DON'T EAT HERE. Some common slang I've heard these days when evaluating a restaurant goes by the phrase "gas or trash?" Well, Kiln is both: gas poured onto trash and then lit ablaze into a raging dumpster fire TLDR: Don't eat here. I came here with my wife and a group of friends on a Friday night. The prices are outrageous, the food is terrible, the servers don't take orders correctly, and the ambiance is a that of a blank canvass. Don't eat here. I'm really not sure what peeved me more: $4 oysters, $23 burgers, or the $24 risotto that I ordered that the server left off the ticket. 5/6 people in our party were served their entrees. Then a manager randomly shows up and tells me my order of risotto was somehow left off the ticket. So I'm sitting there like a schmuck for 15 minutes waiting for my order while everyone else is eating. Risotto finally came and was undercooked and lukewarm. Then, the bill comes and the risotto wasn't even comped. Don't eat here. Plus, they have a tiny menu. Tiny menus are a godsend if a restaurant does these items well. But Kiln falls so far short on this notion that it's just sad. Lastly, don't eat here. You have a choice in restaurants in historic Old Town Alexandria and Kiln shouldn't be one. read more

Date Night | Moody | Mocktails Date Night: This is an excellent date night spot--versatile enough for any mood or occasion. Whether you're stopping in for shared appetizers and drinks or settling in for a full dinner, the setting and menu make it easy to relax and connect. The food and drink options are diverse, and the location is ideal. After dinner, you can continue the night with a visit to the hotel's rooftop bar or the cozy speakeasy down the hall--both perfect extensions to a romantic evening. Moody: The overall aesthetic feels like a modern Magnolia Farms--moody yet warm. The space is designed with rich wood tones, soft lighting, and low ceilings, creating a cozy and intimate atmosphere. Large windows bring in just enough natural light during the day, giving the place a beautiful glow at night. The seating areas are well spaced, offering privacy for deep conversation without feeling isolated. It's the kind of place where you can linger for hours without feeling rushed. Mocktails: The mocktail selection is one of the highlights here. As someone staying sober while my wife is pregnant, I really appreciated the variety and creativity of their non-alcoholic options. The bartender even offered to make any drink on the menu with a non-alcoholic spirit, which was a thoughtful touch. It's refreshing to find a place that takes its mocktail menu as seriously as its cocktail list. Pro Tips: - 10% military discount--just ask your server. - No on-site parking, so plan to arrive 10-15 minutes early to find a spot or use valet. - Bonus: If you're out for date night, make sure to check out the rooftop bar or the hidden speakeasy afterward--they're both worth the visit. read more

Kiln - Chicken sandwich and apple cider cocktail - American Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

We came on a very quiet weekday evening right after the holidays. I got the Hot and Dirty, which is basically their version of the extra dirty martini but with hot sauce added - expertly made with the perfect blue cheese-stuffed olive to finish off. For food, since we weren't very hungry, we went with the oysters and split the Kiln burger, which, mercy of mercies, came with fries (a restaurant including fries with their burger, instead of a separate add-on, is now more and more a rarity). The burger was fantastic, the smoked tomato jam an interesting choice that's better than standard ketchup, though I wish they would switch out the thin shoestring fries with thicker wedges. The bartender was very friendly and food came out fast but I gotta say, as someone who loves quiet places - the atmosphere was kind of dead. Not sure if it was because of the holidays but it was a little jarring to come here from the super bustling King Street one block over. Also, the drink prices were more expensive than comparable places in the area, given you're sitting in a hotel bar, but otherwise the portions were pretty substantial. read more

