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    The Wharf

    3.7 (656 reviews)
    PriceySeafood
    Closed 12:00 pm - 9:30 PM

    The Wharf Photos

    Business Info

    THE WHARF ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - The Wharf

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    Worm

    Despite seeing some negative reviews about the food, I decided to give this place a chance since opinions seemed mixed. Unfortunately, it turned out to be a big mistake--this is definitely somewhere I'd recommend avoiding. I ordered oysters, and they were served in a shocking condition: with a worm crawling on them. When I pointed this out to the server, she dismissed it and claimed it was normal and "comes with it," which was honestly concerning. A manager eventually stepped in, took the plate back, and offered to replace the dish, but by that point I had completely lost my appetite and declined. Overall, the experience was unsettling, and the food quality was far from acceptable. Not worth the risk.

    Holiday decorations
    Elaine F.

    The Wharf has been our favorite restaurants in Old Town for years. It is so cozy, the food is delicious, and the service is great. Plans changed, and I ended up going alone last evening. They were so attentive. I enjoyed a wine special ( Vermentino from Barboursville VA), the tomato-based MD seafood chowder, and the baked shrimp topped with crab. I was considering dessert. The server told me the oatmeal-coconut pie was his favorite, so I tried it. It was delicious--not a typical combination but so yummy. Don't miss this place when you are in Alexandria.

    Filet mignon
    Sara S.

    Stopped in to escape a cold winter night with a friend to warm up. The service is excellent, and our waiter was very knowledgeable and answered all of our questions and gave great recommendations. However, cleanliness was a concern for me. The bathroom was gross, the lemons were bad, and the clam chowder clams were so gritty, I hurt a tooth. The food itself was just OK and that was disappointing for such an expensive place. The bread tasted very off to me & that was so disappointing because I love fresh bread with butter. My steak needed more seasoning and the asparagus wasn't anything exceptional. The star of the night was the mashed potatoes. Overall, I don't think I'll be back but it was a good place to try out.

    Filet mignon, mashed potatoes and veggie of the day with a Hennessy Sidecar
    Dee A.

    This gem is a go to for a date night. It has a historical feel as the building is modified from its original build from early Alexandria (centuries old!). I visited for maybe the 5th time. Each time I visit is great service, ambiance, and food. Last night, however, was a bit subpar with food but the service and hospitality were excellent. It was valentines dinner on a Friday night and the restaurant was packed, which may had led to the food not being as great as normal. I ordered a filet mignon cooked medium but received a filet cooked almost well done, tasteless, and chewy :( the amazing drinks made up for the sub par meal. I will return of course.

    STUFFED CHESAPEAKE FLOUNDER
    Barbara M.

    This is a solid choice for good food and superior service. I've been here multiple times and never miss a chance for the she crab soup. It's one of the best I've ever had. Very elegant setup that's perfect for celebrations, date night, or any time you want to feel luxurious.

    HORSERADISH CRUSTED SALMON*
    Alex O.

    The outside of the restaurant looked a little fancier than it was inside. The ceiling was full of wires and staples so it wasn't as romantic as I had hoped but this is an older building so I can't fault them. We sat away from the bar and arrived around 7:30. The restaurant was pretty empty but then again it was a Wednesday. We were offered tap, still, or sparkling water and crusty bread with butter. The butter was nice and soft which is always a nice touch. We got a half dozen oysters. I was kind of surprised there was no mignonette but then again, it wasn't listed on the menu. It came with cocktail sauce, horseradish, and lemons. I got the horseradish crusted salmon and it came with garlicky spinach and some mashed potatoes. The salmon was pretty big and I couldn't finish it all, not for lack of trying. My husband got the rockfish served atop some succotash, it was very good as well. The prices were on par with the area. The waitress was attentive and checked on me to make sure my specially made drink was made correctly.

    Crab cake with aioli
    Michele Marie F.

    The food is absolutely delicious!! Our server was attentive and knowledgeable of the menu! Not annoying but kept drinks filled as needed and bussed the table at appropriate times! We sat outside as the day was perfect weather and there was a violinist busking in the area! I highly recommend it. It's on the pricier side as it's a fine dining type of establishment.

    ENTREES SALMON OSCAR
    Namir B.

