This place has casual cozy vibes and can be good for a friend catch-up or a date. I sat at the bar…read moreand everyone was really chill. Service was great-- the staff was friendly and knowledgeable. I had the featured wine flight, then split a bottle of champagne with my friend. We also had the happy hour meatballs and pimento cheese dip. Both were really tasty. I look forward to making this place a bigger part of my rotation!

(2 out of 5 stars)…read more This is a difficult review to write because the Sonoma Cellar used to be one of my favorite spots in Old Town Alexandria. I was aware the ownership had changed some time ago, but this was my first opportunity to return and see how things had kind of evolved. The good news is that they are pet friendly, which allowed us to bring our puppy, Chewie. Unfortunately, the rest of the experience was disappointing. The service was painfully, excruciatingly slow. The staff members were polite though, and genuinely trying to help, but they simply appeared unprepared. When we asked for recommendations or information related to the wines, we received very little guidance. One gentleman eventually admitted that he was just filling in and didn't really know the wines at all. Understandable, but not the experience I was going for. The water bottle for the table served to us was room temperature, which felt odd, especially on a hot day while sitting outdoors. The wine tasting was a major disappointment compared to what Sonoma Cellar used to offer, and the overall wine selection appeared to me at least, noticeably smaller than I remembered. I was also disappointed to discover that Sonoma Cellar has adopted the increasingly common practice of adding a 3% credit card surcharge. I didn't notice any clear disclosure beforehand, and these types of fees always leave a bad impression. I know I'm a bit picky with those, but still. The establishment was likely dealing with staffing issues on the day we visited, but the overall experience felt like a shadow of what this place used to be. What used to be one of my favorite wine stops in Old Town has clearly diminished in both service and selection. We left disappointed and, sadly, don't expect to return. Chewie agreed.

the cucumber lime pitcher is delicious and a fabulous start…read more the small plates are all delicious lamb chops , skirt steak and potatoes were some of our favorites , service was great , outdoor and just great evening! highly recommended

Such a perfect spot to bring out of town visitors or just to have some tapas!…read more Here's our favorite: The pita that comes with the 2 dips was honestly the best thing I've ever had!! Their whipped goat cheese (I think) was good! Their skirt steak was also perfect!! Perfect cook and taste!

So this place is...quirky. Whether you enjoy it will depend on whether you embrace that going in…read more It gives immediate NoLa vibes. I went in expecting a place that specializes in chocolate and deserts. Turns out that's not really accurate. The environment is sensual and fantastical and beautiful, but this is really a bar and coffee shop that also sells boxed chocolates. Their actual menu had one chocolate item, a cake, which they were put of when I came. I learned they were out of the chocolate cake only after I ordered a cab sauv to go with chocolate cake, so I ended up spending an additional $30 on packaged chocolates to go with my wine and that I didn't really care for. Likewise I was not thrilled with the brioche grilled cheese small plate. It said it was a trio of mini grilled cheeses served with a soup shot for $12. So I was expecting tomato soup and three little grilled cheeses wither on mini slider buns or cut like tea sandwiches. Oh no. These were Itty bitty little toasts and the soup shot was...French onion? French onion is made with beef broth and I don't eat meat so my friend tried it and did not like it. The toasts were...miniscule. And a little burned (because small things burn). I would rather just have a real grilled cheese. We also got fries, which were fine. The cocktails however - delightful. I saw cocktails going out to other people. Gorgeous. The garnishes were a delight. My friend got a bees knees garnished with a spray of lavender and he lit it on fire. I didn't know you could just burn lavender like that and it smelled INCREDIBLE. New life hack. The space is really small. It filled up when we were there. It was my friend and me, one woman reading, and then a largeparty that felt they could kind of take the place over and they weren't being loud or rambunctious per se but because they felt the liberty to kind of inhabit the small space and take over the room it got loud and we could hear their whole conversation. Likewise, we only had one server working the whole space so he was doing cocktails, coffee, food, the cash register...he was clearly overwhelmed. Not doing a bad job, he was hustling, but it was just too much for one person and I feel like they need two people there if it's busy. Maybe this large party was atypical for a monday afternoon. I still give it 4 stars because the cocktails are fantastic, the space is beautiful, I love the concept and the kitschiness and IYKYK of it, and I also see its potential as a gorgeous sexy little cocktail bar and coffee place when it is more chill. It would easily get a 5th star from me if they reworked a few of the small plates, added more chocolate to the menu itself, and made sure they were staffed more for rushes. Maybe on weekends they are, dunno.

Me, high collar, with fascinating bourbon cocktail. Her, red raincoat and hat, martini. Slide note…read moreacross the bar, code-words exchanged to authenticate our contact, and mission accomplished. The Parlour Spy Lounge experience.

Great food and service!…read more We came here for lunch with our 2 kids. Ally was our server and was super friendly and helpful. The food was delicious. We have been coming here for years but the food this time was exceptional. The kids menu is perfect and portions are great. The drinks here are also excellent but we didn't order any during lunch. Highly recommend for lunch or dinner!

Sat at the bar for brunch and had a great experience! We had Suzanne and she was so friendly and…read moregave super helpful recommendations. Food was delicious!

