I would have given 3.5 stars if possible. Dish was fine, wasn't as amazed like some others I. My group. Would be fine to back to, but wouldn't seek it out again either. read more

I ordered the "death" by gumbo via Door Dash, and I can say the order came timely, and everything was in the bag. However, having lived in Louisiana and knowing how to prepare gumbo, I found theirs so different from what was pictured. There was a reddish hue to theirs, and the pictures indicate a dark and rich roux look. The taste was okay...I had to add file, but in no way was this worth $25. With an order of key lime pie, tax and tip, the total was around $50!!! I could have just made a pot of gumbo with a lot of crab meat, shrimp and sausage! Never again.... read more

First of all, the she crab soup was delicious. The main course I had was Death by Gumbo. The food came out OUT, not warm or cool but hot. Hot is the way cook food should be served. The Gumbo was so tasty. This is a must try. I love the Gumbo Shop in New Orleans. RT is as equal. read more

This place is a bit overhyped. The main dishes we had had none of those creole flavors that we so yearned. The grits was a solid block and the shrimp was a bit bland by creole standards in my shrimp and grits. The trout dish hubs had was also very underwhelming and unauthentic. The she crab soup was really good by comparison, a lot of flavor. So were the Brussels sprouts. It is worth noting that the dishes are small for the price and the price is fairly high (think a $180 dollar bill for three apps, two main courses, one side dish and two drinks). The bowl of soup was essentially a cup size. The drinks were noteworthy, great beer selection (try Virginia red lagger, very unique flavor) and sangria was refreshing but not strong. read more

When we are out of town I always rely on yep for help. I had the Death by Gumbo & my husband had Stuffed Shrimp & vegs. Both were excellent & as well as the service!!! Enjoy! read more

Nothing here is authentic New Orleans, it's not even close. The cook is from Guatemala and the staff is Asian. More than half of the dishes don't even exist in NOLA. May I add, the "Chantilly Cream on the pie was Cool Whip! read more

This restaurant is a hidden gym I must say, thanks to yelp we were able to locate it and enjoy the excellent seafood. I ordered almost everything lol shrimp and crab bites tasted so good and fresh, could tell it wasn't frozen before being cooked and served. I've not the slightest idea what the bed of sauce was it laid upon but i even kept the plate to dip my Po'Boy in. My waitress was so pleasant, and well versed in the menu and the restaurant. Letting us know the bread she brought to table was brought in fresh from New Orleans and made several drink recommendations to my party and I, my lunch mates raves about the sangria. I had a sparkling water which is my go to. I would go back and can't wait, I intend on trying everything read more

What a great restaurant. Convenient after flying into town and the food and service awesome. Kathryn (Kat) was so friendly and fun. Really an excellent server and if I lived here I'd be here regularly and make her my friend. Lol. We had an array of good tastes, mussels with crab meat, a trio of tastes on their oyster menu, popcorn crawfish, salad and their clam chowder. My son liked their maui maui and I wish I had more room because their menu is amazing and desserts so tempting. Really quite reasonable for the quality of food. read more

RT's Restaurant - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Visited as a tourist, super casual spot, almost a hole in the wall. Don't be deterred.. it's the real deal. When we walked in we noticed mostly a quiet older crowd, that's when you know it's a good local spot. I can't speak for everything on the menu but we were a group of three and all left impressed. I got the RTs Crab Special - essentially, a heaping mound of fresh lump crab baked with Cajun spices and some type of creamy sauce. Unbelievable. I ate every bite. Also got the crispy Brussels sprouts on the side. Amazing. Glad we found this gem - don't go for the ambiance as much as GO FOR THE FOOD! read more

