Love Tacqueria in Del Ray, also.

Anonymous wrote:Le Refuge! For dinner or brunch. Virtue Feed and Grain is good and has a fun interior. I wouldn't recommend Los Tios or Fireflies, both are just ok and nothing to write home about. The best place in Del Ray is Dairy Godmother, an ice cream shop.

It's not ice cream, dumbass. It's Frozen Custard.

But it's a favorite of Team Obama.

Los Tios is probably the best Tex-Mex in the area. Nothing to write home about, my ass.

Le Refuge! For dinner or brunch. Virtue Feed and Grain is good and has a fun interior. I wouldn't recommend Los Tios or Fireflies, both are just ok and nothing to write home about. The best place in Del Ray is Dairy Godmother, an ice cream shop.

Anonymous wrote:I'd go to Old Town...

Overwood
Fish Market
Landini's
Mai Thai

Brunch: Chadwicks, Chart House, Southside 815 (all work for dinner too)

Except for Southside 815, these are all tourist joints.

I like Buzz for coffee & pastries, Rustico for my pizza fix & Virtue Feed & Grain for just some decent food. All in Alexandria.

I like Me Jana for Lebanese in Arlington.

^^^
Both are in nice neighborhoods for walking around after dinner, but the walk is different.

Evening Star is in Del Ray, a small family-friendly residential neighborhood. You'll see more strollers and dogs. After-dinner spots you might find would include a small independent coffeehouse or the world's best freaking frozen custard place. The walk's only a few blocks long and while restaurants and cafes will be open, the few shops will all be closed.

Vermilion is on King Street, which is also charming, but more commercial. A lot more places; you can walk as long and far as you like. There will be bars for after-dinner drinks, the cobbled streets and Colonial townhouses of Old Town, and if you walk far enough (other side of City Hall, down by the river) you may find some shops that are open, galleries, busking musicians, etc.

Vermilion is wonderful, wonderful. With wine, right around the top of your budget. Without, you'll be comfortably under.

Evening Star is very nice, and not quite as expensive.

Thanks, everyone, these are great suggestions!

+1 for Vermilion.

Anonymous wrote:I'd go to Old Town...

Overwood
Fish Market
Landini's
Mai Thai

Brunch: Chadwicks, Chart House, Southside 815 (all work for dinner too)

Personally, I would skip Overwood and Fish Market. I would recomend Landini Bro's and Mai Thai (make a reservation and ask to be seated upstairs by the window).

For the brunch spots, I would add Jackson 20 to the list (make a reservation!).

I'd go to Old Town...

Overwood
Fish Market
Landini's
Mai Thai

Brunch: Chadwicks, Chart House, Southside 815 (all work for dinner too)

Anonymous wrote:Alexandria is teaming with restaurants.

Lots to choose from in Old Town, of course.

But I recommend Del Ray.

Evening Star Cafe is a local favorite.

Los Tios if you like Mexican/Salvadorean food.

Fireflies is another local favorite.

I live in Del Ray. Fireflies is just okay, more like a place we go when we want to eat and drink beer with a group of friends (sometimes they have live music). We have been leaning more toward the Del Ray Pizzeria for this type of casual evening out, though. Evening Star is good. Los Tios is good tex-mex. DH and I like to go there and order margaritas the size of our heads.

In Old Town, for a "nice" dinner -- nicer than any of the above, perhaps check out Vermillion or The Majestic. Restaurant Eve is probably out of your budget (but is definitely fancy and perfect for an adventurous eater), but if you happen to be in Old Town on a weekday for lunch, you can sit at the bar and order any two items on the bar menu for $15 per person. I have never had dinner there, but I work from home and go there about once a month for the lunch special.

If you want sushi, try Momo -- it's not fancy, but it's good.

Anonymous wrote:Alexandria is teaming with restaurants.

Lots to choose from in Old Town, of course.

But I recommend Del Ray.

Evening Star Cafe is a local favorite.

Los Tios if you like Mexican/Salvadorean food.

Fireflies is another local favorite.

Thanks!

Alexandria is teaming with restaurants.

Lots to choose from in Old Town, of course.

But I recommend Del Ray.

Evening Star Cafe is a local favorite.

Los Tios if you like Mexican/Salvadorean food.

Fireflies is another local favorite.

We live elsewhere but will be spending a weekend in Alexandria, just me and DH! We would like to eat dinner at a nice restaurant, we don't eat out a lot and have about $100 to spend. We are adventurous eaters, love foreign food, etc. We're not huge drinkers but one glass of wine each for dinner type people.

We also want to go out for brunch. Any favorite brunch places? We'll be staying just outside of Old Town but don't mind driving around.

Thanks!