The Wharf

We started with the bacon wrapped scallops and they were very good! Then we ordered the East Coast Cioppino. It was full of seafood in a hearty tomato broth. Yes it came with fried calamari on top but it states that in the description so I can’t complain about that. The service was impeccable. I guess the only reason for4 stars is that the Cioppino just wasn’t as good as Cioppino from San Francisco. And the bread was tasteless.

Worst cioppino I’ve ever had, and 95% of the time out for dinner I order seafood dishes. Service was great. Im sure years ago this place was stellar, I think maybe the quality of food served may have gone down over the years, or at least failed to keep up with more modern standards for a finer dining restaurant. My husband was mad at me for the remainder of the evening that I picked to go to this restaurant and didn’t let him choose somewhere else.

Probably closer to 2.5 stars. This feels like a restaurant that has been around for a very long time and was successful years ago and refuses to change with the times. Let me say this to start — the service was really awesome. Our server did a great job and the bus staff were always on the spot with water and plate removal.
The ambiance is ok. Not the place I would choose but it was fine. I started with the she crab soup and it was really tasty. Good spice and overall flavor. The rest of the meal; however, was pretty rough. My wife’s cioppino was among the worst I’ve had. No effort was put into the broth that was pretty evident. Some of the seafood was fried which I had never seen before in a cioppino and it flat out did not work. I ordered a feature — the tuna. Severely over cooked and under seasoned. And I would guess it was not the freshest of fish especially considering the name and location of the joint. I’m sure they will continue to do fine, but this ones not for me.

Best Cioppino is DC area. Good for small lunch groups. I recommend going there for lunch as the have an extensive menu than for dinner. My friend had the oysters and said they were good (not their best though).

Went here tonight with some family from out of town, in hopes of some delicious seafood. It’s only been a few hours, but no one remembers it being particularly outstanding. Probably decent for tourists, but nothing to write home about!
I had the arugula beet salad (bland dressing), fried calamari (flavorless but good dipping aioli), and a cup of clam chowder (good, not great). We split a couple of deserts, and agreed that the crème brûlée was better than any of the seafood.
The nautical décor was fun, but it’s a little sad that we thought the décor was the highlight of the evening. For how pricey the food was, it’s not worth a return trip in my book.

I went to The Wharf for the first time today with a group of friends and we all loved our meal. We had the stuffed shrimp with crabmeat and crawfish imperial which was moist, loaded with seafood and flavorful. The fried catfish was crisp and well seasoned and the lobster Mac n cheese was creamy and had a nice amount of lobster. We all agreed that we would return to The Wharf soon.

Ambiance is old town Alexandria all the way, broad beams and columns. New England at par with any from Maine. Excellent mussels and oysters Ina half shell. Terrific white fish. Attentive service. Watch for the parking cops. Almost got a ticket while waiting my turn to pay up at the kiosk.

The food, service, and hospitality are amazing. I love this restaurant! If you’re looking for a night out in Old Town Alexandria, I would highly recommend this place.

The visit to The Wharf began dangerously uncertain because I wanted their lobster and crab roll, but that is only offered during lunch. I was: disappointed. So I was in a poor mood from the git-​go. However, fortunately, that all changed. The décor of The Wharf is very nice, with excellent service, ambiance, and music playing. I ordered the crab cakes, which were very, very good, moist, and full of lump crab meat. I had a side of grilled veggies that went with the crab cakes perfectly. Oh, and the bacon-​wrapped scallops are also quite tasty.
All in all, The Wharf is a good destination for seafood lovers, romantics, and people with a touch of class…

On special occasions we tend to frequent Old Town Alexandria and our usual dinner spot of choice is the wonderful Landini Brothers. One evening early this October, we drove into Old Town last minute and walked around spontaneously trying to find a dinner spot. After glancing at the menu outside we decided on the Wharf and boy were we in for a treat!
We elected to be seated outside so that we can enjoy people watching as we eat our food. The waitress who served our table was polite and provided us with wonderful food suggestions that helped us navigate their menu. Everything she recommended was on point.
For appetizers we ordered the sumptuous she-​crab soup and the half shell oysters. Both were absolutely delicious and definitely recommended!
For the entrees we got the incomparable East Coast Cioppino and and the All Lump Crab cakes with a side of fries. Our table looked like the feast it was! People walking by saw our table and decided to walk into the restaurant!
We topped these with a decadent chocolate cake.
All in all an exceptional dining experience! I can’t wait to come here again!

We had the SHE-​crab soup and crab cakes. Food was very good and service was prompt. Location is nice and we had a nice window table on the second floor.

Great food! Great service! I would recommend this place anytime to anyone. What else do you need? Go check it out. We had the cioppino, delicious!

The best meal I had while in the DC area! Their She Crab Soup is to die for! I will be craving it forever. They have so many menu choices, it was hard to choose. Great wine list.

