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Mon-Thu. 11:30 a.m. - 11:30 p.m.
Fri. 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 a.m.
Sat. 5:30 p.m. - 12:30 a.m.
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During my time in DC, my friend raved, and raved of this one restaurant in Alexandria. If you can break away from work and wander over to Eve, you can take advantage of probably one of the best deals in town! The Licketey Split Lounge Lunch Meal is an awesome one. (Say that five times fast) The only catch is, you have to walk in (between the hours of 11:30 - 4:00 Monday thru Friday) and grab a stool at the bar. If there is a wait, do it, trust me it's worth it.
The way this works is relatively simple in principle, choose any two items from the menu for 13.50. That's right, any two items, if you want a cocktail with a pint of Guinness you can do that, you can do two desserts, or any combination of the appetizers and entree. The hardest thing is to decide what combination you want! I mean in this day and age considering the strength of the economy, sure for 13.50 for lunch it can be a little splurge, but if you think of it as a test run, to get an idea on the food coming out of the kitchen where dinner entrees may run 35-40 bucks, and their 9 course tasting menu goes for 150... This is quite a deal!
After much deliberation, the four of us finally decided on our meal, here are the items we choose...
Seared Maine diver scallop with chantrelle mock risotto and pea puree - The scallop was perfectly cooked, the meat still had a subtle sweetness to it, it had a nice crust on the outside. The mushroom mock risotto had a amazing flavor, great texture and against the pea puree it added color to the dish and the fresh pea flavor contrasted well with the starch. OMG, a seriously amazing dish.
Creme of leek and potato soup - A simple soup, with a nice depth in flavor, the creamy potato and the aromatics from the leeks made for a great soup, it was actually very light and clean flavored. Nothing complicated here, you just taste the ingredients.
Irish BLT with chips - The sandwich was tasty, the bacon was fatty, crisp and had a great smokiness. The chips where just OK, but the sandwich was fantastic.
Pulled pork sandwich with coleslaw - The pulled pork was decent, it was actually a little on the dry side for my tastes. But the brioche bun it was served on, had a fantastic crust, but was light and airy. The coleslaw was very light and refreshing, not to heavy on the mayonnaise.
Frisee salad with seared monk fish and mustard creme sauce - They gave quite a generous piece if monk fish, it to had a nice char on the outside, a rich velvety and flavorful center, I was worried if the mustard sauce would be to overpowering, but with the mild spiciness, and creaminess, it went really well with the dish.
Birthday cake - Tasted like a normal cake, looked really cute, but it wasn't exactly anything different that I have ever made.
Overall, I was really impressed, the buy behind the bar was fun, witty and very attentive. The food came out pretty quickly and I must say the two be dishes of the meal had to be the seared scallop dish and the monkfish salad. Still the other items on the menu were still pretty damn good, and they definitely got me really interested in coming back. It's shame that I can't enjoy the lunch special more often, but it's also probably for the better of my waist and my wallet. I guess the next time I come here, considering it's a special occasion that I should come back and splurge on one of their fancy tasting menus. When I made my way to the restroom I did get a glimpse of a kitchen side dinning table as well. Oh man, I can't wait to go back to the east coast!!!
Delicious, but be prepared to lay down a pretty penny (or a few)!
Seems like this place has been well-reviewed, so I'll just give the basics. Great food, great service, great atmosphere (elegant without the pretentiousness). We did the 9 course tasting and oh my gosh, was I stuffed by the end! Seeing how expensive it was, I'd only go for special occasions, or perhaps check them out for lunch.
People thought this was:
My fiance treated me to the tasting menu a few days before we moved from Alexandria to Ann Arbor. It was exquisite - from the fancy cocktails to the wee amuses we were presented with to the friendly and attentive table service from a waiter who happened to be from Ann Arbor and who gave us recommendations for places to eat in our new town to the tiered trays of tiny bites of dessert that rounded out our three hours of dining. We ate amazing things, many of which were new to us and that we wouldn't have had otherwise. It was a wonderful experience, and one I'm happy to recommend.
I wish I'd had the opportunity to visit Restaurant Eve for other meals or more cocktails - if you have a special occasion and money to spend, I highly recommend it.
People thought this was:
The quality food doesn't overcome the atrocious service and the egregious rudeness of the management. The rave reviews that Restaurant Eve has enjoyed in the past have taken on a life of its own, but the restaurant fails miserably when experienced in person.
The oft-touted owner/chef wasn't in town (and rarely is), but the arrogant general manager was omnipresent. Unfortunately, his presence didn't contribute to our dining experience, but ruined it. I went for a special evening of celebration with my wife for our anniversary.
The service staff was slow, distracted, and failed to deliver the service that corresponds with the extremely high menu prices of this restaurant. The food was very good, but not the best I have eaten in the Alexandria or D.C. area (we are locals), however, it is the most expensive of any we have been to.
Unfortunately, when I complained to the server, she told her manager. When this guy showed up at our table, I expected him to help remedy the situation, but instead came over to yell at me (I am not exaggerating), and to tell me that if I didn't stop complaining, he would "ban me from the restaurant".
I am a senior Navy officer at the Pentagon and it has been a long while since I have been yelled at...but I got the message, and you don't have to tell me twice.
I can't say enough about how the manager ruined an anniversary evening that I planned to be very special for my wife. Too bad that one bad apple (a minor-share owner/proprietor) can ruin an otherwise good restaurant.
