Bottom Line: Not worth it. Came in with pre-reservation for a group, we were self seated, and the staff then became too busy taking care of other tables. We waited over an hour just to get drinks. And the staff were too stupid to pitch in and help each other. The entire staff including the managers should be replaced. Our food only arrived after being seated for 90 min. Atmosphere was decent, old 18th century decor with cheaply framed reproductions tacked in the wall that are crooked, but the food was uninspired and unappetizing. The strip steak I had was thinner than the sole of most shoes and 30% gristle. The fries had wilted by being steamed under the warming tray. The "melody veg" was mostly undercooked cauliflower. Wait staff were entirely too busy taking care of other tables, and we saw lots of other food orders going out before ours showed up. People who came in after us - had food before we did. I got no water. No bread. No glass for my bottled beer/drink which was $12.00. We had to as for a glass three times for my beer before one was given. At that point, I was hotter under the collar than my plate of food. Only redeeming part of the meal was a bowl of peanut soup. I grade this experience a solid "F." Don't even accept an invitation here, make excuses to go elsewhere or get away even. It's not cheap, it's not a fair value, the service is abysmal, and you don't get a decent feeling of atmosphere from that period of history. Seats were uncomfortable, and not sturdy. No one with impairments nor the disabled should attempt the main entrance door. In fact, they will likely find the restaurant to can't be navigated. Bottom Line: Ugh. Not worth it. read more

We came in around 1:10 for lunch and waited 10 minutes for someone to see and seat us. The lady that sat us wasn't super friendly or attentive. I think she was the manager. The restaurant was empty except for one table and we were told the wait was because they were prepping for a large party that was coming in at 1:30. That's fine but no excuse for us to wait so long. Service was not great either, as we felt rushed to order and the server was too busy prepping the big table. I got the peanut soup and my husband got the William Caton Burger medium temp. He got a well done burger. Not sure how this could be considered fine dining as it was subpar, at best. At least my drink was good. read more

Gadsby's Tavern Restaurant - Surrey Co. Peanut Soup (bowl) - New American Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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BLUF: delicious food in an historic setting Four of us went for dinner on a Saturday night. The food was outstanding across the board. Are entrees included the gumbo, catfish, and grilled salmon. I've eaten salmon and a lot of places including having it almost every day during a vacation in alaska, and I can say this was the best salmon I've ever had. Perfectly grilled still moist but firm. The gumbo was extremely flavorful, and surprisingly feeling because it doesn't look like that much when you get it. The only downsides? The food took a long time to come out. Also, the lighting is pretty minimal. Part of this is their effort to maintain a sort of revolutionary era lighting with candles on each table, but a little more light would have been nice especially when reading the menus. I would definitely go back. read more

Gadsby's Tavern Restaurant - Gumbo. This was a special on the night we went so it might not be available every night. But it was nice and rich and flavorful - New American Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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$39 crab cakes 90% stovetop stuffing and less than 10% crab. $26 chicken pot pie. Basically a bit of puff pastry floating on something that resembled chicken soup. The chef must not know what roux is used for. $15 old Fashioned so bitter I added a packet of sugar to make it palatable. I must say the interior was authentically old. It is a shame someone can own such a historic venue, but not hire a qualified cook. Don't go here unless it is the apocalypse. read more

Service was amazing with Gloria. The French onion soup was the best I have ever had. The mashed potatoes were amazing. read more

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Timeless Treasure Food The food here is superb. We had the clam bisque, peanut soup, ham biscuits, Filet Mignon, Washington's favorite Duck, Lamb Chops, and chocolate cake. The peanut soup was unique and something distinctly colonial period. I would order it again except the other appetizers were so much better I would probably get those first. The Claim Bisque was one of the best soups I've had at a restaurant. All the flavors melded together so well. The Ham Biscuits with raspberry drizzle just melted in your mouth. The combination of flavors and textures was amazing you really have to try this. The whole my mother enjoyed the Lamb it was my least favorite of the three. It had a strong flavor (liquorice maybe) that I didn't care for but ymmv. The duck was very good and the corn pudding that came with it was very unique. While everyone enjoyed their meal the table agreed the Filet was the best entree we ordered. The sauce in top added a nice flavor, it was perfectly cooked and tender. As a steak snob it definitely passed the test. The flowerless chocolate cake doesn't normally come with the raspberry sauce but it was so good on the ham biscuits we asked them to add it and it was fantastic with the chocolate. Service We were seated timely, food arrived in a good amount of time and everyone was friendly. Overall very good service. Ambiance Some restaurants are mainly ambiance and others mainly good food. This is both. When you walk in, you can feel the history surrounding you in the walls. A Gentleman came to our table, dressed in themed attire and in character as the original owner. We had a fun conversation which ended in me singing and him playing Dixieland on his lute. Value This is not an inexpensive place to eat so know that going in. My appetizer steak and dessert with no alcohol was $60. Regardless, whenever I come in town, I'm going to go back. read more