Definitely a locals place and I am so glad I finally tried this place. The neighborhood is a little bit iffy but that's OK! This restaurant is truly unique in that I don't know of many other Cajun places in the Northern Virginia area. The food was delicious! I tried the famous shrimp and crab appetizer in the creamy sauce which was so good! Literally to die for. I had the RT special crab dish with a side of crispy onion straws. The crab was so light and fresh and wasn't with any sauce or anything but was totally delicious by itself! Really good quality. I tried a bite of the crab and crawfish imperial and that had amazing sauce! The serving size of that was a little bit bigger than what I had but not too big. I would definitely try that next time! Also had a taste of the garlic mashed potatoes which were amazing and thick but not served very hot. However, the flavor was really good and not too garlicky. I would definitely come back! Awesome seafood. read more

My wife and her parents are true Cajuns and a couple days after the in-laws ate there and gave rave reviews, we decided it was time to try for ourselves. We were not disappointed. I enjoyed the Shrimp Norman and she had the Shrimp and Grits. The roux was perfect, the amount of shrimp was healthy, and everything melted in our mouths. As a Caesar salad nut, the dressing was outstanding. My wife also loved her dish. In fact, it was so good, we decided to take home a couple meals--she had the Shrimp Norman and I ordered the Smothered Catfish. I have made it a point to tell as many people as I can about how great the food and the experience was. The owners came out and talked with us and were equally excited to know my in-laws gave their stamp of approval for the Cajun authenticity. Go and enjoy the food and atmosphere! You will have no regrets. read more

Heard about this via FB, being big fans of New Orleans and especially its cuisine, we had to check it out. Not bad, definitely will return as it was very good, not quite Orleans, but close. She-Crab Soup to start (delicious) and on the money. Po-Boy was okay, for the price expected more. Crawfish Ettoufee was really good, it was served with rice. I like it with potato salad so could be bias. The Wait Staff were very nice and friendly and loved the look inside and out, nostalgia feel. Overall, if u are craving this will scratch the itch. read more

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We visited this place with a friend who used to live in DC a long time ago. RT's has been there forever with the same ownership, which says something about their success and love for what they're doing. The atmosphere was like a historic diner. Lots of history here and very artistically demonstrated Oysters "Uggie" were great Caesar salad good and the croutons were a standout RT's special crab was AMAZING! Would definitely recommend Etouffee was ok but I'd not order it again Chocolate chess pie was wonderful and my husband's favorite Service was excellent All in all, a good experience! read more

We have debated about trying this place out for a while and never got around to it. We ate here based on a recommendation from a Verizon Technician. Long story short: there was a downed telephone line and we called it in, gave our address and he spoke nothing but great things about this place before getting someone out to deal with the line. We visited a few days later. Like others have stated: hidden gem, unexpected ride, and appearances aren't everything. This place has great seafood, service, and the environment is like a flashback in time (the late 70's- early 80's specifically.) All in all, an enjoyable experience with great service. The only ding would be that the costs are a bit high but it is a unique experience to visit once a month. read more

Hubby picked this place out of the line up I sent for a night out. The menu looked pretty good(I really just wanted fried oysters lol) although I don't eat shrimp and everything pretty much included it. The atmosphere was different than expected. Seems like a place to stop by for a burger and fries at the bar, not Creole. Service was pretty good, but we had late reservations so it was empty when we arrived. We ordered the fried oysters for our app... they give you four, underwhelming, sitting on a horseradish sauce and what looked like Pico on the side (very disappointing). We both had the crabcakes. he had garlic mash with asparagus... really good. I had the red beans and rice, they were separated on one plate and you have to mix it yourself. Wasn't bad separate or together actually. Can't take it for authentic Creole tho, it was a bit confusing... our waiter was Asian, a couple of workers were white and I also so a Mexican chef. Nothing against anyone, just wasn't sure of who is actually in top of the taste of the food. Our bill was around $115 for what we ordered. Not worth it. Any entree you get only comes with one side. read more

