restaurant | ALXnow

Published April 7, 2026 at 9:15AM

Matt & Tony's at 1501 Mount Vernon Avenue in Del Ray (via Matt & Tony's/Instagram)

Five Alexandria eateries have advanced to finalist status in the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington’s annual restaurant awards.

Narrowed down from dozens of semifinalists who were publicly revealed last month for the first time, the list of finalists announced last night (Monday) at The Hamilton Live in D.C. by the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington span regional chains, chef-driven favorites and independent restaurants. The 20 categories of the RAMMYs recognize the region’s chefs, restaurateurs and other industry professionals.

Around Town

Underwater egg hunt, other Easter events set for holiday weekend in Alexandria

By Emily Leayman

Published April 2, 2026 at 10:00AM

Easter egg hunt (Miro Vrlik/Unsplash)

Get your Easter baskets ready and hop to egg hunts and other festivities over the holiday weekend in Alexandria.

Egg hunts, visits with the Easter Bunny and more family-friendly events are taking place over Easter weekend. Some of the highlights are an underwater egg hunt in the pool, brunch with the Easter Bunny and Councilman John Taylor Chapman’s returning egg hunt.

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Del Ray Pizzeria rebrands as Del Ray Public House, plans new upstairs concept

By James Cullum

Published March 31, 2026 at 11:45AM

Del Ray Public House, 2218 Mount Vernon Avenue (staff photo by James Cullum)

Del Ray Public House unveiled its new branding this week, officially moving on from its 16-year-old Del Ray Pizzeria concept.

The Del Ray Pizzeria initials remain on the signage at 2218 Mount Vernon Avenue, and pizza stays on the menu, but the overall focus of the business started changing in January with the introduction of new Southwest-inspired flavors, owner Laurel Fisher told ALXnow.

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Del Ray’s Little Birdie aims to elevate the chicken sandwich this June

By James Cullum

Published March 26, 2026 at 11:45AM

The former Benny DiForza's Pizza at 1504B Mount Vernon Avenue in Del Ray on Monday, Oct. 27, 2025. (staff photo by James Cullum)

The owners of a popular all-day brunch restaurant in Del Ray have a new concept with chicken on their minds.

Matthew Sloan and Eric Brannon are currently asking the city’s permission for 10 outdoor dining seats at their new restaurant, Little Birdie. The space at 1504B Mount Vernon Avenue was formerly occupied by Benny DiForza’s Pizza, which opened in February 2024 and closed last October.

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Alexandria restaurants named semifinalists for regional RAMMY Awards

By Emily Leayman

Published March 23, 2026 at 1:45PM

Chicken and waffles at Matt & Tony's (image via Matt & Tony's All Day Kitchen/Facebook)

Several Alexandria restaurants are in the running for the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington’s restaurant awards.

The association named 190 semifinalists for the RAMMYs, given annually to members of the D.C. region’s restaurant industry. This was the first time semifinalists were publicly announced in the four decades of the awards, providing an early glimpse at which chefs, restaurants and hospitality staff are in the running.

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Life Alive Cafe plans summer opening in Old Town

By Katie Taranto

Published March 23, 2026 at 10:30AM

Exterior rendering of Life Alive Cafe in Old Town (courtesy of Life Alive Cafe)

A fast-casual vegetarian restaurant and café is getting closer to its Old Town debut.

Life Alive Cafe is now targeting a summer opening at 400 King Street, a spokesperson confirmed to ALXnow. The Boston-based restaurant emphasizes scratch-made cooking, offering a veggie-forward menu of grain bowls, salads, sandwiches and noodles, in addition to smoothies, cold-pressed juice and coffee.

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Dok Khao Thai Eatery opens at Alexandria’s Oakville development

By Katie Taranto

Published March 19, 2026 at 1:45PM

Dok Khao Thai Eatery at the Oakville development (staff photo by Emily Leayman)

A new Thai restaurant has opened in Alexandria’s Oakville development, between Potomac Yard and Del Ray.

Dok Khao Thai Eatery is currently in a soft opening at 2514 Richmond Highway with an all-day, Thai street food-inspired menu with more than a dozen specials from owner and chef Porntipa Pattanamekar, also known as “Chef Pat.” The restaurant includes an all-day menu and full-service bar, with space for about 100 guests.

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Del Ray restaurant owners to open concept at former pizza shop

By James Cullum

Published March 17, 2026 at 1:45PM | Updated March 17, 2026 at 2:07PM

The former Benny DiForza's Pizza at 1504B Mount Vernon Avenue in Del Ray on Monday, Oct. 27, 2025. (staff photo by James Cullum)

The owners of Matt and Tony’s All Day Kitchen + Bar (1501 Mount Vernon Avenue) have filed paperwork to open a sister location across the street in Del Ray.

Restaurant owners Matthew Sloan and Eric Brannon are asking the city for permission to allow 10 seats of outdoor dining for the space formerly occupied by Benny DiForza’s Pizza (1504B Mount Vernon Avenue) for a new restaurant named Little Birdie, according to their special use permit application.

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March Madness in Alexandria: Where to watch and find deals

By Katie Taranto

Published March 17, 2026 at 10:30AM

Inside Don Taco (via Don Taco/Facebook)

Numerous restaurants and sports bars in Alexandria are gearing up for March Madness this week, with plans to offer specials on drinks and bites while the games play on.

Fans will get to see how their March Madness brackets fare when the NCAA men’s tournament’s first round begins Thursday (March 19) and women’s tournament follows on Friday (March 20). Games run until the final championship games on April 5 (women) and April 6 (men).

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The Commodore cuts ribbon on new Old Town dive bar

By Katie Taranto

Published March 13, 2026 at 1:45PM

Rob Van de Graaff and Steve Kim pierce the ribbon on the new Commodore bar using a trident at 220 N. Lee Street (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

The Commodore, a self-described “five-star dive bar,” is now open for business in Old Town.

Owners Rob Van de Graaff and Steve Kim used a huge trident to pierce the ribbon on their new bar and restaurant at 220 N. Lee Street yesterday (Thursday). It was an on-brand move for the business, which is filled with nautical decor.

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New Falafel Inc. on Duke Street keeps Philadelphia Cheesesteak Factory menu

By James Cullum

Published March 13, 2026 at 10:30AM

The new Falafel Inc. will still serve cheesesteaks and keep the Philadelphia Cheesesteak Factory sign up at 3060 Duke Street (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandrians can now get falafel with their cheesesteak, as a Falafel Inc. franchise soft-opened this week in the longtime home of the Philadelphia Cheesesteak Factory at 3060 Duke Street. Its new owner plans on running with both concepts, according to staff at the new restaurant.

The restaurant officially opened on Sunday, March 9. A grand opening event is currently in the works, but a date has not been set, staff told ALXnow.