Alexandria Restaurant Week, one of the city’s biggest summer events, will return Aug. 22-31 with dozens of participating restaurants offering special prix fixe menus across the city’s diverse neighborhoods.
The 10-day culinary event, hosted twice yearly by Visit Alexandria since 2009, will feature multi-course prix fixe dinner menus at $30, $40 or $50 per person. Select fast-casual restaurants throughout Alexandria will also offer additional special offers, making it easy to sample a wide range of cuisines at every budget.
Alexandria Restaurant Week showcases the creativity of local chefs and the global cuisine available in neighborhoods throughout the city, including Old Town, Old Town North, Del Ray, Carlyle and Eisenhower, Arlandria-Chirilagua and the West End, according to Visit Alexandria.
First-time participants
Several restaurants will participate for the first time this summer, including exciting new additions to the city’s dining scene: the newly opened Alexandria location of farmer-owned Founding Farmers in Potomac Yard and Southern comfort spot Milk & Honey. Also joining for the first time is local favorite Loft at Lena’s, with its Havana 151 theme.
Other newcomers include restaurants that have opened recently in the city’s expanding dining scene.
Menu highlights
The participating restaurants span price points and cuisines. At the $30 level, diners can find options including Bugsy’s pizza and sports bar fare, Daniel O’Connell’s Irish pub food, and Frank Pepe’s New Haven-style pizza.
Mid-tier $40 menus include French cuisine at Del Ray Cafe, Mediterranean dishes at Delia’s, and modern American fare at Founding Farmers.
The $50 price point features upscale options such as Chart House’s seafood, Bastille’s contemporary French cuisine, and 1799 Prime’s steaks and seafood.
Fast-casual options include St. Elmo’s Coffee Pub offering a $9.99 combo meal, which includes a choice of homemade quiche and a 16-ounce hot beverage, and Market 2 Market’s $14.99 sandwich combo meal.
Hotel packages and additional perks
Visitors can extend their dining experience with the Love, Alexandria hotel package. Twelve participating hotels throughout the city are offering visitors a limited-time destination experience, including more than $200 in added value, allowing them to savor Alexandria and soak up the end of summer.
Diners can download the ALX Open Rewards app to earn 3% back on Restaurant Week dining — and purchases across the city’s small businesses year-round — to redeem during their next Alexandria visit, according to promotional materials.
Economic impact
Alexandria Restaurant Week was launched in 2009 by Visit Alexandria and has since been a favorite among patrons and restaurateurs, occurring twice annually in the winter and summer. In addition to serving as an economic driver for Alexandria restaurants, Alexandria Restaurant Week bolsters the city’s reputation as a culinary destination.
The event helps restaurants during typically slower summer dining periods while encouraging both residents and visitors to explore different neighborhoods and try new cuisines.
Participation growth
This summer’s event continues a trend of growing participation. A record of nearly 100 restaurants participated in Alexandria’s winter Restaurant Week earlier this year, demonstrating the program’s popularity among local establishments.
A digital menu book featuring all participating restaurants and their special offerings will be available in August at AlexandriaRestaurantWeek.com.
Restaurant Week runs for 10 days from Friday, Aug. 22, through Sunday, Aug. 31, covering two weekends to maximize opportunities for diners to participate.
