Hank's Oyster Bar is one of my favorite spots in Alexandria. A friend and I stopped in for happy…read morehour and shared a dozen fresh oysters along with a glass of the house white wine. Everything was delicious, and the happy hour menu is a great value if you're looking for a relaxing way to unwind. The rooftop is absolutely worth checking out, it has such a fun, laid-back atmosphere and made the evening even better. Our server was incredibly kind and attentive, which really added to the experience. Between the great food, friendly service, and beautiful rooftop, Hank's never disappoints. I'll definitely be back!

Seafood spot with a warehouse vibe and a bunch of options for both food and drinks…read more Give you goldfish instead of bread, which is a fun touch Our server was very friendly I liked the vibe here a lot, but all of the food that I tried was underwhelming. I tried the fried oysters, lobster bisque, and key lime pie and they all tasted funky. My fiance got a fish & chips and she enjoyed hers though. I enjoyed my drink (Peety Bird) at least

My widf and I decided to give this place a try after reading the Yelp reviews…read more We love seafood and there are no good seafood restaurants in our immediate area in Pa. Interestingly, the restaurant is in the middle of a residential neighborhood. The off street parking lot is small but fortunately there is paid street parking by an app, with no coin acceptance. There are approximately six-eight outdoor tables in the front of the restaurant that seat about four people each. The indoor dining area seats approximately eighty guests. This is by no means a fancy restaurant but it is clean and comfortable Our server Jalin was very sweet and attentive and recommended several dishes. Beer and mixed drinks are also served here. We started with the fried calamari as an appetizer. The calamari had a delicious crunchy coating and was not chewy. For pur main dishes, my wife had the pecan and coconut crusted flounder and I had the seafood jambalaya. Both dishes were excellent with generous portions. Neither of the dishes were overcooked, with the flounder was light and prepared perfectly. Prices were reasonable and worth every penny, especially with how generous the portions were. We will definitely be going back to try other dishes and recommend giving this restaurant a try.

Went here recently for a meal with family. We all ordered various dishes. It was a mix bag in terms…read moreof satisfaction. I liked the mussels, but the jambalaya is what Gen Z would label as mid. Not really authentic at all. Rice was plain and there was no Cajun flavor profile. I also had the cream of crab soup and that was ok. Unfortunately for them, I just had that at Fisherman's Crabdeck near Annapolis as well and that totally smashed the soup at Ragin by comparison. Our server was good though and attentive. I just wished the food was a little better.

We had a fantastic dining experience at Joe's in DC. The moment we walked in the door, the service…read morewas attentive and friendly, and the atmosphere made for a relaxing meal. Every dish we ordered was well prepared and full of flavor. The Stone Crab was the highlight of the meal--fresh, sweet, and perfectly chilled with a delicious mustard dipping sauce. The Steak Béarnaise was cooked exactly as requested, tender and juicy, and the rich béarnaise sauce complemented it perfectly. The Crab Bisque was creamy, comforting, and packed with real crab flavor without being overly heavy. We also loved the Grilled Seafood Platter, which featured a great variety of seafood that was fresh, perfectly grilled, and seasoned just right. If you're looking for high-quality seafood and a memorable dining experience in DC, this is the place to be.

7/7/26 DoorDash order…read more MOLD on the fries and cornbread muffin??? Just because people order delivery doesn't mean it's okay to serve moldy food! I thought if I ordered fried shrimp that the quality would be better than a non seafood restaurant... Boy was I wrong! The shrimp were not deveined!!! It's like they didn't even clean them before applying the batter! I've been here on a date so I know how the lighting is dim... perfect setting to hide the wilted brown lettuce and moldy food... I just so happened to look under the cornbread muffin; SO GLAD I DID! I spent close to $40 for inedible food. Won't order from here again! The highlight was the salad dressing; that was tasty!

Friendly service and a great, buttery scrumptious Masons Lobster Rolls at the Belvedere Square…read moreMall. Been awhile since I was at this long-established food court straddling the back end of the city and Towson's doorstep. Atmosphere is mall buzzy but not yum-pleasant. Same mall contains Atwater's, Neopol Smokery, pizza, bowls, two bars and newer places to further explore. I suggest you do! Bonus: Our famed Senator Theatre is nearby!

If you've never had a lobster roll, they're worth having at least once. Ideally, you should have…read morethem in Maine at a place that will pile on the lobster. But if you're in Belvedere Square, Mason's is a good substitute. The menu is pretty simple: a variety of lobster and shrimp items, mostly in the form of a sandwich roll or soup. I went with a classic roll with some drawn butter on it. It was good - nice bits of meat and it allows the flavor of the lobster to shine. I wouldn't call it filling, at least not for me, but it was tasty. I also got a small soup and the guy behind the counter offered me a sample of each type without me even asking. Overall pretty solid. It's lobster, so it won't be cheap, but for what it is, it's a fairly priced meal.