Clearly a sign of a business that has grown "too big for its britches", and has forgotten about the paying fans who helped get it there.
People thought this was:
The food was good; on par with what I've had in nice restaurants in DC. Honestly, I think this place is suffering from a little bit of over hype because I wasn't blown away.
Good food, but horrible service. There was a crowd of hostesses that seemed unfocused, inefficient as I walked in. One of them was also a little shrill- the gaggle was not the best impression walking in. The service was okay, but my server didn't blow me away with a connection or warmth. If you're looking for an outstanding night out for these prices, I highly recommend you suck it up and go into DC, because this place kind of falls short.
One positive thing I did want to mention was this restaurant has one of the BEST wine lists I've seen in awhile!
People thought this was:
Had dinner at Restaurant Eve last night - 5 of us. I won't spend time describing what we had, other than to say we opted for the 9-course chef's tasting menu with wine pairing. The food was good, not great, but some of the better dishes were the caviar (extra $$), lobster (extra $$) and the OOO. Quite disappointing was the wine pairing - low-end wines and some of the pairings were off. Definitely check out the cocktail menu - Gin and "Tonic," I Cudda Been a Contenda, and Eamonn's were great.
The service was fine and friendly, with two exceptions. As we waited for the risotto course (with white truffles - YUM! - extra $$) to be served, the waiter informed us that it would be 10-12 more minutes due to one of us having been in the restroom when they were ready to serve it. We would have been better off had they brought it out when she was in the restroom - the risotto that we did end up with was quite undercooked. The truffles were amazing, though.
The second, and most glaring, exception was when one of the service people spilled 2 glasses of wine all over my blouse and in my lap. I did receive a couple of napkins - one to wipe it up and one to wear under my blouse, so I wouldn't freeze to death (it was pretty chilly in the tasting room, anyway). Given what we were spending on the meal, I would have expected at least something off of the bill for having sat through the majority of the meal uncomfortably wet - not to mention the dry cleaning bill for my blouse, slacks, and silk jacket.
Overall, if anyone is trying to decide where to eat a nice meal in the DC metro area, I would say to keep Restaurant Eve somewhere on your list, but look more to CityZen, Marcel's, Citronelle, and even The Inn for better food at similar price points - we paid $325 per person (without tip). Restaurant Eve is way too pricey for the food and service that we experienced. We all walked away feeling regretful at the amount of money we spent on this meal. Especially considering we ate at the French Laundry two weeks ago for about that same price - totally different experience and in a bit of a different league. The lunch deal at Restaurant Eve sounds like a better option - we'd probably go back for that.
People thought this was:
My boyfriend took me to Restaurant Eve for my birthday for the Tasting Menu.
This place is very very elegant. I will keep this review short because looks like a lot of people have reviewed this place as well.
I can't recall all of the things in my tasting menu but the pictures should give you an idea of what to expect. The tasting menu is 7 courses with amuse bouche and macaroons at the end. So really its like 9 courses. It doesn't look like much food but it really was A LOT!
The food was amazing!
It's a great place for a special occasion! Check out my pictures!
http://www.flickr.com/...
People thought this was:
The bottom line: Impeccable service, great food, cozy atmosphere.
Visited Eve for my wife's birthday last winter. Making the reservation, I notified them that it was her birthday and they gave us a very nice table, by the fireplace.
The service was perfect. A staff of centrally located servers topped of water, folded napkins (my wife drank a ton of water and each time she left her seat, the napkin was folded and replaced), answered questions and chatted happily.
We opted for the tasting menu and the food was generally delicious. Unfortunately, I can't recall the majority of it (I should have joined yelp earlier). I do recall having wonderful sweetbreads (think brain), and a "restaurant given" pink birthday cake.
I will have to go back for another menu-full to provide a better report.
People thought this was:
We went to Restaurant Eve for an anniversary. We were in the tasting room and opted for the tasting menu along with the wine pairing. Well, it is my best DC experience to date. Service was wonderful, non invasive but on top of everything. I opted for allowing the chef to pick my courses and they surprised me throughout to my delight. My husband picked his courses and he too was very pleased. The wine pairings were virtually all excellent compliments.
We also had some famous Todd Thrasher cocktails prior to our dinner, most are similiar to what you will find at PX, but just as yummy and well thought out.
I highly recommend Restaurant Eve for a special occasion or any good reason for you to drop some extra money on dinner. Chef Armstrong really has upped the bar in Old Town since his arrival and I'm very thankful for that!
Went to a birthday dinner here for my friend...
Exceptional.
The restaurant didn't even know that we were there for a birthday, but as we walked to our table, the hostess asked us if we were here for a special occasion, to which we replied, yes, we're here for a birthday. No later than 10 minutes after we were seated (and presented with an amuse bouche), did we receive a menu with "Happy Birthday XXXXXX" at the top... very very nice touch to print that out on the spot.
The food was fantastic. Standouts include:
"OOO" (oysters, onions, and osetra (caviar))
Sweetbreads
Soft-Shell Crab
Wild Mushroom dish (can't remember the name)
Banana dessert
The wine (by the glass) was great, we simply asked them to bring what they felt paired best with each course (or progression of the meal), the cocktails were terrific (a la PX) and the service was unmatched.
Definitely definitely definitely coming back.