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I just went back to see how Gadsby's was going. The food is still good and it's a great historic place, but they still need to work on service. There was nothing bad this time, really, it's just that at this price point you need to have better service. The hostess looked surprised and mildly irritated when I arrived at the restaurant. It's not the end of the world, but there was a time where I really felt welcomed when I came here. The server was pleasant, but young and a bit and inexperienced. It was all just a bit rushed and slapdash. I paid $60 for a main course and a hard cider. It's not the most expensive meal that I've had, but for that much money you need to have an experience, not just food. I could grab a burrito at chipotle for $13 if I just wanted to eat. You guys have a beautiful property and very good food, just up your game a bit when it comes to service and ambience. read more

I wanted to give 3.5 stars, but I don't have that option. I wanted to experience a little bit of history with my meal and Gadsby's Tavern fit the bill. We had reservations 4 on a Thursday. I was a little concerned when we arrived and the restaurant was virtually empty. The decor was consistent with the period theme of the restaurant. I am not sure if the peeling paint in various areas was intentional or the result of neglect. Our server was attentive and efficient but I think could have made the experience so much better had she explained anything about the history of the building and the figures that had patronized the building. I would have also enjoyed an explanation (even if made up) about the menu items representing authentic menu items from the Revolutionary era. We ordered the biscuits with Virginia ham and the calamari as appetizers. The biscuits were perfectly bite sized and delicious with a berry drizzle, reminiscent of a Monte Cristo. The calamari was good, but not noteworthy. For entrees we had the filet and the prime rib. They were both cooked as requested (medium rare & medium) and delicious. The accompanying vegetables were also fresh and well prepared - not overcooked or mushy. Deserts was the créme brûlée like Colonial Burnt Cream and the Tipsy English Trifle. Both were very good, though my wife was startled that the burnt cream was warm throughout and not chilled like créme brûlée. Overall, the food was very good and reasonably priced considering this is likely frequented by tourists like myself. I just think the experience would be much better if they presented more of the history. I don't expect period costumes or reenactments, but some explanation of the historic significance of the building and area would make it more meaningful. read more

Gadsby's Tavern Restaurant - New American Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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My wife and I were there for the history of this restaurant. The background stories are attractive since George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and other historic figures had dining in the restaurant. As a national historic preservation building, the space is unique and did preserve the time and history of the era. However, despite the historical importance of this restaurant, the maintenance is a bit disappointing. I understand it is an old building, but the ceiling paint of our dining room is peeling, the restroom door is lack of maintenance. The price of the food is somewhat reasonable as a fine dining restaurant in Old Town Alexandria. However, the food is just ok to my expectation. Compare to the tavern in the Colonial Williamsburg, which also provides colonial style dining experience, there is room for improvement. I was expecting to sink into the colonial time era, but this restaurant just didn't deliver the experience. Overall, I think this restaurant is generally above average, but it has some many potentials to be great! read more

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I really want to like this place, I have been three times now in total. The service is terrible, the staff is not trained and they are not friendly. Recently the food quality is way off and the high prices no longer justify the location. Sorry, I will not be back. read more

Great service, fantastic food. Lovely ambiance. Priced accordingly to fine dining in a period restaurant that George Washington dined in. Recommend to all. read more

Food and service were amazing! Can't wait to go back again. Love the old charm of the decor. The onion soup was the best I've ever tasted!!!! I will go back just for that alone!! read more

What a fun place to come for Mother's Day dinner with the family. The servers were kind and extremely attentive. The nephews were amazed that five presidents had eaten in this very restaurant!! Martha Washington's pate was delicious. Crab and salmon and ham. What a combo!! Our table had the vegetable Neapolitan, the prime rib, the duck, the salmon, and the chicken fingers. We were all pleased and thankful for a delightful and delicious dinner. read more

Gadsby's Tavern Restaurant - I had the prime rib!! - New American Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

