1. South Austin Grill
City: Alexandria, VA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (703) 684-8969
Address: 801 King Street
2. Clyde’S
City: Alexandria, VA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (703) 820-8300
Address: 1700 North Beauregard Street
Description: These suburban versions of the original District Clyde’s have done well, to say the least. The older Tysons location and the newer one in Reston—a cornerstone establishment in the Town Center—have faithful patrons and are wildly popular happy-hour, late-night, and brunch destinations. (See the Washington listing for details.) Like the downtown and Chevy Chase, Maryland branches, these two, especially Tysons, are decorated with lavish amounts of glossy wood and glass. The menus are pretty much alike at all branches. Clyde’s is open for lunch and dinner nightly and Sunday brunch.
3. Evening Star Café
City: Alexandria, VA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (703) 549-5051
Address: 2000 Mount Vernon Avenue
Description: Evening Star Café is a cheery, inviting eatery in Alexandria’s artsy Del Ray neighborhood. The cuisine is classic American fare, with tasty, satisfying dishes with interesting contemporary twists. Hearty short ribs come paired with butternut squash and scallion risotto, while the roast duck breast is served with sour cherry bread pudding. On a breezy summer evening, the restaurant’s outdoor patio is particularly inviting. Stop by the adjoining wine shop, Planet Wine, for a souvenir to take home.
City: Alexandria, VA
Category: Restaurants
Address: 105 King Street
5. Restaurant Eve
City: Alexandria, VA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (703) 706-0450
Address: 110 South Pitt Street
Description: Restaurant Eve is one of the reasons why Old Town Alexandria merits a special trip for culinary tourists. Chef Cathal Armstrong was named one of Food & Wine magazine’s best new chefs in 2006, and you’ll quickly understand why. The menu is anything but ordinary, a mix of unusual dishes like veal sweetbreads with fried oysters and sinfully rich pork belly. While there’s a lot to tempt you on the dessert menu, the most popular choice is the Birthday Cake, a three-layer creation just for one, topped with bright pink buttercream icing and colorful sprinkles. Diners can indulge in a five- or nine-course set menu in the chef’s tasting room or piece together their own decadent menu in the casual, comfortable bistro.
6. Southside 815
City: Alexandria, VA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (703) 836-6222
Address: 815 South Washington Street
Description: Southside isn’t the place to go if you’re watching your waistline. If you’re a transplanted southerner with a craving for chicken-fried steak, succotash stew, and sweet potato biscuits, however, you’ve found your place. You’ll find a slate of fare ranging from barbecue ribs and pot roast to jambalaya and seared tuna. Be sure to order a basket of bread with your meal; biscuits and cornbread come served piping hot with apple butter and peach pepper jelly. It’s hard to save room for dessert, but the peach pound cake with caramel sauce and ice cream is worth a trip back.
7. Union Street Public House
City: Alexandria, VA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (703) 548-1785
Address: 121 South Union Street
Description: Union Street is one of the area’s most popular neighborhood saloons and restaurants. Choose a lively and often-crowded bar scene downstairs, quieter dining in the raw bar and grill room upstairs, or something in between in the sometimes overlooked backroom oyster bar. An array of huge dinner salads and sandwiches graces the menu, along with the usual saloon fare, like buffalo wings, fritters, pastas, burgers, and some grilled meats. Highlighted here are a dozen or so draft beers, including the house exclusive—the rich and delicious Virginia Native. It is open for lunch and dinner daily and Sunday brunch.
8. Warehouse Bar And Grill
City: Alexandria, VA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (703) 683-6868
Address: 214 King Street
Description: This pleasant restaurant bills itself as New Orleans–style and offers Louisiana specialties, but the decor is casual, understated classic American, with the exception of the nice gallery on the second floor overlooking the space below. The place has a fun atmosphere and a hopping bar scene, and is a great place to drop in if you’re in the neighborhood. Snag a window table to take in the interesting sights along King Street. Open for lunch Monday through Saturday, dinner nightly, and Sunday brunch.
9. Hee Been
City: Alexandria, VA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (703) 941-3737
Address: 6231 Little River Turnpike
Description: This is where Northern Virginia’s large Korean community comes to celebrate special occasions, and you’ll understand why once you’ve experienced Hee Been. Korean barbecues are always fun, grilled at the table and accompanied by a dozen condiments. The difference at Hee Been is that nothing is done by rote, and no one is rushed. Let the waiter be your guide as to what’s good. You’re sure to have an adventure. If language is a barrier and you want to venture beyond barbecues, try the soups—some as thick as stews, others brothlike and delicate. Whatever you choose, don’t miss the short ribs, which are a star here. Hee Been is open for lunch and dinner daily.
10. La Bergerie
City: Alexandria, VA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (703) 683-1007
Address: 218 North Lee Street
Description: La Bergerie is an old classic that always pleases. After more than two decades, you might expect it to fade or get sloppy, but the food here is always a delicious surprise. There are the elegant French standards like sole in creamy sauce or coq au vin. All this is served in a setting that is cozy and formal. Service is very proper and traditional, and some of the waiters are of the European breed that makes a lifelong career in elite restaurants, taking great pride in their professions, as they should. End your meal with one of La Bergerie’s desserts—many of which are made in-house. The tarts are particularly good. They serve lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday and dinner Sunday.
11. Le Refuge
City: Alexandria, VA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (703) 548-4661
Address: 127 North Washington Street
Description: Le Refuge is a wild place where you may feel as though you’re dining in your neighbor’s lap. It makes for lots of conversations and laughter between tables, though, and you’ll have a good time. The food here is typical brasserie fare, with good, solid cooking that is quick and inexpensive. Veggie accompaniments are French classics like calorie-laden Lyonnaise potatoes (deliciously sinful!) or green beans swimming in butter. You really can’t go wrong here when the bill is so very reasonable. Le Refuge is open for lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday and is closed on Sunday.