    My wife and I came here for Winter Restaurant Week and we had a great time! We had a full 3-course meal: Apps (Caesar Salad & She Crab Soup), Entrée (Salmon Oscar), and Dessert (Basque Style Cheesecake). You can't go wrong with Caesas Salad, but it was okay. Nothing special. My wife enjoyed the crab soup but the sherry took away from the experience. It wasn't bad though. The Entrées were BANGIN!!!! So gooooddd... the salmon, postatoes, and grilled asparagus - was "LIKE THAT!" It was so good, we were apalled. The entree alone sealed the deal for us. We WILL be coming back. Customer Service was so personable, and the waiters were "ON IT!" Super attentive; 10 out of 10. We weren't fans of the cheesecake. Just not what we were used to (i.e. New York Style) but it wasn't "the worst," or bad. It was decent. All in all-- We're gonna have to come back and try some other dishes.

    Kris M.

    We come here almost every Christmas Eve and we love it! We split a fee appetizers, order lobster and steaks, and then split a few different desserts. The service is always amazing, but I definitely recommend getting a reservation because they are booked during the holidays. The restaurant is busy, but is also moderately quiet allowing for an enjoyable dining experience. Highly recommend!

    Sides w/ lobster
    Will M.

    Pictures from the outside make this spot seem much more fancier than it actual is. There was a leak from the ceiling in the middle of the dining room. The wooden paneling on the walls looked unwell. The waitstaff was over dressed. Pasta and sauce had some nice kick to it. Lobster was pretty standard and the sides balanced it well.

    Moni T.

    I came here for lunch and ordered the broiled old-town seafood platter that came with rockfish, shrimp, and a crab cake. The only thing I would recommend is perhaps adding a veggie instead of fries. However, the food was seasoned and delicious. Also, the complimentary bread they give you is good and soft. The inside is spacious and they also offer outdoor seating. I decided to sit at the bar. The bartender was nice, and patient, and continued to check on me. Another recommendation or gripe, they don't offer sweet tea, so I stuck with drinking water.

    Crab Cake (cross section)

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    7 months ago

    Took my mom here and had a great meal. The food tasted fresh and the the ambiance was pretty elegant. I would come back for sure.

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    4 months ago

    beautiful dine in restaurant! Great friendly and courteous staff. The Lobster is authentic and amazing

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    Page 1 of 17

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    Hank's Oyster Bar, Old Town - White Stone Oysters

    Hank's Oyster Bar, Old Town

    4.1(1.6k reviews)
    0.7 miOld Town Alexandria
    $$$

    Hank's Oyster Bar - Alexandria on May 26, 2026…read more Upon learning that Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band would be performing at Nationals Stadium in D.C. toward the end of May 2026 I invited my two brothers, a sister, and a family friend to join me at the concert. As an Old Town resident for the past 15 years, I've always included Hank's Oyster Bar - Alexandria in my short list of favorite restaurants when friends and family visit. Happily, we were able to book a table for five, and we had a perfectly wonderful meal there the night before the concert. We started with a dozen fresh oysters for the table - 1/2 dozen Salty Wolfe Oysters ($23), shown as Hank's own proprietary oyster from the Lower Chesapeake, Virginia, along with 1/2 dozen Chef's Selection of the freshest East Coast oysters on the half shell ($22). The five of us around the table all tucked into some of the best oysters ever. The table ordered fish and chips (Old Bay seasoned fries, Cole slaw, $24), two of us ordered oyster po'boys ($21), one had the Ceasar salad ($14; add: (3) shrimp $8, oysters $8, salmon $16, or crab cake $18), and I had the New England clam chowder with bacon ($12) and a small plate of steamed PEI mussels with grilled crostini ($21). Don't let the description mislead you - this small plate of nicely seasoned mussels was large and when coupled with the soup made a perfect meal. Service was friendly, well-informed about the menu items, and prompt without ever feeling rushed. As always, breaking bread at Hank's is a treat.

    I stopped by Hank's Oyster Bar for lunch on my trip back home and overall it was an enjoyable…read moreexperience. Our waiter was super attentive, always in good spirits, and checked on us frequently throughout the meal. We started with a half dozen oysters on the half shell. They missed a few items from our appetizer order at first, but everything was sorted out pretty quickly. The oysters were solid but still fresh and enjoyable. We both ordered the fish and chips, and honestly not bad. The fish was seasoned really well without being overly salty, the fries were solid too, and overall it made for a satisfying lunch. I also tried the mango ginger sparkler, which was refreshing too. Overall, I'd definitely recommend this spot if you're looking for a solid lunch option. Parking can be a little tricky with the construction nearby, but there's underground parking at the Sheraton across the street if needed.

