Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Mia's Italian Kitchen

    4.3 (1.6k reviews)
    ModeratePizza, Italian, Wine Bars
    Open 11:00 am - 11:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Order Mia's Italian Kitchen Takeout

    Mia's Italian Kitchen Photos

    Business Info

    MIA'S ITALIAN KITCHEN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Touristy
    Trendy

    More like Mia's Italian Kitchen

    Recommended Reviews - Mia's Italian Kitchen

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    DI CARNE
    Samyukta S.

    Nice restaurant in Old Town Alexandria close to the waterfront, and on a lively bustling street filled with quaint shops and ice cream parlors. MIA offers indoor and outdoor seating. Given the summer heat we opted to sit indoors, but by a full length open window, allowing a lovely indoor/outdoor atmosphere. Reservations are definitely required - this place was packed! We ordered a couple glasses of vino, and a few dishes to share: 1. Bruschetta - while presented in a unique fashion this appetizer was honestly not my favorite. I enjoy bruschetta in bite size pieces with a good amount of balsamic vinegar on top. This was served in giant pieces of bread that we had to cut ourselves, resulting in the tomatoes falling everywhere and no balsamic to be seen. I'd skip this. 2. Pasta Alla Zozzona - loved this dish! Pasta was evidently fresh and made in-house, what an incredible flavor! And the sauce was chefs kiss. One of their most popular menu items for a reason. 3. Di Carne Pizza - their pizzas are all personal pan size, perfect for sharing if you are ordering a pasta as well. This was a delicious choice! If you're especially hungry they also offer a very affordable four course tasting menu for $39 per person, allowing each person to pick one item from a selection of appetizers, salads, entrees and desserts. Enjoyed our meal here very much!

    James L.

    I've dined at Mia's Italian Kitchen MANY times over the years...and with good reason. Mia's has an excellent location - literally steps from the Old Town Alexandria waterfront - and has both indoor and outdoor patio dining available. While some reviews have characterized Mia's as being "touristy", I tend to disagree. Having visited with friends/family as well as out of town guests, there is a reason that this place is a local favorite. Some visiting work colleagues were staying in Old Town, and for their last night, 10 of us decided to have our team dinner at Mia's. Another bonus that this place can accomodate larger groups...usually in the upstairs dining room. But I HIGHLY suggest making reservations ahead of time, since this place is super booked during prime dinner hours. TIP: While patio dining is perferrred for the Spring and cooler summer months, if you're looking to escape the heat, request sitting upstairs as the first floor is smaller and tends to be 5-10 degrees warmer. Some of us arrived early, and took advantage of the budget friendly HH in the bar area - https://alexandria-va.miasitalian.com/ - scroll down to the "menu" section for HH options. $5 for draft beers and light bites range from $3.50 - $10 which is a heck of a deal! When everyone arrived, we were seated in a long table, and our friendly server arrived promptly to take drink orders. I went with the suggested Espresso cocktail (don't remember the exact name), which was refreshing for a hot summer day. Swirls of strong coffee flavor mixed perfectly with icy rum. Skipped appetizers and just ordered one of my favorites, which is the All-Beef Meatball sandwich. The side portion of Sunday Salad was a mixture of crisp iceberg lettuce, tossed with roma tomatoes, cucumbers, marinated cannellini beans, pickled red onions, and topped with zesty italian dressing. The meatball sub is HUGE. The meat is fork tender and not overseasoned, which allowed the san marzano marinara and melted mozzarella to complement the flavor profile. I was only able to consume 1/4 of the sandwich at the restaurant, which was perfect since I had lunch for the next day. Everyone had a wonderful time, and another bonus that even for a large party, having the bill split into separate checks wasn't an issue...unlike at some restaurants. If you're visiting Old Town and want a place that is able to cater to most palates, Mia's Italian should be at the top of your list. And final bonus, after finishing your meal, grab some ice cream from one of the nearby shops, and then stroll over the waterfront for the amazing views.

    Outdoor seating view
    Amber R.