I have been wanting to try Kiln for a while and I finally made it, and I was a bit let down. I walked in past opening and wasn't even greeted--at least two people made eye contact and saw me standing there. It was so bizarre, I had to ask if they were open and if I could sit for dinner. I will say the head chef was really nice and chatted a bit at the bar. However, the dining experience was not what I expected. The rolls were a bit strange, with an ocean water flavor from the seaweed. I was served a complimentary soup/drink that would have been great if it didn't have corn nuts in it! That is a flavor no one should want for dinner. The catfish was so bland and one-note that I was wishing I had my Franks red hot. Also the succotash under the fish was cold, which made the catfish eat cold-ugh. Also, the texture was strange, not crunchy but not soft. Almost like it wasn't cooked long enough or the pan wasn't hot enough. The service was fine and the atmosphere was lacking for a very busy Saturday in old town. I hoped the reviews were harsher than deserved; but, Kiln is a miss for me. read more

Kiln - Catfish dish - American Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Two attempts to make fried eggs over medium. First order was sent back to the kitchen because they were obviously cooked hard. The replacement order came back also cooked hard. How could the cook and the waitress fail to notice this before being brought to my table. read more

Kiln - Fried eggs overcooked. These are the replacement eggs they brought me when the first order was sent overcooked. - American Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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This is really a 3.5 Finally got around to trying KILN which is in Hotel Heron. So, if you go in one door, near the valet, you're going into the wrong one. The lovely woman at the desk directed me to the door that is to the bar area. It was raining today, so the bar area door was better than going back outside. Taking MY way, you have to walk through the bar to the actual host for the fonce restaurant space. Ok, it's not THAT fonce, but it's lovely. So, yeah, enter via the S. Washington door. I pass by so many times a week and never noticed. Anyway... The host was just as lovely as the woman who directed me to the door. Even lovelier was the server. You know those servers who are just naturals? They chat with you and it's not forced or rushed? That was our server. Super personable, gave us her recommendations, appropriately timed when to take dishes away without being intrusive - just great. We went for restaurant week but the entire table has to choose it. Both of us chose the normal menu because there were dishes on it that we preferred. What we got and shared: TUNA CRUDO - good, with citrus and radish STEAK TARTARE - loved the steak but would have preferred that there wasn't cheese mixed in because it overpowered the meat in some bites. The crunchy potato sticks were a nice touch, and the bread was toasted and fat. I like fat toast. KALE SALAD - the kale was good and this salad had goat cheese and apples SHORT RIBS - my fave plate of the night. The sauce alone was delish. The meat was tender and the potatoes were smooth and flavorful. BASQUE CHEESECAKE - Great flavor and texture and it came with fresh berries with some cream. It was a little crumbly though. All in all, a good dinner on a rainy night. I'd come back for the short ribs and cheesecake and would try more items in the future. read more

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I wanted to love this place, but we really only came here because we had to use our $25 hotel credit here. Food (2/5): They lose stars for the extreme pricing on the food that wasn't really great. The Kiln bread was $3 and was mini - think mini rolls with an odd seafood flavoring... .....and $16 for ham...it was a few slices of cold prosciutto, which my hubby doesn't like. He was expecting some nice, warm slices of ham to enjoy with our bread. Really? After spending almost $20 we went back to our hotel room and ordered Taco Bell...ugh. Service (5/5): Amy should be commended for her attentive kind service. Ambiance (4/5): The bar itself if beautifully decorated - modern with some nice brass touches. It was crowded and busy on a Sat night but tha should be expected. read more

Kiln - Menu - American Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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Immediately greeted at the door with good vibes by the hostess, Betty. Super friendly and set the tone right away. We came on a Wednesday night and must've missed the rush because it was basically just our group. Perfect for trying a bunch of dishes without feeling like we were holding up the kitchen. We had the 18 hour cabbage (yes, eighteen hours), sweet potatoes, oysters, rockfish, the smash burger (not pictured because I inhaled it), and crispy fries that had everyone lowkey fighting over the last ones. Everything was delicious. We sat at the bar and had a few side conversations with the chef, who explained how the cabbage is made. I already like cabbage, but this was next level. Like, this cabbage has seen some things. The lavender cocktail was probably my least favorite. It looked amazing, just a bit too heavy on the lavender syrup for me. But honestly, still a great meal start to finish. Would definitely come back, and hope Betty's there to say hi again. read more