I stopped by Beef 'n Buns 'n Paradise today for a late lunch when I was passing through Frederick…read more It's a charming old-school, retro burger shop. You order inside at the counter and then they call your name on the loud speaker when it's ready for pickup at the drive thru or the counter (depending on whether you ordered it to go or not). I had a cheeseburger with tomato, onion, pickles, ketchup, mustard, and mayo, and a side of fries. The burger was classic and totally delicious. The fries were very good, too. I ate my lunch at one of the picnic tables on the property, which was comfortable and fun (but they don't have bathrooms FYI). The service was friendly, and the place has tons of retro charm. I'd definitely go back for another meal - maybe a milkshake or other dessert with my burger next time? A fun, fast, casual meal. A charmer in Frederick, just off 70.

Made a pit stop on the way home from camping and it was worth the small detour!…read more This is not a sit down joint and fyi does not have a bathroom for the public to use. They do have a small parking lot and some benches around back but not ideal for colder weather. The menu is pretty extensive with many options of hot dogs, burgers and dessert. We got the Chicago dog, chili dog, patty melt and onion rings. The onion rings were the best! The breading did not fall off and stayed with each bite of the onion! Not to mention the crunch! The hot dog was also delicious! The way they dressed it was neat and you got a solid bite each time! The patty melt was juicy and the rye pairs so nicely!! The service was quick. It seemed like our small group of 6 may have overwhelmed them slightly with the amount of food we ordered but nonetheless did not take too long !

The absolute best wings my wife and a I have had in years. We got the BBQ ones. They steak, egg and…read morecheese breakfast sandwich is also really good. Everything was great.

Impressively delicious sandwiches etc. made with tasty Boar's Head meats, friendly service, air…read moreconditioned indoor tables for hot days, and orders come to you quickly. We got a juicy roast beef sandwich and a grilled cheese. Both were top-notch, and this place is a real oasis on the C&O trail, which is quite the food desert. You order at the register. Fries or chips are a la carte. Minus one star because all drinks come in cans or bottles, yet in 2025 White's Ferry Grill still lacks any recycle bins whatsoever. I suggested adding them to the owners via their website and Facebook page, but never heard back. As a result, the trash can outside may be full, and tons of recyclables go to the landfill. I carried my empty Gatorade bottle with me. I would love to take the ferry again, but meanwhile, this casual restaurant and store is a gem.

I came at 8:40AM, hoping to pick up lunch before work, but it was unfortunately closed! I'm…read moreassuming they open at 9 or later. When I came back for lunch, I was surprised this had replaced Cappelli's Café! I loved Cappelli's sandwiches. I ordered a grilled chicken sandwich, which I thought was worth the price because it came with fries and a drink. The sandwich was freshly made and not half bad! The workers were efficient and courteous. I asked one of them what "guma" means, and he said "gu" in French means "taste," so "gumax" is intended to mean maximum taste. Hopefully I'm feeling more adventurous next time so I can try one of the guma pies!

My rating is now only 2 after our second visit which became a real test of patience. While the…read moremanager at Gumax is friendly and earnest, the operation is too disorganized and slow. Ingredient supplies were low so items were not prepared as described on the menu. At first he would not accept a Local Flavor deal (which got us to even try Gumax) because of previous deal reimbursement problems with the Gumax owner. After a delay of about 30 minutes and several phones calls, it was finally accepted but that was just too much hassle for getting lunch.