    This restaurant has been on my list! A wonderful experience. My friend and I were on a walk and we stopped for lunch. Although I did not order as much as I'd like because I was on a time limit, I will be returning. Amb

    GRILLED RUSTIC GARLIC TOAST V
    Pranav P.

    Went with my parents and had a great experience! The garlic roasted was amazing with the bread and the fried zucchini was incredibly fresh! Not pictured was the chicken Parmesan which I would absolutely have again! Great service, didn't have to flag down the waitress, and she had good wine recommendations (would go again on wine Wednesday for 1/2 off wines)

    ZUCCHINI FRIES V
    Sharol N.

    Went to this quaint restaurant in Old Town Alexandria with my neice and 4 young kids. We were surprised that they offered kids coloring pages and a nice kids menu. We ordered Eggplant parmesian sandwich, a salad, zucchini fries, several pizzas and garlic bread. The restaurant was elegant with large painted ceilings and modern art. A great place to eat and enjoy a wonderful Lunch.

    RIGATONI ALLA BOLOGNESE
    Maria Gracias H.

    This has to be one of the best brunch spots in the DC area--and easily one of the best in Alexandria. The $32 bottomless brunch is an incredible deal. The dishes just keep coming, with plenty of options, generous portions, and consistently delicious food. We practically tried almost everything on the menu, and every single dish was well executed--even the scrambled eggs, which are surprisingly hard to get right! Warning::: the giant meatball is truly giant. Come hungry. The blue mussels and clam linguine were impeccable. What impressed me most was that they didn't cut corners on flavor despite the bottomless format. Everything tasted fresh, thoughtfully prepared, and full of flavor. Can't wait to come back and work my way through the menu again. 10/10

    Sonya L.

    Came here for brunch and they have a pretty generous all you can eat. The service was very good and the restaurant has two floors. For food, we came as a larger group so pretty much a little bit of everything. Nonnas Sunday gravy was delicious, it was rich and hearty. The cacio e Pepe was delicious also, creamy with the Al dente noodles. The giant meatball was surprisingly really good and really big. The pizzas were also good. We tried a couple different ones and and really liked the fungi one. Because it was brunch there's a good selection of sweets too! The donuts were good and fresh (aka very hot!) and the cinnamon raisin Italian toast was also a nice sweet treat, it reminded me more like bread pudding since the toast was less "toasty" but more of a warm dense bread. Overall great experience, very affordable for ayce and nice location!

    Nessa R.

    While in Orlando, I visited a Mia's Italian Kitchen. Well, my experience in Florida was so good, I had to come back and happy we have one here. When my friend asked me to pick where I wanted. I said I wanted to visit the Mia's in Old Town, he laughed, and said, "Mia's? That's what you want?" Mia's was absolutely what I wanted. On a weekday, Mia's in Old Town was packed! By 6:30 p.m. it was hustling and bustling, he was surprised too, he had never been and he was impressed by the patronage. He doesn't eat what he calls casual dining. Although a little loud and tables close together, we managed to catch up, talk, and just appreciate time to reconnect. I would not recommend this as a first date but definitely date night worthy. Not dressy but perfect for work attire/causal dining. Ambiance is great, busy, live and popular. Service was excellent. Happy hour is available but only at the bar, it was so crowded we didn't get to pregame. Let's get into it! Bruschetta - Yummy Meatball - Yummy Chicken Parmigiana - Mine at this location was salty - sigh Lasagna - Loved it! He ordered the best thing IMO. Drinks fantastic! Would come back if in the area and needed an American Italian fix.

    Pepperoni Pizza
    Madison G.

    We stopped here for brunch on a whim, and I am so happy we found this gem. The staff were super accommodating when it came to getting situated at a high top table with our toddler. A man (who I assume was an owner/manager) even brought a small plate of fruit over to her! Those are the sweet gestures that go a long way nowadays. The food here was INCREDIBLE. I ordered the pepperoni pizza and it was the perfect portion for one person. I loved the deep dish crust as well. I would a definitely come back to try more flavors! We also split an order of the ricotta donuts (delish), cacio e pepe pasta (amazing), and my husband had the signature meatball eggs Benedict, which he said was amazing. Overall, we could not have asked for a better experience here for a quick brunch while visiting family. We will 100000% be back this summer!