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I absolutely love this place. I didn't try any of their food but the view from the rooftop is amazing. I enjoyed a glass of Pinot Grigio & their frozen rosé. Will definitely be returning when I'm visiting Alexandria again! read more

My husband and I came here on date night as guests of the chef. We came on a Thursday and no problem finding free street parking a block away (there are also paid street parking spots on the block of the restaurant and cheap garages nearby). We sat at the chef's counter which was very cool to see the food made. We ate both foods on the menu and some new menu items the chef is experimenting with. Ingredients are all sourced locally (except for the lobster). The wine list was limited but had interesting selections and we selected a bottle of alvarinho. My favorite dish was the raw fluke with sweet potato and leche de tigre - the combination of flavors was delicious! I also really enjoyed the risotto (the mushrooms really made the dish) and the lobster gnocchi was rich (in a good way) and the gnocchi was perfect texture. My husband raved about the 18 hour cabbage. We both enjoyed the trout with 2 different sauces (one Mediterranean with zhoug and one Mexican) that were delicious alone and especially when combined! Such a unique preparation. We both felt the sweet potato had too much topping, but the sweet potato itself was cooked perfectly. We enjoyed after dinner drinks (me a glass of champagne, my husband the Unicorn Tears cocktail). Looking forward to returning as the menu changes and trying out brunch, which is starting in September. read more

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As I understand it, Kiln is a newer restaurant attached to a hotel and I was really really interested in trying it out. The Good: the quality of the ingredients is top notch. You can taste it. There were no visual defects whatsoever on even the fresh vegetables. The staff were incredibly attentive. They gave use some additional oysters to match the table size. Because one of us really liked the horseradish and the waiter took it away, one of the chefs came back and gave us extra horseradish. Now that's next level attention to detail. Moreover, the quality and skills of the chefs were evident in the quality of the food. Expertly handled. There really wasn't a bad, but things to improve on. There is plenty of Michelin potential here, but there are potential improvements. Weirdly, the tableware. The staff would commonly drop things. And even the poor at my table would drop forks, etc. I could hear things getting dropped all over the restaurant. Sure, it happens but there must be an imbalance if everything is dropped so much. Then, the flavor. I prefer more seasoning. I get it, let the ingredients shine. However, the cabbage was good, but as cabbage should be, it was watery so it muted the flavor. So you get watery cabbage. Some might not like paying a premium for watery roasted cabbage. But that's what cabbage does. The Colette was cooked expertly well, but unlike the Picanha, the fat cap was taken off so it was a little dry even though it was cooks rare. Perhaps some additional salt or seasoning would have added a slight punch to the expertly cooked peice of food. The ribs were good but extremely fatty. When my fiend cut into his it was mostly just fat. I ate it but a lot of people may not enjoy that. The beets used a sichuan style sauce that was good but again sichuan flavors are better strong. All in all, I see a lot of potential with the quality of ingredients, high caliber staff, and attention to detail. read more

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I was able to sit at the chefs counter. It was enjoyable to watch the staff work so efficiently. The food was AMAZING! The bread was soft and fresh. The lobster gnocchi was delicious - the lobster was perfectly cooked! Will definitely be back next time I am in Old Town. read more

Kiln - Lobster gnocchi - American Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

The food and service was good, but I agree with another poster - the fact that they added two additional taxes to our bill is crazy! Adding a 5% "Development tax" to a restaurant bill to essentially help the developers reap back the money they put into the renovation of the historic building is ridiculous! No other business in Old Town does this, and many are in historic buildings. Needless to say I probably won't be returning back to eat here any time soon. read more

I visited Kiln this evening and was thoroughly underwhelmed. The service was slow, the portions were ridiculously small, and the food was mediocre at best. Overall, it was a disappointing experience and a complete waste of time and money. read more

