I have driven by this restaurant numerous times and swore I was going one day. That day was yesterday and I was right in staking it out. The starters and flatbreads were superbly detailed on the menu. The entrees were varied and interesting fare. The sides were perfect compliments to their dishes. Another plus is the cocktails were fun and well thought out. There was only one misstep, when we were seated, we did not get a wine list. It is a cardinal sin for a wine bistro not to provide the wine selection to its patrons. The meal was delightful and the atmosphere was very good. The restaurant has a warm and welcoming decor and the crowd was a variety of ages. This is a place the locals know about and are selective about who gets an invite to join them. read more

Came here for a late lunch with my grandma and we had a great time. She ordered the quiche and I got tagliatelle with creamy sausage and pea ragu. The portion of quiche was a little small but nonetheless flavorful. My dish was delicious and the flavors were well balanced. We both decided to end with a treat and ordered the mascarpone cheesecake with berry coulis, and I got the apple cobbler a la mode. Every single bite was finished. The service was good and ambiance makes you feel like you're dining in a wine cellar! read more

What a find... sat at the bar and was greeted by no less than (4) locals who embraced me as one of them I absolutely love this place. The atmosphere is vety inviting and warm spinach salad and sweet potato biscuits are the bomb.... We will be back!!.. read more

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Casual friendly place with a range of appealing, purposely inventive dishes. Not so easy to choose among tempting options, plural, some with a definite touch of creativity. Looking forward to going back. read more

Nice spot to dine at with the family. As it's located in a strip mall it's surprisingly good as the food and service was tasty. Kind of an awkward atmosphere as it's not what you would call a cozy warm place as it's one large room, yet you can tell they are trying to emanate an upscale kind of vibe here with the wine bar. They offer daily and weekly specials, wine tastings, etc. I ordered Grilled Fillet of Salmon with Warm Lentil Salad for $21 and it hit the spot for dinner. Basically a resto for the locals to head to if not wanting to travel too far. read more

River Bend Bistro - American Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Good food and great service. Nice neighborhood place, convenient location, easy parking.

River Bend Bistro has become a welcome addition to the Fort Hunt area, having replaced the Village Warf sometime ago. This bistro is clean and modern and boasts a menu that is well suited to its elegant decor. The owner/chief has a wealth of experience in the food industry and it shows. I only had a liverwurst sandwich but it was crisp and fresh. I wasn't too keen on the string fries, but I have never been a fan so I realize that others might enjoy this change from your basic french fries. Prices are very reasonable here, and you really do get some high quality fare for a solid price. This is a nice spot for a lunch date or a relaxing evening. Again, this bistro has a lot of potential and should become a dinning standard in the Fort Hunt community in no time. read more

River Bend Bistro - Liver wurst yum - American Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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Stopped by on Thursday for lunch. Caramelized Onion Tater Tots with Horseradish Cream - $7 The waitress described them as adult tater tots. They were very creamy, not really the texture of traditional tater tots. There was no caramelized onion flavor and the horseradish cream was very mild. Grilled Ham and Brie Sandwich with Caramelized Onions $12 The brie was perfectly melted but I was hoping that the grilled ham was not just basic lunch meat but that was what it was. It came with skinny fries that were crispy and resembled potato stix from the canisters. House Smoked Eye Round Sandwich with Horseradish Mayo and Watercress $10 The eye round was tender and on a crusty baguette but overall the sandwich was just A-OK. The salad that came with the sandwich was just greens and no other vegetables, very odd. Our service was really good but the unfortunately the food wasn't comparable. Perhaps dinner service is a different story but lunch was mediocre. read more

River Bend Bistro - Tater Tots - American Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Food is not bad, if a tad overpriced. They rushed us out because they wanted to close, even though it was still 40 minutes until the time on the door. read more

This place is gotten to be a really pleasant place to go people are friendly and the food is of the highest quality. They have the best burger in Northern Virginia. The meat is organic and they taste delicious. It's a steal at $14 with a side of fries or a salad! It is so good you can't even compare it to five guys or any of those other fast food burgers. Other items like the risotto and salads are also very good and some really good specials are on the menu I am back there at least once or twice a month read more

