Casual diner vibe but with a hip Del Ray style, exactly what we were looking for on our lazy Sunday morning. It smelled like pancakes and happiness inside. Great service, clean and open dining area and noisy in a good way. I ordered the smoked pork hash from their brunch menu as recommended by the server and I have been thinking about it ever since Crispy skin-on potatoes were the base and from there were layers of tender pork, jalapeño slaw, a fried egg and some magical sauce that added a smokey/sweet/spicy finish. It was so good!! The two other ppl with me both ordered the eggs Benedict and enjoyed it but were definitely eyeing my plate the whole time Pictures don't do it justice and I requested a well don't egg so don't judge the restaurant for that travesty, that's on me. read more

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A classic brunch/breakfast experience doesn't get better than this. A good sized old school vibed cafe in Del Ray Alexandria. Cute on the inside and outside. Amazing, kind and friendly staff that even brought water out for the dog because it was hot af outside. The food was fresh. We ordered the breakfast burrito, the star omelette , a side of salad and fruits. Everything was fresh and tasted pretty neat. There is not even a single thing I can say against this place. 4.8/5 must go spot for a cute brunch! read more

I grew up in the Arlington, Va so my realtor insisted I check out houses/investment properties in the Alexandria, Va Del Rey neighborhood. I've been to this area hundreds of times but never really walked the neighborhood. One of my favorite breakfast spots is near so I was shocked that just a walk down the block would have me in such a quaint area. Who knew! There were college football games that I didn't want to miss watching so I came to Evening Star to look for their bar area and was super excited when they said they had a outside area with a bar called the "Backyard". This place is HUGE! The area is so cute, it has cabanas and is set up nicely! I was impressed! There was only one T.V. but it did the job! Bartenders were super attentive and friendly. I only had their slushy drinks and didn't try their food but that is now on my MUST do list! Evening Star is one of those places you need to come visit a few times to check out their multifaceted restaurant! This place is a GEM! Five stars because nothing was amiss! read more

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Had the most fun dinner time birthday and wedding shower party (about 40 including kids) upstairs with great casual food, relaxed vibe, and almost funky, very comfortable seating, and full bar (you choose to offer the party). It was by reservation, with a deposit and payment at end of party. Easy. We decorated to our liking, brought in toys, books and play dough on a cloth on the floor (we cleaned our decorations up). Delicious specialty drinks are available, and we all had a champagne toast. You choose the food from a their party menu, and also choose the beverage offerings. Best party! I definitely recommend this venue. Thanks very much! read more

My friends and I had brunch here today because we wanted a place equidistant from all of us and Del Ray it was! We had an 11am reservation - we showed up a bit early and were immediately seated. Overall, the food, service and ambiance were good. I wouldn't go out of my way to come back (I live in DC so not terribly close) but it hit the spot for a low key brunch. read more

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There is 2 hour street parking for the restaurant during the day then free at night. The restaurant was really dark in the booths but nicely lit in the main areas. It was hard to read the menu since it was so dark. The booths were hard to sit in for a long period of time since there was no cushion and just straight wood. The servers were all very nice and attentive! The food was absolutely delicious. I loved the new 3 cheese ravioli that they recently added. The red velvet cheese cake was very rich. Also had a cup of coffee which was yummy with cream and sugar. I'd definitely come here again and would recommend it. read more

Evening Star Cafe - New American Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Onto the letter E in the alphabet series representing prior to 2018 is Evening Star Cafe. I went here one time in September 2013 on a date from online. The place is kind of cute, and the drinks were strong. It was pretty expensive drinks for that time, but they were tasty & strong. Staff was cordial as I recall. Luckily, I was walking distance as was my date as we both lived in Del Ray. I never ended up going back here to try the food or go back for drinks again here. read more

In the heart of Mt Vernon we stopped by for brunch loved the decor and the service and the food was amazing. We ordered the avocado toast it was delicious. Its a small place that has a small town vibe. Definitely will be back soon. read more

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I stopped in with a friend for an impromptu brunch and loved the relaxed southwest styled charm of this place. There's both indoor and outdoor seating, and the outdoor seating is split into two areas. We sat in the more shady patio area which offered a more temperate nook off the Main Street. I was really happy with the smoked pork hash that was on their brunch menu. It was plentiful and flavorful with a tangy barbecue. Service was prompt and helpful. Great brunch destination. read more

Evening Star Cafe - Smoked Pork Hash - New American Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