RT's Restaurant - Margaritas where pretty good - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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Where to begin... I don't frequent this neighborhood much, but couldn't pass up the opportunity to see what Alexandria/Arlington has to offer in the Cajun/Creole department. I must say I was not disappointed. RT's is one of those undercover gems. There's nothing about the exterior or interior that shines, but it's the food that makes it special. Ordered the bacon wrapped scallops as an appetizer...perfection. Had the crab and crawfish stuffed shrimp with Brussels sprouts and a side of red beans and rice. I was pleasantly surprised by the portion sizes! Everything was bursting with flavor. Cooked perfectly and no extra sauce/seasoning needed. Enough for leftovers. Grabbed a pecan pie with cream to go. Delicious! What a time! read more

I almost don't like to give them a 5 star review in case we can't get a reservation when we make the hike from Rockville to our favorite restaurant in the DMV. Food is always amazing and we've tried at least half of the menu over the years. I'm sure the rest is equally as good, just hard for us to get away from our Cajun/Creole favorites! If you like this type of food and haven't been yet you are missing the best we've had outside of NOLA. Love this place!! read more

I have always loved this place. Don't let the front facade fool you, the food is always delicious.

Services 4/5 Food 3/5 too salty Cleanliness 3.5/5 The foods took a long time to be ready. read more

8/29/23 Vieux carre, oyster 1/2 shell meaty, 2 chop salads nice size. Good. alligator stew always filling and hot, lots of meat pan seared rockfish filet tasty but small. Bread for table. One of my favorite places. On street parking bad. Will revisit. read more

This restaurant has a great bar with comfortable seating and really nice staff. The seafood is tasty and the drinks are strong. Definitely worth checking out. read more

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I had the alligator soup (finely shredded, but I prefer slices or chunks), my husband had the She Crab soup- we enjoyed them both. I had the Crawfish Étouffee and rice- oh my goodness- mmm, takes me back. I wished the shells were on. Down side, my husband ordered the fried oysters that weren't cooked half way or flash cooked but dropped raw into the fryer. He isn't the type to return something but those were still raw. Overall we have a nice time. read more

Great food!! And service, not a hole lot of parking so head's up, was lucky enough to get a spot out front, nice place to go eat at nice cozy feeling read more

My husband and I have dined here twice now and we've been very pleased with our food and experience. Parking has not been an issue...both times we were able to park in a lot across the street and walk just a short distance to the restaurant. Inside the restaurant the decor is a little bit lacking, seems kind of older and dated although to me it has a cozy, old-fashioned feel to it. They give you complementary bread-and-butter although there's not much to it. It doesn't come out warm and I've definitely had better bread at other restaurants. It is free though...so I shouldn't really complain! As an appetizer we got the she crab soup and shrimp and crawfish beignets. The beignets were surprisingly delicious...we had not had anything like that before. There was plenty of shrimp and crawfish meat inside and they were fried perfectly and served on top of a spicy sauce. We really enjoyed them! The she crab soup was good but had a few too many onions for our taste. It was definitely enjoyable though and we've gotten that twice now. I got the blackened mahi mahi and it was delicious!! It was served over puréed red beans and with shrimp and lump crab on top and a side of rice. I would get this again. My has got and a seafood étouffée and he loves that. It was a very hearty and has a delicious, unique taste. It can be kind of pricey here so we wouldn't be dining here all the time but it is a nice treat once in a while. read more

RT's Restaurant - Shrimp and Crawfish Beignets - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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The best creole/ Cajun restaurant in the DMV. Love their gumbo's. Great appetizers and entrees. Love their coconut cake and bread pudding.

