Cute place tucked in a shopping center. Cocktails were good. Food portions were generous. Friendly servers.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Dona P.
I was on the hunt for a dinner option and a nice ambience that would be different from all the places we have tried in old town. I can't even remember how I finally got to this restaurant, but I kept putting in dinner in Alexandria and boy was I oh so thrilled. First of all you step inside and by no means do you feel like you just came in from a strip mall or a strip mall parking lot. It is as nice if not nicer than some of the high end places in DC right now. Also, I have no idea how she is able to afford to pay her servers Whatever she is paying them because they are all so incredibly professional, kind, calm and engaging!!! They legitimately feel like one big family. I was excited that the chef and owner had routes from Louisiana and curious to see how that translated into the dishes. Nothing that we ordered was a disappointment. Everything exploded with flavor even the salad was a treat. The cocktails were really special as well, and this place is a A MUST visit if you are in the Alexandria area!
Jennifer M.
Revel is an excellent wine bar with superb service! Highly recommend a cheese plate to pair with your wine! Also love that this place is away the hustle and bustle of old town and right beside Unwined so it's easy to grab a bottle to take home.
Ken Arscott
Excellent service food and drinks. It’s a great local treasure. I’m glad we found it. We will be back. Highly recommend.Vegetarian options: Many vegan and GF options
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Satsuma-Age
Michael C.
As others have stated, Revel is truly a neighborhood gem. Nestled in the Belle View Shopping Center this wine store/restaurant combo (they are connected, but still separate areas) features a tasty menu of bites, boards and a few mains. The decision to focus on fewer mains (but all with outstanding preparations) serves us diners well as they pair so nicely with starters, and allows them to keep their focus on quality over quantity. The vibe of the restaurant is casual and neighborly, yet with a sophistication that really shows. I can't say enough about the manager, Nikki, and our server Rob, who took excellent care to welcome and serve us, which we noticed they did with all of our co-diners. I'll start with our sole nit from the experience, which was on the charcuterie board with six. First the good on it; they have a great selection of non-pork based meats (Lamb, Beef and Duck!). The not so good, they only had 2 small tastes of the duck and lamb (but 4 of the beef). All in all, it was an okay way to start our meal, but could have been a bit more up front that for the meats it wasn't going to be a bite, but more of a small taste. That's the only downside to our time at Revel. The Lasagna was something all pasta lovers need to try; it looked like most, but was spicier than almost any I've ever had. And in a good way; it was balanced seasoning so not a hit you in the mouth spice, but a warm afterglow one. The Sea Bass was probably the hit of the table; a nice portion of what had to be very fresh fish cooked to a perfect temperature in a very light butter coating allowed the flavors you want from fish, along with the texture and presentation, to really sing. And it sang beautifully. The Gnocci was also exceptional in a light tomato cream sauce which again was in balance and quite delectable. The winter salad was huge and based on an abundance of lightly seasoned with a blood orange kale, sporting nutty and wonderful sunchoke along with a wild rice and green onions. Oh, and for the comfort food loving among us, the pimento cheese spread was a delight (Full disclosure, I am a sucker for pimento cheese and this variation is among the tops of my lengthy career of consumption). As we learned, the menu changes regularly so this review may not be as specifically useful, but given the quality across the board being so high, I am confident that on our next trip in, whatever the offerings are, they will be as focused and delicious as this time. One more shout out to the staff here; they make a great evening, outstanding.
Christy Parrack
Although we didn’t have dinner the service and experience was amazing. Nikki was generous with her time and experience with wine. Definitely be back for dinner! Highly recommend!
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Meghan Hale
I cannot sing enough praises for Revel and the amazing team Vanessa has assembled, especially Nikki, Brett, and Chef. The rotating, seasonal menu has classic fare with a modern twist and each dish is delectable. The wine list is well curated and often features less common varieties that quickly become favorites. The cocktail menu is newer but an amazing addition to the space. It’s obvious how much thought and attention to detail go into every drink. The best part of Revel though is the vibe. It’s elevated but casual, unobtrusive while attentive. Revel is great because of the food and drink but exceptional because of the staff.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
T “Rayne” B
I love the food here, I honestly think this is one of the best hidden gems in Alexandria. Definitely an enjoyable experience and perfect for a date night out.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ken A.
This was a great local find. Great atmosphere food and service were excellent. Only down side was as the evening went on it became crowded and loud. Difficult to have a normal conversation but other than that everything was superb. We will come back a little earlier next time. Highly recommend.
Meara G.
Friendly staff, beautiful space, delicious food and wine. What more could you want? Tucked away in an unassuming retail center, it's definitely a gem of the Belle Haven neighborhood.
Wonderful venue with fantastic food a amazing wine selections. Highly recommend for a quiet evening dinner.
Charmin Britt
Revel is truly the Belle Haven areas “Hidden Gem”!!! Modest and inconspicuous on the outside, when you step through the door you are transported to a chic and trendy LA locals hotspot. The wine, food, and service are second to none!!! Not to mention a few steps next door and you can select from the finest wines, charcuterie eats, and cigars available anywhere! Vanessa and her staff are truly exceptional!!
Ken L.
Really good food. Service was okay they could increase their wait staff by one or two additional servers. You go here for the food
Enjolina C.
Drinks...yum. Appetizers...yum. Ambiance...loud but beautiful (acoustics). Main dish...meh. We had the pimento cheese and empanadas to start. I thought the Haddock was bland. I understand the en papillote preparation, but the whole dish was just lacking something. That being said, I would definitely return to try more of their dishes!
Linda K. O.
