Staff so friendly, very homey, delicious hummus, my family preferred lamb and salmon, both delicious, I wasn’t thrilled with the scallops they paid for our dessert in honor of my birthday! Definitely worth coming back!
Nuzhat Nasser
My cousin’s wedding at this venue was truly unforgettable. The atmosphere was incredible, and the entire event was beautifully executed. A special shoutout to the amazing staff—Ali, Muna, Cynthia, and Karen—who went above and beyond to ensure everything ran smoothly. Their attention to detail and warm hospitality made the day even more special. It was an absolutely beautiful event, and I couldn’t have asked for a better experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
Alberto Benitez
My wife Janice and I had our 31st wedding anniversary meal at this restaurant on Wednesday, October 30th, 2024. We had visited this space years ago when it was Bilbo Baggins but it was our first visit to Elaine's. It won't be our last visit. Our server Alicia was lovely. She was friendly and attentive and we enjoyed the Hibiscus Refresher cocktails she recommended. Our crispy calamari and grilled steak Shish were delicious. Janice and I loved the piped-in music featuring Frank Sinatra. I do have two constructive criticisms. One, at a certain point Alicia disappeared. The dirty dishes were piled on our table. We were planning to order coffee and dessert but when Alicia finally reappeared we just asked for the check and went elsewhere for dessert. Two, they need to do a better job of climate control. It was a nice day when we visited but the AC was set at an arctic level.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 3
Hana Beckerle
I hosted a baby shower at Elaine's yesterday, and cannot recommend it enough for special events. The food is delicious, the service is great, and the space is lovely and elegant. The team at Elaine's was wonderful to work with during planning and on the day of the event. Our guests were so impressed by the unique and delicious dishes, and the beautiful presentation.
I've also been to Elaine's for brunch several times, and hosted a large group dinner for visiting family in the library space. It never disappoints, and is truly a hidden gem in Old Town. The fava bean dip (or entire sofra platter) and koshari are essentials for any meal, plus whatever seasonal or special items the kitchen is serving.
I always recommend Elaine's to anyone looking for a good meal in Alexandria, and look forward to my next visit!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Steve O
When I read people complaining about portion size, I thought, sounds perfect the food is probably good, let’s try it. Maybe it’ll be like Hank’s Oyster Bar quality. But $59 for a “mixed grill” (according to waiter enough to share ) was one chicken thigh (tender, good), one steak shish (charred to death, fine), and one lamb shish (charred to hell and beyond), and a couple of wedges of potato …. I mean I eat out a lot at both fine dining and casual. Maybe it’ll was a bad night? If you want to charge these prices it needs to be perfect every time. The waiter was weirdly sunny. He did come over after dropping off the plate and asked if “everything was cooked to our liking” - we politely said yes but that was before we tried to eat the blackened mess. I mean he has eyes, and should have been able to see it was all burnt. How did it get out of the kitchen that way? I’d have said it was good if the food was perfect, or the prices were ~20% lower … But this one is easy to skip
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Crispy Brussels
Margaret
I have been several times to this restaurant and I really enjoy it. The food is always excellent and they have wonderful craft cocktails and some different wine selections. For some reason on this particular occasion, the noise level was very loud. The service was pretty good and my friend and I enjoyed the evening. Perhaps the upstairs might be a bit quieter? Overall, a very nice restaurant with excellent Egyptian and Mediterranean selections.
Steve
Overpriced small portions and food wasn't even good. For dinner on a Friday, $52 for a single entire “mixed grill” consisting of 1 chicken thigh (fine) 1 small lamb skewer (dry) and 1 small steak skewer (burnt to black) how does this make any sense? Atmosphere was spare. I don't understand who eats here.
Angela Love Zaranka
Nice location and relatively easy parking on side street. Not too crowded early on a Saturday night. Flavorful and authentic food. The table enjoyed the Brussel sprouts, halloumi goulash, and hummus. All delicious. Pita fabulous. For the main dish, shared the scallops, shrimp, mixed grill and added vermicelli rice and white rice. Dessert was baklava AND phyllo wrapped brownie. Staff were able to accommodate gluten free (except dessert) and vegetarian. All of the food was wonderful. One star off because while the staff were professional and kind, they seemed a bit busy. Regardless, we will return.
Most baby friendly restaurants I’ve been too. Such yummy food.
A Cregar
Pity about the food and service, both are just terrible. Greasy, burned, fried, bland and no server to be found. It’s a lovely atmosphere though. Perhaps it’s just the dishwasher making lunch, perhaps not , either way, I’ll not be going again.