Visit: JAN 19,2018 @530pm Beginning: Walking in RT's was a breath of fresh air coming off of the loud and busy street. When I entered it was dim and a relaxed atmosphere. I was seated promptly since I scheduled a reservation. My waiter was very attentive however I never got his name.he helped me choose for every chores of my meal. Middle: Appetizers: Jack Daniels shrimp and crab meat -This was a good appetizer flavor was good it had both shrimp and crab meet the sauce was tasty also. It was a peach color, tasted more on the Alfredoish side of sauces with extra seasonings. It was also a good size for one person, two people might have made this more of a taste test. Main course: braised short ribs garlic mash potatoes and a corn mix. -This main course was not on the menu but it was a special for the day. The only reason I chose it was because I couldn't decide on anything on the menu everything sounded amazing and I was stuck! So I went with a special. I was very tasty the meat was tender, and juicy. It's always a good idea to pair braised rib with mash potatoes so it worked well the corn mix had onions and peppers and a creamy texture I didn't think I'd like it but I did so everything was great. Desert: Chocolate cake and vanilla ice cream - This definitely stood out to me I love! Chocolate cake. The waiter also informed me it was amazing. At the 1st bite it wasn't extremely rich. The cake itself was extremely moist I mean like melt in ur mouth moist and after a few bites it began to get more rich which I enjoyed. End: - Over all I will recommend this restaurant with 5 stars. This a good place for a date or just a time out by yourself I enjoyed the food and the atmosphere. read more

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Why oh why does this place stink? I mean literally. For fifteen years when I walk in the door, the smell of sewage hits me in the face like a cast iron skillet. If not for my co-diners I would have walked out. The weird thing is the food is delicious. It's worse at the bar! Tonight we had to move around to escape the noxious fumes. Fix the foul odor and I'll be a regular. Hey! Guess what!!! They fixed the stench! The food is consistently stellar. It's such a pleasure now to eat in the bar. Thanks RT! read more

Pretty delicious. Gumbo was well seasoned and decent size. It comes with a variety of seafood and fluffy rice. One of the better dishes I've tasted in my life. Also ordered the creamed spinach and the jambalaya pasta for later. Took a bite of each. The spinach was so creamy and rich. The pasta tasted like it was perfectly cooked and perfectly seasoned. Out of everything, I would say the pasta was my favorite. read more

Love the menu, the food and the service. A true neighborhood place where you feel at home.

Outstanding Seafood gumbo and service. Jewel in a very unassuming location. I will definitely be back soon!!!!

This is some of the best food I've eaten in the Washington DC area. PERIOD. I have been really hesistant to write a review as I don't want this amazing little spot blowing up in a way that will impinge on my OWN dining. But it just ain't right to deny this place some well-deserved air-time. I'm not gonna say much but what I will say is...with confidence...it's the most OFFICIAL Cajun/Creole spot in the area. It is in my top 5 places to eat in the area. The food and flavors will blow. you. away. If the chef here had a prime location somewhere in DC this spot would have a 2-week wait list. So far, my favorite items on the (vast) menu are the barbecue shrimp (*nothing* like it sounds and NOT for the faint of palate) and crab-topped fried green tomato appetizers and anything with the word "etoufee" attached to it. VIEW the photos attached to this review. Then GO HERE! Thank me lata;) read more

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What an awesome find! We went here on a whim because we were looking for something different. The food was amazing and the staff was very friendly. I need to go back! read more

My family has been going to RT's since 1987 for special occasions, including birthdays, mothers day, and graduations. For most of those years, we have enjoyed their excellent dishes, especially those with sauces that can be dipped in perfect sourdough bread. This year RT's ran out of bread which lessened our dining experience. Similarly, we have often brought homemade birthday cakes or traditional desserts and the previous owner always accommodated with plates, forks, and cutting knife at no charge. Now, the new owner charges a $2 fee per plate. When I spoke with the new owner and explained how long we have been loyal customers and were disappointed by the bread and plate issues (travel 20 miles to eat at RT's, ordered carry out often during Covid quarantine, generously tipped staff), she got extremely defensive. She made it quite clear that it didn't matter if our family chooses a different special occasion venue in the future. While the food is great, RT ownership is not. read more

