Location: Alexandria
Top Restaurants in Alexandria
Virginia, United States Food Guide: 10 American food Must-Eat Restaurants & Street Food Stalls in Alexandria
Discover Restaurants offering the best American food in Alexandria, Virginia, United States. A short Metro ride from Washington DC, Alexandria, Virginia is the perfect escape from the fast-paced capital. First settled in 1695, the city retains its colonial spirit, with cobblestone streets and historic buildings in the Old Town, Gadsby's Tavern, a restaurant serving food since 1770, and centers of learning like the Black History Museum. For a more contemporary side of Alexandria, wander the streets of the stylish Del Ray neighborhood, where local artists operate boutiques and studios.
Things to do in Alexandria
10. BRABO Restaurant
Overall Ratings
4 based on 577 reviews
With a traditional Belgian menu created from fresh seasonal ingredients, it's easy to see why Brabo is one of the best restaurants in Alexandria.
Reviewed By Maniac42
Great experience, love the food and service! This is one of the best restaurants in Old Town Alexandria and a favorite by many locals. I highly recommend this restaurant if you want to impress your date, very romantic and a comfortable setting. We come here for special occasions or simply want a great meal. They offer special holiday menus, definitely popular to those in the know, especially Valentines Day. I would consider this a hidden gem, you won't have a bad meal here.
9. Gadsby's Tavern
Overall Ratings
4 based on 841 reviews
Gadsby's Tavern has been offering fine dining since 1770. Enjoy lunch and dinner in one of the elegant Colonial dining rooms. The one-of-a-kind Gadsby's Tavern experience awaits you.
Reviewed By 207cindyl
This is a historic restaurant in Alexandria where some of the founding fathers dined. The wait staff are dressed in period attire. Our waitress was very attentive. Only bathrooms are downstairs so would be difficult if you have trouble walking. I enjoyed my crab cake lunch and was offered several choices to replace my fries.
8. Hank's Oyster Bar Old Town
Overall Ratings
4 based on 551 reviews
In October of 2007, chef and restaurateur Jamie Leeds opened her second Hankâs Oyster Bar in Alexandria, Virginia. Located in the heart of Old Town, patrons enjoy lightly fried items such as the popcorn shrimp and calamari, and our full belly Ipswich clam
Reviewed By SPKinVA
Iâve lived here 14 years and never tried Hankâs. We finally decided to try Hankâs in old town. I made a reservation and requested a window seat. We were seated at a table (one table back from the window). The two window tables seat four and we were a 2. At least it seemed like they actually read my request unlike other places.We were served goldfish crackers. Then we ordered. I asked about the oysters but the waiter just pointed to a chalkboard down the hall. I didnât feel comfortable getting up to see what they had or standing in front of someoneâs table to read the choices. If he had at least mentioned a few, I would have tried them. Instead we got the basic shrimp cocktail.One of us had the Crab Benedict. The plate was mostly fries with a small crab cake on the side. The dish proportion was off. I had the lobster roll and it was very good. Growing up in New England, I appreciated the authentic bun and the amount of lobster. Service was spotty. The waiter was not personable. We may try another location to see if we can get better service. Weâll try to read the chalkboard before we sit down.
7. The Wharf
Overall Ratings
4 based on 1012 reviews
The Wharf is the perfect dining experience for those seeking an authentic taste of Old Town Alexandria's historical roots with its amazing seafood specialties.
Reviewed By Reslysten54
Guided by Tripadvisor reviews, I picked this place for our lunch in Old Town Alexandria. It did not disappoint. Cheerful Amaris took good care of us from the start.After toasts of a fresh Prosecco, we dug into various forms of crab cakes. Mine was a crab cake Benedict. A very filling portion! I picked green beans as the side order and got more than I could possible eat. They were perfectly prepared and spiced.Few around the table had any room for dessert, but I can recommend splitting an orange creme brulee if you have any appetite left at all.
6. BRABO Tasting Room
Overall Ratings
4 based on 259 reviews
Brabo Tasting Room is the casual hangout next to Brabo Restaurant, with an outdoor patio, monthly events, and a daily happy hour.
Reviewed By Nav1go
Happy hour every day 5-7 pm with 1/2 off house wine, beer etc and the small bits/table share section of the menu. Between 3 of us we tried about everything on that part of the menu (out of the beets) and everything was fantastic. We also tried the classic mussels and the bread pudding. Zero complaints - octopus was some of best I have had!