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Bizarre treatment of customers by the staff. The teenage hostess had an attitude from the start and openly mocked us when we asked for a table with a little space from the others. The first table we were seated at was less than a foot from the table next to it. We had an early reservation, so very few tables were full at the time and it was an easy ask. As soon as another group came in she tried to seat them next to us despite many other available tables throughout the restaurant as if to purposely go against what we had asked. Her manager had a similar arrogant attitude. It made for a terrible welcome to the restaurant. It was a bit shocking from a customer service perspective. They seemed to be clueless about minor respect in a pandemic. The server did not wear a mask, which was particularly odd given that omicron is rampant in this area right now. We will think twice before going back. read more

Fantastic food and service. Friendly ambiance. It's like going to a friend's house. Fresh, top quality ingredients unavailable at grocery stores, impeccably prepared. Lots of gluten-free options. read more

enjoyed dinner tonight at River Bend with my family of 5. This gem of a restaurant has a welcoming atmosphere, from the initial phone call to make reservations, the greeting by our host (Brian), the very knowledgeable and attentive waitstaff (Antonio), to the pleasant decor and lighting. The menu options all sounded delectable, and I will definitely return to try more items. The food was outstanding, it arrived quickly, and they accommodated our dietary requests, serving delicious meals enjoyed by all of our group, including 2 vegan diners as well as our picky 6 year-old. read more

Fantastic restaurant! My husband and I came for date night and it was a wonderful experience. Great atmosphere, food and service!

Best cheeseburger I've had since moving to the area. Take out was well packaged and ready on time for pick-up. Looking forward to trying more of the menu. read more

Great food, great service! Went on a Friday night with our previous plan for dinner before a show in DC having fallen through. The hostess made a special accommodation for us on a busy night when we didn't have a reservation. She quickly made a table available after the bar area was the only area not filled. Coral was our waitress and what a great job! We didn't have much time to eat and she made it possible to get our food within just 15 minutes. We had the special - seared ahi tuna and the risotto of the day - a salmon scallop risotto! Best risotto we've had hands down! The white sangria was great too!! A potentially disastrous date night for a busy mom and dad made great by the River Bend Bistro! Highly recommend! We'll be back!! read more

My friend and I were looking for a place to have lunch after our visit to Mount Vernon on 3/4. I thought both the service and food was excellent. Our server was very knowledgeable and answered all the questions on the menu that could accommodate my friend's diet. He also made suggestions. I really appreciated that my friend and I were not rushed to pay and leave. Although the restaurant was fairly full we got to sit and continue our conversation long after we had finished our meal. I had the oyster pot pie. It wasn't my favorite but I thought it was interesting. My lack of liking it had very little to do with the quality of the meal but more to do with my palate. The ambiance is very comfortable and don't let the location of the strip mall sway you. You could come here for a casual lunch or a more fancy dinner. In a nutshell this is a hidden gem in the Fort Hunt neighborhood. I would not hesitate to come back to. read more

River Bend Bistro - Surprise find. - American Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Nice place for lunch. Had the mushroom soup which would've been all I need it was so good. Ham and brie sandwich on rye was very good. Skinniest shoestring fries I've ever seen and very good. I had a glass of white wine while our friends had old fashioned coke in an old fashioned bottle and glass. Very nostalgic. Definitely will be back. Simple ambience with excellent service. read more

Love this neighborhood restaurant. Always great fresh food. Very extensive wine bar. And it is NOT annoyingly loud. Definitely worth it! read more

Interesting and delicious apps and entrees! All four meals were enjoyed by our group. Excellent wine list, very reasonably priced. Our server, Ismael, was extremely attentive and very professional. A great experience and we'll worth the short drive from Old Town! read more

Very good. The restaurant has sparse decor on purpose, industrial style with concrete floors and exposed duct work. The service was prompt and the restaurant was busy for a Saturday afternoon. The menu was small which I prefer because typically they specialize in specific dishes. I had the warm spinach and goat cheese salad with bacon, fresh with a light dressing. I shared the appetizer of rockfish graflax, very good and served with capers. Definitely recommend. Prices are reasonable. I will be back when I am in the area again. read more

River Bend Bistro - Rockfish graflax - American Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