One of my favorite stops whenever I’m in Old Town! The She-​crab soup is the BEST in the area & I’ve sampled them all. Also partial to the Shrimp & Blue Crab Fritters appetizer. Crab cakes are fantastic with plentiful portions of fresh crab with perfect seasonings. Lobster mashed potatoes are a delicious, decadent side. Have had any number of wonderful fresh seafood dinners here. Chesapeake Stuffed Flounder is rich but well worth a try! Lobster-​Scallop AuGratin is also a great choice. Excellent wine list. Especially nice when seated outside to people-​watch & enjoy the scenery. Lots of seafood restaurants around town, but this is truly a classic & consistently one of the best during 20 years of travel to the area.

I’ve been here three times… for brunch.
The service is always excellent courtesy of a very old school wait staff.
I had a lobster alfredo the last time, that they were kind enough to highly spice for me.
The «She Crab Soup is really silky and rich.
The food and ambiance here are really inviting. Great date spot.

Great location. Everything started off perfect was greeted nicley n seated quickly. Liked the atmosphere but thats pretty much where it ends. Oh i forgot our waitress was very nice too.
When i saw the menu n the prices i was expecting perfection. Didnt get that. The food was poorly seasoned. Not just appetizers but the entres as well.
The best thing we had was the drinks which were perfect. We dont mind spending money on good food but i dont think i will spend $ 140 at this place again. I felt cheated.

Location Location Location. Having read the great reviews I went in with high expectations, and was left feeling sort of so so on the experience.
I was immediately greeted, and sat in an old school booth with dark wood and red leather backing. My server was nice and took my order after telling me the specials. And all in all I’d have to say the staff and ambience were very good — so what’s my problem?
I think that question was best answered by my server who could readily tell me who the manager was but not the Executive Chef. The restaurant relies on its location to bring in the tourist bodies and then delivers the expected fare, there is no passion. And to be clear my clam chowder and lump crab cake were good but no one is trying for great.
The New England Clam Chowder was a little bland but the red potatoes were delicious, when I asked if that was the intent they thought I was complaining about not getting enough clams. The Lump Crab Cake had this yummy corn, red pepper, scallion, and okra salsa for depth and then a flat, bland little sauce on top which dressed the plate nicely but left out a bit in flavoring — no the lemon wedge didn’t correct the lack of coherent flavor profile.
So we’ll go with a 3 and hope for better luck next time. I want to like this place, just needs je né sais quoi? Maybe some local inspiration.

There is nothing about the food that is served here that I don’t like. Every time I come, I get something different and I’m never disappointed. This place is great for a quiet night of good food and great wine. My recommendations are the Southern Fried Catfish, Seafood Sampler, and the Crab Stuffed Flounder but really, everything is delicious!

My table ordered the Filet Mignon Sandwich, the Scallop Roll, and Scallop Au Gratin. The filets were overlooked and the scallops weren’t properly cleaned as there was still sand in them. The servers were all very melancholy. Each time one came to the table, it felt as if my table was an inconvenience. I had high hopes for this place, but was extremely let down.

Hubby surprised me with an Old Town seafood outing one night during Alexandria Restaurant Week 2014, and although we didn’t end up ordering from the RW menu, we really enjoyed our experience at this Old Town institution. As other have righteously pointed out, the décor is perfect for Old Town, as The Wharf is a very 19^th century pub-​like atmosphere, but in a good way. Dark woods, exposed beams, low lighting, candles on the tables, white tablecloths, etc.
Waiter service was attentive, prompt, and knowledgeable. Water refills and bus boy attention was almost over-​the-​top, but that’s better than the alternative. Menu featured a VERY wide variety of seafood goodies; we ordered the tomato-​based seafood stew, which was the perfect choice since we don’t do cream-​based soups. The stew was thick with veggies and seafood, and wasn’t overpowered by the tomato/​broth base. Very well-​executed and nice to have a seafood soup option that was neither bisque nor chowder.
For entries, I happily ordered the broiled trio as a way to avoid too much sauce, and I was relieved that the trio of scallops, grilled shrimp, and fish weren’t drowning in Old Bay — just enough to be right. The scallops were eensy-​weensy, but were attractively arranged in a half-​shell and sprinkled with what looked to be a bit of Parmesan cheese prior to being broiled. Yum! The grilled shrimp and fish were perfectly-​done as well. Clean plate club for me. My husband ordered the fish special, which he really enjoyed — I believe it was a bronzino or a barramundi (I don’t recall) — and was pleased that the kitchen accommodated his sauce on the side request. Side of grilled veggies was good, but perhaps a little too over-​buttered for me taste.
All in all, a great choice for a quiet, intimate date night in Old Town if seafood, attentive service, and an old-​school restaurant vibe are what you’re looking for.