Restaurants
The Birthday Party Scene
Our daughter is turning three in March so we recently started brainstorming about what to do for her birthday. We immediately crossed off having something at our house because of space constraints. We knew we would have 12-15 kids plus parents so all of a sudden it is 30-40 people for the event. Last year, we held her party at MyGym in Kingstowne and it was a great experience because we all showed up, the MyGym staff took charge, there was a set time frame, all the kids had a great time and we left without having to worry about clean-up. This...
read moreThe Majestic – Review
We were that table. You know, the group having such a good time that they forget their inside voices.. The table behind us may have switched seats. Whatever. It was only because we were having such a great time. And it’s important to note that not one member of the staff asked us to keep it down. That being said, the staff was very attentive…and then, not. It took some time to be seated for our 7:00 reservation, but they did seat us before our entire party arrived. One of my dining companions dropped her menu...
read moreExtra Perks
When I was taking an art class a few summers ago, I discovered Extra Perks on North Fairfax Street. This locally-owned restaurant has great food at great prices! The Smoked Salmon Sandwich is my favorite menu item and every time it is delicious. The bread is warm and the ingredients make a perfect lunch. They have breakfast during the week until 11am and on the weekend the brunch menu goes until 3pm. The owner’s British heritage brings to Alexandria the ‘Full British Breakfast’ that includes two eggs, bangers (fresh made...
read moreRestaurant Week
During Alexandria Restaurant Week more than 60 restaurants will be offering special menus and pricing to entice visitors to dine in Alexandria. The restaurants are offering either a $35 prix-fixe three-course dinner or $35 dinner for two. Alexandria Restaurant Week is a great time to try a new restaurant at reduced prices. Dates: January 13 – 22, 2012 Make Your Reservation online Tips for Getting the Most out of Alexandria Restaurant Week Make reservations early, many of the most popular restaurants get booked up. Read menus and...
read morePork Barrel Not Bad
After reading some bad reviews on Yelp I was a little unsure about trying Pork Barrel Barrel. That was until my foodie friends (whose opinions about food I wouldn’t question), mentioned they had ordered several times in the last few weeks and loved it. So on New Year’s Day my husband picked up some pulled pork, cucumber salad and macaroni and cheese. I was feeling a little “tired” from a the late night before and boy did that mac and cheese hit the spot. The pulled pork with sauce was moist and flavorful, the salad...
read moreHank’s Is Crazy About Virginia
Hank’s Oyster Bar Old Town is excited to showcase two of Alexandria’s finest: War Shore Oyster Co. and Port City Brewing Co. Show your Virginia love by joining us for a dinner featuring local oysters and beer. View the menu HERE. JANUARY 9, 2012 at 7PM $70 per person For reservations call 703.739.HANK...
read morePeking Gourmet Inn
Tucked away in a strip mall between Seven Corners and Skyline, Peking Gourmet Inn is a 33 year old institution. If you want traditional, Northern Chinese cuisine—and not the hodgepodge that a typical strip mall Chinese restaurant offers, bear with the traffic of Route 7 and head over to the Culmore shopping center. When you walk in, you’re immediately greeted by a very friendly host staff. If you’re lucky, you’ll be seated immediately. Chances are, you will have to wait, unless you’ve had the forethought to make a...
read moreDel Ray-New Deli
For years I’ve been saying a new deli is needed in Del Ray Market 2 Market 116 E. Del Ray Ave. Alexandria, VA...
read moreGraffiato Review- DC
By Ronya Misleh It’s cool to go to restaurants where famous chefs cook and share their dishes. It’s not silly to hope to catch a glimpse—or even grab a photo—of he or she who is amusing your palate and filling your tummy. And, even if this is your reason for going to Graffiato, if you just want to see Mike Isabella doing his thing (which is quite likely), and you happen to eat every last morsel on every plate put in front of you without this happening, the trip will still be worth every penny. And calorie. The atmosphere at the...
read moreRestaurant Review Indigo Landing
Indigo Landing (near Potowmack Landing) By Ronya Misleh The place where only the first syllable of your order matters. Shrimp Scampi? No, SHORT RIBS. Hot Toddy? No, hot peppermint patty. Girls’ Night Dinner. Indigo Landing, a beautiful–though reception-y (maybe because I did actually go to a wedding reception there six years ago?) dining area. Great view of the Capital building and the monuments and planes landing. We’ll start with the fact that the hostess totally checked in a couple and ruined the surprise dinner that was...
read moreRestaurant Review of Ketchup
Restaurant Review: Ketchup OR An Open Letter to Ashton Kutcher By Ronya Misleh Dear Ashton, I’d like to tell you to stick to acting and not restaurants, but I’m having a hard time choosing the lesser of the evils here. Ketchup? What were you thinking? Obviously, not much other than “I want a hip looking place that has a great sounding menu with all kinds of hipster servers.” Thanks to my fabulous friends, I was able to experience Ketchup at the National Harbor for dinner last weekend. We were all very excited to try it out and...
