I'm born and raised in Louisiana. This ettouffé tasted like any of the women in my family back home would come out of the kitchen and surprise me. Loved it! read more

RT's Restaurant - Shrimp and crab ettouffé - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

I dream about their gumbo .... we could also eat their red beans and rice, and the crawfish etouffee any day of the week. My boyfriend and I came in for dinner recently, and I had the cajun veal oscar. It was delightful. The veal was tender, perfectly sauteed and served with the perfect blend of crab meat, Bearnaise sauce and cajun spices. My boyfriend swears by the crawfish etouffee. The broth has a deep, rich flavor that is complemented perfectly by the seafood. We'll be back to explore more items off this menu. read more

Food was very good staff was extra friendly. I love these types of restaurants. They don't cut corners. Food is fresh. Place was clean. You would never know this place existed unless you lived in the area or frequently use yelp. Will have to return to try more items. Everything was very tasteful and again fresh. Had two apps and two entrees. If I had more room to eat I would. Please continue to support small businesses like this to keep them up and running. They are well worth it. Over 30 years and still serving good food. read more

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This is an awesome place for cajun food. I started my meal with scallops wrapped in bacon followed by the she-crab soup & chose the Jambalaya for my entree. All the dishes i ordered were delectable. It didn't take long for my orders to come in. Impressive! Ill return here whenever i am back in Alexandria VA read more

One of the best restaurants in the Metro Area. Impossible to have a bad meal here; everything is fresh, well prepared, and delicious! The wait staff and bartender, Kat, are exceptional. Best to call for a reservation on week-ends. read more

First off, don't think about coming here on a Saturday night without a reservation. We did that once and learned our lesson! Tonight we had dinner (thanks to our reservation) and thoroughly enjoyed the food. As many yelpers have said, the reason to come here is for the food. I had the crab cake dinner and hubby had the mahi mahi on top of potatoes (one of the specials). My dinner came with one side and I chose the creamed spinach. We ended the night by splitting the pecan pie with a side of ice cream. Everything was delicious! Our server (we think his name is Gorn) was also very attentive. It would have been 5 stars but the only negative was that we sat at a very small table but I requested a booth in my reservation. Also, some of the other patrons were a bit obnoxious, especially at the table in back of where I sat. read more

Finally went here for lunch! Had crab cakes n fried oysters they were on point! Recommended to my daughter!

RT's is one of those places I used to go with my parents when we first moved to the area years and years ago, and then fell off my radar. So in the midst of the area's first [inexplicably crippling] snowstorm with some [joyously welcomed] days off work, I decided to give an old friend another go. And I'm so glad I did. Nothing has changed inside RT's since I last dined here over a decade ago. And I'm wagering nothing has changed since they first opened 25 years back. There is nothing remarkable about the interior save for how absolutely unremarkable it is. I will say I like the shadow-box artwork of New Orleans scenes. Too bad they're almost washed out by the green vinyl booths and dullness of just about everything else in RT's. As for the menu, it is distinctly cajun/creole/Nawlins with a huge number of offerings. Being the good little Yelper that I am, tho, I scoured RT's reviews beforehand for some guidance in choosing. Husband and I started with the shrimp and crawfish beignets. Calling them "beignets" is a bit misleading, as others have pointed out, since they're more like fritters. But they wowed with their tender, crisply fried dough -- just enough to bind together the chunks of crawfish and shrimp. A spirited remoulade rounded out the dish. I also had a cup of the She-crab soup which was velvety, subtly spicy, and thick with crab meat. Husband had a cup of the alligator stew which he raved about, saying it tasted like hearty, savory beef stew or chili. For entrées we both opted for one of the nightly specials. Husband went with cornmeal crusted haddock atop a crawfish succotash. The haddock was perfectly cooked, flaky and moist with its crunchy coating. And the succotash sang of summer despite the frigid temps outside -- fresh, sweet corn, lovely crawfish tails, al dente limas. I had the blackened mahi with red bean purée, topped with creamy shrimp sauce, and served with a baked potato. The baked potato was an overcooked throwaway, but the fish had just the right heat, the bean sauce a savory, smooth compliment, and the creamy shrimp an excellent finishing note. When I gave husband a bite of my fish, he bit down on a bone? scale? lemon seed? Who knows, and it's definitely not a big deal -- but our server, who was on-point, just happened to be passing our table as he pulled it out of his mouth and set it on a bread plate (whatever it was...). We never would have said anything ourselves -- sometimes things slip a chef's eye, and maybe it was my own lemon seed! -- but she was horrified and notified the manager. He was at our table instantaneously, effusing apologies and offering a complimentary dessert. That kind of attention to detail a repeat customer makes. We were very impressed. And subsequently devoured an insanely delicious coconut rum cake topped with Chantilly cream that'd make your eyes roll back in your head. The prices at RT's prohibit this from being the kind of place you'd dine regularly (at least on my budget, maybe not on others'). And some have said they feel the prices aren't justified by "what you get"...but I find the prices *are* justified by the excellent quality of the food, the genuine, caring service, and the laid-back neighborhood feel of this place. Southern comfort, indeed. read more