Ambience, service, wine, and food are all amazing! And UnWined next door is a great place to pick up quality wine and beer. Highly recommend.
Cute place tucked in a shopping center. Cocktails were good. Food portions were generous. Friendly servers.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I was on the hunt for a dinner option and a nice ambience that would be different from all the places we have tried in old town. I can't even remember how I finally got to this restaurant, but I kept putting in dinner in Alexandria and boy was I oh so thrilled. First of all you step inside and by no means do you feel like you just came in from a strip mall or a strip mall parking lot. It is as nice if not nicer than some of the high end places in DC right now. Also, I have no idea how she is able to afford to pay her servers Whatever she is paying them because they are all so incredibly professional, kind, calm and engaging!!! They legitimately feel like one big family. I was excited that the chef and owner had routes from Louisiana and curious to see how that translated into the dishes. Nothing that we ordered was a disappointment. Everything exploded with flavor even the salad was a treat. The cocktails were really special as well, and this place is a A MUST visit if you are in the Alexandria area!
Revel is an excellent wine bar with superb service! Highly recommend a cheese plate to pair with your wine! Also love that this place is away the hustle and bustle of old town and right beside Unwined so it's easy to grab a bottle to take home.
Excellent service food and drinks. It’s a great local treasure. I’m glad we found it. We will be back. Highly recommend.Vegetarian options: Many vegan and GF options
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Satsuma-Age
As others have stated, Revel is truly a neighborhood gem. Nestled in the Belle View Shopping Center this wine store/restaurant combo (they are connected, but still separate areas) features a tasty menu of bites, boards and a few mains. The decision to focus on fewer mains (but all with outstanding preparations) serves us diners well as they pair so nicely with starters, and allows them to keep their focus on quality over quantity. The vibe of the restaurant is casual and neighborly, yet with a sophistication that really shows. I can't say enough about the manager, Nikki, and our server Rob, who took excellent care to welcome and serve us, which we noticed they did with all of our co-diners. I'll start with our sole nit from the experience, which was on the charcuterie board with six. First the good on it; they have a great selection of non-pork based meats (Lamb, Beef and Duck!). The not so good, they only had 2 small tastes of the duck and lamb (but 4 of the beef). All in all, it was an okay way to start our meal, but could have been a bit more up front that for the meats it wasn't going to be a bite, but more of a small taste. That's the only downside to our time at Revel. The Lasagna was something all pasta lovers need to try; it looked like most, but was spicier than almost any I've ever had. And in a good way; it was balanced seasoning so not a hit you in the mouth spice, but a warm afterglow one. The Sea Bass was probably the hit of the table; a nice portion of what had to be very fresh fish cooked to a perfect temperature in a very light butter coating allowed the flavors you want from fish, along with the texture and presentation, to really sing. And it sang beautifully. The Gnocci was also exceptional in a light tomato cream sauce which again was in balance and quite delectable. The winter salad was huge and based on an abundance of lightly seasoned with a blood orange kale, sporting nutty and wonderful sunchoke along with a wild rice and green onions. Oh, and for the comfort food loving among us, the pimento cheese spread was a delight (Full disclosure, I am a sucker for pimento cheese and this variation is among the tops of my lengthy career of consumption). As we learned, the menu changes regularly so this review may not be as specifically useful, but given the quality across the board being so high, I am confident that on our next trip in, whatever the offerings are, they will be as focused and delicious as this time. One more shout out to the staff here; they make a great evening, outstanding.
Although we didn’t have dinner the service and experience was amazing. Nikki was generous with her time and experience with wine. Definitely be back for dinner! Highly recommend!
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
I cannot sing enough praises for Revel and the amazing team Vanessa has assembled, especially Nikki, Brett, and Chef. The rotating, seasonal menu has classic fare with a modern twist and each dish is delectable. The wine list is well curated and often features less common varieties that quickly become favorites. The cocktail menu is newer but an amazing addition to the space. It’s obvious how much thought and attention to detail go into every drink. The best part of Revel though is the vibe. It’s elevated but casual, unobtrusive while attentive. Revel is great because of the food and drink but exceptional because of the staff.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I love the food here, I honestly think this is one of the best hidden gems in Alexandria. Definitely an enjoyable experience and perfect for a date night out.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This was a great local find. Great atmosphere food and service were excellent. Only down side was as the evening went on it became crowded and loud. Difficult to have a normal conversation but other than that everything was superb. We will come back a little earlier next time. Highly recommend.
Friendly staff, beautiful space, delicious food and wine. What more could you want? Tucked away in an unassuming retail center, it's definitely a gem of the Belle Haven neighborhood.
Restaurantji Recommends
Wonderful venue with fantastic food a amazing wine selections. Highly recommend for a quiet evening dinner.
Revel is truly the Belle Haven areas “Hidden Gem”!!! Modest and inconspicuous on the outside, when you step through the door you are transported to a chic and trendy LA locals hotspot. The wine, food, and service are second to none!!! Not to mention a few steps next door and you can select from the finest wines, charcuterie eats, and cigars available anywhere! Vanessa and her staff are truly exceptional!!
Really good food. Service was okay they could increase their wait staff by one or two additional servers. You go here for the food
Drinks...yum. Appetizers...yum. Ambiance...loud but beautiful (acoustics). Main dish...meh. We had the pimento cheese and empanadas to start. I thought the Haddock was bland. I understand the en papillote preparation, but the whole dish was just lacking something. That being said, I would definitely return to try more of their dishes!
Ambience, service, wine, and food are all amazing! And UnWined next door is a great place to pick up quality wine and beer. Highly recommend.