As I said to my dining companion - I really don't understand why they have the need to serve perfectly lovely rolls studded with seaweed. There is NO need! Here me out. It is not a pleasant bite. It is a fishy bite, especially when the little slivers of the nasty weed clump together. My bread plate looked like some sort of alien matter as I tried to pull the seaweed out so that I could enjoy what was otherwise a nice roll, served with a very good salted butter. The appetizer crab cakes were outstanding. All crab, no filler, no detectable bay seasoning (which I hate), and no shells! This appetizer, alas, was the only item I could enjoy this evening, as I was served my next course - ricotta gnocchi with lobster. I figured this was a safe choice. Ricotta gnocchi is usually light as a feather, sometimes seared if you're lucky. This dish was a profound disappointment and also just plain wrong. I haven't, in my 40+ years of dining in fairly nice establishments, encountered a gnocchi that resisted my fork. These little pure white suckers resembeled a child's attempt at rolling dough. I ended up using my bread knife to cut through what tasted to me like it consisted of flour and water. It was a profound disappointment because it had a lovely, light lobster broth, and the lobster pieces were fresh, if not plentiful. At some point, our waiter paid us a visit. I attempted to stab another gnocchi to show him and that little bugger made a bee-line across my plate, finally coming to rest in a nest of tarragon. Our waiter recognized that things were amiss and quickly took the plate away with his apologies and took it off the bill. All of this is to say, what a shame. Fishy bread and tough gnocchi. My two starts are for the crab cakes only. However, if I ever found myself forced to eat there again, I would order a double batch of crab cakes (they were small) and call it a night. read more

The service was friendly but the food was not good. We had the dry aged strip steak medium rare. It took about an hour to come out and was cold from side to side. It was practically unseasoned, not sure that it was salted at all. The server told us it was a 16 oz portion so we spilt it. My guess it was closer to 8-10 oz, which was fine because it was not something we wanted more of. read more

The service was amazing, the food was outstanding and we had a great time. Cassie helped select our wine and visited with us throughout our meal to make sure everything was okay. read more

Brunch is good, service is fantastic with Mike!!! He is amazing, super nice, attentive and good vibes. The hotel is cute and well located. Easy to find parking on the street. Clean, cozy and good location. We had a nice time and for sure I'll come back! read more

I almost missed this hidden gem while looking for a romantic date night. I'm perplexed how this isn't rated higher on Yelp, when Chef Matt has created a culinary and atmospheric experience that rises far above the typical restaurants in the Alexandria and Arlington area. We tried the 8-course tasting menu and while expensive, it was worth every penny. Observing the chefs in the kitchen showcase their craft was a source of endless entertainment, and their interaction with each patron made you truly feel like you were sitting in their personal kitchen and focused solely on serving you. Each bite was better than the last, and it was clear that there is a level of thought and creativity woven into each dish that is hard to find anywhere else in this area. Chef Matt has something incredible here, and I hope you all get to experience the magic. read more

Food was excellent, service attentive, decor cozy, maybe a little pricey but quality ingredients (someone else mentioned) are worth it.

So extremely excellent! Started out with two different bourbon cocktails at the bar and they were both so complex and yummy. Then we were seated in the main dining area for dinner. We got a 5-course dinner and it was the best dining experience I've had so far in Alexandria. The waitstaff were kind, answered all my questions, the food was unexpected and perfection. My favorites were the raw kohlrabi salad and the ember roasted sweet potatoes, but honestly, it was all just so good! read more

Kiln - Dessert - berries and cream - American Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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Loved the quaint setting. First floor - easy in and out. Service was excellent. Would love to have more offerings on the menu. But a great place to go before performances and events in the Museum right across the street. read more