Best kept secret in soul food. You can't go wrong with anything on the menu, but if it's your first time start with the southern fried calamari then move into some crawfish etouffee and finish up with the chocolate mousse. The next time you go after that, and you WILL go back, have anything that sounds amazing because it will be! read more

Saw a lot of great reviews about this place so decided to check it out. Not really located in the greatest part of Alexandria and parking is limited in terms of street availability and the parking lots of nearby businesses. Service: Waitress was very knowledgeable about the menu but a little on the gruff side. Smile please! Hostess was very pleasant and engaging. Food: Honestly the food was good but perhaps a little misrepresented. First off, they need to offer a different kind of bread because theirs is horrible. No thank you to the jailhouse appetizer! The alligator stew was amazing! Very very flavorful! Guess what tho? Alligator DOES NOT taste like chicken! More like beef in my opinion except a little leaner and more tender. Here's where my problem came in: catish po'boy. I saw that and almost had an asthma attack. I enjoy authentic catfish dishes (not from some chinese carryout spot named Lamar's) and definitely love po'boys so...DING DING DING! I get it and.......ummm.....me no see no po'boy......? I basically got a catish sub. It was one long and thick catfish strip put between a sub roll with the basic condiments. The catish could have also used more batter to crisp it up and give it more body. It was a decent sandwich but I just felt lied to. Now I know why those Chopped judges always get on contestants for mislabeling their food! The chocolate mousse dessert was really really good. Rich and creamy? Perfect combo! Prices are a little high. Worth a shot though as quality is at a decent level here. read more

***3.5 stars*** The Monday Night Special for Two at RT's is the real deal. For $30, you get two entrees and a bottle of wine (choice of white or red). Karman L. and I ordered the Shrimp Etouffee, the Crawfish au Gratin and a bottle of the Santa Ema Sauvignon Blanc. I wasn't a huge fan of the sauce in the etouffee - this was my first time having it so not sure how it compares. The Crawfish au Gratin with its cheesy cream sauce over rice was perfect. I'm definitely getting that the next time. The Santa Ema wine was crisp and sweet. The dishes are like home cooking - not much in the way of presentation but it tastes incredible. The restaurant is small and modest. The service was adequate. I'll be back to try the other 4 entree options and the she-crab soup. RT's has 4 star potential. read more