read moreMommy & Me Kabob Palace
Last week I took my girls to lunch at Kabob Palace on S. Eads St. in Arlington. I had nearly forgotten about this place until I drove by the other day and took notice. Kabob Palace is a an Afghani kabob take-out/dine in spot with a nicer sister restaurant next door with white tablecloths and silverware and yet another sister restaurant next door to that with a buffet and two small private rooms. This little hole in the wall is a popular Crystal City lunch spot with Military folks and taxi drivers and its open 24 hours which means they do a...
read moreRestaurant Review
Walker’s Grille By Ronya Misleh Slightly off the beaten path but well worth the drive, Walker’s Grille is a new, eco-friendly restaurant that recently opened in Alexandria. The restaurant is part of a new, environmentally conscious building concept—it is located in a Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED) building and its mission is to meet, maintain, and perpetuate sustainable practices and implement green design and green restaurant strategies. All that eco-friendliness and green modeling and the food’s good,...
read moreFarm Table at Planet Wine
Plan a private dinner for you and thirteen of your friends at the “Farm Table at Planet Wine.” Hosted by Planet Wine and Chef Will Artley, this private dining experience features offerings from local farms along with carefully chosen wine pairings. According to the Farm Table ” the menus will be crafted to showcase the purity, provenance and exceptional quality of ingredients, rather than fanciful techniques.” Menu options start at $60 per person and include: Reception with Complimentary Sparkling...
read more24 Wines on Tap – Cafe Caturra Now Open
The much-anticipated Cafe Caturra is now open in the Arlington Ridge Shopping center on South Glebe. The varied menu offers small plates (such as lump crab cakes, seared shrimp and caprese crostini), stone heart pizzas, cheese and charcuterie, sandwiches, salads, sliders and deserts. The real attraction is the wine bar featuring 24 wines on tap. They did a nice job with the build out of what I think used to be a Blockbuster. The interior is contemporary and hip. They are also open for lunch Founded by Jeff Grant, this is the first location...
read moreTop Picks for Dining Out in Alexandria
Bastille Chefs Christophe and Michelle Poteaux, formerly of the Watergate opened this contemporary bistro and wine bar. Consistently rated in Washingtonian’s Top 100. Featuring traditional, yet modern interpretations of classic bistro fare utilizing seasonal farm-fresh ingredients 1201 N. Royal St. Alexandria, VA 22314 Columbia Firehouse An American brassiere and bar in the heart of Old Town. Excellent raw bar, seafood, meat and daily plates using the freshest organic ingredients possible. 109 South Saint Asaph St. Alexandria...
read moreKyoto Sushi – Mommy & Me Lunch Date
There are a lot of restaurants to explore for this blog and I’ve decided that its time to engage an assistant, my 3 1/2 year-old daughter, Sophie. So every Wednesday we’re going to have a lunch date at an Alexandria restaurant that either we haven’t tried or need to revisit. Today we decided to revisit Kyoto Sushi in the Bradlee Shopping Center. Technically it was only a revisit for me because the one and only time I was here was before my daughter was born. We arrived at 12:15 and were seated and waited on promptly. The...
read moreLickity Split Lunch at Resturant Eve
Recently a good friend invited me to lunch at Restaurant Eve for my birthday. Although its located directly across the street from my office I never think of going there for lunch. I’ve been twice for dinner but not for lunch since they opened 5 or 6 years ago. Unlike the bistro, the lounge offers what they call the “Lickity Split Menu” for $14.95 and it includes two menu items. I had the soup of the day which was a creamy corn soup, the Irish BLT made with Canadian bacon, tomato and house baked bread. It melted in my...
read moreTJ Stones in Alexandria VA
TJ Stones opened last week and is located in the old Stardust Restaurant space on Montgomery near Old Town. It features “modern American cuisine and libations from around the world.” We decided to try it out on a Thursday night. My husband had the special which was beef tenderloin medallions over a mixed orzo. He said it was delicious. I had the strip steak salad with horseradish ranch dressing and it was perfectly cooked, the vegetables were fresh and the dressing was very light, not overwhelming. The service was friendly...
read moreHappy Hour at BRABO
If you are looking for a little ambiance in Old Town, BRABO has it. My friend Chris and I recently stopped by on a Thursday for Happy Hour. We arrived at about 5:30 and although there were no seats at the the bar, the bartender promptly made room for us at a nearby table. Their entire bar menu was half price as well as selected wines. We had the “napa’tizer” which was a plate of assorted meats, pate, olives, caramelized onions and peppers along with a basket of warm crusty bread. We both ordered the unspecified “house...
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