I want to like this place more than I do, really. The same starters that I loved before, I still love. The warm goat cheese salad, the duck confit. This time we also tried sweet potato biscuits with ham, pumpkin soup, mac n cheese, and smoked mozarella with spicy red sauce. Of all the new items we tried, I really only enjoyed the sweet potato biscuits and mozarella. The other items weren't bad, they just weren't amazing enough for me to want to pay for them again. What REALLY brings down my rating was the customer service that we had that night. My friend thought her water tasted funny and thought maybe there was still soap on the glass. She wasn't upset or anything, but the server gave an annoyed reaction to her asking for a new glass. When he noticed we hadn't touched the pumpkin soup much, he asked if we didn't like it. I said it was fine, but my friend spoke up and said it was missing a richness she likes in pumpkin soup. She wasn't saying it was bad, just not to her liking. I expect the normal reaction to be an apology and offer to clear it from the table. Instead, he got defensive by stating that it's been on the menu for a month and a half and my friend was the first person to ever complain about it. We might have wanted desert since we have in the past, but we got the check and left. He felt very hostile during the rest of the meal, and it made the dining experience a tad uncomfortable. read more

I have truly tried to like this restaurant. The food is not spectacular but decent; however, some members of the staff need a crash course in manners and kindness. A few months ago, my wife and I dropped by around 5:30 p.m. for dinner. There were two, maybe three tables occupied. We were immediately asked by a waiter if we had a reservation. No. Then, as loud as he could, he said "I strongly recommend making reservations." (Everybody turned around and looked at us). Fine, we'll go somewhere else since you can't seat us. "No, we can seat you," he said. Since then, we have made reservations. Last night marked my final visit. When we arrived on time for our 5:30 reservation, there were nine tables available out of about 20. The hostess began to seat us at the table closest to the entrance. When I objected to this and asked why couldn't we have one of the other tables available away from the main entrance, she said that they were all booked. "Do you mean that when making a reservation I have to ask not to be seated by the door," I asked. Yes, she said. Reluctantly, we stayed and ordered dinner. We were there from 5:33 to 6:32 p.m. Only one table out of those that had been "reserved" was ever occupied. Needless to say but she could have easily seated us away from the door. Instead, she chose to remain obstinate. As a result of that, River Bend has lost two consistent customers. read more

Supporting small businesses is incredibly important to me, and eating here reminded me of why: We entered and were seated by the owner/chef who created her dream restaurant in an area lacking delicious, non-chain food (learned this from our awesome waiter, Antonio, who knew everything from the background history, where their locally harvested beef and mussels came from, and which wine pairs best with each entree, etc.). The menu is one of those "I can't choose, let's all share" types since everything is so intriguing. Sadly, there was only 2 of us, so we decided to start with the steak tartar. I enjoyed it, though it was my least favorite of everything we ordered. Peter ordered oysters as well. I don't eat those but he raved about them. For the main course we got the cheddar cheeseburger which was so incredibly juicy and served on a brioche bun (you can't beat a burger on brioche!). My very favorite was dessert which was a strawberry rhubarb pie. It. Was. Incredible. I love rhubarb, but there aren't many places that incorporate the fruit into their menu. One more thing- we received a free wine tasting! Doesn't get any better than that. Thank you for creating this delicious little bistro and wishing you the most success! read more

River Bend Bistro - PETEY so happy to eat his oysters - American Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Came here for lunch and ordered the ham and Brie sandwich. It's the first time I've been here since the wharf occupied this space. I was unimpressed. I remember the remodel from the wharf took forever but judging by the simple but stylish deco the wait must have been because of permits more so than the actual scope of work The service was very friendly so no complaints there but I too noticed a smelly water glass from an unknown source. The menu was inspiring but the meal was just ok at$10 for a sandwich and extremely salty mixed greens. I also had the chicken noodle soup which was nice. I don't know if I would come back. It is really a destination for the neighborhood when you don't want to travel for something better. But the distance to a better meal for the same price is only five miles or so. read more

River Bend Bistro - Clean but simple and uninviting - American Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

This sweet, out-of-the-way bistro never fails to disappoint. The Boston Bibb salad w shallots is large, simple, and exquisite. The Tagliatelle pasta with wild mushroom cream sauce and chicken is a show-stopper! Last night I had the Risotto with salmon and sea scallops---such a large portion! I took the last third amount home as leftovers, but unfortunately ate that before I went to bed. It was that good. The service is wonderful. The atmosphere is quiet, quaint, romantic, and Covid-friendly. There are a few tables available for outdoor seating in the front. My only (tiny) negative would be to steer clear of steaks. The few times I've ordered them they were thin, a little tough, and over-cooked. I really hate to mention this negative, because everything else is so stellar. read more