I'm a huge fan of she-crab soup and it can be kinda hard to find so that was the specific reason for my dinner visit. R.T.'s was definitely able to deliver on the she-crab soup. Yum, it was super creamy, flavorful and loaded with crab. I approve. I also ordered the chopped salad to go with it. It was fresh and with the soup was plenty for dinner for me. My husband went with the shrimp and crab etouffee and really liked it. It was loaded with shrimp and crab and he said it tasted a million times better than it looked. Which is good, because it had a dark brown sauce and wasn't plated in the prettiest manner. That brings me to me to the subject of ambiance. R.T.'s is an old school type restaurant complete with decor and clientele. With the bright lighting and booths it does not look like a place where you're gonna get an expensive seafood dinner. I think a little update would go a long way. As long as were on the subject of old school our waiter thought it was the 1950s and only addressed my husband and not me. Sir this and sir that. It was a little weird, but the food was good and they have she-crab soup so we most likely will return. read more

My husband and I came for restaurant week based on the other great reviews. I dressed kinda cute, so don't bother, but bring your appetite! I can't eat seafood, but my pork bbq sandwich was simply DELICIOUS! My husband loved his crab soup and jack daniels shrimp. We will be back. read more

WOW!!! My wife and I were trying to decide on dinner this past Friday when the commercial for RT's came on the television screen..... WOW!!! Catfish smothered in shrimp etoufe???? WOW!!!! Let's go there!!!! We were not disappointed. The aforementioned Catfish/Etoufe dish was......WOW!!!! Leave your diet plan at home and bring your appetite because this is how southern cooking is done!!!! read more

If you are looking for a dinner deal, then look no further. The Monday night dinner special at RT's will have you picking your jaw up off the floor. For the incredibly affordable price of $29.95, you get dinner for 2 and a bottle of wine. You can choose from a selection of 6 entrees and you will be more than satisfied. On other nights that don't begin with "Mon," the typical Cajun dishes will leave you wanting more and more. However, with the huge portions that RT's provides you may not have the chance. Standout dishes include Death By Gumbo (you'll know what I mean when you see it) and the crawfish etouffee The specials change weekly so check back often. And they serve PBR on tap! Surprisingly a fantastic place to have Mardi Gras dinner. Not busy or full. read more

***** 3.5 stars ***** I'm willing to give RT's some flex room in this review to move up to the full 4 stars, because we ordered lunch take out from them at work, so the food in the restaurant may be slightly better than what we had. That being said, mine was still pretty good, so they don't have too much else to prove to me. The alligator stew I ordered was an overall disappointment. I have had alligator several times before, and this was my least favorite rendition of it. The soup lacked a lot in flavor, something that's hard to do with Creole food. The alligator meat itself was almost non-existent in the stew, and what was there was very small with very little flavor of alligator. The consistency was also way off from what I've had before. This version was very little and rubbery, which makes me believe they use a lower quality part than other places. I also ordered the Shrimp Etouffee with Lump Crab on top, and a large helping of rice on the side. This was thankfully quite good, with loads of spicy, dark flavors. The sauce was perfect, and just the right amount, and there were LOTS of shrimp. The one thing really missing overall from the dish was the crab, which apparently came in minuscule shredded pieces. Despite this flaw it was still quite good, and I would definitely order it again. The price per value here is very high, and I would certainly recommend it if you're looking for Cajun in the area as it's one of the better incarnations I've had. read more

I am a huge fan of Cajun cuisine, and RT's is as good as it is going to get as an alternative to actually being in Louisiana. The establishment and service definitely does not impress, but the food is the redeeming factor. I will definitely come back for the "Death by Gumbo". HEAVENLY. read more

Every time I come here, the service is excellent, the food is stellar, and the drinks are on point! I love this place! read more

RT's Restaurant - Creole 75 #1, delightful! - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

So... I spent a lot of money here.. on patron shots and some damn good food. We celebrated my cousin's 23rd birthday here and it was such a good night at RT's. I spent quite a chunk of my childhood in this neighborhood as my parents used to own a restaurant and an asian mart on this street, but since they no longer do, I had not been to RT's in my adult life until now. The She Crab Soup is a MUST, the gumbo on the appetizer list and the entree list are both AMAZING, and i'm just at a lost for words on the Stuffed Baked Jumbo Shrimp. I kept asking for suggestions before ordering because everything sounded so good and everyone kept on saying that everything IS good. And well, i believe them now. I hear the Penne Jambalaya is also a must. I just love how we can get quality cajun/creole food in the area without the pretentiousness of DC. It ain't cheap, but it's worth it. read more