Ooooo! This is my favorite restaurant in Old Town, bar none! I love the open kitchen. The restaurant itself has a clean modern vibe. Seating is cozy and often you strike up conversations with nearby tables. But the food! Excellent and innovative! I usually order the tasting menu and wine pairings. I think one of the most enjoyable experiences is getting to know Liz, the sommelier. She has such a vast knowledge of not only the wines but the areas and regions they come from. I highly recommend this new restaurant in Old Town! read more

We went there to try this new restaurant based on so many recommendations. My drink order was wrong. I got a different drink. Then they brought me what I ordered after 10 minutes and said they brought me the first drink by mistake. The quality of the food, and the presentation of the food was really good. My friend order the Maryland Tile Fish and I ordered the steak. He got his main course, but mine was 20 minutes afterwards. Unusual. And then when they brought out my steak, they informed my friend that they brought him the fried catfish instead of his original order because they ran out of the tile fish. The place was loud. The service was slow, and inaccurate. They didn't bring a manager to discuss their error until we asked for one. And when the check came, they charged for the original tile fish, which is not even what they served. We had to call the manager again to adjust that. Granted it was only $4 difference, but they should not charge for what they did not serve. read more

Unfortunately we did not have a great experience at Kiln. We had a reservation and arrived on time. It did not look crowded even though it was a Friday night and Valentine's day. It took over an hour for our starters to be brought out (crispy potatoes and a Kale salad), and they were out of bread which was the starter we actually wanted. It took an additional 45 minutes for our entrees to be brought out--we ordered the rockfish and mushroom risotto. The rockfish was delicious, but the mushroom risotto was INCREDIBLY salty (tasted of table salt--not salt from parmesan or other ingredients). It was also covered in a thick layer of grease or oil of some kind, and was not really hot when brought out. It took over an hour to have another bottle of water brought out after finishing the first (because there was nothing to do but sip our drinks while waiting an hour for our starters), and to get another glass of wine. When the other glass of wine finally showed up, it was served in the wrong style of glass with literal chunks of food (or something...) floating in the glass with the wine. To cap off the incredibly disappointing evening, when we approached the bar to have another drink before leaving, the male bartender shouted at us that the bar had called last call over an hour and a half ago (we had no idea, because we were still eating our meal at that time & when we approached the bar, drinks were still being made). An awful evening and we will not be back. read more

It's like a parody of a fancy restaurant. Fancy prices but poor quality Food. For $40 you can get the following in the pictures. Also slow service whether it's busy or not. read more

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The service staff were great. Enthusiastic about the menu. The restaurant is beautifully laid out. The menu presented on Sept 29 was different from what appears on the website. I am hoping we came on and off nite. Gave it an okay for the food: the beet salad was low on beets and high on garnish. The chicken was dry and the mole sauce served on the side, to boost the dry chicken had the consistency of paste. The chicken included the thigh...attached to the chicken leg and foot complete with pin feathers.The sweet potato was overcooked and smothered by the condiments. Again the service staff was professional and courteous and the food came out in a timely manner. read more

The mushrooms on the appetizer menu were delicious. Service was good. Nice atmosphere. Steak was about 3.5 stars. Very limited sides available (cabbage or sweet potato.) Paid over $50 for three small slices of steak and 3 shreds of broccolini almost too small to eat. Not enough food, food provided not worth the price. Skip this restaurant. I went home still hungry and ate leftover Thai food. read more

I've been three times; my first two were consecutive days in a row. Starters: Steak Tartare Tuna Crudo Raw Oysters They all hit no complaints. Tuna Crudo was my favorite. Veggies: Chilled Beets Maitake Mushrooms 18-Hour Cabbage The cabbage stood out the most to me. I've ordered it two out of the three times I've been Sides: Sweet Potatoes These bad boys are my favorite item! The toasted chipotle pecans are full of flavor. Make sure to top them off with the limes that come with them. I am trying to duplicate these at home. I ordered these every time I have had a meal here. Meat & Fish Confit Maryland Catfish w/ smoked butter 16oz Pork Chop Both hit the spot, especially the Catfish with smoked butter. ***Not on the menu The cheeseburger with everything bagel seasoning mayo again hit the spot. Matt, the head chef, mentioned it to me while sitting at the chef's counter overlooking the kitchen. I ordered this the first time with my guest as our dessert :D These guys know what they're doing, so do yourself a favor and get a reservation at the Chef's counter so you can talk with kitchen staff while your food cooks. Don't forget to finish your meal with a cheeseburger like I did; this is AMERICA, after all ;) read more