People thought this was:
The best restaurant in Old Town. I have been there several times and it is always awesome.
Service has always been impeccable and attention to detail throughout the entire experience is noticed. Restaurant Eve is a perfect place for any occasion, whether it's a birthday, an anniversary, date night or just any day/night of the week you're looking for a fantastic meal.
People thought this was:
I would give this place 3 1/2 if I could. Went here during the week with the lady and we had a nice time. Service was fine, food was good, and the ambiance was terrific. Really liked the fireplace...I imagine that would be great when it gets cold!
However, not all of the food was amazing...I ate at Marcel's recently and every course was terrific! Restaurant Eve was good, but it wasn't good enough to make me want to come back and spend that kind of money again. Instead, I thought, "Good food, but I'm curious to see what else is out there."
I'll be going back to Marcel's sometime though!
I really don't know what took me so long to finally make it to restaurant eve, but it turned out that today was the day. As not to break the bank, we opted for the bar/lounge Lickety Split Lunch. We arrived at just after 12, but due to the holiday weekend, the wait was an hour. No matter, from what we had heard, it was worth the wait.
An hour went by and we finally made our way to the bar. Glancing over the menu I was struck by about 5 things I wanted. As for this special lunch deal, you could chose two dishes/drinks/desserts for $13.50. As comic book guy would say BEST.DEAL.EVER.
I ordered a foaming Guinness drought and the salad of the day (actually on accident) which was a leg of duck served with a small salad consisting of tiny lentils, onions and fresh greens. The vinaigrette was perfect and not overpowering. The duck fell right off the bone and was succulent and delicious.
For the second course I opted for the sandwich of the day. A take on an Italian Hero with fresh thinly cut sausage, house bread, a side of house potato chips and mini pickles. The sandwich was exquisite. From the sweet mayo on top to the spicy mustard on the bottom, the meal screamed elitist fancy meal, but at about $25, including my beer, two courses, tax and tip...this is a true bargain.
I will gladly return for this lunch steal, i mean deal again. Maybe sometime for the tasting menu on a special occasion.
People thought this was:
I usually don't go to new restaurants with the jitters, but on the way down to Restaurant Eve, it felt like the butterflies in my stomach were spontaneously combusting. I had heard all the rumors, read all the reviews, and knew that this was going to be an extraordinary experience. I worried about what to wear, how to style my hair, how not to look like a silly young girl who rarely goes out to fine dining. I was definitely more on a date with Eve than my real companion.
What struck me first upon entering was the immense feeling of composure. There were innumerable staff, but no one was rushing or looked like they were doing anything except exactly what they meant to do. Our suited server was patient and knowledgeable, and explained the tasting menu with such eloquence that we decided, "Screw it all and the economy, let's do the 9-course! Yeah!" It was a wise decision.
We started with an aperitif each. Companion chose a delicious malbec with great legs, and I was curious about Todd Thrasher's ingenious creations and picked the Lemony Laurel. The combination of lemon and bay leaf was refreshing and pleasant, that reminded me of a Ricola. But the Finest Ricola from the Finest of Pharmacy Aisles.
I could go into great detail about each course with an accompanying photograph, but that would be too much. The menu changes too constantly anyway. But I will say that everything caused us to marvel and look at each other with amazed faces. Whether it was absolutely ridiculous-looking or tiny or came with too much flourish didn't matter. Each course turned out to be exactly what we wanted to eat at that precise moment in time. The meal was well-paced, the service perfectly on point, the wine flowed, etc etc. In the end, the 9-courses were more like 15, what with amuse bouches, palette cleansers, pre- and post-desserts... and yet we were comfortably full by the time the bill came.
We were so content and happy that we forgot ourselves and got lost driving back into DC from Alexandria, making a few wrong turns back into Virginia. Probably because Eve was calling us back.
People thought this was:
Good all around but nothing special. Very expensive which is fine if you can pull it off but this place did not even come close.
Bar area feels more like a cheap chain hotel lobby bar...not what we were expecting. Bartenders, on the other hand, were very friendly and fun despite having to deal with seemingly entitled patrons who literally sat there for hours taking up space and ordering little to nothing. I guess that's how they do things and that's clearly their call.
I have a good friend who has been telling me for some time how good this place is. He's generally reliable. I think he, like many in the DC crowd, has developed something of a blind love affair with this place, the substance of which likely died long ago.
If this is truly some of the best food DC has to offer then DC has a long way to go.
People thought this was:
I was impressed with this place. I did the 7 course prix fixe and it was the "adventure" style where they surprise you with the selections. Expensive, but at least once in your life you need to experience a $400 dinner... including wine and dessert.
People thought this was:
I took my fiance for her birthday dinner here last week. I didn't know what to wear and since the website doesn't provide too many details, I think I was over dressed in suit and tie. Next time I am going to wear a shirt and jacket as there was no need for the tie. We had dinner in the tasting room. The dinner lasted approximately 3 hours, the service was extremely friendly and the food was delicious.
We started at 5:30, needless to say.. since they just opened the tasting room, we were the only ones inside. We ordered a bottle of wine and decided to choose our own dishes rather than allowing the chef to be creative and decide for us (wasnt feeling too adventurous). Now, I did not enjoy every dish that I got but I was glad to have ordered it. We had the opportunity to eat things that we never had before. For example: caviar, halibut cheeks, 100 year old balsamic vinegar, ton of micro green and well too many other things to name. I was also glad that we got to eat foods that were not prepared in the traditional fashion for example: basil mousse. My fiance did get to take the menu home and she received a scone and coffee mix.