I had a great to go experience here ordering dinner for 3 people. My Mom's pasta dish was so rich and flavorful. I had a salad that was excellent, and the burger also looked really good. My Mom has since been twice in person and both times said it's even better at the location. I look forward to dining in really soon! read more

I got the poached salmon with warm lentil salad. It's totally gluten free and soooo delicious. I got it to go and everything was seamless. Will definitely be coming back. read more

Awesome restaurant. Hidden gem on Ft. Hunt, VA. You will never know that this bistro existed. Great wine selection, great food, and reasonably price. Staff is super friendly. We will definitely come back here and bring more friends. Oh. They have wine tasting every Saturday from 2-4pm. read more

What a fantastic neighborhood restaurant between Old Town Alexandria and Mt. Vernon! On our most recent visit, we had delicious tuna steak cooked medium rare, grilled salmon, fresh oysters on the half shell and the most delicious chocolate cherry pie you've ever tasted! You also can't go wrong with the rib-eye steak, risotto of the day or any other entree or appetizer on the menu. Always fresh and always seasoned just right. Everything including the drinks are reasonably priced. The wait staff is terrific and always knowledgeable, friendly and helpful. Caroline, the owner and chef, circulates throughout the restaurant periodically and is eager to make your visit special and memorable. We also just learned, that she caters to parties large and small. Can't wait to go back! read more

Tasty local restaurant. Very nice service and good food at reasonable prices. We'll be back.

Oh my god!!!! The food was amazing. The chef/owner came out to greet us. My wife and argued over who had the better meal. It was a 45 minute drive to get there for us but we'll worth the trip. Don't walk! Run to this fabulous place. read more

Great service. Very accommodating with food requests due to allergies. It is a cute bistro open later on a Sunday. The prices are also really reasonable. read more

I really like this place. I do. In the neighborhood. Usually great service and amazing food. I ordered the duck breast on my most recent visit (which I regularly get). Server confirmed it would be prepared medium rare which is normal. The breast arrived and was a very small portion, maybe a 1/4 breast and was gray like a medium well steak. It was inedible at best and the server took it away and removed it from our bill. I was quite surprised that the chef/owner who had visited our table prior to ordering did not even acknowledge the issue. Very disappointing to say the least. Duck is a special treat and they generally do it very well but not this past visit. read more

My friend's salad was great, my "lunch special" steak sandwich was outstanding but best of all, our shared rhubarb/strawberry desert was absolutely outstanding. Service was also friendly, helpful and welcoming. Would definitely return! And yes, it has somewhat of a warehouse vibe which is slightly loud but also very common as previously pointed out. Don't let that stand in your way in visiting this delicious bistro. read more

A charming bistro with a very impressive menu and delicious food. Intended to be a pick up restaurant, but they had be a table to sit at while waiting for food preparation. I was there with my sister who has Parkinson's. They were kind enough to let us eat there in the restaurant. Hey read more

Wonderful neighborhood joint. They offer a great brunch and fairly priced. Would recommend the Ike and the waffles. Also one of the better gourmet burgers around--classic and perfectly cooked. read more

We live about a block away and have talked to a number of neighbors with the same thoughts. Food is great! My wife lives the chicken with noodles... sauces is addicting. The kitchen will be flexible on substations. Wait staff is great as well. The only issue, and it is a big one keeping many away is the ambiance and "cave" feeling.. a big open, not warm at all room similar to the feeling you get in a common Chinese restaurant (sorry Chinese restaurant owners.. love and expect it when goung to get an eggroll). It is almost impossible to have a conversation if there are more than 1 other couple. Not a "bistro" feeling at all.. We will continue to come in a few times a year to get my wife's "fix" with the chicken and would love to support more but it is just not comfortable... read more

Really a spectacular evening! We were greeted with enthusiasm....we had an incredible and perfectly attentive waiter (not too much, not too little) and the food was amazing! Had the opportunity to meet the chef/owner - Caroline - who was a delight! We will definitely be back! read more

One of the best burgers in the DC area. Thick, juicy, and cooked to perfection! Also love the spinach and bacon salad.