4 of us went to Cafe 44 to celebrate a birthday. Seated across from our table were about 8 or 9 women who looked to be in their early 30's. As their drinking ramped up, so did the decibel level. They just got louder and louder, talking and practically yelling to be heard over one another. So loud, in fact, that I gently asked if they could lower the loudness level so we could enjoy our meal. It was as if they never heard me (because they couldn't!). 1 other 2-top table asked to be moved as did we, but no other tables were available, even outside. We complained several times to our server who was very empathetic but could do nothing but tell the manager who never bothered to come over until at the end of the meal at our request. He told us the women made the reservation and told them they would probably be loud...they weren't kidding. There was no offer to comp drinks, dessert or anything until my friend finally had the manager come over and said they should at least comp the birthday celebrant with dessert, which they did. As the bill arrived, they also comped the wine. While the food was good, it was overshadowed by our inability to hear one another. My friend asked the manger if it was worth it to have a these women ruin several other diners' meals because they were so awfully loud beyond acceptable for dining. Needless to say, we won't be back. read more

Great food, great atmosphere, great service! My friend and I came here for a girls' night out, after our dear friend and her (now) fiancé got engaged! We actually stumbled upon Cafe 44, because we thought the proposal was going to be taking place inside of the restaurant, but we were mistaken! So glad we got turned around here, because we ended up having dinner here afterwards. Starting off with the drinks: I ordered a mojito, and my girlfriend ordered a skinny margarita (just like a regular margarita, they just use agave to sweeten the margarita instead of overly sugary simple syrup) - we were both in love with our drinks; they were strong, refreshing and hit the spot. For an appetizer, we got the crab dip and you could actually taste the crab, which was a plus. I never had crab dip served with blue corn tortilla chips. I was pleasantly surprised, but would have loved if the crab dip came with small crostini or a baguette. Now on to the main dish: my girlfriend and I both wanted to try the short rib (I get short rib whenever I can at any restaurant) and it was fall off the bone amazing. So tender, so juicy, so wonderfully seasoned. The mashed potatoes paired with it made for an amazing fall dish. We got a side of chef's veggies to share, and I was underwhelmed. The veggies had no seasoning or flavor and were a waste of money in my opinion. We finished with a glass of sparkling rose. Our waitress, Megan (and her colleague, Jacob) were incredible and super interactive, honest about the menu since it was our first time here and kind. We sat outside at the bar (I'd recommend alternate seating next time since our backs were turned to the stunning view), but the vibe was incredible nonetheless. I can't wait to go back for a date night with my boyfriend before the weather gets cold! Thanks to whomever was working the front host stand for being so accommodating for a walk-in; we didn't have any reservations and were able to be sat immediately. read more

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This place has amazing views from the rooftop. I also enjoyed my food and would definitely return again.Cafe Breakfast read more

Cafe 44 - American Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Quaint, fun, intimate brunch spot. 5 stars! Kai is an amazing server. Great for dates or girls brunch. Right on the water. read more

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Honestly..... there's potential for this place but jeez were we disappointed. Food is bland and unseasoned, lights were too bright and you couldn't see the view that is one of the highlights of the place, drinks are fine, music was too low I could hear other tables talking about fantasy football. A serious bummer. No vibe, $30 entrees that taste like freezer meals, you could see line cooks eating behind the window. Focaccia was stale and the hush puppies were where we should have stopped ordering! We should've stayed by King St for dinner because this was a huge bummer. read more

Mother's Day dinner. We sat outside in the cold in the rain. Don't trust the inclement weather policy. No one will call and ask if you'd like an earlier or reschedule. They will seat you, your 3 year old and 8 yr old out in the cold rain. A huge huge disappointment. I loved this place, but accommodating us was not worth the host/managers time as other reservations popped up. Why not call in advance? Don't assume everyone can sit at the bar. I had tears in my eyes as the manager wished me a good night as my children sat in the cold wind, we were granted a heater. Well thanks, I never ever complain but this was out of this world. Watching a family sit in the rain, was beyond. read more

Cafe 44 - Children on cold rain - American Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Ambiance is beautiful. Great views; however, the food is lacking in flavor. We had the seared scallops appetizer which was barely lukewarm when it arrived at our table and not very flavorful. The deviled eggs appetizer was super runny and bland. The seared Ahi tuna salad was not good. Ahi tuna had zero flavor. Salad was okay on its own but Ponzu dressing was also bland. I would skip here or just go for drinks. read more