We came here for restaurant week and left pretty underwhelmed. The menu for restaurant week came with many options, but we felt all six dishes we tried were--fine. The restaurant was understaffed, massively, but even with them being understaffed we felt the service deserved more than three stars. The food is what earned the three stars here. We tried the wings, Brussel sprouts, salmon, pork chop, flourless chocolate cake, and the carrot cake. The wings and carrot cake were really good but the rest again, was just fine. The pork chop came with peaches and a sauce that was overly sweet, the salmon was way overcooked and salty, and the Brussel sprouts were overcooked. We wouldn't go as far as saying anything was bad, it just wasn't super remarkable for such a cute restaurant in our favorite neighborhood in Alexandria. We have been here for brunch, so we expected more. Would skip for restaurant week next time. read more

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Valentines Day - apps, excellent; scallops, excellent ; service & ambiance, excellent. Bread pudding: good, smoked prime rib: raw with cold smoke (ew) and no drippings in yorkshire puddin, miss. read more

The special flounder was absurdly delicious. Service was helpful and responsive and let us set the pace. The absolute best part of Evening Star is letting expert winemeister Joe from Planet Wine next door pick your bottle (just a $10 corkage). He has never failed to make a spectacular match to our dinner read more

Love the new brunch menu. The smoked pork with poached eggs and salad verde was perfection! The side of HatchChili grits went well with it. Service was fast and friendly as usual, as we always sit at the bar. The ambiance remains consistently neighborly and we enjoy it every time we come. Also ate the brisket, eggs, and cheese. read more

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I made a reservation for Monday at 530, but honestly I didn't need a reservation and it didn't get packed until around 7. There is only street parking so be ready to find a spot. We were sat quickly and taken care of immediately. We were deciding on drinks and the owner/general manager brought us a taste to solidify our order. The beet & Brussels were so yummy! When we ordered our second glass of wine, it took quite a while to receive it and without asking it was taken off our bill. I ordered the tuna steak, and while it was delicious, I should've ordered the crab chili pasta! My friend got the scallops and said they were beyond. We finished up with the silk pie that was perfectly sweet and so light. I would definitely go again. read more

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Where to begin. When we got there it was empty inside. When we left it was filling up. This place is very nice inside and the lighting makes it a romantic place. We had the Chicken Tenders which was delicious! I would order again. The honey mustard sauce was to die for. The Duck pot pie was also delicious. The pot pie could use a veggie or something in addition to the pie. We washed it all down with wine and beer. Both were delicious and no complaints. If you are in the area. Evening Star Cafe is a solid choice for dinner. Prices are a bit high but you get what you pay for and the food is delicious!! I will be back to try further meals! read more

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This place was an unexpected surprise, we saw this place a couple of times before actually going inside. Super cute diner vibes, hostess was super friendly and I feel like we picked a great time to come. It wasn't too packed for Sunday breakfast. Food was well plated ( which I observe everywhere), and the portions felt well balanced as well. Their menu was simple and I loved that. Loved the layout and the overall feel of the place. I will definitely be back to visit the backside of the restaurant which apparently is a bar! read more

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Came in on a Saturday afternoon with a party of 4 - we didn't have a reservation and had about a 30-minute wait, so we walked around the stores while we waited. For gluten free folk - although the menu is not marked, the manager took my menu, consulted with the chef, and they marked up which items I could and could not have. Super kind! My party enjoyed the ambiance of the cafe (very cute and quaint), the service, and the quality/portion sizes of our food. We would definitely return! read more

Evening Star Cafe - Chilaquiles - New American Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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We have been eating at Evening Star for decades and we love every visit. Wanted to give a special shout-out, though, for the Crispy Ribs on the current menu. I could have eaten 10 orders! Crispy outside, tender inside, yummy Korean sesame seed sauce. My description does not do them justice! Other hits: Brussels Sprouts, Wedge Salad, Cavatelli with duck confit. Service is cheerful and competent as always. Love the decor, too. So cozy and cool. Keep it up, Evening Star! read more

My husband and I at Evening Star shared an appetizer, each ordered a drink, and each had an entree. Service was subpar, not enough attention was paid to the table. Overall, the biggest detriment is the food is not worth the cost for this price point you can go to significantly better restaurants in del ray and/or old town. read more

if you are down for great ambiance, great service, and delicious food, then visit this cozy catch. you will not be disappointed. all the service staff are wonderful. and, everyone has a favorite. mine is gabe. go find out! read more

Had a reservation and was seated on time. You can find street parking but it can be crowded. Waiters was very attentive and quick. I would say the timing of the appetizer and main course was way off. They both came out almost back to back. Not sure what happened there. Aside from that the food was very good. It was small onsides and a few seats outside. It can be very loud. There's also a bar in the back and their sister restaurant to the side. Overall I enjoyed my experience and would come back read more

