Evennings in Alexandria
Mar 11th, 2012, 04:40 AM
#21
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Hank's Oyster Bar is good for oysters and seafood with a to-die-for lobster roll (at least, the best we can get here in Virginia).
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We had a wonderful afternoon snack of wine and oysters there...great place.
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We had a wonderful afternoon snack of wine and oysters there...great place.
Mar 22nd, 2012, 05:36 PM
#22
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Reporting back - I was pleasantly surprised by Crystal City. I thought it was a universal truth that, regarless of the city, anywhere "out by the airport" sucks by definition, but I have changed my opinion. Crystal City actually has quite a bit going on. I had 3 nights here and ended up eating in Crystal City all 3 nights for various reasons. Here is the run-down.
Legal Seafood - I understand this is an east coast chain that started in Boston. Upscale seafood, very good service and pretty good wine list. Definitely a good meal.
Jaleo - I met some friends there for dinner and we had a great meal. They have a large selection of Spanish wines, and the tapas are great. I had never been to a tapas restaurant in the US - just had tapas in bars in Spain, which is a little different. This was very fun - basically small plates that we ordered and shared amongst ourselves. Everything was really good.
Athena Pallas - This is a little Greek place on 22nd right by Eads. I was actually on my way over to 23rd where I had noticed a block of restaurants when I was on my way back from Jaleo, when I saw this place on 22nd. It doesn't look like much from the outside, but they have a cozy little patio in front with white lights strung up and it called to me, so I went. Looks like a family-operated place, very friendly people - like you are at your aunt and uncle's place or something. The food was pretty good and very reasonable. And the baklava was quite tasty.
So, if you end up staying in Crystal City, don't dispair. It is a pretty good place with a lot going on. The street scene is pretty lively - 10 pm on a weeknight and there is still plenty going on.
Legal Seafood - I understand this is an east coast chain that started in Boston. Upscale seafood, very good service and pretty good wine list. Definitely a good meal.
Jaleo - I met some friends there for dinner and we had a great meal. They have a large selection of Spanish wines, and the tapas are great. I had never been to a tapas restaurant in the US - just had tapas in bars in Spain, which is a little different. This was very fun - basically small plates that we ordered and shared amongst ourselves. Everything was really good.
Athena Pallas - This is a little Greek place on 22nd right by Eads. I was actually on my way over to 23rd where I had noticed a block of restaurants when I was on my way back from Jaleo, when I saw this place on 22nd. It doesn't look like much from the outside, but they have a cozy little patio in front with white lights strung up and it called to me, so I went. Looks like a family-operated place, very friendly people - like you are at your aunt and uncle's place or something. The food was pretty good and very reasonable. And the baklava was quite tasty.
So, if you end up staying in Crystal City, don't dispair. It is a pretty good place with a lot going on. The street scene is pretty lively - 10 pm on a weeknight and there is still plenty going on.
Mar 22nd, 2012, 07:30 PM
#23
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Crystal City is an excellent location! I have two good friends who live there. It is great for them, their bldgs are literally on top of the metro station, so in winter and hot summers they don't even go outside, just down the elevator to the metro. And the underground area by the metro station is good, dry cleaners, restaurants, take out, etc., good for living. They walk to the restaurants, and to Pentagon City Mall and Pentagon Row a few bocks away which is great for restaurants (some w/outdoor seating) and shopping, movies, etc.
And you can walk/run on the path by the Potomac River. PArks oon that path...
Crystal City is a highly desireable location for those visitors in the know and certainly for single people working in D.C. Glad you are spreading the word.
And you can walk/run on the path by the Potomac River. PArks oon that path...
Crystal City is a highly desireable location for those visitors in the know and certainly for single people working in D.C. Glad you are spreading the word.
Mar 25th, 2012, 03:55 PM
#24
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emd - The underground shopping at the Metro was great. And my hotel was literally on top of the Metro, so I didn't even have to go outside. The weather this time was great, but other times of the year, this would be quite handy. When I needed to stop at a drugstore to pick up a couple things and there was a Rite Aid enroute from the Metro platform to my hotel.
It reminded me of a lot of train stations with shopping attached in Europe. Very convinient.
It reminded me of a lot of train stations with shopping attached in Europe. Very convinient.