This place is GREAT. Went here with a high school friend who I hadn't seen in years and it was perfect. Service was on par, great/decent prices and delicious--we were there for happy hour. It's a local's place without the "grunge". Will be back! read more

I just wanted to update my review and tell you all that i STILL love this place. I came in for lunch yesterday with my best friends (this is our special place) and got our routine mimosas, delicious as ever. We finally got a taste of the desserts and o m g, so rich and flavorful. They have a chocolate caramel bar that they refer to as "The Crack Bar", it must be delicious because they were sold out by 2pm! We decided to get the chocolate chip cookie, the raspberry pop tart and the bread pupping (you can also get it al a mode, which we did) and all were excellent choices! There's always such a great atmosphere and I never get tired of the view. We will continue to keep coming back! read more

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First dining out since the COVID quarantine! We had an early dinner last Sunday (5pm) taking advantage of restaurants re-opening for dine in. Cafe 44 has their outdoor patio on the 4th floor of an office building open, offering great views of the Potomac, D.C., and National Harbor. They are following great protocols; masks must be worn when not sitting at the table, servers all had masks on, and tables were 6-feet apart. I had no apprehensions from a COVID perspective for my family. Their menu (one time use) is a good mix of items that should please everyone. We went with the General Tso's Wings (very good, sneaky spicy), Mac & Cheese (for our toddler, who ate the whole damn bowl), Lobster Roll, Meatloaf Sandwich and Bread Pudding to go. All of the food was excellent, and the restaurant is doing a great job getting back into the swing of things. It is nice to dine outside without being on a sidewalk or street, so you feel a little more removed from people walking close by. Please go and support local restaurants! read more

Julas aka Cafe 44, offers magnificent views on the Potomac, and having brunch on the balcony should have been magical. Sadly it was not, out of 3 orders, one was not correct. while the 2 were served, the third had to wait for correct order. The mistake was barely acknowledged. It took way too long to get correct food, and my guests were already finished. I wish I could say the food made up for the mishap, but it did not. For the price. I was disappointed read more

UPDATED (response to the owner) I understand there are some bad days, but your response to my initial review is full of lies. There was no discount offered after we respectively communicated to the manager. We received a check with a full bill + 20% gratuity. You are missing $40 because that's supposed to come from a credit card YOU lost. My friend has to call her credit card company to get a replacement because of your mistake while rushing to an important event. And I know there was $50 (not $30 as you indicated) in there because I paid cash. We would have been ok paying with 1 credit card if that's what the waiter suggested (we could easily venmo) but for a restaurant, you should be able to easily accommodate multiple credit cards. Most importantly, my friends did not physically push or elbow anyone. It's one thing to defend your service, but it's another thing to make up fake news about the violence. We are just a group of young moms who just wanted to enjoy the weather, friendship and hoping for a good experience at a nice restaurant. Your response has made the whole experience even worse because of your lies. I've never been a restaurant like this. How disappointing. *** I was excited to find this hidden gem in Old Town Alexandria but the experience was unfortunately unpleasant. We were there for Saturday brunch. It took over an hour to wait for food, drinks and water refill. I ordered waffles and it was soft and cold (maybe the food has been out for a long time since we waited for 1+ hour for food). My friend ordered an avocado toast and it came without avocado. We had to remind them to refill water at least 5 times and they kept on forgetting our drinks. The worst part is they charged us gratuity on our bill after we had expressed all the problems and then they lost one of our credit cards. Apparently, they knew they lost one credit card but didn't tell us. We found out after waiting for additional 30 minutes just to wait for the check to return. The manager and staff were very unprofessional in handling the whole situation. One star for spectacular view and the other for the modern decor. read more

met friends at this location today. Atmosphere was good, view was good, waitress was good, adult beverage was great (boss lady) however food was not. Ordered the shrimp and lobster ravioli which was bland and the sauce was cold and thick. Not appetizing at all. Most likely will not return. read more

I can't get enough of the Shrimp & Grits. Large shrimp, creamy grits with a poached egg in the center. read more

Cafe 44 - Shrimp & Grits, Waffles - American Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

