Chow Down on Fresh Surf and Turf at Fish Market Restaurant

Located in historic Old Town Alexandria, Fish Market Restaurant combines great food, great drinks, and great company all in one great location. Serving only fresh surf and turf, the Fish Market menu features dishes like hearty clam chowder, lobster bisque, and seafood stew loaded with oysters, cod, shrimp, scallops, salmon and veggies. Local favorites include the oysters and clams on the half shell, the lobster roll, and fried oyster po’boy. If you’re more of a landlubber, try the Southern fried chicken or the classic surf and turf, which tops filet mignon with four ounces of jumbo lump blue crab meat.

The Anchor Bar offers a great selection of rotating craft beer served in a signature 32-ounce Schooner Glass. Enjoy great happy hour deals, balcony and patio seating, and an all-around memorable experience each time you dine at Fish Market Restaurant.

Fish Market Restaurant
105 King St
Alexandria VA 22314
703.836.5676
fishmarketva.com

Hanks Oyster Bar: A Fan Favorite for Fresh Seafood

Calling all seafood lovers! Hank’s Oyster Bar, helmed by chef Jamie Leed, has been praised by some of the most esteemed food publications, including Gourmet, Bon Appétit, and Food and Wine magazine, for its fresh coastal cuisine. Hank’s is not your average local seafood shop; it’s a Southern experience you’ll want to have time and time again.

Try local favorites like the griddled crabcakes, garlic steamed oysters, the oyster po’boy, and seared sea scallops with cauliflower fondue. There are also delicious options for landlubbers, like the popular lamb and blue cheese burger. Pair your finger-licking seafood fare with a refreshing hand-crafted cocktail, a perfectly paired glass of wine, or a cold beer from the rotating craft list.

Check out the website for the full menu and to see upcoming events like Hank’s on the Hill Oyster Fest, where you can enjoy all-you-can-eat fresh oysters, fried oysters, barbecue oysters, and more!

Hank's Oyster Bar
1026 King St
Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 739-4265
hanksoysterbar.com

Have Belgian Waffles for Dinner at BRABO in Alexandria

Get a taste of delicious Belgian cuisine in Alexandria at Brabo. With a focus on sustainability, this Alexandria eatery relies on ingredients sourced from local farms, while the kitchen recycles everything possible, right down to the grease—it's made into bio diesel fuel!

You can’t skip Brabo’s signature waffles. Try the smoked salmon waffle for a savory brunch or the peanut butter toffee waffle with your after-dinner coffee. (The roast Icelandic cod and heirloom tomato gazpacho are also popular with many diners.) The staff is sincere, attentive, and dedicated to providing a one-of-a-kind experience every time. They are carefully trained to guide your evening with recommendations and appropriate wine pairings.

With hearty comfort food available brunch or dinner, a private outdoor terrace, and a cozy lounge for drinks, Brabo is the place for a special meal with good friends!

BRABO Restaurant
1600 King St
Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 894-3440
www.braborestaurant.com

Balkan Grill: Mediterranean Fare in Alexandria

Balkan Grill is a small Alexandria restaurant serving authentic Mediterranean dishes, so you can expect lot of grilled beef and freshly baked bread. Try the house-made beef sausages wrapped in a still-warm flatbread, or go for a mildly spiced burger with chilis and herbs on a ciabatta-like house baked bun. Regulars recommend you try a "burek," which is phylo pastry dough stuffed with herbed cheese, fresh baby spinach, spiced potatoes, or any number of other delectable fillings.

Frequent diners report that the staff is especially friendly and patient, particularly if you're new to Balkan Grill and need some suggestions for what to order, so feel free to ask questions and seek advice. The restaurant also does a brisk take-out business, so if you want to savor your meal in the comfort of your own home, just call ahead and they'll have your order waiting when you arrive.

Balkan Grill
5902A North Kings Highway
Alexandria, VA 22303
(703) 329-3303
www.balkangrill.us
www.yelp.com/biz/balkan-grill-alexandria-2

Hunan Manor: Alexandria’s Authentic Chinese Cuisine

Alexandria locals looking for awesome Chinese food have been raving about Hunan Manor for years. This is a neighborhood favorite that doesn’t look like much from the outside, but generations have been getting take-out dishes there and the quality has remained high that whole time. The ambience here is nothing special, but it’s the food that keeps people coming back. Some of the most popular dishes include the crab Rangoon, fried to perfection and filled with gooey cheese, as well as the General Tso’s chicken which is crisp and sweet with just the right hint of heat. The shrimp with lobster sauce are also really good, with much larger seafood than most Chinese restaurants offer up. They also have a bunch of vegetarian options. Prices are reasonable and the kitchen gets your food ready quickly.

Hunan Manor
1305 Shenandoah Road
Alexandria, VA 22308
(703) 768-6888

www.hunanmanoralexandria.com
www.yelp.com/biz/hunan-manor-alexandria

Have You Tried the Alligator Stew at Warehouse Bar & Grill?

