The Evening Star is a rollicking neighborhood gem located in the heart of Del Ray between Old Town and Crystal City.  Opened in 1997, the Star is well known for its friendly vibe and convivial setting and continues to shine with fiercely loyal crowd committed to Chef Jim Jefford’s modern take on classic southern cooking and friendly, gracious service.

Vermilion offers deceptively simple modern American cooking in the heart of Old Town, Alexandria. From Chef Tony Chittum’s regional cuisine using local, farm-raised products whenever possible to the warmth of its ambiance and the gracious hospitality its staff brings to the table, Vermilion serves as an ideal location for a casual weekday dinner, a special occasion destination or simply a great gathering place for drinks.

Vermilion was selected as one of Washingtonian’s 100 Best Restaurants in 2012 and was named an Editor’s Pick in The Washington Post’s 2011 Dining Guide. The Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington awarded Vermilion Best Upscale Casual Restaurant in 2010.

Select three courses from our Dinner menu for only $35. Available all night on Sunday and Monday. Also available from 5:30 to 6:30pm every Tuesday through.Thursday. So come out, take a well-deserved break on a school night and enjoy a delectable meal at a decent price.

Just behind the curtains of Tallula lies EatBar, a rollicking little gastropub, barroom and neighborhood haunt. Far different in tone and tenor from Tallula, EatBar delivers relaxed comfort in the form of simply prepared small plates and familiar classics, a slew of microbrews, clever cocktails and row upon row of wines on offer by the glass. Add to this a cozy lounge in the back made complete with a well stocked jukebox and you’ve the perfect setting for a night with friends over great drinks and honest food. Opens daily at 4:00 pm and Cartoon Brunch on Sundays beginning at 11 am. .

Rustico is an exuberant neighborhood restaurant driven to deliver one-two punch of honest, robust cooking against a backdrop of amazing beer.  Warm, vivacious and adamantly unpretentious, Rustico was designed with good times in mind.  With a cache of over 400 beers, a bustling bar scene and a passionate kitchen committed to its craft, Rustico is a restaurant to visit with family and friends time and time again.  With two locations, one just off the parkway in Alexandria, the other in Arlington’s Ballston neighborhood, Rustico has never been easier to get to.  Whether it’s Lunch, Brunch, Dinner or Carryout, we hope to have you as our guest soon.

The truth, the honest to goodness truth: ingredients matter, freshness matters and people matter.

Buzz begins its days well before sunrise, warming ovens, mixing batters and shaping doughs. All of our food is prepared with a reverence for great ingredients, a passion for careful baking and a steadfast dedication to serving only the freshest items.

Buzz Bakery – with shops in Alexandria and Ballston – allows you to enjoy terrific baked goods and desserts accompanied by a great beverage in a fun and welcoming setting. Our team is there to ensure that you always have an exceptional Buzz experience be it a quick fly-by visit to grab a latte and a brioche, a special order of cupcakes for your best friend’s birthday or a comfortable respite on one of our couches with a glass of wine and something sweet.

Built in 1883, Columbia Firehouse now stands as a historic, beautifully preserved American brasserie and bar in the heart of Alexandria’s Old Town.  The sumptuous dining room, atrium and outdoor patio are devoted to familiar comfort foods, raw oysters and shellfish, steamed mussels, small plates for sharing, salads, steaks and nightly suppers, while the handsome barroom features regional craft beers, stylish wines and classic cocktails.  Open daily for lunch, dinner and weekend brunch, Columbia Firehouse is an essential neighborhood gathering place and timeless classic.

One hundred bottles of beer on the wall? Try more than 500. If there’s another Washington restaurant that takes its suds as seriously as this Logan Circle establishment, I haven’t sipped there. Beer sommelier Greg Engert has a knack for casting a spell on aficionados and making converts out of skeptics. Dashing in brick and wood and car-size booths, my tavern of choice does solids as well as liquids. Chef Kyle Bailey’s pastas are prime and his ricotta cavatelli is a standout in combination with heavenly chunks of roast pork, melted provolone and crisp broccoli rabe. Luring me away from the excellent brat burger on occasion might be entrees of seared hake or honey-glazed duck, each delivered with a twist: orzo swirled with sugar snap peas for the fish; nutty wild rice and boozy cherries for the bird. If the grilled octopus is mushy in parts, its pickled eggplant and fried potato bits help right the wrong. Pastry chef Tiffany MacIsaac, Bailey’s wife, is responsible for the generous bread board that threatens to spoil diners’ appetites and for the sweets that always keep me in my seat after the entrees have been cleared. You try saying no to her fried peach pie with sweet corn ice cream. Impossible. -Tom Sietsema

Planet Wine is a down-to-earth neighborhood wine shop with sky’s-the-limit ambition, right in the heart of Alexandria’s Del Ray neighborhood. We boast an impressive selection of nearly 2,000 wines and specialty beers, hand-selected by our staff of friendly and informed professionals on the basis of craftsmanship and quality. From rare wines to our 15 Under $15 selections, we have a bottle in mind for everyone.