Wow...where do I even start? Whether you're looking for a cozy café with great coffee / pastries,…read morean intimate restaurant serving some of the best New American cooking, or just a place that has some of the friendliest, most inviting staff to ever grace the DC restaurant scene, Elle has you covered. They operate a cute little coffee counter in the day, which includes some of their amazing scones, croissants, and other goodies, as well as outstanding espresso drinks. There isn't a ton of seating in the café section so it ends up being quite crowded, but if you're lucky enough to snag a seat, it's super cozy and the perfect place to read or just hang out. The café area is confined to two mini counters in a small corner next to the front window, so it always gets plenty of natural light and is a great place to people watch. I dropped by on a Sunday morning to grab an americano and their maple pecan scone; the americano was phenomenal, and the scone was such a delightful ode to autumn flavors. It was quite large, super buttery and rich, and packed with maple and pecan flavor without being overly sweet. Come back in the evening and you'll stroll into what feels like a completely different restaurant. The coffee bar is transformed into a standard bar, and the ambient lighting, dark wooden furniture, and brick walls make the space feel incredibly cozy and intimate. Their dinner menu is quite pricey, but it's genuinely worth every penny. My friend promised that Elle had the "best vegetable he's ever tasted," and they absolutely delivered -- the roasted broccoli with sardines and parmesan was delightful. It was super simple, but I appreciated how well it let the natural flavor of each ingredient shine, and each component had plenty of its own flavor, with the parmesan and sardines offering a hit of salt, umami, and sight funkiness. We also got the grilled cucumber which, at first glance, seemed like such an odd menu item. After giving it a try, however, I'm now questioning why we don't always grill our cucumbers -- the cucumber was beautifully charred on the outside, and heat helped to bring out some of the vegetable's natural sweetness to counterbalance the smokiness from the grill. It was served on top of a bed of savory, tangy yogurt and with chopped hazelnuts, which offered a great crunch. I was most impressed by the skate; this fish is a rare find in DC, but they prepared with perfectly. It was super tender, which contrasted beautifully against the crispy, crunchy fried outer shell. The skate was topped with crispy onions and a savory, slightly spicy sauce, as well as swimming in a rich, incredibly umami broth. The skate may have been the single best thing I put in my mouth all year -- I'm going to be devastated when it falls out of season and rotates of the menu, but I'm also super excited to come back and sample Elle's next season of items.

Went to a birthday brunch at Ellē and had a wonderful time! The service was excellent--they were…read morevery attentive and brought a cookie for the birthday girl. Egg sandwich (with brisket added): 4/5, generous amount of brisket for an extra $4 but it was a little salty and could've used some sauce like an aioli or something to be a little less dry Flat white: 4/5, overall a solid flavor and served in a nice mug

Absolutely incredible!! It was my first time at a tasting menu and the fourth time for my parents…read more-- we all loved it! They're a farm to table restaurant so they have a small farm in the back and use local fishermen, beekeepers, and farmers for the majority of their food. The inside portion of the restaurant is in a converted green house and you look out over the Potomac River and the bridge that connects MD and VA along 15. They also have outdoor seating and a gazebo with one table (for an additional price). Sometimes restaurants with tasting menus pack you in and have low lighting but this place had the tables spread out and it was bright and airy inside with lots of plants and decor along the walls. The tasting menu is 9 courses in total but our waiter brought several surprise mid course tastings like a sourdough milk bread and tempura oysters. They change the menu every 6-8 weeks to reflect what is fresh at the moment and supplement with pickled vegetables. I loved everything I ate but my dad didn't care for the abundance of fish that's currently being served. The waiters are so coordinated and excellent at providing an explanation for each course. It was paced perfectly, where we weren't rushed between each course but also weren't waiting around forever. Just a note: they're business casual, but the driveway up to the restaurant is gravel and the parking lot is also gravel, so swap your stilettos for wedges or flats!

Overpriced ordinary. Boring all around. The setting was…read moreplain, the wine, Virginia wine, really? Two courses of tomatoes.

Today I was volunteering with SixDegrees.org at George Mason University, assembling Find Your…read moreAnchor suicide prevention kits and meal kits. Since I was already in Fairfax, I finally had the chance to stop by Ned's New England Deck for lunch. I'd noticed they served whole belly clams, and I hadn't had them in years--not since my last trip to Maine, where my mom was from. Growing up, we spent summers there, and whole belly clams were always one of my favorite treats. They're almost impossible to find here in the DMV. I have to admit, I've had plenty of experiences where I get excited to try something and it ends up being disappointing. That definitely wasn't the case here. The fried whole belly clam platter was absolutely delicious. The clams were perfectly cooked, and the portion was generous enough that I saved the coleslaw for later. Yes, seafood is expensive, but this meal was worth it. The staff made the experience even better. The gentleman taking orders was genuinely kind. While I waited for my takeout order, he offered me a glass of water, which was especially appreciated after a busy morning of volunteering. It's a small gesture, but those little acts of kindness make a difference. The restaurant itself is charming, with both indoor and outdoor seating, and it reminded me of the casual seafood places I remember from Maine. They even have a fun promotion where you can roll dice for a chance to upgrade your lobster roll, which I thought was a nice touch. I'll definitely be back the next time I'm in Fairfax. If you've been looking for authentic whole belly clams in the DMV, this is the place to go.

We reserved the play area with some friends and were able to enjoy a nice meal while the kids…read moreplayed. The gentleman running the place at the time was super friendly. The food was absolutely fantastic. We ordered the down east lobster roll, and the north shore beef sandwich. Everything tasted fresh and of high quality. The lobster roll had huge chunks of lobster in it. I love having a local restaurant where we can enjoy a delicious meal while the kids play. It was the most relaxing and delicious meal out we've had in a long time.