I had high hopes as the menu is great.. Our food was very good and what a great view. But our server, while he seemed attentive had very poor listening skills. I had to repeat that I wanted my eggs poached medium to hard He even came back to the table to ask again how i wanted my eggs so technically that would be three times. And my eggs came with runny undercooked whites anyway. I had to ask twice for our check. Normally we tip up to 40% due to COVID 19, but since this place had the hubris to add 20% automatically (and the poor service) we didn't this time. And my coffee was lukewarm and yes now that I think about it, had to ask for cream twice. read more

The new fall menu is insane. Scallops and deviled eggs were great as appetizers. But the shrimp and grits were phenomenal. Ended with a great cappuccino read more

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Beautiful place with awesome rooftop views. The service was great and I enjoyed my food. I ordered the lobster roll. It wasn't the best I've had because I felt like it needed some sort of sauce. It was a little dry for my taste. However, they gave me plenty of lobster! I will definitely visit again to enjoy the weekend brunch. Make reservations if you want to sit outside. read more

Delicious lunch and such a pretty place overlooking the river. Great service from Tony. We will be back! read more

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Great experience! I had a lovely time on the outside patio recently. Service was great and so was my meal! The drinks were awesome!

I have previously enjoyed my experience overall here. It's got a great view. The food has always been a little hit or miss. I've dined at Cafe 44 multiple times, at different times of day, given gift cards there to clients, etc. My husband and I decided to stop on Mother's Day for a lunch/brunch. They had a pre-fixe MD brunch which was more food than we were looking for so we settled for the two simple other breakfast plates they were offering which took forever to come out (even though it was around 2:00pm and the rush was over). We had hoped for biscuits even though they weren't offering the other plates we had originally been looking forward to. They begrudgingly grabbed two biscuits off the brunch table for us. However, they were stone cold and we were charged $3/piece rather than the $4 for two that we had seen on the online menu. When we asked about this, they said it's at the manager's discretion. So basically this place is good for the view, ok sometimes for the food and not the place to come if you're looking for a stellar overall guest experience. read more

I came here for restaurant week for lunch since you can get an app, lobster roll, and cookie for only $15!! A lobster roll by itself can run more than that here. The place is inside an office building, but there's a sign for it outside. There are only two parking spots but we did street parking and it was fine. There were a lot of options nearby. The restaurant itself is suuuper cute with a green foliage wall and great view of the waterfront! I think it'd be a cute place to go for happy hour! I came here with my coworker and I got the crab cake appetizer and he got the lobster bisque. The bisque was amazing and you get a decent sized bowl! The crab cakes tasted good but you only get three bite sized "cakes". I guess you can't complain since you're only paying $15 for the whole meal, but I would have gone with the bisque had I known. We both got the lobster roll and it came out with a side of chips. The lobster was really good and a perfect ratio of lobster to bread. Honestly, no complaints for the price. And we both got a cookie at the end lol. Overall, it was a great experience! i'd come back as the normal prices don't seem outrageous. The menu is small but you're bound to find something you'd like. read more

1st time and man ya'll did not disappoint! From the drinks to dessert everything was great and incredible staff! Gorgeous views and very conscientious of minimal touch and social distancing! Loved it and will be back! read more

Cafe 44 - Shrimp and Grits - American Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Went to Cafe 44 for brunch with my husband and we enjoyed the food and atmosphere. We enjoyed it so much that we decided to have brunch again a few weeks later with a party of 10 people for our anniversary. The second experience was not so nice. The experience with the larger group was very unpleasant. It took over an hour for us to start receiving food. While waiting, we periodically checked in with the waitress to see how much longer our food would be. She assured us it was on the way. After we had been waiting for over 40 minutes, we asked if we could the waiter if we could have some bread or something while we waited and she sternly told us they didn't have any. We checked back again with the waiter after more waiting and she went off on use and told us that she was only one person and she couldn't do anything. After the rude response of the waitress, we asked for the manager. She came over and looked frazzled. She didn't try offer us anything to make the situation better and didn't apologize for the wait. Thankfully, by time the manager came the food was starting to arrive. Everyones food was good for the most part but our experience was very off putting. I have never had to wait over an hour for brunch. That was a first and hopefully a last. I definitely don't think they do well with large groups at all. It was very disappointing that our anniversary brunch wasn't as nice as we wanted it to be. read more

