Dave’s Seafood & Subs

I am working in an office building across from a nondescript shopping center. I drive through to see if there is any place interesting to eat in the center. Not much here. I love fresh fish, I see Dave’s, I read Unilocal and see mixed reviews. I decide to try lunch here.
I ask the guy behind the counter what fish he recommends, he says the whiting sandwich, recommends lettuce, tomato, and a hint of tartar sauce. I wait while it cooks, watching a rerun of a baseball game on TV with the volume turned way up.
He brings my food. It’s a small-​ish sub roll. I take a bite. Delicious. Roll is very fresh and soft. Fish is cooked perfectly. Tangy sweetness of tartar sauce perfect.
This is a small place with a few tables, many customers carry out. This is not a fine dining experience. It’s fast, priced right, and my food was all I would want: fresh, hot, fast, delicious. I would definitely return here.
I can’t rate it 4 – 5 stars because it’s simply not that kind of place. It’s not innovative, unique, no atmosphere, etc. For example, I’ve eaten at the wonderful Market Lunch fish fry stand at Eastern Market on Capitol Hill. That place serves a truly unique fish sandwich, you are eating in a historic building and soaring space, there are crowds of fascinating people, the people behind the counter have personalities larger than life, etc etc. That’s a unique experience and gets 5 stars.
If you are working in Fairfax and just want to get lunch, you can go to Dave’s and get a fast good meal.

Everything is fried short of the beverages. Food is meh, and service kinda sucked… the place is too small.

Not the best of service.

This place is great. Great Sandwiches and Subs! They use very fresh and succulent ingredients from deli meats to steaks, to sandwich dressings. The Staff is very friendly and accommodating and the space is ALWAYS clean:) Fast and Courteous Service. LOVE IT!

A place to get fried seafood AND subs, right by the office?! What could be better?
Well, just about anything, it turns out. I stopped in around 11am a while back, between a morning appointment and getting in to the office. It was dead-​empty, which should’ve been my first clue. I was craving shrimp in the worst way, so I got a fried shrimp po’boy, as well as a combo platter including fried fish and shrimp and scallops. I have to say it was the worst seafood I’ve ever eaten. I’d expect better at Popeyes, and I’ve HAD better at Long John Silver’s. Everything was flavorless and rubbery, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it was fried up the night before. I’m certain it was all frozen at least once, probably twice. Furthermore, it took about 10 minutes to prepare. so maybe they fried it again to heat it up for me.
I give it two stars instead of one solely for the reason that it can’t compete with my Red Lobster horror stories. I didn’t get sick or smell like old crab for a few days, so that’s something I guess. All the same, I don’t ever intend to return to Dave’s.

When your boss says «Michelle, I’d like to take you out to dinner to talk to you about something», most people expect a nice fancy dinner and a big raise. What did i get? Dave’s Seafood and Subs and give my boss advice on her child’s education. Not quite everyone’s dream dinner…
It definitely was not a bad meal. I got the grilled chicken platter that came with two sides (for only 8.29!) The hardest part for me was picking my two sides. I got a house salad and hush puppies. The salad was pretty much a couple lettuce leafs and a few shredded carrots and a tomato wedge. The hush puppies were actually really good. i guess its a good thing that they are a seafood place. The chicken… well tasted like chicken. Nothing fancy, just plain old regular chicken. My boss got a burger and fries and it was nothing fancy, but looked pretty good.
The place itself looks like your typical carry out restaurant, so i’m a little scared to order something like scallops or shrimp (not that i eat shrimp…)
I guess Dave’s will be a a new place to go and grab a quick after work meal. Especially if that meal is hush puppies