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My friend and I recently dined at Evening Star Cafe in Alexandria, VA, and it was a delightful experience overall. The menu offered a diverse range of options. I went with the scallops and we shared Brussels sprouts. Both left me wanting more. Although the wine selection was good, it fell slightly short of our expectations, which is a bummer because Evening Star is attached to a wine shop and I think has the potential to offer some great wines by the glass. Regardless our wine selections complemented our meals. The atmosphere of the restaurant is quaint, exuding charm with its soft lighting and cozy ambiance. It was the perfect setting for a relaxed evening and to allow my friend and me to catch up on hours of conversation. Our server was so attentive and patient with us as we delayed order drinks, dinner, and dessert. She was consistent with her check ins and didn't hover. I look forward to returning to Evening Star Cafe. It's a great option for delicious food and a cozy atmosphere in the Del Ray neighborhood of Alexandria. read more

What a neighborhood gem, was here for dinner last Saturday for a mini celebration with a few friends and the service was wonderful. We sat in the prime table in the window which was perfect. The food was also very good. Dishes ordered were: * braised lamb shoulder * pasta with truffled fondue (white cheese sauce) * fried chicken sandwich w/fries * roasted Brussel sprouts, and * tomato & burrata salad We all really enjoyed our experience and we will definitely be back. Was also impressed with their dessert and drinks menu (they have not one but two ports!) read more

Evening Star Cafe - New American Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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This place was so good! The restaurant was so cute and the waiter was really nice too! Our meal was excellent! We had a really good time! read more

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Evening Star is always a hit! Even though my husband & I no longer live in Alexandria, it's still one of our fav date night spots. Great food, friendly staff, & really cool ambiance. We always recommend Evening Star! read more

Came for dinner before a concert at the Birchmere. Intriguing decor throughout made for easy conversation. Ordered steak and fried chicken entrees, with cocktails. Everything from the service to the drinks and food were excellent. Highly recommend the steak and potatoes. Would definitely return if in the Del Ray area. read more

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I wanted to love this place. We love Mulberry Lane which partners with them but it's simply so bad. We had a reservation for a group of 8 which they didn't honor and dealt with terribly. Didn't comp anything or apologize once we were finally sat down over 40 minutes later. Food came out at different times and was just really not tasty-- we had waffles, shrimp and grits, burgers, etc. and nobody really liked their food. Portions are small. Just avoid it. read more

This is a great neighborhood spot! I think what really stands out here are the cocktails, especially for the price point. They are only $9-$10! That is unheard of!! I paid $22 for a cocktail the other night! What am I thinking?! Bartender said that they intentionally try to keep drinks affordable without sacrificing quality. They always have some interesting sports stuff on. I watches the kentucky derby and some football game last time. I do not follow any sports but after going here I can maybe last 20 seconds with sports small talk hah! I got dinner here last time. Bolognese is good. Portion is small for me but I also order carmine's family size portion for myself so do what you will with that. They have live music here sometimes and what looks like a good outdoor seating area. I always end up sitting in the dark bar in the back whenever I'm here. I think you can also buy wine at planet wine and open it/drink it there because affiliated. read more

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Tiny spot in del ray. Interesting lighting decor. Smaller American menu. Scallops were a super tiny portion but were cooked the right amount. Crispy on the outside but soft on the inside. Steak had some good flavors with a buttery taste. Potatoes were on the fancier side but really hit the spot. Really liked the buttercream with the chocolate cake for dessert. Rich but not too rich. read more

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This place is a total gem! I've probably been three times, and it's always been outstanding! It's not very big inside, but there is lots of outdoor seating. I think they make great use of the space though. I can't complain about the service either, and it's usually quite busy. But the food is the star of the show. Like I said, everything is great! We went last night and surprisingly it was restaurant week so for $45 we each got an appetizer, a main dish and a dessert. And NOT surprisingly, the food was once again excellent. Look at what we had! read more

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Came across this place while strolling down the a street after dinner. They had fire pits set up outside with several chairs, enough to sit 5-7 parties. We went around 8:00 and were able to get a table outside right away. Inside was packed! Would love to return and try a meal inside! I got the Purple Rain and it was pretty good! Would recommend. My friend got the Comedy of Errors and it had a pretty strong jalapeño kick. The service was pretty good. Our waiter continued to check in with us to see how we were doing. read more

I had never been to this restaurant before; I only picked it because of it's location and the fact that I could make the reservation on Open Table. It looks kind of like an old-fashioned diner. It's very casual, and the staff are, too, because they are SLOW and certainly take their time in helping you. The menu is very limited, and while the prices fit the DC-area, the food was not worth the price. What constitutes as a "side salad" is just a handful of lettuce sprayed with a VERY salty dressing. My piece of frittata was tiny, and the breakfast potatoes were so overcooked; the outside made them rock-hard. I couldn't believe that in a small, casual place like this, with mediocre food, I almost paid $50 for two people to have lunch. I would never eat here again. read more