    MIA-S BRUSCHETTA
    Hayleigh L.

    Love Mia's!!! Favorite Italian restaurant by far. Appetizers we love the bruschetta but skip the zucchini fries they are too greasy! Love the Sunday salad & the Caesar salad, the side portion is plenty big enough to split between 2 people. The diavola pizza is DELICIOUS!! We love the chicken parm & again the portions are HUGE and plenty big enough for my husband & I to split the entree & still have leftovers to take home. For dessert we loveeee the tiramisu but the cannolis were not our favorite. Such a cute restaurant. Complementary birthday dessert too! Service is terrible though lol.

    MIA-S BRUSCHETTA
    Denise C.

    I came here to celebrate a birthday lunch as it was highly recommended. The place was hoppin and fun in a cute and trendy neighborhood. It's a multi level eatery with distinctive dining spaces and an open kitchen on the upper floor. The menu had lots of good options, even for the most pickiest of eaters. We placed our orders and we were off to a good start with a pitcher of sangria. The establishment was packed on a weekday but the staff was friendly and attentive. We patiently waited for our starters and it did take awhile. However once it came, the rest of our meal followed quickly. For starters we had zucchini fries, bruschetta and fried provolone cheese. Next we had Caesar salad and the Sunday salad. Then came the mussels fra diavola, shrimp fra diavola, eggplant parmigiana, bucatini cacio e pepe and Mia's Italian sandwich. All this ended with their tiramisu and chocolate chip cannoli. The portions were generous and we all left with our bellies quite full. Indeed it was a deliciously decadent lunch but well worth it. No regrets!

    Summer sangria
    Heidi F.

    What a treat! We came here on a whim well mostly because it smelled good and they had outdoor dining! We had our pup with us and they were really accommodating and kind. The menu is impressive and I like the idea of the all you can eat brunch, I'll definitely plan for that in the future. We got a pitcher summer sangria and it was delicious but very much heavy on orange juice. We also got the mushroom pizza and cod piccata. The kitchen took some time as it was a busy afternoon, and our waiter offered us some bread which was really kind. The cod was incredible and something I would return for. The risotto was so tender and a perfect companion. The pizza was a decent size for a appetizer (not big) but very decadent. It was our anniversary and the server brought was some brownie bites to celebrate they were really delicious. Great spot was awesome food!

    Cheese Pizza
    Raneem K.

    Visited Mia's for a cousins birthday and it was a cozy, welcoming experience. The staff were friendly, although we had a few mess ups with ordering, they were kind to help fix the situation, and help ensure for we have a good experience. The food itself was very yummy, I didn't get to grab a picture of everything. However, the cheese pizza here was yummy, but my favorite was their bruschetta! The tomato's were so fresh and tasty, their mozzarella sticks are also very tasty and crispy. Other dishes we ordered were ceasar salads with grilled chicken, chicken Parmesan and Margherita pizza. All of which were super yummy!

    Checking in

    See all

    2 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Dave N.

    Dave N.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    29 days ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Dave N.

    Dave N.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    29 days ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Dave N.

    Dave N.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    16 days ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Dave N.

    Dave N.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    16 days ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Dave N.

    Dave N.

    Helpful 8
    Thanks 3
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    23 days ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Dave N.

    Dave N.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 days ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Dave N.

    Dave N.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Dave N.

    Dave N.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Dave N.

    Dave N.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 days ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Dave N.

    Dave N.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Dave N.

    Dave N.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Nessa R.
    900
    1120
    5910

    2 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Dave N.

    Dave N.

    Helpful 39
    Thanks 14
    Love this 42
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Dave N.

    Dave N.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Dave N.

    Dave N.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Dave N.

    Dave N.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Dave N.

    Dave N.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Dave N.

    Dave N.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Dave N.

