Great location in the heart of all the fun Alexandria has to offer! Diverse menu enhanced by al fresco eating. Having arrived in town for a late lunch but to early for dinner I decided on a wedge salad with blackened shrimp. Presentation was great and even better were the Crispy lardons and the blackened shrimp. Finally the service was consistent and friendly making us feel like wanted guests The Wharf is a great place to people watch , enjoy good food and catch some sun! read more

The Wharf - Wedge with blackened shrimp - Seafood Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Two of us visited the Wharf for dinner on a Saturday night. We were seated right away. We ordered oysters on the halfshell and shrimp cocktail as appetizers. The waiter asked if I wanted to add an additional shrimp to the order, which I agreed to. The shrimp cocktail was nothing short of a rip off, $20 for 4 medium sized shrimp that weren't properly cleaned and not fully chilled; absolutely ridiculous. The oysters were very nice, fresh and only a bit briny, would order those again. For dinner, we ordered the salmon and the sea bass. The fish were both cooked perfectly. Both the sauteed spinach served with the salmon and the black rice served with the sea bass were beyond salty -- actually inedible. Service throughout the meal was fine but we found ourselves abandonded at the end. The server for our table, and those around us was gone for a long period and even the tables around us noticed his absence. We skipped desert. The check, including 1 glass of wine, and 1 coke, came to $140. I'm sorry, this wasn't even close to worth that much money. Perhaps the Wharf was just having an off night, but my impression is that this is a tired restaurant, trading mostly on its excellent location, that has given up on the concept of repeat business. read more

My wife and I made reservations here at the last minute after cancelling previous reservations at a restaurant around the corner that took forever to seat us. With last minute reservations and all, we were able to get seated immediately. The customer service was spot on from the moment we arrived to the moment we left. Our waiter was very attentive to us from the moment we sat down. The seating area was properly spaced out and I felt like we had plenty of space between us and the other tables. Despite the restaurant being pretty full, it didn't feel too loud which was great. For appetizers my wife and I both ordered the Chesapeake Bay She-Crab Soup and we decided to share some Fried Calamari. The Chesapeake Bay She-Crab Soup was absolutely delicious, a 10 out of 10! It was so good I could've ordered another one. The fried calamari was really good as well and we were surprised by how much they gave us. The sauce that came with the fried calamari only enhanced the taste and made it that much more better. For entrees, my wife ordered the Lobster Pasta and I ordered the Seafood Sampler. The Seafood Sampler came with a stuffed half lobster with crab imperial, butter cream sauce, scallops, shrimp, roasted potatoes and spinach. My wife really enjoyed her Lobster Pasta and they gave her a good amount of lobster. My seafood sampler was delicious and I had a good size potion of everything. The lobster, crab, shrimp, and scallops were the perfect seafood combination. Everything was delicious. The food overall was a 10 out of 10 all around, and so was the service. I am so glad we ended up coming here over the other restaurant we were supposed to go to! read more

See all

Both desserts were delicious. The coconut oatmeal pie was definitely the star though. Sat at the bar and service was great. Ambiance is on brand for Old Town, VA. read more

The Wharf - New York Cheesecake - Seafood Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

See all

This is one of my go-to to locations in Old Town. It has primo location on 100 block of King St. I've been many times. Service is always fantastic. Recently, I had the NY Strip with Crab Cake addition. They were excellent. The steak was juicy and flavorful. Really good crab cake. The brussel sprouts side was very good along with the loaded baked potato. I also had the Coconut Oatmeal Pie with ice cream. Wow, so good. I had no idea what to expect (Little Debby anyone?). Loved it. Service is always excellent. The bar is top notch especially with Nick and Rashel. read more