Chicken & "Comeaux" Andouille Gumbo is amazing!!!! I order tge Crab & Crawfish Stuffed Flounder, I highly recommend this hidden jewel. You won't be disappointed. read more

Being from the Deep South, I miss Cajun cooking. Some of my favorite spots include Jacques-Imo's in downtown New Orleans, Boudin King in Jennings, LA, and the humble Boudin Shop in Cecilia, LA. These iconic celebrations of the best mix of meat, spices, and vegetables on the planet seem so far away from me down in the heart of DC (where Bardia's does not offer me solace). So one can imagine my delight upon hearing that not only was their a Cajun spot in nearby Alexandria, VA, but that it also had a two entree special plus a bottle of wine for $30. I had to check it out. I have read some of the reviews below regarding RT's, and I think that all of the readers make some interesting points. What I wanted to add, however, is that RT's, while certainly worth the visit, was sorely lacking in one particular area, and it was shocking given the ease of fixing the problem. The meat was not high quality. Indeed, the shrimp had clearly been frozen, and I have no idea where they get their catfish and sausage. All the same, despite this ridiculous oversight, the restaurant scores big on their sauces for both the Smothered Catfish but especially for their Shrimp Etoufee (their sauce was a beautiful mix of spices and butter that satisfied this Southerner's soul). I thoroughly demolished the Alligator stew that was placed in front of me (great soup - they used a spicy tomato base with just the right hint of sherry - it gives me very high hopes for their She-Crab soup). I would have bought a dessert as well, but I was actually full (an uncommon experience for an individual who claimed Texas as home for nine years). I would be remiss not to mention that our service was excellent. Our waiter even corked back our remaining wine and sent it home with us. What an awesome guy. The host was also friendly, and he joked with us regarding the fact that I asked about the special within seconds of us being seated. 5 Stars to the Service. Overall, is it egregious that the meat isn't as fresh as it should be? Yes. Should you overlook this fact? Absolutely. I mean, it's 2 entrees plus a bottle of wine for $30. Taking everything into consideration, it's an amazing deal. read more

Giving this place 4 stars, normally would get 3 stars but since it's probably family owned I'll give it the benefit of the doubt. This place was very good, it was a nice diversion from some of the food we frequently go out for in DC or Alexandria. Don't get me wrong though, this place has nothing on some of my favorite joints in New Orleans. However, their cajun food is good. We went here for restaurant week and I'll say right off the bat the beignets and fried oysters were out of this world. My wife ordered a goat cheese salad and really like it as well. My wife ordered the Haddock and she really enjoyed it. I tasted it and it was well done. I ordered the Crawfish Etouffée and I really enjoyed that. I will say it was really spicy, I drank a lot of water with my meal and two Abita Brown Ales, probably more water than beer though. The bread pudding was fantastic as well. There were a few minor issues which prevented this joint from getting a higher rating. They refused to substitute my wife's dessert on the restaurant week menu for a salad. She is a type 1 diabetic and I feel this was in poor taste. The bathrooms were filthy, come on people - clean the bathrooms. If I'm spending well over $100 on dinner I don't like to encounter these folly mishaps. read more

I think my biggest complaint with RT's might be the worst thing that could happen to a Cajun restaurant: blandness. My boyfriend had the she-crab soup, which was just okay, with teeny tiny flavorless shreds of crab. The red beans and rice were not very flavorful either, even though they supposedly contained andouille (I didn't see or taste it). We split the pecan-crusted haddock, which was wonderful. The Sazerac cocktail was decidedly better than the one at the PX, which is saying something (Or is it? Maybe the PX is overrated). The other notable thing about RT's is that it is way overpriced. All in all, I would give it three and a quarter stars, Star Search style. read more