    Dave N.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Dave N.

    Dave N.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Dave N.

    Dave N.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Dave N.

    Dave N.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Dave N.

    Dave N.

    Helpful 8
    Thanks 4
    Love this 5
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Dave N.

    Dave N.

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 1
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Dave N.

    Dave N.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    15 days ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Dave N.

    Dave N.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    28 days ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Dave N.

    Dave N.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 days ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Dave N.

    Dave N.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Dave N.

    Dave N.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Dave N.

    Dave N.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Dave N.

    Dave N.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Dave N.

    Dave N.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Dave N.

    Dave N.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Dave N.

    Dave N.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Dave N.

    Dave N.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kyn H.
    3
    54
    355

    1 month ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Dave N.

    Dave N.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Dave N.

    Dave N.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Dave N.

    Dave N.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    8 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Dave N.

    Dave N.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Dave N.

    Dave N.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Dave N.

    Dave N.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 41

    Mia's Italian Kitchen Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Mia's Italian Kitchen

    Do they have happy hour?

    Yes they do, and it is a good one.

    For the bottomless brunch can you order anything off the entire menu or just the brunch menu? Thanks!

    Just the brunch menu but it's huge and has lots of pasta and pizza from the regular menu

    Do you have to do the $26 bottomless brunch on Saturday or can you still order off the main menu separately? I wanted to go with my parents but they just don't eat that much to do the $26 version. Hoping we can order off the normal menu instead.

    Hello Alicia, Yes, you are welcome to order a la carte off the restaurant menu for brunch as well. We look forward to having you join us soon!

    Are pizza slices served during dinner? What are the options?

    Yes and they are delicious. They have several options but my favorites are the sausage and peppers or mushroom slices.

    Has anyone experienced the bottomless brunch. Is alcohol included? Can someone describe their experience in detail? Is it worth the $26?

    I'm happy to answer Ed :) It's not included, alcohol is $8 for the first glass and then $4 each. You… Read more

    What time is happy hour?

    Monday-Friday 12-7

    Is there a cocktail menu other than Happy Hour?

    Yes

    View All 11 Questions

    Brut Champagne and Wine Bar

    Brut Champagne and Wine Bar

    4.3
    (84 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    A small slice of perfect…read more I hesitate to write this review, because I selfishly wish to keep this gem to myself - but that would be unfair to the business, so here we go. Located just off the bustle of King St., Brut sits unassumingly among the Old Town townhomes. You could easily walk past, and not notice it at all. But, if you've dialed in Brut as your destination, be prepared to step in to an oenophile's wet dream. The establishment is both a bottle shop and a wine bar. Every bottle in the joint is carefully curated. There is no junk...no fluff...no quid to subsidize quo...all excellence, from any country or region your heart may desire. Do your Christmas shopping here, for sure. That shopping is going to make you thirsty, so pony up to the small but well appointed bar. Its no easy thing to find a bar with a good "wine by the glass" list, but Brut manages that task with ease. From your sauvignon blancs, through the pinots, to full bodied reds...take a flight of fancy, and walk home well fortified. Since the bar is small, and seats are at a premium, the owner Dustin does a masterful job of weeding out the Riff-raff. Trust me when I say that watching it is far better than TV. I cannot recommend this cool little spot more highly. Maybe I'll see ya there sometime!

