Restaurants

Restaurant Eve's Tasting Room

110 S. Pitt St., Alexandria, VA 22314 | 703-706-0450 | Web site »

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Neighborhood:

Old Town Alexandria

Metro:

King Street (Blue and Yellow lines)

Cuisines:

Nouveau American

Tags:

2011 fall dining guide Tom Sietsema, cheese plates, tasting menu, 2009 fall dining guide, 2010 fall dining guide

hours:

Tasting Room: Mon-Sat 5:30-9:30 pm

Atmosphere:

For Special Occasions, Romantic, Private Room

Price:

$$$$($35 and Up)

Sound Check:

64 decibels (Conversation is easy)

Quick Take

With a focused chef, this intimate restaurant excels from drinks through desserts.

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Special Features

Our Review

Critic Rating:

2011 Fall Dining Guide
By Tom Sietsema
Sunday, October 16, 2011

When customers are shelling out hundreds of dollars per person for a single meal, an exclusive restaurant has to distinguish itself not only from the luxurious competition but from any lofty recollections a diner might have. The top spots can't afford to rest on their accolades. That's why I so admire the most formal of Cathal Armstrong's dining rooms in Old Town. The chef constantly pushes himself to please. If you haven't reserved in a while, you'll be pleased to see that the garden is the source of more ingredients (artichokes, herbs, pumpkins) and the dining room is bigger and plusher, dressed with huge chairs the staff refers to as "thrones." If you've never been, here's what you might find on Armstrong's five-, seven- and nine-course tasting menus: hats of pasta filled with lemony soft cheese and presented on beet butter in a copper pan; sweet lobster poached in bacon fat and arranged with near-melting sweet potato gnocchi; marvelous veal sweetbreads and croutons made with head cheese, their decadence tempered with tangy sauce gribiche; a button of smoked cheesecake glinting with gold leaf that is introduced as a "pre-dessert"; and … well, you get my drift. Just do it. Are the meat courses less thrilling than everything that comes before them? Just a tad. I've never been a fan of mingling chocolate with booze, but mix master Todd Thrasher converted me with one of his latest cocktails: an Atypical Martini created with stout, rum, cocoa nibs and house-made bitters. The result is surprisingly elegant and not at all sweet. Eve marries fun with finesse; yes, they really do iron the linens right on the tables. "What a pity this is not in Washington," a companion says as we spoon a glorious liquid salad of succotash. This District dweller selfishly concurs.

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Tasting Menu Evening

Posted by janeway1 | Aug 19, 2011 | Mark as Inappropriate

Seven course tasting menu, let the chef pick with wine pairings. The meal became ten courses thanks to the little extras. Food was presented in a serious, formal way. The pairings came prior to each plate with a short description about the maker, included ales, wines, and a port. The food was delicious but heavy. The "main" courses were very meat heavy, so much so that I could only eat a bite or two to leave room for the rest to come. One course, the lamb chop was very tough and difficult to chew. best - the Guinness cake with the paired cheese and pumpkin seed brittle. Would consider going again but would choose the seafood selections to avoid the heaviness.

Overblown

Posted by klsdklsd9s90sdklsdklsdl | Apr 15, 2011 | Mark as Inappropriate

I live in Old Town and have eaten here 3 times, mainly due to the continued rave reviews Eve gets. First time: Too expensive, forgettable. Second time: It's got to be better - brought a friend. Too expensive, pretentious, forgettable. Third (and last) time: Tasting room. Sigh. A disappointment. I will no longer give my money to Restaurant Eve. I think the pretention of its location and its chef push it onto "Best" lists, but it consistently disappoints. And the push to markup/extra charge the diner is irritating. I much prefer to splurge at Komi, a restaurant that humbly and consistently dazzles, providing one of the best dining experiences to be found anywhere in the world.

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