So...you need to understand what this place is historically. Then you can appreciate a few things that you may not look past in other restaurants. It has historical significance in Old town Alexandria. Our first 4 Presidents ate here. I had the oyster Po boy and a Samuel Adams. It was good. We tried the peanut soup and the onion soup. I will come back here to drink in the tavern for sure. I love the history. You can smell the fireplace and see the walls darkened by hundreds of years of candles burning. I love it. read more

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Unfortunately such a historic place but very underwhelming. Service was very poor and slow, server had no manners whatsoever so ever. The food was also not spectacular, and also don't understand the pride banners in the restaurant windows, has nothing to do with the history of this place. read more

I love coming here whenever I am in Alexandria. The ambiance is old school Revolutionary / Colonial period. The history of it is well preserved and the food and service have never done me wrong. read more

George Washington's favorite is a must. The food was great and so was the friendly service. The place coulddd use a little TLC though.

Ahh, the great Gadsby's... Well, maybe not so great but kinda fun. While headed to Mount Vernon from DC, I happened to stop in at Gadsby's because I had heard George Washington and friends frequented the establishment for happy hour back in the day. The place has a historic vibe to it, that's fun. I think I would have been disappointed had I invested a dinner at Gad's, but lunch was serviceable. I shared some dishes with my wife (spellings are off the menu, not typos): We had a cup of Surrey Co. Peanut Soop cup $4/bowl $6 roasted peanuts simmered in fresh chicken stock with garlic and ginger A Walnut Gorgonzola Sallad $9 field greens topped with walnuts, gorgonzola, red onion and tomato with balsamic vinaigrette Shared a Grilled Chicken Sandwich $12 topped swiss cheese, baby spinach and bacon on a brioche roll with chutney mayonnaise and it came with a huge pile of fries! I LOVED the peanut "soop" but I LOVE peanut butter, you've been warned. The salad and sandwich were both good. Was it amazing? Not really, but it was good (and I was hungry!) Service was fine (the woman who waited on our table did an okay job, however she seemed awkward/nervous - maybe she was new?) In all, Gadsby's was a fun stop during a day of history-themed activities. I'd recommend it to anyone having a touristy day in the area or someone wanting to try peanut "soop" - it was otherworldly, lol! 3.5 stars P.S. If you head downstairs to use the washroom, the photo of George in the stairwell is a classic! Hahaha... read more

Gadsby's Tavern Restaurant - The best painting of Geo. Washington - ever! Lol!!! - New American Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Food was delicious--we had George Washington's favorite and the crab mac (a variant on a Jefferson favorite). Both amazing--it's one of the best mac'n'cheese versions I've ever had. Ambiance was fun and felt like an old-timey tavern. Service was prompt and cheery. Thanks for a great time! read more

Overdue review from last year- It was a nice experience, and the historical value was appreciated. The chairs may have even been from back then; they were so wobbly! Haha The service was attentive, and the restaurant was purposefully outdated and dimly lit. I really enjoyed the George Washington's Favorite- the duck fell right off the bone, but the glaze sauce was just a bit too sweet for me. My bf really enjoyed his prime rib steak. The Cab was our pick for wine. read more

Gadsby's Tavern Restaurant - New American Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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Parking here is street only so keep that in mind. This is a fun place to try if nothing else other than the historical value. The food is good and it's a comfortable setting. Service was ok, although I felt we could have been checked on a little more. The time of day wasn't during peak hours (2:00 pm) so I'm not sure of the "why". I've tried this place one other time and it was good then too, so consistency is something you can count on. My wife had the Tavern salad with shrimp and I had the roast beef and brie dip (although I don't think it had any horseradish). read more

Gadsby's Tavern Restaurant - Tavern salad with shrimp - New American Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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The maître d was amazing. She was knowledgeable with the history of the building and told us of a ghost story. Friendly and sweet! Ambiance was cool and fitting with the historical context. However, the tables were super close together. 3 stars because the service was super slow. To be fair, the maître d did tell us that service would be slow because of the volume of reservations at our time slot... but it was for sure S L O W! 5 stars for the bread! 5 stars for the fried oysters. It was perfectly crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. Crab cakes were good... but in this area it's hard to say it's better than some other places. Grilled Salmon was just mediocre. Nothing special with balsamic glaze and jasmine rice. I could get this dish anywhere. For me, this place is one of those places you go to because of the history but won't be a frequent patron. The famous duck dish that was advertised as George Washington's favorite wasn't available. There are many other fine dining establishments that I could spend money on. read more

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To be able to eat at the same establishment where Gorge and Martha Washington as well as Thomas Jefferson have eaten and held an inauguration is absolutely awesome. The smokey walls are literally from when candles lit the establishment and electric lights were not available at the time. read more