I was disappointed that they did not provide the birthday cake as the dessert for her. I dont know, I might have had to do something different to get that, or maybe they do not provide it in the tasting course. I like the experience and I will be back again, someday.
People thought this was:
Hands down, one of the best establishments I have been to in the mid-Atlantic region. Innovative, yet traditional. Sophisticated, yet not too pretentious. I loved my Eve experience and if it was this good for lunch, I can't imagine how amazing a dinner here would be.
After years (!) of living in the area and always wanting to go, finally the opportunity arose last month when my coworkers & I decided to take our boss here (it's her favorite) for her birthday lunch.
We started with the papri chat, which is a yogurt-sauce based chutney mix with potatoes, chickpeas and spices. There was also a crunch in there that made it all complete. We all had a helping of this and all "Mmmm"-ed and "Oh yeah"-ed at first bite. It was then that we knew this meal was going to rock our world.
For my main course I had the pan roasted Alaskan line caught halibut w/ Virginia asparagus, chanterelles and cipollinis. My oh my. This was seasoned and cooked to perfection and went lovely with the side of bacon and garbanzo risotto w/ Gorgonzola. Among other hit entrees at the table: chicken confit, roasted black bass w/ morels, ramps and a black garlic puree, and the two guys at our table had the Hawaiian blue prawn sammy w/ salsa fresca and serrano aioli and a ham & cheese sandwich which looked, well like it was an Eve ham n cheese sand which :)
But then came the desserts. Of course, we ordered the birthday cake, the devils food cake w/ strawberries and chocolate ganache and --and this was by far best of all three -- the rhubarb pineapple crumble with vanilla bean ice cream. I know what you're thinking.. Rhubarb? And if you're like me and don't necessarily like pineapple. Pineapple? Let me tell you: this dessert was perfection in a bowl. The rhubard-pineapple crumble was equal parts subtle as it was sweet and we all could not get enough of this. The choc ganache devils food was tasty, but much too sweet for me. The birthday cake was just OK for me as well, but that's just my personal opinion, as the table loved it. It was very butter tasting it was overbearing.
Top it all of with impeccable service and a beautiful, comfy layout and decor (kinda old school, but quaint). Restaurant Eve is a perfect place for any occasion, whether it's a birthday, an anniversary, date night or just any day/night of the week you're looking for a fantastic meal. This is sure to be had at Restaurant Eve.
I can't wait to get back for dinner and even the Lickity Split lunch, which was packed in the bar when we visited.
People thought this was:
I rarely do the 5 stars thing. Originally I was going to save that for the most exceptional of exceptional (Per Se, Craft, Luger's, etc.), but then I thought, isn't Restaurant Eve exceptional? So I thought about it, and I can't think of one thing I would change about my meal. Not one. They achieved exactly what I expected and what you expect, Truly exquisite seasonal fine dining with exceptional wait staff, wine list, and cocktails. I couldn't not give this 5 stars after remembering what I ate and how it made me feel.
The most exceptional thing about this wasn't just that the food was out of this world, it was that the cocktails were some of the best I've ever had. Turns out the bartender is a mixologist to the highest degree. Dude makes his own tonic water...what?! Yes, he does. I highly recommend each person in your party to order something different off the drink menu and tasting all of them.
As far as the food, it's just perfect. Not overly pretentious, yet you know that the chef cares about how you feel about eating it.
The wait staff and management was also top notch. We had a total of 5 people working on our table (waiter, 2 runners, 2 cleanup/bus). I liked that as it felt that the waiter was orchestrating everything to make sure we got the full experience.
Now, I ate in the Bistro, and I'd recommend this to everybody who's not into the whole tasting menu thing, but next time I go, it's tasting menu for me.
Where a jacket, you'll feel weird without one on like yours truly. What? Dress pants and a button-up isn't good enough? I kid..I kid.
People thought this was:
Somethings are just worth the wait.
The really good ones leave you wanting to turn right around and go back for more.
I've wanted to come here for so long AND I WANT MORE!!!
Met up with Tony P. today for the Lickety-Split Lunch special, eager to check off another on my myriad of Yelp bookmarks I've been meaning to go to for so very long. If this is how Restaurant Eve does lunch - then I definitely want to be back here for dinner.
Everything on the special menu sounded so good it was hard to choose and there was much waffling back and forth. I finally settled on the Soup du jour (Cream of Asparagus) and the Papri Chat. And I only longingly looked at Tony's Salad du jour of duck confit a few times. :-) (It really did look fabulous and from the other diners in the bistro seemed to be a popular selection.)
The soup was a delightful surprise as I'd ordered it with a bit of hesitance concerned that it might be too think as some cream soups can be. Oh but it wasn't. It was delightfully light with a nice delicate fresh flavor. And it was topped with a healthy amount of chopped chives - not the token amount you often see. This meant you got some in every spoonful and it provided a nice textural contrast to the smoothness of the soup.