I wanted to love this place. The drinks are interesting and the ambience and view were nice, but the food and service were lacking. Our server was incredibly slow. They acted like they were slammed because there was a happy hour event, but not all the tables in the restaurant were full. We had to ask for things multiple times and there was always a long wait. It didn't seem that crazy to me. We specifically booked the heated balcony. The sun went away and the breeze picked up, so we asked for our heat lamp to be turned on twice. Ours was never turned on, but our neighbors was and then theirs was shut off. I then heard another table complain about it to the hostess/manager? And she seemed annoyed about it saying "some people want it on and some don't so I just decided to turn them all off". We didn't hear anyone around us complain about them being on. So we should freeze? And the fact that I had to overhear that, and it wasn't even communicated to us, when we asked twice, was a less than stellar customer service experience. My chicken Caesar salad came with the dressing on the side, instead of mixed in, which I have never experienced before without specifically asking for that. It was difficult to mix in such a heavy dressing on the flat plate it was served on. I had to ask for more. The croutons tasted burnt. The bourbon bbq meatballs were okay, but nothing to write home about. The Big Dipper seemed small for the price. Large bowl of tomato soup, smaller sandwich. Overall, we left pretty disappointed. Also, you have to pay for parking. read more

Cafe 44 is one of my favorite restaurants. It has a great vibe, good food, friendly staff and great bar drinks along with a good strong espresso! The balcony view of the Potomac River is very cool too! read more

This restaurant is conveniently located on the waterfront and not a far walk from the bars or shops in town. I came with two people on a Saturday brunch and was not disappointed. The only reason I'm giving 3 stars is because the people I came with said there omelets were cold, and well, no one wants cold eggs. I had the pre-fix brunch and I would recommend it. You can choose to replace your appetizer or desert, or both, with an alcoholic beverage. I got the rose lemonade, the brûlée grapefruit and avocado toast. If you're looking for a low key spot to enjoy a meal and enjoy a nice ambiance, this place is it. read more

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Great views and worth reservations. You have unobstructed view from national harbor to DC. The sea bass was amazing. Service at the bar was great but our waiter was over bearing it was laughable at times how he was hovering and lingering at the table for no reason. read more

I loved this place! Cannot wait to go back there. View was outstanding. Lobster Bisque to die for and excellent crab cake. Our server was wonderful! read more

I was very disappointed in the service and peach salad-canned peaches in July??? I nicely told our server and then he disappeared-not giving us good service. I mentioned it was a birthday in my reservation and to the server. Nothing was done to make it special. Plus, the airplane noise was very disruptive. read more

Passing through from NJ to NC and always wanted to try this out. The views are amazing. Started out with crew teams on the river, the Monument in the backdrop and then the sun sets and the MGM appears from across the river with its large "Eye". The service was amazing, and the food was fantastic. We sat outside, no bugs, not too warm - just right. We cannot wait to stop on our next road trip! Maybe the brunch? read more

First time at Cafe 44 and I was super excited since I've heard great things about the food/place. The place itself is super cute wiyh great views however that is where my excitement ended. Our service was lacking. It took a long time to get just a drink and when our orders finally arrived to the table they were incorrect. I ordered the steak omlette which was the fattiest chunks of steak with no a lick of seasoning and uber greasy. If it means anything the the breakfast potatoes were. read more

Oh my god... I did take out from here after seeing a photo someone took of their delicious-looking dinner. So off I went, and picked up the Seared Salmon over Crawfish Risotto and I wish I'd taken a photo because it was absolutely incredible. Flavorful, flaky salmon and the risotto. As a treat, I decided to also get the Guinness Sea Salt Brownie: HOLLY CRAP. Regrettably, brownies in a to-go container don't look nearly as tasty as they truly are, but seriously, wow. Best brownie I've ever had, by a landslide. This entire dinner perfectly encapsulated a first world problem: each dish was so delectable that I wanted to eat all of it, but at the same time, I wanted to leave some so I could continue the culinary experience later. I went with the "save for later." While I didn't eat in the restaurant, it looked clean, spacious, and modern with a gorgeous view of the Alexandria waterfront. Both women I spoke with (hostess and one other) were kind and welcoming. I can't wait to go back sometime with friends... especially to check out their brunch! read more

Came for the brunch, stayed for the views! Hidden gem in an Old Town office building. Chambong = highly recommended! read more

Cafe 44 - American Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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Good food and good drinks. Loved the avotoast. Nice atmosphere. They have a regular mimosa and a cider one as well. They have some outdoor seating but it is very very limited. It would be awesome if they could expand to a ground patio or something to grow their ratio of indoor: outdoor seating further. read more