5. Vermilion Restaurant
Overall Ratings
4 based on 477 reviews
Vermilion offers deceptively simple Modern American cooking in the heart of old town Alexandria. From Chef Thomas Cardarelli's seasonal cooking using local, farm-raised products whenever possible, to the warmth of its ambiance and graciousness of hospital
Reviewed By LeeinVAUSA
There are so many nice things to say about Vermillion. They have a creative menu with a la crate and tasting menus, with or without wine. You can select one of their 5-course tasting menus or pick and choose anything to create your own. A la Carte entrees came in a tasting and entree sizes. Thatâs what we did, including selecting 3 white wines for a wine flight. I thoroughly enjoyed dinner and I would recommend Vermillion without hesitation. We made an advance reservation and I would encourage diners to do that. For a start we had the West Virginia peaches, followed by two different pastas, both excellent. Dessert was the almond tarte, also excellently prepared. Thanks Lee! I am glad you enjoyed your food and wine. We appreciate the stellar review!
4. RT's Restaurant
Overall Ratings
4 based on 310 reviews
Authentic Creole, Cajun and Seafood Restaurant in Alexandria Virginia
Reviewed By 772donaldn
Our friends RAVED about this place that turned out to be something of a dive-bar with a rather dated restaurant attached. The Cajun food was, at best, mediocre compared to anything I've had in NOLA, New York, Chicago or Lafayette. We opted for the special of the day: Haddock for me and a chicken concoction for my wife. Trading off portions of each, we were both disappointed with the selections each of us had made. Even the dessert was mediocre - a Key Lime pie that tasted like it had been sitting in the kitchen for a week with a strawberry that hadn't been cut off at the top. To be polite, we raved about the dinner to our friends who seemed not to have ever had anything really good out of bayou country. Take a pass on this one unless you've never had Cajun before and you want something rather mild as an initiation.
3. Warehouse Bar & Grill
Overall Ratings
4 based on 868 reviews
Steak, seafood, Creole & other classic American dishes served in a casual yet elegant historical space.
Reviewed By DancingQueen012
OK, for starters there were nine of us for dinner. Service could not have been better. Even the two children loved their food. I had a halibut with crab and a light cream mustard sauce. Delicious!! Everyone ordered some version of seafood and no one was disappointed.
2. Del Ray Cafe
Overall Ratings
4 based on 293 reviews
a French cafe serving local, natural, and organic products for breakfast, lunch , brunch (weekends/holidays) and dinner. To-Go Rotisserie Chicken Dinners nightly from 4pm include a whole baguette & roasted potatoes for $25. Kid menu/family friendly. Homem
Reviewed By Leigh W
This is the place to go for delicious food in the heart of Del Ray. It's a bit upscale, yet delightfully casual with a friendly, family atmosphere. Children are welcome, but as a customer, if your children are too young to enjoy the conversation and exquisitely prepared dishes, you might want to find a less-expensive and speedier alternative. The food is prepared on-site and any dish on the menu is likely to be one of the best you have ever eaten. The wait staff is well versed in how it is prepared and what the specials are that day. This is our "go to" restaurant for special occasions celebrated locally and for entertaining out of town guests.Thank you, Leigh, first for being a treasured regular and, second, for taking time to write this detailed review :-)We appreciate you choosing Del Ray Café for celebrations and hosting special guests; it's a high honor with the number of choices you have in our area and we try hard not to take it for granted.We would like to point out that we are extremely family friendly and have well-loved, healthy Kids' Menus with no item costing more than 6$ for Breakfast & Brunch or 9$ for Dinner. So please feel free to bring any children with you anytime :-) Families with young children tend to come on the earlier side of our evening hours which is why we open at 5pm for Dinner. If you're hoping for a more adult atmosphere when you visit us, we recommend reserving from 7pm on.
1. The Majestic
Overall Ratings
4 based on 431 reviews
Housed in an historic and iconic Old Town, Alexandria, VA storefront with an art-deco feel, The Majestic offers a new and fresh dining experience under the culinary and service direction of Corporate Executive Chef Graham Duncan. Our contemporary bistro-s
Reviewed By love2travel49022
Service was exemplary. Food incredible. Four of us had daily Halibut special, different spin of amazing spaghetti dish, hamburger and fries, duck, fried calamari. There is a reason the restaurant has been around for 50+ years. Oh, donât pass up the house made coconut cake. Enough for four to share especially after a wonderful meal.