Papri Chat was one of those "have no clue what this is going to be, but the bartender made it sound good" moments. There was no description of the dish on the menu but the bartender was quick to describe it for me. Sounded good - item #2 selected. OMG THIS WAS FANTASTIC!!! Fantastic to the extent that upon arriving home I googled to find recipes. Papri Chat was not "peppered cat" (thankfully) but a fabulous Indian salad of chickpeas, potatoes, cippolini onions, and puri (unleavened bread). Three sauces completed the dish: a thin yogurt one, a mild tamarind curry (almost but not quite chutney consistency) and the third "green" one which I can't remember what it was - but I will tell you not a drop I could get up remained behind.
Not working in Old Town will mean that I don't get here often for the lunch special, and the price point for dinner definitely will probably put this in the "special occasion" category, but damn it I want to know what else Chef Cathal Armstrong has cooking up in that kitchen. I want to sample the flavors of the full menu.
This is one place I definitely won't be taking my bookmark off "to try".
People thought this was:
The Tasting Room served me what was easily one of the top two meals I've had in my entire life (Blackie's being the other - and I'm not sure which was better), so good I had to give the GM a hug and Chef a handshake.
The 9 course tasting menu was a delight from beginning to end and the service was beyond outstanding. The only weakness may be the front desk, where things seem to be a little disorganized and built more around acheiving Bistro-quality serivce rather than Tasting Room. It certainly was not enough to detract from the meal and hardly dents one point on one of the stars.
All in all, the price was extrordinarily out of my range to become a regular, but I will be making room in my budget to make this my special occasion haven.
NB: As a caveat to those who haven't been, plan in advance, as you may have to look a bit farther out in making your reservation - I called at the end of May and the earliest Saturday they had open was at the end of July, at the tail end of their booking window. I ended up combining multiple celebrations into one visit, but it was worth the wait.
People thought this was:
I really do not understand how anyone can give this place less than five stars. I get that it is expensive, but the food is sublime and worth every penny. The atmosphere is terrific and the wine list is spectacular!
After going there for a special occasion, I now go regularly believing that having dinner at Restaurant Eve is a special occasion in and of itself.
I came for the 'Lickity-Split' lunch menu. The restaurant has an elegant decor with a well-organized seating arrangement in the lounge/bar area. My choice of the soup of the day was a creamy asparagus veloute that was flavorful and had a wonderfully velvetty texture. The salad of the day was a savory duck salad with mixed greens. The meal was matched with a South African petite chinon blanc that was zesty and very refreshing.
I think the 'Lickity-Split' menu is an excellent opportunity to showcase the fares of this restaurant. I'm definitely swayed by the visit and will put this restaurant on my list to revisit for the full menu experience.
People thought this was:
My parents took me here for an early birthday celebration yesterday. I had to publish this immediately because otherwise the world might not understand what this meal was like.
Four words: holy mother of God.
The hostesses and waiters all wished me a happy birthday as soon as we got in. The dining room was beautiful and intimate without being pretentious. Come to think of it, that label applies to the entire experience---every part of it was so good in every way, yet it was never overwhelming or stuffy. There was not a single bite that was anything less than phenomenal. My birthday cake, which was adorable and pink and perfectly-sized (it even had sprinkles!), arrived with a tiny lit candle. At the end of the night the kitchen gave me a little package of scone mix to take home.
I could go on and on about the incredible cheese selection, the most fantastic ciabatta I've ever had, the salmon that was apparently cooked in the blood of baby angels, or the "butterfinger" Napoleon. Really, I could. But that's too easy, and everyone does that. More important (and more telling) of a good place is how it makes you feel. I spent my meal just...contemplating. I was so lost in thought I pretty much forgot about where I was or what I was doing. By the time we finally left I was more relaxed than I'd been in weeks. The meal had completely rejuvenated me, physically and mentally; I felt like a new person. Can anyone put a price tag on that?
This is not simply good food, this is not simply good service. This is an experience borne of love, from beginning to end. The people who are there love what they do and you can taste it. So what I'm getting at is that every second you spend not being at this restaurant is literally a waste of your time.
People thought this was:
I've done their tasting menu twice now, and they were both some of the best meals I've had. I called ahead for my fiance's birthday and they had a little custom menu and take home gift for us when we got there - really nice touch.
The service was fantastic - just right. The wine selection was fabulous, the atmosphere was spot on. I just loved the place. Every time we go back I vow to do the main dining room/al la carte dining, but the tasting menus are always so good I can't resist!
Their bar up front is fun to stop in for a drink also :)
People thought this was:
All other lunch reviews for restaurants in Old Town are judged by this juggernaut placed in the esteemed hands of Cathal Armstrong. A one sentence review really suffices: You cannot get better quality food at a cheaper price than you get at Restaurant Eve. Indeed, within the United States, I have never seen a nationally recognized restaurant make their cuisine so affordable to the masses. Possibly even more interesting, there are no ascertainable quality drops between the "Lickety Split" and "Bistro" lunch menus. Instead, the restaurant matches interesting choices with local availability to provide stunningly delicious food at dirt cheap prices.
Yes, dirt cheap prices. I just ate a pan roasted rainbow trout that was likely swimming in the Rappahannock in the last 24 hours over Davencrest Farms mixed greens and paired it with a gorgeous English pea, gongonzola, and bacon risotto for under the price of $20 including tip (yes, Restaurant Eve fans. the house risotto has indeed changed, but the new version holds up strongly against the old preparation). Each dish not only tasted exceptional, but also scored high from a purely aesthetic point of view. When a chef's preparation of food has the ability to transcend the sensation of taste and actually stimulate all your senses, then you realize the true value of this restaurant.