I've been here twice and my most recent visit was for Valentines Day 2020. I know it was busy so I understand the service being extremely slow, at least when the waiter came around he was friendly. The food was hot and tasty with every course. The V day menu did not have wide range for dietary restrictions. I've ordered the lobster bisque 10/10, Thai Curry Mussels 7/10(a lil spicy) Steak Frites 11/10 and for desert Cookies and Milk 11/10 (macaroons and espresso with ice cream). The prefix menu was 44$ and there were drinks to add on for a great price. I love the ambiance of this restaurant in the day and night time. Its lit beautiful at night right on the water and during the day its very bright and clean. This a date night SPOT! read more

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I came in and saw a water view and a lot of Veuve Clicquot swag, so my hopes peaked quickly. That was the highlight. My Chilean seabass was cooked perfectly - and had no flavor whatsoever. The lobster ravioli was hot but unremarkable. The crab dip lacked a sharpness that sharp cheddar should have been able to accommodate but somehow didn't. The service was polite but easily confused, awkward and inattentive - fair to middling - 16% tip "I didn't hate you but I sure didn't like you much" quality. No soft surfaces to drown out the noise and the lighting temperature of the recessed lighting was all wrong. My partner tells me one of the glasses of wine was good. At 60% of the price, I might have given it a second chance, but it presents such a poor value that it is decidedly off the list. Next!!! read more

The staff is friendly. We went for brunch and the menu is expansive. $40 per person. We opted for the cafe breakfast that included eggs, cheesy grits, meat and a biscuit. Everything was delicious except for the biscuit it was heavy. My companion had the waffle and it was delicious. I plan to visit again and plan to have the waffle. Recommendation: clean the bugs off of the window sills inside and bugs and spider web on the speaker and columns read more

Service was very slow. Drinks took about 15 minutes to arrive. Our party of six ordered dinner and when it came, the server wasn't sure who ordered what. The "Seafood Cobb" had 4 shrimp and some pre-cut bag iceberg lettuce, chopped eggs and dressing in a little cup. When I asked about what seafood would be on the salad, the answer was just shrimp. The others in our party said their food was OK but not great. The 20% tip that was added was unfortunate, as the service was not good. The food was not worth the price. Little innovation, little flavor. Beautiful location - too bad the food and service doesn't match. Will not go again. read more

For the first dining out experience since we received our COVID vaccines, I was very excited to try out Cafe 44 last night. I made reservations using Open Table and requested an outside table and upon arriving we only had a very short wait while the finished cleaning and setting up the table. After being seated, we proceeded to wait....While waiting we perused menu and selected our cocktail and since we had time, our appetizers and main course. After perhaps 10 minutes, our waiter showed up and apologized for the delay and asked if we would like to order drinks. We told him we were ready to go and ordered drinks, apps and our mains. Again we waited....after perhaps 10 minutes our appetizers arrived and then another 5 minutes later, our drink orders arrived, with an apology again for the delay. The drinks were a modest size. I don't think I have seen a martini served in that size glass before.... Almost immediately after, our main courses arrived. I had originally planned to have a cocktail and then order a glass of wine with my main course, but there was no time by the time our drinks arrived. My wife offered the watermelon salad and short ribs - and she was very pleased with both items. The salad was very flavorful as were the short ribs. I ordered what turned out to be a rather generic Caesar salad and the shrimp and grits entrée. I love a classic shrimp and grits and have to say, this disappointed. There was a distinct lack of flavor as well as seasoning. I planned to ask the waiter to bring salt and pepper, but after the mains were delivered, we did not see our waiter again until he asked if we were interested in something for desert. The place had a nice vibe and lovely overlook over the Potomac river, but all in all a very disappointing experience. Suffice to say, we have had much better service and meals for $120. I do not think we will return. Also parking below the office building costs $5 on weekends. read more

Restaurant week review: My husband and I were so excited to try this place after finding it right here on yelp. We were unable to make a reservation so we showed up when they opened and were seated right away. The staff was super friendly and accommodating. Our waiter was Melvin and we loved his positive energy. We were lucky enough to get a window table overlooking the Potomac river and it was gorgeous. I ordered from the restaurant week menu and it did not disappoint! My husband ordered the waffle plate from the regular brunch menu and added a side of white cheddar grits. He loved it! All of the pictures of our food are posted! We will definitely be back! read more

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