Tasty food but restaurant added 2 fake taxes in addition to the sales tax to our bill. Alexandria VA does not impose any taxes other than sales. The business has imposed these as a disguise to increasing prices and being transparent. I would highly recommend not paying these and contest them vigorously. This is completely incorrect and uncalled for. Shame on you. read more

Second trip to Kiln did not disappoint! The kale salad was phenomenal and the pumpkin seed vinaigrette was addictive. Garlic potato soup was the perfect accompaniment. And, lucky for me Guillermo was my server, again, and provided excellent service. read more

Fantastic meal! We dined at kiln this weekend and enjoyed the experience. We started with the kohlrabi salad and the smoked clams, which made a nice light starter. They were both delicious and I am looking forward to trying their other small plates. The kitchen was backed up between our starters and mains, but the chef was very kind to send out an additional starter for the inconvenience (though we were fine with the wait!) the roasted veggies they sent out were amazing and we will definitely order them later. Our mains were the roasted bone in pork and the coulotte steak. Both were great, but the pork was the standout of the evening, and paired amazingly with the charred scallion. Genuinely the best pork dish we've had at any other DMV restaurants in recent years. The tallow with the steak was amazing and I felt greedy sopping it all up with the broccoli. We also had the chipotle sweet potato with pecans and the char was excellent. Will definitely order that again. Both our server and the sommelier provided excellent service. Will definitely be returning and suggesting Kiln to others. read more

Kiln - Coulette Steak - American Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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The ambiance was nice; however, the food was not. Oysters on the half shell were warm. Steak was rubbery and without flavor. Service was fine. read more

The burger has a weird sauce or spread. Definitely not a fresh patty. Wendy's does better.

My friends and I had a great experience having breakfast after our Yoga class at Kiln, the service was top-notch with our waiter Mike being very attentive and providing excellent recommendations, the food was very good, the place and ambiance is very nice, we will be back for brunch soon. Thank you so much Mike! We had an amazing time! (And it's pet friendly :) read more

This place has no concept of service. Much, like the service I will not expend any more effort on this.

This place has some definite kinks to work out. We made a reservation for 10 and they said it was no problem, except when we arrived they told us we couldn't all sit together, despite there being plenty of space. We ordered appetizers and main courses which all arrived at once (pacing is really off) and two of four meals arrived cold. read more

Hello, Welcome to the neighborhood. A follow-up to a visit this evening. Very surprised to learn after placing my order; there was a mix-up in communication- the restaurant was unprepared to fulfill the bar order menu. However, the waiter informed me that they had Olives-peanuts-burger; unfortunately no catfish. Please call ahead and save your self a trip downtown Alexandra. read more

Went tonight. Since Restaurant Eve closed several years ago, Alexandria' has not had a top restaurant except the minuscule Nasime. Kiln has the possibility of a Michelin star once the menu expands. read more

Wow, BEST restaurant in Old Town and one of the best new places in the DMV by far. Total foodie heaven. We did the chefs menu and sat at the chefs counter, and loved how friendly and passionate the chef and his crew of fellow chefs were. This is absolutely fine dining, and the chef came from some of nyc's top restaurants...and it shows. Each dish is so original and interesting, the drink and wine list were great, and the ambience was warm and relaxing. We booked our 2nd reservation while trying the restaurant for the first time, and have already booked our 3rd. HIGHLY recommend! read more