I've noted a number of complaints about the service. In defense of the individuals who work here, they strive hard to allow the customer to fully appreciate the cuisine which has been prepared for them. We all face brutally stupid questions in our jobs, and sometimes, based on our subjective mood that day, we might come off as brusque or annoyed. I once thought that I had a rather rude response regarding a question I had about the risotto. I got over myself, and I have quite honestly felt a genuine bond towards some of the individuals that work here.
How about the patrons themselves? Sure, many of them are the old birds of Old Town. But, I swear there is a regular here by the name of Robin who just might rank amongst the 25 most interesting people I have ever met in my life. I would say that the restaurant has a pleasant, friendly, sophisticated vibe that encourages conversation amongst the patrons.
I would comment further regarding the Lickety Split menu, but it changes rather frequently. In fact, other than the Irish BLT, the pulled pork sandwich, and the birthday cake, there are no items remaining from my original review of this restaurant. I can generally suggest that their soup of the day is often a vegetable based veloute where all solids have been strained out in the preparation, the salad of the day generally pairs seafood with fresh local greens, and the sandwich will generally be red meat spiked with Pomery mustard. The risotto and mussels are always excellent if you aren't impressed with the daily options.
If you are in the Old Town area, you owe it to yourself to try this lovely restaurant. If you make it down for lunch, you even get the added benefit of five star quality restaurant food at three star prices. I give this restaurant my highest recommendation.
People thought this was:
Restaurant Eve is an outstanding venue to soothe anyone's desire for experimental new American… Read more »
We had a great dinner at Eve and I would have given them five stars but ...
DO NOT, under any circumstances, order the birthday cake for dessert. It sounds cute, it looks cute, but is as satisfying as a cupcake from Giant. You know the type of gritty frosting I'm talking about. We experienced huge buyers remorse, especially after we saw what everyone else had for dessert.
Also, for some reason, other tables received free little bags of goodies, but not us :,(
Without a doubt, the five-course tasting menu at Eve has been my absolute favorite "occasion" meal in the DC area. I don't know how anyone ever gets through the nine-course menu, as we counted up our total courses and with bread, an amuse-bouche, a "pre-dessert", the birthday cake ordered specially for me, and the treats with the check, we consumed 10 courses. Amazing.
Standouts included: the amazing cocktails (all hail the magician that is Todd Thrasher); the "bacon and egg" sandwich with pork belly and poached quail egg; the butter-poached lobster; the house-made feta and kalamata olives in the "deconstructed Greek salad"; the choice of butters (Irish and domestic) with the bread; and - HELLO! - they serve a course called "PRE-DESSERT"!!!
Service was perfect - attentive and helpful without being presumptuous or stuffy. Mr. Thrasher himself was maitre'd-ing the Tasting Room, and I got a little star-struck when he refilled our wine glasses. Our reservations were at 6, and I think we were there for about 2.5 hours...the room is so lovely and comfortable, you really do feel whisked away from the world and pampered by the outstanding food and libations.
Because it was my birthday, I left with some "gifts from the house" - special "Eve blend" coffee, a scone mix, and a hand-written birthday card. I felt extremely lucky to have had the chance to enjoy the Tasting Room, and I'd love to go back for lunch at the bar or dinner in the Bistro.
Update: Made it back yesterday for the Lickety Split lunch with my mom - what a treat! Seriously, if I worked in Old Town I'd be there all the time. $13 for two truly gourmet courses? Versus what, $8 for the same old burrito or pita or sandwich?! Anyway, between us we had haricots verts with toasted almonds and sungold tomatoes (x2), sweet corn veloutte with parmesan-herb gnocci, and crab cakes on a bed of arugula and green olive...accompanied by complimentary fresh-baked bread and soft Irish butter. The bartender was friendly (although admittedly very busy serving the full bar), and all the support staff couldn't have been more polite and on-point. A lovely lunch break and an amazing deal - can't recommend more highly.
People thought this was:
I have been a patron of Restaurant Eve more than a couple times. The location is on a quaint side street in Old Town Alexandria and the entrance to the restaurant is hidden down a court yard path. The menu is delicious with many overly appetizing choices. I have always been pleased with lunches and dinners. The house cured pork belly, Irish BLT, and Chesapeake Rockfish are a few of my favorites. And you can't forget the bread and butter! I could live on the fresh, warm house made bread and Irish butter alone. The quality of the food is high.
For dessert you can not choose poorly. A favorite as always been "Birthday Cake....Just Because." A perfectly made individual birthday cake with buttercream frosting and sprinkles made just the way your mother would have made.
The only set back to this Eve is the service. While friendly and knowledgeable, the service is often slow. Nonetheless this is a spot worth visiting.
People thought this was:
Walked in on a weeknight planning to eat at the bar which was a little crowded and loud; so, without a reservation, I asked about a table and with no flurry and a fairly crowded dining room was able to score the 9 course taster -- lovely, special meal served unpretentiously; chef greeted me on the way out -- his modesty was not unlike that of his restaurant. For haute biodynamic cuisine, it's get no better than this in our -- or any -- neck of the woods.
People thought this was:
We went to the restaurant during cherry blossom weekend, the location of the place was off Pratt Street (the main street of old town) in Alexandria. From the outside, the place looked like a big brick house, and finally we saw the sign that says "restaurant eve". Across the street is the parking lot, we stayed there for over 3 hours, and costed us 2 dollars. The restaurant was not as fancy as I expected. We booked the tasting room for a 5 course meal. You have a choice of 5, 7, and 9. You also have an option to have the chef select the meal for you. The courses had some theme to it.
The first course ("creation"), we each got white truffle and goose egg custard with black garlic puree, tartar of ahi tuna with coconut cream, almond oil and habanero marinade, Sausage (chef selected) and Caviar with with yukon gold potato gnocchi and creme fraiche (a croissant looking cup served in a small copper pot. 2 of us did not like the goose egg custard, it has an extremely weird flavor, you either like it or don't. I was okay with the tuna tartar, wasn't anything too crazy. But Jason loved the cavier and Nancy likes the sausage (it was presented very nicely).
Prior to the first course, the restaurant first present 3 petite amuse bouche, the theme is definitely fried with some type of creamy filling. Then the chef complimented us with his special fried frog leg with a wasabi sauce, and finally another amuse buche with shaved ice sweet with some sea salt.
The second course ("ocean") we got were Alaskan Black Cod with jerusalem artichokes and spade head spinach, Jason got the Chesapeake Rockfish with Baby white asparagus puree, smoked ham hock and cioppolinis, and Alan got ricotta Biretta with baby leek and perigord truffle butter. I think I like the cod out of all the dishes, except I would hoped for a bigger piece.
The third course we got was named "earth and Sky". I got the squab with celery root puree, squab confit, and spice jus; Nancy got the wild oregon morel duxelle (muchrooms, i didnt know what they were and had to ask); Jason and Alan both got the farm raised filet beef with wheatberries, oven dried tomatoes. The farm raised cow i believe was only fed with veggies, so the meat was not as tender, and definitely tasted a little different from a filet from a steakhouse. My squab was served crispy on the outside with glazed skin, and pefect with the sauce. Not too crazy about the mushroom, that's why I am not a vegetarian.
The fourth course ("age") we got was the cheese course. There were three choices, "Cashel Blue" with sauternes pate de fruit and sauternes syrup, the "Monocacy Gold" Flan with roasted abalone mushrooms and micro mizuna and hazelnuts, and "Tete De Moine" en Cirolle with Spiced Yellow Carrot Salad and golden Raisin Jam. I am not a big Cheese fan, so I didn't like any of them, the Tete de moine was the most duable for me.
The last course was the dessert named Eden. We each got warm dark chocolate and ginger fondant cake with candied ginger and ginger ice cream, warm virginia wild flower honey cake with roasted pineapple, dulce de leche, and coconut caramel, and Praline-Crumb Doughnuts with Sauteed banans and Praline Ice cream. They were delicious, all of them. At the end we also got some free chocolate truffles and petite cookies, very cute.
The service of the place, when I read on the review, should have been impeccable. But we were not too thrilled because she forgot to bring the wine out when we asked for second round of drinks. However, on the other hand, the water was filled for us constantly, and the plates and silverware was switched during every course.
I would definitely recommend doing the 5 courses vs. 7 or 9 ($125 and $150), if given a budget of 7 or 9 courses, definitely go for citronelle for $40 more, it's worth it! Overall, the place worth a try, but the amount of food was not as much as I expected comparing to Citronelle.
Oh, one more point, they are good at giving you extra little things, like the cookies and amuse bouche. At the end of night, they gave us a goodie bag with a recipe to make cones and some ingredients. The place has a very personal touch for you and your guests.
People thought this was:
Simply divine. Atmosphere, high end foodie quality dining.
Restaurant Eve, like Christmas Eve, might be nice and festive, but all the same, leaves you looking forward to the next day, the real deal.
Honestly, the level of service at the bar here truly marred the top-notch quality of the food. The bartender acted snotty and aloof to not just my lunch date and I, but to other patrons as well. One lady, a regular, after ordering a few leisurely rounds of drinks, said a friendly goodbye to the bartender. All he could muster was a surly "OK."
As for how he treated my date and I, not once did he make eye contact with my date while describing the specials. I'm not sure what was more uncomfortable: the staredown I got, or the fact that he was ignoring the other person completely. (To give him the benefit of the doubt, maybe he was tired of describing the specials in overblown, pretentious language to foodie types. Seriously, I know what a veloute is.)
The service aside, the food was a great deal for the $13.50 Lickety-Split Lunch special. Helpful tip, you can only get the special at the bar. Don't make reservations since it's first-come, first-served.
The mussels steamed with an apple broth were surprising yet some of the better ones I've had at a restaurant in awhile. (I don't know, I get tired of the same old garlic and cream schtick.) This came out first, followed by the Salad du Jour, which was a salad of greens with guinea hen on the side. While the flavor of the poultry was refreshing, I found it somewhat tough. At least I can say that I appreciated the fact that the two courses came out separately instead of both at once.
I will not forget the bread. That soft, warm, flaky bread had me at "Hello, I'm on your plate, waiting to be buttered." Oh, and butter it I did. I buttered it every time the server lovingly placed another slice on my plate.
I may return for the food, but if I see Baldy the Aloof Bartender I'm heading straight back out into the main dining area.
People thought this was:
Want to know how to lose loyal customers and influence people to go elsewhere?
After frequenting this establishment, mostly because of the incredible bar staff, for almost five years, it is a safe bet to say my dollars and friends will no longer be supporting Restaurant Eve.
Verbally abusing the bar staff in front of customers with language more consistent with a Jerry Springer show than a 5 star restaurant is not acceptable. These bartenders are the reason we come here and for their manager to take his over-inflated ego trip out on them is unprofessional and abusive. I seriously hope Ken and Tami realize there are better places out there that will appreciate the business they bring in and plenty of customers that will follow.
This place, and the overhyped bar manager, is drinking their own Kool-Aid.
People thought this was:
Bang for your buck is in the bar. Tami and Ken are the best cocktail contorting, wine wielding… Read more »
A local foodie paradise. Full of the notables of Northern Virginia and even from DC--you can almost always count on the sighting of a Secretary or a Senator or a Governor or some media person. Not that it matters. Great food, good drinks, great selection of wine, comfortable setting, excellent service. You cant possibly go wrong no matter what you choose. Dress up and have a nice time. Five Stars
People thought this was:
First of all, they really should split the reviews for Restaurant Eve into three: the bar, the Bistro, and Chef's Tasting Room. I think the experiences would all be first class yet completely different (so is the damage on your wallet).
On my special day, Christmas Eve, I was able to steal away from work early and join PC W and another friend for the Lickity-Split Lunch (many others have reviewed this deal) at the bar.
Always always go for the mussels, no matter how they cook it. On this day, they cooked it with apples. Apples?! Who would've thought that that light, refreshing flavor of apples would complement mussels, but it worked. The mussels were meaty and fresh, unlike most of what you buy at the grocery store or at other restaurants.
Since it was my special day, I had to get the birthday cake. Out came a cute little cake ensconced in pink glazed frosting (bigger than a cupcake). The frosting was a bit too sweet for me, but the cake was moist and fitting for lunch on my special day!
The bartender/waitress adroitly handled the bar full of hungry patrons before her and there wasn't too much of a wait between courses. We did have to get her attention a couple of times, but we also had to be somewhere.
I only wish I lived or worked closer!
People thought this was:
This was my first visit to Restaurant Eve, and I have to say the hype did not meet expectations. The service was excellent, the wine was very good, and the food was... acceptable. After a long day, my wife wanted to take our daughter and mother to Eve. Our daughter being just a year old, made this a little difficult - but accommodations were made with a standard restaurant high chair. We were seated in the back of the room (which is fine, again, we're not picky) and offered a wine menu, water and a food menu. Soon, bread and still bottled water was available, as was a very nice French Pinot Nior.
So why only four stars? I have to say I was disappointed with my main course. A "co-op" sirlion of beef, cooked medium rare - and properly - over a bed of celeriac in a very well flavored sauce. And the meat was tough... as tough and unflavored as any beef I've gotten from "Sizzler." Heavily salted, and seared, this was a severe disappointment.
At the end of the meal, I decided to imbibe in a Pear sorbet. This was a very promising end, that also came up a little too short - simply because it was too heavily sweetened. I'm not sure if it happened because it warmed a little, or that there was a bit too much simple syrup in the sorbet... but it left me grabbing for my water glass and guzzling half of it.
I have to say, I do appreciate what is being attempted here. The service was excellent - the wine and the food had great potentials - it just fell a little short for me. I'd like to return, and hopefully amend this review with a slightly better one - preferably not on a Monday night right after New Years.
Bottom line: Chef Armstrong's staff is very close to pulling this one off. But I am really hoping for better. Still, a very good choice for a very good meal.
People thought this was:
Very intimate.
The wait staff has a good sense of humor. Got by wearing sneakers but I wouldn't suggest it. I've dined in the taster side and the bistro side--they do provide a generous amount of wine with the wine pairing. Functionally formal.
The tasting menu is fabulous but make sure to set aside some serious time for it. And also some bank. Totally worth it though!
The wait staff was incredibly attentive - plus you get a new folded napkin every time you get up to go the restroom, take an urgent call, etc.
If you go for a special occasion, you get a little memento - it's just a nice touch.
What can I say? This was my second visit to Eve, and I don't know how they did it, but it was even better than the first time. Maybe it was the 2 "Cure All" drinks before dinner, or the wine and Butter "Nut" Craig that put me over the edge, but I started seeing stars around every course that came out. One after the other, stars I tell ya! the ones that spin around your head.
The highlights for me were the Tripe al la Mode De Caen, which was a tripe pancake, served over apples. I'm sure there are more eloquent ways of describing it, but well, it was tripe over apples. Cringe if you will, but it was fantastic. I immediately had the urge to disembowel an animal after dinner.
My second high of the night came early in the form of a Fois Gras en Croute, which means, hold on to your mutha f-in hat. Yeah, I'm French, and that's what it means.
I also enjoyed my girlfriend's Terrine of Cashel Blue, though she might not have enjoyed me stealing all of her food. Hey, I don't share, but I think others should. Common courtesy, you know?
Anyway, great stuff.
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You Protect We Serve!
National Harbor, MD
Holiday Platter Special
Arlington, VA
Alexandria, VA
Category: Greek
Alexandria, VA
Category: American (New)
Alexandria, VA
Category: French
Alexandria, VA
Category: Latin American
Alexandria, VA
Category: American (New)
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