I tried this place during Restaurant week because it shares my name. The food was delicious! Service is IMPECCABLE. Thank you Nicholas and Jeffery. It felt a little incomplete like each plate could do with a sauce or a whip cream on the side of the dessert. The grilled shrimp was PHENOMENAL I wish I could have ordered that as my entree! The beet salad definitely had beets I do wish it had more goat cheese. Grilled salmon was yummy but multiple people at my table ordered it and the sizes varied greatly. The potato’s underneath had the most flavor. The baklava was good baklava. However, the phyllo wrapped brownie was very rich and not very sweet.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 5
Ross Jackson
Our first visit to Elaine’s was nothing short of memorable. The moment we were seated, we were warmly welcomed by Cynthia, the owner, who shared the exciting news that it was Alexandria Restaurant Week, and they were also celebrating Chef Sameer’s first anniversary at the helm. They had crafted a special menu for the occasion, featuring a fusion of Jamaican and Egyptian cuisine—a nod to their roots, with the owner being Egyptian and the chef Jamaican.
Though we arrived late and missed out on the anniversary menu, Chef Sameer graciously offered us a taste of his creations, and we were fortunate enough to sample his hummus, jerk pork, and jerk chicken. I have to say, we struck gold with the Jamaican dishes—each bite was a revelation. The jerk pork had a delightful crisp on the outside while remaining tender and juicy inside. The jerk chicken was a masterpiece, with a perfect char that elevated it beyond your typical jerk chicken experience. I truly hope these dishes find a permanent place on their menu, as I’m already craving more!
We also indulged in the braised lamb, and it was divine—the meat practically melted in our mouths, so tender and succulent. Our server, Muna, was exceptional, always attentive and ensuring our wine glasses were never empty. We had the pleasure of chatting with her about her Ethiopian heritage and cuisine, which added a lovely personal touch to our evening.
In the end, we felt right at home at Elaine’s. I’m already looking forward to returning, especially to try Cynthia’s famous martini!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Pawnee
The place is impressive, and the staff is amiable. The owner was super friendly and checked on us often. The atmosphere is so pleasant, comfortable, and clean. The service was outstanding. The food was delicious and did not take long to prepare, and the sound level was right. I will definitely be back!
Eliot
The decoration and ambience was pleasant. It felt like an inviting atmosphere with an interesting bookcase feature. Our server was inattentive. They took 30 min to take our order, didn't refill our water, or come to check on us. We heard another server telling their table about the specials and history of the restaurant. That table was served their appetizers before we even ordered our drinks. The food was generally bland and wasn't well prepared. I can't see myself returning for any reason. We had their prix fixe for restaurant week but I would be really disappointed to have paid for their regular menu.
Cameron
The food was good. The lamb especially was delicious as was the baklava. However, everything was dirty. The table has crumbs on it, as did the chair. Most of our dishes had spots and stains. Also, the wine felt overpriced for the quality.
Staff so friendly, very homey, delicious hummus, my family preferred lamb and salmon, both delicious, I wasn’t thrilled with the scallops they paid for our dessert in honor of my birthday! Definitely worth coming back!
My cousin’s wedding at this venue was truly unforgettable. The atmosphere was incredible, and the entire event was beautifully executed. A special shoutout to the amazing staff—Ali, Muna, Cynthia, and Karen—who went above and beyond to ensure everything ran smoothly. Their attention to detail and warm hospitality made the day even more special. It was an absolutely beautiful event, and I couldn’t have asked for a better experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
My wife Janice and I had our 31st wedding anniversary meal at this restaurant on Wednesday, October 30th, 2024. We had visited this space years ago when it was Bilbo Baggins but it was our first visit to Elaine's. It won't be our last visit. Our server Alicia was lovely. She was friendly and attentive and we enjoyed the Hibiscus Refresher cocktails she recommended. Our crispy calamari and grilled steak Shish were delicious. Janice and I loved the piped-in music featuring Frank Sinatra. I do have two constructive criticisms. One, at a certain point Alicia disappeared. The dirty dishes were piled on our table. We were planning to order coffee and dessert but when Alicia finally reappeared we just asked for the check and went elsewhere for dessert. Two, they need to do a better job of climate control. It was a nice day when we visited but the AC was set at an arctic level.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 3
I hosted a baby shower at Elaine's yesterday, and cannot recommend it enough for special events. The food is delicious, the service is great, and the space is lovely and elegant. The team at Elaine's was wonderful to work with during planning and on the day of the event. Our guests were so impressed by the unique and delicious dishes, and the beautiful presentation.
I've also been to Elaine's for brunch several times, and hosted a large group dinner for visiting family in the library space. It never disappoints, and is truly a hidden gem in Old Town. The fava bean dip (or entire sofra platter) and koshari are essentials for any meal, plus whatever seasonal or special items the kitchen is serving.