See all

The Warf is located on the main street in Old Alexandria, King Street. It has a dark bar area, main dining room, as well as tables outside on the sidewalk. The walls are dark wood, tables are covered in white table cloths, and assorted nautical themed decorations are scattered throughout. I was seated in the bar and had to speak up each time I needed assistance. Service was not stellar. I ordered a cup of clam chowder and the Seared Scallops Risotto. I was surprised when I didn't get a cup of New England (white) chowder. I asked if they had that, but was told they had this seafood chowder instead. I tried a taste of the seafood chowder, but it was too spicy for me, so I got up again to let the bartender know to cancel that from my order. The scallops didn't have a hard sear on the outside, but they were nicely cooked and not dry and stringy. I don't know if they were especially busy that night, but service was not stellar. The tables outside were full, but the bar and restaurant were not when I arrived. read more

See all

The Wharf has been our favorite restaurants in Old Town for years. It is so cozy, the food is delicious, and the service is great. Plans changed, and I ended up going alone last evening. They were so attentive. I enjoyed a wine special ( Vermentino from Barboursville VA), the tomato-based MD seafood chowder, and the baked shrimp topped with crab. I was considering dessert. The server told me the oatmeal-coconut pie was his favorite, so I tried it. It was delicious--not a typical combination but so yummy. Don't miss this place when you are in Alexandria. read more

See all

Stopped in to escape a cold winter night with a friend to warm up. The service is excellent, and our waiter was very knowledgeable and answered all of our questions and gave great recommendations. However, cleanliness was a concern for me. The bathroom was gross, the lemons were bad, and the clam chowder clams were so gritty, I hurt a tooth. The food itself was just OK and that was disappointing for such an expensive place. The bread tasted very off to me & that was so disappointing because I love fresh bread with butter. My steak needed more seasoning and the asparagus wasn't anything exceptional. The star of the night was the mashed potatoes. Overall, I don't think I'll be back but it was a good place to try out. read more

The Wharf - Filet mignon - Seafood Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

The food is absolutely delicious!! Our server was attentive and knowledgeable of the menu! Not annoying but kept drinks filled as needed and bussed the table at appropriate times! We sat outside as the day was perfect weather and there was a violinist busking in the area! I highly recommend it. It's on the pricier side as it's a fine dining type of establishment. read more

See all

The food was good as always, but the customer service could use a bit of attention. To start there were 2 managers and a hostess standing at the door watching me struggle to get my husband in and I had to turn around and ask could someone help me hold the door open. This would definitely make me have pause to go back. read more

This restaurant is located a block from the wharf. We could not recommend it more highly. The service was excellent. Our waitress understood my likes and dislikes and accommodated me with a professionalism that exhibited both knowledge and concern. The restaurant is attractive and comfortable. There is lots of seating both inside and out. Its location is ideal for an after dinner walk along King Street or the wharf. The food was exceptional. I ordered soft shell crab. I am often disappointed, but this was the best I have had in twenty years. My husband ordered the Chilean Sea Bass that he said he would order again if we were ever in Alexandria. That would be a first for him since he loves trying new things. He not only loved the fish but the Forbidden Rice upon which it was served. Again, we would highly recommend this restaurant. read more

This gem is a go to for a date night. It has a historical feel as the building is modified from its original build from early Alexandria (centuries old!). I visited for maybe the 5th time. Each time I visit is great service, ambiance, and food. Last night, however, was a bit subpar with food but the service and hospitality were excellent. It was valentines dinner on a Friday night and the restaurant was packed, which may had led to the food not being as great as normal. I ordered a filet mignon cooked medium but received a filet cooked almost well done, tasteless, and chewy :( the amazing drinks made up for the sub par meal. I will return of course. read more

The Wharf - Filet mignon, mashed potatoes and veggie of the day with a Hennessy Sidecar - Seafood Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Despite seeing some negative reviews about the food, I decided to give this place a chance since opinions seemed mixed. Unfortunately, it turned out to be a big mistake--this is definitely somewhere I'd recommend avoiding. I ordered oysters, and they were served in a shocking condition: with a worm crawling on them. When I pointed this out to the server, she dismissed it and claimed it was normal and "comes with it," which was honestly concerning. A manager eventually stepped in, took the plate back, and offered to replace the dish, but by that point I had completely lost my appetite and declined. Overall, the experience was unsettling, and the food quality was far from acceptable. Not worth the risk. read more