    Giving 4 stars because the selection was good, staff was knowledgeable, and the actual wine and…read morecheese we had was quite nice. It's a little pricey relative to places like Verre wine bar in Courthouse or area Vineyards. I noticed they had the Valravn cab sauv and it was A $20 glass but I have seen it for several dollars less at Verre and elsewhere. However, these were really large pours. So it may be their philosophy to have someone order/pay once and get a lot then having to constantly go back for more. Which is great if you value simplicity but less so if you want variety. I also didn't see flight options, though maybe I missed them. All in all it came out to $83 for 2 glasses of red wine and a cheese plate with 5 cheeses. However they brought bread refills - not sure if it's just that the plate was priced for unlimited bread or if we were being charged for more bread each time and that is what increased the price. Service was a little lax. Again not a bad thing, depends on your preference. When we got their attention they were on it. It resulted in being completely unrushed and unpressured which I appreciate. But my friend was starving and under those conditions we would have liked someone to come take our food order sooner. Vibe is chill. I wouldn't say it's as sexy as others do. When we arrived the lights were fairly bright and then they turned them down and started putting out candles while we were there so that may have been it. That was around 7 or 8 if you are gaming this out for a date. We were the 6pm crowd so maybe they were intentionally going for a less sexy vibe for the benefit of the after work drinks with friends types. I don't recall music. Note also they seem to really focus on imported wines more so than local. I don't thibk there was any local VA wine on the menu. All in all, if you need a wine place in the area then it is totally worth stopping by, especially if you like the specific approach described above. Is it a wine bar I would go out of my way for given that there are a bunch in different neighborhoods around DC? Probably not unless I was specifically looking for this kind of imported wine menu or large pours. This is a no if you are specifically looking for flights or to otherwise try a bunch of different wines.

    Photos
    Brut Champagne and Wine Bar
    Brut Champagne and Wine Bar
    Brut Champagne and Wine Bar

    See all

    Sonoma Cellar

    Sonoma Cellar

    3.8
    (319 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    This place has casual cozy vibes and can be good for a friend catch-up or a date. I sat at the bar…read moreand everyone was really chill. Service was great-- the staff was friendly and knowledgeable. I had the featured wine flight, then split a bottle of champagne with my friend. We also had the happy hour meatballs and pimento cheese dip. Both were really tasty. I look forward to making this place a bigger part of my rotation!

    (2 out of 5 stars)…read more This is a difficult review to write because the Sonoma Cellar used to be one of my favorite spots in Old Town Alexandria. I was aware the ownership had changed some time ago, but this was my first opportunity to return and see how things had kind of evolved. The good news is that they are pet friendly, which allowed us to bring our puppy, Chewie. Unfortunately, the rest of the experience was disappointing. The service was painfully, excruciatingly slow. The staff members were polite though, and genuinely trying to help, but they simply appeared unprepared. When we asked for recommendations or information related to the wines, we received very little guidance. One gentleman eventually admitted that he was just filling in and didn't really know the wines at all. Understandable, but not the experience I was going for. The water bottle for the table served to us was room temperature, which felt odd, especially on a hot day while sitting outdoors. The wine tasting was a major disappointment compared to what Sonoma Cellar used to offer, and the overall wine selection appeared to me at least, noticeably smaller than I remembered. I was also disappointed to discover that Sonoma Cellar has adopted the increasingly common practice of adding a 3% credit card surcharge. I didn't notice any clear disclosure beforehand, and these types of fees always leave a bad impression. I know I'm a bit picky with those, but still. The establishment was likely dealing with staffing issues on the day we visited, but the overall experience felt like a shadow of what this place used to be. What used to be one of my favorite wine stops in Old Town has clearly diminished in both service and selection. We left disappointed and, sadly, don't expect to return. Chewie agreed.

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    Flourless chocolate cake
    Flourless chocolate cake
    Sonoma Cellar

