Eating & Dining in Alexandria
Old Town
As a rule of thumb, restaurant prices in Old Town get more expensive as you approach the waterfront. A typical meal for one might run $7-$12 near the King Street Metro and $15-$30 near the Potomac.
- Union Street Public House, 121 S. Union St., +1 703 548-1785, [23]. For 20 years, The Union Street Public House has been home to locals and tourists, singles and families, students and professionals. The building itself is historic, dating back to when George Washington used it as a warehouse. The restaurant includes several small dining rooms, a grand dining room, a non-smoking OYSTER BAR, and an even more lively TAPROOM bar that houses a blaring jukebox every night of the week. Some of the best things on the menu: Oysters, Beer Cheese, Carpetbagger Sandwich, Fish and Chips, Sesame Tuna Salad. Don't forget dessert - all made in house!
- Bilbo Baggins, 208 Queen St., +1 703 683-0300, [24]. Light / fancy - no dress code. Advertised as a wine bar. Recommended is their homemade bread and the Bilbo's salad (greens, with apple slices, mandarin orange slices, caramelized walnuts, crumbled Feta cheese with a raspberry vinaigrette - it's delicious, almost a dessert - yet healthy and light). The dining area is a little cramped - but the look and feel of the place has its own draw, exposed timbers in the ceiling, old stone work and the like. Or... just get the salad to go!
- Eamonn's Dublin Chipper, 728 King Street, +1 703 299-8384, [25]. Fish 'n' chips, Dublin style, in a cozy pub setting. Since the establishment only has space for 20 diners, seating is hard to come by during lunch and dinner hours.
- Gadsby's Tavern, 138 N. Royal Street. Historic dining spot for the first five U.S. Presidents. Thomas Jefferson celebrated his 1800 election victory and George Washington celebrated several birthdays in the upstairs ballroom. The museum [26], +1 703 838-4242, is in the old 1785 portion of the tavern and has access to the historic ballroom. Tours times vary but usually end at 4pm in the Winter and 5pm in the Summer. The restaurant [27],+1 703 548-1288, occupies the bottom floor of the relatively new 1792 section and provides a setting and food styles influenced by the original tavern. The tavern may be a classic but the food is just okay.
- Hard Times Cafe, 112 S West St., +1 703 451-7555, [28]. Cheap food (mainly chili), Western ambiance. Four different types of chili are offered, but those who prefer Cincinnati chili may be disappointed.
- King Street Blues, 112 N St Asaph Street, +1 703 836-8800, [29]. A southern/bbq restaurant with an unusual and bold decor. Restaurant is known for their ribs, po-boy sandwiches, and homemade potato chips. Entrees run in the $7-15 range.
Outskirts
- Hee Been (Korean BBQ), 6231 Little River Turnpike, +1 703 941-3737. The quality of food here is excellent, you can prepare it yourself at the table on the provided grills or you can ask the cooks to prepare it for you (good for a first try and they don't mind!) and you will be amazed at how much you enjoy it. Standard recommendations are "Kal bi" - thick slices of meat in a tangy-sweet sauce (not like American bbq, but a similar idea), or "Bul go ki" - thinner slices almost like the way a Philly cheese steak is prepared - but with a sweeter seasoning. Their salmon is excellent and the "Bim bim bop" or Korean friend rice is delicious. (For a treat ask for "Dol Sot bim bim bop" - which is the same dish in a hot stone pot but unmixed, you get to mix it together with as much (or as little) spicy seasoning paste as you want and it's much fun.
- House of Dynasty, 7550 Telegraph Rd., +1 703 922-5210. The finest Chinese in Virginia, if not North America. The food is amazing, you can't order anything bad. Try their sesame eggplant. They have a ginger soy sauce for their steamed meat dumplings which you'll want to drink straight. Their house mustard and duck sauce are worth the trip. Their chicken and corn soup is unique and amazing. Some favorite meals: Kung pao anything, sesame chicken (sweet and delicious), crispy prawns and walnuts (you can get the walnuts as an appetizer if you like), Schezuan string beans and their "Banana Delight" for dessert. After appetizers they bring out a small serving of lemon sorbet "to cleanse the pallet" and let you come fresh to the main courses. After dinner they bring out steamed wash cloths to clean up with. The place serves large generous servings at very reasonable prices. You can get out for surprisingly cheap, especially during lunch hours.
- Paradiso, 6124 Franconia Road on the edge of Alexandria towards Springfield, +1 703 922-6222. Excellent Italian. You can't really go wrong in here ordering anything, and they have a very respectable atmosphere of a high class establishment - but they accept casual dress and are completely welcoming of all - in fact they have a children's play room with Disney videos and toys for families, Sunday morning's they have a Brunch with some delicious selections (try their bruschetta) and (if they're still doing it) karaoke Thursday nights on the bar/patio side.
- Southside 815, 815 South Washington Street, +1 703 838-6222, [30]. This local favorite features cuisine from the low country region of the American South, with generous portions at reasonable prices.
- Tempo Restaurant, 4231 Duke St, Alexandria, VA 22304, ? 703.370.7900, [31]. Nestled in the West End, Tempo Restaurant is one of Alexandria's best-kept secrets. This elegant, but unpretentious, neighborhood restaurant is where the locals dine. Tempo's menu displays a blend of northern Italian and French cuisine, featuring fresh seafood. edit
- Duke's Market Cafe, 100 S. Reynolds Street Alexandria, VA, ? 703-823-8162. Located on the second floor of the Washington Suites Hotel. Executive Chef Sean McDermott offers his take on classic American fare. Duke's has a full bar and every Thursday night there is live music. edit
- Mango Mike's, 4580 Duke St, Alexandria, Va, ? 703.370.3800, [32]. At Mango Mike's, "We try to Caribbeanize everything we do," says owner "Mango" Mike Anderson. The drink menu at the sunny tropical-theme restaurant is a case in point. "We were going to do a pina colada, and someone said, 'It's got to be in a neat glass,' " Anderson recalls. (from Washingtonpost.com)
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