Don't have anything more to add to the other reviews other than to say "been there, done that, will definitely do it again." I had the crawfish etouffee and it was the BEST crawfish etouffee I had ever had. Ok, it was my first, etoufee and my first experience with crawfish. Still, I savored every single bite. My only regret was I didn't save any room for dessert because they looked delicious. We also split an order of Jack Daniel's Shrimp and it was delish. I HIGHLY recommend RT's for a visit. I hear the Monday night deal is quite a bargain too! read more

RT's Restaurant - Hidden Treasure - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

I cannot get enough of RT's wonderful seafood. My partner & I started eating here in 2013 and have probably eaten here more than 20 times and never had a bad meal. Among our favorites: the bacon-wrapped scallops app., the she-crab soup, the oysters Rockefeller, Bienville or Uggy are all great, as are the fried oysters. The only thing I would not order again is a steak -- but only because the seafood is so wonderful, that this is not the right place to order beef. Having said that, the filet mignon was good -- just not as good as any of the shrimp or crab or fish entrees. We are quite satisfied with the portions and the value. The prices are very reasonable, but what makes this restaurant spectacular is how delicious the food is. Five stars every single time. read more

RT was the only restaurant where the atmosphere really outweighed the food for me. I normally don't care what a place looks like; as long as the food is good, but RT truly sucks the life out of you. The dim lighting and the parlor green makes you feel like you're in the twilight zone. The Oyster's Uggie were decent and I really enjoyed my "Death by Gumbo" which was $22 (portion size justifies the price I guess), but I couldn't help staring at the ceiling fans spinning round and round and round. The ambiance really makes you feel depressed and I really wanted to get out of there before I was attacked by an evil spirit. Service was okay, nothing out of the ordinary. The Cajun food here is better than most in the area, but they really need to fix the absolute dismal and haunting vibe they got going on inside. read more

RT's Restaurant - Death by Gumbo - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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3.25 - What's really holding them back from a four stars? The waitress we had tonight. What was up with not checking on us? What was with putting our food down and then running off never to be seen again? What was up with putting down our bill before we could even tell you if we wanted dessert? Oh, the best one: What was up with telling your manager that we didn't pay because you didn't see the check on the table? I've never been to NOLA and being in RT's didn't exactly fit my image of what being there either. The food was however was more positive. Far better than the Cajun/Creole food I've had out in Leesburg. We had quite an assortment on the table, all of which were great (see pictures.) The dishes that stood out in particular were the: Oysters three ways and the Shrimp and Crawfish bingets. I had to ask about the alligator stew (which we did order.) Did they have a giant alligator carcass in their kitchen that they chop up and serve? Well, I found out - no they do not. If you've never had alligator before, man up and give it a try. I'm not going to say it tastes like chicken, but it is a softer, lighter meat, which also tastes good. Excluding appetizers, soups, salad, and dessert, most dishes were over $15 but you are getting good food (and hopefully better service than we had.) read more

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The food was excellent, ambiance ok, service ok. We were here for restuarant week for lunch and although it's off the beaten path somewhat it was worth it. The blackened mahi mahi was so good my guy stopped eating his crawfish pasta to share with me. The she crab soup was delicious and the alligator was hearty. The chocolate mousse was the bomb and the bread pudding was almost one of the best if they had put some bourbon, grand marnier, rum, just something to give it that kick. read more

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We celebrated an early Father's Day dinner and had a wonderful time. We ordered calamari for an appetizer, she crab soup, salad with fried oysters, shrimp and chicken jambalaya, shrimp and crab etouffee with rice, and crab and crawfish specialty with red beans and rice. Everything came out quickly and fresh. We would come here again with our family and friends on special occasions. read more

Absolutely amazing food! Service is always outstanding! I got the specialty pasta of the day, which had shrimp, crab and mussels! You should also try the she crab soup!! Overall the restaurant and food are outstanding! read more

RT's Restaurant - Seafood pasta - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia