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Dandy Restaurant Cruises
Categories: Event Planning & Services Boat Charters Restaurants Breakfast & Brunch Restaurants American (Traditional) Boat Charters, Breakfast & Brunch, American (Traditional) [Edit]
0 Prince StAlexandria, VA 22314
(703) 683-6076
- Price Range:
-
$$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
16 reviews for Dandy Restaurant Cruises
16 reviews in English
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Review from Julie G.
Seattle, WA
12/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
The cruise was wonderful and could be a bit romantic. We got our deal off of Groupon.
The meal was good. They served us soup and a salad. We both ordered the crab stuffed in a jumbo shrimp for our entree. The shrimp wasn't jumbo at all! It was a bit flavorless, but salt/pepper did the trick. There were a few options for desert, I had apple pie (nothing special). Johnny had the cheesecake and said it was delicious. I was satisfied with our entire meal, even though some of it was a bit bland.
We went upstairs for pictures. It's cold up there, so bring your coats. The couple at the table next to us, suggested that we could slow dance upstairs, since there's a bit of music that plays up there. Johnny is a bit shy when it comes to dancing, so it worked out great. The view is nice at night. I would recommend this cruise, it was a pleasant experience. We love cruises!! -
Review from Rosie M.
Arlington, VA
1/17/2012
Tried this cruise on a Groupon deal - it was OK, but definitely an upgrade from the Spirit of Washington. As promised, they served brunch on a brunch cruise. The mimosas were great, but the food was cold, except for the omelets, which are freshly prepared. There was no dancing, at least nothing pushy from the waitstaff, and the waitstaff was attentive and on their game. Whatever we asked for, we got right away. I definitely liked the cruise tour itself - took us around sights the Spirit of Washington had not. After reading everyone's reviews, I'm curious to try the dinner cruise (NOT the buffet - they tend to suck), to see if the food gets better, or at least warmer. Still want to try the Odyssey - heard great things about them. I'd try Nina's Dandy again - but only on a deal.
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Review from Kerry S.
Alexandria, VA
6/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
Had a Groupon for this, so I thought we'd check it out. I certainly wouldn't have paid full price for the experience, and what we did end up paying, above and beyond the Groupon (about $90) was not worth it.
Food: Made me sick for the next three days.
Dancing: Nonexistant until we were docking to leave.
Cramped; poor service (my date had to order a beverage from two different waitstaff before it finally arrived); and pretty dirty, even for a boat.
I'll go to Chadwicks, right across the street from docking, next time I'm in the mood to be by the water. -
Review from Dan T.
Alexandria, VA
8/11/2011
The cruise was lovely, although I don't think I would have gone if I had to pay the regular price of $98 per person. We got discounted tickets through What's The Deal.
My wife's prime rib was cooked perfectly. My crab-stuffed jumbo shrimp weren't jumbo at all, and the dish was a bit bland. But I added some salt and pepper to the food, and it tasted a little better.
The cruise was about 3 hours, and the sights were very beautiful at night. The service was very good. The played some dance music, but it started out as Hispanic salsa and ended with Electric Slide... not my kinda music at all. -
Review from Miriam B.
5/16/2011
We celebrated our anniversary here. First time on the Dandy. Service was very good. Food was so/so. We prefer the odyssey.
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Review from Gertrude G.
College Park, MD
10/11/2011
My husband and I got a Groupon and decided to use it for our wedding anniversary. (We're married, we can use coupons on dates now. :-) In a sentence, I would not have paid the regular price, but it was a good time for the Groupon price. If you would like more info than just that, read on:
Reading other reviews set our expectations low enough that anything beyond mediocre was a pleasant surprise. I would classify the whole experience as a slightly-cheesy wedding reception. The decor was like a slightly cheesy wedding hall, the service was fine, the food was good but not spectacular, and the music was pretty generic/bland (lots of YMCA, Electric Slide, and the like). People were dancing until they played the Macerena, at which point the dance floor never recovered.
The evening we went was slightly chilly, so not too many people ventured on the deck, but that was certainly where the evening was best spent. (Though then there was cheesy background music, different from the dance music! We just had to laugh.) The boat went all the way up to Georgetown, then back down. There really is something special about DC at night from a totally new perspective. If you're expecting a high-society riverboat cruise, this is not it, but we enjoyed ourselves.
I would have given this review another star, but it felt like they were really trying to squeeze every last cent they could out of us. There was a $6 fuel surcharge, even though fuel seems a lot cheaper than it was a few months ago. Also, during booking, I was asked for our Groupon numbers and then told to bring a copy. When it came time for checkout, the full-price ticket was on the bill. I gave them the Groupon, and they took it off by hand. When I pointed out that they still taxed us for $198 (price of two tickets), which we had not paid, they said that we had paid Groupon but hadn't paid them so we had to be taxed ... um, say what? You can't tax on something that wasn't purchased. You're getting my Groupon money, so yes I have paid you. So I wonder where that extra "tax" money goes. So after having a pleasant evening, I left with a yucky feeling that I was being nickled-and-dimed. Not really the best way to get repeat business.
Drinks, tip, etc. are extra. We weren't surprised by this, but tip (on pre-discounted amount), tax (and "tax"), a glass of wine each, and one cup of coffee ran an extra $70. Just be prepared! -
Review from Hannah Y.
Alexandria, VA
Updated - 10/8/2011
I had a great lunch cruise on Nina's Dandy. The captain was fun and engaging in regards to the informational cruise along the Potomac River. The staff were nice and served beverages and your entrees promptly. The boat itself seemed to be a little bit run-down and old, but didn't affect the cruise tour itself. I had the Filet of Cod, which was tasty, with a side of steamed vegetables. My friend had the Basil Chicken, and it was solid, too. both were a little bland, but adding salt and pepper did the trick. Only iced tea were free refills, but other fountain drinks are by the glass. Most of the seafarers were senior citizens, but it was an enjoyable, peaceful, and a relaxing boat ride. Don't expect the Odyssey - this is a simple, straight shooter of a boat, with solid entrees, with a great relaxing ambiance. The bathrooms were clean, which was a total plus. The 2.5 hours went by quickly, and it was the perfect amount of time to mosey about the boat, especially on the top deck, to catch the riverside scenery. They also offer dinner cruises with a more extensive menu and hosts part functions as well.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/29/2011
This rating is for Ms. Andreea Sporea, the Wedding Coordinator, only. She graciously accepted an… Read more »
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Review from Lydia P.
Washington, DC
11/17/2006
It was a lovely evening in June, it was my birthday..
I decided to celebrate that blessing day in a fun interesting way..
So I chose Nina's Dandy to be The Happy Place!
Nina Dandy is a gourmet restaurant cruises that depart from Old Town Alexandria to Georgetown and back again to Alexandria.
For a fun dining and dancing experience with a the view of Nation Monuments.
Open the bottle of my favorite red wine, to cherish the date I was born and to celebrate additional year in my life! Yay!
The sound of music that beautifully played along our dinner time by our talented pianist, as an excellent addition in that lovely evening, makes my dining experience is unforgettable! Purrfect!
I celebrate this memorable evening with a friend, we had a great time and also not forgot to take some pictures before we board, as well as while we were on the cruise.
I take a chance to go up to the deck, to enjoy the view of the beautiful evening panorama and enjoy the view of Nation monuments accompanied by Frank Sinatra songs as a background. So.. romantic!
The food was 5 course dinner. I know..!
I wonder at that time, how am I going to handle this?
And since I have a small tummy, off course I can't finish all of that food!
But for sure, I enjoy every course very much!
I start with fresh assorted fruit, follow by port wine seasoned cheese and crackers, continue with spinach salad and for the entree I had the perfectly tender prime rib! It was fantastic!
And for the dessert, I chose New York Cheese Cake!
Our waiter bring out the dessert with candle, I blows the candle and make a wish! Wishing for my dream come true!
At that five course, when I start eating my dessert..
Lord! I can't help it anymore! I feel soo.. full!
At that time, I think that I'm going to pop!
So I thought, hey, it's about the time to hit the dance floor!
And do some swing! With all that happy song!
And sure, I find that as a fabulous idea!
We got some people dancing with us to!
Some do the swing and some do Macarena!
Oh well, any style will do!
We all had a blast in that cruise!
What a memorable birthday for me!Listed in: Top Restaurants, My bubbly life that is all…
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Review from PC W.
New York, NY
7/3/2007
Just got back from this dinner cruise for an alumni event for my bf's graduate school. His meal was a fraction of the $80 cost of the typical dinner and his guests paid $40 each. Even with the discount, it's hard to justify coming here. Let's put it this way - think of the worst wedding ever and imagine it on a boat and you can't escape. The tables were set up banquest style which was okay because you can mingle and network.
Here's the rundown on the five course dinner:
Hors D'oeuvre - Port wine cheese with crackers - first time having it and it was good.
Appetizer - in the warm months they serve fruit instead of a seafood chowder which i was hoping for - we got a fruit plate of kiwi, cantaloupe and grapes. I skipped the appetizer entirely - didn't even let the waiter put it down in front of me. Who serves fruit as an appetizer??!??!
Salad - was not the spinach salad as advertised as I would have given it a try. It was a mixed green salad with a dark green dressing. I didn't touch it.
Entree - ordered the prime rib which came with a baked potato and green beans. Didn't try the green beans. The prime rib was very mediocre. The baked potato was good with butter and sour cream.
Dessert - I had the chocolate cake and it was an utter disappointment. It was not moist and fluffy. I could only get through half of it. I sampled the chocolate mousse which was okay. The cheesecake is apparently fluffy and not creamy like it should be.
The views were nice as the route was starting from Old Town up by National Airport/Crystal City and you can see most of the major monuments then the Kennedy Center then to Georgetown before turning around. The entire cruise was 3 hours. Even with the views from the ship, I wouldn't recommend going for $80. I think their main clientele are senior citizens.
They starting up the dance floor about 20 minutes before the end of the cruise. They were playing bad wedding music like soft adult classics like lady in red and then they started into the group dances like the macarena and the electric slide. No kidding this was like a bad wedding. 2/3 into the cruise I wanted off.
I had a good time with the group I was with but the food/cruise experience was not very memorable. Don't do this unless Great Aunt Flo is in town.
Misc info: Parking lot right by the dock for $5. They take your picture before boarding the boat in front of the lifesaver that says Nina's Dandy and then after the cruise, just like at Disneyworld, they try to sell it to you for $20. -
Review from Nadia I.
Arlington, VA
7/10/2008
I decided to have my husband's birthday dinner aboard Nina's Dandy. Bad Bad Idea. Lets break down the misery that was those 3 hours of cruising.
Food: I have never had such atrocious food. They apparently serve 5 course. The first was cheese and crackers - cheap cheese, cheap crackers. The second was fruit salad, which ended up being a clever name for one slice of old cantaloupe and two over-ripe strawberries. The third course was a mixed green salad - but when presented it turned out to be bruised old salad leaves soaked on oil and vinegar. For the entree my table selected the haddock and prime ribs, both of which were terrible, terrible, terrible. The dessert sucked too.
The only plus? The drinks and wine selection was good - but those were extras on top of the $90 per head charge.
Decor: Picture this. Smelly damp cabin with paint peeling everywhere and wood chipping in every corner. White table cloths and carpet patterned chairs. Decent dancing area but crappy music selection - like the music from a horrible 80s wedding. Not a pretty boat at all.
On the plus side - the roof deck is great. Nice simple wrought iron chairs and tables, lots of open air, no smell, no chipping wood - why don't they serve the dinner up there?
Other particulars: This boat is old - as in so old that it should have been decommissioned along with Nixon's impeachment. The bathrooms are a health hazard. The majority of the servers did not speak English, and lots was lost in translation.
However: There is nothing like sailing on the potomac to soak in all the monuments DC has to offer, and check out those multi million dollar mansions along the waterfront that the other half live in. I mean - it definitely is an experience that beats eating in a restaurant on those levels.
I would suggest that if you're considering the dinner-on-a-boat route that you fork up the extra $50 per head and go for a better boat company. Or if you still go aboard the dandrums - lower your expectations considerably before driving out there. -
Review from Todd J.