Amazing history, good food, excellent service and very entertaining. Enough said. We will be back. One minor issue- we went on a hot day and the restaurant was not as cool as I would expect from a nice restaurant, but everything else made up for it. read more

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Overall the food is just "okay." It is a slightly strange, small menu. Ambiance is awesome if you like history. Peanut soup and Caton burger were good! Would come back. There was a nice bridal shower happening in the back room during our visit. Service was friendly and on point. read more

Highly recommend! My husband and I came here on a Saturday night. Ambiance is great, the spot stays true to its original roots (18th century hotel and tavern). Rooms are lit mostly only by candlelight. Our waitress/hostess gave us a window seat and her service through the evening was awesome! Food is modeled off of 18th century dishes - we got the ham and marscapone biscuits (basically like mini Monte cristo's!), the crab cakes, veal/beef meat loaf, plus the peanut soup and French onion soup. All fabulous. There was also a musician/entertainer who walked around in traditional colonial attire and played a colonial guitar. Usually this isn't something we'd like, but he was super entertaining and funny, and made our dinner experience very unique! Pretty large portions and reasonably priced ($86 for two of us, although we didn't get alcohol) and delicious! Would 100% recommend this spot to anyone and will return! read more

Gadsby's Tavern Restaurant - Hot Smithfield Ham Biscuits and French Onion Soup - New American Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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An Arizonan in Alexandria. This was a special treat. We had a pre-set menu due to a conference, so the prime rib was selected. I thought it was cooked just right. I had never had Yorkahire pudding but it was just a piece of bread. The staff was nice. The history of the tavern is worth the visit alone. read more

Gadsby's Tavern Restaurant - New American Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Went there for lunch as part of a Ladies day out with my mother, cousin and daughter. We couldn't decide what to order because it all sounded good. Mom got the Cock a Leeky stew (chicken and leek) and was thrilled with her choice. My cousin got the Reuben and said it was very tasty. My daughter and I each got the prime rib with horseradish sauce sandwich and everything was very good quality. My daughter got the Surry Co peanut soup and we all tried it. It was worth the trip just for that soup!! The prices were rather reasonable for the area. Our waitress was very attentive and sweet. She took the attached photo for us. The surrounding is subtle elegance with a healthy respect for the history of the location, specifically the building itself. We popped over to the museum to wander the gift shop and that was a great end to our experience. Cannot wait to go again. read more

Gadsby's Tavern Restaurant - New American Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

I came again and very excited and they didn't have their signature dish, the duck. I was so disappointed. So werevthe other 2 tables in the room when they broke the news. Their whole angle is based on George Washington visiting and what he ordered, so without that it's just some tavern with a limited menu. Also no way to do reservations online. You have to call, and even during business hours they don't answer. You have to leave a message and they'll call you back, and it had to be 2 weeks or less in advance. A really inefficient system. I used to make a point to come here when I was in town but in the future I guess I need to call ahead to ask if they have their menu items in stock and skip if not. read more

Gadsby's Tavern has a unique ambiance, great food, and entertainment. It has a lot of history, so when you step inside it makes you feel like you've stepped back in time. I love the wooden tables and chairs and the cozy fireplace. The rooms are always decorated especially during Christmas. They have candles lit too! Gives a nice peaceful feel. Their menu has George Washington's favorite dish. How fun! The servings are huge, so be ready to eat eat eat! I got the Prime Rib and it was yummy! The veggies were really tasty as well. I got the hot apple cider drink they make for the holidays. I recommend this drink. The servers were nice and hard working. They know a lot about the history, so it's fun to ask questions if you're into history. There was also a gentleman dressed in Colonial clothing going around and serenading people. He was also quite the comedian. We parked in a public garage nearby, no issues. Location is Old town Alexandria where there's lots to do. It was an overall superb experience! read more

Gadsby's Tavern Restaurant - Menu - New American Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Service 5 Salmon dinner 4.5 ($28) - simple, good, cooked well and easy to eat Duck dinner 3 or N/A - duck was inedible bc it was too tough to cut. Maybe a different option would have been better to have here but we didn't try so we don't know. The veggies and potatoes that came with it were ok. Ambiance 5 We made a reservation for 5:30pm on a Sunday when it opens for dinner. We were the second group seated. The space filled up fast and became busy. Everyone given complimentary pound cake and butter. There is 1 cramped bathroom is down the stairs behind bar area. Very few options for vegetarian or seafood. Maybe one each for entrees. We didn't see dessert menu since we were pretty full esp from earlier eats. read more