    See all

    The Parlour

    The Parlour

    3.9
    (17 reviews)
    0.2 mi

    So this place is...quirky. Whether you enjoy it will depend on whether you embrace that going in…read more It gives immediate NoLa vibes. I went in expecting a place that specializes in chocolate and deserts. Turns out that's not really accurate. The environment is sensual and fantastical and beautiful, but this is really a bar and coffee shop that also sells boxed chocolates. Their actual menu had one chocolate item, a cake, which they were put of when I came. I learned they were out of the chocolate cake only after I ordered a cab sauv to go with chocolate cake, so I ended up spending an additional $30 on packaged chocolates to go with my wine and that I didn't really care for. Likewise I was not thrilled with the brioche grilled cheese small plate. It said it was a trio of mini grilled cheeses served with a soup shot for $12. So I was expecting tomato soup and three little grilled cheeses wither on mini slider buns or cut like tea sandwiches. Oh no. These were Itty bitty little toasts and the soup shot was...French onion? French onion is made with beef broth and I don't eat meat so my friend tried it and did not like it. The toasts were...miniscule. And a little burned (because small things burn). I would rather just have a real grilled cheese. We also got fries, which were fine. The cocktails however - delightful. I saw cocktails going out to other people. Gorgeous. The garnishes were a delight. My friend got a bees knees garnished with a spray of lavender and he lit it on fire. I didn't know you could just burn lavender like that and it smelled INCREDIBLE. New life hack. The space is really small. It filled up when we were there. It was my friend and me, one woman reading, and then a largeparty that felt they could kind of take the place over and they weren't being loud or rambunctious per se but because they felt the liberty to kind of inhabit the small space and take over the room it got loud and we could hear their whole conversation. Likewise, we only had one server working the whole space so he was doing cocktails, coffee, food, the cash register...he was clearly overwhelmed. Not doing a bad job, he was hustling, but it was just too much for one person and I feel like they need two people there if it's busy. Maybe this large party was atypical for a monday afternoon. I still give it 4 stars because the cocktails are fantastic, the space is beautiful, I love the concept and the kitschiness and IYKYK of it, and I also see its potential as a gorgeous sexy little cocktail bar and coffee place when it is more chill. It would easily get a 5th star from me if they reworked a few of the small plates, added more chocolate to the menu itself, and made sure they were staffed more for rushes. Maybe on weekends they are, dunno.

    Me, high collar, with fascinating bourbon cocktail. Her, red raincoat and hat, martini. Slide note…read moreacross the bar, code-words exchanged to authenticate our contact, and mission accomplished. The Parlour Spy Lounge experience.

    Photos
    Bar area
    Bar area
    Burger (highly recommend)
    Burger (highly recommend)
    The Parlour

    See all

    IL Porto Ristorante

    IL Porto Ristorante

    3.8
    (722 reviews)
    0.0 mi
    $$

    Great authentic Italian restaurant that evokes a true Italian charm! The ambience is inviting and…read moremakes you feel like you stepped into Italy for great pasta lol Staff are accommodating and personable. The honey butter is tasty and please don't get me started on how delicious the pasta is...chef's kiss! I truly enjoyed the tortellini pasta. I'll be back for another round of pasta and win!

    I want to begin by acknowledging that I chose to dine out on Mother's Day, fully aware that it is…read moreone of the busiest days of the year for restaurants. I expected longer wait times for seating and food, and I was prepared to be patient. However, what I did not anticipate was a complete breakdown in both front-of-house and back-of-house operations. Having worked in the restaurant industry, it was clear that the issues extended beyond the kitchen. A back-of-house "crash" of this magnitude is typically the result of broader operational failures, including front-of-house management. It appeared that reservations were significantly overbooked without adequate planning for the volume. On a day like Mother's Day, full capacity should be expected, and systems should be in place to manage that demand effectively. At a minimum, there should have been proactive communication with guests regarding delays, allowing them the option to adjust their plans. Additionally, basic service standards--such as keeping water glasses filled and bread baskets stocked--were not maintained. The serving staff seemed overwhelmed and unsupported, which ultimately reflects a lack of clear direction from management. During our visit, we even observed a large party leave due to the experience. I genuinely felt for our server, who appeared to be doing their best under difficult circumstances. Without directly requesting specific items and even ordering from the bar myself, the experience would have been significantly worse. Unfortunately, the food did not meet expectations either. The seafood pasta, in particular, was underwhelming in both quality and presentation--featuring minimal seafood and inconsistent preparation. At the price point, I would expect a much higher standard. The chicken Parmesan felt like cardboard and was just as thin. The cod with peas tasted exactly like the frozen cod I get from Costco. Calamari never came, which we had no idea about. No option to get anything else. If the restaurant does not have the infrastructure to handle high-volume days at a consistent level of quality, it may be worth reconsidering reservation limits or adjusting service expectations accordingly. While I understand the desire to maximize business on a busy holiday, the long-term impact of disappointed guests may outweigh the short-term gains. I hope this feedback is taken constructively, as no guest should have the experience we did. And no we did not accept any free dessert, which I felt was a completely tone def to the experience we had.

