Chart House

Chart House is the best river view restaurant in Old Town Alexandria. Whether dining outside on the patio or indoors, this seafood restaurant gives gorgeous panoramic views of the waterfront and the sparkling city. Popular for Sunday Brunch, Chart House specializes in dazzling views, unique cuisine and exceptional service. From fresh fish specialties, succulent steaks and slow-roasted prime rib, the renowned chefs of Chart House have tailored a menu that adds a unique touch to local flavors.

After spending the day exploring Mount Vernon, Keith and I thought we should enjoy the gorgeous day a bit more by grabbing a bite to eat near the water.  We drove towards Old Town Alexandria and decided to give the Chart House a try.  Despite the Sunday crowds, we were seated right away near the back with a view overlooking the water.  We decided to share a bottle of 2014 Estancia Pinot Grigio from California.  It was light, a bit grapey, but slightly dry and tasted great very chilled.

The wine paired perfectly with the seafood appetizers we shared.  Firstly, we tried the daily special sampler of Virginia Oysters.  Served with a variety of toppings (a jalepeno jam, a passionfruit puree, and a red onion mignonette), the three varieties featured were all plump and briney - just as we like our oysters.

We also shared another cold starter of Chilled Lobster & Shrimp Spring Rolls. Rolled in rice paper with cabbage, cucumber, and cappellini, these hand rolls were served with a side of citrus chili sauce for dipping.  I found the lobster to be very mild, but the shrimp had lots of flavor.

As a hot starter, we tried the Crab Tater Tots.  More like mini crab cakes, these fritters were served with a lemon chipotle aioli. They were just OK, and not exactly what we were expecting.

Lastly, we shared a trio of soups aka Ménage Soup.  The Clam Chowder was the best, while the Cream of Crab was subtle, and the cold Gazpacho packed lots of bright tomatoes and peppers.  I enjoyed the soup with the fresh bread rolls, and was full by the end.

Overall, we had a lovely lunch of wine and appetizers at the Chart House. I was happy we were able to enjoy the waterfront views without having a large meal or buffet.  The service was just as accommodating and the ambience was pretty classy inside with amazing water views outside.

Total Rating: 4.05
Food: 4, Price: 4, Service: 4, Ambience: 4.5, Accessibility: 4