The Wharf - Worm - Seafood Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Wife and I were away for romantic weekend. Booked here for seafood. Started with oysters on the half shell, they were good, but all you have to do is chuck them. Came with cocktail sauce only, no mignonette, too bad. I wanted to order the seafood salad entree, it listed blue cheese and I asked for a substitute, they said how about cheddar? With seafood, ugh, I asked for either goat cheese or feta, the waiter came back and said sorry we don't have them, really, in a fine dining restaurant. So I prefer the special Mediterranean Sea bass. It was just ok. My wife ordered jumbo shrimp cocktail, 3 medium shrimp were presented, disappointing. Restaurant could use a make over. read more

This is a solid choice for good food and superior service. I've been here multiple times and never miss a chance for the she crab soup. It's one of the best I've ever had. Very elegant setup that's perfect for celebrations, date night, or any time you want to feel luxurious. read more

The Wharf - STUFFED CHESAPEAKE FLOUNDER - Seafood Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

The outside of the restaurant looked a little fancier than it was inside. The ceiling was full of wires and staples so it wasn't as romantic as I had hoped but this is an older building so I can't fault them. We sat away from the bar and arrived around 7:30. The restaurant was pretty empty but then again it was a Wednesday. We were offered tap, still, or sparkling water and crusty bread with butter. The butter was nice and soft which is always a nice touch. We got a half dozen oysters. I was kind of surprised there was no mignonette but then again, it wasn't listed on the menu. It came with cocktail sauce, horseradish, and lemons. I got the horseradish crusted salmon and it came with garlicky spinach and some mashed potatoes. The salmon was pretty big and I couldn't finish it all, not for lack of trying. My husband got the rockfish served atop some succotash, it was very good as well. The prices were on par with the area. The waitress was attentive and checked on me to make sure my specially made drink was made correctly. read more

The Wharf - HORSERADISH CRUSTED SALMON* - Seafood Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

See all

I go to the restaurant often with family or friends and it has a great atmosphere and food. Above all, service there makes it even more special. We love Diego, he has such a positive energy, always personable, attentive to the table and guests. He always welcomes you with a smile aiming to serve you the best. It is hard to find that kind of service in restaurants these days. Please look for Diego of you go to the Wharf restaurant. We love you Diego! Thank you again. read more

I dined at The Wharf during Alexandria Restaurant Week to celebrate my birthday with friends, and it was such a lovely evening from start to finish. The 3-course Restaurant Week menu was $55 per person and offered great variety with a classic Chesapeake feel. To start, I had the Bourbon Spiced Cider--while it wasn't quite my favorite due to the prominent star anise flavor, it was still nicely presented and festive for a winter celebration. The Chesapeake Bay She-Crab Soup, served with oyster crackers, was rich, creamy, and comforting--exactly what you want in a classic regional soup. I also added the Crabcake Appetizer, and I'm so glad I did. Made with all lump crab meat, it was tender, well-seasoned, and paired perfectly with The Wharf's homemade aioli and citrus greens. For my entrée, the Stuffed Rockfish truly stole the show. The filet was generously filled with crab imperial and finished with a lobster sherry cream sauce, served alongside mashed potatoes and vegetables. It was indulgent, flavorful, and beautifully executed. Dessert was a smooth and decadent Chocolate Mousse, the perfect sweet ending to a celebratory dinner. Between the elevated seafood, warm atmosphere, and the joy of celebrating with friends, this was a wonderful birthday dinner and a fantastic way to experience Restaurant Week. I'd happily return--especially for the she-crab soup and crab cakes. read more