    Photos
    IL Porto Ristorante
    Spaghetti & Meatballs
    Spaghetti & Meatballs
    View from our table to front door

    See all

    View from our table to front door
    Good Fortune

    Good Fortune

    4.0
    (6 reviews)
    0.3 mi

    Went there on a painfully hot afternoon. The staff were awesome and the drinks were cold. They do…read moreneed to get some misters or fans for the staff and customers. Will go again, when a little cooler.

    View | Food & Drink | Reservation…read more View: The view is arguably the best in Old Town Alexandria--absolutely stunning. The only drawback is that you can't really enjoy it from most seats. Except for those at the bar, the seating is so low that you end up staring at the wall rather than the skyline. Food & Drink: The menu is quite limited because there's no kitchen on the rooftop. Most dishes are prepared downstairs and brought up, which contributes to slower service. That said, the drinks are excellent--perfect for enjoying a cocktail with a view. However, there are no hot drink options available upstairs, which becomes an issue during the cooler months. Reservation: The rooftop becomes extremely busy around sunset, so reservations are highly recommended. Of the roughly 20-25 seating areas, only 4-6 have heaters or firepits, so if you're visiting in fall or winter, try to request one of those spots when booking or bring blankets. Why not five stars? Slow service, limited food options, and no hot drinks--altogether, these small drawbacks cost the place one star. Pro Tips: There's no self-parking nearby, only valet, so plan to arrive 10-15 minutes early. A 10% military discount is available--just ask!

    Photos
    Outside
    Outside
    Mocktail
    Mocktail
    Menu and fire pit

    See all

    Menu and fire pit
    Mount Purrnon Cat Cafe and  Wine Bar

    Mount Purrnon Cat Cafe and Wine Bar

    4.6
    (69 reviews)
    0.5 mi
    $$

    MUST VISIT! I wanted to swing by a cat cafe while I was in town and this one was right near me. The…read moretheme is spot on, lots of kitties are available for adoption and ready to be loved! They offer events, happy hour specials, a beer and wine bar and coffee/mocktail options! The first floor is the cafe/wine bar and the second floor is where the party is at aka the kitties! They owners are very kind and truly care about the kitties. It's is so empowering seeing the passion they put into the cat cafe! I highly suggest coming here for a drink or two and stopping by to see the kitties! *fingers crossed* you'll go home with one!

    We had such a purrrfect afternoon experience here! I had wanted to visit this cat cafe for years,…read moreso spring break seemed like a great time to stop by. It was easy to make a reservation online for our entry times the day before, and check-in went very smoothly. Since it was our first visit, we were provided with instructions for everything we needed to know for interacting with the cats. Then we made our way upstairs to see the kitties! I immediately made friends with a cute tuxedo cat who flopped down at my feet. (I even got to give him a belly rub while he purred away!) The cats had many areas throughout the room where they could interact and explore, but they also had the option to go into the back if they were overstimulated. There was plenty of space throughout the room, so everyone was able to enjoy lots of kitty time. Bios for all the cats were posted on the wall to let visitors know about each kitty and their adoptability. It was clear that the cats are very loved and cared for, as they were relaxed and playful. We also stopped downstairs for lunch. The food was made fresh to order and was so delicious. I got the calico grilled cheese with a cinnamon cider, both items I would definitely enjoy again during a future visit. It was a really lovely experience, and I look forward to taking another trip there in the future!

    Photos
    Cinnamon apple cider--so delicious!
    Cinnamon apple cider--so delicious!
    Cat
    Cat
    Merchandise for sale and the handsome Ron Swanson!

    See all

    Merchandise for sale and the handsome Ron Swanson!

    Mia's Italian Kitchen - pizza - Updated July 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...