sullivan's classic Irish bar in the long-time Bullfeather's space is big and busy. It could easy do just fine as yet another Old Town watering hole. But great care has been taken to also give it a solid, classic menu that's among the best for Irish Pub grub in the area.
1.5 Stars (9/17/2006)
An outdated review by Walter Nichols that notes "an expensive, Irish-influenced mega-pub." See Full Review…»
Unrated (3/19/2008)
Washingtonian's outdated mini-review notes that "this boisterous Irish pub with four bars and as many dining areas" has "a menu that has its ups and downs." See Full Review…»
Italic — Recommended
"One visit to Daniel O'Connell's puts it alongside Shirlington's Samuel Beckett's as Best in Class."
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Hank's Pasta Bar
600 Montgomery St.Alexandria, VA 22314
571-312-4117
Italian
$$
$20.05
★★
Average ValueMORE INFO
★★
Average ValueLESS INFO
Despite the name, the menu at chef/owner Jamie Leeds' Italian restaurant has nothing in common with her popular Hank’s Oyster Bar. But they are siblings in spirit, so expect the same upscale casual atmosphere and great drinks to go with solid, crowd-pleasing food. The star here is (obviously) the pastas, but don't overlook the appetizers and dessert.
Unrated (5/11/2016) — Spring 2016 Dining Guide
"At long last, something fresh to whet our appetites in Old Town Alexandria: a neighborhood Italian spot from Jamie Leeds, a chef best known for her trio of seafood joints in the area. The signature draws come in a dozen or so shapes and some pleasing flavors. Among the successes are delicate plin filled with beets and goat cheese, and ripply malfalde served with fennel sausage and brandy cream sauce. …" See Full Review…»
Unrated (6/15/2016)
"… Hank’s Oyster Bar chef/owner Jamie Leeds turns her attention from the bounties of saltwater to the pleasures of what can be made with flour and water. Pastas compose the core of the menu, and it’s worth loading up on them in all forms…. The bookends to a meal…are just as alluring.…One pain to note: The place doesn’t take reservations or let you call ahead for the waiting list, and weekend waits can stretch to two hours. …" See Full Review…»
Don Rockwell does not recommend this restaurant.
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Society Fair
277 S. Washington St.Alexandria, VA 22314
703-683-3247
American
Wine Bar
$$
$20.44
★★
Average ValueMORE INFO
★★
Average ValueLESS INFO
It seems like every big-named chef in the area has opened a restaurant-slash-market lately, but unlike the others, we've actually seen Chef Cathal Armstrong cooking at this wine bar with good, simple food.
2.5 Stars (4/15/2012)
Tom Sietsema notes: "I like the whimsical wine bar best at night, with the lights lower and more reason to sip into the wine-laced cocktails Thrasher created for the space." See Full Review…»
Washingtonian has not reviewed this restaurant.
Italic — Recommended
"Run by Eat Good Food Group, the Arlington branch has closed, leaving only the original Old Town location."
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Vaso's Kitchen
1225 Powhatan St.Alexandria, VA 22314
703-548-2747
Greek
$$
$25.00
★★
Average ValueMORE INFO
★★
Average ValueLESS INFO
The sign still says "Dixie Pig," left over from the barbecue restaurant that occupied the space for 35 years. But once inside, the restaurant is unmistakeably Greek. The menu is traditional, with homestyle versions of hearty classics.
2 Stars (4/8/2007)
Tom Sietsema notes that the signage still reflects the historic barbeque restaurant that was once here, but the cooking hails from Greece. See Full Review…»
Unrated (6/24/2009)
"The pig-themed tchotchkes and plain red curtains make it feel as though you’re eating in a Greek grandmother’s kitchen. And there’s real skill at the stove, resulting in a lineup of comfort food that’s lighter and better than most. …" See Full Review…»
Italic — Recommended
"Family-owned, home-style Greek, hearty portions, good Avgolemono, authentic and real, this is the Greek that you want."
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Brabo
(Lorien Hotel)1600 King St.
Alexandria, VA 22314
703-894-3440
American
$$$
$30.78
★★
Poor ValueMORE INFO
★★
Poor ValueLESS INFO
Robert Weidemaier's Alexandria outpost in the Lorien Hotel features a more accessable version of the seasonal Belgian cooking the chef offers at his flagship, Marcel's, downtown. Chef de cuisine Harper McClure executes Weidemaier's vison, which includes a crowd-pleasing mix of land and sea. A four ($60), five ($75), six ($90), and seven ($105) course tasting menu is also offered.
1.5 Stars (6/21/2009)
Tom Sietsema, a fan of Wiedmaier's other restaurants, finds some early issues here. See Full Review…»
2.5 Stars (1/28/2014) — 100 Very Best Restaurants 2014
"The staff caters kindly to solo travelers and date-night couples alike at Robert Wiedmaier’s warm-toned dining room in Old Town’s Lorien Hotel, and it has a deft approach to helping guests pick bottles from an expansive list of globe-spanning wines." See Full Review…»
Italic — Recommended
"With chef changes at The Majestic and Vermilion, Harper McClure's Brabo is your best bet near Braddock Road Metro."