Great authentic Italian restaurant that evokes a true Italian charm! The ambience is inviting and…read moremakes you feel like you stepped into Italy for great pasta lol Staff are accommodating and personable. The honey butter is tasty and please don't get me started on how delicious the pasta is...chef's kiss! I truly enjoyed the tortellini pasta. I'll be back for another round of pasta and win!

I want to begin by acknowledging that I chose to dine out on Mother's Day, fully aware that it is…read moreone of the busiest days of the year for restaurants. I expected longer wait times for seating and food, and I was prepared to be patient. However, what I did not anticipate was a complete breakdown in both front-of-house and back-of-house operations. Having worked in the restaurant industry, it was clear that the issues extended beyond the kitchen. A back-of-house "crash" of this magnitude is typically the result of broader operational failures, including front-of-house management. It appeared that reservations were significantly overbooked without adequate planning for the volume. On a day like Mother's Day, full capacity should be expected, and systems should be in place to manage that demand effectively. At a minimum, there should have been proactive communication with guests regarding delays, allowing them the option to adjust their plans. Additionally, basic service standards--such as keeping water glasses filled and bread baskets stocked--were not maintained. The serving staff seemed overwhelmed and unsupported, which ultimately reflects a lack of clear direction from management. During our visit, we even observed a large party leave due to the experience. I genuinely felt for our server, who appeared to be doing their best under difficult circumstances. Without directly requesting specific items and even ordering from the bar myself, the experience would have been significantly worse. Unfortunately, the food did not meet expectations either. The seafood pasta, in particular, was underwhelming in both quality and presentation--featuring minimal seafood and inconsistent preparation. At the price point, I would expect a much higher standard. The chicken Parmesan felt like cardboard and was just as thin. The cod with peas tasted exactly like the frozen cod I get from Costco. Calamari never came, which we had no idea about. No option to get anything else. If the restaurant does not have the infrastructure to handle high-volume days at a consistent level of quality, it may be worth reconsidering reservation limits or adjusting service expectations accordingly. While I understand the desire to maximize business on a busy holiday, the long-term impact of disappointed guests may outweigh the short-term gains. I hope this feedback is taken constructively, as no guest should have the experience we did. And no we did not accept any free dessert, which I felt was a completely tone def to the experience we had.

We had a great experience! Went for lunch one day and had to go back for dinner another day…read more Service was great, and food was delicious.

I was visiting my daughter who is a foodie like her dad and she recommended Virtue. It is in a…read morehistoric old building that is really neat! The service was excellent, the food was excellent, and the Bourbon selection was World Class! I liked it so much I went back the following week!

So, you'll have to figure this out...Alice on the top floor is a bar with a full-ish menu…read more Downstairs, using the same kitchen, is Thai Signature, a restaurant with a larger menu. It is a different establishment. I like both but the mood upstairs is very lively and fun. Downstairs is usually quieter. I had the chicken with red curry (duck on the menu). It was tasty. I added broccoli on the side and mixed it myself. I like some spice so added crushed red pepper. It wasn't otherwise spicy at all. Good service. Very efficient. This is probably my favorite Thai place on King St. Easy to get to. I go for the Resy credit on my Amex. Pretty decor. Fresh flowers on the table and in the room. Bonus *s! Check them out and let me know what you think!

Alice Comfort Cocktail is such a hidden gem in Old Town. If you're looking for a fun, slightly…read morewhimsical vibe with cute decor, solid food, and really well-made cocktails, this is definitely the spot. Just a heads up though the space is pretty small so I'd recommend making a reservation. The bar itself only has like 3-4 seats. I tried the shrimp dumplings, crab rangoon, and bang bang shrimp, and had the litchi cocktail with it--everything was honestly so good. Really glad I stumbled across this place and I'll definitely be back to try more of the menu.

MUST VISIT! I wanted to swing by a cat cafe while I was in town and this one was right near me. The…read moretheme is spot on, lots of kitties are available for adoption and ready to be loved! They offer events, happy hour specials, a beer and wine bar and coffee/mocktail options! The first floor is the cafe/wine bar and the second floor is where the party is at aka the kitties! They owners are very kind and truly care about the kitties. It's is so empowering seeing the passion they put into the cat cafe! I highly suggest coming here for a drink or two and stopping by to see the kitties! *fingers crossed* you'll go home with one!

We had such a purrrfect afternoon experience here! I had wanted to visit this cat cafe for years,…read moreso spring break seemed like a great time to stop by. It was easy to make a reservation online for our entry times the day before, and check-in went very smoothly. Since it was our first visit, we were provided with instructions for everything we needed to know for interacting with the cats. Then we made our way upstairs to see the kitties! I immediately made friends with a cute tuxedo cat who flopped down at my feet. (I even got to give him a belly rub while he purred away!) The cats had many areas throughout the room where they could interact and explore, but they also had the option to go into the back if they were overstimulated. There was plenty of space throughout the room, so everyone was able to enjoy lots of kitty time. Bios for all the cats were posted on the wall to let visitors know about each kitty and their adoptability. It was clear that the cats are very loved and cared for, as they were relaxed and playful. We also stopped downstairs for lunch. The food was made fresh to order and was so delicious. I got the calico grilled cheese with a cinnamon cider, both items I would definitely enjoy again during a future visit. It was a really lovely experience, and I look forward to taking another trip there in the future!