My wife and I came to RT's after passing it for months. We'd read the reviews, determined it was worth a go, and walked over one fine evening. Walking in, you're surrounded with the familiarity that only a local joint can give you. We'd never come to RT's before, but something about it just felt so homey. We were greeted and sat before long. Our waitress came to us (a bit disheveled) and took our drink order. The wait time for a cocktail and a bottled soda was a bit long, but nothing unforgivable. The menu is extensive, but a few recommendations from our server and we were on the way. The restaurant was busy, but not packed. Kitchen service was slow and our waitress did not check on us for a long time. Both my water glass and my cocktail were empty for more than 8 minutes. When our appetizers and entrees were delivered, the portions were a lot smaller than expected. The food quality was pretty good, but the flavoring was not the "Amazing!" we'd read about on Yelp, but rather a "mmm passable" that ended up summarizing our night. The crab imperial was the best dish we had. The Jambalaya was good, but heavy on the salt. We finished our meal, but multiple attempts to find our server met with failure. 404, server not found. After 10 minutes of looking for our waitress and 2 hours of total meal time, we grabbed any able-bodied person and asked for a check. All-in-all, unremarkable food with at-times painfully slow service. My wife wouldn't eat here again-- I'd like to try the rest of the menu and see what's up. Bottom line: Glad we tried it, not somewhere we'd rush to get back to. read more

Sorta a sketchy area, I felt unsafe leaving my car unattended in the parking lot across the street. My car isn't something upscale like a benz, but it ain't no daewoo neither. We went here for restaurant week, so we only ordered from the set menu. I got Gumbo appt, which was pretty good until I saw everyone else's appts. The Crawfish & Shrimp Beignets were a big hit, and I would have ate that as my dinner if I could. The Spicy Pecan Crusted Haddock was my entree, and it was pretty good. It was pretty unique for me; I've never had pecans on my plate unless it was pie. The crust was really good, but the fish was just alright. It might have been frozen fish, but who knows. The Crawfish Etouffée tasted like the Gumbo I had for my appt. It was very salty, and overpowering. Not sure if they were using the freshest fish or not because all we could taste was spices. It's not bad, but I've definitely had way better foods that used 1/4 of the spices they coated their foods with. The restaurant itself could use some modernization. It could use a Gordan Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmare facelift - except the food was decent and the kitchen staff is competent. It's a family owned restaurant, with very good hospitality, but the food is just average. read more

RT's has also been a go to place but it never gets old. From the gumbo to any of their entrees, it's all always delicious. They've been pretty great when it's come to Covid as well and taking all the necessary restrictions. The beinets are amazing as well and the crab cakes are highly recommended. It's not the nicest looking spot, but it does not matter when the food is this delicious. read more

Honestly, this place turned what was going to be a generally lackluster and low key NYE into a memorable, and delicious feast that sent us both home smiling and sated... After calling and seeing if they had any spots open for dinner on NYE at 6, they told us they didn't, but that there were some seats at the bar. Well, after almost throwing in the towel, we decided to hit the bar and give it a shot, 2015 is looking up if the rest of our decisions are this solid! This place is so low key, and understated, that I am still shocked by how great the food was. Kat, the awesome bartender, was perfect all night, despite riding solo the whole time we were there. We started with the Oysters "Uggie", which were maybe a little more breaded than we've had in Nola, but the taste was great, so not a big deal. For dinner, she recommended the specials, which we both went for, I had the veal porterhouse, and the wife had the Fluke which was stuffed with something I can't remember now, but both were silly good. My porterhouse was crazy, with an amazing spice rub flavoring and perfectly cooked medium rare. And the corn side was a perfect complement to it. The wife's fluke was flaky and well seasoned, and the crab stuffing was amazing. We finished it off with bread pudding, with some kind of toffee/Bailey's combo, which was perfect too. All in all, this place is going to be at the top of our Alexandria list for a while to come. Do yourself a favor, and stop by here for dinner or lunch, this place is worth it. read more

