🚀 go-pugleaf

lee.rogers@jhuapl.edu (Lee Rogers) writes:

>What are the must-eat places in Old Town Alexandria?  A friend is heading
>there and inquiring minds want to know.

It's a tough request - must eat for what kind of person, used to what
kinds of food? How important is ambiance? Obviously, I take sophisticated
European visitors, sophisticated friends, other friends, and family to
different groups of restaurants.  I'll assume reasonably sophisticated
Americans who don't live in major cities. I'll also assume that the friend
wants to eat in Old Town, rather tha journey to DC or elsewhere, so the
standard is *not* comparison with other restaurants in the greater DC area.
(By that standard, I'd only recommend the first eight listed restaurants.)
 
One Old Town resident's biased opinion:
(sort of in descending order:)

Le Refuge (bistro)
219 (Creole)
La Bergerie (Basque)
South Austin Grill (Tex-Mex)
Scotland Yard (Scottish)
Geranio (Italian)
Chart House (Seafood and meat)
Ecco Cafe (Eclectic)
--------------------------
Tavola (Seafood)
Bamiyan II (Afghan)
Sorn Dang (Thai)
Bilbo Baggins (Eclectic American)
Vietnamien's
Sutton Place Grill (American)
Taverna Cretakou (Greek)
Cajun Bangkok
Gadsby's Tavern (Revolutionary American period)

Low-end, usually fun, good food:

Cate's Bistro
Hard Times Cafe
Union Street Public House
Murphy's
Egg Roll House II
King Street Blues
Il Porto
Radio Free Italy

Ho-hum:

Whazzaname - the new 1946-theme restaurant
Whazzaname2 - the new Italian bistro next to Cate's
The Dandy (ship)
The Wharf
Ireland's Own
Potowmack Landing
Southside 815
Casablanca
Portner's
Laporta's
Landini Brothers
Bullfeathers
Chadwick's
Joe Theisman's

Give 'em a miss:

Alamo
French Quarter
Trattoria da Franco
Lite and Fair
Fish Market
Seaport Inn
Charcoal House (aka Kristo's)
anything else Chinese

Sorry if I've forgotten any -- Larry