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Haute Dogs & Fries
610 Montgomery St.Alexandria, VA 22314
703-548-3891
Hot Dogs
$
$8.75
Cheap Eats
Exceptional Value
MORE INFO
Cheap Eats
Exceptional Value
LESS INFO
Haute Dogs starts with good, all-beef hot dogs on buttered, split-top buns. If that was all, these would still be among the best franks around. But the real draw are the wide variety of toppings available, which are offered in more than a dozen combinations, ranging from classic (the ketchup, sweet relish, yellow mustard, and chopped onions Fenway Dog) to unexpected (the Sriracha mayo, carrots, cucumber, jalapenos, and cilantro Banh Mi).
The Washington Post has not reviewed this restaurant.
Unrated (5/5/2016) — Cheap Eats 2016
"If you have any doubts about just how special a hot dog can be, get yourself to this narrow Old Town shop and order a bánh mì dog. It takes the accessories that make the Vietnamese sub such a kaleidescope of flavor and texture … and transports them to a perfect canvas—a griddled all-beef frank on a toasty, liberally buttered bun. That and a wiener-style rethink of Peking duck are among the more creative offerings. But the straightforward renditions of regional specialties—say, a classic Chicago dog or a ground-beef-topped Coney Island dog—are just as tasty. …" See Full Review…»
Don Rockwell does not recommend this restaurant.
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Eamonn's A Dublin Chipper
728 King St.Alexandria, VA 22314
703-299-8384
Irish
$
$10.70
Cheap Eats
Excellent Value
MORE INFO
Cheap Eats
Excellent Value
LESS INFO
Chef Cathal Armstrong is known for the exquisite food his flagship, Restaurant Eve. His casual fish and chips shop shows his other side, and his Irish roots, with a menu of heavily-battered and deep fried goodies. It's as authentic (and tasty) as it comes. The speakeasy PX is located upstairs through a door at the back of the building (look for a blue light when it's open).
2 Stars (10/22/2006)
Tom Sietsema's outdated review of the original Eamonn's in Old Town. See Full Review…»
Unrated (5/5/2016) — Cheap Eats 2016
"This pubby Old Town spot is modeled after an Irish fish-and-chips shop—Guinness on tap, mushy peas, and all. But most important, the cooks here know their way around the fryer. Our top order is the Codwich—which tastes like a Filet-O-Fish that’s been treated to a cheffy upgrade, thanks to beautifully battered (and sustainably sourced) cod, rich house-made tartar, and crisp coleslaw. …" See Full Review…»
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Teaism
682 N. St. Asaph St.Alexandria, VA 22314
703-684-7777
Asian
$
$10.70
Cheap Eats
Excellent Value
MORE INFO
Cheap Eats
Excellent Value
LESS INFO
These Asian-inspired tea houses feature simple, good food and small selection of beer and wine alongside an extensive menu of teas. Don't miss the salted oat cookies, easily worth purchasing a whole bag.
Unrated (7/4/2012)
Tom Sietsema's "First Look" at this "good-for-you, Asian-inspired restaurant" touts its "the cilantro-speckled scrambled eggs with tea-cured salmon" as "one of the best breakfasts in Washington" and notes that veteran chef Alison Swope has "added fresh ideas to Teaism’s longstanding menu of Thai chicken curry, udon noodle soup and bento boxes, including "a riff on the savory Japanese pancake called okonomiyaki." See Full Review…»
Washingtonian has not reviewed this restaurant.
Italic — Recommended
"These tea houses are treasures, the food is simple and good, try the salted oat cookie with your tea."
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BGR: The Burger Joint
106 N. Washington St.Alexandria, VA 22314
703-299-9791
Burgers
$
$14.93
Cheap Eats
Good Value
MORE INFO
Cheap Eats
Good Value
LESS INFO
BGR has expanded nationally, but it all started here in DC. The burgers are big, juicy, and cooked to order -- basically everything you could want in a burger joint.
2 Stars (10/17/2010)
This outdated review notes "prime, aged, hormone-free" beef "on a toasted sesame-seeded brioche bun," fries "made with Yukon Gold potatoes" and "shakes are so thick, they’re easier to eat with a spoon than a straw." See Full Review…»
Unrated (6/1/2014) — Cheap Eats 2014
"Beef Wellington—that pastry-wrapped staple of ’50s dinner parties—is the inspiration for this rock ’n’ roll burger chain’s behemoth ($8.99). The dry-aged patty is grilled, then laden with sautéed mushrooms and onions, plus loads of blue cheese. It’s probably the most elegant thing you’ll ever eat while surrounded by Journey album covers." See Full Review…»
Italic — Recommended
"No longer under the original management, but if you stick with the basic hamburger, it's cooked to the specified temperature, and is surprisingly delicious." See 12/9/2015 Review…»
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