Being a New Orleans native, I'm always on the lookout for an authentic taste of home. Unlike most places I've tried around DC, RT's pretty much delivers on both the taste and the atmosphere. The Oysters Rockefeller were very good (baked oysters with a spinach and cheese sauce), and the Oysters Bienville (another baked oyster dish involving cheese) tasted good. The Bienvlle's flavor wasn't really very authentic though. I had a blackened tuna steak with red bean sauce, bernaise sauce and shrimp. I liked it. My friends had crawfish etouffe, a veal and seafood dish, and fried catfish, and they were all very happy. The prices are definitely reasonable, and the place has a neighborhood feel similar to a lot of places in New Orleans. I was very happy with the experience all around. read more

One of my favorites places. Great food and nice atmosphere. Maria makes the best cocktails! Love the pecan cod. If you like Creole and Cajun this is the place to go! read more

Hub and I saw the reviews and wanted to check it out. I'm from Louisiana so I've been looking for a place to call culinary home since moving up here. Location: The location is sketchy and I feared our car would get towed or broken into. I saw the same set of cops circling the area between the times we spent looking for parking, actually parking, and then coming back out and trying to leave/navigate the people who were loitering in the parking lot. The inside of the bar/restaurant feels a lot like a 70s era establishment. Food: The shrimp and crawfish beignet had none of the texture of a beignet, and there was a single spot in mine where the dough wasn't fully cooked. Also, I saw/tasted no evidence of crawfish and there appeared to be some sort of noodle included. Smothered Catfish: The fish coating was mushy and the topping, which was supposed to be etouffee, was just gravy (no vegetables or herbs) with shrimp in it. The shrimp did not have a 'fresh' texture. I didn't bother finishing it because it tasted greasy and like browned flour. It had no real "flavor". It just tasted bland-ish. Hub said his meal was 'just ok'. The best thing was the beer. read more

Great food selection and every item on the table was a fantastic blend of tastes and smells. The seafood Bouillabaisse (daily special) was the right amount of kick to keep it interesting. Loved not having to add hot sauce to liven up what some places call spicy). Oysters on the half shell were well presented and very fresh. Lemon, cocktail sauce and fresh horseradish accompanied the oysters. read more

I'm not terribly familiar with Cajun cuisine, so I cannot speak to authenticity. I am, however, familiar with good food - and RT's certainly has that down pact. The seafood is fresh and abundant. I have yet to completely finish a meal - the portions are huge. Everything is expertly seasoned, it has a good kick but it won't knock you down the stairs. The flavors are balanced. The service is outstanding. Everyone here is incredibly kind. My son requested crayons, because he's three and that's what they do. RT's doesn't have them, but they did bring him paper and highlighters out of the back office. They could have said no and moved on, but they went the extra mile to make even their littlest customer happy. Speaking of the littlest customer - he neglected his chicken tenders, not because they were bad, they were damn good, but because he was eating half of my shrimp and crab ettoufle. We don't even bother with the kids menu anymore, and just split entrees with the little man. Don't miss the lemon chess pie. NOM! read more

Delicious food. Will definitely be back. My grandma had the catfish. I had gumbo and another family member got the etouffe. Everything was great. Good service and cute place. Good to get together with family read more