From start to finish, everything we order and tasted was absolutely yummy and the presentation was lovely too. Be sure to grab a seat outside and hopefully the violinist is playing nearby. read more

The Wharf is a casual yet elegant seafood restaurant. The ambience is romantic yet a unique and relaxing vibe. My wife , niece and I enjoyed their seafood appetizer for 4. I choose as my main dish their Seafood Cioppino which consisted of clams, swordfish, shrimp and scallops with a lite red sauce. I was totally in awe of my dish that I would highly recommend it. Our server Rashel was delightful and we really enjoyed her company. My niece lives around there which means we'll be definitely returning their in the near future. read more

My wife and I came here for Winter Restaurant Week and we had a great time! We had a full 3-course meal: Apps (Caesar Salad & She Crab Soup), Entrée (Salmon Oscar), and Dessert (Basque Style Cheesecake). You can't go wrong with Caesas Salad, but it was okay. Nothing special. My wife enjoyed the crab soup but the sherry took away from the experience. It wasn't bad though. The Entrées were BANGIN!!!! So gooooddd... the salmon, postatoes, and grilled asparagus - was "LIKE THAT!" It was so good, we were apalled. The entree alone sealed the deal for us. We WILL be coming back. Customer Service was so personable, and the waiters were "ON IT!" Super attentive; 10 out of 10. We weren't fans of the cheesecake. Just not what we were used to (i.e. New York Style) but it wasn't "the worst," or bad. It was decent. All in all-- We're gonna have to come back and try some other dishes. read more

The Wharf - ENTREES SALMON OSCAR - Seafood Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

See all

We come here almost every Christmas Eve and we love it! We split a fee appetizers, order lobster and steaks, and then split a few different desserts. The service is always amazing, but I definitely recommend getting a reservation because they are booked during the holidays. The restaurant is busy, but is also moderately quiet allowing for an enjoyable dining experience. Highly recommend! read more

See all

I came here for lunch and ordered the broiled old-town seafood platter that came with rockfish, shrimp, and a crab cake. The only thing I would recommend is perhaps adding a veggie instead of fries. However, the food was seasoned and delicious. Also, the complimentary bread they give you is good and soft. The inside is spacious and they also offer outdoor seating. I decided to sit at the bar. The bartender was nice, and patient, and continued to check on me. Another recommendation or gripe, they don't offer sweet tea, so I stuck with drinking water. read more

The Wharf - Seafood Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

I tried the Wharf in Old Town and it was a great way to spend a beautiful evening! I sat outside and watched Old Town Alexandria go by. Service was stellar; i was dining alone, so I always appreciate a kind server. We started with bread! It's always a treat to get warm bread as you sit down. I got the she crab soup, which was super flavorful and had a decent amount of crab in it. I also got the Caesar salad and topped it with a crab cake. The Caesar was good, but the crab cake was stellar. It was all lump crab, had a perfect light sear, and was perfectly seasoned. Was it probably a little pricy? Sure, but it was a delicious dinner in a great setting! read more

Pictures from the outside make this spot seem much more fancier than it actual is. There was a leak from the ceiling in the middle of the dining room. The wooden paneling on the walls looked unwell. The waitstaff was over dressed. Pasta and sauce had some nice kick to it. Lobster was pretty standard and the sides balanced it well. read more