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I see the reviews right now are 3.5 stars, but we had a phenomenal dinner here. The staff is all dressed in colonial clothing and the inside is darker with only candlelight. At the table we ordered the prime rib and filet. Everything was cooked to perfection. The horsey sauce is amazing as well. Definitely worth the price. We had a great time! read more

Gadsby's Tavern Restaurant - Prime rib - New American Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

We had a group of over 30 people- and service was still friendly and timely addressing all of our needs. Food was delicious (I had the New England baked codfish) and delivered in a fairly reasonable amount of time. They had a time period impersonator who went above and beyond to make out French speaking guests feel welcome. The ambiance is that of a tavern from days long ago- I loved it! I highly recommend if you are in the area to check it out! read more

Excellent small lunch at historic Gadsby's Tavern in Old Town Alexandria. Peanut "soop" was delicious and unique. Server Gloria especially attentive and nice. read more

Did you know that George Washington ate here? Of course you did, as that's likely the only reason that the tavern is still open. Upstairs the ambiance is quintessentially colonial. Candle lit tables, pewter place settings and is the highlight of the visit. The bathroom is located in the basement near the kitchen and has a funky odor to it and could really use a renovation and a deep clean. The Surrey Peanut Soup was the best part of the meal itself, a creamy peanut soup with a chicken broth base, great on a could evening. And now for the downside, George Washington's Favorite dish, the roast duck was a hot mess. The sides included potato wedge-like things that were mush, a runny corn pudding and some type of purple kraut, eww. The rubber duck was two leg quarters that were both musky and tough at the same time, a fait acomplete! No crisp on the duck at all, who knew they had microwaves in the eta of President Washington?!? It's a shame, the location and history deserve so much more than what is being served now. read more

Very unfortunate that the current purveyors of this establishment aren't able to provide the experience that this historical place should be able to deliver. The main problems with my visit was the staff and my meal. The building is very interesting and the minimal furnishings and decorations to present an interesting feeling of ancient austerity and simpler times. Unfortunately, the staff seemed very anachronistic to the experience. It was almost as if they behaved like we were just eating at the local taco shop and not a place of historical significance. My waiter was ignorant about the food did not know where any of the items were sourced and told me that even his "boss doesn't know where the fish comes from". I was intrigued by the chicken pot pie; one of my favorite dishes and I asked my waiter if the crust is handmade on the premises if the dough and the filling are handmade from scratch and he said "my mother makes it it's delicious". It seemed strange and mocking the way he said it, but I took a gamble and ordered it and was served a bowl of chicken gravy with a biscuit in it. This is not chicken pot pie, but I didn't want to argue. I was there with friends and family and wasn't going to harsh the mood. My partner ordered what is called George Washington's favorite, which is a duck dish, but the duck was somehow tough and undercooked. My friends prime rib look quite acceptable. The best thing about our meal was the single scoop of vanilla ice cream I had for dessert. It was pure and simple and delicious although the strawberries that they put on top were not quite ripe. All in all it was a disappointing experience. I really know that they could do better with just a little bit of effort and staff training. A place with this much historical clout deserves a more invested staff that can provide a better experience for the guests. read more

Gadsby's Tavern Restaurant - What they call a chicken pot pie. Basically it was a bowl of chunky gravy with a biscuit on top. - New American Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Had dinner here and the customer service was amazing. Our appetizer baked Brie, Martha's puff pastry. For dinner, lamb chops and George's favorite duck. Both dinners were delicious. read more

Gadsby's Tavern Restaurant - Lamb chops - New American Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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We started with fried oysters & the ham biscuits. They were both okay. I had the French onion soup and it was really tasty! Four of us had the filet and it was okay. The potatoes with the filet were really good. One person had the prime rib and thought it was pretty good. One had the sea bass and really loved it. The service was excellent! And the 'proprietor' was just fabulous! He had us laughing and chatting. We just fell in love with him! read more

Eat delicious food, fairly priced, in an actual historical location with a warm staff. My absolute favorite!

The building is a historical gem! We loved the historical vibe. I wish the staff had given a smidge of background on the history of the building when they welcomed us and gave us menus. Our table was sticky, the restaurant was somewhat warm, and there's hole in the bathroom door. If you're looking for something nice or formal, this isn't it. The food was good, but the waitstaff wasn't incredibly attentive. They were nice but not very knowledgeable about the food ingredients and we were kind of left alone the whole time. read more