Alexandria Restaurants

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This is a place we chose for many reasons. One of which is at the time it was on the American Airlines Idine list. Another was the type of food. We knew we'd be having a late lunch that day and wanted something that could be light eating.

The restaurant itself was quite nice. They have a bar area on the left as you walk in where you will find a couple of TVs usually with sports on. To the back and the right opens up to the restaurant. Some of the tables have bench seating instead of individual chairs. So you can sit next to someone you're with easily instead of across from.

As long as this stays an Idine, I will return.

Favorite Dish: The food here was actually quite good. I did not know when we were there that it was a chain. Although the website on menu did make me wonder. We had the meat sampler dinner. I will look up when I can all that was on it but it was quite a good many things and was SO good. Too much food for just the two of us.

Bread and Chocolate is one of those places I need to return to. We weren't able to eat in because we got in the door just before they were locking up. But we were able to get it to go. Amazing desserts here. I had the Napoleon while Liz had a chocolate diamond dessert that was great.

We ate these back in the room that night and said we had to go back for breakfast here. Well we forgot to go back as we got the car and left town in the morning. But its first on the list when we return to town.

Bertucci's is a chain restaurant. We have eaten in Charlotte and we enjoyed eating at Bertucci's in Alexandria Old Town during our visit there. It was recommended to us by the Hampton Inn and it was a good tip. It was really crowded when we got there and it was Monday evening. Lots of noise and fun. We got two booths for the 12 of us.
We ordered several different kinds of pizza - it was excellent. I definitely recommend a stop at a Bertucci's if you are ever traveling to a place where one is located. They are located mainly on the east coast.

Favorite Dish: Pizza was the only dish we ordered. It was excellent.

The Stardust Café was one of my favorite stops of our six week tour across America. We had the Angus Beef Flank steak in a rice wine sauce. It was about $20. It was very delicious, exceptionally good. This quaint little cafe was filled with memorabilia from the 5O’s. There are knickknacks everywhere, including many household appliances like coffee percolators, fans and toasters. The owner, Avery Kincaid is creative and one of the friendliest persons you will ever meet. She told us all about her establishment. She pointed out where Davy Jones, of the Monkees, sat when he dined there. She even gave me a picture of her and Marianne, from the Gilligans Island TV show, taken while she was dining there. Al and Tipper Gore have dined there too. Avery told us that most of George Bush’s Cabinet have dined there. She even showed us the room were they have met. Several Congressmen also have dined there. This was a real blast!

Favorite Dish: Angus Beef Flank steak in a rice wine sauce had a wonderful flavor.

This is a new place that has already established a good reputation.

There are 5 steps to ordering here.
1. Select the fish that you want.
2. Select the method of cooking.
3. Select the sauce you want.
4. Select the sides.
5. Enjoy. (I am quoting the menu.)

Favorite Dish: I enjoy the salmon sauted with the dill butter sauce.

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Columbia Firehouse is a great, new restaurant in Old Town Alexandria, originally a fire station, the bottom two floors of the building are now a comfortable, slightly fancy restaurant with great local foods and regional beers. We arrived around 8pm one night, and I was immediately impressed with the warm comfortable wooden bar and dark trim. Unfortunately we were seated in the outdoor patio area which was a little too bright, open and cold to fit in with the rest of the restaurant. Nonetheless, the waiter was outstanding, the beer selection above average, and the food very good, despite the small portions.

Since it was Thursday when we arrived, I chose the low country bouillabaisse. This stew of mussels, shrimp, andouille sausage, and potatoes was served with small points of cheesy toast in a shellfish broth for a slightly expensive $24. I also had a few beers including a Brooklyn Lager and a Duck Rabbit Schwarzbier (black lager) which was really nothing like the tasty Kostritzer Schwarzbier that I love so much.

Columbia Firehouse is named for the City of Alexandria's Columbia Steam Engine Fire Company. This company was founded in 1871, and moved to the building which now houses this restaurant in 1883.

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Daniel O'Connell's is a nice pub/restaurant right on King Street in Old Town Alexandria. This place is massive with rooftop seating, side walk seating and a cavernous interior with multiple levels of dining rooms and bars. It is always an adventure to see where we'll be seated and if we'll find our way out at the end.

The menu here has a mix of pub grub and entrees. Tradtional Irish fare such a shepard's pie, Bangers and Mash and Fish & Chips can be found on the menu. Guiness and Magner's are also on the lists of beers that include some local and American beers.

Our last visit to O'Connell's we decided to sit iside; it was extremely hot outside in the high 90's. We were led upstairs to the third floor. We were seated at a nice table for two overlooking the main bar area on the first floor; perfect people watching. My wife and I were just looking for a snack and some cool drinks to beat the heat.

After perusing the bar menu I decided on the trio of sliders. There were three sliders: one beef, one lamb and one crab served with chips and onion straws. My wife ordered the flatbread pizza with basil, tomatoes and mozzarella cheese. For drinks; I had a Sprite and Liz ordered a diet coke with lime. As always we had excellent service and our waitress was very attentive with the refills.

Our food arrived promptly and I was very happy with my meal. The burgers were very good. I enjoyed the lamb burger the best and it was covered in a creamy blue cheese dressing. The chips were very good and the onion straws were quite nice. Liz enjoyed her flatbread pizza and I even found it tasty after she fed me a bite.

O'connell's is one of those places where we like to relax with some drinks or enjoy a good meal. Evertime we visit Alexandria we find ourselves here; it just fels like our local back at home.

Favorite Dish: The Lamb Stew is very nice here and is a perfect winter meal. They also make a really good tuna steak with a citrus soy dressing; quite good. The sliders are a good appetizer as is the crab and spinach dip. My wife likes their flatbread pizza, Guiness burger and surf & turf.

Chipotle is a national chain that serves up monsterous burritos with either chicken, beef, or chorizo. You can pick a bowl (no carbs), giant burrito tortilla, or tacos. You get to choose your toppings like lettuce, choice of beans, rice, sour cream and salsa. For extra you can add guacamole. The only sides they offer are chips and then guacamole. The food is really good but the massive size may lead to some hurt tummies.

The actual restaurant is pretty nice. They have tables or a counter spot to view the city (King Street, more specifically).

Update: You can now download an app for your iPhone to order before going to pick it up. :) Gotta keep up with the times, you know??

Favorite Dish: I like the chicken burrito but I like to get it easy on the rice.