See all

Visited The Wharf this past Sunday for an 8pm reservation. We lucked out with street parking as there was someone pulling away when we arrived. The restaurant was rather empty inside as most people were sitting outdoors on this cooler evening. Inside, the restaurant is cozy with a nautical theme. We ended up being seated indoors next to a window near the bar, and had the space all to ourselves. My date and I ordered from the Restaurant Week menu, which had limited options compared to the regular dinner menu, but figured it was the last day of Restaurant Week, so why not? We both had the She Crab soup and crab cakes (+$10 up-charge) for our appetizer and entrée respectively, and while he had the bread pudding, I had the cheesecake for dessert. Service was excellent, but as expected when the restaurant is hardly at half capacity. The bread we were served upon sitting down was delicious and paired well with the creamy She Crab soup, which comes with oyster crackers; however, the proportion of soup to crabmeat was slightly disappointing - I would have liked for there to be more chunks of crabmeat in the soup, but honestly, who wouldn't? The crab cakes come with two decent sized cakes with only a small amount of filler, but would have looked slightly more appetizing if broiled for just a few minutes at the end of cooking, so that the top is slightly browned and not so soft (as if just reheated in a microwave); the dish is served perfectly salted with grilled asparagus as well as mashed potatoes. It's a good value for the price (despite the $10 up-charge)! Neither the bread pudding nor the cheesecake were anything to write home about, so probably could have skipped that unless you ordered from the Restaurant Week menu, which includes dessert. Overall, The Wharf was a solid experience. Although I wouldn't make the drive specifically for the crab cakes here, I would definitely come back to try their other seafood dishes! read more

See all

We made a reservation for Valentine's Day here and I wouldn't recommend this spot for a busy day / dinner. We were seated on the second floor and there were so many tables packed in the room. The tables were so close it didn't feel like we could have an intimate dinner conversation. Also, barely enough room to get around the tables. It seemed the staff also wasn't prepared for the Valentine's Day rush because few tables sat around for a while like they were forgotten. When one table finally called out that they were seated but hadn't been checked on, one server admitted to not realizing they were in their section. For the meal, we ordered the calamari to start and i ordered a seafood pasta for dinner. The food was fine. Nothing excited me enough to want to return any time soon. We were ready to just quickly eat and leave. read more

The Wharf - Seafood Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

This is our second time here. We first tried this place during Alexandria Restaurant Week. At that time, we just thought it was good but nothing special. We ended up trying again today and everything was delicious! The special dish for summer is lobster watermelon salad. It's super good I could swim in it and die happy. Sadly, it's only seasonal dish. Lobster pasta was good but some piece of lobster was little overcooked. The sauce was good. Swordfish skewer was good. My husband really likes it (the fish is little salty for me, but it's good when you eat it with rice and vegetables). Service was great. The host, the manager, and the waitstaff were amazing and attentive. Now we are planning to come back again. PS: This place has a cool historic pierce of the building from 1800s, like the beams and the wall part. They even had a sign giving a brief history of that piece. It's super cool. read more

See all

Took my mom here and had a great meal. The food tasted fresh and the the ambiance was pretty elegant. I would come back for sure.

I was on a roadtrip and picked Alexandria as my stopover destination. Glad I did- hotel staff highly recommended this restaurant. Excellent service- seated outdoors as soon as we arrived. We were able to enjoy fresh breeze, cool temperatures and live jazz music from locals playing on the street. We were served bread and water shortly after. I settled on a special that they were offering that evening and it was scrumptious down to the last bite. We also ordered a side dish for my toddler which was a crab succotash. I ate about half of it myself!! From the hostess to waiter- everyone was spot on. Definitely a restaurant I would consider if and when I'm back in Alexandria. read more

The Wharf - Stuffed Lobster, scallops, shrimps, potatoes and spinach - Seafood Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Great service! Great atmosphere !Great food! Totally recommend this restaurant! We love the seafood and how attentive our waitress was. read more

The Wharf - Great atmosphere! - Seafood Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

See all

I went to The Wharf in Alexandria, VA for an early birthday celebration back in September. I ordered the Lobster Pasta which was delicious. It was a quiet vibe and the service was polite and quick. At the end of the dinner they surprised me with a birthday cheesecake. I would love to go back again. read more

The Wharf - New York Cheesecake - Seafood Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