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    Hank's Oyster Bar, Old Town - Dining area

    Dining area

    Hank's Oyster Bar, Old Town - Fresh east coast oysters

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    Fish Market Restaurant - Crab Sandwich with Coleslaw and Fries

    Fish Market Restaurant

    3.5(1.1k reviews)
    0.0 miOld Town Alexandria
    $$

    While taking a break from the DC area, we enjoy going to Alexandria to get seafood and not pay DC…read moreprices. This trip brought us to The Fish Market, as we have tried several other places over the decades. The place is much larger than it looks and has indoor, outdoor, upstairs, and bar area seating. We were seated immediately, and our server was the sweetest lady but not really conversational when we asked questions about the area or the meal. She had no other tables but might not be her personality, which is fine. Knowing we wanted ice cream, we declined drinks, but the bar and its menu were pretty extensive. When we ordered, we landed on the fresh fish tacos and one of the best seafood linguines I've ever had. The sauce was light and didn't puddle at the bottom and was served with scallops, white fish, mussels, and shrimp. The fresh broccoli and grated Parmesan topped off an incredible choice of pasta! At the end of the day, we will continue to try other places in Old Town, but as long as they have that pasta dish, The Fish Market will always be in the running for a return trip!

    We dined at The Fish Market on 3/21/26 and were promptly seated as a party of three. After ordering…read moredrinks and placing our entrée orders, we waited over 40 minutes without receiving our meals. Since we were seated upstairs, I went downstairs to find a manager and inquire about the delay. When the manager, who I later learned was Johnathan, came over, I explained that we had been waiting nearly 45 minutes and asked if there was an issue. His response was simply, "Yeah, the salmon, right? I just dropped it off," before walking away--without any apology or acknowledgment of the delay. He also never returned to check on us. I do want to note that our server, Angel, was polite and apologetic throughout the experience, which we appreciated. Unfortunately, the service has declined significantly over the past two years, and this experience reflected that. With so many great seafood options in Alexandria, we won't be returning.

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    Fish Market Restaurant - Benches like church pews, and still the place is packed for brunch!

    Benches like church pews, and still the place is packed for brunch!

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    Old House Cosmopolitan Grill - Züricher Geschnetzeltes

    Old House Cosmopolitan Grill

    4.6(271 reviews)
    0.5 miOld Town Alexandria
    $$

    My experience at this restaurant was mixed. While the food itself was fine, the service left me and…read moremy husband feeling awkward and uncomfortable by the end. Our assigned server only came to our table twice--once to take our order and once to drop off the check. It was another staff member who actually provided a majority of the service - she brought us warm bread, delivered our food, and refilled our drinks multiple times. When it came time to pay, I paid in cash using a larger bill. The server assumed I was giving a large tip and was about to walk away with no intention of giving me my change. I made no comment of "keep the change" I then had to awkwardly ask for my change back so I could leave a tip separately. He proceeded to ask how much change I wanted, putting me on the spot and feeling pressured to leave a large tip (mind you, I was going to already leave a tip). Because of this, I ended up leaving a much larger tip (over 50%) than I had intended, especially considering the level of service he provided us. I understand that I could have been more firm about asking for all my change back, but guests should never feel pressured or uncomfortable when paying. Overall, the service experience with our waiter overshadowed what could have been an otherwise enjoyable visit.

    Fun place, good atmosphere (modern German w/o being douchy or fake)…read more Had maybe the best schnitzel I've ever had - it was crunchy and tender, but also had great flavor (rare) and was almost "light" - I say almost bc nothing deepn fried is trully light but this ate that way. Excellent spot, look forward to going again next time in in Old Town.

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    Old House Cosmopolitan Grill - The 1st floor dining room

    The 1st floor dining room

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    The Majestic - Dinner at The Majestic by Chef Santiago Lopez

    The Majestic

    4.3(1.1k reviews)
    0.5 miOld Town Alexandria
    $$
    Full bar
    Large group friendly

    Saturday was my first time back at Majestic since the new management took over, and I have to…read moresay--it was a great experience. Even though it was quite crowded, everything felt very well organized. The wait time to be seated was reasonable, and the staff were warm and welcoming from the start. Our waiter, Lorena, truly stood out. She was incredibly patient and accommodating while we took our time deciding what to order, and she was very helpful in guiding us through the menu. On top of that, she had such a pleasant and positive attitude that made the whole experience even better. As for the food--it did not disappoint. I had the salmon, which I would absolutely recommend. My daughter ordered the steak frites with French fries, which was excellent, and my other daughter had the same dish with mashed potatoes. Everything was so good that we left our plates embarrassingly clean. We'll definitely be coming back. And if you happen to get Lorena as your server, you're in for a genuinely great dining experience.