Warehouse Bar & Grill is a go-to spot for fine dining in Alexandria. Located in the heart of Old Town, Warehouse specializes in prime-aged steaks and fresh seafood prepared with a Louisiana flair.

Kick off your meal with fresh oysters, shrimp and crawfish beignets, or Asian-style ribs with garlic, ginger, and soy sauce. Or maybe you’re in the mood for a hearty Creole alligator stew or seafood gumbo. For the main event, Warehouse offers meats and seafood dishes. Seafood favorites include the Maine salmon, Southern fried catfish, and the trout Orleans, which comes topped with spicy shrimp and lump crab. For meat lovers, try the filet mignon, perfectly cut and prepared. End on a sweet note with Creole bread pudding or a piece of bourbon pecan pie.

Visit the website for the full menu and to check out the lunch and weekend brunch menu.

Warehouse Bar and Grill
214 King St
Alexandria, VA
(703) 683-6868
www.warehousebarandgrill.com

Have You Tried the Lobster Bisque at Fish Market Restaurant?

Where King and Union intersect in the heart of the Alexandria waterfront district, you’ll find the Fish Market. The Fish Market has an ambiance that welcomes all, whether you’re looking for a family dinner or a place to watch the game.

The menu at the Fish Market has one goal: to provide the freshest seafood around, and boy can you taste it! To start, try the rich lobster bisque or the hot and spicy shrimp. For your main course, options are endless. The seafood dishes show influence from every corner of the globe. Try the Jaco fish tacos, buttery New England Lobster rolls, jerk salmon salad, or seafood jambalaya among many more. If you’re more of a landlubber, try the ribeye or the fried chicken plates. You can’t leave without trying Pop’s Old Fashioned Ice Cream, which is hand crafted on-site and the perfect way to end any meal.

The Fish Market is no stranger to a good deal. Visit the website for a list of daily specials!

Fish Market Restaurant
105 King St
Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 836-5676
www.fishmarketva.com

Union Street Public House: A Nice Spot by the Water

With a view of the Potomac, the Union Street Public House is the place to go for food and spirits with friends and family. Located across from Waterfront Park in a beautifully renovated colonial building, the Union Street Public House is even nicer when you walk inside. You’ll like the cool bar, comfortable seating and old school ambiance. There’s also a terrific view!

Come after work with friends and enjoy the selection of draught and bottled beers and wines by the glass. There are also some nice bar bites to share. The lunch and dinner menus features tasty sandwiches and entrees. But check out the oyster bar, where you can get fresh delights on the half shell.

Check out Union Street's website to find out more about this Alexandria pub.

Union Street Public House
121 South Union Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 548-1785

www.unionstreetpublichouse.com
www.yelp.com/biz/union-street-public-house-alexandria

Aditi Indian Dining: Indian Cuisine in Alexandria, Virginia

Alexandria's Aditi serves authentic, traditional Indian food in a contemporary setting, with the dining room decorated in earth tones & rich wood details. Diners enjoy the garlic naan, which is the ideal balance of pillowy and crispy. The baby spinach chaat is a recommended appetizer, containing sweet yogurt, raisins, tamarind, and cilantro dressing. Regulars enjoy the chicken tikka entree, boneless pieces of seasoned chicken cooked on skewers in a clay oven, and the lamb curry. For dessert, try the kulfi, which is rich Indian ice cream topped with cardamom.

Aditi has an all-you-can-eat lunch buffet from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily. The buffet has been voted as best D.C.-area Indian buffet in both quality and value, a distinction that frequent guests say is well-deserved.

Aditi Indian Dining
5926 Kingstowne Towne Center
Alexandria, VA 22315
(703) 922-6111
www.myaditi.com
www.yelp.com/biz/aditi-indian-dining-alexandria

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr/auxesis

Paisano’s: Pizza, Pasta, and More

This Virginia pizza and pasta chain has been a local favorite since the first branch opened in Fairfax in 1997. Paisano's has grown steadily over the years with a combination of fair prices, sizable portions and good quality. The restaurant's credo is that it works to make almost everything from scratch daily, including pasta and pizza dough. Paisano’s also works hard to help out their local communities, which has endeared them even more to Virginians. Paisano’s offers a variety of crusts to choose from, with the thin crust recognized as the best. The toppings are high-quality and diverse, with some favorite combinations including the Big Paisano, loaded up with pepperoni, sausage, ham, meatballs, onions, mushrooms, and green peppers, as well as the Greek with gyro meat, feta cheese, tomatoes, onions, and black olives. The menu also offers some excellent pasta dishes, with regulars recommending the homemade lasagna and the baked spaghetti. Sub sandwiches are also exceptional.

Paisano’s:
269 S. Van Dorn Street
Alexandria, VA 22304
(703) 504-6100

www.pizzapaisanos.com
www.yelp.com/biz/paisanos-alexandria

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