I always recommend Elaine's to anyone looking for a good meal in Alexandria, and look forward to my next visit!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
When I read people complaining about portion size, I thought, sounds perfect the food is probably good, let’s try it. Maybe it’ll be like Hank’s Oyster Bar quality. But $59 for a “mixed grill” (according to waiter enough to share ) was one chicken thigh (tender, good), one steak shish (charred to death, fine), and one lamb shish (charred to hell and beyond), and a couple of wedges of potato …. I mean I eat out a lot at both fine dining and casual. Maybe it’ll was a bad night? If you want to charge these prices it needs to be perfect every time. The waiter was weirdly sunny. He did come over after dropping off the plate and asked if “everything was cooked to our liking” - we politely said yes but that was before we tried to eat the blackened mess. I mean he has eyes, and should have been able to see it was all burnt. How did it get out of the kitchen that way? I’d have said it was good if the food was perfect, or the prices were ~20% lower … But this one is easy to skip
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Crispy Brussels
I have been several times to this restaurant and I really enjoy it. The food is always excellent and they have wonderful craft cocktails and some different wine selections. For some reason on this particular occasion, the noise level was very loud. The service was pretty good and my friend and I enjoyed the evening. Perhaps the upstairs might be a bit quieter? Overall, a very nice restaurant with excellent Egyptian and Mediterranean selections.
Overpriced small portions and food wasn't even good. For dinner on a Friday, $52 for a single entire “mixed grill” consisting of 1 chicken thigh (fine) 1 small lamb skewer (dry) and 1 small steak skewer (burnt to black) how does this make any sense? Atmosphere was spare. I don't understand who eats here.
Nice location and relatively easy parking on side street. Not too crowded early on a Saturday night. Flavorful and authentic food. The table enjoyed the Brussel sprouts, halloumi goulash, and hummus. All delicious. Pita fabulous. For the main dish, shared the scallops, shrimp, mixed grill and added vermicelli rice and white rice. Dessert was baklava AND phyllo wrapped brownie. Staff were able to accommodate gluten free (except dessert) and vegetarian. All of the food was wonderful. One star off because while the staff were professional and kind, they seemed a bit busy. Regardless, we will return.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Baklava, Hummus, Crispy Brussels
Most baby friendly restaurants I’ve been too. Such yummy food.
Pity about the food and service, both are just terrible. Greasy, burned, fried, bland and no server to be found.
It’s a lovely atmosphere though. Perhaps it’s just the dishwasher making lunch, perhaps not , either way, I’ll not be going again.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 1
Service: 1
Restaurantji Recommends
I tried this place during Restaurant week because it shares my name. The food was delicious! Service is IMPECCABLE. Thank you Nicholas and Jeffery. It felt a little incomplete like each plate could do with a sauce or a whip cream on the side of the dessert. The grilled shrimp was PHENOMENAL I wish I could have ordered that as my entree! The beet salad definitely had beets I do wish it had more goat cheese. Grilled salmon was yummy but multiple people at my table ordered it and the sizes varied greatly. The potato’s underneath had the most flavor. The baklava was good baklava. However, the phyllo wrapped brownie was very rich and not very sweet.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 5
Our first visit to Elaine’s was nothing short of memorable. The moment we were seated, we were warmly welcomed by Cynthia, the owner, who shared the exciting news that it was Alexandria Restaurant Week, and they were also celebrating Chef Sameer’s first anniversary at the helm. They had crafted a special menu for the occasion, featuring a fusion of Jamaican and Egyptian cuisine—a nod to their roots, with the owner being Egyptian and the chef Jamaican.
Though we arrived late and missed out on the anniversary menu, Chef Sameer graciously offered us a taste of his creations, and we were fortunate enough to sample his hummus, jerk pork, and jerk chicken. I have to say, we struck gold with the Jamaican dishes—each bite was a revelation. The jerk pork had a delightful crisp on the outside while remaining tender and juicy inside. The jerk chicken was a masterpiece, with a perfect char that elevated it beyond your typical jerk chicken experience. I truly hope these dishes find a permanent place on their menu, as I’m already craving more!
We also indulged in the braised lamb, and it was divine—the meat practically melted in our mouths, so tender and succulent. Our server, Muna, was exceptional, always attentive and ensuring our wine glasses were never empty. We had the pleasure of chatting with her about her Ethiopian heritage and cuisine, which added a lovely personal touch to our evening.
In the end, we felt right at home at Elaine’s. I’m already looking forward to returning, especially to try Cynthia’s famous martini!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
The place is impressive, and the staff is amiable. The owner was super friendly and checked on us often. The atmosphere is so pleasant, comfortable, and clean. The service was outstanding. The food was delicious and did not take long to prepare, and the sound level was right. I will definitely be back!
The decoration and ambience was pleasant. It felt like an inviting atmosphere with an interesting bookcase feature. Our server was inattentive. They took 30 min to take our order, didn't refill our water, or come to check on us. We heard another server telling their table about the specials and history of the restaurant. That table was served their appetizers before we even ordered our drinks. The food was generally bland and wasn't well prepared. I can't see myself returning for any reason. We had their prix fixe for restaurant week but I would be really disappointed to have paid for their regular menu.
The food was good. The lamb especially was delicious as was the baklava. However, everything was dirty. The table has crumbs on it, as did the chair. Most of our dishes had spots and stains. Also, the wine felt overpriced for the quality.
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