Washington, D.C.: fancy pants dining in Old Town Alexandria

One of my favorite things about living in the Old Town area of Alexandria (located about nine miles south of D.C. in Virginia) is the great number of restaurants. Fancy places. Less fancy places. Not fancy at all places. Today, I thought I’d share with you some of our favorite fine dining places. The kind of place you’re only going to go when you really want the evening to feel special. I’ll be highlighting Restaurant Eve, Il Porto & Bastille.

Tucked back on a side street, inside a seemingly normal looking row house is the amazing Restaurant Eve. Comprised of a bisto, tasting room & bar, there is something for everyone here. If you’re looking for truly fine dining, that’s also super romantic, a table in the tasting room is a must. The five-, seven- or nine-course chef’s tasting menu, created by local celebrity chef & creator of many of the good tastes in Old Town Cathal Armstrong, is constantly changing. An evening there will be a long, slow (in a good way) dining experience.

For a hint of what lies behind the tasting room walls, grab a chair in the bar at lunch. The “Lickity Split” lunch menu allows you two choices for a fancy, but reasonably priced lunch. It’s one of my favorite lunches in Old Town & I always enjoy a random day off of work to take advantage of it. One thing is for sure: make sure that one of your choices is the “Birthday Cake… Just Because” – a mini-birthday cake straight out of your youth, made for one!

03/19/2014 Note: I’m sad to report that Restaurant Eve has gotten rid of the mini-birthday cake. I’m sorry to see it go.

While Restaurant Eve is really a “save for a special occasion” type of place, Il Porto could go either way. I’ve celebrated birthday’s there. I’ve celebrated anniversary’s there. I had my wedding rehearsal dinner there. But I’ve also been there on a random Friday night because I had a bad day at work & wanted good Italian comfort food.

Like much of Old Town, the building that houses Il Porto has a storied history – it was built by a retired sea captain, used as a brothel, served as a shop after the Civil War, became a butcher shop, was used by a German artist during World War I, became a speakeasy during the 1920s & was home to a Nazi radio network (disguised as a fix-it shop). The interior of the restaurant is cozy, with white tablecloths & bottles of chianti. All the food is good here, but I always get the same thing: Pollo con Peperoni (chicken with pepperoni slices & bell peppers), a glass of the house chianti & a cannoli. In addition, there’s a daily special & a chef’s suggestion, always different & always good. They also serve whole wheat pasta, which is huge for me & makes ordering a plate of fettuccine alfredo a little less sinful.

One of the best things about Il Porto is that no matter how long it has been since we’ve been there last, the manager is always at the door, greeting us with a hug, handshake & a smile.

Up a quiet side street, away from the hustle & bustle of the main drag in Old Town, across from a power plant & some apartment buildings, & along a popular bike trail, is a small, unassuming house-looking building. A small, unassuming house that happens to serve the best French bistro food in the entire D.C. area. Bastille is our go to place for special meals. Out of town guests. Dinner with special friends. Special dinners. Christmas Eve. Bastille serves up a three & four course prix fixed menu nightly (& also have an a la carte menu) that will delight even the pickiest eater. My go to items there: the salad with the beets & blue cheese pana cotta, steak frites, the optional cheese course which is the perfect sharing size (is a cheese course ever really optional?), & any one of their fantastic desserts.

The restarant is run by the husband & wife team of Chefs Christophe (dinner) & Michelle (dessert) Poteaux. If you go, ask to be seated in Matthew’s section – he’s actually the beverage manager, but also acts as a server. His descriptions of what you’re drinking are so good, you can’t help but fall in love with it. For a special treat, stop by on Sunday evening, when they serve up a traditional French country dinner – it’s a bargain at only $35 a person.

Every time we walk into Bastille, I feel like I’m coming home. If my home was warm, candle lit, & had an excellent, authentic French chef.

Restaurant Eve
110 South Pitt Street, Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 706-0450
*Reservations are a must for the Tasting Room & Bistro*

Over the next few weeks, I’m doing a series of blog posts on my new adopted hometown: Washington, D.C. Did I miss your favorite spot? Is there something you’ve always wanted to know about America’s capital? A tip you’re dying to hear for your upcoming trip? Leave me a note in the comments section & let me know!