OMG, OMG, OMG, I LOVE this place SO much. If you are not afraid of flavor in your food, go here. If you like to try new things, go here. If you enjoy excellent service, go here. If you like dessert, go here. RT's has me eating foods I've never eaten. The other night they had fried green tomatoes topped with crab meat and a mustard sauce that was delicious. I followed that up with she crab soup (amazing) and a to-die-for veal chop (it was a special that night). I didn't realize that I had completely devoured the veal chop until my dad asked for a bite and there was barely any meat left on the bone for him. My mom had the crab and shrimp etoufee, which was amazing and my dad had the crab stuffed shrimp, which was also delicious. To end the night, we shared a piece of their coconut cake which was soaked in rum and just the perfect ending to our meal. Be warned, when you pull up in front of RT's, you will not be impressed but don't judge this restaurant by it's storefront appearance. It's not on the nicest part of Mt. Vernon Avenue, but you forget all about that once you're in the restaurant. Don't walk, run to RT's. You will not regret it. read more

I decided to give this place a try on a whim because of the raving reviews on here. When I first entered, the impression of the interior directly reflected the quality of food - neglected, outdated, and sad. The service, however, was extremely prompt and pleasant. We started with the fried green tomatoes app. The batter on it seemed unfitting - it was chewy rather than the crunchy and light texture I'm used to. My boyfriend ordered the softshell crab special. Again, the batter was not up to par. It sat on a bed of corn; they used a more starchy variety opposed to the sweet kind. I had the gumbo, which looked pretty impressive from the single head-on shrimp that was sitting on top. The gumbo itself tasted one dimensional. The other shrimps in there were obviously frozen, as well as the crawfish. Don't even get me started on the rice. read more

RT's Restaurant - Gumbo. Across: softshell crab - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Simply awesome experience. Hadn't been back to this Alexandria jewel in quite a while. It didn't disappoint. Great food and prices. Don't sleep on this Cajun gem. read more

RT's is a diamond in the rough. There is ample parking at the CVS across the street. I have tried several Cajun/Creole restaurants in this area and have been disappointed until I found RTs. The service was fantastic and they start you off with fresh baked bread. We started with 6 raw oysters (fresh & delicious), oyster sampler with oyster Rockefeller and one with creamed spinach. Oysters and creamed spinach? Oh, it was amazing. We ordered the Crawfish & Shrimp Beignets, which were so-so. Our entrees included the crawfish etoufee and the smothered catfish with shrimp etoufee. Both were outstanding and very tasty. Both etoufees had ample seafood and delicious, flavorful sauce. The service and food were great. We will be returning customers. read more

I'm always on the prowl for good Cajun fare and was surprised by finding RT's by chance and not on one of my web searches. You really have to see this place for all of the reviews to make sense. Don't be afraid, you'll be alright! I saw good reason for all 4&5 star reviews, and nothing of the complaints expressed by a few, and trust me - I'm quite picky. RT's is rather small and I can honestly believe one reviewer that said nothing has changed in the 30 years between visits. Perfectly preserved through time, it is like stepping back to a simpler time. Clean "grandmothers den" feel, with booth after booth of apparent weekly, if not daily, repeat customers. Of course anyone walking in as I was leaving would probably take me for one of those regulars, the staff are really genuinely nice. The food was as good if not better as any I've had out of the Quarter, and it came with reasonable value. I can see why people can afford to eat here often. read more

I was very excited to try RTs with such glowing reviews. We ordered: +She-crab soup. Great flavor - only minor complaint is that there was some shell still in the soup that we had to fish out +Bacon wrapped Scallops: These were outstanding. The bacon was crispy and somehow the scallops weren't overcooked. I'm not really sure what the bed of fried onions adds to the dish, but the scallops themselves were a 10. +jumbalaya: This dish sounds incredibly enticing, but somehow the mix of sausage, chicken, pork and pasta ended up being a bit bland IMO. This isn't my favorite cuisine so I don't see myself coming as a regular, but I did enjoy the meal I had. read more

This is one of my all time favorite restaurants. It's a hidden gem in the metro dc area. I have never left with out feeling like I am on cloud 9 because the meal is always so good. Food is always cooked fresh to order and comes out piping hot so you know it's freshly made. I always order the jack Daniels shrimp. It is a MUST if you eat here. Really anything you pick here is heaven for your body and soul! (: read more