Bremerton, WA
11/16/2010 1 Check-in Here
Food was good, service was very good, views were great. Candlelit dinner, romantic music, dancing. Everything was awesome but we were slightly concerned when we saw a large crew of kids waiting to board. Then saw balloons tied to the chairs - did they take a wrong turn to Chuck e Cheese? No, they were all well dressed. Our fears were realized when, after two songs, the pack of kids took over the dance floor. And I mean took over, running from one end to the next. Parents? Sure - mom was on the dance floor snapping photos like there was no tomorrow with a SERIOUS flash. Needless to say the rest of passengers (all couples as far as I could tell) did not attempt to dance the rest of the cruise.
Mostly I blame the parents for wrecking a romantic cruise. All these couples arrange babbysitters for a special night, only to find a crusie full of kids. So how do I blame Dandys? How about set up a night for all-ages cruise, otherwise 21-and-over, or at least 18-and-over. -
Review from amy g.
Alexandria, VA
7/4/2010
Overall, this was a great experience that 2 long-time DC residents thoroughly enjoyed. The food was better then we expected-I had the prime rib and my husband had the stuffed shrimp. The service was very good, and the staff tries hard to please. Its not going to win an award for best meal ever.....but don't go for the food...go for the views.
The views were spectacular. The ship has an entire second floor, open deck, and it was a great way to see monuments, g-town, and planes landing/taking off at national.
Be sure to check out goldstar for discounts. We got our tickets for almost half the price. Overall, a great experience. -
Review from foodlover k.
Ashburn, VA
9/18/2010
Horrible. They charged my 2 year old $80 and refused to listen. Cracked window. The boat needs a paint job. Food was okay..
After a few phone calls to customer service, they refunded me the difference. -
Review from cindy p.
Somerset, PA
2/23/2011
Sucks. The food is horrible. We went on a lunchtime cruise and it was set up buffet style. All they had was sandwich platters and fruit and veggie platters, and the food was not very fresh or good. Also, the boat is a smelly, damp, dirty mess.
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Review from Lara S.
Manchester, NH
12/9/2008
It's just fine, but wait for them to have a sale on the dinner cruises. The food wasn't all that great. But they were willing to receive flowers I'd ordered for my husband and place them on our table as a surprise :)
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Review from Billy H.
Alexandria, VA
7/21/2009
My mother, as birthday gift, sent me on this dinner cruise with my wife this last Saturday (7/18/09). After she emailed me the reservation confirmation, I checked the reviews of this cruise and was disappointed. I warned my wife to set her expectations pretty low based on the reviews I read over here. However...
It wasn't as bad as it was portrayed. The ship is very clean inside and outside. The crew was very hospitable. The food was decent. Yes, it wasn't Wolfgang Puck, d-uh but it was decent. My wife had the fillet of haddock and I had the prime rib. They first start off with a few crackers and cheese, and then you get a plate of fruits (honeydew, kiwi, and strawberry). After that we got a regular green salad (nothing fancy here). The ingredients were fresh, the lettuce was crisp, and the dressing was good. After that we got our entrées (prime rib and haddock). We finally got our dessert. My wife went with the cheesecake and I had the chocolate mousse and both were good. Again, the menu is limited, and the items that are there are regular items that you and I would cook in our own kitchen for dinner. And the pig that I usually am, I got off that boat at 10PM feeling full which is quite an accomplishment!
Between courses, my wife and I would go upstairs on the terrace/deck or whatever it is you want to call it to soak in the sights. Granted we've lived in Arlington for the last 10 years and see the monuments every day going back and forth from our jobs, but seeing it from the Potomac was different. It might be the fact that we were relaxing and enjoying the trip that made us look at Washington DC from a different perspective. Anyway, whenever the server was ready to bring us our food, he would go up to the deck to let us know. We spent the last hour of the cruise on the deck upstairs doing nothing but sit and do nothing. It was a real steam blower that relieved the pressure cooker our life is.
All in all, you have to try it once to experience it. I want to thank to previous posters here for making me set my expectations too low only to be pleasantly surprised.