    Such a wonderful mother's day experience for my mom. This placed was wonderful and would 100% go…read moreback again! This place was in fact very "majestic" inside. Great vibes and fancy decorating. The food was all phenomenal. My mom loved her salad and ate every bite. The salmon benedict was incredible. Great flavors with the garnishing on top and the potatoes were perfectly cooked and great service, our waitress was very attentive as well as the other staff.

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    The Majestic - Girl Dinner served during Majestic Hour. Mon - Fri | 3pm - 7pm at the bar

    Girl Dinner served during Majestic Hour. Mon - Fri | 3pm - 7pm at the bar

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    Oak Steakhouse

    Oak Steakhouse

    4.1(362 reviews)
    0.7 miOld Town Alexandria
    $$$$

    Visiting Oaks Steakhiuse from out of state, we had such a wonderful experience from start to…read morefinish. I called ahead and spoke with Todd, who was incredibly kind and accommodating for our party of five. When we arrived, Todd greeted us and seated us right away. He truly radiates light and joy, setting the tone for the entire evening. Our server, Alison, was an absolute gem--attentive, personable, and on top of everything. The food was outstanding. We ordered the ribeye, New York steak, and filet mignon, all cooked to perfection. The Oysters Rockefeller were superb! I had asked for my daughter's meal to come out as soon as possible, and they made it happen without hesitation, which we really appreciated. For sides, we had the Brussels sprouts--perfectly balanced, sweet but not overly so--and the creamed corn, which was absolutely on point. We didn't end up ordering dessert, but the options looked amazing and tempting! Todd came by our table to check in, which added such a personal touch. The ambiance was lovely, and as we were leaving, Todd walked us outside and spent a few moments chatting with us--it truly meant a lot. Todd and Alison made our experience at The Oaks unforgettable, along with the incredible food. Thank you both--we hope to see you again soon! --SoCal Visitors

    Located in North Old Town. They offer free parking nearby. We had no problem finding street…read moreparking across the street. Fun, quiet atmosphere that definitely said "steakhouse!" Lots of wood and dark colors. Great service from Shawn. We tried the Ribeye and NY Strip. Both were ok. Not much seasoning. Lots of marbling. Both had significant sections of fat. For me, wasn't the best cut for either. Both were ok steaks. We had the fries and cream corn. The fries are made with a beef fat. Tasty. The cream corn has a lot of cheese on top and throughout (see pic). That wasn't a favorite for me. Was more like a mac and cheese. Pricing was for a Ruth Chris experience but fell flat on delivery. As an example, went to The Wharf a few days later and had their NY strip, with crab cake, and sides all for the same price. It was a much superior cut of steak and the flavors were fantastic.

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    Oak Steakhouse
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    1799 Prime Steak & Seafood - Green curry mussels

    1799 Prime Steak & Seafood

    4.0(551 reviews)
    0.2 miOld Town Alexandria
    $$$

    The service at 1799 Prime was next level! We left the gym wanted a cigar and dinner however the…read morepatio wasn't open and I wasn't dressed to dine but Ruben Jr open the patio, turned the lights and fire pit on along with a Bluetooth speaker for us to play our favorite tunes. I would definitely come back and ask for Ruben again!

    I celebrated my birthday dinner at 1799 Prime Steak & Seafood and wow -- what an incredible…read moreexperience. The food was absolutely delicious, the atmosphere was amazing, and we had such a great time from beginning to end. Our waiter, Ibrahim, was phenomenal. He took exceptional care of our table, was professional, attentive, and truly elevated the entire dining experience. He walked us through all of the specials -- from the Chilean sea bass to the espresso-rubbed filet mignon -- and everything sounded so good that we ended up trying a little bit of everything. And let me tell you... every single dish delivered. For appetizers we had the Rockefeller oysters, whiskey shrimp and kale Caesar salads. For entrees, I personally had the red snapper entree and the scallop entree, and I also ordered the ribeye for the table. Other dishes included the espresso filet, a Mediterranean branzino along with another entrée featuring crab cake, shrimp, and salmon. Everything was flavorful, perfectly prepared, and beautifully presented. Everyone at the table thoroughly enjoyed their meals. One of the highlights of the evening was when Ibrahim smoked our drinks tableside for us. It added such a fun and memorable touch to an already special night. He also took the time to explain the history behind the restaurant, and it was such an informative and meaningful story. Learning about the history made the experience feel even more special and gave us an even greater appreciation for dining there. Overall, it was an outstanding birthday dinner and an experience I will absolutely remember. I will definitely be returning, and if you're looking for a beautiful restaurant with amazing food, wonderful service, and a memorable atmosphere, I highly recommend checking them out. Go hungry, enjoy yourself, and have fun -- you won't be disappointed.

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    The Wharf - seafood - Updated June 2026

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