See all

I came in yesterday for Alexandria restaurant week. The place is really charming inside and I like the decor. The service was great! I never went without anything and the waiter was very attentive. Now the restaurant week special is one appetizer, one entree and one dessert for $55. For my appetizer, I ordered the calamari. It was soggy, lukewarm and tasted like flour. I had maybe 3 bites and I couldn't stomach anymore. Now for my entree I had the seared scallop risotto. The risotto was very bland, but ended up being okay after seasoning it with salt and pepper. The scallops were over cooked, nearly burnt. I ate a few bites of this and decided I was done. The food was so disappointing, I didn't even bother taking the free dessert included. I really had high hopes for this place but I left hungry and very disappointed... read more

The Wharf - Scallop risotto - Seafood Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Food was great! We got the popcorn shrimp, crab cake, broiled salmon, and stuffed flounder. Service was 4/5. Ambiance lovely! I will definitely return! read more

The Wharf - Broiled salmon. Lobster mashed potatoes. - Seafood Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

The Louie salad is fresh. It's a big salad for one person, perhaps enough for two side salads if you want to share. The complementary salad dressing is delicious, however the flavor sets in a few hours later. I started the salad at the restaurant and took it home. I also had the she crab soup. It's was filling, creamy with very small lumps of dumplings and crab. I was craving the "she" flavor the entire time. I would skip it and try another soup. Salt, pepper, and chalula on everything for flavor and spice. The recipes are American and geared towards salt conscious customers. Wine was a savvy blanc from NZ. Yes! Refreshing, citrusy and crisp. The wait staff are very well trained and friendly, as is the manager (host). Checked on me frequently and asked me if I needed different things to enhance my experience. I appreciate that very much. Sit outside if the weather permits! read more

The Wharf - Crab Louie Salad - Seafood Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

See all

beautiful dine in restaurant! Great friendly and courteous staff. The Lobster is authentic and amazing

The Wharf delivered an extraordinary baby shower for 55 people, taking over the third floor and serving a variety of bites and a cash bar. The staff, especially manager Teo, were easy to work with before and during the event. The food was delicious and well presented. The pricing was fair. I highly recommend The Wharf for dining and events. read more

The service and ambiance was so enjoyable. I was happy to enjoy the service of more mature, polite and attentive staff. The complimetary bread and butter was a nice treat. The blackened scallops were prepared delicious. The crab cake was not my very favorite, but I liked the lighty battered crust. Everything prepared nicely and professional staff. Large wine selection. read more

Amazing place with absolutely amazing seafood. We came here for Memorial Day Weekend, and we loved it. We didn't have to make a reservation even though the place was pretty busy and it was a very busy weekend. We had cold seafood platter that was really amazing. I loved their oysters. I also ordered scallop risotto which was very good. I love risotto but unfortunately many restaurants always mess it up. The Wharf did amazing! We had a great meal with nice wine! Definitely recommend this place. Outdoor seating is amazing, super pleasant and inviting. read more

The Wharf - Scallop risotto - Seafood Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

See all

We absolutely LOVE Old Town Alexandria. The numerous restaurants on King Street make it hard to decide. For my husband's birthday we chose The Wharf. We did the inside dining due to it being so hot outside and we just came back from a boat trip. This historic building was full of details on the walls of what was there before. Very nice, quaint dining, with an upstairs dining as well. Immediately, upon being seated our drink order was taken and our server Diego was there to introduce himself. Side note: Diego is very handsome and was on top of his serving without a doubt, reason this review is a 3 ! I had the crab cakes, mashed potatoes with Asparagus! Crab cakes were ok, no fillers, nothing to really brag about. I also had the Calamari appetizer, which was really good and fried to perfection. My husband had the She-Crab soup, I think I took over, simply delicious! My husband also had the Salmon, potatoes and spinach, he said it was good. Will we return, probably. The Wharf overall, is a nice dining experience! I will let you know our next adventure in Old Town Alexandria! read more

The Wharf - All-Lump Crab cake - Seafood Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

See all