Evening Star Cafe - Sad "salads," a tiny sliver of frittata, and overdone potatoes. - New American Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Evening Star is a perfectly "OK" restaurant. The interior and exterior decor/vibe is lovely and is the highlight of the experience. The menu was comprehensive but not a ton of room to accommodate allergies- which is important for me. Generally, a lot of the menu items contained dairy/gluten and the dish would be ruined with modification of those ingredients. I ordered the salmon and it was served with risotto, and I can't eat dairy, and the only thing the kitchen could offer as a side were french fries- which listen they were great, but would have preferred a veggie in oil. For $25 there are many other places in the area to get the same dish with more plentiful sides. My husband had the pasta which he loved! Overall, I felt the final bill for three people felt high for the service/food quality relative to the comparative quality/value of other restaurants in the area. read more

Have been here twice for brunch and it has been delicious every time. The menu is pretty small for brunch food, but what they do have is really tasty. I have ordered the veggie frittata both times, but have also tried the lamb hash and the chicken and waffles. First off, would say the food is really tasty. It's also not that expensive! My favorites have been the chicken and waffles and the frittata of the few things I've tried. The cocktails are also really great, as other reviewers have mentioned. Love that you can sit outside by the fireplace at the Front Porch, which is connected to the Evening Star. Service has always been friendly too, which is a win! read more

That is sure to be one of my new neighborhood favorites. I am still salivating just thinking about my sandwhich. I ordered the Calabrian Chicken Sandwhich with sweet onion aioli and pickles and lettuce (I opted for no tomatoes, not my jam). I seriously could have eaten two. My son got the cheeseburger with tots. The tots and fries had to have been cooked in something magical like duck fat or something--they were phenomenal and just the right amount of crispy. Joy was our service and she was sweet as can be and attentive--even though they had a huge party outside. read more

Evening Star Cafe - Calabarian Chicken Sandwhich - New American Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Always friendly and efficient serving staff. Excellent Swing's Coffee served here. Every dish selection is a winner. are outstanding employees! read more

Evening Star Cafe - diners sitting at tables - New American Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

This brunch spot is so good, I get the breakfast burrito that is smooth red in green chile. It makes me feel at home, as we do t get that style out on the east coast. It is a Colorado and NM staple, so it is a favorite of mine. All the dishes I have seen looked great and people we have gone with enjoyed them. read more

This is hands down the worst food I've eaten in years. There was really no redeeming feature other than the food arrived promptly. The kitchen deserves less than one star. This was inedible (stuff) that literally is producing food worse than frozen/microwaveable entrees. The menu is not well thought out, the few things that are edible, are bland and boring (gnocchi). Service is done through a hard to use app. Not user friendly. **Updated 8/13/21 Reading the response of the Assistant general manager, I have to laugh. There is no way in hell that this was 'farm to table.' If by farm to table, they mean it went through multiple food processors... My hamburger meat was clearly pre-frozen and bought from a giant food distributor. Not ground fresh, or anything 'unique' or 'special' to it. Having a manager respond with a blatant lie is incredibly disrespectful. And I will now make sure to post a review on google. read more

Evening Star Cafe - An example of their "gourmet" food. I've had better fast food burgers. - New American Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

I love Planet Wine that's right next door and I always saw the cafe but hadn't tried it. The food always looked good and there is plenty of seating indoors and outdoors! I got the vegetarian quiche without cheese and my boyfriend got the smoked salmon Benedict and we got a side of potatoes to share. We both loved our food! My quiche was just the right size and it had a good amount of vegetables in it. The potatoes were some of the best breakfast potatoes I've had. They were crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, but not oily or too salty at all. The side salads were also spot on. They looked simple and boring, but it was so refreshing and there was the perfect amount of dressing on it. The price wasn't too bad either. Quality food for around $45. The only reason I'm not giving a 5 star review is because it wasn't very busy, but our service was very very slow. But I would definitely recommend that you come here to try their brunch and I will be back! read more

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This is the second time I've been here. It's worth a try if you're looking for a nice place to hang out for a while in Del Ray. The ambiance is curious to impressive, but the food doesn't do it for me. On this occasion we sat at their set up outside. It started drizzling, but we stayed dry under the canopy. The live music was nice while we had it and it was a romantic set up, but my eggs Benedict with salmon was so, so salty! I expect salmon to be salty, but then the other parts of the open sandwich balance it out. Curiously, the hollandaise sauce, which should have tempered some of the saltiness had barely any flavor. read more

Evening Star Cafe - New American Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia